"The Softest Pillow" fanfic series + Inoue Mao birthday gift post
Hello everyone! This is a little project I had been setting up for awhile called "The Softest Pillow" fanfic series dedicated for a certain Inoue Mao whose birthday is today and is featured in a majority of these fics. This series is more a collection with one unifying theme: various Mao/Arashi pairings and how I imagine them getting over things and/or comforting each other.
They're not outright romance, but you'll find that each of the stories straddles that very thin line where friendship could be something more if someone just... *did* something about it. It supposed to be confusing in this way. ^_^ Please let me know which of the four below was your favorite. I'd so very much appreciate it.
And yes, the Ohmiya is still pertaining to Mao's birthday. She's a fan of boylove, after all.
Everything is rated G-PG, posted in the order I wrote them:
Ohmiya
Title: Nino's Crisis
Ninomiya Kazunari was having a terrible day. He dragged his socked feet along the soft carpeted floor where his dog, Haru-chan kept running around his shins, ball in her mouth, trying to get his attention. He barely noticed the small dog, even though he nearly tripped over her twice, as his focus kept drifting back to the considerable weightlessness in his day bag. Somewhere behind him as he hauled himself into his room, he heard his mother yell something about Ohno’s mom and a Nintendo DS. Nintendo DS. Don’t remind me, Nino internally groaned. He shut the door softly behind him, too let down to think up his usual snarky excuse in retort, and let himself collapse, back first, onto his bed- day bag and all. Automatically, as if it had a mind of its own, his hand reached for the mobile in his left pocket, his fingers already pressing the well-worn button of his number pad. The speed dial connected instantly.
Riing…
Nino stared blankly at the ceiling.
Riiing….
He closed his eyes, listening intently.
Riiing….
“Pick up, pick up.” Nino thought to himself.
Riiing…click.
Nino perked.
“You have reached the voicemail of-”
“Damn it, Oh-chan, no one sleeps at 4 in the afternoon-!”
Amazingly, the voicemail cut off, and Nino stopped his rant immediately.
There was a deep inhale on the other end and then, in as pristine a slur as Nino could ever hope for, “…Mosh..i.” Apparently, some people do sleep at 4 in the afternoon. Nino couldn’t stop the smile that spread across his face.
“Riida.” Nino said.
“Ah- Kazu?” Nino could hear shifting blankets on Ohno Satoshi’s end of the line and could imagine him sitting up groggily, rubbing his eyes. Nino’s smile turned into a grin at the image.
There was silence between them. Silence that should have been awkward, but wasn’t. Not between Nino and Ohno.
Finally, strangely soothed, Nino said, matter-of factly, “Tomorrow, I’m borrowing your DS. So bring it to the photoshoot in the morning.”
“Eh?” Ohno murmured sleepily, “But don’t you already have it?”
Nino frowned. “Oh-chan,” he took a deep breath, as if what he was about to say took a lot of effort. Nino tried to keep the emotion out of his voice and failed, “Oh-chan,” he tried again, “You know I lost my DS.”
There was a silence on the end. Nino didn’t know if it was because Ohno was bowing his head in mourning with him or if he had genuinely forgotten the situation. Both were very plausible. What Ohno said next confused him.
“I know, but don’t you already have mine?” He sounded considerably more awake now.
“Have your what?” Nino said, trying to ignore how his day bag had been 275 grams lighter for almost five hours now.
“I asked Okaasan to bring my DS to your house as soon as you mailed me during work that you lost it. Your mom should have it.”
Nino’s eyes widened, “Eh?” Then suddenly, Nino had a flash back of what his mother had been trying to tell him since he walked in through the door of his home, “Kazu, Satohi-kun’s mother came by and wanted me to give you this Nintendo DS.” Nino suddenly sat up, “EH!?”
Ohno started to chuckle softly, “Kazu is cute.”
Nino was absolutely thrilled. “Thank you, Riida!”
MaoOhno
Title: A Little Bit of Sunshine
Inoue Mao rushed underneath the overhang of a building- thoroughly soaked. That was last time she decided it was a good idea to try “outrunning” the rain.
She peeled off her thin jacket and wrung it out in front of her, silently cursing her bad luck. It wasn’t enough that for whatever reason she was getting more NGs during the movie shoot- her phone had already run out of battery and she was looking forward to a phone call from an old friend. When Mao went out half an hour ago to walk and refresh her mind- perhaps get a bite to eat, her peace had been disturbed by a sudden onslaught of what a costar of hers once referred to as “drama rain,” rain that moved in so quickly and intensely, it only happened in dramas.
She sighed and turned to put her jacket over a small newspaper stand in hopes it would dry a bit faster laid out.
With a jolt, she found she wasn’t alone. She blinked perceptively at the young man a few feet away from her, who, as if also suddenly realizing he had been spotted, looked quickly away. Mao cocked her head to the side and leaned closer to him- somehow, he looked very familiar. He pulled the bill of his hat further over his eyes. It was here when Mao couldn’t help but smile. She took two tentative steps toward him, and gently tapped his shoulder.
“Suimasen…”
He turned a little too abruptly and nearly knocked her over with the sudden movement.
