Chapter 8: Uneasy Day

"Think I have lost all of my mindPlease leave me alone NowMaybe I’m just paranoid, paranoid"Paranoid by Xdinary Heroes

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Time swiftly flew by since Takuya made the crucial choice to take on the BL drama role. After completing his thrilling dome tours, now he found himself immersed in preparations for the all-important script-reading session scheduled for the following day. Meanwhile, Sho was deeply engrossed in filming another demanding drama series, often extending into late-night shoots. Takuya was no stranger to such a routine. He had become accustomed to his partner's hectic schedule over time. Despite the imminent script-reading session for the BL drama, this evening was no different from the usual hustle and bustle.

In their cozy shared apartment, Takuya rested peacefully, his eyes gently shut, breathing calmly in a steady rhythm. The comforting embrace of sleep offered him solace, becoming a sanctuary after days filled with tireless preparations. The warmth of the bed, enveloping him, seemed to whisper promises of sweet dreams.

Suddenly, the awareness of another presence in the room seeped into Takuya's senses. Sho, his partner, had returned home. Sho's footsteps, distinct and familiar, drew nearer. The bed shifted subtly under his weight as he settled beside Takuya.

Even with his eyes closed, Takuya sensed Sho's presence and instinctively moved closer, seeking the comforting warmth of their shared space.

In a fatigued tone, Sho admitted, "I won't be taking a shower tonight. I must smell awful, Takuya-kun," as Takuya wrapped him in a hug, feeling Sho's exhaustion reflected in his words.

Half-awake and utterly relaxed, Takuya reassured him, "No, you smell perfectly fine." He pulled Sho even closer, he encircled him protectively. "Let's rest up; we've got a script-reading session tomorrow."

Takuya's voice was a soothing lullaby, and it dissolved any remnants of tension from Sho's exhausting day. With those words, they exchanged their final conversation for the night.

A few hours passed as swiftly as a heartbeat. Morning light painted a soft glow across the room, and Sho reluctantly stirred from his restful sleep. He rubbed his eyes sleepily before mustering the energy to get out of bed. Sho then moved to the bedroom door, which was knocked on, and opened it to reveal his manager, dressed in casual sporty attire, with an apron draped over it - an apron that Sho immediately recognized as one that belonged to Takuya.

"Ah, good morning, Manager-san," Sho greeted him with a hint of sleepiness still lingering in his voice.

Clearly focused on the task at hand, his manager responded promptly, "It's already broad daylight, Nishigaki-kun. Get ready. We're off to the script-reading session for your new BL drama."

Sho's memory, jogged by the mention of the script reading, led to a curiosity that he couldn't suppress. "Where's Takuya-kun?" he asked, his eyes surveying the room, revealing his longing to see his partner.

His manager offered a comprehensive response, leaving no room for doubt, "He had another engagement early this morning, and so, he left shortly after my arrival." he explained. With a hint of admiration in his voice, the manager went on, "I hadn't planned to come this early, but Kusakawa-kun called me personally. He wanted to make sure you didn't oversleep and even took the time to prepare your breakfast." As he spoke, the manager started arranging the lavish meal, highlighting the fact that Takuya had prepared a meal before departing.

A smile brightened Sho's face as he listened to the story. The depth of Takuya's care and attention touched his heart, creating a sense of warmth that chased away any residual drowsiness. Filled with gratitude and anticipation for the day ahead, Sho quickly prepared himself for the day's adventures. He couldn't wait to see Takuya, who had orchestrated a morning filled with love and care, setting the tone for the day ahead.

♡

Upon arriving at the building, Sho's presence signaled the start of the script-reading session for the upcoming BL drama. Accompanied by his manager, he felt a bit unsure about which room they should enter. However, a familiar voice interrupted his uncertainty - the series director's. "Ah, you've just arrived, Nishigaki-kun," the director's voice echoed in greeting. "Are you here alone?"

Sho, ever-polite and composed, returned the greeting. "Good afternoon, Director-san," he replied before gesturing to his manager. "I'm with my manager," he clarified.

The director, finding Sho's response amusing, chuckled lightly. "You've got quite a sense of humor," he teased. "What I meant was, I expected you to come with Kusakawa-kun, considering you're partners in real life."

Once more, Sho maintained his composure, gently shaking his head as he clarified, "We're from different companies, so we're not always together for work." He aimed to set the record straight and provide context for everyone's understanding.

The director nodded in understanding. "I see," he acknowledged. "Well, let's not keep everyone waiting." Leading the way, he opened the door to the designated room, inviting Sho and his manager to follow. Inside, the director greeted the assembled cast and crew, and it was at that moment Sho was introduced, largely due to arriving with the director.

