Pieces of Sunlight - Part 6
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. Getting there, but still very vague.
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. 4 more days until Taisuke's birthday!!
1 | 2a | 2b | 3a | 3b | 4 | 5
Pieces of Sunlight
By Shattered Tenshi
Part 6
2001, early November
Letting out a small grunt, Taisuke didn't complain and just shifted over to make space for his friend. He had given up on telling the other not to jump him from behind, like he had given up on telling Kawai the same.
"Oh, just the two of us up here today?" Yokoo grinned. "Then I can do anything I want to Tai-chan!"
Taisuke blushed and whacked Yokoo on the arm. "Stop saying weird things! There are cameras!" He pointed to the one right in front of them. "And people down on the first floor can see us properly too!"
Yokoo laughed. "It's just too much fun!"
Huffing, Taisuke crossed his arms and attempted to glare at Yokoo, but found it a little hard to keep it up with Yokoo grinning at him like that. It's been a month since that kiss on his cheek, and Yokoo never mentioned it again, so Taisuke tried to forget about it as well. Surprisingly though, just as long as he didn't think about it, and acted normally around Yokoo, he realized they were actually becoming quite good friends.
"By the way, you really don't want to go and play soccer (1) with me this weekend?" Yokoo asked, tilting his head.
Taisuke made a slight face. "Un. I really am bad at soccer, so I don't want to ruin it for you or anything. (2)"
"Nah, you won't! If you insist though, I guess. I don’t want you to not have fun either..." Deciding to change the topic, Yokoo asked, "What should we do during the recording then?"
"E-eh?" Taisuke blinked.
"We have a camera in front of us! We've got to do something interesting, right?" Yokoo leaned forward, looking into the camera as he brushed his hair behind his ear while trying to smile as cutely as possible. "See? Something like that." (3)
Taisuke blinked again. "A-and to think that you told me that when you first joined, you had no interest in becoming a Junior at all, Wataru." (4)
Yokoo grinned. "Well, you can say it's more fun that I thought it would be? I'm starting to not mind dancing and stuff as well." He crossed his arms over his chest and nodded solemnly. "I'll be a high school student next year anyways, so I should think more maturely now!”
Staring at Yokoo, Taisuke mumbled, "I still can't believe you're older than me by a year..."
"I can't believe you're the same age as Jimmy-kun either!" Yokoo laughed.
Taisuke made a face and gave Yokoo a hard push. Since they were sitting on the bed though, Yokoo didn't exactly hit anything that would hurt him. "Ah, they're starting the recording!"
"Mh, I guess having a conversation and showing how well we get along works too," Yokoo mused.
"Ha?"
Yokoo sat back up properly and said, "So, when will we see Super-tousan again?"
Taisuke pointed down towards the first floor. "They're starting!"
Yokoo just laughed. "You know we always do what we want up here on the second floor."
There was a pause before Taisuke said, "...that's true." He then tilted his head. "Why are you asking about Super-tousan anyways?"
"I never saw him!" Yokoo exclaimed. "You forgot that I wasn't there during that recording?"
Taisuke furrowed his eyebrows together. "Ah, you're right."
"So, I heard that Super-tousan wants to take the MC position of Kazama-kun? (5)"
"Right!" Taisuke used a fist to hit the palm of his other hand lightly. "Don't you think that being MC seems fun? Not that I'd be able to do it now, but one day? That's why I made Super-tousan say that..."
Yokoo laughed, "You should definitely bring Super-tousan back. He sounds fun."
"When I can think of something that would require him?" Taisuke gave Yokoo a sheepish smile.
"I'll look forward to it!" Then, suddenly, Yokoo suddenly remembered something. "Oh! Remember to watch the show, alright? I mailed you about it, didn't I?"
Blinking, Taisuke tilted his head. "Show...? Ah, your first performance as J-Support (6)? I remember. Don't worry, I'll watch it."
Yokoo grinned. "Be sure to give some comments, alright? I don't think I'll be able to do a back flip in the end, but I'll do my best and not mess up!"
"Well, it's pre-recorded, right?" Taisuke asked. "Just tell me if you did it or not so I know what to expect."
"That's not the right idea! I don't want to spoil things for you," Yokoo said, shaking his head. "I'm not going to tell you anything, so just watch it when it airs."
Taisuke pouted slightly. "Fine."
