JPHiP Forum

The Hello! Project Fanfics => H!P Fanfics => Topic started by: Estrea on January 27, 2011, 06:34:56 AM

Title: 私のアホ家族(My Stupid Family)[24/6 - Chapter 25: A Series of Unfortunate Events]
Post by: Estrea on January 27, 2011, 06:34:56 AM
My Family

This is not an easy topic,
she writes, since I don't exactly have a normal family like the other kids. Most kids have a father who is probably a salaryman, and their mother as a housewife, but due to certain circumstances, mine is somewhat different.

For starters, I don't have a father. I have asked Mama about him, but she says he's not around anymore. Sometimes that makes me feel a little lonely, but it really isn't as bad as it seems. Grandfather is still around after all, and he's not all that old since Mama had me when she was really young. It might not be quite the same, but I love how grandfather takes me out on rides on his scooter, even though Mama really freaks out over it when she finds out.

Grandfather tells me that Mama used to ride on his scooter when she was a kid too, so she really has no right to complain. Then again, he says that her mother, my Grandmother, also had much the same reaction, so maybe it runs in the family.

On about the rest of my family then. Mama and I still live together with Grandfather and Grandmother, as well as my Little Aunt, who is Mama's younger sister. Grandmother is really nice and fusses over me constantly, almost like she's the one mothering me, and my Mama is really kind of a cool older sister (who happens to have given birth to me, but well...).

On the other hand, Little Aunt really hates it when I call her "aunt", because she says it makes her feel old. I don't really understand, because she is my aunt. How else am I supposed to refer to her? She says to call her "Yuu-chan", the way Mama calls her, and that feels weird and somewhat disrespectful, but Mama says that I should just call her that in front of her, if only to make her happy. I suppose Mama's right, but privately I'll just always refer to her as my aunt, since that's exactly what she is.

What to say about my mother? To start with, she's really young, since she had me when she was 18, so she's not even 30 yet. In some ways we often look and feel more like sisters, especially when we go out together, since Mama has such a youthful look. Most people usually think she's still in her early twenties, and I hope I can look as young as she does when I'm her age. 

I also like to think that my Mama is cooler than everyone else's, since she's fashionable and knowledgeable about current trends. I can actually go shopping with her and not feel strange about the stuff she picks out for me, because they usually look good on me. We can talk about music together, and I love going to plays and movies with her. Mama really loves watching theaterical productions, and it kinda rubbed off on me too. That's probably why I'm in the drama club. Being on stage is fun and exciting. There's nothing quite like it.

More about my mother: she's not a typical housewife (she doesn't need to be, Grandmother still takes care of most things). I know Mama gave up her dreams of a professional career on stage to take care of me, or so Little Aunt says, and I think that's really noble of her. She worked as a family tutor while I was younger, since the schedule was more flexible that way, but now that I'm older, she's free to do more things.

Recently she managed to get herself certified as a dance teacher, and has been working part-time as an instructor at the local dance clinic. I'm sure the teachers here remember her helping to choreograph some dances for the school festival. Needless to say, I'm very proud of Mama for daring to pick up some part of her dreams again. It might be too late for her to really have a professional career, but I want Mama to be able to do what she loves.

Mama has been such a big part of my life, and I want her to be happy. I love the stage the same way she does, but I'm not just doing it for myself. I want Mama to know that even though she gave up her dreams for me, she can still live it through me. I made up my mind when I was still in kindergarten, that I will stand on the stage that Mama always wanted to, and shine for her (and everyone else) to see.

-- Takahashi Riho, 10 years old.



"Ne ne Riho-chan! Look at this! They're having auditions in our town! That's so exciting! Are you gonna go?"

Long, dark hair breezed in the wind as she flipped it over her shoulder, a wry grin on her face.

"Obviously."

And so begins the shaky route to stardom for one Takahashi Riho, 12 years old.


=================================================================


My crazy new story. One part crack, one part warm family drama, the rest of it...is a secret. XD Special Essy brew. :D

Don't ask me how it happened. I just wanted to write Ai as a single mother, and this resulted. Ah, crazy 3am plotting, I love thee.

Comments lots!  :heart:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [27/1 - Prologue]
Post by: gracula on January 27, 2011, 07:22:40 AM
YES! I'd sacrifice an emoti here to illustrate my excitement, but they don't have a :grinning at screen, bouncing in seat: one.

Takahashi Ai: stage mom. How awesome is that? And I bet her progeny is all sorts of awesome as well. How long did you spend calculating the optimum age gap? 

Can't wait to see who Riho and Aichan meets along the way!
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [27/1 - Prologue]
Post by: rndmnwierd on January 27, 2011, 09:13:38 AM
I was really confusing myself, trying to figure out who this story was about. I knew Ai-chan had to be there somewhere, cause it's(you) a sin in these here parts to not include the awesome Leader. Then I read Yuu-chan. That made me think it was a Golden Era story, but that doesn't seem to be you lately(the past few years) so I thought, "Noo, can't be." Then I read Riho...

And I became so incredibly happy! :w00t: :w00t:

I'm so diggin' the 9kies and it's great that you are among the first authors to write about them. And it looks to be a chaptered story as well! :cow: :cow: Happy day!

Want to see the Essy-sama take on the new kid(s)! Want want! :yossi: :otomerika:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [27/1 - Prologue]
Post by: Tchips on January 27, 2011, 09:53:14 AM
Oh? First story about the 9th gen, right? Looking forward to it :)
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [27/1 - Prologue]
Post by: Tightrope on January 27, 2011, 11:38:34 AM
I think I can't express properly my excitement for this  :w00t:

First of all, is you, writing, and that fact alone is awesome enough. I'm happy to see you feel like writing something long again, so as long you keep doing it we will be here fangirling for you  :cow:
And in top of that, we have here some factors which rise the awesomeness level. Because, really, Ai-chan a single mom? Riho her daughter? Great Nakazawa Yuuko is "the auntie"? NIIIIIIIIIICE :mon inluv:
This idea has a lot of potential and I love it,  I can't wait to see where is all of this going  :heart:

At first I was trying to guess who was the person writing the letter, didn't expect to be Riho in the end. But Ai-chan being the mother somewhat I knew it  XD But maybe the most surprising was Yuko's appearence. I'm loving her character here. In fact, loving the mix you threw those three in, living under the same roof. I'm already imagining what is going to be a "normal" day to this particular family  :lol:
I love Ai-chan panicking about scooter rides, the drama of leaving her dream to rise her child but at the same time the fact she didn't give up entirely <3 And yes, her being a single mom is  :wub:
I love Yuko feeling old (like always lol) when called aunt, or just her being the older sister (I'll be waiting for some older sister wise advice scene XD). To be precise, her whole existence in this fic is awesome.
I love Riho and her determination for being on stage. This can bring both crack and drama. Aaah, the possibilities that brings a little 9th generation in a fic like this are endless. And tell me you are adding Kanon to the mix later. Please? It's your fault that I want this, for that one last one-shot you posted. And she is in the drama club, uh? Interesting...
And like I said, I want to know what is going to happen, how are going to interact between them, who are going to meet and...

Quote
One part crack, one part warm family drama, the rest of it...is a secret. XD Special Essy brew. :D

Oh, the mistery!  Secret plot, secret plot ~ :panic:

So many things to look forward in this story.... All begins with an audition, let's see where it goes from there  :heart:

Thank you for writing this, and update soon ~ <3
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [27/1 - Prologue]
Post by: gracula on January 27, 2011, 11:55:01 AM
Uh, I don't mean to spam, but this Yuu-chan isn't Nakazawa, right? I read that the first (6) time(s), but it'd be real crack of the imagination for Yuko to be Ai's little sister.
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [27/1 - Prologue]
Post by: Tightrope on January 27, 2011, 12:29:08 PM
*spams with grac*

Quote
Uh, I don't mean to spam, but this Yuu-chan isn't Nakazawa, right? I read that the first (6) time(s), but it'd be real crack of the imagination for Yuko to be Ai's little sister.

UH? The little sister... why younger...? In the fic says she is ...  oh  :doh:  :sweatdrop: That explain the "little" thing in the aunt :rofl:
*cries in shame in the corner*
Okay, boys and girls, never read a fic when you just wake up, because you read things like OLDER instead of YOUNGER and then you make up things all by yourself :rofl: I'm far too biased towards Nakazawa being everywhere  XD

:cow: BUT MY EXCITEMENT FOR THIS FIC IS THE SAME :cow:  yeah, it needed capslock

Thanks grac :heart:

Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [27/1 - Prologue]
Post by: oddball on January 27, 2011, 12:33:19 PM
Intresting, first story i've seen with the 9th gen involved  :twothumbs

Riho with Ai as her mother, definatly an intresting premise and am looking forward to more.... Yuko as Ai's little sister though!  :lol: it would be proper funny if this was the case!
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [27/1 - Prologue]
Post by: Beecubed on January 27, 2011, 03:34:37 PM
 :nya:

YAY FOR NEW ESSY STORY!~
(though I'm guessing this means Gegenschein will be put on hold indefinitely? :/)

I was hella excited to see a new story out, and even more excited when I realised it was you writing...  :P It's so good to see that you've been feeling at least a little inspired - well, inspired enough to start a new fic, that is. ^____^ YATTA!  :heart:

So...

First off, I do have to let you know that my general feelings towards 9th gen is very positive; just that I haven't really found myself grown attached to any of them yet. Hopefully reading this crack/family fic will get me warmed up to them in no time!  :)

Anyways, I will also have to mention that I am one of those idiots who skims through comments before reading an actual chapter  XD which is a VERY BAD habit when you don't want to spoil things for yourself *sigh* So I found out it was Riho talking before reaching the end *facepalms* I'll try not to do that next time...


My crazy new story. One part crack, one part warm family drama, the rest of it...is a secret. XD Special Essy brew. :D

ALRIGHT!  :mon fyeah:
I'm sure happy to know this will be a crackish family fic; I'm a sucker for touching family/friend drama (Hotman anyone?  :wub:), with a bit of comedy as a sidedish. I wonder how (and if) the other Momusu members will feature... but the idea of this is very appealing to me right now. I'm so happy JPH!P has such a variety of fics going on; gender-blender highschool drama, crack/medical drama, action, time-travel, angst... and now we have a family one. Oh yeeeeaahhh, it's all happening. ^___^

As for the title - My Stupid Family...  :lol:
I can imagine Riho getting into all sorts of strife thanks to her family, and getting angry at every one of them in turn. This is going to be so cute, I can totally imagine it already  :love:


Quote
For starters, I don't have a father. I have asked Mama about him, but she says he's not around anymore.


We are SO going to learn about this man, aren't we? xD I do hope he'll feature in this fic as a prominent figure and not just a passing name. I'd imagine such a character to bring a new spin on things, and more possibilities for you to explore...

Maybe he'll feature a lot during the rough times I'm sure Riho will be going through on her way to stardom... or maybe even after she reaches that point. We all know how fame and recognition can draw people in like that  :roll:


Quote
I love how grandfather takes me out on rides on his scooter, even though Mama really freaks out over it when she finds out. Grandfather tells me that Mama used to ride on his scooter when she was a kid too, so she really has no right to complain. Then again, he says that her mother, my Grandmother, also had much the same reaction, so maybe it runs in the family.

Little family titbits like this are adorable  :heart:

Already, this family's making me all warm and fuzzy inside.  :oops:


Quote
and my Mama is really kind of a cool older sister (who happens to have given birth to me, but well...).


 :lol:
She sees Ai-chan as a cool, older sister? I can sense a lot of conflict coming in the way of this...

Though I can also foresee moments when Riho will be appreciating Ai-chan as a mother rather than a cool older sister  :thumbsup (*cue touching, dramatic scenes*)


Quote
"Yuu-chan"

 :P

Unlike ropychan, who does need to read a bit more carefully (*pats ropychan*), I thought right away that this Yuu-chan must be Yuuka Maeda! Am I right? I mean, you also made her a younger sisterly figure to Ai in Nocturne. It can't be Nakazawa...  XD And if it is... I guess that's the first piece of crack you'd be feeding us  :lol:


Quote
I also like to think that my Mama is cooler than everyone else's, since she's fashionable and knowledgeable about current trends. I can actually go shopping with her and not feel strange about the stuff she picks out for me, because they usually look good on me. We can talk about music together, and I love going to plays and movies with her. Mama really loves watching theaterical productions, and it kinda rubbed off on me too. That's probably why I'm in the drama club. Being on stage is fun and exciting. There's nothing quite like it.

Cool mama alert. Of course Ai-chan would make a cool mama... even at around 30 years of age, she'd still  :drool: and  8) and  :oops:.

This is making me look forward to mama Ai-chan and Riho interactions; I bet they're going to be funny and cute as hell.  :wriggly:


Quote
Mama has been such a big part of my life, and I want her to be happy. I love the stage the same way she does, but I'm not just doing it for myself. I want Mama to know that even though she gave up her dreams for me, she can still live it through me. I made up my mind when I was still in kindergarten, that I will stand on the stage that Mama always wanted to, and shine for her (and everyone else) to see.

Awwwww~ sweet Riho.  :heart:  Ai-chan having to give up her dreams because of her daughter?  :(

I'm sure you'll be fixing all that though. I can imagine both mother and daughter being able to laugh, cry and support each other through their journeys. I don't know if that's what YOU have in mind, Essy, but that's certainly what I have on mine.

This introduction was written with a quite refreshing style, different from your norm; you at least gave Riho the kind of voice I can imagine a 10 year-old having... (which is what makes this quite credible, in comparison to your 9th ficlet, I'd have to say  XD).

I am looking forward to this Essy brew, no doubt about it  :tama-lotsaluv:

Thank you for finding the time and effort to write again, I really appreciate you sharing with us more of your writing <333

Please update soon!  :heart:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [27/1 - Prologue]
Post by: Estrea on January 27, 2011, 07:21:55 PM
I'm back! Yay comments!!!! *dances*

drac: There's probably an emoticon for it. It just probably hasn't made its way here yet. XD I actually didn't spend all that much time thinking about the age gap, things just clicked together on the spot. And yes, Ai as a mom is totally awesome. So are her kids (well, kid, in this case).

rndy: It's not an Essy story without Ai. :lol: I think I'm getting predictable?! XD I do like 9th gen, and I wanted first dibs on them. The little character quiz on their profiles was very helpful. XD They're the literal blank slates I've been waiting for! Muahahahaha.

Tchips:  Dibs on 9th gen! :D They're adorable uns, is why. :D

ropychan: Lol ropy fail. But just for you, I'll include Nakazawa somewhere. I actually just thought of the perfect role for her. Ehehehee. I kinda want a Riho x Kanon, I think I just created a pairing before there could be a proper pairing! :lol: Go me! I'm excited about this fic too! :D :D :D

oddball: Maybe one day I shall write Yuko as Ai's little sister. Some day...

Bee: I'm happy to be writing again too!!!! There's nothing that brings the same satisfaction, or gives me the same type of shit-eating grin. XD I intend to brainwash everyone into liking 9th gen (well, I have this weird attachment towards Riho...). And yeah, I love how JPHiP just caters to everyone's preferences. :lol: We really do have something for everyone... I'm really happy to be back, and I'm glad you like this!

Much much much love to everyone who commented, and even to those who didn't, because I remember leaving the house with only 10 views, and then I come back and the thread had over a 100. :lol: At least someone is reading, that's for sure. XD

Time to edit and post!
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [27/1 - Prologue]
Post by: Estrea on January 27, 2011, 07:28:06 PM
Chapter 1 - That Ain't Cool


On retrospect, maybe sharing everything with your mom isn't always the best of ideas. Especially not if she has crazy friends who end up dragging her into schemes that don't make sense, don't always work, and are downright annoying.

Riho sighed as she closed her private journal and put it back into her bag. The train was not particularly crowded, so she had managed to get a seat. She had insisted on going to the auditions alone, because she hadn't wanted her mother to take time off just to accompany her. She could always keep her updated via phone. That's what phones were for.

Still, barely 20 minutes into the journey, she had started to feel the very familiar sense of being watched. Riho was not stupid, but then one didn't have to be very intelligent to spot 4 grown women trying very hard to be inconspicuous...and failing. Badly.

"We shouldn't be doing this." Stage whispers were softer than this. Riho raised her eyes ceilingward. Mama, I love you, but you need to grow a spine. And possibly a brain.

"But we have to! It's dangerous! What if she gets kidnapped? What if some sleazeball tries to con her into a phony contract? This could be life and death!" Forget whispering, they're not even trying to be inconspicuous now, are they? Riho only barely resisted the urge to facepalm.

"I think Riho-chan is sensible enough though..." Finally, a voice of reason! Wait, I didn't know she was back in town! Riho inwardly cheered. Having this one of her mom's friends around usually meant getting cool gifts and having interesting new stories told to her.

"That didn't stop you from supporting Gaki-san's crackpot scheme." Riho decided that her mother's snark needed work, but the deadpan tone was spot on.

"I wanted to see Riho-chan! She's been growing fast, hasn't she?" Damn right I have...good thing Mama can't hear me, because she'll scold me for language again...

"You guys are too noisy! She'll notice if she hasn't already!" Another voice hissed, accompanied by the sounds of pen on paper. Never underestimate train acoustics. Riho figured that this person had to be the smart one of the group. The one Mama had warned her to be very careful around. Riho-chan, whatever you do, never EVER eat or drink anything in her kitchen. You never know what might happen...

Riho wondered what had happened for Mama to issue so strong a warning.

"What are you doing here, Ms Honor Student? I thought you wouldn't participate in this insanity." My thoughts exactly, Riho nodded, concealing the movement by shifting in her seat.

"That's Professor to you now, Ms Sees-Her-Friends-Twice-A-Year."

"Ouch. That's a low blow, Pon-chan~"

Riho ssexy beasted elegantly (if there was such a thing). If nothing else, her mother's friends were entertaining. That also made up for the whole, you know, being stalked by them thing.

"And to answer your question, I'm just here to fulfill a scientific curiosity~"

"Oh?"

"It's an ongoing project about hereditary traits and...Ai-chan, stop glaring at me like that!"

"My daughter is not your lab rat!" Riho felt sorry for the poor woman who was probably being pinned to the ground by the Takahashi Death Glare. Granted, on its own that death glare wasn't very intimidating, but coupled with the Takahashi Growl, it took on a life of its own.

Riho also happened to know that despite being small, her Mama could quite easily break down a door by kicking it in. That had been quite the legendary moment when her normally sedate Mama had lost her temper. Personally, Riho hoped it would never happen again. It was hard on the furniture. Not to mention the people around her.

"Well, you can't fault me for wanting to keep notes! You were my first success! The numero uno! The elixir of life! Pandora's box!"

"Oi Mame, help me shut the mad scientist back in before choir girl murders her with her own stethoscope, will ya?"

"Will do...hey, where's Riho-chan?"

The four women looked around, flabbergasted that their quarry had eluded them. Then Ai's phone buzzed, and she held it up to read the message from her dear daughter.


Mama -
Please stop following me around. We can have dinner together afterwards with you and your friends. I know you love me and I will be careful.
Also, to the three-musketeers-who-can't-stalk-to-save-their-lives: Nya nya nya! You lost me!
Last note: Stalking ain't cool. Besides, what were you thinking, cosplay is not inconspicuous at all! Sunglasses are so cliched. And the trench coats? Seriously?
Oh and Mama, please don't forget to take your medicine. You really shouldn't be out when you have a cold. Please take care, and dress warmly.

From your loving daughter,
Riho



There was a long moment of silence.

"You know, obviously she didn't get the bitchy part from you..."

"Kon-chan? Shut up."


===========================================================


I admit I had fun writing crack!Gokkies. And Riho? So damn WIN. :lol: That message just wrote itself...

And now I must sleep. O_O
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [28/1 - Chapter 1: That Ain't Cool]
Post by: rndmnwierd on January 27, 2011, 07:41:47 PM
Dibs!

EDIT: Okay, I skimmed through this about four seconds before I had to leave for work, now I'm back to(read and) give a proper reply.

Shall I start with numerous quoting? I think I shall!

Quote
On retrospect, maybe sharing everything with your mom isn't always the best of ideas.
Hmm, while it's nice to be honest with you maternal guide, sometimes mother does not always know best.

Quote
Especially not if she has crazy friends who end up dragging her into schemes that don't make sense, don't always work, and are downright annoying.
And neither do her friends. XD XD

Quote
but then one didn't have to be very intelligent to spot 4 grown women trying very hard to be inconspicuous...and failing. Badly.
I can imagine poor Riho, long suffering sighs and all, being so embarrassed and the other train goers shifting glances at the four.  :lol: :lol:

Quote
Mama, I love you, but you need to grow a spine. And possibly a brain.
But if it's Gaki, then she probably made Ai worry, too. XD

Quote
Forget whispering, they're not even trying to be inconspicuous now, are they?
Reaction Queen. :P

Quote
*Riho's commentary*
Is awesome. :lol: :lol:

Quote
*the gokkies banter*
How is this crack? Seems like normal to me! :lol: :lol:

Quote
Riho-chan, whatever you do, never EVER eat or drink anything in her kitchen. You never know what might happen...
Hmm...

Quote
Riho also happened to know that despite being small, her Mama could quite easily break down a door by kicking it in.
:rofl: :rofl: Want to hear this story!

Quote
You were my first success! The numero uno! The elixir of life! Pandora's box!"
Kon as the mad scientist. XD XD Still, hmm, the secret of Riho's father? Now that would be crazy! Ai drinks a mysterious elixir and nine months later, out pops Riho! :P :P

Quote
*Riho's message*
That is one cool kid. 8)

Quote
"You know, obviously she didn't get the bitchy part from you..."

"Kon-chan? Shut up."
A~nd a parting shot! :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [28/1 - Chapter 1: That Ain't Cool]
Post by: SarangAi on January 27, 2011, 08:22:00 PM
OMG that was SOOO FUNNY  :lol: :lol:

So Konkon is some sort of scientist? and Ai doesn't like her being around Riho XD

and Gaki-san's crackpot scheme? there's something new XD

I can't wait for more~~~ so excited *bobs up and down*  :w00t: :w00t:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [28/1 - Chapter 1: That Ain't Cool]
Post by: gracula on January 27, 2011, 08:31:45 PM
^damn, i was going to be a wad and do the 'FIRST!' thing! And i thought i was already following this thread pretty carefully, since we seem to keep the same hours and all.

I KNEW IT!! Well, I don't really know, but I'll keep my wild speculations on Riho's Secret Origins to myself for now just so I can say 'I KNEW IT' later.

Konno Asami is totally Ojamarushe in this one. I could see the sweeping gestures, clasped hands and faraway look for dramatic emphasis.

F*cking ace!! This was PERFECT!

It ain't fun if it's not crack. (though, i may character death someone soon just so my name isn't synonymous with crack. in vogue, you say?)
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [28/1 - Chapter 1: That Ain't Cool]
Post by: Kuji on January 27, 2011, 08:45:06 PM
Part of me is scared to read this because Estrea's stories have a tendency to be bad for my heart, what with them hurtling full speed into the unknown so much of the time... but to resist a fic with Riho? I find that beyond my capabilities at the moment because she's totes my fave newb. Ai as a single mother? I can totally see it and I can see how Riho's dancing skills can be attributed to Ai's genes. :3

Also, Konkon, hiiiiiiiiiiiii. T^T I feel like it's been a long time since I've seen her in something.

I feel like I've been out of the MM fiction loop lately because the content just hasn't been drawing me in as much except maybe for updates of old stories I've been following for some time. This is the first fresh story that's caught my attention. Nice one!

LOL@Riho x Kanon pairing. I haven't quite latched onto Kanon enough to see her as 'good enough' for Riho. :P Yes, that's right, I'm being all unjustifiably judgemental about a girl being good enough to be in a fictional pairing with some other girl I really know nothing about...SAD BUT SO WHAT? Plus, I bet Erina and Mizuki are mad in love with Riho too! O_O

(cough)... okay, now I'M going to sleep because I obviously need it. IGNORE ME.
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [28/1 - Chapter 1: That Ain't Cool]
Post by: Shiawase_Honoo on January 27, 2011, 08:53:38 PM
Give INFINITY thanks to this fic :inlove:
It's so funny, but I love it :wub:
And, hey! first fic for 9th gen. Great XD
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [28/1 - Chapter 1: That Ain't Cool]
Post by: taylortot on January 27, 2011, 09:36:43 PM
haaaa. that was a WIN.
i'm diggin' this fic  XD
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [28/1 - Chapter 1: That Ain't Cool]
Post by: kawaii beam on January 28, 2011, 03:26:25 AM
this is just pure epicness riho and mama ai-chan? with "fail" sneaky 5thgen? XD i cant wait to read more essy^^
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [28/1 - Chapter 1: That Ain't Cool]
Post by: mode107 on January 28, 2011, 07:29:31 AM
I couldn't help but think of Gilmore Girls when I read the first chapter of your story. I've never watched an episode, but all I know is that the mother gave birth at a young age, and now the mother and daughter seem more like sisters rather than parent and child.

I look forward to the crack that this fic is gonna bring. :D
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [28/1 - Chapter 1: That Ain't Cool]
Post by: oddball on January 28, 2011, 11:32:39 AM
Well I suppose at least it's nice that Ai-Chan cares so much about Riho! :lol:

hmm, maybe the 5th gen should take lessons in how to track someone?  :P
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [28/1 - Chapter 1: That Ain't Cool]
Post by: Estrea on January 30, 2011, 04:52:45 PM
Hey i'm back! Sorry it took this long!

rndy: Yay mass quoting! :D May this tradition never end! I love Riho's perspective, she's awesome! Beyond awesome! Sensible yet snarky at the same time. XD I'm glad you like Gokkie interaction, because there's more to come!

SarangAi: Hiiiiiii! Welcome to the thread! :D I'm glad you found it funny. Forgive me if I sound a little high, because I am high. :lol:

drac: I wonder if you get to dibs this time. :P We'll see. I wonder if you really know what I'm planning/have planned. :P I suspect we're in the same ballpark, but not quite the exact same spot. :P I think its too late for you, gracula dear. Your name is already synonymous with crack. XD Maybe we should change your name to crackula. :lol:

Kuji: Riho is my favorite newb too! *high fives* Yeah it's been a while since I've seen a Konkon around here. We need more adorable mad scientists geniuses. XD Glad I managed to get your attention with this. :P I somehow sense we're going to go with the Everyone-Loves-Riho schtick in the near future. :lol: Kinda like how Everyone-Loves-Ai. I tend to do that  with all my favorites (and it tends to catch on?!). And I refuse to ignore you because sleepy!Kuji is adowaaableeeeee!!!!! :P :P :P

Shiawase_Honoo: Hi hi! Welcome! Weeeeee I have first fic for 9th gen! Go me! Haha. Do stick around some more!

taylortot: Another new face in my thread! Yayness!

kawaii beam: I can't wait to write more either, but I get busy... D:

mode107: Been a while since I've seen you on any of my threads! XD And it does rather seem like Gilmore Girls, doesn't it? :lol: Funny thing is, I've never actually watched that show, though I certainly know of it. More crack is always good, no?

oddball: Ai-chan loves her daughter. :D And fail!5thgen is part of their charm, I think?! XD Welcome aboard and enjoy the ride!


Ok done with comment replies! On with editing!
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [28/1 - Chapter 1: That Ain't Cool]
Post by: Estrea on January 30, 2011, 05:05:03 PM
Chapter 2 - No Such Thing


There are some women uniquely suited to pregnancy, and some women who are uniquely not.

Takahashi Ai belonged to the latter.

For starters she did not develop that ethereal glow that some expecting mothers would inevitably take on as their pregnancy progresses. Unlike Iida-sensei, their school nurse, who looked perfectly at ease and at peace with the world during her pregnancy, Ai's temper grew along with her girth. She was waspish. She was tempermental. She was short (in all meanings of the word, but she would have murdered you with a toothpick if you said it to her).

Thankfully though, she never developed depression like some of her more unfortunate counterparts. There might have been times where she burst into tears for no apparent reason, but then again she had always been one to cry at the drop of a hat. It had absolutely nothing to do with how the whole course of her life had changed. But that's another story.

