slowly...
it's rather like standing in a very hot room with only one rotating fan and just like the situation where the first wave of air touches you, you want more but the wave does not stay because the fan is turning away. and no matter how much you want the wave to stay with you, you can't because you can't possibly follow the fan around as it turns and you can't make it not turn. and all you can do is just sit there and wait for the wave to return...
-- doesn't make that much of a sense but it's exactly how i feel right now, when it comes to my muse, my inspiration, to write at least.
for the past couple of days, the inspiration had come back for a bit and left almost immediately, not too fast that i don't come up with something but fast enough to make that something really, really short. but for the moment, i'm okay with it. at least i'm writing again. and honestly, no matter how short (or long) a story i manage to come up with, i still feel that immense satisfaction seeing it end, seeing it complete.
and so the following are by-products of those quick moments of inspiration i've managed to have for the past week.
it's a drabble and a short one-shot (or two short one-shots, or a drabble and a rather long drabble, depending on the way you look at it) and i hope you get to enjoy them
TITLE: Excerpts
CHARACTERS: Ohno Satoshi, Sakurai Sho, Aiba Masaki, Ninomiya Kazunari, Matsumoto Jun, Inoue Mao
GENRE: RL
RATINGS: PG
DISCLAIMER: The only thing i own in this story is the plot...
SUMMARY: Plain statements and blurted out truths...
Since I'll have time after "Lucky Seven" wraps up, I plan to grab hold of someone who's busy and go out for a meal together. - Matsumoto Jun in H (04/2012) translation taken from say_it_again
“Hey there,” Inoue Mao beamed as she opened the passenger’s side door of a very familiar car at the parking lot of Ikuta Studios. “I didn’t know you were coming over! I almost didn’t believe it when I read your message earlier!”
“And hello to you too!” Matsumoto Jun chuckled, leaning in as the Mao’s side’s door closed with a shut, kissing her light on the cheeks. “With such a long opening statement, I’m actually wondering whether or not you want me to be here,” he added jokingly as he retracted from the woman.
“Of course not!” Mao exclaimed, a hint of red high on her cheeks that’s not entirely just because of that kiss. “I mean of course I want you here. I’m happy you’re here! I just didn't know you were going to come pick me up. I thought you still had a shoot or something.”
“Well, I did,” Jun smiled as he started the engine. “But the shoot for the drama finished quickly and I only had that interview for H magazinewith the guys. Of course that one finished early too,” he added with a shrug.
Mao smiled before that smile turned impish and she said “So you’re saying you’re just so excited to see me?”
“Nah,” Jun shook his head as his eyes focused on the road, not even bothering to throw Mao a look. “I just needed a dinner companion,” he added with a shrug.
The smile that had stayed on Mao’s lips the moment she read that message earlier about him waiting for her at the parking lot slowly diminished. It was already a full-blown pout by the time Jun turned to her when the street light turned red at an intersection.
Jun chuckled.
“But if it really was just that, then I’d have just called Toma or the other guys out,” he added with a sly grin.
“So what else do you need?” Mao asked, her lips still in a pout.
“Well, I wanted to grab a bite to eat with the one I love,” Jun said, his voice turning warm as he ended the statement with a wink.
“Not smooth Matsumoto,” Mao said sternly although a smile was already threatening to overshadow her pout.
“Yeah, I know,” Jun said with an air of a man greatly exasperated. “It must be the lack of practice since the one I love has been too busy lately that I barely got to see her anymore. And when I do see her and we’re in her apartment, she’s too busy with that ugly mutt of a pet she calls her baby.”
Mao had already started smiling at Jun’s try at exasperation but she ended up chuckling at his mention of her pet.
“Hug is not that ugly!” she managed to object between laughter though. “He’s very charming!” When turned to her with an eyebrow slightly raised, she added “Well, he is!”
“Whatever,” Jun chose to say making Mao laugh even more. A few moments later, she sobered up enough to ask “Where are we going to anyway?”
Jun shook his head and chuckled. “Like I said earlier, we’re going out to eat.”
