Chapter 21: True Colors

"Navy, orange, sky blue, camelia, oliveYou've taught me that you come in many colorsMatte or shiny, you have them allPale or vivid, they're all yours."Present by Tomoo

❥

Sho stood at the doorway of the apartment he shared with Takuya. Takuya lingered nearby, unwilling to say goodbye just yet. Despite finalizing their wedding plans late into the night before, Takuya had risen early to see Sho off. He couldn't let Sho leave for a week of filming without a proper send-off.

Sho turned slowly, facing Takuya. Still in his pajamas, Takuya blinked away sleep and offered a gentle smile. Sho returned the smile, aware that Takuya likely hadn't gotten much sleep. "I'll be back for the weekend," Sho started. "For anything related to the wedding plans while I'm gone, don't hesitate to ask a friend for help. Alternatively, I can call one of my friends and ask them to-"

"No," Takuya interrupted. "Don't worry about it, I've got this."

"You're comfortable tackling the plans alone?" Sho asked to confirm.

"Relax, Sho-kun," Takuya said with a firm nod. "Who do you think I am? I'm 5 years older than you. I'm practically an adult compared to you! Seriously though, I'll manage."

Despite lingering worry about Takuya handling the wedding plans solo, Sho knew pushing the issue wouldn't help. He nodded. "Okay, but remember, I'm just a phone call away. I'm here to help in any way I can, even if it's just talking things through."

Takuya chuckled. He gave a playful nudge. "Don't be silly! Filming a drama is serious work, not a walk in the park. Get out there and do your best! I'll see you back here in a few days."

Sho finally closed the door behind him, leaving the apartment quiet. Takuya had hoped to catch some more sleep, but despite his wish, seeing Sho off had left him wide awake. He picked up the wedding plan they had worked on together, rereading it carefully.

Takuya knew the first step was to confirm the details with the wedding venue. It seemed like a manageable task to tackle alone, and Takuya felt a surge of confidence. Luckily, Sho had already scheduled an appointment for them the night before.

Takuya pulled his car into the mostly empty parking lot of the wedding venue. He glanced down at his tablet, reviewing the list Sho had created. It outlined the key points they needed to discuss with the venue staff. A wave of nervousness washed over him, and he took a deep breath to steady himself before stepping out of the car.

Knock knock!

A knock on the car window startled Takuya. He looked up to see a woman he recognized. She smiled warmly and gestured for him to open the door and get out.

Takuya fumbled to gather his tablet, phone, and any other materials he might need before opening the car door. "Manna-san?" he asked, trying to make sense of the situation. "Is this unexpected? Are you here for a meeting, or do you work at the venue?"

"Actually, I'm here for work," Manna explained. "I'm your new talent manager."

"Eh?"

Manna offered another warm smile. "The company assigned me to be with you today."

"The company?" Takuya frowned in confusion. "Listen, I appreciate you being assigned as my manager, but this is a personal appointment for the wedding venue. Having a companion isn't necessary. Besides, how did the company even know I was coming here?"

Takuya waited for Manna's answer, but she didn't explain further. Instead, she gestured towards the venue entrance. "The consultant is expecting us," she said politely. "Shall we head in?"

Takuya's mind raced. It wasn't helping that Manna, his new manager from the company, was now by his side. To top it all off, he saw Kai standing in the distance, talking with the consultant. It was all a bit too much to take in.

Seeing Kai by the consultant, Takuya stopped short. Manna, noticing his surprise, patted his arm reassuringly. "Don't worry," she whispered. "Kai's family owns this venue. He just wanted to make sure your preferred date was still available."

At the same time, Kai realized Takuya had arrived. He waved his hand and came closer to Takuya. "You are looking great, buddy!" He complimented his friend. "and tensed up. What happened?" he added while laughing.

"Hold on a second," Takuya retorted playfully, drawing a laugh from both Kai and Manna. "Seriously though," Takuya continued, "what brings you here?"

Kai's smirk widened. "Let's get this straight," he said, raising a hand. "I wouldn't say I'm 'helping' you. You never asked for it, did you?"