She grew. She swelled. She started waddling in her sixth month, but that handicap didn't quite stop her from breaking furniture (not by sitting on it, mind). It might not have been the incident with the door her daughter remembered in later years , but the poor cupboard would never be quite the same again. To Riho's credit, she never asked why the bottom drawers could not open (there were no drawers there, just splinters covered by a nice front). She understood that it was just one of Those Things.

To put quite simply, Takahashi Ai couldn't have waited for her pregnancy to be over. In fact, her impatience must have communicated to her then-unborn daughter, who decided to make an early appearance a whole two months before schedule, and quite nearly killed her in the process.

Not that Ai ever told her daughter. It was just something that you didn't tell your children, especially not while they were still young and impressionable. Ai didn't think laying on the guilt trip was a good idea. There were other ways to compel obedience (that did not involve too much violence).

All things considered, it was a fairly normal pregnancy, if one discounted the absence of the other biological parent. Ai had no regrets though (really. ok, maybe. fine, oodles and oodles of it). Given the chance, she would -not- do it again.

Which was why she was eyeing the tea that Konno Asami just passed to her with a suspicious look. The bespectacled genius rolled her eyes.

"For heaven's sake, Ai-chan, I didn't even make that tea."

Ai gave her a narrow look, before shrugging and taking a sip anyway. Paranoid people lived longer. At least, if they didn't die on the way to becoming paranoid.

"Some day, you guys will tell us just exactly why Ai-chan does that around you."

The two girls in question exchanged glances, and Konno shrugged.

"Her story to tell, not mine." She paused. "But I maintain that it was not my fault. Not intentionally, anyway."

"You really need to stop bringing your work home." Ai muttered. Next to her, Makoto grinned at the youngest member of their group.

"Tell that to our Gaki. She always has to bring hers home...or to someone else's home." Everyone grinned at that.

Said Gaki, otherwise known as Niigaki Risa, scowled at her friends, but the look held little real malice. Even now she was tapping subconsciously on her smartphone, as if loathe to part from her work.

"I'm an interior designer," she said a little defensively. "Everything starts from home."

"Yeah, but at least Gaki-san's work doesn't blow things up. Or change things." Ai gave another pointed, possibly half-joking look at Asami, who was feigning innocence over her coffee and discreetly flipping through a small black book.

"Like that time in high school." Makoto remarked humorously. "How long did it take for your hair to stop glowing in the dark?"

Risa groaned. "Don't remind me. My sister still brings it up whenever she runs out of things to talk about."

The four women chatted inanely about various things, taking the time and opportunity to catch up. It was rare for them to meet up these days, what with all of them busy with their own lives.

Growing up does that to people, Ai thought wistfully. Her own life had veered sharply off its original course with the addition of her daughter to her life, 12 years ago. Had it not been for that, surely she would be similar to her friends, able to chat freely about work and its various complications? Even if they were all in different lines.

Makoto was talking animatedly about a snooty model she met in Paris while she was assisting at the set up for a fashion show, which led Risa to follow up with her own experience with the unreasonable demands of "that diva of a celebrity" while on the job. Asami was happily eating the snacks on the table with her usual pace (slow), before commenting about her difficulties in getting a research grant for her ongoing project.

Their topics, while running on parallel lines with each other, were still on the same level. Ai thought about her own life, and shrank a little inside. All she had to talk about was her daughter, whom she loved dearly, but it somehow felt off topic. Like it would disrupt the easy flow of conversation by introducing something out of place.

"Oi Ai-chan! What are you doing being so quiet?" Makoto said with her usual exuberance, but there was a hint of concern. Risa was looking over with the same vague concern. The two of them were always more sensitive to her moods than she liked. Asami, for her part, kept on eating.

"It's not the Ai-chan we know!" Risa agreed. She contorted her face into an approximation of Ai and said "Whatcha talking 'bout, Gaki-san~" in a terribly exaggerated version of Ai's accent.

THWACK!

The resounding smack on Risa's arm from Ai's palm was louder than it actually hurt. The other two burst into laughter as Risa dramatically keeled over and acted like someone just amputated her limb. Ai's scowl faded almost as quickly, caught along with the mood.

"And that, is the Ai-chan we know." Makoto wiped away the tears from her face, still heaving a little from laughing too hard. Asami grinned.

"Right fierce little tiger in lambskin. You're not fooling us with those doe eyes~"

"Oh shuddap..." Ai mumbled, the dialect of her youth returning unconsciously as her cheeks reddened. Risa was looking over her arm and rubbing it ruefully.

"Did you really have to hit that hard? I think it's gonna leave a bruise..." She whined, massaging her abused arm. Ai lowered her head.

"Sorry..."

Risa shrugged. "No sweat. It's cold these days, so I'll be wearing long sleeves anyway. It'll fade in a few days." Her phone buzzed again, insistently. Upon checking it, Risa rolled her eyes skyward with a long-suffering sigh.

"And ojou-sama calls once again. Probably to change her plans for only the 113th time." She massaged her temples. "I really don't want to deal with this right now..."

She picks up the phone and is instantly all business, pushing herself away from the table and stepping outside to continue the call. Makoto turned to Asami, who was admiring the pudding on her plate, as if deliberating where to start first.

"Do you think she actually counts?"

The mad scientist spooned some pudding into her mouth and swallowed. The other two waited patiently for her response, used to the genius's pace.

"I would think so, yes." Came the answer, and Ai glanced outside to see Risa with an obvious tic on her face, but still managing to sound vaguely polite to her client.

"Must be tough dealing with people like that..."

Makoto leaned back, stretching lazily. "Maa, it's part of her job." Leaning forward, she mock whispered. "I think she secretly enjoys the stress."

"Speaking of stress, raising a kid on your own can't be easy." Asami commented idly, stirring yet another cube of sugar into her tea. Ai bit back the instinctive reprimand that was hovering on her lips. Trying to be a good mother does things to a person's psyche (emphasis on trying).

"I don't actually do it alone, I mean, my mom takes care of a lot for me..." Ai muttered, fingering the hem of her jacket nervously. To be completely honest with herself, there were times when she still felt like a kid in front of her mother, even though she now had her own daughter. It made her feel incredibly inadequate...both as a child and as a mother.

"Yeah, but Riho-chan is still your daughter." Makoto sipped at her juice. "Can't argue with the blood...not to mention that huge responsibility that comes with it." She shuddered. "I don't know if I could handle the stress of being responsible for a tiny human being."

Ai's lips quirked slightly. "Riho is a good girl." She reflected quietly. "Sometimes I think she's the one looking out for me. I have absolutely no idea if I'm doing anything right, but I feel like I learn more from being with her every day, and that there's always more to learn."

"Children are sometimes the best teachers." Asami opined, looking over at Ai. "You've really matured, Ai-chan."

"Yeah that was unexpectedly adult of her, wasn't it?" Risa chipped in from behind, reaching down to ruffle Ai's hair while pretending to wipe away a (obviously fake) tear.

"Look at her, all grown up." Ai made an exasperated noise, folding her arms huffily as she puffed out her cheeks.

"Mou, you guys..."

Risa smirked, idly untangling her fingers from Ai's hair before running them down its length. Her fingers came up empty only too soon.

"You've always kept your hair short after you had Riho..."

Ai shook her head impatiently. "It's too much work to maintain long hair and be a mother at the same time. It's easier this way. Besides," she fingered the ends of her own hair speculatively, "it's been getting a little bit longer lately."

"Really? I can't tell." Asami admitted, squinting this way and that.

"And you're the one who sees Ai-chan most often." Makoto scoffed, using her hands to make a mock picture frame of Ai's face.

"It does look a little longer than the last time I saw her..."

"Mako-chan, you haven't seen her, or any of us, for the last 6 months!"

"Really, where does the time go?"

Before the impending argument could start, Risa broke it up by interrupting with a cough.

"Sorry girls, but I gotta hightail it outta here." She sighed. "Apparently I absolutely have to be at my client's place immediately or the world might end." She finished with a definite edge of sarcasm, her eyes already naturally migrating as far north as possible.

"Aww, but it's been so long since our last reunion!"

"If you stayed in town more often, it wouldn't be this hard to organize one!"

"I can't help that if my job takes me places!"

Risa shot the squabbling pair another one of her long-suffering expressions, which was matched by one of infinite patience from Ai. Simultaneously, they shrugged.

"Tell Riho-chan I'm sorry not to be able to make it to dinner." Risa said quietly. Ai nodded in understanding.

"Riho's a sensible girl. She'll understand. You better get going before you're late." Ai couldn't help slipping into "mother mode". Another side effect of raising a child, no doubt.

Risa took on a worried expression. "Are you sure she'll be ok though, I mean, auditions notwithstanding, what if she gets herself into more than she can handle? She's still just a kid..."

"I trust my daughter." Ai said calmly, with more conviction than she actually felt, but wanting to believe anyway. "Riho wanted to do this, so I'll support her with all I can, and make sure that she can work towards her dream with no regrets." A smile tinged with the edges of regret graced Ai's face, but she did not continue with the words unsaid. There was no need to say them.

"Ai-chan has always been the dreamer of the four of us." Makoto interrupted suddenly, her and Konno obviously listening in to what the oldest of their group had to say.

"And Riho obviously inherited that from you..." Asami was scribbling in her journal again.

Risa looked around at her best friends, her worries still present on her face, but finding herself unable to continue in such an atmosphere. With a barely noticeable shrug, she embraced each of the other girls in turn before bidding farewell.

"Ne, do you think sometimes Gaki gets too worked up over this?" Makoto commented after a moment.

"Isn't that how she usually reacts to things?" Ai replied, confused.

"She's always been a little extreme, but more so with you after you just announced to us one day that you were pregnant." Asami stated with an eerie precision.

"Well she's probably just worried..." Ai mumbled.

"With good reason, I think." Makoto leaned closer to Ai. "Don't you think it's about time you told us who the father was? You never did, no matter how we pestered you, and even after all these years..."

Ai mumbled something incomprehensible, and Asami stepped in to defend her friend.

"Mako-chan, just leave her alone. She'll talk when she wants to."

"You know something, don't you?" Makoto accused. "I just can't believe...ah, what does it matter? You two weirdos can just keep your secrets" She folded her arms, pouting ever so slightly. "Ai-chan has always been more stubborn than a bull anyway." Her tone softened then, becoming almost playful. "I'll be more likely to convince Pon-chan here to give up sweets than to change that stubborn pride of Ai-chan's."

"How mean!"

As they descended into the usual banter, Ai smiled lightly once again.

It was good to have friends.


=============================================================


So it got a wee bit serious in between. Well, an adult has adult problems, no? Riho can have a more stress-free view of things (hence upping the level of crack). XD I did say this had some warm family drama involved...and more. :P

Hope you guys like it!

Note: I have no idea what the title means either, so don't ask me. XD
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [30/1 - Chapter 2: No Such Thing]
Post by: gracula on January 30, 2011, 05:17:33 PM
dibs!!

Edit: half an hour later (I'm not a cheater, Bee-rinko.  :mon butt: This is dibs with intent.)


Quote
There are some women uniquely suited to pregnancy, and some women who are uniquely not.

Takahashi Ai belonged to the latter.

For starters she did not develop that ethereal glow that some expecting mothers would inevitably take on as their pregnancy progresses. Unlike Iida-sensei, their school nurse, who looked perfectly at ease and at peace with the world during her pregnancy, Ai's temper grew along with her girth. She was waspish. She was tempermental. She was short (in all meanings of the word, but she would have murdered you with a toothpick if you said it to her).

The wordophile in me wishes to bring this well-written excerpt behind the school gym and get it pregnant.

Gokkies banter- you made me miss them so much I want to take my old H!M episodes behind a school gym and rewatch them.

There is nothing about this update I do not love (in a platonic way). But I will forgo quoting, for surely, there will be many below me who will do so. Instead, I shall make GROSS SPECULATIONS:-

1) My first thought: Riho was a petri dish baby
2) Upon more information, the following theories were formed: immaculate birth, Konkon parthenogenesis, d*ckgirl!Ai self-impregnation, Risa impregnates Ai via the aforementioned method. (did i say GROSS speculations? yes, yes I did.)
3) Revelation of exclusive Konno/Ai sekrits, with no further clues: Sigh.
4) "that diva of a celebrity" = Sayu, or Reina, or Eri - well, a Rokkie, in any case.

Next: Riho Cam. Switch On!
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [30/1 - Chapter 2: No Such Thing]
Post by: Beecubed on January 30, 2011, 05:34:49 PM
^ what a cheater  :thumbdown:

*DIBS!*


Edit:

Okay, I have no right to ever put dibs on something again  XD

Well anyway... two chapters to catch up with! THANK YOU~!  :love:


I'm happy to be writing again too!!!! There's nothing that brings the same satisfaction, or gives me the same type of shit-eating grin. XD I intend to brainwash everyone into liking 9th gen (well, I have this weird attachment towards Riho...)

I'm glad to hear that!  :thumbsup

If you're a true writer at heart, I just don't think you can give it up.  :)

Since the semi-question wasn't quite answered last time, I'll ask it again:

I'm guessing this means Gegenschein will be put on hold indefinitely? :/

I hope that stood out a bit more this time around...  XD


Chapter 1 - That Ain't Cool:

I approve, I approve!  :panic:

This was such a fun start, and I loved the way you voiced Riho here. Even though I'm not a fan of any of the 9th gens yet, I can already see myself falling for Riho here, hard!  :wub: Her personality already seems so at odds with her dopey mama Ai-chan  :lol: hmmm... she's cute, that much is obvious for a 12 year old, but already I'm getting stubborn/grossly-independent/tsukkomish vibes from her. Hmm. Whatever, she's just a very cool kid.  :yep: I can imagine her sighing and rolling her eyes at every odd thing her mama does... cuuuteee  :P


Quote
Riho raised her eyes ceilingward. Mama, I love you, but you need to grow a spine. And possibly a brain.

 :OMG:

Disrespectful child!!! (*Bee speaking as a typical Asian...*)  :lol: The nerve of her thoughts! Wow. I wonder how often she says such things straight to Ai's face... and what Ai thinks of that... oh gawwwd  :nervous

Gokkies!  :mon lovelaff:

They're an absolute riot here!  :lol:

Stalking? Sunnies? Trenchcoats? Cosplay? You can't be serious. >_______>

I guess that's why there's crack.  :grin:


Quote
Riho decided that her mother's snark needed work, but the deadpan tone was spot on.

Rihoooo... *pats her head*

Such a funny child.  :P


Quote
Riho also happened to know that despite being small, her Mama could quite easily break down a door by kicking it in. That had been quite the legendary moment when her normally sedate Mama had lost her temper.

 :mon crazyinlove:

*Bee loves violent & hot tempered Ai-chan*

Are we going to get some flashbacks one day? Maybe with omakes?  :hee:


Quote
*Riho's message*

 :rofl:

She really turned the tables on her mama, didn't she? xD

Ahhhh, what a little smart alec, with the whole 'Oh and Mama, please don't forget to take your medicine. You really shouldn't be out when you have a cold. Please take care, and dress warmly.'

If I had a little kid like that, I would smack her too. A lot. I don't blame Ai-chan.  XD


Quote
There was a long moment of silence.

"You know, obviously she didn't get the bitchy part from you..."

"Kon-chan? Shut up."

 :mon lmao:


Chapter 2 - No Such Thing:


Ahhhh~ the first part detailing ever so briefly Ai's pregnancy was done very stylishly  XD

Nice, comedic touches... I almost liked this first part more than the Gokkies girl talk after  :wub:


Quote
Ai's temper grew along with her girth. She was waspish. She was tempermental. She was short (in all meanings of the word, but she would have murdered you with a toothpick if you said it to her).

Ahhhh, I loved this description!  :k-inlove:

Again. I have a girl crush on violent Ai-chan.  :yep:
The image of her using a toothpick as a murder weapon is too funny  XD


Quote
She grew. She swelled. She started waddling in her sixth month, but that handicap didn't quite stop her from breaking furniture (not by sitting on it, mind). It might not have been the incident with the door her daughter remembered in later years , but the poor cupboard would never be quite the same again. To Riho's credit, she never asked why the bottom drawers could not open (there were no drawers there, just splinters covered by a nice front). She understood that it was just one of Those Things.

 :rofl:

I'm sure Riho has her speculations too? Knowing her mother's temper?

LOL. Those Things without capital T's. Serious stuff  :heart:



Quote
There were other ways to compel obedience (that did not involve too much violence).

 :lol:

I'm anticipating a (caringly) violent scene between Ai-chan and Riho in the near future. With all the conflicts I'm sure they'll have, it'll be fun and horrifying to watch at the same time.  8)



Quote
Ai thought about her own life, and shrank a little inside.

Awwwww~  :(

Poor thing. I really do hope by the end of the story you'll give Ai-chan some closure in this respect  :thumbsup


Quote
To be completely honest with herself, there were times when she still felt like a kid in front of her mother, even though she now had her own daughter. It made her feel incredibly inadequate...both as a child and as a mother.

You have those people in life who never truly 'graduate' from being a child for their parents... people who'll always be somewhat of a big kid at heart. Ai-chan might be one of these. She probably had to grow up QUICK when she realised she was going to have a kid, giving up a few things in the process.

Anyways, everybody has their own ways of parenting; I'm sure Ai-chan is perfectly adequate. Maybe not the perfect role model for Riho, but I'm sure she has so many other things going for her that Riho wouldn't have been able to learn from many other parents.  :D


Quote
Ai's lips quirked slightly. "Riho is a good girl." She reflected quietly. "Sometimes I think she's the one looking out for me. I have absolutely no idea if I'm doing anything right, but I feel like I learn more from being with her every day, and that there's always more to learn."

TAKAHASHI FAMILY~  :luvuluvu:

Ai-chan is very quick to praise her daughter, mmhmm. So sweet.  :heart:


Quote
"Really? I can't tell." Asami admitted, squinting this way and that.

And you're the one who sees Ai-chan most often." Makoto scoffed

Well actually... the more often you see someone, the harder it is to see changes in them  :nervous

Kinda like how you can't believe how big your kid's gotten until you look at old pictures of them, while a visiting acquaintance may be able to tell right away how much they've grown in the time since they've last met. ^___^

 :onioncheer:

Nice to see Gokkies bonding!  :wub: ahhhh, the playfulness between all of them is fun to read  :love:

And the question regarding Riho's father, again. Hmmmm. After grac's gross speculations ( :rofl:), I have to say that's probably where my thoughts are headed *Bee furtively stands behind grac*

All in all, great chapter. The pacing's perfect, it's always nice to find out about the story and characters little by little.  :)

So yaahh.. hoping you up the crack levels with the next chapter!  :w00t:

Patiently waiting for the next update!~  :heart:

Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [30/1 - Chapter 2: No Such Thing]
Post by: rndmnwierd on January 30, 2011, 05:46:13 PM
Darn you both! I'll be first next time!! XD XD

Quote
There are some women uniquely suited to pregnancy, and some women who are uniquely not.

Takahashi Ai belonged to the latter.
This... was not what I was expecting. :lol:

Quote
but that handicap didn't quite stop her from breaking furniture
Infamous temper tantrums. :P

Quote
In fact, her impatience must have communicated to her then-unborn daughter, who decided to make an early appearance a whole two months before schedule, and quite nearly killed her in the process.
Gawd, the complications never end, but I guess it's because Ai's so small.

Quote
*gokkie convo*
I really do love these four. Too bad I wasn't a bigger fan before Kon and Makoto graduated.

Quote
*Ai's insecurities*
Aww, but doesn't she have that dance instructor gig?

Quote
*mama Ai-chan*
Hey, being a mom is a full time job in itself. Especially without a dad around.

Quote
*worried Risa*
I'm glad to see you writing Gaki this way. I mean, maybe it's a little Reaction Queen, but it shows that she cares. And with Ai's little insecure spurt a moment ago, I guess someone needs to worry.

Quote
"Don't you think it's about time you told us who the father was? You never did, no matter how we pestered you, and even after all these years..."
:huhuh Don't tell me I was right? :O

I can't wait for more. I know I say this every time, but it just gets more and more true with every chapter I read.
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [30/1 - Chapter 2: No Such Thing]
Post by: kitaoji on January 30, 2011, 07:45:05 PM
I'm going to take a break from my now-routine Gegenschein-prodding and instead root for this.  Haven't been paying attention to 9th gen for a good long while (if ever), so my impressions are going to be entirely colored by you.  How's that for author power?

Chapter 1 had more crack -  I think you've foisted your usual 'let x be the reader of the atmosphere' onto Riho which is mighty interesting.  Who is this Yuu-chan you speak of?  Surely it isn't  Kikka  :lol:  That train must not have been a very full train, becos I wonder what everyone else was thinking.  :P2

& I want to know what're Konkon's research interests. They must represent everything Ai-chan is afraid of. XDDD

& I want to see Erina.

& what is this 'Ai-chan breaks doors' you speak of?  :?


Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [30/1 - Chapter 2: No Such Thing]
Post by: Kuji on January 30, 2011, 07:59:52 PM
Dibbers. I call foul on that practice! D:< Until I do that next time before all of you!

Anyway, I like imagining pregnant!Ai in my head, she's rather like a charging bull and it's fun to watch those when you're a safe distance away. XD  Thanks for clearing up that she didn't break the furniture by sitting on them, by the way. The way Ai is described I wouldn't have thought that either. Hormones make the lady dangerous. They do say skinny girls have harder pregnancies and Ai is so tiny. When people mention 'child-bearing hips', they definitely don't mean hips like hers but Riho being an early baby amuses me for some reason. Somehow it seems to fit her personality.

I think for my speculations of who Riho's father is, this picture sums it up pretty well:
(http://i389.photobucket.com/albums/oo337/illogicalisms/tumblr_lfntf4PzIV1qcmeemo1_500.jpg)

No darling Riho in this chapter but the conversation between the gokkies was like a reunion for the readers too. I might even be a little teary-eyed. I laughed at the Ai to Gaki abuse. That is... just so hilariously them. Also, as you might have gathered, I find violent Ai funny. o_o;

I like the occupations you've given each of the girls and I feel for Ai for thinking that she's maybe a little behind, career-wise. Gaki the workaholic, huh? Enjoying the stress? Usually, people who are overly attached to work are that way because they use work to distract them from something else. I wonder if this is the case with Risa. :? Well... at least Risa bringing her work home doesn't end up with someone having a baby. >_>;

Looking forward to the appearance of the snooty starlet WHOEVER THIS MAYBE *COUGGHHHHH*, Riho-vision and maybe the introduction of the other 9kkies in the near future? Also, will Mogi make a true to life appearance as one that doesn't make it? Haaa. No, that's mean.

If not for work, you would have seen how un-adorable sleepy me actually is because I would have whined to you about this fic SO MUCH and maybe I would have held your hat hostage until I got another chapter.

@gracula: You're right. THOSE ARE GROSS. Cannot unseeread!
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [30/1 - Chapter 2: No Such Thing]
Post by: SarangAi on January 30, 2011, 08:30:26 PM
I actually REALLY like how this story is going.  There isn't enough of these kinds of fic... what do they call it, "slice-of-life"?  XD

Anyway, the situation there is rather realistic.  My mom always says the same thing about hair "I've kept it short since I had you cuz long hair gets in the way when you're a mom"  :lol:

And adults indeed have problems and they have friends they need to talk to as well.  I really liked this chapter :twothumbs

please keep writing!!!  :cow:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [30/1 - Chapter 2: No Such Thing]
Post by: mode107 on January 31, 2011, 02:12:38 AM
I think I like the previous replies before me just as much as this new chapter. :lol:

I didn't care much about the identity of Riho's father, but Makoto's line towards the end has made me a bit curious. I wonder if it'll be a shocker....



.....
(http://i55.tinypic.com/68gac4.jpg)
Yikes!
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [30/1 - Chapter 2: No Such Thing]
Post by: SarangAi on January 31, 2011, 03:48:08 AM
^
OMG that has scarred me for life  :gyaaah:  :stoned:

sorry for bumping the thread  XD
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [30/1 - Chapter 2: No Such Thing]
Post by: aya-chii on January 31, 2011, 12:58:16 PM
i'm feeling sorry thinking that ai-chan had gone under asami's mad experiments...
preggy is not easy ehhh~ and it seems she was young when she had it
and definitely got no father. and her friends don't know it except the mad scientist. and she can't tell that the baby doesn't really have a father. how terrible...
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [30/1 - Chapter 2: No Such Thing]
Post by: oddball on January 31, 2011, 01:43:29 PM
It must be hard for Ai, seeing all her friends in thier career's whist she has had a baby so not the carrer it must be tough because she's the only one.... so Asami knows who the father is.... I wonder how she found out? (my guess: mad experiments!)

Gaki being very concerend for Ai, something more than friendship involved perhaps......
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [30/1 - Chapter 2: No Such Thing]
Post by: eruchan on January 31, 2011, 02:14:56 PM
I really like how this story develop  :twothumbs
Riho as Ai's daughter is interesting and LOL at Gokkies stalking her  :lol:
wow... pregnant Ai is scary... she hates her pregnancy but she definitely love her daughter  :heart:
the question is who's Riho's father?
looks like Konkon and Gaki somehow involved or know something about it
and seeing Ai's warning to Riho, looks like Ai drink/eat something from Konno's experiment and gets pregnant
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [30/1 - Chapter 2: No Such Thing]
Post by: rokun on January 31, 2011, 04:27:02 PM
:lol: I think this update was too "girls talk" for me, although I do watch (and love) Gilmore Girls and even suggested that kind of relationship to you... XD Didn't know you haven't ever watched the show though... You really should while writing this story. It might give you some ideas, or at the least make you laugh. :)

Looking forward to upcoming Riho-vision!! I wonder if she'll meet Kanon at the audition? I have a feeling whichever way, it will be an auspicious day. :ph43r:

Gokkies :heart:

Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [30/1 - Chapter 2: No Such Thing]
Post by: Estrea on February 14, 2011, 08:33:14 PM
Hissashiburi! I'm back~

Comment replies first~


drac: I need bleach for my eyes. Cannot. Unsee. GROSS SPECULATIONS indeed. And yes, I love my wit too. Too bad they cannot reproduce like bunnies. I appreciate your sentiment though. :P

Bee: You are thereby banned from dibbing. Seriously. 10 days to update your comment?! But then again you have an epically long one, so I can almost forgive you. :P And I'm going to ignore that question. :P I do rather like writing Riho, I feel like I'm getting a grasp on her character as more about her is revealed through interviews and blogs. She's definitely independent and has a mind of her own. Not a pushover, for certain. XD She definitely is tougher than Ai in some respect lol. Then again, with a dorky mama like that, someone has to take care of their interests. XD And I promise I'll write violent!Ai omakes some time. We'll see when I'm in the mood. :P Ai is rather proud of daughter, isn't she? But then again, she's always kinder with others than with herself. It's a very Ai thing to do. Lol. The question of Riho's father is the central mystery here, isn't it? :lol: I love how everyone has ideas (though drac's gross speculations take the cake >_> XD). And you want crack? Crack you shall have then. :D

rndy: Ah, good job being third. :P I rather like Ai's temper tantrums. It's an aspect not played up often enough. XD Gokkies were fun to write. From Ai's point of view, she totally missed out on a professional career, and even if she starts now, she's still behind. Girl's a perfectionist. It makes things hard lol. I hope I didn't make you wait too long for this! ^^;

kitaoji: Hoho, I have full control over your 9th gen perceptions? Wow, I feel empowered. Like I was Popeye and someone just gave me spinach. Mmm...I. AM. HULK. *cough* Ignore that. Poor Ai. XD She has a lot to be afraid of, really. You want Erina? Let me think about it. XD

Kuji: I don't know if you're still sleeping or awake as I do this. We'll see if you get first place this time. :P The idea of pregnant!Ai is horrifying yet amusing to imagine. I'm glad I managed to paint that kind of picture. XD The poor girl. Violent Ai is more certainly hilarious though. It's so her, yet not her at the same time. XD And Gaki bringing work home probably won't result in babies, unless she got drunk on the job or something. Lol. Don't give me ideas! I think this chapter will make you happy. :P And yes she who doesn't make it is here too. NO! Not the hat! Anyway, the hat belongs to ME. Your arguments are therefore invalid, by law of Hat. So there. :P

SarangAi: Slice of life is more relaxing to write. XD I'm glad you find it realistic! Especially since I have no idea of pregnancy or children in general. :lol:

mode107: AAAAGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH! MY EYES! THEY BURN!!! ....that was my reaction, btw. I think you managed to top drac's gross speculations. Congratulations. Now I have to delete that image from my brain, somehow. >_> :lol:

aya-chii: Mad experiments? Maybe. Having a mad scientist for a good friend can be hazardous to your health. Lol. Ai has definitely had it hard.

oddball: Mhm Ai being the only one who has a kid isn't easy. Your whole life is taken over by your kid. Your peers who haven't married simply cannot understand. They can be there for you, but they're not you. That's what I wanted to get across, somehow.

eruchan: The million dollar question, who is Riho's father? Too bad, I'm not telling. :P Well, not yet. XD Poor Asami is getting all the heat for causing Ai's predicament. XD I almost feel sorry for her lol.

rokun: But of course, you're a boy. :P Girls talk isn't for you. :P Next chapter isn't quite Riho-vision, but we still get an awesome vision anyway! Hehe, as for RihoKanon, we'll see. They're still too young right now, but who knows?


