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Ohara Kazumasa, called by friends and his long-term partner "Kazuma" and by fans "Shou", since Alice Nine has formed, had too much love for the number nine.
When they celebrated their ninth anniversary with the band, it was more important to him than the tenth. He always fed Shishamo at 9AM and 9PM. He measured everything in nines. Steps, flowers for mum's birthday bouquet... He remembered when he poured nine teaspoons of sugar into his coffee. It tasted so terrible that he immediately stopped sweetening his coffee completely.
However, this time it was different. This nine didn't make him happy at all. This one particular nine.
2020 has been a tough year for everyone. The global coronavirus pandemic. Canceled concerts. Postponed tours. Delayed events.
Overall, he was enjoying the Tokyo Olympics, but it would start in July, if everything was normal. It will start next year, but...
He wanted to somehow survive this nine without forcing a smile.
"Kazuma?" Saga looked at Shou, who was sluggishly playing with the Shishamo. "Did something happen?"
"No" Shou shook his head. "Everything is okay."
"But you've been a little sad for a few days" Saga sat on the chair. "Is it because coronavirus?"
"I like number nine" said Shou, swinging the fishing rod slower and slower, though Shishamo was still chasing the little orange fish at the end of the string with the same enthusiasm. "But sometimes >>nine<< also means something unpleasant, and... You understand, right?"
Saga nodded. He understood this.
It's been nine years since Shou's grandma died. Shou was closer to her than to his parents.
It's been also nine years since the massive earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan in 2011.
Saga looked at calendar. Behind the window he could see a landscape of June. It's getting warmer. Their birthday are close. First Saga's, then Shou's.
But this July's nine was staring at him with evil smile. One of its pupil had a shape of 1, second had a shape of 8. And Saga knew that Shou couldn't stand this nine the most.
People get old and die. You can prepare for the fact that the ninety-year-old woman will pass away someday.
Japan is located in the Pacific ring of fire, so earthquakes and tsunamis are also predictable. Many people have died, many have disappeared forever.
But what if you suddenly find out that your friend had a stroke and has been dead for a week?
A friend, a mentor, a person you perceived as an older brother, someone you can always rely on.
Who will never abandon you in times of need.
Kagrra, disbanded nine years ago. And Alice Nine still existed. They lived for a longer time than those who helped them shine. The students surpassed the masters.
Their teachers of the stage life. Akiya, who was still close to them thanks to Tora. Izumi and Shin, who rarely spoke to them, but still kept in touch with their "preschoolers". And Nao, poor Nao, who still had hallucinations from time to time.
And Isshi, who has been dead for almost nine years.
And Ohara Kazumasa, sitting in front of him, still can't get over it.
"Do you want to go to cafe shop?" asked Saga, pulling Shou out of his thoughts. "We can eat carrot cake, if it is open. Shall we go check it out?"
It was their little tradition. They always went to this cafe, when Shou was sad because of this anniversary. In the past, he couldn't even enter this cafe. But it was calming him now. As if he could still feel Isshi's presence there.
"Where do you think he is?" Saga asked, opening the front door.
"Nao says that in heaven" Shou replied, looking for the keys.
"Or maybe he reincarnated?" Saga took his own keys and locked the door. "Maybe as a teenager he'll come to our concert?"
"We'll be old then" noticed Shou.
"But maybe he'll be eleven?"
"Would your mum send you to a rock concert at this age?"
"And who said someone has to let him go for a rock concert?" Saga snorted. "You go to rock concerts without parental consent, sneaking out through the window at night."
"Sometimes I wonder how your parents hadn't killed you for all these years..."
"You hadn't killed me too because of the same reason" said Saga, grabbing Shou's hand and twining hin fingers with his. "Because they love me~"
"And what if I told you that I'm only with you for sex?"
"Kazuma! People don't stay in relationships for twelve years just for sex!"
Shou laughed. He still loved to tease Saga.
It won't ever change.
The end