284 [YamaShiFuture] Yamada's Complex
Title: Yamada's Complex
Author: macy
Pairing: NEW!YamadaxMorimoto; implied YamaShi, RyuuNon, etc.
Genre: Fluff, Romance
Rating: G
AN:
-unbetaed, written while desperately fighting off writing block, so i'm not quite sure about this. /shot
-Warning: excessive use of parenthesis (Yuta has many comments. lol)
-inspired by Princess Diaries fanfic Cracking, Shugo! Chara, and an RL event.
-for those who haven't read any of my futuristic fic these are my headcanons: (i wrote this with these headcanon established)[(click to open)]
~ YamaShi have 3 kids: Akiyoshi, Yuta (2 years younger than Aki) and Yumi (3 years younger than Yuta) > Yamada Family Fics
~ RyuuNon have an only daughter: Kaori (1 year younger than Yumi) --Kaori is mentioned in Yamada's Valentine's
~ UmiChii have twins: Sayuri and Kaito (a little older than Akiyoshi) > Always, Forever, Halfway
~ OhgoJima also have an only daughter: (Akiyoshi's age, more or less) > YamaJima, The Prophecy
~ Keito in Home (YamaShi family) is implied to have married Suzuki Airi and had 3 kids, a daughter and twin boys
Yamada Yuta's POV
The first time I met her, I was four. It wasn't like when it was Yumi. We weren't all hassling and stuffs. But that's only natural since it's not our family this time. It was even just a coincidence that my dad and I were actually there when it happened.
Dad had brought me to the hospital that day because I had accidentally swallowed a Lego piece (I was four, okay). Nothing major, really. My doctor was able to remove it without me having to go through operation. We were already about to go home when my dad's phone rang. He stopped walking after reading the text. I remembered how he had grinned then, looked at me and then asked,
"Do you think we can visit a friend first?"
I didn't understand, but I nodded anyway.
My dad looked really excited then. He ruffled my hair and then carried me to a room a few floors up. I don't remember much of how we got there, I just remember entering a white door, and then there was Ryuu-jiichan, grinning.
Jiichan patted my head as my dad put me down, and then he and dad talked. I had my eyes on the bed, though. Someone was crying. I could see Kanon-baachan on the bed, but she was smiling. She didn't look sad. She couldn't be the one crying, even though the sound seems to be coming from her.
She waved at me and gestured for me to come closer. I looked at my dad, but he was still talking to Ryuu-jiichan. So, I just went closer to the bed on my own.
And then, Kanon-baachan bend lower so I could see what she was carrying in her arms.
I saw a small and very pink face staring right at me. I looked at baachan again, confused. I didn't know who it was. Before Yumi was born, I've known all about her for months.
Baachan smiled at me and said, "Yuta-chan, this is Kaori-chan. Can you be her friend?"
Just then, the baby, Kaori, screamed--or was it a squeal?
Kanon-baachan laughed and said Kaori was happy. I smiled then and told Kaori,
"Okay, I'll be your friend!"
I kinda regretted saying that. People (meaning my and her parents, my siblings, and basically everyone who knew the two of us) took that as my promise to never leave her side. Seriously, you'd think I proposed or something (and I was 4! Jeez!). I didn't understand it then, but whenever there were a get together, they'd always but us together and they'd always take lots of photos of us.
Then, when I was a little older, they translated the word "friend" to "babysitter".
We went on a vacation when I was seven years old; Yamada, Nakajima, Chinen and Morimoto families together. That was actually the first time we all go together. The families are quite close, but we don't really see much of each other very often and certainly not all at once. By then though, Keito-jiji and his family was already in London so they couldn't be with us.
Our parents already expected that this private vacation may have leaked to the media, and that we may be followed by paparazzi, so they were very careful of how the families met, traveled and stuffs. We went to a private beach in Shizuoka owned by a friend of Yuri-jiji.
I don't remember much of the travel (it was by car, that at least I know) because I was asleep most of the time, and I bet the other kids are as well since we took our leave around 2AM. Anyway, when we reached the beach, and us kids are finally allowed to play (after eating breakfast and basically covering us with yucky-sticky-glue-thingy they called sun block), I was left alone with the little kids.
As always, Aki-nii and Yuka-nee was inseparable and the Chinen twins had invited them to look around the hills (without telling the adults, I should add). Incidentally, those four were the oldest and should have been the ones caring for the kids. But no, they left Yumi and Kaori with me, saying I was too young for a hike. I told them I was too old to play with 4 year olds (girls, no less!) but they ignored me. Seriously, Sayu-nee even threaten to tell Mom I was the reason Dad's Best Artist trophy (it was an accident!) if I told our parents what they were up to. If only Yumi didn't blab! (The traitor!)
I seriously didn't have fun the whole time we were there! Honest!
Well, except maybe for that time when Ryuu-jiichan played with us and he let us bury him in the sand. We shaped a fish tail on his feet so he looked like a mermaid. Yuto-jiji took so many pictures of him. And the time when Yumi, Kaori and I looked for seashells. Kaori had given me the prettiest she found. And that time we played Frisbee on the water with Mom and Suzu-baa... That was fun I guess. But other than that!
During our whole stay there (3 days and 2 nights), Kaori-chan kept following me wherever I go. That became another excuse for Niichan and the others to not let me come to wherever they disappear to. It really sucks being in the middle in terms of age. (You know, Aki-nii and the others are 2 years older than me, and Yumi and Kaori are at least 3 years younger than me.)
-
Even when I was nine, when we finally have another gathering with everyone (including Okamoto family this time, since they visited Japan for Christmas); even when Aoi and Akane (Keito-jiji's twin girls who are the same age as Yumi) were there, Kaori still chose to follow me. I don't even understand why! When I asked her, she said:
"It's because I like Yuu-chan the most!"
I don't really blame her for the maliciousness of the entire 7 families, but I do wish she hadn't said it for all of them to hear. Kaori had probably just meant it in a general, not-like-like way, and not like how everyone interpreted it. They never did live it down after that.
Before my family left the following day, though, she didn't follow me around like usual. Actually, she seemed to have been avoiding me. The others kept teasing her, so I guess it was natural... But right before I got on our car, Kanon-baachan with Kaori in tow, had called for me.
Baachan was smiling when she said that Kaori had wanted to say goodbye to me.
A blushing Kaori then approached me (looking very nervous), and said in a determined voice:
"I'll wait for you!"
All I could reply was an "Eh?"
Baachan giggled and said in a soft voice, "She was muttering earlier about your age gap."
I couldn't help but blush then. I being nine and her being five is irrelevant, that's considered a confession!
Baachan laughed more loudly this time and I just sighed in defeat. I couldn't help but give a small smile (in slight exasperation and amusement), and then gave Kaori a pat on her head.
"Isn't it the other way around, Kaori?"
-
When I was fifteen years old, year Kaori and her family moved into our neighborhood. They had been living with Baachan's parents, if I'm not mistaken, but Kaori had started being very active in the entertainment industry and will be going to high school soon, so they decided to move. That year was one of my most confusing years ever. It was the year I realize that I am not exactly not-attracted with Kaori. She's certainly getting prettier. But she probably doesn't even remember how she had, well, as-good-as confessed to me when she was little. She probably thinks of me as an older brother or something! She'd stopped calling me Yuu-chan and instead started calling me, 'Nii-san.'
I experienced the whole ordeal: being very self-conscious whenever she's around, being scared of Ryuu-jiichan for no reason at all, the butterflies, the cold sweat, the overwhelming desire for her to notice me and not notice me, the ridiculous happiness and goose bumps creeping whenever she's near. I freaking got the whole oxytocin-reaction. And I just didn't know what to do so I just tried to avoid her as much as possible.
Unfortunately, it was also the year Kaori had gone down with measles and the year she got a new baby cousin.
It was already our winter break then so we didn't have classes. In that particular day, Yumi and I were the only ones at home though, because our parents and niichan all had works.
