Pieces of Sunlight - Part 4
Title: Pieces of Sunlight
Author: Shattered Tenshi
Rating: G (rating will change in future chapters)
Fandom: JE
Genre: General (mainly)
Pairing: Taisuke-centric, actual pairings will come eventually
Warnings: None for now, but well, eventual shounen-ai.
Disclaimer: Not mine. This is fiction. Even though I pulled out a whole lot of facts/tidbits to put into the fic, it's still fiction. I never claimed or will claim it to be anything else.
Notes: For Taisuke's 22nd Birthday and 11th Anniversary in the Jimusho. 13 more days until Taisuke's birthday!!
1 | 2a | 2b | 3a | 3b
Pieces of Sunlight
By Shattered Tenshi
Part 4
2000, March 30th (1)
"Taisuke-kun, I don't think you're making others happy by doing this," Goseki commented, looking up at the other.
"E-eh?"
"That's right, Fujigaya!" Miyagi (2) cried out. "We're not that scary, are we?"
Taisuke blinked before quickly letting go of Goseki's arm and shook his head. "I never said you guys were."
"You were the one who ran to Goseki the moment he walked in?" Fukuda pointed out.
"We feel hurt," Toushin added, nodding his head.
Waving his hands around in denial, Taisuke said, "I'm just feeling nervous! I never said I'm scared of you guys, or I don't like you...!"
Goseki laughed lightly. "You're entering your second year of middle school, Taisuke-kun. Still haven't improved on your social skills?" Taisuke blushed lightly. "Well, take your time. It's not like it's a bad thing. Once we get you talking anyways, you don't seem to stop."
"Goseki-kun!"
Miyagi pointed at Taisuke and burst out in laughter. "Goseki's right, Fujigaya! Last time at rehearsal...I never realized you could talk so much!"
"Miyagi-kun, stop laughing at me!" Taisuke then mumbled, "And that's proof I like you guys. I don't talk that much in front of people I'm not close with..." (3)
"I heard that~"
Taisuke jumped a little when he found Takeuchi beside him. "Don't scare me like that!" He looked around for Goseki, but it seemed like the other had went off to drop down his things. "...Koyama-kun and Katou-kun aren't here yet?"
Takeuchi shrugged his shoulders. "Katou-kun went to visit other Juniors I think. You saw him, right? As for Koyama-kun...he might be late?"
Scratching the side of his head, Taisuke tried to remember. "Ah, I did see Katou-kun..." A glance at the clock in the room told him he still had time before the actual show starts. "I'm going go out for a short walk then!"
"Want company?" Goseki asked with a soft smile.
Almost agreeing immediately, Taisuke then shook his head. "It's fine! I'll be back soon."
"Don't wander for so long," Miyagi called out. "We're doing a last minute rehearsal later!"
"I already said it'd be a short walk!" As Taisuke left the changing room, he could still hear Miyagi's and Fukuda's laughter behind him. Huffing, Taisuke ignored them and soon forgot about them as he wandered around the hallways of TV Asahi. After all, it was not every day he got to come here, unlike the NHK studio which he went more often for recordings of Shounen Club. Then again, he'll be coming to this building more with the start of Hadaka no Shounen, just a different area.
Just then, a voice called out to him. "Oh, Fujigaya, what are you doing here?"
A small shiver going down his spine - not in a bad way though - Taisuke turned around. "T-Takizawa-kun!" Trying to find his words for a second or two, he then replied, "I was just w-walking around while there was still time!"
Takizawa laughed. "Don't have to be so stiff with me, Fujigaya." He looked at Taisuke closely. "You're nervous, but happy, aren't you?"
"E-eh?" Taisuke immediately pressed a hand against his cheek, wondering if there was something written on his face. How did the other know?
Chuckling knowingly, Takizawa patted Taisuke on the shoulder. "How are you getting along with your group?"
Taisuke had a feeling he understood why Takizawa read him easily and said he looked happy now. "I think we get along pretty well! And they're all very nice. It's nice being in a group," Taisuke said with a small smile.
"That's good! You guys do your best during the show, alright?" Takizawa gave Taisuke a light slap on his best.
"W-we will!" Taisuke squeaked, standing a little straighter. Just when Takizawa was about to walk away, he remembered something. "I look forward to your drama, Takizawa-kun!" (4)
Takizawa turned around and grinned at Taisuke. "Thanks! Tell me what you think about it after you watch it, alright?"
