"Language Barriers Do Not Apply" Chapter Seven
Title: Language Barriers Do Not Apply
Chapter: 7/12
Fandom: Arashi
Character, Pairing(s): Matsumoto Jun/Zac Efron, Sho --> Jun, implied past Jun --> Sho
Rating: T
Warnings: Language, implied situations.
Summary: What had been a one-time thing has turned into ... not a one-time thing. And they aren't the only ones involved.
From: Jun
To: Zac
Date: June 24th
Subject: Bags?
[Text mark-up = English]
Hi. Sorry I have not able to email you. Things are busy here. You understand? Lot of filming, promotion, you know. I purchase “English Conversation” set. Listen to it all the time, but does not help with writing. It gives me the feeling of school. At least there are no examinations.
Last time we talking about bags that got lost in Brazil. Did you get back yet? In all these years traveling, I not have been inconvenience in that way. Sorry to hear about losses.
Jun
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From: Zac
To: Jun
Date: June 23rd
Subject: Re: Bags?
[Text mark-up = English]
It is good to hear from you! I’m happy to report that I did get my bags about five days after I got home. Japan Airlines is tons better than United, that’s for damn sure. I would have responded in Japanese, but I’m actually on my iPhone at Starbucks right now and it would take me the better part of the day to write back in that way so…gomen ne, right? Haha. Sorry for being lazy.
You know, growing up with English you never really realize how hard it is to actually learn. Japanese is giving me a lot of trouble but English is harder I think. So many of our words are borrowed from other places and all the rules have exceptions most of the time. It’s really irritating!!
I’m meeting a friend for coffee so I’ll write you a proper email later.
Zac
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From: Jun
To: Sho
Date: June 24th
Subject: Translation help
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Show characters? = Y]
This was in an email. It says “Japan Airlines is tons better than United” - so what does the word “tons” mean in this context? My dictionary says ton for weight, 1000 kg. What the hell?
Thanks if you can help.
--------
From: Sho
To: Jun
Date: June 24th
Subject: Re: Translation help
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Show characters? = Y]
In that sentence, it just means “a lot” so Japan Airlines is a lot better than United, much better than United, like that.
Let me know if you need any more help. I’m so bored today.
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From: Jun
To: Sho
Date: June 24th
Subject: Re: Re: Translation help
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Show characters? = Y]
Where are you?
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From: Sho
To: Jun
Date: June 24th
Subject: Re: Re: Translation help
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Show characters? = Y]
Filming for Zero. Supposed to be anyhow. It’s for a piece on juvenile delinquents, but there was some kind of fight in the detention center so they have to calm everyone down before they let our crew in. I’m seriously just sitting outside on a bench. It’s HOT.
-------
To: Zac
From: Jun
Date: June 27th
Subject: Re: Re: Bags
[Text mark-up = English]
Glad to know you received bags. Are you filming now? My schedule has got full, so will be very busy now. It is busy having so many shows at the same time.
Aiba-chan wanted me to give you a message: "Hi!!!" I do not know if you remember him. He is the one always crazy acting.
If you are not busy, I will call this Saturday? Faster than email. I am still not good at writing.
Jun
-------
To: Jun
From: Zac
Date: June 26th
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Bags
[Text mark-up = English]
Actually, your English isn't that bad! Sorry about before- I've been playing catch up with a lot of my friends here since I was busy for along while, plus traveling. I am in the middle of filming a new movie, now, and it's fun but very time-consuming. I'm crossing my fingers that the project goes well without problems. And that it gets good reviews, of course!
I do remember Aiba, he was the one who came up with the dance you had to do during the show, right?
I can be available on Saturday, if you mean my Saturday. That would be your Sunday? It's probably easiest to call me at night, so that would be around 9 AM Sunday your time. Let me know if this works for you.
Zac
---------
To: Zac
From: Ashley
Date: June 28th
Subject: Lunch Again?
[Text mark-up = English]
Hey Zac!!
Thanks again for the awesome presents- I've already gotten comments on them! I know you're in the middle of filming that new Warner Bros. movie (your agent said that it was going to last for a few more months, at least) but I think he mentioned it was in CA? If you are in LA again, let me know and we can get lunch! I feel bad when we go without talking for awhile, lol, I think it's just leftover from HSM days when I saw you 24/7!!
