Chapter Text
It wasn't rare for Tokiya to call the rest of ST☆RISH for a sudden meeting.
Sometimes, he wanted to discuss stage directions. Other times, he came up with song lyrics that he just had to hear them sing a cappella. One time, he even dragged all of them to the dance studio to demonstrate choreography after a burst of inspiration. Tokiya was a perfectionist to the highest degree, but no one ever complained, knowing how valuable his insights were.
It wasn't even rare for Tokiya to call for a sudden meeting in the early hours of the morning, when the sun barely even shone. It was common knowledge that he was one of the earliest risers in the agency, and the only one who was ever awake to greet him on his way out for his morning jog was Masato.
It was rare, however, for the meeting to take place in Tokiya and Otoya's bedroom.
As expected, Masato was the first to knock on the door. It was unexpected, however, for Ren to trail behind him, looking for all the world like a dying man.
"I am sorry for calling everyone this early," said Tokiya in a low voice. He glanced worriedly at the swaying Ren and let him and Masato in. "I will explain when everyone is here. Ren, feel free to take the couch…"
Ren seemed to be operating on autopilot. Without needing to be told twice, he slumped onto the couch, folded his arms, bowed his head, and closed his eyes. A few seconds later, his breathing evened.
Masato was content with sitting primly and properly next to him. "No worries, Ichinose. I have just finished cooking. Perhaps we can all have breakfast after the meeting concludes."
Tokiya was about to reply, but Syo opened the door without knocking. Natsuki stood behind him, lightly tapping the door in vain. "Sorry we're late! Good morning, everyone."
Tokiya was more than used to Syo barging into every room that he didn't even have it in him to sigh. "Alright, we just need to wait for Aijima-san, then I shall start."
As if summoned by magic, Cecil knocked on the door and let himself in. "Hello! Am I the last one here? Sorry, I just woke up."
"All good, Aijima-san." Tokiya crossed his arms, looking very grave. Cecil and Natsuki were reciting their respective schedules in low voices. Syo was silently doing stretches—from the dry towel wrapped around his neck, he must be planning to hit the gym the moment he exited Tokiya's room. Masato was silently—and rather awkwardly—observing everyone. And Ren was sleeping.
Finally, the buzz halted when Cecil looked around and asked, "Where is Otoya?"
Syo also spoke up. "Yeah, we're still missing Otoya." Spotting the mound of blankets on Otoya's bed, he clicked his tongue and approached the mattress. "Jeez, is he still asleep? Oooi, Otoya…"
Tokiya hissed. "Don't—"
But it was too late. Syo lifted the blankets in one smooth movement, revealing…
Well, it was undoubtedly Otoya, alright. Messy red hair and tan skin and all. But this Otoya was clearly too small for the 175 centimeters listed on his profile. His shirt, pants, and blankets engulfed his tiny figure. He tucked his limbs into himself as he snored softly. His chin was more rounded, his cheekbones were less prominent, and while Otoya's face always held traces of boyishness, this was clearly the yet-mature face of a child.
"What the—" Syo jerked back as if he encountered a horde of spiders. The blanket dropped onto the floor. "O-Otoya?!" he squawked. Otoya stirred, and he quickly lowered his voice. "That is Otoya, right?!"
Tokiya was massaging his forehead by now. Among the appalled, "I-Ittoki…?!" the soft gasp of, "Otoya-kun…?" and the drowsy, "Ikki? Damn it, I'm more hammered than I thought," he managed to raise his voice just enough. "Everyone, please calm down. This is why I called everyone today. When I woke up this morning, Otoya was…" His voice stuttered when he noticed Otoya was properly waking up. No matter how confused he and everyone else were, discussing someone right within their earshot was still uncouth.
The whole room held its breath when Otoya's eyes blinked open, revealing large red eyes that were usually so bright and energetic but were now devoid of light. Those lips that always curved into a smile were now pulled into a frown. He looked around the room, and it bothered ST☆RISH when his eyes were filled with confusion, not recognition. In fact, there might even be fear.
Everyone's horrors were confirmed when Otoya was the first to speak—in a small, nearly cracked voice that had yet to develop, "Who… are you?"
Chaos erupted.
"Oi, Otoya, you must be joking."
"Otoya-kun? It's us!"
"Ikki, what are you…?"
"Everyone, please!"