“Ah…” He met her eyes and then as if he somehow found that embarrassing, looked down at her feet instead. “H-hai? Can I help you?”
Mao covered her mouth to stifle a giggle. “Ano, I couldn’t help but notice… but you’re Jun-kun’s band mate, ne?” She pointed at him, her hand drawn close to her chin in the way only she pointed. “Ohno Satoshi-san.”
This seemed to catch him off guard. He met her eyes again. “Heeh? You know me?”
Mao nodded, a welcoming smile gracing her lips as she pulled some matted bands away from her forehead, “We met before. Jun-kun’s birthday party last year… ano… but you were a bit drunk then, maybe you don’t remember…” She laughed.
“Ah, no, no. I do remember. I do. I recognized you too, Inoue-san, I didn’t think you would remember me.”
Mao’s eyes widened. “Ohno-kun, you’re very memorable.”
Ohno chuckled shyly, and looked down at his feet. A short, awkward silence spanned between them, interrupted only by the pitter patters of rain.
“…That is, you’re very good at singing and drawing and…” Mao began.
He put a hand behind his head and bowed a little, “Thank you.”
She smiled earnestly, somehow feeling considerably better. “Where was Ohno-kun headed before the rain?”
“The… the bookstore.” Ohno pointed with his free hand in some direction behind Mao and she followed the gesture.
“Oh, I’m going in the same direction.”
“Are you?” Ohno changed his embarrassed gesture of putting his hand behind his head to scratching just behind his ear. “Let’s go buy an umbrella and go together.”
Mao giggled a little and turned to face him. He was looking in the direction he pointed.
“Won’t that make us both wet anyway?” She asked.
Ohno stopped his scratching and looked back at her with innocent eyes.
“Ah. Sou.”
Mao nodded. Her eyes fell from his tanned, calm face to the tenseness in his shoulders, his stiff posture. Despite his blank expression even Ohno might be having a bad day too. An idea struck Mao, and her familiar mischievous smile quirked the corner of her lips. The rain was falling harder now. “Demo… there’s a convenience store right across the street.”
“Hm, where?” He looked left.
Mao grinned and walked behind him to place both her hands on either side of his shoulders and swivel him in the right direction.
“There.”
Ohno glanced at the lighted shop in front of him before looking back at her.
“Are you in a hurry to get to the bookstore?” She asked. Mao was wearing flats so she had to tip toe a little so he didn’t have to strain to hear her over his shoulder. He meant to look properly at Mao’s face but his eyes kept training to her hand on his upper arm.
“I- I have about 25 minutes.”
“25 minutes.” Mao repeated. “Me too.” She didn’t really, she actually had a two hour long break, but for the sake of this sudden mission in her head to make Ohno Satoshi have a better day, she agreed with him. “That means one of us has to get the umbrella after all.”
“Eh?”
It was a small gamble, but if filming Hana Yori Dango with Matsumoto Jun taught her anything about Arashi in private, it was how they made decisions. She let Ohno go and walked around him so she was facing him again. “Janken to see who sacrifices themselves to get the umbrella.” She said, with a mild but serious tone.
Mao felt the tension leave her shoulders when she saw a smile spread across Ohno’s face at the familiar game. She silently thanked Jun.
“Okay.” Ohno said.
“Ready?” Mao asked. Ohno nodded.
The yelled together, “Saisho wa gū/pā!”
Ohno had rock.
Mao had paper.
“Heeh?” His eyes widened and then he smiled in disbelief, “That wasn’t fair!”
“Nani, nani?” She replied through a giggle, “I said I was starting with paper!”
“But you’re supposed to start with rock!”
Mao only giggled harder, and Ohno, having realized the trickery, laughed with her.
After they composed themselves, Mao just noticed their surroundings.
“Hey! It’s only sprinkling now. We should go get the umbrella.” She already started out of the overhang.
Ohno followed her out, not even remembering why they started the game in the first place. He smiled. “Okay.”
They were halfway across the street when suddenly, the rain started pouring down hard again. Mao squealed in shock and started to run to the shop, and Ohno, looking much more relaxed, ran after her, laughing hard at her attempt to avoid the rain.
Author’s Note: A little note about the janken (rock-scissors-paper) game they were playing. “Saisho wa gū” is a sort of taunt that is commonly used in the beginning of janken games which means “Starting with rock.” What Mao said, instead of “Saisho wa gū” like Ohno did, was say “Saisho wa pā” which means “Starting with paper.”Since “Saisho wa pā” is less common, and people usually always start with “Saisho wa gū,” Ohno was tricked and Mao won.
AiMao (Aiba/Mao)
Title: Green, green grass
"Yatta~!!!"
Inoue Mao and Aiba Masaki high-fived enthusiastically. They were on a golf course, as had been their weekend getaway whenever their schedules would allow- which lately had been more since Aiba’s drama shooting ended and Mao’s movie was smoothly set in the theatres.
“I don’t know why you two are celebrating so much, that putt was a foot away on even ground.” Matsumoto Jun said, from the shade of the golf cart behind them.
Oi, oi~!” Aiba said in such an exaggerated defensive tone it made Jun and Mao laugh.
Mao replied with a mischievous smile at Jun. “Be nice, Matsumoto-san, at least he makes it in.”
To this, Aiba laughed.
