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Yamada takes out the keys to Yuto’s flat and pushes the door open violently.
He reaches for the light switch at the reception, kicks his shoes off unlike his usual neat-self and marches into the flat, turning on all the lights along the way as he heads towards Yuto’s bedroom.
He stops half way down the corridor.
“Yuto?” Yamada says. He can practically hear his voice bouncing off the walls. He walks towards his bedroom and turns the lights on.
Nothing.
“Where did he go?” Yamada says to himself, pulling out his phone and pulls out the recent call log.
A little bracket with the number ‘40’ sits next to the ‘Anata’.
Yuto changes his name from ‘Yutti’ to ‘Anata’ after they dressed up as groom and bride for Itadaki High Jump.
He thought it was funny, but Yamada hasn’t had a chance to change it.
And he doesn’t really want to change it.
Yamada: NAKAJIMA YUTO, I am going to strangle you the moment I see you.
---
Yuto looks at his phone that has been vibrating on the dining room table for the last 20 minutes.
Fifty nine missed calls.
Raiya sitting in the sitting room watching Ohno and Kotaki’s drama, his father in his study arranging some paperwork and his mother still in the kitchen, throwing together a midnight snack for the three men in her life.
He sighs.
Hardly a month ago the rumour about him dating Yoshida Yo, spending evenings at hers when Yoshida-san is more than twenty years older than he is, doesn’t actually like people staying over at her place and he doesn’t even know her well enough to go out with her.
Whilst he was away with JUMP celebrating Keito’s birthday.
Now, there are rumours about him being drunk on the street and hugged a random female.
Over a month ago.
On the day of Keito’s birthday.
When SEVEN was out as group for Keito’s birthday (again).
He isn’t going to lie, he was definitely very merry that night when they came out of the restaurant, and he might or might not have walked into a female, he isn’t sure.
But what he is sure that he didn’t do it on purpose, it was all an accident.
And if he did hug the female, it is probably because he didn’t want to put all his weight on her (not that he is actually that heavy) in case he crushed her to death.
Probably worse than hugging a random female.
It is only surfacing now probably because he is filming a new drama.
All because of publicity.
Because he is going to be on the Sunday night Drama.
He wants to establish himself as an all-round entertainer, and being an actor is currently what he is working on.
He has proven to people that he can act, having been in ‘Pink and Gray’ and already been casted in another movie that he has been filming for the last few months.
Yuto doesn’t understand the whole ‘there is no such thing as bad publicity’.
When the news surfaced, he was having dinner with his parents and Raiya. Both his phone and Raiya’s Twitter notification chimed and his mother growled at the two of them. His father was one that one pulls out his phone and starts reading out the Yahoo! News.
His mother questions him what happened, so he admitted that he was out with SEVEN and that yes, he was drunk, and he got a massive telling off from his mother.
At the age of twenty two years, nine months and eight days.
He was then banished to do the washing up for dinner whilst his mother made mochi for desserts.
They watched ‘Little Tokyo Life’ as a family, and as the trailer for next week comes on, the blood drains from Yuto’s face.
All the TV guides said it would be him and Yamada.
The trailer is of Yabu and Chinen.
He dreads to think if they are going to change the 1 hour special for ‘Itadaki High Jump’ next week. He has been looking forward to that, he really enjoyed teaching the kid how to ride a bike. It was like watching Raiya learning how to ride a bike all over again.
His mother walks past the dining room and looks at Yuto with a tray of mochi and tea, his phone still buzzing away on the table and his head rested on his arms.
“Yuto?” His mother calls from the door. He hums. “Are you going to pick up that phone?” He hums in response. He hasn’t looked at it since he sees that news. “Dessert is ready. ‘Itadaki High Jump’ is about to start.” He hums again.
He doesn’t understand why his parents and his little brother are staying up until nearly two o’clock in the morning to watch him on TV, when they can record it. He gets up unwillingly, picks up his phone and put it into his pocket, still not picking up any of the calls.
He wanders into the sitting room, Raiya is laughing at something on TV, and his mother and father both sit on the sofa. He settles on the floor next to his mother’s legs and she runs her fingers through his thick hair.
It’s comforting.
“Staying here tonight?” He father asks.
