this is a jun post! :)
Aug. 30th, 2010 11:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
angelshill I have to admit, i'm pretty much determined to celebrate this day since i didn't get to celebrate my own birthday last month (had my first pre-board on my birthday itself... ): ) so...
to my first (and still leading) JE love,
to the reason why i even have an lj account,
to the reason why i have tons of Japanese videos and clips on cds and my hard drive,
to the reason why i got interested in things Japanese...
to Arashi's resident DoS...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATSUJUN!!!
and since i can't do wallpapers or icons or fanvids, i present the only things i know how to do... a drabble and a fic...
first, the drabble...
~~~~~
Matsujun couldn’t help but smile as he luxuriously stretched in his bed the moment sunlight touched his bare skin. It’s the 30th of August, 2010. His 27th birthday.
In the past few years, his birthday mornings had always entailed waking up early in the morning (or being already awake at one point due to the 24hr TV) to prepare for a very hectic schedule for the day. Concert preparations and the like always demands most of his special day. All his troubles always get repaid at the end of the day though, when he sees how happy the fans are for him and them. Last year’s would probably be one of his most memorable birthdays ever.
But this year, Arashi is not holding a concert on his birthday, or a live show, or anything at all. No rehearsals, no singing, no dancing, no fans. In fact, other than a couple of hours filming for his drama, today is practically the free-est day he’d ever get this half of the year. The only other schedule he has is dinner with the rest of Arashi and some of their friends. This year, his birthday celebration is going to be really different. He’s going to celebrate his birthday in the most laid-back way.
He was just about to close his eyes again and go back to sleep when he heard the humming coming closer to his room. He couldn’t help but smile upon hearing it, even when he closed his eyes when his bedroom door opened.
“I know you’re awake…” Mao announced when she entered her room. “Get up Ouji… I made breakfast…”
Matsujun grinned widely as he opened his eyes.
“Where’s my birthday kiss?” he demanded as he propped himself up by the elbows, watching Mao as she placed the tray of food on his side table.
“You’re not getting one until you eat all these…” she laughed. “Now get up…”
“I don’t want to…” he pouted as he hugged her from behind the moment he was sure the tray is on stable ground. “Not until you kiss me…”
“Still childish at 27 huh?” Mao chuckled, shaking her head. Turning around to face him, she smiled and said “Fine!” before giving him a quick peck on the lips.
“Happy Birthday Ouji!” she greeted.
Matsujun closed his eyes and smiled, before falling back to the bed with her under him.
“Yeah it is…” he said. “But that’s not the proper way to kiss your Ouji on his birthday you know…” he chuckled before promptly showing her how it should be done.
This year’s going to be just as memorable as last year and so will all his future birthdays no matter how hyper or laidback he is on that day. Because Mao will always be there and he’s sure Mao will always make it special.
~~~~~
and then a side-shot of the series i am working on that is completely unrelated to the above drabble...
WARNING: the following side-shot might be a little confusing if you haven't read the rest of Baby Steps...
TITLE: Baby Steps
CHARACTERS: Arashi members, NewS members, Horikita Maki, Inoue Mao, Oguri Shun, Ikuta Toma, and a whole horde of other Johnny's and female Japanese actresses
PAIRING: Yamashita Tomohisa/Horikita Maki; Matsumoto Jun/Inoue Mao; others
RATINGS: PG
DISCLAIMER: The only thing i own in this story is the plot...
Prologue / Chapter1/ Chapter2/ Chapter3/ Chapter4/ Chapter5/ Chapter6/ Chapter7/ Chapter8
Chapter 8.5
“I’m amazed that the kid looks like he’s avoiding me…” Shun chuckled the moment Matsujun joined him at the balcony where he was smoking.
Matsujun smirked, knowing that he was referring to Yamapi. He had just passed by Toma and Ryo on his living room, the two being quite engaged on a game. It turned out that Yamapi had joined Kame in the kitchen the moment he stepped into his bedroom to change.
“He’s just apprehensive…” he said. “I’m pretty sure he hadn’t had a very good encounter with anyone close to Maki since this thing came out…”
“Yeah, I heard about that… Toma said you almost choked him?”
“I collared him!” said Matsujun. “There’s a difference, Toma punched him.”
