[Fanfic] We'll Always Have Paris - Chapter Thirteen: A Well Kept Secret
Happy Valentine's Day! Or for me, it's rather Happy Single Awareness Day! LOL. :p Regardless if you're single or with someone, I wish everyone gets to spend this day happily and contentedly. ♥
So the story starting to get really intense and also, it's starting to get really hard to write too. So much angst and emotions will be present with every chapters.
In this chapter, we'll have the ever reliable Detective J (or should I say Shuntaro? LOL) decrypt the mystery regarding Royal Family's youngest daughter. (LOL. That sound like a mystery / action drama. :D )
As always, this is unbeta-ed so do tell me if there are any errors or mistakes. Comments, suggestions, reactions and criticisms are gladly welcomed. Happy reading! :D
Disclaimer: I am no way related to Arashi, Johnny's Entertainment or the Japanese Imperial Family. All names and events pertaining to any member of the Imperial family are fictional.
Chapter Thirteen: A Well Kept Secret
The past six months have been rather tiring for Sakurai Sho. Ever since he arrived back from Paris, Johnny-san has been throwing individual jobs at him one after another. Endorsements, drama roles, MC jobs and overseas promotions are piling up his schedule excluding the Arashi related commitments. It is no secret that this is the old man’s way of punishing him for what he did and he can never say no to what Johnny-san ask him to do. He caused trouble for everyone and he didn’t realize it not until he came home. The other members took turn filling in for him on his abandoned commitments, his managers were reprimanded everyday by the management and their staff had trouble redoing scripts for their regular shows and yet, after he came back, they all welcomed him happily like nothing happened, like it’s their way of telling him that they understand him even though he never speak one word about his sudden break from work.
The members were curious of course, they asked him about Sophie and all he said was ‘We’re taking a break’ and never utter a word about her ever since. Talking about her will only make him sad and lonely and he knows Sophie doesn’t like that, all she wants for him is to be happy and he will do exactly as that until the day they meet again.
“Long night?” Nino asked as soon as Sho walked inside their dressing room, with big sunglasses on, a trucker hat hiding his face and almost dragging his body to the nearest empty couch to lay on.
Sho hates how today’s recording is scheduled at such an early hour. The staff said that the guests have only this time to spare. It annoys him because he could have at least three hours to sleep if this one’s scheduled on the usual time.
“I had no sleep.” Sho spreads his tired body on the couch. “I am reporting about the Royals until six this morning. And I just found out that I’ll be sent to report again later.”
“Oh yeah, I saw you last night on Zero, you were on location.” Aiba is already at him usual energy this early. “You even appeared in the morning news.”
“I was surprised to see you working on location, Sho-kun. Johnny-san allowed you?” Ohno inquired curiously.
“With everything that has happened the past months, looks like Johnny-san has allowed him to do everything.” Jun commented. “You can say no too, Sho-san. You’re being overworked.” He eyed him meaningfully.
“I can’t say no.” Sho said almost inaudibly before closing his eyes.
Of course he can’t say no, after all the things he has done, he needs to bring back the trust the Jimusho had on him before and the only way for that is to adhere to everything they say.
The dressing room went silent after Sho closes his eyes, he need to have at least a fifteen minute power nap to get things going for today’s recording.
The other members all focused on the muted TV in front of them. The coverage on the tragic accident last night was all over the TV stations, some even cancelled their regular programming to cover the news and to report on the latest update regarding the Royal family.
It’s a sad day for the entire nation, the Imperial Household Agency already came forward to speak after hours and hours of waiting for official announcement and they came with terrible news. The Crown Princess already passed away and the Crown Prince is in critical condition.
“It must be hard for their children to accept this.” Aiba commented, turning up the volume to hear the latest development. “Just like that, their mother dies and their father is fighting for dear life.”
“And this whole nation might lose their next Emperor.” Nino added.
“This is a very sad news to start the day.” Jun said. “The crown Prince’s family has received bashing and negative reports all over the years more than any other family in this country.”