"I will!"
By the time Taisuke retuned to the dressing room, he was more excited than nervous and considering the look Goseki gave him, he was being quite obvious. He could only give the other a sheepish grin in response.
"Fujigaya-kun doesn't look nervous. You should tell me your trick."
"Oh, you're here, Koyama-kun!" Taisuke then shook his head, smiling shyly. "It's no trick really..." He wasn't sure if he wanted to admit to Koyama that encouraging words from a senpai was all that was needed for him to feel this way. Would that make him sound too easy? "I still feel nervous," he decided to admit this part.
"I'm probably more nervous than you," Koyama chuckled awkwardly.
Taisuke looked confused for a moment before he remembered that Koyama hadn't exactly entered the Jimusho for a long time. (5) It was probably his first time appearing on a show as big as Music Station. Not feeling comfortable giving advice though - Koyama was older than him after all - Taisuke looked around and caught Goseki's eye before waving the other over.
"You'll be fine, Koyama-kun!" Taisuke said. "Right, Goseki-kun?"
Understanding what Taisuke was doing, Goseki nodded his head. "It's okay to be nervous, but don't worry! Just enjoy yourself. If you're lucky, the camera won't even be able to catch your mistakes. There's going to be quite a few Juniors around after all."
Taisuke quickly nodded his head in agreement. "We're a group, so don't think you're alone in being nervous and on the stage!"
Koyama gave them both a smile. "Thanks, you two."
"Ah, Katou is back! Let's have our last run through then!" It was Miyagi who had called out. "Someone get Kazama and HaseJun in here too!" (6)
Voices from across the room replied, "Alright!"
2001, early April
"Taisuke-kun is tall," Goseki stated.
Taisuke blinked before nodding his head slowly. "You can say that, I guess? I have a feeling all my classmates are getting ahead of me though ever since I entered middle school." He thanked the staff who measured his height before walking towards Goseki. "They even run faster than me and play basketball better than me now." He made a face.
Goseki laughed, "Really?" He patted Taisuke on the shoulder. "Don't feel down."
"I'm not!" Taisuke made a face then corrected himself, "Not that much. Besides, I'm glad my teacher asked me to join the swim team! It seems like this year, I have a good chance of being a representative for the school again at the municipal level!" (7) He beamed at Goseki.
"No wonder you look a little darker," Goseki teased. "Swam too much in the outdoor pool?"
Immediately, Taisuke complained, "Hey, I'm just naturally dark-skinned! Besides, the school year just started! I haven't had many practices yet."
Goseki just laughed, "Right, right. Just make sure you don't turn too dark, otherwise you'll get yelled out!"
Taisuke pouted, "I know."
"Hey, Fujigaya, how tall are you?"
Taisuke looked up and realized the rest of the group was already back together. He turned to Fukuda who had asked the question. "168cm!" (8)
"He's going to grow up taller than you, Koyama," Miyagi laughed.
"Shush," Koyama replied. "I can still grow." (9)
"Sure, you can," Miyagi said with a grin.
Tilting his head, not really understanding what was going on, Taisuke walked over to Katou who was reading a book and sat down beside the other. "What are they going on about, Katou-kun?"
Katou looked up from his book. "Ah, them? Don't mind them. We're boys, so we happen to like to be taller than each other."
Taisuke blinked. In a way, he still didn't understand, but then again, he was just saying to Goseki how he felt all his classmates were getting ahead of him, so he really did understand he supposed. He looked around. "Toushin-kun isn't around?"
Shaking his head, Katou replied, "It's just us today, it seems." (10)
"Oh..." Taisuke had been hoping to get to know Toushin a little better since they sat close to each other during Hadaka no Shounen as well.
"Members of B.A.D., please come into the studio!" Taisuke quickly stood up at the voice of a staff member.
Fukuda then said, "Alright, last one to get there is treating everyone else a drink!"
"Ehhh!"
Less than a second later, the group of boys were trying to leave the changing room all at once, not wanting to be last.
2001, mid-May
Kazama was grinning as he walked up to Taisuke. "I told you it was going to be good. I'm looking forward to the next time, Fujigaya-tousan!" He waved, then walked off the set towards the changing rooms.
Taisuke scratched his cheek in embarrassment, but couldn't keep the bright smile off his face. He really did manage to make his fellow Juniors laugh.
Goseki ran up to Taisuke and patted him on the shoulder. "Hey, those VTRs that you didn't like turned out to lead something good after all, right?" He then reached up to pat Taisuke's hair. "Be thankful!"
