[FANFIC] Such A Thing As Love

[macymacymacy]

a fair warning:



i think i've forgotten how to write. /shot
-------
Title: Such A Thing As Love
Author: macy
Pairing: Kyomoto Taiga x Shimazaki Haruka (Paruru)
Genre: Romance, Fluff
Rating: G
AN:
-rushed, unbetaed (aka fic borne from procrastinating)
-kinda based on two friends i ship. /shipper at heart xD (in that case i'm jurina. :D)
-i am no AKB-expert so forgive OOC-ness. >.<
-this is for wealthyriver. thank you for always commenting on my fics! i really love reading your comments. i tried using Matsui Jurina here... though she doesn't really make much appearances /shot. she have a major role in the plot though. /whacked ^^;





Paruru's POV

He cocked his head to the left and I realized he was looking at me questioningly.

I felt my face grew warm but I smiled nevertheless, and just shook my head.

He still looked confused but he silently nodded and turned his attention back to Tanaka-san, who had been talking the whole time.

I try not to stare at him again-- because that's what I've (unconsciously) been doing. And he caught me. God, this is embarrassing. Fortunately, I can hold a poker face.

We're in the classroom right now, having a little break from filming. We are waiting for the crew to finish with their preparations on the school's ground. Today's episode would involve vandalism on Bakaleya's front gate.

I turned to the other direction and saw the same look Kyomoto-san directed at me, only on Kaoru's face.

When she grinned teasingly, I knew she too had caught me and I wasn't able to mask my blush this time.

"That's the third time today." She said nonchalantly. "And I don't know how many times since the start of filming this drama."

I frowned at her, feeling a little defensive.

Her smile softens, and she looked at me more gently. "Are you sure you don't have anything to tell me?"

I sighed and placed my head on my seat's desk, feeling my face flush once more.

"It's not what you think." I told her, not looking at her.

"What is it that you think I think?" I heard her say.

We were quiet for a while.

I peeked at her, though I still kept my head down.

"You think I'm in love with him." I said very quietly so only she can hear.

Kaoru blinked, though she was still smiling.

"In love with whom?" She asked, feinting confusion.

I pouted.

"Well?" She urged. She just won't let it go!

"Kyomoto." I said in a whisper as I cover my face once more.

Suddenly, Kaoru laughed so hard that I think everyone in the classroom turned to look at us.

"Kaoru!" I chided, feeling more and more embarrassed.

But she just waved it away, as well as the questioning look everyone else and --God forbid -- Kyomoto was giving us. She ignored everyone as if it was only the two of us in the room.

"Not really." She told me. I was confused at her words.

Some of the others went back to their own business but I could still see from my peripheral view that Kyomoto was looking at us curiously. He didn't hear me, right? He's in the other side of the room, it would be impossible to hear me... Please tell me he didn't hear me.

"I actually didn't think you were in love with him." Kaoru continued to say; thankfully in a whisper. "I just thought you had a crush on him. I never thought it's this serious." She said, chuckling.

"I told you, it's not like that." I try to say.

"Okay, okay..." She said hastily, still laughing.

"Kaoru..."

"I believe you." She said, very unconvincingly.

"Kaoru!" I pouted. But I couldn't help but laugh as well. I probably sound silly. I leaned my head on Kaoru's shoulder. I could feel my face heating up once more, and I didn't really want her to see.

"Okay..." I said, barely audible. "Maybe I do have a tiny crush on him." I confessed.

"Okay..." She said slowly. "You gonna tell me how it happened?"

I sighed. "Jurina happened."

---

I opened my eyes with a start as I felt something slip from my fingers.

I didn't realize I have fallen asleep.

Groggily, I stretched, trying to shrug the sleep away. I had arrived at our set earlier than expected and my co-actors weren't here yet. My manager went off somewhere, talking to someone on the phone leaving me here in the room alone as the crew had started setting up. I decided to take my phone out and listen to my playlist to kill the time. I must have doze off.

I blinked, realizing that something that slipped through my hand must have been my phone. And just as the thought entered my mind, it also registered that I was wearing my earphone and that there was music not coming from them. I took off my earphones and heard the music more clearly.

I bend over and saw my phone under the table. I was reaching for it when someone spoke.

"Ai Nante."

I bumped my head on the table in surprise.

