[Fanfic] A Beautiful Mess (Chapter Eight)
The next morning, Yana woke up with a serious hangover and a massive headache. The sun is shining brightly behind the lace curtain. She slowly opened her eyes and noticed that she’s inside an unfamiliar bedroom.
Where the hell am I?
She study the room, not much stuff going around. A guitar was seated at a chair by the corner, there’s also a keyboard beside it. By the other side of the room is a working table with a laptop and some sheets of paper scattered around, on the bedside table laid a familiar script book. Yana picked it up and reads the name on the first page.
Ninomiya Kazunari.
Oh no!
Immediately, she removed the sheets from her body to see if she’s undressed or not.
Still very much dressed. Safe.
She drops back to bed and began contemplating on how she ends up in Ninomiya Kazunari’s bedroom. The last thing she remember is that she’s driving around the city as she doesn’t want to go home yet after the fight she had with Jin and pulled over a convenience store and bought 2000 yen worth of beer and that’s it. She doesn’t know how she met Nino last night. Pulling out a pillow, she hugs it around her chest and stares blankly outside the window. It was a nice spring morning, the sun is out and it’s starting to feel warmer than usual, a good time to spend the day outside.
Searching around for time, she found an alarm clock on the bedside table and it reads 10am. Still pretty early to wake up on a day off but this is not her house and she definitely needs to get her ass off and go home.
She rises up from the bed and starts fixing the pillows and the sheets. Once done, she searched for her shoes but she can’t seem to find it, the same goes for her bag. Walking towards the door, she went out of the bedroom and search for the owner of the house. It wasn’t a big house, she’s now standing on the living room and beside that is the kitchen in which Nino is standing by the sink, his back on her, talking on his mobile phone.
“Yeah, I know. Pick me up in an hour because my car is still at Fuji TV studios parking lot as we speak.” She heard Nino say. “Long story, bottom line is Little Miss Yana ended up sleeping in my bed and me sleeping in my couch.” he says along with that signature laugh of his. Yana laughs quietly while covering her mouth with her hand. She doesn’t know why but she finds it funny, Nino talking about her like that, it’s as if he’s not troubled at all.
When Nino ended his call, he turns around and saw Yana standing barefoot by his living room, still in her little black dress with her messy hair and ruined make-up. He smiled and bit his under lip. “You’re awake, good, because I have a schedule in an hour.” He casually said.
“Little Miss Yana?” Yana said, raising an eyebrow.
Nino laughs, putting a hand on his waist. “Are we going to argue first thing in the morning?”
“I’m not gonna argue it’s just that it’s the first time I heard that from you.”
“My manager coined it, he said it suits you. Don’t ask me why.” Nino smirks, placing a coffee maker in the table. “Breakfast?” he offered.
Yana smiled and went over to the kitchen to join him. They are seated in a two-seater wooden kitchen table with freshly brewed coffee and a plate of milk buns.
“I know this will sound stupid but… why did I end up at your house?” Yana asked, pouring herself a cup of coffee.
“I saw you crying at the parking lot inside your car, you’re already drunk then. I asked you what’s wrong but you didn’t answer me and instead asked me to go drinking but you fell asleep in the car and you can’t seem to wake up no matter what I do. I didn’t know where you live so I figured to just bring you to my house.”
“Parking lot?” Yana asked, confused.
“At Fuji TV. You were there after I finished filming last night.” Nino said.
“How did I end up there?” Yana is now completely lost.
“I don’t know. What was the last thing you remember?”
“I was partying in Roppongi with my friends and then I got pissed off with one of them so I left. I was so angry and frustrated that I decided to buy beer and I was drinking inside my car while driving. And then I can’t remember what happened after or why I ended up in Odaiba.”
“You’re probably just driving around town unconsciously and ended up in Odaiba.” Nino theoretically said.
“I’m so fucked up last night, am I?” Yana sighed, leaning back on the chair.
“Don’t drink and drive alone, Little Missy.” Nino grinned.
“I know. Lesson learned.” Yana smiled and Nino gave her a warm smile in return, a smile she saw for the first time. “You really like these kind of cheap stuff are you?” she said, picking up a piece of milk bun from the plate. “You always eat this whenever we start early for filming.”
“Are you mocking me?” Nino said, can’t help sounding hurt. “Cheap stuff are the best. And why are you snooping around on what I eat every morning? Are you watching me that much?” he teased.
“Shut up. It’s just coincidence that I always notice what you eat. Don’t be so full of yourself.”
“If you say so…” Nino shrugged his shoulders. “Hey. Eat faster. My manager is coming to pick me up soon.”
“What are you doing today?” Yana asked casually.
“VS Arashi recording and a meeting. Why are you asking?” Nino asked, wondering why she’s very different from usual. If it was Izumi Yana from two days ago, she would have turn down his invitation for breakfast and storm out of his house while arguing with him about little things.
“Nothing.” Yana answered nonchalantly. “It’s my day off and I’m bored.”
“What does your being bored have to do with what I’m gonna do today?” Nino asked.
Yana grinned, like some bright idea comes across her mind. “Can I tag along?”
