CLASSMATES 32/?
A/N: Okay. I'm so pissed. I was supposed to attend an event here in the country for Ridaa's bday and the theme? its rock party for Ohno Satoshi's 30th bday (click to see the poster) ..but I guessed it can't be helped ne~ being self supporting and all, i need to spend on a prioritized basis..sad., okay I will quit blabbering now. So guys, I know its late, I should've post this chapter yesterday, but my super slow connection won't allow it. Comments are 
CHAPTER 32
-STAGE III [aftermath]-
"Tetsuka Shi-chan!" Yuya called to her. "Matte" he said catching her in no time.
"What?" Shi asked still pissed by what his bandmate did.
"I love you!" with that, the guy left without saying anything further, leaving her shocked at his sudden confession.
Tsk. Shi was so pissed. She kept asking herself, why is that, every time she goes to that building without an actual appointment, things don't turn out good for her. It didn't even help that the article was old, but what bothered her was the fact that Sakurai Sho had the chance dating, if not, "going out" with some of his girl colleagues, while she locked herself away from those men who'd been constantly trying to get her attention. She even felt stupid for acting like that in front of Ryo, no matter how jerk a guy of him, and troubled because of Yuya's confession. But what she certainly detested and had a hard time digesting, was the fact that no matter how old the article was, she still felt jealous.
Tsk. "At least Tego-chan had the guts to tell me how he felt, unlike that dork!" She pounded the table in a not-so-soft manner, which earned her questioning stares from the diners in the coffee shop where she was supposed to be meeting with Mai, glancing at the clock: 3pm, well, after two hours. She rummaged her bag for her phone, to see if there were important calls while drinking her frappe that she almost choked at the numbers of calls and messages, and nearly got her eyeballs off its case upon widening her eyes seeing that they were all from a certain person.
72 missed calls. -shilovethisdork
84 Messages-shilovethisdork
All of it, if not, perhaps most of it contained one thought-he's worried about her, which took Shi seconds to be able to contain herself from placing a sudden calls revealing from her voice how happy she was knowing that he'd care enough to call her that much. After making sure that her tone wouldn't sound like an excited teenager who's been madly in love, her heart still beating faster but steadily, she browsed her phone for his number and called. There was a ring. Another ring. And then another ring.
Shi was getting annoyed at how he was making her wait that she had thought of pressing the cancel button when he finally answered.
Moshi Moshi, goodness. Why aren't you answering my call Shi? I was worried you know!
I know.. She thought but instead, she put up an indifferent tone. "Hey! Don't shout! What do you need?"
Shi, I was wondering if I could fetch the twins after school?
She had to admit that it warmed her heart hearing him ask about that, but remembering the article she felt bitterly that what came next from her mouth was all pissed tone. "Why are you asking me? Ask them."
But his next question had caught her by surprise.
Hey, what's wrong? Why do I have the feeling that you're mad at me?
Tsk. Am I that really easy to read? Was he really a dork? Those thoughts were swarming around her brains before she could reply with another excuse. "I'm not mad. Jya~ I just called because you're spamming my mailbox."
Shi ended the call before he could talk back, the main reason was that her feelings seemed to overthrow her sanity again that would make her do things like confessing her feelings to him before the guy, if and only if, Sho have real feelings for her. It will be best to hear his insights first. She wouldn't stand the humiliation if one day she happens to know that her feelings were actually an unreciprocated one.
Her thoughts were put on hold when she felt her phone vibrating against her hand. Assuming that it was still Sho calling, she answered in a pissed manner only to make her drew back.
"WHAT?- Oh!" leaning away against her phone because the caller shouted back. "Mama, sorry.." She changed her tone when she realized that it was actually her mom. "Ugh, I was just a little pissed. So why d'you call?"
Hey! Is it wrong for a mother to call her only daughter?
"No mama, sorry.. but you rarely call me these days, so seriously, what's up?" She rolled her eyes hearing her mother chuckled before speaking again.
Silly dear. Do you hate surprises that much that you won't even ask your mom how was she?
Ugh I hate this..Mustering all her patience, "So how are you mom?"
Fine.
"See? That's why I hate asking how you are, because you always say fine and not really told me how exactly you have been coping. So what's up?" she asked again.
Fine. If you really want to know that much, you don't have the right to get mad at me afterwards.. since I tried my best to establish the situation, but you're so stubborn that you couldn't wait..
"C'mon Mama, my heart was already thumping fast because of the suspense.."
Then..
"wait-,…WHAT?! Are you joking?"
She wished she had put up with her mother's antics quite a bit longer, for soon after hearing what her mom had to say, she was so shocked, she could hardly breathe. She didn't even noticed that her mom already hang up the phone, because when she finally, but barely, managed to come to her senses, her mother's last words ran through her mind again like how blood came rushing in her heart veins again.
++++++++++++++++++
"Sho-niichan!"
Sho was startled when his daughter ran towards him and gave him a big hug making him to hoist her upwards against his arms in return. "How did you know it was me?" He was wearing his own disguise, so he didn't at least expected that someone as young as her would actually be able to tell past his cover. The girl just smiled playfully and let her brother to answer the question.
"Oh, that was easy," Shuji answered smilingly.
"How?" he felt stupid asking his 4-yr old kids, but he was really curious.
"By your eyes," he just smiled. "Besides, we just know.. we just did.." his son told him mysteriously.
Sho wanted to ask in detail, but Shuri called him, distracting him off his thoughts.
"Ne~ O..niichan," the girl said.
"Hmm?" He was still carrying her in his arms.
Staring blankly at him, "Can you put me down?"
"Eh?" he was surprised by the sudden coldness in her frame. Ahh.. first their mom.. now my kids? What the heck was happening? He thought before putting her down.
"Ah, gomen niichan~ I just felt dizzy being hoisted up.. that's all," she said and hold his hand instead. "I think this was better." Looking at her twin with an apologetic smile, "Shuji too.."
Shuji widened his eyes for a brief moment before taking Sho's other hand. "ne~ oniichan, I'm hungry," he pouted.
"Ah.." he was lost for words. He knew he shouldn't be feeling that way, but something about his kids seemed off and it really bothered him. Tsk. Sho! Shikari! He thought its best to ascertain their moods first, before revealing the truth-especially if it's something as big, as telling them that he is their father. "So, shall we eat then? I have something to tell you" He smiled awkwardly.
"what it is niichan?" Shuri asked curiously, her brother just stayed silent while walking to where his car was parked.
"Nah, after we eat," Sho insisted. If they were going to eat, they need to eat now, or they wouldn't be able to do it after.
++++++++++++++++++++++
It was past 7pm and knowing that he didn't have all the time to himself, he started talking. They were on a nearby playground, the one where Nino accidentally bumped on them. Shuji was sitting on a stone bench, opposite him was Sho, and Shuri was playing with the swing while listening.
After 30 minutes of barely able to recount what happened five years ago between him and their mother, with a lot of pauses while thinking if its proper to tell 4year old kids about "those" things, earning him an occasional answer from Shuji and most of the times from Shuri, telling him that they weren't as slow as he think they are, Sho mustered all his courage for the hardest part of the story. But before he could actually tell them who he was, before he was able to speak his introductory words, Shuri suddenly stopped on her tracks, smiled at him knowingly, saying nothing, while waiting for her twin brother's response. But Shuji's reaction took longer time than expected. The boy stayed silent for more than 10 minutes.
How he wished he'd come up with a definite plan how to deal with his kids, but no matter how hard he thinks, how much time he spends, no answers came that at times he feel he was on the brink of his sanity if not for Shu reprimanding him from time to time not to push his brains on its limits by trying to squeeze out some answers which obviously would not come.
Even Johnny did not have the slightest idea that of all those "brilliant" ideas in his plans, it still had its flaw, and that was the one he's dealing now.
In the end, his brother told him just to go with his instincts and adrenaline rush, which is why every minute that passed, he was growing more anxious as to what his son was really thinking. When the boy spoke though, he had to hold his breath for a moment, his full attention drawn at the boy while hoping and praying for a miracle to happen.
"So you're our dad huh." was Shuji's initial reaction. It wasn't a question but a statement. His son wasn't even surprised when he was telling them what happened five years ago making it so as if the boy had known it for ages and his face didn't even show any kind of emotions. It was point blank that it scared Sho. He can't even get himself to ask how and when they'd found out all, if not, part of the truth.
"Aren't you going to confirm what my brother had said?" it was Shuri this time.
"But it was obvious that you already know.." Sho thought if he should pursue the conversation or wait for them to speak. He chose the former. "How long had you known?"
"Answer my sister's question first." Shuji stared at him.
He gulped down before answering, "Yes, I am your dad." He glanced at his son in search for any feedback, but he received none. Staring past at his daughter, Shuri was still smiling with her lips still pursed making him wonder if it was something he should be joyful about or not.
"Then why did you left Mama? Us?" the boy asked again, his eyes weren't blinking as if sizing his sincerity.
"I'm sorry.." Sho was so tensed that it was what came out of his mouth. Hearing his answer for the first time, the boy showed a disappointed expression before standing on his feet and walked away.
