Chapter 42

Misaki stared at Ren, his hand held out while he waited for her response. Her hands shook as she tried to decide.

"You can do it, Misa-nee!" Emi let go of her and gave her a hefty pat on the back. "You know you want to. It's the perfect chance."

Misaki stumbled forward, straight into Ren, and his arms wrapped around her.

The crowd squealed, with a bunch of them wishing they were Misaki.

"Hey," he whispered and smiled, a sparkle in his eyes. "Are you ready for it?"

"I..." A lump formed in her throat. "I don't think I can..."

"You can, Misa. Just follow along, and it'll all come back to you. You're meant to be here." He took her trembling hand and led her up onto the stage.

Shun winked at her, quickly plopped a headset on her, and took her free hand. "It'll be fun, like the first time, promise."

What's that for? I don't need a mic to dance...

'Heartbreak Rehearsals' started to play, and her eyes widened.

He wasn't kidding! It's the new song we danced to before... but in front of this crowd. Her whole body tensed.

Like the first time, Ren bowed and kissed the back of her hand.

The crowd screamed, a few of them even fainting as they waved their glow sticks around.

His eyes flicked up to meet hers. The beat picked up, and he tugged on her hand, pulling her flush against him, away from Shun, as he began to sing. His arm wrapped around her waist and led her in their swing dance.

Before she knew it, her body relaxed and moved in sync with his to the music. He twirled her, unhooking her mask without disturbing the headset, and tossed it to the side.

Shun took her hand from the other side, and he dipped Misaki, her leg naturally lifting. He pulled her back up and tangoed with her. Every step was deliberate and close as he sang.

Ren said it before. He wanted my vocals in this song, and my part is coming up.

She moved between the boys, the three of them dancing together, vying for her attention as they pulled from both sides.

When the part came up, her voice came out quiet, until the boys took her hands on both sides and joined in the lyrics with her. Misaki's voice grew stronger, and they continued their dance.

As the song came to an end, Ren wrapped his arm around her waist and dipped her low, with Shun on the other side supporting her back and leaning in close. Ren stared into her eyes and smiled, a hair's breadth away. "You did it."

He's right. Exhilaration ran through her body.

The crowd erupted again, with one voice cutting through the rest.

"Misa-nee! You're amazing!" Emi screamed, wishing she had one of Misaki's pink or purple glow sticks with her.

The audience chanted their names, then started yelling for an encore.

Ren pulled her back up, still staring into her eyes as he resisted the urge to kiss her. "Think you can help me with one more thing to close up the concert?"

"Oh?" Misaki raised an eyebrow.

Shun glanced at him, frowning, since he thought that was the finale.

"For Shun," he whispered, wiggling his eyebrows.

Oh! He wants to perform it here!

"Okay, our amazing fans, it's time for one more surprise." Ren swayed his hand to the back of the stage, and the visuals in the back changed from stars with an 'H' to a picture of Ren and Shun when they were little.

"Through all the ups and downs in my life, there's been one person beside me this entire time, and I'm finally going to thank him for it." Ren took Misaki's hand and led her to the grand piano behind them.

"Shun, this is from us, to you." Ren placed his fingers on the keys, and Misaki followed his lead. They played together and sang in unison as the pictures in the back changed.

Pictures showed Ren and Shun as they grew up together. Playing games. Supporting one another. Training together as teenagers alongside Misaki. Their rise to stardom. Ending with the picture of the three of them together in the studio.

The crowd broke out in tears, reminiscing about their own journeys while appreciating Hayase's.

"Thank you, Shun, for being the best big brother a guy could ask for. Sorry you have to wrangle me in so often, but at least you're good at it," Ren said, turning to him.

The audience chuckled, most of them used to seeing Shun as the grounded one of the two.

"Thank you, little brother, Misaki." As they stood, Shun reached out to give them both a big hug. "I don't know when you had time for all of this, but it was a touching song, and I'm surprised you'd choose some of those pictures." Shun chuckled as he thought about the one of Ren as a toddler crying over fallen ice cream while Shun tried to offer his own.

"I wanted it to reflect our relationship, and those stood out. It's what you always do; offer to help without me asking. You do so much for me that there's no way I could ever repay you, but I at least wanted to acknowledge it all."

Shun nodded and swallowed hard. "I think it's time to wrap this up." He took Misaki's hand, and Ren followed, taking her other hand. They walked together to the front of the stage.

The crowd is massive. No longer distracted by the boys, she took a deep breath, absorbing it all in. The thousands of people cheering them on. The lights overhead. A feeling of excitement she thought she had lost.

"Misa-nee!" Emi screamed, waving to her with more vigour than anyone near her.

"Thank you all for coming today," Shun said.

"We know it was on short notice, but we hope you all enjoyed today's show," Ren continued.

"If you enjoyed our new songs with our songstress, Misaki, be sure to look forward to more on our upcoming album."

"The entire album will be full of songs that'll catch your ear, make your heartbeat faster, and inspire you to reach for the stars."

"We put everything we have into it, so we hope you'll enjoy them," Misaki joined them. I spoke while staring at the crowd! Her grip on their hands tightened.

"Once again, thank you all for coming today, our amazing fans," Shun said.

"Until next time. We are..." Ren trailed off.

"Hayase," the brothers said together and made a heart sign together with their free hands, in front of Misaki.

The three of them bowed and waited for the curtains to close as the audience roared.

Once they shut, Misaki's legs shook, and both of the brothers reached for her waist to help hold her up.

"You doing okay?" Ren asked.

"I... I danced in front of a live crowd," Misaki said.

"You did."

"And I sang in front of them..."

"You did," Shun said.

"I even spoke to them..." Misaki sighed, and her legs fully gave out.

Ren moved quickly to scoop her up into his arms. "Good job, Misaki. I'd say this was a step towards your official return, if you want. You could always join—"

"Ahem," Shun cleared his throat and gestured with his hand, swinging it at his own neck to tell him to stop talking.

Misaki wrapped her arms around Ren's neck and shyly peeked at him. It's definitely more than I've been able to do on my own.

"How about we head home?" Ren asked her.

"Home?" Whose home?

"Our home, not your family home, though I wouldn't mind stopping by there for a bit. Might be nice to introduce myself to your family."

Her heart rate spiked. "W-what? Why?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

Wait, family? "Emi!" Misaki wiggled around in his grasp. "She's still in the crowd."

"Don't worry; I sent someone to bring her back here," Shun said.

"Misa-nee!" Emi yelled as she ran towards them with her arms out, ready for a squealing hug. "You were so amazing!" She halted when she noticed Ren was carrying her. "Um..." She cleared her throat. "Great concert, everyone!" Emi bowed to them and looked away.

"Don't worry about her; I'll make sure she's home safe and sound. You two take your time figuring things out." Shun turned to her, his hand resting on her upper back as he led her away. "Emi, I'll get you home, but first, I'd love to hear if you have any feedback on tonight's show."

"Really?" Emi stared up at Shun with sparkles in her eyes and her hands clasped together in front of her racing heart as they left.

Ren mentally thanked Shun and glanced at Misaki. "As much as I wouldn't mind carrying you out to my car that's waiting for us, maybe we should rest in the back before heading off."

Misaki nodded. But where do we go from here?