CLASSMATES (24/?) part 2
CHAPTER 24
+THEIR NAME+
Upstairs, Aiba and Jun were at the twins' bedroom.
"Ne~ Jun-chan, do you think its okay to leave Sho there?" Aiba said while tucking Shuji on his bed.
"I dunno, I honestly don't know. It was such a shock.." Jun replied after he was done tucking Shuri.
"But looking at it in a positive light, I think it s a good thing that we found out.. I mean this was what we hoped for right? To know who Shi is and to know who it was who hurt Angel.. only that, now it has become apparent who is who." Aiba said pondering, he sat across the end of Shuji's bed, observing the innocent face of the child, the same face which was full of hatred a while ago.
"Yeah, right now, we can't possibly do anything about it.. that matter depends solely to Sho and Angel. We can't mingle since they're not kids anymore,. What will happen will be the result of their decisions now that it was revealed to both of them. All we could do is to support them with our might whatever decision they will come up with, as a fellow member and a friend to Sho, and as a precious being in the case of Angel.
"Kya~ sasuga Jun-chan.. but honestly, those two need a lot of time recuperating..so many things had happened this five years of not seeing each other.." Aiba thought, he's becoming more restless because of the topic.
"Um, yeah.... they seriously need to talk, but that, we don't know when,. It'll be lot easier if Sho-chan will be more open about his feelings, but the way he is now.. it seemed he was still having a hard time sorting out his feelings, especially when he's involved with other girl.." Jun said rhetorically.
"Eh? you're still blabbing about that Matsujun? From what I see a while ago, Sho-chan still have feelings for Angel, although I dunno up to what extent. But that is enough to keep him do the right thing..now that he is a man with kids." Aiba merely shook his head at the thought of Sho and Maki. He honestly didn't believe it yet.
"Hmm.. we're not sure about that.. you know how Sho fare to those kinds of things. Chances are, he'll do what his mind was telling him to do, despite of it being heartless, like how he left Angel five years ago. If he could do such a thing, he can do it again, and it might hurt Angel once more. From the looks of it, Angel hadn't have completely gotten over him., worst if she's still head over heels with Sho. I'd rather not let them see each other, if it meant preventing Sho from hurting her again." Jun talked spitefully.
"Whooah~ easy there Matsujun.. let's give Sho-chan the benefit of the doubt, could we? We wouldn't know unless he try. Besides, you're the one who said they're not kids anymore.. I say, even if your presumption is right, Angel will fare better now than she was before. Afterall, she did experience and survived those heartaches while she was sixteen, how much more now that she's matured?" Aiba reasoned out.
"No matter. I'd still say lets find out first if Sho's feelings are strong enough for him to take responsibility. If not, then I'd rather give her to Nino, or have her myself and we'll be the one to take the responsibility." Jun said with such conviction that made Aiba opened his mouth in complete bewilderment upon hearing Jun's words.
"Have her yourself? Eh? that was unnecessary Matsujun, why would you rather have Angel yourself? Unless.." Aiba's voice trailed off. He seemed lost for words as the thought of Jun liking Angel sunk in.
"Oi. Stop thinking weird things, I just said it as an example okay?" Jun cleared himself. The least he wanted was for Aiba to find out his feelings before it was totally extinguish.
"ah, sou.." Aiba replied, a bit relieved that Jun put it that way. If his theory was right, he might as well collapse like Angel. They have enough people in the group to fall for her, if Jun adds to that, it'll be too taxing.
++++++++++++++
Aiba heaved a sigh before turning the knob of the door to ARASHI room.
It had been 2 weeks since their supposed 'celebration party' ended up in such a disaster that once again tested their friendship. Nino seldom talks to Sho, Jun frequently have mood swings, Ohno often skip practice and Sho was in his worst case-from being reluctant to skeptical. It was only Aiba who makes sense.
"Ohayou!" he greeted enthusiastically. Everyone glanced around him and immediately went back to each of their individual business except for Ohno who was sleeping in the couch..
"Minna..give me a break!!!" Aiba said without bothering to look at them. He felt frustrated that he slump his body carelessly onto the couch waking up Ohno in his sleep. When their leader realized this, he got up to a sitting position.
"How is she?" Ohno inquired while hands rubbing his still sleepy eyes.
"Who?" Aiba asked as he closed his eyes while his hands started kneading his temple.
"Oh c'mon, don't act dumb. You know who Ridaa was talking about." Jun asked smugly. Lately he was being impatient when it comes to Angel. It was probably due to Sho's attitude on things at hand. He can't believe what he heard from him last week. It was something that he expected, but actually not hoped for. Now Jun didn't actually know how to deal with Sho. Of all the members of ARASHI, Sho is the only one he really can't fathom at all. He admit that he always had fun at the guy's failures, but this one.. he can't bring himself to laugh at all. He was just thankful that Nino wasn't there or else, those two might end up hitting each other.
