Flight 109 - Destination: First Love [Chapter 18: PART ONE]
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Don't you wanna say 'FINALLY!' XD Anyways, yeah, FINALLY, this is the last update. Super duper sorry for the super long delay.
And yeah, I guess I also wanna say, thank you for all, silent and non silent readers, who have read this fic until this point :) It means a lot to me if you read it, whether you like it or not. Really, thank you. On a side note, I really appreciate your comments and some messages I have received in my inbox supporting me to finish this fic. *Bows* Therefore, I dedicated this last update to you. I secretly have thought that people has forgotten about this fic anyways XD I am glad if I was wrong :)
Because of RL obligations, I will not write fics for the time being. Let's call it a mini-hiatus. Perhaps a one shot every now and then, but I think I will have a rest from ongoing fics for now.
This update will be in three parts; "One", "Two" and "Five". The three parts are divided into three entries for aesthetic purposes and you will find the link to the next part at the end of every entry. Slightly different with how I write in previous chapters, you will find none of my usual icons. Comments are disabled in the first two parts ("One" and "Two"). If you wish, you can leave your comment on "Five".
The story is inspired by yeppie. As usual, comments, inputs and criticisms are highly appreciated. If you haven't read the previous chapter you can always refer to the master post.
「CHAPTER 18: THREE IS A CROWD, FIVE IS A RAINBOW」
ONE
The constant ringing, she thinks that it's her mobile phone, disturbs her slumber. When her fingers finally reach the edge of her supposedly vibrating mobile phone, she feels none.
Kitashiro Rei finally pushes her heavy eyes to open up. Her short hair is in a tangled mess and mirrors her living space.
If it isn't her phone, on second thought that isn't her selected ringtone, then what can it be, she wonders silently at the back of her mind. She scans her messy studio apartment lazily, trying hard to pull herself up. The constant ringing is beyond annoying. It is 3 AM.. Who can possibly..
She doesn't finish that thought. She has found the culprit. Her opened laptop.
Her Skype is ringing. A handle with the name of.. Hold on, she needs to get closer to the laptop at the other side of her apartment, sitting on a small coffee table but screeching at its maximum volume.
After a lot of effort (there's a lot of clothes lying around, not to mention books and DVD's that she has to step over) to get in front of her laptop, she finds her battery is almost gone. Two percent left. She must find her charger first in between this whole mess. The thought to forfeit the fight of picking up that one damn call is inviting, but then she gets a glimpse of the handle of the particular person who is video calling her at this strange hour.
It is 'Ninomimania'.
Someone she hasn't spoken with for almost a year already.
Thus, without another moment of hesitation, Rei searches for her charger dutifully. The constant ringing now doesn't seem to be annoying anymore, instead it resembles her favorite piece of music that grows a smile on her face everytime she listens to it.
And that what happens. She smiles. She smiles as she rummages through her dirty clothes, socks and opened magazines. Trying to find the power that will connect her to home. To find a memory. To find an old friend. Best friend.
When she finally finds her charger and connects it as fast as possible to her laptop and finally click on the 'answer' button, she doesn't find one old friend, best friend, only. Instead, she finds something better.
She finds four of them.
Smiling wide upon her, shining through her computer screen.
"Konnichiwaa! Arashi desu!" they wave at the camera. Ninomiya Kazunari, Sakurai Sho, Ohno Satoshi and Aiba Masaki in matching black clothes. Nino and Sho are sitting down but the other two are standing behind them.
Rei chuckles at that, "Eh? Jnet FC video?"
"Well, It is technically Arashi-minus-one desu," Nino winks at the camera.
"And it is supposed to be 'Konbanwa'," Rei waves a finger to her own camera.
"Good evening!" Sho exclaims in Engrish.
"Good night!" Aiba follows through, also in Engrish, but gets a nudge from Nino who sits in front of him.
"That means 'oyasumi'!" Nino hisses between his naughty smirk.
Ohno smiles softly at her, his eyes are speaking a thousand words, "Hisashiburi, Rei-chan."
Rei smiles back at them but she finds no word to reply. She feels a sharp pang in her heart. She just realizes how much she has been missing these adorkable boys. She feels like a fan who hasn't been following her favorite group for a period of time, thinking that she gets bored, or real life has taken over, or has fallen out of love altogether. And in that moment, she remembers why she has fallen in love with these boys and gets struck all over again.
