[ The correct answer! Nishikiyama begins to push on the rubber keypad console, putting in a number he's apparently memorized and watching the TV as it reflects back to him correctly— ]
[ —but an error appears in place of the expected song title. Reina frowns behind him when he tries adding it again, only for the error to reappear with the same Not Found required. ]
Do you even keep this thing updated anymore, Reina?
[ Reina leans over the counter to look at the console. ]
You're so quick to be negative, Nishikiyama-kun. It might depend on when the song came out.
It was earlier this year. [ He huffs. ]
They changed the way the numbers are put in, you know? Try putting a 0 in front.
[ 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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1/3
Date: 2024-10-14 11:27 am (UTC)2/3
Date: 2024-10-14 11:32 am (UTC)Do you even keep this thing updated anymore, Reina?
[ Reina leans over the counter to look at the console. ]
You're so quick to be negative, Nishikiyama-kun. It might depend on when the song came out.
It was earlier this year. [ He huffs. ]
They changed the way the numbers are put in, you know? Try putting a 0 in front.
3/3
Date: 2024-10-14 11:35 am (UTC)Reina loves this, naturally. As Nishikiyama sings his little song, she happily gazes at him in the back without hiding her admiration. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-10-15 11:16 am (UTC)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
Date: 2024-10-24 05:09 pm (UTC)Your turn now.
[ He says. ]
no subject
Date: 2024-10-31 09:43 am (UTC)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. ]