"I decided not to consider any of it..I mean, Shi's fine w/o me right? Why else will I bother myself about someone who faints just by seeing me? And besides we're not that sure if those twins are really mine.." Sho said to him apathetically which made his jaw drop. He can't believe it. Before he could react, Sho already left the room.
"Oh she's fine. Or rather, She's more than fine." Jun heard Aiba answered, snapping him out of his reverie. On the other hand, Aiba scratched his head out of disbelief. Recently, he constantly received those looks from the guys, expecting an update about Angel since he was the one working with her at this time. Sho was the only one who seemed unaffected."Its as if I'm working with an entirely different person. Every day, she seemed enthusiastic; she won't even take breaks and doesn't often talk. Looks like she plan on getting herself busy to the point of exhausting herself and that's what worried me."
"How 'bout the twins?" Nino joined the conversation.
"Oh! Its bad." Aiba rolled his eyes as to express the depravity of it. "Two days ago, the twins arrived at our shooting location, totally starved and exhausted. When I asked them, I learned that Angel forgot to fetch them during rehearsal, and worse, she totally failed to remember preparing their bentous. "
"Maji de?" Ohno asked, absolutely awake now. The incident with Sho had really affected Angel. Turned out, it wasn't only Ohno who was troubled, but the others as well, even Sho. Despite being in skeptical mode, he can't help but worry.. after all, the twins are still kids even with a mind of an adult.
"Seems like it." Aiba continued. "The next day, she was late for the filming and when asked by the staff why, she explained that she needed to bring her kids to her mom's care for a while. I swear, she looked miserable while saying those things." Aiba furthered and recall their last conversation.
Daijobu?" he asked worriedly. Somehow, Aiba felt the sadness that was emanating on her entire being.
"Hai. Just sad.. because this was the first time that I'll be separated with my kids this long..but I think its better to leave them to mom's for a while..I can't forgive myself for being irresponsible.. I need to pull myself together Aiba-kun.. do you think I'm stupid for acting this way?" Angel asked.
"Iie.. its just prove that you're a human after all. A human who gets hurt, and who gets affected..that doesn't make you stupid.. What makes human stupid is when they act indifferently, pretending that everything's okay even if it does not.. The fact that you're still capable of feeling weak and accepting your fault, its what makes you alive. I'm sure your kids understand..although they really don't know the reason, that's a good thing about children. They believe without a doubt, and trust with their innocent hearts." He told her sensibly.
Upon hearing his words, Angel started to sob that eventually turns to cry. Aiba can't help but offer his shoulder to which Angel leaned on. For a minute or so, they stayed in that position until she was satisfied and had cried her heart out.
"Arigatou Aiba-kun. You never failed to console me. Hontou ni arigatou,.." She managed to smile despite the tears.
"Mah~ everything's gonna be fine..let nature takes its ways..I'm just here 'kay?" Aiba said, reassuring the girl. He felt relieved that he was of help. The lady simply nodded.
"Oi! Aiba?!" Jun thump his shoulder which suddenly brought him back to reality. "Somebody's knocking on the door. Who might it be?" Jun said, his eyes on the door.
"Why don't you go and see it yourself? There's no need to smack me on the shoulder. It hurts you know." Aiba retorted in disgust as Jun was wearing one of his rings.
"Seriously, you two should need to get yourselves altogether." Ohno said, leaving the two who can't help it but giggle at his annoyed face, and walked towards the door to see who might be their visitor.
"Ohayou gozaimasu, Oh-niichan!" The twins greeted in chorus. Everyone was surprised by their sudden visit.
"Are? Shuji-chan? Shuri-chan? What are you doing here?" Nino asked after managing to get by the door with few steps.
"Uwaa~ Nino-niichan! I missed you!" Shuri said, hugging Nino by the waist. He was pleased by Shuri's gesture that in response to the child's hug, he hoisted Shuri up in his arms, before saying, "I missed you too!" and carry her all the way to the room. Shuji had no choice but to follow, and a sudden thought come across his mind.
"What brings you here?" Aiba asked the moment the twins were inside the room.
"Ah~ we visited johnny-jiichan." Shuri said.
"Johnny? jiichan? Who was that?" Jun asked amusedly. He was glad to see the twins very high spirited.
"Are? You call yourself a Johnny yet you don't know your boss? Maji?" Shuji smirked at the confused faces of ARASHI.