Sho slowly opened his eyes and stare on the television. The whole situation is even more saddening when you witness it first-hand. The members of the family came one after another last night, they were all crying and mourning as they walk through the sea of reporters and onlookers alike but what caught his eyes the most is when the eldest daughter came, she created quite a controversy a few years back when she decided to marry at twenty-one years old, a young age to marry for someone in the family, the media frenzy went on for almost two years and didn’t let her live a simple commoner life. She appeared in front of the media earlier this morning, asking the media to respect their privacy as they mourn and pay their respect to her mother.
“It’s even more depressing when you’re there.” Sho puts in. “Their eldest daughter, Satsuki, is facing the media on her own and she looks really fragile and ready to break down any minute, poor her being left alone in all of these.” He closes his eyes again and tried to get the recent event out of his head, he had enough of it for over twelve hours, all he need to focus on now is to get a quick rest and prepare for the recording later.
“…Meanwhile, the youngest daughter of the Prince Hoshihito and Princess Soyoko, Princess Sayumi has arrived at Narita Airport at 8:15 this morning. It has been reported that she is currently taking her Law studies in America. The media failed to get a comment from the young Princess as she is escorted by more than thirty Imperial guards from the airport to the hospital to visit her father.”
The news reported as they showed a video clip of the Princess walking through flashing cameras, trying to hide her face with her hand.
“Eh?” Aiba blurted out in surprise upon seeing the Princess, he met Jun’s eyes who did nothing but placed a finger over his mouth, asking Aiba to shut up.
Nino is busy playing games and Ohno is busy giggling on a message on his phone to notice anything. Discreetly, Jun moves from his seat to glance at Sho, his eyes are closed and he’s probably into slumber.
“I’m going to the bathroom.” Jun announces and made a small signal to Aiba to follow him outside.
Exactly five minutes later, a very anxious Aiba made an excuse to go outside, much to his members’ obliviousness. Jun is already waiting for him at the far end of the corridor.
“Tell me you that you saw exactly what I saw on that news report! Tell me!!” Aiba almost shakes Jun’s body in agitation.
“I saw her.” Jun replied rather calmly. “Good thing that the others didn’t notice it.”
“You think it’s her?” Aiba asked expectantly.
“I don’t want to believe it, I thought maybe my eyes are just playing with me.” Jun let out a nervous laugh. “This is insane if it turns out to be Sophie…”
“It may not be her.” Aiba made the exact nervous laugh that Jun did a while ago. “Maybe the Princess just looks like Sophie and besides she’s wearing a big sunglasses and she’s covering her face. We barely saw her entire face… We’re just jumping into a conclusion, Matsujun.” Aiba pats Jun’s shoulders, refusing to believe everything that they suspected just minutes ago.
Jun made a small smile. “This is the last picture released by the Imperial Household Agency with Princess Sayumi joining her family for an official photograph, taken in London, England six years ago after her sister’s university graduation. She’s fifteen years old.” He hands his phone to Aiba and a picture of a happy family appears upon of him. The crown Prince and Princess are seating beside each other in the middle, beside the Prince is their eldest daughter, Satsuki whom they have seen a lot in the news and beside the Princess is the low-profile and almost inconspicuous younger daughter Sayumi.
“Yabai…” That’s the only word that came out from Aiba’s mouth. Seeing Princess Sayumi is like seeing a much younger and much reserved Sophie. But the smile gave it away, it is no doubt that the Sophie they met earlier this year is the same person as Japan’s most mysterious Princess.
“Now I understand.” Jun took his phone from Aiba and shoves it in his pocket. “Why Sophie is being secretive on almost everything about her life… And we barely hear anything about Princess Sayumi, probably because she’s been overshadowed by her sister or because she intentionally tried to hide from the media attention.”
“I think it’s both. She probably doesn’t like to live this alternate life.” Aiba commented as she crosses his arms on his chest. “Do you think Sho-chan knew about this?”
Jun shakes his head. “I don’t think so. Sho-san will not be sleeping on that couch comfortably if he knew this about Sophie.”
