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Chapter Text

Turn: Matsudappoine

"Hey Teto!"

"Hii!" She waved on the video call with a grin. "How've you been?"

"Eh, decent. We started marching band camp yesterday but it's an ungodly amount of hot."

"Heh, summer'll do that to 'ya," she chuckled. "Does the new band teacher at least let you guys go inside when that happens?"

"Yeah, he's chill. Lets people take their shirts off."

"You lucky ass bastards..."

I laughed. "Are you still gonna do music in college?"

"Yeah. Well I mean, choir's basically my ticket to free college credit and there's a youth orchestra that needs French Horn players 'cause the first horn sucks," she shrugged, "not saying no to that."

"Niice."

"Anyway, how's Souta been? With the heat and all."

"Still whines like a little bitch."

"Sounds just like him..."

"But at least he's been getting better about it. Oh, and uh..."

"Hm?"

I leaned into my mic to whisper, "he's got a crush on Ron."

Teto stared blankly at the screen before it seemed to click with her. "DAMN! He's going after him?! Isn't Ron, like, way too good for him?"

I shrugged. "Souta's got a thing for guys way out of his league, I guess."

"Classic gay loser behavior, I see I see."

"He's been shredding on those tenor pads ever since we got home from the first day 'cause he wants to impress him," I smirked.

"What cadence?"

"Carbon Fiber by that one percussionist. Don't remember his name."

"Miles Kenobbie?"

"Yeah, him. I think."

"Respectable," she nodded her head in approval. "At least he's not playing Jig 2."

"Right???"

---
Turn: Matsudappoiyo

Aauugh, why'd it have to turn out like this?!

The oldest rule in the band kid book is to never fall in love or date anyone from band because when you're over them you gotta see them every single damn day!

Ron and I weren't even friends. He was just some guy in my Freshman choir class! I barely talked to him, and then when he joined the youth orchestra with Kanro and Teto and I, I talked to him even less!

So why?!

Okay, but to be fair, he is pretty hot, especially with his shirt off. And really good at oboe and mellophone and singing. His voice is really soothing to me. He's also really kind whenever we do talk. And smart. Really smart, that too. His hair's so fucking majestic and his shampoo smells really nice whenever he passes by me. Whenever he gives me glances and smiles my chest turns into a deep fryer and-

Shit, this isn't helping my case!

Look. I'm really into him. Good thing no one knows.

Fine! I'm pretty sure everyone knows.

My sister won't shut the hell up about it. Every time I talk to her it's always 'so when are you gonna ask him out?' NOT RIGHT NOW! I'll ask him out someday, just not now! I mean, I don't even know him that well. And he's always hanging out with Kiza anyway, so I just haven't had any opportunities to talk to him. 

And anyway, he probably isn't into guys either...

---
Turn: Matsudappoine

Souta's such a loser, isn't he? Oh yeah, don't listen to whatever he says about Ron always hanging out with Kiza. Souta's had plenty of chances to go talk to Ron when he was by himself, he's just a chickenshit. Hell, I'm pretty sure Kiza knows he's into Ron 'cause he keeps leaving to go get his water bottle that's all the way across the field. Never brings it closer, either. Definitely understands the assignment. Go Kiza!

Sometimes it's funny too. Souta's a really good percussionist since he's, you know, been at it since he was five, but ever since we started camp he's been messing up every solo. They're not really big mess ups and the average person would never know, but you know, it's kinda instinct for me to know. I've got eyes in the back of my head for him so I also know that he's too busy staring at Ron to pay attention to his tenors.

One day Souta got the bright idea to play a solo during warmup so he could impress Ron. You know, the classic 'let me play a song for you my love' schtick, and he's been practicing it for the past days. Thank god he didn't decide to play Jig 2...

---
Turn: Matsudappoiyo

Now that you mention it, maybe Jig 2's a better idea than Carbon Fiber...

---
Counterturn: Matsudappoine

If you fumble 'cause you decided to play a basic bitch cadence then I ain't feeling any remorse for you. And don't even think about getting me to lift you upside down.

---

Counterturn: Matsudappoiyo

Since when the hell did you feel remorse for me?!

Chapter Text

Turn: Matsudappoiyo

Damn, time flies really fast. Already the end of marching camp, huh?