"Eh?!" the guys said in chorus.
"You call Johnny-san, jjichan? How come?" Aiba was too curious to asked.
"Eh? you didn't know? Jiichan was the one who help mama-" Shuji explained but stopped halfway upon realizing that the guys were clueless.."mah~ never mind niichans.." he cut shortly.
"Eh? what was that? aren't you gonna explain?" Jun asked, a little persistent.
"Nope. You're the one who said that there are things meant to be hidden Jun-niichan," Shuji answered sheepishly.
"Ahh.. h-hai. Fine." Jun retorted. He was a little disappointed but not pushed the topic further. He didn't expect the kid to use his own words against him. Hmft! talking about a clever one…Jun thought.
"Ne~Nino-niichan?" Shuji called after a moment.
"hmm?" Nino asked while he and Shuri enjoyed playing Rock. Paper. Scissors. As if the world exists only between them. Sho buried himself upon the newspaper he was reading earlier. He suddenly had a weird feeling seeing Shuri and Nino together.
"Wish you are my dad." Shuji said. Everyone eyed Shuji, even Shuri, who was caught by the suddenness of her twin. Sho looked intently at Shuji and tried to find any hint that it was only the boy's prank. But there was none. Sho felt a stabbing pain in his chest that was worsen when he heard Nino's response to the kid and how the boy reacted.
"Oh, I wished that too." Nino smiled at Shuji upon saying those simple words.
"Yatta." Shuji said while beaming brightly at Nino, stumbling onto his twin sister who's sitting in Nino's lap.
Nino caught Sho's hurtful expression despite the newspaper that was blocking the guy's face. He didn't know, but he felt guilt all of a sudden. He knew he shouldn't be doing that- snatching the twins' affection from the daddy they haven't even met. No matter what he does, it won't change the fact that Sho is the twins' father.
"But Shuji-chan? Sadly, I am not. You're daddy is out there somewhere.. I think he just needs someone to pull his leg before he realized it.." Nino said, eyeing Sho for a while. Jun was startled by Nino's response that made him respect the guy even more. Aiba and Ohno felt the same. Aiba expected Nino to be happy about it and for a moment there, Nino's eyes were sparkling, not until he glanced at Sho. Interesting..he thought as he understood why Nino shifted to what seem to be a more serious expression. Ohno was too shocked that he ended patting Nino by the shoulder.
"Eh? Iyada." Shuji said reluctantly, unaware that every single word he utters hurt Sho more than they can imagine. Sho trembled as tears started to form in his lower eyelid in danger of falling anytime. He can't help it. He just can't bear it anymore. Shuji's words slashed through him immensely, far worse than being cut by a blade.. His hands clasped tightly at the newspaper he was reading-as if trying to get whatever support it can offer. The boy's next words made his tears to finally fall. "Its not him who I wanted by mama's side right now, it is you Nino-niichan."
Sho lowered the newspaper as his hands traveled from his head on to his eyes. He moaned while letting the tears flow freely from his eyes, serving its purpose to convey what was really felt at that moment. He didn't know that a boy's words could wound him that much. It was the same as the feeling he had when he left Shi, the feeling he couldn't bring himself to tell the guys because he's too coward to admit it. It was excruciating. Unmoved by his surroundings, Sho cried endlessly, releasing all sorts of feelings he tried so hard to suppress these past five years. His fear, his agony, his sentiment, his love.
Tiny warm arms wrapped around Sho as he felt the weight on his lap, of Shuri, who suddenly broke loose from Nino's and run towards him the instant he let his emotions out. Time had stopped that moment. Sho divulged himself on Shuri's embraced, while seeking and wanting to be comforted to which the girl gave willingly as she hugged her unknown daddy tightly, not ever wanting to let him go.
"Ne~ Sho-niichan.. just cry ,…but please keep this a secret form Shuji 'kay? Mama said that guys do cry at times.. you are no man if you don't cry.." Shuri whispered at the man's ear before she continued. "and this what mama always do whenever Shuji-anchan cries" Shuri rubbed Sho's shoulder with her small hands.."So just cry ne? although I dunno what made you sad, I just hope I am of help to you..I'll be here until you had cry enough.." the girl told him softly as if singing a song. "
Sho embraced Shuri tightly. For the first time ever since the day he found out the truth, he longed for them to call him 'daddy'. He never felt that way before; it's as if a new light was lit inside him, demanding him to move forward. He knew that making his kids to acknowledge him would require effort, so he decided that he'll be just content of what was there at the moment even if it hurts hearing his own kids calling him niichan. If God will allow it, he'll do whatever it takes to make them accept him even if it meant meeting the woman he fell in love with the first time he laid his eyes on her. It was the clearest decision he had made in his entire life.