I remember I was in the kitchen (Yumi, I think, was in her room) when I heard our front door open. I immediately went to check and for the first time, I saw a very haggard-looking baachan.
One look at me, and she started speaking very fast. She told me that Kaori's aunt Riho's water apparently broke and both Ryuu-jiichan and Shin-chan (he asked us to call him that) was away so she needed to go, and so could I please go to their house to watch Kaori because she was sick and all.
I barely understood, but I nodded anyway, seeing how desperate Baachan looked. I wasn't even finished with my nod when she said a very quick thanks and then go. It all kinda happened in a blur.
I asked Yumi to go with me, but she reminded me that she hasn't been immunized from measles still so she couldn't come. I seriously think someone up there has it in for me.
*I really wasn't exactly very friendly towards Kaori during those days because of recent realizations. But I grudgingly took on the task of taking care of her, not that I had to do much, just check on her occasionally throughout the day, make sure she took her medication and get her to eat and drink. That, out of everything else, was the hardest thing to do, because she just wasn't hungry (I Googled it and found out anorexia is one of measles' symptoms) and when she did eat she just ended up throwing it all back up half an hour later, which of course made me check on her more and more often until I just stayed with her.
Kaori fell in and out of fitful sleeps that she'd wake up from in jolts as she either kicked the blankets off to cool herself down or try desperately pulling them back over her because she was freezing.
"How are you feeling?" I asked her around evening. Kanon-baachan calls every now and then, but it seems she still couldn't come back. I don't know if niichan or my parents were already home, but I couldn't really leave Kaori alone. She had been waking and sleeping sporadically all night and this was the longest she had been awake so far.
I was sitting on the floor, leaning my back against the bed, close to where her head was resting on a pile of pillows.
"Hmmm?" she mumbled as she looking at me with blurry eyes.
"How are you feeling?" I repeated gently as I, without even thinking, brushed her fringe from her sweaty forehead.
"Like dead." She said with the slightest of smiles, pressing her burning forehead against my fingers.
"Nice." She added with a sigh as her clammy hand reached out and grasp my wrist with slightly trembling fingers and pressed my hand more firmly against her forehead.
I twisted more firmly around to face her, making it easier for her to hold my hand and less awkward for my hand to be held. My other hand reached out and repeatedly wiped her fringe and hair from her forehead and face.
"Nice." She mumbled again and I grinned.
I didn't understand then why it made me so insanely happy about being so close to her, especially when I had been spending weeks trying to stay away from her, but then, being that close to her, with her hand holding one of mine and my other brushing at her hair and face, it felt right, not wrong.
I never wanted to stop, never wanted her to let go of my hand.
"Yuu-chan?"
"Hmmm?"
"My head hurts."
"Do you want some pain-killers?" I moved as if to get up though I hadn't wanted to leave her side because that would mean losing contact with her.
But to my slight relief she had shaken her head slowly, gripping my hand more tightly in hers.
"Are you sure?" I asked. She nodded again.
I looked back towards the TV.
"Yuu-chan?"
"Hmmm." I looked back at her, only to have her mouth bump into mine and then pressed against it. It couldn't be really classed as a kiss. It was an accident, and I felt so damn pathetic because that was one of the happiest days of my life. It barely even last 2 seconds! It was gone as soon as it came! I guess sleep finally caught up on her again, her mouth falling from mine as her head thumped against the pillows, while I stared at her with an open mouth.
I felt so confused and overwhelmed. I felt so conflicted, and guilty, and happy, and pathetic. Not to mention very worried, because she's still burning with fever!
I collapsed down the floor with just exhaustion (mentally and emotionally).
"Is it considered pedophilia when, technically, we're both minors?" I asked allowed, out of frustration.
I was very nervous the next day, but then it became very clear that she didn't remember anything from last night. I didn't know if I was relieved or disappointed.
-
She was barely fourteen when I saw her walking home with a boy, who I found out (from Yumi) later was her actual boyfriend. It bothered me a little but...
Well, okay, it bothered me a whole lot. I didn't like it one bit.
The next day, I woke up very early so I could go to school with Yumi. It's nothing to do with Yumi always going to school with Kaori since her middle school and Horikoshi is in the same way. Honest!
"You're early today." Yumi had commented when we were preparing to leave.
"I have club activities." I told her.
"If you say so." She just said, not looking up from her phone.
I knew I was being overly obvious, but she knows anyway (though I would firmly deny it if I'm asked--it just doesn't feel right, okay. I mean, she's so young!). She'd been giving me that knowing smile whenever I'm in the same room as Kaori since three years ago.
Yumi and I left together and met with Kaori in front of her house. She looked surprised to see me, but she had smiled and greeted both Yumi and me cheerfully.
They started talking once we started walking and left me feeling a little neglected. I don't even remember why I wanted to go to school with them. What was I thinking, really??
But then, someone called Yumi from the back and the three of us looked back. It was one of Yumi's classmates, who's also an actor.
"Shizu!" Yumi had called with a grin. Shizu had greeted me and Kaori and then she and Yumi started talking, and walked a few steps in front of Kaori and me.
There was definitely awkwardness when Yumi was gone, so as per usual, I started teasing her (my only way to dodge discomfort and self-consciousness).
"A-cup, what's this I hear about t you having a boyfriend?" Shit, I didn't mean to open that particular subject. I'm such a masochist.
She rolled her eyes at me. "Stop calling me that!" She said, her usual reaction. But she completely ignored my question. That's okay. I didn't want to talk about that anyway.
"You do know you're not allowed, do you?" Why am I doing this???? "Isn't your agency strict?"
"It's not that strict." She said quietly.
"You still have to be careful. And you worked so hard to debut, too..." I said seriously. I hastily added, "Who would want to date an A-cup like you, anyway?"
Before she could retort though, someone called my name.
It was Yamamoto, one of my classmates. She's a gravure idol. I realized we were already close to Horikoshi.
"Ohayou." Yamamoto greeted Kaori and me.
"Ohayou." I just say while Kaori just bowed in greeting. I inwardly sighed. Yamamoto... not that I don't like her (as a person in general), but she's been not-so-subtly expressing interest in me, and it just makes things a little uncomfortable.
"Uhmm," Kaori said with a tug on my sleeves. (She's about a head shorter than me). "I'm going this way, so..." She pointed at the next street.
"Right." I said, awkwardly. "See you then, A-cup."
She just stuck her tongue at me and continued walking. I watched her for a few moments before sighing in defeat and walking towards my own school, with Yamamoto trying to chat me up.
"By the way, Yamada-kun." Yamamoto said as we entered our classroom. "My mom gave me tickets to that new Ocean Park. I know you're interested with marine life so I thought I'd ask you if you wanted to go."
"Sorry." I said, too quickly. I'm such a jerk, I know.
"I mean..." I tried again, but I just didn't know what to say. "I'm sorry, Yamamoto." I said in defeat.
"I'm... I'm not... er, I like you as a friend. And I..."
"I'm sorry." She suddenly said, not looking at me. "I know you're not allowed, I--"
"It's not just that..." I said. It was so hard to explain! "I... you see I'm only interested in flat-chested girls."
I gaped at what I just said. I'm so stupid!
"No- I mean, shit, I sound like a pervert do I? I... There's nothing wrong with you-! Obviously something's wrong with me I mean, you're great and everything but--" I was babbling I know, but I was panicking!
"I'm not her." She suddenly said, finally looking at me, and even offering a small sad smile.
"I'm sorry!" I said, because I didn't know what else to say.
"I'm sorry, too." She told me. "But thank you for telling me honestly." She just said and then bowed and walked towards her seat.
I didn't really know what happened. I knew I could have done better, but there was also a part of me that felt a little lighter after that.
-
I waited for Yumi when the classes was over so we could go home together. She didn't looked surprised when she saw me by the gates but only said,
"Kaori doesn't go home with me anymore."