“Oi!” Jun said at Mao’s crude joke at his own golfing score.
“I’m joking, I’m joking!” Mao hid behind Aiba.
Jun laughed. “You guys want water?” He was already reaching over to open the mini cooler with their refreshments in it. Mao nodded as Aiba made a show of fanning himself as if wordlessly agreeing with her. Jun opened the cooler. “Eh. We’re almost out of drinks. I’ll go get some more, ne?” He started the golf cart engine.
“You just want and excuse to drive it again!” Aiba pointed his golf club at Jun accusingly.
“He does like to drive it, ne?” Mao agreed. “I could see the club house from here.”
“It’s too hot to walk it.” Jun had a cheeky grin while he drove away.
They watched Jun for a few moments before turning back to the golf course. Aiba went to retrieve the ball from the hole and Mao watched, tipping the handle of her golf club back and forth between her hands.
“So…” She began.
Aiba put the ball in his pocket, and removed the flag. “…So?” He teased.
“It was nice for Jun-kun to join us this time, wasn’t it?”
“Since that VS Arashi flop, he’s been wanting to get better… ah! Sorry for not asking you sooner if he could come this time.” Aiba bowed and rubbed the back of his head.
Mao shook her head, “It’s okay. I haven’t seen Jun-kun in awhile.”
He smiled.
“But, he’s really bad at golf, isn’t he?” Mao giggled.
He winked at her slyly, “Be glad he didn’t hear you say that.” He put a tee down randomly on some grass, followed by his ball he just put in his pocket. “It’s a lucky ball now since it made it in a hole. Swing here, Mao-chan. Free points.”
She walked over to him. “We should have asked Jun to drop us off at the next range, huh?”
“It’s okay. We could practice swings here while we wait. He said five minutes, right?”
Mao giggled. “He didn’t say any number at all.”
“Ah, sou?” Aiba rubbed the back of his head again. Mao patted his shoulder lightly.
“But you’re right. Good practice for swinging.” She lined up for the shot.
“Next week let’s go golf at Edogawa Line. It’s a 280 yard driving range. Have you been there?”
Mao moved a little to the left. “Not yet… but, you’re going overseas next week, aren’t you?” She wasn’t looking at him.
“Oh. Yeah.”
She leaned over and fixed the tee so it was higher off the ground. “It’s going to be weird, not golfing with you next week…”
Aiba didn’t say anything while Mao got up once more to reassess her swing position. She lifted the club experimentally, swung it down, and then stopped right before it hit the ball. Mao shook her head a little and then moved backward a centimeter, then another centimeter to the right…
“Ne…” Aiba began slowly, seriously, “why don’t you come with me?”
Mao stopped adjusting her stance. They stood in silence for a split moment. As if Mao didn’t hear correctly she said, “E-Eh?” She turned to look over her shoulder and at him.
Aiba was standing still for a change, looking away from her eyes and at the green golf grass around her shoes. “Yesterday you mailed me that next week is an off week for you. Why don’t you relax in another country? There’s nice golf ranges in Korea. My manager booked a reservation at Anyang Benest Golf Club….” As if Aiba could still feel Mao’s disbelieving stare, he said, “And wow!” -Mao giggled at Aiba’s English “wow.” Aiba’s eyes flashed quickly up to meet hers, then back away again- “Is the sun suddenly hotter?” He pulled the collar of his golfer shirt and fanned himself. When he didn’t hear Mao reply he looked back at her small form. She was refocused on taking a shot. Mao lifted the club up in perfect arc, and then swung down hard to hit the golf ball balanced precariously on the tee. They watched the ball fly away from them in silence.
Mao spoke first. “Demo… Aiba-chan, you’re going with Arashi, right?”
Aiba nodded, realized she couldn’t see it since she wasn’t facing him, and cleared his throat a little to say, “Hai.”
“The rumors… between Jun-kun and I…” Mao still hadn’t turned to look him.
“Just say you’re with me.”
Silence.
As if Aiba just realized what he said, he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. “Playing. You’re playing with me. Golf.” Aiba corrected lamely. She didn’t say anything. Aiba backtracked. “Ah. But even if she says that, no one knows how much she likes golf and coming all the way to Korea… it would be bad for her reputation…” he murmured to himself. To Mao-chan he said, “Ne, it was just a thought. Don’t come, don’t come. It’s too risky.” He added a laugh for good measure, hoping it didn’t feel as forced as it felt.
Mao turned around, a smile on her lips. “I really like Korean food. It would be nice to actually sit down and eat it locally.” She walked by him and to the other golf stand bag holding their clubs. Aiba’s mouth fell open.
“N-Nani? Does that mean- are you- you’re coming?”
Mao grinned. “Besides, I hear you and Jun-kun hate really spicy foods, ne? It’ll be really fun to watch. I’ll treat you and Arashi out to a restaurant while I’m there. Ohno-kun and I have iron stomachs so we’ll eat anything you two and Nino-kun can’t...”
Aiba was smiling so much he could do nothing but nod.
“Ah! Jun-kun’s back.”
“What are you two standing so close and secretively for?” Jun shouted teasingly from the golf cart zooming toward them.
