http://nino-mod.livejournal.com/ (![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png)
nino-mod.livejournal.com) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
ninoexchange2016-06-17 10:07 pm
nino-mod.livejournal.com) wrote in ninoexchange2016-06-17 10:07 pm
Entry tags:
fic for ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
inaudible_d (1/2)
For: inaudible_d
From:koi_choshi
Title: Fire in the Rain
Pairing/Focus: Nino/Aiba
Rating: G
Warnings: usage of some curses; and fluffy fluff
Summary: Nino did not realize that a photograph in the subway, and the man behind it, would rekindle his lost passion once again.
Notes: Dear inaudible_d. I really did my best to fulfill one of your prompts, along with the other Nino details that you want to see. I really hope that you won’t be disappointed with this.
“Please mind the gap…”
The announcer could be heard through the speakers and Nino stood up to get out of the train. He was too preoccupied with his thoughts: his boss just scolded him for messing up a client interview again. He was not reaching the client quota. Everything about his life sucked.
He walked out of the station as if on autopilot, not caring about the people or the signs. He was already out of the platform, walking on the hard cement.
“Hey!”
Nino continued walking, ignoring the calls.
“Hey, mister!”
Nino was suddenly jerked by the shoulder, making him drop his gray bag. “What the…?”
He turned around and saw a man carrying a large black bag, huffing and puffing. It seemed like he ran to chase Nino.
“What is wrong with you?” Nino asked, annoyed. That was not really the best time to start a conversation for Nino. He was hissing curses as he retrieved his bag.
“Uhh…” the man was unsure. “I… I was just wondering why you got off this station,” he said in a small voice. “I-I just noticed that it’s really odd and…” he stopped halfway when Nino opened his mouth to respond.
“You know, you’re saying nonse…” Nino was about to start but as he looked at the sign that was brightly lit up and his surroundings, he realized that he was really screwed. Why did he miss his own stop?
The stranger smiled at him apologetically that irritated him to no end. He sprinted back to the subway to go back to the right station and wished that he would never ever meet that stranger on the train again.
But of course, he had no other choice.
In one perfectly normal and boring night, Nino suddenly stopped walking when something colorful passed his line of sight. He looked up, trying to be aware and careful because he might be in the wrong station since, as he recalled, subway stations were just white walls.
Nino found himself looking at a large poster that occupied the usual advertisement spot. It was a large photo of a garden full of different colors of flowers. It even seemed like it was edited to make the colors more vivid, like a fantasy world.
“What do you think?” a breathy voice said behind Nino, making him gasp. Nino turned around and saw the stranger from the other night, looking at him with a smile that made Nino’s throat dry.
“Nothing special,” he snapped. It was not the best lie because for the first time in a long time, Nino felt something weird, something inexplicable. It was as if the vivid colors of the flowers took him away from his dull corporate world.
“You know, I’ve noticed that we’ve always ridden the same train since I started working in this area. Isn't it amazing?” the stranger said as he tailed Nino. “Destiny is the term in English.”
Nino avoided his gaze and bit his lips to the point that it was almost bleeding. He decided to ignore the man, and continued walking towards the escalator. On his way, Nino noticed that the usual ad spots were filled by the photos of the same theme: oversaturated and colorful. He stopped in front of the train doors, looking straight ahead so that he could not be bothered by anyone.
"I’m Aiba. Aiba Masaki.”
Nino’s eyes narrowed at the hand that was outstretched towards him. “Do you introduce yourself to every stranger that you meet in the train station? I mean, aside from you, there are a dozen other people here who are also riding the same train at the same time…”
Aiba just smiled as if Nino had not snapped at him. “Well then… the train’s here. We have to get in, right?” He cocked his head to the side and Nino was able to make out the flashing light of the arriving train.
Nino made a mental note to get off at the right station to spare himself from the embarrassment. But he was too conscious about Aiba’s presence that evening, They were unnaturally squished together; Nino’s back against the wall and Aiba holding on the railing.
“Hey, you still haven’t told me your name,” Aiba said with a pout as he held Nino’s shoulder in place when the train suddenly halted.
Nino frowned. “Why should I say my name? You might be a stalker or something. I can’t risk it,” he said with a stern expression. It was really tiring to put up a rude attitude to throw off this guy especially that Aiba was grinning stupidly.
Nino was thankful when he heard the announcer saying that they were approaching his stop. He did not even acknowledge Aiba’s “goodbye” as he squeezed his way out of the train.
Nino looked around him and he felt like he went back to his dark world. The appearance of this station made the other one a whimsical fantasy world because of the photographs that replaced the usual boring advertisements and blank idol smiles.
Something sparked in his brain.
Nino instinctively dashed towards his small apartment, fumbled with his keys and quickly entered the room as if he would lose something if he did not make it in time. He removed all the litter on top of his keyboard, plugged it in, and started playing random notes.
For the first time in a long time, Nino was inspired to write a song. He laid back on the carpeted floor as he held out the finished product at eye level. A smile decorated his lips as he placed the music sheet on the keyboard before he covered it with a white cloth.
--
“I can’t do this, Sho…”
“Yes, you can, Nino,” his friend replied, steering him towards the wooden platform decorated with flowered pillars.
Nino was pushed to the white grand piano on the platform. The bride and the groom were in front of him, standing on the grassy clearing, looking at him expectantly.
Nino adjusted the scarf on his neck and cleared his throat to make sure that a decent voice would come out. The scarf was not the best partner of his grayish suit but it gave him a little courage to sit in front of the piano. He was nervous, really nervous.
“When was the last time I did this?” he asked himself. He lost count and did not attempt to count because if Nino realizes how long it has been, it might make him vomit.
Nevertheless, he opened his mouth and started singing a few lines on the microphone. Nino was actually surprised that his voice did not sound like a rusty old machine. Feeling more confident, Nino closed his eyes, and pressed on the keys with a sense of familiarity.
It was like going back home, doing the things that pleased him the most.
"Nino!”
"Sho," he mumbled, putting his head down a bit in embarrassment.
“Told you, you can do it!” Sho was smiling widely, as if he won the lottery. "Hey, nice scarf!”
Nino instinctively touched the scarf on his neck. It was his favorite; he always wears that when he sings ever since god knows when. “Uh, thanks.”
“I’m so happy you accepted Keiko-chan's request!"
"What are you talking about?" Nino replied, trying to be snarky. “I’m just here for the talent fee and the free food!”
Sho laughed. “Keiko will be mad if she hears that. But anyway, she says the song is wonderful.”
Nino just smiled shyly before he excused himself. He made his way towards the buffet table to start eating.
“Oh, train guy!”
Nino looked up. It was the man from the train station, Aiba. A large DSLR was hanging around his neck.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Nino asked loudly, surprised.
“Uhh, I was invited?” Aiba replied as if it was the most obvious answer in the world. “I’m the photographer for this wedding, too. What a great coincidence, right?” he said with a dreamy expression.
Nino had the sudden urge to throw a plate to Aiba's face. He wanted to get away from Aiba as if he was a plague, for reasons he could not explain himself. But before he could do so, Sho arrived at the scene.
“Hey! I see that you two have already met!”
Aiba looked unsure. “Ahh… well…”
“Nino, this is Aiba, Aiba Masaki. He’s one of my colleagues,” Sho said. Of course, Nino knew the name already. He grunted in acknowledgement. “He’s Ninomiya Kazunari, by the way. We all call him Nino.”
“My friends call me Nino,” he snapped, making Sho chuckle.
“Ah, don’t worry, Aiba-kun. He acts cold but Nino's really a softie,” Sho assured, waving his hand carelessly.
Aiba chuckled. “I figured that out,” he said with large smile that made Nino roll his eyes. He held out his hand for a handshake. “Hajimemashite…” he said, “Ninomiya-san.” Nino wanted to laugh at Aiba’s failed attempt at a wink.
“Just so you know, Aiba-chan’s photos are all over Tokyo!” Sho beamed like a proud father.
“Sho-chan, there’s no need to talk about that!” Aiba said. “It’s not a big deal.” He shuffled uncomfortably, shyly. He probably noticed Nino’s eyes on him so he looked up, smiled again, and said, "I think you were awesome up there, Ninomiya-san!"
Nino looked to the side uncomfortably. He was not used to people praising his singing, especially this guy. But he smiled nonetheless.
Sho chuckled. "I'll... I'll leave the two of you over here. I'll talk to the bride and groom," he said. He left the scene, making everything more difficult to Nino.
Aiba cleared his throat to break the silence. "Hey!" he started. “Your performance was great up there.” There was a cautious smile on his face. Noticing Nino’s weird expression, he narrowed his eyes and asked, “Are you okay?”
Nino bit his lip and shook his head. "No, it's okay. It's just... I'm not used to people praising me."
His reply made Aiba’s shoulders relax. "Don’t you like it? You actually hear people saying you’re good!” Aiba looked surprised and confused. “And… I really thought you’re great, Ninomiya-san," he added with a giggle that made Nino more embarrassed than he was. “I’m looking forward to hearing more of your songs from now on.”
“Well…” Nino said with a shrug before taking a sip of his cocktail.
A few hours and a few bottles of liquor later, the friends of the groom were almost slumped on the table, laughing about old-man jokes, courtesy of Sho.
“You know, Nino,” Sho slurred, hiccupping, though Nino could’ve sworn he only downed about two bottles. “You can hitch a ride with Aiba-chan tonight.”
Nino was wasted but he did not miss that piece of information. “He has a car?” Nino said in disbelief.
“Well, yeah…” Sho replied like it was the most obvious thing in the world. He was definitely drunk. He could also see Aiba nodding in the background.
“No – hic – way,” he responded, a bit aggravated, pushing an invisible force away.
“I don’t mind.” He saw Aiba smiling at him while swirling his glass. “I think it will be better if I take Ninomiya-san home.”
Nino felt that he should not ride in Aiba’s car that night. Nevertheless, pairs of arms pushed him inside the handsome black car. Nino was really bad at alcohol. He could make out Aiba’s face as he fastened his seatbelt, muttering the random English expression of “safety first” before proceeding to the driver’s seat.
Nino knew that if he opened his mouth, he would blurt out random or unnecessary statements. But he did it still. “You have a car. Why are you still riding the train?” Nino realized how stupid his question was but he was too drunk to care.
Aiba answered the question nonetheless, his eyes still on the road. “Well, I think trains are so much better than cars.”
“Well, if it were me, I would prefer the comfort of my own car.”
“Even a boring subway train can be interesting if you're looking forward to seeing something,” Aiba replied. It sounded profound but it also did not make sense. It probably had, but Nino was too wasted to comprehend. He closed his eyes and dozed off; the probability that Aiba could drive him off somewhere and kill him was close to zero, anyway.
Nino felt awful the next day, waiting for his train, his hangover getting the best of him. He wanted to vomit then and there but of course, that would not be the best thing to do.
“We can probably carpool… or something next time,” a voice beside him said. "Or, I can actually take you home, if you don't mind."
Nino tried his best not to jump in surprise. “Why are you talking to me as if we know each other?” Nino asked under his breath.