But no. It isn't such a cliche story for Rei. Truthfully, she has been avoiding them for the past year. At first it was just one particular member she has tried to avoid, then Arashi altogether as the other members also constantly reminded her of that particular member even though they never said a word, not even his name. A particular member who's currently being the 'minus one' in her own personalized and live Arashi Jnet FC video.
She didn't say anything, but it was as if the other members understood silently; she's trying to forget.
Thus, they also stopped trying to get in touch with her after she went back to LA. For almost a year.
Until this very moment.
Tenth month from the last time she chatted with Nino on the phone, congratulating him on his birthday. Sixth month since she has finished shooting. First month after the film was released and she has been trying to find a reason for not going home to Japan.
"Are you guys on a break?" She finally finds her voice.
"We are shooting a new single PV. We are done, though. Jun-kun is currently doing his solo shots at the studio," Nino crosses his arm on the table in front of him, leaning closer to the computer that connects him with Rei.
"Oh.."
"The truth is, this is thoroughly planned. We purposely stay behind so we can skype you," Sho takes over. "And it is because.."
He pauses for a while to give the count, " Se.. no.."
In a perfect sync, Arashi-minus-one exclaims to the camera, "Congratulations for winning Best Actress! We are so proud of you!"
Rei laughs. It was announced just last night but she doesn't know how news travel so fast in this wired world.
"Thank you. I didn't expect that."
"We've seen the film together just a couple of days ago. My God, Rei, there's no word for it," Sho exhales, "When the rolling credits rolled, my hands were shaking."
"I must admit, I don't really understand the film, but Sho-kun and..," Aiba pauses and clears his throat, "Sho-kun explained it to me after the film.. I really like it! Oh-chan even cried during the movie!" Aiba's hands are excitedly dancing with his words whilst Ohno nods in agreement.
Nino nods firmly and smiles another smile, "You did great. Wait, no. You did awesome."
Rei blinks back the tears who are threatening to flow out of her eyes. Just because of the way Nino and the boys are looking at her.
"Guys.. You don't have to.. I.. Really. Thank you," She tries to hide her wretched voice under a chuckle. "I.. I miss you guys."
"So come home already. What are you waiting for?" Nino's voice is tender but it pierces her heart.
Then thunder comes right after. In the form of too familiar voice, even though she hasn't heard it again, not even once, ever since that day in the rain. The voice is stealing its way into the computer's microphone even though she still can't see him.
"Eh? You guys are still here?"
She freezes. She, yet, doesn't want to see him. No. Not yet.
She panics and mumbles some words in one breath, "I.. I gotta go, I am sorry. I'll call you later."
She quickly closes her Skype, trying to ignore the exchange of sad and understanding looks between the other four members of Arashi. With just a click, the unexpected storm is gone from her screen in less than a second.
Yet, it still storms her heart.
She shuts her eyes. And then she sees an airplane. She sees Tokyo. She sees Arashi again. She sees him. Everything that has happened last year comes back to her in one big wave.
She tries to control her breathing. She breathes too hard, as if she just ran a marathon.
She opens her eyes. She's still in her studio apartment the production company rented for her during her overdued stay in LA, yet, it seems different in her eyes even though in reality nothing has changed.
Why? Why can't she forget? Why can't she go home already?
What is she waiting for?
She buries her face between her knees along with those unanswered questions inside.
She doesn't keep her promise to 'call them later'. Not until six months later.
She doesn't say anything but she prays hard that they will silently understand like they always do.
And, as expected, Arashi does.
---
Six months later, she doesn't just call them. She does something better.
She comes home to them. To Arashi. To Tokyo, Japan.
Even though she has arrived just a day before she meets them, she only reveals her coming home on the day of a recording for Arashi ni Shiyagare, one of their variety shows. As a guest. The first female aniki.
As the narrator says at every opening of the show;
The guests are not known. Everything is a secret. The five members of Arashi who do not know a single thing will get through it with their own power.*
This time there is no difference. Well, except for the sex of the guest.
The members are trying to guess who the guest is as usual. Rei listens behind the double door and can't help but smile a bittersweet smile as she hears the voices from her past.
"I don't think this is just an ordinary episode."