"Shuji didn't ask for your apology…" Shuri told him, her eyes on her brother who sat under a nearby tree, his head leaning on his knees.
"I-" he was tongue tied again. He should've prepared himself for that.
"I mean.. if you're really our dad, you would somehow realized that my brother hated it when someone didn't answer his questions directly..So please?" the little girl said.
"Wha-" Sho was in deep thoughts. Digesting what Shuri had told him, he realized what she meant. Oh!..It's just natural for his son to be that way, afterall, he also hated it when his questions weren't answers directly. That thing happened all the time when he's in a conversation with Nino, which always ends in a disagreement.
"You realized right?" Shuri darted her eyes from her brother to Sho. "Mom used to tell us that Shuji is like our dad..like you" Smiling at him, "His attitude towards small things, his hardheadedness, it wasn't something that our mom possess..so from whom he could've inherited those?" she stood from the swing and walked to where he was and sat beside him.
"Aren't you mad at me?" Sho asked before he could stop himself from asking.
"Am I?" the girl smiled politely. "That time when you celebrated your anniversary..You heard it right?.. How I longed for my dad.." looking at him seriously, "Now that he's in front of me, would I supposed to get mad?" she blinked her eyes to stop getting emotional. "No. I should be more thankful because my wish had been granted."
"Oh!" Sho was overwhelmed. Hearing those words from his own daughter, his tears began swelling up. "But how about Shuji?..I know he's mad.."
"Oh.. of course he is.. you hear him too right?" Shuri said while wiping the tears off from his eyes by the back of her hand. "But if you're our dad, you should know the best way to deal with your own son right… Papa?" and wrapped her arms around him.
"Papa? Oh my God.." He hugged back. He was so happy yet sad. Just like the last time, Sho cried in his daughter's shoulder, pouring all his thoughts and his fears while seeking comfort in her embrace before he talked to his own son. He broke away from his daughter's arms and stood.
Shuri gave him an encouraging smile. "Ganbatte ne~ Papa."
It was all he need.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Watashi no namae wa Sakurai Shuri-desu."
"Sakurai Shuji-desu." He introduced.
That introduction left the guys' mouth gaping which didn't escape their notice that a sudden thought occurred to him.
"I'm sorry, we still have to attend our practice," he's not used to lying but he had to.
"Oh,.. see you at the foundation day then," Aiba told them, "Take care," after hearing that he left the room followed by his sister.
"Ne~ Anchan!" Shuri was calling to him but he didn't pay attention. He was so indulged on finding the truth. "Shuji!!!! Matte Kudasai!" she was panting hard. She must be. Because the moment they left ARASHI's greenroom, he was walking at the top of his speed. He wanted answers and he's going to get one.
"What?" he asked still walking faster, his sister doubling her pace.
"Where are you going? We should go to practice now."Shuri breathed wearily and grabbed his hand. "I said wait!"
"You'll know when we get there," he said halting in front of the elevator making Shuri almost tripped upon the sudden stop. When the elevator door opened, there was a group of idol which they recognized as NEWS. He ignored them and stepped inside, Shuri followed suit.
"Oh! What were two kids doing here? Hanging around the building," the guy they recognized as Masuda asked them.
"None of your business," He answered quite pissed because they didn't have the luxury to be on the elevator by themselves before pushing the 8th floor button.
"Of course it is young boy! This is where we work. Who do you think you are?" the man named Yamashita hissed angrily hearing his rudeness.
"Gomennasai,. My twin was just annoyed.. don't mind him.. sorry," Shuri bowed making him all the more pissed.
"What are you saying sorry for?" he snapped back at her and pulled her to stand.
"Hey, hey.. that was some attitude, I wonder if you get that from your mother?" the guy named Nishikido raised an eyebrow which he returned by a glare.
"Don't you dare insult my mother." He said, his hands forming into a ball of fist.
"Angry now are you? Mah~ mah~Now that I look at you, you resemble one of our sempai.." Ryo smirked. "Sheesh, even the attitude matches, I wonder if he's your dad? But its impossible, because he's not even married."
"Hey Ryo, stop it!" the guy named Yuya interrupted while observing his frame and his sister.
"Awww~ kawai.." He smiled at Shuri which she returned with a small smile. Yuya's attention dawned on him again, and he can't believe when the man rolled his eyes. "Uwaa~ he's cute too.. " observing him further, "Whoah! Ryo-chan was right. HE did look like Sakurai sempai!"
He saw Shuri gasped at the statement, he too was too shocked by what they heard exactly in time when the 8th floor button lit, and the elevator door opened. He grabbed Shuri's hand and stepped out walking hastily towards the room at the end of that floor while the guys were left digesting what had just happened.
"Nah~ impossible.. if they were Sho sempai's kids, fans won't like it."
They heard them said before the elevator door closed again.
He continued walking, dragging his sister along with her.
"Shuji.. am I thinking exactly the same thing you're thinking?" Shuri asked him, apparent sadness in her eyes.
"I guess.. that's what you called twins' instincts?." he managed to joke but deep inside his thoughts were flaring. He didn't know why it only occurred to him now why his mother acted that way in front of a certain person, nor why his mother prevented them from talking about her real identity to the group, nor why Johnny Kitagawa was so protective about their own identity that he'd gone to the extent of preventing their school administration to disclose anything about them especially their dad. He realized that the old man wasn't protecting them, he was protecting his business and that hurt him.
He knocked twice before entering. The secretary was surprised to see them again since they had just come over a while ago but still managed to put up a smile.
"Is Johnny-jiichan still free?" it was Shuri who asked because he stayed slient.
"Ah, hai. He still have no appointment.." the secretary answered.
"Could we talk to him?" she asked.
"Just a moment," the secretary said while hands already on the intercom. "Sir, Shuri and Shuji wanted to talk with you."
"Oh,.. okay, please let them in," the man's voice said.
He didn't even wait for the secretary to tell them to enter since they heard, but still, Shuri bowed as an apology for the secretary.
"What's wrong with you Shuji? This isn't like you!" his sister told him in an annoyed tone.
"Then tell me! Who am I supposed to be like? I don't know whom I supposed to be like!" He casted her a hurtful look before entering the door adjoining the jimusho's father's office.
"That was quite an attitude young boy!" He heard Johnny said after hearing him shout at his sister. He was seated in the president's chair opposite his table, reading some papers. The old man motioned them to sit.
Occupying the visitors' seat, Shuji spoke. "In the elevator, I was told that too Sir," he used formality, meaning, it will be a serious talk.
"Oh, was that the reason for your manner just now Sakurai Shuji-chan?" the old man requited his formality making Shuri squirmed in her seat.
"What can you say about this Shuri-chan?" the old man looked at his sister.
"Oh please jiichan,. Forgive Shuji, he didn't mean that.. you see.. at the elevator..there was NEWS-san.." she started and stare nervously at the old man who just nodded indicating her to continue. "And then, Nishikido-san..he said that anchan resembled one of his sempai, that even their attitude matches" she bit her lip then glanced at him. He just stared back but didn't say anything, to their surprise, Johnny laughed.
"Oh! Really? I guess so too" he was still laughing as if he just heard a joke but stopped when he glared at him ".. sorry, please continue." The old man said and turned his attention from him to his sister.
"Then Yuya-san..he said.. Shuji and I were cute.. but after observing Shuji for a while.. he said..that…he said..he..looked like.." but his sister was looking pale so he decided to cut in.
"Those guys from NEWS said that I looked like Sakurai Sho and that if we're truly his kids, fans won't like it."
"So?" the old man's lips were pursed.
"So, I thought its best to ask the only man aside from Mama who knows the truth," he answered sternly.
"And may I know what Sakurai Shuji-chan will do when he found out that Sakurai Sho being his father might be true?"
His eyes widened, his sister in shock. "No he's not!" he snapped.
"Yes he is!" the old man snapped back.
For a moment there was an eerie silence. Shuri was crying and her ragged breathing echoed in the room.
"Oh no.. NO! why?" she was talking to no one, kept sobbing and sniffing while her hands were covering her face. "Why Sho-niichan.. why does it have to be you?.."….
Seeing his twin sister suffering like that, his rage to the father whom he knew by now, seemed to rise up again, but that time it was more intense and suffocating. Shuji's thoughts ran back again to that day after they found out the truth, the day when they had their first and their biggest fight as siblings...
"Iyada! No Shuri! I won't accept him!" He told his sister firmly. Shuri was no longer crying, but she was still hiccupping. They were seated on the stone seats opposite each other.
"We should give him a chance Shuji! Or we'll regret it later.." she told him stubbornly. He knew his sister very well that opposing would mean another argument, but he still can't agree when his sister had that crazy notion of giving Sakurai Sho a chance.
"Chance? My goodness Shuri! Have you lost your mind? He's the one who left mama! A guy like him doesn't deserve that!"
"anchan.. why? Why do you have to hate him?" Shuri looked at him, eyes brimming with tears. "Even Mama told us not to hate him.. but you…why?"
