Seasoning Part 1
A certain gamer is filled with thoughts of Mao.
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He had always liked her. That wasn’t surprising if you thought about it though. She was the kind of girl you couldn’t help but like. Smart, friendly, courteous, talented, funny, and cute, Inoue Mao was the reason the phrase “lights up a room with a smile” was invented. She was a girl’s best friend and guy’s best buddy. He couldn’t think of anyone who ever had said anything bad about her.
Inoue Mao was the kind of girl who was meant to be liked for obvious reasons.
But Ninomiya Kazunari loved her for all the unobvious reasons. All the unexpected reasons. All the little reasons. The little reasons were everything. She was everything. She was sunshine through the rain. She was the secret behind a smile. She was an angel with a devil’s gleam. She was the inspiration behind his really cheesy poetry of late. She…was standing right in front of him.
“Ni-no-mi-ya-kun!” Mao had leaned her face close to his, close enough to count all the lashes framing her beautiful eyes. “Ohaiyo gozaimasu!”
“Oh,” he nodded, leaning back a little, her close proximity causing system malfunctions, “Ohaiyo.”
She sat beside him, his skin prickling. Pursing her lips…he really wished she wouldn’t do that… and peering at him through squinting eyes, she asked him, “Ne, Nino-kun, what are you thinking about so intensely so early in the morning?”
“Eh?”
“You’re looking awfully full of concentrated serious thoughts really early on a beautiful morning,” Mao’s teasing and playful tone breezed through a veil of concern. “You’re an Idol, aren’t you? Can’t have those frowny wrinkles ugly up that funny face of yours.”
Nino had once been told that adding salt to watermelon brings out the natural flavor, makes it sweeter, more refreshing. Mao was like a secret seasoning, the salt of life, just a dash of her brings out all the hidden flavor of living. And too much of her was probably bad for his heart too.
Nino laughed to himself. Anyone else would’ve just asked him what was wrong, but Mao had her own way of doing things. Her mocking words only enhanced her innate cuteness and made her concern more genuine. He WOULD love a girl who teased him rather than complimented him. And they called Jun a sadist.
Ah, crap. Jun.
One of his best friends. His bandmate. Her boyfriend. Or so everyone thought. People sort of just got used to them not acknowledging their undefined relationship, whatever it was. The only thing that was obvious was that they were close and really cared about each other. Probably even loved each other. How could Jun not love her?
She poked a slim finger repeatedly against his cheek.
“Ni-no-kun!” Yep…Bad for his heart. Just the sound of her voice made it stop.
“Na-ni?”
She puffed up her face in annoyance. “Just what are you thinking about?”
“Just of all reasons why I’m in love with you.”
Ha. Yeah right.
“Just thinking about the scenes we’re going to be working on today, going over some of the lines in my head. Should I play them straight or play up the humor? You know. Work stuff.” Chicken. He was an absolutely cowardly chicken.
Doubt coloured Mao’s lovely face. Nino fidgeted nervously under her probing gaze. She placed her hand on his forehead. He stopped moving immediately. He stopped breathing.
“Well, no fever. Are you sure you’re feeling ok?”
“No, I’m completely lovesick over you and I don’t know what to do. Will you be my doctor and treat me?”
Bwhahaha…the inner Nino laughed hysterically.
Instead, out loud Nino said, “I’m fine. Really. Genki genki! That’s me.” Why was he so lame around her?
“Ok. Don’t worry too much about it.” She stood up and stepped away from him, leaving Nino to feel like the sunny sky had suddenly gone overcast. “I don’t see why you would worry so much about it. You’re Ninomiya Kazunari. You’re one of the most sought out young star these days.” She poked him on the forehead. “You must be doing something right.”
“Gee, thanks,” his sarcasm covered up the rising elation he felt at her praise.
“Baka. I’m off to hair and makeup. Ja ne!” She started walking backwards, laughing at him. “And don’t work so hard. You’ll make me look bad.”
Like that would ever happen.
“Go make yourself pretty, Inoue.” More laughter.
“I’ll take your breath away, Ninomiya.”
“You already do,” Nino whispered as she rounded the corner. “You already do.”
