[08/16] Unpleasant Flavors
Lifetimes
November 2012 -
Summary
Mikado Miwa had always been - clichés and all other stereotypes taken into consideration - just an ordinary girl...
A/N
[00.05, 27 April 2013] I will finish this story this summer!!!
Disclaimer
The mastermind behind this plot derives no material profit from it. While several people, places, and events exist in reality, everything that follows should be digested with a healthy dose of suspicion.
Warning
I cannot write bromance or erotica to save my life.
Words 1,486
Previously:
Episode Seven: Mixed Messages
Lifetimes
For Arashi
Episode Eight
Unpleasant Flavors
The first week of January
Unnaturally for Sakurai Sho, he ended up staying in the country during the New Year celebrations. Laughing as he gestured for the salt shaker, Sakurai briefly touched his fiancée’s wrist for attention. Watching the motion, unnoticed, Mikado Miwa felt her heart twinge just the slightest bit. The woman she was impersonating - the woman she resembled so much and so little - touched his fingers ever briefly as she passed him the salt.
It had been alarming to receive an invitation to dinner the previous week from no less than Komada Setsu herself. How the woman had found her mobile number, Miwa had no idea, but she had always known the little help she had accorded Sho over his New Year’s cards - which had turned out quite decently after the two of them had spent hours mulling over how much lace to incorporate in the designs - would not go unnoticed. The dinner was to be held in Sho’s house, too - a clear sign of the fiancée staking her claim on him. And so to pacify her apparently jealous look-alike, Miwa politely inquired if she might be allowed to bring her boyfriend along.
Which was why the four of them were having a double date of sorts in Mid-Winter.
“I’m so glad we have this chance to chat over dinner,” Mitsuo declared sincerely from beside her. “When Miwa-san brought up the invitation, I wasn’t sure whether I should believe her or not.” Turning to his just-girlfriend with a tenderness that twisted Miwa’s heart tighter, he added, “But I’m really glad, you know. Meeting Sakurai-san is one of her life goals, after all.”
Sakurai, poking lazily at his steak, suddenly snorted. “That can’t possibly be true. She hates me.”
Mitsuo laughed. “Really, Miwa-san - what a first impression you must have made!”
“Like I said, I wasn’t stalking him,” Miwa replied, flushing. “I just happened to be around the area when he was shooting that CM. It wasn’t my fault that he felt chivalrous enough to accompany me to the clinic.” That wasn’t a lie, too - they had first met very many years ago, when she had been stalking - no, waiting - for him to come out of his car, and the rabid fangirl she had been standing next to had pushed her onto the sidewalk in her haste to see Sakurai Sho in the flesh.
Miwa still had a scar on her arm as a souvenir of the encounter.
Shooting Sakurai a dirty glance as he drained his glass of wine, she continued, “And then when I told him I was a huge fan of his he became all vain and giddy, and asked me what I thought of his latest drama.”
“It was a really lucky coincidence, then,” Mitsuo grinned indulgently. On his other side, Komada Setsu smiled faintly, staring at the lettuce in the beef hotpot. The diamond on her engagement ring flashed noticeably with each flick of her hand.
Beside her, Miwa could see Sakurai bristling. She couldn’t understand why he felt so offended. The story had been true, only the first time they had spoken with each other he had not bothered to remember her name. She exhaled. It would make no difference to weave one more lie, as lying had become second nature to her quite recently. “So I told him what I honestly thought about it and he-”
Sakurai stood abruptly. Three pairs of eyes turned to stare at him. Smiling apologetically, he said, “I forgot - I have to give my manager a call. Sorry.”
They watched him walk into the kitchen.
Visibly surprised, Komada Setsu’s shoulders tightened. Turning back to her guests, she smiled and vaguely tried for small talk. “So where did you two first meet? Was it at the office?”
“It was at the office, yes,” Mitsuo replied cheerfully. He smiled as Miwa poured more wine into his glass. “We were in the same batch of applicants. We got to know each other better when we were assigned to the same management training program.”
“So it’s been some years, hasn’t it?”
“Yes, but we only started dating officially last month.” Mitsuo chuckled to himself, as Miwa blushed in embarrassment. “Christmas Eve does wonders, I swear.”