“Out?” Mao repeated, the laughter already gone although a ghost of it is still visible on her face. The two of them, at the moment, still cannot really ‘go out’ even though it is to ‘eat’.
Jun stopped short before he corrected himself. “Okay, we’re going to buy food outside then go home and eat,” he said with a grin.
Mao nodded and smiled. As difficult as it is, it was an arrangement the two of them (and their agencies) had come up with and for the moment, she’s good with that. They both are.
“Home to Hug?” she asked playfully.
“No!” Jun replied almost immediately, his face turning to frown as what’s possibly a memory of him and her pet surfaced to his head. “My place. And that ugly mutt of a pet of yours is not welcome to join us.”
Mao couldn’t help but crack up again.
-----
FearOfHeights: You know, I sometimes think he’s not even trying to hide it.
AnimalLover: Who’s trying to hide what?
UltimateGamer: What are you talking about?
FearOfHeights: Jun!
FearOfHeights: Well, that thing about him and Mao that is.
UltimateGamer: Oh! So you noticed it earlier too?
FearOfHeights: Who didn’t? (rolls eyes)
ILoveFish: Huh?
AnimalLover: What about Jun and Mao and earlier?
UltimateGamer: Well, everyone but Ohno and Aiba noticed at least because even the staff noticed, which really isn’t a comforting thought at all. Why am I not surprised?
UltimateGamer: Wait, are you worried?
FearOfHeights: Worried? Why would I be worried?! I’m excited! It’s a dream come true! Domyouji and Makino marrying!
UltimateGamer: Argh!
AnimalLover: Ahhhh! I get what you two are talking about! Jun and Mao!
UltimateGamer: Will you get over Hanadan already!
UltimateGamer: And will you not patronize him already Aiba!
AnimalLover: But Jun and Mao really do look good together. And they are Domyouji and Makino.
FearOfHeights: He’s right! We’re right!
AnimalLover: You just need to get over your crush on Mao, Nino. :P
UltimateGamer: Unbelievable! Right, Ohno?
ILoveFish: Hmmm…
ILoveFish: Mao really is pretty…
FearOfHeights: Ahmmm… Ohno?
ILoveFish: But it’s true. She and Jun would make really cute kids.
UltimateGamer: Oh come on! Not you too!
ILoveFish: They would!
ILoveFish: Oh, yeah… You had a crush on her Nino, didn’t you?
FearOfHeights: …
AnimalLover: Ahm, I think I’ve already guaranteed myself enough head slaps and glares for tomorrow. I better start working on my script again. Bye guys!
*AnimalLover has left this conversation
UltimateGamer: Oi! Wait up!
UltimateGamer: Aiba!
FearOfHeights: I… I have to do something with something too. I’ve got to go! Bye!
*FearOfHeights has left this conversation
UltimateGamer: Oi Sho!
UltimateGamer: You guys… *shakes head*
ILoveFish: What just happened?
UltimateGamer: As much as I love you and all, there are times when I really just want to throttle you. This is one for those times.
*UltimateGamer has left this conversation
ILoveFish: Nino?
ILoveFish: Oi!
ILoveFish: What did I do?
-----THE END-----
Author’s Notes: to better understand part of the YM conversation (the part that wasn’t about Nino crushing on Mao, Aiba getting himself in trouble, Ohno speaking uncomfortable truths, and Sho fanboying Hanadan), I suggest you read say_it_again’s translation of the H magazine especially the last part where someone *coughJuncough* blurts out something almost out of the blue (for me at least) and the others, mainly Nino and Sho, jumping in almost immediately with something to divert the conversation. And this is just me and my mind playing tricks and images on what it might have meant. :D
NEXT!!!!
TITLE: Shades Of Green
CHARACTERS: Yabu Kota, Takaki Yuya, Arioka Daiki, Nakajima Yuto, Yamada Ryosuke, Chinen Yuri, Shida Mirai, Kawashima Umika, Ohgo Suzuka
GENRE: RL
RATINGS: PG
DISCLAIMER: The only thing i own in this story is the plot...
SUMMARY: He was the only one who had ever made him feel that way...
For some reason, a reason he would never, ever, ever (ever!) let anyone know that he was actually the guy, the only guy, who had ever really made him feel so unsure of himself.