"People still see me as older than I am though," Taisuke said with a small pout. "I'm not really an old man character." (11)
Laughing, Goseki said, "I know, I know. Don't worry! Fans will come to know you better soon."
Before Taisuke could reply, someone slapped him hard on his back. "Ouch!"
"Fujigaya, tell me, did you come up with that on your own?"
"Koki-kun!"
Koki grinned. "Yo. So, answer my question. Did you come up with that yourself? Otherwise, you know, I wouldn't mind helping you come up with a few..." Koki started to lead Taisuke away, continuing to tell the younger one about all his ideas.
Goseki just watched with amusement, deciding to mail Kawai that he had missed the birth of a new character on the show. (12)
2001, June 2nd (13)
Tugging on Goseki's wrist, Taisuke kept his other arm around his pillow as he looked up and down the hallway, to make sure no one saw them. Once he decided it was clear, he knocked on the door of one of the rooms.
"Tai-chan!" Kawai's grinning face was the first thing they saw when the door opened.
Taisuke beamed and quickly hurried into the room with Goseki. "I brought Goseki-kun along!"
"What about other members of your group?" Kawai asked.
"Koyama-kun and Katou-kun were having some sort of conversation, so I didn't want to bother them. I think Takeuchi-kun is already asleep, and well the rest of them..." Taisuke looked over at Goseki for help in finishing his sentence.
"Other Juniors got to them first," Goseki said with a small shrug.
Once they got into the room, they found the beds pushed together and the other members of A.B.C. were waiting for them. "Seven of us then," Tatsumi declared. "On our last night in Osaka, what should we do?"
Taisuke blinked as he sat down on the bed. "Eh, I thought you guys already planned everything? At least, that's what I thought Fumi meant..."
"Proves that you shouldn't believe Fumito with these things," Totsuka said with a nod.
"Oi! I wasn't lying! We do have games prepared!" Kawai took out a deck of cards and continued, "It's just, apparently majority needs to win first."
"We're playing cards then?" Goseki asked.
Koshioka shrugged. "Cards is the easiest thing, but if you can think of any other games to play?"
Raising a hand, Tsukada suggested, "We can start off with cards first then go on to something else later? We plan to stay up for quite some time, right?"
"Of course!" Kawai exclaimed. "Tomorrow's the last day of concerts, so we'll stay up late and raise our tension."
"That logic doesn't really work," Tatsumi pointed out, "but I do want to play! It's not every day we have concerts and get to stay in hotels and stuff." He grinned at the rest of them.
Koshioka laughed, "How about, to make this more fun, the first one to fall asleep, will have to get a punishment tomorrow?"
"Ooh, sounds fun!" Kawai immediately agreed.
"Ehhh..." Taisuke hugged his pillow. He was a bit wary about what kind of punishment games the rest of the group can come up with.
Totsuka nudged Taisuke, grinning, "Afraid you'll be the first one?"
"No!" Taisuke immediately replied.
"I'll make sure you stay up," Goseki whispered from the other side of Taisuke with a small grin.
Taisuke huffed, "Stop acting like I'll be the first one to fall asleep! Fumi is the youngest here!"
"Personality-wise, I'd say you're the most likely," Tatsumi stated as he handed the deck of cards to Koshioka to shuffle. Apparently, their conversation had been overheard, not that they were really keeping their voices low. "I bet Fujigaya will be first."
"Ehhh!" Now they were going to bet!?
Koshioka said, "I'll go towards minority and say Tsuka!"
Tsukada jumped a little. "Eh, me?"
Laughing, Kawai bounced on the bed. "This sounds fun! I say Tai-chan too!"
"I'll bet on Taisuke-kun," Totsuka replied as he patted Taisuke on the back.
"Taisuke-kun for me too," Goseki raised his hand.
Looking at Goseki as if the other betrayed him, Taisuke immediately turned his attention to Tsukada. Would the other bet on him as well? He gave the other a pleading look.
Tsukada opened his mouth once, then again before saying, "Fumi for me." He gave Taisuke a small smile.
Kawai pointed his fingers at them. "Just because you two joined the same day! Tsuka, stop being so soft on Tai-chan!"
"How is he being soft on me?" Taisuke exclaimed. "It's just a bet!"
"Just watch it, you'll get spoiled!” Kawai declared.
