Nobody’s a picture perfect but we’re worth it
Nobody’s a picture perfect but we’re worth it
Takaki Yuya/Ishida Nicole
PG-13
♦ Title lifted from Kelly Clarkson’s song Dark Side
♦ I spent months agonizing over this fic. I’m just happy I was able to finish it.
♦ This thought sprung up primarily because I had a marathon of the Gokusen series (and movie) a couple of months ago and I really noticed how cute Takaki is with his quirks and mannerisms. He doesn’t look so annoying to me anymore and I really like his eyes. And Oretachi no Song solidified my thought that he really is the best singer in JUMP.
♦ Also wrote this because I found this weird.
♦ I don’t know much about Ishida Nicole except that she’s with Miura Haruma and Kaku Kento in RUSS-K and she guested in VS Arashi previously. She’s quite pretty. In some angles, she looks like an older Ayaka Wilson.
♦ Dedicated to maplarojcan. Thank you for always giving me the confidence. I’m glad this fic was able to make you smile.
“A blind date?” Takaki asked as he sipped on his glass. “No thanks. I’m waiting for Aya to come around.”
“Hirayama?” Miura incredulously asked. “Forget about her. She left you for that what’s-his-name businessman! Find someone your own age Takaki.”
The berated idol raised an eyebrow.
“And the girl you’re trying to hook me up with is my age?”
“Yes, she is. She’s born in our year. You can check out her profile in the Internet if you want to be sure,” Miura smirked.
“Whatever. Leave me alone.”
“I absolutely cannot!” came the indignant reply. “Look…just stop doing this to yourself, okay?”
When nothing but the roll of the eyes was the reply to him, Miura turned to Kiriyama beside him. “Akito, tell him!”
“Yes Takaki, take this date,” Kiriyama’s tone seemed robotic. “The girl is absolutely stunning. If only it was me that Haruma set up with her…”
“Why don’t you go in my place then?”
“I’m not the one seriously needing a reality check.”
Takaki glared at his friends across from him. The two merely laughed at him.
“Come on Takaki,” Miura coaxed. “You’ve got nothing to lose.”
The boy in question stared at him. Moments later, Takaki stood up and slapped some bills on the table.
“I’ll think about it.”
Miura glanced at his watch.
7:52 PM.
He fidgeted and opened up his phone. Browsing through his list of contacts, Miura pressed the call button at a certain name only to drop it after a voicemail greeted him.
He turned to the girl who was scribbling away on a table napkin. She did not seem to show signs of impatience. He hoped she was not, that is.
The actor was about to talk to her when the restaurant doors opened and calls of welcome were heard from the attendants.
Looking up, Miura was relieved to see Takaki. At the very least, the idol had the decency of quickening his steps and rushing over to their table.
Miura stood up and grabbed Takaki’s arm.
“What took you so long?!” he hissed.
“The photo shoot had minor glitches; I told you about it. And besides, it’s not yet eight, so technically, I’m not late.”
“Fine,” Miura sighed inwardly cursing Takaki for his cheekiness.
He took a seat and gestured for Takaki to do the same. He then turned to the girl beside him. She now let go of her pen and was looking at Takaki expectantly. Takaki, on the other hand, had yet to properly look at the girl before him.
Miura cleared his throat. “Takaki, this is Ishida Nicole. Nicole, this is Takaki Yuya.”
“Hello, nice to meet you,” Ishida was unexpectedly shy.
Takaki simply blinked and stared at Ishida.
Miura smirked. He then kicked Takaki’s leg under the table, chuckling at the jerk the idol produced.
“Oh, hi! Nice to meet you, I’m Takaki.”
Ishida’s smile in turn widened as Miura called over an attendant and Takaki gaped at the girl yet again.
“I hope this, um, meeting wasn’t much of a bother to you Takaki-san.”
“Oh you don’t know how mu- ”
“Shut up Haruma,” Takaki snapped before he turned to Ishida. “It’s not a bother at all. I admit at first I was hesitant but this certainly is not a bother. Not at all.”