"Nii-chan? I know there's no point asking you since you would attend it anyway, but would you mind watching us perform in the school's foundation day?" Shuri asked the moment Sho stopped crying.
"Which school?" Sho asked, he wasn't paying attention when their manager told them they would be attending a school foundation day, so he didn't know.
"Baka! Weren't you listening? It was in the same elementary school you attended!" Jun hit Sho by the head, making Shuri nearly jump off from sitting position.
"Eh? Shuri-chan, you go to Keio Yochisha?" Sho asked, surprised that his kids actually go to the same school he went.
"Hai. Shuji too. Minna. Please look forward to our performance ne~" Shuri said, this time speaking to all the members.
"Sure." "Hai." "Of course!" The guys replied simultaneously that the twins were unable to tell who said what.
"Yatta! Sho-niichan too right? Right?" Shuri asked the man in front of her. For some reason, she can't take her eyes off this particular niichan. It seemed she was attached to Sho all of a sudden.
"Mochiron." Sho replied with obvious delight in his eyes that did not escape the members' interest.
"Yatta! Ureshii. Ureshii." Shuri said childishly. It was such a long time since she acted her age. Being around Sho tells her that she can be freely as how she wanted to be.
"Just curious though, if you're studying in a high profile school such as Keio and happened to be in first grade, wouldn't it be too awkward if your classmates are too familiar with you, given that you're special case?" Ohno asked. It had been bothering him for two weeks now. Since opportunity was right in front of him, he better asked before it slipped his mind.
"Eh? What do you mean Oh-niichan?" Shuri asked, paying more attention to Ohno.
"Um, I mean in terms of calling names and the like, wouldn't it be too straight if they called you right away by your first names? But it'll be more awkward if you were to introduced yourself using your mama's name.. sorry if this was confusing." Ohno was really bothered now.
"Ah, its okay niichan, there's nothing confusing about it, Shuri and I completely understands.. Well, about our name, its nothing trivial, the thing is, at school, we don't use mama's name..we don't use our first names either." Shuji explained, but the guys seemed to be lost in track.
"Eh? if you don't do that, how do others at your school addressed you?" Aiba was starting to be baffled. He can't caught up to what Shuji was saying., only that, he was not alone. All the guys seemed puzzled.
"Hmm, are you really niichans? Honestly, how do you introduce yourself when you're in first grade? Isn't it by your dad's name?" Shuji chuckled at the thought that the members' way of thinking is too complicated that they overlooked something as simple as that before he continued. "Of course, we're also the same, we often used our dad's name to introduce ourselves!"
"Eh? Angel actually registered you by your dad's name? eh? I can't understand.." Jun was too perplexed. Everything seemed out of place at the moment.
"That's because there's nothing to understand Jun-niichan. You see, it was Johnny-jiichan who processed our registration paper because Mama was so weak the time we were born and Reiko-baachan was abroad. So he registered us with our dad's name on it. Mama was unaware of it not until we entered Keio. We still remember how mama was hysterical about it, to the point of cursing jiichan, but in the end, she just fainted right at the spot." Shuri let out a cackle before continuing with the topic. "So ever since that day, in order to lessen mama's worries, we promise not to let anyone outside school know our name, just as how she made us promised not to tell our classmates who she is and what is her profession." Shuri seemed to be amused by the thought.
On the other hand, it came as a surprised to them especially at Sho who couldn't believe what he just heard. The members of Arashi looked at each other, unable to hide their utter bewilderment, which showed when Aiba exclaimed: "Eh? Johnny-san KNOWS?!"
"Of course he knew! He's the sole person, other than mom, who knew about our dad, even Shuri and I were not allowed to see our registration paper, and to see to it that we don't go to the school's registrar and checked ourselves, Jiichan specifically asked the admin to consider the thing as 'private'. I honestly don't understand why jiichan would go that far but dare not ask, because from what we read and heard, jiichan is quite frightening.." Shuji merely shook his head at the thought of Johnny getting mad at them. "Mah~ enough of that. Don’t you want to know?"
"Know what?" Nino asked, not too shocked because he supposed he knew the answer right away.
"Our name." Shuri answered. "Ne~ Sho-niichan, its really awkward. But of course we know that you aren't him.. I mean you're nice and all whereas our dad is.." Shuri trailed off from her own words, the thought and the possibility of it hadn't occur to her, only now. With a single stride, she got off from Sho's lap and stand side by side with Shuji, who was already in front of them.
"yosh. se-no."
"Watashi no namae wa Sakurai Shuri-desu." "Sakurai Shuji-desu."