Time to edit and post. That was a lot of work for comment replies alone. @_@
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [30/1 - Chapter 2: No Such Thing]
Post by: Estrea on February 14, 2011, 08:49:17 PM
Chapter 3: Photo Finish


"Yes, next."

I study my nails absently, wondering if they needed a fresh coat. An idol had to keep up their appearances, which was why I was even here to begin with. They didn't actually need me to look at the little brats coming in for audition, but, you know, appearances.

Though, I must say, I'm amazed at how even the not-so-little are shameless enough to walk in through the doors. Some of them must have skipped looking in their mirrors before coming, because I would have gladly lent them mine. Have they no shame? We only want the cute and pretty ones. Talent is a bonus. Everything else can be taught, but looks can't be. No amount of plastic surgery can make a person cute. You either are, or you aren't. And sadly, most of the candidates I've seen thus far...aren't.

As Fat Girl No.3 exited, I sighed and wondered why I was here again. Not even updating my blog for the third time could sufficiently distract from this endless tedium. Why, oh why, couldn't have my darling friend been here instead? I'm pretty sure she was in the building too, since I saw her early this morning. With sunglasses. As usual.

Maybe that's why they didn't call on her. She would have scared everyone off just by sitting there and scowling. Whereas I'm just too sweet and nice and adorable to do that to the helpless little maggots crawling through the doors. Oh, the burden of being beautiful and admired!

Oh, a cute girl! I woke up a little and remembered how my manager had managed to con me into coming in the first place. You'll get to see cute young things! For the most part, I felt like I was being cheated so far. Damn you Saeko, I'll get you next time, I swear.

Alright...yawn...cute but boring. I can't even remember her name. Aine? Aina? Whatever. The moment you resemble the wallpaper, you're history. Or in this case, you don't even get a chance to be part of the history. Next please, and make it snappy.

Another fat one...that one has droopy eyes...this one with a fake smile (and fake everything)...oh is that girl for real? Bad hair, bad style...the only thing that was fixable is her face...under a knife, maybe.

I stifled another yawn, using my mirror to cover the action. Ah, my reflection is just as kawaii today! That made me feel better. This endless parade of mediocrity was making me feel dull. Can you imagine that? I can't. My mirror obviously disagrees too. Ne?

Oh what is it now? I peer over my mirror. Ok, why is that girl crying? Did someone say something? No? I know I didn't say anything. Maybe one of the staff? I glance around discreetly. Nope, I don't think they said anything particularly harsh. I think my ears would have picked up on that. Why is she crying? And ew, mucus. Please, cry elegantly. If not, just stop. Or leave. That's good too.

I almost felt bad for Mogu...I mean, Mogi, as she fled in tears. Almost. If the little mole...uh, girl can't take the heat, she obviously can't take the stress of the industry. You don't make it in this industry by being weak. You can look weak, the fans love that, but by all things sparkly and shiny, you have got to have some backbone somewhere in there. Otherwise you'll get run over within the first week. Or run away crying. Not quite unlike what Mucus, I mean, Mogi just did.

After Mucus, there was Bad Fashion Sense (those boots are a sin against mankind), followed by Mousy (who needs to speak, not squeak), and then another string of nobodies that didn't even register. I was very close to falling asleep. Or just zoning out. The producer on my right was already on his sixth cup of coffee. I felt sorry for the guy. He actually had to pay attention.

And then, it happened.

First, that confident click of her walk. There were others who wore boots. Some shuffled. Some were so jittery, they looked like they would involuntarily start tap dancing if I had just poked them. Others stomped. This girl though, clicked. Precisely, snappily.

You don't get that kind of click without a lot of practice.

Next, fashion. I love cute girls. I love looking at all sorts of cute girls. Anyone who even remotely knows me knows that, at least. I know how they dress. My sometimes-partner-in-crime is flashier than half the girls in Tokyo put together. I know these things.

This one wasn't flashy. Quite...understated, even. Black, white, accentuated with pink. Pink, I definitely approve of. The black and white made her look almost too serious, but the pink softened it. Mature, yet not sedately boring. Subtle and stylish. How rare is that?

And then that poise. Perfectly balanced, back straight and shoulders even. Yet it did not look stiff. She looked completely at ease, composed. Her face was a tad on the blank side, but it showcased a hard edge of determination. That was rare. Kids that young are rarely that focused. Hell, I had been a bundle of nerves the first time.

Then she speaks, and it's a voice that makes you look at her. Confident, unpretentious. Defiant, yet polite. Deferent, yet...challenging. A little firecracker, that's for sure.

I was definitely interested. And I wasn't the only one. Mr Producer seemed to have forgotten entirely about his empty cup of coffee, though his face remained professionally blank as he asks her for a little demonstration.

She doesn't disappoint. I think a part of me died a little inside as I watched. How does she dance like that? I want to dance like that! So. Not. Fair.

Discreetly, I peered over at the application forms in front of the producer. Aha! Takahashi Riho, 12 years old. Wait, this prodigy is only 12? What? When did they make kids like that? Why was I not informed? More importantly, where can I get one?

I think I must have tuned out on the usual pleasantries, because when I tuned back in, she was bowing and getting ready to leave. Aw, but I wanted to look at her some more!

She looks up then, and smiles. And my heart stops.

Oh. My. God. How is it possible for anything on two legs that isn't me to be that cute? It's impossible. I want to die right now. I swear I'm melting. I want to go over and hug her. Pinch her cheeks. Buy her things. Show her off to everyone. And then...

Wait. Stop. Hyperventilating. Need. To. Calm. Down. Then take a photo. Or three. Right, priorities.

When the doors closed once more, I swear I wasn't the first person to form the group huddle. Cross my heart, and I'm too cute to die!

"Ladies and gentlemen, I think we have a winner."

==============================================


Ah, I love this. XD Bitchy narcissism is so...liberating. XD

First off, I would like to not apologize to Mogi for being mean to her. Really. XD

Secondly, I like to apologize to everyone who was expecting Riho-vision here. Sorry? But you get another vision just as awesome! :lol: At least I hope it is.

:D This is fun.
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [15/2 - Chapter 3: Photo Finish]
Post by: kawaii beam on February 14, 2011, 09:51:10 PM
yay~ new chapter~! X3 and sayu(?) vision FTW XD  i can totally feel the boredom of watching teh other "dull" girls as well as the excitement of when she saw riho X3 and i loled hared when she started asking where she could get a girl like riho like they could be bought in stores XD

cant wait for more as usual~ another visions ftw
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [15/2 - Chapter 3: Photo Finish]
Post by: Shiawase_Honoo on February 14, 2011, 10:24:30 PM
I think maybe it's Sayu
Because I can remember that how Sayu want to hug a little tanuki and then she did last week :nervous
and Riho's cheeks are so adorable, I want to pinch too XD
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [15/2 - Chapter 3: Photo Finish]
Post by: eruchan on February 15, 2011, 02:24:14 AM
Sayu as the judge? I think it’s her, the narcissism XD
Her comments are sharp (and a bit cruel) but entertaining… well, at least she didn’t say it out loud XD
Agree! Riho’s smile is just too cute and adorable
So Sayu (and her dear friend with sunglasses and a scowl?) is going to be Riho's senpai in the agency?
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [15/2 - Chapter 3: Photo Finish]
Post by: rndmnwierd on February 15, 2011, 04:58:16 AM
Darn you Essy-sama~! Updating almost an hour into my work day! That's cheating! :lol: :lol:

Quote
Some of them must have skipped looking in their mirrors before coming, because I would have gladly lent them mine.
Sayu? :?

Quote
As Fat Girl No.3 exited, I sighed and wondered why I was here again. Not even updating my blog for the third time could sufficiently distract from this endless tedium.
Sayu. XD

Quote
Why, oh why, couldn't have my darling friend been here instead? I'm pretty sure she was in the building too, since I saw her early this morning. With sunglasses. As usual.
Reina? :huhuh

Quote
She would have scared everyone off just by sitting there and scowling.
Reina. XD

Quote
The moment you resemble the wallpaper, you're history.
:lol: :lol: This gets quoted for giving me the biggest laughs this chapter. I'm not sure why it's so funny to me.

Quote
I want to go over and hug her. Pinch her cheeks. Buy her things. Show her off to everyone. And then...

Wait. Stop. Hyperventilating. Need. To. Calm. Down. Then take a photo. Or three. Right, priorities.
Oh, man. :lol: :lol:

Quote
"Ladies and gentlemen, I think we have a winner."
Yay! XD
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [15/2 - Chapter 3: Photo Finish]
Post by: Shipyon on February 15, 2011, 05:13:57 AM
I love this. Nice story. Really funny :inlove:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [15/2 - Chapter 3: Photo Finish]
Post by: Kuji on February 15, 2011, 09:41:42 AM
From reading Sayu's blog, I feel like her favourite out of the 9th gen is Riho too since she keeps going on about how adorable she is and such. XD I've taken some inexplicable liking to Mizuki somehow even though I haven't really watched all that much with her in it so I hope she shows in the fic all awesome like.

If it's as we all assume and it's our beloved poisoned tongued bunny, hooray! Her comments mean or not were quite funny! PoorLol, Mogi! The girl that didn't make it. If she grows up, turns into some gorgeous thing and ends up a successful artist, I'm sure we'll choke on all the mean fun we've had picking on her but yeah... Mucus = rofl.

Sayu at the end is like a kid that's just fallen for a kitten and simply must take her home (DaddyTsunku, pleeeease can we keep her?).

And oh yeah, this is so far from first, it isn't even funny. ): I fell asleeeeep. Whyyyy?
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [15/2 - Chapter 3: Photo Finish]
Post by: oddball on February 15, 2011, 10:31:26 AM
Man, evil bitchy Sayu or what!  :lol: and major props for cameo from fat girl no.3   :panic:

You know, I can totally imagine Sayu being like this in her own thoughts, I'm going to be thinking about it when I next watch her in something to be sure  :doh:

Seems as though are little Riho has left a big impression on Sayu..... hmm I wonder if that is such a good thing however......
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [15/2 - Chapter 3: Photo Finish]
Post by: aya-chii on February 15, 2011, 10:50:20 AM
LOL. this is funny.
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [15/2 - Chapter 3: Photo Finish]
Post by: mode107 on February 15, 2011, 04:20:55 PM
Out of all the girls that auditioned for the 9th gen, I find it hard to believe that Mogi made the top 5. Good thing she didn't make it in! 

I can't wait to learn of Riho's path in the entertainment business. After this chapter, I would think she would be a dancer for Sayu or something, but I'm sure Riho is capable of many talents.
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [15/2 - Chapter 3: Photo Finish]
Post by: gracula on February 16, 2011, 12:35:48 PM
Was it Sayu Cam? If we're playing safe with stereotypes, then it must be.

How much do I love warukuchi!Sayu? Let me count the ways:-

1) "Some of them must have skipped looking in their mirrors before coming, because I would have gladly lent them mine. Have they no shame?"
2) " This endless parade of mediocrity was making me feel dull. Can you imagine that? I can't."
3) "Or run away crying. Not quite unlike what Mucus, I mean, Mogi just did.

Talking to her own mirror/reflection.  :lol:

Quote
Oh. My. God. How is it possible for anything on two legs that isn't me to be that cute? It's impossible. I want to die right now. I swear I'm melting. I want to go over and hug her. Pinch her cheeks. Buy her things. Show her off to everyone. And then...
Aaaa! PedoPredator!Sayu! I want to hear/read Sayu say the word 'defile' so badly.


"When the doors closed once more, I swear I wasn't the first person to form the group huddle. Cross my heart, and I'm too cute to die!"
THIS WAS WIN! FOR LIFE!

I seriously want to marry your Sayu. Have there been proposals yet? I call dibs.
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [15/2 - Chapter 3: Photo Finish]
Post by: Kuji on February 24, 2011, 01:17:14 PM
(http://i389.photobucket.com/albums/oo337/illogicalisms/HP/honesty.jpg)
Mogu Mogi.

YOU GIVE OMAKE PREEZ?
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [15/2 - Chapter 3: Photo Finish]
Post by: Estrea on February 24, 2011, 04:45:29 PM
Alright, so this wasn't originally intended to be a chapter, just an extended (and extended, and extended) omake. But it's technically accurate, so...

KUJI THIS IS FOR YOU YOUR FAULT.

============================================================

Chapter 3.5 - Honesty is the Best(?) Policy


"Number 583."

And another one goes up to face the firing squad. Oops, I mean, the judges. I'm sure I had a nervous tic somewhere on my face, but then again, perhaps not. My childhood habit of biting my nails had been superseded by a blank expression of inscrutability. Don't ask me why.

Maybe it has something to do with Mama teaching me how to play poker. As for why she started playing poker with me, let's just say it was the New Year, we were snowed in, the power was out, and the Takahashi family had nothing better to do. I was 8 at the time.

And I'll have you know I hate losing. Mama is much the same. She won't cheat to win though.

...I would. Not that I have...been caught, that is.

No, you're not telling her. Mama would be horrified. As a good child, we should spare our parents the pain of such bad news, yes?

Anyway, back to the event at hand. No one was sitting next to me. Or around me at all. I can't be that unfriendly, am I? Then again, I have been told of how...intimidating...I could come off as being, right at first. Lies, I tell you. I'm not intimidating. I'm too small to be intimidating. I got that from Mama. We're both too small to intimidate people.

Intense, though, I can understand. People who do not understand the term 'intense' are welcome to watch Mama play the latest installment of Final Fantasy. I'm amazed that the series is still ongoing actually --- Mama gave me the whole history while I was growing up. I knew as much about the various Cids, chocobos and Moogles as I did about Oda Nobunaga and Prince Shotoku. In a way, I had a very well rounded education growing up.

Honestly though, how many times can one save the world? You'd think that a Quest to Revolutionize the World would get old after the third or fourth time, but no. We get reiterations of Bringing Down the Evil Empire/Corporation/Organization coupled with Exploring Huge Maps to find the Magical Thingmajig (several of them, actually) that may or may not help to Take Down the Final Boss. Though with Mama playing, she's always aiming for a 100% completion rate, so Everything is Essential. God forbid if she misses a treasure chest. I swear she has multiple save files at different stages to make sure Nothing Goes Wrong.

I swear Mama plans for everything, even the unplannable. I'm not sure where the line crosses into paranoia, but Mama comes pretty darn close, if she isn't already there. I mean, I'm still not entirely sure how she managed to order Little Aunt to go pick up the copy of the game she pre-ordered months ago...while she was in labor. Honestly! There she was, in the process of bringing me into the world, and she can still remember to tell her sister to Pick Up the Damn Game for her, Or Else. It has since become part of the Takahashi family lore.

Just so you know, it's also my distinct (mis)fortune to share the same birth/release date as the 20th anniversary special edition re-release of some game. I feel so flattered. Really.

But I digress. Then again, growing up with an obsessive-compulsive mother who is eerily goal-oriented might have affected my outlook on things. I like having specific goals to achieve and then figuring out the means to achieving them. And then working towards it. Yes, nothing comes without hard work. Mama taught me that.

And the multi-tasking. Let's not forget the multi-tasking. Here I am, not-scowling, listening to music, having an extended internal soliloquy about the meaning of life (not really), and waiting my turn for an audition that I'm just realizing that I'm totally not prepared for. Nerves. Right. Just nerves.

I'm the only one here who has earpieces still plugged in. Everyone else is clearly frazzled and showing it. I'm just sitting here, expressionless, the seeming picture of calm. Appearances can be deceiving. Then again, Mama was the one who told me something before the first time I ever appeared on stage for anything (I was 5 then).

If you don't have confidence, fake it.

I took that advice to heart. Ran with it. It seems to work. Good genes, Aunt Konno had joked. Mama had smacked her across the back of head for that, then laughed. Strangely, too. To this day, I still don't understand what was so funny about that.

I wasn't really paying attention to the other girls in the waiting room, despite the fact that I perhaps really should. After all, these were my 'competitors'. I should at least scope out what I was against. Then again, my 5-second cursory glance after stepping in did not reveal anything particularly threatening. Though I really should remember my own 'appearances are deceiving' motto and be more careful. But what does it matter? In the end, only my own hard work and performance in front of the judges would matter. If I can impress them, nothing else and no one can get to me. It's kind of like exams. Do or die. Make or break. Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I honestly believed that.

Mama always told me that it's not how you fall, but how you pick yourself up. I believe her. Mama is the strongest person I know. She cries at the drop of a hat, gets really upset when she doesn't do things well or right, but she always gets up and tries again. She never ever lets things get her down for long. I want to be like that too.

So I wasn't very impressed by the people who leave the execution ground...I mean, the judges' room, in tears. Most of them looked like they would never again appear in such a place. They probably never would. Aunt Ogawa told me that more than half the aspiring models she had met in the course of her work usually didn't last longer than the first few months. This was not a forgiving industry, and I had no illusions about it. Mama already explained everything involved, with a lot of input from her friends. I knew (kind of) what I was getting into, and I'm not backing down. Even if I fail now, I'll just pick myself up, figure out what went wrong, and then try again after fixing things.

I refuse to lose. Not to others, but to myself. Once I've decided on something, I refuse to let anything stop me. Mama understands that, so she's been really supportive. I'm glad Mama gets it. In a way, I'm doing it for her too, so I want her approval. I don't care if no one else approves, as long as she does. Mama is the most important person in my life, after all.

A loud thud in the general direction of the door leading to Ground Zero (judges' room) draws my attention, and I stop the playback on my MD. As to why I still have an MD, it's my Mama's old one. She has an iPod, but we take turns with it. Sometimes it kind of sucks to have a mother who is tech-savvy. She hogs the computer half the time, and only lets me use it when I have to check something for school. I can't put anything past her. Drats.

I see someone sprawled on the ground next to the wall. No CPR action seems necessary. Tissue would have been useful. No one moves though. Everyone is either staring with morbid fascination, or just staring at the door, waiting their turn.

I look around discreetly. No one was helping the bawling girl. Ok, she wasn't really making a lot of sound, so bawling might not have been quite the right term. Crying her eyeballs out? That seems about right. There was also...a great deal of mucus. Ew. Can I just pass her tissue on the end of a ten-foot pole? Or just throw it at her? No, she might cry more. That would be bad.

I'm not completely heartless, ok? No matter what any of my jealous classmates say. Aloof doesn't mean I don't care. It just means that I'm not very good with the whole 'sharing is caring' thing when it comes to emotions. I don't know other people well enough to let things go so easily, but I'm open with those I'm comfortable with. That counts for something right?

Nevertheless. I happen to have tissue, I happen to be sitting near where Mucus-chan was collapsing into a puddle of tears, and I also happen to have a great deal of experience dealing with crying people. If you have a Mama like mine, you would be prepared too.

I left my coat on top of my bag before stepping over to the unfortunate wreck. Kneeling down to get to eye level with her, I offer her tissue. Wordlessly. Gingerly too. Getting germs was not my first priority. She doesn't notice me at first, so I clear my throat discreetly. She looks up, startled. I don't blame her. The whole atmosphere was generally cold in that room. It was every girl for herself, and to hell with the competition. I'm sure she hadn't expected anyone to help. As for me, I just hated seeing people cry.

"Crying makes you look ugly. That's no good for an idol, right?" I said matter-of-factly. So I might have been a bit blunt, but I seem to have inherited Mama's tact.

She stares at me disbelievingly, then bursts out in an odd combination of tears and giggles. I tilt my head slightly, confused. Did I say something funny?

She takes the tissue, and I withdraw my hand as quickly as I could without coming across as being offensive. There was a slight moment of awkward silence as she blows her nose noisily. I'm not sure what I should do here. Comfort her? I don't even know her name. Ok, I know her last name. The big tag on her chest says MOGI. Funny, wasn't there a game character called Mogu on one of Mama's games? I liked that game. There were dragons. Dragons are cool.

Again, I digress. I look at the girl again, this time with the benefit of having no mucus blocking my view. I was not particularly impressed. From her crestfallen expression to her excessive reaction after coming out from The Room, it was obvious she didn't make it, or else screwed up pretty damn badly inside. Was there something I could say? I don't even know her.

"Ah..." I'm sorry you didn't make it? Try again next time. That sounded oh so sensitive. Really. Not even I'm that tactless.

I probably shouldn't have opened my big mouth. Trying to be nice is going to get me in trouble one of these days. She was looking at me expectantly. Crap, I'm bad at this whole talking thing! Mama, I blame you for this! You must have passed it to me!

Maybe it was the song I had been listening to. That was also Mama's fault. She has an eclectic taste, not to mention an international outlook. One look at her playlist is like looking at a mini United Nations listing. In any case, I would like to state that I was not in my right mind and meant no direct offense. I certainly didn't intend to be mean. Honestly.

Perhaps it was also the fact that the OL in glasses just called my number, and I had to say something quick before I left for my turn. You know, to be polite. Too bad I'm not good at coming up with stuff to say on the fly, so I just blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

"I'm sorry you're so ugly, Mogi."

I was not entirely cognizant of what I just said. My body was already in motion, throwing on my coat and grabbing my bag. I had one hand on the door when my brain caught up with my mouth. Then my ears caught up. I wonder how my senses could be so...retarded sometimes. Surely I could not have failed to miss someone BAWLING for real now?

I mentally replayed my own words. Oops.

Well, too late for regrets. I turned the knob, and stepped into my fate.


=============================================================


Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaah. :lol:

I totally didn't intend to write this until....the picture. XD

I'll do proper comment replies for the real chapter next time!
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [15/2 - Chapter 3: Photo Finish]
Post by: Kuji on February 24, 2011, 04:46:13 PM
*COUGH*

THANK YOU FOR WRITING THIS! :wub:
I needed me some Riho-vision and I looll'd so much reading this. Hah! at Konno's good genes comment, I'm still wondering about that.
I wonder if Ai ever felt the need in Riho's "Education" to make her play "just the very most important" of the Final Fantasy games... and of course, her "twin". XD

AWWW... moment when Riho was saying she liked dragons! That's cute. X3

Riho's foot in mouth moment! :rofl: Poor Mogi, once Riho is famous, she can remember how on that day, she was told by a famous celebrity that she's ugly.

I only hope you get more ideas for omake! Maybe one day you can write about Riho, Ai and the GPS. :lol:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [24/2 - Chapter 3.5: Honesty is the Best Policy]
Post by: gracula on February 24, 2011, 08:49:17 PM
 :lol: :lol: :lol: (yes, I used three emotis in a row. this is to express my pure joy and extreme amusement.)

Amazing what a little demotivation will do to your muse, huh? GJ, Kuji!  :thumbup

RIHO-VISION! What a fantastic little mama's girl. It was full of 'awww' moments for me- its was like a 'things Mama taught me' retrospective. And even upon re-reading with a slightly saner POV, screwed-up as it may be, I still thought it was incredibly sweet and profound.

Quote
If you don't have confidence, fake it.
This is me, at life. It really works.

The last part- that was pure Mama, that's for sure.


(Dammit, Essy- I have to work!)
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [24/2 - Chapter 3.5: Honesty is the Best Policy]
Post by: eruchan on February 25, 2011, 01:04:20 AM
geeky ai  :lol: riho have to live with a final fantasy-fangirl-mama XD
LOL at ai educating her daughter about the ff world... i'm surprised riho is not named after one of the ff heroine   :P

 :lol: the last part... poor mogi
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [24/2 - Chapter 3.5: Honesty is the Best Policy]
Post by: rndmnwierd on February 25, 2011, 02:38:57 AM
Quote
You'd think that a Quest to Revolutionize the World would get old after the third or fourth time, but no. We get reiterations of Bringing Down the Evil Empire/Corporation/Organization coupled with Exploring Huge Maps to find the Magical Thingmajig (several of them, actually) that may or may not help to Take Down the Final Boss. Though with Mama playing, she's always aiming for a 100% completion rate, so Everything is Essential. God forbid if she misses a treasure chest. I swear she has multiple save files at different stages to make sure Nothing Goes Wrong.
I would just like to say how true this paragraph is. :lol: :lol:

Riho... Seems to have a bit of a mother complex. XD I mean, I can understand, raised by a single mother and all, how close you can be to your mom, but every thought in this chapter links back to Ai in some way. It's kind of cute. :lol: She really loves Ai.

Poor Mogi. I actually haven't seen that part of the auditions, so I feel that she has reached legendary status in my mind as the Ball O' Mucus Girl. :lol: :lol: I can't really bring myself to see how true it is.

Quote
I mentally replayed my own words. Oops.
Oops? That's all she can think? :lol: I'd be thinking, 'Facepalm!'
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [24/2 - Chapter 3.5: Honesty is the Best Policy]
Post by: dark-atrox on February 25, 2011, 06:16:42 AM
FF craze Ai-chan is sure funny, though i dont think its possible she can even think about her game during her labour...LOL :nervous
Likey the tactless Riho... :twothumbs

PS: Though I don't like MM that much compared before, I'm still a loyal fan of them...and Riho is my 9th gen fav.  XD
I want a lil sis like that  :lol:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [24/2 - Chapter 3.5: Honesty is the Best Policy]
Post by: oddball on February 25, 2011, 10:46:24 AM
 :lol: poor Mogi, it's not your fault Riho is a bit to blunt for her own good!  :doh:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [24/2 - Chapter 3.5: Honesty is the Best Policy]
Post by: kawaii beam on February 25, 2011, 04:13:27 PM
lol oh my goodness, funny as always essy! XD how on earch can a woman worry about a game while her child wants to enter the world? XD  well thats ai-chan for u XD i can only imagine after she gave birth to riho if she started playing it or something XDDD
and nice riho is nice....until she oppened her mouth XD she really is ai's daughter for sure ^^; i love how u put riho in this story, and at first i was kinda indifrent with her cus i felt she was "too much" but now cus of this story (and the zukkixriho interactions in bijougaku and blogs) i'm starting to like her^^

 :thumbsup good job yet again essy and cant wait for teh next part~ X3
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [24/2 - Chapter 3.5: Honesty is the Best Policy]
Post by: aya-chii on March 01, 2011, 05:47:03 AM
haha. somehow i found myself thinking the same way your riho does
but not as.. harsh as that XD XD XD that was cruel, very funny.. i say weird thing instead at those times
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [24/2 - Chapter 3.5: Honesty is the Best Policy]
Post by: Estrea on March 04, 2011, 07:50:53 PM
Ok since I promised comment replies, here they are!

