Chapter song - How Do You Love Somebody by Why Don't We. 

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Ryuji walked to the back of the audience with his friends following him closely. He nodded in acknowledgment at the girls whispering as he passed, eagerly trying to catch his eye. Edna shrugged one of her shoulders with her sly smile, "You're good."

Ryuji grinned, "Oh, we can be better."

"No, not like me."

Ryuji smiled, shaking his head. He loved that about her. The snide, wayward compliment followed by the inevitable challenge. The girl got bite, he had to give her that. Edna's eyes travelled back to the stage when the group walked in. Shin whistled, "Already feeling the second hand embarrassment," He mocked.

Ryuji didn't speak as the familiar harmony of the popular pop band Why Don't we started reverberating through the hall. The crowd was bored, he noticed. They possibly didn't want a follow up. Music is like tasting a delicious meal. Most of the time you don't want the taste to leave your mouth. Ryuji crossed his arms, it was going to take a lot for them to be a follow up act for their band. If they didn't ace the song, his team was going to win by a landslide.

Valt raised his mic with his usual sunshine grin missing from his lips replaced with an intensity tinted with faint sorrow. He was setting up the mood. Ryuji had to give him that, the boy had the charisma, the potential to be a star.

"Every day, every night, I can only think of us.
On the coast, in July when you thought you said too much."

"He has a nice voice," Tatsu murmured. Despite the enmity, Tatsu is the type of an artist who admired talent where he saw it. Ryuji didn't agree neither did he disagree, yes he did have a nice voice, but he needed training, discipline to be exact. But he would've been a fool if he didn't see the promise of his future, the oozing courage Valt carried himself owned up to all the minor key mistakes in his voice.

"Guess it don't always go like the stories we've been told,

'Cause you're gone and you're fine, I'm laying here fucked up."

Edna snorted, "That's a first hearing Valt curse."

"Only on stage," Shin grinned, "It was slightly awkward though."

Ryuji kept his attention fixed to the building momentum of the song as Honcho took over.

"Oh, I wonder,

Did emotions fade with the summer?

Like an ocean wave, took me under,

And you left without a sound."

"Shit," Ryuji ran a hand through his hand, surprised. Strong would be an understatement, his voice was powerful. He was not in class A possibly because of some other academic mishaps. There was no way that voice ended up somewhere else. "What's his class again?"

Shin shrugged, "Beats me."

To no one's surprise Wakiya was the one singing the chorus. There was a silent agreement as he glided through the lyrics with the grace of a skater, performing on ice.

"Baby, baby, tell me how,

How do you love somebody?

How do you love somebody else?

'Cause when you left I lost myself."

Edna shifted from one leg to the other beside him. Ryuji looked at the pin pricked silence in the audience, a gaping audience staring at the five performers. He could feel the shift, the effect Wakiya's voice was leaving behind. If he had to name a rival in the school, it would be Wakiya. He was infamous about his wealth, but no one could point fingers at the blonde, he had raw talent. Anyone could hear it the moment he starts singing.

"Baby, baby, tell me how

How do you love somebody?

How do you numb the pain so well?

'Cause when you left I lost myself

How do you love somebody else?"

"Seven missed calls, you're really keeping your distance

I know that I tried, he givin' you what you missin'"

Shin whistled again, "That one's a wild card," He said. Ryuji didn't comment. He knew about Daigo Kurogami. The dark horse from a family of a well-known couple. His mother used to be a famous model before she retired to take care of the kids, his father was a self-made businessman who managed his own entertainment firm mostly with the themes of rock music. Daigo's story was famous in the school. A sick brother whom the male entertained. You could hear it when he sings, the exposed emotions bleeding from his words.

"Stab my back, no chance to heal at all, oh, whoa, oh"

Honcho and Wakiya moved back to the chorus. They were good, Ryuji had to agree. They had put together a marvellous team that despite their small quirks they fit in together just so well. Ryuji was not surprised in that regard. He knew they used to be a band, what he was curious about was Shu. The latest addition to the group, barely any experience with their chemistry.

"I just don't get it, how you left so quick,

Just 15 minutes, now you're texting him."

Ryuji didn't realise he was leaning forward in anticipation to hear Shu's voice. A shaky start, he noticed. The confidence of the others was clearly missing from him, he's nervous, Ryuji thought. But gods, that voice. It was like a steady stream of water when he continued to sing. There's no other word to describe it rather than beautiful. Ryuji hated his guts, but he knew a good voice with so much raw potential when he heard one. And this. He had so much room to grow that it was making him envious.