Love,
Ash
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To: Zac
From: Jun
Date: June 31st
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Bags
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Show characters? = Y]
You have to work harder for this email, High School Musical. It’s only fair, after all. I will try to keep my sentences easy for you.
You might remember that I am not a morning person, but for you, I suppose I could make an exception. I will call you on your Saturday, my Sunday, but expect to do most of the talking.
---------
To: Jun
From: Zac
Date: June 30th
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Bags
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Show characters? = Y]
Babelfish was unhelpful. Time for call is good. You are “S” for a reason. Hour to translate your message (but ‘High School Musical’ in Katakana helped).
Talk to you soon. You I impress with new Japanese language I have learned.
------
To: Zac
From: Jun
Date: July 6th
Subject: Impressed
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Show characters? = Y]
What website did you use to learn those words?
If this is going to become a common occurrence I'm not going to get much done on Sundays.
-------
To: Jun
From: Zac
Date: July 5th
Subject: Re: Impressed
[Text mark-up = English]
A gentleman never kisses and tells about those things. Haha.
It was so good to hear your voice again. Better than good. Amazing. I hope you weren’t late to your filming though. I’m busy this weekend. We’re doing a location shoot, and I’d rather give you my full attention.
Let’s try for the week after that?
-------
To: Jun
From: Aiba
Date: July 8th
Subject: Wow!!!!!!!!
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Show characters? = Y]
MatsuJun!
Hello! How are you today? I just got back from zoo shooting in Hokkaido and they showed High School Musical 3 on the plane ride. Tell your friend Zac that it was super cool! He’s a great singer and dancer. Maybe he should tour with Arashi next time? Haha, I’m just kidding. But all the basketball too. I hope he visits again so I can play him one on one.
Be sure and let him know he’s got TWO fans from our group now! Wow, it was fun!
Aiba
P.S. I don’t really think high school in America is like that, but if it was, I would have moved.
-------
To: Zac
From: Jun
Date: July 9th
Subject: Re: Re: Impressed
[Text mark-up = English]
Sorry for late reply. Next week is okay. Late night filming is difficult adjust to. Been a long time since I slept this little.
Looking forward to talking to you.
--------
To: Ashley
From: Zac
Date: July 9th
Subject: Re: Lunch Again!
Hey Ash,
Will be back in LA week from Wednesday. Wanna meet up then? I have a meeting with my agent that morning but as long as he doesn't talk too much (no promises) I should be done around lunch time. Wanna go for sushi in Little Tokyo? I swear chopsticks aren't that hard to use.
Zac
---------
To: Jun
From: Zac
Date: July 21st
Subject: Your English is improving
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Display characters? = Y]
I do not want to see phone bill for this month. Hearing your voice before bed is good. You tire me in best way. Hard to get through night now without thinking of words say you to me on phone.
Filming over next month, then post-production. No promoting obligation until February. Think of me visit sometime end of 2009?
------
To: Zac
From: Ashley
Date: July 23rd
Subject: I’m sorry!!!!
[Text mark-up = English]
Zac, I am so so sorry if anything I said at lunch yesterday might have embarrassed you. I just care a lot about you and want you to be happy. Please don’t think I was judging when I brought up your friend. It’s not who he is (or that he’s a he, you know) but it’s the where he is. I don’t want you to get hurt. I can see you really care about this person. I did not want to make you upset, I’m really sorry.
You can come to me any time.
Ash
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To: Sho
From: Nino
Date: August 3rd
Subject: Seriously
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Display characters? = Y]
What the hell is wrong with you? You've been moping for three days. Buck up before someone else notices.
-------
To: Sho
From: Jun
Date: August 3rd
Subject: Reschedule?
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Display characters? = Y]
Sorry about missing lunch and not calling back, can we reschedule? Been really busy. Can we try for a weekday this time?
-------
To: Jun
From: Sho
Date: August 4th
Subject: Re: Reschedule?
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Display characters? = Y]
We can reschedule. Zero filming Wed-Thurs. Friday okay?
-------
To: Sho
From: Nino
Date: August 6th
Subject: No, seriously
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Display characters? = Y]
You have more moods than a hormonal teenage girl. What gives?
-------
To: Zac
From: Jun
Date: August 12th
Subject: New Years
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Display characters? = Y]
We have a filming usually every year on New Year’s Eve but New Year’s Day and the following week seem pretty open.