Unsure! Not confident! Totally insecure!
Those words were just some of those things that should never, ever be used to describe him. Why would he? He’s Yamada Ryosuke after all. Johnny’s idol, popular even in his early teens, wanted by girls (and women) even before he reached the age of 20. He’s got the looks, the talent, (okay, maybe he doesn’t have the height but he’s long since declared that it wasn’t an issue with him), and buckets full of sexiness and allure to make every other guy look at him in envy.
He’d never allow himself to be called perfect. No, never. Because that’s actually the beauty of it, being so sought after despite his imperfection. It’s something he’s particularly proud of.
But as proud as he is of his flaws, as happy as he is with those things that make him human, there are times when he just somehow wishes them gone.
One of the first times he could remember feeling that way was when he was 13, not that he was actually completely aware that he was feeling that way that time. All he knew was that it was the first time he actually didn’t like seeing the rest of (the original) Hey! Say! 7 ever who’d just dropped by the set for Tantei Gakuen Q since their CD release earlier that year. Well, saying that he didn’t like seeing the four other guys would be a bit too much though, and, if he’d been honest, he’d admit that it was more just their eldest, Takaki Yuya.
He wasn’t really sure why though. It’s just that somehow, in one way or the other, Yuya just managed to stand out from the rest.
It wasn’t because Yuya was just older than the rest of them because Arioka Daiki is Yuya’s age nor is it because he’s just taller than everyone else since there’s still Kaname Jun in their group and Nakajima Yuto was not that far off. He can’t even say that it has something to do with the difference of the way they think. If anything, Yuya fitted perfectly in in the early teen group, even better than Jun who’s been with them for weeks could ever hope for, Chinen Yuri even sounded more mature.
But he disliked seeing Yuya there, even more so when he caught that mesmerized and admiring look Shida Mirai had when she looked at the older guy.
It wasn’t the first time he saw that kind of look on a girl. He’s seen that on some of the girls looking at most of the boys he knew. He’s seen it on some of the girls looking at him too. But it was the first time he saw that kind of look on Mirai.
And really, it took him all he could to not shove the guy out the door. And he never really did get to understand why.
-----
Things hadn’t changed that much two years later when, by chance, he and Yuya crossed paths with Mirai at a convenience store in downtown Tokyo.
He and Yuya had just come from the mall actually, since he needed to buy a gift for his younger sister’s birthday when they both felt parched and stopped by the store for a drink. Yuya had to tag along because he, Yamada, was, for whatever reason, not allowed to go to public places, ergo possible public dating places, on his own. (He did question why Yuya though, especially considering that the guy’s record with women and dating is a lot more juicy than anything that could be said about his own but then again, maybe that was the point.)
So, when they met Mirai there, of course they’d acknowledge each other. And still, that time, he wasn’t any surer of the reason behind the irrational irritation he felt that time. It might have due to Mirai saying -- when he tried to reintroduce Yuya to her -- “Yuyan? Miura-kun introduced us!” (“Yuyan?!”, “I was the one who introduced you two!” the voices in his head simultaneously cried) or it might just have something to do with the warm, fond look she had in her face when she turned to his group mate (“Yuyan?!” her soft, singsong voice when she mentioned the older guy’s pet name rebounded so much in his head that the next time he heard “Yuyan” again, this time, coming from Yuri, he walked out of the room.).
All he knew was that he wanted to just push Yuya out of the picture.
-----
He also cannot understand that burning feeling inside his stomach (or was it his chest) that time the whole of JUMP (or at least he thinks since they were preparing for an interview and really, he cannot be bothered by making a head count for 10 people when there are someone else there older than him to do the job) were in the greenroom the day after valentines and Yuto produced a box from his bag and handed it to Yuya. He’d already seen that box before, he was there when Mirai gave the box to the guy. He knew it was chocolate of course but it didn’t make him fuss.
(By this time, he had already realized his not so scarce hostile thoughts towards their second oldest and he had wondered if it had anything to do with the fact that it always happens when Mirai’s around. The fact that he didn’t even bother seeing her give Yuto the chocolate made him breathe, the other voice in his head, the one guessing that he might be interested in Mirai, might just be wrong after all.)
