“Minami,” Atsuko stated firmly. //This isn’t good; now I’m jealous and a bit angry and she thinks I’m mad at her.// “I wish you’d let me help you with your burdens, just like you helped me tonight. You don’t have to do everything by yourself.”
“Thanks, Atsuko.”
Atsuko didn’t have to look at Minami to see the smile on her friend’s face.
//It’s still all so new to me, but I think that I really do love you, Minami.
But you love Haruna, so I'll just have to find joy in simply being your best friend.//
Portraits
An AKB48 Fan Fiction
Chapter 2, Part 3
_ _ _ _ _
Atsuko took Minami’s words to heart; she would take time to decide her true feelings. She dedicated herself to spending even more time with Minami (though work often hindered her plans), hoping to determine whether or not she really did like her best friend as something more, and if so, whether she ever stood a chance with her. They would only grow closer and Atsuko stood determined to always be with Minami, even if only as her friend.
Then, just a month after Atsuko’s love revelation and subsequent yearnings, (a month believing that Minami would never, could never, be hers) she received positive news from her ex-crush, a girl that had since become a closer friend, confidant, and relationship advisor._ _ _ _ _
For Atsuko, today could not grow any worse. She had woken up late, only to discover that it was going to rain all day, meaning her bed head hair was not going to behave. Leaving her house in a hurry, she missed the first train and was subsequently late to the studio. Worst of all was that when Atsuko arrived, Minami was already busy organizing the start of practice, so she would not be able to spend those few precious moments alone with Minami.
“You’re late,” a voice teased from behind her as Atsuko entered the studio. She turned around to find a grinning Yuko with her hands on her hips.
“Hey, Yuko,” Atsuko greeted glumly. She couldn’t help but to spare a small smile, however, at the irony of their friendship. Yuko was the very girl on whom Atsuko had had a crush for years, and throughout that time the two were merely friends. However, the two were now very close friends after having their hearts broken together.
“Wait, why are you here?” Atsuko asked, mildly confused, only to immediately realize the idiocy of her question. Team A had a scheduled performance today, which gave Yuko a 99% chance of seeing (and harassing) Haruna. “Kojiharu must be around here somewhere,” Atsuko stated as she glanced around the room.
“Believe me, I’ll see to Kojipa in due time,” Yuko said, wriggling her brow. “Right now, though, we need to talk.”
Atsuko, startled by Yuko’s serious tone, headed for a more secluded location. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, actually.”
“Explain,” Atsuko demanded, crossing her arms on her chest.
Yuko beamed, her eyes sparkling. “They’re not dating.”
“Who?”
“You know very well who.”
Atsuko shook her head in disbelief. “A kiss like that and they’re not dating? That’s a bit too optimistic to think, even for you, Yuko.”
Yuko gave a small snicker. “That’s just it, though. What we witnessed last month was the break up.”
“How do you know this?” Atsuko asked, mildly shocked. Her arms dropped to her sides.
“Eh, I have my methods.”
“So…”
Yuko grabbed Atsuko’s hands excitedly. “So, in other words, they
were dating, but now they’re
not. And for what reasons did they break up?”
“I don’t know; why?”
Yuko faltered, and dropped Atsuko’s hands with a sheepish smile. “Well, actually, that much I don’t know yet, but do you know what this means?”
“Not really,” Atsuko sighed.
“This means that not only are both of our respective crushes available, but both of them are obviously open to dating another member! This is super good for us! Acchan, it’s time to chase after love wholeheartedly!” Yuko hugged Atsuko tightly before running off with a big smile, no doubt in search of Haruna.
Atsuko was stunned, but she couldn’t help but to let Yuko’s excitement and enthusiasm get the better of her. Most importantly, Minami had been telling the truth that night when she told Atsuko she was not dating anyone. Atsuko’s doubts that Minami did not trust her were without merit.
Perhaps today won’t prove to be so bad after all._ _ _ _ _
Atsuko couldn't help but to wonder how fond Minami was of her. The other idol proved to still be rather dense when it came to matters of the heart. Though not wanting to be too obvious, since unwanted feelings could push Minami away from her, Atsuko would give small hints from time to time. Unfortunately, those hints went seemingly unnoticed.
They went to see many movies together, Minami’s smile afterwards never ceasing to bring one to Atsuko’s face. (After all, Atsuko was happy simply to see Minami happy.) Meals were often spent with each other, be it breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Shopping trips multiplied. Atsuko took it upon herself to subtly show Minami more affection. The touches increased; the hugs increased; the smiles meant just for Minami increased.
Atsuko had no doubts about her feelings; she felt her heart growing ever fonder of Minami. Through her affections, she wanted to prove to Minami just how much she appreciated her._ _ _ _ _
On an ordinary spring evening the members of AKB48 found themselves at a resort, spending time there to record one of the documentaries for their latest release. All day they’d been followed by camera crews throughout their activities. Lunch, games, meetings; even the bath changing room was no longer private. Last night they had been filmed until the last one fell asleep.