I don’t want to be too forward, but would you like to stay at my place? There is more privacy that way.
--------
To: Jun
From: Zac
Date: August 12th
Subject: Re: New Years
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Display characters? = Y]
I do not mind hotel but if you do not think it would be noticed by photographer then I would love to stay with you. Plane tickets cheap now and would prefer soon booking them. I can land on 30 December and spend New Year with you when your filming obligation done. Would love to ring in new year before rest of the world.
Will start counting days until see you again.
---------
To: Nino
From: Sho
Date: August 13th
Subject: Re: No, seriously
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Display characters? = Y]
You’re being nosy for nothing. There’s nothing wrong. At all. I’m just tired! Hours of learning new choreography is harder for some than others you know.
--------
To: Sho
From: Nino
Date: August 14th
Subject: Re: Re: No, seriously
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Display characters? = Y]
Can you smell that?
It's the stench of your bullshit.
--------
To: Zac
From: Jun
Date: August 25th
Subject: Re: Re: New Years
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Display characters? = Y]
It's usually not an issue, I think we'll be fine. And the dates sound good for booking, so if you want to get the ticket now you can do that. The obligation New Year's Eve doesn't run too late into the morning, usually. Since there are a lot of the Juniors there, we can get away with only minimal after-filming partying. You can watch it on TV, if you want, from my apartment- haha of course then I might screw up the dance steps I've known for five years.
Miss you. Call this Saturday?
-------
To: Jun
From: Zac
Date: August 25th
Subject: Re: Re: Re: New Years
[Text mark-up = English]
Ticket booked. Saturday open. Can't wait to hear your voice.
-------
To: Zac
From: Ashley
Date: September 15th
Subject: Re: Getting it off my chest
[Text mark-up = English]
Wow, that is really awful. Well, not awful, but it sure does complicate things. I wish I knew what to say to help you. So he admitted that he used to like the other guy, but that he doesn’t any more? Did he say that for sure? The way you talk about him, he seems like an honest guy but was there something ‘lost in translation’ or whatever? How did that even come up? Did he drunk dial you all the way from Tokyo to admit something like that?
I’m here for you, let me know what you need
Ash
----------
To: Ashley
From: Zac
Date: September 16th
Subject: Re: Re: Getting it off my chest
[Text mark-up = English]
I may have overreacted. What does it matter who Jun might have liked ten years ago, right? I don’t know. It’s just that they’re still in the same group. They see each other almost every day. I don’t know if I’d be able to stay focused around someone I used to be crazy about every day and not feel something. This guy never noticed, he said, or he refused to notice. I’m not sure I heard him right. He wasn’t drunk so much as he was tired and I guess it just kind of slipped out, and he wasn’t really interested in answering any of my questions. And maybe I was a bit rude and accusing towards him, I don’t know.
But I have this suspicion that the other guy likes Jun now. Or he does and just doesn’t realize it. And if Jun still has these feelings under the surface. I don’t know how to confront him about it. You’re right. There’s a lot between us that gets lost because we don’t speak enough of each other’s language.
Maybe I can clear it up when I see him again.
--------
To: Jun
From: Sho
Date: September 25th
Subject: (No subject)
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Display characters? = Y]
Sorry if you got that last email twice. My phone’s been acting up. I don’t want to seem nosy, but you’ve been kind of quiet the past few days. Did I say or do something weird?
-------
To: Sho
From: Jun
Date: September 27th
Subject: Re: (No subject)
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Display characters? = Y]
I’ve been busy. I’m sorry.
-------
To: Jun
From: Nino
Date: October 4th
Subject: Hey
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Display characters? = Y]
Did Sho say something to you? You guys are so quiet around each other. You’re giving me the creeps, the both of you
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To: Nino
From: Jun
Date: October 5th
Subject: Re: Hey
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Display characters? = Y]
No he didn’t say anything. You’re like that nosy old woman in those over the top dramas. Sho-san and I aren’t fighting.
-------
To: Sho
From: Nino
Date: October 12th
Subject: Okay what the hell
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Display characters? = Y]
What is the deal with you and MatsuJun?
--------
To: Nino
From: Sho
Date: October 13th
Subject: Re: Okay what the hell
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Display characters? = Y]
??? Nothing?