+THEIR NAME+
Upstairs, Aiba and Jun were at the twins' bedroom.
"Ne~ Jun-chan, do you think its okay to leave Sho there?" Aiba said while tucking Shuji on his bed.
"I dunno, I honestly don't know. It was such a shock.." Jun replied after he was done tucking Shuri.
"But looking at it in a positive light, I think it s a good thing that we found out.. I mean this was what we hoped for right? To know who Shi is and to know who it was who hurt Angel.. only that, now it has become apparent who is who." Aiba said pondering, he sat across the end of Shuji's bed, observing the innocent face of the child, the same face which was full of hatred a while ago.
"Yeah, right now, we can't possibly do anything about it.. that matter depends solely to Sho and Angel. We can't mingle since they're not kids anymore,. What will happen will be the result of their decisions now that it was revealed to both of them. All we could do is to support them with our might whatever decision they will come up with, as a fellow member and a friend to Sho, and as a precious being in the case of Angel.
"Kya~ sasuga Jun-chan.. but honestly, those two need a lot of time recuperating..so many things had happened this five years of not seeing each other.." Aiba thought, he's becoming more restless because of the topic.
"Um, yeah.... they seriously need to talk, but that, we don't know when,. It'll be lot easier if Sho-chan will be more open about his feelings, but the way he is now.. it seemed he was still having a hard time sorting out his feelings, especially when he's involved with other girl.." Jun said rhetorically.
"Eh? you're still blabbing about that Matsujun? From what I see a while ago, Sho-chan still have feelings for Angel, although I dunno up to what extent. But that is enough to keep him do the right thing..now that he is a man with kids." Aiba merely shook his head at the thought of Sho and Maki. He honestly didn't believe it yet.
"Hmm.. we're not sure about that.. you know how Sho fare to those kinds of things. Chances are, he'll do what his mind was telling him to do, despite of it being heartless, like how he left Angel five years ago. If he could do such a thing, he can do it again, and it might hurt Angel once more. From the looks of it, Angel hadn't have completely gotten over him., worst if she's still head over heels with Sho. I'd rather not let them see each other, if it meant preventing Sho from hurting her again." Jun talked spitefully.
"Whooah~ easy there Matsujun.. let's give Sho-chan the benefit of the doubt, could we? We wouldn't know unless he try. Besides, you're the one who said they're not kids anymore.. I say, even if your presumption is right, Angel will fare better now than she was before. Afterall, she did experience and survived those heartaches while she was sixteen, how much more now that she's matured?" Aiba reasoned out.
"No matter. I'd still say lets find out first if Sho's feelings are strong enough for him to take responsibility. If not, then I'd rather give her to Nino, or have her myself and we'll be the one to take the responsibility." Jun said with such conviction that made Aiba opened his mouth in complete bewilderment upon hearing Jun's words.
"Have her yourself? Eh? that was unnecessary Matsujun, why would you rather have Angel yourself? Unless.." Aiba's voice trailed off. He seemed lost for words as the thought of Jun liking Angel sunk in.
"Oi. Stop thinking weird things, I just said it as an example okay?" Jun cleared himself. The least he wanted was for Aiba to find out his feelings before it was totally extinguish.
"ah, sou.." Aiba replied, a bit relieved that Jun put it that way. If his theory was right, he might as well collapse like Angel. They have enough people in the group to fall for her, if Jun adds to that, it'll be too taxing.
++++++++++++++
Aiba heaved a sigh before turning the knob of the door to ARASHI room.
It had been 2 weeks since their supposed 'celebration party' ended up in such a disaster that once again tested their friendship. Nino seldom talks to Sho, Jun frequently have mood swings, Ohno often skip practice and Sho was in his worst case-from being reluctant to skeptical. It was only Aiba who makes sense.
"Ohayou!" he greeted enthusiastically. Everyone glanced around him and immediately went back to each of their individual business except for Ohno who was sleeping in the couch..
"Minna..give me a break!!!" Aiba said without bothering to look at them. He felt frustrated that he slump his body carelessly onto the couch waking up Ohno in his sleep. When their leader realized this, he got up to a sitting position.
"How is she?" Ohno inquired while hands rubbing his still sleepy eyes.
"Who?" Aiba asked as he closed his eyes while his hands started kneading his temple.
"Oh c'mon, don't act dumb. You know who Ridaa was talking about." Jun asked smugly. Lately he was being impatient when it comes to Angel. It was probably due to Sho's attitude on things at hand. He can't believe what he heard from him last week. It was something that he expected, but actually not hoped for. Now Jun didn't actually know how to deal with Sho. Of all the members of ARASHI, Sho is the only one he really can't fathom at all. He admit that he always had fun at the guy's failures, but this one.. he can't bring himself to laugh at all. He was just thankful that Nino wasn't there or else, those two might end up hitting each other.