Tonight, however, belonged to them. Being young girls, the number one activity they all had in mind was gossip. Music, fashion, shopping, and, dare they say, love; they could spend hours chatting about anything and nothing at all. As soon as the last staff member had left, they quickly grouped their futons together and piled atop one another.
Atsuko sat between Tomochin and Mariko, the three eager to commence gabbing. All were equipped with the latest editions of their favorite fashion magazines. Others gathered around the three, armed with their own magazines and gossip. Glancing around the growing group, the three fashionable members shared whispers and then a devious smirk before standing up and gathering the others’ attention.
“Hey, everybody, listen up!” Atsuko shouted, successfully gaining quiet in the room.
“We officially declare tonight a girls’ night!” Tomochin added, earning cheers from those gathered around them.
“That being said….” Mariko initiated.
“You,” Atsuko said, pointing at Minami.
Instantly Minami’s classic fail expression adorned her features. “Eh? Me? What did I do now?” she whimpered.
Ignoring her questions, Mariko pointed out the next victim. “You.”
“This can’t be good,” the indicated Sayaka grunted, granting the others a glimpse of her gorilla characteristic. “I think I know where this is going.”
Tomochin smirked and pointed a sultry finger in Sae’s direction. “And finally: you.”
“Nope; this isn’t good,” Sayaka confirmed as Sae stood as dumbfounded as Minami.
“Sorry, you three, but…” Atsuko started with a shrug.
“… No boys allowed,” the three instigators chorused. They stood with their arms crossed, denying the three access to the gossip group. The other members gathered around them quickly erupted in laughter as they watched the scene unfold.
“Ah, c’mon, I’m not a guy!” Minami pouted, collapsing to the ground.
Sayaka studied the three women before her. “Are you really not going to do anything until we leave?” she asked, testing the waters.
“That’s correct,” Mariko answered as the other two nodded their agreement.
“Alright, fine. We’ll leave. It’s obvious you’re up to no good.” Sayaka conceded, not wanting to make matters worse. “Let’s go, you two.”
Minami stood and glared at the opposition. “Fine, but I go under protest.” She turned and took two steps toward the door before quickly turning back around. “You, come with us please,” she said as she pointed at Yukirin, who quickly overreacted.
“Me? Why?”
Sayaka stepped up beside Minami. “I see where you’re going with this, Takamina. A three captains’ meeting while we have the chance, huh?” Seeing Yuki’s confused glance at Sae, Sayaka quickly thought up an excuse for the other exiled girl’s presence. “Just ignore the fact that she’ll be with us; we can’t leave her unsupervised, unfortunately,” she said with a teasing smile.
“Hey!” Sae shouted as she jumped up, having finally recovered from her initial stupor.
“Alright, I’ll go,” Yukirin agreed, standing from the main group and walking to join the ‘boys’. “But, Sayaka, we don’t need to ignore her. On the contrary…” She paused, turning to Sae with a sinister smile. All present gulped in fear for Sae’s safety. “There’s no need to ignore her when we can put her to good use.”
“Great idea!” Sayaka exclaimed happily, grabbing Sae by the collar before she had a chance to flee. “She can start as our runner.”
Shaking her head at their childish antics, Minami turned to the door with a sigh. “Alright, let’s go. The ‘ladies’ have requested their alone time.” The others watched as the quartet walked away, Sayaka dragging a pleading Sae behind her. Conversation began once again soon after the doors slid shut.
“Wasn’t that a little harsh?” Yuko asked quietly, plopping down on a futon beside Atsuko. “Here I thought Takamina was your best friend and more, and now you’re sending her away so easily? It’s only natural that I’d believe you’d enjoy a sleepover with her. Ostracizing her is what you call chasing after love wholeheartedly?”
Realizing Yuko’s implication, Atsuko felt her face flush before answering. “She is my best friend. And it’s not what you think.”
“Then what is it?” a newly arrived Haruna asked, visibly upset with the three for their treatment towards her friends. Despite Haruna’s frustration, Yuko was soon attached to the spacey idol.
“It’s a surprise party planning committee for Takamina’s birthday,” Tomochin answered. “We needed an effective method to get her out of the room.”
“And the others?”
“Unfortunate but necessary victims,” Mariko explained with a smirk. “I’m sure they won’t mind after we fill them in later.”
Yuko shot a scolding glance at the three plotters. “I don’t think Sae-chan is going to be okay.”
Tomochin shrugged. “She can blame Takamina for that later. She’s the one that requested that black Yukirin join them.”
“Yes; that was an unexpected development,” Atsuko stated with a shake of her head, casting aside disturbing thoughts about Sae-chan’s safety. “I’m sure that Yukirin and Sayaka were just playing around, and if they weren’t, then I trust Takamina will keep them from doing anything too awful. Now then, let’s get to planning, shall we?”
“I leave the planning to you all,” Yuko said, detaching herself from Haruna with a mischievous smirk. “I’m curious to see what the ‘boys’ are up to.” With a proud smile she patted Atsuko on her way out of the room. The pat was a message:
I’m glad to see you haven’t given up._
“Hey Takamina, would you come with me for a second?” Atsuko asked with a nervous smile as she glanced around at the others at the party. She was relieved to see that no one was paying any attention in their direction.