They spent the rest of the time talking while the rest of the Juniors downstairs watched the VTR for the specific episode. Taisuke wondered if he should apologize to Jimmy, Fukuda and Waragai who went on the outdoor filming for not paying attention. Then again, he was pretty sure his mother would record the episode anyways, so he'll just watch it later. It was fun talking with Yokoo anyways.
They weren't able to talk during the whole recording of the episode though because most Juniors switched seats after watching the VTR, so they can have their haiku tournament. (7)
It was weird for the studio to be so quiet as all the Juniors tried to write their own haiku, but Taisuke didn't really mind. He was trying his best to think of a haiku that would fit his Fujigaya-tousan character after all.
That's why he was smiling happily when his haiku seemed to be well received. Even after the recording, Taisuke was smiling, feeling a little giddy.
"Oh, Tai-chan, that was interesting!" Yokoo ran up to him from behind and patted Taisuke on the shoulder. "Mine sounded so simple compared to yours."
Taisuke gave Yokoo a bashful grin before saying, "It was sort of funny though? I mean, it's true that no one would think that you're older than Jimmy-kun. (8)"
"You should have written one too! That it might not seem like it but you're the same age as Jimmy-kun." Yokoo grinned. "Then that'd be prove we're good friends who think similarly!"
Rolling his eyes, Taisuke just shook his head. Depending on the situation, there are times he didn't want to think similarly as Yokoo.
Yokoo held up one of the pieces of boards they wrote their haikus on. "By the way, Tai-chan, I wrote a haiku about you."
"Ha?" Taisuke blinked.
"Listen to it." Yokoo cleared his throat, "髪型が、おっさんっぽいけど、大好きよ。 (9)"
Taisuke's eyebrow twitched. "Wataru..."
"What?" Yokoo looked innocent. "It's true, and I said I still like you, so why are you complaining!"
"Ah, whatever." Taisuke sighed and started to walk off towards the changing room. "Goseki-kun, let’s go out together!"
"Oi, Tai-chan! Explain to me! Don't ignore me!"
2001, early December
"See, see? I told you I was awesome this time!" Yokoo grinned happily, wrapping his arm around Taisuke's shoulders.
Taisuke scratched his nose. "I'm not so sure about you flirting with that girl at the bakery though..."
Yokoo laughed, "What, are you jealous, Tai-chan? Don't worry, I still like you!"
Taisuke blushed. "That's not it! Even though it's our job to make the show interesting, to ask the girl things like that..."
Furrowing his eyebrows together, Yokoo said, "Oh? I thought being straightforward was a good thing?"
"Either way, she picked the chef over you anyways."
"She just doesn't know how to appreciate me," Yokoo said with a nod.
Taisuke just shook his head. Sometimes, he really wondered why Yokoo act like that at times because he knew the other had his serious side as well. His mind went back to thinking about what Yokoo had said, about him being jealous. He wasn’t being jealous really. There was no reason for him to feel that way because Yokoo was a boy and he didn't know that girl personally either, so there should be no feelings of jealousy. He had to admit though there was that weird feeling in his chest, watching Yokoo flirt with that girl. Maybe because he was not used to seeing someone he knows personally do something like that? He was bad at interacting with girls himself too, so he never did anything similar.
"Tai-chan, Yokoo, hurry, or we'll finish up your portions of the cake!" Kawai cried.
"Ah, cake! (10)"
Yokoo grabbed Taisuke's wrist and pulled him along. "Quick, Tai-chan, otherwise you won't have your sugar replenishment for the day!"
Taisuke retorted back, "What sugar replenishment? I'm not low on sugar!"
"Yes, yes, whatever you say, Tai-chan," Yokoo waved a hand vaguely in the air, quick to dismiss what Taisuke had just said.
Goseki came up to them and held out a plate. "Here you go, Taisuke-kun."
"A-ah," Taisuke blushed lightly. "Thank you, Goseki-kun."
"Wher-" Yokoo ran over to Iida when he spotted the other. "Thanks for saving me a piece, Iida!"
Iida let out a surprised cry. "Hey, that wasn't yours!" Soon, the two got into a small argument, and other Juniors watching them decided to join just for fun. As a result, the room where they were eating the cake became really noisy.
Goseki and Taisuke remained at the side, eating their pieces of cake while watching the others run wild. "Doing anything special during winter vacation?" Goseki asked.