“Keito, how do you say you’re beautiful in English?”
“You’re beautiful.”
“How about, you look cute with your hair like that?”
“You look cute with your hair set like that.”
“Oh, nice. Then how about, can I take you out for dinner?”
“Can I take you out for dinner?” Okamoto obediently translated for Takaki as he fiddled with his guitar.
“Takaki what in the world is this all about?” Arioka remarked as he could not form a sound reason of why Takaki was asking Okamoto all these questions while pointing his phone to the younger one to record the answers.
The boy in question looked up in surprise. “Oh, nothing.”
“Dude,” Yaotome spoke up in a corner, “Haruma told me something. I wonder if this is about that.”
Takaki immediately went red at Yaotome’s teasing and knowing expression.
“Oh really? It must be very interesting for Takaki to go red just like that,” Inoo grinned. “Do tell Hikaru.”
“Hmmm…,” Yaotome pretended to be thinking. “Why don’t we let Takaki say it? It very much concerns him after all…”
Inoo walked over to Takaki and plopped himself on the elder’s lap.
“Takaki, tell me now!” Inoo wailed. “I wanna know.”
The assaulted boy tried to push Inoo away but he was adamant, enclosing Takaki in a hug.
“No! I don’t want to ruin anything this early.”
“Oh?” Inoo stopped struggling. “You mean this girl is special enough?”
Takaki blushed again and answered in a small voice. “Yes.”
“Oh well, if you say it’s like that, I can let it slide for now,” Inoo said as he stood up. But then he rounded back on the older boy. “You need to share with us though if you are already secured with her, got it?”
Takaki could only nod meekly as Inoo went back to the couch and opened up one of his books.
Ishida was surprised as a florist gave her a bouquet of pretty, wild flowers. Struggling to extract the card from the bottom, she failed to notice Miura’s smirk and Kaku’s awed expression.
In familiar hand writing, Ishida read:
I read online that in the USA, during Valentine’s Day, guys are the ones giving something to the girls they like.
I didn’t get you roses because I think they’re a bit cliché but I’m very much hoping that you like the flowers I selected.
They are as beautiful and vibrant as you.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Takaki
Ishida was now just beyond speechless. She carefully laid out the bouquet on her dressing table and pulled out her phone.
Thank you very much for the flowers. I did not expect this at all. They are just so lovely. Thank you again.
Will you be free anytime today? Is it possible to meet up? I…also have something to give to you.
A simple reply five minutes later put in a big smile on Ishida’s face.
Needless to say, she was just giddy all throughout the RUSS-K photo shoot.
This was really the first time they became awkward with each other.
They met up in the secluded family restaurant that Miura had first taken them to.
When their orders were already noted, silence ensued for a minute before Ishida gasped.
“I need to give you something. Silly me, I almost forgot.”
“Oh hey, calm down. No need to get so worked up,” Takaki said as Ishida frantically dug into her bag.
She brought out a medium sized box enclosed in a blue wrapping.
“For you,” Ishida squeaked as she placed the box on the table and slid it to Takaki’s direction.
“I thought pinks and reds and hearts were all just so overrated so I had this. I hope you do like it though.”
Takaki gingerly opened the box and his face lit up at the assortment of treats. He looked up at Ishida. “May I?”
“Go ahead, go ahead,” Ishida vigorously nodded her head.
The boy picked up a chocolate ball littered with orange frosting and popped it into his mouth. His eyes closed as he savored the taste.
“This is so delicious,” Takaki grinned brightly. “Thank you very much.”
“You’re welcome,” Ishida shyly replied. “I’m glad you liked it.”
The boy just nodded as he covered up the box and gently set it inside his bag.
Soon after, their food arrived and both were dissolved into a conversation of how their day went by.
They never did hear a click nor see a flash going off in their direction.
“Takaki, you’ve been Friday-ed yet again,” his manager sighed as he soothed a growing headache.
