Chapter Text
Tenn wasn’t sure why he was currently sitting in Idolish-7’s dorm. He only showed up because the older Izumi had insisted that, from one older brother to another, he needed to come. The older Izumi had a weird talent for getting others caught up in his energy.
“They should be back soon,” the younger Izumi told the room, which consisted of the rest of Idolish-7 minus Sogo and Riku.
Everyone’s heads turned to the door as a pair walked in.
“It’s your favorite senpais,” Momo yelled energetically.
“We brought additional guests,” Yuki deadpanned, stepping aside in unison with Momo, showing the rest of Trigger.
“What are you doing here?” Tamaki bluntly asked.
“You should respect your senpais. It’s our responsibility to randomly check in on our kohais,” Momo informed triumphantly.
“We brought gifts,” Ryuu held up a large box filled with King Pudding.
“Welcome, senpais,” Tamaki bowed, accepting the box.
“We were catching up with Re:vale and mentioned you coming here, and they insisted that we drop in too,” Gaku told Tenn.
“This isn’t just some party. We’re having a serious meeting regarding Idolish-7’s future,” Yamato chastised Yuki and Momo.
“So, why am I here?” Tenn was getting tired of this, he still had no clue what was going on.
“I told you, you’re here to exert your rights as an older brother,” Mitsuki informed Tenn.
“That’s not very specific,” Tenn argued.
“What’s that matter? We’re all here now, so we can help guide you all through your issues,” Momo said more as a command than an offer.
“The more the merrier!” Nagi welcomed them.
“But a group too big could back them into a corner,” Mitsuki protested.
“We don’t have a choice, they’re almost back,” Iori informed the group.
As if on cue, the door opened and in walked Riku and Sogo, both holding bags.
“Thanks for coming with me!” Riku thanked Sogo.
“Thanks for inviting me,” Sogo thanked Riku in turn.
“Huh? What’s everyone doing here?” Riku was the first to notice the rest of Idolish-7, Trigger, and Re:vale all sitting around the living room, staring at the two.
“Hello, everyone,” Sogo greeted.
“Would you two please take a seat?” Iori sternly asked.
Riku and Sogo both dropped their bags and found empty seats in the living room.
“Is something the matter?” Sogo was starting to get worried.
“We have a serious matter to discuss with the two of you, but first,” Iori turned his attention from the pair to those not in Idolish-7. “Please give me your word that you will keep everything said here in confidence,”.
After Trigger and Re:vale agreed, Iori continued.
“We’re worried about your relationship.”
“Why?” Sogo asked.
“We get along really well,” Riku protested.
“Too well,” Tamaki interrupted.
“Sorry if I’ve been making you feel neglected. We can hang out more,” Sogo promised Tamaki.
“If that’s all this was about, why are Trigger and Re:vale here? Hi Tenn-nii!” Riku asked, waving to Tenn at the end.
“That’s what I’d like to know,” Tenn and Riku both turned to Iori.
“That’s not what we needed to talk about, and we only asked Kujo-san to join us. The others decided to drop in to surprise us,” Iori tried to keep the conversation straight.
“It’s what I wanted to talk about, but what about Rikkun?” Tamaki went off track.
“I’ll hang out with you more, too! Sorry if we made you feel underappreciated, Tamaki. We appreciate everyone in Idolish-7,” Riku said, staying positive.
“We appreciate you too, Riku, your many talents help Idolish-7 every day,” Nagi let Riku know.
“Nagi’s the one always helping Idolish-7 out, your brilliance knows no bounds,” Riku complimented Nagi back.
“Riku’s-” Nagi got cut off before he could compliment Riku again.
“Now’s not the time for the two of you to be caught in a perpetual positivity loop. We have a serious matter to discuss,” Iori tried to bring it back.
“I don’t think it’s a big deal anymore. If we can still hang out, it’s okay if Socchan and Rikkun are dating. Even if Rikkun has a weird thing for calling Socchan by TennTenn’s name,” Tamaki said nonchalantly.