Tokiya nearly yelled this time. Everyone froze, but Tokiya wasn't directing irritation towards the group. Instead, he was looking at Otoya with concern.
Five heads followed the direction Tokiya was staring at, and they were met with Otoya's glassy eyes. His lips wobbled, and it was all he could do to hide his face in the collar of the shirt that was too big for him.
"Wait, Otoya," Tokiya's voice cracked. "I'm sorry. Did I…?"
Before he could finish the sentence, Otoya started sniffling.
Masato moved like a blur. Suddenly, he was perched on the edge of Otoya's bed and positioned himself to block Otoya's small body from view. No one could see Masato's face, but his low voice traveled through the deadly silent room. "Apologies for the shock, Ittoki. I imagine it must be overwhelming for you."
Otoya didn't say anything, only blinking rapidly. Masato took it as his cue to proceed. "It must be disconcerting to wake up to strange faces, so why don't you have a drink? Then, we can talk."
Then, Masato took it upon himself to fetch Otoya's mug from the bedside table and handed it to the child. He kept his hand at the bottom of the mug as Otoya drank with wobbly hands.
Once Otoya drained the mug, he whispered so softly that only Masato could hear, "Thank you, um…" He eyed Masato nervously.
"You're welcome. Introductions are in order, I think," said Masato, slightly raising his voice for the whole room to hear. "My name is Hijirikawa Masato. These"—he gestured with a hand to the other five people in the room—"are my friends from an idol group named ST☆RISH. A group you are also in."
Otoya now eyed everyone with guarded curiosity. Natsuki gave a little wave. "So… they're my friends?"
Everyone sighed a collective breath of relief. At least Otoya knew they weren't a group of shady kidnappers. Natsuki piped up. "That's right! We went to Saotome Academy together, too. I am Shinomiya Natsuki. Masato-kun and I were your classmates!"
Otoya shifted uncomfortably. "I've… never heard of Saotome Academy…"
The rest of ST☆RISH exchanged looks of confusion. Masato swallowed through a dry throat. "Ittoki… may I ask your age?"
"Seven."
Everyone else winced. Otoya's age had regressed fifteen-something years. Just how exactly were they going to explain this?
But Tokiya had something else on his mind. "Seven… That should be when—ah, never mind." His tone hinted that he would talk about this once Otoya was out of earshot. "Anyway, Otoya, hello. Um, my name is Ichinose Tokiya, member of ST☆RISH, as well as your roommate. Speaking of, we live in the dormitories of Shining Entertainment, where many of Saotome Academy's students are employed after graduation."
Otoya tilted his head. "Em… employ?"
"He means we work here." Ren was the one who spoke this time. He still looked exhausted, but his eyes were soft with amusement instead of droopy with sleep. "And we live in the same place, too! Fun, huh? Anyway, the name's Jinguuji Ren." He smiled lazily and winked at Otoya.
Otoya's next words wiped the smile completely off Ren's face. "Oh… Just like me and my siblings at the orphanage."
Tokiya cringed. He hadn't wanted to bring up what he realized—that Otoya must have regressed to the time he just lost his family and entered the orphanage where he grew up.
Ren recovered quickly. "Not… quite," he chuckled. "I can see the resemblance, though."
"We're all bigger than your siblings, I bet!" said Syo, louder than necessary.
"Most of us."
"Shut up, Ren. Anyway, hey, Otoya! I'm Kurusu Syo!"
By this point, Otoya's eyes were darting from one person to another, lips moving soundlessly. Masato's voice dropped to a light whisper. "You don't have to force yourself to remember everyone's names and faces immediately."
"Yeah, especially Ren's."
"Ochibi-chan, you're so grumpy this morning…"
"As you can see," Tokiya sighed, though he failed to hide the fondness in his voice, "we are… a colorful bunch."
The usual Otoya, the one ST☆RISH and the world knew and loved, would grin widely and laugh heartily. His eyes would sparkle, his laugh would travel across the room, and his presence would carry warmth, love, and music.
This time, Otoya only observed Ren and Syo's banter with guarded interest until they felt awkward at the lack of a third voice. Syo cleared his throat. "So, okay, I know Hijirikawa said to take it easy, but there's one more person you gotta know."
Everyone turned to Cecil, who had been way too silent all this time. Cecil met Otoya's eyes with furrowed brows. He chewed his lips and wrung his hands restlessly until Natsuki gave him a gentle push on the back. "You can do it, Cecil-kun."