But seeing the transfer of the box from Yuto’s to Yuya’s, he almost growled. Even Yabu Kota looked at him in concern when his eyes suddenly flared.
(“Because he’s nice,” Mirai had said when he asked her about her giving Yuya chocolates for valentines when they didn’t even work with each other. He wasn’t sure if that time, he managed not to flare too much.)
-----
Years and years later, a few more lead roles and his accent to being one of his agencies’ go-to guys (at least for the younger pool), it still hadn’t changed.
Maybe graduating from high school was not equal to maturing (Yuya himself is a proof of that, or so he likes to think).
Because a large part of him almost actually wished the rest of Hey! Say! Jump didn’t decide to drop by for his, Yuto’s and Yuri’s graduation at Horikoshi Gakuen so that Yuya wouldn’t be there too for that momentous day.
Most of their class had already been ushered to a separate hall right after the program because no, not even attending school with some of their generation’s most recognizable faces would, in any way, prepare the rest of the school for such an event like their graduation. The school does not want casualties after all. And it was in that hall where they met their friends and families.
And of course Yuya’s there because the rest of Jump is and despite the fact that the guy is awkward as only Yuya can be on occasions like this, he actually heard some of the girls, Kawashima Umika even, saying that Yuya’s really just inherently cool. He didn’t feel bothered by it though until he noticed Yuya approach Umika’s group and the girl actually blushed because Yuya’s congratulating them and Yamada saw green because Mirai was in that group and she actually beamed as Yuya stepped next to her.
And he’d resigned himself to accepting that the day might have just been ruined for him until Mirai stepped next to him wearing that smile that somehow makes him think it’s one reserved only for him.
“So, I guess I wouldn’t be seeing you as often as I usually do, huh,” Mirai had said and although she was saying it conversationally, he couldn’t help but think that there was a note of sadness there “Unless we manage to become co-stars again.”
“Yeah,” he breathed out a sigh. “Give us a call every now and then,” he added even though he really meant ‘me’ “After all, we don’t need to be co-stars to get together, right?”
The moment he saw Mirai beam, he knew he said the right thing. And, before he could stop and think about it, his right hand jerked off the button on his left sleeve (because he’s wearing a blazer and not the traditional gakuran) and held out said hand as though just shaking hers.
“We’ll see each other,” he managed to say before they’re bothered by the others.
“I know who has your missing button,” Yuya had whispered playfully as the older guy placed an arm over his shoulder a few minutes later and he couldn’t help but turn to Mirai after seeing the mischievous look at the older guy’s face. Mirai was chatting calmly with Umika and Ohgo Suzuka though there’s a hint of red high on her cheeks and he noticed her right hand clenched tightly on her side, not in anger or anything but as though protecting something important.
He had to stop himself from grinning. One quick look at Yuya though told him that the guy wasn’t even surprised, especially with what he told him next “I was actually wondering when you’d get around to doing something like that.”
He didn’t even bother stopping himself for a good laugh. Really, despite the fact that the guy still can make him see green when Mirai’s around, he actually felt glad he came this time around.
There was still that mix of amusement and confusion in Yuya’s face when he turned to him with a grin.
-----THE END-----
Author’s notes: Gakuran is the black traditional boy’s uniform in Japan (uniform is seen in Slamdunk, Gokusen, etc.). Matsumoto Jun said (in an Arashi ni Shiyagare episode... i just can't remember at the moment what episode) that he wore a blazer, not a gakuran, during high school and since he is from Horikoshi Gakuen, it’s a pretty safe bet that Yamada (and Yuri, and Yuto, and all their classmates) didn’t too. The giving of a button, the second one from the top for the gakuran or those on the sleeve for the blazer, during graduation of a boy to a girl is considered as a form of confession so essentially, that’s what Yamada did.