Oh yeah, about Ron; I figured since it's the last day of band camp then I should pull the solo. And confess. That too.

"Hey, Souta!" I turned around to see Tsubasa and Tsukasa waving to me. 

"Hey."

"Final day of camp," Tsubasa sighed. "Are you gonna tell Ron or-"

"Shh-shshsh!" I interrupted, looking over my shoulder and feeling relief when I realized Ron wasn't that close to us. "Shit, don't say that so loud..."

"Why not? Everyone knows."

"No, not everyone knows and not everyone needs to know!"

"She's not wrong, dude," Tsukasa cut in and patted his twin sister on the shoulder. "But Basa, would you like it if Kanro just happened to hear me talking about how very much you-"

"What the hell?!" She smacked him, her face turning red. "Don't talk about this in front of Souta!"

"Sorry, sorry," he chuckled. "But you know, why not? Everyone knows."

"Okay, okay! I'm sorry, Souta. I won't talk about Ron that loudly-"

"What about me?"

My heart felt like it stopped beating when I heard that voice. The Rinne twins froze in shock too when we heard Ron before Tsukasa took his sister's hand and started walking away all like 'hey Basa, you know that time...' YOU BASTARD! Don't fucking leave me here! SCREW YOU! I hope you trip during the laps, roll your ankle and sprain your foot! Then when your foot is sprained Mr. Asterian makes you do more laps!

"Souta?" 

Oh yeah, he's still here. 

"Um..." what the hell am I supposed to say to him?! "Sorry about Tsukasa, he's kinda weird, eheh..."

"Oh, uh," he giggled awkwardly, "yeah. But um, I was gonna ask you something..."

"What's up?"

"Uh..." he paused in what, hesitation? I don't know.

Wait wait wait, maybe he's gonna ask me out! Probably not, though. I'm pretty sure he doesn't swing that way. Don't get your hopes up. 

Oh, but what if he is asking me out? I mean, what would happen after that?

Ron cleared his throat. "Um, I was wondering if-"

"RON!" Some other guy yelled. Gackpo? Yeah, Gackpo. "Get back here! You're not done with warmup!"

"Oh. Yeah, I'll be there," he called back. "Uh, sorry. I'll um... talk you later." And then he ran off. 

I sighed and started heading back to where all the percussion was. Damnit, I had a chance! Fuck!

Picked up my drumsticks and started banging on the tenors. Probably not the best idea, but the only thing I could think to do. Feels like I'm forgetting something though...

Oh yeah, the solo.

I took a deep breath in and began with the first beat. Aight Souta, Ron's not watching yet but don't fuck this up. 

Didn't take long for me to start getting various looks from people. Then cheering and clapping, especially when I hit the last rimshot, ending the first movement.

I looked up to scout around for Ron. Nowhere. Man, Gackpo can go fuck himself. I mean, I learned all the movements but I'd prefer it to end quicker so that Mr. Asterian wouldn't come and yell at me for showing off. 

Fine, second movement it is.

To be fair though, the second movement was pretty fun 'cause of the swingy feel. Hype as hell too, since everyone was cheering. The pressure mounted a little more than it already had and I could feel adrenaline rushing into my hands and chest, urging me to keep going. Few moments later, woo! Second movement done. 

Wow, I'm playing unusually well today.

Starting the third movement I found myself to not be as focused as I had previously, and the adrenaline didn't help either. I couldn't pay attention to the drumset no matter how hard I tried because I was desperately looking around for Ron. And anyway, wherever he was I couldn't see him 'cause of the huge ass crowd around me.

Guess the only thing I could do was to pray he was also in this crowd. 

Of course the third movement had to end too. Even after all the clapping and cheering I couldn't see Ron anywhere, and when I finally found him he was on the other side of the field still running laps.

I sighed. Better luck next time, I guess.

---
Turn: Matsudappoine

Oh dear, Souta's all sad again. Don't tell him this but I can kinda tell whenever he's been beating his shit 'cause he goes from regular ol' 'leave me alone I'm playing Osu' to 'nothing matters, life sucks and we're all gonna die anyway so why bother.' He's not exactly subtle about the post nut clarity thing. Does it really matter what he's beating? Not really, honestly. Gets like this when he practices too.