"That's why Shuri.. Mama won't even hate him,.. I have to hate him for mom.." He told her.
"No! You don't.. you're just too selfish anchan! You don't hate him because of mom.. you hate him for yourself!"
"Yes, I hate him! Hear that? I hate the fact that NEWS-san had seen the resemblance between me and him!, I hate the fact that you got mama's attitude and I got the attitude of the father whom I didn't know until now!"
SLAP!
Shuri slapped him.
He was hurt- not because of the impact but by the fact that she'd chosen to side with Sakurai Sho, their father whom they had met just now, over him, her twin brother who had been alongside with her.
Then Shuri began crying. "I'm sorry.." there was pain in her eyes. "I'm so sorry.. I didn't mean to Shuji.. its just that..OH!" she hid her face with her hand. "I'm sorry," she kept muttering under muffled voice. "How can I make you understand?" she said it in a hurt tone.
"Shuri.. I-" he spoke but no words came out. He hated his father, he hated it more seeing his twin sister wept like that, but what he hated most was the fact that he was the one causing her to be like that and not their father. For years of staying with her, he knew, even if Shuri didn't show it, or was afraid to show it, that deep inside his sister's heart, she was rejoicing. He was the one who always wakes her up when she was having a nightmare. He was the one who always comforts her whenever she longed for their father. And now that they found out who he was, he couldn't believe that he's the one preventing his own sister's happiness.
"Did it even occur to you Shuji why Mama doesn't hate him? Or did you even asked yourself why?" she was reading him. "No! You're too scared because you know in your heart that you longed for someone who could protect you! protect us! For someone who would let you act as your age, that the moment you opened this" she pointed to her chest, "You know that your true feelings will overcome you!"
He was amazed at how well his twin sister knew him- all her words were true. He's just scared. Too scared that he'd forced himself to grow up just to be strong and made himself believed that he hated their father, when in reality, he longed for him just as how much, or more than, Shuri longed for him.
"Ne~" he called her sister when he noticed that she'd somehow stopped crying. "Ne~" he called again.
"Hmm?" Shuri sniffed. "Don't talk to me. I hate you," sniffed again.
"Shuri.." he felt helpless."I-" he bit his lip and sighed. "I am sorry.."
"You are sorry?" his own sister was challenging him.
"I am." He pulled her hands and hold it so that they were looking at each other, eye to eye.
"You're going to give Sho-niichan a chance?" Shuri's eyes were glowing while saying those words.
He sighed as a sign of giving up.
"Hontou?" she asked confirming his gesture.
"If you keep on insisting, I'll do it for you." Shuji felt relieved.
"Yatta!" Shuri exclaimed before giving him a tight embrace that kept him out of breath for a moment.
"Can't breathe.." he said with difficulty.
"Aw.. gomen gomen," his sister got herself off him and gave her an apologetic smile.
"Are you okay with what I said?" he was puzzled because his sister didn't even ask about what he meant.
"Yup.. because I know that you're too shy to admit that you do want to give Sho-niichan a chance, you just made it sound as if I'm insisting it and that you're doing it for me." She laughed.
His sister had done it again- reading him well. "Whatever."
"Shuji-chan?"
Shuji heard Sho's voice snapping him out of his reverie. He stayed silent, his head still leaned on his knees hiding his face while his arms wrapped around his knees, his ears listening to every movement his father made.
Sho sat beside his son, his back against the huge tree. "Shuji," he said again.
"Don't call me as if we're close," Shuji replied coldly without changing his position. Sorry Shuri, I know I have promised you.. but its harder than I thought. His father didn't react but instead began talking.
"Okay, I know I should have been more honest with you," Sho sighed.
"Why?" Shuji looked at Sho for the first time and saw the loneliness his eyes portrayed.
"The first time I saw your mother, I fell in love with her.." Sho smiled at the thought. "She never failed to make my heart flutters and her smile, it was all sunny.."
"If you love her, then why did you leave her?" Shuji's eyes were demanding.
"Because I thought it was the best for her." He said with sadness. "You see, that time ARASHI was just starting.."
"So you left her because of your career? How shallow," his son said sarcastically.
"Please understand," he was losing his grip again.
"Then make me," Shuji answered, his eyes directed at him.
"You see, an idol's life isn't as shiny and shimmery as how it looked in the concerts. " he paused and stared at his son. Shuji might be a genius, but there are some things that kids would not understand unless you make them. "If fans found out that an idol is dating someone, they would bother the girl involved, threaten her and insult her. If media found out about the relationship, they would be pestering that girl just to have an interview. In the end, despite the effort of the idol to keep the relationship, the girl would be the one who call it quits in fear of ruining both her life and the idol's career.."
"Why are you telling me all this?" Shuji asked further.
"Because I want you to understand.. understand that I don't want her to go through all of those things.." Sho said with all honesty. "If I pursue a relationship with her, it would steal away her smile. The fans would bother her, the media won't stop following her.." Sho began to tremble. "I know I hurt her, but it was the only thing I could give her that time. I couldn't offer her anything, I couldn't even protect her..so I thought its better to let her experience a painful thing once, than to let her stay with me, and have her endure all those things all her life," he sobbed, "that she would grew tired of those troubles making us both end up hurting.." Sho placed his arms on his knees and leaned against it keeping him balanced while crying.
Shuji was too shocked by the emotions Sho was portraying that his eyes were fixed on his father, his frame deeply moved by the extremity of pain his dad was hiding all this time that he felt his own eyes getting wet because of the tears he was suppressing a while ago. "Did you ever regret what happened between you and Mama?" he sniffed.
"Regret? Oh my God.. No!" Sho stirred sideways to face him, distraught by Shuji's sudden question, "Why would I regret something that had made me feel I'm the happiest man alive?" he was still sobbing yet his face revealed an expression of a man who looked as if he'd heard something awful. "Was that what you're thinking all this time?"
Shuji nodded. "Then how about us?" his tears rolled down his cheeks, "When you first found out about me and Shuri? Did you feel sad? Happy? Distressed? Guilty?" he felt anxious that he started crying loudly. He was a genius, but that wouldn't change the fact that he was still a kid.
Sho stared in awe at his son who's asking question like a kid. But then he realized that Shuji is still a kid, and he should be treated like that. "I felt guilty and sad at first," he answered truthfully. There's no point lying now. He needed to stay true or his conscience will suffer.
"hah! I knew it. You only want mom and you don't want us!" Shuji began hitting his chest with full force while crying and sniffing at full volume. "I hate you!" he cried then hit him, "I hate you!" sniffed again and send blows against his chest like a kid who had just robbed off his favorite toy. "I hate you."
Sho was taken aback by Shuji's reaction that all he could do was to pull his son against his chest and enclosed him with his arms.
"I hate you!" Shuji kept on saying while struggling to free himself away from Sho's arms, but his father was too strong for him, that in the end, he just resumed his crying in a muffled voice.
Sho rubbed Shuji's back with his hand causing the kid to cry more and pour out all the tears he must have been keeping all this while. Cool breeze rushed past them, making the leaves rustle, but Shuji was still crying that he didn’t feel cold and he'd stopped shouting and yelling "I hate you" at his father which Sho considered as good before saying anything again.
He put his hands on Shuji's shoulder, pushing him gently away from his chest but closed enough for both of them to face each other. "I said I felt guilty and sad at first didn't I Shuji?"
"Hai.." The kid nodded his eyes swollen and red from crying.
"So that means, I still have something to say after it, right Shuji?" Sho asked.
"Right.." the kid sniffed.
"Will you promise then to listen until I'm done talking?" he inquired.
The kid stared at him but stayed silent, unmoving. The only noises that were present were the rustling sound of leaves and trees and their breathings.
"When I told you I felt guilty.. I really felt that way.." Upon saying that, Shuji let out a scoff but he ignored it. "I felt guilty for leaving your mom alone." He told him. "When I said I felt sad, of course I would feel sad. I had left the responsibility to the woman I love, knowing that she suffered alone, that she had raised you alone, should I be happy about that?"
Shuji shook his head and bowed.
"Right. That's the reason why I felt that way at first." He told the kid, with emphasis on the words "at first".
"Then.." Shuji snuffled.
"Then I feel proud after.," Sho smiled at Shuji while wiping the tears off from the kid's eyes.
"You were?" the kid stared at him figuring out whether he's telling the truth or not.
"Don't use past tense Shuji.. Until now I still feel proud."
"Why?" Shuji was eyeing him intently.
"Why? Isn't that obvious? Because I'm your dad!" Sho rolled his eyes and clapped his hands. "and I love you and Shuri." There, he finally said it. "Isn't that enough of a reason Shuji?"
Before Shuji could manage to speak though, there was a loud rustling sound coming on their direction.
"Tsk! That's too obvious Shuji. I couldn't believe you don't realize it yet." Shuri was playing with the fallen leaves, making loud noises while raising an eyebrow at her brother.
"What do you mean?" Shuji asked. Both father and son stared at Shuri with baffled expressions.
"See? You're even wearing the same expression as Papa.." She let out a chuckle before sitting down. "Sheesh. You really are Papa's son."
