Yume de Ii Kara (Because it's Good to Dream) [a Sakurai Sho love story] Chapter 19, part 2
Yume de Ii Kara Chapter 19, part 2
Pairing: Sakurai Sho/OC, Arashi/non-Johnny's females
Rating: PG
Genre: Realistic romance, friendship, family
Disclaimer: I don't own any of Arashi, or anything of Johnny's Entertainment. And sorry if I've misused any Japanese phrases.
Summary:
What can you do when you fall in love with someone that is out of your reach, someone as distant and brilliant as the stars? Can one dare to dream? Singer, dancer, actor, newscaster, model. Idol, to put it simply. But behind Sakurai Sho’s public image is a sincere, dorky, passionate man. Few people get to see a real glimpse of the person behind the lights, except for what he chooses to display.
Friends, sure, but love? That’s impossible, according to the intelligent, beautiful and humble Kaori, a medical school student who doesn’t realize how much she can accomplish. But maybe, just maybe, she’s exactly what Sakurai Sho needs.
All previous chapters in the master post!
Part 1
-----------------------
A stunning young woman studied herself one more time in the mirror that New Year’s night. Even more than her appearance, her beauty exuded from her heart in her breast that beat steadily with anticipation. Flickering candles reflected in her soft eyes and set her lithe body aglow as she hummed along and danced to the lilting R&B song in the background. A champagne bottle and two wine glasses were set on the table. With one last plug, the room was set cheerfully with twinkling white lights like snow. Kaori wanted everything to be perfect once Sho arrived. Although they hadn’t had Christmas, Sho promised Kaori that they would surely have New Years for just the two of them.
Johnny’s Countdown Live (the annual agency concert hosted once again by Arashi due to popular demand) had finished, and Sho would be on his way any minute now.
At the sound of an incoming text, she skipped to her phone to see what it said. She felt her stomach lurch.
Johnny-san insisted that all of us go out for drinks tonight. I can’t back out of it. I’m SO SO SO sorry. We’ll get together soon, okay?
The CD play through the last song and left a forlorn silence overcame; the candles slowly melted away. And there was left alone a girl whose love was gone to waste.
credit: megumisauce on Tumblr
----
Early that morning, a key jangled and Chiharu tip-toed back into the apartment.
“Suge…” she murmured at the transformation of the living room. But then she spotted her suite mate curled up on the couch with hair askew and, if she wasn’t mistaken, dried mascara marks left from tears. Kaori looked an absolute mess.
“I’m guessing things didn’t go so well last night, huh…” Chiharu sighed sympathetically. She gently nudged the girl awake. “Kaori-chan, you should go wash your face. It’s bad for your skin to sleep in makeup, ne. Then you can go back to bed.”
Kaori slid off the futon like a bulky ghost and wordlessly obeyed. She slumped back to her bedroom, dragging the blanket with her. Chiharu heard the shower turn on.
----
Sakurai Sho bolted up in his bed, which sent a splitting pain through his skull. He groaned and fumbled to turn off his “normal schedule” alarm and squinted at the cold sun shining in the window. New Years had been nothing but exhausting, and he grimaced when he remembered just what had gone wrong. Sho made himself as presentable as he could, grabbed his keys and rushed out once more.
----
Chiharu answered the door with raised brows. This guy messed up AGAIN?
“Good morning, Sakurai-san.”
“Sorry to bother you again… Is Kaori here?”
The woman slowly nodded. “Hold on one second, please.”
As Sho waited in the doorway, he gaped at all the decorations Kaori had put up, now turned lifeless.
Chiharu slipped into Kaori’s bedroom. Kaori was already up, flipping blankly through a textbook.
“He’s here to see you.”
“Really.”
“I can tell him you’re still asleep, you know. If I were you I’d ignore him for a whole week.”
“… No, I’ll talk to him.”
Sakurai Sho’s anxiety rose as Kaori appeared with a very un-amused, defiant stare. Even in her pajamas, she was terrifying. Her small frame blocked the doorway obstinately.
“I hope you didn’t stay up too late because of me…” Sho began, garnering a mere shrug. “You never replied to my texts. I - I got worried.”
She didn’t want to hear it. “You’re still hung over, aren’t you?”