“Ah so?” Shun smiled. “So what should I do now since you’ve both done what I would have wanted to do?”
“And you’re amazed he’s avoiding you?” Matsujun laughed, shaking his head.
“What? I was just wondering…” Shun said, leaning on the wood railing. “I want to do something too you know…”
Matsujun did not speak for a while, nor did Shun break the silence that reigned. “He’s going to do the right thing, you know…” he assured him.
“Yeah… He might probably will… But is doing the right thing the best thing to do at this moment?” Shun challenged. “It’s not always the case you know…”
“Sometimes… Maybe…” Matsujun shrugged. “But I think in this case, it probably is…”
“Can he do it though?” Shun asked. “You and I both know that just because it’s the right thing to do, it doesn’t mean that it’s easy… Sometimes, because it’s right, it’s even harder to do.”
“He would have to do it…” Matsujun chuckled humorlessly. He knew what Shun meant.
Accepting Mao’s arguments on why they should end it before had been one of the hardest decisions he’d ever made in his life. Mao had always been one who considers everything about a situation, even at times when he, himself, would throw caution out the window.
Mao had argued about him being an idol, of the pressure they both had to face, of how they both had to survive in the business. She said that there are still lots of obstacles they’re going to face, that the best thing, the right thing, to do was to first do what they both had to do and that they’re still both young anyway. She pointed out that he had always wanted Arashi to reach the top, and that getting there entails some sacrifices. She said that she didn’t want to reach the point where she’d get to hate him because of the circumstances surrounding their relationship; that they’d still be friends anyway. She said it was better that way.
He had to accept all her arguments since he knew it was right, she was right. But there’s never been a single day after that he thought of what might have happened if he insisted they’d fight for it.
So many things would have been different; him, her, them. They might still be together if he didn’t agree, not just as plain friends. But then again, maybe not. So many things had happened in the last two years that it was almost impossible to say how things would have turned out. But some things remained the same, like his feelings. His feelings towards her had always been the same.
“When did you arrive in Tokyo?” asked Matsujun after a while as the two of them gazed at the not so distant Tokyo lights.
“Yesterday…” Shun answered. “I had to come back earlier than planned since we’re having the drama reading tomorrow… You know, for the one where I get to act with Mao-chan again…”
Matsujun snorted. “And here I thought you came back because it’s my birthday tomorrow...” he tsked.
“Is it tomorrow already?!” Shun exclaimed in pretended surprise. “I forgot! I didn’t even buy you any gift!”
“That’s not the proper response you know…” Matsujun laughed, shaking his head. “You’re supposed to say that you’ve prepared the most awesome gift for me…”
Shun simply smiled and said “So, how’s your drama shooting?”
“It’s fun on set… Bit of problems here and there but it’s always fun…”
“Word from behind the scenes is that you’re getting along with the kid playing Umi.”
“Seiran-chan?” Matsujun smiled. “It’s always fun when she’s around. I like playing with her…”
“That’s what I heard!” Shun exclaimed. “I almost didn’t believe it you know… Not so long ago, kids are either really afraid of you or are kicking you in the face… Now you’re getting along! Where had those good times gone?!”
“Baka!” Matsujun said, hitting Shun on the shoulders. “Kids had always liked me…”
“Guess the kids didn’t know that then…” Shun laughed, making Matsujun snort.
“She makes me think you know…” he admitted.
“Think about what?” asked Shun.
“About how it would be if I become a father…” he said. “She’s young enough to be my child you know…”
“Too bad you still have to convince the prospective mother though…”
“I’m working on that…” Matsujun smiled. “In the mean time, I want the fans to see that I’d be a good father…”
“Oi! Oi! Oi! Don’t tell me you’re following Yamapi’s footsteps?!” Shun exclaimed, narrowing his eyes on him.
“Of course not!” Matsujun said, shaking his head. “I have my own plans you know…”
“Good…” Shun smirked. “Because you’re going to have to hide from me if what happened to Horikii happens to Mao-chan…”
Matsujun simply raised him an eyebrow before turning around. “Speaking of hiding…” he said seeing Yamapi appear from the kitchen. “Yamapi’s out of his hiding place…”
“So he is…” Shun agreed, turning around himself.