It was two weeks later, and the party had proven to be a success. Many of the other members had come to celebrate, and Minami was elated to have some many friends with her on her birthday.
Minami beamed up at Atsuko. “Yeah, sure. I still can’t believe you organized this, Acchan. I never suspected a thing! It was great; thanks!”
“You’re welcome.” Taking advantage of the opportunity, Atsuko led Minami by the hand towards a secluded corner, away from the curious eyes of the others present at the party. She was happy that Minami was happy; the shorter girl’s excitement and bright smile were more than enough reward for her hard work in organizing the party.
“Really, thank you!” Minami replied happily, looking up at Atsuko curiously as the two stopped in a secluded corner. “So, what did you need?”
Atsuko shook her head. “I don’t need anything. I just… have another present for you.”
“Ah, this party was more than enough; you don’t need to give me any…thing...else.”
Minami stood shocked as Atsuko leaned down and kissed her, her lips grazing the corner of Minami’s.
“Happy Birthday, Minami,” Atsuko whispered red-faced, unable to look Minami in the eye.
“Wh-what was that for?” Minami asked, recovering from her stupor a few seconds later.
Atsuko gave a small smile and stuck out her tongue teasingly. “I told you, it was a birthday present. C’mon, let’s get back to the party.”
“Yeah, let’s!” Minami agreed with a nod and a small laugh, accepting the excuse without a second thought.
The two returned to the others, and even though Minami was her normal self the rest of the night, seemingly unperturbed by the ‘gift’ she’d received, Atsuko’s heart raced wildly throughout the evening. She had chickened out in that moment, her lips coming to rest only at the corner of Minami’s, but for Atsuko it was more than enough.
_ _ _
The evening, in Atsuko’s opinion, had been nothing short of wonderful.
Due to her busy film schedule, nearly two months had passed with nothing more than impersonal contact with Minami, but tonight Atsuko finally had an evening free to spend with her secret love. Seizing the chance, she invited Minami out to see a movie, one she was sure the other girl would not turn down. Once together, Atsuko let the actress in her take over.
It began in the theater. Early on in the film Atsuko had jumped at a particular scene, an honest reaction. However, Minami had reached a hand over to grab Atsuko’s, and from then on the crafty Atsuko was “frightened” by the film as often as possible.
She had been acting after the film as well. It wasn’t particularly cold outside, but there was a small chill in the air, and Atsuko had used it as an excuse to cuddle with Minami as they waited for a taxi cab.
//“It’s cold,”// she had whispered as Minami stopped humming and smiled up at her. They stood chatting as they waited for a cab, which Minami flagged down effortlessly. And then, just as she was getting in the cab and thinking about how late it was, Minami had surprised her, as if she’d read Atsuko’s mind.
// “Care to spend the night?”// Atsuko had answered yes in a heartbeat, and now here she was in Minami’s room, its owner fast asleep just inches away. Minami had given in to slumber not long after they’d arrived; a fact which was directly related to Atsuko’s still being awake. She’d spent the past two hours staring at Minami’s sleeping face, studying every contour. Her heart was pounding, because for two hours she’d been debating with her conscience.
Atsuko’s was a tough love to have. She loved Minami, of that she was sure. However, as far as she knew, Minami remained clueless about how she felt. Despite all the hints she’d given thus far, and the many more to come, Atsuko was afraid to admit that Minami had not and would not realize a thing. More frightening was the idea that perhaps Minami had realized how Atsuko felt and was not interested.
Why did I fall for her, of all people? Atsuko began to ponder but the answer came instantaneously. Minami was always kind, funny, dependable, protective, and forgiving. In Atsuko’s eyes, she possessed the best traits of humanity all rolled into one little vessel. And while Atsuko was certain that Minami had her not so favorable points, as Minami was only human, she was certain that she would still love her. Atsuko had heard it said that true love was indescribable, and she felt compelled to agree.
However, Atsuko’s worries over the future state of what was at this point only a hoped for relationship were not the biggest issue plaguing her.
No, for two hours, more than anything else, Atsuko was kept awake by the irresistible urge to kiss the girl sleeping beside her.
Sure, I gave her a kiss at her party months ago, but… Atsuko returned her focus to Minami, and in that moment her resolve was broken. Leaning over to the sleeping girl, Atsuko pressed her lips against Minami’s in a chaste kiss that sent electricity throughout her body. The sensation was not to be enjoyed, however, as Atsuko pulled back suddenly, her hand covering her mouth in fear and disbelief. She stared at the still slumbering Minami as tears began to form in her eyes.
What did I just do? Burrowing beneath her covers, Atsuko turned her back to Minami, panic strewn across her features.
I can’t believe I just did that. She heard Minami shift behind her and Atsuko’s breath caught in her throat. That was all Minami did, however. The other girl was still in a deep sleep, oblivious to what had occurred.