Aiba looked innocently shocked. “Well, we do know each other. We met each other in that party… formally… don't you remember?”
“Oh, I probably hit myself too hard that I could not remember…”
Aiba snorted as he tried to suppress his laughter, making Nino wonder if the guy was insane.
Aiba straightened his back and looked at him. “So you did not remember what happened between the two of us last night?” he asked, moving closer and closer until Nino's back was touching the cold concrete wall. Aiba placed his palm on the wall, leaning dangerously close that Nino wanted to jump in front of the rail tracks in shame.
“W-what happened last night?” he stuttered. Lots of crazy thoughts swam inside Nino’s head, the next one worse than the first. His thoughts were interrupted by the PA announcement of the oncoming train.
Aiba laughed. “Relax, Ninomiya-san,” he said with an affectionate pat as he straightened up. “You just vomited on the car seat and I had to bring it to the car wash. It’s still there for a major cleanup.”
“Oh.” Nino wanted to show signs of relief but decided not to because he had a bad feeling that Aiba was actually observing his movements. He kept a poker face and he glared as they both stepped inside the train. Aiba did not even attempt to look for a seat. He just stood beside Nino and leaned on the wall.
“And that also means you owe me dinner.”
***
Nino did his best to not care. He really did. But he always – accidentally – glances towards Aiba’s way every single time he goes home. He surely did not notice him before and it infuriated him everytime Aiba approaches him and talks to him as if they were best of friends.
Nino wanted to be annoyed. He wanted to push Aiba away. But deep inside his heart, he knew that Aiba was the splash of colors that made his dull and repetitive world brighter. He was like the photos exhibited inside the gloomy station, cheerful and unmindful of any worries.
Speaking of the photo exhibit, Nino always looked at the most subdued photo in the whole collection. It was of a rainy scenery, complete with raindrops falling on the small puddles, and a silhouette of a person sitting on the ground. There were no enhanced colors, except for the brightened yellow hue of that person’s scarf.
“I always noticed that you like looking at that one,” Aiba said, standing beside Nino as he stared at the large photo hanging by the far end of the station.
“Hmm… it looks different from the other photos in the subway exhibit,” Nino commented. “I noticed that everything else was full of color but this one,” he pointed at the photo, “this one looks out of place.”
“Hmmm…” Aiba just commented.
Nino looked at him and smiled shyly. “Never mind. I’m not really an artist.” He was about to walk away when Aiba tugged the hem of his oversized jacket. Nino noticed that Aiba was looking at that photo with narrowed eyes, as if he was thinking critically.
“Ne, Ninomiya-san, what do you think about this collection?” Aiba asked curiously, his eyes not moving away from the photo.
Nino looked surprised about the question. “Huh?” He scratched the back of his head. “Well, I think the photos are quite childish? Too much color all around.”
“Indeed,” Aiba said. “I had hoped that this collection could brighten up someone’s day when they go home from work.” He tilted his head to the side with a serene expression. “Well, I guess it was not really effective, huh?”
“What are you talking about?”
Aiba grinned proudly as he pointed at the watermark on the lower right corner of the photo. “This is my photo. This is my exhibit.”
Nino’s mouth hung open. He could vaguely recall Sho’s boastful statement about how Aiba’s works were all around Tokyo. He then started to walk off with that feeling of embarrassment. It was like the time when he stepped off the wrong station once again, and Aiba was there to make him feel worse.
“Hey!” Aiba followed him.
“Don’t talk to me,” he snapped. He felt a shallow sense of betrayal. He was blabbering about his comments on the photos in front of the photographer! That was really embarrassing.
“Nino, it’s okay! I don’t mind. I actually meant the photos to be that way,” Aiba tried to reassure him. Nino subconsciously gave a pout and turned his head away, making Aiba chuckle.
Nino groaned when he found himself squished beside Aiba in the jam-packed train. It did not help that Aiba was grinning at him and he did not know if it was an innocent grin or if he was mocking Nino for being ignorant.
But Nino remembered how much he loved those photos and how they inspired him to sit on his piano and create new music.
“They were really effective…”
“Hmm?”
“Your photos…” Nino admitted in a small voice, making Aiba chuckle again.
“Well then. I think it will be nice if you see the real stuff. If you’re free this Saturday, would you like to come with me?”
Nino wanted to just curl into a ball and play his video games in the comfort of his apartment. Maybe he could pen a new song on his own. But before he could refuse the offer, he had already nodded his head, making Aiba smile in triumph.
Nino found himself running towards the bench by the park, as he and Aiba had agreed upon when they were in the train. Nino did not give out his number. “I don’t trust you,” he had said.
Nino was quietly tailing Aiba as he took some random shots of couples, children, and plants.
“Aren’t you going to get sued for that?” Nino asked just for the sake of asking.
Aiba looked at him in confusion. “Huh?”
“Well, you’re taking their photos and they might end up in another stupid exhibit,” Nino mumbled, feeling stupid at that moment.
Aiba scratched his head. “Oh,” he said. “Oh,” he repeated again in sudden realization. Nino noticed that there was a hint of redness on Aiba’s cheeks, as if he did something wrong and he was ashamed of that.
“Hey, Nino, did you hear that?”
Nino turned his head to the direction of the sound. Before he could say anything, Aiba had grabbed his hand and dragged him towards the clearing in the middle of the park, where street performers were having fun.
Nino stood there, transfixed, as he watched the band perform in front of a small group of people, their faces full of content smiles. Nino wondered.
“They look so happy,” Aiba commented, smiling widely. He kept on clicking his camera, taking pictures of the wonderful scene. “Look at everyone!”
Nino looked around him, emotions overwhelming. Nino looked around him, a surge of fury rising up inside. The sight was nauseating. He wanted to tear up in frustration, but he couldn’t, especially in front of Aiba.
“Let’s go,” he said coldly, turning his back away from the performers.
“Eh?” Aiba said, his brows furrowed. “You don’t like that kind of music?”
“I honestly don’t care.”
Nino started to walk away from the park briskly. He was surprised when Aiba grabbed his arm.
“What the…?”
“Let’s have some snacks. I’m hungry,” Aiba said with a small smile that seemed to be pleading. Nino could not resist that face and that fact annoyed him.
Nino pulled his hand away. “Fine.”
Nino ate with glutton as Aiba ordered different dishes from the waiter. He knew very well that Aiba was observing him but he hid that fact by stuffing himself with food until he felt like he was going to explode.
“Ninomiya-san, is there something wrong?” Aiba asked, tilting his head a bit so that he could see Nino’s face more clearly.
Nino looked to the side, silent.
“I know for a fact that you love music and you also sing,” Aiba said as he lifted himself from his seat and used a napkin to wipe the food beside Nino’s mouth. “What happened over there?”
“I used to sing like that…” Nino said, looking at his lap while twiddling his fingers, “that is, until life gave me a hard hit on the head.”
“Oh,” Aiba replied. He looked sorry. “Sorry to hear that.”
“No need to be sorry. No one died.”
Aiba looked at Nino with a frown. Then he brightened up, as if he had an idea. He started looking for something inside his bag. “Here!” he almost yelled in excitement. He took out a Polaroid camera.
“What is that?”
Aiba positioned the camera and said, “Look here, Ninomiya-san… Smile!” Aiba took a photo, making Nino a bit startled from the flash. He watched as the photographer shook the film dry. “Here!”
“What am I supposed to do with this?”
“Sign it!” Aiba said with small giggle. “So that I can boast to people that I have your autograph when you become a famous musician.”
Nino did not really know why but he started to laugh. Hard. He was laughing too much that he could not breathe. “You are so unbelievable, Aiba-chan!”
“Wow!”
“Is there something wrong with what I said?”
“Oh… it’s nothing,” Aiba replied, shaking his head. He looked at the hands on his lap for a while, took a deep breath, and spoke again. “I’m just surprised that you called me Aiba-chan.”
His words made Nino stop. He busied himself signing the photo with his pen. He then handed the autographed photo back to Aiba with a small smile. “It’s Nino.”
Nino felt like the sun was shining directly above him when Aiba beamed and giggled like a little child. “I love hearing you sing… You glow when you sing… like a burning fire…”
“You don’t make sense.”
Aiba laughed nervously. “Yeah, I guess so.” He slipped the photo inside his bag. “I’ll be looking forward to your million-seller, Nino.”
That night, Nino found himself sitting in front of his small piano again, humming a tune and then trying to recreate it using the keyboard. He looked at out the window and thought about that strange photographer, Aiba.
“Like a burning fire…” Nino repeated Aiba’s words, pondering on what that meant.
--
Nino stood in front of the train doors. He glanced left and right, trying to look for Aiba in the least obvious way.
“Nino!” he heard Aiba calling him. Aiba waved and then ran towards Nino. “Nino…” he panted, winded.
“What? Did you just run the marathon?”
“W-well…” Aiba tried to say in between his deep breaths. “Come with me.”
“The train’s almost here!”
“I’ll take you home. Just… just come with me, okay?” Aiba said with an assuring smile. Nino let himself be dragged out of the station and towards the parking area, where a large motorcycle was parked.
“Hop in,” Aiba said, handing a helmet to Nino.
“You have a motorcycle?”
“Well… yeah. Just get in. We’ll be late!” Aiba said cheerfully, fastening his own helmet. They sped off through the night. Aiba’s speed made Nino hold on tight around Aiba’s waist, making him chuckle due to the slight ticklish sensation.
“Aren’t we there yet?” Nino asked, feeling sick already.
“Just a few more minutes, Nino-chan,” Aiba replied. “Hold on!” He sped up the bike, making Nino close his eyes as he was getting dizzy in the ride.
“We’re here, Nino,” he finally heard Aiba’s voice. Nino removed his helmet and looked around; they were standing at a small park. There was a wooden platform a few paces ahead, and a small group of people. He saw a sign and he immediately stepped back.
“No way!”
“Yes way,” Aiba said enthusiastically, shoving Nino towards the group. “Hey, guys!” he called out, waving.
“Aiba-chan!”
“Hey, it’s Aiba-chan!”
Nino stared at Aiba as he was surrounded by the small crowd, talking to him. Aiba, on the other hand, was all smiles, replying to whatever they said.
“Uhh, by the way, I want you all to meet my friend, Nino,” Aiba said, pointing towards his direction. “He’s a musician! A very good one!”
Nino wanted to melt when all eyes were on him.
“Nino-san, won’t you play something for us?”
“Yeah, it’s free to share whatever you want to share tonight,” another person said.
“It’s Open Mic Night,” one man said. Nino looked up at the man who was walking towards him. He was handsome and in Nino’s opinion, he looked like someone’s dream boy. “Hi, I’m Matsumoto Jun,” he said, shaking Nino’s hand. “I’m one of the organizers of this event.”
“Hi,” Nino said, feeling intimidated.
“Jun-pon!” Aiba greeted affectionately to the man, making Nino feel awful all of a sudden.
“Masaki-kun, don’t call me like that,” Jun said, feeling embarrassed.