Chapter 3

kawaii: Yay Sayu-vision! Yes it is. :D If only girls like Riho could be bought in stores...they'd have booming sales all the time. XD Well, we might not have stores that sell Rihos...but at least we have stores that sell kittens. Not as awesome, but still cute. :P

Shiawase: It's Sayu. XD And yeah, who can resist pinching Riho's cheeks? So adorable, that girl! :wub:

eruchan: No mistaking the narcissism. Who else, really? XD Yeah at least Sayu isn't mean out loud, so no one else knows the true depth of her ebilness. XD But yes, Sayu's going to be a senpai...I do fear for the next generation. :lol:

rndy: I like how you concluded the identities of the people involved. XD And I was not cheating! How would I know when your work day starts? :P

Shipyon: Thanks. I'm having a lot of fun writing this too.

Kuji: Yeah Sayu does seem to like Riho doesn't she? Actually she seems to be crazy in love with 9th gen in general...so yeah. XD Let's hope Mogi doesn't actually make it as a successful artist, I'd feel bad for doing this to her then yes that means I don't feel bad for doing this to her now since she's nobody. Heh. XD Let's hope you don't fall asleep again this time! I'm still doing comment replies!

oddball: Lol if that got you thinking of Sayu that way...I apologize to Sayu for tainting her image. :lol: I also wonder if getting Sayu's attention is a good thing for Riho....  XD

aya-chii: Yes it is!

mode107: I also find it hard to believe she made it to top 5. What were those people thinking? Or maybe it was the lack of coffee? But you're right, we should be grateful that she didn't make it in. I wonder about Riho's path too! *has not planned anything and is freewriting* :D

drac: Sayu Cam ON! :D I see an Elizabeth Barrett Browning reference in that line. XD Ah, PedoPredator!Sayu...if you wish to see her say 'defile'...something can be arranged. :D As for marriage proposals...a little incentive to the matchmaker might facilitate the match. ;) :P


Chapter 3.5

Kuji: Thanks to your demotivational poster, this came to pass. XD More Riho-vision for you coming up, well, sorta. XD There should be a Riho-likes-dragons meme or scene somewhere. Cos it's cool. XD And yes, poor Mogi, she just never catches a break, even after failing to make the cut in real life. :lol: Oh, the GPS thing will have to wait until the sequel, I'm afraid...YOU DID NOT SEE THAT!

drac: Riho is an awesome little girl. XD And don't blame me, you didn't have to read it at ungodly hours...you didn't have to be up to read it at ungodly hours. :P

eruchan: Yeah geeky Ai is much love. :wub: It would be kinda sad if Riho was named after an FF heroine. :lol: Not even Ai would do that to her kid I think. And yes, poor Mogi. XD

rndy: I'm a gamer. Nuff said. :P I wonder if that Ai-centric view had been influenced by my own obsession with Ai. XD I won't put it past my subconscious. :lol: Lol I seem to have influenced a great deal of people in the way they see certain people, thanks to my stories. I think Mogi has been immortalized in H!P fanfic (at least here at JPHiP) as the Ball O' Mucus Girl by yours truly. And Riho is the master of understatement. :P

dark-atrox: XD Being in labour is a long process. She probably thought about the game as her water broke or something. :lol: I should write that, really...

oddball: Riho speaks her mind. Sadly. XD Mogi deserved part of that, just not the last part. Blame Kuji for that :lol:

kawaii: Nah, not even Ai would start gaming right after giving birth. XD At least give her a couple of days to get back on her feet. XD I'm glad I was able to help you change your mind towards Riho, if at least a little! She's too awesome to dislike, I think. XD

aya-chii: Cruel and funny, that's our little Riho! or me, really I'm glad I'm making people laugh at least!


Wow that was a lot of work. XD Time to edit and post!
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [24/2 - Chapter 3.5: Honesty is the Best Policy]
Post by: Estrea on March 04, 2011, 08:01:40 PM
Chapter 4: Talk. Play. Love.


Homework. The bane of a student's existence.

"Glaring at it isn't going to make it go away, Riho-chan," or so her Mama had said before entering the shower. Riho glared at the equations some more, even as her pen scrawled through the sums mechanically. It wasn't fun at all, but she knew she had to get it done.

At least Ai let her listen to music while she did her homework. The earpieces plugged into her ears effectively created a little bubble around her, where she could focus on the (hateful) homework. The music made the ordeal more tolerable. Even though she sort of wanted to get up and dance to it.

Riho eyed the door to her (and her Mama's) room shiftily. Ai had just entered the bathroom less than 15 minutes ago. Riho knew her mother. Ai would take at least an hour in there. Their shared room was a little cramped, but she could clear out enough space to dance. It helped a lot that she was small. It would be easier if she could go out and dance in the hall, but her grandmother could be more of a nag than her mother could ever hope to be.

Riho believed in picking her fights. Getting her ear talked off ranked way below having to do homework in her opinion.

Homework. Riho twirled her pen, letting it oscillate around her fingers for a few seconds before catching it deftly. She wanted to dance, but she couldn't let her grades fall. It was part of a deal she had made with her mother. She didn't have to be the best student, but she couldn't simply just barely pass exams either.

In between maintaining a respectable grade, having good extra-curricular activity records, and auditioning to get into talent agencies, Riho had a very packed schedule. Not that she would have it any other way. If nothing else, she had inherited her mother's impeccable time management skills. If Aunt Konno was right, Ai had managed to juggle being president of the drama society, being part of an award-winning choir, and remaining within the top 20th percentile of her grade during her final year of high school.

"Lord knows how she managed to hide having a relationship from the rest of us too!"

That was the last Konno had to say about it before Ai cut her off. Riho remembered the words clearly though, and kept it to herself. She had made some basic calculations regarding her birth and her mother's age of course. It was very likely that this hidden relationship that her mother had during her final year of high school had resulted in well, her.

"I wonder what my dad would be like..." Riho wondered aloud, absently filling in yet another answer on her homework. Was he older than Mama? If he was, how did Mama get to know him?

More importantly, why did Mama keep it from her friends? That thought had occurred to her before. Maybe it had been an older man after all, and it would have been uncomfortable telling her friends? Riho toyed with the idea that Mama might have had an affair with a married man, but discarded the idea since it made her uncomfortable. Even though it did make a lot of sense. Didn't a lot of dramas have that kind of storyline? Especially the ones that Aunt (Nii)Gaki brought over. Korean dramas. Always with the bastard children.

Riho wondered if she had half-brothers or sisters somewhere, along with her mythical father who was probably either a salaryman or maybe even something cooler, like a travelling photographer or a war journalist. Riho liked those thoughts. Maybe her dad was on a trip doing exciting things somewhere, and didn't know she existed. If he did, he could come back and they could be together as a family, a real family, again.

Riho had been very conscious of how her Mama never came out and said her father was dead. Only that he was not around. She was still young enough to hope that her father would come back to them. It was a very small hope, one that grew smaller with each passing year, but it was there nevertheless.

A drop damped a spot on her homework, and she blinked back the sudden tears. Quickly, she brought the back of her hand up and wiped vigorously. She didn't want her Mama seeing these tears. It would lead to uncomfortable questions for them both. Riho knew her Mama didn't like discussing the topic, and she really didn't want to see her mother near tears and apologizing to her for not giving her a complete family.

It had happened before. Mama had been slightly drunk at the time and revealed a little about her father, about how much she loved him and how sorry she was for not being able to give Riho a family she could be proud of.

Riho always thought that Mama got the last point wrong. She was proud of her family, even without a father. The kids who used to make fun of her for not having a dad didn't matter. Their words stung, but Riho knew how hard her Mama had tried for her sake. She knew how her entire extended family always tried to make sure she had everything they could afford.

She didn't want much though. It was good enough having her family around. Would be better if she had her dad too, but Riho knew that she had to take what she could get.

Grimly, she wiped away the last of her tears. Rubbing at her chin stoically, she set her jaw and wrote another answer. Her pen left a deep indent in the paper.

It was useless thinking about a father she didn't know. Yet Riho could hardly help herself. It was comforting to know that her mother loved him. Riho wanted to know she wasn't an accident, but a product of love. Well, at least Mama loved her. She didn't know about her father, but judging by the way her Mama had talked about it, he probably had no idea she existed. She wanted to believe he would love her though.

Maybe this was a tiny part of the reason why she wanted to become an idol. If she became famous, it would be easier for her father to find her. Then again, he didn't know she existed. But it was nice to think that way. One could not have too much hope.

A soft click at the door alerted her to Ai's return. Riho swallowed nervously. She really hoped her Mama wouldn't notice her reddened eyes. Maybe she could pull a fast one and say that the homework was frustrating.

Not even her oblivious Mama could be that dumb though. Riho resisted the urge to sigh and/or hit her head on the desk. She did notice that Ai had taken a much shorter time in the bath today. Then she noticed the charger at the side of the table.

Ah, her handhelds were out of juice... That explained a lot. The music in her ears did a lot to restore her equilibrium. Riho felt a great deal calmer and in focus now. Funny how a catchy pop-rock tune was calming. It should be exciting, which it was, and that was ironically what calmed Riho. She enjoyed moving along to the music.

She felt her mother pass by behind her, saying nothing. They didn't always talk when together, but they had good conversations. Riho learned how to make conversation with her mother, whereas the fine art of small talk was lost on her. A small price to pay, in her opinion. She could always pick it up somewhere else. Hopefully. Her Mama never seemed to.

The only sounds she could hear were that of the music pounding in her ears. Putting pen to paper stoically, Riho hardly noticed when Ai settled in beside her, neatly plucking out one of her earpieces to listen in on the music. Riho started briefly at that. The loss of input in one ear could be a little jarring for the unprepared.

"Hm, PLAY again," Ai murmured, glancing briefly over at her diligent daughter. Riho half-smiled at that, her eyes drifting upwards to the A4-sized poster she had tacked over the tiny desk in the room. It was her favorite group, though it was perhaps unfortunate that her favourite member was currently in America for personal reasons, leaving the group's activities on hold.

Riho grinned suddenly. She had seen one of the members of PLAY at her audition earlier. She wasn't sure what to think of Michishige Sayumi sometimes, but the real thing was in fact, very cute. Riho wondered if repeating something often enough did in fact make it true.

Ai followed her daughter's gaze to the poster. Riho had wanted a bigger one to plaster one wall with, but Ai had put her foot down. They managed to settle on a compromise, though Riho never understood why her Mama had objected to a bigger poster. It wasn't like Ai didn't like the group; they had gone to a couple of the live shows, even a concert as a treat for Riho's birthday.

"Too bad they're on hiatus now..." Riho sighed aloud, filling in the last blank on her homework. She paused. They had talked intermittently earlier about the auditions, but Riho had forgotten to tell Ai about seeing Michishige on the judges' row.

"Mama, did you know I saw Michishige-san at the auditions just now? She was sitting in."

"Did you?" Ai sounded both distracted and interested at the same time. Riho knew why. The current track playing was one of her mother's favourites.

"Un. She's a lot prettier in person, now that I've seen her up close." Riho's glance scanned across the poster. She liked Kamei-san best, but it was a pity that the woman was not in Japan at the moment. The third person on the poster was the smallest, and also the unofficial leader of the group. Riho had a grudging respect for her. Tanaka-san had a strong voice, and was basically the lead vocalist, though Kamei-san was the better dancer.

"That's good." Ai closed her eyes for a moment. She suddenly opened them again though, and turned to Riho with a raised eyebrow as something obviously just occurred to her.

"Why was she there at your auditions?"

Riho resisted the urge to roll her eyes as she said very slowly.

"Because, Mama, that's the agency that PLAY is contracted to." Riho shot her a look of amused exasperation. "I believe I told you the name before I went."

"You did." Ai grimaced. She just hadn't linked it to the fact that it was the same agency.

"Is there a problem?" Riho asked innocently. Ai pursed her lips, cuffing her kid lightly in the side of the head. It was more of a tap than anything else.

"Finish off the rest of your homework, brat."

That was said with love. Really.

Riho obediently took out the next of her worksheets, though she continued musing aloud.

"I wonder how Tanaka-san looks like in person. I want to see if her eyes are really off-center..."

"They are." Ai replied absently. Riho turned to look at her. Ai returned the gaze a little defensively. "Well, it's kinda obvious on TV, isn't it?"

"So Mama, since you're obviously a fan, who's your favourite in PLAY anyway?" Riho grinned, trying to put off homework as much as possible. It wasn't like they were due tomorrow anyway. "You know I like Kamei-san best."

Ai looked at the poster again. "Dunno." She said after a moment, shrugging nonchalantly.

"You must have some kind of an idea." Riho prodded. Ai ran one hand through her hair, tweaking the ends restlessly.

"I like them all differently. It's hard to explain, they're all cute in their own ways."

Ai then fixed her daughter with an even stare. "Aren't you supposed to be doing your homework, young lady? Don't think you can distract me..."

"Hai hai~" Riho just barely ducked another cuff aimed at her ear, her hand already working industriously on her homework as she laid her chin on the desk. Ai settled for flicking a finger at the back of her daughter's head, making the girl wince and pout most adorably.

Smiling gently down at her child, Ai patted Riho on the head fondly, pressing a kiss into the girl's hair as she stood, snagging both their empty mugs as she headed for the kitchen. Riho would appreciate some hot chocolate before bed.

That was the least Ai could do for her daughter, short of finishing her homework for her. Shaking her head, Ai could barely suppress the small sigh that escaped her lips as she pondered the twist of fate that brought Riho to audition at the same agency as...

Well, never mind that. It wouldn't matter anyway. As long as Riho was happy with this, she would support her daughter's decision. If it was safe, of course. Stardust was a reputable agency, so that was not a problem. In fact, it would be a good place for new talents. Ai had done her research. You didn't think she'd just throw her daughter into the entertainment world without looking it up at all, did you?

"And yet, the first person she has to meet is her, of all people..."


=================================================================


*stretches* Nyan.

I should go check on my laundry now...
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [5/3 - Chapter 4: Talk. Play. Love.]
Post by: Kuji on March 04, 2011, 08:20:35 PM
Oh Riho, I know what you mean about homework! It sucks so bad. D:
But anyway, this chapter was awesome and frustrating at the same time because of the hints at SOMETHING (Ai's remark about Reina's eyes and about Riho meeting HER and also the part about Ai's drunken admission).
Like, which part am I supposed to go with here, author-person!? This headache cure is partially headache inducing too. :doh:
Part of me is thinking, did Ai fake the information she gave Riho about her dad? Seems like a good way to stop a curious kid's questions.

"Sayu, Riho is your daughter." I bet if Sayu heard that, she'd be... really happy. XD But yeah, that's the headache speaking!

I found Riho's thoughts so cute and so realistically childish when it came to her wish for a complete family.
Also, it figures that Riho would pick Eri as her fave. Errrriiiiiiiiiiiiii  :cry:

Okay, now I'm going to reread this. XD One read through isn't really enough to say very much.
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [5/3 - Chapter 4: Talk. Play. Love.]
Post by: aussie on March 04, 2011, 08:28:28 PM
My first comment on this story. Riho isn't my fave from 9th gen (I'm not really all that not into 9th gen yet), but somehow your stories seem to have that strange power to appreciate characters even if they were fictional :lol:

Mama Taka sounds awesome. In her own little way. Plus she has some cool-but-on-crack friends to keep her daughter entertained XD
This chapter is particularly interesting though. Sounds like Ai has some history with the group of rokkies? I hope is was a positive one, I don't like the idea of the rokkies butting heads with Ai :D


(I like the group name of PLAY. Fits the rokkies especially well :lol: )


Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [5/3 - Chapter 4: Talk. Play. Love.]
Post by: eruchan on March 04, 2011, 11:02:45 PM
Ah.. So Riho's in the same agency as reina-eri-sayu??
And she is their fan.. Eri's wota XD
Looks like Ai know the rokkies personally in the past.. Her remarks and reaction about riho meeting sayu is suspicious..
Maybe the one of the rokkies is riho's father? XD jk...
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [5/3 - Chapter 4: Talk. Play. Love.]
Post by: kawaii beam on March 04, 2011, 11:30:59 PM
aw~ i had some of the same feelings as riho when i was little, i didnt havet he same cool mom as ai, and i knew about my dad but i can relate.  and amen to hating hw girl! XD i litsen to my music when i do mine too XDD

so, PLAY is the rokkies eh? cant wait to see how they'll interact with riho and so on, as well as what ai has to do with them....

lol yes cus of you im slowly accepting her XD she got bossted up even more last week cus of her not being able to sing that high note on bijou gaku ^^; im sure i'll grow to love her over time ^^

cant wait for more~ X3 i wonder whose vision we'll see next as well as i wonder if we'll see ai mama vision! XD
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [5/3 - Chapter 4: Talk. Play. Love.]
Post by: mode107 on March 05, 2011, 04:58:12 AM
PLAAAY! Though they are the sixth gen (excluding Miki), I find it hilarious picturing them as their own group. I see Reina being the boss bitch of the group.  8)2
Perhaps they were Ai's juniors in school back in the day?
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [5/3 - Chapter 4: Talk. Play. Love.]
Post by: rndmnwierd on March 05, 2011, 05:24:53 AM
Quote
Riho twirled her pen, letting it oscillate around her fingers for a few seconds before catching it deftly

I hate watching people do this. It's so frustrating because I can't *pout*

Quote
*Riho pondering her father*
So he is a real person. He's a real person? He's a real person!  :angry: J/k (mostly) I was kind of hoping for a test tube baby so we wouldn't actually have to bring a random guy into this. There's something so icky about it. :lol: Unless the father is Sanma. Oh, wait, that's more icky. XD Or Tsunku. *barf*

Quote
*6kies as PLAY*
You slay me. :lol: :lol:

Quote
*Ai's knowledge of PLAY*
She knows them? :O Arg! I must know more! There are too many mysteries here! *rolls around*
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [5/3 - Chapter 4: Talk. Play. Love.]
Post by: dark-atrox on March 05, 2011, 11:34:45 AM
woooo...Lovely-mama being evasive and mysterious eh?  :w00t: :w00t: :w00t:

i'm still rooting it was Kono's ingenious way Ai-chan got pregnant...LOL, how's that even possible... :lol: though in author's hand, i know it is  ;)
and, well...i hope it was Gaki, the papa that is... XD XD XD i would jump off the bridge it it was tsunku  :panic:

more usagi cameo  :thumbsup
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [5/3 - Chapter 4: Talk. Play. Love.]
Post by: gracula on March 05, 2011, 04:40:13 PM
[nego]My bride price for your Sayu- it can be arranged. Name it. (I hear crack is a good currency nowadays. Or I could give up booze for Lent or something.) [/nego]

And now, my two-cents on the latest chapter:-

It was nice to see Riho behaving like the little girl she really is, wondering about her papa. Ai-chan is written perfectly like the single, somewhat struggling mother she is who just really wants the best for her daughter. It must be both worrying and painful for a young girl to realise that your mother is just human after all. T(w)eens usually respond with annoyance but Riho has a good head on her shoulders- a little too perfect, maybe? (to reference something I read in one of the threads?)

Quote
"And yet, the first person she has to meet is her, of all people..."
Sayu = Riho's papa.

But wait, we won't get to see any sekuhara defiling 'special' interaction happen. Or we would and my already non-existant morals will take another plummet. Oh well. There already is a special place waiting for people like me and my handbasket is prepped and ready, so that shouldn't matter so much.

Sayu was breathing heavily, catching her breath from the sprint up to the narrow dais Riho was hanging off on. Reaching a tentative hand towards the girl, she said in a remarkably clear and low tone, "Riho... I am your Father."

"Noooo!" Riho shrank away from the words as though they physically impacted against her psyche. She released her precarious hold on the railing of the dais and plummeted down into oblivion.


PLAAAY! Though they are the sixth gen (excluding Miki), I find it hilarious picturing them as their own group. I see Reina being the boss bitch of the group.  8)2
Perhaps they were Ai's juniors in school back in the day?

Did someone say "Miki" on this thread? Oh no they din't. Oh god, why? Why would you say something like that? Now my mind is running amok with TakaMiki scenarios.

Quote
*Riho pondering her father*
So he is a real person. He's a real person? He's a real person!  :angry: J/k (mostly) I was kind of hoping for a test tube baby so we would actually have to bring a random guy into this. There's something so icky about it. :lol: Unless the father is Sanma. Oh, wait, that's more icky. XD Or Tsunku. *barf*
Why does it have to be a guy?  :? This is fanfic.
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [5/3 - Chapter 4: Talk. Play. Love.]
Post by: rndmnwierd on March 05, 2011, 05:07:44 PM
After reading grac's reply, I feel like it needs a response. :lol: :lol:

Quote
Sayu was breathing heavily, catching her breath from the sprint up to the narrow dais Riho was hanging off on. Reaching a tentative hand towards the girl, she said in a remarkably clear and low tone, "Riho... I am your Father."

"Noooo!" Riho shrank away from the words as though they physically impacted against her psyche. She released her precarious hold on the railing of the dais and plummeted down into oblivion.

Star Wars FTW 8)

Quote
Did someone say "Miki" on this thread? Oh no they din't. Oh god, why? Why would you say something like that? Now my mind is running amok with TakaMiki scenarios.
Miki=Riho's Papa?

Quote
Why does it have to be a guy?  :? This is fanfic.
But... Ai said that... Babies come from... Was she in love with the test tube? :lol: Really. I'd like to see the explanation for getting pregnant from a girl-... *remembers Ai warning Riho about KonKon* Holy COW! :shocked
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [5/3 - Chapter 4: Talk. Play. Love.]
Post by: gracula on March 05, 2011, 05:15:15 PM
^ I see we have absolutely forgotten my gross speculations in the earlier chapters, and I will refrain from repeating them here for fear of getting banned from this fic forever.

(Hint: It starts with an 'F' and ends with 'utanari')

*grac thumps chest and nods self-indulgently* I know my ecchi, too, Rndy.

(Sorry for spamming your thread, Essy.)
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [5/3 - Chapter 4: Talk. Play. Love.]
Post by: mmsuki on March 06, 2011, 07:03:05 AM
^ i haven't..  :P because i have the same assumption as eruchan:
Quote from: eruchan
Maybe the one of the rokkies is riho's father?
more particularly Reina.. seriously your assumption #2 popped into my mind.. and now i'm just trying to erase that image..  :nervous :pen_cry:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [5/3 - Chapter 4: Talk. Play. Love.]
Post by: rndmnwierd on March 07, 2011, 06:01:13 AM
Quote
I see we have absolutely forgotten my gross speculations in the earlier chapters, and I will refrain from repeating them here for fear of getting banned from this fic forever.
Yes, it was forgotten. :lol: Now you threaten to explode my head, not because it's gross, but because I didn't think about that. :lol: Also, you're giving me bad ideas. Ala "Da Man". XD

Quote
*grac thumps chest and nods self-indulgently* I know my ecchi, too, Rndy.
:lol: Don't have to prove yourself to me. :P I'm not the ecchi master or anything. Just a perv with a penchant for wordy sex(or pron without plot).
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [5/3 - Chapter 4: Talk. Play. Love.]
Post by: Estrea on March 09, 2011, 07:00:17 PM
I'm back! I'm tired! I'm still doing comment replies. Wth. XD


Kuji: I enjoy giving you headaches. You know it. ;) I refuse to answer your speculations because I know it will Frustrate You. So there. :P

aussie: Thanks. :D I'm glad you can appreciate my characters even if you don't really care about them to begin with! That means I'm doing something right. :) Mama Taka truly is awesome. :D As for AiRokkies? We'll see what their relationship is with each other, if there is one. :P And I like the group name for the Rokkies too!

eruchan: Yup, Riho is now in the same agency. Hurhur. Riho likes Eri cos Eri is the best dancer of the trio. ;) As for Riho's father, well, you'll find out when you find out! :D

kawaii: Yeah I was writing Riho's point of view from my own perspective as someone growing up in a single parent family. I guess people like us all have similar feelings even if our situation isn't always exactly the same. And yeah, Riho got more endearing when it's revealed that she's not superhuman after all! XD Her weakness at the high notes makes me like her more. :heart:

mode107: Reina being the boss bitch? Anything is possible. XD Well Rokkies would be the right age...who knows?

rndy: Oh, you and grac. Spamming mah thread. Not that I mind. You two are hilarious. XD And lmao at your horror that the father might be Sanma or Tsunku. :lol: That's just...disturbing. Though, I might just omake it for the sake of horrifying you. Hurhur.

dark-atrox: Another person who wants Gaki as papa. I should make a poll. :lol: That just makes me want to write an omake where Tsunku is Riho's dad...XD Don't make me do it!

drac: You. YOU. I was only beginning to erase the unwanted images your GROSS SPECULATIONS had evoked. You just had to bring it up again. Bad grac. Baaaad. :/ And as for a suitable bride price for Sayu, I demand that you write an AiRokkies story for me. Crack is fine. Perv is better. If you somehow mix the two, I'll give you a cameo in MSF. A good one. Really. XD And on to your comment!
I'm glad you like how Riho was portrayed. She's really sensible for her age, and it could happen. As for you heading to hell, well, you'll be in good company for sure. XD I'm pretty sure we'll be in the same neighbourhood once more. :P Also, Star Wars LOL. It seems like I'll never escape that particular comparison...

mmsuki: Great, everyone is thinking of grac's horrible speculations. This is bad. Whatever shall I do??? XD


Ok time to edit and post quickly because I need to crash to bed quickly.
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [5/3 - Chapter 4: Talk. Play. Love.]
Post by: Estrea on March 09, 2011, 07:07:29 PM
Unfaithful


For the first time in her life, Riho felt like being young was not such a good thing after all.

She tried, really. This was about her future, and she felt like she had to be involved. It was not like she lacked effort or will. It was just that these things were totally incomprehensible, and her eyes had pretty much begun to glaze over after the first paragraph.

Contracts. Always such a pain to read, regardless of age. The latter fact of which she would learn only about ten years down the road. But at the tender age of twelve, our favourite little girl could only stare wide-eyed at this glimpse into the adult world.

Though legalese alone do not an adult maketh, but nevertheless, Riho was very impressed by how her Mama was handling things. Naturally, as her parent, Ai had come along to handle the paperwork and other niceties involving the contractual obligations of her daughter with regards to the company.

Given ample coaching and warnings from a veteran of the industry (Makoto), Ai knew what to do, or more importantly, what not to do. This was about her daughter. Ai was not going to be some kind of wilting flower or a doormat. Though it might be somewhat unladylike to be so, she had thus far been almost aggressively domineering in the negotiations, trying to make sure that Riho had the best deal possible.

The better part of the morning and early afternoon was spent hammering out the final details. Given how the company was willing to train and groom Riho into a star, they had suggested that she move to Tokyo instead of remaining in their hometown in the countryside. Of course, they would provide the necessary stipend for the mother and daughter to live modestly in the city.

Ai had wrangled for a good long while on what defined 'necessary'. Through sheer tenacity, she had managed to secure a decent stipend, with certain conditions attached, naturally. All in all, Ai thought she did pretty well on that deal. Riho seemed to think so as well, even though she couldn't possibly know any better.

Then there was the matter of transferring schools. The company had offered to help speed through the formalities and enroll Riho in a school near to their offices. Ai had agreed on that. The question of school had weighed heavily on her mind, but this arrangement suited her perfectly. She did not want Riho to have an incomplete education, even if she did well in this industry. It simply would not do for her to grow up as an uneducated ninny.

Riho had fallen asleep in her lap about midway through the negotiations. Ai couldn't blame her. They had taken a sleeper train to reach Tokyo in the early morning for this meeting. Riho had not slept particularly well, so it was perfectly natural to be lulled to sleep by a conversation that held so much for her yet meant so little at the same time.

There were so many things to do, and Ai felt a little intimidated by them, even as she was energized by the thought of keeping so many details in her head. She always enjoyed a challenge, and this would be a new phase in both their lives. Riho had seemed excited after waking up to see her Mama finalizing the last details on the contract.

The handshake sealed the contract just as surely as the signature on it did. They stood, with the manager towered over Ai by more than a head, but she stood no less proudly. Riho, at her side, seemed smaller even than her Mama, but she too was poised and brimming with excitement.

"I look forward to working with you, Takahashi-san. And you too, Riho-chan." He had a calm, professional sort of smile. It was impersonal yet managing to be friendly. It was the kind of smile that reassured people without getting too involved. Ai liked the look of that. Working with professionals always made her feel better.