Takaki simply hung his head low and kept quiet. He did not know what to say anyway. The pictures (three of them; one was of them enjoying the meal, and the two others as he patted her head and ushered her in a cab) spoke for themselves.
“I’m really very sorry.”
Takaki did a full bow to all his group mates. Fighting the urge to tear up, he shut his eyes tight.
“Yuuyan,” Inoo righted his position. “You don’t need to go to this extent.”
“But…but I got into another scandalous article. I’m always giving you guys headaches with my carelessness.”
Yabu sighed. “Yuya, you are not careless. This girl, this girl is special to you, we know. We very much feel it. There is no need to berate yourself. We overcame a similar situation before; we will easily do it now.”
“Yabu-kun’s right Takaki,” Nakajima spoke up. “And besides, you’re happy. JUMP’s happiness is number one priority, right?”
Takaki looked around and saw the others nod. Although their faces were now blurring because of the tears gathering up, he could still see the looks of understanding and pride in his group mates’ faces.
“Well, if you really want to make it up to us, give me that song you’ve been working on and I will ask the management to make it our next single,” Yaotome said. “Or a b-side, whatever the case.”
Takaki nodded as he was engulfed in a hug by everyone in JUMP.
“Thank you,” he sobbed. “Thank you very much.”
“Um, guys, this is Nicole,” Takaki nervously called out. “Nicole, these are my group mates.”
Ishida nodded her head and in a soft voice said hello. She then inched closer to Takaki.
“Woah, we don’t bite,” Inoo joked as he saw Ishida’s move.
The girl blushed and shrank closer to Takaki.
“Stupid Inoo-chan,” Chinen smacked said boy’s arm. “See what you did? She’ll become more uncomfortable with what you did.”
“Hello, I’m Yabu Kota,” Yabu offered a wave, his eyes becoming slits as he smiled warmly.
“Yo, Hikaru here. I was Haruma’s classmate in high school, by the way.”
“Oh,” Ishida smiled.
“Hi, I’m Daiki. The stupid one’s Inoo. That’s Chinen, the tall boy is Yuto, and next to him are Keito, Yamada, and Ryutaro.” Arioka had taken it upon himself to introduce each one.
“Good afternoon. I’m Ishida Nicole. I’m sorry for barging in to your meal.”
“Oh, it’s no problem,” Inoo countered.
Ishida bit her lip for a while before bowing.
“I am also very sorry for the inconvenience my actions have caused you. I hope you will forgive me for that.”
“Oh god,” Morimoto groaned. “A girl’s version of Takaki’s speech.”
“Ryutaro!” Yamada scolded Morimoto as he pushed the younger lightly. “I’m sorry. This kid is just a bit insensitive. But we’re shaping him up.”
Ishida shook her head. “No, no…”
“Ishida-san,” Inoo spoke up once more. “As what we have told Yuya, you don’t need to punish yourself too much over this. What’s done is done. What you have is something special. Please take care of it. Of course we love our fans and our job but first and foremost, we love Yuya. We want him to be happy. And he has found that happiness with you. That is the most important thing.”
By this time, Ishida already had tears spilling out of her eyes.
“Inoo-chan, what did you do?” Nakajima scolded but there was a content smile in his face.
“What?” Inoo countered. “You guys would have said the same.”
“True,” Arioka confirmed as Takaki drew Ishida closer to wipe her tears.
“There, there now. Hush. You are liked by the special people in my life.”
“Ne, Ishida-san, did you know Takaki wrote two songs about you?” Yamada teased.
“Shut up Yama-chan!”
“Yeah. It was just oozing with romance, those songs,” Yabu added on.
“Shut up Yabu! You’re not my leader anymore.”
“I’m not even your leader in the first place!” the other idol countered Takaki.
“But I guess those just came easily to Takaki as he already has the beautiful inspiration,” Okamoto said before letting any argument escalate.
“Mm-hmm,” the others agreed.
“Nicole?”
Ishida turned to Takaki. “Hmm?”
“Let’s be happy, okay?”