“What are you planning to do?” Matsujun asked when Shun pulled himself to full height.
“Nothing much…” Shun smiled thoughtfully.
----------
“Well, this is a new pattern…” Shun chuckled as soon as he saw Matsujun when he stepped out of the studio where drama reading is held. Their session for the day had just ended. “It’s usually the birthday boy who gets visited on his birthday, not the other way around!”
“What are you talking about?!” Matsujun snorted. “You’re the one who told me to come here…”
Shun simply grinned as he gave the birthday boy a huge bear hug before giving way to the woman who was trailing behind him.
“Happy birthday Jun-kun…” Mao greeted with a smile and a small bow, handing him a wrapped present. “Here’s my gift…”
“Thank you…” replied Matsujun, unable to hide the wide grin that lit his whole face.
“The gift is the wrapped box in your hands Jun, not the one who gave it to you…” Shun chided when Matsujun didn’t remove his eyes on Mao’s face. This, of course, made both Matsujun and Mao, who was already fidgeting at Matsujun’s stare, blush furiously.
“I know that, baka!” Matsujun snorted as though his face wasn’t as red as it actually is. “What’s going on? Why did you ask me to come over?” he asked.
“You don’t have anywhere else to go right?” Shun asked.
Matsujun nodded. His manager had thankfully allotted only a couple of hours filming for him for the day, saying that it was his gift to him, to give him the chance to celebrate his birthday the way he wanted to. He already had his birthday lunch with the rest of Arashi at his favorite restaurant earlier where the four had handed him their own gifts; one of the Gackt-style rings he’d always admired from Nino (which Aiba had eyed apprehensively from the moment he wore it), a big stuffed dog from Aiba (saying that since he still hadn’t had the chance to get his own dog, it would suffice for the moment), hiking boots from Sho, and a portrait of him during his solo Wish performance in their previous concert tour (which seems to be from his own birthday a year ago judging by the rains that seemed falling) from Ohno.
“Good!” Shun exclaimed, clapping his hand together. “Our drama reading is already done too…”
“Really?” Matsujun smiled. “We could go for dinner together...” he suggested, turning to Mao. “Just like old times…”
“I’d like that…” Mao nodded, smiling.
“I have a better idea…” Shun smiled. “Why not go down to the beach? It’s not raining and you guys would be there just before sunset…”
“That’s good…” Matsujun agreed before stopping. “Wait… Us?”
“You’re not coming?” Mao asked.
“I’d love to be with you guys but I can’t…” Shun sighed, putting a hand over his heart dramatically. “Yu and I are meeting her parents for dinner… I couldn’t say no…”
“Really…?” said Matsujun, raising an unconvinced eyebrow.
“But if you’re not coming…” Mao started to say but Shun had placed an arm over each of their shoulders.
“Come on, you both go… Surely, Mao-chan, you wouldn’t want to further spoil the rest of Jun’s birthday, right?” he asked, putting on a pleading-puppy look. “Do it for me, please? For Jun’s best friend who couldn’t be with him on his birthday…”
“You’re creepy, you know…” Matsujun complained, removing Shun’s arm over his shoulder. “We can’t go since I’m not allowed to drive and the jimusho shuttle had just gone to pick up Nino from his drama meeting…”
“That’s not a problem!” Shun cheered. “I’ve got it all straightened out!”
----------
“Happy Birthday Jun! Enjoy my gift to you! And forget about Yamapi’s problem for a while…”
Matsujun couldn’t help but chuckle a little after reading the message that Shun had just sent him. He didn’t need Shun to tell him that. This day is his birthday, his special day. He’s determined to make the best out of it, to forget every problem he’s had or have for a while and focus on enjoying the day itself. He already promised himself that he wouldn’t worry about Yamapi (and whether or not he’s making progress on proving himself) or wonder if there’d be a ton of Johnnys once again in his living room when he gets home. He’s going to enjoy this day and it seems that Shun had his own vision of how he should be enjoying the day.
Because when Shun said he got it all straightened out, he really meant all of it. He realized that when they were already at the beach.
The car ride there was a quiet one, although not uneasy. Mao even managed to grab a nap on his shoulders a few minutes after leaving Tokyo, being quite exhausted from the day’s activities. Matsujun didn’t mind it at all. He was happy in fact.
