Chapter 15

"Anyone notice we keep switching which one we're working on?" Ren asked as he stared at the papers spread out on the table, couches, and even on the floor around them.

"Maybe that's what happens when multiple people work together like this," Misaki suggested. I usually plow through one at a time on my own, but random ideas still get the extra sheet on the side. "Gotta write things down as soon as you think of them or they might slip away."

"I always figured if it didn't stick in my head, it wasn't good enough in the first place."

"And that's why you go through phases of writer's block; you forgot what you wanted to write." Shun laughed, nudging his brother with his elbow.

"Ha ha, very funny, but we didn't even finish a song today, unlike..." Ren trailed off, realizing his mistake; Shun wasn't to know about the other song yet.

Shun raised an eyebrow, waiting for Ren to continue. "Unlike when? Did you have a sudden burst of inspiration recently, and you've been hiding songs on me?" Shun asked.

"Ha ha... nope. Nothing like that. Why would I ever hide songs from you?" Ren averted his gaze, staring at the paper on the ground beside the coffee table.

"I would assume because it sucked that badly."

"Hey! They may vary in how great they are, but I've never had one completely horrible. Give me some credit. I'm not you!"

"Tch. What was that?"

What in the world is going on? Misaki leaned away, watching them. Didn't know they still bickered like this.

"Like that one about all the baked goods. What were you thinking?"

"That was for children! And they asked for it." Shun's jaw tensed.

"Ahem." Misaki cleared her throat, hoping they'd remember she was there before they got into a physical tussle.

Shun and Ren froze.

"I'm sorry, Misa," they both said, rushing to bow to her.

"Uh, it's fine, but can we get back to work?" she asked, waving a stack of papers around.

"How about we organize what we have so far?" Shun suggested, picking up all the papers. Ren and Misaki both handed him the papers around them. "Ren, you missed one over there." He pointed at the one sitting beside Ren, falling in between the couch cushions.

"Uh, nope. That one was rejected."

Shun raised an eyebrow, smirking. "I thought none of your songs were horrible."

"It's not a song yet, just a few scribbled lyrics, that's it. I'll get rid of it now— Hey!"

As soon as Ren picked it up, Shun snatched it from him to read over. "This reads like..." Shun trailed off.

"What is it?" Misaki leaned over to read it, but Ren took it back.

"No need for you two to look at it like that. I'll get rid of it now." Ren headed into the kitchen, but instead of throwing out the paper, he slipped it into his pants pocket.

"Was it really that bad?" Misaki whispered to Shun.

"No, not really, but it doesn't match any of our titles. He must've had something else on his mind..." Shun sighed and shook his head, wondering what Ren was thinking, working on it now.

"Oh?" He's not worrying about the picture again, is he? But private lives being in the spotlight would suit one of the songs... I wonder what's wrong. She glanced over at the kitchen to see Ren returning.

Ring, ring. Ren answered his phone right away. "Hey, Daichi, what's up?"

Uh-oh, a call from him now probably isn't good.

Shun turned to Ren, the papers collected and half-organized in his lap.

"Another band cancelled, and the label is asking us to replace them today?" Ren brought the phone closer for Shun to hear.

"It's nearby, and they'd love to have you on," Daichi said. "You'd be doing Eclipse a big favour."

"What's it for?" Shun asked. "Do we need to do anything to prepare?"

"Be prepared to perform a song and to participate in variety show shenanigans. I know it's been a long time since you've participated in these types of shows, but they're still good to be in once in a while, my superstars."

Been a long time now since I participated in those. I'd prefer to pass on anything involving bugs, though.

Ren and Shun both glanced at Misaki. "It's not that we're against the show, but—"

"Don't worry about me," Misaki whispered. "I can head home now." She waved her hand, motioning for them to continue as she gathered her things.

"Are you sure?" Shun asked.

"I'm sure. I already know the best bus route home."

"Still..."

"Guys?" Daichi called out to them when they didn't respond. "What do you say? Will you do it?"