“If he still doesn’t know anything…” Aiba observes Jun’s face. “Should we tell him?” He continued.
Jun’s eyebrows crumple a bit before heaving a huge sigh. “A part of me wants to stay out of this but another part of me will feel an enormous amount of guilt if Sho-san finds out about this on his own.”
Aiba nods his head. “Let’s tell him Matsujun.” He firmly said. “It’s better if we tell him than finding it out in the middle of his job later. He’ll probably see her there.”
Jun agrees by nodding and his head. This day is going to be a long one for the two of them.
----------
The recording of VS Arashi ended without any problems, two hours later they are all done and all settled in the catering room to eat their early lunch. Jun is a good actor, many can attest to that and he puts his acting skills in practice in times like this. He pretended all happy and giddy while filming even though he keeps an explosive secret ready to burst out anytime if Aiba didn’t hold his emotions properly. They both agreed to corner Sho after the recording and explain to him, as calmly as possible, about their recent discovery but Aiba is acting suspicious and nervous the entire time that the director even asked him to raise his energy.
“I told you to act all normal yet you act the total opposite! What’s wrong with you?!” Jun tried to hush his voice as he walks with Aiba inside the catering room. “We almost got Sho-san wondering what’s wrong.”
“You know, Sho-chan will never suspect that my actions are related to Sophie.” Aiba reasoned out. “No one would ever think that our recent discovery is real. This is absurd in all aspects! Sho-chan’s girlfriend is a Princess. Do you think everyone will believe that? People will think we’re crazy.”
“No matter how absurd it is, that’s the truth. We have proof.” Jun flatly said.
When they reached the table with Nino and Ohno, they searched the entire room for Sho but he’s nowhere to be found.
“Where is Sho-chan?” Aiba inquired.
“He rushed to his next job.” Ohno answered. “They say that the wake of Princess Sayako is starting this afternoon and he was sent there.”
Jun and Aiba exchanged worried looks for a brief half minute, resulting to getting Nino’s attention.
“Aiba-san, Matsumoto-san…” Nino started. “Mind sharing what you have in mind to Riida and me?” The ever bratty yet very sensitive to his surroundings Ninomiya Kazunari smirked at the two dumbfounded men.
So the story starting to get really intense and also, it's starting to get really hard to write too. So much angst and emotions will be present with every chapters.
In this chapter, we'll have the ever reliable Detective J (or should I say Shuntaro? LOL) decrypt the mystery regarding Royal Family's youngest daughter. (LOL. That sound like a mystery / action drama. :D )
As always, this is unbeta-ed so do tell me if there are any errors or mistakes. Comments, suggestions, reactions and criticisms are gladly welcomed. Happy reading! :D
Disclaimer: I am no way related to Arashi, Johnny's Entertainment or the Japanese Imperial Family. All names and events pertaining to any member of the Imperial family are fictional.
Chapter Thirteen: A Well Kept Secret
The past six months have been rather tiring for Sakurai Sho. Ever since he arrived back from Paris, Johnny-san has been throwing individual jobs at him one after another. Endorsements, drama roles, MC jobs and overseas promotions are piling up his schedule excluding the Arashi related commitments. It is no secret that this is the old man’s way of punishing him for what he did and he can never say no to what Johnny-san ask him to do. He caused trouble for everyone and he didn’t realize it not until he came home. The other members took turn filling in for him on his abandoned commitments, his managers were reprimanded everyday by the management and their staff had trouble redoing scripts for their regular shows and yet, after he came back, they all welcomed him happily like nothing happened, like it’s their way of telling him that they understand him even though he never speak one word about his sudden break from work.
The members were curious of course, they asked him about Sophie and all he said was ‘We’re taking a break’ and never utter a word about her ever since. Talking about her will only make him sad and lonely and he knows Sophie doesn’t like that, all she wants for him is to be happy and he will do exactly as that until the day they meet again.
“Long night?” Nino asked as soon as Sho walked inside their dressing room, with big sunglasses on, a trucker hat hiding his face and almost dragging his body to the nearest empty couch to lay on.