While this love remains one-sided, I don’t think I can ever spend the night again._ _ _ _ _
Despite it all, Atsuko was still a young woman in love, and young love never came without trials. Atsuko couldn’t help but to feel jealous at times. At other times she felt possessive. But, did she really have the right to feel such things when the object of her desires was oblivious of it all?
Did she have the right to love a girl that, as far as she could tell, did not love her?_ _ _ _ _
//“Would you sing a duet with me next time, Minami?” Atsuko suddenly blurted, catching Minami and the others off-guard. They stared at her curiously as she quickly turned away.
“Yeah, sure,” Minami answered after a few seconds’ recovery. “I’d love to do that, Atsuko.”//
I can’t believe I asked her like that. It’s so obvious that I was jealous. Atsuko sat behind stage with her head in her hands, angry at herself for being so transparent.
But… she agreed. This thought brought a smile to her face. She had taken a chance and been kindly rewarded.
But, she thought, a sad sigh again escaping her lips,
Minami probably didn’t think anything strange about it. “What’s up with you?” Atsuko looked up to find Tomochin standing before her, looking down at her curiously. “I can’t tell you how many times you just switched from happy to sad in a minute.”
“Tomochin…” Atsuko whined, reaching out to hug her friend. “I slipped up.”
“Takamina again?” Tomochin asked and she felt Atsuko nod in reply. “How so?”
“I asked her to sing a duet with me the next time.”
Tomochin scrunched her face in confusion as she patted Atsuko’s head. “I’m missing something.”
“What’s there to miss?” Atsuko huffed. “I was so obviously jealous. And despite that, Minami remains clueless about how I feel.”
“Ah, I see now,” Tomochin whispered, detaching Atsuko so she could sit beside her. “I wouldn’t say you slipped up. To be honest, it’s probably a good thing. It helped you to finally get something off your chest.”
Atsuko frowned. “Yeah, but… Yuko and Haruna were there. I’m so embarrassed.”
“I wouldn’t worry about those two,” Tomochin stated wisely, earning a confused stare from Atsuko. “They have their own issues to resolve. And it was a jealous Yuko that probably instigated this whole thing somehow, am I right?” Atsuko only stared at her in wonder now, causing Tomochin to laugh. “Don’t worry; any jealousy you showed was probably miniscule compared to Yuko’s rant. I’m surprised Takamina was still alive when I bumped into her just now.”
They sat together quietly, neither really needing to say anything more. They understood each other without relying on words. Silent companionship was the best option; it allowed both to ponder their own situation.
“Tomochin,” Atsuko said after a few minutes.
“Hmm?”
“Thank you. I think you’re the only one that can understand the frustration I feel sometimes.”
Tomochin looked at Atsuko’s honest smile and returned it in kind. “You’re welcome. Now let’s go, we’re going on soon.”
_ _ _
Miichan watched Atsuko with eagle eyes. In doing so, she was easily able to determine a couple things. Atsuko had arrived that day with her head held high, her resolve strong. There was no hesitation in her eyes. It was obvious that she had made an important decision. Not long after she arrived at the studio, she had pulled Minami aside to speak with her.
Following closely behind the two, though unnoticed, Miichan was able to make her second determination. Atsuko had since lost her courage. She was nervous, playing at the hem of her skirt. At this point, though, it was likely too awkward to back out.
Not good, Miichan thought, peeking around the corner.
You can do it, Acchan! The stalker cheered her prey, hoping that Atsuko would be able to sense her encouragement. “Of course, I don’t yet know what
it is, but I’m sure I’m about to find out.”
Crap. I just said that aloud, didn’t I? “You mean you don’t know, either?” someone whispered behind her and Miichan jumped three feet in the air, covering her mouth to prevent a yelp from escaping.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Miichan hissed, regaining her composure as she turned to face the intruder. “Why are you here?”
“I’m here for the same reason you are,” Mariko stated in a matter-of-fact tone, flicking Miichan in the forehead.
“Damn it, that hurts!”
Mariko smiled at Miichan’s complaint. “I saw you sneaking after those two so I thought I’d follow. That said, give me the low down,” she commanded, peering around the corner through a set of ‘goggles’.
“I’m not yet sure what’s going on,” Miichan admitted, rubbing her forehead. “They were just about to get to the serious stuff when you decided to scare the crap out of me.”
“Acchan’s giving something to Takamina,” Mariko observed flatly, ignoring Miichan’s accusation.
“What is it? A kiss? Let me see!” Miichan demanded, pushing Mariko aside to peek around the corner. To her dismay, the two girls being spied on were not in the midst of a lip lock. Instead, Atsuko was pressing something small into Minami’s hand. “It’s a key,” Miichan mumbled, “but to what?”
“Isn’t it obvious? It’s a key to Acchan’s house.”
Both Miichan and Mariko jumped this time as yet another person joined the conversation unexpectedly.
Yuko pointed across the hallway. “I was over there, hiding around that corner,” she said with a playful smile. “I had to creep around and do a couple backflips just to get over here unnoticed.”