“That sounds great,” Komada commented distractedly, wistfully, as she took a strand of her hair and twirled it on an idle finger. “Just last month. It’s the start, isn’t it?”
Mitsuo looked at Miwa for confirmation before he pleasantly asked, “But you and Sakurai-san have been together for quite a long time, right?”
Komada glanced up from her musings, and even Miwa found she was waiting for her reaction with bated breath. Smiling tersely, Komada calmly replied, “Four years this spring.”
She let her hand fall at her side, as the strand of hair she had looped into a curl unfurled on her shoulder.
“I better go check on Sho,” Komada suddenly said, rising with a small wince on her face. “He’s been trying to do more around the house since his housekeeper went on a vacation, but he’s just hopeless with these things - just in case he ends up burning his own kitchen-”
Mitsuo laughed, and even Miwa managed a small grin. Averting her eyes as Komada walked away, Miwa decided to drown herself in alcohol. For the millionth time she wondered why she had even agreed to this double date from hell. Beside her Mitsuo put his silverware down, and let loose a very long breath. Miwa realized she was not the only one who was worried over the evening’s outcome.
“Was it Sakurai-san’s idea? This dinner, I mean?” Mitsuo suddenly asked in a whisper, leaning in to communicate less audibly. Though his face was not moving much, Miwa could see his eyes wandering the apartment - appraising the tinted windows, the modernistic furniture, and the sleek piano that peeked from yet another hidden corner of the living space. “This place is something else, isn’t it? Not that I’m judging his character or anything, but everything is so hygienic it’s almost scary-”
“That’s the housekeeper’s job,” Miwa responded, refilling her own beer. “Apparently she’s a determined dirt-fighting machine.”
“But I thought she was on vacation?” Mitsuo countered. “Then it might be Komada-san who’s keeping the place clean for him - I wonder if she’ll move in once they’re married-”
He stopped talking as they heard raised voices coming from the kitchen. Miwa could hear Sakurai trying to pacify his fiancée, but it didn’t seem to be working. Across the hallway that connected the kitchen to the dining room, Komada Setsu’s voice carried like a muffled announcement over the radio. Miwa distinctly heard her own name.
Mitsuo cleared his throat, and carefully picked his silverware up again. Eating with renewed gusto, he busied himself with the steak that remained half-eaten on his plate, ignored when he had been trying - and he had been the only one - to run a decent conversation over dinner. Miwa put her fork down. For some reason she couldn’t push Komada’s voice away.
“Didn’t you say you wanted to go somewhere after this?” Miwa smiled at Mitsuo, distractedly trying to resume their conversation. She could hear Sakurai’s voice rising in volume as well. “What were you planning for us to do?”
“Oh, nothing much, really.” Mitsuo fidgeted with his table napkin as he gulped down water. It seemed he was trying to eat as much as he could before the others returned. “Just the usual post-double-date date.”
Miwa laughed, reaching over to dab at the water that had dribbled onto Mitsuo’s shirt. “I hope it’s not a picnic on a rooftop or something. I’m not good with romantic things like that.”
But Mitsuo calmly averted his eyes and put his glass of water down. Miwa stopped laughing.
Smiling in apology, Mitsuo pulled at his napkin and wiped it on the corners of his mouth. “I haven’t been in many relationships, you know. I don’t know what do around women - I don’t know what to say to them.”
“You don’t have to-”
“But even though I don’t really know how to please women - make surprises, and buy them all the nice things they want - I do know I want to make you happy.” He met Miwa’s eyes, voice quiet, almost shy. “Even though I know you don’t like me the same way - not yet, anyway.”
Chagrined, Miwa bit her lip. “I’m sorry.”
“I know - it’s not your fault.” Mitsuo stretched carefully and fell into his seat, plate clean. The glass of water by his side was half-empty. “It’s been a strange night.”
Barely moving his head, his eyes rested on her face. He smiled at her serenely. “You’re in love with Sakurai Sho, aren’t you, Miwa-san?”
Miwa felt her lips part slowly, her fingers numbing. She could feel her lungs were failing her. “What?”
Mitsuo shook his head, running a hand under his hair. “That’s all right. It’s common to fall in love with people who don’t love you.”