Sho hates how today’s recording is scheduled at such an early hour. The staff said that the guests have only this time to spare. It annoys him because he could have at least three hours to sleep if this one’s scheduled on the usual time.
“I had no sleep.” Sho spreads his tired body on the couch. “I am reporting about the Royals until six this morning. And I just found out that I’ll be sent to report again later.”
“Oh yeah, I saw you last night on Zero, you were on location.” Aiba is already at him usual energy this early. “You even appeared in the morning news.”
“I was surprised to see you working on location, Sho-kun. Johnny-san allowed you?” Ohno inquired curiously.
“With everything that has happened the past months, looks like Johnny-san has allowed him to do everything.” Jun commented. “You can say no too, Sho-san. You’re being overworked.” He eyed him meaningfully.
“I can’t say no.” Sho said almost inaudibly before closing his eyes.
Of course he can’t say no, after all the things he has done, he needs to bring back the trust the Jimusho had on him before and the only way for that is to adhere to everything they say.
The dressing room went silent after Sho closes his eyes, he need to have at least a fifteen minute power nap to get things going for today’s recording.
The other members all focused on the muted TV in front of them. The coverage on the tragic accident last night was all over the TV stations, some even cancelled their regular programming to cover the news and to report on the latest update regarding the Royal family.
It’s a sad day for the entire nation, the Imperial Household Agency already came forward to speak after hours and hours of waiting for official announcement and they came with terrible news. The Crown Princess already passed away and the Crown Prince is in critical condition.
“It must be hard for their children to accept this.” Aiba commented, turning up the volume to hear the latest development. “Just like that, their mother dies and their father is fighting for dear life.”
“And this whole nation might lose their next Emperor.” Nino added.
“This is a very sad news to start the day.” Jun said. “The crown Prince’s family has received bashing and negative reports all over the years more than any other family in this country.”
Sho slowly opened his eyes and stare on the television. The whole situation is even more saddening when you witness it first-hand. The members of the family came one after another last night, they were all crying and mourning as they walk through the sea of reporters and onlookers alike but what caught his eyes the most is when the eldest daughter came, she created quite a controversy a few years back when she decided to marry at twenty-one years old, a young age to marry for someone in the family, the media frenzy went on for almost two years and didn’t let her live a simple commoner life. She appeared in front of the media earlier this morning, asking the media to respect their privacy as they mourn and pay their respect to her mother.
“It’s even more depressing when you’re there.” Sho puts in. “Their eldest daughter, Satsuki, is facing the media on her own and she looks really fragile and ready to break down any minute, poor her being left alone in all of these.” He closes his eyes again and tried to get the recent event out of his head, he had enough of it for over twelve hours, all he need to focus on now is to get a quick rest and prepare for the recording later.
“…Meanwhile, the youngest daughter of the Prince Hoshihito and Princess Soyoko, Princess Sayumi has arrived at Narita Airport at 8:15 this morning. It has been reported that she is currently taking her Law studies in America. The media failed to get a comment from the young Princess as she is escorted by more than thirty Imperial guards from the airport to the hospital to visit her father.”
The news reported as they showed a video clip of the Princess walking through flashing cameras, trying to hide her face with her hand.
“Eh?” Aiba blurted out in surprise upon seeing the Princess, he met Jun’s eyes who did nothing but placed a finger over his mouth, asking Aiba to shut up.
Nino is busy playing games and Ohno is busy giggling on a message on his phone to notice anything. Discreetly, Jun moves from his seat to glance at Sho, his eyes are closed and he’s probably into slumber.
“I’m going to the bathroom.” Jun announces and made a small signal to Aiba to follow him outside.
Exactly five minutes later, a very anxious Aiba made an excuse to go outside, much to his members’ obliviousness. Jun is already waiting for him at the far end of the corridor.
“Tell me you that you saw exactly what I saw on that news report! Tell me!!” Aiba almost shakes Jun’s body in agitation.
“I saw her.” Jun replied rather calmly. “Good thing that the others didn’t notice it.”
“You think it’s her?” Aiba asked expectantly.
