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Flayon is Elysium's best pilot, no doubt about it. He's one of the most respected engineers, hailed as a genius since he was but a child. He succeeded in flying his first aircraft at the age of thirteen, later winning several awards for inventing breakthrough equipment that resulted in multiple technological advancements in all the land. Flayon is seen as a gifted child, a huge asset in Vanguard. He's the pride and joy of his groupmates and fellow members of Holostars, who love to boast about their little pilot.
That being said, it isn't as good as it sounds.
Having all this ever since he was a kid isn't easy on Flayon. While he loves and appreciates his fellow Vanguard members, there are times when he has to admit that they put a bit too much on his shoulders. Considering his reputation, people always expect a lot from the pilot. Being so talented is both a blessing and a curse.
This was especially the case with the people who raised Flayon. The boy's childhood was spent living like an adult, full of expectations and responsibilities that he couldn't ever meet entirely no matter how hard he tried and how well he did. It was never good enough for them, and as a result, it was never good enough for Flayon either. No matter how much others praised him, since his very own guardians never did, Flayon couldn't help but develop a low self esteem growing up. He would always beat himself up over each and every mistake, punish himself even when the ones who used to do so were no longer around.
Of course, Flayon is old enough now to realize that such a thing isn't healthy or correct. He's trying to unlearn toxic teachings like that, however, there are plenty of times when he still catches himself stuck in a horrible loop again. Stuck with a mindset that was forced onto him from long ago: He has to be perfect. He can't ask for help. He can't stumble and fall. There's no room for mistakes. He must keep up appearances. He can't be an inconvenience.
When thoughts and feelings like these resurface, as much as he knows that it's wrong and dumb, Flayon can't completely ignore them ... yet he pretends to. He puts on a strong and healthy facade so as not to make others worry.
After all, he can't do that to them. He can't disappoint anyone.
Not again. Never again.
-And so he's the perfect Pilot. Successful, cool, outgoing, and fun. Nothing is wrong with him. Nothing at all.
Flayon has lots of Senpais in Holostars, and he looks up to all of them, of course. Each and every one of them is amazing and hardworking in their own way. That being said, there are two members who Flayon can't help but be extra enamored by. Something about them stirs a feeling in the boy, something he can't quite put his finger on.
Miyabi and Temma.
(Aka 'Hanakishi')
The two that are always together, always getting along, and always smiling warmly at Flayon whenever they see him. Something about them makes butterflies go off in the young pilot. He respects them as his Senpais and wants to be friends with them, of course, as is with everyone else, but there's also...more to it than just that. When they look at him with those soft gazes and gentle smiles... No. It's not quite a crush. The others in Vanguard would beg to differ if Flayon ever asked them for advice on the matter (which he won't), but it's really not like that. He's sure of it. After all, he would never dare to go between Hanakishi. Everyone knows those two are meant to be. Flayon doesn't feel like their equal at all, and he's definitely not fit to ruin the relationship and steal one of them (nor does he ever want to.) He isn't fit to be a third in the relationship either. Not as a partner. Being their boyfriend isn't what he wants.
However...There is a desire somewhere within him. It's not romantic. It's not sexual. It's unclear what it is. He just knows he wants something from them. Something none of the other Senpais can provide. Put simply, he just wants to be around them as much as possible. They're special and different to him. He wants to get to know them more.
And so he does.
Despite the language barrier and differences in culture, Flayon makes the effort and Hanakishi surprisingly reciprocates that. It starts off small, things that all the members do together every now and then. After meetings, they eat out, talk about future collabs and songs they'd like to cover together maybe. It's friendly, but it's mostly business at first. They try their best to learn each others' languages, trying to meet in the middle. A few months go by like that. After a while, the three of them -along with a few other members- decide to go camping together one weekend. They eventually watch a movie after recording, just the three of them. They secretly attend a gaming convention undercover. Arrange a picnic at a park.
The hangouts increase in number and intimacy until Miyabi and Temma soon grow comfortable enough to invite Flayon to a sleepover at Miyabi's place.
