Thanks to Rain-san for keep me amused so I could finish this chapter!
After this one.... Maybe there will be another one, maybe it will be the end. I'm not sure!
Leave comments xD It is so rushed and unedited so, I'm sorry if you find any errors!
Also, thanks to everyone who read this story!
Enjoy~ .... or not....
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The rehearsal extended for a few hours more, as I was trying to get rid of the thought of Atsuko being with that guy again, even after weeks of their date. I was really feeling frustrated and angry. But I just couldn’t say anything. We just couldn’t…
-I think… we should… stop now… Minami-san… - A voice said distracting me from my thoughts.
I looked around and I saw all the members on the floor. I looked up at the watch on the wall and I was surprised when I saw the hour. We’ve been here, practicing for more than 8 hours, non-stop. I couldn’t believe that I didn’t notice the tiredness on the members’ faces, and I felt a bit guilty. I agreed with the instructor and I apologized with the members for not noticing their physical state. They said that they understood and that they didn’t blame me. I bowed at them as they left the room, until I stayed alone there. I sighed and I sat down on the floor, I scratched the back of my head and I looked up.
We’ve been busier than before. Especially me and a few of the most popular members, and yet, I couldn’t stop thinking about her. Maybe, and just maybe, if I could be brave enough and tell her that my answer was positive. If I just… I sighed again.
-It’s too late now! – I said to myself – She has someone else already and I just can’t walk in and just… ugh…
I decided to keep dancing and try to forget about her, at least for a while.
It was 6pm when I finished with one of the many recordings of that day. I had a few hours to myself before going to another studio for another TV Show. As I was saying good bye to the staff and other people around, I heard my phone rigning. It was a message from Atsuko.
“Are you busy right now? I feel kind of bored. I’m about to eat something. Have you eaten yet?”How is that she knows the exact time to call me or text me? Like, is she spying me or something? Certainly, I haven’t eaten since last night dinner and now, at the mention of food, my stomach growled.
-Are you coming, Takamina? – Said Miichan
-I have something else to do – I replied – I’m sorry! I will see you later!
I waved to all the members in the changing room and left as I replied to Atsuko to give me the name of the place she was in right now.
-How do you do that? – I asked as I sat right in front of her.
-Do what? – She asked me confused.
-You know … that timing of calling me and then I’m suddenly free and closer to wherever you are and… Are you stalking me?
She looked at me with a confused face for a couple of seconds before bursting in laugh. I frowned, I was being serious though.
-How can I be stalking you, since, I practically don’t know where you were? – She giggled – I’m just arriving from overseas and decided to eat something and I wanted some company, so I called you.
-Why didn’t you call your boyfriend? – I said quite harshly.
Her smile instantly disappeared and I knew that, once again, I said something I shouldn’t. We only looked at each other for a while, until the waiter came and asked for our orders.
-If you didn’t want to come, you should had just say it – Atsuko said in a very neutral voice and I knew she was very angry.
I was jealous earlier and also stressed by all the amount of work we had the past weeks. I couldn’t stop my brain on time.
-It’s just that, I look more like your boyfriend than your friend, you know? – She looked at me as she placed the spoon down on the table and looked at me quite surprised, I was feeling brave, and stupid, so I continued – You already have Onoe-san, who I bet will have more free time than me right now. Why don’t you just call him and spend more time together?
Atsuko then smiled, and don’t be fooled, when she smiles like that, it means she’s utterly angry.
-You’re right – She started saying – I’m sorry for not taking in consideration that you are always busy. You’re right; I should spend more time with my boyfriend than with just a friend. Thank you, Takamina.
She then grabbed her purse and left me there, alone.
I knocked my forehead with the wooden table and groaned. Great Minami, just great.
-We still can make some changes in the arrangement, right? – I asked to the staff member.
-I think we can do something about it, but I have to ask first – she said.
I nodded and she left. I sighed, which apparently was my new habit; I pushed any different thought away and started checking the schedule for the day.
I looked around and, after seeing the tired faces around me, I decided to call for a break. I grabbed a bottle of water and started drinking the content quite fast. I felt more tired than usual; perhaps it was because now, apparently, I can’t seem to sleep well. I was thinking about that day, I will be lying if I didn’t feel hurt. Not because she’s not trying to fix this, but because I was the one who caused all this, and I was the one avoiding her. Scared of her wanting an explanation or a confirmation, all I do now is to wonder if I should call her or not; if I should just go to her apartment and ask for her forgiveness, not only about my words, but for everything else.