--------
To: Aiba
From: Jun
Date: October 16th
Subject: High School Musical
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Display characters? = Y]
Just a heads up. Zac will be visiting during New Years so you can have your basketball tournament I guess.
--------
To: Sho
From: Aiba
Date: October 18th
Subject: Guess what!!!
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Display characters? = Y]
Jun’s friend from America is coming back at New Years. Do you think…?
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To: Zac
From: Jun
Date: October 21st
Subject: Okay?
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Display characters? = Y]
Are you okay? I haven't heard from you in awhile. Hope nothing happened, having bad thoughts of car accidents or something. Let me know you're okay- I've left some voice mails, but I guess you're really busy.
Hit me back so I know everything is okay.
-------
To: Jun
From: Zac
Date: October 23rd
Subject: Re: Okay?
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Display characters? = Y]
Sorry. Very busy. Nothing is wrong. I'll call you in a few weeks, yes? Lot on my mind.
-------
To: Sho
From: Jun
Date: November 1st
Subject: Messages
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Display characters? = Y]
Your phone isn't acting up that much, I got all seven of your voice mails.
-------
To: Zac
From: Ashley
Date: November 13th
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Getting it off my chest
[Text mark-up = English]
It's probably not something you should try do over the phone. You just have to talk to each other, and I know it's hard, but communication is the only thing that's going to hold you guys together. I know it's hard, but you really should wait until you can see each other again, you know?
I'm sorry I can't be more help. Do you want to get dinner to get your mind off of things?
-------
To: Jun
From: Sho
Date: November 15th
Subject: What time?
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Display characters? = Y]
Are we still on for drinks with Toma and the others tomorrow? All my signals are crossed and Aiba has no idea what’s up.
Oh, and unrelated, but I’m going to some ski resort near Sapporo for New Years. I can already hear you laughing. It’s people from middle school having a reunion. I promise to wear a helmet. Maybe I’ll just make a snowman.
-------
To: Ashley
From: Zac
Date: November 16th
Subject: Dinner
[Text mark-up = English]
Can’t do dinner, booked up this week. I could do a lunch next Friday or Saturday. I was able to call Jun last night, sorted some things out. Pretty much - he’s not sorry for how he used to feel, and why should he be? He says he’s over it, so I can only trust him. I can’t control the other guy. January will be interesting.
------
To: Sho
From: Jun
Date: November 16th
Subject: Re: What time?
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Display characters? = Y]
I think it was 22:00 because I know Toma’s shooting until 21:30 and this is the closest in the neighborhood.
Stick with the snowman. What day are you leaving?
------
To: Sho
From: Nino
Date: November 19th
Subject: Sapporo
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Display characters? = Y]
Since when do you ski?
--------
To: Nino
From: Toma
Date: November 20th
Subject: Missing something?
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Display characters? = Y]
Am I missing something really important? Sho and Jun barely spoke two words to each other at dinner the other night. I felt like I was in the middle of some awful family fight or something.
-------
To: Toma
From: Nino
Date: November 21st
Subject: Re: Missing Something?
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Display characters? = Y]
We should get lunch. Call me tomorrow.
-------
To: Jun
From: Zac
Date: November 22nd
Subject: Filming Done
[Text mark-up = English]
Done with the movie filming. It's nice having free time again. It's Thanksgiving week over here, which I know is probably a weird holiday, haha. I know I've been really distant lately, and I'm sorry- things have just been really crazy, and I guess I got caught up in everything. It's so much harder to keep things in perspective when you're so far away. I feel like there's a lot more distance between us than just the ocean.
I'm sorry things got so weird, I know most of it was my fault. I hope I can make everything okay again when I get over there.
I miss you.
--------
To: Zac
From: Jun
Date: November 23rd
Subject: Re: Filming Done
[Text mark-up = English]
If anything was my fault, I'm sorry. I'm glad you are coming back here. Everything be okay once we talk again.
--------
To: Sho
From: Jun
Date: December 5th
Subject: Lunch
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Display characters? = Y]
Lunch next Friday? I know it's been weird. Don't have much time in Shukudai-kun filming, and I wanted to make sure things were okay before you went on your skiing trip.