He suddenly froze and turned his head towards the kitchen hallway. Raising her eyes, Miwa saw Sakurai standing right outside the dining room, a ring of keys in his hand. He looked blankly at Mitsuo, then at Miwa. She flushed, unable to tear her gaze away.
There was no expression in Sakurai’s eyes.
He tentatively stepped forward. “I’m sorry. I’m afraid I need to be somewhere. A friend of mine is in trouble.”
“Nothing serious, I hope,” Mitsuo shifted in his seat, straightening up. Miwa pursed her lips as she turned away. He was obviously lying. “Was it an accident?”
“Honestly, I’m not very sure. He wasn’t making much sense over the phone.”
He paused and looked at Miwa.
“Please don’t worry,” Mitsuo replied pleasantly. “We’re supposed to go somewhere else tonight, anyway. Right, Miwa-san?” He turned to his girlfriend cheerfully. Seeing his enthusiasm, Miwa smiled back and nodded.
Sakurai seemed to be working his jaw. “I understand. I really am sorry about all this.”
Shaking his head, Mitsuo got to his feet, hand stretched towards Miwa. Dazedly, she followed suit. His fingers closed around her cold, tiny hand. “Things happen. They’re not always in our control. Can we at least say goodbye to Komada-san before we go?”
Sakurai pursed his lips. “I’m afraid she’s occupied at the moment. But I’ll be sure to let her know.”
Miwa felt the blood rush from her face.
“Then I suppose it can’t be helped,” Mitsuo replied calmly. He turned to his girlfriend, smiling. Behind the forced cheer she could see something else in his eyes. “Shall we go?”
She nodded dazedly. Pointedly avoiding Sakurai’s gaze as she turned to him, Miwa slowly bowed. “We’ll be taking our leave, Sakurai-san.”
Quietly, Sakurai ran his eyes over her face. She determinedly stared at a spot above his shoulder.
“I’ll walk you to the door,” was all he said.
A/N
I’ve decided. I’m not releasing this until I finish the whole thing. ::P Thank you so much for reading! [18.37, 7 May 2013]
PS I've released the thing. Please rest assured I've actually finished the thing. ;) [02.33, 01 December 2013]
Next
Episode Nine: Postcard Perfect
November 2012 -
Summary
Mikado Miwa had always been - clichés and all other stereotypes taken into consideration - just an ordinary girl...
A/N
[00.05, 27 April 2013] I will finish this story this summer!!!
Disclaimer
The mastermind behind this plot derives no material profit from it. While several people, places, and events exist in reality, everything that follows should be digested with a healthy dose of suspicion.
Warning
I cannot write bromance or erotica to save my life.
Words 1,486
Previously:
Episode Seven: Mixed Messages
Lifetimes
For Arashi
Episode Eight
Unpleasant Flavors
The first week of January
Unnaturally for Sakurai Sho, he ended up staying in the country during the New Year celebrations. Laughing as he gestured for the salt shaker, Sakurai briefly touched his fiancée’s wrist for attention. Watching the motion, unnoticed, Mikado Miwa felt her heart twinge just the slightest bit. The woman she was impersonating - the woman she resembled so much and so little - touched his fingers ever briefly as she passed him the salt.
It had been alarming to receive an invitation to dinner the previous week from no less than Komada Setsu herself. How the woman had found her mobile number, Miwa had no idea, but she had always known the little help she had accorded Sho over his New Year’s cards - which had turned out quite decently after the two of them had spent hours mulling over how much lace to incorporate in the designs - would not go unnoticed. The dinner was to be held in Sho’s house, too - a clear sign of the fiancée staking her claim on him. And so to pacify her apparently jealous look-alike, Miwa politely inquired if she might be allowed to bring her boyfriend along.
Which was why the four of them were having a double date of sorts in Mid-Winter.
“I’m so glad we have this chance to chat over dinner,” Mitsuo declared sincerely from beside her. “When Miwa-san brought up the invitation, I wasn’t sure whether I should believe her or not.” Turning to his just-girlfriend with a tenderness that twisted Miwa’s heart tighter, he added, “But I’m really glad, you know. Meeting Sakurai-san is one of her life goals, after all.”
Sakurai, poking lazily at his steak, suddenly snorted. “That can’t possibly be true. She hates me.”