"Sorry." He said sheepishly. I recognized it was Kyomoto's voice.

I grasp my phone before standing up.

"How long have you been there?" I asked him, not really knowing what else to say.

Among all the Johnny's I'm currently working with, I am most comfortable around Kyomoto and Tanaka. I guess it's because they're just natural around us girls. They don’t try to be responsible and fuss over everyone like Takaki-san, or try to act mature and cool like Morimoto and Matsumura, or just keep to themselves like Lewis and Yugo does.

There's also that tiny detail of me feeling as if I already know Kyomoto even before actually meeting him because Jurina had already mentioned a few things about him.

But right now I felt disorganized and I irrationally feel somehow bare.

"Just now." He said, with a grin. "You're listening to Tegoshi-kun's Ai Nante…" He commented.

My heart started pounding and I clicked on my phone to stop my playlist. I don't really want to talk about that song with Kyomoto of all people.

"Yeah," I just say.

"It's one of my favorites." He said, sitting down the couch.

Feeling a little awkward, I also sat down on the other side of the couch.

"It's one of mine, too." I told him. "It's a good song."

"One of the best love songs out there, in my opinion." He said.

I smiled and nodded.

"You know, about a year ago…" He started saying and I felt my heart racing once more. But the moment was gone when the door opened and in came Mina and Mariya.

"Ohayou." They said simultaneously.

I turned to them and greeted as well, thankful for an escape.

Kyomoto greeted them as well and then stood up and left the room.

I let out a relieved sigh and Mina and Mariya looked at me in question.

I just smiled and shook my head.

It was actually silly, but I don't really want him to know it was me.

An image of him during that time flashed in my mind, and I couldn't help but smile.

---

"Well, this is interesting." I heard Kaoru say. I took a glance at her to see that she was looking straight at me, sporting a teasing smile.

"What's interesting?" I asked as I placed my bottle of water back in my bag. It was our break from rehearsal.

She gestured for me to approach her. I did, a little hesitantly.

She showed me her phone when I was close enough. I looked at her questioningly but she just motioned for me to read.

I did. It was a blog entry from Jurina. And I should have expected it.

I didn't know how I looked after reading it, but it must have been funny the way Kaoru laughed after looking at my reaction.

"Why did she wrote that in a blog?!?!" I hissed, incredulous.

Kaoru just kept laughing.

I covered my face with my hands, feeling myself flushing. I can't believe it. I seriously can't believe. What is Jurina thinking????

And Kaoru just keep laughing! And then she started reading it aloud.

"There's this song that is really dear to me. Every time I hear this song, I can't help but smile. I have these two friends who I think is meant for each other--"

"Kaoru!" I protested, trying to get her phone. But she was taller than me and she just raised it up and continued reading, chuckling in between.

"During H-chan's last birthday, I got T to sing this song for her cause it's one of her favorites. It was really sweet of T. They aren't really close or anything so it's unlikely, but sometimes I just wish they'd fall in love with each other… I've been reading a lot of shoujo mangas lately. Haha."

I can't really explain how I was feeling. I feel like I just want to cry out of sheer embarrassment.

"You have it in your phone right?" Kaoru asked, still with her mischievous grin. "Can I watch it???"

"NO!"

She just laughed again and said, "It's a good thing Johnny's aren't allowed to blog."

I felt somehow placated at that.

But I started worrying again when the next day during filming; I caught Kyomoto looking at me a few times. And when I asked him about it, he just smirked and shook his head.

It really does no good for my paranoia.

---

"What are you looking at, Haruka?" Mina asked, laughing a bit. We were looking through some of the magazine that features Bakaleya. One of the crew brought them so we could see.

"Morimoto?" I try to say looking at a picture of us during one of the shoots. I didn't even know someone was taking our photos.

"Everyone else is looking at Morimoto," Shimada said, "But you look like you're looking at Kyomoto."

Kaoru looked at me but I ignored her. At Shimada, I shrugged, trying to say that it doesn't really matter.

"You know, I saw a picture of you and Kyomoto on the internet when I updated my blog yesterday." Marina suddenly said.

I looked at her, wide eyed. Picture? What picture? Do we even have one together?

"It's an edited picture, obviously." She said hastily. "I guess some fans like the idea of the two of you together."