Ah, Pikachus... did he have it bad.
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He had always liked her. That wasn’t surprising if you thought about it though. She was the kind of girl you couldn’t help but like. Smart, friendly, courteous, talented, funny, and cute, Inoue Mao was the reason the phrase “lights up a room with a smile” was invented. She was a girl’s best friend and guy’s best buddy. He couldn’t think of anyone who ever had said anything bad about her.
Inoue Mao was the kind of girl who was meant to be liked for obvious reasons.
But Ninomiya Kazunari loved her for all the unobvious reasons. All the unexpected reasons. All the little reasons. The little reasons were everything. She was everything. She was sunshine through the rain. She was the secret behind a smile. She was an angel with a devil’s gleam. She was the inspiration behind his really cheesy poetry of late. She…was standing right in front of him.
“Ni-no-mi-ya-kun!” Mao had leaned her face close to his, close enough to count all the lashes framing her beautiful eyes. “Ohaiyo gozaimasu!”
“Oh,” he nodded, leaning back a little, her close proximity causing system malfunctions, “Ohaiyo.”
She sat beside him, his skin prickling. Pursing her lips…he really wished she wouldn’t do that… and peering at him through squinting eyes, she asked him, “Ne, Nino-kun, what are you thinking about so intensely so early in the morning?”
“Eh?”
“You’re looking awfully full of concentrated serious thoughts really early on a beautiful morning,” Mao’s teasing and playful tone breezed through a veil of concern. “You’re an Idol, aren’t you? Can’t have those frowny wrinkles ugly up that funny face of yours.”
Nino had once been told that adding salt to watermelon brings out the natural flavor, makes it sweeter, more refreshing. Mao was like a secret seasoning, the salt of life, just a dash of her brings out all the hidden flavor of living. And too much of her was probably bad for his heart too.
Nino laughed to himself. Anyone else would’ve just asked him what was wrong, but Mao had her own way of doing things. Her mocking words only enhanced her innate cuteness and made her concern more genuine. He WOULD love a girl who teased him rather than complimented him. And they called Jun a sadist.
Ah, crap. Jun.
One of his best friends. His bandmate. Her boyfriend. Or so everyone thought. People sort of just got used to them not acknowledging their undefined relationship, whatever it was. The only thing that was obvious was that they were close and really cared about each other. Probably even loved each other. How could Jun not love her?
She poked a slim finger repeatedly against his cheek.
“Ni-no-kun!” Yep…Bad for his heart. Just the sound of her voice made it stop.
“Na-ni?”
She puffed up her face in annoyance. “Just what are you thinking about?”
“Just of all reasons why I’m in love with you.”
Ha. Yeah right.
“Just thinking about the scenes we’re going to be working on today, going over some of the lines in my head. Should I play them straight or play up the humor? You know. Work stuff.” Chicken. He was an absolutely cowardly chicken.
Doubt coloured Mao’s lovely face. Nino fidgeted nervously under her probing gaze. She placed her hand on his forehead. He stopped moving immediately. He stopped breathing.
“Well, no fever. Are you sure you’re feeling ok?”
“No, I’m completely lovesick over you and I don’t know what to do. Will you be my doctor and treat me?”
Bwhahaha…the inner Nino laughed hysterically.
Instead, out loud Nino said, “I’m fine. Really. Genki genki! That’s me.” Why was he so lame around her?
“Ok. Don’t worry too much about it.” She stood up and stepped away from him, leaving Nino to feel like the sunny sky had suddenly gone overcast. “I don’t see why you would worry so much about it. You’re Ninomiya Kazunari. You’re one of the most sought out young star these days.” She poked him on the forehead. “You must be doing something right.”
“Gee, thanks,” his sarcasm covered up the rising elation he felt at her praise.
“Baka. I’m off to hair and makeup. Ja ne!” She started walking backwards, laughing at him. “And don’t work so hard. You’ll make me look bad.”
Like that would ever happen.
“Go make yourself pretty, Inoue.” More laughter.
“I’ll take your breath away, Ninomiya.”
“You already do,” Nino whispered as she rounded the corner. “You already do.”
Ah, Pikachus... did he have it bad.
* * *