Nino looked at the grass, tempted to kick on the small rock that innocently lay there. “Jun-pon… huh?” he thought, clicking his tongue. He did not know why but it left a bitter taste in his mouth that he wanted to spit in front of the two.
“Nino,” Aiba started, making Nino look up, “this is a weekly event for different kinds of artists. Some recite poems, some dance, some sing. It’s a great ev-”
“So… why did you bring me here?” Nino interrupted coldly.
Aiba stared speechless and wide-eyed at him, obviously confused at the sudden change in Nino’s tone. He opened his mouth but nothing came out.
“Why don’t you sing for us, Ninomiya-san?” Jun asked with that pearly white smile that Nino had an urge to punch to oblivion. “Masaki has told me that you got a great talent for singing!”
Nino’s eyes widened, his irritation to the stranger suddenly evaporating. “He said that?”
“Does anyone have a guitar?” Nino asked shyly. One of the members of the show raised his acoustic guitar. Aiba ran towards him, took the guitar, and handed it to Nino.
“Do your best, okay?” Aiba said, raising his fist to encourage Nino.
Nino just nodded nervously. He climbed the small wooden platform and sat on the chair. “Uhh, hi,” he started. “I’ll sing one of my old songs. The title is ‘Doko ni Demo Aru Uta’.”
Nino sang with all his might, even though the audience was a small group, even though they were in the middle of nowhere. But he surprised himself when he always looked towards the man sitting in front of him, the man who was smiling brightly with his eyes glassy.
Nino did not even care anymore that Jun was beside Aiba. He did not even care about the audience’s cheers in his mini-performance. What’s important to Nino at that moment was being able to make Aiba understand something.
Aiba was the fire that lit up Nino’s dark life. And that fact scared Nino a little.
***
“I quit my job,” Nino said simply as he saw Aiba’s confusion; Nino was carrying a cardboard box on his way home.
Aiba’s mouth was open like a fish out of water.
“No need to say anything, Aiba-chan,” Nino said with a smirk.
“Ah, no, but…” Aiba started.
Nino looked straight ahead. “You see, I’ve wanted to quit that stupid, boring, and dull day job,” he explained nonchalantly. “I just… I just wanted to sing freely, you know?” he said honestly, looking into Aiba’s eyes.
Aiba seemed to have understood him. He gave an assuring smile as a reply. “Well, whatever makes you happy, Nino-chan.”
“Happiness doesn’t pay the bills,” Nino replied, making Aiba look confused with the sudden irony. “But money doesn’t really give life,” he added, glancing at Aiba.
Aiba nodded in agreement, and Nino could see a small smile and a hint of pink on the photographer’s cheeks. “Let me carry this for you, okay? I’ll walk you home,” he offered, getting the cardboard box.
Aiba chuckled lightly as Nino continuously dissed his former job, his boss, and his colleagues, while they were inside the train. It was a refreshing and liberating feeling that Nino had finally quit his day job. Sho had pleaded him not to quit but of course, he would not listen.
“Well, will you be okay?” Aiba asked, a little bit worried.
Nino grinned. “I’ll be okay, Aiba-chan.” However, the look on Aiba’s eyes gave him a tinge of anxiety. “Umm… Aiba-chan?” he started.
“Yes?”
“If I go down the dumps, can I count on you?”
Aiba laughed and Nino felt like his surroundings were illuminated. The photographer slightly brushed his hand on top of Nino’s. “You’re so silly. Of course you can count on me.”
Nino heaved a sigh of relief as he heard Aiba’s reply. He did not really want these kinds of cheesy scenes so he sighed again when the recorded voice announced their stop.
Nino cursed the heavens. The two of them were stuck at the train station entrance as the rain was pouring heavily.
“Are you okay, Nino?” Aiba asked, shivering a bit.
Nino grunted in reply. It was really cold for him because he was not wearing a jacket to keep himself warm, unlike Aiba who looked comfortable in that brown coat. He opened his cardboard box and pulled out his favorite green-and-yellow scarf. He started to wear it but his shaky hands got in the way.
“Let me do that for you,” Aiba said, putting the box down for a moment. He wound the scarf around Nino’s neck: not just in a random kind of way but in a fashionable kind of way.
“I didn’t know you’re a scarf lady,” Nino commented with a grin.
Aiba tied the scarf handsomely and patted it. “Ah, Jun-pon taught me how to do that. He’s a fashion model so he knows these kinds of things.”
Nino knew that he was a bit rude when he pulled himself away abruptly. He pursed his lips and took the box from the floor. “I’ll be going now.” Nino let himself be drenched by the rain as he stepped off the station. He started walking briskly, the cardboard box already soaked.
“Hey, wait! The rain is still pouring!” Aiba shouted, his voice difficult to hear.
“What the hell?” Nino cursed as someone grabbed his arm in the middle of the rain.
“I told you, you can count on me, Nino-chan,” Aiba said with raised eyebrows. Using his trench coat as a protection over both of their heads, Aiba dragged Nino through the rainy streets, seeking shelter under dry areas once in a while. They stopped in front of a quiet neighborhood.
“I’m… going… to… kill… you…” Nino said in between gasps for breath. “Why… the hell… did we run all the way from the train station?”
“Welcome to my humble home,” Aiba said, opening the small gate. “I guess we can stay here until the rain stops,” he suggested. He was holding the gate open for Nino to enter.
Nino looked at the house. It was like one of those old-fashioned Western houses, complete with that protruding chimney that was almost certainly fake. It was so rustic that it stood out differently in the neighborhood. It stood out in a nice way, the same way Aiba did.
“Hey, come on in,” Aiba motioned Nino to enter. While Aiba fumbled with the keys, Nino observed the cute porch. There was a table with a matching chair and an assortment of small, potted, flowering plants.
“I’ll get some towels for you,” Aiba said, hurriedly removing his shoes at the genkan and speeding towards his bedroom.
“Ah, okay,” Nino replied, removing his scarf that was dripping wet. He clicked his tongue as he saw the poor state of his cardboard box. He let it rest by the wall beside the door; they were useless anyway.
Nino stepped inside the living room. The walls were decorated by some photographs that were definitely Aiba’s work; the oversaturated colors clashed with the vintage look of the house.
One photograph stood out. It was similar to the photo that he saw on the train station: less color and more subdued. Nino walked carefully towards the large photograph printed on canvass. It looked like a continuation of his favorite photo in the station; it was the same place.
Nino touched the photo and his eyes widened. He touched the outlines of the man in the photo. Even with the desaturated colors, he could feel the movement, and more especially, the music. His eyes widened at the realization.
He was looking at his own photograph.
“I think that one is my best photo.” He heard Aiba from behind him. Nino turned around and saw Aiba grinning sheepishly, holding on to two fluffy towels. “But I just can’t let a lot of people see it.” He walked towards Nino and held out the towel. “You won’t sue me, right?”
Their gazes met each other and there was a comfortable silence that lasted for quite some time. Nino felt warm and fuzzy inside. He did not really know what is the best thing to say.
“Stop being such a creeper.”
--
Nino started staying at Aiba’s house due to Aiba’s promise after Nino quit his job. The photographer said he did not really mind; the house was actually too big for him.
Nino was alone lying on the couch, absentmindedly playing his guitar, when an idea struck him. He took his bag and fished out a business card with a crown emblem. “Ohno Satoshi. President,” the card read. He immediately grabbed his phone and dialed the number.
Nino did not want to be a freeloader. He wanted to find a job, maybe something that was related to his interests, and help Aiba in any way he can. Also, he was sometimes envious of Aiba’s enthusiasm when he talked about his new photo exhibits, the models he got to talk with, and the nice places he could visit. Can he find a job that could make him feel that way?
“Nino! I thought you’re at home!” Aiba said in surprise as he spotted Nino at the train station. His eyes were also looking for answers: why was Nino wearing a handsome suit?
“Ah, I got a new job,” Nino said simply, as if it was not a big deal. But deep inside, Nino was really excited about it.
“What is it?”
“I’ll be a pianist in a hotel lounge,” Nino said. “The hotel will open in a month. The president approached me.” Nino handed the hotel brochure to Aiba.
“Wow. Wow!” Aiba said happily, flipping the pages. “This looks great! How did you manage to get into that hotel?”
Nino frowned. “Well, President Ohno looked like some big baby creepy stalker who watched the Open Mic Night a few times and he approached me, gave me his card. I’ll start once the lounge opens.”
“Great! Really great!” Aiba said happily. “I think we have to celebrate this!”
“Your treat?”
“Of course, of course,” Aiba said with a nod. “Let’s get off at the next station; I know a great place to have some food and drinks there.”
The two got off and started chatting; it was mainly about Aiba being bitten by some kind of insect while he was taking photos at a farm. The conversation was interrupted when they heard another voice calling out to them.
“Masaki-kun?”
They both turned around and saw a handsome young man wearing a nice brown coat. To Nino’s annoyance, it was Jun.
“Jun-pon!” Aiba said excitedly, rushing towards him.
“I haven’t seen you in a while,” Jun said. “How have you been?”
“Amazing!” Aiba replied. “How was Paris?” he asked in return. His smile was so intense that Nino felt inadequate.
He found himself slowly walking away backwards, escaping the situation, as the two continued their conversation. All the joy of having a new job that was actually related to his interests evaporated.
“Sakurai Sho, are you up for a drink?” Nino asked through LINE before he got inside the train.
“I definitely think there’s something wrong so yeah,” the reply came.
Nino clicked his tongue. Sho was his longtime friend and Nino was secretly grateful that Sho could understand him. He texted the meeting place and started walking towards the bar, dragging his feet as if he was carrying heavy weights.
“Dammit… Dammit…” Nino continuously cursed as he slammed the can of beer on the table. Sho was looking at him with a baffled expression.
“What is wrong with you, Nino?” Sho asked, clearly concerned about his friend’s mood.
Nino glared at him and drank his beer. Straight. “That Aiba Masaki should go to hell.”
“Oh, wow. That’s harsh,” Sho replied. He grabbed a can and sat beside Nino to drink with him. “Just the other day, you were talking about accepting his offer to move with him after your rental contract expires. What gives?”
“He can take that… that handsome model to his house, that creeper…” Nino grumbled.
Sho smirked. “What’s this? Jealousy?”
“The hell? I’m not jealous!” Nino yelled.
He looked at the can of beer as if it was a villain. It reminded him of that pretty boy model that Aiba was talking happily with.
“He’s really handsome, you know? And tall,” Nino said bitterly.
Sho nodded, listening intently.
“And Aiba-chan was smiling widely as he talked to him,” Nino added. “I bet they’re fucking each other.”
Sho spat out his drink. “Nino! That’s too much, isn’t it?”
“Well, Aiba can do whatever he wants,” Nino said with a shrug.
“Yeah, but you’re jealous,” Sho pressed. “Nino, there’s no need to feel ashamed that you like him. I can tell you that Aiba is a very good man.”
“Shut up.”
“Nino, if you’re not jealous, why are you drinking as if it’s the end of the world?” Sho asked, his face a mixture of concern and an evil sense of amusement.
