Purely By Luck: Chaotic Butterfly, #2

By Mousa Pelli

The prequel to Chaotic Butterfly. Sakurai Yuuichi and his best friend, Takayama Kouji, don't see eye to eye sometimes about whether which groups make it in Midareteku Entertainment is all due to luck or not. Along with bandmates Tsukioka and Kurosawa, their unit's future might depend on what they decide together. Also contains the short story "Incognito," starring 5*STAR's Tsukioka and Adachi.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mousa Pelli
• Release date: Jul 12, 2010
• ISBN: 9781458013620

Mousa Pelli

Mousapelli is the author of four NaNoWriMo novels and 600+ pieces of fanfiction in a horrifyingly large number of fandoms. She possesses an equally absurd number of DVDs and paperback novels, along with a guinea pig of loose morals. She also enjoys onigiri, Melon Cream Fanta, and things that match.

Book preview

Purely By Luck

By Mousapelli

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2010

Purely By Luck originally posted in November, 2009.

Icognito written in March, 2010.

Lyrics to Sakura Sake, SummerxSummerxSummer, and Goodbye Thank You are owned by Johnny's Entertainment.

Cover designed by Mousapelli.

Starshine Press

A division of Midareteku Entertainment

http://www.kira-kira.net

Harrisburg, PA

License Notes: This ebook was sold without DRM protections for convenience of the readers. Please respect the effort of the author that went into these novels and purchase your own copy at Smashwords.com.

For my father, who taught me how to tell a good story, and who wanted to know Sakurai's.

For Rachel, Beth, and Fiona, who do all my research and know which bands have the capital letters.

For everyone online and in RL who treats 5*STAR like a real band and Chaotic Butterfly like a real fandom. It means more than I can ever say. Now go write me fic.

and, as always,

For Anj, who loved Rin with the heat of ten million suns. We miss you.

Part I: Harbinger of Spring

(2000-2003)

There's sakura blooming in my heart,

Dreams that have sprouted without names.

Don't look back, because tomorrow isn't behind you

Face forward

There's somebody singing in front of the station,

And it's a song that you love.

Even if we're far apart, it definitely won't fade,

And so we aren't separated.

Someday, in a place I'm hoping for,

I want the two of us to run into each other, purely by luck

--Arashi, Sakura Sake

1

Lucky Number 77

Spring, 2000

Sakurai Yuuichi was standing in front of the basketball net in his back yard, tongue stuck out in concentration, lining up his shot. His father was at work and his mother was out shopping with a neighbor, who had convinced her that Sakurai would be just fine on his own for a couple of hours at his age.

As a newly-minted junior high student, Sakurai couldn’t have agreed more. Flush with new-found power, he'd furthermore decided that it was warm enough to go outside without his coat (provided that he went back inside before his mother came back). Concentrating on his shots, Sakurai stoically ignored the way the chill spring wind was ruffling his bowl cut and numbing his fingers against the basketball.

The sound of the front door made Sakurai look over his shoulder, but it was just his older sister, Shiori. These days she didn't pay Sakurai much attention, but before she had started high school they had played basketball together often after school.

At the bottom of the porch steps, Shiori continued towards him. Sakurai, hoping that maybe she was having a change of heart and would want to play with him like old times, offered her a smile and bounce-passed the ball her way.

Shiori raised an eyebrow and watched the ball roll past her into the grass, making no move to stop it.

Come on, she said. Let's go.

Go where? Sakurai said suspiciously. A possible basketball game was one thing, but going somewhere meant Shiori would be seen in public with him, which she had made clear in no uncertain terms was entirely unacceptable. Sakurai loved his sister, but he wasn't a moron.

It's a surprise, Shiori answered airily, making Sakurai's suspicions double. But there'll be other kids there to play with.

Like…a park? Sakurai's resistance wavered; playing basketball by yourself kind of sucked. Is it somewhere I can play basketball?

Mm, some of them probably play, I guess, Shiori shrugged. Anyway, hurry up.