“If it’s okay.”
“It’s always okay.” He answers. “This is your home no matter what.”
His phone buzzes against his thigh but only once, signalling a non-group message. He reluctantly pulls it out. He looks at the message and sighs, before typing out a response very quickly.
Yuto: can you even reach?
---
The Nakajima household is definitely not expecting their doorbell to ring when the four of them sitting in their pyjamas (and ratty old tour t-shirts that hasn’t been rip to pieces during the tours), watching ‘Itadaki High Jump’. Yuto extends his leg and nudges Raiya.
“Me?” Yuto nods. Raiya uses his leg to nudge him back. “Why? I want to know what’s going to happen!”
“Yabu-chan didn’t get to eat anything. Hika was the next one out.” Yuto answers. “Inoo-chan got a bullseye on that one and I got the last one right and bang on with the price because I had lunch with papa there before.”
“You always know how to ruin the moment!” Yuto’s mother laughs and gently whacks him over the head with a cushion.
Raiya growls and stands up before heading towards the front door.
And he definitely isn’t expecting Yamada standing there.
“Ryo-nii?” Raiya says, surprised.
Yamada looks up and sees Raiya standing in front of him. He really doesn’t like the Nakajima genes, mainly because they are all so tall.
“Sorry to disturb you so late.” Yamada says and sees Yuto’s shoes sitting at the reception.
“It’s fine, don’t worry. I don’t understand why you don’t want a set of the house key to make your life easier. And yes, he is here.” Raiya sighs.
There is no point of hiding it - Yamada will beat him into a pulp if he lies to him even though it feels like his is about half his size, and to be honest the two of them are practically married. All they need is a ring on their fingers and a piece of paper to prove that they are married. Yamada takes his shoes off, grabs his slippers from the cupboard and walks towards the sitting room, when he sees a flash of a person rushes up the stairs.
Yamada wants to shout at Yuto so much, but being the good Japanese boys that he has been raised, he walks into the sitting room and greets Yuto’s parents.
“Mama. Papa.” Yamada says with a smile. “Sorry to disturb you so late.” The two of them smile and shake their heads.
“Don’t be silly Ryosuke.” Yuto’s father says.
“Are you staying the night?” Yuto’s mother asks.
“If you don’t mind.”
“You are always welcome.” His father says. “This is your home too.”
“He ran upstairs the moment he heard your voice.” His mother adds.
“I saw.” Yamada mumbles, turning around and heads up the stairs quietly towards Yuto’s room.
He doesn’t bother knocking.
Because Yamada knows Yuto isn’t going to answer him, and Yuto knows Yamada is going to walk into the room anyway (and Yamada knows that).
“Nakajima Yuto.” Yamada sighs, looking at the Yuto-shaped lump. The light in the room is still off, and a lot barer than what is used to be, because most of his things are in his own flat. Yamada reaches for the light switch, and Yuto doesn’t even flinch on the bed.
“You don’t sound angry at all.” Yuto says, lying on his front and his voice muffled by the pillow.
“Why would I be?” Yamada asks, crouching down on the side of the bed to Yuto’s level.
“It’s not even two months yet since the last gossip story.” Yuto says. “And you hate that shit.”
“I was there with you on both occasions. The last one wasn’t even a photo of you. Just someone who stands in and supposedly looked like you but we all know he didn’t.” Yamada says as if he can read Yuto’s mind. “But yes, you did hug the female.”
“Shit.”
“But they didn’t use a photo from that evening. The photo they used was one of you and Suda dining out months ago. I was right behind the two of you and they can’t see me. That night when you were drunk, it was Keito’s birthday remember? You hugged her because she was more drunk than you are and she nearly fell over, you kept her upright.” Yamada says, reaching out to stroke Yuto’s back.
“I hate this.” Yuto says, turning his head just so that he can look at Yamada.
“I know.” Yamada answers as he squeezes himself onto Yuto’s childhood bed and sits next to Yuto. Yuto moulds himself onto Yamada, resting his head on his hip. “They just want to make sure your drama sells.”
“I am not that bad an actor, am I? Do I have to rely on gossips to sell my acting?” Yuto asks, looking up at Yamada.
Yamada doesn’t usually look down at Yuto.