Cecil forced a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Hi, Otoya. My name is Aijima Cecil. It is nice to meet you."
The rest of ST☆RISH waited for Cecil to say more—the most important thing that he should say. But Cecil cast his gaze downwards and pressed his lips together.
In fact, it was Otoya who mumbled, "Aijima…san?"
Everyone flinched, Cecil most of all. Otoya didn't seem to notice. "That's like my mom's last name."
There was a collective intake of breath, followed by a low curse from Syo. Tokiya and Masato scrambled to come up with something, but Cecil spoke first. "Is that so?" His tone had become more lighthearted. "What a coincidence. I hope we can become close, then!"
"Uhm… then…" Otoya looked tentatively at Cecil, then at Masato by his side, and finally at everyone else. "I'll… I'll be in your care."
He bowed his head, and something broke in Cecil. At how unsure Otoya looked, how guarded and reluctant he must be, and how, despite everything, he had no choice but to go along with the six strangers he was supposed to be friends with. Cecil forced a deep breath and looked around. Judging from Tokiya and Masato's complicated faces, Syo's clenched fists, Natsuki's frown, and Ren's tight lips, everyone else felt the same way.
After their glamping trip, ST☆RISH had become even closer, if that was even possible. This was especially true for Otoya and Cecil. If they were both free, it was impossible to find one without the other. They played games together, watched silly movies together, sang together while Otoya strummed his guitar… But now, here Otoya was, looking at Cecil—at all of them—like they held no memories for him.
ST☆RISH, being strangers to Otoya? When Tokiya had been sharing a living space with him for years? When Masato and Natsuki were his first friends in the academy? When Ren and Syo were like supportive (yet sometimes annoying) siblings who had his back no matter what? When Cecil had clicked with him so easily before being aware that they were bound by blood?
It felt wrong. It was wrong. Otoya should never be looking at ST☆RISH this way—with confusion, doubt, restraint, and anxiety, with no love to be seen. ST☆RISH was not going to let this go on. But…
"The heck do we do now?" Syo voiced everyone's sentiment.
"The first thing we should do," said Tokiya after a moment's pause, "is to cancel Otoya's work for the day. I can inform the agency…"
"Or," Ren piped up, "we take it up to the Boss."
Syo gulped audibly. Natsuki put a hand under his chin. "I wonder if he has a solution…"
"That"—Ren pointed at Natsuki—"or he might have something to do with it."
Everyone grimaced, knowing how eccentric their wild card of a president was. Didn't he accidentally summon Satan once? With the stunts he pulled off on a daily basis, turning Otoya into a child might just be a side effect of whatever he tried to do this time.
Tokiya pinched the bridge of his nose. "Either way, Ren is right. I hate to say this, but we should tell him."
"I agree," Masato pitched in. "He has to be made aware if something this major happens to his—ah, to one of his idols."
It was a good thing (or a bad thing, if you asked Syo or Ren) that Otoya was following everyone's conversation like a confusing volleyball rally. Otherwise, Masato wouldn't have been able to catch himself from saying what was on everyone's minds.
His idol? His son, you mean? His one and only son, from his one and only love, whom he left to pursue his career? His son, whom he still hadn't acknowledged, whom he supported financially only in secret, whom he then left to emotionally fend for himself? His son, who was now so scared of everyone leaving because he had set a precedent?
Natsuki clapped once, causing everyone to jump in varying degrees of embarrassment. "Okay! Shall we see the president now, then?"
Ren was the second to recover. "Dressed like that?" He gestured to Otoya's small form. It was hard to say he was clothed, considering the T-shirt and shorts hung so loosely on his body. It was more fitting to say he had been drowning in fabric, especially with the added blanket that he scrambled to retrieve after Syo had carelessly tossed it aside.
"I don't suppose anyone here has children's clothes to spare?" Tokiya muttered.
Masato squared his shoulders. "Give me fifteen minutes with Ittoki and I'll get that sorted."
He turned to Otoya, coaxing him with soft words that were inaudible to everyone else. After a short while, he escorted—or borderline carried—Otoya to his own bedroom.
When Masato closed the door behind him, everyone's shoulders sagged. The falsely cheerful air they tried to maintain for Otoya's sake dissolved immediately, replaced with confusion and sadness.
"For the love of…" Syo claimed Tokiya's bed and slumped on it. "It's too early to deal with something so strange."
