"Alongside Us" - Bang Dream x Male Reader

Chapter Eight - "Tension"

The Next Day, at Hephaestus Tower…

Chiyu’s POV

I have no idea what’ll happen today. What was Masking thinking? There is no way that’ll actually work, right? Masking is crazy for even suggesting this!

Ooh, I’m so nervous. Maybe pacing back and forth will work! Maybe… calling Pareo.
That might help a bit. I need somebody to vent to, anyway.

I pulled out my phone and called Pareo.

“Pareo? Where are you?” I shouted immediately, before she spoke.

“CHU²-sama, I’m getting my hair dyed, remember?” Pareo told me. “It’s gonna take a while since my hair is pretty long.”

“Oh, right. I forgot about that. Make sure it looks cute, okay?” I told her.

“Anything fo CHU²-sama!” Pareo replied wholeheartedly. “Red and black, right?”

“That’s so Mitake Ran style,” I said. “That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but you wanna be your own image, right? Not rebellious?”

“Me? Rebellious?” Pareo thought aloud. “Not a bad idea. Imagine me, a rebellious girl. My parents say it’s a phase, though.”

I gulped. Rebellious Pareo? Don’t ever, ever put that thought in my mind.

"Well, just don't dye it a weird color," I told her. "We want our concerts to be explosive!"

"Sure!" Pareo replied. "I gotta go. I think I'll color it... pink and white! It reminds me of Pastel*Palettes' colors!"

With that, she hung up the phone.

Huh? Someone’s calling me. Odd timing. It’s Mitake-san? Speak of the devil.

“Yo,” I said, in my grown-up voice. “This is DJ CHU², you want a record deal?”

“Wh-whoa, you can't be CHU²,” Mitake-san said. “She kinda looks like a gremlin and has a way squeakier voice."

“Wh-what did you say about me?!” I angrily shouted. “I promise when I get older, I’m gonna be tall and cool, like… uhh… a tall and cool version of Pareo!”

“I’m just kidding, CHU². Hey, get over to the noodle shop! We’re waiting for you there.”

“Noodle shop? How’d you know about that?” I asked her. “Masking wasn’t supposed to tell you yet.”

She laughed. “Word leaked out. Actually, Masking called me earlier, and Minato-san too.”

“Ahhh I get it!” I roared. “I should… why would she… whatever. I’m coming right now.”

I hung up and left, and took the city bus to Masking’s noodle shop. It’s gonna be packed with tons of customers, so I am absolutely not excited.

I’ll have to see Minato Yukina, and she’s going to make fun of my height again!
Stupid, stupid world made for tall people!

Later, Outside of the Noodle Shop...

I made it here, and what do you know? Mitake-san’s coming up to me.

“CHU², CHU²!” she called out to me. “Come in, (Y/N)’s gonna make an important announcement to all of us!”

“In a noodle shop… in front of a huge group of girls?” I told her. “What’s goin’ on?”

I went to the noodle shop, and sitting there was Minato Yukina and (Y/N).
I sat next to Yukina, feeling extremely nervous at what might come next.

Once Mitake-san sat down at the table, (Y/N) slowly stood up.

What’s gonna happen now?

I ran away from everyone last night, so I really do feel smaller than everyone else now...

(Y/N)’s POV

“Listen everyone, I have an important announcement,” I said. “Masuki told us we could meet here. I thank her for that…”

I looked at all three of them, each one by one.
Chiyu was looking down, clenching her fists.
Ran was looking directly at me, then turned her sight away.
Yukina, on the other hand, had her head tilted slightly down, arms crossed.

“I will decide on my own who I will stay with. It can only be one of you three.”

Chiyu quickly stood up. “No! That’s unfair! If you d-don’t choose me, I’ll… I’ll never forgive you, ever!”

Yukina scoffed. “Are you going to run away again, CHU²?”

“I w-won’t. But I won’t accept a loss,” Chiyu responded.

I sighed. “Whoever’s house I visit tonight, they’ll be the one I choose. At exactly 8 PM, if I’m not there, then I’m sorry…”

“Let’s hope you choose correctly,” Ran added. ‘Not that I particularly am worried.”

This is going to be the toughest decision of all time. I really, really wish I could choose all three of them, but the amount of fighting is going to be impossible to stop.
Picking all three would be only a temporary fix, since eventually one will want me all to herself, and we’d end up back here.

“Sorry I had to call you over here for such a short meeting. You all may leave now, to prepare for my decision tonight.”

I left the noodle shop alone, and waited near the bus stop. Right then, Chiyu walked up to me.

“Oh, hey. Taking the bus too?” I asked her. Semi-awkward, since it hasn’t even been a few minutes since our meeting.

“Mhm. Masking is working now, so she can’t take me on her motorcycle. Besides, I think it’s still in the auto shop.”

I stuttered to say something in response.
Chiyu seems upset, but she glanced at me periodically. She’s so short and cute. I don’t want to see her upset tonight.
I’ll have to really stress over this decision.

“Chiyu, I…”

However, Chiyu interrupted me. “It’s fine. Pick whoever you want. But I really will never forgive you if you choose incorrectly.”

She clenched her fists again as the bus arrived.
"The bus is here. Don't come to my place. Go to your place and decide on your own," she told me.

Her and I rode the bus, not speaking another word to each other. It was super awkward, and I just felt guilty the whole ride to my house.

But this is my decision. And I plan to keep my word.

That Night, 7:30 PM,

(Y/N)’s House, The Night of the Decision

I gently opened the door to my house, and left, toward the one I decided to spend all my time with.

Let’s go. This is for my future. No, our future.

To Be Continued in a special three-chapter split-ending finale!