"Well, you do look a bit alike. And they always say couples who look alike end up together." Kaoru said nonchalantly, subtly giving me a smirk.

I pouted at her.

Mina thankfully said, "It's a normal thing to expect from fans. For sure there would be lots of edited pictures of Haru with Morimoto and Matsumura as well."

The conversation ended at that as we were called for our next scene.

The boys were also making their way to the school's hallway where we will film the scene. The boys' tension is really up today. Even as we were asked to stand by, they were still laughing at something. I can see Kyomoto playfully glaring at them, though.

We started filming. It was just a simple scene with Cattleya and Bakada's students walking through the hallway together and we did it in one shot.

After that was a scene with just me, Matsumura and Morimoto.

Before they approach me by the cameras though, they went to Kyomoto and said something. I'm guessing they were apologizing -- not sincerely, at that. I saw Kyomoto mouthing the word 'Urusai!' and pushing the two playfully.

I wonder what that was all about.

---

I was surprised during lunch break, when I found him alone, sitting in one table of the school cafeteria. He was always surrounded by his friends.

I saw my friends on the table next to his and I made my way to them. When I pass by him though, he called my attention.

"What's the food for today?" He asked.

"Chicken curry." I said.

"Oh. Okay." He just says and went back to his iPad.

I looked at him curiously. "Aren't you eating?" I asked.

"In a bit." He said, looking a little distracted and eyes not turning away from the screen.

I realized my friends were watching us. I mentally shook my head and proceeded to our table.

I couldn't help but notice he didn't eat though. When I was done eating, I decided to approach him.

He looked up when he realized someone was standing in front of him.

"You haven't eaten." I just say. "Onigiri?" I asked offering him mine.

He grinned sheepishly. "Thanks." He said.

"What were you doing, anyway?" I asked him out of curiosity.

"Playing Temple Run." He said unabashed.

"Seriously?" I asked him.

"It can get a little addicting." He said a little defensively. I just shook my head at him in amusement and exasperation.

He laughed and motioned for me to sit, so I did.

"Have you tried playing?" He asked me.

"No…" I said. I don't really have any interest in games. I prefer watching movies or reading books.

"Well, try." He said, passing me the iPad and unwrapping the onigiri.

I just shrugged and direct my attention to the game.

Next thing I know, I'm slapping Taiga’s hand away because he's trying to distract me so he could have a turn to play. It really is addicting.

"Come on, Shimazaki. Let me play. The iPad is mine, you know."

"Just one more time. It's your fault, anyway." I said.

"Or we can play another game." Kyomoto said and snatched the iPad away from me.

"Let's play this instead." He said clicking on an app with a fruit as its icon.

'Fruit Ninja' it says.

"This way we can both play." He said.

We spent the rest of lunch break playing different games on his iPad.

---

It became a routine for us to play games in his iPad during breaks after that. I don't really know what happened but I guess we just have fun with each other's company.

During our last day of shooting, Tanaka had complained about that.

"Can't you two stop playing on the freaking iPad for once? It's our last day together!" He said, pouting at both of us.

"Let's do something where everyone can join…" Matsumura said, looking pointedly at Kyomoto.

"Fine." Kyomoto said easily, closing his iPad. "What do you wanna do, exactly?"

"Let's play hide and seek," Takaki-san, the oldest of us all, said. As expected.

"Yeah, that would be fun!" Morimoto said.

Everyone else agreed. We have some time before we start filming again.

The boys said that as Takaki-san suggested the game, he should be 'it'. There were protests from Takaki-san but in the end, he couldn't win against his juniors. That was always the case. I don't really know if it's just the way Takaki-san is or if because he's just nice but he always let his kouhais bully him. I guess it's both things.

The game started, and everyone ran to different directions as Takaki-san began counting.

I was surprised when Kyomoto took my hand.

He grinned at me in that mischievous way and said, "I know a good hiding place, come on."

I let him pull me. We went outside the school through the back door. He led me to the back of the school's gym and both of us went under the stage.

"They'd never find us here." He said confidently.

I just giggled.

"Now we can play." He suddenly said.

I looked at him, amused. "That's what this is about?" I asked.

"You broke my highest record in Temple Run. I need to fix that." He said as he took out his iPad.