“EHHH!” Trigger, Re:vale, Sogo, and Riku all shouted.
“That’s right, we know all about it,” Mitsuki revealed.
“I think you have the wrong idea,” Sogo tried to rectify this misunderstanding.
“That’s right, we’re not,” Riku tried to back up Sogo.
“I heard Nanase-san’s confession to Osaka-san, as well as the embrace.” Iori informed.
“I forbid this relationship,” Tenn started emitting a dark miasma.
“Are you just going to gloss over the fact that you’re a part of your brother’s bedtime fantasies?” Gaku teased Tenn.
“What’s a bedtime fantasy?” Riku asked, to which Yamato whispered something into his ear.
“I’ve never thought of Tenn-nii that way,” Riku defended adamantly, his face on fire.
“I know what I heard. Plus, you religiously watch all of the Trigger DVDs and rewind to all of the parts that have Kujo-san’s face over and over,” Iori accused.
“I- do n-not,” Riku tried lying, not making eye contact with anyone.
“You’re such a bad liar,” Iori was getting exasperated.
“Well, even if I do, that doesn’t mean I think indecently about Tenn-nii,” Riku defended, making eye contact again.
“Likely story, brocon,” Iori insulted.
“You’re a brocon too! You also became an Idol to chase after your big brother,” Riku accused Iori.
“That’s diff-” Iori tried to defend.
“I know you’d never think like that, Riku.” Tenn defended Riku.
“Tenn-nii!” Riku looked at Tenn-nii like he had just hung the stars in the sky.
“That face isn’t helping your case,” Iori pointed out.
“Even if the allegations are wrong, you are kind of obsessed with your brother,” Mitsuki joined forces with Iori.
“You can talk to your senpais if you’re struggling with anything,” Momo offered Riku, to which Yuki nodded along.
“I have a healthy relationship with my brother,” Riku defended.
The room went silent. Even Tamaki, who wasn’t paying attention before, too busy snacking on King Pudding, felt the pressure.
“Guys,” no response.
“Tenn-nii?”
“It’s getting better,” Tenn tried.
“Nagi?”
“You’re a very positive person?” Nagi tried.
“It’s okay, Riku-kun, even if relationships are unhealthy, you can still fix them. I’ve had a few rough patches with my younger siblings, and we’re all doing fine now,” Ryuu comforted Riku. He hadn’t really had any issues with his siblings, but he didn’t want Riku to feel alone.
“Ryuu-nii-chan,” Riku saw the light.
“Ryuu-nii-chan?” Tenn’s murderous aura now switched to Ryuu.
“Besides that, Riku and I aren’t and have never been romantically involved,” Sogo was still trying to stay polite.
“Then why’d I hear him professing his love to you?” Iori asked.
“What are you even talking about?” Riku was just as confused as Sogo.
“Three nights ago,” Iori specified.
Riku and Sogo both looked lost for a second before they were both hit with a realization.
“That’s not what that was!” Riku was the first to talk.
“What was it then?” Yamato asked. Riku looked hesitant to answer.
“We were just practicing the art of improvisation in relation to a drama we were cast in.” Sogo didn’t want Riku to feel pressured to answer.
“Y-yeah,” Riku agreed.
Everyone in the room breathed a sigh of relief.
“But, how did Tenn’s name come up?” Mitsuki had accepted this excuse, but had one nagging question.
The pair went silent as everyone’s eyes were on them.
“N-no reason,” Riku tried lying, convincing no one.
“Weren’t you cast in a romance?” Momo stirred the pot.
Sogo might have been cleared, but Riku was still fighting for his life.
“I-It was for a different thing,” Riku tried to make an excuse.
“Nanase-san,” Iori warned.
“I got Sogo to stand in for Tenn-nii so that I could practice our next interaction!” Riku finally yielded after not much pressure.