Mao glanced at Aiba. Aiba glanced at Mao. Then with an innocent grin, Aiba yelled,
“Nothing, Jun-kun! Only good golfers would understand- AHHH~!”
Mao doubled over laughing as Aiba ran as quickly as his legs could carry him while Jun raced after him in the golf cart.
ShoMao
Title: The Hug of a Thank You
Sakurai Sho leaned against the wall near his apartment door, trying hard to feel occupied as he read and reread the lyrics to a new rap he composed a week ago. It was no good. His mind kept drifting back to the phone call he received a few minutes ago.
He glanced at the phone he left on the table.
Mao-chan…
The call from Inoue Mao hadn’t been a good one. Despite the lightness of her tone, Sho knew something was wrong because they never called each other unless it was something serious. Everything else could be said through a text message.
Sho put the paper he held in his hand against his forehead and closed his eyes, trying to decipher the conversation they had and prepare himself for what possibly happened to Mao.
“Moshi-moshi.”
“Sho-kun?”
One word. His name. Already, Sho could hear the tightness in her voice.
“Mao-chan? What’s wrong?”
“…How are you? Are you busy?”
She was good. Very good. Everything you would expect from an actress. Had it been anyone else, her words and inflection would have sounded completely normal. But to Sho, a man quite observant in the mannerisms of speech- particularly Mao’s- she was on the brink of crying. There was a pause too long between his question and her answer, a moment Sho could hear she had taken to compose herself before she formed her own question. Her reply moved the conversation away from her to him, trying to avoid the topic. Her tone was too casual- Mao, when she wasn’t acting, naturally put a little bit of whatever she’s feeling into what she was saying.
“I just got back from work an hour ago. I’m home now. Where are you?”
“I’m in a taxi.”
Sho didn’t hesitate.
“Do you need my address?”
That phone call had taken place ten minutes ago. He had told her his address, without any further questions. She must have been somewhere in Tokyo, because she asked if it was okay if she came by in fifteen minutes. He told her it was more than okay.
Mao had somehow become a close friend over the past few months. Platonic, of course- they had their respective romances- but that’s exactly why they had become close. They became each other’s relationship soundboards. Their relationship outlooks differed from their friends’ so it always had been difficult for them to find someone to talk to about their relationships since they were both so realistic. When Sho had brought up relationships in passing to Mao accidentally during Matsumoto Jun’s birthday party, they found they had similar perspectives on how to approach relationship problems… and over the months they branched off to comparing their opinions on other topics.
Mao frequently called him a too-responsible workaholic but admirable nonetheless. Sho referred to her as a logical but silly girl whose boldness would get her in trouble. They had come to value each other’s opinions… and in the same breath, became more and more anxious for each other’s health.
She had scolded him a few weeks ago that he overworked himself and confronted him about why he was racing to his death with such fervor. Sho, who despised it when people looked down on his work ethic (and Mao knew this), had coolly replied by asking why she was still in her emotionally abusive relationship. She was shocked, as he had never provided his frank opinion on her boyfriend because she was (as Sho put it so eloquently before) “a grown woman who could make her own decisions,” and found herself defending that regardless how her boyfriend treated her sometimes, they loved each other and she was happy. Sho responded that work kept him just as happy, and at least it didn’t cheat on him. They hadn’t talked since.
Not until today.
His phone vibrated loudly on the table.
Sho reached for it and flipped it open:
[One New Message]
He pressed “OK.”
[From: Mao Inoue
I’m outside.
Jan 7, 11:08 pm]
He placed the lyrics sheet and his phone on the countertop of the kitchen on the way to the door. He had turned the knob before he realized it.
Her name rolled off his lips in a voice so soft it was nearly a whisper.
Her head was bowed so that her bangs obscured her face. Mao was hugging herself, tightly.
That was all Sho needed to see.
He put his left arm around her shoulders and pulled her gently to him. His right hand went up to the back of her head, where he lightly caressed her hair, letting her forehead rest softly against his shoulder.
Mao’s shoulders started to shake, and Sho rocked her soothingly side to side.
They stood like that for a few moments, neither saying anything, as Mao made little gasps for air through her tears and Sho pressed his cheek, sometimes his lips, against the top of her head.
Now he knew. He knew what this was about. Only that guy could make her cry this much.
When he felt Mao relax beneath his hold, he loosened his hug around her slightly so he could step back and look at her.
Mao was still trying to hide her eyes- her tears- behind her hair. She had her hands in front of her face as she used her palm to push away the wetness.
Sho moved his right hand to smooth away the bangs from her face.
“You’re strong, Mao-chan. You’re a strong independent young woman. You don’t need him.”
Mao nodded, through sniffles, still refusing to meet his gaze.
“What he says doesn’t affect you, okay?”
Mao nodded again, blinking away the remainder of her tears.
Sho continued, “You’re strong.”
Mao made a tiny hiccup through a nod of agreement, and looked up at him. Her eyelashes were still wet, her cheeks red from all the rubbing and her emotions.
“He’s not allowed to hurt you anymore.”
Mao’s eyes flooded with a new wave of tears. “Thank you.” she whispered. Sho smiled encouragingly at her. Mao walked into his embrace, and he held her.
He’s not allowed to hurt you anymore.