With respectful bows, Sho greeted everyone in the room. "I'm Nishigaki Sho. I'll be in your care from now on. Nice to meet you all," he announced, his words resonating with sincerity as he straightened up. Yet, among the gathered individuals, Sho's eyes sought out Takuya. There he was, comfortably seated, his expression adorned with a welcoming smile that instantly drew Sho's attention and warmed his heart.

Upon spotting Sho, Takuya nodded and smiled in return, silently mouthing the words, "Nice to meet you, too."

As Sho settled into his seat, his choice drew curious glances from others in the room. He sat across from Takuya and next to the female lead, Okazaki Sae, which raised questions among the cast members.

One of the cast members was the first to voice this curiosity, asking, "Why... are you not sitting next to Kusakawa-kun?"

"Hmm?" Realizing that he was now the center of attention, Sho was about to gesture to Takuya for some assistance or clarification when he noticed Takuya chuckling and enjoying the reactions of the cast and crew.

In a playful tone, Takuya defended Sho, addressing the expectation. "I get the anticipation, everyone," he started. "But the only time you'll see us act as expected is when we're off-duty. Isn't that right, Sho-kun?" He lightheartedly emphasized the 'kun' honorific, teasingly playing along.

Sho added to the banter, wearing a smile as he chimed in, "We're here to bond with the entire team. I'll be collaborating closely with Okazaki Sae-san, and Takuya-kun will be doing the same with Takahashi Hikaru-san. So, this seating arrangement will help us foster those connections."

Takuya readily affirmed Sho's explanation, nodding. "Exactly," he concurred. "Shall we shift our focus to the script-reading now?"

The room's atmosphere gradually settled, and they dived into the script with determination. The genre of the drama required a serious approach, infusing a touch of tension into the atmosphere.

However, Takuya had other ideas and chose to momentarily steer away from the script. "Oh, I almost forgot," he interjected, drawing attention away from the script. "Sho, have you had lunch? I prepared a meal for-"

A wave of laughter and playful teasing interrupted him, as the others couldn't help but express their amusement. "Eh~~~" they exclaimed with delight, "Who said you wouldn't behave as we expect?"

Takuya chuckled, defusing the situation with an explanation. "I apologize, it was just a moment of curiosity," he clarified, his true intent being to lighten the mood and break the tension. He then turned his gaze to Sho, expecting to find his typically serious partner joining in the laughter.

However, to Takuya's surprise, Sho was deeply engaged in conversation with his female lead, Okazaki Sae. This unexpected development left Takuya feeling a sense of unease, subtly unsettling his professional demeanor. Recognizing the necessity of quickly shaking off this feeling for the sake of professionalism, Takuya attempted to concentrate solely on the script. Despite his efforts, focusing on the lines alone wasn't enough to dispel the unease that had quietly crept into his heart.

Takahashi Hikaru's voice interrupted Takuya's thoughts, bringing him back to the present. "Are you okay? We have a 5-minute break now, Kusakawa-kun," she informed.

Takuya acknowledged her with a warm smile. "I see," he replied, appreciating her concern.

Takahashi then expressed her uncertainty about her character, saying, "Anyway, I still can't grasp her personality. She is described as someone with an intriguing nature, though. How am I supposed to know?" Her tone carried a sense of desperation.

Takuya saw this as an opportunity to shift his focus back to the script and offer his assistance. "Well," he began, "I can help with that. Let's use this break to dive into the script together." He was determined to make the most of this time to help Takahashi and to immerse himself in this work.

♡

The script-reading session had come to an end, leaving Takuya, Sho, Okazaki Sae, and Takahashi Hikaru in the room, still absorbed in their script studies. They were the ones who had remained behind, while the rest of the crew and cast had hurried home, shrouded by the settling darkness.

Once their studies had concluded, Takuya, having finished at the same time as Sho, approached his manager, who was in conversation with Sho's manager. Takuya took a moment to express his gratitude to Sho's manager, specifically thanking them for helping ensure Sho was awake on time in the morning.

With this courtesy done, he turned to his own manager and voiced his intention, "Let's head home."

Takuya's manager was confused, "With me?"

Takuya responded with a thoughtful "Hmm," as he nodded, confirming his decision. "I'm heading back with you, Manager-san."

"Takuya-kun," Sho called out to him. He had already risen from his seat, prompting Takuya to turn around to face him. Sho proposed, "Let's go home. I'm finished."

In response, Takuya turned around to face Sho, his tone firm as he replied, "I'm heading back with my manager."

Sho was perceptive, picking up on Takuya's mood and the underlying tension. He tried to put on a reassuring smile and gently suggested, "It seems like we have some things to discuss privately. Let's go home."