She answer silently, "Certainly not, Sho-kun."
"How can you say so?" She can hear Nino's voice questions him.
"We don't usually do this show in such formal attire, black tie, black jacket, for one certain thing," Sho's voice answers again. "Look at that! Even the red carpet gets its Christmas decoration when Christmas is still months away."
Some murmurs in agreement can be heard.
"I know! This must be a very special Aniki. Someone from high up there," Aiba's cheery voice rings the most predictable idea. "Beat Takeshi?"
"Impossible," Nino retorts.
"Watanabe Ken?" Ohno tries.
"Ah.. I see. We are going with this kind of pattern?" Sho chuckles. "Matsumoto-san."
Rei's heart gives a strong jolt.
"I am thinking.."
Silence.
Rei closes her eyes. Unexpectedly, that deep voice of his behind the double doors makes her smile. She misses that voice.
It is a very different reaction from the last time she heard that voice through Nino's computer.
She genuinely misses that voice. She doesn't panic. She's ready.
"A staff gives me a hint," that voice again. That voice still makes her heart races. Just like the moment when they first met years ago at that beach..
How ironic that their first meeting after all this time will be on screen again instead of off screen.
"Eh?" Overlapping voices.
"He said that this is a very special guest. A first time in Shiyagare history," She smiles again hearing that certain voice. Now, calming her racing heart. How his voice can do wonders, she has always thought.
"EH? So we will be making history now?" Sho again leads the conversation.
"As expected from our Emperor.." Rei thinks she can hear Nino smirks.
"I wonder.." Ohno joins in.
"Try, try it, please, Ohno-san," Now Rei definitely swears that she hears Nino smirks.
Ohno gives a moment of silence for dramatic purposes.
"A woman?"
The anticipation is at its climax. The moment everyone has been waiting for is near.
AD-san starts to give the count to Rei. Rei can hear her heart thumps.
This is it.
Sho does his usual 'welcoming the aniki guest' line, "Today aniki guest is this person! Welcome!"
Thus, the double doors seperating them opens wide.
And there they are, absolutely and literally, in shock the moment they lay their eyes on her.
And there she is. Rei is in a black simple dress. Something that she usually wears to dinner parties. As formal as it is elegant. Worth the fifth kilograms she has lost since the last time they have seen her. Match the five gaping faces in tuxedos at the end of the red carpet. She smiles, genuinely smiles, to all five.
And there he is. Her memory didn't do his defined features and charisma any justice. The first pair of eyes that hers meet is his deep chocolate ones. Speaking a thousand words that any mouth and tongue cannot do any justice as well.
And then he smiles. He smiles his beautiful smile. It is just a small one but it is a smile that no other human possible to smile unless he is Matsumoto Jun himself.
Kitashiro Rei returns that smile shyly before she looks away, to her two feet as she takes her position besides two gaping men.
"Uso!" Sho blinks a couple of times, as if he doesn't believe who he sees right beside him. He is gaping man number one. Man number two is Ninomiya Kazunari who puts a hand over his gaping mouth. Her sudden presence renders him speechless, which is not an everyday occurence. The guy almost never has nothing to say.
Aiba Masaki is the most expressive as the first thing he does is giving his long lost good friend a bear hug. A surprised squeal from the audience keeps him from hugging her too long. Ohno Satoshi shakes his head in disbelief and gives her a high five along with the others, including the youngest. Jun's hand lingers on her for a while longer.
"It's been a while, Kitashiro-san," Jun greets her in a deep voice.
"Wow!" Sho exclaims in English, still can't contain his excitement, "it sure has been a while. How long was it?"
"More or less, two years," Rei answers him with a smile.
"Wow!" Sho exclaims again, which invites laughter from the audience.
"Sho-kun," Jun interrupts him with a pretend cough, "Cue card."
Sho looks at the cue card addressing him nearby Camera Number One.
"Yes, I know I forgot the usual introduction, please forgive me," He invites another laughter. "Tonight's guest is Kitashiro Rei-san!"
"I guess calling her an 'Aniki' is weird, though, right?" Nino asks the staff again, "It is rather impolite, I would say. It is another thing to say that to, um, half women like Haruna Ai-chan or Matsuko Deluxe-san, but Kitashiro Rei-san IS a real woman!"
