discomposer | golden peacock inbox

[He's already spent hours looking at Nagisa's face. And Mary's. And even Ibara's. Leo hasn't had that kind of time, and so Hiyori lets him look for as long as he needs.

It is a good thing. Being able to see the face of a loved one again, even if it hurts.]

Ah yes, those! It's a shame these watch things don't have that option. I've already gotten bored of using the same emojis. But you know, that app she showed me was pretty fun. You could even add text! For example, here~♪

[He pauses, then, not wanting to interrupt Leo's viewing time. But he's just moving to another picture that also has Arashi in it, so he goes ahead with it—it's something like this with the circle name written across it in cute pink font. And the five members are all looking cute, too, of course.

Then he adds, casually:]

She was the best at making circle meetings fun. Along with me, of course. The other three were always a bit soft-spoken, but she was good at bringing them out of their shell.

[ Leo's pretty sure pictures from a phone from home can't be sent to a watch, but he wonders if Hiyori will take shitty small copies on the watch for him from it if he asks.

He ends up drawing his knees up, looping his arms around when he notices he'd gotten grabby about the pictures he's still watching. ]

Yeah, Naru was always kind of a moodmaker for us, too. Everyone else leans to kinda snappy, depending. [ Leo isn't exactly that - he's easygoing and even nicer than Naru is underneath it all, but Leo is also easily the most mercurial of all of them, swinging from brightly cheerful to throwing a temper tantrum to forgetting all about it within the space of five minutes. When he sets the mood it's a rollercoaster. ]

Well, everyone else has caused more problems overall, anyway, Suo aside. Well, he did kidnap Magi's kid that once?

[ #Knights, the unit of crime sometimes ]

[For continuity's sake, we'll say it's possible to transfer pictures from a smartphone to a smartwatch even if it's not instantaneous. Since getting his phone back, he's tried showing off Mary pictures over the Network! The rando he was showing them to really didn't care, though. Sharing these Pretty 5 pictures with Leo is definitely more worthwhile.

He blinks at the comment about Tsukasa, taking a moment to remember what that was about. The summer of the MDM seems so far away now.]

That just makes it sound like his seniors are a bad influence!

[He wasn't around for the Izumi kidnapping scandal, but given his social connections to some of the Knights members, we'll say he's heard about it through the grapevine.]

But I guess you're still a better influence than Eichi-kun...♪

[He goes quiet for a moment after that, looking down at the picture. Should he switch to another Pretty 5 pic? He's pretty sure he has a solo one of Arashi in there somewhere. But instead of doing either, he looks at Leo and says this:]

Want to go through the pictures yourself? I don't have anything I'm trying to hide in there.

[He is the ideal idol, after all.]

Hey, I'm not the bad influence for that part of things, though! [ Leo isn't a kidnapper. The high bar of Knights innocence, here, because more than one of them can't honestly make that claim....

But he will take the phone when offered. ]

Is there a way for me to get copies of them? [ He's never bothered to save anything but pictures of sheet music here so ]

[He answers affirmatively at once.]

Yep, that I can arrange! It took me a bit to figure out, but basically you just have to upload them to some cloud server thing. That still works apparently. Though I can't get any Internet connection on my phone, and I can't reach any of my contacts, either.

[Not that he expected to be able to. He figured there'd be no signal.]

But once I do that, I can send them over the watch just like a normal picture! Unless you were hoping for print copies. I haven't made any of those yet, but if I go to one of the shops, they might be able to figure something out.

[He's willing to try. He gets the importance of all this. As for what Leo will find on his camera roll?

Lots of photos. So, so many. He wasn't a social media addict, but taking pictures that could be uploaded to the official accounts was part of his job. And he'd never hesitate to spam people with images over text conversations, either. Pictures of trinkets he found in shops, pictures of cute desserts or drinks he ordered, pictures of scenery, pictures of things that reminded him of someone he knows (like a gemstone that calls to mind Nagisa's eyes.) Mostly, though, it's a lot of pictures of loved ones.