He spends most of his time looking up at Yuto.
Yamada shakes his head.
“Not many people watch TV nowadays.” Yamada says, rubbing his hair. “But headline of gossip magazines however, always sells.” Yuto sighs and buries his face onto Yamada’s leg. “Look at it that way, everybody knows it’s not real.”
“How? This is the second time in a span of two months.” Yuto answers. “I am going to be labelled as the party animal like Tegoshi-kun.”
“Remember what happened to Nishikido-kun and Yamashita-kun?” Yamada asks. “When they went out with Akanishi-kun? And they got so drunk they trashed someone’s phone and ended up at the police station?” Yuto nods.
“Papa’s police station.” Yamada nods.
“If it’s really you, the agency would have to do something about it and do what they did to Nishikido-kun and Yamashita-kun.”
“Pack them up and throw them into the fridge.” Yuto mumbles. “Shove them to do really bad dramas.”
“Exactly.” Yamada says. “Nishikido-kun and Yamashita-kun pretty much had no work except for the regular shows that they were doing for years. You’re staring in a drama in July on a Sunday night and you’ve got a movie coming out in 2017. Don’t forget everything you’re doing in ‘Itadaki High Jump’ and ‘Little Tokyo Life’. And we have an album to record, and a tour to prepare for. I don’t think you’re in any trouble. The agency is probably gonna be like ‘yes, he shouldn’t drink that much and he apologises for his behaviour’ or something like that.”
“I haven’t done anything wrong.” Yuto answers.
“I know.” Yamada says. “But sometimes it’s best to just take a step back, and admit defeat. Not all battles are worth fighting for.”
“I really hate it when you’re right.” Yuto sighs.
His phone is still buzzing in his pocket.
“How many calls have you missed?” Yamada asks. Yuto reaches down to pick out his phone and hands it to Yamada. “Seventy eight?”
“Well a good chunk of them are probably you.” Yuto says.
“I know, but still!” Yamada says, strolls down the missed calls. He sighs, pulls out his phone and goes into their JUMP group message.
Yamada: with Yuto.
Keito: I am so glad! I just want to make sure Yuto is okay no matter what.
Chinen: it was your birthday Keito. You were THERE.
Yamada smiles and puts his phone down on the bedside table.
“Ne.” Yamada says, Yuto suddenly jerks and Yamada realised Yuto might have been asleep. “Did I wake you?”
“I think I closed my eyes.” Yuto answers. “What’s the matter?”
Yamada wants to tell him ‘I want to ask you the same thing’. Yamada knows he is always Yuto’s priority, but he doesn’t realise he is still Yuto’s priority even when there are other things bugging him.
“We have a situation.” Yamada says, getting off the bed and starts pulling out his towel and spare change of underwear from Yuto’s wardrobe.
“Yes...?”
“It’s a single bed.” Yamada says as he takes his t-shirt off and unbuckled his trousers.
“I am not able to carry a conversation with you whilst you’re stripping. I only have enough blood supply to one part of my body and it’s not currently north of the equator.”
Yamada smiles.
He knows Yuto is okay, if Yuto is joking.
“How are we going to fit on this bed?” Yamada asks.
“Like we always have.” Yuto answers. Yamada leans down and presses a kiss on the tip of Yuto’s nose.
---
Yamada smiles as Yuto passed out on the bed. His phone in his hand, his mouth opens and drooling into his pillow. He takes the phone off Yuto’s hand and looks at the screen.
Yabu: if you can’t drink, don’t drink so much!
Yuya: SEVEN went out without BEST again?
Dai-chan: you never hugged me when you’re drunk!
Inoo: congratulations on another piece of gossip news for your new drama. I promise to promote it for you on Thursday morning too. Even though it’s not the same channel.
Hika: if Yamada is with Yuto then I guess no web game tonight?
Chinen: I’m on!
Keito: me too!
Yabu: we have work in the morning!
Inoo: I’m leaving the house in an hour.
Yuya: give me 30 mins. I am in bed.
Yamada grabs his phone and sends a message to the group.
Yamada: Yuto’s passed out. No sign of Dai-Chan so he’s probably asleep too. See you guys in a few hours.