Shiori started back up the porch steps, and Sakurai glanced from her back to the basketball in the grass to the hoop, then started trudging after her. His sister wouldn't take him anyplace too weird after all. Even if she was all stupid since she went to high school, she was still his sister.

And put a coat on! Shiori called over her shoulder as Sakurai trotted up the stairs to catch up. Mom'll kill me if she sees you out here like that!

*****

During the train ride into downtown Tokyo, Sakurai tried to pump his sister for more information about where she was taking him, but Shiori merely pulled a magazine out of her bag and started flipping through it, as if she couldn't hear him.

Rolling his eyes, Sakurai amused himself by reading the ads dangling from the ceiling, swaying with the motion of the train. One in particular caught his eye because it had the same guy on it as on the front of Shiori's magazine, but he lost interest once he figured out that it was an advertisement for eyeliner.

Once they reached their destination, a non-descript office building with a sign that read only Midareteku Entertainment, Sakurai balked, sensing treachery.

Where are we? he demanded, digging the heels of his sneakers in against the pavement when Shiori tried to tug him forward. This doesn't have anything to do with basketball, does it?

Okay, no, Shiori shrugged, tugging harder. But we're already here and we're kind of late, so move it, little brother! There'll be lots of other kids inside, really.

To do what? Sakurai asked, but he didn't get an answer because Shiori put her full weight into shoving him through the set of glass double doors and inside the building.

Inside, Sakurai did his best to look around as his sister dragged him briskly along. The lobby was wide and sunny from the huge windows, and everything looked clean and gleamed with glass and silver. People were bustling purposefully about, and it took Sakurai a second to figure out that it seemed a bit odd because everyone seemed young and attractive, like on television. Frowning, Sakurai tugged on Shiori's coat sleeve, but she shook him off as they came to a halt in front of a large receptionist's desk.

Sorry we're late, Shiori said with a little bow. This is Sakurai Yuuchi. Here's his form.

Sakurai blinked as Shiori pulled a clearfile out of her bag, which had the same guy on it again as from the eyeliner ad on the train, and pulled out a sheet of paper that had a small picture of Sakurai attached to the corner.

Big sister? Sakurai asked, but Shiori shushed him.

I can't go in with you, she said, finally looking him in the eye for the first time since they'd left the house. But just do what they tell you and don't make a fool of yourself, got it? I'll be out here when you're done.

But… Sakurai tried, but Shiori had already turned and was clicking away across the lobby on her cute shoes, towards a small knot of people collected on furniture, also plainly waiting. Some of them were Shiori's age, but others looked older, like they were mothers or even grandmothers, in a few cases.

Sakurai turned back to the receptionist. She had large glasses and a severe-looking bun, and seemed rather unimpressed, but Sakurai made a plaintive face at her anyway. It had always worked on his sixth grade teacher.

Got tricked, huh? she asked him, expression softening a little as Sakurai nodded. Not to worry, you won't be the only one by a long shot. Now you just take your form through that door there and give it to the man on the other side. Go on, hurry up, you're already late.

The receptionist was pointing towards a door just beyond her desk. It was unremarkable except for a small, hand-lettered sign which read Auditions. Sakurai glanced back over his shoulder at his sister, but she was already chatting animatedly with a group of other girls. Heaving a sigh, Sakurai took the paper with his picture attached back from the receptionist, and headed over to push the door open.

*****

Late, huh? the man behind the folding table asked, raising an eyebrow. You just made it, kid, we were packing up. Well, hand over your form.

The man looked more like high school age, Sakurai realized, especially with his partially-bleached hair and his bright green T-shirt that read ALWAYS PIRATE ADVENTURE 1999. Like most of the other people Sakurai had noticed, the man looked pretty cool, and Sakurai bet that his sister wished she was back here with him rather than out in the waiting room.

Sorry, Sakurai said, holding out the paper. My sister…

One of those, hm? The man scanned Sakurai's form, then handed over a little piece of plastic on a string. Looks like you're lucky number 77, kiddo. Put that over your head. Yo, Aoki-kun!

Whaaaat?

