CLASSMATES (28/?)
a/n: Hello:) I'm here with the usual a/n, though i have little to say this time:) First, the banner, it was my first time doing one.. and seriously think i suck at those things. haha, Second, well I was supposed to post this 5 days back, but guessed what? i caught fever and i still have it until now. tsk. third, well, theres no third.. just enjoy this:) comments are loved. this is a two part actually, a DRABBLE and the CHAPTER itself.
For almost 22 years of her life, she had experienced fear, or so she thought. When she was a kid, she can't sleep with the lights off. She almost jumped off the building when she didn't receive an A+ on an exam. During 3rd grade, she almost choked her cat to death for purring at midnight. She slapped her classmate for following her, that which she thought he was a stalker. During college, she ran out of movie house in one of those horror films.
But that moment, none was ever more frightening than staring directly into his piercing eyes.
It was fear in its purest sense. The more she looked at him, the more she had the need to break the contact. His gaze was so intense that she could not bring herself to look away. She knew she didn't do wrong, but his stares were telling otherwise. It was deep and penetrating, the kind of glare which you would see in one of those tragic romantic movies when the man caught his lover cheating on him. Not that she considered it cheating anyway. In fact, she had nothing to do with him right? But why did it bothered her so much that she felt bad for Yuya, whose arms still around her, having to receive those glares from him unknowingly?
Tetsuka Shi felt her very own soul tremble as fear overcome her thoughts.
++++++
He was known for being a scaredy cat. He had chickened out in most of their challenges, screamed his lungs out for that trip to a haunted house and almost fell on the ground because he couldn't stand heights. For 28 years of his life, those were his definitions of fear but a single move would change everything.
He watched them with an intent look, murderous ideas keep repeating on his mind.
His whole body jilted in pain when he saw her being admired by other men. He knew he didn't have the right to shield her from the guys' eyes, for a jerk he was, but he can't just let others look at her the way he sees her. Seeing how Yuya literally jumped on his way back and embraced her, his heart was torn apart. But seeing how she responded by patting the man's back, what he felt was way beyond anyone's comprehension.
The inexplicable emotion he suffered was more than Nino's when he lost a game, or Ohno's when he can't go fishing, or Jun's when he misplaced one of his 'treasured' items and certainly even greater compared to Aiba's when he couldn't express his 'baka' thoughts. At that moment he believed he'd lost a race to her heart.
He never knew that the thought of losing someone precious to him (he realized that for a long time now) could be that scary- it made him go numb to the point he can't move.
For the first time in his life, Sakurai Sho understood what true fear means..
+++++++++++++++++++++++
CHAPTER 28
-STAGE 0-
"Tego-chan" called Masuda.
"Its time to go back.. we had a photoshoot remember?" it was Ryo this time. But when Yuya won't even budge, Ryo stormed his way towards them and practically dragged the younger guy away from Shi. "Gomennasai Tetsuka-san" he bowed.
"Oh its okay." Shi smiled and turned towards Yuya who was still teary-eyed. "Ne~ Tego-chan, its okay to cry, but seriously, you shouldn't cry like that, look at my blouse! Its wet." She told him, no offense meant.
"O-okay." Yuya replied, smiling despite the redness of his eyes. "Jya~ mata ne" and kissed her on the cheek before letting himself being dragged by Ryo. The truth was, Ryo felt a surge of panic when he accidentally saw his seniors, ARASHI, particularly Sho, who was looking at their member with eyes ready to kill. Luckily for Yuya, their sempai was out of his field of vision because he would've immediately run out of the room when he sees that murderous gaze. It didn't even occur to him how disappointed Masuda looked when he was the one who approached Yuya and pulled the younger guy off from the lady. The only thing that was on his mind then was to leave that place.
Ryo didn't know, but something about the situation seemed a little off. Seeing how ARASHI reacted and seeing that look from his sempai, add Shi in the picture, plus the fact about the kid, those are the kind of things that usually get him fired up. Omoshiroi..Ryo smirked at the thought.
++++++++++++++++++
Shi was still recovering from the shock that Yuya gave her a while ago and yet he'd given her another one. As she observed the guy's retreating figure she couldn't help but notice how cute and considerate the guy was. It was rather a weird combination though, because Yuya look to her as someone who badly needed affection, but in the end, he was actually the one who cared for her.