"You're such a sore loser." I teased. "Don't play Temple Run. I won't have anything to do." I complained.

He looked at me and then sighed. "Fine. Wanna play 'Flow'?"

I blinked at him. "That doesn't have two players. What about you?"

He shrugged. "Doesn't have to be two players. We can play it together."

I smiled. "Okay. Sure."

We started playing. We solve the first few stages very quickly but it became harder and harder.

"No, I think the red should go around." He told me.

"If it goes around, it would block the blue one." I pointed out.

"Hmm…" He said, looking at the screen very seriously. I couldn't help but smile.

I'm not sure if he saw my smile -- he probably did -- but he smiled as well.

"A, I know." I said and pushed the reset button and started tracing the line on the screen.

We were quiet for awhile as I solve the game.

"Dore dake aruitekitan darou?
Furimuitara namida no ato." Kyomoto sang out of the blue. I was so shocked I completely forgot about the game.

I looked at him, wide-eyed.

"Kizutsuke kizutsuki tadoritsuita basho
Ima koko ni kimi ga iru." He continued singing, looking at me. And then he grinned.

"That was you, right?" He asked.

I could feel my face heat up.

I looked away, feeling very embarrassed. I remembered my birthday last year.

-

"Happy birthday!" Someone hugged me from the back.

I turned to see Jurina.

"Thanks." I told.

"I didn't really know what to get you." She said, looking at me sheepishly.

"You didn't have to get me anything." I told her, smilingly.

"I can't do that. I love your gift for my birthday." She said. I'd just given her cupcake decorating kit because I knew she love making pastries.

"I heard you listening to the song, so I asked a friend to sing it for you." She continued to say.

"Huh?" I asked feeling lost.

"Here's my gift." She said, handing me a memory card.

"Uhm… I think I need a map." I muttered.

Jurina laughed. "No, silly. You just need your phone. Come on."

Still feeling confused, I took out my phone and as Jurina instructed I inserted the memory card.

She told me to open one of the video files and together we watched.

I knew him at once. He's already very popular even then.

"Well, you know they're a family friend and he's the closest thing to Tegoshi Yuya so I asked him to sing Ai Nante. It's one of your favorite songs, right?"

I barely heard her. I was a little distracted with the video.

Kyomoto-san was trying to push the camera away, looking very embarrassed.

"Why do I have to do this?" He asked, looking irritated.

"You're the only Johnny I know. You sing your senpai's songs don't you?" I heard Jurina's voice from behind the camera.

"Not really a reason." Kyomoto said. "Besides, this is against the rule. You know that. Who will you be giving it to, anyway?" He asked.

"A friend of mine is a big fan of the song. Come on. Please? It's not like she'll upload it in YouTube or something. I'm only asking you this once." Jurina pleaded.

"You are evil." Kyomoto said, while still trying to escape from the camera.

"Please???? Just this once?" Jurina said.

There were a lot more pleading and protests but in the end, Kyomoto caved.

He started singing Ai Nante, but he wasn't looking at the camera. He looked as if he wanted to completely turn back from the camera.

As he ended the song though, he faced the camera and even smiled saying a simple, "Happy Birthday."

I didn't really know how to describe what I felt when he'd said that.

-

"Yeah." I confessed.

He laughed.

"I thought it was you…" He said.

"This is so embarrassing." I said, covering my face.

"Tell me about it." Kyomoto said and I took a peek at him. Was he actually blushing?

"Do you still have a copy of it?" He asked stealing a glance at me.

"Yes." I said softly. "I actually have it in my phone…" I confessed.

I knew I was blushing. Ugh, stupid Jurina.

"Will you please delete it??" He suddenly said.

"Eh??"

"Please delete it." He repeated. "I performed the song for Shounen Club's next episode. I'll give you that video instead. Delete the old one."

I felt sad at that. But it is a video of him, so I couldn't really tell him no.

"I'll delete it if you want me to. You don't have to give me another one or anything." I told him, giving him a little smile.

"But... Ugh, this is too embarrassing." He said.

I didn't really know what he meant but I said anyway, "I'll just delete it."

I took out my phone.

"No. I changed my mind." He hastily said. "It's okay. Just don't show it to anyone else."

Why he changed his mind, I didn't know, but I was happy he did.

"It's a promise." I said.

