discomposer | golden peacock inbox

[ 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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