Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"We have a problem," Yoichi announced.

Reo raised an eyebrow at him. "Okay... And what would that be?"

Before he could say anything, Meguru slapped the restaurant table and said: "Hero-san is in his emo phase and doesn't want to play the drums anymore!"

Reo raised his eyebrows. "He doesn't want to play drums anymore? I knew he's in that 'emo' phase," he made air quotes with a laugh, "but not playing anymore? Seriously?"

Yoichi agreed. Kunigami was undeniably different after the break, but not playing the drums? He practically lived for it. He always said it was his "childhood dream" and stuff like that. Why stop so abruptly?

Before he could voice that thought, Chigiri (dramatically) sighed and sank into the chair, crossing his arms and blowing his hair out of his face.

"Right? He gave me the cold shoulder the whole break, then out of nowhere he comes back, all weird, talking shit about 'not playing anymore,' and just throws all our work as a group, to be presented at the end of the year, out the window? Just like that?"

Reo sighed, running his hand through Nagi's hair, who was asleep on the table. Yoichi had even forgotten Nagi was there.

"Yeah... He also gave me the cold shoulder. I think he blocked me. What about you guys?" He turned to Yoichi and Meguru. They both nodded. Meguru looked considerably sadder. He reminded Yoichi of a puppy who'd been denied treats.

After a few seconds of silence, Reo said:

"Back to the point... You said you have a 'problem'? How could I help?"

"We need a drummer," Yoichi said.

Reo looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Yes... I understood that part. I want to know what I can do to help." 

Chigiri looked at him, "You're in the Orchestra, right? Is there anyone there who plays drums?"

Reo looked at the three of them, completely exasperated.

"Bachira, Hyoma... Isagi not so much, you know I love you guys—" 'Isagi, not so much' ? what had he done!? "—but drums? In the Orchestra? Seriously? The most unusual instrument there is Hiori's piano. And he doesn't even like piano."

The three sighed, defeated.

"Sorry, Reo. But it was the best idea we had."

"No problem, Hyoma."

Reo paused for a few seconds, then, "Have you tried talking to the senior band?"

"Senior band?" Meguru and Yoichi said at the same time. Reo nodded.

"It's like a garage band, but they play at school," Nagi (Nagi!? Since when was he awake?) said with a yawn. "I'm friends with a guy who plays in it."

Reo nodded. "The guy 'Sei is talking about, Shidou, is like a musical genius. He knows every single instrument, no joke. He definitely knows how to play the drums—and if he doesn't, they definitely have a drummer. I've heard some of their rehearsals."

"And you didn't say that before because...?" Chigiri said sarcastically.

Reo shrugged. "I forgot."

"Humph. Fair enough."

Meguru had his hand on his chin, thinking, and then—"Hey! I know the guy you're talking about! Shidou, he is Rin's brother's boyfriend!"

"We know who Sae is, Bachira," Chigiri said. Then, he frowned. Then his face took on a look of anger, just like Yoichi's at the moment. He must be thinking the same thing.

'Rin, you big piece of shit!'

★

"Give me one extremely plausible reason why your brother plays in a band with a drummer, and you didn't tell us a damn thing."

Rin looked at Yoichi, completely unbothered. Seriously, what an asshole! They're desperate to find someone to play for them, he knows who plays, and he didn't say anything!

"I don't like my brother. I don't want to play with anything or anyone related to him."

"That's not even remotely plausible!"

Rin shrugged, putting his headphones back on. Seriously, if they weren't short-staffed in the band, he would have kicked him out right there. Narcissistic Asshole.

★

Well, it turns out Yoichi didn't give a damn about his roommate/rival/friend/acquaintance/bandmate's interpersonal relationships, and only had one thing on his mind: we need a drummer.

So, the next day, there he was, along with Meguru, heading to the school's music room to try to find a drummer willing to play for them.

However, as they were approaching the door, he heard something that made him stop:

"Did you mess up again? The same shit? Fuck, 'Lex!"

"Sorry, Micha'."

Oh no. No no no no no no...

Before he could stop him, a very excited Meguru burst open the door, grinning from ear to ear (although that was his signature smile), revealing fucking Michael Kaiser and Alexis Ness. The exchange student jerks from Germany.

They were facing a music stand, Kaiser with an electric guitar, and Ness playing a... Yoichi took a few seconds to recognize it, but it was a transverse flute.

Kaiser looked at him with a really goofy grin, and Yoichi could already feel him starting to speak, but luckily, Meguru spoke first:

"Hello Mr. Magician and Mr. Tattoo!, are you guys in the third-year band?"

They both looked at them with frowns. Ness recovered quickly and replied:

"Yes, we are! But why? If it's to join, unfortunately we can't accept..."

"It's not that, it's just—" Yoichi began, before being rudely interrupted.

"I wasn't talking to you, little Yoichi."

1. This guy's ability to change moods so quickly was, honestly, impressive. 2. What the hell had Yoichi done to him!?

"We need a drummer! Ours quit the band, and we needed one for the end-of-year performance." Meguru said.