-------
To: Jun
From: Sho
Date: December 6th
Subject: Re: Lunch
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Display characters? = Y]
Okay
--------
To: Ashley
From: Zac
Date: December 15th
Subject: Leaving Soon
[Text mark-up = English]
I'm heading back to Tokyo at the end of this month, and I wanted to let you know. It's been weird, but you've been the only person I could really talk to about this. Thanks for being there, Ash. Thanks for everything.
I'll call you when I get back to the states.
--------
To: Zac
From: Jun
Date: December 21st
Subject: Times?
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Display characters? = Y]
What time are you getting in? Just want to make sure I have the time right.
------
To: Jun
From: Zac
Date: December 22nd
Subject: Re: Times?
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Display characters? = Y]
1:24 PM.
Can't wait to see you.
Chapter: 7/12
Fandom: Arashi
Character, Pairing(s): Matsumoto Jun/Zac Efron, Sho --> Jun, implied past Jun --> Sho
Rating: T
Warnings: Language, implied situations.
Summary: What had been a one-time thing has turned into ... not a one-time thing. And they aren't the only ones involved.
From: Jun
To: Zac
Date: June 24th
Subject: Bags?
[Text mark-up = English]
Hi. Sorry I have not able to email you. Things are busy here. You understand? Lot of filming, promotion, you know. I purchase “English Conversation” set. Listen to it all the time, but does not help with writing. It gives me the feeling of school. At least there are no examinations.
Last time we talking about bags that got lost in Brazil. Did you get back yet? In all these years traveling, I not have been inconvenience in that way. Sorry to hear about losses.
Jun
-------
From: Zac
To: Jun
Date: June 23rd
Subject: Re: Bags?
[Text mark-up = English]
It is good to hear from you! I’m happy to report that I did get my bags about five days after I got home. Japan Airlines is tons better than United, that’s for damn sure. I would have responded in Japanese, but I’m actually on my iPhone at Starbucks right now and it would take me the better part of the day to write back in that way so…gomen ne, right? Haha. Sorry for being lazy.
You know, growing up with English you never really realize how hard it is to actually learn. Japanese is giving me a lot of trouble but English is harder I think. So many of our words are borrowed from other places and all the rules have exceptions most of the time. It’s really irritating!!
I’m meeting a friend for coffee so I’ll write you a proper email later.
Zac
-------
From: Jun
To: Sho
Date: June 24th
Subject: Translation help
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Show characters? = Y]
This was in an email. It says “Japan Airlines is tons better than United” - so what does the word “tons” mean in this context? My dictionary says ton for weight, 1000 kg. What the hell?
Thanks if you can help.
--------
From: Sho
To: Jun
Date: June 24th
Subject: Re: Translation help
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Show characters? = Y]
In that sentence, it just means “a lot” so Japan Airlines is a lot better than United, much better than United, like that.
Let me know if you need any more help. I’m so bored today.
--------
From: Jun
To: Sho
Date: June 24th
Subject: Re: Re: Translation help
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Show characters? = Y]
Where are you?
--------
From: Sho
To: Jun
Date: June 24th
Subject: Re: Re: Translation help
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Show characters? = Y]
Filming for Zero. Supposed to be anyhow. It’s for a piece on juvenile delinquents, but there was some kind of fight in the detention center so they have to calm everyone down before they let our crew in. I’m seriously just sitting outside on a bench. It’s HOT.
-------
To: Zac
From: Jun
Date: June 27th
Subject: Re: Re: Bags
[Text mark-up = English]
Glad to know you received bags. Are you filming now? My schedule has got full, so will be very busy now. It is busy having so many shows at the same time.
Aiba-chan wanted me to give you a message: "Hi!!!" I do not know if you remember him. He is the one always crazy acting.
If you are not busy, I will call this Saturday? Faster than email. I am still not good at writing.
Jun
-------
To: Jun
From: Zac
Date: June 26th
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Bags
[Text mark-up = English]
Actually, your English isn't that bad! Sorry about before- I've been playing catch up with a lot of my friends here since I was busy for along while, plus traveling. I am in the middle of filming a new movie, now, and it's fun but very time-consuming. I'm crossing my fingers that the project goes well without problems. And that it gets good reviews, of course!
I do remember Aiba, he was the one who came up with the dance you had to do during the show, right?
I can be available on Saturday, if you mean my Saturday. That would be your Sunday? It's probably easiest to call me at night, so that would be around 9 AM Sunday your time. Let me know if this works for you.
