He was patient while he waited for Nao, tucking his phone into his pocket as he waited on the porch. Kenneth will make some coffee for Nao in the morning. It’d be a bit much for a short talk. Or, at least he hoped it would be short.
It would be hard to tell. There was so much to unpack after overhearing Nao and Uta talking.
The door opened behind him, Kenneth taking a deep breath before moving to stand up. Turning to face Nao as he stepped outside, taking a few steps of his own to close the distance. Away from where most of the group was sleeping, in the quiet of the night...
There wasn’t the slightest bit of hesitation as he slapped the idol, his face a rare expression of rage and pain.
“That’s for the way you were talking earlier. Maybe it’ll knock some fucking sense into you.” He lowered his hand, rubbing his stinging palm against the hip of his pants. It didn’t make him feel any better; His brow was still furrowed, staring hard at the younger male. The idol he was managing.
“There’s a reason why idol groups live together. It’s to help build relationship. Forge bonds that make working together easier. It’s to help protect the lot of you from something like what nearly happened to Uta the other day. It’s to make cooperating with practices and schedules easier than if you decided to fuck off and add a commute to your day.”
As he spoke, his words were short and sharp. They stung in his own mouth as much as his eyes as they started to sting, unable to properly hide the cracks. “I suggested a pet because Kou was excited by the idea. Because pets in a house can help with stress. If the entire group can’t agree on it, then fine. We won’t get one. Not ‘well they want one so I guess I’ll leave’.”
“You’re too goddamn important to us. To the group. Do you honestly think we’d pick a cat over you? Get your head on straight, before I do it for you!”