Nino did not answer. He just kept on chugging all the beers that he ordered, only leaving one can for Sho.
Nino did not realize that he passed out until he woke up in the next morning feeling a horrible case of hangover. He was a bit surprised that he was on a bed and not in the gutter.
He sat up, clutching his forehead. He was surrounded by canvassed photos of different sceneries, hanging on the walls. He concluded that he was in Aiba’s room. Nino immediately got back to bed and pulled the comforter over himself when there was a knock on the door.
He heard something being placed on the bedside table. “Nino…?” Aiba’s voice was very warm and Nino felt that he swallowed a warm bowl of soup. “Are you feeling better now?”
Nino kept still.
“Are you awake?”
“I’m not,” he grumbled stupidly.
He could hear Aiba’s gentle laughter. “Were you really jealous about Jun-po… Jun-kun?” Aiba asked while he fixed the comforter and the pillows to make Nino feel more comfortable. He pulled the thick blanket down and chuckled when he saw Nino awake.
“I’m not jealous…” Nino murmured, pulling the comforter up again. Aiba sat beside him and tried to pull the blanket down; Nino had to wrestle for it.
In the end, Aiba climbed up the bed and slid under the covers. He lay down on his side, facing Nino. “Nino…”
“Why am I here in your house? Weren’t you and that model fucking each other last night?”
“Me? Jun-kun? No, of course not,” Aiba shook his head with a desperate attempt not to laugh.
“Well, he has a nice ass…”
“Oh,” Aiba said, narrowing his eyes. “Nino, you’re misunderstanding everything. Jun is one of the models I have worked with. He’s also a good friend.”
“There’s no need to explain.”
“But you’re mad about it,” Aiba replied. “Sho-chan told me that you were mad at me and I can’t let it stay that way.”
“I’m not mad. I can’t even stand on the same ground as him. He’s handsome and tall and dashing like a prince.”
“But he doesn’t have a photo hanging in any part of my house,” Aiba whispered, making Nino shut up. Aiba was smiling at him and Nino could see the sincerity in those round eyes.
“Aiba-chan…”
“Nino, I really like you. I really do.”
“But that’s impossible,” Nino replied, biting his lip. “That’s stupid, even.”
“I see,” Aiba said, his lips pulling into a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, Instead, Nino could see a flicker of hurt in them. Maybe he had said something insensitive. As Aiba made to leave, Nino quickly wrapped his arm around Aiba’s waist and pulled him back, making him gasp.
“Don’t you dare hang another model’s photo in this house or else!”
Aiba decided not to go to work that day; he kept on mentioning that he could not leave, especially because Nino’s puppy eyes were too cute to resist. The two enjoyed their day together, cooking failed meals, playing some video games, and making out.
In the evening, Aiba started to do some work. Nino watched him from the couch, daydreaming. His eyes traveled to his photograph on the wall. Like a light bulb switched on, Nino realized something. He stood up, dragging his favorite oversized scarf, and sat beside the small space beside Aiba like a cat demanding attention.
“You’re the one who gave me this, right?” Nino asked curiously as he snuggled closer to Aiba, who was trying to sort his photos. Nino clutched his large green-and-yellow scarf.
Aiba looked at Nino, and then to the scarf, and then looked back to his work.
“Hey!” Nino pouted, annoyed at being ignored. He removed a portion of the large scarf and wrapped it around Aiba’s neck, pulling him closer. “Answer my question!”
“I just thought singing in that kind of weather is bad for your voice,” Aiba mumbled. It really seemed like he did not want to talk about that topic much.
“But you told me that my singing is great,” Nino replied.
“I… Did I say something like that?” Aiba asked, looking at him with his eyebrows furrowed.
Nino smacked Aiba’s head, pushing him off the chair. He had forgotten that he wrapped the scarf around Aiba, and he was pulled down with him, then landing on top of the photographer’s chest. “I hate you,” he mumbled, letting out a pout.
Aiba laughed, making Nino pout once again. He ruffled the musician’s hair and placed his arms around him. “I didn’t say that. I said that your voice is great.”
“That’s the same!”
“No, it isn’t,” Aiba said with a smirk. “I used different words.”
“Nonsense,” Nino said, barely a whisper. Their faces were close to each other that they could feel each other’s warm breath. Nino’s eyes travelled to Aiba’s plump lips and without another thought, he closed the gap.
Aiba pulled Nino tighter into a hug as he responded earnestly, kissing him back until they were both out of breath.
“You were the first person who approached me and praised me, you know what?” Nino said as they both lay on the carpeted floor. Nino liked how Aiba was playing with his hair. They were still bound by the large scarf.
“Is that why you’re too attached to my scarf?”
Nino hit Aiba’s arm playfully. “I am not!”
Aiba giggled. “Yes, you are, Nino-chan.” He looked at the large photo in his living room. “I always see you wearing that scarf everytime you sing.”
Nino buried his head on Aiba’s shoulder. “Don’t call me Nino-chan!” There was a moment of silence.
“I don’t need the scarf anymore. I have you.”
--
“Kazu!”
“A-Aiba-shi?” he said, surprised. Aiba was calling from an unregistered number.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t home for a while,” he replied.
Nino snorted. “What? I won’t burn the kitchen, okay? I can manage alone.” He tried to act indifferent but he was nervous about Aiba’s silence.
“I know, I know. But… I’ll go back to Tokyo tonight,” Aiba said in a quiet voice.
“Uhh… I thought you’re working.”
“Kazu… let’s go somewhere tonight.”
“What? You’re skipping work because you want to go somewhere tonight? Are you crazy?”
“For your information, I’m working on flexi-time. It’s okay,” Aiba replied and Nino could actually feel a sense of uneasiness from the other side of the line. “Soooo… be ready, okay? I’ll pick you up at 7 PM.”
“But Aiba-shi-” Nino was not able to finish as the line was cut off. The tone of Aiba’s voice worried him.
Aiba arrived on the dot and hastily went to Nino’s studio to grab his guitar and placed it inside the car. Nino was confused but Aiba just gave a smile everytime he asked something.
“I think you’ll like this place,” Aiba said. Nino looked surprised when his favorite scarf was handed to him. “It’s kinda cold so use this.”
Nino adjusted the scarf around his neck as they drove towards the expressway. Aiba was unusually quiet but his lips were curled upwards; he seemed to be excited about something.
“Aiba-shi-” he started.
“Do you know what the theme of my new photo collection is?” Aiba asked nonchalantly.
“Eh?”
“It’s not really that colorful this time. I’m trying something different.”
Nino’s eyebrows went up. “But... you’re known for the colors. Why?”
“I have to challenge myself, I guess.” Aiba’s voice hinted that the discussion was over.
After an hour-long drive, the two ended up in a clearing. Aiba parked the car at the side of the road and the two of them walked towards the group of trees, both carrying their stuff.
“We’re here,” Aiba finally said. At the end of the group of trees was a clear cliff. The sky could be seen clearly and the stars were all evident.
“This is… this is amazing…” Nino commented, beaming at the place.
“I found this place while I was hunting for a location. Pretty neat, huh?” Aiba said, looking proud of himself that Nino was enjoying the view. But Nino did not miss how unfocused Aiba’s eyes were. He was staring afar and not paying attention.
“Why did you bring me here?”
Aiba looked at the ground shyly. “Well… Kazu…”
Nino looked at him expectantly. “Aiba-shi, you’re unusually quiet. Tell me, is there anything?”
“Kazu, I just want to have fun with you tonight,” he said.
“Shut up. You’re a bad liar.”
Aiba’s smile slowly faded and his eyes became glassy with tears. Nino did not hesitate; he ran towards Aiba and hugged him tight. Aiba placed his arms around Nino as well. He started crying.
“Kazu.”
Nino always thought that Aiba was a perfect ray of sunshine. That was the moment when he realized that Aiba was not perfect. He was not like his vivid and colorful photographs that would stay still forever.
Nino definitely understood the pain of being out of track. It was Aiba who helped him get back. Nino told himself that he should also help Aiba in any way he could.
“Hey.”
“Hmm?”
“You know what, Aiba-shi?” He looked up and smiled at Aiba. “Don’t be so hard on yourself.” He pulled away a bit.
“Kazu.”
“Loosen up, okay?”
“Those words,” Aiba said with a small smile as he wiped his tears. “I should be the one saying that to you.”
“Idiot! Stop trying to be my self-help book…”
Aiba scratched his head. He seemed to have recovered quickly. “Oh! Wait, wait! I forgot something.” He left Nino for a while and returned, carrying a large plastic bag of fireworks. “Like what I had planned, let’s have fun tonight!” he said excitedly.
“What are you, a kid?” Nino asked in disbelief. He watched as Aiba unloaded some sparklers.
“Kazu-chan, we’re supposed to have fun tonight. No drama!”
“Says the one who started to cry like a baby earlier,” Nino snapped. Aiba just laughed as he handed Nino several sparklers.
Indeed, once he took the sparkler, Nino felt an intense amount of joy. He watched as Aiba fired up the larger fireworks. They both watched the myriad of colors that surrounded them. Still holding his little sparkler, Nino tiptoed a bit to catch Aiba’s lips, giving him a soft, fluttering kiss.
“Ah, it’s raining!” Aiba said, holding out his hand.
“How annoying,” Nino replied.
Aiba shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. These fireworks can still work under this drizzle.”
That made Nino smile. “He twirled the sparkler between his fingers, enjoying the nice red glow emitting at the tip as cool droplets of water hit his face.”
The two rushed to the car just as the rain poured, the remaining fireworks were already drenched and useless, and huddled together to keep themselves warm.
“I wish we could stay like this forever,” Nino whispered as Aiba placed his arms around Nino’s neck, pulling it against the crook of his shoulder.
Aiba played with Nino’s hair. It took him a few minutes before he responded. “Oh, Kazu,” he sighed. “I wish we can… I wish I can.”
Nino felt afraid when he heard Aiba’s words but he kept his eyes closed, pretending to be asleep.
Part 2
inaudible_dFrom:
koi_choshiTitle: Fire in the Rain
Pairing/Focus: Nino/Aiba
Rating: G
Warnings: usage of some curses; and fluffy fluff
Summary: Nino did not realize that a photograph in the subway, and the man behind it, would rekindle his lost passion once again.
Notes: Dear inaudible_d. I really did my best to fulfill one of your prompts, along with the other Nino details that you want to see. I really hope that you won’t be disappointed with this.
“Please mind the gap…”
The announcer could be heard through the speakers and Nino stood up to get out of the train. He was too preoccupied with his thoughts: his boss just scolded him for messing up a client interview again. He was not reaching the client quota. Everything about his life sucked.
He walked out of the station as if on autopilot, not caring about the people or the signs. He was already out of the platform, walking on the hard cement.
“Hey!”
Nino continued walking, ignoring the calls.
“Hey, mister!”
Nino was suddenly jerked by the shoulder, making him drop his gray bag. “What the…?”
He turned around and saw a man carrying a large black bag, huffing and puffing. It seemed like he ran to chase Nino.
“What is wrong with you?” Nino asked, annoyed. That was not really the best time to start a conversation for Nino. He was hissing curses as he retrieved his bag.
