Chapter Text
Something was wrong with her children. Nothing is sharper than a mother’s instincts and Yui’s instincts were screaming at her that there was danger approaching. She tried to shake off these feelings, assuming they are just paranoid built from learning that Adam snuck into the city last night. Yui (eventually) noticed at bed time when she did her final headcount, that she is one child short. The thought of losing another child after just getting her girls back had not been good for her already weak health as she ended up going into a full panic attack.
Reika and Momio had to step in and call their mother down while the Shiori kept the children from panicking. But Adam’s late night disappearance made the whole Komroi family mad with worry. The fact that Kei and Minato gave up one of their precious secrets to admit to spying on Adam showed how dire the situation was.
Safe to say it was a bad night for many people.
When Adam showed up around midnight safe and sound Yui tackled him into a deep hug and did not release him for the rest of night. She was afraid that the moment she let go she would lose her son and she couldn’t lose anymore of her child to forces outside her control. She was so relieved that she didn’t even bother asking Adam where he was, she was just satisfied seeing him safe in her arms.
After the last few days she just wanted to feel like a good mother. She wished it was the weekend so she could organize one of those picnics her kids love to do or take them to the park or the arcade. Just do something to bring a smile to her children’s faces instead of filling them with worry.
Yui was so busy mentally drowning in her own insecurities and worries that she didn't notice Takeru was trying to stir her out of her own head. It was only when Takeru grabbed Yui’s shoulders did she react.
“DON’T TOUCH ME” Yui shouted so loudly that all movement in the restaurant stopped as Shiori and Misa turned to look at Yui. The diner was completely empty except for these four, as Shiori and Takeru closed today to be prepared for the meeting but Misa had come in in the hopes of meeting idols, technically though she was still working, her job was solely to keep the coffee coming during the meeting.
“Yui don’t worry it's just me” Takeru said so softly it was almost a whisper, as he took his heads off Yui’s shoulders, holding them up in the air so she could see them. “I’m sorry, I forgot you don’t like direct contact. You were just sitting in the corner shaking and I wanted to make sure your alright”
“I’m fine” Yui replied quickly, her tone was rougher than she intended but her body did not match her statement. She was still shaking and beads of sweat were forming on her forehead.
“Yui sweetie, since we’re closed today maybe you should just rest upstairs.” Shiori popped up with the suggestion, moving closer to Yui in hopes of bringing the poor girl upstairs to rest.
“No” upon hearing the suggestion Yui stood up and turned towards her bosses with a surprising amount of nerve despite her decrepit state a few seconds ago “You said you needed me to help look over the contracts and understand the idol world. I can do this”
“Are you sure? I know the past few days have been a lot, maybe you just need some time to relax and unwind.” Shioro gently said as she carefully took Yui’s hand in her own.
“Please Shiori, I need to do something helpful. I don’t want to keep being the burden I have been the last few days” Yui’s voice was still shaky but her commitment to her job was clear. She stared at a Shiori with a fiery determination in her eyes and the older woman was reminded of the strong stubbornness she both admired and hated in the younger women.
“Fine but if you feel weak at any point you will excuse yourself and go take a nap, no matter what”
“Of course, now let me clean up a bit so the diner will look its best for these music bigwigs”
“Actually can you please go to the backroom and pull out our rent agreement, building blueprints, and record book, we were told to have all these materials ready and you are the only one who can ever find anything in that crowded room”
Yui smiled at being given a task and enthusiastically cried “Of course!” As she sprinted to the backroom.
***
“Kou get off your phone, we are here” Todoroki Yukiro said as he gently stirred his client awake in the back of the limo they were riding in
“Huh” Kou replied his eyes still locked on the scream
The other Mukami’s, like their brother, have been hollow shells since that night, but their brotherly bond and love for each other has remained a constant through their pain and regret. They knew Yui would be disappointed in them if they lost their familial connection. Kou still remembered the way Yui teared up when they had dumb fights over dinner, back then he thought it was a stupid human trait to cry over people fighting, but now he misses her tears of joy, they were the best tears he caused her.
So Kou was of course in an extreme state of perturbation when he got a frantic call from Yuma that Ruki came home from a standard book signing a weeping mess to then collapse in a pile of tears and wails in Yui’s old room. The latest update he got from Azusa was that Ruki called a family meeting for that evening and has refused to leave Yui’s room or explain what happened until all his brothers had returned home.
“Ordering your daily supply of pills?” Hitori Aina crudely joked as she busied herself on her phone, trying to ignore the pathetic scene in front of her.
If Kou had more energy he would probably snap at the women but in this volatile state her mean words reminded him of his mission, of why he insisted at being at this meeting. He couldn’t care at all about the music video, he just had to see if Yui was here. There was a little girl who looked just like Yui at this diner so it is possible that Yui had a child and lived in this area, so maybe he could ask the staff here if anyone knew a beautiful blond with pink eyes.