Apparently, Temma and Miyabi regularly sleep over in each others' apartments, alternating between the two homes every month, spending a whole weekend together. It's a special thing they do that usually doesn't involve the other members of Holostars (Yurustars/Yurubostars sleepovers are a separate thing.) Being let in on this fact alone is enough to make Flayon thank the gods, but turns out Hanakishi told him about it because they decided that they want to invite Flay to the next one at Miyabi's place. Naturally, such an invite has the little pilot over the moon. After asking them again and again if it's alright -to which Miyabi and Temma says yes every single time- Flayon finally agrees to join them and eagerly gathers his things for an exciting weekend.
It starts off the same way most of their hangouts do, the three of them exchanging pleasantries, talking about recent events, topics like new game releases and the likes. Though aferwards, things are noticeably different already. Miyabi tours Flayon around his whole house, not leaving a single room untouched, showing Flayon where he can put his stuff down, and the towels and toothbrushes he's prepared for their stay. Temma then asks if Flayon wants to sleep in a guest room, or together in one room reminicent to a school trip or more like a childhood sleepover. Unable to handle all the excitement, Flayon eventually chooses the guest room after battling with himself in his head, knowing that there is no way he can keep his cool if all three of them are sleeping together in one room (not to mention, Flay tends to talk and move around a lot in his sleep, which will most definitely be an inconvenience.) Both Miyabi and Temma appears to be a little let down by Flay's response, but they don't press or argue against it, quickly moving onto playing games together.
After multiple rounds of Mario Party, various fighting games, Mario Kart, etc; Temma complains that he's hungry, so Miyabi decides to whip something up in the kitchen. However, the cute airheaded Senpai forgot to buy ingredients beforehand, of course, forcing the trio to go out to the nearest grocery store by foot because Miyabi did not have a car and no one brought a means of transportation to the sleepover (both Temma and Flay took a train. Flayon left all his mechas in Elysium.)
As they walk and talk about what to buy, Flayon zones out between Miyabi and Temma, feeling an odd -though not unpleasant- carefree sensation that has him clinging onto the two's hands with a smile, playfully swinging their arms back and forth. It's only when Miyabi and Temma stops abruptly, looking down at the little pilot, that Flayon grows flustered and stops as well, apologizing for suddenly grabbing his Senpai's hands (and not listening to the conversation, too.) However, Hanakishi simply smiles back, takes Flay's hands in theirs, once more and continues walking and talking.
Needless to say the pilot is as red as his hair by the time the three of them arrive at the grocery store.
Miyabi ends up making omurice with help from Flayon (Temma is banned from the kitchen after nearly setting the house on fire before) both trying their best to draw cute little animals on the omelette using ketchup (to which Temma makes a joke about how it feels like a maid cafe and gets bonked on the head by a blushing Miyabi.) All the while, Flayon laughs and eats happily, humming and playfully swinging his legs back and forth at Miyabi's dining table (it's the tall kind with high chairs, making it so that the little pilot's feet don't touch the floor whenever he sits there.) They have a relatively peaceful meal and seamlessly move onto cleaning up and watching a random movie together (one they talked about and chose while they were walking to and from the grocery store. Flayon isn't familiar with the movie, especially since he didn't listen to the conversation they were having about it, but at this point, he's too afraid to ask.)
For whatever reason, Hanakishi invites Flayon to sit between them on the couch, an invitation the kouhai could not turn down, making it incredibly difficult to focus on the movie since he's too conscious of his favorite senpais beside him on either side. Since the movie is two hours long, though, Flay eventually grows a little more comfortable as it progresses, sharing popcorn with the two and enjoying their warmth and company. However, the subtitles on the screen starts to blur and Flayon can't stop yawning. He's had a long day of fun, experiencing things he could only dream of before. He wants to tell them to stop the movie, so he doesn't miss out on anything, but both Miyabi and Temma are so fixated on the screen, that the little pilot tries to resist sleep instead. Flayon feels so warm and safe between them, though...
Before he falls asleep, Flay realizes in the back of his mind that, come to think of it, this just might be the first time he's ever had a sleepover.
Flayon wakes up to find himself in an unfamiliar room. At first, he nearly panics and screams, his half asleep brain imagining a bunch of silly scenarios where he got kidnapped or something, but then the fog in his mind clears and Flayon realizes that's right, he's at a sleepover. He's in the guest room in Miyabi's home. Last he remembers, he fell asleep while watching a movie with Hanakishi and they must've brought him to this room out of respect towards the fact that he didn't want to sleep in the same room as them. (Flayon briefly grows embarrassed, yet touched at the thought of them carrying him all the way to the bed.)