Nino again invites a roar of laughter from everybody.
Jun reads the cue card again and laughs, "Ha, read that. 'She's not an Aniki, she's a super special guest.'"
Sho chuckles, "They've prepared an amazing answer. Regardless, I guess it is amazing that they invite you, Rei-chan, to the show. You truly deserve to be called as a Super Special Guest, being this award winning international star. Amazing!"
Everyone claps including all Arashi members, each exclaims their own version of 'omedetou.'
Rei shakes her head and hand, "No, no. I am here for promotion for the movie."
That also invites laughter, she grins at it, "But thank you."
She then bows to the audience and to each Arashi members.
The show progresses and an MC is entering the scene. The set is turned and a cozy living room set is ready for them to begin the 90 minutes talk part of the show. Questions about Rei's overseas life was answered and so is her lifestyle, her approach to her work and, of course, her personal life.
"So," The MC begins, "Kitashiro-san and Arashi are exceptionally good friends, I suppose?"
Nino confirms their answer immediate with a firm nod whilst Jun stares into space, "Yes. We are exceptionally good friends. No matter where she is, no matter what."
The other smiles and nod in agreement but Jun still stares into space.
Rei smiles her best smile to both the MC and to the curious audience, "Me, Jun-kun and Nino, especially, we've worked together before. But, aside from that, we hung out with the same group of people. I've also learnt a lot from them about acting, about being a public figure, and basically," She sighs, "About life."
Sho chuckles again, "From us? Something so heavy?"
Rei explains again, still in a serious tone, "Well, for example, Nino here teaches me how to not be discovered in public. He is seriously good at it!"
Sho roars in laughter, "So it is something trivial!"
Rei argues, "It is not! It is important!"
Aiba cuts in, "But I agree! Nino is exceptionally good at it!"
Jun adds in, "That's just because he is always facing down playing his game console!"
A safe show. A fun one. But, again, at particular peculiar moments, her eyes, again, catch his on her.
And it is not until when the show airs and she watches it at home alone, Rei feels the nostalgic pang in her heart as she looks at the handsome face once again, whom at that time probably were looking at her, remembering something only both of them has shared before. She remembers how they used be in love and how it is something that came from a distant past.
It is still a long way to go before they can talk face to face without any awkwardness nor angst. But, at least, now, it hurts a lot less than it used to be. Jun seems to understand her silently, that she needs time. She needs it badly. He doesn't congratulate her privately to make himself feel better. He politely refuses Nino's dinner invitation with a simple smile after the recording to leave her comfortable with his best friends, who are still her very own best friends. Of course he didn't say that out loud. He just said that he has a meeting.
Aiba asks innocently, "What meeting? You said earlier today that you're free after the recording."
But Sho just gives him a nudge and Aiba then covers his mouth.
Before Jun heads to the door to leaves them alone, Jun seems to consider about something as he tilts his head. The next second he turns around and walks back to her.
When he is only half of a meter away from her, he stops and looks at her in the eyes. He smiles again his brightest smile he only did the first time he saw her that day and never again, and it is the kind of smile that anybody will automatically smiles back.
"I am so proud of you," he mutters softly with a nod.
Rei feels the happiest when she hears it. It feels almost better than the first time Jun confessed his love to her. Almost. The comparison in her heart feels bittersweet somehow.
Rei nods to him back, "Thank you, Jun-kun."
Jun waves his right hand to her and Rei laughs at the cuteness of the sight of him waving like a little kid.
"You guys have fun," Jun gives her a soft punch on one of her shoulders.
He throws a glance to the members who are pretending that the walls in the dressing room are more interesting than the couple from the past, "Take a good care of the big Hollywood star or I'll kill you all tomorrow."
Rei hides her smile and prefers to stare at her shoes.
He finally bows to Rei, "Otsukare sama deshita."
"Otsukare, Jun-kun," Rei bows back.
Jun then turns around and head to the door. When Rei finally looks up from her shoes, there's his back walking out of the dressing room's door. And then he left.
Again, he left.
It still hurts, sometimes. But that's life.
That's what Matsumoto Jun has taught her about this life.
And life goes on.
Rei takes a deep breath as she turns off her data recorder as the show ends. Another memory of him is stored.
She'll treasure it along with his distant kiss and her broken heart.