"I decided not to consider any of it..I mean, Shi's fine w/o me right? Why else will I bother myself about someone who faints just by seeing me? And besides we're not that sure if those twins are really mine.." Sho said to him apathetically which made his jaw drop. He can't believe it. Before he could react, Sho already left the room.
"Oh she's fine. Or rather, She's more than fine." Jun heard Aiba answered, snapping him out of his reverie. On the other hand, Aiba scratched his head out of disbelief. Recently, he constantly received those looks from the guys, expecting an update about Angel since he was the one working with her at this time. Sho was the only one who seemed unaffected."Its as if I'm working with an entirely different person. Every day, she seemed enthusiastic; she won't even take breaks and doesn't often talk. Looks like she plan on getting herself busy to the point of exhausting herself and that's what worried me."
"How 'bout the twins?" Nino joined the conversation.
"Oh! Its bad." Aiba rolled his eyes as to express the depravity of it. "Two days ago, the twins arrived at our shooting location, totally starved and exhausted. When I asked them, I learned that Angel forgot to fetch them during rehearsal, and worse, she totally failed to remember preparing their bentous. "
"Maji de?" Ohno asked, absolutely awake now. The incident with Sho had really affected Angel. Turned out, it wasn't only Ohno who was troubled, but the others as well, even Sho. Despite being in skeptical mode, he can't help but worry.. after all, the twins are still kids even with a mind of an adult.
"Seems like it." Aiba continued. "The next day, she was late for the filming and when asked by the staff why, she explained that she needed to bring her kids to her mom's care for a while. I swear, she looked miserable while saying those things." Aiba furthered and recall their last conversation.
Daijobu?" he asked worriedly. Somehow, Aiba felt the sadness that was emanating on her entire being.
"Hai. Just sad.. because this was the first time that I'll be separated with my kids this long..but I think its better to leave them to mom's for a while..I can't forgive myself for being irresponsible.. I need to pull myself together Aiba-kun.. do you think I'm stupid for acting this way?" Angel asked.
"Iie.. its just prove that you're a human after all. A human who gets hurt, and who gets affected..that doesn't make you stupid.. What makes human stupid is when they act indifferently, pretending that everything's okay even if it does not.. The fact that you're still capable of feeling weak and accepting your fault, its what makes you alive. I'm sure your kids understand..although they really don't know the reason, that's a good thing about children. They believe without a doubt, and trust with their innocent hearts." He told her sensibly.
Upon hearing his words, Angel started to sob that eventually turns to cry. Aiba can't help but offer his shoulder to which Angel leaned on. For a minute or so, they stayed in that position until she was satisfied and had cried her heart out.
"Arigatou Aiba-kun. You never failed to console me. Hontou ni arigatou,.." She managed to smile despite the tears.
"Mah~ everything's gonna be fine..let nature takes its ways..I'm just here 'kay?" Aiba said, reassuring the girl. He felt relieved that he was of help. The lady simply nodded.
"Oi! Aiba?!" Jun thump his shoulder which suddenly brought him back to reality. "Somebody's knocking on the door. Who might it be?" Jun said, his eyes on the door.
"Why don't you go and see it yourself? There's no need to smack me on the shoulder. It hurts you know." Aiba retorted in disgust as Jun was wearing one of his rings.
"Seriously, you two should need to get yourselves altogether." Ohno said, leaving the two who can't help it but giggle at his annoyed face, and walked towards the door to see who might be their visitor.
"Ohayou gozaimasu, Oh-niichan!" The twins greeted in chorus. Everyone was surprised by their sudden visit.
"Are? Shuji-chan? Shuri-chan? What are you doing here?" Nino asked after managing to get by the door with few steps.
"Uwaa~ Nino-niichan! I missed you!" Shuri said, hugging Nino by the waist. He was pleased by Shuri's gesture that in response to the child's hug, he hoisted Shuri up in his arms, before saying, "I missed you too!" and carry her all the way to the room. Shuji had no choice but to follow, and a sudden thought come across his mind.
"What brings you here?" Aiba asked the moment the twins were inside the room.
"Ah~ we visited johnny-jiichan." Shuri said.
"Johnny? jiichan? Who was that?" Jun asked amusedly. He was glad to see the twins very high spirited.
"Are? You call yourself a Johnny yet you don't know your boss? Maji?" Shuji smirked at the confused faces of ARASHI.
"Eh?!" the guys said in chorus.