Zac
---------
To: Zac
From: Ashley
Date: June 28th
Subject: Lunch Again?
[Text mark-up = English]
Hey Zac!!
Thanks again for the awesome presents- I've already gotten comments on them! I know you're in the middle of filming that new Warner Bros. movie (your agent said that it was going to last for a few more months, at least) but I think he mentioned it was in CA? If you are in LA again, let me know and we can get lunch! I feel bad when we go without talking for awhile, lol, I think it's just leftover from HSM days when I saw you 24/7!!
Love,
Ash
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To: Zac
From: Jun
Date: June 31st
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Bags
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Show characters? = Y]
You have to work harder for this email, High School Musical. It’s only fair, after all. I will try to keep my sentences easy for you.
You might remember that I am not a morning person, but for you, I suppose I could make an exception. I will call you on your Saturday, my Sunday, but expect to do most of the talking.
---------
To: Jun
From: Zac
Date: June 30th
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Bags
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Show characters? = Y]
Babelfish was unhelpful. Time for call is good. You are “S” for a reason. Hour to translate your message (but ‘High School Musical’ in Katakana helped).
Talk to you soon. You I impress with new Japanese language I have learned.
------
To: Zac
From: Jun
Date: July 6th
Subject: Impressed
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Show characters? = Y]
What website did you use to learn those words?
If this is going to become a common occurrence I'm not going to get much done on Sundays.
-------
To: Jun
From: Zac
Date: July 5th
Subject: Re: Impressed
[Text mark-up = English]
A gentleman never kisses and tells about those things. Haha.
It was so good to hear your voice again. Better than good. Amazing. I hope you weren’t late to your filming though. I’m busy this weekend. We’re doing a location shoot, and I’d rather give you my full attention.
Let’s try for the week after that?
-------
To: Jun
From: Aiba
Date: July 8th
Subject: Wow!!!!!!!!
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Show characters? = Y]
MatsuJun!
Hello! How are you today? I just got back from zoo shooting in Hokkaido and they showed High School Musical 3 on the plane ride. Tell your friend Zac that it was super cool! He’s a great singer and dancer. Maybe he should tour with Arashi next time? Haha, I’m just kidding. But all the basketball too. I hope he visits again so I can play him one on one.
Be sure and let him know he’s got TWO fans from our group now! Wow, it was fun!
Aiba
P.S. I don’t really think high school in America is like that, but if it was, I would have moved.
-------
To: Zac
From: Jun
Date: July 9th
Subject: Re: Re: Impressed
[Text mark-up = English]
Sorry for late reply. Next week is okay. Late night filming is difficult adjust to. Been a long time since I slept this little.
Looking forward to talking to you.
--------
To: Ashley
From: Zac
Date: July 9th
Subject: Re: Lunch Again!
Hey Ash,
Will be back in LA week from Wednesday. Wanna meet up then? I have a meeting with my agent that morning but as long as he doesn't talk too much (no promises) I should be done around lunch time. Wanna go for sushi in Little Tokyo? I swear chopsticks aren't that hard to use.
Zac
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To: Jun
From: Zac
Date: July 21st
Subject: Your English is improving
[Text mark-up = Japanese; Display characters? = Y]
I do not want to see phone bill for this month. Hearing your voice before bed is good. You tire me in best way. Hard to get through night now without thinking of words say you to me on phone.
Filming over next month, then post-production. No promoting obligation until February. Think of me visit sometime end of 2009?
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To: Zac
From: Ashley
Date: July 23rd
Subject: I’m sorry!!!!
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Zac, I am so so sorry if anything I said at lunch yesterday might have embarrassed you. I just care a lot about you and want you to be happy. Please don’t think I was judging when I brought up your friend. It’s not who he is (or that he’s a he, you know) but it’s the where he is. I don’t want you to get hurt. I can see you really care about this person. I did not want to make you upset, I’m really sorry.
You can come to me any time.
Ash
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To: Sho
From: Nino
Date: August 3rd
Subject: Seriously
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What the hell is wrong with you? You've been moping for three days. Buck up before someone else notices.
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To: Sho
From: Jun
Date: August 3rd
Subject: Reschedule?
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Sorry about missing lunch and not calling back, can we reschedule? Been really busy. Can we try for a weekday this time?
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To: Jun
From: Sho
Date: August 4th
Subject: Re: Reschedule?