"Mh, my family will definitely celebrate Christmas! We were talking about going to Shizuoka because my obaachan is there (11), but we're not sure yet." Taisuke swallowed his bite of the cake. "What about Goseki-kun? Want to go out and play together one day?"
"Oh, that sounds good!" Goseki said with a smile. "It's been a while hasn't it?"
Taisuke nodded his head strongly. "Let's go shopping, then maybe the game center together?"
"Ah, what are you guys planning without me!?"
"Fumi!" Taisuke blinked. "Do you want to go as well?"
Kawai sat down beside Taisuke with a small bounce. "Where? Where are we going?"
Goseki was the one who replied. "During winter vacation, a day of shopping and playing, right?" He smiled at Taisuke who beamed back, nodding.
"Ooh, include me!"
"Me too!"
Taisuke blinked in surprise. "Wataru? Weren't you over there with Iida-kun?"
Yokoo grinned. "Well, I got my piece of cake, so." He shrugged.
"The four of us then?" Kawai asked.
Nodding his head and smiling brightly, Taisuke decided that he couldn't wait for their outing.
2002, mid-January
Lately, Taisuke found himself spending less and less time alone. During lessons or rehearsals, he would be always with someone, usually members of A.B.C., Goseki or Yokoo, though Yokoo was busy with J-Support lately, so he didn't see the other too often.
This time, he was with Kawai, the two of them staring at the vending machine with much concentration as they tried to decide on what drink to buy. "Mh..." Taisuke's eyebrows furrowed together as he tried to make up his mind.
"I think the orange juice would be pretty good."
"You think, Fumi? I guess I should stop choosing the apple juice all the t-" Taisuke blinked. There was something different about the voice. "E-eh?" He spun around - feeling Kawai do the same - and felt his eyes widened. "T-Takizawa-kun!"
Kawai on the other hand reacted a little differently. "Takizawa-kun, really? The orange juice one? I'll try that then!" He quickly turned around and put the coins into the machine, pressing the button for the can of orange juice.
Taisuke felt stiff, nervous in front of a senpai. Shifting his weight on his feet, he tried to think of something to say.
Takizawa frowned. "You don't like orange juice, Fujigaya?"
Quickly shaking his head, Taisuke replied, "N-no! Y-you...you just surprised me, I guess."
A soft chuckle, Takizawa patted Taisuke on the head, then Kawai's as well. "Well, sorry about that. I didn't mean to."
"Takizawa!" The three of them turned their heads at the same time and found Tsubasa standing not too far away. "Rehearsal is starting again. We can't begin without you."
"Ah, sorry. I'm coming!" Takizawa waved at Tsubasa before turning his attention back to Taisuke and Kawai. "Do your best, you two. I'll see you soon then." With that, he jogged towards Tsubasa, before the two of them disappeared into one of the rehearsal rooms.
Kawai nudged Taisuke lightly. "You better choose your drink, Tai-chan." He then waved a hand in front of Taisuke's face. "Your eyes are shining a little too much."
Taisuke jumped in surprise and his cheeks turned pink. "S-sorry, but it's Takizawa-kun, and um, senpai..."
Laughing, Kawai patted Taisuke on the arm. "Well, it's not like I don’t understand either..." His gaze focusing on the direction that Takizawa and Tsubasa had disappeared to, he said, "Do you think they’ll debut together?"
"I hope so," Taisuke mumbled. "They seem to get along really well, and it's nice to debut with someone you get along with, right?"
"True," Kawai agreed, nodding. "Tai-chan, you really should choose your drink now."
Taisuke made a sound, almost a squeak. "That's right!" He quickly inserted coins into a machine before choosing a can of apple juice.
"Aww, not orange?"
Blushing, Taisuke mumbled, "Next time."
Just laughing in response, the two of them soon went back to where their own rehearsals were taking place.
Taisuke was kind of glad Kawai didn't continue with the debut talk. It's not like he didn't think of these things - he was sure Kawai and other Juniors do as well - but it just wasn't an easy topic to talk about. He enjoyed his experience as a Junior, but like everyone else, debut was a goal that they all wanted to reach, but not everyone could.
A bit more than three years since he entered the Jimusho, Taisuke would wonder at times, how long he'll continue as a Junior, but the decision seemed so far away as well. Right now, he'll just enjoy his times here.
"Such a serious look?"
Taisuke blinked, and wondered when Kawai became Totsuka. "Tottsu..." He shook his head. "It's nothing. I just drifted off, thinking about something. Where did Fumi go...?"
