Yume de Ii Kara (Because it's Good to Dream) [a Sakurai Sho love story] Chapter 22
Yume de Ii Kara Chapter 22
Pairing: Sakurai Sho/OC, Arashi/non-Johnny's females
Rating: PG
Genre: Realistic romance, friendship, family
Disclaimer: I don't own any of Arashi, or anything of Johnny's Entertainment. And sorry if I've misused any Japanese phrases.
Summary:
What can you do when you fall in love with someone that is out of your reach, someone as distant and brilliant as the stars? Can one dare to dream? Singer, dancer, actor, newscaster, model. Idol, to put it simply. But behind Sakurai Sho’s public image is a sincere, dorky, passionate man. Few people get to see a real glimpse of the person behind the lights, except for what he chooses to display.
Friends, sure, but love? That’s impossible, according to the intelligent, beautiful and humble Kaori, a medical school student who doesn’t realize how much she can accomplish. But maybe, just maybe, she’s exactly what Sakurai Sho needs.
All previous chapters in the master post!
-----------------------------------
In the remote caverns of the Keio Library book stacks, a young medical student flipped through another page of the thick volume. She was turning one year older that day.
… the branching villi form a highly complex vascular system that allows compartmentalization… Exchange of substances across the placenta is minimal during the first 3 to 5 months of development because of limited permeability. The villous membrane-
-- Two warm hands suddenly covered her eyes. “Guess who?” a low, amused voice whispered in her ear.
Kaori smirked. “Takenouchi Yutaka-san?”
“Omae--”
“Or maybe… Ikuta Toma?” She kept her eyes closed, felt for the sides of the man’s face and kissed the pouting lips. “Nope, this is definitely Sho-kun.”
“Correct.” Sakurai Sho melted.
“Ne, how did you find me?”
“You’re talking to your senpai. I know all the ins-and-outs of this dismal place.” He pulled up a chair across from her and produced a small carton with an Omotesando Bakery sticker. “Jyan~ Tanjoubi omedettou!”
Inside was a mini chocolate cake with sugar frosted flower decorations, just the right size for two people. Kaori was delighted. Sho swiftly stuck a single candle in the middle and put a lighter to it.
“Abunai! This is the library, you can’t…!” Kaori hissed at the fire hazard.
“Better make a wish before someone sees then.”
She hastily muttered a wish to herself and blew out the candle. They waved their arms to dissipate the smoke, mischievously hoping that it wouldn’t set off the alarm.
“So what are you studying?” Sho asked, taking a large bite of cake and leaning over curiously.
“Obstetrics and gynecology. We have to take a test before each new rotation.”
Kaori turned the textbook around for him to see and Sho nearly spit out his cake in revulsion. He hadn’t prepared himself for the graphics of a live labor.
“Come on, it’s not that gross!” Kaori laughed. “It’s a perfectly natural process.”
Sho scowled and pushed away the offensive images. “Do you know where I was when both of my siblings’ were born? Far, far away at summer camp.”
“Nani, you weren’t there to support your own mother? Didn’t you say you want kids one day? What about when your wife has to give birth?!”
“I don’t want to think about that. She’ll be in so much pain I don’t think I could watch…”
Kaori softened. “I think you’ll have to bear with it, for her sake. It takes two to make a baby, after all.”
After a considerable time in studious silence, Sho folded over the large leaflet of Tokyo Shimbun and saw the young woman across from him nodding off from fatigue.
“Oi, Doctor, let’s get back to work!” Sho murmured, nudging her under the table.
Kaori blinked rapidly and slapped herself awake. “Right, right…” Minutes later however, her shoulders slowly began to hunch again and her eyes glazed over the strings of complicated facts.
Sho chuckled and pulled the textbook out from under her chin. “Here, I’ll quiz you.” He covered up the detailed pictures with one hand as he picked notes from the text. “Hmm… What is the immune system’s suggested role in pre-eclampsia?” About 70 percent of Kaori’s explanations flew over Sho’s head, but he still listened in awe of her knowledge.
Something like nostalgia overcame him. He could look back now at all those torturous evening cram sessions with his friends with a wry fondness because of their mutual stoic spirits. Perhaps they have studied at this very spot once upon a time. Everyone in his old group had changed so much and gone in different directions since their university days; Sho gazed at Kaori (who was still revising various artificial induction methods to herself) and found that life had turned out much better than the ambitions he had once envisioned.
Later, they lingered around Keio’s school grounds. The expansive, European-styled red brick buildings brought back reels of memories for Sho. Unconsciously, he led them along his old walk route and they ended up in front of the Economics building.
A few dedicated, harried students hurried past carrying giant textbooks and for that breathable moment, Kaori wasn’t one of them. Their careful footsteps shuffled through the prim halls. A projecting voice sounded from a door ajar - a night time review meeting. Something about comparative advantage and agglomeration: all gibberish to Kaori, but agonizing terms to former student Sho.