"Fair enough. But then what is the reason for you being here?"

"Let's handle this meeting first," Kai interjected. "The consultant has another appointment after you, and we don't want to hold her up."

The consultation with the venue consultant went well, thanks to the support of Kai and Manna. There were a few details Takuya almost overlooked that Sho had mentioned the night before, but luckily, Kai and Manna seemed to anticipate these and asked the consultant directly. Although curious about Kai's presence, Takuya decided to let it go for now, focusing on the successful consultation. However, as they left the venue, Kai followed Takuya towards his car.

"Hmm?" Takuya paused in confusion before reaching for his car keys. Kai had lingered behind while Manna headed off across the parking lot. "Hey," Takuya said hesitantly, "is something else going on? Did you need something?"

Kai's smirk returned. "Look," he said, "I know you're curious why I'm here. Let me explain."

Takuya's brow furrowed. He cast a quick glance around the parking lot, noticing the absence of Kai's car. Turning back to Kai, he asked directly, "How did you even get here? You don't seem to have parked a car."

"Manna-san and I came together." Kai answered right away.

Takuya let out a long breath. "Alright," he conceded. "We can talk in the car. I'll give you a ride back to the office, and you can explain yourself on the way."

♡

Throwback to chapter 20...

"Alright, now that everyone's had their say," Takashi said with a nod. "We just want you to know we're all here for you, no matter what. So, ditch the worries, have a blast, and be happy together. No apologies needed!"

Sho finally let out a chuckle, feeling significantly calmer than when he first came into the room. The Bullet Train's manager, who had previously managed Takuya, offered Sho a pat on the back, showing strong support.

"Actually, there's one more thing on my mind," Sho began. "I was hoping I could get some help with something."

The previously cheerful members grew silent, their smiles fading. A sense of anticipation filled the room as they all wondered what Sho might say next.

"Unfortunately, my schedule won't allow me to help Takuya with the wedding preparations as much as I'd like. He assured me he could handle it alone, but neither of us has ever planned a wedding before. While asking our parents for help might seem like a good option, they're getting older, and I wouldn't want to burden them. So..." Sho paused, unsure how to proceed.

"So...?" Yuki asked for the continuation.

Ryoga, picking up on Sho's hesitation, spoke up. "Look, Nishigaki-kun, we'd jump in if we could, but with everything on our plates right now..."

"Well... I know you're all busy, but a part of me wonders if maybe one of you could spare some time to be with Takuya-kun..." Sho mumbled, unsure of the reception.

""Maybe Takuya and you can create a detailed schedule or checklist first," Kai suggested. "A shared online calendar with to-do lists could work well. Once you both have that set up, we can see who's available to assist Takuya on specific tasks. We don't want to overwhelm him by all showing up at once, right? Speaking of which, I wouldn't want to be around if Takuya gets cranky. I'll head home."

Sho gave a wide smile. "Perfect solution," he said. "I'll create a schedule with tasks tonight and share it with everyone online. Thanks again for all your help."

♡

"So yeah, that's how it played out," Kai concluded his tale, a hint of amusement in his voice as he observed Takuya's furrowed expression. "Looks like Nishigaki-kun's worries have been put to rest. Rest easy tonight, knowing he's no longer burdened by guilt."

Takuya sighed. "I told him not to stress about it, but of course he did something anyway."

"Can't blame the guy," Kai said. "He's just trying to be supportive in his own way, even if it means taking some things off your plate. He cares about you deeply, that's all."

Takuya couldn't hide the slight smile tugging at his lips as he took a sip of his smoothie. "You really think so?" he asked, hoping for confirmation but still trying to appear nonchalant. He looked up to find Kai with a curious expression, a mix of amusement and something else Takuya couldn't quite decipher. "What's that look for?" Takuya asked, confused.

"Seriously, Takuya?" Kai exclaimed, barely containing a laugh. "We're talking about Nishigaki-kun's feelings towards you, a month before your wedding! And look at you, blushing like crazy!"