A pair of arms wrapped around my shoulders from behind and for a moment, I wished it was Atsuko. But the real owner of those arms started nibbling my ear.
-Stop it, Mocchi – I said calmly.
I was used to her attacks, that didn’t make me feel less embarrassed though, but it was so normal now, that I didn’t even fight against her. She giggled, as usual.
-I missed you, Captain – She said in a rather sexy voice.
-I am not your captain anymore though – She giggled again.
-Oh, should I correct that and say Sou-kan-to-ku instead? – I could feel her smiling against my nape and I shivered.
-Ju-just stop, Mocchi. I’m not in the mood right now.
She took my chin with one hand and softly made me face her. She was smiling, not in a pervert way, like Yuko, but somehow, it made me feel relieved seeing that expression of hers, after so long. It reminded me of the old days. When Atsuko would come to the dressing room right when Mocchi was harassing my ears and with a very dangerous tone, she would suggest Mocchi, to leave me alone.
I giggled. More because of that memory than because of the way she was sniffing my ear. I was about to tell her to stop again, when a voice interrupted us.
-Could you please, get away from her?
She froze in her place, her eyes opened bigger than ever and she gulped. It was as if she had seen a ghost, all pale and without moving.
-Should I repeat myself?
Faster than ever, Mocchi jumped away from me, and I was relieved that she did. I sighed and I looked at the person who saved me, I wanted to thank her for making her go, but the words didn’t come out. Maeda Atsuko was in front of me, just a few meters away from where we were rehearsing with a really dark aura. One would think that Yuki was the most dangerous person to piss off. But in reality, if you ask me, Atsuko is always above everyone; even above Mariko-sama’s craziness. And, honestly, I would prefer an angry and sarcastic Yuki than an angry, cold and sadistic Atsuko.
She then walked towards me; I wanted to run, but where could I run to? The older members knew better to step out of her way; they knew that that aura she was emitting wasn’t her idol aura. Some of the youngest members wanted to greet her, but the other members stopped them before they would taste Atsuko’s rage. This was my opportunity to apologize, to explain things to her. But obviously, if I did that, I wouldn’t be Takahashi Minami.
I reunited all my strength and braveness, from heaven knows where, and I put that “Captain” mask I always used when the members weren’t listening. The serious side of me came out to play, and the scared me, didn’t know if I could deal with such hell it was approaching at every step Atsuko took.
She didn’t wait to be near me to start talking – yelling, mind you.
-Why haven’t you called me or texted me?! – She asked – I’ve been waiting for you to apologize and an explanation!
-Could you lower your voice? – I looked around, all members from the sister groups and the staff were looking at us with curiosity and fear – We are in the middle of work.
-Oh, so now your work consists in letting Mocchi do things to you? Wow! How AKB48 got from Idol work to harassing! This time you guys did it! – She laughed sarcastically.
Behind me I could heard Miichan’s voice telling everyone to leave us alone. Great Miichan, Atsuko is here to murder me and you are just making it easier to her. What a great friend you are, Miichan! I got distracted for a second there and when I went back to reality, I had Atsuko a few centimeters away from me.
-First was that NMB girl with the blue hair, then it was KojiHaru and now is Mocchi? What the hell, Takamina?!
Woah! Did she just call me by my nickname again?
-It wasn’t Momoka-san first. – I said to myself – Since the beginning was Kojiharu, then Mocchi and then Momoka-san. Ah, and don’t forget about Nako-chan…
-WHAT?!
Oh, crap… I didn’t say that out loud… did I? My failing face appeared. I didn’t know what to say and what to do. My automatic mode acted by itself before understanding what I was doing.
I turned around, grabbed my bag and looked back at her.
-Look, Acchan – I said her nickname with poison – Why are you here? You made everyone go when we didn’t finish rehearsal. I have work to do and I don’t have time to talk about childish stuff. Why don’t you wait after rehearsal or when I have some free time and then we will talk?
She looked at me, disbelief in her face. I was trying not to break that mask of seriousness I had, but deep inside, I was so damn scared. She opened and closed her mouth a few times, a gesture she always did when she didn’t know what to say and was in the middle of a rant.
After a few minutes in silence, I sighed.
-I will go now. Please, next time you want to talk call me first – I started walking towards the dressing rooms, sweating and hoping that this was the end of the conversation today.