"I'm asking what you meant by that. Please don't speak redundant things." Shuji raised an eyebrow this time. His tears gone but his eyes were still swollen.
Shuri grinned before answering. "Am I being redundant? Sheesh. There you go again Shuji, no doubt how NEWS-san could see the resemblance between you and Papa."
Wait! Wha- How did NEWS become involved in this? Sho had so many questions running on his mind, but he stayed silent, watching his kids.
"Stop beating around the bush Shuri. You know I don't like it!" the boy snapped. "And stop calling him "Papa!"
"Fine. Suits you." She said. "And I would call him Papa, because he's our dad!" she scowled.
"Hey, don't fight.." Sho was caught whether to stop them or not. In fact, it somehow amused him seeing them argued on a childish manner. Seeing them fight made him realized that kids will always be kids no matter how genius they are.
"Shut up Papa!"
"Shut up!"
They said in chorused making Sho laughed stopping the kids for a moment.
"What's so funny?" Shuri asked with her eyebrows furrowed.
"Oh,.. nothing,. I just thought, you're fighting like kids." Sho felt dumb answering that way, but Shuji stated the obvious.
"Are you stupid? We're acting like kids, because we ARE still kids.!" Shuji yelled.
"Oh..of..course.. gomen," wait!. Why are you apologizing? You should get mad! Sho thought, but Shuri did it before he was able to.
"Hey! Baka!" she nudged her twin's head. "Don't raise your voice to Papa.. see? That attitude of yours! Sheesh." Shuri said in gritted teeth. "Why are you making it hard for Papa, Shuji? He said he loves us!"
"He did?" Shuji was taken aback for a moment, musing why he didn't catch Sho saying those words, or, he heard it but let it passed on his other ear.
Shuri rolled her eyes and giggled. "Dork."
"I'm not!" Shujii bellowed at his sister before glancing in astonishment at his father who shouted the same words at the same time blushing.
"I'm Not!" Sho retorted out of impulse but realized that his daughter was referring to his son that his cheeks grew a little red.
"HAH!" Shuri hooted. "See? There's no point denying it Shuji, you're Papa's son up to your very bones. "
"Iyada desu!" Shuji anwered stubbornly.
". I don't want to do this Shuji..but.., should I let Papa see your drawings?" Shuri widened her eyes at his brother.
"Drawings?" Sho interrupted.
"Oh yes Papa, did you know that Shuji loves to draw?" Smirking at her brother, Shuri started searching her pocket.
"Oh no, you don't have it with you," Shuji told his sister confidently.
"Oh yes I do," She said and pulled a piece of folded paper out of her pocket.
Shuji's face turned pale seeing the paper that he had to gulp down so many times. If Sho happened to see his drawing, it would reveal his own feelings. "Fine! Fine! Just don't let him see that!"
"Okay," Shuri smiled. Shuji snatched away the paper in her hand only to be surprised that it was a blank paper.
"You!." Shuji glared at her. "There's no way I'm giving him a chance!" he was about to attack his sister but Sho restrained him.
"Whoah~ wait," Sho held Shuji by both hands. "We're you planning to hit your own sister just now?" He asked in a fatherly tone making Shuji straighten up hearing the tenacity in his father's voice.
"So?" Shuji asked despite the fear that was apparent in his eyes. He never heard Sho in that tone.
"So? That was very rude young boy!" Sho lectured. "Hitting a girl is wrong, especially if she's your sister!"
Hmph, you don't have the right to tell me that after what you did to mom..Shuji thought but kept his mouth shut.
"Look, I know you're mad at me, and right now you were probably thinking that I don't have the right to lecture you because of what I did to your mother." He paused and saw his son staring at him in shock and amazement. "What? Speechless? I'm your dad Shuji, of course I know what's running on your mind. I had the same thoughts with my dad before."
"Sakurai-jiichan?" Shuji questioned.
"Oh.. so you're calling my dad "jiichan" yet you can't accept me as your own dad?" He glanced at his son without blinking. "That seriously hurt, my son."
"I'm not your son," Shuji declared stubbornly.
"Mou~ yamete kudasai!" Shuri looked pissed. "You!" she pointed at Shuji, "And you Papa" looking at them with an annoyed expression. "Will the both of you stop arguing?" Shuri sighed furiously before drawing a piece of paper out of her pocket and handed it to Sho.
Sho folded out the paper and examined the drawing.
"You drew this?" he asked Shuri.
"Nope. Shuji did." She sighed again seeing the blank expression on her father's face.
"Shuri, how-" Shuji glowered at her but she ignored it. His eyes dawned on his father who was eyeing his drawing carefully. Just in time when he was about to snatch his drawing away from his father's hand, Sho's face brightened before turning his attention on him.
"Sugoi yo Shuji! Hontou ni sugoi!" Sho marveled at his son.
"Eh? hontou?" he asked timidly, "Mama and Shuri always laughed at me whenever I showed them my drawings.." he pouted.
"Eh?" Sho glanced at Shuri who just chuckled.
"Gomen ne~ Papa, it was really hilarious.." Shuri began giggling.
"No, this didn't look hilarious..this is priceless." Sho gave his son a thumb's up making Shuji inclined closer to him.
"You think so?" the kid was beaming.
Sho nodded.
"Wait~" he suddenly remembered the frame on his mom's desk. "Then you're the one who drew that picture on mom's desk!" excitement was written all over the kid's face.
"h-hai." Sho nodded hesitantly, "W-why? Was it that b-bad?" his heart was beating nervously anticipating his son's next words.
Shuri raised an eyebrow. "Bad? Papa, it was wor-"
"Oh, no, no! I love it!" Shuji exclaimed, interrupting his sister's statement.
"Yatta!" Sho put his hands up, while doing the "banzai" gesture. "So.. does it mean you forgive me now?"
"Who said that?" Shuji stood and dusted the leaves off his shorts and started walking away. Sho and Shuri did the same with their garment before following the young boy.
"Hey! Shuji.. that's not fair..you just told Papa that you love his drawing right?" Shuri placed a hand on her brother's shoulder. She was about to force him to turn around when she saw from the corner of her eyes that her brother was actually smiling that she stopped right away.
With his back facing them, Shuji spoke. "Fine, if you're insisting on it that much, I forgive you Otousan.." He began walking again with a wide grin etched on his face leaving his dad and his sister.
"Wait!" Shuri started running to catch Shuji, but paused upon noticing that Sho wasn't following. She walked a few steps to where her father was standing. "Papa? What's wrong?"
"Did your brother just call me "tousan?" Sho's eyes were on Shuji's retreating figure.
"Hai. He just did, let's go, or Shuji might get mad.." She smiled and grabbed Sho's hand and tugged him.
"Eh? nande?" He asked while letting his daughter drag him along.
"C'mon Papa, you hate people being late right?" Shuri asked still pulling him.
"I guess.. what about it?" but Sho needed not to hear his daughter's reply..Of course.. Shuji would hate it too.. He was amazed at how his son get all, if not, almost all his traits. He was even speechless after seeing Shuji's drawing. He didn't thought that his son would actually inherit his "drawing talent" instead of his mother's making him all the more proud of Shuji being his son.
"Ne~ Papa," Shuri spoke slowing down so that the two of them were walking side by side while her hand was still holding his.
"mm?" Sho glanced sideway at her.
"Don't mind what Shuji said about insisting him to forgive you.." They stopped when they were in front of the car. Sho opened the door with his car keys. Shuji was waiting for them, his back leaning on the car's rear.
"What do you mean?" Sho halted too.
"It meant he loves you too, he's just too shy to admit it." Shuri smiled at him before going inside the car and was surprised that Shuji got in there before her. "Right Shuji?"
Sho went on the driver's seat and started the engine while listening and watching his kids' childish argument through the car's rearview mirror.
"You're saying redundant things again," Shuji replied but his face was blushing.
"See, Papa!" Shuri looked at the mirror, "Shuji was blushing, that means I'm right." She said playfully.
"Tsk. That was exaggerated. I'm not blushing. Sheesh. You're reading me too much Shuri. " Shuji crossed his arms.
"See? You're getting annoyed!" she giggled.
"Shuri, stop teasing your brother." Sho told her while eyes on the driveway, chuckling on the topic of their dispute.
Shuji smirked at his sister who pouted. "Thanks 'tousan."
"Hey, didn't we agree to call him Papa?" Shuri blocked her brother's view.
"Nah. Its too girly for me Shuri." The boy scuffled. "Besides, its too foreign."
Sho had to smile on what Shuji had just said.
"Fine. You call him "tousan" and I'll call him Papa!" The girl said determinedly before leaning across the driver's seat. "Is that okay with you Papa?"
"H-hai. If that's what you want.." He answered, "But I think Shuji was right, doesn't it sound too foreign for you Shuri?"
"Hah! See! I told you Shuri!" Shuji grinned triumphantly.
"Mou~ why are you conniving?" She slouched back on her seat and stared outside the window while smiling to herself. Arigato gozaimasu.. Kami-sama..