I sat down next to where he laid all depressed on the bleachers. "Why're you so sad? You beat the shit out of those drums."

"Ron wasn't there for any of it," he curled up further into a ball.

"And? Just do it again later."

"I don't trust in my ability to play that well a second time," he whined.

"Then just confess to him you dumbass. Who cares if you get rejected? At least you tried."

"And you act like it's so easy."

"That's 'cause I'm not a loser like you are. Simple."

"Well excuse me for being a loser."

...

I sighed and patted him on the head. "There there."

"..."

"Here, I'll be nice to you just for today, 'kay?"

"I'm really doubting your ability to be nice to me."

I stood up and started walking down to the field. "Oh and by the way, you're not excused from being a loser," I smirked, "yet."

---
Turn: Matsudappoiyo

Don't you just hate it when people are all like 'ooh, I'm gonna be cool and mysterious and not tell you what I actually mean?'

I'll just tell him another time, anyway. What's the big deal?

...

"Hey Souta." Shit that voice made me jump.

Ron was standing there. Still pretty, really pretty, right in front of me. 

I swallowed. "Uh, hi."

"Kanro said you wanted to talk to me."

So apparently this is her idea of being nice. Cool. I'm gonna strangle her when we get home.

Well okay, she's giving me a chance at least, I guess. 

"Um..." just shoot your shot, man! "I, um..."

...

"I know we don't talk much but, I've wanted to tell you that I..." okay Souta! You can do this! Take a deep breath. "... I ... like you. A-a lot."

---

Turn: Ron

I could practically feel the blood rushing into my face.

He paused. "And um, well, I know you probably don't think the same way of me 'cause we don't really talk and well..." he looked away from me. "I'm a guy, but um..."

"NO!" I think I shouted without realizing 'cause he seemed startled. "I mean, um, no. Actually, earlier I was gonna ask you if you um... wanted to go out with me..."

...

"Um, is this a joke or are you being serious...?" 

I chuckled. Just to get the nervousness out. "Nope! Serious indeed... heheh..."

"... Oh..."

We both sat in awkward silence after that. 

I scratched my head. "So um... how long have you been into me?"

"Since marching camp started, actually." I wasn't sure whether to feel happy that at least he was into me or hurt that it only started this week. "Uh... what about you?"

"Since the day I met you. So like, first day of school last year?"

...

"HUH?!"

"Yeah," I giggled, "it's been a while. Oh and uh, I also joined the youth symphony so I could, you know, talk to you more, but we ended up talking even less."

Souta shrugged. "Was probably the guy sitting next to you's fault."

"I know! He wouldn't shut the hell up and then I'd have to talk to him!"

"Nah okay but, how'd he even get into symphony anyway? I could hear the loud ass duck sounds even if I was standing on the other side of the room..." we both laughed. 

Chapter Text

Turn: Kiza

I hit the stoplight, waiting for it to tell us to cross.

"So did you tell Souta?"

Ron chuckled. "Yeah."

"What'd he say?"

"Well uh, actually..." he hesitated, "he told me first..."

I smirked. "I win. Give me the twenty."

He rolled his eyes and fished out a twenty dollar bill from his wallet, handing it to me. "Fine. You win."

I raised my hand to shake and he took it with a smile. We clasped hands with a nice slapping sound. "Nevertheless, congrats man."

---
Turn: Matsudappoine

"I saw you and Ron getting chummy."

He smiled. "Maybe."

"Did you guys make out or-"

"Why the hell does my sister have to be so weird... NO! We didn't make out!"

"Heheh, just checking, just checking," I smiled, "but I bet you wish you-"

"I thought you said you were gonna be nice to me today."

"The moment's over, you already got what you wanted." I shrugged, "so I have every right to make you suffer again."

He rolled his eyes and smiled. "Oh yeah, I know someone who's got the hots for you."

"Oh?"

The moment he looked at me I knew he wasn't gonna tell me that easily.

"Come on, come on! I gave you a shot at telling Ron AND excused you from being a loser, I deserve to at least have a name!"

"Nah. You'll figure it out one of these days."

"Come on, please! I'm begging you!"

Souta simply smiled at me, albeit very smugly, and kept walking. 

"Oh come on, man!"