"Why are you telling me this?" I asked her immediately. She just shrugged.
We started walking home quietly. After a while, I couldn't stand the silence anymore.
"Where's A-cup, anyway?" I had to ask.
Yumi shook her head in obvious exasperation. "Probably with Kenta-kun, her boyfriend."
I irrationally felt very annoyed. "And I told her to be careful too, that girl..."
"You know that's sexual harassment." Yumi suddenly said.
"Huh?"
"You calling Kaori, A-cup." Yumi said.
"It's not like that!"
"You've always been looking at her. That's why you can notice she's an a-cup. You've always seen her as a girl." Yumi said nonchalantly.
I was just speechless.
"Why don't you just tell her how you feel?" She probed.
"You just said she have a boyfriend!"
"Now you're honest."
"Just shut up already!"
-
It was autumn of the same year when she called me in the middle of night and I couldn't understand a thing she said. I was still sleepy and she was making a weird sound. After a while I realized she was crying. And then she became quiet in the other line.
"Kaori?" I urged.
"Can I see Yuu-chan?" She suddenly asked, very quietly. I sat up at once. It's been years since she last call me that.
"Sure. I'll come now. Wait for me, kay?" I said immediately.
"Kay..." I barely heard her reply.
I got up from bed and went straight to their house, without thinking. I didn't bother to change out of my pajamas or think about the time or about what Jiichan and Baachan would think when I knock on their door in the middle of the night.
I was in front of their house in no time. I was about to knock when the door opened.
"Kaori..."
She took one look at me and then burst into tears. I didn't know what to do, so I cautiously stepped closer and awkwardly patted her on her head.
"What happened? Why are you bawling?" I said. Don't get me wrong. I was seriously worried. But, as I said, I can't really express myself well.
She was still crying, but she hit me on my chest.
"That hurts! Why are you hurting me? What happened?" I asked again. "Where are baachan and jiichan?"
"T-they're already asleep... And I-I can't tell them why I'm like this..."
"Do you mind telling me? I did rush here in the middle of the night. I didn't come here to get hit by you, you know."
She tried to hit me again then, but luckily I was able to dodge.
After that though, she kept quiet and I just stood there, watching her; at a loss of what to do.
"Do you mind letting me in, at least?" I asked teasingly. I was trying to lighten up the mood. I was worried about her, but I... I just have a hard time expressing myself, okay?? It happens. I'm a teenager after all.
She pouted but gestured for me to come in, anyway. She wasn't crying very hard anymore, and that was a relief.
We went to their living room and sat on the sofa. Kaori was covering her face, but I wasn't sure if she'd started crying again.
"What really happened?" I asked again. I was actually feeling a bit impatient. I was worried about her.
She placed her hands on her lap but didn't face me. Instead, she stared at the floor, but thank goodness she started talking.
"He... Kenta's leaving soon..." She said in a barely audible voice. I strained my ears so I could understand her.
"Kenta." I just say.
"He's my--"
"What do you mean by leaving?" I asked hurriedly.
"His father's been transfered to LA... I... He didn't think long distance relationship would work so..."
"He du--er, broke up with you??" I thought I'd feel happy when they broke up (I knew they will!), and I couldn't understand myself but I felt really angry when I heard her say it. I guess, there's a part of me that felt insulted that someone would actually do that when you have someone like Kaori. Okay, I'll shut up. I'm starting to sound uncharacteristic.
Kaori only nodded. She looked about to cry again, so I hastily said.
"So... do you want me to beat him up or something? Kenta, you say? He goes to the same school as you, right?"
"I don't want you to beat him up!" She suddenly said, aghast.
I knew she'd say that. I tried to keep my face straight as I say, "Eh? What do you mean? That's why you called me right?"
"It's not like that!" She said with a pout.
"Then why am I here?"
"Yuu-chan!" She whined, knowing I was just teasing. I couldn't help but laugh, then. I was happy she didn't revert back into calling me 'nii-chan.'
"Seriously though, what do you want from me? Like, an advice or something?"
"...I guess it would be good if you could give me one." She said sulkily.
I shrugged, nonchalantly. Though I really was trying to choose the right words frantically inside. "Just forget about him. He's planning to forget you anyway. It's such a waste of body fluids to cry for a jerk like that."
"Yuu-chan..!"
"Why are you even troubled? People come, but not everyone stays; some go. It's just as simple as that." I said seriously.
"It's not simple at all..." She said.
I rolled my eyes at her theatrically. "Stop whining already." I told her gently.
"Anyway, it's probably your fault." I added in a sudden inspiration.
She looked up at that, surprised. She was clearly confused.
"...since you're an A-cup."
"Yuu-chan!" She complained, but I could see that she had lighten up. She had smiled a little.
"It's true! It's natural for men to think about those things. I've read somewhere in the net that the attraction is nature, not nurture. It's to do with the hormones!" I told her. (And I'm not lying, you can look it up in the net if you want.)
And finally, she laughed. It wasn't her usual cheery laugh, but it was a start. "Too much information!!" She told me while she covered her ears.
"Okay." I said with a clap. "Do you have some chocolates and strawberries? I can prepare something for you." I told her. It was one thing we had in common. We seriously loves strawberries. My mom said I got it from my dad, and Kaori probably got it from her mom.
She gave me a small, sad smile.
"I'm not really hungry..." She told me timidly.
I sighed and offered a small smile to her as well. "You really like him that much?"
She didn't answer but instead asked in return, "Don't you have someone you like?"
"I do." I said.
She was quiet, but I knew she was curious.
"You." I told her after a beat.
"Eh???"
"You know you always follow me around when we were little. And when I asked you why, you told me it was because you like me most. But now it seems I've been defeated by your Kenta. You even told me to wait for you." I said with a sigh.
She blushed. So she remembers.
But she frowned at me. "You're teasing me..." She said suspiciously.
I ignored her comment. "I was actually very annoyed when I heard you had a boyfriend. You as good as confessed to me, and then the next thing I knew..." I sighed heavily. "I thought I'd be happy when you broke up, but when you're sad like this..."
She was blushing even more now. She was staring at me like she couldn't believe she was seeing me. Like I'm some unicorn or something.
We stayed silent for a while, and then I couldn't take it anymore and I laughed, hard.
"You actually believed me??" I told her. I knew I was being a jerk. I seriously wanted to confess, but I... I was scared, okay. I was so overwhelmed so I just took it back. I'm stupid, I know.
"Yuu-chan!!!!" She was blushing and she wasn't looking at me but she was able to hit me continuously. I was laughing hard, and she then she was laughing with me. But after a while she was crying again, but she still didn't stop hitting me though it slowly became very weak. And then I was hugging her and she was crying, hugging me too.
I didn't really remember what happened next. We probably dozed off like that. The next morning, Baachan (thank God!) found us asleep on the couch and woke me up. I told her what happened (just the part of Kaori calling me and being sad). She thanked me and sent me back home.
"Before your Ryuu-jiichan see you and misunderstand." She told me. I didn't need telling twice.
-
A few months after that little incident was my 18th birthday. I was actually dreading that day. But my family just had to make me welcome the day extra earlier. At exactly 00:00, actually.
I woke up when my dear sister started wailing--er, singing Happy Birthday by my bed (she definitely didn't get any singing genes from Dad); with my mother and father showering me with confetti (which my mom would order me to clean in a few hours), and Aki-nii carrying my cake while looking amused and apologetic at the same time.
After that, unfortunately, I couldn't sleep anymore. My phone started ringing and I was happy to see that it was Kaori.
But then when I answered my phone,
"Nii-chan!" I groaned out loud. She had started calling me Yuu-chan again, but why did she suddenly..???
"I'll start calling you A-cup again." I just said. I never even realized that I did stopped calling her that when she stopped calling me Nii-chan until then.
"Ehh?? Why???"
"Don't call me Nii-chan, I'm not your brother." I said. I hoped it wouldn't hurt or offend her...