Also, this was written because i wanted to try something new for Yamada and i love Takaki Yuya! Plus, i just watched the last ep --late, i know--- of Tantei Gakuen Q and i decided that it'd be added to the ver growing list of drama's i'm going to have to watch sooner or alter... and i love Takaki Yuya! :D
So, i managed to come up with these two...
how was it?
did it even make sense?
i'd love to hear your thoughts... :)
-- doesn't make that much of a sense but it's exactly how i feel right now, when it comes to my muse, my inspiration, to write at least.
for the past couple of days, the inspiration had come back for a bit and left almost immediately, not too fast that i don't come up with something but fast enough to make that something really, really short. but for the moment, i'm okay with it. at least i'm writing again. and honestly, no matter how short (or long) a story i manage to come up with, i still feel that immense satisfaction seeing it end, seeing it complete.
and so the following are by-products of those quick moments of inspiration i've managed to have for the past week.
it's a drabble and a short one-shot (or two short one-shots, or a drabble and a rather long drabble, depending on the way you look at it) and i hope you get to enjoy them
TITLE: Excerpts
CHARACTERS: Ohno Satoshi, Sakurai Sho, Aiba Masaki, Ninomiya Kazunari, Matsumoto Jun, Inoue Mao
GENRE: RL
RATINGS: PG
DISCLAIMER: The only thing i own in this story is the plot...
SUMMARY: Plain statements and blurted out truths...
Since I'll have time after "Lucky Seven" wraps up, I plan to grab hold of someone who's busy and go out for a meal together. - Matsumoto Jun in H (04/2012) translation taken from say_it_again
“Hey there,” Inoue Mao beamed as she opened the passenger’s side door of a very familiar car at the parking lot of Ikuta Studios. “I didn’t know you were coming over! I almost didn’t believe it when I read your message earlier!”
“And hello to you too!” Matsumoto Jun chuckled, leaning in as the Mao’s side’s door closed with a shut, kissing her light on the cheeks. “With such a long opening statement, I’m actually wondering whether or not you want me to be here,” he added jokingly as he retracted from the woman.
“Of course not!” Mao exclaimed, a hint of red high on her cheeks that’s not entirely just because of that kiss. “I mean of course I want you here. I’m happy you’re here! I just didn't know you were going to come pick me up. I thought you still had a shoot or something.”
“Well, I did,” Jun smiled as he started the engine. “But the shoot for the drama finished quickly and I only had that interview for H magazinewith the guys. Of course that one finished early too,” he added with a shrug.
Mao smiled before that smile turned impish and she said “So you’re saying you’re just so excited to see me?”
“Nah,” Jun shook his head as his eyes focused on the road, not even bothering to throw Mao a look. “I just needed a dinner companion,” he added with a shrug.
The smile that had stayed on Mao’s lips the moment she read that message earlier about him waiting for her at the parking lot slowly diminished. It was already a full-blown pout by the time Jun turned to her when the street light turned red at an intersection.
Jun chuckled.
“But if it really was just that, then I’d have just called Toma or the other guys out,” he added with a sly grin.
“So what else do you need?” Mao asked, her lips still in a pout.
“Well, I wanted to grab a bite to eat with the one I love,” Jun said, his voice turning warm as he ended the statement with a wink.
“Not smooth Matsumoto,” Mao said sternly although a smile was already threatening to overshadow her pout.
“Yeah, I know,” Jun said with an air of a man greatly exasperated. “It must be the lack of practice since the one I love has been too busy lately that I barely got to see her anymore. And when I do see her and we’re in her apartment, she’s too busy with that ugly mutt of a pet she calls her baby.”
Mao had already started smiling at Jun’s try at exasperation but she ended up chuckling at his mention of her pet.
“Hug is not that ugly!” she managed to object between laughter though. “He’s very charming!” When turned to her with an eyebrow slightly raised, she added “Well, he is!”
“Whatever,” Jun chose to say making Mao laugh even more. A few moments later, she sobered up enough to ask “Where are we going to anyway?”
Jun shook his head and chuckled. “Like I said earlier, we’re going out to eat.”
“Out?” Mao repeated, the laughter already gone although a ghost of it is still visible on her face. The two of them, at the moment, still cannot really ‘go out’ even though it is to ‘eat’.
Jun stopped short before he corrected himself. “Okay, we’re going to buy food outside then go home and eat,” he said with a grin.