++++++++++++
"WHERE THE HELL THE THREE OF YOU HAD BEEN?" Shi yelled the moment Sho, Shuri, and Shuji entered the apartment. She was sitting on the sofa, her arms crossed while staring furiously at them.
The three exchanged glances. All had the same thought in mind: Yabai!
CHAPTER 32
-STAGE III [aftermath]-
"Tetsuka Shi-chan!" Yuya called to her. "Matte" he said catching her in no time.
"What?" Shi asked still pissed by what his bandmate did.
"I love you!" with that, the guy left without saying anything further, leaving her shocked at his sudden confession.
Tsk. Shi was so pissed. She kept asking herself, why is that, every time she goes to that building without an actual appointment, things don't turn out good for her. It didn't even help that the article was old, but what bothered her was the fact that Sakurai Sho had the chance dating, if not, "going out" with some of his girl colleagues, while she locked herself away from those men who'd been constantly trying to get her attention. She even felt stupid for acting like that in front of Ryo, no matter how jerk a guy of him, and troubled because of Yuya's confession. But what she certainly detested and had a hard time digesting, was the fact that no matter how old the article was, she still felt jealous.
Tsk. "At least Tego-chan had the guts to tell me how he felt, unlike that dork!" She pounded the table in a not-so-soft manner, which earned her questioning stares from the diners in the coffee shop where she was supposed to be meeting with Mai, glancing at the clock: 3pm, well, after two hours. She rummaged her bag for her phone, to see if there were important calls while drinking her frappe that she almost choked at the numbers of calls and messages, and nearly got her eyeballs off its case upon widening her eyes seeing that they were all from a certain person.
72 missed calls. -shilovethisdork
84 Messages-shilovethisdork
All of it, if not, perhaps most of it contained one thought-he's worried about her, which took Shi seconds to be able to contain herself from placing a sudden calls revealing from her voice how happy she was knowing that he'd care enough to call her that much. After making sure that her tone wouldn't sound like an excited teenager who's been madly in love, her heart still beating faster but steadily, she browsed her phone for his number and called. There was a ring. Another ring. And then another ring.
Shi was getting annoyed at how he was making her wait that she had thought of pressing the cancel button when he finally answered.
Moshi Moshi, goodness. Why aren't you answering my call Shi? I was worried you know!
I know.. She thought but instead, she put up an indifferent tone. "Hey! Don't shout! What do you need?"
Shi, I was wondering if I could fetch the twins after school?
She had to admit that it warmed her heart hearing him ask about that, but remembering the article she felt bitterly that what came next from her mouth was all pissed tone. "Why are you asking me? Ask them."
But his next question had caught her by surprise.
Hey, what's wrong? Why do I have the feeling that you're mad at me?
Tsk. Am I that really easy to read? Was he really a dork? Those thoughts were swarming around her brains before she could reply with another excuse. "I'm not mad. Jya~ I just called because you're spamming my mailbox."
Shi ended the call before he could talk back, the main reason was that her feelings seemed to overthrow her sanity again that would make her do things like confessing her feelings to him before the guy, if and only if, Sho have real feelings for her. It will be best to hear his insights first. She wouldn't stand the humiliation if one day she happens to know that her feelings were actually an unreciprocated one.
Her thoughts were put on hold when she felt her phone vibrating against her hand. Assuming that it was still Sho calling, she answered in a pissed manner only to make her drew back.
"WHAT?- Oh!" leaning away against her phone because the caller shouted back. "Mama, sorry.." She changed her tone when she realized that it was actually her mom. "Ugh, I was just a little pissed. So why d'you call?"
Hey! Is it wrong for a mother to call her only daughter?
"No mama, sorry.. but you rarely call me these days, so seriously, what's up?" She rolled her eyes hearing her mother chuckled before speaking again.
Silly dear. Do you hate surprises that much that you won't even ask your mom how was she?
Ugh I hate this..Mustering all her patience, "So how are you mom?"
Fine.
"See? That's why I hate asking how you are, because you always say fine and not really told me how exactly you have been coping. So what's up?" she asked again.
Fine. If you really want to know that much, you don't have the right to get mad at me afterwards.. since I tried my best to establish the situation, but you're so stubborn that you couldn't wait..
"C'mon Mama, my heart was already thumping fast because of the suspense.."
Then..
"wait-,…WHAT?! Are you joking?"
She wished she had put up with her mother's antics quite a bit longer, for soon after hearing what her mom had to say, she was so shocked, she could hardly breathe. She didn't even noticed that her mom already hang up the phone, because when she finally, but barely, managed to come to her senses, her mother's last words ran through her mind again like how blood came rushing in her heart veins again.
++++++++++++++++++
"Sho-niichan!"
Sho was startled when his daughter ran towards him and gave him a big hug making him to hoist her upwards against his arms in return. "How did you know it was me?" He was wearing his own disguise, so he didn't at least expected that someone as young as her would actually be able to tell past his cover. The girl just smiled playfully and let her brother to answer the question.
"Oh, that was easy," Shuji answered smilingly.
"How?" he felt stupid asking his 4-yr old kids, but he was really curious.
"By your eyes," he just smiled. "Besides, we just know.. we just did.." his son told him mysteriously.
Sho wanted to ask in detail, but Shuri called him, distracting him off his thoughts.
"Ne~ O..niichan," the girl said.
"Hmm?" He was still carrying her in his arms.
Staring blankly at him, "Can you put me down?"
"Eh?" he was surprised by the sudden coldness in her frame. Ahh.. first their mom.. now my kids? What the heck was happening? He thought before putting her down.
"Ah, gomen niichan~ I just felt dizzy being hoisted up.. that's all," she said and hold his hand instead. "I think this was better." Looking at her twin with an apologetic smile, "Shuji too.."
Shuji widened his eyes for a brief moment before taking Sho's other hand. "ne~ oniichan, I'm hungry," he pouted.
"Ah.." he was lost for words. He knew he shouldn't be feeling that way, but something about his kids seemed off and it really bothered him. Tsk. Sho! Shikari! He thought its best to ascertain their moods first, before revealing the truth-especially if it's something as big, as telling them that he is their father. "So, shall we eat then? I have something to tell you" He smiled awkwardly.
"what it is niichan?" Shuri asked curiously, her brother just stayed silent while walking to where his car was parked.
"Nah, after we eat," Sho insisted. If they were going to eat, they need to eat now, or they wouldn't be able to do it after.
++++++++++++++++++++++
It was past 7pm and knowing that he didn't have all the time to himself, he started talking. They were on a nearby playground, the one where Nino accidentally bumped on them. Shuji was sitting on a stone bench, opposite him was Sho, and Shuri was playing with the swing while listening.
After 30 minutes of barely able to recount what happened five years ago between him and their mother, with a lot of pauses while thinking if its proper to tell 4year old kids about "those" things, earning him an occasional answer from Shuji and most of the times from Shuri, telling him that they weren't as slow as he think they are, Sho mustered all his courage for the hardest part of the story. But before he could actually tell them who he was, before he was able to speak his introductory words, Shuri suddenly stopped on her tracks, smiled at him knowingly, saying nothing, while waiting for her twin brother's response. But Shuji's reaction took longer time than expected. The boy stayed silent for more than 10 minutes.
How he wished he'd come up with a definite plan how to deal with his kids, but no matter how hard he thinks, how much time he spends, no answers came that at times he feel he was on the brink of his sanity if not for Shu reprimanding him from time to time not to push his brains on its limits by trying to squeeze out some answers which obviously would not come.
Even Johnny did not have the slightest idea that of all those "brilliant" ideas in his plans, it still had its flaw, and that was the one he's dealing now.
In the end, his brother told him just to go with his instincts and adrenaline rush, which is why every minute that passed, he was growing more anxious as to what his son was really thinking. When the boy spoke though, he had to hold his breath for a moment, his full attention drawn at the boy while hoping and praying for a miracle to happen.
"So you're our dad huh." was Shuji's initial reaction. It wasn't a question but a statement. His son wasn't even surprised when he was telling them what happened five years ago making it so as if the boy had known it for ages and his face didn't even show any kind of emotions. It was point blank that it scared Sho. He can't even get himself to ask how and when they'd found out all, if not, part of the truth.
"Aren't you going to confirm what my brother had said?" it was Shuri this time.
"But it was obvious that you already know.." Sho thought if he should pursue the conversation or wait for them to speak. He chose the former. "How long had you known?"
"Answer my sister's question first." Shuji stared at him.
He gulped down before answering, "Yes, I am your dad." He glanced at his son in search for any feedback, but he received none. Staring past at his daughter, Shuri was still smiling with her lips still pursed making him wonder if it was something he should be joyful about or not.
"Then why did you left Mama? Us?" the boy asked again, his eyes weren't blinking as if sizing his sincerity.
"I'm sorry.." Sho was so tensed that it was what came out of his mouth. Hearing his answer for the first time, the boy showed a disappointed expression before standing on his feet and walked away.
"Shuji didn't ask for your apology…" Shuri told him, her eyes on her brother who sat under a nearby tree, his head leaning on his knees.
"I-" he was tongue tied again. He should've prepared himself for that.
