Yohei: Searching Beyond the Spotlight

“Here we are. In perfect time for the interview. You remember what to say, right?” Tanaka doesn’t sound worried as he stops the car and lowers the window to tap in the key code. The bar blocking the narrow entryway down to the parking garage lifts, and he expertly maneuvers the car to their reserved VIP lot.

“As we rehearsed? Of course.” Yohei nods, a little distracted by the message from Aoi-chan presently on his screen, telling him how much she enjoyed their walk in the park last night. How beautiful the lights were, and how the cold made the coffee taste even better. He agrees with everything she said. Yesterday had been their third official date, and he’s still surprised at how warm and relaxed her presence makes him. How thoughts of her fill even his working time. He can practically feel the warmth of her presence now, just reading her words.

“I know I can always trust you, Ryo-san,” the manager smiles as they’re cleared by security and head to the elevators that’ll take them up to the studio floor. “And I’m sure Reina-chan will do her part as well.”

“I’m sure she will. She’s very professional.”

Tanaka continues with recapping the main points of the upcoming interview, the alleged budding relationship between RYO and RAYNA, but Yohei’s thoughts are still with his bubbly artist-maid, not the pink-haired idol. As soon as Tanaka's focus shifts to an incoming message, Yohei takes the opportunity to tap out an answer for Aoi.

yo: ‘It was great. Your company made all the difference. I’m heading into a long meeting, so I'm not sure I can stop by MofuMofu today.’

A sad smiley appears almost immediately as a reply, and he smiles, fingers moving quickly to reassure her.

yo: ‘Just wanted to confirm that we’re on for Thursday afternoon? I’m looking forward to it, Aoi-san.’

aoi_nek0: ‘Of course we’re on, Yohei-kun! We’ll have so much fun, I can’t wait! Have class now, talk more later.’

His eyes linger on the message until the elevator doors open into the comfortable lobby, and he almost regretfully slips the phone back into his pocket. They’re not first there. Reina, dressed in a silvery outfit that would have been an eye catcher in any TV performance, is sitting on the velvety armrest of a puffy sofa while her manager stands with his back to them, looking out the window at the spectacular view. Not surprisingly, he’s on the phone.

“Welcome, Ryo-san. It’s good to see you again,” Reina gives him a small wave and a warm smile as he approaches. “You too, Tanaka-san.”

“Thank you. This is exciting. You’re ready?”

“As ready as I can be.” She laughs merrily as her manager joins them, with a quick, polite bow.

“Your first official appearance together,” he says, looking between them. “The first of many.”

“Good, everybody’s here. This way, please.” Kijima’s assistant hurries in and beckons Yohei and Reina to follow her into the actual studio.

The soundproof door closes softly behind them, and they each take a seat at the cluttered desk that’s Kijima-san’s workspace. Their microphones are placed in front of them, sound checked, and then it’s time. The flashy red 'On Air’ sign lights up, and the familiar StarBeat Nights jingle plays. The show is on.

“Welcome back, everyone!” As always, Kijima-san’s voice is warm and welcoming. “Tonight, we have a very special treat for you all. We have not just one, but two amazing guests in the studio with us! Please give a warm welcome to the one and only, Ryo-kun!”

“Always happy to be here, Kijima-san,” Yohei says, just the right amount of warmth in his voice.

“And joining him is the stunning and ever-talented lead singer of Roselune. Welcome, Rayna-chan, it’s fantastic to have you with us tonight!”

Reina gives a bright smile. “Thank you, Kijima-san! It’s great to be here with Ryo-kun and everyone listening tonight.”

Kijima chuckles, clearly excited. “This is a powerhouse duo we’ve got in the studio tonight! Now, Ryo-kun, some time ago you promised us we’d be the first to hear some exciting news.” He makes a dramatic pause, “I assume today is the big day, so let’s get right into it. What have you been keeping secret from us?”

“It’s not been a secret, not exactly, but I’m happy to finally be able to share this with all of you.” Yohei shares a look with Reina, who’s giving him a knowing smirk. He leans forward into the mic, speaking casually, but with a hint of anticipation. “So, as some of you have guessed, Rayna-chan and I have been working together on something special for a while now.”

“Oh yes, the speculations have been interesting to say the least,” the host breaks in, his voice as teasing as the eyebrow he raises.

“I’m happy to announce that Rayna-chan and I are partnering for a couple of exciting events. First of all: we’re collaborating on a new song, a duet!”

“Yes! It’s been such an exciting process to work on this with Ryo-kun.” Reina’s face lights up. “We’re both really looking forward to sharing it with everyone. It’s a beautiful song, and we hope the fans will love it!”

Kijima’s voice fills with excitement. “A duet! That’s huge! Fans are going to go wild when they hear this!”

Ryo gives a small chuckle, glancing at Reina. “We hope so, but just to clarify,” he adds quickly, “it’s a professional collaboration.”

Kijima laughs heartily, clearly enjoying the playful tension.

“Oh, I see. So, you’re saying that even though everyone’s buzzing about your chemistry whenever you meet, how good you look together… And, you have to admit you two have been meeting often lately… Coffee shops, restaurants…”

“A collaboration like this requires a lot of meetings,” Yohei says with a straight face. “And lots of coffee.”

“And pancakes,” Reina chimes in.

“I’m not sure I believe you two – seems like there might be a little something more, no?”