"Over there." Totsuka motioned over to a group of Juniors.
"Ehh, Fumi is always running around the place, isn't he?"
Totsuka laughed. "True, but I think you do that sometimes as well? Once you get to know the people you're talking to properly anyways?"
"Really?" Taisuke wrinkled his nose. He didn't consider himself as active as Kawai, but he supposed compared to when he first entered the Jimusho, he has opened up more to people, interacting with them more easily.
"Anyways," Totsuka started, "have time over the weekend? We're going out again, so if you're interested in joining."
Taisuke was quick to reply. "Sorry! It's my brother Yuusuke's birthday soon, so we're celebrating as a family. I can't go," he said with a small pout.
Patting Taisuke on the shoulder, Totsuka said, "That's fine. It's important to celebrate that, right? We'll make sure to ask you again next time!"
"Okay! Especially if you're going to karaoke! I'm starting to really like it~"
Totsuka chuckled. "Alright, I'll remember that."
"Yay!"
(1) - Wataru is good at several sports, one of them being soccer, which he mentioned in several places, including Popolo September 2007 where he says he did soccer for his club activities in middle school.
(2) - On the other hand, Taisuke fails at soccer. His only experience is quite limited to playing soccer for school, in physical education classes. He talked about this Myojo June 2006.
(3) - Wataru actually did that purposely for an episode of Hadaka no Shounen, at least twice within one episode.
(4) - In Popolo July 2007, Wataru said that he entered because his older brother wanted to enter was felt that himself was too old (high school age), so Wataru joined instead. He had no interest in being a Junior at that time.
(5) - Super-tousan is actually a puppet. For October 27th, 2001 episode of Hadaka no Shounen, during Fujigaya-tousan's corner, Super-tousan appeared and went "Kazama, give me your MC spot!" and Fujigaya-tousan was like, "What are you saying, Super-tousan?" Super-tousan said, "Are you satisfied like this?" Fujigaya-tousan who replied, "Despite this, I'm doing my best, so please wait, Super-tousan." Everyone cracked up as a result.
(6) - The first performance of J-Support (aka KKKity later on) was on aired on November 10th, 2001 on this show called The Yoru no Hippare. They performed a song called 'jump' from Every Little Thing and part of their original challenge from Koichi was that everyone needed to do a backflip during the performance, but only Kusano was able to.
(7) - This whole part was based on the episode of Hadaka no Shounen that aired November 24th, where at the beginning, Taisuke and Wataru were shown alone on the second floor, talking to each other. Later on, since in the VTR, the three Juniors who went on the roke wrote haiku, all Juniors in the studio wrote haikus as well.
(8) - Wataru's haiku was basically something like 'Even though I look like this, I'm actually older than Jimmy.' Taisuke's had been for his Fujigaya-tousan character, where he said his wife had thick layers of make-up, while everyone was flailed and such about Fujigaya-tousan having a wife.
(9) - Of course this is fake. I wrote it, and a translation, to make it match an actual haiku would be 'Though your hairstyle is, like it is for an old man, I still do like you'. Please excuse the awkward English.
(10) - This is based on Hadaka no Shounen that aired December 15th, 2001. It was Christmas-themed, and Wataru went on the roke for this. Part of the roke was making a cake and Wataru flirted with the girl assistant like crazy, asking her things like who she liked best among him, Koyama and Jimmy who went on the roke. The cake after it was finished was brought to the studio, and I assume they all got to eat a piece.
(11) - During Hyakushikiou that aired July 2008, when Taisuke and Shoon went to Disneyland, Taisuke said his grandmother lived in Shizuoka.
Author's Notes: How did 2001 get so long? I just got the beginning of 2002 in this chapter! If I tried following my original, original plan, I should have covered part of 2004 in this chapter, lol. Not going to plan at all, haha. Oh well. =v=;; I sneaked my favourite foursome into this chapter, rofl, but of course, they're still young, so it's just friendship! XD; No, we will not have my OT4 in this fic, haha. Just friendship, hanging out and stuff, so yea. X3;
Will not make 2002 as long as 2001 since I have less things I want to cover, but the next chapter will probably still be fully 2002, and 2003 won't come until the chapter after that. 2002 is the year Hiro joined though! =v= Let's see if he'll appear next chapter yet. Hehe. Miyata might. Should actually. He's already in the Jimusho after all. =3
...I think that's all I have to say?