"At least… at least Otoya-kun is a lovely child?" Natsuki hedged.
"A lovely child," Ren echoed, voice flat as he stared at the ceiling. "Who carries too much trauma for a seven-year-old."
"If I may hazard a guess…" Tokiya muttered, "at that age, the memory of losing his aunt and entering the orphanage is still fresh."
Natsuki hummed in sympathy. "He mentioned siblings, but… Oh, Cecil-kun, are you alright? You've been awfully silent."
"Hm?" Cecil minutely flinched when Natsuki touched his shoulder. "Ah… I am sorry, I was lost in thought."
The other four looked at each other, then back at Cecil with concern. While the whole situation was shocking and confusing, it was understandable for Cecil to be more disconcerted than most.
"You can talk to us," said Syo. "Just say what's on your mind. Rip the bandage off, you know?"
Cecil nodded slowly. "I just… I have seen pictures of Otoya as a child." After discovering their relationship, Otoya and Cecil caught up on each other's pasts, telling stories about their respective childhoods to make up for lost time. "His smile was as bright as it is now. But… I know that has not always been the case."
There was a collective sigh. When Tokiya visited Otoya's old orphanage, the director had told him that Otoya hadn't been able to smile in the first few months after his arrival. "A time when Otoya lost his ability to smile…" Tokiya said in a voice barely above a whisper.
"Who would've thought we're witnessing it now, huh?" Ren finished grimly.
Cecil looked at the floor as if he could burn a hole through the carpet. "I just… it hurts, seeing Otoya like that." Cecil swallowed, and everyone made noises of agreement. He struggled to continue. "But what hurts more is knowing that… things should not have been this way."
"What do you mean, Cesshi?"
"Otoya did not have to lose his smile… had I been with him." Cecil's voice was so faint and breathy, and it took all his might to continue speaking. "Had we… grown up together."
There were a few seconds of silence before Ren finally stood up from the couch and crossed the room to pat Cecil's head. "Now, now. No use in dwelling on what's already happened."
Syo nodded. "Right. Otoya wouldn't want that."
"I agree!" Natsuki clasped his hands together. "We should focus on the here and now. Isn't that what Otoya-kun always says?"
"But…" said Cecil, pretending he didn't feel better after Ren thoroughly ruffled his hair. "Presently, Otoya has lost his smile again…"
Syo grinned. "So… we gotta find a way to help Otoya get his smile back!"
"But how?" Cecil frowned. "Otoya seems very guarded towards us…"
"We have to take this slowly," said Tokiya thoughtfully. "One at a time. Otoya has to be with at least one of us at all times. He should not feel as though he is abandoned, and frankly, I do not trust a child that young to roam around the dormitories alone…"
Ren chuckled. "Even an adult Ikki is a menace when left alone, to be fair."
Natsuki giggled. "It's settled, then! Otoya will have someone with him at all times. Um… but I have work this morning, so…"
"I'm free," said Syo promptly. "Sure, I'll hang out with Otoya."
"Thank you, Syo." Tokiya checked his watch. "I have an early appointment, so I hope the meeting with the president does not run late…"
At that moment, Masato knocked and opened the door. "We're ready. Shall we head to the president's office?"
Otoya peeked from behind Masato, wearing a red T-shirt and denim shorts. Somehow, Masato had found him shoes, as well.
"How did you…? You know what, I won't ask," Ren sighed in exasperated amusement.
"I could have done more, I think," Masato mused. "But…"
"No buts, Masato-kun!" Natsuki practically skipped over and bent down to meet Otoya's eyes. He giggled in glee. "Otoya-chan is sooo cute like this! Any more and I won't be able to take it!"
There was a huff of laughter from Ren, followed by an incredulous, "…chan?" from Syo.
"Otoya-kun is cuter than usual, so he's Otoya-chan!" Natsuki grinned, eyes forming into crescents. "Don't worry, Syo-chan is still cute, too."
"Shut up, I never asked that!"
Natsuki ignored his grumbling mess of a roommate and held out a hand to Otoya. "Now, Otoya-chan, shall we go?"
Otoya stared, unblinking, but Natsuki patiently kept his palm extended. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he took Natsuki's hand. With timid hopefulness, he turned his gaze towards Masato.
