choconova

 

AN:
^____________^;;;;;
I don't even know what to say. I guess you can say I died and... am still dead? hahahaha. At least, till the end of April. hahaha. I'll be on vacation come April-- till then, I'm still on purgatory. >_> It's 3:21 in the morning and my eye bags are the size of saucers. LOL. I needed food for soul so I tentatively checked my LJ which I have abandoned for soooo long *sobs*. And I think I did the right thing... My heart swelled to the size of watermelons.

...So did my guilt. ^^;;;;;; 

But some things cannot be helped, i suppose. *sigh* I'm doing my best, minna! >:D WA is not dead yet! With your support, I hope to carry on bravely! Thank you for the never-ending love and support. Reading all your kind words touches me enough to make me weep with joy. ^^

Love forever! 
choconova

Previous chapters (1-20)

Chapter 21

*************************************************

Oda blinked furiously at his doorknob, as if trying to get it to open on its own. He had never quite experienced feeling so nervous about entering his own home… Then again, he never quite experienced being part of a boy band as well. Maybe new things come from new things after all.

Oda shook his head. He wasn’t making any sense.

He pondered glumly over his dilemma, which stemmed from the latest meeting Arashi had just a few hours ago…

***FLASHBACK***

“We start your acting workshop tomorrow, Oda-kun. Umemura-san will still be your instructor.” Manager-kun looked at him. “Have you told your family yet?”

“My… family?”

“Yes, your family. You are now part of Arashi and in a few weeks time I will be requiring you to sign several documents to authenticate your official membership into Arashi.”

“That soon?”

“Yes.” The man nodded. “We will need the signature of your guardian as well so I suggest you tell whoever it is concerned about the news as soon as possible...”

***

“Well… It’s not like I can run away from this forever.” Oda mused aloud to the door. “I’d have to tell them sooner or later…”

His brow wrinkled, as if he were arguing with someone who happened to disagree. “Besides, telling them now would be better than later, anyway…”

He stared at the door as if willing it to answer back. The air was quiet around him and the sky was turning into that warm orange color that Oda liked to paint sometimes. For how long he stood there, he did not know… But he WAS starting to feel kinda stupid.

“Oh for Christ’s sake, I can’t stay here forever.” Oda sighed loudly to himself.

He waited for a few more seconds, like he was waiting for himself to move.

“What are you doing, Takeshi?”

Oda jumped as a hand fell onto his right shoulder. He stifled a startled yelp and quickly turned around. Miyuki-chan was staring at him oddly.

“Ah… Miyuki-chan…” Oda mumbled lamely, immediately deflating. “Okaeri…”

“Tadaima.” She replied, still eyeing him. “What were you doing standing here like an idiot, Takeshi? You are going to catch a cold.”

“Er… I forgot my keys.” He quickly lied, bringing up a sheepish hand to scratch his head.

“Mou, you forgetful boy.” Miyuki-chan rolled her eyes amusedly. “And to think you are older than me… I swear, you still need to be taken care of.”

“Sorry.” Oda watched his cousin slip her keys on the apartment door, hearing the soft click of the lock.

The door creaked open and Miyuki-chan stepped in, turning on the front lights. Oda hesitated…

“Takeshi?” Miyuki-chan looked back at him expectantly. “Aren’t you coming in?”

“Ah…” Oda fumbled with his bag, slowly making his way towards the door. He didn’t know if he could do this… Everything he worked on so far… Everything he held dear… Everything he strived to keep constant and quiet… Everything was going to change…

And this time, it was for real.

“Miyuki-chan…” He absently murmured as he watched his cousin toe off her shoes.

“Hm?” she looked up at him inquiringly. “What is it?”

“If… And it’s just a ‘What if’, mind you…” Oda fidgeted. “If I had to… change… because of a decision I made… Would you think different of me?”

Miyuki stared at him.

“Takeshi…” she slowly began. “Are you feeling all right?”

“I’m fine.” He quickly replied. “I’m sorry, that was a weird question. Never mind…”

“Even if you change Takeshi, I won’t think any lesser of you.” Miyuki shrugged. “You are my cute, dear cousin and nothing’s going to change that.”

Oda’s face broke into a smile and he beamed at his cousin.

“Really?”

“You won’t get rid of me that easy.” She teasingly replied.

“Okay.” He replied, feeling slightly better about the whole thing. “Come on, let’s get dinner ready. I kinda have to tell you guys something later…”

Oda had about a million scenario’s running through his mind regarding that moment when he broke the news to his family. And so far, things have been going exactly as he had predicted…

CLINK.

“WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!!”

Oda kept in the wince at the sheer decibel of Miyuki’s shriek. He had long before learned never to underestimate the screaming power of fan-girls. And Miyuki was a certified, bona-fide member of the Arashi fan club.

He poked at the meat he had in his rice bowl. They were having Sukiyaki, and Oda wasn’t certain if the extravagant meal was really proper for such a night…

“Say that again…” Miyuki-chan thundered, her chopsticks lying forgotten on the floor. “I dare you to say that again and I SWEAR you will regret it if I find that this is one big, sick joke--”

“I’m not joking.” Oda replied, more calmly than he felt. “I’m joining Arashi as their fifth member and I’m currently training under Umemura-san to prepare for my debut.”

He had yet to meet Oji in the eye and he was deathly afraid at what he would see reflected in the usually kindly gaze… If he disapproved… If Oji-chan disapproved…

“Who?” Miyuki squeaked, still wide-eyed.

“Umemura-san.” Oda repeated. “He’s my trainer from Johnny’s Jimusho. I’ve been training under him for quite a while now.”

Miyuki gaped at him and Oda thoughtfully looked away.

“Takeshi…”

Oda immediately felt his shoulders tense. Oji-san had finally spoken.

“Why, Takeshi?”

He felt his heart sinking at the soft tone of Oji-chan addressing him. He forced himself to look up at the older man’s face.

“Why what, Oji-chan?”

“Why… did you do this?”

Oda bit his lip. “I… I wanted to help, Oji-chan… I wanted to be able to help.”

Miyuki and Shouji paused at the height of their freaking out at the suddenly serious tone of the conversation. Oji-chan was looking at him with unreadable eyes and Oda wanted to run off and hide.

“You… disapprove?” Oda quietly asked.

“Joining a band… Sharing their responsibilities…” Oji-chan slowly began. “These are big things, Takeshi. Are you prepared to accept this role with all your heart?” 

Oda stared at him.

Oji-chan sighed. “This was what I was afraid of… I told you before, Takeshi… I promised myself that I would do everything in my power to help all of you to follow your dreams. This isn’t how I wanted it to be…”

“But Oji-chan…” Oda whispered. “You don’t have to do this alone… I want to help. I will never be at ease otherwise.”

“Do not be selfish, Takeshi!” Oji-chan sharply said, and Oda was shocked at the stern tone.

“This is not a joke anymore.” The older man looked at him in the eye. “Joining a band… If you do not have your heart in it, then you might as well quit. Producing music and dancing around… It’s not that simple! People will be watching you, judging you, looking up to you. Are you ready for that, Takeshi? Is this what you want?”

Oda was taken aback. Is this what he wanted? The question startled him. From the start, everything had been about everything and anything else… What did HE want?

His mind wandered back to the long hours under Umemura-san’s sharp eyes… The beat of the music as his body moved to the rhythm… As one by one, his steps, his movement bled into an intricate and beautiful dance… Oda remembered the intoxicating feel of pure bliss as he first flew into the air in a simple cartwheel… It was as if the box of Pandora had been opened and he was hopelessly addicted.

He loved it.

He thought back to the countless explanations of Manager-kun about routines and interview systems and his flustered mind trying its best to keep up… That perpetually busy feeling he had every waking moment he spent inside the studio… The beat of fast paced modernity mingled with the slight taste of celebrity. Oda’s eyes widened as he realized he liked it. He liked it all.

And then there were the members… Sho-kun was always supportive of him and Aiba-chan adored him… He was unendingly grateful for their all out support- he never could have done it without them. Matsumoto Jun was still cold to him but it only made him strive harder… work harder, than he had ever worked in his life.  And Nino… The boy always made him laugh and he loved their petty arguments over practically anything at all… He wanted this.

He wanted it.

“Yes.” Oda finally replied, looking at Oji-chan directly in the eyes. “I want it.”

“At first, this was all about me trying to help you, Oji-chan…” Oda continued, admitting freely to the older man of his original intentions. “But as time went by, it became about something else… I was… happy, Oji-chan. I enjoyed it.”

Oda smiled freely. “I am enjoying it.”

There was a long silence after that and the soft bubbling of the Sukiyaki pot filled the room… Finally, Oji-chan smiled and held out a hand.

“Then congratulations, Takeshi… Congratulations.”

Oda felt his breath rush out of him and with it went all his apprehensions and fears. Oji-chan approved… Everything was okay!

“I’ll work hard, Oji-chan.” Oda promised, beaming at the old man. “I promise.”