For starters, Mary! He has so many of her. Pictures of her alone or with him or with Jun, pictures of her frolicking outdoors or snuggled up indoors, pictures of her dressed for Halloween or sakura-viewing. There are pictures of himself, too, of course, since he loves himself and his own looks: mirror selfies and cafe selfies, photos taken dressing rooms or behind the scense of some photoshoots, selfies with other familiar faces. And then there's the unit he loves. His camera roll is a treasure trove of behind-the-scenes content, including some funny candid shots. These are the photos that tend to make it onto their public social media accounts. But there's more private, domestic stuff, too: Nagisa proudly holding a plushie of Ibara, wearing a face that would definitely not suit his persona, or knelt on the ground petting Mary; Ibara with a funny smudge on his face from tapping a pen against his chin.

And then there are the pictures of people outside his unit. The photos featuring Eden members heavily outnumber the photos of people that don't, but that doesn't mean there aren't still plenty of the latter. He really did take a lot of photos at Pretty 5 excursions, both group shots and otherwise: photos of the various members trying on clothes and accessories, holding up plushies, gathered around cafe tables. Arashi features in lots of them, and there are at least a couple where the main focus is on her: here she is trying on make-up, there she is sporting a grin and wearing sunglasses. She's more photogenic and confident in her looks than Mika or Aira, after all.

There only seems to be one group photo of the tea circle. It was his idea, actually: he had so many pictures of Pretty 5, but none with them, and that seemed a bit unbalanced. The trade-off is that this means Eichi Tenshouin's mug is there on his camera roll, waiting to jumpscare him, but he decided that trade was worth it. This is sadly all Leo will see of Ritsu, though there is one other relevant photo: a black cake that seems to be oozing some type of red filling. It's rather creepy-looking. Why take a photo of that? So he could post it to the Eden groupchat with the caption "You won't believe how good this tasted! I know it looks horrible, but it's absolutely delicious!" <--- That's why. Then he just forgot to delete it afterwards.

There are behind-the-scenes photos from Getto Spectacle, too. A few where the members are dressed up backstage, and several where they're dressed more casually, sitting around the dorm. They all lived together in Crazy:B's old room, after all. Speaking of Crazy:B, Hiyori's roommates show up a few times, too. Here's Kanata trying to entice Mary with the isopod plush; here's Rinne with Mary. It looks like Rinne took that photo himself.

There are some photos of people and places Leo won't recognize. Those are photos from home, mostly. He doesn't have as many of those as one might assume, given how often he invokes his family name. But an idol's schedule is busy, so perhaps it's no surprise he isn't home very often. Either way, he was living a full life back home. There are photos from around Reimei, of Mary growing up in his and Jun's shared dorm room, but a huge chunk of the pictures were taken during that first year of ES. He had a happy life there, and remembering that fact feels like a blessing and a curse and a terrible heartache all rolled into one.]

No, digital is fine. I can't lose my watch, after all. [ His phone had always been another matter. Leo was constantly leaving it places and the only reason it had even ever had a lock code was due to Sena choosing one and programming it in. Knights was totally used to Leo forgetting about his phone somewhere or just not answering it a solid half of the time.

They'd probably enjoy having him have a phone strapped to his wrist and inescapable actually - ]

I want a picture of you and Nami, too, when you send 'em! I didn't notice until recently but all I've taken pictures of have been music.

And aren't we lucky for that~♪

[He doesn't know about Leo's history of last smartphones. But, you know. It wouldn't surprise him.

(And Ibara would probably enjoy being able to permanently strap a smartwatch onto all CosPro idols. Especially Shu from Valkyrie, who apparently never returns his texts!)

He smiles at Leo's request for a picture of him and Jun, still letting him go through the camera roll.]

That can easily be arranged. Jun-kun and I were in three different units together back home, so I have plenty of photos like that. And I also have some on my watch! In fact, I might just let you see a top-secret one~♪

[This time he starts going through his watch's photos.]

[ Leo's lingering on that fucked up pastry Ritsu cooked with a soft smile, but his gaze flicks up to Hiyori easily enough. ]

A secret~? I like those a lot, but what's that even gonna be?