Ness nodded. "Ah! We have—"

"No." Kaiser, the asshole, interrupted. "No one in my band is playing in that excuse for a 'band' you have. Get out of here, we're rehearsing, since fucking Ness—" he turned to the smaller boy next to him "—can't do a damn thing right."

"I can't do a damn thing!? Fuck you! I didn't invent to do sheet music when I can't even write cursive properly! If it's anyone's fault I can't do it, it's yours!" 

"Listen here, you little bitch—"

"Cough! Cough!" Yoichi said dramatically. "We're still here."

Ness sighed. "Sorry, Bachira—" Seriously, what had he done? "There's no way. But if I'm not mistaken, Hiori plays drums."

"Hiori?" they both said hopefully.

Ness nodded. "Yō Hiori, from the orchestra. He has cyan hair and blue eyes."

"Thank you!" Meguru said, bowing.

"You're welcome!"

After that, Yoichi dragged Meguru outside, sighing. Any interaction he had with those two would shave at least ten years off his life.

Before the two left, Yoichi heard from inside the room:

"Sorry, 'Lex. But this is annoying me, and we need to have it ready to rehearse with the rest of the band later."

"It's okay, 'Micha, I understand! But try not to get too upset about it, okay? We still have plenty of time until the performance."

Yoichi didn't hear the Kaiser's response. But apparently they weren't as unstable as they seemed. Probably.

Now, he had only one thing in his mind: find, whoever it was, Yō Hiori.

Chapter Text

It turns out, whoever Yō Hiori was, he is extremely busy and very hard to find.

First, he went to Reo. The violinist even had the audacity to look surprised when Yoichi said that yes, there was someone who played drums in the orchestra. Okay, he didn't care. (Yes, he did. Anything that forced him to have any interaction with Michael Kaiser pissed him off.)

But when he asked Reo to speak to Hiori (whoever he was), he discovered that, apparently, they weren't in the same violin class. Reo knew Hiori from the performances, which combined the two classes.

Okay. After his class ended, he went to the orchestra to meet Hiori.

"Sorry, Isagi. Yō already left. He had a math class," said Tabito Karasu, Yoichi's senior, as he packed up his cello.

Yoichi had met Karasu at a soccer game (yes, Yoichi played soccer. He even played in a few interschool championships. Though it was more of a hobby than a serious thing) and they became friends. Karasu was also an acquaintance of Chigiri's. (Apparently, his boyfriend, a certain "Eita Otoya," went to the same school as Chigiri when they were younger. "He's seen me at my worst and my best," Chigiri once confided to Yoichi.)

"Ah," Yoichi replied. "Okay, thanks for letting me know."

"It's nothing," After a few seconds, Karasu added: "But I can give you his number if you want."

"Yes!" Yoichi said, his voice embarrassingly high-pitched. Then he corrected himself: "Ah... I mean, yes, Karasu, that would be great."

Karasu laughed. Yoichi was almost certain he was laughing at him.

After Karasu gave Hiori's (whoever it was) number to Yoichi, he immediately texted: 

Isagi: Hello, is this Yō Hiori's number?

I'm Yoichi Isagi, we go to the same school.

I heard you play drums, and I was wondering if you'd be willing to fill in for the last drummer in my band, who recently left.

[This number isn't accepting messages at the moment.]

What. the. Fuck. Is. That.?

Okay. Fine. Yoichi tried to think of some explanations for why Karasu would give him a number that didn't accept messages (he couldn't find any good ones), but that was okay.

Yoichi was desperate. Sue him, okay? They needed a drummer, urgently.

That was why, when his class ended, (because, for some reason, it seemed like he and (whoever it was) Hiori shared the same schedule), he went to Hiori's math class the next day. 

He found out which class it was thanks to Kenyuu Yukimiya, who was in the same class as Hiori.

Yukimiya was friends with Reo and Chigiri, the latter meeting him thanks to Otoya, as they were close friends. Yukimiya, Karasu, and Otoya were a sort of "trio," and consequently, a friend of Hiori's, because Karasu and Hiori were "as thick as thieves," according to everyone who had contact with them.

But of course, when he arrived at the math class door—

"Wow, sorry, Isagi. Hiori already left. He had piano lessons."

Okay. Fine.

"Oh... Okay, thanks, Yuki—ah! Does he play piano here at school? Do you know where?"

Yeah, maybe it was a little ridiculous. But they needed a drummer!

"I'm pretty sure he has private lessons at his house."

Damnit!

"Um. Okay, thanks." Yoichi paused for a few seconds. Then— "Oh, and do you know why his phone isn't accepting messages right now? I tried to text him, but it didn't arrive."

"It broke! It's being fixed, probably will be back this week." 

Hmm. That makes sense. Maybe Karasu didn't know that when he sent him the number.

"Ohhhh, I see. Thank you, Yuki!"

"You're welcome!"

Yoichi also considered going to Hiori's classroom at school to talk to him. But he thought it would probably be too much. He wasn't that desperate. (Yes, he was. The only reason he didn't go was because the teachers wouldn't let him leave the classroom.)