Masato stared back, and it only took him a second before saying, "Oh, alright." He wrapped his hand around Otoya's, and, in a voice he typically reserved for his sister, said, "Let's go then, Ittoki?"
"Mn."
The remaining members of ST☆RISH watched Otoya walk between his classmates, hands holding them close. For a second, the image of a teen Otoya walking with Masato and Natsuki down the halls of Saotome Academy flashed before them. The Otoya who smiled even brighter than the sun streaming from the floor-to-ceiling windows, who walked so freely with his loose tie and open blazer, who faced any test and trial with fiery determination. The pillar that held them together and inspired them to work hard because he loved ST☆RISH so much and poured his heart into everything.
Tokiya, Ren, Syo, and Cecil exchanged glances before looking at the timid, quiet, unsmiling Otoya in front of them. Soundlessly, they nodded and started walking.
They had a lot of work to do.
"Excuse us, President. We would like to discuss an urgent matter," said Tokiya as he led the group to enter Shining Saotome's office.
Shining was sitting with the back of his chair to the door. When the door clicked shut and the sounds of footsteps stopped, he swiveled his chair slowly for a dramatic flair. "Hmm? Why, if it isn't ST☆RISH… what is it that you want to discuss with me… oh."
Shining's eyes were obscured by his eccentric glasses, but his eyebrows visibly shot up. He stared at the spot between Masato and Natsuki's torsos, where Otoya was trying to make himself invisible. "…Care to explain, Mister Ichinose?"
Tokiya grimaced at being appointed spokesperson, as if this was his fault. "There is not much to explain, President. When I woke up, Otoya's body and mind had regressed to the age of seven. We were wondering if you have clues that can lead us to the reason or the solution."
"Or if you have something to do with—ow!"
Tokiya stepped on Syo's foot.
"That's all we know, Boss," said Ren, voice as lax as if he were discussing the weather. "Ikki here doesn't remember us—because he's a child now, you see. So until we get this fixed, he can't attend any of his jobs."
"So, President, if you have any clues, we would appreciate it if you lent us a hand," Masato concluded with a bow. Ren silently praised him for not being angrier. He sure was.
In fact, they all were. Tokiya's brows were furrowed. Natsuki was silently caressing Otoya's small hand to ease his nerves, but he himself wasn't smiling. Syo could barely suppress a glare. And Cecil balled his hands into fists, sinking his nails into his palms and lamenting the fact that he no longer had claws.
Everyone's silent anger manifested into indignant yells when Shining jumped across his executive desk and lifted Otoya by the armpits, eliciting a startled yelp from the child.
"President!"
"Oi—"
"What are you doing to your…"
That last one was from Cecil, who promptly caught himself. They weren't supposed to know—Otoya never confronted Shining, and they had to respect that decision. Syo once said that Otoya was too nonconfrontational, and that, "If it were me, I'd scream myself hoarse in front of him, and…" He then proceeded to describe several actions that ST☆RISH agreed would make Syo banned from all public appearances.
"Mister Ittoki is now seven, you say…?" Shining hummed.
"Yes," said Tokiya, wondering if Shining also knew why that age was relevant. Along with it came the curiosity of how Shining must be feeling as he held his son for the first time. He observed Otoya with alarm and sympathy.
Tokiya was about to press Shining further when Otoya unexpectedly spoke, "Uncle, you look familiar."
ST☆RISH's sharp gasp was barely audible because Shining began coughing dramatically. He put Otoya down as if another second holding him would have burned his palms. Otoya soundlessly scrambled to hide behind Masato and Natsuki again.
Though they all could guess the answer, Cecil asked anyway. "Otoya does not remember any of us, nor does he recognize the dormitories. President, why does he think you are a familiar face?" He didn't even try to hide the note of reproach in his voice, nor his hard stare. Tokiya could chide him about etiquette later.
"That is something you have to ask Mister Ittoki himself, no?" Shining said. Cecil barely suppressed the urge to roll his eyes.
They all turned to Otoya, who shrank under the scrutiny and seemed determined not to talk. Tokiya relented. "Very well. However, President, our request still stands. Do you have any idea what might have caused this… transformation?"
"Hmm…" Shining stared at them intently. It was off-putting how he seemed to scrutinize all of ST☆RISH from head to toe when they couldn't see his eyes. "Since you seem to be very relentless in pursuing information from me… Yes, I did attempt something."
ST☆RISH bristled. There was a low curse, followed by a soft, "Syo-chan!"