Mitsuo laughed. “Really, Miwa-san - what a first impression you must have made!”
“Like I said, I wasn’t stalking him,” Miwa replied, flushing. “I just happened to be around the area when he was shooting that CM. It wasn’t my fault that he felt chivalrous enough to accompany me to the clinic.” That wasn’t a lie, too - they had first met very many years ago, when she had been stalking - no, waiting - for him to come out of his car, and the rabid fangirl she had been standing next to had pushed her onto the sidewalk in her haste to see Sakurai Sho in the flesh.
Miwa still had a scar on her arm as a souvenir of the encounter.
Shooting Sakurai a dirty glance as he drained his glass of wine, she continued, “And then when I told him I was a huge fan of his he became all vain and giddy, and asked me what I thought of his latest drama.”
“It was a really lucky coincidence, then,” Mitsuo grinned indulgently. On his other side, Komada Setsu smiled faintly, staring at the lettuce in the beef hotpot. The diamond on her engagement ring flashed noticeably with each flick of her hand.
Beside her, Miwa could see Sakurai bristling. She couldn’t understand why he felt so offended. The story had been true, only the first time they had spoken with each other he had not bothered to remember her name. She exhaled. It would make no difference to weave one more lie, as lying had become second nature to her quite recently. “So I told him what I honestly thought about it and he-”
Sakurai stood abruptly. Three pairs of eyes turned to stare at him. Smiling apologetically, he said, “I forgot - I have to give my manager a call. Sorry.”
They watched him walk into the kitchen.
Visibly surprised, Komada Setsu’s shoulders tightened. Turning back to her guests, she smiled and vaguely tried for small talk. “So where did you two first meet? Was it at the office?”
“It was at the office, yes,” Mitsuo replied cheerfully. He smiled as Miwa poured more wine into his glass. “We were in the same batch of applicants. We got to know each other better when we were assigned to the same management training program.”
“So it’s been some years, hasn’t it?”
“Yes, but we only started dating officially last month.” Mitsuo chuckled to himself, as Miwa blushed in embarrassment. “Christmas Eve does wonders, I swear.”
“That sounds great,” Komada commented distractedly, wistfully, as she took a strand of her hair and twirled it on an idle finger. “Just last month. It’s the start, isn’t it?”
Mitsuo looked at Miwa for confirmation before he pleasantly asked, “But you and Sakurai-san have been together for quite a long time, right?”
Komada glanced up from her musings, and even Miwa found she was waiting for her reaction with bated breath. Smiling tersely, Komada calmly replied, “Four years this spring.”
She let her hand fall at her side, as the strand of hair she had looped into a curl unfurled on her shoulder.
“I better go check on Sho,” Komada suddenly said, rising with a small wince on her face. “He’s been trying to do more around the house since his housekeeper went on a vacation, but he’s just hopeless with these things - just in case he ends up burning his own kitchen-”
Mitsuo laughed, and even Miwa managed a small grin. Averting her eyes as Komada walked away, Miwa decided to drown herself in alcohol. For the millionth time she wondered why she had even agreed to this double date from hell. Beside her Mitsuo put his silverware down, and let loose a very long breath. Miwa realized she was not the only one who was worried over the evening’s outcome.
“Was it Sakurai-san’s idea? This dinner, I mean?” Mitsuo suddenly asked in a whisper, leaning in to communicate less audibly. Though his face was not moving much, Miwa could see his eyes wandering the apartment - appraising the tinted windows, the modernistic furniture, and the sleek piano that peeked from yet another hidden corner of the living space. “This place is something else, isn’t it? Not that I’m judging his character or anything, but everything is so hygienic it’s almost scary-”
“That’s the housekeeper’s job,” Miwa responded, refilling her own beer. “Apparently she’s a determined dirt-fighting machine.”
“But I thought she was on vacation?” Mitsuo countered. “Then it might be Komada-san who’s keeping the place clean for him - I wonder if she’ll move in once they’re married-”
He stopped talking as they heard raised voices coming from the kitchen. Miwa could hear Sakurai trying to pacify his fiancée, but it didn’t seem to be working. Across the hallway that connected the kitchen to the dining room, Komada Setsu’s voice carried like a muffled announcement over the radio. Miwa distinctly heard her own name.