"I mean.. if you're really our dad, you would somehow realized that my brother hated it when someone didn't answer his questions directly..So please?" the little girl said.
"Wha-" Sho was in deep thoughts. Digesting what Shuri had told him, he realized what she meant. Oh!..It's just natural for his son to be that way, afterall, he also hated it when his questions weren't answers directly. That thing happened all the time when he's in a conversation with Nino, which always ends in a disagreement.
"You realized right?" Shuri darted her eyes from her brother to Sho. "Mom used to tell us that Shuji is like our dad..like you" Smiling at him, "His attitude towards small things, his hardheadedness, it wasn't something that our mom possess..so from whom he could've inherited those?" she stood from the swing and walked to where he was and sat beside him.
"Aren't you mad at me?" Sho asked before he could stop himself from asking.
"Am I?" the girl smiled politely. "That time when you celebrated your anniversary..You heard it right?.. How I longed for my dad.." looking at him seriously, "Now that he's in front of me, would I supposed to get mad?" she blinked her eyes to stop getting emotional. "No. I should be more thankful because my wish had been granted."
"Oh!" Sho was overwhelmed. Hearing those words from his own daughter, his tears began swelling up. "But how about Shuji?..I know he's mad.."
"Oh.. of course he is.. you hear him too right?" Shuri said while wiping the tears off from his eyes by the back of her hand. "But if you're our dad, you should know the best way to deal with your own son right… Papa?" and wrapped her arms around him.
"Papa? Oh my God.." He hugged back. He was so happy yet sad. Just like the last time, Sho cried in his daughter's shoulder, pouring all his thoughts and his fears while seeking comfort in her embrace before he talked to his own son. He broke away from his daughter's arms and stood.
Shuri gave him an encouraging smile. "Ganbatte ne~ Papa."
It was all he need.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Watashi no namae wa Sakurai Shuri-desu."
"Sakurai Shuji-desu." He introduced.
That introduction left the guys' mouth gaping which didn't escape their notice that a sudden thought occurred to him.
"I'm sorry, we still have to attend our practice," he's not used to lying but he had to.
"Oh,.. see you at the foundation day then," Aiba told them, "Take care," after hearing that he left the room followed by his sister.
"Ne~ Anchan!" Shuri was calling to him but he didn't pay attention. He was so indulged on finding the truth. "Shuji!!!! Matte Kudasai!" she was panting hard. She must be. Because the moment they left ARASHI's greenroom, he was walking at the top of his speed. He wanted answers and he's going to get one.
"What?" he asked still walking faster, his sister doubling her pace.
"Where are you going? We should go to practice now."Shuri breathed wearily and grabbed his hand. "I said wait!"
"You'll know when we get there," he said halting in front of the elevator making Shuri almost tripped upon the sudden stop. When the elevator door opened, there was a group of idol which they recognized as NEWS. He ignored them and stepped inside, Shuri followed suit.
"Oh! What were two kids doing here? Hanging around the building," the guy they recognized as Masuda asked them.
"None of your business," He answered quite pissed because they didn't have the luxury to be on the elevator by themselves before pushing the 8th floor button.
"Of course it is young boy! This is where we work. Who do you think you are?" the man named Yamashita hissed angrily hearing his rudeness.
"Gomennasai,. My twin was just annoyed.. don't mind him.. sorry," Shuri bowed making him all the more pissed.
"What are you saying sorry for?" he snapped back at her and pulled her to stand.
"Hey, hey.. that was some attitude, I wonder if you get that from your mother?" the guy named Nishikido raised an eyebrow which he returned by a glare.
"Don't you dare insult my mother." He said, his hands forming into a ball of fist.
"Angry now are you? Mah~ mah~Now that I look at you, you resemble one of our sempai.." Ryo smirked. "Sheesh, even the attitude matches, I wonder if he's your dad? But its impossible, because he's not even married."
"Hey Ryo, stop it!" the guy named Yuya interrupted while observing his frame and his sister.
"Awww~ kawai.." He smiled at Shuri which she returned with a small smile. Yuya's attention dawned on him again, and he can't believe when the man rolled his eyes. "Uwaa~ he's cute too.. " observing him further, "Whoah! Ryo-chan was right. HE did look like Sakurai sempai!"
He saw Shuri gasped at the statement, he too was too shocked by what they heard exactly in time when the 8th floor button lit, and the elevator door opened. He grabbed Shuri's hand and stepped out walking hastily towards the room at the end of that floor while the guys were left digesting what had just happened.
"Nah~ impossible.. if they were Sho sempai's kids, fans won't like it."
They heard them said before the elevator door closed again.
He continued walking, dragging his sister along with her.
"Shuji.. am I thinking exactly the same thing you're thinking?" Shuri asked him, apparent sadness in her eyes.
"I guess.. that's what you called twins' instincts?." he managed to joke but deep inside his thoughts were flaring. He didn't know why it only occurred to him now why his mother acted that way in front of a certain person, nor why his mother prevented them from talking about her real identity to the group, nor why Johnny Kitagawa was so protective about their own identity that he'd gone to the extent of preventing their school administration to disclose anything about them especially their dad. He realized that the old man wasn't protecting them, he was protecting his business and that hurt him.
He knocked twice before entering. The secretary was surprised to see them again since they had just come over a while ago but still managed to put up a smile.
"Is Johnny-jiichan still free?" it was Shuri who asked because he stayed slient.
"Ah, hai. He still have no appointment.." the secretary answered.
"Could we talk to him?" she asked.
"Just a moment," the secretary said while hands already on the intercom. "Sir, Shuri and Shuji wanted to talk with you."
"Oh,.. okay, please let them in," the man's voice said.
He didn't even wait for the secretary to tell them to enter since they heard, but still, Shuri bowed as an apology for the secretary.
"What's wrong with you Shuji? This isn't like you!" his sister told him in an annoyed tone.
"Then tell me! Who am I supposed to be like? I don't know whom I supposed to be like!" He casted her a hurtful look before entering the door adjoining the jimusho's father's office.
"That was quite an attitude young boy!" He heard Johnny said after hearing him shout at his sister. He was seated in the president's chair opposite his table, reading some papers. The old man motioned them to sit.
Occupying the visitors' seat, Shuji spoke. "In the elevator, I was told that too Sir," he used formality, meaning, it will be a serious talk.
"Oh, was that the reason for your manner just now Sakurai Shuji-chan?" the old man requited his formality making Shuri squirmed in her seat.
"What can you say about this Shuri-chan?" the old man looked at his sister.
"Oh please jiichan,. Forgive Shuji, he didn't mean that.. you see.. at the elevator..there was NEWS-san.." she started and stare nervously at the old man who just nodded indicating her to continue. "And then, Nishikido-san..he said that anchan resembled one of his sempai, that even their attitude matches" she bit her lip then glanced at him. He just stared back but didn't say anything, to their surprise, Johnny laughed.
"Oh! Really? I guess so too" he was still laughing as if he just heard a joke but stopped when he glared at him ".. sorry, please continue." The old man said and turned his attention from him to his sister.
"Then Yuya-san..he said.. Shuji and I were cute.. but after observing Shuji for a while.. he said..that…he said..he..looked like.." but his sister was looking pale so he decided to cut in.
"Those guys from NEWS said that I looked like Sakurai Sho and that if we're truly his kids, fans won't like it."
"So?" the old man's lips were pursed.
"So, I thought its best to ask the only man aside from Mama who knows the truth," he answered sternly.
"And may I know what Sakurai Shuji-chan will do when he found out that Sakurai Sho being his father might be true?"
His eyes widened, his sister in shock. "No he's not!" he snapped.
"Yes he is!" the old man snapped back.
For a moment there was an eerie silence. Shuri was crying and her ragged breathing echoed in the room.
"Oh no.. NO! why?" she was talking to no one, kept sobbing and sniffing while her hands were covering her face. "Why Sho-niichan.. why does it have to be you?.."….
Seeing his twin sister suffering like that, his rage to the father whom he knew by now, seemed to rise up again, but that time it was more intense and suffocating. Shuji's thoughts ran back again to that day after they found out the truth, the day when they had their first and their biggest fight as siblings...
"Iyada! No Shuri! I won't accept him!" He told his sister firmly. Shuri was no longer crying, but she was still hiccupping. They were seated on the stone seats opposite each other.
"We should give him a chance Shuji! Or we'll regret it later.." she told him stubbornly. He knew his sister very well that opposing would mean another argument, but he still can't agree when his sister had that crazy notion of giving Sakurai Sho a chance.
"Chance? My goodness Shuri! Have you lost your mind? He's the one who left mama! A guy like him doesn't deserve that!"
"anchan.. why? Why do you have to hate him?" Shuri looked at him, eyes brimming with tears. "Even Mama told us not to hate him.. but you…why?"
"That's why Shuri.. Mama won't even hate him,.. I have to hate him for mom.." He told her.
"No! You don't.. you're just too selfish anchan! You don't hate him because of mom.. you hate him for yourself!"