“Hitori-san, no need to be rude. We should all try to be our best selves to make this video happen. As you said we are already behind schedule so let's just get this meeting to go quickly so we can be shooting here within the week” Yukiro said in hopes of defusing any tension between Kou and Aina and hinting to Kou that if he stayed on his best behavior this meeting will go by quickly.
Kou got the hint and took out a small mirror and began to reapply his makeup. He had to look his best before getting out of the car. Even outside of media appearances, an idol has a duty to the public to always look amazing or else he would disappoint his fans.
When he finished he snapped his mirror closed and called “Let's get this over with” indicating to the others in the car that it was time to get out. Aina got out first, with Kou leaving the call last, flanked by bodyguys trying to hide the idol from any people on the streets. Though any attempt at discretion was lost by the fact that 2 long limos were parked outside of a small diner in a small neighborhood in Tochigi.
Entering the diner Aina immediately took in the space before her, clearly impressed with the look of the diner. She then signaled for the body guards to keep Kou outside as she led the rest of the group towards the elder couple who stood at attention waiting for the exactive to approach. Once she did Takeru imminently spoke up in his most professional voice, “Hello welcome to Dusk Diner, you must be the representative from music label”
“Yes I am Hitori Aina, I am in charge of marketing and for this particular idol for the label” Aina then went on to introduce the rest of the team from the label, which is made up of her personal assistant, a lawyer, and an assistant director. “Finally this is Todoroki Yukiro, he is the talent’s manager”
Takeru’s eyes lit up when he heard the last name “I remember you, you were in here a few days ago, stranded during the storm.”
“Wow I’m surprised you remember me” Yukiro chuckled at the situation, he dind;t expect anyone at the diner to hold him in their thoughts
Shiori chuckled with him declaring “Dear we remember every customer we’ve ever had.”
“Ohh I am sorry I am being rude” Takeru exclaimed, remembering his manners “I am Takeru Murate and this is my wife Shiori Murate” you then directed his body towards Misa, signaling for her to come forward “and this is one of our waitresses Misa Banto. We have another waitress who is here fetching all the paperwork you requested.”
“Wonderful if that's the case let's sit down and get to business”
“Of course, right this way” Shiori announced as she lead the team to the biggest booth which would fit eight people
“Excuse me but who exactly is the idol this video is for?” Misa asked, failing to hide the girlish excitement in her voice.
“I will tell you as soon as you three sign these NDAs, we have to protect our client’s privacy first and foremost. Once you all sign we can let him in and fully begin this meeting.” Aina, declared as the lawyer of her group, placed the contracts in front of Takeru Shiroi and Misa. Each one quickly signed and handed the contracts back to the lawyer, and at which point the door of the diner opened again and in walked none other than Kou Mukami.
Misa gasped at the sight of one of her favorite idols in her workspace but maintained her professional integrity as she had promised the Murate’s and stayed where she was. Shiori sensing Misa’s excitement asked her to go make some coffee for everyone to give the young girl something to do so she did not harass the very famous idol.
Yukiro, sensing the excitement as well, decided to do a formal introduction, “this is Kou Mukami, he has been with the label for 14 years and he is one of our most esteemed idols at the label”
Kou, remembering his own personal mission for being here, put on his carefree smile and shot a kind wink towards the clearly starstruck waitress as he made his way towards the meeting table. He said some polite hellos to the owners of the diner, who seemed to have some familiar scents on them that he couldn’t currently place, and sat down besides Yukio at the edge of the booth. The meeting then evolved into boring business talk, which Kou fully zoned out for, not interested in the technical part of his industry. He was waiting for a break in the conversation to ask if anyone knew Yui when suddenly out of nowhere the sweetest voice he’d ever heard called out “Shiori I found all the paperwork”.
He knew that voice, it was the same voice that haunted his every dream, the same voice that used to soothe him to sleep on hard nights, the same voice that cried out at him to stop whenever his teeth entered her frail body, the same voice he fantasized about hearing say ‘I love you Kou’. Could this be real? With doubt in his eyes he turned his attention to the direction of the voice and he laid eyes on his beloved Yui. She still looked the same, the same beautiful pink eyes, the same curly blonde locks that bounced as she moved, the same pale skin that made her look like a true princess, and the same smile that could warm the heart of the most horrible monster.
“Yui…” Kou said so softly that most people at the table didn’t hear but Yui heard. She turned and made direct eye contact with her former captor, her eyes full of fear, his filled with disbelief. When she didn’t respond Kou was worried that she might not really be here, that this might just be a cruel illusion his brain decide to torture himself with. He had to know if she was real or not so he did the first thing he could think of to prove she was really his Yui.
He jumped up from the table, ran across the room at an almost supernatural speed, took his lost love in his arms, and forced his lips onto hers in a passionate kiss. Being this close Kou knew for sure that this is real, that she is real. He pulled away and looked down at the women in his arms, ignoring all the other voices in the room, solely focusing on Yui, purring “I’ve missed you” before going in for another kiss.
He found his Kitty.
***