"Well, we're even this way…" He said, not looking at me, but grinning anyway.

"Even?" I asked, perplexed.

He took the iPad from my lap and exited the game. I watched as he opened his player and selected a file.

I started wishing I could just turn invisible. Or disappear from the face of the earth and from Kyomoto Taiga's memory.

It was the video of me, Jurina and some other AKB dancing and lip-syncing to Carly Rae Jepsen's 'Call Me Maybe.'

"Oh my god." I gasped in shock. "Delete that please!" I said as I try to snatch the iPad but Kyomoto was fast. He kept it out of my reach.

"Where did you get that??" I asked --I admit-- a little hysterically. It was that embarrassing. We did it for fun, not for my eternal humiliation.

"Jurina." He said simply and then took a step away from me. Being cautious for the iPad, I guess.

I expected it. But I was still disbelieving.

I covered my face once more. This cannot be happening. "This must be nightmare." I muttered.

"Hey, it's cool. You looked like you were having fun." Kyomoto said teasingly.

I didn't reply at once, feeling overwhelmed.

"Why'd she give that to you??" I asked when I was a bit calmer.

"Birthday gift." He said.

I looked at him in confusion.

"Why, is it one of your favorite songs?" I asked.

"Well, not exactly." He said. I think he was about to say more but just then Takaki-san appeared by the door.

"Found you!"

---

"Why did you do that?" I demanded the first time I saw Jurina.

She just blinked. "Did what?"

I realized the other members were looking at us curiously. It was still early in the morning and the others still weren't here yet for the rehearsals.

I pulled Jurina out. She followed willingly enough.

"What did I do?" She asked when we were finally alone.

"Why did you give Kyomoto our video??" I hissed, feeling the embarrassment returning.

"Oh." She said, grinning. "He likes the song."

"He told me that's not it." I told her.

She just smiled mischievously.

"I know." She said.

"What?" I asked.

"He loves the video. He would watch it whenever he's feeling down or exhausted and then he'd feel better." She said.

"Great." I sighed in defeat. "Now I'm some kind of entertainment or something for him."

"That's one way to put it." Jurina said, grinning. How frustrating can this girl be??

"You make him happy." She added.

I didn't really know what to make of that.

---

I tried to tell myself that I should just forget about it. The filming already ended and maybe I'd never have to work with him again.

But then they said there would be a movie.

I was both happy and anxious about that.

When we started filming though, the subject about the videos was never brought up between us and we went back to our routine of playing on his iPad. It was as if that conversation never happened.

But then on the fourth day of filming, I saw him watching our video.

I was surprised but I didn't waste any time and snatched the iPad away from him. Thank goodness, the others weren't with him.

"Hey! I was watching that!" He whined.

"Why are you watching it?? And here. We promised we won't show it to anyone else!" I told him, my face flush.

"Well, technically, you promise." He said cheekily.

And then he laughed. "Don't be so angry!" He said.

I pouted at him. "That's not fair." I told him.

He suddenly stops laughing and gave me a small smile. He moved closer to me. I don't know what he's thinking. His face is unreadable. Something changed in the air. I felt nervous.

He was only a step away from me and he raised his hand and I think he was about to reach for my face (but why would he?) or maybe (probably) my hair to ruffle it… maybe. Takaki-san always does it to Morimoto. But why? What does that mean anyway?

But just then, the others arrived, coming back from the cafeteria and the moment was gone. But it left many questions in my head.

After that Kyomoto somehow changed. We still play games on his iPad but he was a lot quieter. He'd started calling me 'Shima-chan' and he told me I can call him 'Kyomo-chan' or simply 'Taiga' if I want to. (I stuck with 'Kyomo-chan,' the same way his friends call him.) And he started looking at me with something I can't recognize in his eyes. And I didn't know why, but there's definitely tension in the air whenever he's around. Even the others grew quiet when we're in close proximity and I don't understand why!

---

"What's wrong with Taiga?" Jurina suddenly asked me when we were in the dressing room right before the shooting for Music Station started.

"Huh?"

"I heard his mom telling my mom he seems distracted lately." Jurina said.

"I seriously want to ask you the same question." I said and I started telling her what happened during the last days of filming.

I was surprised when she smiled.

"Haruka, do you like him?" She suddenly asked.

