Once December rolled around, Kento began to spend all of his time at Orihara’s place. Tomoya was busy both preparing for his own debut and touring with DZ. He barely returned to their dorm room anymore.
When Tomoya was around, Kento often fled to Miyashita Clinic to avoid the awkwardness, but now that he wasn’t around, it was somewhat lonely. Being alone in the room made him feel like he had been left behind, and that made it unbearable to stay.
One night, Kento was preparing to go out with a mind to go to Orihara’s place, but was called down and told that someone was on the phone for him. Kento went to the dorm head’s room to take the call. It was his mother, calling from London.
“They always tell me you’re out, and you never call. You must be really busy. Are you really that tied up with lessons and work?” she said in a somewhat exasperated way.
“Kind of,” Kento lied.
“Will you visit me during the winter break?”
“No,” Kento said flatly. He wanted to practice guitar with Orihara, and in that instant, he had an epiphany. He realized Orihara was the person he wanted most to be with.
“I know I don’t have to worry about getting into university since I’ll just get bumped up internally, but you know, I haven’t been studying much since I’ve been away at the agency most of the time. I don’t want to be kicked out just for failing school. That’s embarrassing. I want to take time to do some serious studying.”
Kento was almost appalled at himself for how easily the lies slipped off his tongue and how guilty he did not feel about them. I guess it’s true when they say being in love makes you start lying. Not that he was saying that Orihara was his lover, or anything.
His excuse about studying seemed to convince his mother instantly.
“You should come during your spring break, then.”
“I will. Bye.”
He would just have to think of a new reason to say no once spring break rolled around, Kento thought to himself, mentally sticking his tongue out as he hung up the phone.
✦ ✦ ✦
The name for the new group that Tomoya was a part of was going to be called Chronos. They were planning the group’s first performance during the winter break concert tour. News of Chronos had already been broadcast on variety shows and music shows on TV. Although they had yet to even release a CD, their popularity was already quite strong.
Understandably, it pained Kento to hear about all of the glamour. Once winter break started, he threw himself into practicing his guitar at Orihara’s place. He pointedly made an effort not to watch any TV shows.
But one Sunday, Orihara turned the TV on during their meal. On the screen were the three members of Chronos, along with DZ.
“It’s too bad. You had a good chance to be a member,” Orihara said hesitantly, watching Kento’s face carefully.
“Yeah, well….” Kento said vaguely as he ate the scallop carpaccio and penne casserole that he had cooked with extra effort tonight. “I don’t really mind it anymore. It’s more fun for me to be with you like this.”
And he meant it. Kento almost surprised himself. He had loved dance so much, and it had been his life’s calling. He realized for the first time that the pain of not being able to debut didn’t sting his heart as much as it had used to.
“I’m sure the chance will come around for me to debut again. I wouldn’t want it to take away the time I have with you, anyway.”
“What are you saying?” Orihara said in exasperation.
“Well, it’s true.”
Kento was a little agitated at the strong emotions coiling inside him. The time they spent together, their everyday conversational exchanges, had become more important to him than anything.
Trust? Respect? It wasn’t just that; Kento felt overwhelmed by the fact that there was indeed some other feeling there that he could not express in one word. He hastily changed the topic.
“Well, when I debut I’d rather do it alone. The Beatles went solo in the end, too.”
Orihara seemed hard-pressed to make an argument.
“You’re right, they did.” He put his fork down with a saddened face. “I wish they’d get back together, but that’s never going to happen.”
Kento was relieved when the conversation changed to The Beatles, Orihara’s favourite topic.
“I’ll be famous one day, too, like The Beatles.”
Orihara’s eyes softened. “I’ll be looking forward to it,” he said.