"I just don't get, how you left so quick,

You broke my heart and I'm a mess again."

Then he moved to the high key notes in the second verse, and Edna stiffened beside Ryuji. "Edna..." Ryuji whispered.

"I know," The girl gritted out. She knew Shu's voice was so fucking beautiful. You could literally get lost in that voice, the sincerity of his emotions but this was not it, Edna knew. This was not Shu's voice. His voice is so much better, he was holding back. "Fucking loser," She murmured to herself, grinding her foot on the ground.

"I just don't get it, how you left so quick,

Just 15 minutes, now you're texting him,

You broke my heart and I'm a mess again."

"His voice is addictive," Shin noted loudly, "But he needs lots more work."

No he doesn't, Edna wanted to say. He's throwing you all off.

Ryuji nodded in agreement. Shin was right. Shu had the potential but his voice needed more work. Edna sighed, "I'm leaving," She said, when the group finished the song. She knew Ryuji's team won. There was no point in waiting. She had to practise, train her vocals. When Shu actually starts performing with his full strength, she has to be ready to take him on.

---

Shu cringed when they finished the song. They sounded amazing, the thunderous applause was testimony to their performance but he couldn't do it. He just couldn't sing without seeing his dad's eyes flashing in his memory, his mother's singsong humming as she moved through the apartment.

Ryuji's team was called onto the stage. The two groups stood side by side as the senior announcer asked each student to cast their vote. Shu noticed the hesitance, at least the rest of them gave their best. That should count for something. A plan was already formulating in his mind. He knew what he had to tell Ryuji and he knew Ryuji wanted him, not the others. He could at least spare his friends from the inevitable onslaught of the other.

The cheery voice of their senior interrupted the stilled silence after the votes. "And," She said, dragging the first syllable, rolling the words across her tongue. "We have a winner my dear ladies and gentlemen."

Shu clenched his fist, "Here it comes."

She raised her hand and gestured at Ryuji, "It's none other than the Wicked Wolves, give them a hand!"

The crowd broke into a loud cheer. Shu sighed as the announcer continued. "But I will have you guys know they won by only five votes, Super six indeed is on their way to creating a new era in the school," She smiled, eyeing all of them.

Honcho grinned, "At least they didn't win by a landslide," He said as they walked down from the stage. The bitterness of the defeat was slightly diminished by the knowledge of their close competition. It did give Shu satisfaction when Ryuji bristled when they announced the difference between the votes. But he had to execute his plan now before Ryuji could come crashing down on them with his sadism.

"I-" Shu started, pointing at the end of the hallway where he had seen Ryuji's group disappearing, "I'm going to use the washroom," He said starting off through the corridor, "Uhm... I'll be back."

Wakiya frowned as Daigo gave him an unsure okay. Valt was overjoyed and Ken was silently watching with a delighted smile on his face as the former talked about his enthusiasm to get back on the stage. Honcho blinked, watching Shu disappear around the corner, "What's gotten into him anyway?"

"Beats me," Daigo sighed. "Do you guys think he's upset?"

"Well, I guess all of us are a bit disappointed," Wakiya shrugged. "It's not fun losing."

"But we gave them a great show, there's that." Valt cheered as the other warmed up around him. Well, there's that.

Shu rounded the corner, almost colliding against Shin standing in front of Ryuji and Tatsu, the latter speaking quietly about some idea in his head. "What the fuck-" Shin muttered, startled.

Shu blinked, the dread settling in his stomach. Gods, he was so not ready for this.

Ryuji broke into a grin, "Look who it is. The damsel in distress. Come to sacrifice yourself to the royalty?"

"I have a request," Shu said, breathless. He wiped his sweat palms on his uniform blazer.

"Please do speak," He said, "But I think I do have a slight idea what you're going to suggest." Ryuji leaned over his face, his ethereal grey eyes peering into his crimson. Shu frowned, feeling a tug of familiarity, blinking stupidly as he placed the thread of nostalgia. His eyes. They looked so disturbing because they were the same shade as his dad's. "You're just staring," Ryuji duly noted, amused. Shu blinked out of his stupor.

"Ah yes, keep the others out of this." He stumbled upon his words. "You want me, right?"

"That's a vulgar way to put it," Ryuji stood back from him. Heat crept up his neck as Shin snorted.