Comments are love and appreciated~
Part 7
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. Getting there, but still very vague.
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. 4 more days until Taisuke's birthday!!
1 | 2a | 2b | 3a | 3b | 4 | 5
Pieces of Sunlight
By Shattered Tenshi
Part 6
2001, early November
Letting out a small grunt, Taisuke didn't complain and just shifted over to make space for his friend. He had given up on telling the other not to jump him from behind, like he had given up on telling Kawai the same.
"Oh, just the two of us up here today?" Yokoo grinned. "Then I can do anything I want to Tai-chan!"
Taisuke blushed and whacked Yokoo on the arm. "Stop saying weird things! There are cameras!" He pointed to the one right in front of them. "And people down on the first floor can see us properly too!"
Yokoo laughed. "It's just too much fun!"
Huffing, Taisuke crossed his arms and attempted to glare at Yokoo, but found it a little hard to keep it up with Yokoo grinning at him like that. It's been a month since that kiss on his cheek, and Yokoo never mentioned it again, so Taisuke tried to forget about it as well. Surprisingly though, just as long as he didn't think about it, and acted normally around Yokoo, he realized they were actually becoming quite good friends.
"By the way, you really don't want to go and play soccer (1) with me this weekend?" Yokoo asked, tilting his head.
Taisuke made a slight face. "Un. I really am bad at soccer, so I don't want to ruin it for you or anything. (2)"
"Nah, you won't! If you insist though, I guess. I don’t want you to not have fun either..." Deciding to change the topic, Yokoo asked, "What should we do during the recording then?"
"E-eh?" Taisuke blinked.
"We have a camera in front of us! We've got to do something interesting, right?" Yokoo leaned forward, looking into the camera as he brushed his hair behind his ear while trying to smile as cutely as possible. "See? Something like that." (3)
Taisuke blinked again. "A-and to think that you told me that when you first joined, you had no interest in becoming a Junior at all, Wataru." (4)
Yokoo grinned. "Well, you can say it's more fun that I thought it would be? I'm starting to not mind dancing and stuff as well." He crossed his arms over his chest and nodded solemnly. "I'll be a high school student next year anyways, so I should think more maturely now!”
Staring at Yokoo, Taisuke mumbled, "I still can't believe you're older than me by a year..."
"I can't believe you're the same age as Jimmy-kun either!" Yokoo laughed.
Taisuke made a face and gave Yokoo a hard push. Since they were sitting on the bed though, Yokoo didn't exactly hit anything that would hurt him. "Ah, they're starting the recording!"
"Mh, I guess having a conversation and showing how well we get along works too," Yokoo mused.
"Ha?"
Yokoo sat back up properly and said, "So, when will we see Super-tousan again?"
Taisuke pointed down towards the first floor. "They're starting!"
Yokoo just laughed. "You know we always do what we want up here on the second floor."
There was a pause before Taisuke said, "...that's true." He then tilted his head. "Why are you asking about Super-tousan anyways?"
"I never saw him!" Yokoo exclaimed. "You forgot that I wasn't there during that recording?"
Taisuke furrowed his eyebrows together. "Ah, you're right."
"So, I heard that Super-tousan wants to take the MC position of Kazama-kun? (5)"
"Right!" Taisuke used a fist to hit the palm of his other hand lightly. "Don't you think that being MC seems fun? Not that I'd be able to do it now, but one day? That's why I made Super-tousan say that..."
Yokoo laughed, "You should definitely bring Super-tousan back. He sounds fun."
"When I can think of something that would require him?" Taisuke gave Yokoo a sheepish smile.
"I'll look forward to it!" Then, suddenly, Yokoo suddenly remembered something. "Oh! Remember to watch the show, alright? I mailed you about it, didn't I?"
Blinking, Taisuke tilted his head. "Show...? Ah, your first performance as J-Support (6)? I remember. Don't worry, I'll watch it."
Yokoo grinned. "Be sure to give some comments, alright? I don't think I'll be able to do a back flip in the end, but I'll do my best and not mess up!"
"Well, it's pre-recorded, right?" Taisuke asked. "Just tell me if you did it or not so I know what to expect."
"That's not the right idea! I don't want to spoil things for you," Yokoo said, shaking his head. "I'm not going to tell you anything, so just watch it when it airs."
Taisuke pouted slightly. "Fine."