"But you're older. And you're of legal age now!" She said. I was happy she didn't say she considered me her brother. That was a good thing.
"I don't care, A-cup." I said.
"Nii-chan is so mean!" She said, but I knew from her voice that she was only teasing. I couldn't help but smile then.
"Why are you still awake?" I asked.
"Cause it's Yuu-chan's birthday." She just said.
I was quiet for a while. I was trying not to smile too much.
"Go to sleep." I said.
"Why?" She asked immediately.
"Because it's past your bedtime." I said playfully.
"Mou. I'm not a kid anymore!" She complained. I laughed out loud. She's just so cute.
"Yes you are. Now go to sleep." I told her, still chuckling a little.
"Fine then. Nii-chan no baka." She said.
"Go to sleep and hurry and grow up!" I said before hanging up on her.
Amazingly, I could finally go back to sleep after that.
-
That year, works came one after another. My dad said it was also like that for him and mom during their last year in high school (they both went to Horikoshi as well). I've had my first lead role in a drama that year. And my group finally debuted. You'd think that being Yamada Ryosuke and Yamada Mirai's son, you'd have no problems debuting, but that wasn't really the case. I have a fair amount of fans. I've been a Jr. since years ago. And I had been given minor roles to a few dramas before, but of course I still want to debut. I don't know how things work in JE, really.
Kaori (who had debuted since she was fourteen) was doing well with work, too. Her group started activities in South Korea that year and she had her second solo photobook. She really took her career her first priority. As far as I know, she'd never had another boyfriend after that stupid Kenta (not like she's allowed, but still).
We were both busy that year and the following years that we've rarely met even with being in the same neighborhood. But from what I saw of her (during accidental meet ups and when I glimpse her on the television), I knew I can't really call her A-cup anymore. I'm not trying to sound perv, I'm just saying. Anyway, she's become... well, beautiful. Very beautiful, actually. And I couldn't help but wish she'd never have a role as a leading lady, in a movie, drama or even in PVs. (I know I'm being ridiculous).
When I was twenty one, I was sad when I heard that Kaori would be filming a movie (her first) in Singapore during the summer. It would mean that I wouldn't be able to celebrate her 18th birthday with her (which would really suck, since I've already missed her 17th; it was during my band's Asian tour). But then, they finished their filming earlier than planned and they came back to Japan a day before her birthday.
Unfortunately, I had work on her birthday and I wasn't able to meet her anyway. (It sucks to be me.)
We were only able to meet about a week after, when it was finally my off (thank God). It was quite a sad reunion. I've missed her birthday and I couldn't really prepare anything special for her after a week.
The door to Morimoto house opened just after my second knock. It was Kaori who'd open it. She took one look at me, grinned and then gave me a big hug.
"Yuu-chan! It's like I haven't seen you for months!" She said. I think it really have been at least a month since I last saw her personally.
"I know." I said, a little glumly. "Belated Happy Birthday, kiddo." I patted her on her head.
"It was my eighteenth birthday, if you forgot. I'm not a kid anymore. I'm of legal age." She said as she stepped back to let me in.
"You're still four years younger than me."
I went straight to their sofa and sat. She followed me and sat across from me.
She rolled her eyes at me. "It's three years and four months younger, and that doesn't make me a kid."
I was about to retort but smiled after a beat. I was a bit surprised.
She help up her hand to me, palm up, and said, "Where's my gift?"
It was my time to roll my eyes at her as I handed her my gift. It wasn't anything significant. I couldn't really choose a proper gift since I only had yesterday night to buy.
She grinned as she took it. "Can I open it now?" She asked immediately.
"Yeah, sure. Such a kid."
She pouted as she opened the gift. "I am not a kid. I can marry right now if I want to." She said.
"You can't you have to have a boyfriend first."
"I may not have a boyfriend, but I do like someone." She said. I was very surprised, but I was able to retort without much delay.
"Marriage doesn't work that way though, it needs to be two people who like each other."
"Well, what if he likes me, too? He... well, he's very protective of me, I guess. He doesn't want to jeopardize my career." She said, looking down.
I stared at her, very surprised.
"Are you serious?" I couldn't help but ask. I was quite... shocked.
"Yes." She said. "Oh my God!" She then suddenly exclaimed. I registered after a few seconds that she had exclaimed because of my gift. It was just a simple gold necklace with a seashell pendant. When I saw it, I just remembered that she had given me a seashell when we were little.
"It's beautiful!" She told me, beaming. "It's the same shape as the one I gave you, isn't it?"
I blushed. I couldn't believe she remembered that. She was so young then.
I shook my head and tried to focus on the problem at hand. "Kaori, are you serious? What you said earlier..."
"I'm serious." She told me, looking serious now as she wore the necklace around her neck. "He's a little bit older than me, and I've liked him for very long now. I was worried he only saw me as a sister, but that wasn't the case. He was just a little worried about our age gap. As soon as I turned eighteen though, he'd finally got over it."
I couldn't help it. I gaped at her.
"W-who..?" I struggled to asked.
"I can't tell you. You wouldn't accept him. To you all that matters is age."
"That's not true. It doesn't matter at all as long as he's a decent guy and he loves you truly. Who is he?? Have I met him?" I asked, straining my mind trying to remember all the guy friends she and Yumi had introduced to me (they're basically in the same group of friends).
"You're only saying that. When I tell you, I bet you'd go all big brother on me and try to think of a way to bribe him into leaving the country." She said, glaring at me.
"What the hell, Kaori? I'm not even your brother!" I told him, slowly getting angry.
"Exactly! Why are you acting like one, then?" She retorted.
"I'm not!"
"You do! All my life, you've treated me like a little sister! Even more than Yumi-chan!" She said.
"Baka! I'm not! Do you even know what it's like??" I let out a heavy sigh, feeling very frustrated.
"What is it like?" She asked, looking straight at me.
I sighed again. "You wouldn't understand."
She groaned. "Quit treating me like a child!" She complained.
"Honestly, I think I'll always see you as a kid."
"Liar." She suddenly said. "Argh, you are so dense! Couldn't you even tell I was talking about you??? Please just get over your age-complex! I've already caught up! You did say you would wait for me. I'm already eighteen and a week old..."
I think my heart just stopped.
"Wha--- what? Y-you?" Not to mention my brain.
She sighed, exasperated. "Everyone knows. Even dad knows. Seriously, I think they've all known even before we did." She said. "It's not a bad thing." She added quietly. Not looking at me anymore. I couldn't see her expression but I was sure she was about to cry.
"Kaori..." I called.
"Just shut up, I don't wanna argue anymore." She said.
"Kaori, look at me."
"I don't want to." She said. Her voice cracked. She was definitely tearing up.
"Please?"
Silently she faced me, but her eyes were locked onto the ground.
I sighed in amusement and exasperation.
"How can I not treat you like a kid when you're acting like this?" I said quietly as I ruffled her hair.
I caught her hand just before it slapped my cheeks (good thing, too). She was already crying.
I couldn't help but laughed. Not at her, but at what's happening. Not to mention it would annoy her.
"Ugh! I hate you!" She said, trying to look away.
I held her face in place and grinned teasingly at her.
And before she could retort again (or hurt me), I finally told her.
"I love you."
END
AN:
-am so embarrassed. It's like i'm writing my first fic all over again. lols. i didn't know how to end it, hope that was okay. /shot
-i'm really struggling to write these days. not only because of mental block but because of all the distractions! i've realized this summer just how much i've missed and sacrificed for med. lol. i'm trying to catch up on many things (books, anime, manga, jdo, kdo, idol updates~). anyway, even if i'm not confident about this one, i did give my best on writing it so i hope you enjoyed reading. thank you~
-extra:
i tried ('try' being the operative word) morphing pics and failed. but i'll share it here. /shot
'Yamada Yuta' --basically just Ryosuke but with Mirai's eyes. I changed the hair a bit too... /shot
'Morimoto Kaori' --Kanon's face but with Ryuu's eyes and mouth
Author: macy
Pairing: NEW!YamadaxMorimoto; implied YamaShi, RyuuNon, etc.
