#shuzo

And then came one game, Dead as Disco, and the dream that followed after it. I wouldn’t call the dream anything particularly special. It wasn’t tactile, I wasn’t even in it at all. I was simply watching Shuzo from afar, from the side. But when I woke up, I had this unwavering understanding: I had to draw him. And specifically in this disco-inspired look.

The funniest part is that for the past few months — maybe even half a year — I had to practically force myself to sit down at my display and draw anything at all. Maybe some lineart here, coloring hair there, just something, because there’s so much I want to create, yet I’ve had no energy or desire left in me. The past few years exhausted me deeply.

But with Shuzo, I simply sat down in the morning… and drew the entire day. The whole day. And even that wasn’t enough. I went to work already thinking about how quickly I could come home and continue drawing him.

And honestly, I’m not surprised that this feeling was given to me by Shuzo of all people — my Prince, my Angel, my guiding star.

And… one more strange thing. No, actually, it’s something rather sweet.

Throughout my life — and I’m nearly 30 — I’ve spoken with all kinds of people: huge muscular men, breathtakingly beautiful women, people who achieved incredible things, people who embodied every one of my preferences… and I was never shy. Never struggled to find words. I could always look someone straight in the eyes and speak with perfect composure.

But then I decided to make Shuzo’s shirt slightly transparent. And what does that mean?

Yes. I had to draw Shuzo’s bare torso.

And suddenly I felt like a little schoolgirl. I kept laughing nervously, getting embarrassed, looking away from the screen, my cheeks burning while drawing and coloring Shuzo’s chest and his slim little stomach. And this wasn’t a “five minute” thing — it lasted the entire time I worked on the drawing.

Which is ridiculous, honestly. I’ve drawn naked characters before, all kinds of them, in every possible detail, and never felt anything like this. But not this time. Maybe my brain simply couldn’t process the audacity of what I was doing — like I had somehow dared to peek at my beautiful innocent angel. My mind completely short-circuited from the cognitive dissonance.

And honestly? It’s adorable. Truly adorable. Like I always say — I love Shuzo with cosmic intensity, but in the gentlest way possible.

I still can’t believe I managed to draw this. And even more unbelievable… I genuinely love how it turned out.

Honestly, they didn’t get it. His attitude was so annoying, and so was his name. Shu… Shu… Shoe… Shusomething! Didn’t matter, whatever! … Right, Shu–Zo… Though his name sounded like the phrase ‘Schuh zu’. The only way they would probably ever remember that name… 

Anyways, enough about that. The fact was that this was just some guy in the end so why bother? Just some guy… Right, just some guy who just so happens to be popular, declared as his agency’s biggest talent and leader of the most successful band in Midi City if not further. Just some guy who just so happens to sing, who just so happens to be on top! Who just so happens— 

Ah no… No matter how they twisted it he was no longer ‘some guy’. He had made it big, right on stage, and everyone knew his face and name! Not to mention how some fangirls referred to him… ‘Shu☆Zo–Sama’... The constant fawning. Admiration, praise, compliments – All of that, directed towards him. Everyone had something to say, praise to give… Well, he was some guy but also not really! Ah, it was all so frustrating! He became ‘someone’, unlike them who was still walking in the depths of being a nobody, a no name. No success to show… So, even if the two had known another for some time, their worlds were now different. So much so that they shouldn’t have any business with each other anymore but…

“Ann~ Long time no see~!” The voice would yell over to the young wolf–cat being, making them freeze up on the spot. Not just that bit they had noticed their heart quickly pounding for a moment. It always happened, they couldn’t stop it. Especially if it was so sudden. Yet they took a deep breath, knowing that they have to keep calm, at least somewhat. So… Just get this over with!

And thus after turning around they said as calmly as possible (hoping that no blush would show on their cheeks): “Ah, Shu. It… has been a while…” Lack of enthusiasm. Lack of enthusiasm! Very important!

But did that faze the blonde guy? No, not at all. He didn’t even let that wear off the smile. “Haha, cold~ Anyways, it’s Shu☆Zo now..Or did you forget?”

“I’m not calling you ‘Schuh zu’.” 

“As cold as always. Stressed from exams?” He would ask, sounding as if he had no care in the world whatsoever. And it was overbearing, to say the least. Different from back then as well yet… They had to sadly admit that they got the appeal.

“No. I just refuse.” They responded with a huff, then turning their head away for a moment. Oh how they wanted to just get him to shut up, even by force. Yet he would probably not let them.

Oh, indeed not. Instead he just suddenly was right next to them, a finger on one of their cheeks. “Haha~! It’s no good if you stay grumpy all the time~”

“You really shouldn't bother…” Though as if it couldn’t turn into more of a pain he suddenly grabbed both of their cheeks and turned their head, then moving his thumbs to curl their lips up. They could feel his skin from his thumbs. Talk about a forceful smile. And the grip was goddamn tight too!

“No excuse! Smile smile~” Shu would just keep pestering them, like he always did recently, whenever the two bumped into another. “You can do it~”

“S… Stop! People might get the wrong idea!”

“Hm? What wrong idea?”

“Wrong idea causing rumors kind! Now let go!”

But it would be of little use. He would keep going, pestering them without a care in the world. In fact, that was not the first careless encounter nor would it be the last. Things have changed, even between them. And even then, even with him being high up there… He was still acting as if the two were close!

“Shu! I’m gonna bite your thumbs up!”

“Whoops. I angered the inner wolf, didn’t I? Haha~ I’d love to chat but  I gotta head back to work. See you Ann!”

“Hah!? See y– Ey, Shu! Get your ass back here! I’m not done with you!”

Ugh… Despite being now a busy guy leading a successful band he still bothers greeting them… A pain really.

‘Could you stop giving me hope already? This isn’t going to work out…’ – After all, the days where he was just ‘some guy’ too are long gone.