For his beautiful smile, she'll keep it somewhere nearby.
Continue to "Two"
And yeah, I guess I also wanna say, thank you for all, silent and non silent readers, who have read this fic until this point :) It means a lot to me if you read it, whether you like it or not. Really, thank you. On a side note, I really appreciate your comments and some messages I have received in my inbox supporting me to finish this fic. *Bows* Therefore, I dedicated this last update to you. I secretly have thought that people has forgotten about this fic anyways XD I am glad if I was wrong :)
Because of RL obligations, I will not write fics for the time being. Let's call it a mini-hiatus. Perhaps a one shot every now and then, but I think I will have a rest from ongoing fics for now.
This update will be in three parts; "One", "Two" and "Five". The three parts are divided into three entries for aesthetic purposes and you will find the link to the next part at the end of every entry. Slightly different with how I write in previous chapters, you will find none of my usual icons. Comments are disabled in the first two parts ("One" and "Two"). If you wish, you can leave your comment on "Five".
The story is inspired by yeppie. As usual, comments, inputs and criticisms are highly appreciated. If you haven't read the previous chapter you can always refer to the master post.
「CHAPTER 18: THREE IS A CROWD, FIVE IS A RAINBOW」
ONE
The constant ringing, she thinks that it's her mobile phone, disturbs her slumber. When her fingers finally reach the edge of her supposedly vibrating mobile phone, she feels none.
Kitashiro Rei finally pushes her heavy eyes to open up. Her short hair is in a tangled mess and mirrors her living space.
If it isn't her phone, on second thought that isn't her selected ringtone, then what can it be, she wonders silently at the back of her mind. She scans her messy studio apartment lazily, trying hard to pull herself up. The constant ringing is beyond annoying. It is 3 AM.. Who can possibly..
She doesn't finish that thought. She has found the culprit. Her opened laptop.
Her Skype is ringing. A handle with the name of.. Hold on, she needs to get closer to the laptop at the other side of her apartment, sitting on a small coffee table but screeching at its maximum volume.
After a lot of effort (there's a lot of clothes lying around, not to mention books and DVD's that she has to step over) to get in front of her laptop, she finds her battery is almost gone. Two percent left. She must find her charger first in between this whole mess. The thought to forfeit the fight of picking up that one damn call is inviting, but then she gets a glimpse of the handle of the particular person who is video calling her at this strange hour.
It is 'Ninomimania'.
Someone she hasn't spoken with for almost a year already.
Thus, without another moment of hesitation, Rei searches for her charger dutifully. The constant ringing now doesn't seem to be annoying anymore, instead it resembles her favorite piece of music that grows a smile on her face everytime she listens to it.
And that what happens. She smiles. She smiles as she rummages through her dirty clothes, socks and opened magazines. Trying to find the power that will connect her to home. To find a memory. To find an old friend. Best friend.
When she finally finds her charger and connects it as fast as possible to her laptop and finally click on the 'answer' button, she doesn't find one old friend, best friend, only. Instead, she finds something better.
She finds four of them.
Smiling wide upon her, shining through her computer screen.
"Konnichiwaa! Arashi desu!" they wave at the camera. Ninomiya Kazunari, Sakurai Sho, Ohno Satoshi and Aiba Masaki in matching black clothes. Nino and Sho are sitting down but the other two are standing behind them.
Rei chuckles at that, "Eh? Jnet FC video?"
"Well, It is technically Arashi-minus-one desu," Nino winks at the camera.
"And it is supposed to be 'Konbanwa'," Rei waves a finger to her own camera.
"Good evening!" Sho exclaims in Engrish.
"Good night!" Aiba follows through, also in Engrish, but gets a nudge from Nino who sits in front of him.
"That means 'oyasumi'!" Nino hisses between his naughty smirk.
Ohno smiles softly at her, his eyes are speaking a thousand words, "Hisashiburi, Rei-chan."
Rei smiles back at them but she finds no word to reply. She feels a sharp pang in her heart. She just realizes how much she has been missing these adorkable boys. She feels like a fan who hasn't been following her favorite group for a period of time, thinking that she gets bored, or real life has taken over, or has fallen out of love altogether. And in that moment, she remembers why she has fallen in love with these boys and gets struck all over again.