At the leftmost corner of the hall, the guys from ARASHI sat uncomfortably. They didn't even have an agreement but one knew right away what the other was thinking at the moment no one dared to leave. They stayed until the last person, other than themselves and Shi, left the hall.
They witnessed as Ryo dragged Yuya and Yuya kissed Shi which had made Ohno shook his head in disbelief, Nino widened his eyes, Aiba fell over his seat, and Jun hit the table. Although it was undoubtedly a friendly one for Shi, they believed it wasn't the same on ved it wasn't the same on Yuya's part. Setting aside his innocent features, the guy from NEWS, is still a man, so his feelings were definitely the issue.
As for Sho, they just didn't know. Albeit the fact that those two shared a deep bond, that being the twins themselves, what Sho portrayed a while ago spelled jealousy. Even the hair on Aiba's nape, which stood upon seeing Sho murdering Yuya through looks, could prove that.
++++++++++++
I trust you know the way out dear? Words of Johnny popped out as she looked awkwardly towards the group who obviously took their time to stay despite their busy schedule. She felt a sudden pang of guilt remembering how she almost lied to them, her first male friends after five years, about her true profession.
I trust you know the way out dear?
Those words never really mattered to her - only just now. Shi placed a hand on her forehead and then across her hair when realization hit her. If words could kill, she swore she could've slaughtered Johnny on the spot for those thousand curses that had been playing on her mind. The fact that he left her on a situation which was too much for her to handle, she questioned the old man's intentions for the first time.
"Angel-chan" Aiba suddenly appeared in front of her with his usual bright smile. She was startled because she definitely did not see him coming.
"Hello Aiba-kun" Shi smiled, placing her hand on the table to keep herself steady.
"Sugoi Angel-chan! You're the one who made this?" Aiba asked her, his eyes on the model.
Shi felt a sudden lump in her throat that made her unable to speak. When at last she managed to utter a single stuttered "yes", it was too late to realize that she could've just nodded.
"And all the while I thought it was an old man's work." Aiba told her, disregarding the troubled look he saw in her eyes. When she didn't react on what he said, the older guy patted her shoulder to get her attention. Shi looked up to Aiba, and the moment their gazes locked, it sent a warm feeling across her entire being that had calmed her soul in an instant. As if the guy was telling her that everything's gonna be alright. Like that time after meeting Sho, Aiba's eyes had that I'm-just-here-depend-on-me kind of look. Shi felt happy she almost cried.
Baka!baka! you almost made her cry! Aiba thought panicky before he positioned himself in front of her to block the view. While browsing through his search engine he coined 'aiba.com' [which was actually his mind] of ways how his fellow members wouldn't notice Shi's troubled frame, he resorted to the silliest scheme he can come up with and recklessly pinched her on the cheek.
"Itte"
"Oh! Something's in your face." He pretended to observe Shi's face,. Please God let her go along with the act..Aiba prayed silently while aimlessly waiting for the girl's response. He had no idea what to do next if she didn't happen to get with the flow. But fate seemed to side with him and Aiba enjoyed the moment. Arigato Kami-sama… "There you go pretty lady," he smiled at her before going back to her side when he's sure enough that she wouldn't shed a tear.
Shi muttered a silent "thank you" before Aiba could distance himself and the older guy just nodded as a response.
"Oi! We didn't wait for others to leave just to sit there right?"Aiba asked with a loud voice, still energetic as ever. Heaving a sigh when the guys didn’t move even a single inch, Tsk, what are those guys doing, they're acting like brats...no choice then.. he looked at Shi with his sheepish grin and pulled her by the hand. "C'mon, seemed like they were petrified or something."
No wonder he's considered by the group as the miracle-boy, for certainly, Aiba had a healing effect especially on her. If it was somebody else, she would've yanked her hand away, but since it was Aiba, Shi let herself be drawn to where ARASHI is.
++++++++
When she was finally in front of them, she felt her knees buckle that she bit her lip that was starting to get dry, either because of the aircon or the lack of blood. Hang on Shi, you can do this..
"I am really sorry for not telling you about my profession." Shi bowed so low to express how sorry she was, startling Aiba, Jun, Ohno, Nino, and Sho.