"Yes, we do, but I'm going home with my manager. We will see each other there," Takuya insisted, still resisting.

Sho took a deep breath, sensing the heaviness of the unspoken tensions in the room. His concern for Takuya grew as he wasn't feeling his best either, especially after observing Takuya's interaction with his co-star earlier. The atmosphere was thick with tension, an overwhelming weight pressing down on the room, and Sho felt overwhelmed by the emotions, finding it impossible to keep them in check any longer. With a trace of vulnerability in his voice, he couldn't help but blurt out, "Do you even want me to come home?"

Takuya was visibly startled by the directness and suddenness of Sho's question, his eyes widening in surprise as he grappled with the unexpectedness. Noticing this exchange, Okazaki Sae and Takahashi Hikaru, who had been discreetly observing the couple's interaction, now watched with increasing concern as the tension escalated.

"Ah," Takahashi Hikaru decided to break the silence and offer insight into the situation. She cautiously suggested, "I believe it might be because Kusakawa-kun wasn't feeling his best today."

Takuya furrowed his brow, curious about what Takahashi was getting at. He turned toward her, awaiting an explanation.

"What I mean..." Takahashi Hikaru continued, "...is that his mood seemed affected after observing Nishigaki-kun interacting with Sae-san earlier. Nishigaki-kun weren't paying attention when Kusakawa-kun and the others were joking around."

Sho smiled softly as he got the information. "I understand. At that time, Okazaki-san filled me in about our characters and their intricate relationships. I sought clarification from her after Takuya-kun asked about the meal. I was paying attention during that moment."

Takuya cast his gaze downward, his emotions a tangled mess of guilt and conflict. He couldn't bear to make eye contact with anyone in the room.

Sho continued to express his feelings, confiding, "You know, Takahashi-san, I also felt uneasy when I saw you both laughing together while studying the script."

Takahashi calmly clarified the situation, explaining, "At that time, I was consulting Kusakawa-kun about my character. He was assisting me in gaining a different perspective."

Sho nodded thoughtfully, admitting his initial misinterpretation and the subsequent misstep in his reaction. He spoke candidly, "At first, I misunderstood the situation and didn't handle it well. The thought of Takuya-kun depending on someone else besides myself troubled me. I apologize for my reaction." Sho redirected his attention to Takuya once more. "I got what Takahashi-san was saying. But if you think it's better to take some time alone to think things through, I'll totally understand and give you all the space you need. We'll be meeting again tomorrow here for the script-reading session, so let's have a chat if you're up for it. I'll be staying at Hosoda's place tonight. Feel free to reach out if there's anything you need. Take care. See you later."

With these words, Sho excused himself with a respectful bow to both managers and waved to Okazaki and Takahashi, who remained seated, wary of the unfolding situation.

As Sho departed, Takuya took a moment to apologize to Okazaki Sae for any inconvenience caused and express his gratitude to Takahashi Hikaru for helping clarify matters with his partner.

"Are you coming with me?" Takuya's manager double-checked.

This time, Takuya had reached a decision, affirming, "I'll be going with Sho."

In haste, Takuya hurried to catch up with Sho, spotting him waiting for the elevator. Acting impulsively, he wrapped his arms around Sho's, surprising him with a hug.

"I'm sorry," Takuya whispered, his voice heavy with emotion.

Sho let out a sigh. "This situation is kind of messed up. It's affecting both of us. If things stay this way, you might not be able to watch my romantic drama, just as I avoided your series before. You know, I had every intention of collaborate with you again, but now, jealousy's creeping in."

Takuya wore a slight smile. "I must admit, Sho, your possessive side has this oddly endearing charm. You're welcome to flaunt it," he teased gently.

Sho responded, his voice carrying a hint of concern, "You do realize that jealousy can be pretty hurtful, right? I wouldn't want either of us to experience that again."

Takuya acknowledged Sho's concern with a nod, understanding the weight of his worry. "You're right, jealousy can be painful, but sometimes, it's inevitable," he admitted thoughtfully.

"I can't say for sure how things will be on set next week when we begin shooting," Sho confessed, uncertainty in his voice.

Takuya responded with a mischievous grin, saying, "Oh, but we've got a script reading for our scenes as well, don't we? Is that scheduled for tomorrow? I'm actually looking forward to it."

Sho returned the smile, appreciating Takuya's effort to lighten the mood. "You're right. Let's tackle it together."

"Hmm," Takuya nodded, his grip on Sho's hand firm, seeking to reassure him. They walked away hand in hand, ready to face the challenges and emotions awaiting them.

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