“I don’t want to believe it, I thought maybe my eyes are just playing with me.” Jun let out a nervous laugh. “This is insane if it turns out to be Sophie…”
“It may not be her.” Aiba made the exact nervous laugh that Jun did a while ago. “Maybe the Princess just looks like Sophie and besides she’s wearing a big sunglasses and she’s covering her face. We barely saw her entire face… We’re just jumping into a conclusion, Matsujun.” Aiba pats Jun’s shoulders, refusing to believe everything that they suspected just minutes ago.
Jun made a small smile. “This is the last picture released by the Imperial Household Agency with Princess Sayumi joining her family for an official photograph, taken in London, England six years ago after her sister’s university graduation. She’s fifteen years old.” He hands his phone to Aiba and a picture of a happy family appears upon of him. The crown Prince and Princess are seating beside each other in the middle, beside the Prince is their eldest daughter, Satsuki whom they have seen a lot in the news and beside the Princess is the low-profile and almost inconspicuous younger daughter Sayumi.
“Yabai…” That’s the only word that came out from Aiba’s mouth. Seeing Princess Sayumi is like seeing a much younger and much reserved Sophie. But the smile gave it away, it is no doubt that the Sophie they met earlier this year is the same person as Japan’s most mysterious Princess.
“Now I understand.” Jun took his phone from Aiba and shoves it in his pocket. “Why Sophie is being secretive on almost everything about her life… And we barely hear anything about Princess Sayumi, probably because she’s been overshadowed by her sister or because she intentionally tried to hide from the media attention.”
“I think it’s both. She probably doesn’t like to live this alternate life.” Aiba commented as she crosses his arms on his chest. “Do you think Sho-chan knew about this?”
Jun shakes his head. “I don’t think so. Sho-san will not be sleeping on that couch comfortably if he knew this about Sophie.”
“If he still doesn’t know anything…” Aiba observes Jun’s face. “Should we tell him?” He continued.
Jun’s eyebrows crumple a bit before heaving a huge sigh. “A part of me wants to stay out of this but another part of me will feel an enormous amount of guilt if Sho-san finds out about this on his own.”
Aiba nods his head. “Let’s tell him Matsujun.” He firmly said. “It’s better if we tell him than finding it out in the middle of his job later. He’ll probably see her there.”
Jun agrees by nodding and his head. This day is going to be a long one for the two of them.
----------
The recording of VS Arashi ended without any problems, two hours later they are all done and all settled in the catering room to eat their early lunch. Jun is a good actor, many can attest to that and he puts his acting skills in practice in times like this. He pretended all happy and giddy while filming even though he keeps an explosive secret ready to burst out anytime if Aiba didn’t hold his emotions properly. They both agreed to corner Sho after the recording and explain to him, as calmly as possible, about their recent discovery but Aiba is acting suspicious and nervous the entire time that the director even asked him to raise his energy.
“I told you to act all normal yet you act the total opposite! What’s wrong with you?!” Jun tried to hush his voice as he walks with Aiba inside the catering room. “We almost got Sho-san wondering what’s wrong.”
“You know, Sho-chan will never suspect that my actions are related to Sophie.” Aiba reasoned out. “No one would ever think that our recent discovery is real. This is absurd in all aspects! Sho-chan’s girlfriend is a Princess. Do you think everyone will believe that? People will think we’re crazy.”
“No matter how absurd it is, that’s the truth. We have proof.” Jun flatly said.
When they reached the table with Nino and Ohno, they searched the entire room for Sho but he’s nowhere to be found.
“Where is Sho-chan?” Aiba inquired.
“He rushed to his next job.” Ohno answered. “They say that the wake of Princess Sayako is starting this afternoon and he was sent there.”
Jun and Aiba exchanged worried looks for a brief half minute, resulting to getting Nino’s attention.
“Aiba-san, Matsumoto-san…” Nino started. “Mind sharing what you have in mind to Riida and me?” The ever bratty yet very sensitive to his surroundings Ninomiya Kazunari smirked at the two dumbfounded men.