They spent the rest of the time talking while the rest of the Juniors downstairs watched the VTR for the specific episode. Taisuke wondered if he should apologize to Jimmy, Fukuda and Waragai who went on the outdoor filming for not paying attention. Then again, he was pretty sure his mother would record the episode anyways, so he'll just watch it later. It was fun talking with Yokoo anyways.
They weren't able to talk during the whole recording of the episode though because most Juniors switched seats after watching the VTR, so they can have their haiku tournament. (7)
It was weird for the studio to be so quiet as all the Juniors tried to write their own haiku, but Taisuke didn't really mind. He was trying his best to think of a haiku that would fit his Fujigaya-tousan character after all.
That's why he was smiling happily when his haiku seemed to be well received. Even after the recording, Taisuke was smiling, feeling a little giddy.
"Oh, Tai-chan, that was interesting!" Yokoo ran up to him from behind and patted Taisuke on the shoulder. "Mine sounded so simple compared to yours."
Taisuke gave Yokoo a bashful grin before saying, "It was sort of funny though? I mean, it's true that no one would think that you're older than Jimmy-kun. (8)"
"You should have written one too! That it might not seem like it but you're the same age as Jimmy-kun." Yokoo grinned. "Then that'd be prove we're good friends who think similarly!"
Rolling his eyes, Taisuke just shook his head. Depending on the situation, there are times he didn't want to think similarly as Yokoo.
Yokoo held up one of the pieces of boards they wrote their haikus on. "By the way, Tai-chan, I wrote a haiku about you."
"Ha?" Taisuke blinked.
"Listen to it." Yokoo cleared his throat, "髪型が、おっさんっぽいけど、大好きよ。 (9)"
Taisuke's eyebrow twitched. "Wataru..."
"What?" Yokoo looked innocent. "It's true, and I said I still like you, so why are you complaining!"
"Ah, whatever." Taisuke sighed and started to walk off towards the changing room. "Goseki-kun, let’s go out together!"
"Oi, Tai-chan! Explain to me! Don't ignore me!"
2001, early December
"See, see? I told you I was awesome this time!" Yokoo grinned happily, wrapping his arm around Taisuke's shoulders.
Taisuke scratched his nose. "I'm not so sure about you flirting with that girl at the bakery though..."
Yokoo laughed, "What, are you jealous, Tai-chan? Don't worry, I still like you!"
Taisuke blushed. "That's not it! Even though it's our job to make the show interesting, to ask the girl things like that..."
Furrowing his eyebrows together, Yokoo said, "Oh? I thought being straightforward was a good thing?"
"Either way, she picked the chef over you anyways."
"She just doesn't know how to appreciate me," Yokoo said with a nod.
Taisuke just shook his head. Sometimes, he really wondered why Yokoo act like that at times because he knew the other had his serious side as well. His mind went back to thinking about what Yokoo had said, about him being jealous. He wasn’t being jealous really. There was no reason for him to feel that way because Yokoo was a boy and he didn't know that girl personally either, so there should be no feelings of jealousy. He had to admit though there was that weird feeling in his chest, watching Yokoo flirt with that girl. Maybe because he was not used to seeing someone he knows personally do something like that? He was bad at interacting with girls himself too, so he never did anything similar.
"Tai-chan, Yokoo, hurry, or we'll finish up your portions of the cake!" Kawai cried.
"Ah, cake! (10)"
Yokoo grabbed Taisuke's wrist and pulled him along. "Quick, Tai-chan, otherwise you won't have your sugar replenishment for the day!"
Taisuke retorted back, "What sugar replenishment? I'm not low on sugar!"
"Yes, yes, whatever you say, Tai-chan," Yokoo waved a hand vaguely in the air, quick to dismiss what Taisuke had just said.
Goseki came up to them and held out a plate. "Here you go, Taisuke-kun."
"A-ah," Taisuke blushed lightly. "Thank you, Goseki-kun."
"Wher-" Yokoo ran over to Iida when he spotted the other. "Thanks for saving me a piece, Iida!"
Iida let out a surprised cry. "Hey, that wasn't yours!" Soon, the two got into a small argument, and other Juniors watching them decided to join just for fun. As a result, the room where they were eating the cake became really noisy.
Goseki and Taisuke remained at the side, eating their pieces of cake while watching the others run wild. "Doing anything special during winter vacation?" Goseki asked.
"Mh, my family will definitely celebrate Christmas! We were talking about going to Shizuoka because my obaachan is there (11), but we're not sure yet." Taisuke swallowed his bite of the cake. "What about Goseki-kun? Want to go out and play together one day?"