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We can reschedule. Zero filming Wed-Thurs. Friday okay?
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To: Sho
From: Nino
Date: August 6th
Subject: No, seriously
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You have more moods than a hormonal teenage girl. What gives?
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To: Zac
From: Jun
Date: August 12th
Subject: New Years
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We have a filming usually every year on New Year’s Eve but New Year’s Day and the following week seem pretty open.
I don’t want to be too forward, but would you like to stay at my place? There is more privacy that way.
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To: Jun
From: Zac
Date: August 12th
Subject: Re: New Years
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I do not mind hotel but if you do not think it would be noticed by photographer then I would love to stay with you. Plane tickets cheap now and would prefer soon booking them. I can land on 30 December and spend New Year with you when your filming obligation done. Would love to ring in new year before rest of the world.
Will start counting days until see you again.
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To: Nino
From: Sho
Date: August 13th
Subject: Re: No, seriously
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You’re being nosy for nothing. There’s nothing wrong. At all. I’m just tired! Hours of learning new choreography is harder for some than others you know.
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To: Sho
From: Nino
Date: August 14th
Subject: Re: Re: No, seriously
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Can you smell that?
It's the stench of your bullshit.
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To: Zac
From: Jun
Date: August 25th
Subject: Re: Re: New Years
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It's usually not an issue, I think we'll be fine. And the dates sound good for booking, so if you want to get the ticket now you can do that. The obligation New Year's Eve doesn't run too late into the morning, usually. Since there are a lot of the Juniors there, we can get away with only minimal after-filming partying. You can watch it on TV, if you want, from my apartment- haha of course then I might screw up the dance steps I've known for five years.
Miss you. Call this Saturday?
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To: Jun
From: Zac
Date: August 25th
Subject: Re: Re: Re: New Years
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Ticket booked. Saturday open. Can't wait to hear your voice.
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To: Zac
From: Ashley
Date: September 15th
Subject: Re: Getting it off my chest
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Wow, that is really awful. Well, not awful, but it sure does complicate things. I wish I knew what to say to help you. So he admitted that he used to like the other guy, but that he doesn’t any more? Did he say that for sure? The way you talk about him, he seems like an honest guy but was there something ‘lost in translation’ or whatever? How did that even come up? Did he drunk dial you all the way from Tokyo to admit something like that?
I’m here for you, let me know what you need
Ash
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To: Ashley
From: Zac
Date: September 16th
Subject: Re: Re: Getting it off my chest
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I may have overreacted. What does it matter who Jun might have liked ten years ago, right? I don’t know. It’s just that they’re still in the same group. They see each other almost every day. I don’t know if I’d be able to stay focused around someone I used to be crazy about every day and not feel something. This guy never noticed, he said, or he refused to notice. I’m not sure I heard him right. He wasn’t drunk so much as he was tired and I guess it just kind of slipped out, and he wasn’t really interested in answering any of my questions. And maybe I was a bit rude and accusing towards him, I don’t know.
But I have this suspicion that the other guy likes Jun now. Or he does and just doesn’t realize it. And if Jun still has these feelings under the surface. I don’t know how to confront him about it. You’re right. There’s a lot between us that gets lost because we don’t speak enough of each other’s language.
Maybe I can clear it up when I see him again.
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To: Jun
From: Sho
Date: September 25th
Subject: (No subject)
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Sorry if you got that last email twice. My phone’s been acting up. I don’t want to seem nosy, but you’ve been kind of quiet the past few days. Did I say or do something weird?
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To: Sho
From: Jun
Date: September 27th
Subject: Re: (No subject)
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I’ve been busy. I’m sorry.
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To: Jun
From: Nino
Date: October 4th
Subject: Hey
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Did Sho say something to you? You guys are so quiet around each other. You’re giving me the creeps, the both of you
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To: Nino
From: Jun
Date: October 5th
Subject: Re: Hey
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No he didn’t say anything. You’re like that nosy old woman in those over the top dramas. Sho-san and I aren’t fighting.
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To: Sho
From: Nino
Date: October 12th
Subject: Okay what the hell
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What is the deal with you and MatsuJun?
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To: Nino
From: Sho
Date: October 13th
Subject: Re: Okay what the hell
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??? Nothing?