Mao nodded and smiled. As difficult as it is, it was an arrangement the two of them (and their agencies) had come up with and for the moment, she’s good with that. They both are.
“Home to Hug?” she asked playfully.
“No!” Jun replied almost immediately, his face turning to frown as what’s possibly a memory of him and her pet surfaced to his head. “My place. And that ugly mutt of a pet of yours is not welcome to join us.”
Mao couldn’t help but crack up again.
-----
FearOfHeights: You know, I sometimes think he’s not even trying to hide it.
AnimalLover: Who’s trying to hide what?
UltimateGamer: What are you talking about?
FearOfHeights: Jun!
FearOfHeights: Well, that thing about him and Mao that is.
UltimateGamer: Oh! So you noticed it earlier too?
FearOfHeights: Who didn’t? (rolls eyes)
ILoveFish: Huh?
AnimalLover: What about Jun and Mao and earlier?
UltimateGamer: Well, everyone but Ohno and Aiba noticed at least because even the staff noticed, which really isn’t a comforting thought at all. Why am I not surprised?
UltimateGamer: Wait, are you worried?
FearOfHeights: Worried? Why would I be worried?! I’m excited! It’s a dream come true! Domyouji and Makino marrying!
UltimateGamer: Argh!
AnimalLover: Ahhhh! I get what you two are talking about! Jun and Mao!
UltimateGamer: Will you get over Hanadan already!
UltimateGamer: And will you not patronize him already Aiba!
AnimalLover: But Jun and Mao really do look good together. And they are Domyouji and Makino.
FearOfHeights: He’s right! We’re right!
AnimalLover: You just need to get over your crush on Mao, Nino. :P
UltimateGamer: Unbelievable! Right, Ohno?
ILoveFish: Hmmm…
ILoveFish: Mao really is pretty…
FearOfHeights: Ahmmm… Ohno?
ILoveFish: But it’s true. She and Jun would make really cute kids.
UltimateGamer: Oh come on! Not you too!
ILoveFish: They would!
ILoveFish: Oh, yeah… You had a crush on her Nino, didn’t you?
FearOfHeights: …
AnimalLover: Ahm, I think I’ve already guaranteed myself enough head slaps and glares for tomorrow. I better start working on my script again. Bye guys!
*AnimalLover has left this conversation
UltimateGamer: Oi! Wait up!
UltimateGamer: Aiba!
FearOfHeights: I… I have to do something with something too. I’ve got to go! Bye!
*FearOfHeights has left this conversation
UltimateGamer: Oi Sho!
UltimateGamer: You guys… *shakes head*
ILoveFish: What just happened?
UltimateGamer: As much as I love you and all, there are times when I really just want to throttle you. This is one for those times.
*UltimateGamer has left this conversation
ILoveFish: Nino?
ILoveFish: Oi!
ILoveFish: What did I do?
-----THE END-----
Author’s Notes: to better understand part of the YM conversation (the part that wasn’t about Nino crushing on Mao, Aiba getting himself in trouble, Ohno speaking uncomfortable truths, and Sho fanboying Hanadan), I suggest you read say_it_again’s translation of the H magazine especially the last part where someone *coughJuncough* blurts out something almost out of the blue (for me at least) and the others, mainly Nino and Sho, jumping in almost immediately with something to divert the conversation. And this is just me and my mind playing tricks and images on what it might have meant. :D
NEXT!!!!
TITLE: Shades Of Green
CHARACTERS: Yabu Kota, Takaki Yuya, Arioka Daiki, Nakajima Yuto, Yamada Ryosuke, Chinen Yuri, Shida Mirai, Kawashima Umika, Ohgo Suzuka
GENRE: RL
RATINGS: PG
DISCLAIMER: The only thing i own in this story is the plot...
SUMMARY: He was the only one who had ever made him feel that way...
For some reason, a reason he would never, ever, ever (ever!) let anyone know that he was actually the guy, the only guy, who had ever really made him feel so unsure of himself.
Unsure! Not confident! Totally insecure!
