Seasoning, Part 2
I don't like how LJ doesn't do long posts...
* * *
“Please do your best,” Jun asked Mao, only those who knew him recognized the pleading his voice.
“Tekito de...” I’ll wing it, Mao had replied airily. She was obviously ticked that Jun was putting a lot of expectations on her while he couldn’t get even get one pin down. Nino thought it was little ironic that Jun was always thought to be the most cool and skilled Arashi member, but he kinda sucked at things. Like golf. And bowling.
Aiba, who sat beside him, couldn’t believe his ears, “Inoue Mao-chan says she’ll wing it.”
Even then, Nino felt irrationally proud of her. “What other woman would take such a lighthearted approach to something like this?”
Nino watched the monitor intently as the diminutive woman took a few hesitant steps and threw the bowling ball, which slightly larger than her own head.
Laughter erupted.
Mao had gotten a gutter ball.
“Saiko!!” Nino yelled.
Pause. Rewind. Play. Gutter ball. Saiko. Mao’s mischievous smile. Her infectious giggle. This was Nino’s favourite moment. This was the moment he fell head over Nike runners for Inoue Mao.
She never did reveal the truth if that gutter ball was on purpose. Not that it mattered. Jun had bowled so badly that day, one would think he WANTED to kiss Ooshima...
Ninomiya heard the door to the green room open and he hastily switched the video on his iPod.
It was Riida. Ohno took one look at Nino’s face and his iPod. He gave Nino a sympathetic smile. Nino sunk back into his chair. He never could hide things from Ohno Satoshi.
Ohno clapped him on the back. “You’re getting worse, you know. You should do something about it.”
Nino didn’t even bother to hide it. Love was a disease. Mao was cause. Or the cure. He wasn’t quite sure at this point.
“Tell me about it. Any advice, my Great Captain, lord of the fishies?”
Ohno closed his eyes and thought about it for a moment. The moment turned into a few minutes.
Ninomiya took a step forward to examine Ohno closely. Had Riida fallen asleep? It wouldn’t be the first time.
Then Ohno opened his eyes, startling Nino, who had to take a step back.
“The truth will set you free.”
“...” Nani? “That’s an incredibly lame line you know.”
“It’s all I got. Take it or leave it.”
He’d leave it, thank you very much. If it was as simple as just telling Mao the truth, he would have done it already. After all, he was an honest person. Brutally honest, just ask anybody.
But there were just other factors in confessing to Mao. Like feelings. And guys who like the colour purple who may or may not also have feelings for the object of affection. Or that his object of affection preferred purple to yellow. And then there was the fear. And the possibility of a rejection so bad he would decide to give up his life of sin and hop right into the next shrine to become a Shinto priest.
So yeah, many factors in confessing his feelings to Inoue Mao.
But he had to try, right? And he planned on trying. One day. In the future. Far, far off in the nearby future.
Ohno smacked him on the head. “Figure it out soon. Or people will start calling you the spacey one in the group.”
“Why is Ninomiya-kun spacey?” Sho asked, walking through the door followed by the Aiba and Jun. Nino met Jun’s eyes and looked away quickly.
“Are you talking about video games? Is that why you’re spacey?” Aiba asked him.
“Ehhh... I’m not spacey,” Nino denied. “I’m the straight-forward, focused one.”
“Isn’t that Matsujun?” Ohno corrected him. “Aren’t you the sarcastic, mean one?”
The others nodded.
“Oi...”
“But we love you for it anyway,” Aiba patted him on the back.
“Why are we getting all mushy about it?” Jun wanted to know, starting a spirited, bantering conversation, which included battery operated love t-shirts, who bought new underpants, and kissing octopus, that moved along way too fast for anyone who was not Arashi to decipher without subtitles.
As they sat around laughing in the green room, waiting for shooting of VS Arashi to begin, Ninomiya covertly shot glances at Matsujun, who was reading a manga.
“Kakkoi ne...” he couldn’t help but think. But he was cool too. He sat up a little straighter. In his own way. Just not in a Matsujun way.
An idea occurred to Nino. The truth will set you free, right? Taking the plunge, he called to Matsujun. “Yo, Jun-kun... I was wondering...you’re close with Mao-chan, ne?”
Everyone in the room stopped what they were doing. Nino had said the “M” word.
Matsujun looked over the comic he was reading. He kept his face blank. “We’re... friends...why do you want to know?”
Nino figured it was now or never. “Well, I was wondering if it would be a good idea to invite her over to my place for an afternoon of Wii game play. I know she likes playing DS games so I thought she might like this. For, you know, some co-star bonding time...”