Taisuke huffed and just when he was going to retort back, Tatsumi stopped him. "What about you, Fujigaya-kun? Who will you bet on?"
"Fumi!" Taisuke blew a raspberry at Kawai.
Chuckling, Koshioka said, "Now that we have our bets down then...let's start the game?" He held up the deck of cards.
A few hours later, Kawai was holding back his laughter as he poked Taisuke around the waist, and Taisuke just mumbled something as he hugged his pillow tighter, eyes remaining closed.
Kawai grinned at the rest of the group and kept his voice lowered, "Tai-chan was first!"
"That means we have to decide on a punishment," Totsuka whispered.
"Actually," Tatsumi said as he went to his bag and pulled out something. "I have two washable markers here. Anyone interested?" He grinned.
"Taisuke-kun might cry when he looks in the mirror tomorrow morning," Goseki commented but he went to grab one of the markers from Tatsumi anyways.
Kawai quickly grabbed the other one. "I claim his forehead!"
Needless to say, the next day, the members of A.B.C. along with Goseki took quite some time to convince Taisuke before he decided to talk to them again.
(1) - This is Wiki information. B.A.D. was formed and first appeared in MS on March 30th, 2001. There's no way I can find out which Juniors were main though during that performance, so excuse my assumptions.
(2) - Miyagi Shunta, an ex-Junior. He had chances to do rokes for Hadaka no Shounen, so I can only assume he was one of the more well-known Juniors of the time. I don't know his personality well at all though. He was symmetry with Fukuda, so I assumed they get along well.
(3) - Everyone knows Taisuke talks a lot, but according to himself, he doesn't talk a lot at school and stuff. He talks a lot around KisuMai because he likes his group, so I stretched the fact a little.
(4) - Tackey had a drama special that was going to be airing April of that year called Speed Star.
(5) - Koyama joined the Jimusho on January 21 of that year. Kusano and Shoon joined that day as well.
(6) - Kazama and HaseJun were already part of the main Juniors at that time, and really, B.A.D. actually consisted of those two, Taisuke, Toushin, Goseki, Koyama, Shige, Miyagi and Fukuda, however, during Johnny's Concert of that year, Toushin, Kazama and HaseJun were not included as part of B.A.D. so there was probably shifting of members since Kazama and HaseJun were quite main and stuff. If that makes sense. If B.A.D. sang on MS that day, it's most likely Kazama and HaseJun who actually held mics while other members did back vocals and backdanced. It's just my assumption though, again.
(7) - In Popolo July 2007, Taisuke talked about his teacher inviting him to swimming and since then, he was chosen as a team member of the swim team to represent his school at the municipal competition.
(8) - It's information taken from a LQ scan in my collection. Even though that scan wasn't labelled from which year it was from, Taisuke was around 171cm already in 2002, so 168cm in 2001 made sense.
(9) - On that same scan, Kei was on it, and it said Kei was around 168cm.
(10) - With limited pages in magazines for Juniors, priority will obviously be given to main Juniors. Other Juniors don't get to appear in magazines monthly and even when they do, there might be shuffling of members and such. Considering Toushin wasn't with B.A.D. during the Junior concert later that year, it's possible he didn't appear in magazines with them. I only know for sure they appeared in Myojo June 2001 as B.A.D. but not sure which members were included.
(11) - For those who don't know about Fujigaya-tousan, it's a corner within Hadaka no Shounen where Taisuke plays the role of 'Fujigaya-tousan' at times, commenting on what happened in that episode, or just a gag somewhat in general. The character was created because a viewer sent a postcard, asking about Taisuke and his 'combing hair' VTRs and they decided his 'ojisan' character would make an interesting corner.
(12) - Fujigaya-tousan first appeared in June 3, 2001 episode, and I checked. Fumi wasn't around that episode.
(13) - Juniors concert that year was held between May 3 and June 3 in three places - Yokohama, Nagoya and Osaka. Assuming they didn't do only one day of concerts in Osaka, they would be staying at hotels and stuff.
Author's Notes: I think, I got kind of lazy with the footnotes this time, lol. 8D; Ask me if something isn't clear or you want to know more about something. Another not-so-interesting chapter, but we have michevious boys! That's always fun. XD I think, lol. Poor Miyagi, I probably ruined his character. And MAD members too! I don't know a thing about them...8D; Ah well.
More 2001 next chapter. Might step into 2002, might not. Not sure yet. But, but DEFINITELY WATARU! o/ Nika too!