“J-just a little headache, that’s all…” he admitted weakly.
“Then you must have had fun last night.”
“I thought about you the whole time, Kaori, I honestly did… Gomen…”
His round eyes gazed down at her pleadingly. With one kiss on her forehead, she felt her shell begin to thaw away again. Had she not expected set-ups like this to happen? Perhaps this was the first test, and she couldn’t fail it from the beginning. Kaori took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and just took in his warmth.
But then, her eyes trailed down to his feet - he wore nice leather boots. “Your shoes…” she murmured tensely.
“Eh?” With a panic, he saw tears well in her glaring eyes. “Doushita--?”
She jerked out of his embrace. “You didn’t get my present, did you?” Her voice was dangerously livid.
Sho’s eyes widened. Promise not to open it till Christmas. He fumbled through his coat but realized this was the wrong one.
“Saitei.” With that, she shut the door in his face.
credit: ninoether on Tumblr
The restless man rushed back and retrieved the jacket that he’d worn that night in Odaiba, abandoned in the back seat of his car. He rummaged through the pockets and found the small box she’d given him. Inside was a pair of black laces and a shiny metal card that said : Please go to this address to claim your gift…
Following the directions on the back of the card led to a trendy urban shop on the industrial side of town. An m-flo/Jay-Z remix was playing when he entered.
“Ah, Sakurai-san desu ne?” the owner (a Verbal-san look-alike) greeted enthusiastically. “What may I interest you in?”
Sho presented the card, and the storekeeper brought forth a pair of glorious electric blue sneakers.
“I am very sorry you had to come all the way here to get them, but there was such a large demand we couldn’t finish them all in time for Christmas.”
“Eh, you make these shoes right here?”
“Yes sir, custom made. Please, try them on.”
The shoes were light as air and fashionably bold, a pair that even Matsumoto Jun would be jealous of. Sho realized just how much thought Kaori had put in, and just how much he had let her down. There was only one person he could call: “Satomi, I need your help.”
------
In the next morning’s pile of mail, there was an envelope addressed to Kaori. Inside was a Keio University Honya gift card and a note. You have a book ready for pick up! Please come at 8pm.
------------------------------------
Part 3
Pairing: Sakurai Sho/OC, Arashi/non-Johnny's females
Rating: PG
Genre: Realistic romance, friendship, family
Disclaimer: I don't own any of Arashi, or anything of Johnny's Entertainment. And sorry if I've misused any Japanese phrases.
Summary:
What can you do when you fall in love with someone that is out of your reach, someone as distant and brilliant as the stars? Can one dare to dream? Singer, dancer, actor, newscaster, model. Idol, to put it simply. But behind Sakurai Sho’s public image is a sincere, dorky, passionate man. Few people get to see a real glimpse of the person behind the lights, except for what he chooses to display.
Friends, sure, but love? That’s impossible, according to the intelligent, beautiful and humble Kaori, a medical school student who doesn’t realize how much she can accomplish. But maybe, just maybe, she’s exactly what Sakurai Sho needs.
All previous chapters in the master post!
Part 1
-----------------------
A stunning young woman studied herself one more time in the mirror that New Year’s night. Even more than her appearance, her beauty exuded from her heart in her breast that beat steadily with anticipation. Flickering candles reflected in her soft eyes and set her lithe body aglow as she hummed along and danced to the lilting R&B song in the background. A champagne bottle and two wine glasses were set on the table. With one last plug, the room was set cheerfully with twinkling white lights like snow. Kaori wanted everything to be perfect once Sho arrived. Although they hadn’t had Christmas, Sho promised Kaori that they would surely have New Years for just the two of them.
Johnny’s Countdown Live (the annual agency concert hosted once again by Arashi due to popular demand) had finished, and Sho would be on his way any minute now.
At the sound of an incoming text, she skipped to her phone to see what it said. She felt her stomach lurch.
Johnny-san insisted that all of us go out for drinks tonight. I can’t back out of it. I’m SO SO SO sorry. We’ll get together soon, okay?
The CD play through the last song and left a forlorn silence overcame; the candles slowly melted away. And there was left alone a girl whose love was gone to waste.
credit: megumisauce on Tumblr
----
Early that morning, a key jangled and Chiharu tip-toed back into the apartment.