"You call Johnny-san, jjichan? How come?" Aiba was too curious to asked.
"Eh? you didn't know? Jiichan was the one who help mama-" Shuji explained but stopped halfway upon realizing that the guys were clueless.."mah~ never mind niichans.." he cut shortly.
"Eh? what was that? aren't you gonna explain?" Jun asked, a little persistent.
"Nope. You're the one who said that there are things meant to be hidden Jun-niichan," Shuji answered sheepishly.
"Ahh.. h-hai. Fine." Jun retorted. He was a little disappointed but not pushed the topic further. He didn't expect the kid to use his own words against him. Hmft! talking about a clever one…Jun thought.
"Ne~Nino-niichan?" Shuji called after a moment.
"hmm?" Nino asked while he and Shuri enjoyed playing Rock. Paper. Scissors. As if the world exists only between them. Sho buried himself upon the newspaper he was reading earlier. He suddenly had a weird feeling seeing Shuri and Nino together.
"Wish you are my dad." Shuji said. Everyone eyed Shuji, even Shuri, who was caught by the suddenness of her twin. Sho looked intently at Shuji and tried to find any hint that it was only the boy's prank. But there was none. Sho felt a stabbing pain in his chest that was worsen when he heard Nino's response to the kid and how the boy reacted.
"Oh, I wished that too." Nino smiled at Shuji upon saying those simple words.
"Yatta." Shuji said while beaming brightly at Nino, stumbling onto his twin sister who's sitting in Nino's lap.
Nino caught Sho's hurtful expression despite the newspaper that was blocking the guy's face. He didn't know, but he felt guilt all of a sudden. He knew he shouldn't be doing that- snatching the twins' affection from the daddy they haven't even met. No matter what he does, it won't change the fact that Sho is the twins' father.
"But Shuji-chan? Sadly, I am not. You're daddy is out there somewhere.. I think he just needs someone to pull his leg before he realized it.." Nino said, eyeing Sho for a while. Jun was startled by Nino's response that made him respect the guy even more. Aiba and Ohno felt the same. Aiba expected Nino to be happy about it and for a moment there, Nino's eyes were sparkling, not until he glanced at Sho. Interesting..he thought as he understood why Nino shifted to what seem to be a more serious expression. Ohno was too shocked that he ended patting Nino by the shoulder.
"Eh? Iyada." Shuji said reluctantly, unaware that every single word he utters hurt Sho more than they can imagine. Sho trembled as tears started to form in his lower eyelid in danger of falling anytime. He can't help it. He just can't bear it anymore. Shuji's words slashed through him immensely, far worse than being cut by a blade.. His hands clasped tightly at the newspaper he was reading-as if trying to get whatever support it can offer. The boy's next words made his tears to finally fall. "Its not him who I wanted by mama's side right now, it is you Nino-niichan."
Sho lowered the newspaper as his hands traveled from his head on to his eyes. He moaned while letting the tears flow freely from his eyes, serving its purpose to convey what was really felt at that moment. He didn't know that a boy's words could wound him that much. It was the same as the feeling he had when he left Shi, the feeling he couldn't bring himself to tell the guys because he's too coward to admit it. It was excruciating. Unmoved by his surroundings, Sho cried endlessly, releasing all sorts of feelings he tried so hard to suppress these past five years. His fear, his agony, his sentiment, his love.
Tiny warm arms wrapped around Sho as he felt the weight on his lap, of Shuri, who suddenly broke loose from Nino's and run towards him the instant he let his emotions out. Time had stopped that moment. Sho divulged himself on Shuri's embraced, while seeking and wanting to be comforted to which the girl gave willingly as she hugged her unknown daddy tightly, not ever wanting to let him go.
"Ne~ Sho-niichan.. just cry ,…but please keep this a secret form Shuji 'kay? Mama said that guys do cry at times.. you are no man if you don't cry.." Shuri whispered at the man's ear before she continued. "and this what mama always do whenever Shuji-anchan cries" Shuri rubbed Sho's shoulder with her small hands.."So just cry ne? although I dunno what made you sad, I just hope I am of help to you..I'll be here until you had cry enough.." the girl told him softly as if singing a song. "
Sho embraced Shuri tightly. For the first time ever since the day he found out the truth, he longed for them to call him 'daddy'. He never felt that way before; it's as if a new light was lit inside him, demanding him to move forward. He knew that making his kids to acknowledge him would require effort, so he decided that he'll be just content of what was there at the moment even if it hurts hearing his own kids calling him niichan. If God will allow it, he'll do whatever it takes to make them accept him even if it meant meeting the woman he fell in love with the first time he laid his eyes on her. It was the clearest decision he had made in his entire life.