"For the record you were good, but sweetheart we are just better." Shu winced at his condescending tone. It's not like he didn't have the experience. He had unconsciously thrown off the competition for all of them.

The other two of the group, who Shu never knew the names of, stood placid. One of them inspected his nails, "What are you going to do, Ryu?"

"Well, it's tempting. Really." He hooked his finger under Shu's chin pushing him against the wall. "Maybe we can start from where we stopped."

The colour drained off his face. No. Shu gulped. This was sexual harassment, wasn't it? It's against the rules, right?

"Here you are!" Chiasa's voice exclaimed. Shu turned his head to see his friends staring back at him. "I told you," Chiasa grumbled, "You're such a saint, Kurenai."

Ryuji smiled, "I think I made the decision. We'll take Shu for the week. You guys can be exempt from the rule of behind our slaves," He said, making air quotes.

Wakiya was shaking his head, "Not a chance, Ryuji. Steer clear from him. I warned you." Fury flashed through his eyes as Ryuji grabbed Shu's elbow and wrapped one of his arms around his shoulder.

"Aw, c'mon Wakiya. It's not like I'm going to hurt him. Do you regret it? Staying on the losing team?"

Shin clicked his tongue, "You should've just accepted the invitation and joined our team. You're playing a dangerous game, mate. Siding with the losing team."

Valt blinked, "They invited you to join their team?" He got teary eyed as the male grabbed both of his hands, "You decided to stay with us?"

Honcho looked perplexed. "Damn Goldilocks, you're one hell of a loyal man, aren't you?"

"Don't make me regret my decision," Wakiya gritted out,turning to Shu. "And you're not taking him anywhere. We lost as a team, we're facing the result as a team."

Hotaru whistled, "That's what I like to hear. True friendship."

Shu frowned, "I don't think that's fair."

"Yes, Waki," Shin drawled, "That's not fair. We won't emotionally scar your princess. We'll try not to."

Shu tried to shrug off Ryuji's arm but the male kept a tight hold. "Well, then." Ryuji saluted. "Adios, my friends."

"They're kidnapping Shu!" Valt exclaimed, trying to grab Shu's wrist.

Tatsu sighed, "I'm going back to my dorm. This is getting annoying."

Ryuji waved him away. "You guys are going to disrespect Shu's decision? Really?"

"But Shu-" Honcho started, meeting the albino's eyes. Guilt, he saw it clear as the day. This mattered to him. It mattered to Shu that he took the blow alone. But that wasn't fair. Especially when there was nothing wrong with Shu's conduct, when the faults lied in Ryuji himself.

"For the record," Ryuji said, suddenly serious. "You really deserve a place in Class A."

Honcho stuttered, stopping on whatever he was going to say, baffled. "Excuse me?"

"You all are excused," Ryuji said. "Really."

"Shu," Wakiya's warning tone interrupted. "Don't do this."

Shu averted his gaze to the floor. "I'm sorry, but I think this is the right decision."

"Is it, really?" Keru asked.

Shu gave them a resigned smile and didn't protest when Ryuji dragged him out of the corridor, the rest of them following their leader. Daigo threw his hands in the air in frustration. "There they go."

Honcho shook his head, "I don't understand Shu sometimes."

"He's a mystery," Besu added, "But can we trust Ryuji to not do anything funny?"

"He won't," Wakiya crossed his arms. "Tatsu won't let him."

"How are you so sure?" Hotaru asked, raising her brow sceptically.

Chiasa was the one who answered. "Tatsu saw the potential in Shu's voice. That man follows his own set of principles. He saw through each one of you the moment you guys got into that stage. When he acknowledges someone as an artist, he won't let a single thing mar their abilities. He's honest to his words."

Valt sighed, rubbing his chin. "That's a little complicated, can someone simplify it for me?"

"Tatsu won't let Ryuji do anything bad for Shu." Wakiya sighed. "Jesus Christ, Valt. If you don't understand Japanese, what else can you understand?"

Valt gave him a sheepish smile, "Gibberish, probably."

"But still, It wouldn't hurt for one of us to keep an eye on them," Honcho said, turning to the other. The team nodded synchronously.

"Roger sir!" Chiasa said. "We'd be stalking Shu for the rest of the week."

It's been a long long time since I updated this ;-; After this stay tuned for the next Agape Chapter! I'm already working on it <33