"Things can't work that way!"

"You're the one doing everything wrong!"

"The initial demo is good enough! We don't have to change it!"

"It's not! It's too weak"

"You're so commanding Taka! You want everything to go your way!"

The conversation grew louder and louder, and heat rose to both of the parties' faces. Taka stood furiously facing Alex, arguing about a new song they were composing. As the songs they listened to were different, their style in creating songs also varied. Only two months passed since Takahiro Moriuchi joined ONE OK ROCK, and yet, he still didn't get along with his bandmates. At the sound of the last sentence, Taka backed down, efficiently swallowing his frustration and reasons, instead letting a cold facade wash over him. As ice covered his features, he visualised the slight flinch of his youngest bandmate, Ryota Kohama, their bassist. I knew it Taka thought to himself, clenching his fists teamwork isn't suited for me. I shouldn't have come here. He reprimanded his decision with tension rising around him, going back to the Takahiro he first was. His past self before he met their leader, Toru Yamashita.

"Hey hey what's going on here" As if he heard Taka's thoughts calling out to him, the young guitarist walked into the room, carrying the promised snacks he bought from a near convenience store. "The room feels so stiff what have you guys done" he joked awkwardly, slowly setting down the bags before walking over to the other four. "So?" Toru asked again, placing each of his hands on one if his friends' shoulders, who still stood a small distance far from one another. "Were you two planning on letting them bite each other?" He addressed the rhythm duo, but neither responded. With a heavy sigh, he squeezed Taka and Alex's shoulders, looking briefly in each of their eyes "won't you two ever give me a break? All you do is fight. You're bandmates, you're brothers!" Toru explained, flashing a soft smile. "He's the one mocking us with his high standards!" Alex yelled, glaring at Taka. "Why are you so obsessed with someone like him Toru!" He questioned, fumes almost visible around him.

The toxicity of Alex's anger set off the spark of Taka's flames. "Just do whatever the hell you want" he screamed, pushing away both of his bandmates, instantly running in the other direction, all the way out of the studio. "Taka wait!" Toru screamed, yet his bellow fell on deaf ears. "Happy now?" He glared at Alex, hurtling after the petite guy.

"I don't think hiding behind the studio building is a good idea if you didn't want us to find you" Toru declared a few minutes later, having effortlessly found Taka. As he walked over slowly, Toru observed the scenery closely. Though he was there often, he didn't notice the vastness of the sky, or the sparkles of the stars. He looked at them, then carefully glanced at the guy beside him. The younger of the two smiled softly, looking at his bandmate, like his very own star, tying it by his side. He saw luster as he looked at the shorter guy, while his chest welled up with warmth, he felt lucky to have met him. "So?" He suddenly talked, breaking the peaceful silence. "Are you going to speak up? Or leave us to freeze in the cold" Toru questioned mockingly, pocking Taka's chubby cheek with his index finger.

As the vocalist didn't respond, Toru tilted his own face right in front of the other's. "Heyoo" he called, turning his face to the direction that Taka averts to. Yet, no response again. "Ta ka hi rooo~" he whispered in his ear, finally getting his attention. "Stop that!" Taka blushed, covering his ear. Toru straightened up again, waiting for his friend to open up. From the corner of his eye, his saw tears stream down the vocalist's face, defying his desperate attempts to stop them. Seeing that it was the first time Yamashita has witnessed the vocalist show weakness, he waited patiently. "It's just" Moriuchi spoke later, rubbing his eyes with his sleeved arms. "I was already insecure about all of this. I may look tough but I'm really struggling to keep up" he sniffed, his shoulders shuddering. "Since the very first day for me here, I don't feel like I fit in with you guys. I'm too...annoying maybe. Ryota doesn't even want anything to do with me" The youth sobbed, pouring his emotions to the void of the night, while Toru listened silently.

"I shouldn't have joined, the band is better without me. Even Alex said I'm too demanding. I'm sorry, I'm really sorry" his voice broke, his tears cascading coldly against his skin. The leader's lips parted, then closed again. He carefully calculated his approach, looking at the moon for any kind of answer. He then grinned, trying the shortest way he sought to break the hard shell by his side. "Crying are we?" He teased, stepping in front of Taka again. "I'm not!" The smaller one retorted, pink rising to his cheeks. "Oh yes you are" Yamashita insisted, bringing his nose closer to his friend's.

"Listen Taka" Toru started more seriously again, looking into Taka's darkest pools. They somehow resembled the serene night sky; inky and deep, yet they store hope and sparkles, just like the stars, the ones that hold the mystery of the future. "Don't you ever say nonsense as leaving again, or that the band is better off without you. What do you think a band is without its frontman? Without its speaking voice?" Toru spoke softly, turning to the space in front of them again. "You know, when I first heard your voice, I felt some kind of power seizing my heart, my blood coursed stronger than ever and I couldn't help but scream 'that's him' while being dumbfounded by that strength you have" he paused, his arms gesturing to the wideness ahead "and just like me, someday people will definitely recognize your voice, and call out your name. So don't look down again, you're the gem that I found, don't leave me, Taka, vocalist of One Ok Rock" with a wide smile, the guitarist looked back at his companion, who seemed to be lost in thought.

Just as Taka was about to speak, Toru interrupted him again, with a mischievous smirk. "As for Ryota, it's not what you think. I know that guy more than anyone, he doesn't hate you, but he's really shy. And you can be intimidating if you ask me" he confessed, seeing anger click on Taka's features. "You have to crack that shell for us a bit don't you think? We're here to protect your vulnerability, you're no longer alone. Forget what stupid Alex said, he gets unreasonable when he's angry. On the contrary, we really need your elite talent" he ended his word, looking at Taka's confusion. "B-but" the shorter started, then swallowed it.

At that moment, Yamashita could no longer hold his desires and pulled the older one to his chest, holding him tightly. "W-what are you-!" Taka struggled, trying to get away. "Calm down, it's just a friendly hug" Toru reasoned with him, smiling as Taka settled down, his arms shakily slithering over the taller's back. As Taka rested his head on Toru's neck, the latter gazed at the stars, a helpless expression drawing his features. Friendly huh...? He thought to himself, thinking back to when he realized his feelings towards the vocalist, wondering if they will ever be returned. He tightened his grip around the other youth, feeling him shift comfortably in his arms.