#i dunno what he's singing something like 'never enough' from the greatest showman

[shinsoukokuvalentine]

Song of Sunset

254/365: Song of Sunset

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Being dragged around by Dazai and Chuuya seemed to be becoming a recurring theme in Ryuunosuke’s life.

They’d take him everywhere and anywhere, from clubs to restaurants to back alleys, under the obviously false pretense that he should “get out more.” It was painfully obvious to Ryuu that he was wanted as a wingman and middleman, and he only rolled along as their third wheel after the evening’s aim was accomplished.

Typically, that meant he was free to leave as soon as his companions began to make out.

Tonight, however, seemed different. Chuuya pushed away even more of Dazai’s advances than usual.

“I actually want to see this,” he snapped, motioning towards the curtained stage isles away from their balcony seat. “And I don’t want to leave halfway through the show like last time.”

Dazai sighed with a smile, wrapping his arms around Chuuya’s waist and nuzzling into his hair, causing the smaller man to visibly stiffen.

“But wasn’t it worth it?” Dazai cooed, letting his hand drift down Chuuya’s torso. Chuuya flushed and shoved him away before he could get any farther.

“Dazai,” he growled, casting glances at the crowded theater around them.

Thankfully no one seemed to notice Dazai’s behavior except Ryuu, who rolled his eyes and slouched further into his seat. He had even dressed up for this. He had dressed up to watch his friends fight and flirt with each other while some soft of orchestral concert played in the background. He wasn’t quite sure what he had been dragged to this time.

Dazai and Chuuya bickered for another few minutes, but then the lights dimmed and the orchestra began to warm up, causing Chuuya to shove his torturer away, shushing him harshly. Ryuu propped his elbow on the armrest and stared forward with bored eyes, hoping they’d at least try to behave themselves in a high class establishment like a concert hall.

He also understood the likelihood of Dazai crawling into Chuuya’s lap was at least seventy-five percent. After that, their chances of getting kicked out rose exponentially.

But then the orchestra quieted. The curtains parted. And Ryuu got his first glance of him.

He stood alone on the stage, save for a single mic, wearing a navy blue suit adorned with a lavender rose on the right breast. He opened his mouth, and the first notes of the song were his own. The orchestra remained silent.

Ryuu’s eyes widened. He could only stare, stare at the man on the stage, his silver hair shining like the moon, eyes squeezed shut as his mouth opened wide to belt out the lyrics. A small strain in his voice sometimes accompanied its strength, but it only was a testament to the passion behind his words. Even the orchestra couldn’t match his power when it finally joined him.

Not turning away, Ryuu elbowed Chuuya, who glared at him slightly.

“Who’s that?” Ryuu whispered. He could hear Chuuya fumbling with his program copy.

“That’s…” Chuuya murmured back, and when Ryuu glanced at him, he saw him squinting in the dark at the tiny writing. “That’s… Nakajima Atsushi.”

Ryuu turned back to Atsushi as the song reached its crescendo, the singer’s hands clasped together as in prayer, face turned heavenward. When he opened his eyes, he didn’t seem to care that the stage lights shone directly into them. He sang like he had known every pain in the world and had come out stronger.

If Dazai and Chuuya left, Ryuu didn’t notice. All he saw, all he heard, all he felt, was the final note of Atsushi’s song.

He stood there for a moment, chest heaving, as the audience clapped. But then he smiled, and the orchestra returned with a different melody, and just as quickly, he began to sing once more.

And Ryuu fell in love all over again.