"Eh?!" Seriously?" They said in chorus. They said 'seriously' as in seriously-you-don’t-have-to-apologize-for-there's-nothing-to-be-sorry-for, but the 'seriously' they were talking about was far from what Shi took it for.
"Please let me explain," Shi continued as tiny needles started to prick her chest after hearing their reaction. She could not understand why their trust mattered to her as if her life depended on it. All she knew was that, for all those days she had known them, these guys hold respective places in her heart and if she was to lose them, it will leave an open hole in her already patched heart.
"Shi-chan" Jun called but she stayed in a crouching position despite her back getting numb.
"Hey Angel-chan.." it was Ohno this time but to no avail.
"Angel?" Nino called in a worried tone but the girl didn't even stir.
Aiba was too distracted that there was no voice coming out of his lips even though he'd already called out her name.
"Oi Shi!" Sho bent down placing a hand on her shoulder and shook her. But when the girl ignored him, he wielded his free hand in front of her face and what happened next was like a dejavu.
"Ouch!" Sho winced at the pain. Unlike that last time, he didn't manage to pull his hand faster so it was practically still on the girl's mouth, her teeth sunk in it deeper, almost ripping his skin apart.
"Let it go ple- itte!.. please? Please?- ouch!" Sho cringed when Shi wouldn't let go of his hand.
"OOOOUCHH!"
Only when he shouted like that, that Shi seemed to get back on her senses.
"Damn Shi, you really had the tendency of a vampire! Just that you don't have fangs!." Sho hissed angrily the moment Shi let go of his hand and shoved her away from him. It wasn't a strong push but because Shi still lacked the energy to stand straight from stooping too long, she fell over.
"That's because you startled me!" She scowled the moment she felt her back ached from the fall.
"Oh! That's also what you said when you first bit me!" Sho scowled back. "and I was too unlucky to have experienced it again. Thanks to you my hand was so swollen it still feel sore!" He shouted at her, momentarily forgetting the jealousy he felt a while ago.
"But that's nothing compared to what you did to me," Shi said coldly while she struggled to stand on her feet, ignoring Nino's helping hand.
Baka! Ohno wanted to tell the younger member but he knew it wasn't the right time for that. Aiba was stuck in his place as he felt the stabbed of panic. Jun clenched his teeth to prevent himself from yelling how inconsiderate Sho was. Nino glared at Sho for a couple of heartbeats, blaming the older member when Shi shoved his hand away.
"Well I'm sorry about the bite Sakurai-san. If it hurt like hell, what I felt was twice, no, thrice or even more than what you could ever fathom," She stared at him mockingly despite the tears that escaped from her eyes the moment she let his words slashed through her. She turned her back on them and started packing her things.
"I-" Sho was taken aback by what she said. But the damage had been done, and there's no way he could take back his words.
After she's done with her things, Shi looked at them and said, "I'm leaving" and snatched her bag from the table before marching on her way to the door. When she reached the door though, with her back facing them, she shouted, enough for Sho to hear it, "Yamashita-san is right. I was so stupid to have fallen in love with you," and left banging the hall's door, leaving them in a state of shock.
++++++++++
When Shi was out of sight, Sho was knocked straightly in the face by Nino's waiting fist.
"Hey! No hitting in the face man!" Jun reminded the brat despite the smirk that was already etched on his face. He would have done it himself, in fact he'd already take off his skull and stone rings to prevent him from damaging Sho's face, but as expected, Nino was quicker.
"He deserved that!" Nino said begrudgingly. But the instant his eyes left Sho, the older member hit him back on the stomach.
"Huh! Still chicken as ever!. " Nino mocked, "Why Keio boy? You can't break rules? Fcuk you and your books!" and smacked Sho on the nose. There had been times that he lost control, but it was the first time he got mad, his rage boiling, that even his own reasons left him.
The three watched as their two members continue hitting each other; no one wanted to be outweighed by the other.
Aiba stared in horror that he tugged Matsujun's shirt too much, that of the tendency of being ripped."Please stop them! Please, Matsujun, why are you smiling like that! Those two might end up killing each other you know!" He told him, his eyes started to get watery.