The girl nodded and they both shared sweet smiles before looking up at the sky dotted with bright stars.
Takaki Yuya/Ishida Nicole
PG-13
♦ Title lifted from Kelly Clarkson’s song Dark Side
♦ I spent months agonizing over this fic. I’m just happy I was able to finish it.
♦ This thought sprung up primarily because I had a marathon of the Gokusen series (and movie) a couple of months ago and I really noticed how cute Takaki is with his quirks and mannerisms. He doesn’t look so annoying to me anymore and I really like his eyes. And Oretachi no Song solidified my thought that he really is the best singer in JUMP.
♦ Also wrote this because I found this weird.
♦ I don’t know much about Ishida Nicole except that she’s with Miura Haruma and Kaku Kento in RUSS-K and she guested in VS Arashi previously. She’s quite pretty. In some angles, she looks like an older Ayaka Wilson.
♦ Dedicated to maplarojcan. Thank you for always giving me the confidence. I’m glad this fic was able to make you smile.
“A blind date?” Takaki asked as he sipped on his glass. “No thanks. I’m waiting for Aya to come around.”
“Hirayama?” Miura incredulously asked. “Forget about her. She left you for that what’s-his-name businessman! Find someone your own age Takaki.”
The berated idol raised an eyebrow.
“And the girl you’re trying to hook me up with is my age?”
“Yes, she is. She’s born in our year. You can check out her profile in the Internet if you want to be sure,” Miura smirked.
“Whatever. Leave me alone.”
“I absolutely cannot!” came the indignant reply. “Look…just stop doing this to yourself, okay?”
When nothing but the roll of the eyes was the reply to him, Miura turned to Kiriyama beside him. “Akito, tell him!”
“Yes Takaki, take this date,” Kiriyama’s tone seemed robotic. “The girl is absolutely stunning. If only it was me that Haruma set up with her…”
“Why don’t you go in my place then?”
“I’m not the one seriously needing a reality check.”
Takaki glared at his friends across from him. The two merely laughed at him.
“Come on Takaki,” Miura coaxed. “You’ve got nothing to lose.”
The boy in question stared at him. Moments later, Takaki stood up and slapped some bills on the table.
“I’ll think about it.”
Miura glanced at his watch.
7:52 PM.
He fidgeted and opened up his phone. Browsing through his list of contacts, Miura pressed the call button at a certain name only to drop it after a voicemail greeted him.
He turned to the girl who was scribbling away on a table napkin. She did not seem to show signs of impatience. He hoped she was not, that is.
The actor was about to talk to her when the restaurant doors opened and calls of welcome were heard from the attendants.
Looking up, Miura was relieved to see Takaki. At the very least, the idol had the decency of quickening his steps and rushing over to their table.
Miura stood up and grabbed Takaki’s arm.
“What took you so long?!” he hissed.
“The photo shoot had minor glitches; I told you about it. And besides, it’s not yet eight, so technically, I’m not late.”
“Fine,” Miura sighed inwardly cursing Takaki for his cheekiness.
He took a seat and gestured for Takaki to do the same. He then turned to the girl beside him. She now let go of her pen and was looking at Takaki expectantly. Takaki, on the other hand, had yet to properly look at the girl before him.
Miura cleared his throat. “Takaki, this is Ishida Nicole. Nicole, this is Takaki Yuya.”
“Hello, nice to meet you,” Ishida was unexpectedly shy.
Takaki simply blinked and stared at Ishida.
Miura smirked. He then kicked Takaki’s leg under the table, chuckling at the jerk the idol produced.
“Oh, hi! Nice to meet you, I’m Takaki.”
Ishida’s smile in turn widened as Miura called over an attendant and Takaki gaped at the girl yet again.
“I hope this, um, meeting wasn’t much of a bother to you Takaki-san.”
“Oh you don’t know how mu- ”
“Shut up Haruma,” Takaki snapped before he turned to Ishida. “It’s not a bother at all. I admit at first I was hesitant but this certainly is not a bother. Not at all.”