Mariko rolled her eyes at the blatant exaggeration, but Miichan seemed to have bought it. “So it’s a key to her house, you said?” Mariko asked, smacking Miichan out of her state of awe.
“Oh, that’s right!” Miichan exclaimed a tad too loudly and two pairs of hands flew up to cover her mouth. She gave a small nod to indicate that it was safe and the other two released her, though a bit hesitantly. “I forgot Acchan just recently bought a house.”
Mariko gave a consenting nod. “This is a good thing. It’s a big step forward in what some call their ‘relationship’.”
“Exactly,” Yuko agreed, mimicking Mariko’s nod. “Earning the key to a girl’s house is the same as earning the key to her heart.”
“Except…” Miichan whispered, the one word enough to kill the happy atmosphere. “This is Takamina. She probably doesn’t think anything special about it.”
“Oh, right,” the other two grunted in dismay. The sound of footsteps reached their ears then, and the three immediately tried to seem as if their presence there was normal.
“Oh, hey guys,” Minami said as she rounded the corner, her voice indicating that she was a bit surprised to see them there. “What are you doing here?” Atsuko followed behind Minami, her face stoic.
“We were on our way to find you two,” Mariko offered as an excuse, and the other two nodded in confirmation.
“I see. Well, congratulations! You found us. Come on, we should head back now,” Minami proposed without any hint of suspicion.
Yuko gave a small shake of her head. “You go on ahead without us. We’re going to stop in the restroom.”
“I’ll go with them,” Atsuko stated, earning worried glances from the three spies. She watched as Minami nodded and then disappeared around the corner.
Yuko stepped forward to look Atsuko in the eyes. “Are you mad?” she asked in a small voice.
“Please don’t be mad!” Miichan begged, wrapping her body around Atsuko in a tight hug.
Atsuko shook her head. “I’m not mad,” she said, taking her time to smile at each of the others individually. “Knowing that you all were there helped me to go through with it. Thank you.”
“And?” Yuko prodded. Miichan continued to nuzzle against Atsuko’s shoulder as Mariko raised a brow at her actions.
“And… nothing, really. Actually,” Atsuko paused and gave a small laugh, earning stares from her companions. “She was embarrassed because she didn’t have anything to give me in return.”
“Typical Takamina,” Mariko stated and the others agreed.
Atsuko sighed. “She wants to give me a key to her apartment now.”
“That’s great, isn’t it? What was the sigh for?”
“To Minami it’s just a fair trade; a key for a key. She thinks I gave her a key simply for use in emergencies.”
“Well, we’ll just have to change that way of thinking,” Yuko stated, resting an arm across Atsuko’s shoulders. “In the meantime, we really should be getting back to the others.”
The other three agreed, and the four walked back together, goofing off as only good friends can.
_ _ _
I shouldn’t have come here. Minami was right; I’m bored. Atsuko glanced around the stadium. It was crowded; Japan versus China had proved to be a popular match. The players on the pitch were playing to the best of their abilities, working hard towards their dreams, and she could relate to their determination. However, watching a soccer match was not her idea of fun.
She sighed. The fans that filled the stadium were screaming and cheering, but none more loudly than the trio she’d accompanied to the game. They were seated in a section reserved for persons of their status, the midget duo jumping excitedly in the row before her. Cheering beside her was one of the reasons Atsuko invited herself into this nightmare of an outing.
Another sigh escaped her lips. Atsuko thought back to earlier, when her emotions had gotten the better of her. She (as well as everyone else present) had overheard Yuko and Minami’s intent to go out that evening. However, Atsuko was not interested until she realized that Haruna would also be going with them.
Though Atsuko knew there was no longer any special relationship between Minami and Haruna, and that there hadn’t been for a while now, she couldn’t help but to fear that there might be lingering feelings. After all, the two were still very close friends.
Atsuko liked Haruna. She was an impressive idol. Though she gave the impression of being a dunce, she was also intelligent in her own way. She was fun to hang around with, surprisingly good with advice, and one of the kindest people that Atsuko had ever known. It was because of this that Atsuko hated these occasional instances in which she was jealous of Haruna. She hated this stewing jealousy, of which Haruna remained completely oblivious. Through these instances, however, Atsuko was beginning to discover that where Minami was involved, her heart always won over her mind.
It was because of said impulse that Atsuko reacted the way she had earlier. At the time she asked to join their outing, she had cast a glance at Haruna which Yuko noticed. It was Yuko that had convinced Minami to invite Atsuko.
Is Yuko also uncomfortable with seeing Haruna and Minami together? Or… is she trying to help me, to allow me the chance to see that there is no longer anything between them? “Darn it, they were so close that time,” an out-of-breath Haruna said as she sat beside Atsuko. Atsuko couldn’t help but to look at the other idol as if she were some sort of alien. Never had Atsuko imagined Haruna to be the type to enjoy a soccer match to this extent. “Is something wrong?” Haruna asked, noticing Atsuko’s strange stare.
