I studied out the window as I cleared my throat. The room was silent, except for the ticking of the clock above me. I took a deep breath as I coughed again, feeling my throat on the dry side. I rubbed my neck where the pain was. I tried to swallow to moisten it, but it hurt a little too much. The door to the bathroom opened as Tsmugi walked over with a full glass of water. She sat in the chair next to me. "Here. Drink this," she said, as I took the glass.  "Thanks," my voice cracked as I spoke before sipping off the glass. Tsumugi narrowed her eyes at me. "No speaking," she said, as I nodded silently. I pulled my phone as I went under the notes to write a thank you to her. She looked a the note and she cracked a smile. "You're welcome. So you physically can't sing?" she asked as I shook my head. I wrote on my phone again to reply.  She read the note carefully as her expression changed from happy to upset.  "That's too bad. It was amazing," she said, as I cracked a smile and typed thanks.  She looked around as she looked back at me. "Is the water working or do you need something else? " she said, as I lifted up a finger. I tilted my head back as I let the water sit for a moment, then I swallowed. "That's much better," I said, as Tsmugi's eyes widened. "Didn't the president tell you not to use your voice?" she asked, sternly. I turned to her. "My problem is just that I don't drink water after.  I do it all the time," I said as if it wasn't a big deal. 

Tsmugi huffed. "Just don't kill yourself with it," she said, as I nodded. "I won't. I just won't sing again, that's all," I said, as she turned to the glass. "Is the water going to be enough? I think we have tea as well," she said, as I shook my head. "No, that's ok. The water is enough," I said, as I took another sip. I turned to her. "Sorry if I scared everyone," I said, as Tsmugi chuckled. "You are a little like Riku. He forgets about his health when he's at work," she explained. A sigh came into the room as the door closed. "Manager. Your picking on me again?" Riku asked as he walked into the room. Tsmugi chuckled. "I'm sorry. I just thought Mal would be more comfortable knowing that someone goes through something similar," she explained. Riku walked up to us. "That's alright," he said as he turned to me. "How's the voice?" he asked as I looked up at him. "Better. Just needed a drink. That's all," I said, with a smile. Riku gave me a look, then huffed. "Should you not be talking right now?" he asked as I shook my head. "I have some water. I'll be alright. Besides, if I did lose my voice completely, I'd still be able to write. I just won't be able to talk, that's all," I said, as I went for another sip. 

Riku studied me carefully. "But, what if we get the pitch wrong? How are you gonna tell us?" he asked. I sipped my water again. "I'd figure it out. Losing my voice is not the worst thing in the world," I reassured him with. Riku gave me another look. "What?" I asked as he huffed. "That's not the point. Don't hurt yourself again," he said, as I studied him. I huffed myself. "Alright, I'll be careful with my voice from now on," I promised him. Riku cracked a smile. "Thank you," he said as Tsmugi chuckled.  I turned to her. "Something up?" I asked as she shook her head. "Oh, nothing. Just you two bickering," she said, as Riku looked away in embarrassment. I took another sip. "It's just like back home. Sometimes, I didn't get along with my brothers," I said, as Riku turned to me. "I'm glad you're feeling more at home," he said, as he cracked a smile. I smiled back. "Thank you for making me feel at home," I replied. I turned to Tsmugi. "Thank you manager for also making me feel at home here," I said, as she cracked a smile. "You're welcome. Anything I can do to help," she said, as she stood up. "I'm going back to work for a while. If it's alright," she said, as she started back to her desk. Riku shook his head. "Let us know if we're distracting," he said, as she sat back down. 

I finished my water and then placed it on the table next to me. "I'm gonna get some fresh air for a moment. Plus it'll be less distracting for Tsmugi," I said, as I started to walk toward the door. Riku studied me. "Do you want me to come with you?" he asked, as I looked at him. "If you want. I'll be only a couple of minutes, then I'll be back with the others," I said, as I started to walk out the door. I turned to Tsmugi. "Thank you for taking care of me," I said, as she looked up from her computer. "You're welcome. It's my job to take care of everyone," she said, as I cracked a smile. "I'll be alright. You just worry about the boys," I said, as she cracked a smile. She went to speak but the phone rang. I cracked another smile at Riku as I walked out the door.