Some of you guys may have noticed... where are the two most loved Mao/Arashi pairings, Maotsujun and Maomiya? Those are still very much part of the series... they just need more time. I wanted to post this in time for Mao's birthday. ^_^
They're not outright romance, but you'll find that each of the stories straddles that very thin line where friendship could be something more if someone just... *did* something about it. It supposed to be confusing in this way. ^_^ Please let me know which of the four below was your favorite. I'd so very much appreciate it.
And yes, the Ohmiya is still pertaining to Mao's birthday. She's a fan of boylove, after all.
Everything is rated G-PG, posted in the order I wrote them:
Ohmiya
Title: Nino's Crisis
Ninomiya Kazunari was having a terrible day. He dragged his socked feet along the soft carpeted floor where his dog, Haru-chan kept running around his shins, ball in her mouth, trying to get his attention. He barely noticed the small dog, even though he nearly tripped over her twice, as his focus kept drifting back to the considerable weightlessness in his day bag. Somewhere behind him as he hauled himself into his room, he heard his mother yell something about Ohno’s mom and a Nintendo DS. Nintendo DS. Don’t remind me, Nino internally groaned. He shut the door softly behind him, too let down to think up his usual snarky excuse in retort, and let himself collapse, back first, onto his bed- day bag and all. Automatically, as if it had a mind of its own, his hand reached for the mobile in his left pocket, his fingers already pressing the well-worn button of his number pad. The speed dial connected instantly.
Riing…
Nino stared blankly at the ceiling.
Riiing….
He closed his eyes, listening intently.
Riiing….
“Pick up, pick up.” Nino thought to himself.
Riiing…click.
Nino perked.
“You have reached the voicemail of-”
“Damn it, Oh-chan, no one sleeps at 4 in the afternoon-!”
Amazingly, the voicemail cut off, and Nino stopped his rant immediately.
There was a deep inhale on the other end and then, in as pristine a slur as Nino could ever hope for, “…Mosh..i.” Apparently, some people do sleep at 4 in the afternoon. Nino couldn’t stop the smile that spread across his face.
“Riida.” Nino said.
“Ah- Kazu?” Nino could hear shifting blankets on Ohno Satoshi’s end of the line and could imagine him sitting up groggily, rubbing his eyes. Nino’s smile turned into a grin at the image.
There was silence between them. Silence that should have been awkward, but wasn’t. Not between Nino and Ohno.
Finally, strangely soothed, Nino said, matter-of factly, “Tomorrow, I’m borrowing your DS. So bring it to the photoshoot in the morning.”
“Eh?” Ohno murmured sleepily, “But don’t you already have it?”
Nino frowned. “Oh-chan,” he took a deep breath, as if what he was about to say took a lot of effort. Nino tried to keep the emotion out of his voice and failed, “Oh-chan,” he tried again, “You know I lost my DS.”
There was a silence on the end. Nino didn’t know if it was because Ohno was bowing his head in mourning with him or if he had genuinely forgotten the situation. Both were very plausible. What Ohno said next confused him.
“I know, but don’t you already have mine?” He sounded considerably more awake now.
“Have your what?” Nino said, trying to ignore how his day bag had been 275 grams lighter for almost five hours now.
“I asked Okaasan to bring my DS to your house as soon as you mailed me during work that you lost it. Your mom should have it.”
Nino’s eyes widened, “Eh?” Then suddenly, Nino had a flash back of what his mother had been trying to tell him since he walked in through the door of his home, “Kazu, Satohi-kun’s mother came by and wanted me to give you this Nintendo DS.” Nino suddenly sat up, “EH!?”
Ohno started to chuckle softly, “Kazu is cute.”
Nino was absolutely thrilled. “Thank you, Riida!”
MaoOhno
Title: A Little Bit of Sunshine
Inoue Mao rushed underneath the overhang of a building- thoroughly soaked. That was last time she decided it was a good idea to try “outrunning” the rain.
She peeled off her thin jacket and wrung it out in front of her, silently cursing her bad luck. It wasn’t enough that for whatever reason she was getting more NGs during the movie shoot- her phone had already run out of battery and she was looking forward to a phone call from an old friend. When Mao went out half an hour ago to walk and refresh her mind- perhaps get a bite to eat, her peace had been disturbed by a sudden onslaught of what a costar of hers once referred to as “drama rain,” rain that moved in so quickly and intensely, it only happened in dramas.
She sighed and turned to put her jacket over a small newspaper stand in hopes it would dry a bit faster laid out.
With a jolt, she found she wasn’t alone. She blinked perceptively at the young man a few feet away from her, who, as if also suddenly realizing he had been spotted, looked quickly away. Mao cocked her head to the side and leaned closer to him- somehow, he looked very familiar. He pulled the bill of his hat further over his eyes. It was here when Mao couldn’t help but smile. She took two tentative steps toward him, and gently tapped his shoulder.
“Suimasen…”
He turned a little too abruptly and nearly knocked her over with the sudden movement.
“Ah…” He met her eyes and then as if he somehow found that embarrassing, looked down at her feet instead. “H-hai? Can I help you?”
Mao covered her mouth to stifle a giggle. “Ano, I couldn’t help but notice… but you’re Jun-kun’s band mate, ne?” She pointed at him, her hand drawn close to her chin in the way only she pointed. “Ohno Satoshi-san.”