"Oh, that sounds good!" Goseki said with a smile. "It's been a while hasn't it?"
Taisuke nodded his head strongly. "Let's go shopping, then maybe the game center together?"
"Ah, what are you guys planning without me!?"
"Fumi!" Taisuke blinked. "Do you want to go as well?"
Kawai sat down beside Taisuke with a small bounce. "Where? Where are we going?"
Goseki was the one who replied. "During winter vacation, a day of shopping and playing, right?" He smiled at Taisuke who beamed back, nodding.
"Ooh, include me!"
"Me too!"
Taisuke blinked in surprise. "Wataru? Weren't you over there with Iida-kun?"
Yokoo grinned. "Well, I got my piece of cake, so." He shrugged.
"The four of us then?" Kawai asked.
Nodding his head and smiling brightly, Taisuke decided that he couldn't wait for their outing.
2002, mid-January
Lately, Taisuke found himself spending less and less time alone. During lessons or rehearsals, he would be always with someone, usually members of A.B.C., Goseki or Yokoo, though Yokoo was busy with J-Support lately, so he didn't see the other too often.
This time, he was with Kawai, the two of them staring at the vending machine with much concentration as they tried to decide on what drink to buy. "Mh..." Taisuke's eyebrows furrowed together as he tried to make up his mind.
"I think the orange juice would be pretty good."
"You think, Fumi? I guess I should stop choosing the apple juice all the t-" Taisuke blinked. There was something different about the voice. "E-eh?" He spun around - feeling Kawai do the same - and felt his eyes widened. "T-Takizawa-kun!"
Kawai on the other hand reacted a little differently. "Takizawa-kun, really? The orange juice one? I'll try that then!" He quickly turned around and put the coins into the machine, pressing the button for the can of orange juice.
Taisuke felt stiff, nervous in front of a senpai. Shifting his weight on his feet, he tried to think of something to say.
Takizawa frowned. "You don't like orange juice, Fujigaya?"
Quickly shaking his head, Taisuke replied, "N-no! Y-you...you just surprised me, I guess."
A soft chuckle, Takizawa patted Taisuke on the head, then Kawai's as well. "Well, sorry about that. I didn't mean to."
"Takizawa!" The three of them turned their heads at the same time and found Tsubasa standing not too far away. "Rehearsal is starting again. We can't begin without you."
"Ah, sorry. I'm coming!" Takizawa waved at Tsubasa before turning his attention back to Taisuke and Kawai. "Do your best, you two. I'll see you soon then." With that, he jogged towards Tsubasa, before the two of them disappeared into one of the rehearsal rooms.
Kawai nudged Taisuke lightly. "You better choose your drink, Tai-chan." He then waved a hand in front of Taisuke's face. "Your eyes are shining a little too much."
Taisuke jumped in surprise and his cheeks turned pink. "S-sorry, but it's Takizawa-kun, and um, senpai..."
Laughing, Kawai patted Taisuke on the arm. "Well, it's not like I don’t understand either..." His gaze focusing on the direction that Takizawa and Tsubasa had disappeared to, he said, "Do you think they’ll debut together?"
"I hope so," Taisuke mumbled. "They seem to get along really well, and it's nice to debut with someone you get along with, right?"
"True," Kawai agreed, nodding. "Tai-chan, you really should choose your drink now."
Taisuke made a sound, almost a squeak. "That's right!" He quickly inserted coins into a machine before choosing a can of apple juice.
"Aww, not orange?"
Blushing, Taisuke mumbled, "Next time."
Just laughing in response, the two of them soon went back to where their own rehearsals were taking place.
Taisuke was kind of glad Kawai didn't continue with the debut talk. It's not like he didn't think of these things - he was sure Kawai and other Juniors do as well - but it just wasn't an easy topic to talk about. He enjoyed his experience as a Junior, but like everyone else, debut was a goal that they all wanted to reach, but not everyone could.
A bit more than three years since he entered the Jimusho, Taisuke would wonder at times, how long he'll continue as a Junior, but the decision seemed so far away as well. Right now, he'll just enjoy his times here.
"Such a serious look?"
Taisuke blinked, and wondered when Kawai became Totsuka. "Tottsu..." He shook his head. "It's nothing. I just drifted off, thinking about something. Where did Fumi go...?"