A wizened voice echoed down the corridor from behind them. “Are? Is that Sakurai-kun and Hosokaya-kun?”
They bowed to the older man with tortoise spectacles who briskly approached them. “Mifune-sensei, ohisashiburi!” Sho grinned widely.
Mifune apologized to Kaori. “Sumimasen, I could have sworn that you were another one of my former students. Mifune desu.”
“Hajimemashite, Kureha desu.”
“Mifune-sensei was one of my best professors while I was here.” Sho introduced.
“Do you remember how many times you begged me for homework extensions?” he chortled. “I’ve never gone through so much trouble for a student! Aish…”
“I owe sensei a lot.” Sho humbly relented.
The moment was interrupted with the ringing of Kaori’s cell phone; she excused herself to take the call.
Mifune took the brief personal moment to pat Sho on the back.
“Good for you, Sakurai-kun.” Mifune said proudly. “Somehow, I’m glad she didn’t turn out to be Hosokaya. You wouldn’t have looked half as happy as you do now.”
Sakurai Sho admitted nothing and just chuckled darkly at the reminder of his dirty laundry.
----------
That night did not end as he had planned. From a protective distance and out of sight, Sho had watched as Kaori ecstatically embraced a small group of chattering friends. They all went off together with linked arms. Part of Kaori’s old childhood crowd, they had flown in all the way from Okinawa to celebrate her birthday. When they had called to surprise her, Sho insisted that she go on ahead.
“You seem quite ready for your test. Go out and have some fun.”
“What about you?”
“We’ve already had some time, deshou? It must have been awhile since you all were last together. Don’t let me hold you back.”
Just like Kaori didn’t know about Hosokaya, Sho didn’t share Kaori’s history like those people did. What had she once been like, and was he making her happier than she had been before? Who had she once called hers? Was it necessary to know?
Suddenly, Kaori’s 24 years of age sounded so young compared to his 28. She could still be impromptu and carefree, whereas he couldn’t afford to deviate from his time constraints at all - or at least, he couldn’t allow himself to. He wondered if she was enjoying herself (and hoped that the one particularly good looking man in the group wasn’t being too friendly with her.) Nonetheless, he regretted that he still couldn’t reveal himself, even to those closest to her.
---------
Sorry this is kind of a short one. Although not a whole lot happened, I wanted to bring to question their futures as adults. Plus, I wanted them to retain their individuality. I'm glad that they give each other freedom.
Pairing: Sakurai Sho/OC, Arashi/non-Johnny's females
Rating: PG
Genre: Realistic romance, friendship, family
Disclaimer: I don't own any of Arashi, or anything of Johnny's Entertainment. And sorry if I've misused any Japanese phrases.
Summary:
What can you do when you fall in love with someone that is out of your reach, someone as distant and brilliant as the stars? Can one dare to dream? Singer, dancer, actor, newscaster, model. Idol, to put it simply. But behind Sakurai Sho’s public image is a sincere, dorky, passionate man. Few people get to see a real glimpse of the person behind the lights, except for what he chooses to display.
Friends, sure, but love? That’s impossible, according to the intelligent, beautiful and humble Kaori, a medical school student who doesn’t realize how much she can accomplish. But maybe, just maybe, she’s exactly what Sakurai Sho needs.
All previous chapters in the master post!
-----------------------------------
In the remote caverns of the Keio Library book stacks, a young medical student flipped through another page of the thick volume. She was turning one year older that day.
… the branching villi form a highly complex vascular system that allows compartmentalization… Exchange of substances across the placenta is minimal during the first 3 to 5 months of development because of limited permeability. The villous membrane-
-- Two warm hands suddenly covered her eyes. “Guess who?” a low, amused voice whispered in her ear.
Kaori smirked. “Takenouchi Yutaka-san?”
“Omae--”
“Or maybe… Ikuta Toma?” She kept her eyes closed, felt for the sides of the man’s face and kissed the pouting lips. “Nope, this is definitely Sho-kun.”
“Correct.” Sakurai Sho melted.
“Ne, how did you find me?”
“You’re talking to your senpai. I know all the ins-and-outs of this dismal place.” He pulled up a chair across from her and produced a small carton with an Omotesando Bakery sticker. “Jyan~ Tanjoubi omedettou!”
Inside was a mini chocolate cake with sugar frosted flower decorations, just the right size for two people. Kaori was delighted. Sho swiftly stuck a single candle in the middle and put a lighter to it.
“Abunai! This is the library, you can’t…!” Kaori hissed at the fire hazard.
“Better make a wish before someone sees then.”
She hastily muttered a wish to herself and blew out the candle. They waved their arms to dissipate the smoke, mischievously hoping that it wouldn’t set off the alarm.