"Let them be! That guy seriously needs some beatings! " Jun laughed as he looked amusedly at their two members. Sho, being second to the eldest, and Nino, being second to the youngest. It was epic. Shooing away Aiba's hands. "Hey, you planned to rip my shirt?"
"Waaa!! Hidoi yo!" Aiba looked at him crying. But when Jun didn't even gave a damn, Aiba turned to Ohno.
"Ridaa! Onegai! What will happen to ARASHI if those two end up as enemies? Worse if they end up dead. Ridaa. Please!" Aiba said helplessly, eerie thoughts running on his mind, hoping against hope that Ohno would help him.
"Lets just wait a little longer Aiba, if it won't end in five minutes, you'll help me stop them okay?" He told him and glancing at their youngest member who looked as though he was just watching a very interesting drama, "Jun too." Ohno said with finality that made the youngest member swallowed hard.
"Um okay, but I still don't think its necessary Ridaa" Jun told him, although deep inside he was shaking. Ohno rarely uses his authority as their leader but when the oldest man did, it was always in the perfect timing that made him respect the oldest member.
For more than 11 years of being together, Ohno had learned to observe everyone around him especially these four friends of his. So when Jun told him that it's not necessary, he can't help but agree on that. Nino might appeared to be an outraged man, who kept on throwing punches at Sho, but as Ohno observed closely how the younger member couldn't stop himself from talking he knew right away that the snarky brat were up to something.
"Ne~ its weird.. why does Nino-chan started to breathe heavily when Sho-chan was still full of energy.." Aiba commented.
Tsk. Even Aiba could notice. Whatever it was you're planning Nino, hurry! Before you actually make yourself being beaten badly. Ohno thought as he watched Nino panting hardly and Sho still uninjured despite Nino's continuous blow…
"Fcuk you too brat!" Sho smirked when he noticed how Nino was catching his breath. "Don't give me a damn just because you were busted by the girl you love!"
"URASAI! At least I'm honest with my feelings! And here I thought you were the smartest in the group! Screw with that keio boy!" Nino hit a bit harder because Sho flinched at the pain for the first time eversince the whole thing began.
"Huh! Still, that won't change the fact that you were dumped cheapskate!" Sho retorted, hitting Nino on the same spot.
"So what If I was dumped? At least I'm not hated like you. Seeing Shi's reaction a while ago, I wouldn't be surprised if your plan won't work out like how you wanted it to. Hear me?! It will be a complete failure! Too bad Captain failboat, you really deserve that name." Nino hit again, this time carefully as not to leave mark. To his surprise, Sho did not dodge his move or its just the older guy suddenly lacked the will to fight.
"Yeah.. you're right. Even if you didn't tell me, I know! I am a complete failure. I even hurt her again. And who knows I might even screw up my own plan. HELL YEAH! I will fail! I know! And yeah, I was hated. Shi told me herself 8 days ago.." he told him helplessly as he recalled the moment, "even so, I still wanted to try. Even if it has only 0.1% probability, I still want to take chances." Sho trembled as tears start gushing freely from his eyes.
Nino yanked Sho by his collar and yelled,"Why? Why would you go that far SHO? WHY?!",eyeing him murderously.
"Because I love her damn it Nino!" Sho uttered with conviction, his teary eyes never leaving Nino's. " I LOVE HER!" When Sho said that, it made Nino almost ruined his self-planned act as his face twitched into a smile. Finally.. He thought before throwing him on the floor, but Sho didn't mind. He got up and looked at them one by one. With unusual cracked voice and eyes still watery, he told them.
"I LOVE SHI from the first time I met her. I love her even after leaving her. " To Ohno he said, "Hell yeah Ridaa, I LOVE HER that every dream I dreamt, it was only her." When he faced Jun, "HELL YEAH Matsujun, I LOVE HER that even those trivial things as changing wallpaper, I can't bring myself to do because her picture is my only treasure." He looked at Aiba and said, "Hell yeah Aiba, I LOVE HER that just by seeing her face it makes me hard up to the very core." And when its time to look at Nino, Sho paused, contemplating.
He was knocked off in the face but he felt weird.
~POW~
Another hit in the nose, but still it felt weird.
~SMACK~
And he noticed how it didn't hurt him. In fact, every blow Nino threw at him seemed to have no weight at all.
~POW~
Another blow and it confused him whether Nino was just too weak or he purposely was not putting any force in his punches.