“Uhh…” the man was unsure. “I… I was just wondering why you got off this station,” he said in a small voice. “I-I just noticed that it’s really odd and…” he stopped halfway when Nino opened his mouth to respond.
“You know, you’re saying nonse…” Nino was about to start but as he looked at the sign that was brightly lit up and his surroundings, he realized that he was really screwed. Why did he miss his own stop?
The stranger smiled at him apologetically that irritated him to no end. He sprinted back to the subway to go back to the right station and wished that he would never ever meet that stranger on the train again.
But of course, he had no other choice.
In one perfectly normal and boring night, Nino suddenly stopped walking when something colorful passed his line of sight. He looked up, trying to be aware and careful because he might be in the wrong station since, as he recalled, subway stations were just white walls.
Nino found himself looking at a large poster that occupied the usual advertisement spot. It was a large photo of a garden full of different colors of flowers. It even seemed like it was edited to make the colors more vivid, like a fantasy world.
“What do you think?” a breathy voice said behind Nino, making him gasp. Nino turned around and saw the stranger from the other night, looking at him with a smile that made Nino’s throat dry.
“Nothing special,” he snapped. It was not the best lie because for the first time in a long time, Nino felt something weird, something inexplicable. It was as if the vivid colors of the flowers took him away from his dull corporate world.
“You know, I’ve noticed that we’ve always ridden the same train since I started working in this area. Isn't it amazing?” the stranger said as he tailed Nino. “Destiny is the term in English.”
Nino avoided his gaze and bit his lips to the point that it was almost bleeding. He decided to ignore the man, and continued walking towards the escalator. On his way, Nino noticed that the usual ad spots were filled by the photos of the same theme: oversaturated and colorful. He stopped in front of the train doors, looking straight ahead so that he could not be bothered by anyone.
"I’m Aiba. Aiba Masaki.”
Nino’s eyes narrowed at the hand that was outstretched towards him. “Do you introduce yourself to every stranger that you meet in the train station? I mean, aside from you, there are a dozen other people here who are also riding the same train at the same time…”
Aiba just smiled as if Nino had not snapped at him. “Well then… the train’s here. We have to get in, right?” He cocked his head to the side and Nino was able to make out the flashing light of the arriving train.
Nino made a mental note to get off at the right station to spare himself from the embarrassment. But he was too conscious about Aiba’s presence that evening, They were unnaturally squished together; Nino’s back against the wall and Aiba holding on the railing.
“Hey, you still haven’t told me your name,” Aiba said with a pout as he held Nino’s shoulder in place when the train suddenly halted.
Nino frowned. “Why should I say my name? You might be a stalker or something. I can’t risk it,” he said with a stern expression. It was really tiring to put up a rude attitude to throw off this guy especially that Aiba was grinning stupidly.
Nino was thankful when he heard the announcer saying that they were approaching his stop. He did not even acknowledge Aiba’s “goodbye” as he squeezed his way out of the train.
Nino looked around him and he felt like he went back to his dark world. The appearance of this station made the other one a whimsical fantasy world because of the photographs that replaced the usual boring advertisements and blank idol smiles.
Something sparked in his brain.
Nino instinctively dashed towards his small apartment, fumbled with his keys and quickly entered the room as if he would lose something if he did not make it in time. He removed all the litter on top of his keyboard, plugged it in, and started playing random notes.
For the first time in a long time, Nino was inspired to write a song. He laid back on the carpeted floor as he held out the finished product at eye level. A smile decorated his lips as he placed the music sheet on the keyboard before he covered it with a white cloth.
--
“I can’t do this, Sho…”
“Yes, you can, Nino,” his friend replied, steering him towards the wooden platform decorated with flowered pillars.
Nino was pushed to the white grand piano on the platform. The bride and the groom were in front of him, standing on the grassy clearing, looking at him expectantly.
Nino adjusted the scarf on his neck and cleared his throat to make sure that a decent voice would come out. The scarf was not the best partner of his grayish suit but it gave him a little courage to sit in front of the piano. He was nervous, really nervous.
“When was the last time I did this?” he asked himself. He lost count and did not attempt to count because if Nino realizes how long it has been, it might make him vomit.
Nevertheless, he opened his mouth and started singing a few lines on the microphone. Nino was actually surprised that his voice did not sound like a rusty old machine. Feeling more confident, Nino closed his eyes, and pressed on the keys with a sense of familiarity.
It was like going back home, doing the things that pleased him the most.
"Nino!”
"Sho," he mumbled, putting his head down a bit in embarrassment.
“Told you, you can do it!” Sho was smiling widely, as if he won the lottery. "Hey, nice scarf!”
Nino instinctively touched the scarf on his neck. It was his favorite; he always wears that when he sings ever since god knows when. “Uh, thanks.”
“I’m so happy you accepted Keiko-chan's request!"
"What are you talking about?" Nino replied, trying to be snarky. “I’m just here for the talent fee and the free food!”
Sho laughed. “Keiko will be mad if she hears that. But anyway, she says the song is wonderful.”
Nino just smiled shyly before he excused himself. He made his way towards the buffet table to start eating.
“Oh, train guy!”
Nino looked up. It was the man from the train station, Aiba. A large DSLR was hanging around his neck.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Nino asked loudly, surprised.
“Uhh, I was invited?” Aiba replied as if it was the most obvious answer in the world. “I’m the photographer for this wedding, too. What a great coincidence, right?” he said with a dreamy expression.
Nino had the sudden urge to throw a plate to Aiba's face. He wanted to get away from Aiba as if he was a plague, for reasons he could not explain himself. But before he could do so, Sho arrived at the scene.
“Hey! I see that you two have already met!”
Aiba looked unsure. “Ahh… well…”
“Nino, this is Aiba, Aiba Masaki. He’s one of my colleagues,” Sho said. Of course, Nino knew the name already. He grunted in acknowledgement. “He’s Ninomiya Kazunari, by the way. We all call him Nino.”
“My friends call me Nino,” he snapped, making Sho chuckle.
“Ah, don’t worry, Aiba-kun. He acts cold but Nino's really a softie,” Sho assured, waving his hand carelessly.
Aiba chuckled. “I figured that out,” he said with large smile that made Nino roll his eyes. He held out his hand for a handshake. “Hajimemashite…” he said, “Ninomiya-san.” Nino wanted to laugh at Aiba’s failed attempt at a wink.
“Just so you know, Aiba-chan’s photos are all over Tokyo!” Sho beamed like a proud father.
“Sho-chan, there’s no need to talk about that!” Aiba said. “It’s not a big deal.” He shuffled uncomfortably, shyly. He probably noticed Nino’s eyes on him so he looked up, smiled again, and said, "I think you were awesome up there, Ninomiya-san!"
Nino looked to the side uncomfortably. He was not used to people praising his singing, especially this guy. But he smiled nonetheless.
Sho chuckled. "I'll... I'll leave the two of you over here. I'll talk to the bride and groom," he said. He left the scene, making everything more difficult to Nino.
Aiba cleared his throat to break the silence. "Hey!" he started. “Your performance was great up there.” There was a cautious smile on his face. Noticing Nino’s weird expression, he narrowed his eyes and asked, “Are you okay?”
Nino bit his lip and shook his head. "No, it's okay. It's just... I'm not used to people praising me."
His reply made Aiba’s shoulders relax. "Don’t you like it? You actually hear people saying you’re good!” Aiba looked surprised and confused. “And… I really thought you’re great, Ninomiya-san," he added with a giggle that made Nino more embarrassed than he was. “I’m looking forward to hearing more of your songs from now on.”
“Well…” Nino said with a shrug before taking a sip of his cocktail.
A few hours and a few bottles of liquor later, the friends of the groom were almost slumped on the table, laughing about old-man jokes, courtesy of Sho.
“You know, Nino,” Sho slurred, hiccupping, though Nino could’ve sworn he only downed about two bottles. “You can hitch a ride with Aiba-chan tonight.”
Nino was wasted but he did not miss that piece of information. “He has a car?” Nino said in disbelief.
“Well, yeah…” Sho replied like it was the most obvious thing in the world. He was definitely drunk. He could also see Aiba nodding in the background.
“No – hic – way,” he responded, a bit aggravated, pushing an invisible force away.
“I don’t mind.” He saw Aiba smiling at him while swirling his glass. “I think it will be better if I take Ninomiya-san home.”
Nino felt that he should not ride in Aiba’s car that night. Nevertheless, pairs of arms pushed him inside the handsome black car. Nino was really bad at alcohol. He could make out Aiba’s face as he fastened his seatbelt, muttering the random English expression of “safety first” before proceeding to the driver’s seat.
Nino knew that if he opened his mouth, he would blurt out random or unnecessary statements. But he did it still. “You have a car. Why are you still riding the train?” Nino realized how stupid his question was but he was too drunk to care.
Aiba answered the question nonetheless, his eyes still on the road. “Well, I think trains are so much better than cars.”
“Well, if it were me, I would prefer the comfort of my own car.”
“Even a boring subway train can be interesting if you're looking forward to seeing something,” Aiba replied. It sounded profound but it also did not make sense. It probably had, but Nino was too wasted to comprehend. He closed his eyes and dozed off; the probability that Aiba could drive him off somewhere and kill him was close to zero, anyway.
Nino felt awful the next day, waiting for his train, his hangover getting the best of him. He wanted to vomit then and there but of course, that would not be the best thing to do.
“We can probably carpool… or something next time,” a voice beside him said. "Or, I can actually take you home, if you don't mind."
Nino tried his best not to jump in surprise. “Why are you talking to me as if we know each other?” Nino asked under his breath.
Aiba looked innocently shocked. “Well, we do know each other. We met each other in that party… formally… don't you remember?”
“Oh, I probably hit myself too hard that I could not remember…”
Aiba snorted as he tried to suppress his laughter, making Nino wonder if the guy was insane.
Aiba straightened his back and looked at him. “So you did not remember what happened between the two of us last night?” he asked, moving closer and closer until Nino's back was touching the cold concrete wall. Aiba placed his palm on the wall, leaning dangerously close that Nino wanted to jump in front of the rail tracks in shame.
“W-what happened last night?” he stuttered. Lots of crazy thoughts swam inside Nino’s head, the next one worse than the first. His thoughts were interrupted by the PA announcement of the oncoming train.
Aiba laughed. “Relax, Ninomiya-san,” he said with an affectionate pat as he straightened up. “You just vomited on the car seat and I had to bring it to the car wash. It’s still there for a major cleanup.”
“Oh.” Nino wanted to show signs of relief but decided not to because he had a bad feeling that Aiba was actually observing his movements. He kept a poker face and he glared as they both stepped inside the train. Aiba did not even attempt to look for a seat. He just stood beside Nino and leaned on the wall.
“And that also means you owe me dinner.”
***
Nino did his best to not care. He really did. But he always – accidentally – glances towards Aiba’s way every single time he goes home. He surely did not notice him before and it infuriated him everytime Aiba approaches him and talks to him as if they were best of friends.