You'll just have to see for yourself!

[The photo is a few months back, but it isn't long before he finds it. He brings his wrist in front of Leo's face.]

Now here we go. Don't we look adorable? That shop has just the cutest outfits~♪

[As promised, the photo shows him and Jun. But it's not just any photo. It shows them trying on two very special outfits: a green maid outfit with a matching frilly headdress for Hiyori, and a pink strawberry-themed maid outfit for Jun, complete with matching strawberry cat ears. They're in the dressing room of Alice & the Parrots, faces pressed together, Hiyori winking cutely at the camera and Jun looking rather embarrassed. The latter would be why the photo is "top secret," but Hiyori seems happy to show it off.]

[ Leo's pretty sure the secret isn't the costumes, anyway. They're both idols. While Leo can't recall off the top of his head anything in the Eden or Eve lineup that was that showy with skin (he pays more attention to the music than anything else, anyway) it isn't like any of them are unfamiliar with throwing on whatever a show calls for.

Mostly he's thinking it's kind of a Ra*bits vibe. Nazu and his kids would totally fit in this kind of thing, wouldn't they?

So the secret is probably either Nami's expression or how close they're getting, but Leo figures the latter isn't a huge deal given Eve's whole theme, and adding the contextual knowledge that Hiyori can be pretty territorial.

Not like Leo has experienced it much since no one who has known him for even five minutes would take his actions towards Jun as anything other than excessively friendly - presumably anyone Hiyori didn't know half as well probably wouldn't be able to get away with saying "I love you" or texting Jun at weird hours or begging him for cooked snacks in so on without being on some kind of list, but none of that from Leo means much other than he likes the both of them in his usual open way. Actually, neither of them has responded in any surprise or confusion to his I Love Yous or late, so they're at the level of "oh the catchphrase" tolerance that Knights reached way back when.

He takes Hiyori showing something like that off to him as a measure of trust and friendship and beams back at him. ]

Nazu's kids fit this kinda vibe, don't they? Though it works pretty well on you guys too! You're the type who likes to tease your partner, huh?

Who, me? ♪

[He smiles, not even trying to deny being a tease. Then he adds:]

It's because of Jun-kun! His reactions are funny, not to mention cute! But well, you're not exactly wrong that these outfits don't suit our images too well. And Jun-kun got embarrassed, which is why it's top secret. But I figure Leo-kun can be trusted~♪

[Leo's assumptions aren't wrong. Compared to someone like Monika, Hiyori's never been worried Leo would move in on Jun. Leo's the type who loves everyone! Not to mention he just rejected the idea of Jun (and Hiyori) having sex in front of him...

It's always been easy with Leo. Hiyori got cursed that one time and kept hitting on him, but Leo let every come-on roll off him. He doesn't have to worry about showing an ugly side of himself here and having Leo spread it around ES afterwards. Leo's lack of concern about propriety, his preoccupation with music, and his forgetfulness are all blessings, even if the latter can be troubling in other respects.

And even if Leo's not nearly as clueless as he looks. He remembers the important stuff, right?]

I have pictures of us wearing other clothes, too, of course. I'm sure Jun-kun wouldn't mind if I sent those ones.

[He swaps the picture to one of him and Jun sitting in a cafe, a strawberry parfait between them.]

[ He did reject the watching thing, but it also does really run very counter to what he can handle, even if he didn't really say that part. Sex without kissing was difficult enough for him in a lot of ways - sex without even being an active participant would be something he could do but it would probably fuck with how okay he was in the long run. He'd tried to spin it a way he could handle it, but...

He's happy just like this. Leo's the type who withdraws when he's moody or sad at all, but he's also the type who thrives on connections with other people, enjoying hanging out and talking to them even though he tends to get caught up in his own world way too easily. After a little while of hanging out with one of the other idols Leo usually feels warm and happy and recharged even if he felt unsettled at any point prior. ]

I won't share 'em out. I definitely wanna see if I can print the ones of Naru and Rittsu, but I don't think those are secret so it's fine, right? I was thinking maybe I'll pin 'em to one of my walls in the studio.