"Yes, I hate him! Hear that? I hate the fact that NEWS-san had seen the resemblance between me and him!, I hate the fact that you got mama's attitude and I got the attitude of the father whom I didn't know until now!"
SLAP!
Shuri slapped him.
He was hurt- not because of the impact but by the fact that she'd chosen to side with Sakurai Sho, their father whom they had met just now, over him, her twin brother who had been alongside with her.
Then Shuri began crying. "I'm sorry.." there was pain in her eyes. "I'm so sorry.. I didn't mean to Shuji.. its just that..OH!" she hid her face with her hand. "I'm sorry," she kept muttering under muffled voice. "How can I make you understand?" she said it in a hurt tone.
"Shuri.. I-" he spoke but no words came out. He hated his father, he hated it more seeing his twin sister wept like that, but what he hated most was the fact that he was the one causing her to be like that and not their father. For years of staying with her, he knew, even if Shuri didn't show it, or was afraid to show it, that deep inside his sister's heart, she was rejoicing. He was the one who always wakes her up when she was having a nightmare. He was the one who always comforts her whenever she longed for their father. And now that they found out who he was, he couldn't believe that he's the one preventing his own sister's happiness.
"Did it even occur to you Shuji why Mama doesn't hate him? Or did you even asked yourself why?" she was reading him. "No! You're too scared because you know in your heart that you longed for someone who could protect you! protect us! For someone who would let you act as your age, that the moment you opened this" she pointed to her chest, "You know that your true feelings will overcome you!"
He was amazed at how well his twin sister knew him- all her words were true. He's just scared. Too scared that he'd forced himself to grow up just to be strong and made himself believed that he hated their father, when in reality, he longed for him just as how much, or more than, Shuri longed for him.
"Ne~" he called her sister when he noticed that she'd somehow stopped crying. "Ne~" he called again.
"Hmm?" Shuri sniffed. "Don't talk to me. I hate you," sniffed again.
"Shuri.." he felt helpless."I-" he bit his lip and sighed. "I am sorry.."
"You are sorry?" his own sister was challenging him.
"I am." He pulled her hands and hold it so that they were looking at each other, eye to eye.
"You're going to give Sho-niichan a chance?" Shuri's eyes were glowing while saying those words.
He sighed as a sign of giving up.
"Hontou?" she asked confirming his gesture.
"If you keep on insisting, I'll do it for you." Shuji felt relieved.
"Yatta!" Shuri exclaimed before giving him a tight embrace that kept him out of breath for a moment.
"Can't breathe.." he said with difficulty.
"Aw.. gomen gomen," his sister got herself off him and gave her an apologetic smile.
"Are you okay with what I said?" he was puzzled because his sister didn't even ask about what he meant.
"Yup.. because I know that you're too shy to admit that you do want to give Sho-niichan a chance, you just made it sound as if I'm insisting it and that you're doing it for me." She laughed.
His sister had done it again- reading him well. "Whatever."
"Shuji-chan?"
Shuji heard Sho's voice snapping him out of his reverie. He stayed silent, his head still leaned on his knees hiding his face while his arms wrapped around his knees, his ears listening to every movement his father made.
Sho sat beside his son, his back against the huge tree. "Shuji," he said again.
"Don't call me as if we're close," Shuji replied coldly without changing his position. Sorry Shuri, I know I have promised you.. but its harder than I thought. His father didn't react but instead began talking.
"Okay, I know I should have been more honest with you," Sho sighed.
"Why?" Shuji looked at Sho for the first time and saw the loneliness his eyes portrayed.
"The first time I saw your mother, I fell in love with her.." Sho smiled at the thought. "She never failed to make my heart flutters and her smile, it was all sunny.."
"If you love her, then why did you leave her?" Shuji's eyes were demanding.
"Because I thought it was the best for her." He said with sadness. "You see, that time ARASHI was just starting.."
"So you left her because of your career? How shallow," his son said sarcastically.
"Please understand," he was losing his grip again.
"Then make me," Shuji answered, his eyes directed at him.
"You see, an idol's life isn't as shiny and shimmery as how it looked in the concerts. " he paused and stared at his son. Shuji might be a genius, but there are some things that kids would not understand unless you make them. "If fans found out that an idol is dating someone, they would bother the girl involved, threaten her and insult her. If media found out about the relationship, they would be pestering that girl just to have an interview. In the end, despite the effort of the idol to keep the relationship, the girl would be the one who call it quits in fear of ruining both her life and the idol's career.."
"Why are you telling me all this?" Shuji asked further.
"Because I want you to understand.. understand that I don't want her to go through all of those things.." Sho said with all honesty. "If I pursue a relationship with her, it would steal away her smile. The fans would bother her, the media won't stop following her.." Sho began to tremble. "I know I hurt her, but it was the only thing I could give her that time. I couldn't offer her anything, I couldn't even protect her..so I thought its better to let her experience a painful thing once, than to let her stay with me, and have her endure all those things all her life," he sobbed, "that she would grew tired of those troubles making us both end up hurting.." Sho placed his arms on his knees and leaned against it keeping him balanced while crying.
Shuji was too shocked by the emotions Sho was portraying that his eyes were fixed on his father, his frame deeply moved by the extremity of pain his dad was hiding all this time that he felt his own eyes getting wet because of the tears he was suppressing a while ago. "Did you ever regret what happened between you and Mama?" he sniffed.
"Regret? Oh my God.. No!" Sho stirred sideways to face him, distraught by Shuji's sudden question, "Why would I regret something that had made me feel I'm the happiest man alive?" he was still sobbing yet his face revealed an expression of a man who looked as if he'd heard something awful. "Was that what you're thinking all this time?"
Shuji nodded. "Then how about us?" his tears rolled down his cheeks, "When you first found out about me and Shuri? Did you feel sad? Happy? Distressed? Guilty?" he felt anxious that he started crying loudly. He was a genius, but that wouldn't change the fact that he was still a kid.
Sho stared in awe at his son who's asking question like a kid. But then he realized that Shuji is still a kid, and he should be treated like that. "I felt guilty and sad at first," he answered truthfully. There's no point lying now. He needed to stay true or his conscience will suffer.
"hah! I knew it. You only want mom and you don't want us!" Shuji began hitting his chest with full force while crying and sniffing at full volume. "I hate you!" he cried then hit him, "I hate you!" sniffed again and send blows against his chest like a kid who had just robbed off his favorite toy. "I hate you."
Sho was taken aback by Shuji's reaction that all he could do was to pull his son against his chest and enclosed him with his arms.
"I hate you!" Shuji kept on saying while struggling to free himself away from Sho's arms, but his father was too strong for him, that in the end, he just resumed his crying in a muffled voice.
Sho rubbed Shuji's back with his hand causing the kid to cry more and pour out all the tears he must have been keeping all this while. Cool breeze rushed past them, making the leaves rustle, but Shuji was still crying that he didn’t feel cold and he'd stopped shouting and yelling "I hate you" at his father which Sho considered as good before saying anything again.
He put his hands on Shuji's shoulder, pushing him gently away from his chest but closed enough for both of them to face each other. "I said I felt guilty and sad at first didn't I Shuji?"
"Hai.." The kid nodded his eyes swollen and red from crying.
"So that means, I still have something to say after it, right Shuji?" Sho asked.
"Right.." the kid sniffed.
"Will you promise then to listen until I'm done talking?" he inquired.
The kid stared at him but stayed silent, unmoving. The only noises that were present were the rustling sound of leaves and trees and their breathings.
"When I told you I felt guilty.. I really felt that way.." Upon saying that, Shuji let out a scoff but he ignored it. "I felt guilty for leaving your mom alone." He told him. "When I said I felt sad, of course I would feel sad. I had left the responsibility to the woman I love, knowing that she suffered alone, that she had raised you alone, should I be happy about that?"
Shuji shook his head and bowed.
"Right. That's the reason why I felt that way at first." He told the kid, with emphasis on the words "at first".
"Then.." Shuji snuffled.
"Then I feel proud after.," Sho smiled at Shuji while wiping the tears off from the kid's eyes.
"You were?" the kid stared at him figuring out whether he's telling the truth or not.
"Don't use past tense Shuji.. Until now I still feel proud."
"Why?" Shuji was eyeing him intently.
"Why? Isn't that obvious? Because I'm your dad!" Sho rolled his eyes and clapped his hands. "and I love you and Shuri." There, he finally said it. "Isn't that enough of a reason Shuji?"
Before Shuji could manage to speak though, there was a loud rustling sound coming on their direction.
"Tsk! That's too obvious Shuji. I couldn't believe you don't realize it yet." Shuri was playing with the fallen leaves, making loud noises while raising an eyebrow at her brother.
"What do you mean?" Shuji asked. Both father and son stared at Shuri with baffled expressions.
"See? You're even wearing the same expression as Papa.." She let out a chuckle before sitting down. "Sheesh. You really are Papa's son."
"I'm asking what you meant by that. Please don't speak redundant things." Shuji raised an eyebrow this time. His tears gone but his eyes were still swollen.
Shuri grinned before answering. "Am I being redundant? Sheesh. There you go again Shuji, no doubt how NEWS-san could see the resemblance between you and Papa."