“Keito, how do you say you’re beautiful in English?”
“You’re beautiful.”
“How about, you look cute with your hair like that?”
“You look cute with your hair set like that.”
“Oh, nice. Then how about, can I take you out for dinner?”
“Can I take you out for dinner?” Okamoto obediently translated for Takaki as he fiddled with his guitar.
“Takaki what in the world is this all about?” Arioka remarked as he could not form a sound reason of why Takaki was asking Okamoto all these questions while pointing his phone to the younger one to record the answers.
The boy in question looked up in surprise. “Oh, nothing.”
“Dude,” Yaotome spoke up in a corner, “Haruma told me something. I wonder if this is about that.”
Takaki immediately went red at Yaotome’s teasing and knowing expression.
“Oh really? It must be very interesting for Takaki to go red just like that,” Inoo grinned. “Do tell Hikaru.”
“Hmmm…,” Yaotome pretended to be thinking. “Why don’t we let Takaki say it? It very much concerns him after all…”
Inoo walked over to Takaki and plopped himself on the elder’s lap.
“Takaki, tell me now!” Inoo wailed. “I wanna know.”
The assaulted boy tried to push Inoo away but he was adamant, enclosing Takaki in a hug.
“No! I don’t want to ruin anything this early.”
“Oh?” Inoo stopped struggling. “You mean this girl is special enough?”
Takaki blushed again and answered in a small voice. “Yes.”
“Oh well, if you say it’s like that, I can let it slide for now,” Inoo said as he stood up. But then he rounded back on the older boy. “You need to share with us though if you are already secured with her, got it?”
Takaki could only nod meekly as Inoo went back to the couch and opened up one of his books.
Ishida was surprised as a florist gave her a bouquet of pretty, wild flowers. Struggling to extract the card from the bottom, she failed to notice Miura’s smirk and Kaku’s awed expression.
In familiar hand writing, Ishida read:
I read online that in the USA, during Valentine’s Day, guys are the ones giving something to the girls they like.
I didn’t get you roses because I think they’re a bit cliché but I’m very much hoping that you like the flowers I selected.
They are as beautiful and vibrant as you.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Takaki
Ishida was now just beyond speechless. She carefully laid out the bouquet on her dressing table and pulled out her phone.
Thank you very much for the flowers. I did not expect this at all. They are just so lovely. Thank you again.
Will you be free anytime today? Is it possible to meet up? I…also have something to give to you.
A simple reply five minutes later put in a big smile on Ishida’s face.
Needless to say, she was just giddy all throughout the RUSS-K photo shoot.
This was really the first time they became awkward with each other.
They met up in the secluded family restaurant that Miura had first taken them to.
When their orders were already noted, silence ensued for a minute before Ishida gasped.
“I need to give you something. Silly me, I almost forgot.”
“Oh hey, calm down. No need to get so worked up,” Takaki said as Ishida frantically dug into her bag.
She brought out a medium sized box enclosed in a blue wrapping.
“For you,” Ishida squeaked as she placed the box on the table and slid it to Takaki’s direction.
“I thought pinks and reds and hearts were all just so overrated so I had this. I hope you do like it though.”
Takaki gingerly opened the box and his face lit up at the assortment of treats. He looked up at Ishida. “May I?”
“Go ahead, go ahead,” Ishida vigorously nodded her head.
The boy picked up a chocolate ball littered with orange frosting and popped it into his mouth. His eyes closed as he savored the taste.
“This is so delicious,” Takaki grinned brightly. “Thank you very much.”
“You’re welcome,” Ishida shyly replied. “I’m glad you liked it.”
The boy just nodded as he covered up the box and gently set it inside his bag.
Soon after, their food arrived and both were dissolved into a conversation of how their day went by.
They never did hear a click nor see a flash going off in their direction.
“Takaki, you’ve been Friday-ed yet again,” his manager sighed as he soothed a growing headache.
Takaki simply hung his head low and kept quiet. He did not know what to say anyway. The pictures (three of them; one was of them enjoying the meal, and the two others as he patted her head and ushered her in a cab) spoke for themselves.