Comments are love and appreciated~
Part 5
Author: Shattered Tenshi
Rating: G (rating will change in future chapters)
Fandom: JE
Genre: General (mainly)
Pairing: Taisuke-centric, actual pairings will come eventually
Warnings: None for now, but well, eventual shounen-ai.
Disclaimer: Not mine. This is fiction. Even though I pulled out a whole lot of facts/tidbits to put into the fic, it's still fiction. I never claimed or will claim it to be anything else.
Notes: For Taisuke's 22nd Birthday and 11th Anniversary in the Jimusho. 13 more days until Taisuke's birthday!!
1 | 2a | 2b | 3a | 3b
Pieces of Sunlight
By Shattered Tenshi
Part 4
2000, March 30th (1)
"Taisuke-kun, I don't think you're making others happy by doing this," Goseki commented, looking up at the other.
"E-eh?"
"That's right, Fujigaya!" Miyagi (2) cried out. "We're not that scary, are we?"
Taisuke blinked before quickly letting go of Goseki's arm and shook his head. "I never said you guys were."
"You were the one who ran to Goseki the moment he walked in?" Fukuda pointed out.
"We feel hurt," Toushin added, nodding his head.
Waving his hands around in denial, Taisuke said, "I'm just feeling nervous! I never said I'm scared of you guys, or I don't like you...!"
Goseki laughed lightly. "You're entering your second year of middle school, Taisuke-kun. Still haven't improved on your social skills?" Taisuke blushed lightly. "Well, take your time. It's not like it's a bad thing. Once we get you talking anyways, you don't seem to stop."
"Goseki-kun!"
Miyagi pointed at Taisuke and burst out in laughter. "Goseki's right, Fujigaya! Last time at rehearsal...I never realized you could talk so much!"
"Miyagi-kun, stop laughing at me!" Taisuke then mumbled, "And that's proof I like you guys. I don't talk that much in front of people I'm not close with..." (3)
"I heard that~"
Taisuke jumped a little when he found Takeuchi beside him. "Don't scare me like that!" He looked around for Goseki, but it seemed like the other had went off to drop down his things. "...Koyama-kun and Katou-kun aren't here yet?"
Takeuchi shrugged his shoulders. "Katou-kun went to visit other Juniors I think. You saw him, right? As for Koyama-kun...he might be late?"
Scratching the side of his head, Taisuke tried to remember. "Ah, I did see Katou-kun..." A glance at the clock in the room told him he still had time before the actual show starts. "I'm going go out for a short walk then!"
"Want company?" Goseki asked with a soft smile.
Almost agreeing immediately, Taisuke then shook his head. "It's fine! I'll be back soon."
"Don't wander for so long," Miyagi called out. "We're doing a last minute rehearsal later!"
"I already said it'd be a short walk!" As Taisuke left the changing room, he could still hear Miyagi's and Fukuda's laughter behind him. Huffing, Taisuke ignored them and soon forgot about them as he wandered around the hallways of TV Asahi. After all, it was not every day he got to come here, unlike the NHK studio which he went more often for recordings of Shounen Club. Then again, he'll be coming to this building more with the start of Hadaka no Shounen, just a different area.
Just then, a voice called out to him. "Oh, Fujigaya, what are you doing here?"
A small shiver going down his spine - not in a bad way though - Taisuke turned around. "T-Takizawa-kun!" Trying to find his words for a second or two, he then replied, "I was just w-walking around while there was still time!"
Takizawa laughed. "Don't have to be so stiff with me, Fujigaya." He looked at Taisuke closely. "You're nervous, but happy, aren't you?"
"E-eh?" Taisuke immediately pressed a hand against his cheek, wondering if there was something written on his face. How did the other know?
Chuckling knowingly, Takizawa patted Taisuke on the shoulder. "How are you getting along with your group?"
Taisuke had a feeling he understood why Takizawa read him easily and said he looked happy now. "I think we get along pretty well! And they're all very nice. It's nice being in a group," Taisuke said with a small smile.
"That's good! You guys do your best during the show, alright?" Takizawa gave Taisuke a light slap on his best.
"W-we will!" Taisuke squeaked, standing a little straighter. Just when Takizawa was about to walk away, he remembered something. "I look forward to your drama, Takizawa-kun!" (4)
Takizawa turned around and grinned at Taisuke. "Thanks! Tell me what you think about it after you watch it, alright?"
"I will!"