-You’ve been ignoring me… - She said. She said it in a low voice, but loud enough for me to hear it, and it made me stop. That voice, I knew that tone very well – I’ve called you, many times. And you never answer or call back.
-I’ve been busy, okay? – I said, feeling guilty because in fact, she was right.
-Could you please drop that excuse already?! – She yelled – Just tell me why you are ignoring me already!
-I am not ignoring you – I said calmly –I’ve been really busy lately. I haven’t had time to call you back I always arrive home at 3 in the morning just to try to sleep for a bit and then wake up at 6. I saw your calls, I wanted to call you, but I kept forgetting about it.
-Stop, lying! Why don’t you admit it already?! Why don’t you grow up already?! Oh, wait! I forgot! You will never grow up more! – Atsuko said with sarcasm.
I frowned, did she just…
-What did you say? – I stared at her, I really hated when people messed up with my height.
-You heard me
I walked the few steps that separated us and with an angry expression, I faced her, daring her to repeat her last words. She didn’t look away; she had that insane and wild look on her eyes. As weird as it sounds, I also missed that expression; that expression that was part of a warning, part fear. The demanding and yet scared way of looking.
She leaned down, near to me as possible, and I didn’t move an inch. If this was a challenge I will never back down. Anger, jealousy, stress, tiredness, love, and many other feelings passed from her eyes. But, I realized way too late, that all those feelings weren’t Atsuko’s. Her eyes were mirroring my own feelings flashing on my eyes.
And that’s when I felt it and the bottle of water slipped from my grip.
The sweet taste of her lipstick and the soft feeling of her lips against mine; I didn’t closed my eyes. My heart was pumping faster than ever before and my head was spinning. I could felt myself giving in to my own feelings of love, but then a face flashed before my eyes.
The Boyfriend.
I grabbed Atsuko’s shoulders and I was about to push her away, when someone else opened the door.
-Oh! Sorry for interrupting you! – I pushed myself away from Atsuko fast and looked at the person who interrupted us –more like saved me. – You can… you know… keep doing whatever you were… doing…
-It is not what you think it is, Haruna! – I said feeling scared. Haruna giggled – It is really not what you think!
-Sure… - She said and waving her hand she was lost from our sight.
I gulped; I didn’t dare to look at Atsuko. I didn’t even dare to move my body an inch.
-Onoe-san and I… - She said breaking the silence.
The boyfriend again, I was done with this and that man and Atsuko.
-You know what? – I said interrupting her – I don’t care anymore. Go to him and do whatever you want to do. I don’t want to know about it anymore. – I crouched to grab the bottle I had minutes earlier and after grabbing it, I looked at Atsuko – I’m your friend, not a toy you can tease and then leave. I can’t stand this anymore. I’m sorry, Atsuko. But… I really can’t keep doing this.
Her acting skills were so good. She just looked at me with a blank expression. I didn’t see any sort of guiltiness or sadness, not even anger. If she just had done something, slapped me or yelled at me again… And if I just had seen what that new expression meant, I would not been feeling guilty hours later.
One month. One month without knowing anything about her. One month feeling like a total jerk, thanks to Haruna and Miichan of course, they where the first ones to notice my sudden change and, after they practically tortured me, I told them what happened with Atsuko the other day.
Haruna was angry at me and even punched me a few times while Miichan just laughed and told me “what a jerk”. That was exactly what I needed.
-Why don’t you just go to her house and apologize? – Miichan suggested when we were heading to our respective apartments after the radio show that night.
-Right now?! It’s too late, I can’t! – I said
-Not right now, idiot! I mean, someday.
-Like later – Added Haruna
-And just apologize. – continued Miichan.
-She’s angry. You know her and she will just be the cold princess she is! She won’t even look at me!
-Well, you deserve it, you know?! – Both said at the same time.
It’s been, another month and no messages and no calls. I was feeling more and more guilty about what I said and Miichan’s words resounded on my head.
Arriving home, I left my bag and my shoes on the entrance, I walked barefoot towards my room and without turning the lights on I sat on the edge of my cold bed. I sighed and glanced to the small desk I had. I walked towards there and I grabbed the newspaper from months ago.
Dated with the day after our fight at the theater, in the front page I could read, even if I couldn’t see it quite clearly,
“BREAKING NEWS: MAEDA ATSUKO AND ONOE MATSUYA. BREAK UP!”
Topic: Acceptance 5.0 (AtsuMina) - COMPLETED (Read 14164 times)