[ Reina's suggestion works, and to Nishikiyama's delight, he's able to sing the X Japan song he wanted to, Forever Love. After adjusting the key down by a whopping -4 tones, he's pulled it down into his range where he'll actually stand a chance howling out the chorus. Amazing.
Reina loves this, naturally. As Nishikiyama sings his little song, she happily gazes at him in the back without hiding her admiration. ]
[ Forever Love, huh… Mine leans back in his seat. As Nishikiyama pours himself into the song, his fingers tap lightly against the maraca. Almost absentmindedly, but rhythmically.
There’s something about the way Reina watches Nishikiyama—with open admiration—that stirs a flicker of uncertainty within Mine. He glances at her again. Does Nishikiyama see how she feels? The thought catches Mine off guard. His smile is subtle, but it’s impossible to ignore the unspoken tension. ]
Good choice.
[ After the song ends. His voice is quieter than intended. ]
[ Nishikiyama is proud of himself when he finishes. His shoulders are higher than they were, and he swings side to side a couple of times on the bar stool's swivel. Reina is fawning there across from them, but perhaps to Mine's delight, it's clear that Nishikiyama hadn't been fishing for her compliments at all. She's background noise— like the sound of a passing train, or rain from the sky. Satisfied by Mine's praise, Nishikiyama starts to light another cigarette— he forgets that the man across him is a subordinate of his at all. ]
[ Mine feels the heat of Nishikiyama's gaze on him again, Reina's reaction left by the wayside. He looks down at the glow of the cigarette near his face. Even in this setting, the usual routines feel distant. Mine’s fingers hover over his own glass, his throat tightens slightly. He hesitates for a moment, when he considers performing in front of Nishikiyama and Reina. He looks at the karaoke pad and makes the decision to search up a song. ]
I'll try this one.
[ It's popular, too, and came out the same year, Namonaki Uta by Mr. Children. Down-tuned some steps as well. Conversely, Mine doesn't think about the content of the lyrics here.
He trades the lone maraca for the microphone. As the music starts, his voice is quiet initially but gradually steadier. While he doesn't lean into the music as Nishikiyama did, it's apparent that he's not a bad singer. He even blossoms on the English snippets in the texts. ]
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3/3
Reina loves this, naturally. As Nishikiyama sings his little song, she happily gazes at him in the back without hiding her admiration. ]
no subject
There’s something about the way Reina watches Nishikiyama—with open admiration—that stirs a flicker of uncertainty within Mine. He glances at her again. Does Nishikiyama see how she feels? The thought catches Mine off guard. His smile is subtle, but it’s impossible to ignore the unspoken tension. ]
Good choice.
[ After the song ends. His voice is quieter than intended. ]
no subject
Your turn now.
[ He says. ]
no subject
I'll try this one.
[ It's popular, too, and came out the same year, Namonaki Uta by Mr. Children. Down-tuned some steps as well. Conversely, Mine doesn't think about the content of the lyrics here.
He trades the lone maraca for the microphone. As the music starts, his voice is quiet initially but gradually steadier. While he doesn't lean into the music as Nishikiyama did, it's apparent that he's not a bad singer. He even blossoms on the English snippets in the texts. ]