Takuya felt a heat rise to his cheeks as he realized he'd been blushing in front of Kai. "Oh, right," he stammered, looking down sheepishly.

Kai chuckled. "You know, Takuya," he began, "you've always been a softie, even if you try to hide it. But when it comes to Nishigaki-kun, you wear your heart on your sleeve - your guard falls down completely. Honestly, it's adorable. We all love seeing this side of you."

"Can't deny it," Takuya said with a smile lingering, his cheeks still flushed. "I can't believe it, but everything feels perfect right now. Getting married to Sho has always been a dream of mine, and seeing it all come together, piece by piece, is amazing. Maybe a little cheesy, but it's the truth."

"Nah," Kai said with a smile. "There's no hiding your happiness, it's contagious!"

Takuya fell silent for a moment, then continued thoughtfully. "Speaking of Sho, did you know he almost backed out of filming for the wedding? It actually made me realize something about his feelings when he wanted to postpone the wedding before."

"Have you figured anything out?"

"A lot," Takuya admitted, his voice softening, "He's shown he's willing to give up a lot for me. It makes me realize that..."

"A little concerning?"

"Definitely not," Takuya replied firmly. "Seeing him do that made me understand the depth of his love."

Kai shook his head in disbelief. "Believe it or not, Takuya, We all see it - you're amazing too. Your love for Sho is as strong as his for you. Maybe it's hard to see sometimes, but both of you deserve all the love you're getting."

"I didn't know that."

Kai chuckled again. "Look, to be honest, all of us kind of guessed you might consider leaving the group if you knew about the ticket sales. That's why we kept it quiet," he explained openly. "We wanted you to stay with us for as long as possible."

Takuya's smile faltered slightly. "Even though things are turning out differently," he said, "I truly hope you guys achieve everything you've set out to do. You deserve all the success in the world."

Kai nodded reassuringly. "Letting you go wasn't a mistake. We knew it would lead to your happiness." He saw a glistening in Takuya's eyes and added gently, "You're on the right path now, and we're still here for you. I think Nishigaki-kun asking us to help means he wants us to be a part of this special time with you."

Takuya nodded in agreement, a surge of warmth spreading through him as he thought of Sho. Sho was always the more level-headed one, carefully considering everything. However, sometimes Sho's focus on prioritizing Takuya's happiness could lead him to miss Takuya's perspective. It could lead to misunderstandings, and in those situations, Takuya sometimes had to take the opposing viewpoint, even if it made him seem like the bad guy. But it was all because Takuya couldn't imagine his life without Sho. "Damn," he breathed, a soft smile playing on his lips, "I really love him."

Kai burst out laughing. "That's it exactly!" he shouted, a grin spreading across his face

Takuya joined Kai's laughter, shaking his head in amusement. The realization of how deeply he loved Sho hit him, a feeling that was both powerful and surprising. Yet, a small voice in his mind whispered that his determination to be with Sho stemmed not only from his love for Sho, but also from a deep-seated love for himself and his own happiness.

♡

Takuya reached for the doorknob of his apartment, ready to head out. Today was the day he was supposed to visit the bridal boutique for his wedding suit fitting. As he opened the door, he was surprised to see two friends chatting right outside. They turned towards him, their faces breaking into wide smiles. It was Ryoga and Aloha.

"Are you guys... coming with me today?" Takuya asked, surprised to see Ryoga and Aloha together.

"Absolutely," Aloha replied quickly. "Since our builds are similar to Nishigaki-kun's, we might be able to help out with the fitting process."

"I wasn't expecting two people today."

Ryoga nodded, explaining their plan. "Instead of just trying on one suit at a time, we figured this way would be more efficient. Aloha and I can try on a few options in our similar sizes to give you an idea of the fit."

Takuya wasn't entirely convinced, but he went along with it. "Alright, that sounds efficient," he said, shutting the door behind him. As they walked towards the elevator together, Takuya added, "Are you guys sure you both have free time for this?"