The service Shun had provided for them was one of Director Ishii’s cars, the one they used during the shooting of Hanadan in particular, and it was already complete with Director Ishii’s trusted driver who smiled warmly at them the moment they appeared. Inside the car trunk was even a complete picnic set Matsujun is completely sure Shun did not prepare.
There are only quite a few people there that afternoon, it being a weekday, which is why he and Mao managed to be in a secluded but good position to set up their “picnic”. He could feel contentment wash over him as he breathed in the salty sea breeze. He had always loved going to the sea, listening to the crashing waves as they roll closer to him before it falls away again, feeling the sand beneath his fingers. He particularly liked watching the sun set over the ocean. But as of the moment, the thing he loved the most is watching Mao laugh like a child as she wrote something on the sand with a stick.
He had missed seeing that side of her. For quite sometime now, he had regularly seen the cool side of Mao whenever they get together, the composed side, and even the cheeky side of her, but never had she shown the child-like character she’d always have when the two of them are having fun together. The moment they stepped on the beach, it was almost as if they had their own world, no poses, no pretending, not for anyone else or even themselves. He couldn’t explain how his heart swelled seeing her laugh like that again.
“Jun-kun! Come see this!” Mao cheered, waving to him with her stick.
Shaking his head in amusement, he smiled as he got to his feet and strolled towards her. There had never been anyone else who could make his heart skip the way she can just by calling his name.
“Happy birthday!” she cheered the moment he got close enough, gesturing towards the area she’d been working on.
Matsujun couldn’t help but chuckle when he saw what she had been working on. It was a drawing of him, sort of, just like the one she drew on the hood of the car when they were shooting Hanadan Final. But it didn’t have curly hair anymore, it was straight, which made it even funnier since Mao didn’t seem to get the hang of drawing him with straight hair.
“See?! It looks just like you!” she laughed.
“I’m not that ugly you know…” he chided.
“Oi! Do not call my drawing ugly!” Mao reprimanded. “You’re the one who’s ugly…” she laughed.
Matsujun smirked. “You call this idol face ugly?!” he challenged. “I’ll show you who’s ugly!” he shouted as he made a run towards her.
Mao screeched as she ran the opposite direction, pretty much ensuring a chase. It didn’t take them long to get tired though, as they crashed next to each other on the sand, facing the beach, after just a few minutes.
“It’s been a while ne, hime?” Matsujun breathed as they both tried to catch their breaths.
Mao didn’t reply as she made a move to hug her legs, Matsujun had stretched his next to hers.
“Jun-kun, can I ask you something?” she asked instead.
“Sure…” Matsujun shrugged, noticing how it would only take a few more minutes before the sun finally sets. But when Mao still did not talk after a few seconds, he turned to her curiously.
Mao was playing with the sand with her feet but she was wearing a really serious expression. She didn’t look up when she asked “Why do you still have no girlfriend up to know?”
Matsujun chuckled lightly. “I already have a girlfriend…” he said, looking at her which is why he saw how Mao jumped slightly when he said that. “I’ve always had. I’m just waiting for her to finally acknowledge me again…”
Mao turned to him, her eyes almost tearful but also questioning. “Why?”
Matsujun smiled as he made a move to tuck behind her ear the loose strand of hair that blew on her face.
“There’s never been anyone else. And that’s not even due to lack of trying…” he said. “I tried my best to move on, you know… But it seems to me that all roads lead to you… You’re the only one I’ll ever really want…”
“I’m not going to force you though…” he continued when Mao didn’t say a word. “I just want you to know that I’m going to be right here… Waiting to see if you’re going to move on or come back to me…”
Mao chuckled, one hand moving to wipe away the tears that had fallen while the other moved to punch his shoulder. “You’re an incredibly dramatic guy you know!”
Matsujun simply smiled and shrugged, one hand moved to pat Mao’s head. He didn’t want for Mao to feel pressured. Just when he looked up, he saw that the sun’s rays was about to kiss the ocean.