"My daughter will be in your care. I look forward to it as well." Ai was no less diplomatic. Beside her, Riho was just as politely formal. If nothing else, Ai had always been very precise about courtesy, drilling social etiquette into her daugher from a young age.

They left the meeting room, though the nice manager begged their leave to deal with the paperwork not long after. So mother and daughter were left alone, with Riho looking all around at the various doors leading off the dreary grey hallways with avid fascination.

Ai, on the other hand, couldn't wait to get out of the building. Now that her official engagement was done, she wanted to leave before getting into trouble.

Unfortunately, it was not quite to be.

"Mama! That's Michishige-san!" Riho gawked happily. Well, she was not actually too surprised by the appearance of the (self-proclaimed) ichiban kawaii woman, but Riho was still kind of in awe of the woman's celebrity status.

The mere mention of her name seemed sufficient to draw the attention of one Michishige Sayumi. She was not for nothing one of the more narcissistic people in an industry dedicated to the worship of personality and self. Her impeccable self-awareness and omni-sense of her surroundings had served her well in her years in this unforgiving industry.

So, on hearing her name, she had turned. She saw Riho. And her thoughts exploded into a kaleidescopic whirlpool of joy. If forced to put into words the summary of her ecstatic internal outburst, it could perhaps be put so:

Kawaii! OMG! She's here! Must pounce!

Outwardly though, she merely flashed her most photogenic smile, the wattage of which could probably power a small town in Hokkaido through a long winter. It was amazing that no one in the general vicinity was blinded. Well, her companion was wearing shades, which might have shielded her from the effect. Though, judging from that surly scowl, the slight figure next to her was blatantly unimpressed.

Riho grinned and ducked her head in an approximation of a bow from distance, since Sayumi was basically on the other end of the hallway and it would be weird for her to bow properly. Ai, on the other hand, twitched at the sight of the two members of PLAY that had suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Of all the times in the world for them to show up!

"Let's go, Riho." Ai managed to keep her voice even, though it was a little tight. Riho turned to her with a curious expression.

"But Mama, Michishige-san is already coming over..."

Ai looked up. Crap, she really was. Sayumi was not bouncing, not literally. She was not quite running, but not quite walking. There was definite spring to her step. If there was any word to describe how she was moving, there could only be one. She pranced.

Behind her, Tanaka Reina did not follow her. Instead, she turned on her heel and stalked off. She did not prance. Ai breathed a little easier when the ball of scowl-shine vanished. However, that did not erase the worry lines from her face. Because of a certain someone still prancing over.

How a 26-going-on-27 year old woman could prance and pull it off was completely beyond the 30-in-6-months Ai, but she was pretty sure that running right now would be a tad too late. Not to mention deadly suspicious.

She managed to smile when the taller woman flounced to a stop before them. She even managed to make it look genuine. It might have been 10 years since she last acted formally, but Ai had hardly forgotten how it was to slip into another role. In a way, she had spent most of her life pretending to be someone else.

"Ah, Riho-chan is it? I heard you were joining us at the agency!" Sayumi enthused happily, reaching out to shake Riho's hand in congratulations. The tiny little girl returned the gesture nervously, her smile just a little fixed. She looked like the proverbial deer caught in the headlights. It was not every day that a celebrity actually remembers your name because she saw you at an audition, and even less common for them to take an interest in you.

Still, she handled herself well. Bowing a little shakily (Ai had to subtly pull her back to keep her from tripping on her own feet), Riho stood straight and smiled winningly.

"Hai. From now on I'll be in your care! Pleased to meet you!"

Sayumi flushed and muttered something that sounded like 'socutemusthave' under her breath, though she hid that moment with another flash of her pearly whites. Her attention then drifted over to the nonchalant Ai, who was trying valiantly to fade into the wallpaper without moving an inch away from her daughter. She might even have succeeded had she actually elected to leave her daughter to her fate. Unfortunately, being a good mother and staying exactly she was meant that she would have to deal with this interloper.

"Ah, and this is...?" Sayumi tilted her head cutely, trying to get a read on Ai. Ai resisted the urge to mirror the scowl she had seen just earlier. She also resisted the urge to steal the mirror she knew Sayu always had on her. Checking for wrinkles was not a vain action, damnit. Was it so bad to not want to look old?

"Your sister, maybe?" Sayumi tried. She had a look of vague confusion on her face, as if trying to place a name and location to a familiar face. Ai wanted to turn away. To laugh or cry, she wasn't sure. Maybe both. That sounded good.

"Nope!" Riho clung to Ai's arm happily. "This is my Mama!" She sounded so very proud.

Ai wanted to cry. She wasn't sure why.

"Your mama? But she looks so young!" Sayumi looked justifiably flabbergasted. There was now a dawning expression of suspicion mixed in with a generous amount of misgiving.

"That's because Mama is young!" Riho looked like a kitten that had gotten both the canary and the cream. In tandem. Her beaming smile was probably no less than the one Sayumi had flashed earlier. Yet hers was so very innocent, and probably all the more terrible for it.

"Well." Sayumi smiled, if a little awkwardly. She bowed quickly.

"I'm Michishige Sayumi. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

Ai smiled tightly. There was no real way to get out of this. She would only hope that the years of being a single mother had put enough wear and tear on her to let her pass unnoticed. Or maybe her short hair would do the trick. Personally, she was surprised it had gone on for as long as it had.

"I'm Takahashi Ai. Pleased to meet you too."

There was a very noticeable flinch at her name. Ai's smile remained fixed, though now a great deal more wan. Fortunately, Sayu was a consummate professional and recovered from her moment of shock in double-time, pasting on a serviceable smile.

"It is my pleasure too, Takahashi...san."

Sayu then turned to smile just as falsely to the still unaware Riho.

"Riho-chan, do you want to see Reina too? I noticed you put PLAY as your favourite group on your info sheet, and since you've already met me..."

"Is that really ok?" Riho looked boggled by the idea. Sayumi smiled benignly.

"Of course!" She glanced over her shoulder. "Reina's probably in the third door on the left after the right corner. That's kind of a rest lounge for us. You can go in and talk to her if you like."

"But..." Riho looked uncertain, then glanced over at Ai. Ai's jaw was clenched tightly, but she managed a warm look for her daughter.

"Go ahead if you want to." There was a strange kind of wistfulness in her expression as she turned back to level a stare at the evil bunny before her. Sayumi was not quite smirking, but it was definitely there if you knew what to look for.

"Then..." Riho bowed again, more smoothly this time. "I'll be going!" She skidded off a few feet, then paused. "I'll be right back, Mama!"

Sayumi was watching with an amused expression at the display. Ai had mixed feelings about the whole situation. She knew that Sayu had done that just to get Riho out of the way. There was no doubt that the woman had remembered. Ai could only hope that this encounter wouldn't be too painful.

"So, imagine seeing you here, Takahashi-senpai."

Ai swallowed. That had all the venom of a scorpion and the chill of winter. So her vicious little bunny had grown fangs and claws in addition to her painfully sharp wit. This could not bode well.

To her credit, Ai didn't even back down or flinch, despite her discomfort at the situation. Staring Sayu straight back in the eye, her voice was even as she replied.

"It's been a while, Sayu."


=================================================



So. Tired. Must wake up early.

*crawls into bed*
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [10/3 - Chapter 5: Unfaithful]
Post by: eruchan on March 09, 2011, 07:42:32 PM
An update! :D
Well... Looks like Ai indeed know PLAY members personally.. Maybe she was their senpai in highschool? Since Sayu called her senpai XD
Looks like Sayu isn't so fond of her.. She might held some grudge against Ai... Perhaps Ai was her or the other PLAY member ex-gf until she got pregnant? Just some speculation XD
But it looks like Sayu didn't know that Ai has a daughter...
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [10/3 - Chapter 5: Unfaithful]
Post by: aussie on March 09, 2011, 08:03:48 PM
Ah, so they meet. And there is indeed a history between the 6kkies and Ai. And Sayu isn't quite so thrilled to see Ai again. It doesn't sound like there was animosity from the past, but something happened (maybe even misunderstanding?) and Sayu is holding this massive grudge against her senpai. Very curious (if this theory is right, that is XD), if it had something to do with her or if it involved one of her friends, ie. one of the remaining two members of PLAY. Though not sure if Eri will eventually become a part of this story?

Was Ai more nervous to meet Reina or Sayu again? I mean, she was very glad that she got to push back a reunion with the "ball of scowl-shine" XD
Can't wait till the meeting with the not-so-friendly kitten.

I sense fireworks in the rest lounge :lol: Riho sounds like she will be fine though, or maybe her Mama will have to come and rescue her.....



Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [10/3 - Chapter 5: Unfaithful]
Post by: kawaii beam on March 09, 2011, 08:13:35 PM
yeah^^ im sure we all had those thoughts, and yes riho is making me like her with the ability not to hit highnotes XD now to the chappy!

the whole sayux rihoxmama ai interaction was pretty cute/funny XD sayu in all "must have rhio for my own cus she's so cute" mode and then the image of a 26 yr old sayu bopping like that? XD :rofl: then ai's total dread and all as she came closer and then wanting to cry when riho just innocently burtls out that she IS young XD all for sayu to be hella shocked that its THE ai-chan. plus takahashi-senpai?! is it the "highschool" senpai or the "practice for debut of idol" senpai??? ah~ so many questions~!!!!
 :panic:

update soon ne? :deco:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [10/3 - Chapter 5: Unfaithful]
Post by: mode107 on March 09, 2011, 08:49:02 PM
Hmm, I wonder what grudge Sayu holds. PLAY does have four letters; was Ai a former member?
Or maybe it's not a grudge; Sayu's just upset that she didn't give birth to a daugther as cute as Riho. :P
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [10/3 - Chapter 5: Unfaithful]
Post by: rokun on March 09, 2011, 09:19:20 PM
Ah Riho and her struggles with "adult" paperwork. :lol: Another reference to reality I see there. Those Japanese (or Asians in general? ah Chinese cultural heritage...) and their penchant for paperwork!

I'm very worried about Riho going to speak with Reina alone, even if just at first. :lol: Reina looked to be biting nails before, and seeing this little whelp come right up to her I don't imagine would do wonders for her mood. :lol: This is certainly a time for Riho's vaunted formality to shine!!! She'll need all she can get for that encounter.

I'm curious what you'll do with the next chapter. There seem to be two separate events going on right now - 1. Ai's confrontation with Sayu and 2. Riho's with Reina. :lol: Wonder if you'll artfully choreograph it all together somehow. :D

I wanna see the (smaller) Takahashi family's new house!!! :w00t:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [10/3 - Chapter 5: Unfaithful]
Post by: shenlog on March 09, 2011, 11:02:57 PM
Why ending chapter in this crucial moment ??  :angry: :angry: :panic:
I want to know what's gonna happen between Sayu and Ai and what happened in the past  :panic:

Sorry for my little spaz attack   :nervous
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [5/3 - Chapter 4: Talk. Play. Love.]
Post by: gracula on March 10, 2011, 04:37:57 AM
Oh, story progression!! Block quoting! (don't think I've done this on your stories yet)

I'm not twelve and my eyes still glaze over at important paperwork. Especially when someone talks about insurance. It just won't input.

It simply would not do for her to grow up as an uneducated ninny.

I want a T-shirt that says uneducated ninny.

Quote
So, on hearing her name, she had turned. She saw Riho. And her thoughts exploded into a kaleidescopic whirlpool of joy. If forced to put into words the summary of her ecstatic internal outburst, it could perhaps be put so:

Kawaii! OMG! She's here! Must pounce!

Outwardly though, she merely flashed her most photogenic smile, the wattage of which could probably power a small town in Hokkaido through a long winter. It was amazing that no one in the general vicinity was blinded.

Oh, I so know the feeling. Excellent control, Sayu (as befits my future bride).

Quote
How a 26-going-on-27 year old woman could prance and pull it off was completely beyond the 30-in-6-months Ai, but she was pretty sure that running right now would be a tad too late. Not to mention deadly suspicious.

All that tension building with the impending encounter and this was what Ai was thinking about? Wondering how Sayu could be flouncing at her age?


Quote
Still, she handled herself well. Bowing a little shakily (Ai had to subtly pull her back to keep her from tripping on her own feet), Riho stood straight and smiled winningly.

"Hai. From now on I'll be in your care! Pleased to meet you!"

SOCUTEMUSTHAVE! Moeee~

Quote
She also resisted the urge to steal the mirror she knew Sayu always had on her. Checking for wrinkles was not a vain action, damnit. Was it so bad to not want to look old?
Ai knows Sayu well.

Quote
"So, imagine seeing you here, Takahashi-senpai."

Ai swallowed. That had all the venom of a scorpion and the chill of winter. So her vicious little bunny had grown fangs and claws in addition to her painfully sharp wit. This could not bode well.

To her credit, Ai didn't even back down or flinch, despite her discomfort at the situation. Staring Sayu straight back in the eye, her voice was even as she replied.

"It's been a while, Sayu."

A tumbleweed rolled past them and Ai spared a moment to wonder where the hell it came from. No matter, she dismissed it quickly, focusing on the face-off with her baby daddy.

 :lol: Okay, okay- I'll stop speculating. Just couldn't resist.

It really has been a while, hasn't it? I'll assume Ai had Riho at 18/19, and since Ai had not seen Sayu since then, would make Sayu about 15/16. Hmmm. Interesting.

-----

And I will meet your bride price, I swear. In fact, I tried writing a perv that day and somehow, crack crept into the picture and the pron went awry.
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [10/3 - Chapter 5: Unfaithful]
Post by: dark-atrox on March 10, 2011, 02:00:52 PM
and so they've met! the ebil usagi and Lovely-mama,  :lol:
now, i'm more curious as to what's their past  :twisted:
PLAY are the rokkies right? Is Miki-sama included?  XD

PS: Still rooting for Gaki-papa :P
ah...and more appearance of the ebil bunny  :twisted:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [10/3 - Chapter 5: Unfaithful]
Post by: Kuji on March 10, 2011, 03:08:25 PM
Ah... this story is making me want Sayu to be the mystery parent more and more. D: Even though I was on the TakaGaki side in the beginning. I want her to fulfil her SOCUTEMUSTHAVE feelings. Though I dread the resulting NO WONDER SHE'S SO CUTE, SHE'S PART ME! that would come out of that.

Ai was totally Sayu's senpai in idol school. You know, she was that one who was voted most likely to succeed as super duper singer/idol/actress and adored by her underclassmen but ultimately disappoints them so they resent her for it.... OR SOMETHING.

I WANT TO SEE MIZUKI!

Also, as much as I love Miki, I don't want her as a member of PLAY I want her as Eri's skin doctor because that would give her lots of excuses to molest her. I like the idea of a TanaShige band... in fact, their new ship name should be PLAY because I like the implications. :P
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [10/3 - Chapter 5: Unfaithful]
Post by: rndmnwierd on March 10, 2011, 07:50:35 PM
Quote
For the first time in her life, Riho felt like being young was not such a good thing after all.
Paperwork. Bleh. I still let my Mama handle that crap. *Looks at taxes* Then again, I probably couldn't pay her to do these this year. XD

Quote
This was about her daughter. Ai was not going to be some kind of wilting flower or a doormat.
:wub: :wub: Strong Ai...

Quote
Riho had fallen asleep in her lap about midway through the negotiations.
Daww~! :wub:

Quote
And her thoughts exploded into a kaleidescopic whirlpool of joy.
Sayu. :lol:

Quote
"But Mama, Michishige-san is already coming over..."
Not going to end well. :P

Quote
How a 26-going-on-27 year old woman could prance and pull it off was completely beyond the 30-in-6-months Ai, but she was pretty sure that running right now would be a tad too late. Not to mention deadly suspicious.
First of all, feeling her age much? Second, I had an image of Ai fleeing in the same way Prince Gaki runs away from discussing the ball in Cinderella. :lol:

Quote
Ai wanted to cry. She wasn't sure why.
Why is this so funny? :lol:

Quote
"It's been a while, Sayu."
Let's do this. 8)

Sorry for my late reply. I just got Dragon Age II, baby! It's as awesome as advertised and I totally dig the Qunari overhaul. You must get it, too~! :inlove: Okay, I'll stop. XD

On another note, grac continues to crack me up. :lol:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [10/3 - Chapter 5: Unfaithful]
Post by: Shiawase_Honoo on March 11, 2011, 06:58:12 PM
Well, I guess that Ai has known PLAY personally.
But I want to know more :(
So I'll wait for the next chap :twothumbs

P.S. Riho's kitten expression is so cute :wub:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [10/3 - Chapter 5: Unfaithful]
Post by: oddball on March 13, 2011, 07:30:35 PM
Poor Riho and her battles with the paperwork  :doh:

Hmm  too think that paerhaps Ai may know PLAY quite personally, well I suppose we shall see......
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [5/3 - Chapter 4: Talk. Play. Love.]
Post by: mmsuki on March 15, 2011, 02:02:10 AM
mmsuki: Great, everyone is thinking of grac's horrible speculations. This is bad. Whatever shall I do??? XD
until you actually reveal it on the story.. those speculations is stuck with me.. :banghead: :sweatdrop:

Unfaithful

Quote
Though legalese alone do not an adult maketh,
it took me a couple of seconds before i could read further as i was laughing so hard..  :rofl: *remembers what i said in the other thread* :nervous

Quote
"Riho-chan, do you want to see Reina too? I noticed you put PLAY as your favourite group on your info sheet, and since you've already met me..."
Sayu is so conniving.. :twisted: just what exactly is she plotting..  :?

hmmmm.. can't wait for the revelation(s).. :grin: :twothumbs
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [10/3 - Chapter 5: Unfaithful]
Post by: Estrea on March 29, 2011, 08:59:31 PM
*rubs eyes* Tired. But back! With comment replies!

eruchan: Yes, Ai does know them, but how? We'll find out. Eventually. XD And yes, Sayu does seem a little hostile, doesn't she? XD We'll see how that turns out~

aussie: I like your theories. I can't really say much without spoiling stuff, so yup. XD Ai didn't want to meet PLAY at all, but well, a bit too late for that. XD

kawaii: Sayu makes this story fun. XD I love writing her in general. And it's normal to have questions, it's an Essy story! :lol:

mode107: Interesting theory. XD

rokun: I love my references to reality. :P Well you get to see the Reina/Riho meeting here, I hope it doesn't disappoint you, because you know, I've been kinda out of it for the past couple of weeks. Not at my best here...

shenlog: I love my cliffhangers. :P And welcome aboard! Hope to see you around. :D

drac: Block quoting! XD And yes, important paperwork has that effect on people. That's why we have lawyers. They create a need for them. >_> And I love your speculations. :P Despite the strange mental images they evoke at times. :lol: Figures you start counting the ages... :P Well until you cough up the bride price, Sayu will remain very much single and out of reach. :P

dark-atrox: AiSayu past should be fun. When I get there. :P Lol you still on the Gaki-papa bandwagon? XD At least someone else already jumped ship...

Kuji: Hi, person-who-jumped-ship! XD I hope your presentation goes well. Somehow the idea of Sayu fulfilling her SOCUTEMUSTHAVE feelings is, well, it could go either way. The perverted grac way, or the I AM YOUR FATHER way. Or I could somehow combine the two, and doom us all to hell for writing/reading it. XD I like your ideas. I'll think about them. :P And don't make me write TanaShige, find another shipper who will. :P

rndy: I hate paperwork too. XD The whole AiSayu debacle is just hilarious. And no problem about late replies, hell, this update took some time! I haven't got DA2 yet, probably not anytime soon. I need a new job haha, before I get it. And yes, grac continues to crack me up too. XD

Shiawase_Honoo: Yeah, it does seem like Ai knows PLAY personally. XD And yes, Riho is much love. :heart:

oddball: Yup, taking things one step at a time~ Hurhur. *is ebil author*

mmsuki: Yes, I wrote it that way for a reason. I'm glad you appreciate the humor. XD Sayu is conniving, and I love her for it. :wub:


Alright, time to edit and post. I'm not completely satisfied with the chapter, but my head's been kinda off for a while, and it was hard to write. Fingers crossed!
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [10/3 - Chapter 5: Unfaithful]
Post by: Estrea on March 29, 2011, 09:12:25 PM
Connect


Tanaka Reina was annoyed.

The folder she had brought into the meeting lay where she had tossed it upon entering the room, halfway across the low coffee table in front of her. It had only been brought to a stop after hitting the basket of flowers in the middle, sending the floral arrangement into disarray.

Reina was not quite sulking as she stared balefully through her sunglasses. She was fuming, which was a step down from utterly furious. Her temper had not improved with age; it had only become more focused, more intense. She might be less likely to throw a tantrum now, but she definitely knew how to hold a grudge.

If strangling her long-time partner were an option now, Reina might have taken it. While she got along just fine with Sayu most days, there were times when she would have gleefully stabbed the woman using the shards of her own mirror.

The meeting earlier had truly tested her patience. Reina knew Sayu meant well when she suggested that she took a break, but Reina could not help but feel incredibly offended nonetheless. Yes, PLAY was on hiatus, but they still had their own activities.

Well, Sayu was the more busy of the two, given that she was a regular on many shows. Reina had fewer appearances compared to the evil bunny, but she had never begrudged Sayu that attention. After all, everyone knew who the real talent behind PLAY was. Reina knew she was the vocal backbone of their group, and Eri had been right there beside her. Sayu was pretty much the third wheel talent-wise, but she did bring a vivacious personality with her into the mix.

Other than that though, Reina didn't get it. Why was Sayu doing better than she was now that PLAY was on a break? It kinda pissed her off. PLAY was her baby, in a sense. She had asked Sayu to tag along out of family feeling, but she was regretting that right now.

Not many people knew Tanaka Reina and Michishige Sayumi were actually related, and Reina preferred to keep it that way. They were only second cousins, and would never have reconnected had Reina not transferred to a different junior high school back then.

While revealing the connection might be good PR now, it certainly wouldn't really have been beneficial back then. Not that Reina was interested in acknowledging her narcissistic cousin in public any time soon, at least not until she got over the whole being angry thing.

A flicker of movement caught her eye, and the cat-like (former) idol jerked sharply. Did the handle of the door move? But the door was not being opened. Reina prided herself on having keen senses. She knew she had seen something.

Then again, she was in the higher floors of the building, and unless a stalker miraculously made their way past security at the bottom, she doubted anyone with ulterior motives would be lurking out there. Unless she was getting punk'd, which would be a refreshing change. Either way, it would not be life-threatening, so she relaxed.

A moment later, the door did creak open. Hesitantly. Reina raised an eyebrow. Sayu would not do that. Neither would her manager. Maybe one of the juniors, but they didn't necessarily know that she was in here, so there was no reason for the excessive caution.

A tiny head, followed by an equally tiny figure, slipped in with a hushed "shitsureshimasu". Reina did not move, confident that her studying gaze was being hidden behind her huge shades. The stranger was...small. Smaller than her. That was rare.

Then again, the girl was a kid. Just another brat. Reina mentally dismissed the entry. Probably just another newbie. She could barely keep track of all the brats running around the building like they owned the place. If she recognized the irony of that thought, she chose not to acknowledge it.

The kid was not going away. Reina noticed this a few minutes later after glancing up from her phone. She had pulled it out to distract herself earlier. Granted, this was not exactly a private lounge. Anyone from staff to artistes could use this area. Still, having the kid primly take a seat directly across from her and then do nothing in eerie silence was somehow unsettling.

That and the kid was watching her. Reina could feel it. It wasn't obvious, she had to give the brat some credit. With her hands folded neatly on her lap, the kid looked like the perfect little girl. She did not look lost either, so Reina couldn't just send her away on the pretext of 'helping' her to find her way.

"Was there something?" Reina asked testily, finally breaking the enforced silence after another few awkward minutes. The kid, to her credit, did not visibly flinch. Most newbies were a lot jumpier around her. Reina wondered why. She didn't bite...much.

The girl did not quite leap to her feet, but she got up pretty fast. Bowing at the precisely correct angle, the girl looked straight at her (but not in the eye, that would be rude -- assuming she could have seen her eyes through the shades) and spoke.

"It's an honour to finally meet you, Tanaka-san." She did not fawn. She did not sound like she was going to faint. Every word came out precisely, almost rehearsed, but not quite. There was a ring of sincerity to them, so they did not sound false. It was deferent and it was respectful.

In short, it did not ruffle Reina's feathers. She leaned back into her seat, barely raising her head to acknowledge the greeting.

"I am new to the business and I hope to be able to learn from you in the future, Tanaka-san." Another small bow. Reina barely nodded. At least the brat knew her manners. Even if she sounded kind of like a robot. Reina turned her attention back to her phone. The kid wasn't worth her time.

Pause. A tiny hiccup of silence as the runt obviously wondered what else to say. Reina couldn't help the small smirk that curved her lips, but the downward angle of her head kept it from being too obvious. She had to give the kid credit for maintaining her cool and not showing any nervousness. That was promising at least.

"I'll leave you to your work then. Pardon me if I've disturbed you." Another bow. Reina liked how polite she was, but the constant bowing was a little, well, she didn't know what to think. On one hand, she was flattered. On the other, she had the feeling that the kid was prodding her with a figurative ten-foot pole of formality. It left her wondering if she should be annoyed.

Before the kid could vanish entirely though, the door opened again. An all-too-familiar balding head poked into the room, the wire-rimmed glasses slipping down the too-big nose that Reina always had to suppress the urge to press. Repeatedly. Or poke something, preferably sharp and pointy, into.

Don't ask her why. Impulses are hard to explain.

"Ah there you are Tanaka." The slightly pudgy man slipped into the room, his suit immaculate as always. "Moriya-san told me you were still around the area."

"What the hell do you want, old man?" Reina affected a lazy drawl, but she was smiling. Annoying as the man could be at times, she was still quite fond of him. He was her first manager when she started out in the industry, and without his fussy correctness she would have made many missteps early on. Granted, she still made some of them, but he always minimized the damage.

Sasaki Hiro might be a little absent-minded and fussier than a nanny, but he was reliable in a pinch, and one of the few people Reina knew in this line of business who always played fair. She respected him, despite her irreverent manner.

"There was something...ah." He seemed to finally take note of the third person in the room. He glanced back down at his file, then back up, before beaming.

"You must be Takahashi Riho-chan, yes?" He stepped closer to her. "I'm Sasaki Hiro, your soon-to-be manager, of sorts. Well, I just take care of all the new kids, until you're ready to debut."

Riho blinked at him, but managed to reply. "Nice to meet you..."

Sasaki chuckled. "Sorry if I'm a little abrupt, we're supposed to meet at a later date, officially. Not that it really matters either way, but protocol must be observed, as I keep trying to teach a certain person..."

"Sasaki, I'm still here." Reina growled. Riho managed to not giggle, but she had to move her hand to hide her smile. Reina caught the motion and scowled, and the kid quickly put on a blank expression. Despite herself, Reina felt slightly impressed, though she kept the scowl on for good measure.

"Yes Tanaka, as if I could forget." Sasaki was the picture of calm, even when dealing with a bratty Reina back in the day. It is now 10 years since then, but some things never change.

"But it's good that you're both here right now, so it just saves me the trouble of arranging a meeting." Sasaki breezed on as if nothing had stopped him to begin with. He had a remarkable singlemindedness at times.

"Oh?" Reina moved her shades down, peering suspiciously over the rims. She could not imagine why she would need to meet some new kid, unless they had to work together or something. But this brat had not even made her debut yet, so why...

"I was talking it over with Moriya-san earlier, and she agrees with me." He pinned Reina with a firm look. "You need a new challenge Tanaka. You're getting too comfortable."

"What?" To her credit, Reina managed to not sound shrill. The nails of her left hand were digging into the fabric of the sofa. Riho looked on with slight amusement, though she knew better than to let it show.

"You seem a little jaded lately. Moriya-san thinks you need something fresh to work with, and I had the perfect solution." The man looked entirely too pleased. Reina looked like she was going to shred the sofa with her bare hands.