"URASAI! At least I'm honest with my feelings! And here I thought you were the smartest in the group! Screw with that keio boy!" ~POW~
Ouch.! that hurts. Now it confused him more.
"So what If I was dumped? At least I'm not hated like you. Seeing Shi's reaction a while ago, I wouldn't be surprised if your plan won't work out like how you wanted it to. Hear me?! It will be a complete failure! Too bad fail captain, you really deserve that name." ~SMACK~
It had no force in it but hearing Nino's words, he let himself got carried away.
When Nino collared him, he didn't give a damn about it.
When he told him that he love Shi and saw the brat's lip twitched into what seemed like a smile, things got a little clearer.
When Nino threw him on the floor he knew right away what the brat's been thinking all this while..
Sho approached Nino who'd dropped at the same time he was thrown on the floor. He looked at the younger man's eyes, and said in a serious tone, " I LOVE HER that it breaks my heart into pieces seeing my kids so attached to you. HEAR THAT BRAT? I-L-O-V-E-H-E-R!" Sho spelled those final words with a smile and offered his hand to Nino.
"About time then.!" Nino chuckled before accepting his hand.
With hands still gripping Nino's, "BAKA! You should've asked me you know! Look at you! And all the while I was thinking if I'd gone mad because I couldn't feel any of your blows, but there was really NOTHING to feel, in the first place. " Sho poked Nino's forehead.
"Found out huh?" Nino just smiled.
"Of course! Even the usual baka-head Aiba noticed how Sho still has energy while you looked like someone who's beaten badly!" Jun commented.
"Eh? It was a fake?- choto- y-you mean I worried for nothing? You're all mean!" Aiba pouted and everyone laughed.
"That's because your way of thinking is beyond exaggerated.. and I told you not to worry but you kept on worrying like a sissy!" Jun told him.
Another round of laughter.
"Lucky for you Kazu, Sho was someone who'll stick by the book until the end, or you'll get what you wished for." Ohno let out a soft chuckle as the thought amused him.
"wish? Nani? nani? what wish? Ne Ridaa, what wish?" Aiba asked with puffy eyes.
"Oh that~ you know how fans still see Nino as a 17 yr old guy despite his age right?" Ohno asked Aiba.
"Un,. But what about it?" Aiba seemed lost at the moment.
"If Sho didn't stick by the rule of no hitting in the face, Nino would end up looking much older than anyone of us, thus, making his wish come true." Jun answered smirking at the brat.
"Shut up b*tch!" Nino stuck his tongue out before placing a hand on his chest. Dang it. It was really aching. Damn that keio boy and his muscles..tsk.. If it was a real fight, he will end up waking in a hospital wing.
"Served you right brat for acting cool!" Jun gave Nino the middle finger before his face broke into a wide grin.
Another storm had passed.
+++++++++++++++++
For more than 20 minutes, Shi stood outside the hall, her back against the door. Unmindful of her surroundings, she let out all the tears which she had been repressing all those times she was inside the hall. Good work Shi.. She told herself while still crying her heart out letting herself get drowned in her moments of pain and fortitude. It was ironic. For the thing she last wanted was to let them see her so helpless and yet she remained there despite knowing the possibility that any moment now, the guys would come out of the hall.
She was thankful enough that the hall was situated at the top of the building so the chances of her being seen by others is lesser as compared when she opted to leave the hall in tears. It was the only way to redeem herself.
"Do you really want them to see you like that?"
Oh God, Shi, now you're imagining things. She thought.
"Look miss, I have no idea what those sempais had done, that you were weeping like that, but I think crying here wasn't a good idea especially when they come out of the hall." The man informed her in a deep voice.
Shi was startled to hear a man's voice, even more when she looked for the source. Standing directly in front of her was a man a few meters taller than her. She widened her eyes in terror, she could've died.
"a-are y-you a ghost?" Shi asked although it was a silly question. She knew she had seen the guy a while ago in the meeting.
"Nishikido Ryo-desu." The man told her offering a hand. But upon noticing that she was too stunned she can't react, Ryo pulled her hand and fluttered it until she was the one to break away from the handshake.
