Yume de Ii Kara (Because it's Good to Dream) [a Sakurai Sho love story] Chapter 31
Yume de Ii Kara Chapter 31
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!
-----------------------------
Naturally, life wasn’t finished with its surprises; a summer bike ride one morning left Kaori with a broken bicycle and a severely bruised knee. Walking was painful, so Kaori begrudgingly took a few days off of work to heal. That evening she lay with her leg propped up on the sofa and warily watched from the living room as Sakurai Sho busied himself with making dinner. Even with his back turned to her, she had a feeling like he wasn’t quite sure what he was doing. He held up the crown of broccoli and turned it every which way before carefully putting a knife to it, and there were definitely more bowls cluttering the counter than necessary.
She couldn’t resist hobbling over to the kitchen. It looked like a mad science experiment.
“Oi, I told you to stay over there!” Sho scolded, spatula in hand and apron tied at his waist.
“But you seem a little…” She surveyed the mess in concern, lifting up the lid of a pot.
“I have everything under control.” he insisted unconvincingly.
“Something smells like it’s burning.” She began to prod the contents. “Let me help- HEY!”
Her heart fluttered as Sho scooped her up off her feet and carried her back to the living room. She felt ridiculously light in his arms and didn’t argue further as he gently set her down. “Don’t move, I mean it!” he pointed firmly before returning to his stressful task. Kaori wasn’t accustomed to being taken care of but with Sho, he never once made her feel like a burden. It was quite endearing, seeing him fuss about.
nbsp;
They ate dinner (a decent pasta dish he had managed to concoct) in front of the television tuned in to Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. As the questions grew more difficult, so did the competitiveness between the two brainiacs. Next was the heavy 750,000 yen question:
“In the beginning of Miyazaki Hayao-san’s film Spirited Away, the character Chiharu receives a goodbye card from a friend. What is the friend’s name? A. Megumi, B. Kasumi, C. Rumi, D. Kumi.”
As the camera zoomed in on the contestant’s grim expression, Sho and Kaori jumped in their seats.
“It’s Megumi, it has to be!” Kaori exclaimed.
“No, I’m pretty sure it’s Rumi. It’s a short name!”
“Eh? No way. I’ve seen that movie a dozen times.”
“How much do you want to bet?”
The ‘Ask the Audience’ lifeline was used and Kaori and Sho called their answers to the screen. With hesitation, the contestant chose choice C. Rumi, and the bell rang cheerily - he was correct.
“Hah! I told you!” Sho rubbed it in her face. “Where’s my prize?” Kaori just gave the obnoxious man a rude grimace
Sho proudly leapt from the couch to grab a soda; Kaori heard the aluminum pop and an angry yelp. When he turned around, Kaori saw the foamy drink had exploded all over him. She laughed at him this time. Kaori gestured for him to come back next to her. He shuffled over in shame but his smile immediately returned as she began to kiss away the stickiness from his lips.
nbsp; For a moment, she pulled back and simply looked at him with bright, soft eyes. She realized that she felt everything with him - humor and madness, safety and danger, stability and unpredictability - and that because of this reality that maybe she could even marry him, if that wasn’t too ridiculous of a hope
“What?” Sho asked. This sort of gaze was new, and it made him nervous.
“Nothing. I was wondering though - can you be my date for my brother’s wedding? Remember, I mentioned it awhile ago…”
He tensed up. “It at the end of the month, right? There - there are a lot of things already booked. I don’t think I can get time off, especially if I have to fly to Okinawa.”
“Ah - sou ka.”
“Gomen ne.”
“Ii yo, I know you’re busy. I just thought I’d ask.” she shook her head cheerfully. For now, she just wanted to cherish this rare moment and the fact that somehow Sho really did feel like home, if home could actually be found in a person
credit: ohno-style on Tumblr
<3<3<3
-------------------
That next week for Himitsu no Arashi-chan, Aiba Masaki had planned a “friend date” for his group mate Sakurai Sho, themed around “first time” experiences in Aiba’s home prefecture, Chiba. They spent the whole brilliant August day playing beach games, jet skiing and attempting to surf. Aiba’s high pitched laughter was infectious, and every activity amazed and touched Sho because of Aiba’s creativity and thought. It really didn’t feel like they were filming a show. All this fun was more of a mini vacation, and he loved it.
As the day wore down, they sat down to a homecooked meal and cold beer on the shore, and Sho grew pensive once again.
“When a girl plans a date with a guy and takes him there… it probably feels like this, right?”
The staff behind the cameras glanced at each other curiously. Where was this coming from? From the unguarded smile to the open talk about marriage, this was a very personal side of Sakurai-san that they had rarely seen.