“What?! Why?!” Nino asked, perplexed. Millions of question mark is floating around his head. “Did something happen to you last night? Why do you suddenly want to spend the day with me?”
“If you don’t want its fine. I’ll just spend the day lazing around my house.” Yana sighed.
“No, no. There’s no problem if you want to come with me but why? Didn’t you hate me?” Nino stated carefully.
“Well... I hate you because you’re such a brat to me since we first met but you helped me last night and let me sleep in your bed even if that means that you have to sleep in your couch and you prepared me breakfast even it’s just cheap milk buns I’m still very touched and you’re being really… nice now. So…. Umm, yeah, that’s it.” Yana said, a little embarrassed. She shot a look at Nino who’s about to break into a wide smile.
Honestly, Yana doesn’t know why she said that and she doesn’t know why she felt uneasy in the last sentence that it turned out to be nonsense.
“You don’t have to put it complicatedly if you just want say thank you.” Nino puts in calmly.
Yana smiled. “Thank you, really. Thank you so much for putting up with me last night.”
“You’re welcome.” Nino says smugly. “And yes, you can tag along but go home first, take a bath and get some clean, comfy clothes and meet me at Fuji TV.” He gets up from his seat and picks up something from his living room table. “Your car key.” He walks back to the dining table and placed the key beside her coffee cup.
“Uhmm…why is your car…” Yana started and Nino starts breaking into a smile again as if knowing what she’s about to ask.
“Because you insisted to use your car. Seriously, you’re so persistent when drunk. I remember when I first met you, you were drunk and you’re talking to me in English.” Nino recalls and both of them break off in laughter. “I wonder where the English went last night.” He added.
“I’m sorry.” Yana said, laughing off her embarrassment as she covers her face with her hand.
“No, no. That’s fine.” Nino reassures her. He picks up his phone as it started vibrating on the dining table and reads the message. “My manager’s coming in fifteen minutes.” he announced.
“Oh. I should go then.” Yana stood up from her seat hurriedly before realizing that she’s standing barefoot on the ground. “But my shoes are missing...”
“It’s right here.” Nino walks in to the front door and produced her black peep toe heels in his hand.
“Thanks.” Yana said as she gets on her shoes.
“And before I forget…” Nino hurriedly went to his room and appears seconds later with her bag. “Something inside is vibrating endlessly since last night.”
“It’s just Akanishi and my manager.” Yana says nonchalantly.
“Oh.” Nino nods a few times. He wants to ask questions but she doesn’t look like she wants to talk about it.
“I’m off.” Yana says as she walks into the front door, Nino follows behind her.
“Right, see you later.” Nino smiled, crossing his arms on his chest.
“Yeah. I’ll text you.” Yana says in return before walking away from the door.
---
An hour later, Ninomiya Kazunari walks inside Arashi’s dressing room welcomed by his four band mates.
“I saw your car earlier when I arrived. I thought you’re the first one here.” Sho said to Nino, the other three were picking up this conversation. “I was wrong.”
“It was there since yesterday.” Nino informs them. “My car had a sleepover at Fuji TV last night.” He wittily added making the four guys laugh.
“You left it there? How come?” Jun asked, grinning.
“Long story.” Nino smiled. Thoughts of last night and this morning can only make him smile and giggle like crazy by himself. “Sakai-san! Don’t forget the access pass.” he reminded his manager before he comes out of the room.
“Access Pass?” Aiba asked, the four Arashi members’ faces are starting to get lost.
“I told you, long story.” Nino can only say as he brushed through the rack of clothes to find his outfit for the day.
“We have time.” Sho puts in, the four are now seated in the couch waiting for Nino to start.
“Fine.” Nino sighed as he lazily walks to the couch to join them. “Izumi Yana is bored to death she asked if she can tag along with me for the day. That gap of hers is something else.”
“EHHH?!!” Aiba said in exaggeration. Sho and Jun exchanged dagger looks, in which Ohno manages to catch.
“Why? Aren’t you playing cats and dogs all this time?” Ohno asked.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought too. But apparently, she was very thankful that I helped her last night that she suddenly became so nice and friendly this morning.” Nino proudly stated.
“You helped her? This morning? You were with her?” Jun repeated the words ringing on his mind, he got this feeling that he will not like this story.
“Yeah, last night I saw her in the parking lot, crying inside her car and then I found out later that she’s been drinking and she’s already drunk. She insisted to drink some more so we rode her car to go to a bar but she fell asleep before we can even reached Rainbow Bridge. She won’t wake up no matter what I do so I brought her to my house.” Nino explained.
“YOU BROUGHT HER TO YOUR HOUSE?!” Aiba said, exaggerated again.
Sho’s eyes reached Jun’s again and he can see the stiffness in his face.
“I didn’t do anything. I slept in the couch and she’s in my bed.” Nino cleared before the guys starts thinking something else.
“Oh, I thought you continued what could have happen after the kiss on New Year’s Eve.” Aiba playfully said.
“Shut up, Aiba!” Sho and Ohno said in chorus as Jun’s face starts to get gloomy.
“Not gonna happen.” Nino dismissed the issue as he stood up from his seat to change his clothes.
