Chapter Text
The sound from the rehearsal room is a familiar sound to Sakuma. He's spent years and years in all these surrounding rehearsal rooms, day in and day out. Repeating the songs over and over, perfecting every little move down to every detail. It's kind of a lullaby to him by now.
It's when he hears the overly familiar tune of one of their own songs that he stops, contemplating if he should peek into the room or not, and he does (because he's curious who it is and because his curiosity can't be killed).
He peeks into the room and sees Koji standing in front of the mirrors, sweat dripping from his skin and Sakuma figures he's been here for a while. They had ended their rehearsals a few hours ago and while most of the members scrambled off home to catch some beauty sleep, Koji had sneakily run off on his own. Sakuma had skipped over to SixTONES and bothered them until now.
Their song plays from the start again and Koji wipes the sweat off his forehead before getting into position. Sakuma watches him from the doorway for a while, admiring the way the taller moves his body, how he tries to make sure his arms are moving the right way, make sure he doesn't stumble and fall. He sees how Koji slowly goes over each part, again and again, shouting in joy when he nails them and Sakuma can't help but feel proud of him.
It's something about how hard Koji works that makes him all warm inside. How Koji works extra hard to make sure he doesn't get left behind or drag the group down. Sakuma thinks he doesn't have to overdo it because he's fine just as he is but he understands. He understands the burning desire to always stand on top. To always show that you're capable of great things. To always make sure you're in the spotlight.
A weird sound makes him snap out of his thoughts, just in time to see Koji slip on his own sweat, stumble and Sakuma dashes forward like a lightning bolt.
He thanks his godly reflexes when he catches Koji before he hits the floor and he lets out a breath.
"Sakuma!?" Koji yelps in surprise, not expecting the older to be there.
“Yo,” Sakuma greets back, looking down at him (for once).
“What are you doing he-eep!” Koji asks as he tries to stand up but fails as his ankle gives in.
“Hey, easy now. Let me see that,” He rolls Koji over on the floor and bends down to check on his ankle. It doesn’t seem to be swollen, just a bit sore, most likely from overuse. “No more dancing today Koji.”
The younger pouts at him and tries to voice a loud complaint but Sakuma looks at him with stern eyes and holds his legs down.
“It’s not gonna help anyone if you hurt yourself more, don’t be reckless,” Sakuma scolds him before hugging his own legs and looking at Koji. The other looks like a kicked puppy at this point and Sakuma understands him.
He scoots closer to Koji until they are shoulder to shoulder, putting his head on top of it, Koji’s head bumping into his lightly, before speaking up again.
“I understand, I really do. I’m not gonna say you can’t do anything but I’m gonna stop you here and in the future if you do stuff like this. I don’t mind if you lean on me.”
Koji stays silent but Sakuma knows he understands what he’s trying to say and they sit there in silence for a while until Koji’s stomach grumbles.
“Let’s go eat, my treat?” Sakuma stands up, almost making Koji fall over in the process, and holds his hand out for Koji to take.
Koji takes his hand, lets him get pulled up and Sakuma decides that he’ll do what he can to help Koji stay in the spotlight - together with him.