He gets up to go to the restroom, not daring to sneak a peek at Hanakishi in the other room (although they seem to be asleep, considering how quiet it is.) Flayon then returns to the guest room as quickly and quietly as possible. In the stillness of the night, he's left to only the occasional sound of crickets outside and the comforting smell of lavender in the sheets and blankets he's in. The pilot is snug and feels relieved for the calmness of it all, but also a bit sad because of it. Living such a fast-paced life leaves one to both long for and loathe when everything comes to a stop. On one hand, this is a nice break from all the dizzying work the Pilot always has to do...On the other, all this silence and nothingness forces him to think of and feel things he'd rather not dwell on, things he usually doesn't have the time for, things his work distracts him from...
Flayon begins to regret choosing to sleep away from Miyabi and Temma, but it's not as if he can gather his pillow and blankets and trudge over to and wake them like a child asking to sleep with his parents, and so Flayon sucks it up and soon falls back into a fitful sleep. It is a feeling that's unpleasantly reminiscent to his past.
"Father, look, I build something!"
"It's 'built,' not 'build,' you idiot. What is that junk?"
"Made it using scraps from your office-"
"-What? Who the FUCK told you that you could get near my stuff?!"
"Sorry! I thought-"
"You THOUGHT! You always just 'think' things and then you pretend you're all cute and sweet. You never know these things! You're always playing this innocent child act! I'm sick and tired of your attitude! Quit playing dumb with me, you STOLE ALL OF THIS."
"But I didn't--You threw them in the tra-"
"-ANSWERING BACK? I'LL THROW YOU IN THE TRASH, HOW ABOUT THAT?"
"I'm sorry-!"
"-Flayon, you messed with your father's work and you're answering back again?! All that for this trash? Why are you always causing trouble for me?! Why can't you be a good, smart kid for once?! How many times do we have to tell you this!"
"I'm sorry. I'll do better."
"That's what you always say, yet here we are! You're such a hopeless child! You need to be taught properly! It's our fault for being too nice to you."
"Get over here!"
"No, please not that...!"
"I SAID GET OVER HERE!"
"NO, I'M SORRY! I'LL BE GOOD!"
Flayon jolts, wondering why he's hearing loud sobbing in the middle of the night. Is there trouble? Did someone break in? Are his Senpais okay?! Despite the fact that his eyelids feel like they're being weighed down by mud, Flayon forces them open to find Miyabi bending down in front of him, half kneeling on the hardwood floor of the...hallway? Why were they in the hallway? Flay blinks several times, looking around, mumbling incoherent words as he spots Temma standing behind Miyabi. Both of them are still in pajamas, casting worried glances. Flay tries his best to asess the situation even though he feels as if he's been thrown into the ocean. Judging by the dim light seeping in from a window behind Hanakishi, it's probably only five in the morning. No, more importantly, who cried out? Is there an infant that lives nearby? Is there trouble? It's definitely not Miyabi nor Temma that cried; they look okay, just worried.
" …何で泣いてるの？"
Flayon shakes his head and furrows his brows. He understands what Miyabi's asking, but he doesn't understand why Miyabi said it in the first place. Why would he ask that? Flay's just as clueless as they are. Thinking the other didn't get what Miyabi uttered, Temma attempts to translate it into English:
"Why...cry?" the blond hesitantly repeats, voice deeper than usual since he clearly just woke up, as well.
Miyabi carefully reaches out and gently thumbs at Flayon's cheek, making him wince back a bit in surprise. It isn't until then, that the little pilot realizes it's him. The question makes sense. Everything makes sense now. Flayon himself is the one who's been crying. Still crying, actually. He quickly and shyly wipes at his cheeks, surprised by how wet they are. (No wonder he struggled to open his eyes, they're all puffy from the crying.) He sniffles, feeling more tears pouring out against his will. The reason why they're suddenly out in the hallway makes sense, too. Flay must've sleepwalked again during his nightmare. (He was trying to run away, after all.)