Reina laughs, shaking her head. “We’re just good friends. We’ve been working together for a while now, and we have a great professional relationship.”

“Exactly. We’re just focused on the music. It’s a romantic song, yes, but that’s it. Just music.”

“Alright, alright, I won’t press too much more on that… though I think the fans will have a lot to say about it.” Kijima shifts the tone, dropping the teasing tone. “But tell me, what can we expect from this duet? Is it going to be the kind of emotional ballad everyone’s hoping for?”

Reina responds first, leaning close to the microphone.

“It’s definitely emotional, but there’s also a lot of energy in it. We wanted to balance the emotions with something that people could really feel. Something that resonates but also makes you want to move. We’ve put a lot of ourselves into it, and I think people will really connect with it.”

Yohei nods, his smile more genuine now. He always loves talking about his music.

“Yeah, it’s been a wonderful and rewarding process. And, of course, we’re very excited to see the fans’ reaction.”

“So, this song is coming out soon?”

“Yes,” Yohei confirms. “We’re looking at a release next month, just in time for the holidays. It’s going to be the perfect soundtrack for those cozy winter nights.”

“Perfect timing!” Kijima exclaims. “I’m sure everyone will be playing it on repeat. Alright, let’s switch gears a little. Fans have been asking about the rumored collaboration with SEIKA TOKYO. Is it true? Will we be seeing you both rocking their new designs soon?”

“Yes, that’s true!” Reina laughs, clapping her hands in excitement. “We’re both really excited to be part of SEIKA TOKYO’s upcoming collections. We’re going to do a photoshoot for them, and I think it’s going to be a lot of fun. We’ve been talking about the designs and the concept, and it’s all coming together nicely.”

“It’s a huge honor,” Yohei adds. “I’ve always been a fan of the brand, and to be part of their new season is a big deal. We’ll also be in their fashion show in a few months. I’m already nervous about it.”

“Wow, I’m really looking forward to seeing that,” Kijima comments, a grin spreading across his face. “You two are going to look amazing, I’m sure. And speaking of rumors, I’ve got a few fan questions for you both. Ready?”

“Bring them on!” Reina says, enthusiastically.

“Just be careful with those fan questions, Kijima-san. We don’t want to stir up more rumors than we already have.” Yohei adds with a wink, and all three laugh.

Kijima pulls up the list. “Alright, here’s a fun one from Kiko, 18, from Sapporo. ‘What’s your favorite thing about each other?’”

Reina answers first. “I think we balance each other out really well. I’m more energetic, and Ryo-kun is really thoughtful and focused. We both bring something different to the table.”

Yohei nods in agreement. “I think Rayna-chan said it perfectly. We’ve got different approaches, but we both respect each other’s work, and that makes everything flow really well.”

“And here’s one from Sakura, 22, from Tokyo: ‘You always look so calm. Do you ever get nervous before a performance or event?’”

Yohei laughs lightly, looking at Reina. “Of course, we get nervous. It’s natural, especially when you’re doing something that matters to you. But we try to use that energy to make our performance even better.”

Reina chuckles. “I think nerves are a good sign, actually. They mean you care about the outcome.”

Kijima claps his hands in delight. “Fantastic answers, you two. This has been so much fun. But I think it’s time to wrap up for tonight. Any last words for the fans, before we say goodbye?”

Yohei looks at Reina, then into the microphone. “To everyone out there, thank you for your continued support. We’re so excited to share the new music with you, and we hope it brings a little light to your holidays. Keep shining for us!”

Reina smiles warmly. “Thank you, everyone! And don’t forget to look for the duet!”

Kijima smiles, wrapping things up. “Well, there you have it, folks! Ryo-kun and Rayna-chan, everyone! A huge thank you to both of you for joining us tonight. And to the fans– stay tuned for all the exciting things ahead. We’ll be back next week with more surprises!”

*

“Good job, both of you,” Tanaka greets them as they step out of the studio.

“Thank you. We always work well together,” Reina says, smiling.

“Hang on a second,” Tanaka’s phone buzzes, and he steps away.

“This is so exciting,” Yohei says. “Have you thought about just how big this can get?”

“I know… SEIKA TOKYO has shows in Europe. Imagine us walking the runway in London or Paris.” Her voice takes on a dreamy tone as she looks him in the eyes. “Performing our songs there…”

London... Paris... Aoi-chan would love to see the Louvre... the thought makes his smile widen.

“That’d be something…” Yohei says, the vision already vivid in his mind. An international breakthrough… another dream coming true. He lets out a soft laugh. “I should probably work on my English, just in case…”

Reina grins. “Definitely, wouldn’t hurt.”

“You two making big plans, I hear.” Their managers both share an amused but excited look.

“Let’s keep discussing this over dinner.” Tanaka gives an almost imperceptible wink. “That'll give the paparazzi some excellent photo opportunities. You two are positively radiant together tonight.”

“Of course,” Yohei agrees. It’s a sound strategy, but despite the exciting buzz, a lump forms in his chest. He'd hoped to slip by the cafe tonight and surprise Aoi-chan. For an irrational moment, he wishes he could share all this excitement with her, but he can’t. Not yet. Their worlds are so different, and the moments of being ‘just Yohei’ with her are so special.

Well, he’ll text her later, maybe even call her just to hear her voice. And... Thursday afternoon isn’t far away… though it still feels like an eternity.