Wait! Wha- How did NEWS become involved in this? Sho had so many questions running on his mind, but he stayed silent, watching his kids.
"Stop beating around the bush Shuri. You know I don't like it!" the boy snapped. "And stop calling him "Papa!"
"Fine. Suits you." She said. "And I would call him Papa, because he's our dad!" she scowled.
"Hey, don't fight.." Sho was caught whether to stop them or not. In fact, it somehow amused him seeing them argued on a childish manner. Seeing them fight made him realized that kids will always be kids no matter how genius they are.
"Shut up Papa!"
"Shut up!"
They said in chorused making Sho laughed stopping the kids for a moment.
"What's so funny?" Shuri asked with her eyebrows furrowed.
"Oh,.. nothing,. I just thought, you're fighting like kids." Sho felt dumb answering that way, but Shuji stated the obvious.
"Are you stupid? We're acting like kids, because we ARE still kids.!" Shuji yelled.
"Oh..of..course.. gomen," wait!. Why are you apologizing? You should get mad! Sho thought, but Shuri did it before he was able to.
"Hey! Baka!" she nudged her twin's head. "Don't raise your voice to Papa.. see? That attitude of yours! Sheesh." Shuri said in gritted teeth. "Why are you making it hard for Papa, Shuji? He said he loves us!"
"He did?" Shuji was taken aback for a moment, musing why he didn't catch Sho saying those words, or, he heard it but let it passed on his other ear.
Shuri rolled her eyes and giggled. "Dork."
"I'm not!" Shujii bellowed at his sister before glancing in astonishment at his father who shouted the same words at the same time blushing.
"I'm Not!" Sho retorted out of impulse but realized that his daughter was referring to his son that his cheeks grew a little red.
"HAH!" Shuri hooted. "See? There's no point denying it Shuji, you're Papa's son up to your very bones. "
"Iyada desu!" Shuji anwered stubbornly.
". I don't want to do this Shuji..but.., should I let Papa see your drawings?" Shuri widened her eyes at his brother.
"Drawings?" Sho interrupted.
"Oh yes Papa, did you know that Shuji loves to draw?" Smirking at her brother, Shuri started searching her pocket.
"Oh no, you don't have it with you," Shuji told his sister confidently.
"Oh yes I do," She said and pulled a piece of folded paper out of her pocket.
Shuji's face turned pale seeing the paper that he had to gulp down so many times. If Sho happened to see his drawing, it would reveal his own feelings. "Fine! Fine! Just don't let him see that!"
"Okay," Shuri smiled. Shuji snatched away the paper in her hand only to be surprised that it was a blank paper.
"You!." Shuji glared at her. "There's no way I'm giving him a chance!" he was about to attack his sister but Sho restrained him.
"Whoah~ wait," Sho held Shuji by both hands. "We're you planning to hit your own sister just now?" He asked in a fatherly tone making Shuji straighten up hearing the tenacity in his father's voice.
"So?" Shuji asked despite the fear that was apparent in his eyes. He never heard Sho in that tone.
"So? That was very rude young boy!" Sho lectured. "Hitting a girl is wrong, especially if she's your sister!"
Hmph, you don't have the right to tell me that after what you did to mom..Shuji thought but kept his mouth shut.
"Look, I know you're mad at me, and right now you were probably thinking that I don't have the right to lecture you because of what I did to your mother." He paused and saw his son staring at him in shock and amazement. "What? Speechless? I'm your dad Shuji, of course I know what's running on your mind. I had the same thoughts with my dad before."
"Sakurai-jiichan?" Shuji questioned.
"Oh.. so you're calling my dad "jiichan" yet you can't accept me as your own dad?" He glanced at his son without blinking. "That seriously hurt, my son."
"I'm not your son," Shuji declared stubbornly.
"Mou~ yamete kudasai!" Shuri looked pissed. "You!" she pointed at Shuji, "And you Papa" looking at them with an annoyed expression. "Will the both of you stop arguing?" Shuri sighed furiously before drawing a piece of paper out of her pocket and handed it to Sho.
Sho folded out the paper and examined the drawing.
"You drew this?" he asked Shuri.
"Nope. Shuji did." She sighed again seeing the blank expression on her father's face.
"Shuri, how-" Shuji glowered at her but she ignored it. His eyes dawned on his father who was eyeing his drawing carefully. Just in time when he was about to snatch his drawing away from his father's hand, Sho's face brightened before turning his attention on him.
"Sugoi yo Shuji! Hontou ni sugoi!" Sho marveled at his son.
"Eh? hontou?" he asked timidly, "Mama and Shuri always laughed at me whenever I showed them my drawings.." he pouted.
"Eh?" Sho glanced at Shuri who just chuckled.
"Gomen ne~ Papa, it was really hilarious.." Shuri began giggling.
"No, this didn't look hilarious..this is priceless." Sho gave his son a thumb's up making Shuji inclined closer to him.
"You think so?" the kid was beaming.
Sho nodded.
"Wait~" he suddenly remembered the frame on his mom's desk. "Then you're the one who drew that picture on mom's desk!" excitement was written all over the kid's face.
"h-hai." Sho nodded hesitantly, "W-why? Was it that b-bad?" his heart was beating nervously anticipating his son's next words.
Shuri raised an eyebrow. "Bad? Papa, it was wor-"
"Oh, no, no! I love it!" Shuji exclaimed, interrupting his sister's statement.
"Yatta!" Sho put his hands up, while doing the "banzai" gesture. "So.. does it mean you forgive me now?"
"Who said that?" Shuji stood and dusted the leaves off his shorts and started walking away. Sho and Shuri did the same with their garment before following the young boy.
"Hey! Shuji.. that's not fair..you just told Papa that you love his drawing right?" Shuri placed a hand on her brother's shoulder. She was about to force him to turn around when she saw from the corner of her eyes that her brother was actually smiling that she stopped right away.
With his back facing them, Shuji spoke. "Fine, if you're insisting on it that much, I forgive you Otousan.." He began walking again with a wide grin etched on his face leaving his dad and his sister.
"Wait!" Shuri started running to catch Shuji, but paused upon noticing that Sho wasn't following. She walked a few steps to where her father was standing. "Papa? What's wrong?"
"Did your brother just call me "tousan?" Sho's eyes were on Shuji's retreating figure.
"Hai. He just did, let's go, or Shuji might get mad.." She smiled and grabbed Sho's hand and tugged him.
"Eh? nande?" He asked while letting his daughter drag him along.
"C'mon Papa, you hate people being late right?" Shuri asked still pulling him.
"I guess.. what about it?" but Sho needed not to hear his daughter's reply..Of course.. Shuji would hate it too.. He was amazed at how his son get all, if not, almost all his traits. He was even speechless after seeing Shuji's drawing. He didn't thought that his son would actually inherit his "drawing talent" instead of his mother's making him all the more proud of Shuji being his son.
"Ne~ Papa," Shuri spoke slowing down so that the two of them were walking side by side while her hand was still holding his.
"mm?" Sho glanced sideway at her.
"Don't mind what Shuji said about insisting him to forgive you.." They stopped when they were in front of the car. Sho opened the door with his car keys. Shuji was waiting for them, his back leaning on the car's rear.
"What do you mean?" Sho halted too.
"It meant he loves you too, he's just too shy to admit it." Shuri smiled at him before going inside the car and was surprised that Shuji got in there before her. "Right Shuji?"
Sho went on the driver's seat and started the engine while listening and watching his kids' childish argument through the car's rearview mirror.
"You're saying redundant things again," Shuji replied but his face was blushing.
"See, Papa!" Shuri looked at the mirror, "Shuji was blushing, that means I'm right." She said playfully.
"Tsk. That was exaggerated. I'm not blushing. Sheesh. You're reading me too much Shuri. " Shuji crossed his arms.
"See? You're getting annoyed!" she giggled.
"Shuri, stop teasing your brother." Sho told her while eyes on the driveway, chuckling on the topic of their dispute.
Shuji smirked at his sister who pouted. "Thanks 'tousan."
"Hey, didn't we agree to call him Papa?" Shuri blocked her brother's view.
"Nah. Its too girly for me Shuri." The boy scuffled. "Besides, its too foreign."
Sho had to smile on what Shuji had just said.
"Fine. You call him "tousan" and I'll call him Papa!" The girl said determinedly before leaning across the driver's seat. "Is that okay with you Papa?"
"H-hai. If that's what you want.." He answered, "But I think Shuji was right, doesn't it sound too foreign for you Shuri?"
"Hah! See! I told you Shuri!" Shuji grinned triumphantly.
"Mou~ why are you conniving?" She slouched back on her seat and stared outside the window while smiling to herself. Arigato gozaimasu.. Kami-sama..
++++++++++++
"WHERE THE HELL THE THREE OF YOU HAD BEEN?" Shi yelled the moment Sho, Shuri, and Shuji entered the apartment. She was sitting on the sofa, her arms crossed while staring furiously at them.
The three exchanged glances. All had the same thought in mind: Yabai!