Iori’s face went red, so he covered his face with his hand. Riku was too cute. Tenn must’ve thought the same thing because his ears turned red.
“You wanted to confess your love for your brother?” Gaku was still on the fence about this.
“Not like thattttt. It was love as a brother, which is why I said I ‘brother’,” Riku defended.
“Our little kohai went around jumping to conclusions,” Yuki sighed.
“It’s still an issue that you act like a love-sick ex-girlfriend when it comes to your brother. Also, why’d you two embrace each other?” Iori defended himself.
“Men can hug each other, Iori. Sometimes you’re such a little kid,” Riku sighed at Iori.
“I’m the kid?” Iori asked indignantly.
“Also, I don’t act like a love-sick ex-girlfriend. I act like a perfectly normal brother,” Riku continued.
The room fell into a momentary silence again.
“Again?” Riku just kept losing, even when he was winning.
“Maybe love-sick ex-girlfriend is a little harsh?” Mitsuki tried to defend Riku.
“Love-sick puppy?” Yamato tried.
“Pining puppy?” – Momo
“Impulsive puppy?” – Iori
“Sad puppy?” – Tamaki joined.
“Neglected puppy?” – Yuki
“Abandoned puppy?” – Gaku
“Mmm,” everyone agreed with Gaku’s evaluation, except for Tenn and Riku. Tenn had felt a little bad that everyone could see how upset he could make Riku.
“How come you all agreed I’m a puppy?” Riku wasn’t some little kid or puppy.
No one responded to Riku.
“Again?” Riku was now nearing despair.
—
After the “intervention” the three groups continued to hang out. At some point, Riku and Tenn separated from the group.
“That was something,” Tenn commented.
“I can’t believe they really thought weird things like that,” Riku was indignant.
“I’m just glad none of it’s true,” Tenn was open for the first time in a long time. Riku shifted uncomfortably, working up the courage for something.
“Do you think our relationship is weird?” Riku asked.
“Yes,” Tenn said gently. He knew that everything got really messed up somewhere, maybe at the start.
“Oh.”
“I-” Tenn started, before giving up.
After an uncomfortable amount of time, Riku spoke up, “I found out why you left.”
Tenn snapped up and turned to face Riku.
“I- I still wish you’d stayed,” Riku’s voice was barely above a whisper.
“If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t change the decisions I made,” Tenn was absolute.
“But I’m really not just some little kid,” Riku tried to convince Tenn.
“You are. Who told you anyway? Mom? Dad?” Tenn asked.
“I’m not a kid, and President Tsukumo told me. Did Mom and Dad really let you go?” Riku asked.
“You’ve been talking with Tsukumo?!” Tenn was caught off guard.
“Not regularly. It just happened-” Riku tried to defend himself.
“Tsukumo is a dangerous man. What were you thinking? You say you aren’t a little kid, then go around proving you can’t be trusted by yourself,” Tenn was scolding Riku.
Everyone’s attention now turned towards the twins.
“If I can’t be trusted by myself, why do you keep leaving me?” Riku argued. The argument must’ve hit because Tenn looked like Riku had just hit him hard.
“We aren’t having this conversation, Riku,” Tenn was firm as he turned around to leave.
“You don’t have to leave, I will.” Riku walked away.
“Riku, don’t be ridiculous, you-” the door could be heard slamming, “live here,” Tenn finished to no one in particular.
“You fumbled the bag with that one,” Gaku teased Tenn.
Tenn didn’t bother arguing with Gaku, he knew Gaku was right. Gaku knew he shouldn’t have said anything when Tenn didn’t respond with his usual banter.
—
Riku walked to the Zero Arena. He always dreamed that when he got there, he’d be able to fix his relationship with Tenn-nii, but it didn’t look like their relationship was ever going to be good. What’s worse is that everyone seemed to know and accept it except for Riku.
He might’ve been the one to leave this time, but he’s still felt abandoned.