Nino wanted to be annoyed. He wanted to push Aiba away. But deep inside his heart, he knew that Aiba was the splash of colors that made his dull and repetitive world brighter. He was like the photos exhibited inside the gloomy station, cheerful and unmindful of any worries.
Speaking of the photo exhibit, Nino always looked at the most subdued photo in the whole collection. It was of a rainy scenery, complete with raindrops falling on the small puddles, and a silhouette of a person sitting on the ground. There were no enhanced colors, except for the brightened yellow hue of that person’s scarf.
“I always noticed that you like looking at that one,” Aiba said, standing beside Nino as he stared at the large photo hanging by the far end of the station.
“Hmm… it looks different from the other photos in the subway exhibit,” Nino commented. “I noticed that everything else was full of color but this one,” he pointed at the photo, “this one looks out of place.”
“Hmmm…” Aiba just commented.
Nino looked at him and smiled shyly. “Never mind. I’m not really an artist.” He was about to walk away when Aiba tugged the hem of his oversized jacket. Nino noticed that Aiba was looking at that photo with narrowed eyes, as if he was thinking critically.
“Ne, Ninomiya-san, what do you think about this collection?” Aiba asked curiously, his eyes not moving away from the photo.
Nino looked surprised about the question. “Huh?” He scratched the back of his head. “Well, I think the photos are quite childish? Too much color all around.”
“Indeed,” Aiba said. “I had hoped that this collection could brighten up someone’s day when they go home from work.” He tilted his head to the side with a serene expression. “Well, I guess it was not really effective, huh?”
“What are you talking about?”
Aiba grinned proudly as he pointed at the watermark on the lower right corner of the photo. “This is my photo. This is my exhibit.”
Nino’s mouth hung open. He could vaguely recall Sho’s boastful statement about how Aiba’s works were all around Tokyo. He then started to walk off with that feeling of embarrassment. It was like the time when he stepped off the wrong station once again, and Aiba was there to make him feel worse.
“Hey!” Aiba followed him.
“Don’t talk to me,” he snapped. He felt a shallow sense of betrayal. He was blabbering about his comments on the photos in front of the photographer! That was really embarrassing.
“Nino, it’s okay! I don’t mind. I actually meant the photos to be that way,” Aiba tried to reassure him. Nino subconsciously gave a pout and turned his head away, making Aiba chuckle.
Nino groaned when he found himself squished beside Aiba in the jam-packed train. It did not help that Aiba was grinning at him and he did not know if it was an innocent grin or if he was mocking Nino for being ignorant.
But Nino remembered how much he loved those photos and how they inspired him to sit on his piano and create new music.
“They were really effective…”
“Hmm?”
“Your photos…” Nino admitted in a small voice, making Aiba chuckle again.
“Well then. I think it will be nice if you see the real stuff. If you’re free this Saturday, would you like to come with me?”
Nino wanted to just curl into a ball and play his video games in the comfort of his apartment. Maybe he could pen a new song on his own. But before he could refuse the offer, he had already nodded his head, making Aiba smile in triumph.
Nino found himself running towards the bench by the park, as he and Aiba had agreed upon when they were in the train. Nino did not give out his number. “I don’t trust you,” he had said.
Nino was quietly tailing Aiba as he took some random shots of couples, children, and plants.
“Aren’t you going to get sued for that?” Nino asked just for the sake of asking.
Aiba looked at him in confusion. “Huh?”
“Well, you’re taking their photos and they might end up in another stupid exhibit,” Nino mumbled, feeling stupid at that moment.
Aiba scratched his head. “Oh,” he said. “Oh,” he repeated again in sudden realization. Nino noticed that there was a hint of redness on Aiba’s cheeks, as if he did something wrong and he was ashamed of that.
“Hey, Nino, did you hear that?”
Nino turned his head to the direction of the sound. Before he could say anything, Aiba had grabbed his hand and dragged him towards the clearing in the middle of the park, where street performers were having fun.
Nino stood there, transfixed, as he watched the band perform in front of a small group of people, their faces full of content smiles. Nino wondered.
“They look so happy,” Aiba commented, smiling widely. He kept on clicking his camera, taking pictures of the wonderful scene. “Look at everyone!”
Nino looked around him, emotions overwhelming. Nino looked around him, a surge of fury rising up inside. The sight was nauseating. He wanted to tear up in frustration, but he couldn’t, especially in front of Aiba.
“Let’s go,” he said coldly, turning his back away from the performers.
“Eh?” Aiba said, his brows furrowed. “You don’t like that kind of music?”
“I honestly don’t care.”
Nino started to walk away from the park briskly. He was surprised when Aiba grabbed his arm.
“What the…?”
“Let’s have some snacks. I’m hungry,” Aiba said with a small smile that seemed to be pleading. Nino could not resist that face and that fact annoyed him.
Nino pulled his hand away. “Fine.”
Nino ate with glutton as Aiba ordered different dishes from the waiter. He knew very well that Aiba was observing him but he hid that fact by stuffing himself with food until he felt like he was going to explode.
“Ninomiya-san, is there something wrong?” Aiba asked, tilting his head a bit so that he could see Nino’s face more clearly.
Nino looked to the side, silent.
“I know for a fact that you love music and you also sing,” Aiba said as he lifted himself from his seat and used a napkin to wipe the food beside Nino’s mouth. “What happened over there?”
“I used to sing like that…” Nino said, looking at his lap while twiddling his fingers, “that is, until life gave me a hard hit on the head.”
“Oh,” Aiba replied. He looked sorry. “Sorry to hear that.”
“No need to be sorry. No one died.”
Aiba looked at Nino with a frown. Then he brightened up, as if he had an idea. He started looking for something inside his bag. “Here!” he almost yelled in excitement. He took out a Polaroid camera.
“What is that?”
Aiba positioned the camera and said, “Look here, Ninomiya-san… Smile!” Aiba took a photo, making Nino a bit startled from the flash. He watched as the photographer shook the film dry. “Here!”
“What am I supposed to do with this?”
“Sign it!” Aiba said with small giggle. “So that I can boast to people that I have your autograph when you become a famous musician.”
Nino did not really know why but he started to laugh. Hard. He was laughing too much that he could not breathe. “You are so unbelievable, Aiba-chan!”
“Wow!”
“Is there something wrong with what I said?”
“Oh… it’s nothing,” Aiba replied, shaking his head. He looked at the hands on his lap for a while, took a deep breath, and spoke again. “I’m just surprised that you called me Aiba-chan.”
His words made Nino stop. He busied himself signing the photo with his pen. He then handed the autographed photo back to Aiba with a small smile. “It’s Nino.”
Nino felt like the sun was shining directly above him when Aiba beamed and giggled like a little child. “I love hearing you sing… You glow when you sing… like a burning fire…”
“You don’t make sense.”
Aiba laughed nervously. “Yeah, I guess so.” He slipped the photo inside his bag. “I’ll be looking forward to your million-seller, Nino.”
That night, Nino found himself sitting in front of his small piano again, humming a tune and then trying to recreate it using the keyboard. He looked at out the window and thought about that strange photographer, Aiba.
“Like a burning fire…” Nino repeated Aiba’s words, pondering on what that meant.
--
Nino stood in front of the train doors. He glanced left and right, trying to look for Aiba in the least obvious way.
“Nino!” he heard Aiba calling him. Aiba waved and then ran towards Nino. “Nino…” he panted, winded.
“What? Did you just run the marathon?”
“W-well…” Aiba tried to say in between his deep breaths. “Come with me.”
“The train’s almost here!”
“I’ll take you home. Just… just come with me, okay?” Aiba said with an assuring smile. Nino let himself be dragged out of the station and towards the parking area, where a large motorcycle was parked.
“Hop in,” Aiba said, handing a helmet to Nino.
“You have a motorcycle?”
“Well… yeah. Just get in. We’ll be late!” Aiba said cheerfully, fastening his own helmet. They sped off through the night. Aiba’s speed made Nino hold on tight around Aiba’s waist, making him chuckle due to the slight ticklish sensation.
“Aren’t we there yet?” Nino asked, feeling sick already.
“Just a few more minutes, Nino-chan,” Aiba replied. “Hold on!” He sped up the bike, making Nino close his eyes as he was getting dizzy in the ride.
“We’re here, Nino,” he finally heard Aiba’s voice. Nino removed his helmet and looked around; they were standing at a small park. There was a wooden platform a few paces ahead, and a small group of people. He saw a sign and he immediately stepped back.
“No way!”
“Yes way,” Aiba said enthusiastically, shoving Nino towards the group. “Hey, guys!” he called out, waving.
“Aiba-chan!”
“Hey, it’s Aiba-chan!”
Nino stared at Aiba as he was surrounded by the small crowd, talking to him. Aiba, on the other hand, was all smiles, replying to whatever they said.
“Uhh, by the way, I want you all to meet my friend, Nino,” Aiba said, pointing towards his direction. “He’s a musician! A very good one!”
Nino wanted to melt when all eyes were on him.
“Nino-san, won’t you play something for us?”
“Yeah, it’s free to share whatever you want to share tonight,” another person said.
“It’s Open Mic Night,” one man said. Nino looked up at the man who was walking towards him. He was handsome and in Nino’s opinion, he looked like someone’s dream boy. “Hi, I’m Matsumoto Jun,” he said, shaking Nino’s hand. “I’m one of the organizers of this event.”
“Hi,” Nino said, feeling intimidated.
“Jun-pon!” Aiba greeted affectionately to the man, making Nino feel awful all of a sudden.
“Masaki-kun, don’t call me like that,” Jun said, feeling embarrassed.
Nino looked at the grass, tempted to kick on the small rock that innocently lay there. “Jun-pon… huh?” he thought, clicking his tongue. He did not know why but it left a bitter taste in his mouth that he wanted to spit in front of the two.
“Nino,” Aiba started, making Nino look up, “this is a weekly event for different kinds of artists. Some recite poems, some dance, some sing. It’s a great ev-”
“So… why did you bring me here?” Nino interrupted coldly.
Aiba stared speechless and wide-eyed at him, obviously confused at the sudden change in Nino’s tone. He opened his mouth but nothing came out.
“Why don’t you sing for us, Ninomiya-san?” Jun asked with that pearly white smile that Nino had an urge to punch to oblivion. “Masaki has told me that you got a great talent for singing!”
Nino’s eyes widened, his irritation to the stranger suddenly evaporating. “He said that?”
“Does anyone have a guitar?” Nino asked shyly. One of the members of the show raised his acoustic guitar. Aiba ran towards him, took the guitar, and handed it to Nino.
“Do your best, okay?” Aiba said, raising his fist to encourage Nino.
Nino just nodded nervously. He climbed the small wooden platform and sat on the chair. “Uhh, hi,” he started. “I’ll sing one of my old songs. The title is ‘Doko ni Demo Aru Uta’.”
Nino sang with all his might, even though the audience was a small group, even though they were in the middle of nowhere. But he surprised himself when he always looked towards the man sitting in front of him, the man who was smiling brightly with his eyes glassy.