This seemed to catch him off guard. He met her eyes again. “Heeh? You know me?”
Mao nodded, a welcoming smile gracing her lips as she pulled some matted bands away from her forehead, “We met before. Jun-kun’s birthday party last year… ano… but you were a bit drunk then, maybe you don’t remember…” She laughed.
“Ah, no, no. I do remember. I do. I recognized you too, Inoue-san, I didn’t think you would remember me.”
Mao’s eyes widened. “Ohno-kun, you’re very memorable.”
Ohno chuckled shyly, and looked down at his feet. A short, awkward silence spanned between them, interrupted only by the pitter patters of rain.
“…That is, you’re very good at singing and drawing and…” Mao began.
He put a hand behind his head and bowed a little, “Thank you.”
She smiled earnestly, somehow feeling considerably better. “Where was Ohno-kun headed before the rain?”
“The… the bookstore.” Ohno pointed with his free hand in some direction behind Mao and she followed the gesture.
“Oh, I’m going in the same direction.”
“Are you?” Ohno changed his embarrassed gesture of putting his hand behind his head to scratching just behind his ear. “Let’s go buy an umbrella and go together.”
Mao giggled a little and turned to face him. He was looking in the direction he pointed.
“Won’t that make us both wet anyway?” She asked.
Ohno stopped his scratching and looked back at her with innocent eyes.
“Ah. Sou.”
Mao nodded. Her eyes fell from his tanned, calm face to the tenseness in his shoulders, his stiff posture. Despite his blank expression even Ohno might be having a bad day too. An idea struck Mao, and her familiar mischievous smile quirked the corner of her lips. The rain was falling harder now. “Demo… there’s a convenience store right across the street.”
“Hm, where?” He looked left.
Mao grinned and walked behind him to place both her hands on either side of his shoulders and swivel him in the right direction.
“There.”
Ohno glanced at the lighted shop in front of him before looking back at her.
“Are you in a hurry to get to the bookstore?” She asked. Mao was wearing flats so she had to tip toe a little so he didn’t have to strain to hear her over his shoulder. He meant to look properly at Mao’s face but his eyes kept training to her hand on his upper arm.
“I- I have about 25 minutes.”
“25 minutes.” Mao repeated. “Me too.” She didn’t really, she actually had a two hour long break, but for the sake of this sudden mission in her head to make Ohno Satoshi have a better day, she agreed with him. “That means one of us has to get the umbrella after all.”
“Eh?”
It was a small gamble, but if filming Hana Yori Dango with Matsumoto Jun taught her anything about Arashi in private, it was how they made decisions. She let Ohno go and walked around him so she was facing him again. “Janken to see who sacrifices themselves to get the umbrella.” She said, with a mild but serious tone.
Mao felt the tension leave her shoulders when she saw a smile spread across Ohno’s face at the familiar game. She silently thanked Jun.
“Okay.” Ohno said.
“Ready?” Mao asked. Ohno nodded.
The yelled together, “Saisho wa gū/pā!”
Ohno had rock.
Mao had paper.
“Heeh?” His eyes widened and then he smiled in disbelief, “That wasn’t fair!”
“Nani, nani?” She replied through a giggle, “I said I was starting with paper!”
“But you’re supposed to start with rock!”
Mao only giggled harder, and Ohno, having realized the trickery, laughed with her.
After they composed themselves, Mao just noticed their surroundings.
“Hey! It’s only sprinkling now. We should go get the umbrella.” She already started out of the overhang.
Ohno followed her out, not even remembering why they started the game in the first place. He smiled. “Okay.”
They were halfway across the street when suddenly, the rain started pouring down hard again. Mao squealed in shock and started to run to the shop, and Ohno, looking much more relaxed, ran after her, laughing hard at her attempt to avoid the rain.
Author’s Note: A little note about the janken (rock-scissors-paper) game they were playing. “Saisho wa gū” is a sort of taunt that is commonly used in the beginning of janken games which means “Starting with rock.” What Mao said, instead of “Saisho wa gū” like Ohno did, was say “Saisho wa pā” which means “Starting with paper.”Since “Saisho wa pā” is less common, and people usually always start with “Saisho wa gū,” Ohno was tricked and Mao won.
AiMao (Aiba/Mao)
Title: Green, green grass
"Yatta~!!!"
Inoue Mao and Aiba Masaki high-fived enthusiastically. They were on a golf course, as had been their weekend getaway whenever their schedules would allow- which lately had been more since Aiba’s drama shooting ended and Mao’s movie was smoothly set in the theatres.
“I don’t know why you two are celebrating so much, that putt was a foot away on even ground.” Matsumoto Jun said, from the shade of the golf cart behind them.
Oi, oi~!” Aiba said in such an exaggerated defensive tone it made Jun and Mao laugh.
Mao replied with a mischievous smile at Jun. “Be nice, Matsumoto-san, at least he makes it in.”
To this, Aiba laughed.
“Oi!” Jun said at Mao’s crude joke at his own golfing score.
“I’m joking, I’m joking!” Mao hid behind Aiba.