But no. It isn't such a cliche story for Rei. Truthfully, she has been avoiding them for the past year. At first it was just one particular member she has tried to avoid, then Arashi altogether as the other members also constantly reminded her of that particular member even though they never said a word, not even his name. A particular member who's currently being the 'minus one' in her own personalized and live Arashi Jnet FC video.
She didn't say anything, but it was as if the other members understood silently; she's trying to forget.
Thus, they also stopped trying to get in touch with her after she went back to LA. For almost a year.
Until this very moment.
Tenth month from the last time she chatted with Nino on the phone, congratulating him on his birthday. Sixth month since she has finished shooting. First month after the film was released and she has been trying to find a reason for not going home to Japan.
"Are you guys on a break?" She finally finds her voice.
"We are shooting a new single PV. We are done, though. Jun-kun is currently doing his solo shots at the studio," Nino crosses his arm on the table in front of him, leaning closer to the computer that connects him with Rei.
"Oh.."
"The truth is, this is thoroughly planned. We purposely stay behind so we can skype you," Sho takes over. "And it is because.."
He pauses for a while to give the count, " Se.. no.."
In a perfect sync, Arashi-minus-one exclaims to the camera, "Congratulations for winning Best Actress! We are so proud of you!"
Rei laughs. It was announced just last night but she doesn't know how news travel so fast in this wired world.
"Thank you. I didn't expect that."
"We've seen the film together just a couple of days ago. My God, Rei, there's no word for it," Sho exhales, "When the rolling credits rolled, my hands were shaking."
"I must admit, I don't really understand the film, but Sho-kun and..," Aiba pauses and clears his throat, "Sho-kun explained it to me after the film.. I really like it! Oh-chan even cried during the movie!" Aiba's hands are excitedly dancing with his words whilst Ohno nods in agreement.
Nino nods firmly and smiles another smile, "You did great. Wait, no. You did awesome."
Rei blinks back the tears who are threatening to flow out of her eyes. Just because of the way Nino and the boys are looking at her.
"Guys.. You don't have to.. I.. Really. Thank you," She tries to hide her wretched voice under a chuckle. "I.. I miss you guys."
"So come home already. What are you waiting for?" Nino's voice is tender but it pierces her heart.
Then thunder comes right after. In the form of too familiar voice, even though she hasn't heard it again, not even once, ever since that day in the rain. The voice is stealing its way into the computer's microphone even though she still can't see him.
"Eh? You guys are still here?"
She freezes. She, yet, doesn't want to see him. No. Not yet.
She panics and mumbles some words in one breath, "I.. I gotta go, I am sorry. I'll call you later."
She quickly closes her Skype, trying to ignore the exchange of sad and understanding looks between the other four members of Arashi. With just a click, the unexpected storm is gone from her screen in less than a second.
Yet, it still storms her heart.
She shuts her eyes. And then she sees an airplane. She sees Tokyo. She sees Arashi again. She sees him. Everything that has happened last year comes back to her in one big wave.
She tries to control her breathing. She breathes too hard, as if she just ran a marathon.
She opens her eyes. She's still in her studio apartment the production company rented for her during her overdued stay in LA, yet, it seems different in her eyes even though in reality nothing has changed.
Why? Why can't she forget? Why can't she go home already?
What is she waiting for?
She buries her face between her knees along with those unanswered questions inside.
She doesn't keep her promise to 'call them later'. Not until six months later.
She doesn't say anything but she prays hard that they will silently understand like they always do.
And, as expected, Arashi does.
---
Six months later, she doesn't just call them. She does something better.
She comes home to them. To Arashi. To Tokyo, Japan.
Even though she has arrived just a day before she meets them, she only reveals her coming home on the day of a recording for Arashi ni Shiyagare, one of their variety shows. As a guest. The first female aniki.
As the narrator says at every opening of the show;
The guests are not known. Everything is a secret. The five members of Arashi who do not know a single thing will get through it with their own power.*
This time there is no difference. Well, except for the sex of the guest.
The members are trying to guess who the guest is as usual. Rei listens behind the double door and can't help but smile a bittersweet smile as she hears the voices from her past.
"I don't think this is just an ordinary episode."
She answer silently, "Certainly not, Sho-kun."
"How can you say so?" She can hear Nino's voice questions him.