“Look…” he said. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
Mao looked up too and smiled. “Yeah it is… This must have been strange to you isn’t it?” she asked. “Not having thousands of fan girls scream and greet you on your birthday…”
Jun smiled. “Nah… I think like this version better…”
i can't believe i wrote either one... *face palms*
anyway, comments and critics are always loved... :)
to my first (and still leading) JE love,
to the reason why i even have an lj account,
to the reason why i have tons of Japanese videos and clips on cds and my hard drive,
to the reason why i got interested in things Japanese...
to Arashi's resident DoS...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATSUJUN!!!
and since i can't do wallpapers or icons or fanvids, i present the only things i know how to do... a drabble and a fic...
first, the drabble...
~~~~~
Matsujun couldn’t help but smile as he luxuriously stretched in his bed the moment sunlight touched his bare skin. It’s the 30th of August, 2010. His 27th birthday.
In the past few years, his birthday mornings had always entailed waking up early in the morning (or being already awake at one point due to the 24hr TV) to prepare for a very hectic schedule for the day. Concert preparations and the like always demands most of his special day. All his troubles always get repaid at the end of the day though, when he sees how happy the fans are for him and them. Last year’s would probably be one of his most memorable birthdays ever.
But this year, Arashi is not holding a concert on his birthday, or a live show, or anything at all. No rehearsals, no singing, no dancing, no fans. In fact, other than a couple of hours filming for his drama, today is practically the free-est day he’d ever get this half of the year. The only other schedule he has is dinner with the rest of Arashi and some of their friends. This year, his birthday celebration is going to be really different. He’s going to celebrate his birthday in the most laid-back way.
He was just about to close his eyes again and go back to sleep when he heard the humming coming closer to his room. He couldn’t help but smile upon hearing it, even when he closed his eyes when his bedroom door opened.
“I know you’re awake…” Mao announced when she entered her room. “Get up Ouji… I made breakfast…”
Matsujun grinned widely as he opened his eyes.
“Where’s my birthday kiss?” he demanded as he propped himself up by the elbows, watching Mao as she placed the tray of food on his side table.
“You’re not getting one until you eat all these…” she laughed. “Now get up…”
“I don’t want to…” he pouted as he hugged her from behind the moment he was sure the tray is on stable ground. “Not until you kiss me…”
“Still childish at 27 huh?” Mao chuckled, shaking her head. Turning around to face him, she smiled and said “Fine!” before giving him a quick peck on the lips.
“Happy Birthday Ouji!” she greeted.
Matsujun closed his eyes and smiled, before falling back to the bed with her under him.
“Yeah it is…” he said. “But that’s not the proper way to kiss your Ouji on his birthday you know…” he chuckled before promptly showing her how it should be done.
This year’s going to be just as memorable as last year and so will all his future birthdays no matter how hyper or laidback he is on that day. Because Mao will always be there and he’s sure Mao will always make it special.
~~~~~
and then a side-shot of the series i am working on that is completely unrelated to the above drabble...
WARNING: the following side-shot might be a little confusing if you haven't read the rest of Baby Steps...
TITLE: Baby Steps
CHARACTERS: Arashi members, NewS members, Horikita Maki, Inoue Mao, Oguri Shun, Ikuta Toma, and a whole horde of other Johnny's and female Japanese actresses
PAIRING: Yamashita Tomohisa/Horikita Maki; Matsumoto Jun/Inoue Mao; others
RATINGS: PG
DISCLAIMER: The only thing i own in this story is the plot...
Prologue / Chapter1/ Chapter2/ Chapter3/ Chapter4/ Chapter5/ Chapter6/ Chapter7/ Chapter8
Chapter 8.5
“I’m amazed that the kid looks like he’s avoiding me…” Shun chuckled the moment Matsujun joined him at the balcony where he was smoking.
Matsujun smirked, knowing that he was referring to Yamapi. He had just passed by Toma and Ryo on his living room, the two being quite engaged on a game. It turned out that Yamapi had joined Kame in the kitchen the moment he stepped into his bedroom to change.
“He’s just apprehensive…” he said. “I’m pretty sure he hadn’t had a very good encounter with anyone close to Maki since this thing came out…”
“Yeah, I heard about that… Toma said you almost choked him?”
“I collared him!” said Matsujun. “There’s a difference, Toma punched him.”
“Ah so?” Shun smiled. “So what should I do now since you’ve both done what I would have wanted to do?”