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To: Aiba
From: Jun
Date: October 16th
Subject: High School Musical
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Just a heads up. Zac will be visiting during New Years so you can have your basketball tournament I guess.
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To: Sho
From: Aiba
Date: October 18th
Subject: Guess what!!!
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Jun’s friend from America is coming back at New Years. Do you think…?
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To: Zac
From: Jun
Date: October 21st
Subject: Okay?
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Are you okay? I haven't heard from you in awhile. Hope nothing happened, having bad thoughts of car accidents or something. Let me know you're okay- I've left some voice mails, but I guess you're really busy.
Hit me back so I know everything is okay.
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To: Jun
From: Zac
Date: October 23rd
Subject: Re: Okay?
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Sorry. Very busy. Nothing is wrong. I'll call you in a few weeks, yes? Lot on my mind.
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To: Sho
From: Jun
Date: November 1st
Subject: Messages
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Your phone isn't acting up that much, I got all seven of your voice mails.
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To: Zac
From: Ashley
Date: November 13th
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Getting it off my chest
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It's probably not something you should try do over the phone. You just have to talk to each other, and I know it's hard, but communication is the only thing that's going to hold you guys together. I know it's hard, but you really should wait until you can see each other again, you know?
I'm sorry I can't be more help. Do you want to get dinner to get your mind off of things?
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To: Jun
From: Sho
Date: November 15th
Subject: What time?
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Are we still on for drinks with Toma and the others tomorrow? All my signals are crossed and Aiba has no idea what’s up.
Oh, and unrelated, but I’m going to some ski resort near Sapporo for New Years. I can already hear you laughing. It’s people from middle school having a reunion. I promise to wear a helmet. Maybe I’ll just make a snowman.
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To: Ashley
From: Zac
Date: November 16th
Subject: Dinner
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Can’t do dinner, booked up this week. I could do a lunch next Friday or Saturday. I was able to call Jun last night, sorted some things out. Pretty much - he’s not sorry for how he used to feel, and why should he be? He says he’s over it, so I can only trust him. I can’t control the other guy. January will be interesting.
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To: Sho
From: Jun
Date: November 16th
Subject: Re: What time?
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I think it was 22:00 because I know Toma’s shooting until 21:30 and this is the closest in the neighborhood.
Stick with the snowman. What day are you leaving?
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To: Sho
From: Nino
Date: November 19th
Subject: Sapporo
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Since when do you ski?
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To: Nino
From: Toma
Date: November 20th
Subject: Missing something?
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Am I missing something really important? Sho and Jun barely spoke two words to each other at dinner the other night. I felt like I was in the middle of some awful family fight or something.
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To: Toma
From: Nino
Date: November 21st
Subject: Re: Missing Something?
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We should get lunch. Call me tomorrow.
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To: Jun
From: Zac
Date: November 22nd
Subject: Filming Done
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Done with the movie filming. It's nice having free time again. It's Thanksgiving week over here, which I know is probably a weird holiday, haha. I know I've been really distant lately, and I'm sorry- things have just been really crazy, and I guess I got caught up in everything. It's so much harder to keep things in perspective when you're so far away. I feel like there's a lot more distance between us than just the ocean.
I'm sorry things got so weird, I know most of it was my fault. I hope I can make everything okay again when I get over there.
I miss you.
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To: Zac
From: Jun
Date: November 23rd
Subject: Re: Filming Done
[Text mark-up = English]
If anything was my fault, I'm sorry. I'm glad you are coming back here. Everything be okay once we talk again.
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To: Sho
From: Jun
Date: December 5th
Subject: Lunch
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Lunch next Friday? I know it's been weird. Don't have much time in Shukudai-kun filming, and I wanted to make sure things were okay before you went on your skiing trip.
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To: Jun
From: Sho
Date: December 6th
Subject: Re: Lunch
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Okay
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To: Ashley
From: Zac
Date: December 15th
Subject: Leaving Soon
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I'm heading back to Tokyo at the end of this month, and I wanted to let you know. It's been weird, but you've been the only person I could really talk to about this. Thanks for being there, Ash. Thanks for everything.
I'll call you when I get back to the states.
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To: Zac
From: Jun
Date: December 21st
Subject: Times?
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What time are you getting in? Just want to make sure I have the time right.
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To: Jun
From: Zac
Date: December 22nd
Subject: Re: Times?
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1:24 PM.
Can't wait to see you.