"So I would like to formally introduce you to your new kouhai, Takahashi Riho, who will be shadowing you for a time before she is ready to debut." The normally harmless-seeming man could not have looked more shark-like if he had tried.

"What."

The normally eloquent Reina had no words. Riho, for her part, looked even more boggled than when she had first received her acceptance letter in the mail. There was just the merest hint of terror as she sneaked a peek at the flabbergasted Reina. Both were speechless.

What, indeed.


==============================================================


So I deliberately left the AiSayu talk for another time. XD Can you imagine Sayu's reaction if she found out that Reina got Riho and not her? XD I look forward to that moment. :D


Hurhur. My head hurts. Bedtime!
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [30/3 - Chapter 6: Connect]
Post by: mmsuki on March 30, 2011, 12:25:39 AM
Quote
...there were times when she would have gleefully stabbed the woman using the shards of her own mirror.
:lol: getting gory there Reina..  XD

Quote
Not many people knew Tanaka Reina and Michishige Sayumi were actually related, and Reina preferred to keep it that way. They were only second cousins, and would never have reconnected had Reina not transferred to a different junior high school back then. 
:shocked Ehhhhh?!.. they're related?!..  :O2 i really wanna know what happened in that school..  :nervous

Quote
"So I would like to formally introduce you to your new kouhai, Takahashi Riho, who will be shadowing you for a time before she is ready to debut."
:rofl: YES! Reina-Riho interaction in the future!! (hopefully lots of it.. :lol:)
can't wait for Mommy Dear's reaction and the bunny's as well..  :panic:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [30/3 - Chapter 6: Connect]
Post by: rndmnwierd on March 30, 2011, 04:42:13 AM
Quote
Tanaka Reina was annoyed.
This is more a constant state than an emotion for Reina, I'm already seeing. :lol:

Quote
Her temper had not improved with age; it had only become more focused, more intense.
...Kowaii...

Quote
If strangling her long-time partner were an option now, Reina might have taken it.
Would pay to see this. XD

Quote
there were times when she would have gleefully stabbed the woman using the shards of her own mirror.
Umm, maybe this too. :lol: Brings to mind a psychotically smirking, thought bubble residing Reina stabbing over and over again, while real Reina glares daggers at the bunny across the table, surrounded by managers and staff.

Quote
Yes, PLAY was on hiatus,
Because of Eri?

Quote
Not many people knew Tanaka Reina and Michishige Sayumi were actually related
..Whu?

Quote
Just another brat. Reina mentally dismissed the entry.
Oho, this is gonna end well. :lol: Do not ignore the Riho. There are consequences.

Quote
Still, having the kid primly take a seat directly across from her and then do nothing in eerie silence was somehow unsettling.

That and the kid was watching her.
:lol: :lol:

Quote
Don't ask her why. Impulses are hard to explain.
QFT XD

Quote
"So I would like to formally introduce you to your new kouhai, Takahashi Riho, who will be shadowing you for a time before she is ready to debut."
HAHAHA CAN'T IGNORE HER NOW, CAN YOU??!!  :wahaha: :P

Quote
Can you imagine Sayu's reaction if she found out that Reina got Riho and not her?
Strangle taimu? XD :lol:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [30/3 - Chapter 6: Connect]
Post by: dark-atrox on March 30, 2011, 08:02:05 AM
LOL....well, I could imagine the jealous-look Sayu while looking at Reina and Riho together :lol:
TsundeReina eh?  :P
well, Riho will change that attitude little by little...soon! :twisted:

PS: I like TakaGaki, but unpredictable ebil bunny tugs at my heart XD
So, i want to see Aichan squirm while Sayu tortures her... :twisted:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [30/3 - Chapter 6: Connect]
Post by: oddball on March 30, 2011, 11:20:04 AM
^

I too am looking forward to the Ebil Bunny/ Ai-chan confrontation, should be, er, intresting!  :lol:

Why do I get the feeling that with Riho, Reina may soon get as good as she gives as our little Riho's true character comes out
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [30/3 - Chapter 6: Connect]
Post by: kawaii beam on March 30, 2011, 04:28:15 PM
 :twothumbs :deco: oh my goodness i couldnt stop laughing!

i cant wait for sayu to find out she cant get her riho-chan ^^; XD as well as how reina and riho interact.
of course mama ai's reaction will be just as great X3

sorry for a small comment this time^^; and i cant wait to read more~!
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [30/3 - Chapter 6: Connect]
Post by: Estrea on March 30, 2011, 11:16:11 PM
It's late (or early XD) and I'm not even tired! Hypomania, hello to you too.


mmsuki: Reina can be pretty violent in her mind,isn't she? XD Yes, Reina and Sayu are related in this story. It's just a minor detail that was handy for a few plot points. XD I'm quite interested in Reina's interaction with Riho too, especially since she wasn't really interested in Riho to begin with. XD

rndy: Reina does seem constantly annoyed, doesn't she? Haha. She has good reason to be at that point though, things aren't exactly smooth sailing for her work-wise. She's frustrated and hence easily annoyed. XD And yes, Reina glaring daggers during a meeting would be a pretty good guess in regards to the meeting that Reina and Sayu walked out of earlier. XD And yes, ignoring Riho has consequences. Bad karma. XD Hm, Sayu strangling Reina. That should be interesting...

dark-atrox: Sayu being jealous is a given, she adores Riho. XD And aww don't be mean to Ai. XD Sayu isn't always that bad...maybe...

oddball: Interesting confrontation? Maybe. We'll see. XD And yes, Reina really doesn't know what she's getting into...hurhur. This is going to be fun.

kawaii: I'm glad I amuse you. XD Sayu will throw a fit at not getting Riho. XD That's practically a given. XD Ai's reaction, who knows? XD Well, I do, but that's completely besides the point. :P


Time to edit and post. I had a strike of inspiration so got this chapter out quicker than usual. :D
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [30/3 - Chapter 6: Connect]
Post by: Estrea on March 30, 2011, 11:24:44 PM
A Different You and I



"You look well."

That sounded lame even to her. Ai fought the urge to cringe. Pulled it off too. While every single instinct was telling her to flee right now, she held her ground. She owed the woman before her that much.

"Of course I am, how can I be anything otherwise?" The response was mostly automatic. The carefully cultivated image of self-absorbed narcissism had become a form of reality for our narcissistic bunny. She was confident because she was confident. It fed upon itself, reinforcing her own ego. It was quite the happy cycle.

"You haven't changed much, Sayu." A genuine smile broke the stiff mask. It was only a portion of the truth. In that one thing, Sayu had not changed. In everything else, well, that was to be found out.

"You've changed a lot, Takahashi-senpai." Her tone was neutral, but her eyes had a dark gleam to them.

"It's been a long time..." Ai murmured, shifting her gaze away from her former kouhai's face. They were still in the hallway, but not exactly at the same spot where the bunny had first accosted the mother and daughter. The pair had drifted to stand in front of the emergency exit, where they could have some minor form of privacy, assuming there was any kind of privacy to be had in public.

"That kid..." Sayu began abruptly. "She really is...your daughter?"

"Yes." Ai said quietly. She would not deny that, no matter what anyone said. Riho was her daughter. She would not be ashamed of that fact.

"Then, you left because you had her." Sayu was not dumb. She had made the calculations regarding Riho's age and probable date of conception.

"Yes." Ai had nothing to hide at this stage of the questioning. She had left because she was pregnant with Riho. She had not wanted to deal with the questions then. Now, twelve years down the road, she still didn't really want to deal with them, but some things just couldn't be avoided.

Sayu took a deep breath, as if she was going to say something, then stopped. Her eyes darted around reflexively. Occupational hazard. It wasn't really paranoia when you actually had something to worry about.

There was a moment of silence. The bunny exhaled slowly, as if trying to give herself time to calm down. Ai, for her part, was resigned. She knew that any outburst on Sayu's part would be well deserved. She owed the woman that much.

"Have you ever spared a thought for the people you left behind?"

In the end, it was just that quiet little question that broke her heart. The sudden rush of tears was like the return of a familiar friend. Ai swallowed hollowly, her cheeks hot with something akin to shame. Guilt roiled in her stomach.

She knew her departure would have hurt. She had tried not to think about it then, convinced herself that the decision was for the best. There were too many factors beyond her control, and she felt, no, needed to do something, anything to sort out that mess.

She had to do it. That was the excuse she used to stave away the gnawing sense of guilt, not that it worked very well. No one else had to know. It would be her own problem.

The decision to keep and actually raise Riho on her own had been a difficult one, one that she had taken after a lot of deliberation. She had not discussed it with anyone else. How could she? The only person she could have told was probably Asami, and she did tell her...after she made the decision to keep the baby.

Sayu's little statement almost crumbled her carefully erected walls. She might just have dissolved into a mess of tears, had she been any more fragile. But she was not the same Takahashi Ai that Michishige Sayumi used to know, just like how the Sayu now was a different creature from the girl Ai used to know.

She did not cry, but the question caused her pain. Pain that she could not easily disguise.

The bunny saw it, and felt a stab of something. A familiar emotion.

"I am sorry, Sayu."

Barely above a whisper. Ai was downcast. Sayu reached out instinctively, almost making to grab for Ai's hand, but retracted it at the last moment. The moment hung awkwardly.

"You owe me more than an apology. I think I need some answers."

Sayu said finally, letting her hand fall back to her side. Ai looked up at this, biting her lower lip nervously.

"Not here."

They both understood. Sayu took another step back, so that Ai had some space. So that she had some space. The atmosphere was getting a tad suffocating between them.

"So, what's the father like?"

Ai stiffened slightly, but forced herself to relax. Sayumi watched her closely, but said nothing. Ai's reply was guarded.

"It's just the two of us now."

There was a frown on the bunny's face, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared.

"Oh."

Contrary to popular belief, Sayu really wasn't that mean. She didn't think mocking the woman would be a good idea, or fair, really. Being a single mom could not be an easy feat.

Deciding to change the subject a little, Sayu went on.

"I don't suppose you would want to..."

"No." Ai replied immediately. Then in a smaller voice. "I don't think I can. I'm...not ready."

Sayu steeled her jaw, disapproval creeping into her expression. She could understand Ai's position, but really...

"I'm not the only person you have to apologize to, you know."

"I know."

She knew it only all too well.


================================================================


Short chapter I know, but it was a good place to stop. You didn't think they would have a fullblown talk in the middle of a corridor where any number of other people could be listening in on them, did you? XD I just love planting more questions in the minds of my audience. Hehe.

Well. Should sleep. It's almost dawn. :lol:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [31/3 - Chapter 7: A Different You and I]
Post by: rndmnwierd on March 31, 2011, 12:01:41 AM
What? Another update?! *goes to read* I'm not cheating, really. XD

EDIT:There's so much to quote, here! I almost don't know where to start. :lol:


Quote
"You look well."
Wo~w, that was awkward.

Quote
She would not be ashamed of that fact.
She shouldn't be ashamed, the kid turned out pretty great.

Quote
Her eyes darted around reflexively. Occupational hazard. It wasn't really paranoia when you actually had something to worry about.
I'm not paranoid, they really are out to get me? XD

Quote
The only person she could have told was probably Asami,
This kind of makes me want to pound the wall in a sort of frustrated suspense. I'm still DYING to know the whole story behind this.

Quote
The bunny saw it, and felt a stab of something. A familiar emotion.
Just how close were they?

Quote
Contrary to popular belief, Sayu really wasn't that mean.
I lol'd

Quote
"I don't suppose you would want to..."
See Reina?

Well, you've done a good job of planting more questions, but you've also satisfied me enough that I'm not jumping up and down again.  XD Maybe a little bit. XD
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [31/3 - Chapter 7: A Different You and I]
Post by: mmsuki on March 31, 2011, 01:05:14 AM
Quote from: Estrea
I'm quite interested in Reina's interaction with Riho too, especially since she wasn't really interested in Riho to begin with.  XD
Riho will 'grow' on Reina.. :lol: sounds fun! :P

Quote
She owed the woman that much.
intriguing...  :? how much does she owe Sayu and why..  XD

Quote
"You owe me more than an apology. I think I need some answers." 
we all need answers..  :lol:

Quote
"So, what's the father like?"
so.. there is father??.. LOL..  XD

Quote
"It's just the two of us now."
grrrrrrrr.. Ai-chan could you be more vague..  :smhid i was hoping that Aichan's response would erase the mental image that gracula's assumptions imprinted on my hollow brain..  :lol:

Quote
"I don't suppose you would want to..."
want to??... want to what??  :doh:

Quote
"I'm not the only person you have to apologize to, you know."
i'm just going to assume that the last 2 quotes has something to do with a certain kitten..  XD
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [31/3 - Chapter 7: A Different You and I]
Post by: mode107 on March 31, 2011, 05:09:00 AM
No! you can't stop there *shakes head violently*  But you are right; they can't have a deep conversation in the middle of the corridor. :lol:

But hopefully us readers are getting closer to learning some of the details that we've been dying for.

Rather than Riho's father, I think I'm more interested in the past that Ai had with Sayu + the rest of PLAY.

Speaking of PLAY, I miss Eri (In R-L). How sweet would that be if Riho got to meet her favorite member (in this story, that is). :wub:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [31/3 - Chapter 7: A Different You and I]
Post by: SarangAi on March 31, 2011, 05:33:11 AM
YA YA YA YA YA this is getting sooooo good!  :cow:

So Sayu's not trying to make Ai feel guilty on purpose or anything but there's a good reason why Aichan is feeling guilty anyways... I have a feeling it's a bit more than just simply leaving her kouhais behind :panic:

And at this point, I'm just waiting for Eri to make an entrance :D

oh, and definitely ReinaxAi interaction in the future... I have a feeling Reina won't be as soft as Sayu was...  :smhid
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [31/3 - Chapter 7: A Different You and I]
Post by: dark-atrox on March 31, 2011, 11:41:58 AM
woo....that was fast?  ;)
well, so the ebil bunny was capable of restraining herself eh? :lol:
Now I'm really curious what's their past  :roll:

PS: So, i'm still rooting Kono has something to do with
Aichan's pregnancy.... :P
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [31/3 - Chapter 7: A Different You and I]
Post by: gracula on March 31, 2011, 01:40:02 PM
Hiya. Been a long time since i posted anything, but i plan to correct that soon. What a real pleasure to come late to the party and find not one, but two chapters waiting. I was so excited, I could hardly read properly. So now that I have, here are my thoughts:

Connect
1) Reina needs to get laid.
2) Reina/Sayu are kissing cousins? My world just exploded. But, if I squinted, I think I can see some resemblance.
3) I loled at the thought of Riho sitting primly directly opposite the sprawled out Reina. In a movie, this would be the awkward silence scene that I love so well.
4) Riho, amused at bratty Reina. I love.
5) Reina/Riho. What?! Crack pairing much?

A Different You and I
Quote
The carefully cultivated image of self-absorbed narcissism had become a form of reality for our narcissistic bunny. She was confident because she was confident. It fed upon itself, reinforcing her own ego. It was quite the happy cycle.

I love your Sayu too much already and now you have to go and write that.

Quote
Sayu took a deep breath, as if she was going to say something, then stopped. Her eyes darted around reflexively. Occupational hazard. It wasn't really paranoia when you actually had something to worry about.
'Was... was it-? Is Riho mine?' Sayu wanted to say, but decided against it. No, she reasoned, Riho sang far too well to be her progeny, despite the healthy genetic contribution from Ai.

Quote
The decision to keep and actually raise Riho on her own had been a difficult one, one that she had taken after a lot of deliberation. She had not discussed it with anyone else. How could she? The only person she could have told was probably Asami, and she did tell her...after she made the decision to keep the baby.
Dammit, Essy. You keep inviting gross speculations. But I will refrain.

Quote
Deciding to change the subject a little, Sayu went on.

"I don't suppose you would want to..."
"For old times sake?" Sayu jerked her thumb in the general direction of the washrooms.
(sorry, couldn't resist)

And so we come to a wonderful end to a wonderful update. And upon the third reading, my mind supplied, 'Ohh. ReinAi. Right.'




Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [31/3 - Chapter 7: A Different You and I]
Post by: oddball on March 31, 2011, 02:14:41 PM
Well that Sayu/Ai talk wasn't what I had expected, seems as though the two of them have changed over the years, I'm intreauged to find out more about these two as they seemed to be very close at one stage, as Ai robably was with the rest of PLAY.....
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [31/3 - Chapter 7: A Different You and I]
Post by: aussie on March 31, 2011, 03:06:47 PM
I love the thought of seeing Reina being paired up with Riho. Maybe it could be a turning point for Reina......and Riho may surprise her at how much Reina finds herself opening up to the little kid.

Until Reina learns about Ai being Riho's mother. I'm getting the feeling that while Sayu had been upset by Ai's action 12 years ago and is perhaps more understanding, Reina is the one who was affected more by Ai's sudden disappearance and expect some degree of hostility when ReinAi eventually have their reunion. To what capacity was their closeness, and Ai's history with members of PLAY is more intriguing than trying to figure out Riho's father XD

You're not going to put off the ReinAi reunion until Riho has been shadowing Reina for a while and is becoming closer to her, just to inject some tension into the story or anything, right? :lol: :P



Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [31/3 - Chapter 7: A Different You and I]
Post by: eruchan on April 04, 2011, 11:32:34 AM
wow... 2 updates while i'm away :D

Ai-Sayu 'discussion' seems to be pretty civil...
I guess Sayu held back since they are in public and she tried to be considerate because of Ai's situation as single mom...
Reina and Riho finally meet  :w00t:
looking forward to see Reina mentoring Riho  XD
I guess it won't be very pleasant for both of them... at least in the beginning  :lol: considering they have a pretty similar personality and traits, stubborn, quick witted, sharp-tongue and a bit too honest XD
hopefully they'll get along in the future  :)
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [31/3 - Chapter 7: A Different You and I]
Post by: Kikk4r on April 12, 2011, 08:21:37 PM
wow great fic keep up with it :cow: ..... you are going to keep up with it right ??



P.S i`m going to die if you don`t :bleed eyes:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [31/3 - Chapter 7: A Different You and I]
Post by: Estrea on April 20, 2011, 07:40:25 PM
Sorry for the long absence, but I found a job and was attempting to get over events in my life, so....yeah. XD But here I am!


rndy: Riho is a great kid. XD Ai should be proud haha. There's a whole story with Ai and the Rokkies, one that I shall contemplate whether or not to write eventually. XD It's good enough to warrant a short series on its own actually...hehe. I hope I can continue to hold your attention with the next chapter though I think that the next chapter sucks.

mmsuki: I too want to see Riho growing on Reina. We'll see some of that in the upcoming chapter actually. XD I like keeping things vague so as to keep all of you in suspense, hurhur.

mode107: I love leaving you guys hanging. :D Ai's past is fairly interesting so I can't blame you guys for getting interested in that! And we'll see about Eri showing up...not so soon but eventually!

SarangAi: Hiiiii! XD But yes, Ai has plenty of secrets~ We'll get to them in good time. XD Reina is definitely not the forgiving type, you're right. We'll see what happens when they eventually meet. ;)

dark-atrox: Of course Sayu can restrain herself, she's a celebrity. XD And lol, Konno does have something to do with the whole event...indirectly speaking. XD

drac: In the writing of the upcoming chapter, I am forced to agree with you. Reina does need to get laid. It was so...frustrating...writing her in that frame of mind. XD And lol you with your customary Sayu-crack. This fic Needs More Sayu. Well, she'll show up in the next couple of chapters. Probably. XD I like her too much to not include her. XD Though I'm curious, what are the gross speculations that popped into your head? Just say them. It might scar me for life, but heck. XD I'm curious~

oddball: Well they haven't seen each other in more than 12 years, people do change in that time. XD Details on their relationship will be revealed in time~

aussie: Reina needs a little time to get used to Riho. The Reina here has some severe issues to work through. XD You'll see. And stop reading my mind! :P

eruchan: You're right, Sayu does know how to be diplomatic. XD Reina vs Riho...whatever will happen? :lol: We'll see. XD

Kikk4r: Welcome to the thread! (and the forum too!) Well, it took me a while to update but here I am! :D Glad to know you like it, and don't die! :lol: I need every reader I can get to torture as I please to entertain. XD Hope to see you around!


Ok time to edit and post.
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [31/3 - Chapter 7: A Different You and I]
Post by: Estrea on April 20, 2011, 07:48:16 PM
The Kid and I


Perhaps, Reina mused, the only good thing about this whole affair was the opportunity to spite Sayu with something she couldn't have.

It was almost worth the annoyance of gaining a second shadow half the time whenever she was out for work. To be fair, her new 'stalker' was quiet and unobtrusive -- her manager got in the way more than the girl did. Though, she would have preferred for the brat to walk a little less quietly. It made her nervous to never know exactly where she was going to pop up.

Reina had not known of Sayu's interest in her protege until after the fact, of course. As matter of course, she paid little attention to what her dear cousin did on her own time. Thus it had been with complete surprise when the poison-tongued bunny barged in with all the subtlety of a typhoon and proceeded to mow down everything in her way -- particularly poor, hapless, Moriya for her part in masterminding Riho's apprenticeship to Reina.

For that matter, Reina wondered how chubby Sasaki had managed to avoid Hurricane Michishige. The man had an uncanny instinct for avoiding trouble. Couple that with a total lack of ambition, and you have a person happily entrenched in middle management with no prospects for furtherment. To each their own, Reina supposed. Not that she would be satisfied with being anything but the best.

"Otsukaresama!" Reina favored the staff around her with a practised smile. Years on the job made the response automatic. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted her newly acquired shadow lurking by the production crew. The little group seemed to be huddling over a bunch of monitors, and Reina made an exasperated noise before heading over to collect the brat. She might not like having to babysit the girl, but she did take her responsibilities seriously.

Drifting closer, Reina -- who was totally not sneaking -- wandered over with every intention of grabbing the kid by the collar and dragging her away. Nicely, of course. She didn't need to be seen to bully children in public. Bad for her reputation, you see.

"So what do you think of Tanaka-san? I hear you've been shadowing her." Crew Member A, as Reina mentally dubbed, asked a very quiet Riho. Reina, who had been on the verge on emerging from the shadows to snare her apprentice, decided to stay there for a little while longer to observe the situation. Curiosity, you see, was ever a fault of hers.

"She's very good at what she does. I feel like I can learn a lot just by watching her." A careful, diplomatic answer if there was one. Reina gave the kid points for control, plus a few bonus ones for not showing a shred of emotion on her face. A poker face like that couldn't be taught, at least not easily. There was hope yet for the younger generation.

"That woman's always so standoffish though. I hear she has a fearsome temper," commented Crew Member B, who was editing the raw video they had taken earlier during the shoot.

"Really?" Riho was the picture of innocence. Reina silently applauded the act, while privately scheming how to discreetly get those idiots slandering her fired.

"Tanaka-san might look scary, but she's actually quite a nice person. She often worries about me." Riho followed up with the most sincere expression Reina had ever seen. Not bad for a damn brat, she admitted, though she wondered how deluded the girl could possibly be to interpret her worry as concern for her wellbeing. If anything, Reina just didn't want the kid fouling up on her watch and messing everything up. That did not equate as being nice. She was only nice to people she liked, and the brat had a long way to go to get there.

Though it was certainly no trouble pretending to be nice. The impression got her places, allowed her leverage with people she had no interest in, but had to flatter in order to get things done. Reina had little illusions about people, particular people in her line of work. She used them as ruthlessly as they would no doubt use her to advance themselves.

Yes, even that little kid she was supposed to be mentoring. It was no more than a residual instinct, but she felt the threat the girl represented. She was not getting any younger, and she knew that eventually someone younger and fresher would supersede her.

No doubt Sayu felt the same threat from younger stars, judging from how beautifully she denigrated them on national television for entertainment purposes. Reina knew her cousin well enough to tell when she really meant her insults, and there had definitely been more than a little truth in the things Sayu had been spouting on TV. Regardless of how ingeniously she dressed up her words, Reina recognized the genuine venom behind Sayu's lines.

We are family, after all. The thought was bitter on her lips. Reina was more straightforward in comparison. Her dislike was obvious, but she could endeavour to be polite for her own purposes. What she had no need for, she discarded. It was the only way not to get hurt by a world full of selfish pursuits.

"Tanaka-san?" Reina managed to not jump out of her skin, though she started visibly, her knuckles white on the tripod behind which she had been sheltering. Her scowl seemed only magnified by her ever-present sunglasses --- which was partially why she wore them to begin with.

"What?" Damn that kid and her incredible ability to appear out of nowhere. Did she secretly have ninja skills? Never mind that the kid so often looked like a kitten, she often slipped around as quietly as a great cat on the prowl. Again, she ignored the obvious irony, since she had herself been accused of the same thing, once upon a time. Although she never actually sneaked as blatantly as the damn brat did.

"Moriya-san was looking for you." Riho, looking even smaller in her huge jacket, seemed to disappear beneath the fur trim of the collar. It was rare for Reina to be able to look down on people, literally speaking, and she relished being able to do so for once as she replied coolly.

"I'll be along. The woman acts like my mother." She paused, thinking over the statement, then amended. "No, like my nanny." Her mother was a right force of nature. If anyone scared Reina, it was, without a doubt, the woman who bore her.

"Moriya-san can be a little...severe." Riho agreed after a moment's thought, watching Reina with curious eyes. Reina stared back, letting her shades slip off a little to expose the fact. Riho did not even flinch, but merely observed.

"You look tired, Tanaka-san."

Reina scoffed at that. Of course she looked tired. She had been up half the night filming for a movie, then had to wake up early for a meeting, and then now she was dragging around a whelp for a CM shooting. It helped that she had a few days off the next week, but next week couldn't come quickly enough. Being busy was a good thing though. It meant she was still in demand.

That was the reality of show business. You either worked yourself to death on fame, or starved to death without. It was thrilling, exhausting, fulfilling, and absolutely empty. But Reina had decided long ago that she would be famous, and by sheer dint of effort had reached this stage. She would not allow anything to discourage or pull her down, not even herself.

Perhaps that was why this girl, this Riho, got on her nerves so much. So much self assurance, the absolute conviction that she was exactly where she wanted to be, and the determination to rise to the very top --- all these things were familiar to Reina herself. She admired the spirit of youth, and despised it for its naivety. Yet, there was something about this girl, who did not shirk hard work and always observed so diligently at her side. This girl might just make it, given the right opportunities, Reina admitted to herself grudgingly. She was even kind of cute, and that definitely helped.

"Um, this is for you." Reina blinked once, twice, as her hands automatically received the shy offering from the kid. She tried to figure out what she had missed that Riho said prior, but found that she could remember nothing. "Mama said I should get you something, since I've been in your care for a while..." Riho fidgeted nervously and looked down at her shoes --- nice shoes that they were too, Reina observed offhandedly. Converse, always so timeless in design.

Reina looked into the neat package. Chocolate. Homemade too, it seemed. But more importantly, it was chocolate! Reina almost hugged the girl on impulse. She even managed to restrain the delighted squeak by disguising it as a cough.

"Thank you." She could get to like this kid. In this distance, she finally spotted a frantic Moriya who was all but turning over tables to look for her. Making a quick gesture at Riho to follow, Reina started over, but not without first sneaking a piece of the homemade chocolate to test the flavor.

A part of her had been anticipating something not so well made, some flaw to that otherwise flawless image that Wonderbrat was so effortlessly presenting. Unfortunately, that was not to be the case.

It was...good. Not as rich or sweet as the expensive chocolates that Reina so often bought for herself, but there was something nostalgic in that homey, down-to-earth taste. It made her feel better, even with the severe lack of sleep and irritation with the incompetent people she was forced to deal with on a daily basis.

Yeah, she could definitely grow to like this girl. Provided there was more chocolate. Yes.

Tanaka Reina was quite a simple girl, really. Too bad so few people realized this. Perhaps that was a good thing. No one needed to know that Tanaka-sama had a fatal weakness for chocolate. It was idol-like to have a sweet tooth, but to know the extent of her addiction...

Even better, this chocolate had matcha flavoring.

Yup, she definitely liked the kid now.