[ Won't that just look like a shrine to Naru...or more probably Hiyori since literally no one here knows who Naru is, but whatever, Leo wants something of Knights in his favorite place to write. ]

I'm lucky I have friends who are better with phones than me. ♪ Though thinking about it, I'm probably not the only one back home who didn't take pictures all the time...? I mean, I do have a ton of pictures of Ruka-tan and a lot of Knights, but half the time I didn't know where my phone was and Sena had to go cancel it and get me a new one.

[ Why couldn't he do that himself. ]

[One day someone will kiss and fuck Leo like he deserves. Perhaps even one day soon. Hiyori's very serious about the matchmaking!!]

Nope~♪ Those ones aren't secret, so feel free to print away. I might do the same with some of my photos, too.

[Not that he has a studio to put them in.

The main reason he hasn't printed anything yet is because he doesn't know when the rooms will shift back to normal (and thus where to hang pictures), and also because he's slightly afraid it'll hurt his heart a lot. Seeing Nagisa and Mary's faces each day without being able to contact them, that is. But he doesn't want to run from them, either, and he definitely wants to remember what their faces look like. Perhaps that pain is what he needs to motivate him to get home, whatever that may take to achieve. (And Naru shares Hiyori's self-obsession to a degree, so who knows—maybe she'd appreciate having a shrine!)

As for the anecdote about losing his phone all those times, well. He stares at Leo in silence for a moment, before he smiles again and chirps:]

... yep, that sounds like a pain, alright! ♪

[Like looking after a child. He's suddenly very glad Leo can't lose his watch.]

In addition to all the normal reasons that'd be a problem, an idol's phone getting found could cause all kinds of scandal. I'm guessing you didn't have any sensitive pictures or messages either, though, huh? And Sena-kun must've taught you how to password-protect your phone.

[Pause.]

Or did he?

Oh, Sena always programs that and tells me I can't share the passcode around! 𝅘𝅥𝅮

[ Truly, he is a useless man. But he just can't be bothered to keep track of his own belongings, okay! It's an improvement already that sometimes he carries around a notebook these days! ]

As to sensitive, my phone's actually probably worse than yours would be? After all, I prefer to have digital copies of my works, and it's not uncommon for me to send things I'm working on through my phone.

[ The compositions of unreleased songs are pretty sensitive. ]

[His eyes flare.]

You're right! That's a huge data breach!

[This place has gotten to him. After months spent in the resort (almost a whole year!), there was only one type of "sensitive" material on his mind. One he didn't think Leo would've had on his phone back home. The sexy kind! But if it's unreleased music, Leo would have that in spades! (Pun unintended.)]

I was just thinking about the other kind of "sensitive!" But if one of our songs leaked early, I'm sure that'd send Ibara into a meltdown. Everything with our unit is always meticulously planned in advance, after all. Knights is also one of the Big Three, though, so I'm sure it'd be a huge deal for you, too! Not to mention your hard work would go to waste, so that's exactly why you shouldn't leave your phone in a car or drop it in a lake somewhere!

[ Hiyori has just received a flash of divine insight known as "this is what stresses out 2/5 of Knights all the time". Tsukasa and Sena are constantly being driven to distracted irritation by this man. Naru and Ritsu tend to handle it better, but then again they're not trying to keep Leo in line usually. ]

Whoa, possessed by the ghost of Sena~! That sounds exactly like his phone lectures, wow! Have you heard it before?

[At least he doesn't maintain the lecture-y tone for too long.]

Nope, not even once! ♪ But maybe good-looking people think alike! And perhaps we both want what's best for you.

Well, that isn't something I doubt. I do trust you, y'know.

[ Although he doesn't always care about the same things it has simply never occurred to Leo to NOT trust Hiyori implicitly. ]

I know I forget about things like sleeping and eating and meeting up with people and whatever, and it's not like I don't get I'm a pain - but thanks for putting up with it anyway.