"Ah, you're the one with Tego-chan a while ago..i t-t-thought y-y-ou guys have a photoshoot." Shi stuttered when the reality that Ryo had witnessed her crying slapped her in the face. Worse if the guy heard what they're talking about, not that it had important details, but still it was enough to realize what was going on between her and ARASHI.
"Nah, it was cancelled before we came to the meeting, although I say its useful because we wouldn't have flanked our brat away from you if he knew it was cancelled.
"Eh? you lied to your own bandmate?" Shi asked in disbelief completely forgetting about the crying part.
"Its better than to have him murdered by Sho-sempai." Ryo told her in such a normal way as if just reporting some weather news. "Don't worry I didn't hear what you guys talked about, you see the hall's sound proof," Ryo informed her, eyes with an in-case-you-don't-know kind of look, upon seeing the terror in her eyes. "But I heard your parting speech"
"Y-you d-did?" Shi raised an eyebrow. The guy was too nosy for a man.
"Hey, I don't have a choice okay? I was standing outside the hall when you suddenly opened the door and blurted out how Pi was right about you, in a way that was too loud, my eardrums almost deafened." Ryo explained. Talking sense to her was harder than he thought.
"Pi?"
"Yamashita-san" Ryo muttered.
"Ah!" the name rang a bell.
"Don't 'ah' me. Look Tetsuka-" Ryo started but was cut in midsentence.
"Angel, call me Angel."
"Ugh, Angel, I think we better get going. Else if you want ARASHI-san to see you like that?" Ryo asked.
"Of course not!" Shi didn't know how the guy managed to get to her defenses, but from the looks of it, Ryo seemed trustworthy despite the man's inquisitiveness.
"Shall we?" Ryo got her things off her hand and started walking without waiting for her reply.
"Matte!" She had no choice but to follow. "Where are we going anyway?"
"You'll know once we get there." He simply replied.
"Why? I can just go home you know.." Shi asked, her heart wavering all of a sudden.
"I didn't say you can't." he looked at her smiling.
"Then why?" Shi furthered.
"Are all genius like that?" Ryo asked stopping at his own question.
"Why? There's nothing wrong with asking especially when it comes to a stranger. Beside your name, I know nothing about you, so basically we're still strangers to each other Nishikido-san." She replied smartly.
"But the fact that you're here following my every footstep meant that you trusted me. And call me Ryo, tha's how fans addressed me." Ryo chuckled as they reached the elevator. He knew he'd win the argument.
"Fans? I don't even know you're an idol until I stepped inside that hall." Shi contested but when Ryo looked at her intently, that silenced her. "Okay fine, Ryo-kun. Whatever," she pouted. She rarely loses a psychological debate, and its pissing her off.
"Hey, don't pout or Yuya will strangle me." Ryo told her, his hand pushed the floor button.
"Ah sou ka~ Then I will tell him to decapitate you as well." Shi gave him a devilish grin.
Ryo stared at her in total daze, "You're really something. No wonder men drooled over you.." he told her in his native Kansai-ben.
"Eh? what does that mean?" Shi glanced at him puzzled.
"Nothing, I just said you looked KAWAI when you're angry." Ryo smirked.
"Eh? You're lying. Jya~ rather than decapitating, I will tell Tego-chan to make your flesh be fed to crows" Shi threatened.
"Our brat's too nice to do that, besides you really looked cute okay?" Ryo told her hoping she'd dropped the topic.
"Okay." Shi felt funny. It was a nonsense argument but its making her forget about what happened. "Thank you."
"For what?" Ryo shrugged. He didn't like the idea that was running on his mind.
"Just thank you." Shi muttered.
"Okay." Ryo said the same time the floor button lit indicating that they arrived at their destination. "Let's go." He smiled and she just nodded.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Sho-chan, your phone's ringing." Aiba told him after a moment of jeers and laughter and tossed the phone which was caught by the older man in no time. Excusing himself, Sho walked out of their greenroom to attend to the call.
"Moshi moshi." Sho talked over the phone, smiling as he recognized the voice.
"Hai. Okay, I'll tell you the details when I know okay?" He said leaning his back against the wall while listening to the caller.
"No. no," moving his head sideways as if the other party could see him. "Don't do that! baka! Just enjoy the moment okay? I'll just send you the details, I need to hang up soon, we still have to do some dance rehearsal for the concert." but when Sho was about to end the call,
Wait! The person on the other line said.