I stopped by the dance studio as I watched Kim and the others continued to skate across the floor. I watched as Kim and Mitsuki slid into each other and fell. I chuckled at the sight. "You're not supposed to run into each other," I yelled in the room as I walked by. A huff was heard. "You not supposed to use that voice Songwriter," Yamato yelled. I stopped as I looked back at the hallway. "My snow scraper is in the closet," I yelled as the room burst out laughing. Running came through the hall as Mitsuki burst into the hall, slid on the floor, and crashed into the wall. "Wait, songwriter," he said, as I turned to him. He regained his balance as he approached. "Where you going?" he asked, as I gave him a smile. "I'm just gonna step outside. It might help with the voice," I said, as he cheered. "Can I join you? It's getting warm in there," he said, as I nodded. "You can join me anytime," I said, as we both started to walk towards the back door.  "Thank you," he said, as we stepped out of the back and sat on the step.

I took a deep breath, feeling the warm breeze on my face. I leaned up against the wall as I took another deep breath. "You really like the outdoors, don't you songwriter," Mitsuki said, as to break the silence. I looked at him as I cracked a smile. "I do. Sometimes, I go outside to write or get song ideas. I have an easier time thinking when I'm outside. I might open my widow when I'm in the office," I explained. Mitsuki cracked a smile. "Were you out a lot at home?" he asked as I nodded. "My family did a lot outside, especially in the summertime. I always manage to at least stand outside every day." Mitsuki cracked a smile. "That's good. We're outside a lot, especially at work. Plus there's going to be a lot of sightseeing once we go on tour," he said. I huffed at the sound of the tour. Mitsuki noticed this. "What? Tours are fun," he said, as he put the pieces together. "Oh right. You don't like planes," he said, as I cracked a smile. "The ride was torture," I pointed out. Mitsuki chuckled. "You were fine on the plane the other day," he said, as I shot him a look. "The seven of you kept staring at me. It was creepy," I said, as Mitsuki chuckled but another voice spoke. "It took your mind off it," Iori's voice spoke as the door shut.

I turned around to face him. "It did, but it was creepy," I said, as he sat down on the step behind us. "But you faced your fear and aren't you supposed to not be talking?" he asked, as I waved my hand. "I got water. I'll be all set," I said, as Iori gave me a look.  "What?" I asked as he huffed. "You're going to hospitalize yourself," he said, as I huffed. "I'm alright. Trust me," I reassured him. Mitsuki leaned closer to me. "It's alright. He's more like our mother anyway," he said to me. Iori studied Mitsuki in shock as his face turned a shade of red. "Don't tell Songwriter that," he said in embarrassment.  I chuckled at his comment. "Stinks to be the younger sibling, isn't it?" I said to Iori. "At least someone understands me," he said, as I chuckled. "I get the best of both worlds. They both stink at times," I said, as Mitsuki's face lit up. "Perfect," he said, as he turned to his younger brother. "So when we fight, we just throw our problems on songwriter," he said, as my eyes grew. "That's not my job," I said, in shock. 

Iori sighed. "Songwriter is not our mom. We're not putting our problems on her," he said, as Mitsuki chuckled. "But she's our granny. That's even better," he said, as I studied him. I turned back to the world around us. "Mitsuki there's something I got to tell you," I said, making it sound like an emotional discussion. Mitsuki looked at me. "What? You can tell us anything," he said, as both he and Iori gave me their full attention. I took a deep breath as I faced him again. "Mitsuki... Your grounded," I said, as Iori burst out laughing.  Mitsuki blinked in surprise. "That's not bad," he said, as I huffed. "No Kingdom Hearts," I said, as Mitsuki grew shocked. "That's not fair," he said, as I chuckled. "I'm joking. Who else is going to fight the darkness with me," I said, as Iori's face grew serious. "So what am I?" he asked as Mitsuki turned to him. "Iori. You're the darkness we're trying to defeat," he said, as I chuckled. "No, he's not," I said, as to defend Iori. "Songwriter is my favorite right now," he said, as I continued to chuckle.

"Wow. Thank you guys," I said, to both of them. Mitsuki turned to me. "For what?" he asked as I got both of their attention. "For making me feel at home," I said, as I looked up at the sky. Mitsuki grew a look of confusion. "How is our bickering making you feel at home?" he asked, as I turned back to him. "Your bickering reminds me of my brothers at home. They're always picking on each other," I said, as Mitsuki laughed. "Mal, act your age," he said, as my eyes grew shocked. "You sound just like my older brother," I said, as we burst out laughing again.  Iori tapped my shoulder. "Hey Mal, let's join the others and try not to crash into walls," he said, as I nodded. "Sounds good. You joining us?" I asked Mitsuki. He cracked a smile. "About time you stayed out of your office," he said, as we all headed back inside. I lifted my hand up. "Let's go crash into walls," I said, as Iori turned around. "Songwriter, the point is not to crash," he said, as I chuckled. "But it's fun," I said, as we headed back to the dance studio.