Mitsuo cleared his throat, and carefully picked his silverware up again. Eating with renewed gusto, he busied himself with the steak that remained half-eaten on his plate, ignored when he had been trying - and he had been the only one - to run a decent conversation over dinner. Miwa put her fork down. For some reason she couldn’t push Komada’s voice away.
“Didn’t you say you wanted to go somewhere after this?” Miwa smiled at Mitsuo, distractedly trying to resume their conversation. She could hear Sakurai’s voice rising in volume as well. “What were you planning for us to do?”
“Oh, nothing much, really.” Mitsuo fidgeted with his table napkin as he gulped down water. It seemed he was trying to eat as much as he could before the others returned. “Just the usual post-double-date date.”
Miwa laughed, reaching over to dab at the water that had dribbled onto Mitsuo’s shirt. “I hope it’s not a picnic on a rooftop or something. I’m not good with romantic things like that.”
But Mitsuo calmly averted his eyes and put his glass of water down. Miwa stopped laughing.
Smiling in apology, Mitsuo pulled at his napkin and wiped it on the corners of his mouth. “I haven’t been in many relationships, you know. I don’t know what do around women - I don’t know what to say to them.”
“You don’t have to-”
“But even though I don’t really know how to please women - make surprises, and buy them all the nice things they want - I do know I want to make you happy.” He met Miwa’s eyes, voice quiet, almost shy. “Even though I know you don’t like me the same way - not yet, anyway.”
Chagrined, Miwa bit her lip. “I’m sorry.”
“I know - it’s not your fault.” Mitsuo stretched carefully and fell into his seat, plate clean. The glass of water by his side was half-empty. “It’s been a strange night.”
Barely moving his head, his eyes rested on her face. He smiled at her serenely. “You’re in love with Sakurai Sho, aren’t you, Miwa-san?”
Miwa felt her lips part slowly, her fingers numbing. She could feel her lungs were failing her. “What?”
Mitsuo shook his head, running a hand under his hair. “That’s all right. It’s common to fall in love with people who don’t love you.”
He suddenly froze and turned his head towards the kitchen hallway. Raising her eyes, Miwa saw Sakurai standing right outside the dining room, a ring of keys in his hand. He looked blankly at Mitsuo, then at Miwa. She flushed, unable to tear her gaze away.
There was no expression in Sakurai’s eyes.
He tentatively stepped forward. “I’m sorry. I’m afraid I need to be somewhere. A friend of mine is in trouble.”
“Nothing serious, I hope,” Mitsuo shifted in his seat, straightening up. Miwa pursed her lips as she turned away. He was obviously lying. “Was it an accident?”
“Honestly, I’m not very sure. He wasn’t making much sense over the phone.”
He paused and looked at Miwa.
“Please don’t worry,” Mitsuo replied pleasantly. “We’re supposed to go somewhere else tonight, anyway. Right, Miwa-san?” He turned to his girlfriend cheerfully. Seeing his enthusiasm, Miwa smiled back and nodded.
Sakurai seemed to be working his jaw. “I understand. I really am sorry about all this.”
Shaking his head, Mitsuo got to his feet, hand stretched towards Miwa. Dazedly, she followed suit. His fingers closed around her cold, tiny hand. “Things happen. They’re not always in our control. Can we at least say goodbye to Komada-san before we go?”
Sakurai pursed his lips. “I’m afraid she’s occupied at the moment. But I’ll be sure to let her know.”
Miwa felt the blood rush from her face.
“Then I suppose it can’t be helped,” Mitsuo replied calmly. He turned to his girlfriend, smiling. Behind the forced cheer she could see something else in his eyes. “Shall we go?”
She nodded dazedly. Pointedly avoiding Sakurai’s gaze as she turned to him, Miwa slowly bowed. “We’ll be taking our leave, Sakurai-san.”
Quietly, Sakurai ran his eyes over her face. She determinedly stared at a spot above his shoulder.
“I’ll walk you to the door,” was all he said.
A/N
I’ve decided. I’m not releasing this until I finish the whole thing. ::P Thank you so much for reading! [18.37, 7 May 2013]
PS I've released the thing. Please rest assured I've actually finished the thing. ;) [02.33, 01 December 2013]
Next
Episode Nine: Postcard Perfect