It was too sudden I couldn't keep myself from blushing.

"Kyomoto?" Someone from my back suddenly asked. It was Kaoru.

I felt my face grew hotter.

"Oh my god, you do!!!" Jurina suddenly squealed. "This is so wonderful!!!!" She gushed.

"Jurina, please." I said, trying to hush her. "And what's wonderful?? This is terrible!!!!" I said, panicking. I just realized that yes; I really am falling for the guy. This can't be happening!

"Well, don't you see it?" Jurina said, looking very happy. Too happy, actually. "He likes you too!" She said without preamble. "He'd had a crush since he first saw you in what magazine was that..? Anyway that was actually the reason why we became friends. He kept asking questions about you. We never really talked before that. He's just my dad's friend's son. That's why I gave our video as a birthday gift to him!"

Truthfully, I barely heard anything else after 'he likes you, too!'

I gaped at her, utterly shocked.

Kaoru started laughing. I couldn't really move, or think, or anything.

"Jurina, you and your big mouth!" Kaoru said.

---

In our next day of filming, I did my best to avoid him. I seriously didn't know how to act around him anymore. Kaoru kept saying I should just act normal but I don't know what's normal anymore.

"He'd notice, you know." She told me.

But I just can't face him. Something already changed between us; in me, at least.

"You know it's the last day of filming…" She commented.

"I just can't, Kaoru." I told her,

She smiled at me and I don't know if I should feel annoyed.

"You really like him…" She said.

"You don't have to remind me." I said in resignation.

"You can just tell him." She suggested.

I shook my head vigorously. Just thinking about it… I can't do it!!!!

We filmed the last scenes swiftly. Thank god I mostly have scenes with just Matsumura and Morimoto.

By sunset, we were already finished. They gave us each a bouquet as a congratulations there were last speeches made by the cast and crew. It actually felt surreal that we're really through with this project.

There was the air of goodbye around us and some of the girls actually started crying. My feelings were also in disarray. I really enjoyed the few months with the cast and crew.

It was too late when I remembered I was trying to avoid Kyomoto.

"Did I do something wrong?" I heard him asked.

I sharply turned to him and saw him by the dressing room's door. It was only the two of us here, and he's blocking the door.

I tried to act nonchalant. "What do you mean?" I asked.

"Why have you been avoiding me the whole day?" He replied.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I told him, smiling.

He frowned and made his way towards me. I fought the urge to run away.

"Shima-chan…" He was pouting.

"Uhm, I need to go." I try to say but he held my wrist.

He stared at me. I don't what he's trying to see, but it felt as if he's reading me.

"Jurina told you." He suddenly said.

I was shocked.

I am starting to blush, I knew. I tried to think of something to say but nothing was presenting in my mind.

And then Kyomoto spoke once more. "What she said... it's not true."

I stared at him. It's not true? So all this time, I just… I felt as if my heart just plummeted down my stomach.

He gave me that one sided smile and continued talking. "I've had a crush on you since before meeting you, that's true. But then we were able to work together and I got to know you. And now... No, it's not true that I like you. Shima-chan, I think I'm in love with you."

"Uh, I…" I think my brain just short-circuited.

"I'm not asking for anything…" He said quickly. "It's just... well, Jurina already told you so I thought... I should err... clarify... things." He said, flushing.

"I think that's me, as well." I heard my voice say. Yup, short-circuited. I don't know what I'm saying! And my mouth isn't stopping! "I think I started crushing on you after watching your video…" I looked away, but I couldn't stop talking. And then this drama... and... “I trailed off. I wish I can cover my face with anything. My hands preferably but Kyomoto was currently holding my left one and my right one is grasping the table. I feel like my knees will give out without the support.

"Do you mean..?" He said, sounding disbelieving.

I slowly nodded, but still looking anywhere but him.

And then I felt him lace our fingers together.

I peeked at him and I saw that he is smiling. He looked very happy, anyone would be able to see it his eyes. I couldn't help but smile as well. And I realized how close the two of us were. I didn't have much time to dwell on it though, because Kyomoto spoke once more.

"Can I kiss you?" He said in a barely audible whisper.

I bit my lip in nervousness and said, "If you kiss me, you gotta stay with me forever."

He grinned at me. "It's a done deal." And then he leaned in.

fin.