The room filled with silence. Despite the rationality of Nino’s inquiry, Arashi knew that someone finally decided to acknowledge that pink elephant in the room. The pink elephant named Mao. Not that anyone was calling Mao an elephant...you get the picture.
Jun seemed to struggle with something silently before speaking slowly, “You should really ask Mao if that’s something she’d like to do.”
Nino also considered his words carefully. “I know that... but I just wanted to make sure it was ok with you. I know Mao is...special to you. I wouldn’t want to...” he let the sentence hang.
Yes he was in love with Mao. No, Jun never actually acknowledged what exactly their relationship was. But if Jun ever admitted that he and Mao were involved, that he was also IN LOVE with her, Nino would back down immediately. It would be hard, but he would deal. This new drama of theirs only had about...8 weeks of shooting left...he could do it. Or die trying in the attempt.
Nino braced himself for Jun’s answer.
“Kazu,” Jun looked him in the eye, “do you want to invite Mao over to play video games?”
Nino returned Jun’s gaze with equal seriousness. “Yes. I want to invite Mao over to play video games.”
Releasing a deep breath, Jun said, “Mao is free to play videogames with whomever she wants.”
Nino felt his heart beating like taiko drums in his chest. “So is it ok with you if Mao and I …play video games.”
Ohno, Aiba, and Sho shifted their eyes between Jun and Nino, whose eyes were locked in silent communication.
“This is pretty intense, ne?” Aiba whispered loudly.
“Shh!” both Ohno and Sho hissed at him.
“It’s ok if you ask Mao to play video games. She doesn’t need my permission to play.”
“But is it OK with you if I ask her in the first place?”
“As long as you do your best not to hurt her, it’s ok with me.”
“Why would he hurt her playing video games?” Aiba whispered loudly again.
“SHHHH!!!” Ohno and Sho smacked him on the head.
Nino felt a bit hesitant as he watched Jun nod his head. “Yosshi…” he whispered to himself before slapping Nino on the shoulder. “Gambatte, Nino-kun.”
“Oh. Arigatou,” Nino replied, sighing inwardly.
“What just happened?” Aiba wondered out loud. He was ignored as his fellow Arashi members walked out the door. It was show time.
***
I love BakaAiba...
* * *
“Please do your best,” Jun asked Mao, only those who knew him recognized the pleading his voice.
“Tekito de...” I’ll wing it, Mao had replied airily. She was obviously ticked that Jun was putting a lot of expectations on her while he couldn’t get even get one pin down. Nino thought it was little ironic that Jun was always thought to be the most cool and skilled Arashi member, but he kinda sucked at things. Like golf. And bowling.
Aiba, who sat beside him, couldn’t believe his ears, “Inoue Mao-chan says she’ll wing it.”
Even then, Nino felt irrationally proud of her. “What other woman would take such a lighthearted approach to something like this?”
Nino watched the monitor intently as the diminutive woman took a few hesitant steps and threw the bowling ball, which slightly larger than her own head.
Laughter erupted.
Mao had gotten a gutter ball.
“Saiko!!” Nino yelled.
Pause. Rewind. Play. Gutter ball. Saiko. Mao’s mischievous smile. Her infectious giggle. This was Nino’s favourite moment. This was the moment he fell head over Nike runners for Inoue Mao.
She never did reveal the truth if that gutter ball was on purpose. Not that it mattered. Jun had bowled so badly that day, one would think he WANTED to kiss Ooshima...
Ninomiya heard the door to the green room open and he hastily switched the video on his iPod.
It was Riida. Ohno took one look at Nino’s face and his iPod. He gave Nino a sympathetic smile. Nino sunk back into his chair. He never could hide things from Ohno Satoshi.
Ohno clapped him on the back. “You’re getting worse, you know. You should do something about it.”
Nino didn’t even bother to hide it. Love was a disease. Mao was cause. Or the cure. He wasn’t quite sure at this point.
“Tell me about it. Any advice, my Great Captain, lord of the fishies?”
Ohno closed his eyes and thought about it for a moment. The moment turned into a few minutes.
Ninomiya took a step forward to examine Ohno closely. Had Riida fallen asleep? It wouldn’t be the first time.
Then Ohno opened his eyes, startling Nino, who had to take a step back.
“The truth will set you free.”
“...” Nani? “That’s an incredibly lame line you know.”
“It’s all I got. Take it or leave it.”