=============================================================


This was difficult to write. Lol. I think I'm woefully out of practice. Sigh. XD
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [21/4 - Chapter 8: The Kid and I]
Post by: rndmnwierd on April 20, 2011, 08:11:59 PM
This chapter was awesome.  :lol:

Quote
Perhaps, Reina mused, the only good thing about this whole affair was the opportunity to spite Sayu with something she couldn't have.
Reina. XD

She's so jaded, though I guess for good reason. And it's natural for her to resent little Riho at first, since the girl seems to be just as she was back in the day. The fact that I have to say back in the day probably pisses Reina off more than a little, too. Then, the girl's innocent little offering.

Quote
Tanaka Reina was quite a simple girl, really.

....

Yup, she definitely liked the kid now.
:lol: :lol: :lol: Yeah.
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [21/4 - Chapter 8: The Kid and I]
Post by: Kuji on April 20, 2011, 08:16:13 PM
I liked it as soon as I read the title. You needn't worry about being out of practice!

But I seriously don't know why my brain just looked at the line about Reina's bitterness about Sayu and her being family and immediately leapt to a complicated story of forbidden love! ;w;  So much for Power Rangers saving my brain.

Diplomatic!Riho :thumbup Smart girl. You never badmouth a higher up ever, even if (you think) they're not around because it somehow gets back to them eventually and then you're in the poop.

Ai's mysterious past is still a mystery and sadly, no bunny in this chapter besides the hilarious mention of Hurricane Michishige. :lol: That was gold.

Even Reina cannot resist the awesome that is Riho. Hur hur... RihoRiho is invincible cute!

Much much less work done today than I expected but I still regret nothing! (insert spinning chicken .gif here)
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [21/4 - Chapter 8: The Kid and I]
Post by: eruchan on April 20, 2011, 10:51:12 PM
Reina - Riho chapter  :heart:
uh oh.. Reina doesn't really like the kid...
then again, kids and Reina just does not match  :lol:

It was...good. Not as rich or sweet as the expensive chocolates that Reina so often bought for herself, but there was something nostalgic in that homey, down-to-earth taste. It made her feel better, even with the severe lack of sleep and irritation with the incompetent people she was forced to deal with on a daily basis.
Homemade chocolate from Ai?

Tanaka Reina was quite a simple girl, really. Too bad so few people realized this. Perhaps that was a good thing. No one needed to know that Tanaka-sama had a fatal weakness for chocolate. It was idol-like to have a sweet tooth, but to know the extent of her addiction...

Even better, this chocolate had matcha flavoring.

Yup, she definitely liked the kid now.
that's fast  :lol:
she sure is a simple girl, give her chocolate and she'll like you  :lol:
why do I think it's Ai's doing so Reina warmed up to Riho faster  XD
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [21/4 - Chapter 8: The Kid and I]
Post by: mmsuki on April 21, 2011, 02:10:35 AM
Quote
Perhaps, Reina mused, the only good thing about this whole affair was the opportunity to spite Sayu with something she couldn't have.
:lol: Currently that is the only bright side Reina can see. But soon enough she will see the other good thing/s the situation will bring her. :P

Quote
"Tanaka-san?" Reina managed to not jump out of her skin, though she started visibly, her knuckles white on the tripod behind which she had been sheltering.
The hunter became the haunted. XD

Quote
If anyone scared Reina, it was, without a doubt, the woman who bore her.
:yep: You and I both Reina. XD

Quote
Reina looked into the neat package. Chocolate. Homemade too, it seemed. But more importantly, it was chocolate! Reina almost hugged the girl on impulse. She even managed to restrain the delighted squeak by disguising it as a cough.
:rofl: Sooo cute! Maybe Ai-chan knows Reina's weakness and purposely made it for her, for a better work environment for her daughter. :grin:

Quote
Yup, she definitely liked the kid now.
Well if it is Ai-chan's doing. I'd say mission accomplished. :thumbup
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [21/4 - Chapter 8: The Kid and I]
Post by: kawaii beam on April 21, 2011, 02:18:48 AM
lol XD just give reina chocolate and she'll like u....thats the moral of this chapter XD :deco: cant wait for more X3 sorry for such a short comment essy, but i am happy that your living positivly~! :twothumbs
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [31/3 - Chapter 7: A Different You and I]
Post by: gracula on April 24, 2011, 04:20:22 AM
Perhaps, Reina mused, the only good thing about this whole affair was the opportunity to spite Sayu with something she couldn't have.
Oooosnap.

Quote
To be fair, her new 'stalker' was quiet and unobtrusive -- her manager got in the way more than the girl did. Though, she would have preferred for the brat to walk a little less quietly. It made her nervous to never know exactly where she was going to pop up.
:ph43r:

Quote
Hurricane Michishige.
Marry me!

Quote
"Otsukaresama!" Reina favored the staff around her with a practised smile. Years on the job made the response automatic.

You know, reading this made me think of Reina now. It really has been years on the job for her. She certainly has grown up in the glare of the spotlight. It'll be interesting to do a proper dissection of that evolution, cutting away the grumpy and bratty chara we do so love to assign her. Has the job become tiresome? Is she still continuously grateful for the opportunity she's been given as an idol? Does she strive and covet for more than what her management can provide her?

Okay, sorry- back to the story instead.

Quote
Damn that kid and her incredible ability to appear out of nowhere. Did she secretly have ninja skills?

Yes.


Quote
Yeah, she could definitely grow to like this girl. Provided there was more chocolate. Yes.
:lol: Yep. I love Reina's linear internalisation.


Quote
Tanaka Reina was quite a simple girl, really. Too bad so few people realized this. Perhaps that was a good thing. No one needed to know that Tanaka-sama had a fatal weakness for chocolate. It was idol-like to have a sweet tooth, but to know the extent of her addiction...
Ai knows, obviously...

-------

Aw, Essy. This was such a sweet chapter- I don't know what made it so. It's not so much as the obvious mushy storyline, but its so much deeper than that. Hm- were you in a good mood writing this?

I think Reina as a character and personality gets too little love in general. There's plenty of love for the Rokkies, but for some reason Reina doesn't get as much attention. Or is it the people I mix with? *cough* Bee. Truth be told, I never gave the Rokkies much attention myself, except to coo over Eri occasionally and letch marvel at Sayu. Writing them helped me love them just that bit more, but Reina gets assigned the staple tsundere chara and that's that.

Your works have really made me sit up and think about Reina a little more. You like writing Reina, don't you? Difficult though it may be. Interesting that you would write Ai and Reina so well, the two of them with more depth than their surface would indicate. Much like how many writers stay clear of Ai because they cannot get a grasp on her personality (myself included), many times Reina gets the same treatment, or gets written as the bad-tempered character.

I know what you mean when you say it can get tiresome to write Reina this way. To put it in a nice way, it's like not being able to do her personality justice. On the flip side, it's like playing make-believe with toys and Reina is the toy that just sits there playing the auxiliary character while our left and right hand is occupied with the two other toys we like best. In that sense, this is why Destiny Love and NR became my go-to for Reina-related reference. OOC or not, the Reina you fleshed out has made me, as a fan, think of her much more than 'that cute tiny idol with a bratty chara and photobooks'.


Quote
Though I'm curious, what are the gross speculations that popped into your head? Just say them. It might scar me for life, but heck.  I'm curious~
I forget now. But they were quite gross, I assure you.
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [21/4 - Chapter 8: The Kid and I]
Post by: SarangAi on April 24, 2011, 04:53:32 AM
LOL that is actually really funny.  It seems like Reina is all about being pro and perfect but Riho breaks her down with chocolate~  :lol:

she should take her to hershey park  :twisted:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [21/4 - Chapter 8: The Kid and I]
Post by: Shiawase_Honoo on April 25, 2011, 06:16:05 PM
Ha ha ha ha ha ha :rofl: :rofl:
I think it's so serious, but you had made it so funny at last :lol:
The Queen lost to the kid's hand made chocolate :rofl:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [21/4 - Chapter 8: The Kid and I]
Post by: Estrea on April 25, 2011, 08:41:21 PM
Hey I'm back! I'm tired! I'm kooky! I'm comment replying!


rndy: Glad you think so. I still don't think my writing is all that good. The next chapter still feels kinda blah to me somehow. It could be the tiredness talking. I don't know. XD But yes, Reina does feel resentful towards Riho at first, and with good reason! Hehe. I'm glad you like how Reina was...convinced. :P

Kuji: I got lucky with that title. I half ass all my titles right before I post every time. XD And oh you with your TanaShige glasses. XD Such a shame. :P More Hurricane Michishige for you! And yes RihoRiho is invincible cute. :D THERE CAN BE NO REGRET WHERE SHE IS CONCERNED.

eruchan: Kids and Reina...one would think that Reina, being a big kid herself, would get along with kids...but I guess Reina doesn't like the competition? :lol:

mmsuki: I like how easily Reina is exploited too. XD Ai is a good mama who wants the best for her kid, and she does stuff to make things easier for her. :) Riho should be grateful!

kawaii: Yeah, that really is the moral of the chapter. :lol: Oh Reina, how easily bribed you are....

drac: Firstly, thank you for your long comment. :D I hope I will not disappoint you with the next chapter, where your prospective wifey takes center stage again. XD I would like to do a good character study on Reina some time, she deserves better treatment than she actually gets...even if she IS kind of a brat. Do I like writing Reina? In a way, I kind of do. Getting into her head helps me feel more honest with myself, since I see Reina as someone who is straightforward and unlikely to hide behind false meanings. Sure, she can put up a show of bravado to hide weakness, but on all other occasions she will not hesitate to speak her mind -- unless she is afraid, of course. Hence the hiding. Hence the false show of confidence. Reina will not tolerate weakness, especally not from herself. And she's not likely to forgive it in others either. XD And yes, from this extended digression it does seem like I spend a lot of time thinking about her character. Funny how I focus on those who tend to fall easily into stereotype. TsundeReina might be a very real facet of her, but it's hardly the whole thing. I do rather appreciate complexities. :D And I'm glad I was able to inspire more thought in her from you!

SarangAi: Everyone has a weakness. Reina's just happens to be chocolate lol. XD I think Reina would be a happy camper in any place that has chocolate and cute things. XD

Shiawase_Honoo: I'm glad I amused you! Oh Reina, to fall to the temptation of chocolate! Tsk. XD


Well that took a while. Time to edit and post!
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [21/4 - Chapter 8: The Kid and I]
Post by: rndmnwierd on April 25, 2011, 08:48:48 PM
O_o Wedge~!

Have to leave now...Darnit, I wanted to be the first to reply, too.
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [21/4 - Chapter 8: The Kid and I]
Post by: Estrea on April 25, 2011, 09:08:51 PM
Jigsaw


Michishige Sayumi was a busy woman.

Recordings for the variety shows she was a regular on, the occasional magazine shoot, the regular work for promotional material, even updating her blog...

Being a valued commodity has its perks, but the downside was that she had so very little time.

Despite all that though, she still somehow managed to find a way to keep in touch with people, particularly her dearly beloved cousin, who for reasons unknown seemed to be unreasoningly grouchy at her. It was so terrible of that woman, really. Couldn't that ungrateful brat appreciate just how magnanimous she had been in forgiving that horrible sin of taking Riho away from her?

Then again, what else could she have expected from a former yankii? She still had photo evidence of those days. One could never be too sure when a little blackmail could be needed. Not that she had to resort to that, of course. See how graciously she has conducted herself so far!

Really, kids these days. Reina might be 26 right now, but younger is still younger, and Sayumi had the right to call her a damn brat...damn it.

In her humble, unbiased, and obviously that much older and wiser opinion, Reina was clearly unfit to take charge of that wonderful sunray of sparkly rainbow kittenish joy that was Takahashi Riho. Why, she barely pays attention to the girl! How could anyone not look at miraculous bundle of awesome? That huggable, glomp-able, embodiment of all things cute (that was not Sayumi herself) in the world?

And she was doing it again! Sayumi almost sprang out from where she was concealed behind three potted plants and a cardboard cutout to sprint over to the scene of that unutterable crime. Until her legendary athleticism -- or rather, the lack thereof -- conspired with the nefarious fauna to tangle her within their leafy arms.

That is, she tripped and got tangled amongst the potted plants. Her sole comfort in the whole affair was the fact that the cardboard cutout (ironically, it was herself in all her godly kawaii) had covered up her moment of indignity. Surely this was proof that the gods favored the adorable!

Grateful at least that she managed to not eat dirt, Sayumi extricated herself with minimal damage -- though she accidentally left a ribbon dangling from one leafy appendage like an overdue (or early) Christmas adornment. The plant would be much improved by that addition. Yes, of that she had no doubt whatsoever...had she known about it, of course.

Nevertheless! Sayumi managed to nonchalantly slip back behind cover, while struggling to process the severity of the crime she had just witnessed. How could anyone, for the love of all things kawaii, ignore dear little Riho? And to do it persistently! Sayumi was shocked. The temerity of her cousin! How could they possibly be related? Had Reina no sense of the kawaii whatsoever? It was unbelievable.

Riho should really be with her, Sayumi affirmed to herself. Someone who would appreciate her for that ball of adorable fluff that she was, to be showered with hugs and praises and all the guidance ever necessary to succeed in life. Much better than that unresponsive, insensitive blockhead of a cousin. Really! You'd never think they were related at all!

Sayumi pretended to be engrossed with her phone as busy staff members walked past, some of them even perceptive enough to flick curious glances at her. Lurking behind a cardboard cutout of herself might not be the most inconspicuous thing she has ever done. But at least it beat trying to hide behind her former refuge, the now toppled pot lying helplessly on its side.

For good measure, she updated her blog yet again with some meaningfully meaningless drivel that her eminently clever brain conjured up on the spur of a moment. See, she was working, not wasting her time stalking, um, observing the progress of Reina and dear little Riho.

No, how could anyone as kawaii as her ever feel the need to resort to such base means? People stalked her, not the other way round. She was merely...curious...about how her cousin would deal with the wonder child that should so belong to her. Ahem. Moving on.

Even knowing that Riho was Ai's child, or perhaps even more so because she was, Sayumi was determined to keep an eye on the kid. She could definitely see the resemblance now. The way Riho carried herself brought back fond memories for Sayumi. It was like seeing a miniature version of her beloved Takahashi-senpai back in the day.

It brought back familiar feelings too. Sayumi wanted Riho. The kid was hers to play with, damn it -- to teach, to spend time with, to nurture and smother with affection! Naturally, that was obviously because she was simply too cute to resist, and Sayumi definitely did not want to share. Not with anyone. And especially not with Reina.

Sayumi did not naturally hold grudges -- it brought on wrinkles with all that excessive grudge-bearing -- but she had a woman's naturally long memory for previous injuries. She might have forgiven Reina for her deception all those years back, but that did not mean she was likely to forget about it any time soon. Oh no, never. And was that a wrinkle near her temple?

A second examination via compact mirror erased that minor alarm. Wrinkles were a no-no. Sayumi took her appearance very seriously. She could hardly bear to be anything other than what her fans deserved to see! It would be a sin against herself. She could hardly condone that.

The pair she was so not stalking had retired to a corner, where...good heavens! The cardboard cutout of a smiling Michishige Sayumi shook with visible heat, propelled by the seething aura of impending violence emanating from the real thing. If Hello Kitty had a chainsaw, that would perhaps have been the appropriate parallel to how the (self proclaimed) personification of kawaii was figuratively like right now.

Cousin or no, if looks could kill, Reina would for all intents and purposes be rendered down to kibble and fed to her own cats. Even seated where she was, a good fifty feet away from the murderous intent directed at her, Reina still felt an instinctive chill run up her spine, stiffening her already rock-hard shoulders.

"Tanaka-san, you should try and relax a bit more..." Riho suggested with a look of utmost concentration as she attempted to knead out the knotted muscles in Reina's shoulders.

With a shrug, Reina hummed her assent and allowed her kouhai to massage her shoulders with a relaxed sigh of contentment. She was most definitely getting used to having the kid around.

Now, if she could only just get rid of that irritating feeling of being watched...


===========================================================


Short chapter is short. Title makes a weird kind of sense to my overworked brain. How long have I been awake? 20 hours? Around there. Maybe more. Dunno. Don't care. What was that?

Need. Sleep.
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [26/4 - Chapter 9: Jigsaw]
Post by: rndmnwierd on April 25, 2011, 11:01:07 PM
What, seriously, two hours later and I still managed to be the first to comment?  :lol:

This chapter is so much crack. Maybe because SAYU is so much crack. XD

Quote
Until her legendary athleticism -- or rather, the lack thereof -- conspired with the nefarious fauna to tangle her within their leafy arms.
Stalking Sayu FTW. :lol: How conspicuous.

Quote
It brought back familiar feelings too. Sayumi wanted Riho. The kid was hers to play with, damn it -- to teach, to spend time with, to nurture and smother with affection! Naturally, that was obviously because she was simply too cute to resist, and Sayumi definitely did not want to share. Not with anyone. And especially not with Reina.
Hmm, this makes me wonder.

Quote
She might have forgiven Reina for her deception all those years back, but that did not mean she was likely to forget about it any time soon.
This makes me worry.

Quote
The pair she was so not stalking had retired to a corner, where...good heavens! The cardboard cutout of a smiling Michishige Sayumi shook with visible heat, propelled by the seething aura of impending violence emanating from the real thing. If Hello Kitty had a chainsaw, that would perhaps have been the appropriate parallel to how the (self proclaimed) personification of kawaii was figuratively like right now.
And this makes me die laughing.

Quote
Now, if she could only just get rid of that irritating feeling of being watched...
:lol: :lol:


SLEEP Essy! *jazz hands*
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [26/4 - Chapter 9: Jigsaw]
Post by: mmsuki on April 26, 2011, 12:37:09 AM
ah~.. more puzzle to piece together.. :doh:  XD

It looks like Sayu's interest in Riho has increased ever since finding out she is Ai-chan's daughter. She even resorted to stalking! :lol:  :heart:

Quote
.... Sayumi definitely did not want to share. Not with anyone. And especially not with Reina.
I know Sayu is bitter that Reina gets to teach Riho - a job she'd willingly do, and much more!- but it looks like it runs deeper than that... :huhuh
And it looks like that Reina had past transgressions with Sayu, which definitely does not help contribute to their cousinly love .. :lol:
I'm really curious about that too! Everyone's past is still a big mystery... :panic:

Quote
If Hello Kitty had a chainsaw, that would perhaps have been the appropriate parallel to how the (self proclaimed) personification of kawaii was figuratively like right now.
:rofl: Hello Kitty with a chainsaw is a really disturbing picture to think about!.. :nervous
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [21/4 - Chapter 8: The Kid and I]
Post by: eruchan on April 26, 2011, 12:58:00 AM
Jealous Stalker Sayu  :lol:
if she had the girl for herself she definitely would spoil her too much  XD

The pair she was so not stalking had retired to a corner, where...good heavens! The cardboard cutout of a smiling Michishige Sayumi shook with visible heat, propelled by the seething aura of impending violence emanating from the real thing. If Hello Kitty had a chainsaw, that would perhaps have been the appropriate parallel to how the (self proclaimed) personification of kawaii was figuratively like right now.
it would looks like a possessed cardboard cutout  :lol:

"Tanaka-san, you should try and relax a bit more..." Riho suggested with a look of utmost concentration as she attempted to knead out the knotted muscles in Reina's shoulders.
Ah... I remembered Riho said she's good at shoulder massage   :)
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [26/4 - Chapter 9: Jigsaw]
Post by: Estrea on April 26, 2011, 04:44:08 AM
This is not an update. Just...Hello Kitty with Chainsaw, hiiiiiii.

(http://www.wonderlandblog.com/.a/6a00d834515f7269e20120a8653dc4970b-500wi)

(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/4/5559424_84f295e8dc.jpg)
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [26/4 - Chapter 9: Jigsaw]
Post by: rndmnwierd on April 26, 2011, 04:49:11 AM
^ :wahaha: :wahaha: :wahaha:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [26/4 - Chapter 9: Jigsaw]
Post by: mmsuki on April 26, 2011, 06:25:03 AM
^
^  :rofl:

v when i saw this i immediately thought of your fic!!!  :panic:

(http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m353/eeeyohn/momusu/img20110426035929959.jpg)
it screams!! Family picture! and My Stupid Family.. :lol:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [26/4 - Chapter 9: Jigsaw]
Post by: Shiawase_Honoo on April 26, 2011, 11:25:59 AM
^
give 'ukeru' to the kitty chainsaw :rofl:

In Sayu's sight, jealousy is kind of her cute... :lol:

And you always keep fews lines of the last scene to make it amused :rofl:

I also imagined to little Riho's tiny hands are massaging on Reina's shoulder :rofl:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [26/4 - Chapter 9: Jigsaw]
Post by: oddball on April 26, 2011, 11:49:17 AM
Jealous stalker Sayu!?!  :panic: hmmm, perhaps it's for the best if you don't give her the chainsaw......  :O

Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [26/4 - Chapter 9: Jigsaw]
Post by: Kikk4r on April 26, 2011, 02:42:42 PM
OMG I feel so happy now that you updated  :inlove:

but why does riho act like she is hr servant ?  :?




sorry if my english is bad
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [21/4 - Chapter 8: The Kid and I]
Post by: aussie on April 29, 2011, 05:07:31 AM
It brought back familiar feelings too. Sayumi wanted Riho. The kid was hers to play with, damn it -- to teach, to spend time with, to nurture and smother with affection! Naturally, that was obviously because she was simply too cute to resist, and Sayumi definitely did not want to share. Not with anyone. And especially not with Reina.

Sayumi did not naturally hold grudges -- it brought on wrinkles with all that excessive grudge-bearing -- but she had a woman's naturally long memory for previous injuries. She might have forgiven Reina for her deception all those years back, but that did not mean she was likely to forget about it any time soon. Oh no, never. And was that a wrinkle near her temple?

Does this little "deception" and  Sayu's unwillingness to share anything with Reina have anything to do with Ai in the past? XD
Possessed Sayu cardboard cutout sounds hilarious though XD XD XD

How's Mama Taka doing? I'm starting to miss her presence in this story now :lol:



Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [26/4 - Chapter 9: Jigsaw]
Post by: SarangAi on April 29, 2011, 05:13:33 AM
LOLOL in a way, I appreciate the picture much more than anything :hiakhiakhiak: :hiakhiakhiak: :wahaha:

But i love the previous chapter too!  Sayu's really losing it... she needs a pet :tantrum:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [26/4 - Chapter 9: Jigsaw]
Post by: Estrea on May 03, 2011, 06:25:25 PM
*yawn* I feel perpetually tired.


rndy: People just don't love me as much anymore. :/ I've only got you and a few others who care. >_> But hey, that's good enough! At least someone cares! :D And yes, Sayu is full of crack here. It helps that real-life!Sayu is giving me lots of fodder with her fangirling over 9th gen (over Riho in particular, snerk). I'm glad I could amuse you. :D

mmsuki: Stalker!Sayu is much love. :heart: Sayu does have quite a few issues herself, all wrapped up in The Past that I have yet to reveal. XD I love my Hello Kitty with chainsaw too! Oh and that's a GREAT picture you found. :D

eruchan: I agree, Sayu would spoil Riho so much, it'd be bad for her. XD

Shiawase_Honoo: Hehe I'm glad you like the kitty chainsaw! I like making things funny because laughter is good for the soul!

oddball: It's a good thing she doesn't have the chainsaw. Reina can't run fast enough to avoid that! Then again, Sayu can't run very far either, so maybe it all works out. :lol:

Kikk4r: I wouldn't say Riho is acting like a servant. She's just being a good little kouhai and trying to get in Reina's good books. XD That and she's a nice kid. :P

aussie: I wonder. XD You get Mama Taka in the coming chapter, never fear!

SarangAi: The picture is full of win. The internetz really does have everything. XD Maybe I could give Sayu a cactus? She needs to calm down and smell the flowers. :lol:


Time to edit and post!
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [26/4 - Chapter 9: Jigsaw]
Post by: rokun on May 03, 2011, 06:26:07 PM
-wedge- >.>
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [26/4 - Chapter 9: Jigsaw]
Post by: rndmnwierd on May 03, 2011, 06:26:55 PM
Second Wedge Today!
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [26/4 - Chapter 9: Jigsaw]
Post by: Estrea on May 03, 2011, 06:36:07 PM
A Little Happiness


Tires screeched across asphalt as the red bicycle skidded to a flashy sideways stop by the curb. A red-faced Riho hopped off, glad for the heat generated by her wild ride. It might have been well into spring already, but it had been unexpectedly chilly today. The heavy weight of her winter uniform was finally a comfort instead of a burden after the warm days of the past week.

The dusty white exterior of her new home greeted her as she wheeled her bicycle in past the gates. After stashing her bicycle safely, she nodded shyly at the concierge before dashing up the stairs two at a time to reach the second floor of the apartment.

"Tadaima!"

Ai looked up from where she was folding clothes on the bed. Her face crinkled into a warm smile at the sight of her daughter.

"Okaeri." She only just managed to lay a stack of neatly folded laundry aside before her daughter all but flew into her arms. Even at the ripe old age of 12, Riho still repeated this little ritual with her Mama every time she came home. She was very much attached to her mother, to the extent that she had refused to be held by anyone else as a baby. Even after growing up, she was still somewhat iffy about strangers touching her in general.

"Did you have a good day at school?" Ai ruffled Riho's hair fondly. Riho continued leaning in her Mama's arms, not bothering to open her eyes as she replied.

"Pop quiz in math. Fujimoto-sensei. Is. Evil." The little girl pouted, letting her bag slip to the ground as she shifted to rest her head in Ai's lap, curling up on the bed like a kitten.

"It is a little early in the term to have pop quizzes." Ai sympathized, patting her daughter's head. "But you better not have flunked, young lady."

Riho cracked open one eye and stuck out her tongue cheekily. "Of course not!" She puffed out her cheeks, releasing air slowly as she settled into a more comfortable position. "I do pay attention in classes..."

"Well I certainly hope so." Ai flicked a finger at Riho's forehead, her daughter's nose scrunching adorably at the act. Ai prodded her sleepy daughter insistently.

"Go shower. You'll get to eat right after, so scoot. Don't you have work later on?"

Riho's eyes flew open. "Ah! I almost forgot!"

Before Ai could say anything, Riho bounced up, hugged her Mama again, and then rocketed off in the general direction of the bathroom. Ai smiled and shook her head ruefully, picking up her kid's abandoned book bag and trotting out of the bedroom with it.

The ceiling-to-floor windows on the far side of the apartment greeted her as she moved the short distance towards the wider living area. Ai placed the bag on one of the chairs at the dining table, rounding it to head towards where she had food warming for the two of them on the stove.

While she was not a genius at housekeeping, Ai knew she was not completely inept, and a tiny place like this apartment was hardly too difficult to maintain. It was just her and her daughter, and while Riho should really at least try harder to tidy up after herself, the rest of the place was generally neat and tidy.

They had not had much opportunity to decorate the place as such, having moved in only a couple of weeks ago. There were two boxes still lying in the corner, untouched from when her own mother had mailed them to her a few days ago. They had actually not brought much along with them initially, just the essentials. Those two boxes would go a little further to help add some personal touches to their living space, which would be comforting seeing that they were going to be here for a good long while.

Ai made a mental note to herself to unpack those boxes after Riho left for work later. She was still setting the table when the musical jingle of her daughter's cellphone broke the silence. Without really thinking about it, Ai reached into Riho's bag and pulled the phone out.

One new message, it read. Ai was not the kind of mother who pried into the privacy of her child. Being little more than an overgrown kid herself when she had Riho, she had a bit more respect for the rights of her child. It was not so long ago when she was a rebellious teen (ok, maybe it was, but don't remind her!).

The new message didn't pique her interest, but the sender surely did.

07, it read. Ai knew immediately who it was. She was a fan of PLAY, after all, and knew all their nicknames. Since Riho couldn't very well put "Tanaka Reina" right out there in her contact list, she had had to resort to nicknames for the celebrities that were there.