“Suge…” she murmured at the transformation of the living room. But then she spotted her suite mate curled up on the couch with hair askew and, if she wasn’t mistaken, dried mascara marks left from tears. Kaori looked an absolute mess.
“I’m guessing things didn’t go so well last night, huh…” Chiharu sighed sympathetically. She gently nudged the girl awake. “Kaori-chan, you should go wash your face. It’s bad for your skin to sleep in makeup, ne. Then you can go back to bed.”
Kaori slid off the futon like a bulky ghost and wordlessly obeyed. She slumped back to her bedroom, dragging the blanket with her. Chiharu heard the shower turn on.
----
Sakurai Sho bolted up in his bed, which sent a splitting pain through his skull. He groaned and fumbled to turn off his “normal schedule” alarm and squinted at the cold sun shining in the window. New Years had been nothing but exhausting, and he grimaced when he remembered just what had gone wrong. Sho made himself as presentable as he could, grabbed his keys and rushed out once more.
----
Chiharu answered the door with raised brows. This guy messed up AGAIN?
“Good morning, Sakurai-san.”
“Sorry to bother you again… Is Kaori here?”
The woman slowly nodded. “Hold on one second, please.”
As Sho waited in the doorway, he gaped at all the decorations Kaori had put up, now turned lifeless.
Chiharu slipped into Kaori’s bedroom. Kaori was already up, flipping blankly through a textbook.
“He’s here to see you.”
“Really.”
“I can tell him you’re still asleep, you know. If I were you I’d ignore him for a whole week.”
“… No, I’ll talk to him.”
Sakurai Sho’s anxiety rose as Kaori appeared with a very un-amused, defiant stare. Even in her pajamas, she was terrifying. Her small frame blocked the doorway obstinately.
“I hope you didn’t stay up too late because of me…” Sho began, garnering a mere shrug. “You never replied to my texts. I - I got worried.”
She didn’t want to hear it. “You’re still hung over, aren’t you?”
“J-just a little headache, that’s all…” he admitted weakly.
“Then you must have had fun last night.”
“I thought about you the whole time, Kaori, I honestly did… Gomen…”
His round eyes gazed down at her pleadingly. With one kiss on her forehead, she felt her shell begin to thaw away again. Had she not expected set-ups like this to happen? Perhaps this was the first test, and she couldn’t fail it from the beginning. Kaori took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and just took in his warmth.
But then, her eyes trailed down to his feet - he wore nice leather boots. “Your shoes…” she murmured tensely.
“Eh?” With a panic, he saw tears well in her glaring eyes. “Doushita--?”
She jerked out of his embrace. “You didn’t get my present, did you?” Her voice was dangerously livid.
Sho’s eyes widened. Promise not to open it till Christmas. He fumbled through his coat but realized this was the wrong one.
“Saitei.” With that, she shut the door in his face.
credit: ninoether on Tumblr
The restless man rushed back and retrieved the jacket that he’d worn that night in Odaiba, abandoned in the back seat of his car. He rummaged through the pockets and found the small box she’d given him. Inside was a pair of black laces and a shiny metal card that said : Please go to this address to claim your gift…
Following the directions on the back of the card led to a trendy urban shop on the industrial side of town. An m-flo/Jay-Z remix was playing when he entered.
“Ah, Sakurai-san desu ne?” the owner (a Verbal-san look-alike) greeted enthusiastically. “What may I interest you in?”
Sho presented the card, and the storekeeper brought forth a pair of glorious electric blue sneakers.
“I am very sorry you had to come all the way here to get them, but there was such a large demand we couldn’t finish them all in time for Christmas.”
“Eh, you make these shoes right here?”
“Yes sir, custom made. Please, try them on.”
The shoes were light as air and fashionably bold, a pair that even Matsumoto Jun would be jealous of. Sho realized just how much thought Kaori had put in, and just how much he had let her down. There was only one person he could call: “Satomi, I need your help.”
------
In the next morning’s pile of mail, there was an envelope addressed to Kaori. Inside was a Keio University Honya gift card and a note. You have a book ready for pick up! Please come at 8pm.
------------------------------------
Part 3