Those words were just some of those things that should never, ever be used to describe him. Why would he? He’s Yamada Ryosuke after all. Johnny’s idol, popular even in his early teens, wanted by girls (and women) even before he reached the age of 20. He’s got the looks, the talent, (okay, maybe he doesn’t have the height but he’s long since declared that it wasn’t an issue with him), and buckets full of sexiness and allure to make every other guy look at him in envy.
He’d never allow himself to be called perfect. No, never. Because that’s actually the beauty of it, being so sought after despite his imperfection. It’s something he’s particularly proud of.
But as proud as he is of his flaws, as happy as he is with those things that make him human, there are times when he just somehow wishes them gone.
One of the first times he could remember feeling that way was when he was 13, not that he was actually completely aware that he was feeling that way that time. All he knew was that it was the first time he actually didn’t like seeing the rest of (the original) Hey! Say! 7 ever who’d just dropped by the set for Tantei Gakuen Q since their CD release earlier that year. Well, saying that he didn’t like seeing the four other guys would be a bit too much though, and, if he’d been honest, he’d admit that it was more just their eldest, Takaki Yuya.
He wasn’t really sure why though. It’s just that somehow, in one way or the other, Yuya just managed to stand out from the rest.
It wasn’t because Yuya was just older than the rest of them because Arioka Daiki is Yuya’s age nor is it because he’s just taller than everyone else since there’s still Kaname Jun in their group and Nakajima Yuto was not that far off. He can’t even say that it has something to do with the difference of the way they think. If anything, Yuya fitted perfectly in in the early teen group, even better than Jun who’s been with them for weeks could ever hope for, Chinen Yuri even sounded more mature.
But he disliked seeing Yuya there, even more so when he caught that mesmerized and admiring look Shida Mirai had when she looked at the older guy.
It wasn’t the first time he saw that kind of look on a girl. He’s seen that on some of the girls looking at most of the boys he knew. He’s seen it on some of the girls looking at him too. But it was the first time he saw that kind of look on Mirai.
And really, it took him all he could to not shove the guy out the door. And he never really did get to understand why.
-----
Things hadn’t changed that much two years later when, by chance, he and Yuya crossed paths with Mirai at a convenience store in downtown Tokyo.
He and Yuya had just come from the mall actually, since he needed to buy a gift for his younger sister’s birthday when they both felt parched and stopped by the store for a drink. Yuya had to tag along because he, Yamada, was, for whatever reason, not allowed to go to public places, ergo possible public dating places, on his own. (He did question why Yuya though, especially considering that the guy’s record with women and dating is a lot more juicy than anything that could be said about his own but then again, maybe that was the point.)
So, when they met Mirai there, of course they’d acknowledge each other. And still, that time, he wasn’t any surer of the reason behind the irrational irritation he felt that time. It might have due to Mirai saying -- when he tried to reintroduce Yuya to her -- “Yuyan? Miura-kun introduced us!” (“Yuyan?!”, “I was the one who introduced you two!” the voices in his head simultaneously cried) or it might just have something to do with the warm, fond look she had in her face when she turned to his group mate (“Yuyan?!” her soft, singsong voice when she mentioned the older guy’s pet name rebounded so much in his head that the next time he heard “Yuyan” again, this time, coming from Yuri, he walked out of the room.).
All he knew was that he wanted to just push Yuya out of the picture.
-----
He also cannot understand that burning feeling inside his stomach (or was it his chest) that time the whole of JUMP (or at least he thinks since they were preparing for an interview and really, he cannot be bothered by making a head count for 10 people when there are someone else there older than him to do the job) were in the greenroom the day after valentines and Yuto produced a box from his bag and handed it to Yuya. He’d already seen that box before, he was there when Mirai gave the box to the guy. He knew it was chocolate of course but it didn’t make him fuss.
(By this time, he had already realized his not so scarce hostile thoughts towards their second oldest and he had wondered if it had anything to do with the fact that it always happens when Mirai’s around. The fact that he didn’t even bother seeing her give Yuto the chocolate made him breathe, the other voice in his head, the one guessing that he might be interested in Mirai, might just be wrong after all.)