Genre: Fluff, Romance
Rating: G
AN:
-unbetaed, written while desperately fighting off writing block, so i'm not quite sure about this. /shot
-Warning: excessive use of parenthesis (Yuta has many comments. lol)
-inspired by Princess Diaries fanfic Cracking, Shugo! Chara, and an RL event.
-for those who haven't read any of my futuristic fic these are my headcanons: (i wrote this with these headcanon established)[(click to open)]
~ YamaShi have 3 kids: Akiyoshi, Yuta (2 years younger than Aki) and Yumi (3 years younger than Yuta) > Yamada Family Fics
~ RyuuNon have an only daughter: Kaori (1 year younger than Yumi) --Kaori is mentioned in Yamada's Valentine's
~ UmiChii have twins: Sayuri and Kaito (a little older than Akiyoshi) > Always, Forever, Halfway
~ OhgoJima also have an only daughter: (Akiyoshi's age, more or less) > YamaJima, The Prophecy
~ Keito in Home (YamaShi family) is implied to have married Suzuki Airi and had 3 kids, a daughter and twin boys
Yamada Yuta's POV
The first time I met her, I was four. It wasn't like when it was Yumi. We weren't all hassling and stuffs. But that's only natural since it's not our family this time. It was even just a coincidence that my dad and I were actually there when it happened.
Dad had brought me to the hospital that day because I had accidentally swallowed a Lego piece (I was four, okay). Nothing major, really. My doctor was able to remove it without me having to go through operation. We were already about to go home when my dad's phone rang. He stopped walking after reading the text. I remembered how he had grinned then, looked at me and then asked,
"Do you think we can visit a friend first?"
I didn't understand, but I nodded anyway.
My dad looked really excited then. He ruffled my hair and then carried me to a room a few floors up. I don't remember much of how we got there, I just remember entering a white door, and then there was Ryuu-jiichan, grinning.
Jiichan patted my head as my dad put me down, and then he and dad talked. I had my eyes on the bed, though. Someone was crying. I could see Kanon-baachan on the bed, but she was smiling. She didn't look sad. She couldn't be the one crying, even though the sound seems to be coming from her.
She waved at me and gestured for me to come closer. I looked at my dad, but he was still talking to Ryuu-jiichan. So, I just went closer to the bed on my own.
And then, Kanon-baachan bend lower so I could see what she was carrying in her arms.
I saw a small and very pink face staring right at me. I looked at baachan again, confused. I didn't know who it was. Before Yumi was born, I've known all about her for months.
Baachan smiled at me and said, "Yuta-chan, this is Kaori-chan. Can you be her friend?"
Just then, the baby, Kaori, screamed--or was it a squeal?
Kanon-baachan laughed and said Kaori was happy. I smiled then and told Kaori,
"Okay, I'll be your friend!"
I kinda regretted saying that. People (meaning my and her parents, my siblings, and basically everyone who knew the two of us) took that as my promise to never leave her side. Seriously, you'd think I proposed or something (and I was 4! Jeez!). I didn't understand it then, but whenever there were a get together, they'd always but us together and they'd always take lots of photos of us.
Then, when I was a little older, they translated the word "friend" to "babysitter".
We went on a vacation when I was seven years old; Yamada, Nakajima, Chinen and Morimoto families together. That was actually the first time we all go together. The families are quite close, but we don't really see much of each other very often and certainly not all at once. By then though, Keito-jiji and his family was already in London so they couldn't be with us.
Our parents already expected that this private vacation may have leaked to the media, and that we may be followed by paparazzi, so they were very careful of how the families met, traveled and stuffs. We went to a private beach in Shizuoka owned by a friend of Yuri-jiji.
I don't remember much of the travel (it was by car, that at least I know) because I was asleep most of the time, and I bet the other kids are as well since we took our leave around 2AM. Anyway, when we reached the beach, and us kids are finally allowed to play (after eating breakfast and basically covering us with yucky-sticky-glue-thingy they called sun block), I was left alone with the little kids.
As always, Aki-nii and Yuka-nee was inseparable and the Chinen twins had invited them to look around the hills (without telling the adults, I should add). Incidentally, those four were the oldest and should have been the ones caring for the kids. But no, they left Yumi and Kaori with me, saying I was too young for a hike. I told them I was too old to play with 4 year olds (girls, no less!) but they ignored me. Seriously, Sayu-nee even threaten to tell Mom I was the reason Dad's Best Artist trophy (it was an accident!) if I told our parents what they were up to. If only Yumi didn't blab! (The traitor!)
I seriously didn't have fun the whole time we were there! Honest!
Well, except maybe for that time when Ryuu-jiichan played with us and he let us bury him in the sand. We shaped a fish tail on his feet so he looked like a mermaid. Yuto-jiji took so many pictures of him. And the time when Yumi, Kaori and I looked for seashells. Kaori had given me the prettiest she found. And that time we played Frisbee on the water with Mom and Suzu-baa... That was fun I guess. But other than that!
During our whole stay there (3 days and 2 nights), Kaori-chan kept following me wherever I go. That became another excuse for Niichan and the others to not let me come to wherever they disappear to. It really sucks being in the middle in terms of age. (You know, Aki-nii and the others are 2 years older than me, and Yumi and Kaori are at least 3 years younger than me.)
-
Even when I was nine, when we finally have another gathering with everyone (including Okamoto family this time, since they visited Japan for Christmas); even when Aoi and Akane (Keito-jiji's twin girls who are the same age as Yumi) were there, Kaori still chose to follow me. I don't even understand why! When I asked her, she said:
"It's because I like Yuu-chan the most!"
I don't really blame her for the maliciousness of the entire 7 families, but I do wish she hadn't said it for all of them to hear. Kaori had probably just meant it in a general, not-like-like way, and not like how everyone interpreted it. They never did live it down after that.
Before my family left the following day, though, she didn't follow me around like usual. Actually, she seemed to have been avoiding me. The others kept teasing her, so I guess it was natural... But right before I got on our car, Kanon-baachan with Kaori in tow, had called for me.
Baachan was smiling when she said that Kaori had wanted to say goodbye to me.
A blushing Kaori then approached me (looking very nervous), and said in a determined voice:
"I'll wait for you!"
All I could reply was an "Eh?"
Baachan giggled and said in a soft voice, "She was muttering earlier about your age gap."
I couldn't help but blush then. I being nine and her being five is irrelevant, that's considered a confession!
Baachan laughed more loudly this time and I just sighed in defeat. I couldn't help but give a small smile (in slight exasperation and amusement), and then gave Kaori a pat on her head.
"Isn't it the other way around, Kaori?"
-
When I was fifteen years old, year Kaori and her family moved into our neighborhood. They had been living with Baachan's parents, if I'm not mistaken, but Kaori had started being very active in the entertainment industry and will be going to high school soon, so they decided to move. That year was one of my most confusing years ever. It was the year I realize that I am not exactly not-attracted with Kaori. She's certainly getting prettier. But she probably doesn't even remember how she had, well, as-good-as confessed to me when she was little. She probably thinks of me as an older brother or something! She'd stopped calling me Yuu-chan and instead started calling me, 'Nii-san.'
I experienced the whole ordeal: being very self-conscious whenever she's around, being scared of Ryuu-jiichan for no reason at all, the butterflies, the cold sweat, the overwhelming desire for her to notice me and not notice me, the ridiculous happiness and goose bumps creeping whenever she's near. I freaking got the whole oxytocin-reaction. And I just didn't know what to do so I just tried to avoid her as much as possible.
Unfortunately, it was also the year Kaori had gone down with measles and the year she got a new baby cousin.
It was already our winter break then so we didn't have classes. In that particular day, Yumi and I were the only ones at home though, because our parents and niichan all had works.