The man in the green shirt scowled as another man of about the same age slouched around the corner. His t-shirt was bright yellow and said something equally ridiculous that Sakurai didn't know enough English to puzzle out, and his hair was permed into a wave that was barely held in check by a handful of bobby pins.

This kid's the last one, could you run him down to the audition before you go?

Aw, Kuro-chan, the second guy, Aoki-kun, pouted, crossing his arms. I have to go! If I show up to vocal practice late again, Inoue-sensei is gonna yell at me in front of everybody!

You wouldn't be on audition duty at all if you and Yasu-kun didn't think it was so funny to go switching people's costumes before filmings, the first guy said crisply.

Nobody even noticed, Aoki replied grumpily. Kenji-senpai looked better in the skirt anyway. Come on, Kuro-chan, have a heart! He'll make me rap!

Don't call me that. Hurry up, he'll miss the directions.

Geez, all right, all right. Aoki motioned for Sakurai to come along with him. Why are you so mean to me, Kuro-chan?

You're an M and you love it. The first man looked down at Sakurai still blinking at him. Well, go on. Do your best.

Aoki chattered at Sakurai the entire time they were heading down the hallway, in the elevator, and down a second hallway. Sakurai found out that Aoki had been working the auditions all morning, that Inoue-sensei usually didn't even notice when Aoki was late, and that Kuro-chan was really Kurosagi-kun.

Of course, if you get in he'll be Kurosagi-senpai, Aoki amended easily. But don't call him that too much or he gets a swelled head.

Aoki-senpai, Sakurai started, figuring it couldn't hurt, and sure enough Aoki beamed brightly at him, can you tell me what I'm auditioning for?

What you're… Aoki burst out laughing, his laugh so clear and musical that it made Sakurai feel shy rather than annoyed. You're auditioning to join ME, kiddo. Like me and Kuro-chan.

Like…that guy in the eyeliner ad? And on my sister's clearfile? Sakurai asked after a second's thought.

Yup, just like that! Aoki stopped in front of yet another door labeled Auditions and pushed it open. You're cute, kid. Try and make it, okay? Some of these other guys… Aoki clicked his tongue. Let's just say I don't want any more questionable kouhai.

Sakurai tried to reconcile the idea of somebody who wasn't totally questionable wanting to advertise eyeliner, and then just gave up.

I'll try my best, he said, and Aoki gave him another bright smile that made him feel better than anything his sister had said.

Sakurai took a deep breath and went through the door.

*****

The room was huge and loud with dozens of voices, and by the time Sakurai got his bearings, he'd been shuffled into a group with a dozen other boys. His group was packed into a corner with an older boy who apparently was going to teach them to dance. The boy had bleached, spiked hair, and Sakurai perked up when he introduced himself as Yasu-san.

Excuse me, Sakurai raised his hand, you aren't going to put us in skirts, are you?

"Geez, does everybody know about that? Yasu demanded, making a few of the boys giggle and some of the other ones trade looks of concern. Seiji's gonna get it when I find him. All right, pipe down, potential kouhai! Just watch what I do and try to do it half as well."

What Yasu did, as it turned out, was dance. And although Sakurai's 12-year-old knee-jerk reaction was one of resistance to anything even remotely as girly as dancing, he could still see that Yasu was very good at what he did. When Yasu did the short routine it looked easy and simple, and like something that any moron could do.

When Sakurai tried it, it turned out to be not quite so easy. At least almost everybody else in his group sucked at it just as much, if not worse.

Really, you guys, Yasu said in what he probably thought was a supportive voice, any moron can do it. Try again. Look, we'll do it slow and then speed it up.

After a little while, Yasu told them to practice on their own for a bit and then sauntered off to talk with the knot of adults watching from the side of the room. Sakurai didn't feel like he was personally making any progress and was starting to get more than a little frustrated, especially when he noticed that the kid next to him didn't seem to be having any trouble at all.

Why're you so good at this? Sakurai demanded snappishly.

What, this? the boy stopped and gave Sakurai a good-natured smile. It reminded Sakurai just a little of Aoki's bright grin, and Sakurai's temper eased a little. Oh, it's easy! Do you like soccer?