"Nishigaki-kun actually let us know about your appointment beforehand," Aloha explained. "So we made sure to adjust our schedules to make it work. Don't worry, we all have busy lives, but we wanted to help out!"

Deciding it wouldn't hurt to have some extra support, Takuya let his friends accompany him to the bridal boutique. Their engaging conversation kept the mood light and Takuya relaxed throughout the journey to the bridal boutique. As they arrived, a welcoming boutique assistant greeted them, already prepared for Takuya's appointment, which had been scheduled the day before.

"Do you have a particular color or style of suit in mind for today's fitting?" the boutique assistant asked as they entered the main fitting room.

"Actually," Takuya began, hesitantly glancing around the room. While there weren't many suits on display, he noticed several closets lining the walls. "While I don't see a lot out here, do you have any dark or navy blue suits available?"

A smile spread across the assistant's face as soon as Takuya mentioned the color. "Absolutely," she said, heading towards a closet in the far right corner. "Navy blue is a very popular choice these days. It's a great option for couples looking for something a bit different from the traditional black suit." She continued, opening the closet door for Takuya. "Here's our selection of navy blue suits. Please take a look."

Takuya approached the closet, his eyes scanning the selection of navy blue suits. Ryoga and Aloha stood by patiently, waiting for Takuya to make his choice.

"Do you have any specific reasons you and your partner prefer navy blue for the wedding suit?" the boutique assistant asked, hoping to spark conversation.

"Ah," Takuya said with a smile. "we haven't picked a specific color for the wedding suits yet. I haven't actually seen my partner in a formal suit before, but I've seen pictures of him, and he looks great in navy blue."

Takuya's answer surprised Aloha and Ryoga. They exchanged a quick glance, a blush creeping onto their cheeks. It seemed they were both on the same page - they suspected Takuya might have chosen the color based on how it would look on Sho.

"If you're open to other ideas," the boutique assistant said, moving towards another section of the room. "We have another option besides navy blue. It's also a dark color, but with a more luxurious feel. This one is emerald green." She opened another closet to reveal the suits.

Takuya felt a jolt of surprise. Green had always been his signature color within the group, but things were different now that he was on his own. He hesitated, unsure if it would be the best choice. "Actually-"

"That emerald green is a nice color," Ryoga observed. "It's a dark shade but still has a richness to it."

Aloha's eyes lit up, and she gave Ryoga a quick nod of agreement.

Takuya paused for a moment, his gaze lingering on the emerald green suits. "But..."

"That's a great point," the boutique assistant acknowledged. "Since your partner isn't here to choose with you, why not present him with both the navy blue and emerald green options? You two can then discuss and decide which one suits both of you best! It could be a fun way to get him involved in the process."

Takuya chuckled nervously. He reached out and gently touched the fabric of the emerald green suit. "Actually," he said, "why don't we try both the navy blue and this green one? They're both really nice. Since my partner isn't here, maybe my friends could try them on first. They're a similar size to him, so it would give us a better idea of the fit."

"Absolutely," the boutique assistant agreed. She turned to one of her colleagues and said, "Would you mind helping me measure these gentlemen, please?"

After snapping some photos and videos of Ryoga and Aloha modeling the suits, Takuya gave them a whirl himself. They wrapped up their visit to the bridal boutique, and Takuya drove Ryoga and Aloha back, dropping them off at the Stardust building. On the ride home, Ryoga and Aloha couldn't resist giving Takuya their two cents on the suits.

"You're really putting a lot of thought into Nishigaki-kun's outfit," Ryoga said playfully, glancing at Takuya in the passenger seat. Aloha was behind the wheel now. "Though, gotta say, the emerald green looked pretty good on you."

Takuya smirked, "Nice try, but you missed the mark completely! Let's just say I have my reasons."

"Just imagine," Ryoga added with a playful grin, "Nishigaki-kun in that emerald green. He might steal the show from you entirely!"

"Believe it or not," Takuya said. "I've seen him in all sorts of colors, and he manages to look great in everything."