I remember I was in the kitchen (Yumi, I think, was in her room) when I heard our front door open. I immediately went to check and for the first time, I saw a very haggard-looking baachan.
One look at me, and she started speaking very fast. She told me that Kaori's aunt Riho's water apparently broke and both Ryuu-jiichan and Shin-chan (he asked us to call him that) was away so she needed to go, and so could I please go to their house to watch Kaori because she was sick and all.
I barely understood, but I nodded anyway, seeing how desperate Baachan looked. I wasn't even finished with my nod when she said a very quick thanks and then go. It all kinda happened in a blur.
I asked Yumi to go with me, but she reminded me that she hasn't been immunized from measles still so she couldn't come. I seriously think someone up there has it in for me.
*I really wasn't exactly very friendly towards Kaori during those days because of recent realizations. But I grudgingly took on the task of taking care of her, not that I had to do much, just check on her occasionally throughout the day, make sure she took her medication and get her to eat and drink. That, out of everything else, was the hardest thing to do, because she just wasn't hungry (I Googled it and found out anorexia is one of measles' symptoms) and when she did eat she just ended up throwing it all back up half an hour later, which of course made me check on her more and more often until I just stayed with her.
Kaori fell in and out of fitful sleeps that she'd wake up from in jolts as she either kicked the blankets off to cool herself down or try desperately pulling them back over her because she was freezing.
"How are you feeling?" I asked her around evening. Kanon-baachan calls every now and then, but it seems she still couldn't come back. I don't know if niichan or my parents were already home, but I couldn't really leave Kaori alone. She had been waking and sleeping sporadically all night and this was the longest she had been awake so far.
I was sitting on the floor, leaning my back against the bed, close to where her head was resting on a pile of pillows.
"Hmmm?" she mumbled as she looking at me with blurry eyes.
"How are you feeling?" I repeated gently as I, without even thinking, brushed her fringe from her sweaty forehead.
"Like dead." She said with the slightest of smiles, pressing her burning forehead against my fingers.
"Nice." She added with a sigh as her clammy hand reached out and grasp my wrist with slightly trembling fingers and pressed my hand more firmly against her forehead.
I twisted more firmly around to face her, making it easier for her to hold my hand and less awkward for my hand to be held. My other hand reached out and repeatedly wiped her fringe and hair from her forehead and face.
"Nice." She mumbled again and I grinned.
I didn't understand then why it made me so insanely happy about being so close to her, especially when I had been spending weeks trying to stay away from her, but then, being that close to her, with her hand holding one of mine and my other brushing at her hair and face, it felt right, not wrong.
I never wanted to stop, never wanted her to let go of my hand.
"Yuu-chan?"
"Hmmm?"
"My head hurts."
"Do you want some pain-killers?" I moved as if to get up though I hadn't wanted to leave her side because that would mean losing contact with her.
But to my slight relief she had shaken her head slowly, gripping my hand more tightly in hers.
"Are you sure?" I asked. She nodded again.
I looked back towards the TV.
"Yuu-chan?"
"Hmmm." I looked back at her, only to have her mouth bump into mine and then pressed against it. It couldn't be really classed as a kiss. It was an accident, and I felt so damn pathetic because that was one of the happiest days of my life. It barely even last 2 seconds! It was gone as soon as it came! I guess sleep finally caught up on her again, her mouth falling from mine as her head thumped against the pillows, while I stared at her with an open mouth.
I felt so confused and overwhelmed. I felt so conflicted, and guilty, and happy, and pathetic. Not to mention very worried, because she's still burning with fever!
I collapsed down the floor with just exhaustion (mentally and emotionally).
"Is it considered pedophilia when, technically, we're both minors?" I asked allowed, out of frustration.
I was very nervous the next day, but then it became very clear that she didn't remember anything from last night. I didn't know if I was relieved or disappointed.
-
She was barely fourteen when I saw her walking home with a boy, who I found out (from Yumi) later was her actual boyfriend. It bothered me a little but...
Well, okay, it bothered me a whole lot. I didn't like it one bit.
The next day, I woke up very early so I could go to school with Yumi. It's nothing to do with Yumi always going to school with Kaori since her middle school and Horikoshi is in the same way. Honest!
"You're early today." Yumi had commented when we were preparing to leave.
"I have club activities." I told her.
"If you say so." She just said, not looking up from her phone.
I knew I was being overly obvious, but she knows anyway (though I would firmly deny it if I'm asked--it just doesn't feel right, okay. I mean, she's so young!). She'd been giving me that knowing smile whenever I'm in the same room as Kaori since three years ago.
Yumi and I left together and met with Kaori in front of her house. She looked surprised to see me, but she had smiled and greeted both Yumi and me cheerfully.
They started talking once we started walking and left me feeling a little neglected. I don't even remember why I wanted to go to school with them. What was I thinking, really??
But then, someone called Yumi from the back and the three of us looked back. It was one of Yumi's classmates, who's also an actor.
"Shizu!" Yumi had called with a grin. Shizu had greeted me and Kaori and then she and Yumi started talking, and walked a few steps in front of Kaori and me.
There was definitely awkwardness when Yumi was gone, so as per usual, I started teasing her (my only way to dodge discomfort and self-consciousness).
"A-cup, what's this I hear about t you having a boyfriend?" Shit, I didn't mean to open that particular subject. I'm such a masochist.
She rolled her eyes at me. "Stop calling me that!" She said, her usual reaction. But she completely ignored my question. That's okay. I didn't want to talk about that anyway.
"You do know you're not allowed, do you?" Why am I doing this???? "Isn't your agency strict?"
"It's not that strict." She said quietly.
"You still have to be careful. And you worked so hard to debut, too..." I said seriously. I hastily added, "Who would want to date an A-cup like you, anyway?"
Before she could retort though, someone called my name.
It was Yamamoto, one of my classmates. She's a gravure idol. I realized we were already close to Horikoshi.
"Ohayou." Yamamoto greeted Kaori and me.
"Ohayou." I just say while Kaori just bowed in greeting. I inwardly sighed. Yamamoto... not that I don't like her (as a person in general), but she's been not-so-subtly expressing interest in me, and it just makes things a little uncomfortable.
"Uhmm," Kaori said with a tug on my sleeves. (She's about a head shorter than me). "I'm going this way, so..." She pointed at the next street.
"Right." I said, awkwardly. "See you then, A-cup."
She just stuck her tongue at me and continued walking. I watched her for a few moments before sighing in defeat and walking towards my own school, with Yamamoto trying to chat me up.
"By the way, Yamada-kun." Yamamoto said as we entered our classroom. "My mom gave me tickets to that new Ocean Park. I know you're interested with marine life so I thought I'd ask you if you wanted to go."
"Sorry." I said, too quickly. I'm such a jerk, I know.
"I mean..." I tried again, but I just didn't know what to say. "I'm sorry, Yamamoto." I said in defeat.
"I'm... I'm not... er, I like you as a friend. And I..."
"I'm sorry." She suddenly said, not looking at me. "I know you're not allowed, I--"
"It's not just that..." I said. It was so hard to explain! "I... you see I'm only interested in flat-chested girls."
I gaped at what I just said. I'm so stupid!
"No- I mean, shit, I sound like a pervert do I? I... There's nothing wrong with you-! Obviously something's wrong with me I mean, you're great and everything but--" I was babbling I know, but I was panicking!
"I'm not her." She suddenly said, finally looking at me, and even offering a small sad smile.
"I'm sorry!" I said, because I didn't know what else to say.
"I'm sorry, too." She told me. "But thank you for telling me honestly." She just said and then bowed and walked towards her seat.
I didn't really know what happened. I knew I could have done better, but there was also a part of me that felt a little lighter after that.
-
I waited for Yumi when the classes was over so we could go home together. She didn't looked surprised when she saw me by the gates but only said,
"Kaori doesn't go home with me anymore."
"Why are you telling me this?" I asked her immediately. She just shrugged.