Jun laughed. “You guys want water?” He was already reaching over to open the mini cooler with their refreshments in it. Mao nodded as Aiba made a show of fanning himself as if wordlessly agreeing with her. Jun opened the cooler. “Eh. We’re almost out of drinks. I’ll go get some more, ne?” He started the golf cart engine.
“You just want and excuse to drive it again!” Aiba pointed his golf club at Jun accusingly.
“He does like to drive it, ne?” Mao agreed. “I could see the club house from here.”
“It’s too hot to walk it.” Jun had a cheeky grin while he drove away.
They watched Jun for a few moments before turning back to the golf course. Aiba went to retrieve the ball from the hole and Mao watched, tipping the handle of her golf club back and forth between her hands.
“So…” She began.
Aiba put the ball in his pocket, and removed the flag. “…So?” He teased.
“It was nice for Jun-kun to join us this time, wasn’t it?”
“Since that VS Arashi flop, he’s been wanting to get better… ah! Sorry for not asking you sooner if he could come this time.” Aiba bowed and rubbed the back of his head.
Mao shook her head, “It’s okay. I haven’t seen Jun-kun in awhile.”
He smiled.
“But, he’s really bad at golf, isn’t he?” Mao giggled.
He winked at her slyly, “Be glad he didn’t hear you say that.” He put a tee down randomly on some grass, followed by his ball he just put in his pocket. “It’s a lucky ball now since it made it in a hole. Swing here, Mao-chan. Free points.”
She walked over to him. “We should have asked Jun to drop us off at the next range, huh?”
“It’s okay. We could practice swings here while we wait. He said five minutes, right?”
Mao giggled. “He didn’t say any number at all.”
“Ah, sou?” Aiba rubbed the back of his head again. Mao patted his shoulder lightly.
“But you’re right. Good practice for swinging.” She lined up for the shot.
“Next week let’s go golf at Edogawa Line. It’s a 280 yard driving range. Have you been there?”
Mao moved a little to the left. “Not yet… but, you’re going overseas next week, aren’t you?” She wasn’t looking at him.
“Oh. Yeah.”
She leaned over and fixed the tee so it was higher off the ground. “It’s going to be weird, not golfing with you next week…”
Aiba didn’t say anything while Mao got up once more to reassess her swing position. She lifted the club experimentally, swung it down, and then stopped right before it hit the ball. Mao shook her head a little and then moved backward a centimeter, then another centimeter to the right…
“Ne…” Aiba began slowly, seriously, “why don’t you come with me?”
Mao stopped adjusting her stance. They stood in silence for a split moment. As if Mao didn’t hear correctly she said, “E-Eh?” She turned to look over her shoulder and at him.
Aiba was standing still for a change, looking away from her eyes and at the green golf grass around her shoes. “Yesterday you mailed me that next week is an off week for you. Why don’t you relax in another country? There’s nice golf ranges in Korea. My manager booked a reservation at Anyang Benest Golf Club….” As if Aiba could still feel Mao’s disbelieving stare, he said, “And wow!” -Mao giggled at Aiba’s English “wow.” Aiba’s eyes flashed quickly up to meet hers, then back away again- “Is the sun suddenly hotter?” He pulled the collar of his golfer shirt and fanned himself. When he didn’t hear Mao reply he looked back at her small form. She was refocused on taking a shot. Mao lifted the club up in perfect arc, and then swung down hard to hit the golf ball balanced precariously on the tee. They watched the ball fly away from them in silence.
Mao spoke first. “Demo… Aiba-chan, you’re going with Arashi, right?”
Aiba nodded, realized she couldn’t see it since she wasn’t facing him, and cleared his throat a little to say, “Hai.”
“The rumors… between Jun-kun and I…” Mao still hadn’t turned to look him.
“Just say you’re with me.”
Silence.
As if Aiba just realized what he said, he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. “Playing. You’re playing with me. Golf.” Aiba corrected lamely. She didn’t say anything. Aiba backtracked. “Ah. But even if she says that, no one knows how much she likes golf and coming all the way to Korea… it would be bad for her reputation…” he murmured to himself. To Mao-chan he said, “Ne, it was just a thought. Don’t come, don’t come. It’s too risky.” He added a laugh for good measure, hoping it didn’t feel as forced as it felt.
Mao turned around, a smile on her lips. “I really like Korean food. It would be nice to actually sit down and eat it locally.” She walked by him and to the other golf stand bag holding their clubs. Aiba’s mouth fell open.
“N-Nani? Does that mean- are you- you’re coming?”
Mao grinned. “Besides, I hear you and Jun-kun hate really spicy foods, ne? It’ll be really fun to watch. I’ll treat you and Arashi out to a restaurant while I’m there. Ohno-kun and I have iron stomachs so we’ll eat anything you two and Nino-kun can’t...”
Aiba was smiling so much he could do nothing but nod.
“Ah! Jun-kun’s back.”
“What are you two standing so close and secretively for?” Jun shouted teasingly from the golf cart zooming toward them.
Mao glanced at Aiba. Aiba glanced at Mao. Then with an innocent grin, Aiba yelled,
“Nothing, Jun-kun! Only good golfers would understand- AHHH~!”