"It's like he said before; best to keep them happy," Shun whispered.

"I guess we'll do it," Ren answered him.

"Great! We're already on our way to pick you up. And Shun, please turn your phone back on. I called you first, but got no answer," Daichi said.

"Oops. I turned it off for our writing session." Shun pulled his phone out to turn it back on.

"I'll see you soon, boys." Daichi hung up.

"It's always something, isn't it?" Ren sighed and put his phone away.

"I think we got a lot done." Misaki put her jacket on and pulled her disguise out. "So even if it was cut short, at least it was productive. I know how life is; go have some fun."

"I'll see you out." Ren moved before Shun could, wrapping his arm around Misaki's shoulders.

"Oh!" She rushed to put her mask on before he could see the red on her cheeks. "B-bye, Shun." She bowed to him.

"Thank you for today, Misaki." He gave her a soft smile that made her heart skip a beat.

Geez, it's hard to take all of this in person again.

"I was planning to drive you home, but I already agreed to go." Ren sighed, pulling out his car key with his free hand.

"I thought Shun had that?"

"I bet he regrets teaching me how to do that now." Ren snickered. "You know, it's not a long drive to your place—"

Her heart jumped. "But Daichi will be here soon. Thanks anyway." She slid her shoes on at the door.

"Ha, this sucks," he mumbled to himself. "I was planning to keep you here longer."

Longer? "Hmm?" She turned to him, and he kissed her cheek right beside the mask. "Oh!" she gasped and automatically touched the spot.

"Thank you for today. Travel safely and text me when you're home."

"W-will do. Thank you as well." She bowed and scurried out the front door.

"Couldn't help yourself, could you?" Shun complained, leaning on the wall behind him.

"Nope, not at all. I'm holding myself back quite a bit, you know?"

"Oh, I know better than you could imagine."

Ren frowned, tilting his head to the side as he pondered. "What do you mean by that?"

It feels so much longer walking than driving. Misaki trudged down the road surrounded by trees as the sky darkened.

Rustle.

She froze. Is someone hiding in the bushes? Kinda easy on this street. She clutched her purse with shaking hands and turned around. "Hello?"

A squirrel hopped out of a nearby bush, and she jumped back.

"Oh! You scared me, little guy." Misaki took a deep breath. Maybe I should make sure to leave while there's still light in the sky. Better yet, ride a bike here. If I can. It's been so long. I'd have to buy a bike first.

She sighed and continued on her way around the corner to the empty bus stop down the street.

The van Hayase used last time passed by her, on its way to the brothers.

Guess I got out of the way just in time.

She glanced at her watch. Any minute now.

A chill ran up her spine, and she spun around.

Geez, I'm getting paranoid. There's no one here.

"Hurry up and get here," she mumbled and spotted the bus coming up from down the street. "Thank goodness."

The bus stopped beside her, half full of people. She got on, and someone got on behind her, so she rushed to sit in the back.

Where'd he come from?

He had a mask, a hoodie, and a baseball cap on, all in black, and sat at the front of the bus.

I swear I was there alone.

She hugged her purse to her chest, her eyes on the man, but he never turned around.

Maybe he rushed to catch up, and I didn't notice.

Still uncertain about her fellow bus rider, Misaki rushed off the bus towards her apartment building as soon as it reached her stop.

"Sorry!" Misaki called back to the person she ran into.

Once she got into her apartment entrance that auto-locked behind her, she turned around and watched, in case the man from earlier followed.

On the sidewalk, hidden in the shadows from the oncoming night, the man with the baseball cap stared straight at her. Watching her.

Oh crap. She took a few shaky steps back and bumped into someone. "Ah!" she yelped.

"Whoa there." The man behind her stepped away. "You okay? You're the lady from upstairs, right?" the blonde-haired man asked, gazing past her.

"Um, yes, thank you. I'm sorry for running into you." She bowed to her neighbour and rushed upstairs to her apartment, locking the door behind her.

Who was that? She peeked around her curtain out the window, but no one was there.