Cecil sighed. "President, did you… Is this another summoning ritual that went wrong?"
"I wouldn't say it's a summoning." Shining raised both hands and shrugged. "But I did try to… contact someone, Mister Aijima…" The way he emphasized that name sent a slight chill down Cecil's spine. "Nothing happened, so I thought it didn't work, you see. I didn't expect there would be… a side effect." Shining pinned his gaze on Otoya, who quickly bowed his head and hid behind Natsuki completely.
"And do you know how to revert it?" Tokiya asked, voice flat.
"No… well!" Shining raised a finger when ST☆RISH shifted restlessly (and Syo raised his fist). "Not yet. I will do my own research, of course." Syo and Tokiya rolled their eyes. Sure. "In the meantime, I hope that you can spend time with Mister Ittoki and watch over him. I wouldn't want anything to happen to my… idol."
The fact that ST☆RISH could keep a straight face at that final word spoke volumes of their respect towards Otoya's wish, as well as a culmination of years of acting roles.
"Rest assured, that is what we plan to do," said Masato. "Now then, I believe Ittoki has yet to have breakfast, and many of us need to leave for work soon. So, President, if you will excuse us."
He and Natsuki were the only ones who bowed before exiting. Otoya mimicked them before raising his hands for Masato and Natsuki to hold. They led ST☆RISH to exit Shining's office.
Syo closed the door with a heavy sigh. "What a deadbeat."
"Syo-chan!"
"Well, I was too hopeful to expect the Boss to help," Ren commented. He ignored Masato's jabbing comment about how it was his idea to talk to Shining in the first place.
He also ignored Tokiya's pointed, "Ren, if Otoya gets nightmares after being manhandled by a two-meter man with a ridiculous hairdo and equally ridiculous sunglasses, I am blaming you… Otoya, where are you going?"
Otoya let go of Masato and Natsuki's hands for once and ran off all on his own. ST☆RISH made to move, but they halted at the faint sound of a piano that cheerfully traveled across the hall.
"This is…" Masato muttered.
Ren smiled. "Let's find the closest music room."
Otoya started eagerly peeking inside every room, knowing that each step brought him closer to the source of the beautiful melody. ST☆RISH walked closely behind him, and once again they were reminded of how strong Otoya's back looked whenever he led them to any practice room and how wide his smile was when he looked over his shoulder to address one or all of them.
Finally, Otoya reached a music room, but instead of greeting the person inside, he only stood in front of the door.
"What's wrong, Otoya-chan?" asked Natsuki. "It's okay, just open the door."
"She won't mind," Masato added.
So Otoya timidly pushed the door open, and the music stopped. Nanami Haruka turned her head towards the door, eyes brightening at the sight of her guests. "Good morning, everyone!"
There were replies of morning greetings as Haruka scanned the group. "Where is…" Her eyes moved downwards and widened. "Ittoki-kun…?"
At least Otoya didn't hide behind anyone this time, but he did take a step back. Haruka quickly recovered from her shock and rose from the piano chair. She bent her knees, meeting Otoya's shy eyes that were peeking from between his bangs. "You're Ittoki-kun, right?"
"Y-yes…"
Haruka glanced up at ST☆RISH in uncertainty. Tokiya sighed. "You see, Nanami-san…" He walked towards Haruka and whispered into her ear. Haruka's expression went from confusion, to shock, to contemplation. All the while, Otoya looked at the floor and shuffled his feet, like a child resigning himself to a punishment.
"So that's how it is…" Haruka muttered. She was still shaken, but her smile was soft when she met Otoya's eyes once more. "Then introductions are in order. Nice to meet you, Ittoki-kun. My name is Nanami Haruka. I'm a composer at Shining Entertainment, and I happen to write ST☆RISH's songs."
Otoya's eyes widened in wonder, and for a brief moment, Haruka thought she saw his smile and heard his voice. "Really, Nanami, you wrote that? That's awesome!"
Yet, at present, Otoya only said, "What I heard just now…" He gestured at the piano. "Nanami-san wrote that?"
"Yes," said Haruka slowly. The first song I ever wrote for you, she didn't say. "What do you think of it?"
"…It's beautiful."
"I see. I'm glad Ittoki-kun thinks so." And for a brief moment, Haruka remembered how Otoya had jumped excitedly. "Aaah, I can't wait to sing it!"