“And you’re amazed he’s avoiding you?” Matsujun laughed, shaking his head.
“What? I was just wondering…” Shun said, leaning on the wood railing. “I want to do something too you know…”
Matsujun did not speak for a while, nor did Shun break the silence that reigned. “He’s going to do the right thing, you know…” he assured him.
“Yeah… He might probably will… But is doing the right thing the best thing to do at this moment?” Shun challenged. “It’s not always the case you know…”
“Sometimes… Maybe…” Matsujun shrugged. “But I think in this case, it probably is…”
“Can he do it though?” Shun asked. “You and I both know that just because it’s the right thing to do, it doesn’t mean that it’s easy… Sometimes, because it’s right, it’s even harder to do.”
“He would have to do it…” Matsujun chuckled humorlessly. He knew what Shun meant.
Accepting Mao’s arguments on why they should end it before had been one of the hardest decisions he’d ever made in his life. Mao had always been one who considers everything about a situation, even at times when he, himself, would throw caution out the window.
Mao had argued about him being an idol, of the pressure they both had to face, of how they both had to survive in the business. She said that there are still lots of obstacles they’re going to face, that the best thing, the right thing, to do was to first do what they both had to do and that they’re still both young anyway. She pointed out that he had always wanted Arashi to reach the top, and that getting there entails some sacrifices. She said that she didn’t want to reach the point where she’d get to hate him because of the circumstances surrounding their relationship; that they’d still be friends anyway. She said it was better that way.
He had to accept all her arguments since he knew it was right, she was right. But there’s never been a single day after that he thought of what might have happened if he insisted they’d fight for it.
So many things would have been different; him, her, them. They might still be together if he didn’t agree, not just as plain friends. But then again, maybe not. So many things had happened in the last two years that it was almost impossible to say how things would have turned out. But some things remained the same, like his feelings. His feelings towards her had always been the same.
“When did you arrive in Tokyo?” asked Matsujun after a while as the two of them gazed at the not so distant Tokyo lights.
“Yesterday…” Shun answered. “I had to come back earlier than planned since we’re having the drama reading tomorrow… You know, for the one where I get to act with Mao-chan again…”
Matsujun snorted. “And here I thought you came back because it’s my birthday tomorrow...” he tsked.
“Is it tomorrow already?!” Shun exclaimed in pretended surprise. “I forgot! I didn’t even buy you any gift!”
“That’s not the proper response you know…” Matsujun laughed, shaking his head. “You’re supposed to say that you’ve prepared the most awesome gift for me…”
Shun simply smiled and said “So, how’s your drama shooting?”
“It’s fun on set… Bit of problems here and there but it’s always fun…”
“Word from behind the scenes is that you’re getting along with the kid playing Umi.”
“Seiran-chan?” Matsujun smiled. “It’s always fun when she’s around. I like playing with her…”
“That’s what I heard!” Shun exclaimed. “I almost didn’t believe it you know… Not so long ago, kids are either really afraid of you or are kicking you in the face… Now you’re getting along! Where had those good times gone?!”
“Baka!” Matsujun said, hitting Shun on the shoulders. “Kids had always liked me…”
“Guess the kids didn’t know that then…” Shun laughed, making Matsujun snort.
“She makes me think you know…” he admitted.
“Think about what?” asked Shun.
“About how it would be if I become a father…” he said. “She’s young enough to be my child you know…”
“Too bad you still have to convince the prospective mother though…”
“I’m working on that…” Matsujun smiled. “In the mean time, I want the fans to see that I’d be a good father…”
“Oi! Oi! Oi! Don’t tell me you’re following Yamapi’s footsteps?!” Shun exclaimed, narrowing his eyes on him.
“Of course not!” Matsujun said, shaking his head. “I have my own plans you know…”
“Good…” Shun smirked. “Because you’re going to have to hide from me if what happened to Horikii happens to Mao-chan…”
Matsujun simply raised him an eyebrow before turning around. “Speaking of hiding…” he said seeing Yamapi appear from the kitchen. “Yamapi’s out of his hiding place…”
“So he is…” Shun agreed, turning around himself.
“What are you planning to do?” Matsujun asked when Shun pulled himself to full height.