"Sorry--It was just a nightmare--uhm--夢だけ...です。" Flay half lies as he forces a chuckle despite how heavy his heart still feels, fresh from that horrible...memory, rather than a nightmare.
"歩いてたのに？" Temma questions, referring to the way Flay was sleepwalking, prompting the pilot to explain and try his best to play off just how panicked he must've looked. Hanakishi trades looks. Seeing how sleepy and confused they understandably are -realizing he's being a huge inconvenience to them- Flayon shrinks in on himself.
He just had to go and mess it all up. They must think he's weird or scary. Now they're never going to invite him to sleep over ever again. He ruined it all. It's over. How pathetic and dumb. He should've known better-
Feeling his ears growing hot, cheeks itchy, chest all tight and uncomfortable, Flayon apologizes with his head bowed down parallel to the floor. He tells his Senpais not to worry, that he tends to sleepwalk a lot and have weird dreams, and that he's going back to sleep, so they should, too--He's aware he's rambling and that his Japanese is all over the place and that he's not meeting their gazes at all. There's tons of errors in the way he's addressing them and forming his sentences and he hates it and he hates that he made them worry. He hates that they saw him this way, that he woke them up for this. He apologizes for how much of a nuisance he's been, how unbecoming he is and for how alarming the situation became due to his behavior. He hates it. He hates it. He hates it. He tells them he'll do better. He'll be good. He'll be quiet, and won't wake them again. He'll tie himself to the bed if he has to-
"MACHINA," Miyabi's uncharacteristically stern voice cuts him off, making Flayon wince again and protectively place his arms across his chest. He's about to apologize more, thinking he's done it now. He's angered the nicest guy ever-
Miyabi asks Flayon to look up. He shakily does so, expecting cold and disappointed expressions...
Yet he's met with smiles, instead?
" 謝る必要よはないよ。 マキナは迷惑じゃないよ。(There's no reason to apologize. You're not a nuisance)," Miyabi gently tells him, and Flayon notices that the taller Senpai is still kneeling before him, meeting him eye to eye instead of looking down on him. Beside him, Temma just chuckles and pats Flayon on the head, saying that Flayon's sleepwalking is interesting to him. That earns Temma a disapproving look from Miyabi, to which the blond then adds that he meant it in a good way, and that he isn't making fun of Flayon. The smiles and clarification stumps the little red Pilot. That odd feeling is in his chest again, making his eyes sting, but it's different from earlier.
While he's still trying to process everything, Temma asks Flayon if he wants to sleep together in one room again, so that he won't get nightmares. The pilot is rendered speechless. He sniffles, looking back and forth between Temma and Miyabi, who's held out a hand in invitation.
"Machina," they both call him in sweet, soft voices, and he just absolutely crumbles.
Screw it. Everything in his head tells him not to, that he has to get himself together, but the little Pilot doesn't care anymore. He's tried. He's tired. He's not Flayon right now. He's not the prodigy that has all these responsibilites and expectations and anxiety. Right now, he's Machina...and Machina is just on a sleepover and he's sleepy and wants to be with his Senpais. He's just a regular boy who doesn't need to keep up appearances or worry about things beyond his control. He just wants to relax.
Machina dives into Miyabi, surprising him into a hug. He's crying again, but instead of feeling heavy, his chest feels lighter with each tear he sheds. He admits that yes, he would like that. He'd love to go to sleep with them. He doesn't want to be alone. He hates it. He's scared. He always has nightmares and he wants it to stop. Make it stop. Make it go away. He says most of these desires in English, leaving Hanakishi perplexed, not quite catching everything, but Machina doesn't care. All he knows is that Miyabi is soft and warm and kind and that Temma is strong and makes him feel safe and offered to sleep together, so they will!
And so they do.
Understanding the gist (that Machina wants to be with them for the rest of the night), Temma and Miyabi carefully take the sleepy, teary eyed boy with them to their room, hand in hand, placing him on a fluffy futon between them on the floor. Almost instantly, Machina is out like a light, cheeks still stained with tears, but with a small smile on his lips. It seems he knocked himself out from all the crying and worked himself up too much. Given that he said most of it in English, Temma and Miyabi aren't quite sure what happened, but all they know is that the boy is happy, asleep, and adorable.
And that's good enough for them.