He’d leave it, thank you very much. If it was as simple as just telling Mao the truth, he would have done it already. After all, he was an honest person. Brutally honest, just ask anybody.
But there were just other factors in confessing to Mao. Like feelings. And guys who like the colour purple who may or may not also have feelings for the object of affection. Or that his object of affection preferred purple to yellow. And then there was the fear. And the possibility of a rejection so bad he would decide to give up his life of sin and hop right into the next shrine to become a Shinto priest.
So yeah, many factors in confessing his feelings to Inoue Mao.
But he had to try, right? And he planned on trying. One day. In the future. Far, far off in the nearby future.
Ohno smacked him on the head. “Figure it out soon. Or people will start calling you the spacey one in the group.”
“Why is Ninomiya-kun spacey?” Sho asked, walking through the door followed by the Aiba and Jun. Nino met Jun’s eyes and looked away quickly.
“Are you talking about video games? Is that why you’re spacey?” Aiba asked him.
“Ehhh... I’m not spacey,” Nino denied. “I’m the straight-forward, focused one.”
“Isn’t that Matsujun?” Ohno corrected him. “Aren’t you the sarcastic, mean one?”
The others nodded.
“Oi...”
“But we love you for it anyway,” Aiba patted him on the back.
“Why are we getting all mushy about it?” Jun wanted to know, starting a spirited, bantering conversation, which included battery operated love t-shirts, who bought new underpants, and kissing octopus, that moved along way too fast for anyone who was not Arashi to decipher without subtitles.
As they sat around laughing in the green room, waiting for shooting of VS Arashi to begin, Ninomiya covertly shot glances at Matsujun, who was reading a manga.
“Kakkoi ne...” he couldn’t help but think. But he was cool too. He sat up a little straighter. In his own way. Just not in a Matsujun way.
An idea occurred to Nino. The truth will set you free, right? Taking the plunge, he called to Matsujun. “Yo, Jun-kun... I was wondering...you’re close with Mao-chan, ne?”
Everyone in the room stopped what they were doing. Nino had said the “M” word.
Matsujun looked over the comic he was reading. He kept his face blank. “We’re... friends...why do you want to know?”
Nino figured it was now or never. “Well, I was wondering if it would be a good idea to invite her over to my place for an afternoon of Wii game play. I know she likes playing DS games so I thought she might like this. For, you know, some co-star bonding time...”
The room filled with silence. Despite the rationality of Nino’s inquiry, Arashi knew that someone finally decided to acknowledge that pink elephant in the room. The pink elephant named Mao. Not that anyone was calling Mao an elephant...you get the picture.
Jun seemed to struggle with something silently before speaking slowly, “You should really ask Mao if that’s something she’d like to do.”
Nino also considered his words carefully. “I know that... but I just wanted to make sure it was ok with you. I know Mao is...special to you. I wouldn’t want to...” he let the sentence hang.
Yes he was in love with Mao. No, Jun never actually acknowledged what exactly their relationship was. But if Jun ever admitted that he and Mao were involved, that he was also IN LOVE with her, Nino would back down immediately. It would be hard, but he would deal. This new drama of theirs only had about...8 weeks of shooting left...he could do it. Or die trying in the attempt.
Nino braced himself for Jun’s answer.
“Kazu,” Jun looked him in the eye, “do you want to invite Mao over to play video games?”
Nino returned Jun’s gaze with equal seriousness. “Yes. I want to invite Mao over to play video games.”
Releasing a deep breath, Jun said, “Mao is free to play videogames with whomever she wants.”
Nino felt his heart beating like taiko drums in his chest. “So is it ok with you if Mao and I …play video games.”
Ohno, Aiba, and Sho shifted their eyes between Jun and Nino, whose eyes were locked in silent communication.
“This is pretty intense, ne?” Aiba whispered loudly.
“Shh!” both Ohno and Sho hissed at him.
“It’s ok if you ask Mao to play video games. She doesn’t need my permission to play.”
“But is it OK with you if I ask her in the first place?”
“As long as you do your best not to hurt her, it’s ok with me.”
“Why would he hurt her playing video games?” Aiba whispered loudly again.
“SHHHH!!!” Ohno and Sho smacked him on the head.
Nino felt a bit hesitant as he watched Jun nod his head. “Yosshi…” he whispered to himself before slapping Nino on the shoulder. “Gambatte, Nino-kun.”
“Oh. Arigatou,” Nino replied, sighing inwardly.
“What just happened?” Aiba wondered out loud. He was ignored as his fellow Arashi members walked out the door. It was show time.
***
I love BakaAiba...