By the time Taisuke retuned to the dressing room, he was more excited than nervous and considering the look Goseki gave him, he was being quite obvious. He could only give the other a sheepish grin in response.
"Fujigaya-kun doesn't look nervous. You should tell me your trick."
"Oh, you're here, Koyama-kun!" Taisuke then shook his head, smiling shyly. "It's no trick really..." He wasn't sure if he wanted to admit to Koyama that encouraging words from a senpai was all that was needed for him to feel this way. Would that make him sound too easy? "I still feel nervous," he decided to admit this part.
"I'm probably more nervous than you," Koyama chuckled awkwardly.
Taisuke looked confused for a moment before he remembered that Koyama hadn't exactly entered the Jimusho for a long time. (5) It was probably his first time appearing on a show as big as Music Station. Not feeling comfortable giving advice though - Koyama was older than him after all - Taisuke looked around and caught Goseki's eye before waving the other over.
"You'll be fine, Koyama-kun!" Taisuke said. "Right, Goseki-kun?"
Understanding what Taisuke was doing, Goseki nodded his head. "It's okay to be nervous, but don't worry! Just enjoy yourself. If you're lucky, the camera won't even be able to catch your mistakes. There's going to be quite a few Juniors around after all."
Taisuke quickly nodded his head in agreement. "We're a group, so don't think you're alone in being nervous and on the stage!"
Koyama gave them both a smile. "Thanks, you two."
"Ah, Katou is back! Let's have our last run through then!" It was Miyagi who had called out. "Someone get Kazama and HaseJun in here too!" (6)
Voices from across the room replied, "Alright!"
2001, early April
"Taisuke-kun is tall," Goseki stated.
Taisuke blinked before nodding his head slowly. "You can say that, I guess? I have a feeling all my classmates are getting ahead of me though ever since I entered middle school." He thanked the staff who measured his height before walking towards Goseki. "They even run faster than me and play basketball better than me now." He made a face.
Goseki laughed, "Really?" He patted Taisuke on the shoulder. "Don't feel down."
"I'm not!" Taisuke made a face then corrected himself, "Not that much. Besides, I'm glad my teacher asked me to join the swim team! It seems like this year, I have a good chance of being a representative for the school again at the municipal level!" (7) He beamed at Goseki.
"No wonder you look a little darker," Goseki teased. "Swam too much in the outdoor pool?"
Immediately, Taisuke complained, "Hey, I'm just naturally dark-skinned! Besides, the school year just started! I haven't had many practices yet."
Goseki just laughed, "Right, right. Just make sure you don't turn too dark, otherwise you'll get yelled out!"
Taisuke pouted, "I know."
"Hey, Fujigaya, how tall are you?"
Taisuke looked up and realized the rest of the group was already back together. He turned to Fukuda who had asked the question. "168cm!" (8)
"He's going to grow up taller than you, Koyama," Miyagi laughed.
"Shush," Koyama replied. "I can still grow." (9)
"Sure, you can," Miyagi said with a grin.
Tilting his head, not really understanding what was going on, Taisuke walked over to Katou who was reading a book and sat down beside the other. "What are they going on about, Katou-kun?"
Katou looked up from his book. "Ah, them? Don't mind them. We're boys, so we happen to like to be taller than each other."
Taisuke blinked. In a way, he still didn't understand, but then again, he was just saying to Goseki how he felt all his classmates were getting ahead of him, so he really did understand he supposed. He looked around. "Toushin-kun isn't around?"
Shaking his head, Katou replied, "It's just us today, it seems." (10)
"Oh..." Taisuke had been hoping to get to know Toushin a little better since they sat close to each other during Hadaka no Shounen as well.
"Members of B.A.D., please come into the studio!" Taisuke quickly stood up at the voice of a staff member.
Fukuda then said, "Alright, last one to get there is treating everyone else a drink!"
"Ehhh!"
Less than a second later, the group of boys were trying to leave the changing room all at once, not wanting to be last.
2001, mid-May
Kazama was grinning as he walked up to Taisuke. "I told you it was going to be good. I'm looking forward to the next time, Fujigaya-tousan!" He waved, then walked off the set towards the changing rooms.
Taisuke scratched his cheek in embarrassment, but couldn't keep the bright smile off his face. He really did manage to make his fellow Juniors laugh.
Goseki ran up to Taisuke and patted him on the shoulder. "Hey, those VTRs that you didn't like turned out to lead something good after all, right?" He then reached up to pat Taisuke's hair. "Be thankful!"