But seeing the transfer of the box from Yuto’s to Yuya’s, he almost growled. Even Yabu Kota looked at him in concern when his eyes suddenly flared.
(“Because he’s nice,” Mirai had said when he asked her about her giving Yuya chocolates for valentines when they didn’t even work with each other. He wasn’t sure if that time, he managed not to flare too much.)
-----
Years and years later, a few more lead roles and his accent to being one of his agencies’ go-to guys (at least for the younger pool), it still hadn’t changed.
Maybe graduating from high school was not equal to maturing (Yuya himself is a proof of that, or so he likes to think).
Because a large part of him almost actually wished the rest of Hey! Say! Jump didn’t decide to drop by for his, Yuto’s and Yuri’s graduation at Horikoshi Gakuen so that Yuya wouldn’t be there too for that momentous day.
Most of their class had already been ushered to a separate hall right after the program because no, not even attending school with some of their generation’s most recognizable faces would, in any way, prepare the rest of the school for such an event like their graduation. The school does not want casualties after all. And it was in that hall where they met their friends and families.
And of course Yuya’s there because the rest of Jump is and despite the fact that the guy is awkward as only Yuya can be on occasions like this, he actually heard some of the girls, Kawashima Umika even, saying that Yuya’s really just inherently cool. He didn’t feel bothered by it though until he noticed Yuya approach Umika’s group and the girl actually blushed because Yuya’s congratulating them and Yamada saw green because Mirai was in that group and she actually beamed as Yuya stepped next to her.
And he’d resigned himself to accepting that the day might have just been ruined for him until Mirai stepped next to him wearing that smile that somehow makes him think it’s one reserved only for him.
“So, I guess I wouldn’t be seeing you as often as I usually do, huh,” Mirai had said and although she was saying it conversationally, he couldn’t help but think that there was a note of sadness there “Unless we manage to become co-stars again.”
“Yeah,” he breathed out a sigh. “Give us a call every now and then,” he added even though he really meant ‘me’ “After all, we don’t need to be co-stars to get together, right?”
The moment he saw Mirai beam, he knew he said the right thing. And, before he could stop and think about it, his right hand jerked off the button on his left sleeve (because he’s wearing a blazer and not the traditional gakuran) and held out said hand as though just shaking hers.
“We’ll see each other,” he managed to say before they’re bothered by the others.
“I know who has your missing button,” Yuya had whispered playfully as the older guy placed an arm over his shoulder a few minutes later and he couldn’t help but turn to Mirai after seeing the mischievous look at the older guy’s face. Mirai was chatting calmly with Umika and Ohgo Suzuka though there’s a hint of red high on her cheeks and he noticed her right hand clenched tightly on her side, not in anger or anything but as though protecting something important.
He had to stop himself from grinning. One quick look at Yuya though told him that the guy wasn’t even surprised, especially with what he told him next “I was actually wondering when you’d get around to doing something like that.”
He didn’t even bother stopping himself for a good laugh. Really, despite the fact that the guy still can make him see green when Mirai’s around, he actually felt glad he came this time around.
There was still that mix of amusement and confusion in Yuya’s face when he turned to him with a grin.
-----THE END-----
Author’s notes: Gakuran is the black traditional boy’s uniform in Japan (uniform is seen in Slamdunk, Gokusen, etc.). Matsumoto Jun said (in an Arashi ni Shiyagare episode... i just can't remember at the moment what episode) that he wore a blazer, not a gakuran, during high school and since he is from Horikoshi Gakuen, it’s a pretty safe bet that Yamada (and Yuri, and Yuto, and all their classmates) didn’t too. The giving of a button, the second one from the top for the gakuran or those on the sleeve for the blazer, during graduation of a boy to a girl is considered as a form of confession so essentially, that’s what Yamada did.
Also, this was written because i wanted to try something new for Yamada and i love Takaki Yuya! Plus, i just watched the last ep --late, i know--- of Tantei Gakuen Q and i decided that it'd be added to the ver growing list of drama's i'm going to have to watch sooner or alter... and i love Takaki Yuya! :D
So, i managed to come up with these two...
how was it?
did it even make sense?
i'd love to hear your thoughts... :)