But Yoichi was already getting irritated. It was a big school, yes, but not SO big that they never saw each other. Especially with the dormitory system they had.

Well, Chigiri answered that for him. Actually, it was Otoya, who told Chigiri, who told Yoichi.

Apparently, Hiori's parents were "overprotective".

("Actually, they're just abusive, but Hiori hates us saying that because, according to him, 'it's not that extreme.' So, overprotective." Otoya said that via text, and Chigiri sent a screenshot to Yoichi. He felt a little bad for saying it behind this boy's back.)

Overprotective, then. Hiori's path is based on Home → School. That's it. And he didn't sleep in the dorms either—he was the only student at school whose parents wouldn't let him stay, so he had to come home every day—and at a specific time—if he was late, he'd be grounded.

This was technically a secret. But unfortunately, Hiori told Otoya (actually, it was probably Karasu), and Otoya tells Chigiri everything when they're "sharing information" (gossiping) once a week while getting their nails done.

So, even though Yoichi was really pissed off about not having seen the boy yet, he couldn't bring himself to be mad at him. Seriously, what kind of parents are these? This was one of the many moments Yoichi thanked God for being born with such amazing parents.

Yoichi was feeling kind of stupid, honestly. He'd been hanging out with his boyfriend a lot less this past week (Meguru! Love of his life, literally), and he wasn't giving his best at band rehearsals. (Actually, he was, but Yoichi is a very stubborn, and a even more dramatic being.)

Monday, he went to the restaurant with Reo, Nagi, Chigiri, and Meguru. Tuesday, he saw the demonic duo, Kaiser and Ness. Wednesday, he went to the orchestra and got Hiori's number. Thursday, he went to the math club. Friday, he tried (and failed) to leave his classroom to find Hiori. Then, Saturday, almost a week later, he had his first real interaction with (now he knew very well who he was), Yō Hiori.

(**) **** - ****: Yo! Isagi, right?

I've heard a lot 'bout u these past few days.

Srry I didn't reply sooner, my phone was being repaired, lol

Yes, I play drums, yes, I'd love to play with u in your band!

Can we meet up to discuss this further?

"YES!" Yoichi shouted, literally jumping for joy.

"Shut the fuck up!" yelled Rin, his very polite dormmate, from the other room.

"Sorry!" Yoichi replied. Yelling again.

Isagi: Tysm!! Seriously, you literally saved my life! 

Can we meet tomorrow?

Hiori🥁: Your welcome!

Yes, I believe so. Is 2:00 PM okay with you?

Isagi: Yes! Again, thank you SO much!!

Hiori🥁: (⁠｡⁠•̀⁠ᴗ⁠-⁠)⁠✧

Now, everything was set. They finally had a drummer! Now, they just had to rehearse, and at the end of the year—

Yoichi's inner monologue was interrupted by a notification on his phone. 

Guitar Princess: So Isagi, don't kill me...

Hmm? "Don't kill me?"

Yoichi entered the chat.

Guitar Princess: So, Isagi, dont kill me, but i'll have to leave the band.

Sorry! 

Okay. Great. Simply wonderful.

"FUCK!"

"HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU TO SHUT THE FUCK UP?" Rin yelled, polite as ever.

"CHIGIRI'S GONNA LEAVE!" 

Yoichi didn't even have time to process before he heard the dorm door slam.

"What the hell did you just say?"

"Exactly what I said. I just found a drummer for us, literally, and Chigiri texted me saying he's 'have to leave.'"

Rin looked confused. Then his expression turned angry. Then it gave way to pure hatred. He ran his hands over his face and pulled at his hair. "So, what do we do?" he said.

"I don't know. I'll try to convince him to change his mind. Or maybe we will need to find someone else to play guitar."

"Fuck," he said, leaving the room, slamming the door. "Fuck!"

Isagi: What do you mean?

Leave? Now?

Guitar Princess: I know, im sorry.

Isagi: no your not.

Guitar Princess: yeah, im not

Isagi: Why are you leaving?

Guitar Princess: I talked to Reo.

And

u know that thing in movies where the guy confesses his love to the girl with a song?

Isagi: Fuck you.

Guitar Princess: Yeah, I know

Isagi: Kunigami?

It was over. It is impossible to convince Chigiri otherwise of anything involving Kunigami. He was so in love it was ridiculous.

Guitar Princess: Obv. I tried to do both last week, the band and my music, but I realized I cant.

I can, but I won't give my best to either, and both will be bad.

Isagi: So, you chose to serenade the guy who's been ignoring you for a month or more?

Guitar Princess: You saying like that make me sound ridiculous 

Isagi: Because you are

But, unfortunately, I understand

It's Kunigami, after all. We don't know what happened to him. Something serious, probably

Guitar Princess: Definitely.

Isagi: Yes.

Guitar Princess: So, are we okay?

Isagi: You should ask Rin that. He's been cursing at you from his room for the last 10 minutes.

Guitar Princess: lmaoooo

Thanks, Isagi

(👍)

Now, after a week of pure suffering, looking for a drummer—

They needed a guitarist.