“Nothing much…” Shun smiled thoughtfully.
----------
“Well, this is a new pattern…” Shun chuckled as soon as he saw Matsujun when he stepped out of the studio where drama reading is held. Their session for the day had just ended. “It’s usually the birthday boy who gets visited on his birthday, not the other way around!”
“What are you talking about?!” Matsujun snorted. “You’re the one who told me to come here…”
Shun simply grinned as he gave the birthday boy a huge bear hug before giving way to the woman who was trailing behind him.
“Happy birthday Jun-kun…” Mao greeted with a smile and a small bow, handing him a wrapped present. “Here’s my gift…”
“Thank you…” replied Matsujun, unable to hide the wide grin that lit his whole face.
“The gift is the wrapped box in your hands Jun, not the one who gave it to you…” Shun chided when Matsujun didn’t remove his eyes on Mao’s face. This, of course, made both Matsujun and Mao, who was already fidgeting at Matsujun’s stare, blush furiously.
“I know that, baka!” Matsujun snorted as though his face wasn’t as red as it actually is. “What’s going on? Why did you ask me to come over?” he asked.
“You don’t have anywhere else to go right?” Shun asked.
Matsujun nodded. His manager had thankfully allotted only a couple of hours filming for him for the day, saying that it was his gift to him, to give him the chance to celebrate his birthday the way he wanted to. He already had his birthday lunch with the rest of Arashi at his favorite restaurant earlier where the four had handed him their own gifts; one of the Gackt-style rings he’d always admired from Nino (which Aiba had eyed apprehensively from the moment he wore it), a big stuffed dog from Aiba (saying that since he still hadn’t had the chance to get his own dog, it would suffice for the moment), hiking boots from Sho, and a portrait of him during his solo Wish performance in their previous concert tour (which seems to be from his own birthday a year ago judging by the rains that seemed falling) from Ohno.
“Good!” Shun exclaimed, clapping his hand together. “Our drama reading is already done too…”
“Really?” Matsujun smiled. “We could go for dinner together...” he suggested, turning to Mao. “Just like old times…”
“I’d like that…” Mao nodded, smiling.
“I have a better idea…” Shun smiled. “Why not go down to the beach? It’s not raining and you guys would be there just before sunset…”
“That’s good…” Matsujun agreed before stopping. “Wait… Us?”
“You’re not coming?” Mao asked.
“I’d love to be with you guys but I can’t…” Shun sighed, putting a hand over his heart dramatically. “Yu and I are meeting her parents for dinner… I couldn’t say no…”
“Really…?” said Matsujun, raising an unconvinced eyebrow.
“But if you’re not coming…” Mao started to say but Shun had placed an arm over each of their shoulders.
“Come on, you both go… Surely, Mao-chan, you wouldn’t want to further spoil the rest of Jun’s birthday, right?” he asked, putting on a pleading-puppy look. “Do it for me, please? For Jun’s best friend who couldn’t be with him on his birthday…”
“You’re creepy, you know…” Matsujun complained, removing Shun’s arm over his shoulder. “We can’t go since I’m not allowed to drive and the jimusho shuttle had just gone to pick up Nino from his drama meeting…”
“That’s not a problem!” Shun cheered. “I’ve got it all straightened out!”
----------
“Happy Birthday Jun! Enjoy my gift to you! And forget about Yamapi’s problem for a while…”
Matsujun couldn’t help but chuckle a little after reading the message that Shun had just sent him. He didn’t need Shun to tell him that. This day is his birthday, his special day. He’s determined to make the best out of it, to forget every problem he’s had or have for a while and focus on enjoying the day itself. He already promised himself that he wouldn’t worry about Yamapi (and whether or not he’s making progress on proving himself) or wonder if there’d be a ton of Johnnys once again in his living room when he gets home. He’s going to enjoy this day and it seems that Shun had his own vision of how he should be enjoying the day.
Because when Shun said he got it all straightened out, he really meant all of it. He realized that when they were already at the beach.
The car ride there was a quiet one, although not uneasy. Mao even managed to grab a nap on his shoulders a few minutes after leaving Tokyo, being quite exhausted from the day’s activities. Matsujun didn’t mind it at all. He was happy in fact.