"We don't usually do this show in such formal attire, black tie, black jacket, for one certain thing," Sho's voice answers again. "Look at that! Even the red carpet gets its Christmas decoration when Christmas is still months away."
Some murmurs in agreement can be heard.
"I know! This must be a very special Aniki. Someone from high up there," Aiba's cheery voice rings the most predictable idea. "Beat Takeshi?"
"Impossible," Nino retorts.
"Watanabe Ken?" Ohno tries.
"Ah.. I see. We are going with this kind of pattern?" Sho chuckles. "Matsumoto-san."
Rei's heart gives a strong jolt.
"I am thinking.."
Silence.
Rei closes her eyes. Unexpectedly, that deep voice of his behind the double doors makes her smile. She misses that voice.
It is a very different reaction from the last time she heard that voice through Nino's computer.
She genuinely misses that voice. She doesn't panic. She's ready.
"A staff gives me a hint," that voice again. That voice still makes her heart races. Just like the moment when they first met years ago at that beach..
How ironic that their first meeting after all this time will be on screen again instead of off screen.
"Eh?" Overlapping voices.
"He said that this is a very special guest. A first time in Shiyagare history," She smiles again hearing that certain voice. Now, calming her racing heart. How his voice can do wonders, she has always thought.
"EH? So we will be making history now?" Sho again leads the conversation.
"As expected from our Emperor.." Rei thinks she can hear Nino smirks.
"I wonder.." Ohno joins in.
"Try, try it, please, Ohno-san," Now Rei definitely swears that she hears Nino smirks.
Ohno gives a moment of silence for dramatic purposes.
"A woman?"
The anticipation is at its climax. The moment everyone has been waiting for is near.
AD-san starts to give the count to Rei. Rei can hear her heart thumps.
This is it.
Sho does his usual 'welcoming the aniki guest' line, "Today aniki guest is this person! Welcome!"
Thus, the double doors seperating them opens wide.
And there they are, absolutely and literally, in shock the moment they lay their eyes on her.
And there she is. Rei is in a black simple dress. Something that she usually wears to dinner parties. As formal as it is elegant. Worth the fifth kilograms she has lost since the last time they have seen her. Match the five gaping faces in tuxedos at the end of the red carpet. She smiles, genuinely smiles, to all five.
And there he is. Her memory didn't do his defined features and charisma any justice. The first pair of eyes that hers meet is his deep chocolate ones. Speaking a thousand words that any mouth and tongue cannot do any justice as well.
And then he smiles. He smiles his beautiful smile. It is just a small one but it is a smile that no other human possible to smile unless he is Matsumoto Jun himself.
Kitashiro Rei returns that smile shyly before she looks away, to her two feet as she takes her position besides two gaping men.
"Uso!" Sho blinks a couple of times, as if he doesn't believe who he sees right beside him. He is gaping man number one. Man number two is Ninomiya Kazunari who puts a hand over his gaping mouth. Her sudden presence renders him speechless, which is not an everyday occurence. The guy almost never has nothing to say.
Aiba Masaki is the most expressive as the first thing he does is giving his long lost good friend a bear hug. A surprised squeal from the audience keeps him from hugging her too long. Ohno Satoshi shakes his head in disbelief and gives her a high five along with the others, including the youngest. Jun's hand lingers on her for a while longer.
"It's been a while, Kitashiro-san," Jun greets her in a deep voice.
"Wow!" Sho exclaims in English, still can't contain his excitement, "it sure has been a while. How long was it?"
"More or less, two years," Rei answers him with a smile.
"Wow!" Sho exclaims again, which invites laughter from the audience.
"Sho-kun," Jun interrupts him with a pretend cough, "Cue card."
Sho looks at the cue card addressing him nearby Camera Number One.
"Yes, I know I forgot the usual introduction, please forgive me," He invites another laughter. "Tonight's guest is Kitashiro Rei-san!"
"I guess calling her an 'Aniki' is weird, though, right?" Nino asks the staff again, "It is rather impolite, I would say. It is another thing to say that to, um, half women like Haruna Ai-chan or Matsuko Deluxe-san, but Kitashiro Rei-san IS a real woman!"
Nino again invites a roar of laughter from everybody.