“No, not really, it’s just… I never took you to be a soccer fan, Kojiharu.”
“Is that so? I suppose most people would think that way. As it is, though, I’m the one that usually invites Yuu-chan to the games. She started bringing Takamina a couple matches ago.”
“Oh.”
“Feeling out of place?”
“A bit, yes,” Atsuko admitted with a shy smile.
“Well, Takamina did warn you,” Haruna said with a teasing smile.
Atsuko nodded. “I know; I should have listened.”
Haruna gave a small, melodic laugh. “Don’t worry. I used to simply enjoy watching a soccer match. Now I love it.”
The admission didn’t surprise Atsuko. “I can tell; you were just cheering louder than anyone else here.”
“That’s because I want to do all I can to help them win. Believe me; I’m sure that you’ll grow to enjoy a match just as much.”
Atsuko shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
A sly grin graced Haruna’s lips. “Just wait; when Japan scores, the rewards are definitely worth it.”
“Huh?”
Just then the stadium erupted in cheers, and the midgets one row down jumped up from their seats excitedly, joining in the celebration.
“We scored! We scored!”
“Japan is winning!”
Atsuko watched as Haruna’s gaze shifted from the players on the field to the two girls celebrating in the row before them. It was then that she realized a few very important things.
Firstly, Haruna didn’t come to the games simply to watch the match.
Secondly, Haruna was focused on Yuko’s radiant smile, not Minami’s.
Lastly, Atsuko knew she wouldn’t mind attending another game with Minami.
_ _ _
Atsuko was staring at the picture on her phone in disbelief.
Despite her devotion to Minami, Atsuko was no stranger to the skinship that was prevalent amongst the members. The desire to give and receive attention was only natural. Though most of her affections were directed towards Minami, Atsuko had a lot of love to share with the other members.
There were certain members that she frequented: Sae, Miichan, Jurina... and she had her occasional victims as well; Tomochin and [perhaps ironically] Yuko were a part of this group.
To her dismay, Minami never reacted the way she’d hoped. Just once she wanted Minami to react when she caught Atsuko being overly friendly with other members, but it was almost as if Minami didn’t care. For her part, Atsuko was always a little jealous when another member engaged in [attempted] skinship with Minami.
All of that now seemed to have changed, however, with a certain ‘marriage’.
Though Takahashi Minami was Atsuko’s secret true love, Minegishi Minami was quickly becoming Atsuko’s pretend love. The two had once declared their marriage, playing at being newlyweds as they posed for pictures of the happy ‘occasion’. The other members had joined in the fun, congratulating the two on their union. Even their fans had played along, wishing the two the best of luck after Atsuko mentioned the ‘marriage’ on her blog.
It had all been done in fun without any seriousness behind it. Atsuko had decided to relive the memory and began looking at the pictures again as the group waited backstage. There was nothing out of the ordinary in the images until something in the last picture caught her eye and Atsuko’s heart skipped a beat.
There she was in Miichan’s arms, the two of them posing for the camera. Minami was in the scene as well, kneeling in the foreground with an unhappy scowl. Atsuko had seen the picture a dozen times before, always thinking that Minami was putting on an act for the camera. Yet as she looked at Minami’s image once again, this time she somehow instinctively knew Minami was conveying something else.
In the picture they had taken right before the one in question, Minami was absent. Reflecting on when the photos were taken, Atsuko could remember that while the first photo was being taken, some of the other girls had tried to convince Minami to join in the fun by crashing the picture. She had adamantly refused, and by the time the second photo was taken they had only succeeded in getting her to squat in the foreground.
Why hadn’t I noticed then? She didn’t want to be in the picture. She didn’t want to be near us. Atsuko felt a strange, tingling sensation run down her back.
No way... She was… “…jealous. Well, maybe not
quite jealous, but displeased, at least. Congratulations,” Tomochin said after Atsuko had sought her out for a second opinion. She hadn’t wanted to get her hopes up only to have them quickly dispelled. After hearing Tomochin’s statement, however, Atsuko could not control her excitement.
“You think so too?”
Tomochin simply nodded and patted Atsuko’s head. Atsuko stared back down at the photo in wonder.
Perhaps, she thought as a smile crept across her lips,
I might just stand a chance at love with her after all._ _ _
The similarities were too strong to ignore. Here stood Atsuko, being offered a hand by the girl she liked to go follow a certain
other girl to see if she was or was not dating someone. There was one important difference, however. This time, when Atsuko took the hand of the girl she liked, she felt all the symptoms of love she expected to feel. Despite how long it had been since she realized that Minami was the one that she likes, Atsuko never failed to feel her heart flutter at the touch of Minami’s hand. (After all, the occasions when Minami was the one to initiate any such affection were few and far between.)
As the two followed behind a clueless Kojima Haruna, watching in awe at one point as she tripped and rolled forward only to stand back up as if it was planned, Atsuko decided to ask one of the questions that had been nagging her from the start. She knew that Minami was not the one that Haruna liked now, but Atsuko was uncertain about Minami’s feelings towards Haruna. It was entirely possible that Minami still had feelings for the spacey idol.