“I’m sure you will.” Oji-chan kindly replied, smiling at him. “You will be a wonderful artist, Takeshi. You have always been wonderful in my eyes.”

Oda’s smile widened. “Thanks, Jii-chan!”

“So…” Shouji slowly began, eyeing Oda with a strange look in his eyes. “Does this mean I get to have a famous cousin now?”

“I’m not famous…” Oda reminded him. “Not yet…”

“Yet.” Shouji scoffed, a slow grin cracking his face. “Oh MAN, this is PRICELESS! Wait till I tell my friends!”

“You can’t.” Oda sharply said, turning to face him seriously. “You mustn’t tell ANY one, Shouji. You have to promise. Till the day it will be officially announced to the public, no one else must know.” He turned to the rest of his family. “Absolutely NO ONE.”

Oji-chan nodded in understanding. “It makes sense… The contract is legally binding, I suppose?”

“Yes.” Oda replied. “Which reminds me- I need your signature on the contract. It’s proof that I have the consent of both parties- whatever that means.”

Oji-chan nodded. “I am glad.”

“My god… This is for real, then?” Shouji shook his head in amazement. “I think the reality’s just sinking in now… This is so bizarre.”

“Tell me about it.” Oda agreed.

“And why aren’t you saying anything?” Shouji looked suspiciously at his sister, who had been uncharacteristically silent.

“Er…” Miyuki blinked, looking dazed. “I don’t know what to say, really…”

“Don’t worry… The shock will wear off soon.” Oda sighed, patting her shoulder. “Trust me.”

* * *

A blood-curling scream echoed through the night.

Oda jerked awake from his bed in alarm, flailing his arms, as he was rudely shaken into consciousness and falling painfully out of bed.

“Owwww…” He groaned thickly from the tangle of blankets on his hard, unforgiving floor.

His muddled mind took a second to properly process being awake before he remembered what exactly had woken him up-

“Miyuki!” he gasped, as he recognized the shrill scream.

He quickly scrambled up from the floor, tripping all over his sheets as he stumbled towards his bedroom door. The lights in the hall flickered open as Oji-chan and Shouji emerged from their bedrooms as well.

“Miyuki-chan?” Oda called out, knocking on her door.

Oji-chan and Shouji were huddled around him, looking confused and a little shaken. Oda knocked harder.

“Miyuki-chan, daijobu? Are you hurt?”

There was no reply from inside and they were steadily getting worried.

“Miyuki-nee’chan!” Shouji croaked, jiggling the doorknob. “It’s open!”

“Miyuki-chan, we’re going in.” Oda warned, rapping on the door again. “We’re going in, okay?”

There was still no reply and so action was definitely inevitable. Oda counted to three and burst through the door, expecting the worst possible scenario… He abruptly halted in the middle of the glaring pink room and stared at the figure sitting limply by the bed. Oji-chan and Shouji crashed into him from behind and they all fell to the floor in a tangle of flaying arms and limbs.

“Ow!” Oda groaned, silently telling himself that his body was getting too much of a beating to be healthy.

“Why did you stop?” Shouji groaned from underneath him where he was squished.

“Miyuki-chan!” Oji-chan called, struggling to push himself off the two bodies. “Miyuki-chan, what’s the matter? Why did you scream?”

“Gerrof me!” Shouji hissed at him, elbowing Oda in the face.

“Stop struggling!” Oda snapped back, heaving himself to his feet.

The three men finally stood in a single line facing Miyuki’s bed, where the said girl was sitting frozen atop her frilly bed sheets. Oda was acutely aware of the limp, shocked look in her expression and wondered if there had been a cockroach or a rodent that was unfortunate enough to wander into her room…

“Miyuki-nee’chan?” Shouji tried again, furrowing his brows. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

“Arashi…”

Oda froze as the words left her lips. Two pairs of eyes immediately zoomed towards him- Oji-chan’s inquiring while Shouji’s, confused…

“Did she just…?” Shouji paused, unsure. “She said… Arashi?”

“Arashi.” Miyuki repeated, a little louder.

“What, the gay boy band?” Shouji scratched his head, confused. “What about them?”

“Arashi!” she cried, almost hysterically.

“Miyuki-chan, just tell us…” Oji-chan said gently. “What is wrong?”

Miyuki slowly raised a finger and pointed to Oda. Her face was a mixture of wonder and shock. “Arashi!”

Everyone fell silent for a few heartbeats.

“I think…” Shouji slowly began inching his way towards the door. “I know where this is going…”

“Miyuki-chan, get a grip.” Oda peered at her worriedly, shaking a hand in front of her eyes. “Oji-chan, do you know what’s wrong with her?”