"Nii-chan? I know there's no point asking you since you would attend it anyway, but would you mind watching us perform in the school's foundation day?" Shuri asked the moment Sho stopped crying.
"Which school?" Sho asked, he wasn't paying attention when their manager told them they would be attending a school foundation day, so he didn't know.
"Baka! Weren't you listening? It was in the same elementary school you attended!" Jun hit Sho by the head, making Shuri nearly jump off from sitting position.
"Eh? Shuri-chan, you go to Keio Yochisha?" Sho asked, surprised that his kids actually go to the same school he went.
"Hai. Shuji too. Minna. Please look forward to our performance ne~" Shuri said, this time speaking to all the members.
"Sure." "Hai." "Of course!" The guys replied simultaneously that the twins were unable to tell who said what.
"Yatta! Sho-niichan too right? Right?" Shuri asked the man in front of her. For some reason, she can't take her eyes off this particular niichan. It seemed she was attached to Sho all of a sudden.
"Mochiron." Sho replied with obvious delight in his eyes that did not escape the members' interest.
"Yatta! Ureshii. Ureshii." Shuri said childishly. It was such a long time since she acted her age. Being around Sho tells her that she can be freely as how she wanted to be.
"Just curious though, if you're studying in a high profile school such as Keio and happened to be in first grade, wouldn't it be too awkward if your classmates are too familiar with you, given that you're special case?" Ohno asked. It had been bothering him for two weeks now. Since opportunity was right in front of him, he better asked before it slipped his mind.
"Eh? What do you mean Oh-niichan?" Shuri asked, paying more attention to Ohno.
"Um, I mean in terms of calling names and the like, wouldn't it be too straight if they called you right away by your first names? But it'll be more awkward if you were to introduced yourself using your mama's name.. sorry if this was confusing." Ohno was really bothered now.
"Ah, its okay niichan, there's nothing confusing about it, Shuri and I completely understands.. Well, about our name, its nothing trivial, the thing is, at school, we don't use mama's name..we don't use our first names either." Shuji explained, but the guys seemed to be lost in track.
"Eh? if you don't do that, how do others at your school addressed you?" Aiba was starting to be baffled. He can't caught up to what Shuji was saying., only that, he was not alone. All the guys seemed puzzled.
"Hmm, are you really niichans? Honestly, how do you introduce yourself when you're in first grade? Isn't it by your dad's name?" Shuji chuckled at the thought that the members' way of thinking is too complicated that they overlooked something as simple as that before he continued. "Of course, we're also the same, we often used our dad's name to introduce ourselves!"
"Eh? Angel actually registered you by your dad's name? eh? I can't understand.." Jun was too perplexed. Everything seemed out of place at the moment.
"That's because there's nothing to understand Jun-niichan. You see, it was Johnny-jiichan who processed our registration paper because Mama was so weak the time we were born and Reiko-baachan was abroad. So he registered us with our dad's name on it. Mama was unaware of it not until we entered Keio. We still remember how mama was hysterical about it, to the point of cursing jiichan, but in the end, she just fainted right at the spot." Shuri let out a cackle before continuing with the topic. "So ever since that day, in order to lessen mama's worries, we promise not to let anyone outside school know our name, just as how she made us promised not to tell our classmates who she is and what is her profession." Shuri seemed to be amused by the thought.
On the other hand, it came as a surprised to them especially at Sho who couldn't believe what he just heard. The members of Arashi looked at each other, unable to hide their utter bewilderment, which showed when Aiba exclaimed: "Eh? Johnny-san KNOWS?!"
"Of course he knew! He's the sole person, other than mom, who knew about our dad, even Shuri and I were not allowed to see our registration paper, and to see to it that we don't go to the school's registrar and checked ourselves, Jiichan specifically asked the admin to consider the thing as 'private'. I honestly don't understand why jiichan would go that far but dare not ask, because from what we read and heard, jiichan is quite frightening.." Shuji merely shook his head at the thought of Johnny getting mad at them. "Mah~ enough of that. Don’t you want to know?"
"Know what?" Nino asked, not too shocked because he supposed he knew the answer right away.
"Our name." Shuri answered. "Ne~ Sho-niichan, its really awkward. But of course we know that you aren't him.. I mean you're nice and all whereas our dad is.." Shuri trailed off from her own words, the thought and the possibility of it hadn't occur to her, only now. With a single stride, she got off from Sho's lap and stand side by side with Shuji, who was already in front of them.
"yosh. se-no."
"Watashi no namae wa Sakurai Shuri-desu." "Sakurai Shuji-desu."