"People still see me as older than I am though," Taisuke said with a small pout. "I'm not really an old man character." (11)
Laughing, Goseki said, "I know, I know. Don't worry! Fans will come to know you better soon."
Before Taisuke could reply, someone slapped him hard on his back. "Ouch!"
"Fujigaya, tell me, did you come up with that on your own?"
"Koki-kun!"
Koki grinned. "Yo. So, answer my question. Did you come up with that yourself? Otherwise, you know, I wouldn't mind helping you come up with a few..." Koki started to lead Taisuke away, continuing to tell the younger one about all his ideas.
Goseki just watched with amusement, deciding to mail Kawai that he had missed the birth of a new character on the show. (12)
2001, June 2nd (13)
Tugging on Goseki's wrist, Taisuke kept his other arm around his pillow as he looked up and down the hallway, to make sure no one saw them. Once he decided it was clear, he knocked on the door of one of the rooms.
"Tai-chan!" Kawai's grinning face was the first thing they saw when the door opened.
Taisuke beamed and quickly hurried into the room with Goseki. "I brought Goseki-kun along!"
"What about other members of your group?" Kawai asked.
"Koyama-kun and Katou-kun were having some sort of conversation, so I didn't want to bother them. I think Takeuchi-kun is already asleep, and well the rest of them..." Taisuke looked over at Goseki for help in finishing his sentence.
"Other Juniors got to them first," Goseki said with a small shrug.
Once they got into the room, they found the beds pushed together and the other members of A.B.C. were waiting for them. "Seven of us then," Tatsumi declared. "On our last night in Osaka, what should we do?"
Taisuke blinked as he sat down on the bed. "Eh, I thought you guys already planned everything? At least, that's what I thought Fumi meant..."
"Proves that you shouldn't believe Fumito with these things," Totsuka said with a nod.
"Oi! I wasn't lying! We do have games prepared!" Kawai took out a deck of cards and continued, "It's just, apparently majority needs to win first."
"We're playing cards then?" Goseki asked.
Koshioka shrugged. "Cards is the easiest thing, but if you can think of any other games to play?"
Raising a hand, Tsukada suggested, "We can start off with cards first then go on to something else later? We plan to stay up for quite some time, right?"
"Of course!" Kawai exclaimed. "Tomorrow's the last day of concerts, so we'll stay up late and raise our tension."
"That logic doesn't really work," Tatsumi pointed out, "but I do want to play! It's not every day we have concerts and get to stay in hotels and stuff." He grinned at the rest of them.
Koshioka laughed, "How about, to make this more fun, the first one to fall asleep, will have to get a punishment tomorrow?"
"Ooh, sounds fun!" Kawai immediately agreed.
"Ehhh..." Taisuke hugged his pillow. He was a bit wary about what kind of punishment games the rest of the group can come up with.
Totsuka nudged Taisuke, grinning, "Afraid you'll be the first one?"
"No!" Taisuke immediately replied.
"I'll make sure you stay up," Goseki whispered from the other side of Taisuke with a small grin.
Taisuke huffed, "Stop acting like I'll be the first one to fall asleep! Fumi is the youngest here!"
"Personality-wise, I'd say you're the most likely," Tatsumi stated as he handed the deck of cards to Koshioka to shuffle. Apparently, their conversation had been overheard, not that they were really keeping their voices low. "I bet Fujigaya will be first."
"Ehhh!" Now they were going to bet!?
Koshioka said, "I'll go towards minority and say Tsuka!"
Tsukada jumped a little. "Eh, me?"
Laughing, Kawai bounced on the bed. "This sounds fun! I say Tai-chan too!"
"I'll bet on Taisuke-kun," Totsuka replied as he patted Taisuke on the back.
"Taisuke-kun for me too," Goseki raised his hand.
Looking at Goseki as if the other betrayed him, Taisuke immediately turned his attention to Tsukada. Would the other bet on him as well? He gave the other a pleading look.
Tsukada opened his mouth once, then again before saying, "Fumi for me." He gave Taisuke a small smile.
Kawai pointed his fingers at them. "Just because you two joined the same day! Tsuka, stop being so soft on Tai-chan!"
"How is he being soft on me?" Taisuke exclaimed. "It's just a bet!"
"Just watch it, you'll get spoiled!” Kawai declared.
Taisuke huffed and just when he was going to retort back, Tatsumi stopped him. "What about you, Fujigaya-kun? Who will you bet on?"