“Minami, why are we stalking Kojiharu?”
Minami cast a glance at Atsuko before answering. “I’m curious. And worried, I guess. I wonder what has brought such a smile to her face.”
And there it is; the start to another heartbreak adventure. “Do you love her?”
The question was blunt, but Minami’s step didn’t falter as they continued after Haruna. “Of course I love her. I love her just as much as I love you and all the others. She’s a very dear friend. That’s why… I care about her too much to let her risk her career for some guy.”
This is almost exactly like last time. Except… I don’t think I’ll have my heart broken this time.
No… I know I won’t. I can feel it. Atsuko looked down at their conjoined hands and gave Minami’s hand a light squeeze. “Don’t worry,” she stated, pointing ahead at Haruna, who took a seat at a small bistro. “See?”
Minami looked forward to see Haruna greet a newly arrived Yuko, both smiling brightly. “Oh, good. She’s just meeting Yuko. But… that doesn’t mean she isn’t dating somebody.”
“Oh, she’s definitely dating somebody,” Atsuko said with a melodic laugh, finding enjoyment in Minami’s ignorance.
“What? Who? You know?” Minami asked, surprised by the sudden disclosure.
A grin graced Atsuko’s face as she pointed back across the street to the couple at the bistro. “Yuko,” she stated simply.
There was a silent pause between the two, and then,
“WHAT?!”
“Shh! Be quiet!” Atsuko hissed, clamping Minami’s mouth.
Minami batted away Atsuko’s hands. “You mean to say that the two of them are really dating? It’s not just fan service?”
“It’s real.”
Minami slowly slid to the ground behind a small hedge, a position in which she was hidden from their two friends across the street. Atsuko sat down beside her and it didn’t take long for a bewildered Minami to rest her head on Atsuko’s shoulder. They sat quietly for a few minutes, Minami in too much shock to speak and Atsuko not wanting to end the moment any sooner than necessary.
“You knew this whole time, didn’t you?” Minami whispered accusingly, breaking her few minutes of silence.
“Guilty.” Atsuko answered with a grin, finding amusement in Minami’s reactions. “Everyone else in the group knows, too.”
“Wait, how did I
not know this?” Minami asked, her classic failure expression adorning her features as she pushed off Atsuko’s shoulder and stood.
“Because you’re you, Minami,” Atsuko answered truthfully as she also stood.
You haven’t even realized how much I love you in all these years. A slight frown appeared on her face for just a fleeting second.
And from what I’m told, it’s pretty obvious. “Like Miichan’s always saying, you probably wouldn’t recognize love even if it hit you in the face.”
“I would too!” Minami protested with a stomp of her foot. “Why does everybody always say things like that? I’m not that cluele-”
Movement across the street caught Atsuko’s attention and she reacted instantly. “Quick, get down! They’re leaving!” she said, pushing Minami back down behind the bushes while accidently socking her in the eye in the process.
“Geez, Acchan; that hurt.”
Oh no. “I’m so sorry!” Atsuko gasped in terror. “Here, let me see.” She gently took Minami’s face in her hands, eliciting a small hiss of pain from the small girl.
I can’t believe I just hit Minami. What do I do? Atsuko allowed instinct to takeover, and she lightly blew on the wound she’d caused, not noticing as Minami froze in reaction to the gesture. She cupped Minami’s cheek gingerly as she spoke. “It’s just a scrape and a small bump, though you might end up with a bruise. I’m so sorry, Minami.”
Please believe me. “A-Acchan, I think I need to r-rest; my heart it beating pretty quickly and I-I don’t feel so well.”
Atsuko looked at Minami with worry filled eyes. “I’ll help you into one of those chairs. C’mon, stand up.”
“Ahem!”
It was the familiar sound of a displeased person clearing her throat to gain attention. Minami and Atsuko both froze in their ministrations and slowly looked up to find a certain couple looking down at them disapprovingly. Caught red-handed, the two cast sheepish, guilty smiles at the pair.
_
“And that’s basically it,” Atsuko neared the end of her explanation to her unhappy audience. Yuko nodded in understanding while Haruna stared at her in disbelief. “Minami just wanted to make sure that you hadn’t made a bad choice. You know how she is; she worries too much for her age.” Minami sat beside Atsuko, hiding her face in embarrassment behind a small bag of ice.
“So, let me get this straight,” Yuko began, glancing eagerly between the two younger girls. “Everyone in the group knows that Kojipa and I are really dating?”
“Yuuchan, I don’t think that’s the topic that needs to be discussed right now,” Haruna scolded, smacking Yuko in the back of the head. “What’s more important is what Takamina thinks. She was worried enough to follow me.”
Minami studied her hands in her lap as the other three turned to her. After a moment to ponder, she spoke up quietly with an honest smile on her lips. “While the rules of the group do prohibit relationships, it’s apparent that what you two share could simply be played off as fan service. And… you two are happy together. I don’t see any reason to not support you. I’ll turn a blind eye, but please… be careful. I don’t want to see either of you expelled. I’m happy for you, honest.”