[He blinks, before his smile softens.]

You don't need to thank me.

[He says, even though the not-eating and the forgetfulness and the suit effects are worrying. But looking after Leo gives him something to focus on other than Rinne's disappearance. He's sure that it's what Rinne and Arashi and Ritsu and everyone else would want him to do.

And besides,]

I've been told I'm a "pain" or that I'm "difficult" too before. But you love me anyway, right? ♪ It's kind of like that with me, only in reverse! I do wish you'd take better care of yourself, but there are still other things I like. Like your smile or your songs, or the way you call me "Hiyo." That's a cute nickname~♪

Of course I love you! ♪ You and Nami are my favorite people here! [ It's as easily effusive as ever. Leo may love everyone, but it's not like there's not different levels and kinds of it. Hiyori and Jun are pretty high up on his list, which is more or less why he's careful with them when he remembers to be. ]

I don't really think you're much of a pain or whatever, though? I mean, you're pretty bossy and all, but I'm the type who doesn't mind being bossed around from time to time. [ He's also the type who ignores it if he doesn't feel like doing whatever he's been told. So. ]

...♪

[Kyun. That's the sound his heart just made. He figured Leo didn't love everyone equally—that's just not how people's hearts work! At the very least, it sounded like he played favorites back home, with Sena Izumi coming first in his heart. But it's good to have confirmation Leo has "favorites" here, too. And that he doesn't think he's a pain—that, too, is good to hear.]

Knights have someone they're supposed to serve, so I guess that makes sense.

[He turns on the couch, reaching out to take both of Leo's hands in his. Squeezing them tight, he says:]

It's the same for me, too. I've got enough love in my heart for all my fans, but I also play favorites! So here it's you and Jun-kun at the top, along with my adorable Hina-chan~♪ Then it's my other two birds, and then my other friends! Then it's acquaintances and business contacts.

[He... has those here, too. People he meets up with to trade information or talk about getting out of the resort. Some of them he hasn't even met in person before, like that mysterious "Player 9" person.]

But me and Jun-kun will always put you first. So if we ever win three tickets to go home and leave this place behind, we'll head straight to your room.

[ The King of Knights - yeah, they do serve someone. Suou Tsukasa has an entirely different kind of reign than Tsukinaga Leo ever did, and even now any one of them can call for a clash between sides to settle their differences and often they do so...but the Knight who wears the crown sets the pace and makes the rules. Even if they argue and bicker and need to settle things with those fights of theirs on stage, if the King actually sets down a law they'll listen.

Suou's softhearted. He wants them to sit at a round table and discuss things as equals, and they all love him for it.

Leo's favorite people - Ruka, his Knights - they're still there in his heart even when he's gone this long without seeing them. He gives out pieces of himself without even thinking about it, but yeah, he plays favorites even here. He squeezes back against Hiyori's grip but then tugs his hands back so he can shift to kneeling on the couch instead of sitting with his knees to his chest like he had been for a bit, going to hug Hiyori like the clingy idiot he is. ]

You're being really cute today, Hiyo! ☆ ...but thanks. [ He said it already, but who cares if he repeats himself? It can be a refrain. ] If I got two tickets, I'd give 'em to you guys.

[One minute they're holding hands, the next he has an armful of Leo-kun! He blinks in surprise for a moment, before his smile re-forms and his hands come to rest on Leo's back.

It's not like he minds this, after all. "Whenever you feel anxious, there's nothing like letting someone hold you tight." That's what he told Jun back at home.]

Yep, I get cuter every day~♪ Thanks for noticing!

[He pats him on the back a couple of times.

... In reality, he wouldn't want to flee the place with Jun and leave Leo behind. He wouldn't even feel right leaving behind Rinne's statue. Out of the four of them, if he could only save one person, he'd save Jun, of course. But still.

It's a moot point anyway, though. There are no tickets. And so he won't reprimand Leo for putting himself last in that hypothetical scenario. There are limits, apparently, to even Hiyori's hypocrisy.]

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