"Over there." Totsuka motioned over to a group of Juniors.
"Ehh, Fumi is always running around the place, isn't he?"
Totsuka laughed. "True, but I think you do that sometimes as well? Once you get to know the people you're talking to properly anyways?"
"Really?" Taisuke wrinkled his nose. He didn't consider himself as active as Kawai, but he supposed compared to when he first entered the Jimusho, he has opened up more to people, interacting with them more easily.
"Anyways," Totsuka started, "have time over the weekend? We're going out again, so if you're interested in joining."
Taisuke was quick to reply. "Sorry! It's my brother Yuusuke's birthday soon, so we're celebrating as a family. I can't go," he said with a small pout.
Patting Taisuke on the shoulder, Totsuka said, "That's fine. It's important to celebrate that, right? We'll make sure to ask you again next time!"
"Okay! Especially if you're going to karaoke! I'm starting to really like it~"
Totsuka chuckled. "Alright, I'll remember that."
"Yay!"
(1) - Wataru is good at several sports, one of them being soccer, which he mentioned in several places, including Popolo September 2007 where he says he did soccer for his club activities in middle school.
(2) - On the other hand, Taisuke fails at soccer. His only experience is quite limited to playing soccer for school, in physical education classes. He talked about this Myojo June 2006.
(3) - Wataru actually did that purposely for an episode of Hadaka no Shounen, at least twice within one episode.
(4) - In Popolo July 2007, Wataru said that he entered because his older brother wanted to enter was felt that himself was too old (high school age), so Wataru joined instead. He had no interest in being a Junior at that time.
(5) - Super-tousan is actually a puppet. For October 27th, 2001 episode of Hadaka no Shounen, during Fujigaya-tousan's corner, Super-tousan appeared and went "Kazama, give me your MC spot!" and Fujigaya-tousan was like, "What are you saying, Super-tousan?" Super-tousan said, "Are you satisfied like this?" Fujigaya-tousan who replied, "Despite this, I'm doing my best, so please wait, Super-tousan." Everyone cracked up as a result.
(6) - The first performance of J-Support (aka KKKity later on) was on aired on November 10th, 2001 on this show called The Yoru no Hippare. They performed a song called 'jump' from Every Little Thing and part of their original challenge from Koichi was that everyone needed to do a backflip during the performance, but only Kusano was able to.
(7) - This whole part was based on the episode of Hadaka no Shounen that aired November 24th, where at the beginning, Taisuke and Wataru were shown alone on the second floor, talking to each other. Later on, since in the VTR, the three Juniors who went on the roke wrote haiku, all Juniors in the studio wrote haikus as well.
(8) - Wataru's haiku was basically something like 'Even though I look like this, I'm actually older than Jimmy.' Taisuke's had been for his Fujigaya-tousan character, where he said his wife had thick layers of make-up, while everyone was flailed and such about Fujigaya-tousan having a wife.
(9) - Of course this is fake. I wrote it, and a translation, to make it match an actual haiku would be 'Though your hairstyle is, like it is for an old man, I still do like you'. Please excuse the awkward English.
(10) - This is based on Hadaka no Shounen that aired December 15th, 2001. It was Christmas-themed, and Wataru went on the roke for this. Part of the roke was making a cake and Wataru flirted with the girl assistant like crazy, asking her things like who she liked best among him, Koyama and Jimmy who went on the roke. The cake after it was finished was brought to the studio, and I assume they all got to eat a piece.
(11) - During Hyakushikiou that aired July 2008, when Taisuke and Shoon went to Disneyland, Taisuke said his grandmother lived in Shizuoka.
Author's Notes: How did 2001 get so long? I just got the beginning of 2002 in this chapter! If I tried following my original, original plan, I should have covered part of 2004 in this chapter, lol. Not going to plan at all, haha. Oh well. =v=;; I sneaked my favourite foursome into this chapter, rofl, but of course, they're still young, so it's just friendship! XD; No, we will not have my OT4 in this fic, haha. Just friendship, hanging out and stuff, so yea. X3;
Will not make 2002 as long as 2001 since I have less things I want to cover, but the next chapter will probably still be fully 2002, and 2003 won't come until the chapter after that. 2002 is the year Hiro joined though! =v= Let's see if he'll appear next chapter yet. Hehe. Miyata might. Should actually. He's already in the Jimusho after all. =3
...I think that's all I have to say?
Comments are love and appreciated~
Part 7