“She seems to have gone into a shock…” Oji-chan slowly replied, watching his granddaughter with wide eyes. “Takeshi, how much do you think this… band meant to her?”

“It’s pretty much her whole world.” Oda admitted, glancing at his cousin. “I was kinda surprised she didn’t make a fuss over the news a while… a…go… Oh.” He paused. “Oh dear.”

They glanced at each other and looked back at the silent girl.

“She’s in shock.” Oda finally realized, frowning slightly. “The fact that I am soon going to be part of the boy band she has been worshipping-”

“AAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUURGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!”

Oda clapped his hands to his ears in horror as Miyuki-chan let out another earsplitting scream. Oji-chan was more tactful and tried to get her to stop screaming.

“Miyuki-chan, it’s all right! Calm down! Takeshi will become part of this band you love and so it will become even more special to you… Don’t you think so, Miyuki-chan? Isn’t this good news?”

“YOU! ARASHI- I, but I! AAAAAAURRRGGGGGHHHHH!!” Miyuki-chan shook her head violently, clawing at her hair. “I don’t BELIEVE it! YOU! TAKESHI! You can’t even- NO! I can’t believe after all this- WHY? I don’t know what to-”

“Miyuki-chan, CHILL!” Oda cried, his eyes wide. “You’re starting to really scare me.”

“But you KNOW… You KNOW how much I- NNNUUUURRRGHHHHGGG!!” She couldn’t even finish her sentence as she felt he overwhelming need to hit something. “You are going to be PART of them and- they’re GODS and I’m actually related to- SHIT! What am I going to do when I- OH NO! I still haven’t lost enough weight and you-!”

Oda sighed and slumped down to the floor. This would take a while, he could tell… Shouji had been smart enough to smell danger and scampered off to the safety of his room, while Oji-chan excused himself to make some tea… Oda advised him to stay away till it was safe enough and so he alone remained to bear the ranting of a fan girl, well into the wee hours of dawn.

Still, Miyuki-chan could not be appeased and so Oda, in a desperate attempt to finally get some needed rest, offered her something that he knew he would regret later on…

***

Iie- No

Arashi-tachi- the rest of arashi

Okaeri- Welcome back

Tadaima- I’m home/I’ve returned

Title: WHY? 

by: choconova 

Er, so there I was, waiting for MS because KYAA! Arashi is coming to sing One LovE! ^_^
But then... I was a whole hour early. So i boredly surfed around while waiting and then suddenly i saw-

HOMG IT'S HIRO NAKAMURA!! O_________O

Because I am tired of trying to find somone to squeal over ohmiya with. Because I cannot help myself. Because I am cool like that. Hah, no- I'm the biggest loser on earth. Believe it. Lol. 

So anyway, I was watching the latest shenanigan on VS Arashi... Sigh. Riida's black hair. No matter how many weeks its been I still think it's incredibly hot on him. Who needs an orange mange of lion hair when you can look that THAT, Riida?? Stick to it please. But don't ever grow that goatee again. I had nightmares for weeks. It was like Jun's eyebrows grew on his face. Ugh. 

But anyway, I was a little sad as I watched the latest VSA. Of course, I was giddy with the fact that Oh-chan was climbing up that wall- guh. He really looks good like that. But then I noticed that Ohmiya hasnt been interacting much anymore. Like, even in Shukudai-kun. They were so far apart it made me a little concerned. 

No, Riida! I know Chinen's cute and hell yes, he's a lot younger than Nino- But don't let Nino slip away!! Noooo! D:

I honestly believe that Chinen is a huge factor in the Ohmiya relationship, romantic or otherwise. Abandoning my fangirling mind for a split second, I will still come to the objective conclusio that Chinen is really involved in the dynamics of OhMiya relationship. I don't think NIno appreciates the fact that some brat has come to steal Ohno's attention, which has always been on Nino. Sigh. I love them all, really. But please, don't break up!

Gimmick game aside, please tell me that the 'break up' was just temporary. *fangirling mode back on*

That aside, I shall continue to watch and hope and love. Ohmiya has become.. a religion to me. They make me happy like nothing can. Because somehow, I believe that they are real. Well, more real than Akame, that's for sure (no offense meant to Kat-tun fans).

I can't wait for Oh-chan's drama! Seriously, I am counting the days. July come fasteeeeeeeeer. I need a healthy dose of Ohno. And I'm praying that Nino can appear on a cameo role somehow. Like how Oh-chan cameod for YTM. :DD 

Later days!