We started walking home quietly. After a while, I couldn't stand the silence anymore.
"Where's A-cup, anyway?" I had to ask.
Yumi shook her head in obvious exasperation. "Probably with Kenta-kun, her boyfriend."
I irrationally felt very annoyed. "And I told her to be careful too, that girl..."
"You know that's sexual harassment." Yumi suddenly said.
"Huh?"
"You calling Kaori, A-cup." Yumi said.
"It's not like that!"
"You've always been looking at her. That's why you can notice she's an a-cup. You've always seen her as a girl." Yumi said nonchalantly.
I was just speechless.
"Why don't you just tell her how you feel?" She probed.
"You just said she have a boyfriend!"
"Now you're honest."
"Just shut up already!"
-
It was autumn of the same year when she called me in the middle of night and I couldn't understand a thing she said. I was still sleepy and she was making a weird sound. After a while I realized she was crying. And then she became quiet in the other line.
"Kaori?" I urged.
"Can I see Yuu-chan?" She suddenly asked, very quietly. I sat up at once. It's been years since she last call me that.
"Sure. I'll come now. Wait for me, kay?" I said immediately.
"Kay..." I barely heard her reply.
I got up from bed and went straight to their house, without thinking. I didn't bother to change out of my pajamas or think about the time or about what Jiichan and Baachan would think when I knock on their door in the middle of the night.
I was in front of their house in no time. I was about to knock when the door opened.
"Kaori..."
She took one look at me and then burst into tears. I didn't know what to do, so I cautiously stepped closer and awkwardly patted her on her head.
"What happened? Why are you bawling?" I said. Don't get me wrong. I was seriously worried. But, as I said, I can't really express myself well.
She was still crying, but she hit me on my chest.
"That hurts! Why are you hurting me? What happened?" I asked again. "Where are baachan and jiichan?"
"T-they're already asleep... And I-I can't tell them why I'm like this..."
"Do you mind telling me? I did rush here in the middle of the night. I didn't come here to get hit by you, you know."
She tried to hit me again then, but luckily I was able to dodge.
After that though, she kept quiet and I just stood there, watching her; at a loss of what to do.
"Do you mind letting me in, at least?" I asked teasingly. I was trying to lighten up the mood. I was worried about her, but I... I just have a hard time expressing myself, okay?? It happens. I'm a teenager after all.
She pouted but gestured for me to come in, anyway. She wasn't crying very hard anymore, and that was a relief.
We went to their living room and sat on the sofa. Kaori was covering her face, but I wasn't sure if she'd started crying again.
"What really happened?" I asked again. I was actually feeling a bit impatient. I was worried about her.
She placed her hands on her lap but didn't face me. Instead, she stared at the floor, but thank goodness she started talking.
"He... Kenta's leaving soon..." She said in a barely audible voice. I strained my ears so I could understand her.
"Kenta." I just say.
"He's my--"
"What do you mean by leaving?" I asked hurriedly.
"His father's been transfered to LA... I... He didn't think long distance relationship would work so..."
"He du--er, broke up with you??" I thought I'd feel happy when they broke up (I knew they will!), and I couldn't understand myself but I felt really angry when I heard her say it. I guess, there's a part of me that felt insulted that someone would actually do that when you have someone like Kaori. Okay, I'll shut up. I'm starting to sound uncharacteristic.
Kaori only nodded. She looked about to cry again, so I hastily said.
"So... do you want me to beat him up or something? Kenta, you say? He goes to the same school as you, right?"
"I don't want you to beat him up!" She suddenly said, aghast.
I knew she'd say that. I tried to keep my face straight as I say, "Eh? What do you mean? That's why you called me right?"
"It's not like that!" She said with a pout.
"Then why am I here?"
"Yuu-chan!" She whined, knowing I was just teasing. I couldn't help but laugh, then. I was happy she didn't revert back into calling me 'nii-chan.'
"Seriously though, what do you want from me? Like, an advice or something?"
"...I guess it would be good if you could give me one." She said sulkily.
I shrugged, nonchalantly. Though I really was trying to choose the right words frantically inside. "Just forget about him. He's planning to forget you anyway. It's such a waste of body fluids to cry for a jerk like that."
"Yuu-chan..!"
"Why are you even troubled? People come, but not everyone stays; some go. It's just as simple as that." I said seriously.
"It's not simple at all..." She said.
I rolled my eyes at her theatrically. "Stop whining already." I told her gently.
"Anyway, it's probably your fault." I added in a sudden inspiration.
She looked up at that, surprised. She was clearly confused.
"...since you're an A-cup."
"Yuu-chan!" She complained, but I could see that she had lighten up. She had smiled a little.
"It's true! It's natural for men to think about those things. I've read somewhere in the net that the attraction is nature, not nurture. It's to do with the hormones!" I told her. (And I'm not lying, you can look it up in the net if you want.)
And finally, she laughed. It wasn't her usual cheery laugh, but it was a start. "Too much information!!" She told me while she covered her ears.
"Okay." I said with a clap. "Do you have some chocolates and strawberries? I can prepare something for you." I told her. It was one thing we had in common. We seriously loves strawberries. My mom said I got it from my dad, and Kaori probably got it from her mom.
She gave me a small, sad smile.
"I'm not really hungry..." She told me timidly.
I sighed and offered a small smile to her as well. "You really like him that much?"
She didn't answer but instead asked in return, "Don't you have someone you like?"
"I do." I said.
She was quiet, but I knew she was curious.
"You." I told her after a beat.
"Eh???"
"You know you always follow me around when we were little. And when I asked you why, you told me it was because you like me most. But now it seems I've been defeated by your Kenta. You even told me to wait for you." I said with a sigh.
She blushed. So she remembers.
But she frowned at me. "You're teasing me..." She said suspiciously.
I ignored her comment. "I was actually very annoyed when I heard you had a boyfriend. You as good as confessed to me, and then the next thing I knew..." I sighed heavily. "I thought I'd be happy when you broke up, but when you're sad like this..."
She was blushing even more now. She was staring at me like she couldn't believe she was seeing me. Like I'm some unicorn or something.
We stayed silent for a while, and then I couldn't take it anymore and I laughed, hard.
"You actually believed me??" I told her. I knew I was being a jerk. I seriously wanted to confess, but I... I was scared, okay. I was so overwhelmed so I just took it back. I'm stupid, I know.
"Yuu-chan!!!!" She was blushing and she wasn't looking at me but she was able to hit me continuously. I was laughing hard, and she then she was laughing with me. But after a while she was crying again, but she still didn't stop hitting me though it slowly became very weak. And then I was hugging her and she was crying, hugging me too.
I didn't really remember what happened next. We probably dozed off like that. The next morning, Baachan (thank God!) found us asleep on the couch and woke me up. I told her what happened (just the part of Kaori calling me and being sad). She thanked me and sent me back home.
"Before your Ryuu-jiichan see you and misunderstand." She told me. I didn't need telling twice.
-
A few months after that little incident was my 18th birthday. I was actually dreading that day. But my family just had to make me welcome the day extra earlier. At exactly 00:00, actually.
I woke up when my dear sister started wailing--er, singing Happy Birthday by my bed (she definitely didn't get any singing genes from Dad); with my mother and father showering me with confetti (which my mom would order me to clean in a few hours), and Aki-nii carrying my cake while looking amused and apologetic at the same time.
After that, unfortunately, I couldn't sleep anymore. My phone started ringing and I was happy to see that it was Kaori.
But then when I answered my phone,
"Nii-chan!" I groaned out loud. She had started calling me Yuu-chan again, but why did she suddenly..???
"I'll start calling you A-cup again." I just said. I never even realized that I did stopped calling her that when she stopped calling me Nii-chan until then.
"Ehh?? Why???"
"Don't call me Nii-chan, I'm not your brother." I said. I hoped it wouldn't hurt or offend her...
"But you're older. And you're of legal age now!" She said. I was happy she didn't say she considered me her brother. That was a good thing.