“Ten years from now, we’re going to be about 40 years old, maybe even have families.” Aiba sighed.
Sho claimed that his dream was really to stay in the present, yet his thoughts kept drifting to the future. It held so much more depth than it once had
credit: hagi-maimai on Tumblr
"You look forward to such things in a place like this, right? Everyone bringing their own families… Aiba-kun, you’d cook, and Nino’s kid would yell and say that the food was gross…” His throat closed a little, and he tried to distract himself with his food. “And my son would - would be really noisy during travelling and clean up…” Chuckling bashfully, he looked up at his friend who completely understood.
Aiba asked further, “Who do you think is going to get married first?”
“I have no idea!”
“I can’t imagine any of us, ne…”
He surveyed the peaceful sands, relished the breeze from the waves and noted the charming houses on the green hillside. Such a life was what Kaori was asking for - he knew that much - which was in no way wrong of her to hope for. He cherished the irreplaceable friendships of Aiba Masaki and the other members of Arashi, but what if a future with Kaori could be included in that picture? Sho started to wonder whether he had thought about only himself for far too long.
“Maybe Matsujun will be unexpectedly early.” Sho mused, although this somehow felt a little wrong to say.
credit: pn101 on Tumblr
--------------
credit here
Over a hundred people were gathered out on the clearing that warm evening for Kureha Mamoru and Natsuko’s wedding reception. Lawn torches and twinkling lights set the place aglow underneath the purple starry sky; a live band played in the background and people ate and chatted merrily. In the middle, the young (and young at heart) celebrated by dancing.
On the sidelines sat Kaori, who nibbled on some cake, tapped her heeled foot to the music. The ceremony earlier had brought tears to her eyes; her older brother was truly happy, and her emotions - a mixture of delight, optimism and uncertainty - were in a bowl at the top of her chest that she didn’t move from that spot for fear that the contents would spill over. It wasn’t so much her relatives bugging her about not having a date, or the awkward man her cousins had “paired” her with at dinner that bothered her, but more so that she felt like this moment wasn’t being shared.
nbsp; None other than young Yuuto came to the rescue. A bundle of energy, the gangly teenager ran to his older sister as the next upbeat song played. She blinked at his goofy expression in confusion.
“Onee-chan, what are you doing? Get up!” He pulled her to the dance floor and began to bust out in a wild jig. Kaori broke out in peals of laughter and was obliged to follow along with her own silly groove. If there was one thing she loved about Yuuto, it was that he always brought out the child in her. The two siblings were certainly making a scene, but the newly wed couple just watched on with amusement.
"Can't Help Falling in Love" by Ingrid Michaelson
The bubbly song ended and transitioned to a slow, romantic ballad. Yuuto saw Kaori’s smile falter a little.
“No offense, but…”
She recovered and gave him a mocking brow raise. “That’d be weird if we danced together now, ne.”
“-But with me?” a deep voice interjected.
A man in a fedora and large glasses slipped in from the shadows. Kaori’s eyes widened - it was Sakurai Sho. Yuuto squinted for a moment and when he realized who it was, grinned widely, gave them a thumbs up and hopped away. Sho took the still-shocked woman by the waist and held her close. In the dim light, they swayed ever so gently to the melody. He realized that they had never danced together before, and laced his fingers in her slender ones.
“Wh-what are you doing here, Sho-kun?” Kaori murmured hoarsely. She was suddenly overwhelmed - why was she so happy and yet so angry?
“I couldn’t let you miss out on the slow dances, could I?”
Her lip quivered. “Your pants… they’re wrinkled.”
“Of course you would notice that.” he chuckled wryly. “I just got off the plane.”
“You didn’t have to do that for me; it’s so much hassle.” She buried her face in his strong shoulder and tried to hide her hot tears. “Seriously, why did you come?”
“… Because nothing you want will be too much to ask for, Kaori.” He brushed her soft curls and whispered in her ear, “And just because I’m busy, doesn’t mean I don’t love you.”
nbsp; Who the unidentified man was dancing with the groom’s sister was a mystery, but all those who looked on at the scene knew without a doubt that those two had something real. Just like the bride and groom, they were evidence that such dreams were possible. Where Kaori and Sho would go from there was still yet to be told, of course. At the head table, Kureha Nobuyuki and Etsuko smiled to each other, happiness multiplied.
Wise men say only fools rush in
But I can't help falling in love with you
Shall I stay
Would it be a sin
If I can't help falling in love with you...
------------------------
A long chapter ^__^ Stay tuned for more! I got some of the HnA dialogue from episode #144 (aired Aug. 25, 2011) subbed by Stormy Team Subs!