Mao doubled over laughing as Aiba ran as quickly as his legs could carry him while Jun raced after him in the golf cart.
ShoMao
Title: The Hug of a Thank You
Sakurai Sho leaned against the wall near his apartment door, trying hard to feel occupied as he read and reread the lyrics to a new rap he composed a week ago. It was no good. His mind kept drifting back to the phone call he received a few minutes ago.
He glanced at the phone he left on the table.
Mao-chan…
The call from Inoue Mao hadn’t been a good one. Despite the lightness of her tone, Sho knew something was wrong because they never called each other unless it was something serious. Everything else could be said through a text message.
Sho put the paper he held in his hand against his forehead and closed his eyes, trying to decipher the conversation they had and prepare himself for what possibly happened to Mao.
“Moshi-moshi.”
“Sho-kun?”
One word. His name. Already, Sho could hear the tightness in her voice.
“Mao-chan? What’s wrong?”
“…How are you? Are you busy?”
She was good. Very good. Everything you would expect from an actress. Had it been anyone else, her words and inflection would have sounded completely normal. But to Sho, a man quite observant in the mannerisms of speech- particularly Mao’s- she was on the brink of crying. There was a pause too long between his question and her answer, a moment Sho could hear she had taken to compose herself before she formed her own question. Her reply moved the conversation away from her to him, trying to avoid the topic. Her tone was too casual- Mao, when she wasn’t acting, naturally put a little bit of whatever she’s feeling into what she was saying.
“I just got back from work an hour ago. I’m home now. Where are you?”
“I’m in a taxi.”
Sho didn’t hesitate.
“Do you need my address?”
That phone call had taken place ten minutes ago. He had told her his address, without any further questions. She must have been somewhere in Tokyo, because she asked if it was okay if she came by in fifteen minutes. He told her it was more than okay.
Mao had somehow become a close friend over the past few months. Platonic, of course- they had their respective romances- but that’s exactly why they had become close. They became each other’s relationship soundboards. Their relationship outlooks differed from their friends’ so it always had been difficult for them to find someone to talk to about their relationships since they were both so realistic. When Sho had brought up relationships in passing to Mao accidentally during Matsumoto Jun’s birthday party, they found they had similar perspectives on how to approach relationship problems… and over the months they branched off to comparing their opinions on other topics.
Mao frequently called him a too-responsible workaholic but admirable nonetheless. Sho referred to her as a logical but silly girl whose boldness would get her in trouble. They had come to value each other’s opinions… and in the same breath, became more and more anxious for each other’s health.
She had scolded him a few weeks ago that he overworked himself and confronted him about why he was racing to his death with such fervor. Sho, who despised it when people looked down on his work ethic (and Mao knew this), had coolly replied by asking why she was still in her emotionally abusive relationship. She was shocked, as he had never provided his frank opinion on her boyfriend because she was (as Sho put it so eloquently before) “a grown woman who could make her own decisions,” and found herself defending that regardless how her boyfriend treated her sometimes, they loved each other and she was happy. Sho responded that work kept him just as happy, and at least it didn’t cheat on him. They hadn’t talked since.
Not until today.
His phone vibrated loudly on the table.
Sho reached for it and flipped it open:
[One New Message]
He pressed “OK.”
[From: Mao Inoue
I’m outside.
Jan 7, 11:08 pm]
He placed the lyrics sheet and his phone on the countertop of the kitchen on the way to the door. He had turned the knob before he realized it.
Her name rolled off his lips in a voice so soft it was nearly a whisper.
Her head was bowed so that her bangs obscured her face. Mao was hugging herself, tightly.
That was all Sho needed to see.
He put his left arm around her shoulders and pulled her gently to him. His right hand went up to the back of her head, where he lightly caressed her hair, letting her forehead rest softly against his shoulder.
Mao’s shoulders started to shake, and Sho rocked her soothingly side to side.
They stood like that for a few moments, neither saying anything, as Mao made little gasps for air through her tears and Sho pressed his cheek, sometimes his lips, against the top of her head.
Now he knew. He knew what this was about. Only that guy could make her cry this much.
When he felt Mao relax beneath his hold, he loosened his hug around her slightly so he could step back and look at her.
Mao was still trying to hide her eyes- her tears- behind her hair. She had her hands in front of her face as she used her palm to push away the wetness.
Sho moved his right hand to smooth away the bangs from her face.
“You’re strong, Mao-chan. You’re a strong independent young woman. You don’t need him.”
Mao nodded, through sniffles, still refusing to meet his gaze.
“What he says doesn’t affect you, okay?”
Mao nodded again, blinking away the remainder of her tears.
Sho continued, “You’re strong.”
Mao made a tiny hiccup through a nod of agreement, and looked up at him. Her eyelashes were still wet, her cheeks red from all the rubbing and her emotions.
“He’s not allowed to hurt you anymore.”
Mao’s eyes flooded with a new wave of tears. “Thank you.” she whispered. Sho smiled encouragingly at her. Mao walked into his embrace, and he held her.
He’s not allowed to hurt you anymore.
Some of you guys may have noticed... where are the two most loved Mao/Arashi pairings, Maotsujun and Maomiya? Those are still very much part of the series... they just need more time. I wanted to post this in time for Mao's birthday. ^_^