Ryoga sensed a shift in the conversation and decided to back off. He knew how much Sho meant to Takuya, and friendly teasing might not always land well.

"There's definitely something special about seeing someone you love in anything," Aloha added thoughtfully.

"Love isn't blind," Takuya said honestly. "Sure, Sho looks great in any kind of fashion, but we're both human. We get mad at each other sometimes - it happens when you live with someone. I've made mistakes that annoyed him, and he's done the same to me."

"That's lovely," Aloha commented. "Being able to work through disagreements shows a lot of strength in your relationship."

A smile spread across Takuya's face. Memories of their arguments flickered through his mind, playing out like a movie. "Even the arguments, the times we get frustrated with each other," he said softly, "they wouldn't change how I feel. As long as Sho is by my side, nothing else matters."

♡

After a long week of filming, Sho finally returned home. Takuya, his partner, was there to greet him. A delicious meal sat waiting on the dining table, but the first thing Sho craved was a hug from Takuya.

"Hold on a second," Takuya said with a laugh, gently stopping Sho from the immediate hug. "You texted me you finished filming this week and headed straight for the airport, right? It would be great if you could clean up a bit first, Sho."

With a tired sigh, Sho turned towards the bathroom. He hadn't gotten the welcome he'd hoped for. Takuya chuckled, watching his fiance playfully exaggerate his disappointment. "Come on, Sho, don't be so dramatic," Takuya teased.

After his shower, Sho found Takuya waiting for him in the dining room. "So, I heard you had some company while checking out wedding venues and the bridal boutique," Sho started playfully, even though he knew Takuya likely knew what he was up to. "How did those visits go? Did you have a good time?"

"Oh really? Thanks a bunch for the friends," Takuya said sarcastically, a playful smile on his face. "I could have handled it on my own, but their company was nice."

Sho agreed with a smile. "I know you could've done it alone, but that wasn't the point. It's my way of making up for missing out while you were checking things out. Let me be part of it somehow."

"Alright, alright, you win," Takuya said with a chuckle, acknowledging Sho's point. "I have to admit, having them there made things a lot easier. They were a big help, so thanks for setting that up."

"Of course, anything for you!" Sho declared, happily munching on his karaage. "So, tell me all about the suits! Did you find the perfect one? What color did you decide on?"

That's right. Takuya decided to keep the details of the day a surprise for now. "Actually, I haven't told you about everything yet," he admitted with a smile. He handed his phone to Sho. "Take a look! I think the navy blue one might really suit you. You always look great in blue anyway."

"The navy blue one," Sho acknowledged, looking at the pictures on the phone. "I see. It does look good. What other options were there?"

"Oh, and there was also a green one," Takuya added nonchalantly, scrolling through his phone.

"Perfect!" Sho declared, a playful smile on his face. "Green it is then. No need to look any further."

"Eh?"

"Hmm?" Sho said, looking at Takuya curiously. "There's a reason it wasn't the first one you showed me, isn't there? That color might hold some... special memories for you, considering your 'Bullet Train' days. That's why you probably weren't too keen on mentioning it."

Takuya sighed. "You see right through me, Sho," Takuya confessed, a touch of sadness in his voice. "Let's just say... moving on from that part of my life wasn't always easy."

Sho recognized the depth of Takuya's commitment when he chose to leave his group to be with him. "But remember what you told me? The green color will be retired. It won't be assigned to any new members. This could be a chance to make the green your own again. It can be a fresh start, a reminder of the new life we're building together."

"Yes," Takuya said simply.

"Then the green suit is yours for the taking," Sho concluded confidently. "Since you seem hesitant about the green, I'll just steal it for myself!"

Although Takuya recognized Sho was probably teasing, the idea of Sho taking the green color still rubbed him the wrong way. He couldn't quite shake the feeling of annoyance.

Sho's laughter softened at Takuya's silence. He put the phone down and walked around to give Takuya a back hug. "Hey, no need to get all quiet on me," he said gently. "Look, the green's yours, okay? I was just messing with you. But seriously, how cool would it be if we wore matching green suits for the wedding? A final nod to your past before we start our new chapter together?"