“What do you mean?” Sho asked, he knew that Jun’s been dying to ask that too.
“We’re friends… I think. Let’s leave that way.” Nino finally said as he undressed in a corner. Jun somehow manages to breathe easily with that.
“You’re not going to pursue her? Is that what you mean?” Ohno tries to clarify.
Nino sighed at his friends’ interrogation. “I liked her. Past tense.” he admitted. “After knowing her I really think it’s best if I take it easy. I mean, she’s got issues and I really think Yana isn’t into all those serious relationship and exclusively dating bullshit.”
Sho watched Jun leaned back to the couch, it’s as if this conversation has taken all his energy away. His thoughts are starting to take him away again.
“You mean you’re looking for something serious now?” Sho asked, wishing that Nino will answer accordingly.
Nino heaves a sigh as he turns his attention to his phone. “Maybe.” He answered imprecisely making Sho knot his eyebrows. “Look, she’s here. I’m gonna pick her up in the lobby.” He slips his phone into his pocket and hurriedly went out of the dressing room.
The dressing room was quiet when Nino left, the four guys seemed speechless with Nino’s words. With Aiba knowing that Nino likes her, Jun and Sho sharing that little secret and Ohno, sensing the eyeball exchange happening between the two.
“I’m going to the restroom.” Jun announces as he grab a trucker on the table before rushing off the corridor.
When Jun enters the restroom, he immediately sprinkled his face with cold water, he needed that. For the past six days he’s been stressing himself with everything Izumi Yana and as days starts to crowd, he just sinks even deeper.
The empty restroom is disturbed when Sho entered, he seriously doesn’t know the words to say that could make their youngest member feel better.
“I don’t know the right things to say but if I were in your position, I’d tell Nino.” Sho truthfully said. “Because the least thing I wanted was to create conflict between us just because we wanted the same girl.”
“You didn’t believe him when he said that he’s not pursuing her?” Jun asked, leaning on the sink counter.
“You know him, one day he’s not interested and the next day he’s engrossed, plus the fact that they’re always together...” Sho stopped, realizing that he’s saying too much.
“To be honest, I’m not very much affected with Nino getting closer to her, I know it will happen sooner or later since they are working together. What I’m bothered about is that she’s drinking and crying last night. Something might have happen.” Worry is seen all over Jun’s face added the fact that he can’t do anything about it makes him even more anxious.
----
When Nino reached the lobby of the Fuji TV building, he immediately saw Izumi Yana by the front desk, chatting to some group of middle-aged women who undeniably recognized her. Nino maintained distance, thinking that they may also recognize him and creates a scene. He just watches her from behind, patiently smiling and answering questions from the women, she even gives in to their request of photos.
The building security started to surround Yana as she began attracting onlookers, she apologizes to the group of women and let the security take her away from the crowd. As she walks with the uniformed men, she saw Nino standing by the elevator.
“I’m fine, I’m with him.” Yana told the security as Nino nods to them.
“You’re crazy. You’re interacting with fans?!” Nino said in an accusing manner as soon as the security is gone.
“I’m not in Johnnys where talents are prohibited from interaction with fans.” Yana said matter-of-factly. “And they are such nice Oba-sans they gave me this.” she shows him a cell phone strap that’s made of colorful Ryukyu glass. “They said they’re from Okinawa and they have a tour here in Tokyo.”
“You’re weird.” Nino accused her again as they wait in front of an elevator. He finds it funny, her getting all giddy for a cell phone strap.
Yana starts giggling after she did a head to foot check on him. “You’re fashion sense is weirder.” she snorted.
Nino already change into his VS Arashi outfit, he’s wearing a t-shirt that have stars all over it, a grey parka, radiant lime green shorts, colorful knee-length tights and a spunky sneakers.
“Do the stylists have this grudge on you that they continue dressing you up horrendously compared to the other members?” Yana began mocking him, Nino can only bit his lip. “Like all of you have a certain theme for VS Arashi, you getting the punchy outfits, Ohno -san being the laidback one, Sakurai-san being all preppy and neat, Matsumoto-san is dressed like a superstar and Aiba-san just being Aiba-san, you know what I mean?”
“You’re such a fan! I didn’t know you’re an Arashi fangirl.” Nino teased her back.
“You can call me that. I love watching VS Arashi, it’s fun!” Yana said, scrutinizing Nino again from head to toe. “And it’s really exciting to look forward to your outfit every episode. It’s just getting weirder and weirder.”
Nino sighed and he rolled his eyes on her. “Am I in Mannequin 5 today? Why are you suddenly commenting on my outfit?”
Yana laughs as the elevator opened. “Another favorite of mine! Why can’t Arashi guest me in any of their regular shows?” she shared as she leaned over the corner.
Nino chuckled. “As far as I know, the show staffs are trying to get you but Little Miss Yana is very busy to even have time for Arashi.”
“I’m not busy anymore, why don’t you try again?” Yana said with a grin.
“I’m sure they are working on it, since we are doing a drama together.” Nino commented.
When they reached the floor of Arashi’s dressing room, Yana and Nino are still exchanging friendly banters and are laughing raucously on the corridor, much to their ignorance that two Arashi members are watching them from the other end.