"Nani?" Sho asked raising an eyebrow. The call's getting longer that he expected.
"Okay. Okay. Silly. I'll still do that even if you don't ask me to." He ended the call before the person on the other line protested.
When he entered the room though, Sho was grinning widely that the guys couldn't help but notice.
"Ne~ Sho-chan's happy." Aiba mouthed silently to the guys, pointing at their member who had just come in.
Ohno was currently tending to Nino's wounds that the two didn't pay attention to the usual Aiba, and Jun was busy reading some fashion magazine.
"Itte! Be gentle Satoshi!" the brat complained placing a hand on his bruised arm.
"What are you? A 4-yr old kid? Seriously Kazu, we need to hide those bruises or our manager would kill us." Ohno reprimanded, dabbing a cotton-with-alcohol on the brat's wound. He must have put too much force into it because the sneaky member winced in pain.
"Ouch, blame that to Mr. Rapper, if he noticed that something's weird with my blows, he shouldn't have taken the fight seriously!" He said, snapping Ohno's hand away.
"Oi! Who's fault it was that Sho-chan had to do that? You should've asked him than putting so much drama." Jun shook his head in glee, looking up to Nino for a second and then back to the magazine.
"Wait. What? I heard you talking about me." The dorky member asked upon hearing his own name.
"They're not talking about you Sho-chan, they're talking about whose fault it was that Nino-chan had those bruises." Aiba told him, "And how manager-san will kill us if he noticed, worse if he found out about the fight, how Nino-chan put up the act that will lead to him discovering about you and Shi and about-I" stopping halfway because Jun kicked his foot, " itte! You don't have to do that Jun-pon" he shot a glare at Jun who raised an eyebrow, it almost left his face.
"Manager-san won't find out, unless you stop talking about it. Seriously, you and your big mouth will get us some trouble in the future." Jun glared back.
"Ah, sou ka.." Sho remarked but wasn't really paying attention. He was busy typing a message and when he hit the send button, he felt satisfied and waited for a reply.
5 minutes passed. 10 minutes. 20 minutes and they're heading to the dance studio where the rehearsal will took place. When it's almost 30 minutes, Sho groaned impatiently as he did the stretching.
And when it's almost an hour ago since he texted and still got no reply, he almost gave up.
Brrrrgggg. His phone vibrated. Opening his phone, Sho read excitedly.
From: My pretty little girl
Subject: Sorry
Message: Sorry Sho-niichan :) you see we're not allowed to use phones during schooltime, but its our break now so its okay. About your question, our last schedule for this day is at 4pm, but my brother said he wanted to read something at the library. Knowing Shuji, it'll usually take 2hours, so we'll be out at probably 6pm. Oops, this is getting longer. Jya~
PS: I love you :)
He typed in his reply and hit the send button. If he was glad when he got that phone call a while ago, he was all the more glad having received that message. Brrrrrrggg.
From: My handsome young boy
Subject: Shuri-dead battery
Message: Shuri says okay and send her regards to ARASHI-niichans, especially to Nino-niichan.
PS: you take care too niichan. -Shuji:)
Having said his feelings to Nino, he's positive that the brat guy was satisfied with it. Although he had to admit that he had to raise an eyebrow on that part of the message, but that didn't break his already good mood.
"Break's over." The choreographer called.
Sho typed in another message before readying himself to another round of dance routines. Since routines were exactly the same regardless of venues, the rehearsals weren't really that tiring. In fact, sometimes, he was having a hard time figuring out why they need to practice the same routines all over again. Nonetheless, he can't blame the jimusho, afterall that's the trademark of being a Johny: face, acting, overpowerful dance routines- all because of pure hardwork.
When Sho's about to settle on the dance floor, he remembered that he still needed to send a message to another person. Recalling their early conversation, he stated typing the message, a wide smile never leaving his face. When he hit the send button, he felt pleased with himself as if no one could ruin his day.
"The twins said hi" Sho told the guys silently as they did their formation.