Nino did not even care anymore that Jun was beside Aiba. He did not even care about the audience’s cheers in his mini-performance. What’s important to Nino at that moment was being able to make Aiba understand something.
Aiba was the fire that lit up Nino’s dark life. And that fact scared Nino a little.
***
“I quit my job,” Nino said simply as he saw Aiba’s confusion; Nino was carrying a cardboard box on his way home.
Aiba’s mouth was open like a fish out of water.
“No need to say anything, Aiba-chan,” Nino said with a smirk.
“Ah, no, but…” Aiba started.
Nino looked straight ahead. “You see, I’ve wanted to quit that stupid, boring, and dull day job,” he explained nonchalantly. “I just… I just wanted to sing freely, you know?” he said honestly, looking into Aiba’s eyes.
Aiba seemed to have understood him. He gave an assuring smile as a reply. “Well, whatever makes you happy, Nino-chan.”
“Happiness doesn’t pay the bills,” Nino replied, making Aiba look confused with the sudden irony. “But money doesn’t really give life,” he added, glancing at Aiba.
Aiba nodded in agreement, and Nino could see a small smile and a hint of pink on the photographer’s cheeks. “Let me carry this for you, okay? I’ll walk you home,” he offered, getting the cardboard box.
Aiba chuckled lightly as Nino continuously dissed his former job, his boss, and his colleagues, while they were inside the train. It was a refreshing and liberating feeling that Nino had finally quit his day job. Sho had pleaded him not to quit but of course, he would not listen.
“Well, will you be okay?” Aiba asked, a little bit worried.
Nino grinned. “I’ll be okay, Aiba-chan.” However, the look on Aiba’s eyes gave him a tinge of anxiety. “Umm… Aiba-chan?” he started.
“Yes?”
“If I go down the dumps, can I count on you?”
Aiba laughed and Nino felt like his surroundings were illuminated. The photographer slightly brushed his hand on top of Nino’s. “You’re so silly. Of course you can count on me.”
Nino heaved a sigh of relief as he heard Aiba’s reply. He did not really want these kinds of cheesy scenes so he sighed again when the recorded voice announced their stop.
Nino cursed the heavens. The two of them were stuck at the train station entrance as the rain was pouring heavily.
“Are you okay, Nino?” Aiba asked, shivering a bit.
Nino grunted in reply. It was really cold for him because he was not wearing a jacket to keep himself warm, unlike Aiba who looked comfortable in that brown coat. He opened his cardboard box and pulled out his favorite green-and-yellow scarf. He started to wear it but his shaky hands got in the way.
“Let me do that for you,” Aiba said, putting the box down for a moment. He wound the scarf around Nino’s neck: not just in a random kind of way but in a fashionable kind of way.
“I didn’t know you’re a scarf lady,” Nino commented with a grin.
Aiba tied the scarf handsomely and patted it. “Ah, Jun-pon taught me how to do that. He’s a fashion model so he knows these kinds of things.”
Nino knew that he was a bit rude when he pulled himself away abruptly. He pursed his lips and took the box from the floor. “I’ll be going now.” Nino let himself be drenched by the rain as he stepped off the station. He started walking briskly, the cardboard box already soaked.
“Hey, wait! The rain is still pouring!” Aiba shouted, his voice difficult to hear.
“What the hell?” Nino cursed as someone grabbed his arm in the middle of the rain.
“I told you, you can count on me, Nino-chan,” Aiba said with raised eyebrows. Using his trench coat as a protection over both of their heads, Aiba dragged Nino through the rainy streets, seeking shelter under dry areas once in a while. They stopped in front of a quiet neighborhood.
“I’m… going… to… kill… you…” Nino said in between gasps for breath. “Why… the hell… did we run all the way from the train station?”
“Welcome to my humble home,” Aiba said, opening the small gate. “I guess we can stay here until the rain stops,” he suggested. He was holding the gate open for Nino to enter.
Nino looked at the house. It was like one of those old-fashioned Western houses, complete with that protruding chimney that was almost certainly fake. It was so rustic that it stood out differently in the neighborhood. It stood out in a nice way, the same way Aiba did.
“Hey, come on in,” Aiba motioned Nino to enter. While Aiba fumbled with the keys, Nino observed the cute porch. There was a table with a matching chair and an assortment of small, potted, flowering plants.
“I’ll get some towels for you,” Aiba said, hurriedly removing his shoes at the genkan and speeding towards his bedroom.
“Ah, okay,” Nino replied, removing his scarf that was dripping wet. He clicked his tongue as he saw the poor state of his cardboard box. He let it rest by the wall beside the door; they were useless anyway.
Nino stepped inside the living room. The walls were decorated by some photographs that were definitely Aiba’s work; the oversaturated colors clashed with the vintage look of the house.
One photograph stood out. It was similar to the photo that he saw on the train station: less color and more subdued. Nino walked carefully towards the large photograph printed on canvass. It looked like a continuation of his favorite photo in the station; it was the same place.
Nino touched the photo and his eyes widened. He touched the outlines of the man in the photo. Even with the desaturated colors, he could feel the movement, and more especially, the music. His eyes widened at the realization.
He was looking at his own photograph.
“I think that one is my best photo.” He heard Aiba from behind him. Nino turned around and saw Aiba grinning sheepishly, holding on to two fluffy towels. “But I just can’t let a lot of people see it.” He walked towards Nino and held out the towel. “You won’t sue me, right?”
Their gazes met each other and there was a comfortable silence that lasted for quite some time. Nino felt warm and fuzzy inside. He did not really know what is the best thing to say.
“Stop being such a creeper.”
--
Nino started staying at Aiba’s house due to Aiba’s promise after Nino quit his job. The photographer said he did not really mind; the house was actually too big for him.
Nino was alone lying on the couch, absentmindedly playing his guitar, when an idea struck him. He took his bag and fished out a business card with a crown emblem. “Ohno Satoshi. President,” the card read. He immediately grabbed his phone and dialed the number.
Nino did not want to be a freeloader. He wanted to find a job, maybe something that was related to his interests, and help Aiba in any way he can. Also, he was sometimes envious of Aiba’s enthusiasm when he talked about his new photo exhibits, the models he got to talk with, and the nice places he could visit. Can he find a job that could make him feel that way?
“Nino! I thought you’re at home!” Aiba said in surprise as he spotted Nino at the train station. His eyes were also looking for answers: why was Nino wearing a handsome suit?
“Ah, I got a new job,” Nino said simply, as if it was not a big deal. But deep inside, Nino was really excited about it.
“What is it?”
“I’ll be a pianist in a hotel lounge,” Nino said. “The hotel will open in a month. The president approached me.” Nino handed the hotel brochure to Aiba.
“Wow. Wow!” Aiba said happily, flipping the pages. “This looks great! How did you manage to get into that hotel?”
Nino frowned. “Well, President Ohno looked like some big baby creepy stalker who watched the Open Mic Night a few times and he approached me, gave me his card. I’ll start once the lounge opens.”
“Great! Really great!” Aiba said happily. “I think we have to celebrate this!”
“Your treat?”
“Of course, of course,” Aiba said with a nod. “Let’s get off at the next station; I know a great place to have some food and drinks there.”
The two got off and started chatting; it was mainly about Aiba being bitten by some kind of insect while he was taking photos at a farm. The conversation was interrupted when they heard another voice calling out to them.
“Masaki-kun?”
They both turned around and saw a handsome young man wearing a nice brown coat. To Nino’s annoyance, it was Jun.
“Jun-pon!” Aiba said excitedly, rushing towards him.
“I haven’t seen you in a while,” Jun said. “How have you been?”
“Amazing!” Aiba replied. “How was Paris?” he asked in return. His smile was so intense that Nino felt inadequate.
He found himself slowly walking away backwards, escaping the situation, as the two continued their conversation. All the joy of having a new job that was actually related to his interests evaporated.
“Sakurai Sho, are you up for a drink?” Nino asked through LINE before he got inside the train.
“I definitely think there’s something wrong so yeah,” the reply came.
Nino clicked his tongue. Sho was his longtime friend and Nino was secretly grateful that Sho could understand him. He texted the meeting place and started walking towards the bar, dragging his feet as if he was carrying heavy weights.
“Dammit… Dammit…” Nino continuously cursed as he slammed the can of beer on the table. Sho was looking at him with a baffled expression.
“What is wrong with you, Nino?” Sho asked, clearly concerned about his friend’s mood.
Nino glared at him and drank his beer. Straight. “That Aiba Masaki should go to hell.”
“Oh, wow. That’s harsh,” Sho replied. He grabbed a can and sat beside Nino to drink with him. “Just the other day, you were talking about accepting his offer to move with him after your rental contract expires. What gives?”
“He can take that… that handsome model to his house, that creeper…” Nino grumbled.
Sho smirked. “What’s this? Jealousy?”
“The hell? I’m not jealous!” Nino yelled.
He looked at the can of beer as if it was a villain. It reminded him of that pretty boy model that Aiba was talking happily with.
“He’s really handsome, you know? And tall,” Nino said bitterly.
Sho nodded, listening intently.
“And Aiba-chan was smiling widely as he talked to him,” Nino added. “I bet they’re fucking each other.”
Sho spat out his drink. “Nino! That’s too much, isn’t it?”
“Well, Aiba can do whatever he wants,” Nino said with a shrug.
“Yeah, but you’re jealous,” Sho pressed. “Nino, there’s no need to feel ashamed that you like him. I can tell you that Aiba is a very good man.”
“Shut up.”
“Nino, if you’re not jealous, why are you drinking as if it’s the end of the world?” Sho asked, his face a mixture of concern and an evil sense of amusement.
Nino did not answer. He just kept on chugging all the beers that he ordered, only leaving one can for Sho.
Nino did not realize that he passed out until he woke up in the next morning feeling a horrible case of hangover. He was a bit surprised that he was on a bed and not in the gutter.
He sat up, clutching his forehead. He was surrounded by canvassed photos of different sceneries, hanging on the walls. He concluded that he was in Aiba’s room. Nino immediately got back to bed and pulled the comforter over himself when there was a knock on the door.
He heard something being placed on the bedside table. “Nino…?” Aiba’s voice was very warm and Nino felt that he swallowed a warm bowl of soup. “Are you feeling better now?”
Nino kept still.
“Are you awake?”
“I’m not,” he grumbled stupidly.
He could hear Aiba’s gentle laughter. “Were you really jealous about Jun-po… Jun-kun?” Aiba asked while he fixed the comforter and the pillows to make Nino feel more comfortable. He pulled the thick blanket down and chuckled when he saw Nino awake.
“I’m not jealous…” Nino murmured, pulling the comforter up again. Aiba sat beside him and tried to pull the blanket down; Nino had to wrestle for it.
In the end, Aiba climbed up the bed and slid under the covers. He lay down on his side, facing Nino. “Nino…”
“Why am I here in your house? Weren’t you and that model fucking each other last night?”
“Me? Jun-kun? No, of course not,” Aiba shook his head with a desperate attempt not to laugh.