“Alright!” Yuko exclaimed with a fist pump before latching onto Haruna. “See, Nyan Nyan? I knew she’d understand.”
Atsuko felt her heart jump at Minami’s answer.
If she can support the two of them together, does that mean that I might have a chance? Smiling innocently, she reached her hand under the table to grab Minami’s. To her surprise, instead of pulling away, Minami responded by first going stiff and then tightening her grip. The four lingered around, chatting amicably over the din of passersby. Atsuko played with Minami’s hand, enjoying the strange reactions she evoked from the other girl. When it came time to leave Atsuko released Minami’s hand begrudgingly, but Minami surprised her by reaching down and reinstituting the contact with a small blush on her face.
“So, Acchan,” Yuko began with a teasing smile as she walked up beside Atsuko, catching the stunned idol off-guard. With Haruna on her other side, she leaned towards Atsuko to whisper, “You’re becoming quite a seasoned stalker, eh?”
_ _ _
“Ahem. Maeda-san?”
“Eh?” Atsuko’s face immediately grew red as she realized that she had spaced out yet again, on live television, no less.
“Oh, good. You are still with us,” the middle-aged male host joked with a chuckle. “We were beginning to worry that you’d been spirited away.”
“I’m sorry,” Atsuko offered with a small bow. “I got caught up in my thoughts. What was the question?” She was embarrassed, to be sure. Her appearance today was meant to help promote her latest show, yet the interview so far had been more about her personal life than the drama.
“I asked if there was anyone that you liked. Your character is a young lady in love, but as everyone is well aware, within AKB48, mutual love is prohibited but unrequited love is acceptable. Is there anyone that has unknowingly managed to capture your attention, Maeda-san?”
That’s why I spaced out; he asked about Minami. Well, not by name, but still… It used to be that Atsuko could keep a straight poker face when anyone mentioned love in her interviews. Lately, however, she’d had trouble staying focused at the mere mention of Minami’s name, never mind the girl herself. She blamed this issue on Minami, too. When they had spied on Haruna and Yuko a while back (and been caught), Atsuko sensed something rather promising. While Atsuko sat playing with Minami’s hand under the table that day, whether intentional or not, Minami had sent signals back.
That alone had been enough to send Atsuko’s mind into chaos, but there was also their movie ‘date’ not long ago. After the reactions she’d gained spying on Haruna and Yuko, Atsuko had decided to be a bit more forward in her affections during their ‘date’, even calling it as such. Minami’s behavior in response to her actions had been rather… peculiar, and her reactions in the cab had been unusual.
“No. I haven’t met the ‘one’ yet,” Atsuko lied, giving her standard answer to the question. After all, nobody wanted an idol whose heart was no longer available.
“I think that smile on your face tells otherwise, Maeda-san, but we’ll move on.” The host gave a small, teasing smile, and Atsuko could only reply with a blush and a grateful nod as she watched the eccentric host shift in his seat before posing his next question. “You’re a very successful actress now, but everyone needs to start somewhere. One of the first dramas that you ever starred in was AKB48’s “Majisuka Gakuen”. Please tell us: As a new, young actress, which scene from that drama did you find to be the most difficult to film?”
“The most difficult?” Atsuko repeated, tilting her head cutely as she pondered the question.
“Was it perhaps one of the big fight scenes, with all the choreography?”
Atsuko shook her head. “No, it wasn’t that.” The answer had come to her naturally. “There was a scene in which I had to run into the hospital crying and watch helplessly as my best friend died before me. I didn’t like that scene, having to see Takamina die before me. It was too realistic. All I could think at the time was, ‘Please, don’t ever let me have to go through this in real life.’ It took a lot of focus to actually get through that scene.”
“And by ‘Takamina’, you mean fellow AKB48 member Takahashi Minami, correct?”
“Yes.”
“We’re going to take a short break. When we return, Maeda-san will talk more about her new drama.”
Did she even know she was doing those things? Does she remember? Do I actually stand a chance? Should I somehow inquire about it? It is Minami, though; perhaps it would be safer to just leave things as they are. As the host stepped away to speak with the director, Atsuko watched as the image of Minami super-imposed on the screen before her was removed.
I miss her. I haven’t seen her since that 'date'. Thankfully the ‘thank you’ party is tonight, but since it is… The host returned to his seat then and Atsuko gave him a polite smile. The two watched as one of the staff began a countdown.
…this is going to be a long interview.
End Chapter 2, Part 3
Long time no update. I hope the wait wasn't too agonizing. How are all of you?
Nothing too terribly exciting this time; basically just a lot of everyday scenes for character development. There are quite a few scenes in this Part 3 that correlate with Chapter 1 Part 3.
The next update will end Chapter 2, so it might prove to be a bit more entertaining.
I thank all of you for waiting patiently for this update.
P.S.@ iloveakb48:
"I love how you write !!!" Thank you very much!
Topic: Portraits (Atsumina) Chapter 4 Part 2 (Read 57666 times)