"Kyaa~ you have the twins' email?" Aiba exclaimed in delight, catching everyone's attention which made Jun shot a dangerous look, Nino stumbled on his feet, Ohno slid. Even their juniors were keen to know what had made their sempai so happy he looked like an energy ball. "Uwaa~ Sho-chan, I'm happy for your ki-ha-ha.. La-la-la-la." Realizing what he'd just said and stopping at the moment before he could cause trouble for anyone, Aiba thought of burying himself alive on the spot which made things more unstable, because the juniors eyed them suspiciously, each one exchange glances with others and then back at them.
"Hey, no talking during routines," the choreographer warned despite being dubious on Aiba's statement.
"Hai" all answered, but obviously, everyone had a say on the incident.
You're dead! Nino mouthed at Aiba to which the older member frowned and glanced at others for rescue. But Ohno was too sleepy he couldn't tell off the younger guy. Jun glared at him for the nth time that day, and well, Sho is Sho, so the situation didn't affect his overly good mood despite being the one who was in more trouble if that information about the twins being his kids leaked out.
++++++++++++++++
It took them 4 hours to finish practicing; four gruesome hours and Jun swear he could've killed Aiba because he had a late night shooting but he's exhausted already. Nino's flesh was too sore that he half-walked and half-dragged by Ohno who seemed more tired than usual, on their way to their green room. Sho noticed for the first time how the rehearsal took longer than expected and realized that everyone's minds were off to something; some were even scolded because of gossiping, that something being about him and the twins. Remembering how the other members kept shooting deadly stares at Aiba, Sho sighed in disbelief and checked his watch. About time.. He can't help but smile despite the trouble that they will have to deal later.
When they're finally backed at their green room, Aiba braced himself for serious reproached and got it firsthand from the youngest member.
"OUCHHHH!!! That seriously hurt Matsumoto!" Aiba said in hurtful voice, but before Jun could even manage to advanced his moves on Aiba, Sho's phone rang hysterically, distracting everyone in the room, even Ohno's already sleeping figure and Nino, head resting on their leader's lap.
"OI!! Someone's tying to sleep here!" Nino shouted, his eyes still closed.
"Ah~ gomen, gomen. " Sho apologized before answering his phone.
"Moshi. Moshi. Owch! Itte-" Sho inclined the phone away from his ears. "Choto mate kudasai. Stop shouting. Mai. What's wrong?" he continue to ask despite feeling annoyed at his sister who just kept on shouting, wailing, then stopping. She doesn't make any sense at all. "Hey, calm down or I will hang up." Sho said in serious tone, nudging his temple as migraine started attacking him. He waited and listened to the other line until the latter calmed down. But when he heard what she'd told him, he's the one who couldn't calm down. "What?" "Hospital?" "Where?" he asked simultaneously and listened impatiently, creasing his forehead that made the guys worried. "okay, I'll be on my way. Hey Mai. Call Okaasan or Tousan. Stay calm okay? Bye." And hang up.
"Doshitano Sho-chan?" Aiba asked him worriedly, forgetting his sin for a moment.
"Who was it Sho?" Nino asked, one eye popped open. As much as he wanted to sleep, he was troubled by the nervous sound in Sho's voice.
"It was Mai." He answered while picking up his duffel bag. "Guys, gotta go, Shu's in the hospital."
"Oh!" Aiba gasped.
"Can you drive?" Jun asked. Their ban was already lifted, but there's no way in hell he would allow Sho to drive seeing him in that distressed frame.
"Yeah, I think I can manage." Sho answered absentmindedly.
"Hey, just hail a cab okay? We can't take chances." Ohno told him in a commanding tone despite sounding so sleepy.
"Thanks Ridaa, but I'm fine okay? Jya~ See you tomorrow. And Nino, sorry for the beatings. Take rest." And with that, Sho strode out of the room which left Aiba and the others alone.
"As much as I want to knock you right here right now, I think that could wait Aiba. But don't dare think that I'll let this matter off." Jun threatened before he stood up. "Jya~ I have a shooting to catch up soon, thanks to our baka-head member, I was too tired I still need to go or Johnny would be pissed." darting one last deadly stare at Aiba, Jun sped out of the room before he could strangle the older man.
++++++++++
"Tadaima!" Shi said the moment she entered her apartment, but to her surprise, her kids haven't arrived home yet. Wonder what's keeping them?.. Shi can't help but feel worried.
________
forgetting those feelings is much like digging my very own grave and burying myself ALIVE..