“Well, he has a nice ass…”
“Oh,” Aiba said, narrowing his eyes. “Nino, you’re misunderstanding everything. Jun is one of the models I have worked with. He’s also a good friend.”
“There’s no need to explain.”
“But you’re mad about it,” Aiba replied. “Sho-chan told me that you were mad at me and I can’t let it stay that way.”
“I’m not mad. I can’t even stand on the same ground as him. He’s handsome and tall and dashing like a prince.”
“But he doesn’t have a photo hanging in any part of my house,” Aiba whispered, making Nino shut up. Aiba was smiling at him and Nino could see the sincerity in those round eyes.
“Aiba-chan…”
“Nino, I really like you. I really do.”
“But that’s impossible,” Nino replied, biting his lip. “That’s stupid, even.”
“I see,” Aiba said, his lips pulling into a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, Instead, Nino could see a flicker of hurt in them. Maybe he had said something insensitive. As Aiba made to leave, Nino quickly wrapped his arm around Aiba’s waist and pulled him back, making him gasp.
“Don’t you dare hang another model’s photo in this house or else!”
Aiba decided not to go to work that day; he kept on mentioning that he could not leave, especially because Nino’s puppy eyes were too cute to resist. The two enjoyed their day together, cooking failed meals, playing some video games, and making out.
In the evening, Aiba started to do some work. Nino watched him from the couch, daydreaming. His eyes traveled to his photograph on the wall. Like a light bulb switched on, Nino realized something. He stood up, dragging his favorite oversized scarf, and sat beside the small space beside Aiba like a cat demanding attention.
“You’re the one who gave me this, right?” Nino asked curiously as he snuggled closer to Aiba, who was trying to sort his photos. Nino clutched his large green-and-yellow scarf.
Aiba looked at Nino, and then to the scarf, and then looked back to his work.
“Hey!” Nino pouted, annoyed at being ignored. He removed a portion of the large scarf and wrapped it around Aiba’s neck, pulling him closer. “Answer my question!”
“I just thought singing in that kind of weather is bad for your voice,” Aiba mumbled. It really seemed like he did not want to talk about that topic much.
“But you told me that my singing is great,” Nino replied.
“I… Did I say something like that?” Aiba asked, looking at him with his eyebrows furrowed.
Nino smacked Aiba’s head, pushing him off the chair. He had forgotten that he wrapped the scarf around Aiba, and he was pulled down with him, then landing on top of the photographer’s chest. “I hate you,” he mumbled, letting out a pout.
Aiba laughed, making Nino pout once again. He ruffled the musician’s hair and placed his arms around him. “I didn’t say that. I said that your voice is great.”
“That’s the same!”
“No, it isn’t,” Aiba said with a smirk. “I used different words.”
“Nonsense,” Nino said, barely a whisper. Their faces were close to each other that they could feel each other’s warm breath. Nino’s eyes travelled to Aiba’s plump lips and without another thought, he closed the gap.
Aiba pulled Nino tighter into a hug as he responded earnestly, kissing him back until they were both out of breath.
“You were the first person who approached me and praised me, you know what?” Nino said as they both lay on the carpeted floor. Nino liked how Aiba was playing with his hair. They were still bound by the large scarf.
“Is that why you’re too attached to my scarf?”
Nino hit Aiba’s arm playfully. “I am not!”
Aiba giggled. “Yes, you are, Nino-chan.” He looked at the large photo in his living room. “I always see you wearing that scarf everytime you sing.”
Nino buried his head on Aiba’s shoulder. “Don’t call me Nino-chan!” There was a moment of silence.
“I don’t need the scarf anymore. I have you.”
--
“Kazu!”
“A-Aiba-shi?” he said, surprised. Aiba was calling from an unregistered number.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t home for a while,” he replied.
Nino snorted. “What? I won’t burn the kitchen, okay? I can manage alone.” He tried to act indifferent but he was nervous about Aiba’s silence.
“I know, I know. But… I’ll go back to Tokyo tonight,” Aiba said in a quiet voice.
“Uhh… I thought you’re working.”
“Kazu… let’s go somewhere tonight.”
“What? You’re skipping work because you want to go somewhere tonight? Are you crazy?”
“For your information, I’m working on flexi-time. It’s okay,” Aiba replied and Nino could actually feel a sense of uneasiness from the other side of the line. “Soooo… be ready, okay? I’ll pick you up at 7 PM.”
“But Aiba-shi-” Nino was not able to finish as the line was cut off. The tone of Aiba’s voice worried him.
Aiba arrived on the dot and hastily went to Nino’s studio to grab his guitar and placed it inside the car. Nino was confused but Aiba just gave a smile everytime he asked something.
“I think you’ll like this place,” Aiba said. Nino looked surprised when his favorite scarf was handed to him. “It’s kinda cold so use this.”
Nino adjusted the scarf around his neck as they drove towards the expressway. Aiba was unusually quiet but his lips were curled upwards; he seemed to be excited about something.
“Aiba-shi-” he started.
“Do you know what the theme of my new photo collection is?” Aiba asked nonchalantly.
“Eh?”
“It’s not really that colorful this time. I’m trying something different.”
Nino’s eyebrows went up. “But... you’re known for the colors. Why?”
“I have to challenge myself, I guess.” Aiba’s voice hinted that the discussion was over.
After an hour-long drive, the two ended up in a clearing. Aiba parked the car at the side of the road and the two of them walked towards the group of trees, both carrying their stuff.
“We’re here,” Aiba finally said. At the end of the group of trees was a clear cliff. The sky could be seen clearly and the stars were all evident.
“This is… this is amazing…” Nino commented, beaming at the place.
“I found this place while I was hunting for a location. Pretty neat, huh?” Aiba said, looking proud of himself that Nino was enjoying the view. But Nino did not miss how unfocused Aiba’s eyes were. He was staring afar and not paying attention.
“Why did you bring me here?”
Aiba looked at the ground shyly. “Well… Kazu…”
Nino looked at him expectantly. “Aiba-shi, you’re unusually quiet. Tell me, is there anything?”
“Kazu, I just want to have fun with you tonight,” he said.
“Shut up. You’re a bad liar.”
Aiba’s smile slowly faded and his eyes became glassy with tears. Nino did not hesitate; he ran towards Aiba and hugged him tight. Aiba placed his arms around Nino as well. He started crying.
“Kazu.”
Nino always thought that Aiba was a perfect ray of sunshine. That was the moment when he realized that Aiba was not perfect. He was not like his vivid and colorful photographs that would stay still forever.
Nino definitely understood the pain of being out of track. It was Aiba who helped him get back. Nino told himself that he should also help Aiba in any way he could.
“Hey.”
“Hmm?”
“You know what, Aiba-shi?” He looked up and smiled at Aiba. “Don’t be so hard on yourself.” He pulled away a bit.
“Kazu.”
“Loosen up, okay?”
“Those words,” Aiba said with a small smile as he wiped his tears. “I should be the one saying that to you.”
“Idiot! Stop trying to be my self-help book…”
Aiba scratched his head. He seemed to have recovered quickly. “Oh! Wait, wait! I forgot something.” He left Nino for a while and returned, carrying a large plastic bag of fireworks. “Like what I had planned, let’s have fun tonight!” he said excitedly.
“What are you, a kid?” Nino asked in disbelief. He watched as Aiba unloaded some sparklers.
“Kazu-chan, we’re supposed to have fun tonight. No drama!”
“Says the one who started to cry like a baby earlier,” Nino snapped. Aiba just laughed as he handed Nino several sparklers.
Indeed, once he took the sparkler, Nino felt an intense amount of joy. He watched as Aiba fired up the larger fireworks. They both watched the myriad of colors that surrounded them. Still holding his little sparkler, Nino tiptoed a bit to catch Aiba’s lips, giving him a soft, fluttering kiss.
“Ah, it’s raining!” Aiba said, holding out his hand.
“How annoying,” Nino replied.
Aiba shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. These fireworks can still work under this drizzle.”
That made Nino smile. “He twirled the sparkler between his fingers, enjoying the nice red glow emitting at the tip as cool droplets of water hit his face.”
The two rushed to the car just as the rain poured, the remaining fireworks were already drenched and useless, and huddled together to keep themselves warm.
“I wish we could stay like this forever,” Nino whispered as Aiba placed his arms around Nino’s neck, pulling it against the crook of his shoulder.
Aiba played with Nino’s hair. It took him a few minutes before he responded. “Oh, Kazu,” he sighed. “I wish we can… I wish I can.”
Nino felt afraid when he heard Aiba’s words but he kept his eyes closed, pretending to be asleep.
Part 2
no subject
OHMYGOD I GOT THE NINO AIBA RIDING THE SAME TRAIN, WRITER-SAN I LOVE YOU ALREADY.
Aiba letting Nino know that he got off at the wrong station ;__;
@ Nino I know he's a stranger but please don't be a jerk. @ Aiba ;___; please don't give up.
For the first time in a long time, Nino was inspired to write a song. I know how this feels and this got me so hard. I love where this is heading!!!
Nino singing at the wedding ;___; and of course Sho and Aiba know each other!!!! Aiba's photos are all over Tokyo?? Could it be??? LOL @ Nino please don't drink too much. @ Aiba please take care of that tiny drunken man. AIBA KABE-DON-ING NINO ASFDHJKADSHFASD. WILL THEY HAVE THE DINNER FOR A DATE
SEE?? NINO FEELS THE SAME WAY TOWARDS AIBA THE WAY HE FELT ABOUT THE PHOTO EXHIBIT. OH MY GOD THAT WAS REALLY AIBA'S EXHIBITION!!! And yaaaaaayyy they're having a date! ;_______; what happened to musician Nino why is he so bitter just to see another street musician. The way Aiba tried to cheer Nino up ♡♡♡ Aiba chaaann ;__; Nino's writing song again ;____;♡
OMG AIBA HAS A MOTORCYCLE TOO *O* I find Nino's jealousy to Aiba's "Jun-pon" so cute hihihi. Aaaaaahhh Nino actually agreed to perform because he was told that Aiba said that he's talented made my heart warm ♡♡ @ Nino please don't be scared :(
Nino quit his job :O that is a very huge leap of faith :O OMG Nino you can't just ask Aiba to take responsibility LMAO please (but Nino is being really sweet here actually ;__;) NINO YOUR JEALOUSY IS CUTE BUT PLS DON'T RUN AWAY WHEN IT'S RAINING XDDDD Aaaaaww Aiba took Nino to his house ;__; best photo ;____;
OHNO SATOSHI THE HOTEL PRESIDENT YESSSS congrats for the new job, Nino! Ngaaaaaw look he's so cute when he's jealous, sending Sho message to get together :3 I LOVE HOW THIS JEALOUSY PROBLEM GET RESOLVED A S A P WITHOUT UNNECESSARY DRAMA, HAVE I TOLD YOU THAT I LOVE YOU, WRITER SAN? AIBA GAVE THE SCARF TO NINO??? :OOOO
Aaaaaah an actual date -w- sooo cutee -w- and it's rainingg -w- WAIT UP @ AIBA WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT PLEASE DON'T BREAK NINO'S HEART