"I don't care, A-cup." I said.
"Nii-chan is so mean!" She said, but I knew from her voice that she was only teasing. I couldn't help but smile then.
"Why are you still awake?" I asked.
"Cause it's Yuu-chan's birthday." She just said.
I was quiet for a while. I was trying not to smile too much.
"Go to sleep." I said.
"Why?" She asked immediately.
"Because it's past your bedtime." I said playfully.
"Mou. I'm not a kid anymore!" She complained. I laughed out loud. She's just so cute.
"Yes you are. Now go to sleep." I told her, still chuckling a little.
"Fine then. Nii-chan no baka." She said.
"Go to sleep and hurry and grow up!" I said before hanging up on her.
Amazingly, I could finally go back to sleep after that.
-
That year, works came one after another. My dad said it was also like that for him and mom during their last year in high school (they both went to Horikoshi as well). I've had my first lead role in a drama that year. And my group finally debuted. You'd think that being Yamada Ryosuke and Yamada Mirai's son, you'd have no problems debuting, but that wasn't really the case. I have a fair amount of fans. I've been a Jr. since years ago. And I had been given minor roles to a few dramas before, but of course I still want to debut. I don't know how things work in JE, really.
Kaori (who had debuted since she was fourteen) was doing well with work, too. Her group started activities in South Korea that year and she had her second solo photobook. She really took her career her first priority. As far as I know, she'd never had another boyfriend after that stupid Kenta (not like she's allowed, but still).
We were both busy that year and the following years that we've rarely met even with being in the same neighborhood. But from what I saw of her (during accidental meet ups and when I glimpse her on the television), I knew I can't really call her A-cup anymore. I'm not trying to sound perv, I'm just saying. Anyway, she's become... well, beautiful. Very beautiful, actually. And I couldn't help but wish she'd never have a role as a leading lady, in a movie, drama or even in PVs. (I know I'm being ridiculous).
When I was twenty one, I was sad when I heard that Kaori would be filming a movie (her first) in Singapore during the summer. It would mean that I wouldn't be able to celebrate her 18th birthday with her (which would really suck, since I've already missed her 17th; it was during my band's Asian tour). But then, they finished their filming earlier than planned and they came back to Japan a day before her birthday.
Unfortunately, I had work on her birthday and I wasn't able to meet her anyway. (It sucks to be me.)
We were only able to meet about a week after, when it was finally my off (thank God). It was quite a sad reunion. I've missed her birthday and I couldn't really prepare anything special for her after a week.
The door to Morimoto house opened just after my second knock. It was Kaori who'd open it. She took one look at me, grinned and then gave me a big hug.
"Yuu-chan! It's like I haven't seen you for months!" She said. I think it really have been at least a month since I last saw her personally.
"I know." I said, a little glumly. "Belated Happy Birthday, kiddo." I patted her on her head.
"It was my eighteenth birthday, if you forgot. I'm not a kid anymore. I'm of legal age." She said as she stepped back to let me in.
"You're still four years younger than me."
I went straight to their sofa and sat. She followed me and sat across from me.
She rolled her eyes at me. "It's three years and four months younger, and that doesn't make me a kid."
I was about to retort but smiled after a beat. I was a bit surprised.
She help up her hand to me, palm up, and said, "Where's my gift?"
It was my time to roll my eyes at her as I handed her my gift. It wasn't anything significant. I couldn't really choose a proper gift since I only had yesterday night to buy.
She grinned as she took it. "Can I open it now?" She asked immediately.
"Yeah, sure. Such a kid."
She pouted as she opened the gift. "I am not a kid. I can marry right now if I want to." She said.
"You can't you have to have a boyfriend first."
"I may not have a boyfriend, but I do like someone." She said. I was very surprised, but I was able to retort without much delay.
"Marriage doesn't work that way though, it needs to be two people who like each other."
"Well, what if he likes me, too? He... well, he's very protective of me, I guess. He doesn't want to jeopardize my career." She said, looking down.
I stared at her, very surprised.
"Are you serious?" I couldn't help but ask. I was quite... shocked.
"Yes." She said. "Oh my God!" She then suddenly exclaimed. I registered after a few seconds that she had exclaimed because of my gift. It was just a simple gold necklace with a seashell pendant. When I saw it, I just remembered that she had given me a seashell when we were little.
"It's beautiful!" She told me, beaming. "It's the same shape as the one I gave you, isn't it?"
I blushed. I couldn't believe she remembered that. She was so young then.
I shook my head and tried to focus on the problem at hand. "Kaori, are you serious? What you said earlier..."
"I'm serious." She told me, looking serious now as she wore the necklace around her neck. "He's a little bit older than me, and I've liked him for very long now. I was worried he only saw me as a sister, but that wasn't the case. He was just a little worried about our age gap. As soon as I turned eighteen though, he'd finally got over it."
I couldn't help it. I gaped at her.
"W-who..?" I struggled to asked.
"I can't tell you. You wouldn't accept him. To you all that matters is age."
"That's not true. It doesn't matter at all as long as he's a decent guy and he loves you truly. Who is he?? Have I met him?" I asked, straining my mind trying to remember all the guy friends she and Yumi had introduced to me (they're basically in the same group of friends).
"You're only saying that. When I tell you, I bet you'd go all big brother on me and try to think of a way to bribe him into leaving the country." She said, glaring at me.
"What the hell, Kaori? I'm not even your brother!" I told him, slowly getting angry.
"Exactly! Why are you acting like one, then?" She retorted.
"I'm not!"
"You do! All my life, you've treated me like a little sister! Even more than Yumi-chan!" She said.
"Baka! I'm not! Do you even know what it's like??" I let out a heavy sigh, feeling very frustrated.
"What is it like?" She asked, looking straight at me.
I sighed again. "You wouldn't understand."
She groaned. "Quit treating me like a child!" She complained.
"Honestly, I think I'll always see you as a kid."
"Liar." She suddenly said. "Argh, you are so dense! Couldn't you even tell I was talking about you??? Please just get over your age-complex! I've already caught up! You did say you would wait for me. I'm already eighteen and a week old..."
I think my heart just stopped.
"Wha--- what? Y-you?" Not to mention my brain.
She sighed, exasperated. "Everyone knows. Even dad knows. Seriously, I think they've all known even before we did." She said. "It's not a bad thing." She added quietly. Not looking at me anymore. I couldn't see her expression but I was sure she was about to cry.
"Kaori..." I called.
"Just shut up, I don't wanna argue anymore." She said.
"Kaori, look at me."
"I don't want to." She said. Her voice cracked. She was definitely tearing up.
"Please?"
Silently she faced me, but her eyes were locked onto the ground.
I sighed in amusement and exasperation.
"How can I not treat you like a kid when you're acting like this?" I said quietly as I ruffled her hair.
I caught her hand just before it slapped my cheeks (good thing, too). She was already crying.
I couldn't help but laughed. Not at her, but at what's happening. Not to mention it would annoy her.
"Ugh! I hate you!" She said, trying to look away.
I held her face in place and grinned teasingly at her.
And before she could retort again (or hurt me), I finally told her.
"I love you."
END
AN:
-am so embarrassed. It's like i'm writing my first fic all over again. lols. i didn't know how to end it, hope that was okay. /shot
-i'm really struggling to write these days. not only because of mental block but because of all the distractions! i've realized this summer just how much i've missed and sacrificed for med. lol. i'm trying to catch up on many things (books, anime, manga, jdo, kdo, idol updates~). anyway, even if i'm not confident about this one, i did give my best on writing it so i hope you enjoyed reading. thank you~
-extra:
i tried ('try' being the operative word) morphing pics and failed. but i'll share it here. /shot
'Yamada Yuta' --basically just Ryosuke but with Mirai's eyes. I changed the hair a bit too... /shot
'Morimoto Kaori' --Kanon's face but with Ryuu's eyes and mouth