“So what are you studying?” Sho asked, taking a large bite of cake and leaning over curiously.
“Obstetrics and gynecology. We have to take a test before each new rotation.”
Kaori turned the textbook around for him to see and Sho nearly spit out his cake in revulsion. He hadn’t prepared himself for the graphics of a live labor.
“Come on, it’s not that gross!” Kaori laughed. “It’s a perfectly natural process.”
Sho scowled and pushed away the offensive images. “Do you know where I was when both of my siblings’ were born? Far, far away at summer camp.”
“Nani, you weren’t there to support your own mother? Didn’t you say you want kids one day? What about when your wife has to give birth?!”
“I don’t want to think about that. She’ll be in so much pain I don’t think I could watch…”
Kaori softened. “I think you’ll have to bear with it, for her sake. It takes two to make a baby, after all.”
After a considerable time in studious silence, Sho folded over the large leaflet of Tokyo Shimbun and saw the young woman across from him nodding off from fatigue.
“Oi, Doctor, let’s get back to work!” Sho murmured, nudging her under the table.
Kaori blinked rapidly and slapped herself awake. “Right, right…” Minutes later however, her shoulders slowly began to hunch again and her eyes glazed over the strings of complicated facts.
Sho chuckled and pulled the textbook out from under her chin. “Here, I’ll quiz you.” He covered up the detailed pictures with one hand as he picked notes from the text. “Hmm… What is the immune system’s suggested role in pre-eclampsia?” About 70 percent of Kaori’s explanations flew over Sho’s head, but he still listened in awe of her knowledge.
Something like nostalgia overcame him. He could look back now at all those torturous evening cram sessions with his friends with a wry fondness because of their mutual stoic spirits. Perhaps they have studied at this very spot once upon a time. Everyone in his old group had changed so much and gone in different directions since their university days; Sho gazed at Kaori (who was still revising various artificial induction methods to herself) and found that life had turned out much better than the ambitions he had once envisioned.
Later, they lingered around Keio’s school grounds. The expansive, European-styled red brick buildings brought back reels of memories for Sho. Unconsciously, he led them along his old walk route and they ended up in front of the Economics building.
A few dedicated, harried students hurried past carrying giant textbooks and for that breathable moment, Kaori wasn’t one of them. Their careful footsteps shuffled through the prim halls. A projecting voice sounded from a door ajar - a night time review meeting. Something about comparative advantage and agglomeration: all gibberish to Kaori, but agonizing terms to former student Sho.
A wizened voice echoed down the corridor from behind them. “Are? Is that Sakurai-kun and Hosokaya-kun?”
They bowed to the older man with tortoise spectacles who briskly approached them. “Mifune-sensei, ohisashiburi!” Sho grinned widely.
Mifune apologized to Kaori. “Sumimasen, I could have sworn that you were another one of my former students. Mifune desu.”
“Hajimemashite, Kureha desu.”
“Mifune-sensei was one of my best professors while I was here.” Sho introduced.
“Do you remember how many times you begged me for homework extensions?” he chortled. “I’ve never gone through so much trouble for a student! Aish…”
“I owe sensei a lot.” Sho humbly relented.
The moment was interrupted with the ringing of Kaori’s cell phone; she excused herself to take the call.
Mifune took the brief personal moment to pat Sho on the back.
“Good for you, Sakurai-kun.” Mifune said proudly. “Somehow, I’m glad she didn’t turn out to be Hosokaya. You wouldn’t have looked half as happy as you do now.”
Sakurai Sho admitted nothing and just chuckled darkly at the reminder of his dirty laundry.
----------
That night did not end as he had planned. From a protective distance and out of sight, Sho had watched as Kaori ecstatically embraced a small group of chattering friends. They all went off together with linked arms. Part of Kaori’s old childhood crowd, they had flown in all the way from Okinawa to celebrate her birthday. When they had called to surprise her, Sho insisted that she go on ahead.
“You seem quite ready for your test. Go out and have some fun.”
“What about you?”
“We’ve already had some time, deshou? It must have been awhile since you all were last together. Don’t let me hold you back.”
Just like Kaori didn’t know about Hosokaya, Sho didn’t share Kaori’s history like those people did. What had she once been like, and was he making her happier than she had been before? Who had she once called hers? Was it necessary to know?
Suddenly, Kaori’s 24 years of age sounded so young compared to his 28. She could still be impromptu and carefree, whereas he couldn’t afford to deviate from his time constraints at all - or at least, he couldn’t allow himself to. He wondered if she was enjoying herself (and hoped that the one particularly good looking man in the group wasn’t being too friendly with her.) Nonetheless, he regretted that he still couldn’t reveal himself, even to those closest to her.
---------
Sorry this is kind of a short one. Although not a whole lot happened, I wanted to bring to question their futures as adults. Plus, I wanted them to retain their individuality. I'm glad that they give each other freedom.