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!
-----------------------------
Naturally, life wasn’t finished with its surprises; a summer bike ride one morning left Kaori with a broken bicycle and a severely bruised knee. Walking was painful, so Kaori begrudgingly took a few days off of work to heal. That evening she lay with her leg propped up on the sofa and warily watched from the living room as Sakurai Sho busied himself with making dinner. Even with his back turned to her, she had a feeling like he wasn’t quite sure what he was doing. He held up the crown of broccoli and turned it every which way before carefully putting a knife to it, and there were definitely more bowls cluttering the counter than necessary.
She couldn’t resist hobbling over to the kitchen. It looked like a mad science experiment.
“Oi, I told you to stay over there!” Sho scolded, spatula in hand and apron tied at his waist.
“But you seem a little…” She surveyed the mess in concern, lifting up the lid of a pot.
“I have everything under control.” he insisted unconvincingly.
“Something smells like it’s burning.” She began to prod the contents. “Let me help- HEY!”
Her heart fluttered as Sho scooped her up off her feet and carried her back to the living room. She felt ridiculously light in his arms and didn’t argue further as he gently set her down. “Don’t move, I mean it!” he pointed firmly before returning to his stressful task. Kaori wasn’t accustomed to being taken care of but with Sho, he never once made her feel like a burden. It was quite endearing, seeing him fuss about.
nbsp;
They ate dinner (a decent pasta dish he had managed to concoct) in front of the television tuned in to Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. As the questions grew more difficult, so did the competitiveness between the two brainiacs. Next was the heavy 750,000 yen question:
“In the beginning of Miyazaki Hayao-san’s film Spirited Away, the character Chiharu receives a goodbye card from a friend. What is the friend’s name? A. Megumi, B. Kasumi, C. Rumi, D. Kumi.”
As the camera zoomed in on the contestant’s grim expression, Sho and Kaori jumped in their seats.
“It’s Megumi, it has to be!” Kaori exclaimed.
“No, I’m pretty sure it’s Rumi. It’s a short name!”
“Eh? No way. I’ve seen that movie a dozen times.”
“How much do you want to bet?”
The ‘Ask the Audience’ lifeline was used and Kaori and Sho called their answers to the screen. With hesitation, the contestant chose choice C. Rumi, and the bell rang cheerily - he was correct.
“Hah! I told you!” Sho rubbed it in her face. “Where’s my prize?” Kaori just gave the obnoxious man a rude grimace
Sho proudly leapt from the couch to grab a soda; Kaori heard the aluminum pop and an angry yelp. When he turned around, Kaori saw the foamy drink had exploded all over him. She laughed at him this time. Kaori gestured for him to come back next to her. He shuffled over in shame but his smile immediately returned as she began to kiss away the stickiness from his lips.
nbsp; For a moment, she pulled back and simply looked at him with bright, soft eyes. She realized that she felt everything with him - humor and madness, safety and danger, stability and unpredictability - and that because of this reality that maybe she could even marry him, if that wasn’t too ridiculous of a hope
“What?” Sho asked. This sort of gaze was new, and it made him nervous.
“Nothing. I was wondering though - can you be my date for my brother’s wedding? Remember, I mentioned it awhile ago…”
He tensed up. “It at the end of the month, right? There - there are a lot of things already booked. I don’t think I can get time off, especially if I have to fly to Okinawa.”
“Ah - sou ka.”
“Gomen ne.”
“Ii yo, I know you’re busy. I just thought I’d ask.” she shook her head cheerfully. For now, she just wanted to cherish this rare moment and the fact that somehow Sho really did feel like home, if home could actually be found in a person
credit: ohno-style on Tumblr
<3<3<3
-------------------
That next week for Himitsu no Arashi-chan, Aiba Masaki had planned a “friend date” for his group mate Sakurai Sho, themed around “first time” experiences in Aiba’s home prefecture, Chiba. They spent the whole brilliant August day playing beach games, jet skiing and attempting to surf. Aiba’s high pitched laughter was infectious, and every activity amazed and touched Sho because of Aiba’s creativity and thought. It really didn’t feel like they were filming a show. All this fun was more of a mini vacation, and he loved it.
As the day wore down, they sat down to a homecooked meal and cold beer on the shore, and Sho grew pensive once again.
“When a girl plans a date with a guy and takes him there… it probably feels like this, right?”
The staff behind the cameras glanced at each other curiously. Where was this coming from? From the unguarded smile to the open talk about marriage, this was a very personal side of Sakurai-san that they had rarely seen.