"Fumi!" Taisuke blew a raspberry at Kawai.
Chuckling, Koshioka said, "Now that we have our bets down then...let's start the game?" He held up the deck of cards.
A few hours later, Kawai was holding back his laughter as he poked Taisuke around the waist, and Taisuke just mumbled something as he hugged his pillow tighter, eyes remaining closed.
Kawai grinned at the rest of the group and kept his voice lowered, "Tai-chan was first!"
"That means we have to decide on a punishment," Totsuka whispered.
"Actually," Tatsumi said as he went to his bag and pulled out something. "I have two washable markers here. Anyone interested?" He grinned.
"Taisuke-kun might cry when he looks in the mirror tomorrow morning," Goseki commented but he went to grab one of the markers from Tatsumi anyways.
Kawai quickly grabbed the other one. "I claim his forehead!"
Needless to say, the next day, the members of A.B.C. along with Goseki took quite some time to convince Taisuke before he decided to talk to them again.
(1) - This is Wiki information. B.A.D. was formed and first appeared in MS on March 30th, 2001. There's no way I can find out which Juniors were main though during that performance, so excuse my assumptions.
(2) - Miyagi Shunta, an ex-Junior. He had chances to do rokes for Hadaka no Shounen, so I can only assume he was one of the more well-known Juniors of the time. I don't know his personality well at all though. He was symmetry with Fukuda, so I assumed they get along well.
(3) - Everyone knows Taisuke talks a lot, but according to himself, he doesn't talk a lot at school and stuff. He talks a lot around KisuMai because he likes his group, so I stretched the fact a little.
(4) - Tackey had a drama special that was going to be airing April of that year called Speed Star.
(5) - Koyama joined the Jimusho on January 21 of that year. Kusano and Shoon joined that day as well.
(6) - Kazama and HaseJun were already part of the main Juniors at that time, and really, B.A.D. actually consisted of those two, Taisuke, Toushin, Goseki, Koyama, Shige, Miyagi and Fukuda, however, during Johnny's Concert of that year, Toushin, Kazama and HaseJun were not included as part of B.A.D. so there was probably shifting of members since Kazama and HaseJun were quite main and stuff. If that makes sense. If B.A.D. sang on MS that day, it's most likely Kazama and HaseJun who actually held mics while other members did back vocals and backdanced. It's just my assumption though, again.
(7) - In Popolo July 2007, Taisuke talked about his teacher inviting him to swimming and since then, he was chosen as a team member of the swim team to represent his school at the municipal competition.
(8) - It's information taken from a LQ scan in my collection. Even though that scan wasn't labelled from which year it was from, Taisuke was around 171cm already in 2002, so 168cm in 2001 made sense.
(9) - On that same scan, Kei was on it, and it said Kei was around 168cm.
(10) - With limited pages in magazines for Juniors, priority will obviously be given to main Juniors. Other Juniors don't get to appear in magazines monthly and even when they do, there might be shuffling of members and such. Considering Toushin wasn't with B.A.D. during the Junior concert later that year, it's possible he didn't appear in magazines with them. I only know for sure they appeared in Myojo June 2001 as B.A.D. but not sure which members were included.
(11) - For those who don't know about Fujigaya-tousan, it's a corner within Hadaka no Shounen where Taisuke plays the role of 'Fujigaya-tousan' at times, commenting on what happened in that episode, or just a gag somewhat in general. The character was created because a viewer sent a postcard, asking about Taisuke and his 'combing hair' VTRs and they decided his 'ojisan' character would make an interesting corner.
(12) - Fujigaya-tousan first appeared in June 3, 2001 episode, and I checked. Fumi wasn't around that episode.
(13) - Juniors concert that year was held between May 3 and June 3 in three places - Yokohama, Nagoya and Osaka. Assuming they didn't do only one day of concerts in Osaka, they would be staying at hotels and stuff.
Author's Notes: I think, I got kind of lazy with the footnotes this time, lol. 8D; Ask me if something isn't clear or you want to know more about something. Another not-so-interesting chapter, but we have michevious boys! That's always fun. XD I think, lol. Poor Miyagi, I probably ruined his character. And MAD members too! I don't know a thing about them...8D; Ah well.
More 2001 next chapter. Might step into 2002, might not. Not sure yet. But, but DEFINITELY WATARU! o/ Nika too!
Comments are love and appreciated~
Part 5