The service Shun had provided for them was one of Director Ishii’s cars, the one they used during the shooting of Hanadan in particular, and it was already complete with Director Ishii’s trusted driver who smiled warmly at them the moment they appeared. Inside the car trunk was even a complete picnic set Matsujun is completely sure Shun did not prepare.
There are only quite a few people there that afternoon, it being a weekday, which is why he and Mao managed to be in a secluded but good position to set up their “picnic”. He could feel contentment wash over him as he breathed in the salty sea breeze. He had always loved going to the sea, listening to the crashing waves as they roll closer to him before it falls away again, feeling the sand beneath his fingers. He particularly liked watching the sun set over the ocean. But as of the moment, the thing he loved the most is watching Mao laugh like a child as she wrote something on the sand with a stick.
He had missed seeing that side of her. For quite sometime now, he had regularly seen the cool side of Mao whenever they get together, the composed side, and even the cheeky side of her, but never had she shown the child-like character she’d always have when the two of them are having fun together. The moment they stepped on the beach, it was almost as if they had their own world, no poses, no pretending, not for anyone else or even themselves. He couldn’t explain how his heart swelled seeing her laugh like that again.
“Jun-kun! Come see this!” Mao cheered, waving to him with her stick.
Shaking his head in amusement, he smiled as he got to his feet and strolled towards her. There had never been anyone else who could make his heart skip the way she can just by calling his name.
“Happy birthday!” she cheered the moment he got close enough, gesturing towards the area she’d been working on.
Matsujun couldn’t help but chuckle when he saw what she had been working on. It was a drawing of him, sort of, just like the one she drew on the hood of the car when they were shooting Hanadan Final. But it didn’t have curly hair anymore, it was straight, which made it even funnier since Mao didn’t seem to get the hang of drawing him with straight hair.
“See?! It looks just like you!” she laughed.
“I’m not that ugly you know…” he chided.
“Oi! Do not call my drawing ugly!” Mao reprimanded. “You’re the one who’s ugly…” she laughed.
Matsujun smirked. “You call this idol face ugly?!” he challenged. “I’ll show you who’s ugly!” he shouted as he made a run towards her.
Mao screeched as she ran the opposite direction, pretty much ensuring a chase. It didn’t take them long to get tired though, as they crashed next to each other on the sand, facing the beach, after just a few minutes.
“It’s been a while ne, hime?” Matsujun breathed as they both tried to catch their breaths.
Mao didn’t reply as she made a move to hug her legs, Matsujun had stretched his next to hers.
“Jun-kun, can I ask you something?” she asked instead.
“Sure…” Matsujun shrugged, noticing how it would only take a few more minutes before the sun finally sets. But when Mao still did not talk after a few seconds, he turned to her curiously.
Mao was playing with the sand with her feet but she was wearing a really serious expression. She didn’t look up when she asked “Why do you still have no girlfriend up to know?”
Matsujun chuckled lightly. “I already have a girlfriend…” he said, looking at her which is why he saw how Mao jumped slightly when he said that. “I’ve always had. I’m just waiting for her to finally acknowledge me again…”
Mao turned to him, her eyes almost tearful but also questioning. “Why?”
Matsujun smiled as he made a move to tuck behind her ear the loose strand of hair that blew on her face.
“There’s never been anyone else. And that’s not even due to lack of trying…” he said. “I tried my best to move on, you know… But it seems to me that all roads lead to you… You’re the only one I’ll ever really want…”
“I’m not going to force you though…” he continued when Mao didn’t say a word. “I just want you to know that I’m going to be right here… Waiting to see if you’re going to move on or come back to me…”
Mao chuckled, one hand moving to wipe away the tears that had fallen while the other moved to punch his shoulder. “You’re an incredibly dramatic guy you know!”
Matsujun simply smiled and shrugged, one hand moved to pat Mao’s head. He didn’t want for Mao to feel pressured. Just when he looked up, he saw that the sun’s rays was about to kiss the ocean.
“Look…” he said. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
Mao looked up too and smiled. “Yeah it is… This must have been strange to you isn’t it?” she asked. “Not having thousands of fan girls scream and greet you on your birthday…”
Jun smiled. “Nah… I think like this version better…”
anyway, comments and critics are always loved... :)