Haruka forced herself to say the next few words. "I wrote that for you."
ST☆RISH looked at each other. Haruka sure had guts.
"You did?"
"Yes! Many years ago. I've written more songs for you since then."
Otoya looked more curious now. "How… do you write songs?"
Haruka placed a hand under her chin, considering the question carefully. "I think about who will sing my song. How they feel, what kind of person they are, what is important to them… It's how I can put the right feelings into the piece. Later, the singer will add lyrics, so it's a joint effort." She looked at ST☆RISH and smiled. "With a great relationship between the singer and composer, I believe a song will touch many hearts."
Otoya brought a hand to his heart. "So… you need teamwork to make a song?"
"That's right."
"But what happens when the team leaves?"
There was a stunned silence. The temperature in the room might as well have dropped several degrees.
"…When?" Haruka repeated.
Otoya knew he had said the wrong thing. "I mean…" he mumbled. "Everyone will leave someday, right?"
Painful gasps traveled all over the room. No seven-year-old should be thinking like this. In a literal sense, yes, separation was inevitable. But Otoya's fears ran deeper. He thought—no, he believed—that everyone would leave him behind. How would they reassure a scarred child without spouting off meaningless comfort?
Haruka beat ST☆RISH to it. "Is that what you believe, Ittoki-kun? I think differently."
"Eh?"
"In a sense, you're right. Leaving is a part of life that you can't run away from. I know it's sad, but the people who leave us are never truly gone."
"…I don't get it."
"It's like this." Haruka looked deeply into Otoya's eyes. "If you love someone and keep them close to you, you'll remember them, right? What they like and don't like, what they look and sound like, how they make you feel, and how you feel about them. These memories all stay with you. Then…" Haruka swept a fond glance at ST☆RISH. "You will meet new people who will fill your days again. And"—her gaze landed on Cecil and lingered there—"you might even meet people who will bring you closer to those you love and have lost. To keep them in your heart for as long as you live… Isn't that also forever?"
Her true meaning went unsaid, but ST☆RISH smiled. To live in the moment, to sing and dance with all their might, to laugh and love with all their heart, that was ST☆RISH's eternity. They would do whatever it would take until this little, hurt, and fearful Otoya understood that he had a family in ST☆RISH. A family for always.
"Is… that so?" Otoya sounded like he was struggling to grasp everything Haruka had just said.
Haruka giggled. At the end of the day, Otoya was only seven, after all. "My point is… Yes, people may leave. But not always in the way that you think. A piece of them stays with you. For idols and composers like us"—she gestured to the whole room—"we leave behind a piece of ourselves in our music. As long as you remember that, the people you love are never actually gone."
There was more that Haruka wished to say. Like how Otoya's family—his mother, his aunt, even his father—were never truly gone. How they stayed within him and shaped him to where he was today. How everything that had happened to them led him to where he was now. But this Otoya wouldn't understand, so she left it at that and passed the baton to ST☆RISH.
"Well said, Nanami-san," Tokiya said while checking his watch. "But I am afraid we should leave soon if we do not want to be late." He ignored the dirty looks from Ren and Syo for killing the mood. "I am sorry, Otoya, but we have to attend our jobs. Syo will be with you, though!" Tokiya added quickly at the sight of Otoya's increasingly distressed expression. Syo flinched, even though he'd agreed to take first watch on Otoya.
"Ah, you're right! That's no good…" Haruka stood up and gathered her things. But before she followed Tokiya, who was already at the doorway, she kneeled again and pulled Otoya into a gentle hug. "I'll be off, Ittoki-kun. Remember what I said, okay? Have fun with Syo-kun! Well"—she giggled—"I have no doubt that you will."
This was ST☆RISH's cue to head off, too. "Sadly, Masato-kun and I have work the entire day," Natsuki said, his pout nearly matching Otoya's own. "But we can spend tomorrow together!"
"Kurusu, there's breakfast in the kitchen. Feel free to help yourselves. I was hoping we all could have breakfast together, but…" Masato sighed and checked his watch. "Well, then, we'll be off." Practically dragging Natsuki away, Masato muttered about how he would simply have to grab a melon bread for a light breakfast.
When it was only the two of them, Syo turned to Otoya. He was quick in volunteering himself, and he liked to think he was fine around children, but this… was new.
"Now," he said tentatively, "what should we do, Otoya?"