Takuya dramatically turned away, grabbing his phone and pretending to play a game with exaggerated focus. "I hate you so much right now, Sho."

"I know, I know," Sho chuckled, nuzzling his head against Takuya's. "I love you, too."

A genuine smile finally bloomed on Takuya's face. He set his phone aside, turned, and and surprised Sho with a quick peck on the lips. "Sometimes you can be a real pain, Sho. But hey, at least you're a cute pain."

"Well, that's one way to look at it."

"That's exactly how I've always felt about you," Takuya admitted, his voice warm. He reached out and intertwined his fingers with Sho's offered hand, allowing himself to be pulled up from the chair with a comfortable ease. Their gazes locked for a moment, a silent understanding passing between them before they turned towards the bedroom door.

Reaching the doorway, Sho turned back with a playful glint in his eyes. Before Takuya could react, Sho's hand found his lower back, guiding him gently against the wall. Instead of a single, lingering kiss, Sho peppered kisses across Takuya's face - his forehead, the corner of his eyes, down his jawline - each kiss a tiny spark igniting a fire within Takuya. Finally, Sho captured Takuya's lips in a heated kiss, their breaths mingling. Takuya couldn't help but let out a surprised laugh between kisses, the sound quickly dissolving into a contented sigh, his head tilting back as he surrendered to the affectionate onslaught.

"Such a cutie!" Takuya finally managed between kisses, his voice laced with amusement. He playfully swatted at Sho's shoulder, a weak attempt to push him away that only served to pull them even closer.

Sho, amidst the kisses, murmured, "I'm working on a new image that's a little less...cute." His kisses intensified, leaving a trail of warmth down Takuya's neck. With a gentle but firm hand, he guided Takuya towards the bed, the playful atmosphere morphing into something altogether more passionate.

Sho leaned closer, his lips brushing against Takuya's ear as he whispered, "Let me show you." His fingers skimmed the edge of Takuya's loose black t-shirt, a deliberate tease before they slipped under the fabric. The cool touch of skin against skin sent a wave of goosebumps erupting across Takuya's body.

"Mmmhh..." A soft sigh, almost a moan, slipped past Takuya's lips as Sho's kiss deepened. He leaned into Sho's touch, a silent surrender to the rising tide of desire.

The kiss ended abruptly, pulling Takuya back to reality with a gasp. Sho lifted his head slightly, creating a sliver of space between them. Takuya, caught off guard by the sudden break, instinctively reached out to close the gap again. But Sho gently placed his hands on Takuya's shoulders, holding him back with a playful smile. He saw a flicker of confusion cross Takuya's brow.

Sho chuckled, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "So," he said, his voice taking on a more serious tone, "matching green suits on our wedding day, what do you say?"

Takuya let out a shaky breath, a sigh escaping his lips. Despite the lingering happiness - a feeling like walking on air after so many days apart - He needed more, craved the reassurance of Sho's presence pressed against him.

"Alright," he conceded, his voice a touch raspy, the playful defiance from before replaced by a quiet vulnerability. "Green suits it is." The words tumbled out, a verbal surrender in the face of his overwhelming desire. But the moment the agreement left his mouth, a stronger urge took hold. He couldn't wait any longer.

Reaching out, his hand brushed against Sho's cheek, a silent plea for closeness. His fingers ghosted over the smooth skin, sending a jolt of electricity through him. Without a word, he drew Sho's head closer, the space between them collapsing as their lips met.

This time, Sho met him fully, his initial surprise melting away into reciprocation. Their lips locked in a passionate embrace, a silent conversation spoken through heated touches and ragged breaths. It was a kiss fueled by a mixture of pent-up longing, newfound joy, and the unspoken promise of a future they would build together. As they pulled away, breathless and slightly dazed, a sense of calm settled over them, a quiet understanding that transcended words.

The feeling of walking on air returned, but this time, it was laced with a feeling of finally coming home.

❥