There is a knock on Yuto’s door and Raiya’s head pops in.
“Ryo-nii.” Raiya says. “Has niichan already fallen asleep?” Yamada nods. “Tell him they aren’t changing the SP next week.”
“Huh?”
“He was worried.” Raiya says. “They are airing the episode with Chinen and Yabu-kun next week in ‘Little Tokyo Life’. Not the one of you and niichan.”
Yamada now understands why Yuto doesn’t want to look at his phone. Because knowing everybody they want to make sure he is okay. JUMP knows they need to avoid that, but whilst everybody is wanting to make sure Yuto is okay because he is a sensitive soul, it is hard to understand that not mentioning anything is better than asking him if he is okay. It is a reminder to him no matter what.
“I’ll tell him when he’s awake.” Yamada answers. “Thank you Raiya.” He shakes his head with a smile. “Good night.”
“Good night Ryo-nii.” He says and shuts the door.
Yamada climbs over Yuto and squeezes himself between a spread-starfish Yuto and the wall. He always sleeps against the wall when they are on a single bed.
He is prone to fall off if not.
He moulds himself onto Yuto and finds a comfortable position and kisses whatever part of Yuto is closest to his lips.
“I’ll protect you too, no matter what.” Yamada mumbles against his skin and falls asleep.
---
“I can drop you two off?” Yuto’s father says when they are munching away on their breakfast. “I know you didn’t drive last night. And you’re working nearly me today, aren’t you?” Yuto nods.
“We’ll be fine, thank you.” Yamada smiles at Yuto’s father. “It’d be nice to walk, no?” Yuto nods again.
“Are you sure?” The two of them nod at him. “Alright, we can have lunch together when you finish? There is a sashimi place that I want to try.” Yuto and Yamada nod again.
“I think we better go.” Yamada says. “Thank you for having me!”
“You’re always welcome Ryosuke.” Yuto’s mother smiles.
“Thank you mama.” Yuto says, hugging her round her waist and she smiles.
“Are you coming home tonight?”
“I’m going back to the flat.” Yuto says. “I am filming tomorrow morning first thing.” She nods. “But can you bring me lunch? It’s close to where you do flower arrangement.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” She answers.
---
When they head into their temporary changing room from yet another magazine shoot, Yabu is sounding very angry on the phone. Yuto and Yamada grab the clothes with their names on it and start changing.
“Yabu-chan is not happy.” Keito says, handing a Chupa Chups each to Yuto and Yamada. The two of them looks at him. “Sugar makes everybody happy.”
And as they look around, all of them have Chupa Chups in their hands, even Yabu, but it remains unopen.
“What is Yabu-kun upset about?”
“‘Little Tokyo Life’ of course.” Dai-chan chimes in.
“Because it should have been you and Yamada next week and they have messed up the trailer.” Chinen mumbles from the sofa, his eyes close, Chupa Chups in his mouth.
“I thought they did it deliberately because of my ‘drunken escapade’.” Yuto smirks.
“They’ll need real evidence first.” Yuya says, pulling on his shoes.
“Publishing old photos is a coward move.” Inoo says yawning with a massive coffee in his hand, and the Chupa Chups in another. Yabu angrily hangs up the phone and puts it back into his bag before heading towards the rack of clothes as if he is going to bite anybody that gets in his way.
Hikaru steps between him and the clothes and stops him with one hand on his shoulder. He takes the Chupa Chups out of Yabu’s hand and opens it, pushes it into Yabu’s mouth.
“Breathe.” Hikaru says. Yabu rests his head on Hikaru’s shoulder and sighs. “They rely on us, we have to be strong.” He whispers. Yabu nods. “Smile before you scare them away.” Yabu stays still before he lifts his head up again. Hikaru smiles with one of his toothy-grins and Yabu smiles back at him, his eyes become little slits on his face. “That’s better.”
“Yabu-kun…” Yuto says, but stops, not sure what to say to him.
“It’s all sorted, don’t worry.” Yabu says, putting an arm round Yuto’s shoulder. “We’re on the same side.”
Everybody nods.
Yuto nods.
Yuto knows he has been a brat before, and he has always appreciated JUMP, but he is thankful that they are his team-mates as much as they are his friends