“Ten years from now, we’re going to be about 40 years old, maybe even have families.” Aiba sighed.
Sho claimed that his dream was really to stay in the present, yet his thoughts kept drifting to the future. It held so much more depth than it once had
credit: hagi-maimai on Tumblr
"You look forward to such things in a place like this, right? Everyone bringing their own families… Aiba-kun, you’d cook, and Nino’s kid would yell and say that the food was gross…” His throat closed a little, and he tried to distract himself with his food. “And my son would - would be really noisy during travelling and clean up…” Chuckling bashfully, he looked up at his friend who completely understood.
Aiba asked further, “Who do you think is going to get married first?”
“I have no idea!”
“I can’t imagine any of us, ne…”
He surveyed the peaceful sands, relished the breeze from the waves and noted the charming houses on the green hillside. Such a life was what Kaori was asking for - he knew that much - which was in no way wrong of her to hope for. He cherished the irreplaceable friendships of Aiba Masaki and the other members of Arashi, but what if a future with Kaori could be included in that picture? Sho started to wonder whether he had thought about only himself for far too long.
“Maybe Matsujun will be unexpectedly early.” Sho mused, although this somehow felt a little wrong to say.
credit: pn101 on Tumblr
--------------
credit here
Over a hundred people were gathered out on the clearing that warm evening for Kureha Mamoru and Natsuko’s wedding reception. Lawn torches and twinkling lights set the place aglow underneath the purple starry sky; a live band played in the background and people ate and chatted merrily. In the middle, the young (and young at heart) celebrated by dancing.
On the sidelines sat Kaori, who nibbled on some cake, tapped her heeled foot to the music. The ceremony earlier had brought tears to her eyes; her older brother was truly happy, and her emotions - a mixture of delight, optimism and uncertainty - were in a bowl at the top of her chest that she didn’t move from that spot for fear that the contents would spill over. It wasn’t so much her relatives bugging her about not having a date, or the awkward man her cousins had “paired” her with at dinner that bothered her, but more so that she felt like this moment wasn’t being shared.
nbsp; None other than young Yuuto came to the rescue. A bundle of energy, the gangly teenager ran to his older sister as the next upbeat song played. She blinked at his goofy expression in confusion.
“Onee-chan, what are you doing? Get up!” He pulled her to the dance floor and began to bust out in a wild jig. Kaori broke out in peals of laughter and was obliged to follow along with her own silly groove. If there was one thing she loved about Yuuto, it was that he always brought out the child in her. The two siblings were certainly making a scene, but the newly wed couple just watched on with amusement.
Click to view"Can't Help Falling in Love" by Ingrid Michaelson
The bubbly song ended and transitioned to a slow, romantic ballad. Yuuto saw Kaori’s smile falter a little.
“No offense, but…”
She recovered and gave him a mocking brow raise. “That’d be weird if we danced together now, ne.”
“-But with me?” a deep voice interjected.
A man in a fedora and large glasses slipped in from the shadows. Kaori’s eyes widened - it was Sakurai Sho. Yuuto squinted for a moment and when he realized who it was, grinned widely, gave them a thumbs up and hopped away. Sho took the still-shocked woman by the waist and held her close. In the dim light, they swayed ever so gently to the melody. He realized that they had never danced together before, and laced his fingers in her slender ones.
“Wh-what are you doing here, Sho-kun?” Kaori murmured hoarsely. She was suddenly overwhelmed - why was she so happy and yet so angry?
“I couldn’t let you miss out on the slow dances, could I?”
Her lip quivered. “Your pants… they’re wrinkled.”
“Of course you would notice that.” he chuckled wryly. “I just got off the plane.”
“You didn’t have to do that for me; it’s so much hassle.” She buried her face in his strong shoulder and tried to hide her hot tears. “Seriously, why did you come?”
“… Because nothing you want will be too much to ask for, Kaori.” He brushed her soft curls and whispered in her ear, “And just because I’m busy, doesn’t mean I don’t love you.”
nbsp; Who the unidentified man was dancing with the groom’s sister was a mystery, but all those who looked on at the scene knew without a doubt that those two had something real. Just like the bride and groom, they were evidence that such dreams were possible. Where Kaori and Sho would go from there was still yet to be told, of course. At the head table, Kureha Nobuyuki and Etsuko smiled to each other, happiness multiplied.
Wise men say only fools rush in
But I can't help falling in love with you
Shall I stay
Would it be a sin
If I can't help falling in love with you...
------------------------
A long chapter ^__^ Stay tuned for more! I got some of the HnA dialogue from episode #144 (aired Aug. 25, 2011) subbed by Stormy Team Subs!