“I’m really very sorry.”
Takaki did a full bow to all his group mates. Fighting the urge to tear up, he shut his eyes tight.
“Yuuyan,” Inoo righted his position. “You don’t need to go to this extent.”
“But…but I got into another scandalous article. I’m always giving you guys headaches with my carelessness.”
Yabu sighed. “Yuya, you are not careless. This girl, this girl is special to you, we know. We very much feel it. There is no need to berate yourself. We overcame a similar situation before; we will easily do it now.”
“Yabu-kun’s right Takaki,” Nakajima spoke up. “And besides, you’re happy. JUMP’s happiness is number one priority, right?”
Takaki looked around and saw the others nod. Although their faces were now blurring because of the tears gathering up, he could still see the looks of understanding and pride in his group mates’ faces.
“Well, if you really want to make it up to us, give me that song you’ve been working on and I will ask the management to make it our next single,” Yaotome said. “Or a b-side, whatever the case.”
Takaki nodded as he was engulfed in a hug by everyone in JUMP.
“Thank you,” he sobbed. “Thank you very much.”
“Um, guys, this is Nicole,” Takaki nervously called out. “Nicole, these are my group mates.”
Ishida nodded her head and in a soft voice said hello. She then inched closer to Takaki.
“Woah, we don’t bite,” Inoo joked as he saw Ishida’s move.
The girl blushed and shrank closer to Takaki.
“Stupid Inoo-chan,” Chinen smacked said boy’s arm. “See what you did? She’ll become more uncomfortable with what you did.”
“Hello, I’m Yabu Kota,” Yabu offered a wave, his eyes becoming slits as he smiled warmly.
“Yo, Hikaru here. I was Haruma’s classmate in high school, by the way.”
“Oh,” Ishida smiled.
“Hi, I’m Daiki. The stupid one’s Inoo. That’s Chinen, the tall boy is Yuto, and next to him are Keito, Yamada, and Ryutaro.” Arioka had taken it upon himself to introduce each one.
“Good afternoon. I’m Ishida Nicole. I’m sorry for barging in to your meal.”
“Oh, it’s no problem,” Inoo countered.
Ishida bit her lip for a while before bowing.
“I am also very sorry for the inconvenience my actions have caused you. I hope you will forgive me for that.”
“Oh god,” Morimoto groaned. “A girl’s version of Takaki’s speech.”
“Ryutaro!” Yamada scolded Morimoto as he pushed the younger lightly. “I’m sorry. This kid is just a bit insensitive. But we’re shaping him up.”
Ishida shook her head. “No, no…”
“Ishida-san,” Inoo spoke up once more. “As what we have told Yuya, you don’t need to punish yourself too much over this. What’s done is done. What you have is something special. Please take care of it. Of course we love our fans and our job but first and foremost, we love Yuya. We want him to be happy. And he has found that happiness with you. That is the most important thing.”
By this time, Ishida already had tears spilling out of her eyes.
“Inoo-chan, what did you do?” Nakajima scolded but there was a content smile in his face.
“What?” Inoo countered. “You guys would have said the same.”
“True,” Arioka confirmed as Takaki drew Ishida closer to wipe her tears.
“There, there now. Hush. You are liked by the special people in my life.”
“Ne, Ishida-san, did you know Takaki wrote two songs about you?” Yamada teased.
“Shut up Yama-chan!”
“Yeah. It was just oozing with romance, those songs,” Yabu added on.
“Shut up Yabu! You’re not my leader anymore.”
“I’m not even your leader in the first place!” the other idol countered Takaki.
“But I guess those just came easily to Takaki as he already has the beautiful inspiration,” Okamoto said before letting any argument escalate.
“Mm-hmm,” the others agreed.
“Nicole?”
Ishida turned to Takaki. “Hmm?”
“Let’s be happy, okay?”
The girl nodded and they both shared sweet smiles before looking up at the sky dotted with bright stars.