Yes? Sakurai answered cautiously, wondering if this kid was attention-deficit or what.

Think of it like a footwork drill then, y'know? The kid did the first couple steps, and when Sakurai thought about it like that, suddenly they made a lot more sense. You try.

After another fifteen minutes, the other boy had taught him to do the simple routine about as well as it could be done by somebody with about a half-hour worth of non-DDR dance experience.

See? Not so hard. the boy grinned again, getting a shy grin back from Sakurai. But you're a natural, though. When Sakurai tilted his head in confusion, the other boy nudged a shoulder towards the other members of their group. I mean, look.

Sure enough, when Sakurai leaned around the other boy to look at the rest of their group, most of them seemed to barely be able to tell their right from their left. Out of the dozen boys, only about a third of them were managing Yasu's routine with even a minimal amount of proficiency.

Satisfied with Sakurai's progress, the other boy turned to try and help a couple of the other boys, leaving Sakurai to look around the room. It wasn't as big as he'd assumed at first, he realized; the walls were lined with mirrors, making it look much larger than it actually was, which also explained the echo of their voices. Most of the boys were about Sakurai's age or a little older. Not too many were younger, and there were a few that were much older, even one that looked as old as Aoki or Yasu.

At that moment, one of the adults clapped his hands for attention and the cacophony of voices dwindled to a low hum. The most respectable one of the group, the one whose hair was neither bleached nor permed, explained that they'd be auditioning in small groups in several rounds. Sakurai found it hard to concentrate since he was on the far side of the room and people were whispering around him, but Yasu caught his eye when he glanced over. Sakurai gave a little wave, and Yasu's mouth twitched into a small smile.

So, who wants to go first? the respectable adult asked, and the room suddenly became very quiet.

My group looks good and ready, Yasu said, and a chorus of badly muffled groans rang out behind Sakurai.

Sakurai didn't mind, though, and apparently neither did the other boy, who was standing beside Sakurai again when he turned to look.

Yosh~, the boy said happily. Let's go!

Mm, Sakurai agreed, sharing his grin. Let's do it.

*****

When Sakurai strolled back out into the lobby a couple hours later, clutching an instruction paper and schedule in his hands, he stopped directly in front of his sister.

I passed! he announced, sure that this time she'd have something nice to say.

Instead, Shiori turned to the girl beside her and said smugly, "See, I told you he could do better than your stupid little brother."

Sakurai sighed, supposing that a backhanded compliment was better than nothing.

He fidgeted while his sister continued bickering with the other girl as they tugged their coats back on, glancing around the lobby, and seemed to be the only one who noticed when one of the elevators along the far wall opened and a group of several good-looking, high-school aged boys tumbled out of it in an unruly knot.

In the midst of them, Aoki and another boy were shoving at each other good-naturedly, and when Aoki happened to look his way, Sakurai waved with the hand his schedule happened to be in.

What are you… Shiori looked up and froze. Oh!

Oh, it's you! Aoki shouldered off his friend and waved him over. Sakurai trotted over without even a second glance at his sister, slowing to a stop in front of the group. Realizing that a bunch of cool high school boys were staring at him, Sakurai felt suddenly shy, but Aoki didn't seem to notice as he glanced down at the papers in Sakurai's hand. So you passed!

Uh-huh, Sakurai said, then couldn't think of anything else cool to say.

Good, Aoki said firmly, and Sakurai couldn't help but return Aoki's warm smile. So don't forget, it's Aoki-senpai~ from now on, okay?

Oh god, don’t get him started on that again, one of the other guys groaned. Seiji, you're gross!

You know you're still wearing your number, somebody else commented, and Sakurai's cheeks turned hot as he looked down and saw the plastic 77 card still on a string around his neck.

But Seiji just laughed and reached down to pull the string up over Sakurai's head. Don't worry, I'll turn this in for you.

He just wants an excuse to go find Kurosagi, the first guy said. Gross~!

"All right, all right, let's