Jun reads the cue card again and laughs, "Ha, read that. 'She's not an Aniki, she's a super special guest.'"
Sho chuckles, "They've prepared an amazing answer. Regardless, I guess it is amazing that they invite you, Rei-chan, to the show. You truly deserve to be called as a Super Special Guest, being this award winning international star. Amazing!"
Everyone claps including all Arashi members, each exclaims their own version of 'omedetou.'
Rei shakes her head and hand, "No, no. I am here for promotion for the movie."
That also invites laughter, she grins at it, "But thank you."
She then bows to the audience and to each Arashi members.
The show progresses and an MC is entering the scene. The set is turned and a cozy living room set is ready for them to begin the 90 minutes talk part of the show. Questions about Rei's overseas life was answered and so is her lifestyle, her approach to her work and, of course, her personal life.
"So," The MC begins, "Kitashiro-san and Arashi are exceptionally good friends, I suppose?"
Nino confirms their answer immediate with a firm nod whilst Jun stares into space, "Yes. We are exceptionally good friends. No matter where she is, no matter what."
The other smiles and nod in agreement but Jun still stares into space.
Rei smiles her best smile to both the MC and to the curious audience, "Me, Jun-kun and Nino, especially, we've worked together before. But, aside from that, we hung out with the same group of people. I've also learnt a lot from them about acting, about being a public figure, and basically," She sighs, "About life."
Sho chuckles again, "From us? Something so heavy?"
Rei explains again, still in a serious tone, "Well, for example, Nino here teaches me how to not be discovered in public. He is seriously good at it!"
Sho roars in laughter, "So it is something trivial!"
Rei argues, "It is not! It is important!"
Aiba cuts in, "But I agree! Nino is exceptionally good at it!"
Jun adds in, "That's just because he is always facing down playing his game console!"
A safe show. A fun one. But, again, at particular peculiar moments, her eyes, again, catch his on her.
And it is not until when the show airs and she watches it at home alone, Rei feels the nostalgic pang in her heart as she looks at the handsome face once again, whom at that time probably were looking at her, remembering something only both of them has shared before. She remembers how they used be in love and how it is something that came from a distant past.
It is still a long way to go before they can talk face to face without any awkwardness nor angst. But, at least, now, it hurts a lot less than it used to be. Jun seems to understand her silently, that she needs time. She needs it badly. He doesn't congratulate her privately to make himself feel better. He politely refuses Nino's dinner invitation with a simple smile after the recording to leave her comfortable with his best friends, who are still her very own best friends. Of course he didn't say that out loud. He just said that he has a meeting.
Aiba asks innocently, "What meeting? You said earlier today that you're free after the recording."
But Sho just gives him a nudge and Aiba then covers his mouth.
Before Jun heads to the door to leaves them alone, Jun seems to consider about something as he tilts his head. The next second he turns around and walks back to her.
When he is only half of a meter away from her, he stops and looks at her in the eyes. He smiles again his brightest smile he only did the first time he saw her that day and never again, and it is the kind of smile that anybody will automatically smiles back.
"I am so proud of you," he mutters softly with a nod.
Rei feels the happiest when she hears it. It feels almost better than the first time Jun confessed his love to her. Almost. The comparison in her heart feels bittersweet somehow.
Rei nods to him back, "Thank you, Jun-kun."
Jun waves his right hand to her and Rei laughs at the cuteness of the sight of him waving like a little kid.
"You guys have fun," Jun gives her a soft punch on one of her shoulders.
He throws a glance to the members who are pretending that the walls in the dressing room are more interesting than the couple from the past, "Take a good care of the big Hollywood star or I'll kill you all tomorrow."
Rei hides her smile and prefers to stare at her shoes.
He finally bows to Rei, "Otsukare sama deshita."
"Otsukare, Jun-kun," Rei bows back.
Jun then turns around and head to the door. When Rei finally looks up from her shoes, there's his back walking out of the dressing room's door. And then he left.
Again, he left.
It still hurts, sometimes. But that's life.
That's what Matsumoto Jun has taught her about this life.
And life goes on.
Rei takes a deep breath as she turns off her data recorder as the show ends. Another memory of him is stored.
She'll treasure it along with his distant kiss and her broken heart.
For his beautiful smile, she'll keep it somewhere nearby.
Continue to "Two"