As matter of fact, a certain Michishige Sayumi was Usa-chan on that self-same list, though, according to Riho, the original had been Ultimate Ichiban Kawaii in Known Universe, as inscribed by the owner of said number. Her daughter had sensibly shortened it later on.

Though, Ai thought wryly, Sayu did have an almost unhealthy interest in her daughter. Riho reported that Sayu was always randomly texting her, often to show concern or just ask after her in general. As her daughter put it, "it's really sweet, but I don't know why she is doing this".

Ai thought she could guess. Certainly, one of the reasons was because Riho was her daughter. The Sayu that Ai remembered from all those years ago had practically worshipped the ground she walked on, or so Reina told her...

Which brought her back to Reina texting her daughter. Not unexpected, given their relationship at work. Ai had been surprised when she first heard the news, and more than a little amused. Karma had a way of coming back to bite you when you least expected it. Then again, it wouldn't hurt for Riho to spend time with Reina. She hadn't planned for it, but it would be good for them.

Though, if what Riho had told her at the beginning was true, Reina certainly had become a great deal more prickly and unsociable than before. The memory of Reina's innocent smile came to mind, and Ai shook her head violently to clear it.

It had been a long twelve years, and all of them had changed in that time. Ai felt immeasurably older herself, a stark contrast to her somehow still youthful peers. Motherhood was a heavy burden to bear alone, but Ai never regretted keeping the baby.

"Food~~♪" Riho skipped out with her towel still draped around her neck. Her cheeks were still flushed from the hot water as they broke into a wide grin at the spread on the table.

"Itadakimasu~" Ai looked on fondly as Riho popped a whole chunk of tofu into her mouth, chewing with a contented look on her face. She could regret nothing, seeing how wonderfully her dear daughter turned out. Even if the kid did get on her nerves sometimes.

"You have a message." Ai handed the phone over to Riho, who opened the message and skimmed it quickly, a slightly furtive expression in her eyes. Ai felt a faint prickle of suspicion, but it faded as Riho resumed tucking into her meal with her usual vigour, making Ai wonder just where exactly the girl was stuffing all that food given how she never seemed to become anything beyond slender.

They did not speak much at first as both focused on their food, but as Riho slowed down after the initial rush to stuff herself silly, she started recounting her day as she always did. Little things usually, like what happened at school and random thoughts or observations that struck her. Ai listened, and offered either advice or opinion depending on the situation.

They had a very open relationship, since Ai was quite determined to be a friend to her daughter. Her own mother had often criticized her as being "too soft" on Riho, but Ai was adamant about raising Riho her own way. She was strict, but she also took time to listen to everything her daughter had to say. Communication was very important.

"So how do you find Reina now?" Ai asked casually as Riho finished her second helping of rice. Riho paused, contemplating the question.

"Tanaka-san is actually really nice, but she can be really scary about it somehow. She really does say things as they are!" Riho's eyes were wide as she recalled an incident she witnessed. "She made another girl cry because that girl wasn't prepared for her role. Chewed her out good. She's really serious about work."

"Sounds like her..." Ai mumbled, biting her lip. "Though she seems to be quite harsh."

Riho shrugged. "Tanaka-san didn't say anything that was wrong or deliberately mean. She just told the girl that she should be prepared for the role or just stay home otherwise, because it'd hold everyone up. I kind of agree, we shouldn't cause trouble for everyone else."

Ai pursed her lips disapprovingly. "A little tact would be nice."

Riho grinned impishly. "I don't know, I like her style. I wish I could be that straightforward too!"

"I hope you don't forget your manners." Ai said drily, reaching over to absently cuff Riho over the head. Though secretly, she agreed with her daughter. If only speaking her mind came easily to her!

"Yes Mama." Riho shifted restlessly on her seat, her eyes darting intermittently over at her phone. Ai puffed out a small sigh.

"You can use your phone if you're done eating."

"Hai!" Riho grabbed said phone and quickly composed a reply. A short one, it seemed, because she put it away just as quickly, an excited grin on her face. Ai wondered what her daughter was up to now. Her Mama senses were tingling.

"I'll help with the dishes!" Riho volunteered immediately as Ai began clearing the table. Ai eyed her daughter critically as she brought the plates over to the sink.

"I think it's time we went shopping for you. You seem to be growing again."

Riho brightened visibly at that. She loved shopping trips with her Mama, who had an impeccable eye when it came to the latest fashions. It was a good thing too, since Riho was notoriously indecisive when it came to picking things out for herself, and Ai was almost good enough to be a fashion consultant in her own right.

"So what's on the schedule later? You're with Reina right?" Ai asked as she handed a plate for Riho to dry. Her daughter nodded.

"Tanaka-san's helping me a little before my own photoshoot, you know, the one I told you about...I still can't believe I'm going to be a model at all!" The excitement in her voice was palpable, making Ai smile.

"I'm sure you'll do fine. Mama will be cheering for you." Ai glanced at the clock on top of the fridge.

"You should go get changed. I'll help you dry your hair after you're done." Riho nodded obediently and scooted off towards their bedroom. Ai stacked the rest of the now-clean dishes together and started putting them back in their places.

There was a comfortable domesticity to their routine, and Ai couldn't help but feel oddly content despite the familiar sense of terror that always accompanied the realization that she was very much becoming a housewife. While she had mostly accepted motherhood and all its attendant duties, a tiny part of her resisted becoming completely domesticated and out of touch with the working world. Giving into that routine felt like a defeat of sorts.

Ai wanted to be more than just a mother and a housewife. She loved her daughter and the home they would build together in this new place, but she wanted to figure out a way to fit her own dreams into the equation. She never considered the prospect impossible, merely a difficult problem to solve. And solve it she would, eventually. That was just the way she was.

And in the meantime, she had to go take care of her daughter before Riho managed to somehow destroy the hairdryer. Granted, the kid was barely more than a toddler when it happened the first time, but Ai could never bring herself to forget the state of her poor hairdryer after little Riho somehow managed to make the thing explode in a shower of sparks and smoke. No one was hurt, other than the hairdryer, but it was not an incident easily forgotten.

Fortunately, Riho remembered nothing of the incident and could thus not replicate it (hopefully). Nevertheless. Ai quickened her steps. She had a responsibility to fulfil.

=====================================


Just a prosaic little chapter about domestic tranquility~

Setting up for more events. Fast forward, fast forward...

And hoi, two wedges again?! :lol:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [4/5 - Chapter 10: A Little Happiness]
Post by: kawaii beam on May 03, 2011, 07:40:18 PM
SO. EFFIN. CUTE! X3 mama ai and riho are so adorable X3 part of me hopes that ai can get her dreams fuffiled into this as well,but at the same times reality doesnt work that way^^; plus i loled at the last part...riho destroyed the hair dryer and ai has the duty to make sure her dryer survies another day? XD epic lol i cant wait for the next chapter as usual~ >3<
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [4/5 - Chapter 10: A Little Happiness]
Post by: Kikk4r on May 03, 2011, 08:51:05 PM
haha sooo cute i love how mama ai has to save her hairdryer haha epic and little riho is evil with it haha  :twothumbs :cow:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [4/5 - Chapter 10: A Little Happiness]
Post by: mmsuki on May 04, 2011, 12:26:48 AM
every time i see a Riho-Aichan pic or interaction during t.v. shows/concerts your fic immediately comes to mind..  XD

Quote
Ultimate Ichiban Kawaii in Known Universe
:lol: that is a long screen name.. and an ambitious one if not preposterous.. :nervous

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Though, Ai thought wryly, Sayu did have an almost unhealthy interest in her daughter.
'oh Mama Ai-chan.. if you only knew the lengths Sayu does to keep Riho on her radar/sight.. :lol:

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The Sayu that Ai remembered from all those years ago had practically worshipped the ground she walked on, or so Reina told her...
must.know.past. RAWR!  XD

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Karma had a way of coming back to bite you when you least expected it.
KARMA??!!! why! :doh: what did Reina dooooooooo in the past... :panic: more RAWRRRRR!  :nervous

LOL! Riho a hairdryer destroyer.. :lol:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [4/5 - Chapter 10: A Little Happiness]
Post by: rndmnwierd on May 04, 2011, 05:29:27 AM
A little domesticity makes for good reading coming from you. I just love Mama Ai and Baby Riho. I just have one thing to say, though.

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Then again, it wouldn't hurt for Riho to spend time with Reina. She hadn't planned for it, but it would be good for them.
Reina is the daddy!!! :panic: :panic:

Now that I look back on that sentence, though, I dunno why I had that thought... XD
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [26/4 - Chapter 9: Jigsaw]
Post by: aussie on May 04, 2011, 10:04:35 AM
Which brought her back to Reina texting her daughter. Not unexpected, given their relationship at work. Ai had been surprised when she first heard the news, and more than a little amused. Karma had a way of coming back to bite you when you least expected it. Then again, it wouldn't hurt for Riho to spend time with Reina. She hadn't planned for it, but it would be good for them.

Though, if what Riho had told her at the beginning was true, Reina certainly had become a great deal more prickly and unsociable than before. The memory of Reina's innocent smile came to mind, and Ai shook her head violently to clear it.
Okay, ReinAi have to meet. Like right away, if only to see that innocent smile again :D
Why would it be good for Reina and Riho to spend some together though????? Suspicious. Again, ReinAi have to meet.....and Ai has to tell Reina she's Riho's daddy XD

Sayu got over whatever happened twelve years ago, largely thanks to Riho XD, but I'm getting more and more curious as to the history Reina and Ai have.

Can't wait for the next chapter~~~




Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [4/5 - Chapter 10: A Little Happiness]
Post by: oddball on May 04, 2011, 11:27:19 AM
Ahh, am liking the relationship between mama Ai and daughter Riho, they obviously have a very loving relationship.

seems as though perhaps Ai, whilst she obviously loves Riho, perhaps at the same time whishes she had parts of her 'old' life back, something she seems to have not totally given up on......
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [4/5 - Chapter 10: A Little Happiness]
Post by: Shiawase_Honoo on May 04, 2011, 04:09:24 PM
The mama and daughter's moment caught me so much :wub:
I like to hug my mother even thought I'm taller than her :nervous
And please go and save the hairdryer before little Riho throw/explode it.
I like when imagined that Riho is the eating monster, she eats so much but... :nervous
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [4/5 - Chapter 10: A Little Happiness]
Post by: eruchan on May 04, 2011, 04:55:00 PM
aww... such a cute and loving family  :heart: I got the image of baby Riho clinging to her mommy like a koala XD
Riho sure is eating a lot... but she dance a lot and a growing kid, so it's ok  :) reminds me of a post from Gaki's blog
lol at Sayu's name in the contact list... the ever narcissistic bunny  :lol:
good to see Reina-Riho relationship getting better :D they're even texting each other
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [4/5 - Chapter 10: A Little Happiness]
Post by: Kuji on May 04, 2011, 05:53:23 PM
(: Riho is cute
(: Fujimoto sensei
(: Ichiban kawaii

):<   You know why this face is here.

(: blowdryer
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [4/5 - Chapter 10: A Little Happiness]
Post by: SarangAi on May 05, 2011, 01:36:24 AM
LOL the cell phone thing was so funny  :rofl: :rofl:

I really do like this chapter.  I can really imagine Aichan being a motherly figure to Riho and doing typically mother-daughter stuff, like shopping, eating together, cleaning up after the daughter, drying her hair.... conventional stuff like that.  So sweet~~  :thumbsup :wub:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [4/5 - Chapter 10: A Little Happiness]
Post by: Estrea on May 08, 2011, 06:20:35 PM
Yoohoo, I'm back! Comment reply time~


kawaii: Yes, mother and daughter are adorable together! Hehe little Riho can  be an absolute disaster sometimes. As mama, Ai had better do damage control. :D

Kikk4r: Yes, little Riho is like a disaster waiting to happen. She improves with age...but hey, accidents happen! Mama Ai is paranoid with good reason. :D

mmsuki: I'm glad I could influence your thoughts so much. :D I like writing an over-the-top Sayu, much of the crack in MSF is due to her presence. XD The past will be bubbling to the surface quite soon, I think. XD

rndy: Peaceful things are nice. :D Enjoy it while it lasts~ :P Hehe.

aussie: Lol you'll see what will play out as events occur....some things are just quite inevitable. :D

oddball: Mama Ai and baby Riho = much love. :D I fully expect Ai to have regrets over having to abandon her prospects while young in order to raise Riho, but her love for her daughter outweighs those regrets, I believe.

Shiawase_Honoo: Yeah I loved hugging my mom too. :) I just gave that trait to Riho cos it'd be totally cute. :D But yes, Riho apparently does eat a lot, you have to wonder where all that food goes...burnt by all that dancing? XD

eruchan: Baby koala Riho clinging to Mama Koala Ai. Someone needs to photoshop this. XD

Kuji: *snerks* Yes I know why that face is there....TOO BAD. :P

SarangAi: I'm glad I amused you. :D But mother-daughter moments are just so gosh-darn sweet, I just had to devote a chapter somewhere to it. XD Glad you liked it.


Ok time to edit and post~
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [4/5 - Chapter 10: A Little Happiness]
Post by: Estrea on May 08, 2011, 06:31:21 PM
A Little Plan


Adults, Riho decided, were a strange breed.

Or perhaps, in this particular case, it was just one Tanaka Reina being strange. With her wild mood swings, Tanaka-san could be just as volatile as liquid oxygen -- and probably just as predictable.

Yet her thought processes remain shrouded in mystery to the eminently practical Riho, who, frankly, was beginning to arrive at the conclusion that Tanaka Reina was weird, somehow. But in a good way. Maybe.

The speed with which Tanaka-san had fallen in with her (plot? scheme? her mind helpfully supplied)...plan was entirely outside of her calculations. It had quite nearly wrongfooted a pleasantly surprised Riho, who had been fully prepared to negotiate/cajole/bribe her erstwhile mentor into acquiescence.

Then again, considering how her other option had been to approach the always helpful Michishige-san for assistance, perhaps it was all for the best. The woman tended to make her more than a little nervous even on the best of days. She could be just a little too enthusiastic for the normally reserved Riho. This was a far better solution, and it even had unexpected benefits!

The foundations had been set a week or two earlier. Riho had been ever mindful of the approaching date, and had spent most of Golden Week brainstorming for an appropriate gift. She had set a tentative budget for this little project -- Mama always told her to be careful with money -- but was fully prepared to dig deeper into her savings if it ever came to that.

After all, this was her Mama she was talking about. Riho believed very strongly in the importance of family, and she couldn't imagine life without her Mama, so...

Needless to say she was going to pull out all stops for this year. Another year, a new city, a fresh start for just the two of them into an uncertain future. Riho was perfectly aware of how her Mama had had to uproot herself again for her sake, and would have to start again in this terrifyingly huge city where neither of them had any worthwhile connections.

The way Mama had done so much for her, given up so much for her, Riho knew that she could never ever pay it all back. She could only show her love and appreciation for the Mama she had nothing but the utmost respect for.

This was a slightly ambitious project, linked intimately to the fact that she had access to the talent agency, or more specifically, access to one Tanaka Reina. Where in previous years her gifts had either been store-bought or painstakingly handmade (including that one year with the spontaneously combusting frying pan -- she didn't know oil could do that), Riho figured she could try something a little more original than flowers, cookies or cakes. And she was fairly certain Mama would not appreciate a blasted kitchen either.

Which brought her to her current attempt.

"Do it again." Tanaka-san was scowling at her, arms folded crossly as she sat by a sound board. Her trademark sunnies were forgotten on an adjacent table. Riho bit her lip and tried again, wincing with an awkward smile when the note went awry once more.

"Your singing is..." Reina shook her head, a dark look gracing her features. "Inadequate." Riho tried to put on a brave face, but only managed to look expressionless. She did manage to not cry though.

"But..." Reina continued grudgingly. "It's not that bad, for an amateur." She shot Riho a wry look. "It took Sayu a lot longer to get to what you can do now. At least you have a sense of pitch."

Riho could not help it, a giggle slipped from her lips, and she damn near swallowed her tongue trying to cover it up, eyes wide. Reina looked at her, and surprisingly, laughed. It made her look years younger in an instant, and Riho was struck by how amazingly adorable her mentor was, in a cuddly, cat-like sort of way.

"You just have a problem with the high notes. Relax, and try breathing with your diaphragm. Remember what I taught you. Try humming the scales again, but before that, get a drink. You don't want to hurt your throat, do you?"

Riho followed the instructions obediently, somewhat awed by the other side of Reina she was unexpectedly getting a sight of. This Tanaka-san was neither bratty nor dismissive; instead she was utterly focused on the work at hand, yet without bringing a tense atmosphere to the place. Yes, she could be harsh with her criticisms when you screwed up, but she was also interested in making things work out right in the end. These inpromptu singing lessons that had stemmed from the simple request of help to borrow a recording studio were going to do Riho a world of good.

Singing was never a great priority of hers. Riho sang at school ceremonies and the like, and also sang the songs she liked, just like any other normal kid. She had a decent ear for pitch and tone, given how her Mama still sang scales almost every day. Mama loved to sing, aside from dancing, and Riho wanted to do something that her Mama would appreciate, but nothing less than the best would do. Hence the studio, and the help from Tanaka-san was a definite bonus.

They had been sneaking in practice time whenever Reina could spare it, and the older woman had given Riho "homework" to do, in the form of singing exercises to help her along. Good investment for the future, Reina had said, while eyeing Riho speculatively. Riho wondered what the woman could be up to, but then again, Tanaka-san had a full right to call in favours from her after this. It was something Riho willingly accepted.

It was almost D-Day, and Riho absolutely had to get it right. She had made significant progress, but was still nervous in the professional environment, leading to avoidable mistakes. Reina had grown progressively more flinty-eyed with each gaffe, but refrained from excessive harshness. She did have some sense of delicacy.

"You must think a lot of your mother to go to such lengths for her." Reina commented offhandedly, handing the bottle of oolong tea to a grateful Riho. The tiny girl smiled.

"Mama is everything to me. I just want to do something special for her, to let her know I love her." A serious answer from an unusually serious kid. Reina often wondered how Riho had ended up so mature. Yes, growing up in a single-parent family probably had something to do with it, but so had Reina, and she was out climbing trees with the neighborhood boys when she was 12 herself. Quite unlike the remarkably self-possessed young lady sitting beside her.

"Aren't you going to get anything for your mother, Tanaka-san?" This time it was Riho fielding the question. She had grown a little more at ease around her mentor, to the point where she could start talking normally instead of keeping entirely mute.

Reina paused, then smirked. "I think my mama would be happy to see me not embroiled in another scandal this year." Her tone was light. "But I'll send her carnations I guess. Already sent the order to the florist." She waved her hand airily, dismissing the matter.

Riho frowned, looking far older than her years as she replied.

"You should try to appreciate your mother more too." Then, as if realizing who she was addressing, Riho hurriedly added. "Not that I'm being critical or anything..."

Reina smiled lazily. "I don't mind. My mother and I..." She paused again, groping for the words. "...we have a unique relationship. Not close in the way you and your Mama obviously are." Reina had a fleeting, wistful expression that was swiftly concealed as she continued on with an air of indifference. "But my Mama knows that if I need her, I will go to her. Otherwise, we generally leave each other alone. She knows I care." The last part was tacked on as if as an afterthought.

"Oh, if you say so..." Riho couldn't quite keep the skepticism out of her voice. She really didn't understand adult logic, or would that be Tanaka-logic?

Something else occurred to Riho then, and it was with earnest eyes as she turned once again to Reina. As far as she knew, Tanaka-san lived alone, away from her family, and was basically a workaholic. Riho decided that as a form of thanks, she would invite Tanaka-san to her house. After all, it would be nice if her beloved Mama met her mentor. Despite whatever Mama had to say, Riho had definitely noticed how her Mama's attention tended to linger just a wee bit longer on Reina whenever they went to watch PLAY live in concerts.

Tanaka-san can be my 'other' present! Riho thought gleefully at the brilliant idea. It sounded wonderful. After all, what could go wrong?

Famous last words, Riho. Famous last words indeed.


==================================================


Part 1 of a Mothers' Day special. :) I might not get part 2 out soon enough, but hey, the thought counts! Figured it would be significant for such a family-oriented story. :D Hope you guys like!

EDIT: Also, thanks to kitaoji for correcting me on a minor chemical error. ;)
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [9/5 - Chapter 11: A Little Plan]
Post by: rndmnwierd on May 08, 2011, 06:39:20 PM
Aww, Riho's such a thoughtful child. Making a song?cd? for her Mama. And managing to enlist Reina's help, too.

Quote
Tanaka-san can be my 'other' present! Riho thought gleefully at the brilliant idea. It sounded wonderful. After all, what could go wrong?

Famous last words, Riho. Famous last words indeed.

Oh god, I can't wait. At the same time, I kinda dread where I think this is going... :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [9/5 - Chapter 11: A Little Plan]
Post by: shenlog on May 08, 2011, 07:05:51 PM
I've got a feeling that it will go wrong  :nervous
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [9/5 - Chapter 11: A Little Plan]
Post by: eruchan on May 08, 2011, 07:51:20 PM
Riho... such a good kid  :heart:
Over-enthusiastic Sayu XD she should hold back a bit before she scares Riho away  :lol:

Tanaka-san can be my 'other' present! Riho thought gleefully at the brilliant idea. It sounded wonderful. After all, what could go wrong?
erm.... a lot could go wrong?  :nervous
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [9/5 - Chapter 11: A Little Plan]
Post by: kawaii beam on May 08, 2011, 10:21:11 PM
oh my goodness riho's so cute X3 making a song/cd/recording for her mama X3

i cant wait for the takahashi home to like explode due to hurricane reina XDDD i feel like shocks will come from this
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [9/5 - Chapter 11: A Little Plan]
Post by: mmsuki on May 09, 2011, 02:22:04 AM
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Riho decided that as a form of thanks, she would invite Tanaka-san to her house.
  :lol: laughing at this part already... oh my...  :shocked i'm really excited!! :grin:

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Despite whatever Mama had to say, Riho had definitely noticed how her Mama's attention tended to linger just a wee bit longer on Reina whenever they went to watch PLAY live in concerts.
sooo.. Riho noticed those lingering looks on Reina from her Mama Ai-chan.. XD maybe anyone with eyes can too.. like i've said many times, curious about the past. :P

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Tanaka-san can be my 'other' present! Riho thought gleefully at the brilliant idea. It sounded wonderful.
will it be a pleasant present though?..  XD but i do agree with Riho, it IS a brilliant, brilliant idea! excellent!   :twothumbs

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After all, what could go wrong?
my brain can't even begin to process the things that can, go wrong..  :roll:  :lol:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [9/5 - Chapter 11: A Little Plan]
Post by: oddball on May 09, 2011, 12:18:16 PM
Oh dear, I'm not totally sure Riho knows quite what she's getting herself into, I've got a feeling sparks might fly when Ai and Reina meet.....  :panic:

It's very sweet of Riho though, to make a song and sing it for her Mamma!  :wub:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [9/5 - Chapter 11: A Little Plan]
Post by: Shiawase_Honoo on May 09, 2011, 02:49:26 PM
Whatever Riho thinks is all about for her Mama, good girl :)

And...what this awful smell, I think it came from Riho's plan about inviting Reina to her house... :panic:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [9/5 - Chapter 11: A Little Plan]
Post by: Kikk4r on May 09, 2011, 05:28:11 PM
yay update  :cow: this is a dissaster omfg to invite reina to her house is awfull nothing wrong with reina but since ai and reina seems to have tens realtionship that is. but riho and reina are kinda cut
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [4/5 - Chapter 10: A Little Happiness]
Post by: aussie on May 09, 2011, 10:04:24 PM
Something else occurred to Riho then, and it was with earnest eyes as she turned once again to Reina. As far as she knew, Tanaka-san lived alone, away from her family, and was basically a workaholic. Riho decided that as a form of thanks, she would invite Tanaka-san to her house. After all, it would be nice if her beloved Mama met her mentor. Despite whatever Mama had to say, Riho had definitely noticed how her Mama's attention tended to linger just a wee bit longer on Reina whenever they went to watch PLAY live in concerts.

Tanaka-san can be my 'other' present! Riho thought gleefully at the brilliant idea. It sounded wonderful. After all, what could go wrong?
Uh oh (....when I'm secretly looking forward to the fireworks to follow XD).
I mean, they can't really have their claws out and chew each other out with little Riho in the mix there.....or would Reina be the type to not care at all? :nervous

I find the 'senpai' Reina side quite interesting and fascinating. Mizuki has been saying in some of the interviews 9th gen have been doing since joining the group, that she had an initial impression of Reina as someone who wouldn't keep an eye out on kouhai members much and be focused on herself, but was (pleasantly) surprised she turned out to be the opposite, giving her helpful advice all the time and how her chattiness(?? XD) belies her 'scary' image. I personally like the 'younger member' vibe Reina takes when she is around the older GoRokki members, but senpai Reina is also pretty cool to see around, and great to hear she's not all that much of a b*tch XD XD XD XD


Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [9/5 - Chapter 11: A Little Plan]
Post by: SarangAi on May 09, 2011, 11:10:57 PM
OMG this is not good... So is Reina gonna recognize Aichan??  :shocked

but that's so cute/sweet of Riho~ she's recording a song for her mama, even if it means spending more time with the strict Tanaka-senpai...  :heart: :heart:

can't wait for the next chapter! I feel like more drama is gonna come on...  :panic:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [9/5 - Chapter 11: A Little Plan]
Post by: Estrea on May 11, 2011, 06:26:32 PM
Lookie, I come bearing a chapter!

rndy: Riho's a good girl. :) I want a kid like that lol. XD Never fear! I promise there shall be very little angst. XD Pinky swear!

shenlog: Depends on what you mean by wrong. ;)

eruchan: Riho is the perfect kid. XD Wonderbrat, I say! And yes, over-enthusiastic Sayu is like a double-edged sword. She's too interesting to stay away from, and too freaky to be near. :lol:

kawaii: The storm is brewing~ I love doing these things. :D

mmsuki: The past will soon bubble to the surface. Hurhur. And Riho is simply brilliant. That is all. XD

oddball: Sparks of what kind, I wonder. XD Ai and Reina meeting has always had explosive potential, both good and bad. XD And yes, it's very sweet of Riho!

Shiawase_Honoo: Riho is such a Mama's girl. :D Then again, she obviously isn't completely flawless, since her schemes aren't always...perfect. XD

Kikk4r: Yes, it does seem to be a bad idea on the surface. :lol: Oh Riho.

aussie: What is it with you people and drama, really? XD Looking forward to the fireworks already? And as for the reaction, well, Reina can be quite unpredictable that way. XD Senpai Reina, or really, Reina in person isn't really scary or bitchy even. Sayu has said it before, that Reina was actually really sincere and kind, even if she can be a bit direct about the way she says things. And apparently when she laughs she's cute like a kitten and Sayu thinks she should totally smile and laugh more. XD Such a misunderstood little ex-yankii. XD

SarangAi: Thank you for asking if Reina will recognize Aichan. XD *gives you a cookie* And I promise the drama won't be too...painful. :P


Ok time to edit and post. Ow, my neck.
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [9/5 - Chapter 11: A Little Plan]
Post by: Estrea on May 11, 2011, 06:37:33 PM
A Little Surprise


Ai knew something was up even before she woke up.

It didn't take preternatural senses to know this -- the conspicuous lack of a familiar warmth latched to her side sent an alarming jolt through her still groggy mind.

Even then, it took several moments to process the scattered links into a coherent chain of thought. As a rule, Riho rarely if ever woke up before her. Extricating herself from that death grip was something on order of a morning workout, while waking her dear daughter up for breakfast afterwards was a daily ritual. Ai had learnt years ago to ignore the muttered "five more minutes" on a school day, though she did allow the kid to sleep in when there was nothing pressing to wake up for.

Trying to get Riho to sleep in her own futon was an exercise in futility, as her little girl tended to automatically find her way to wherever Ai happened to be sleeping. Ai had thought that the situation would improve with age, but the only result so far was that she was the one getting used to things. That said, she didn't really mind having her daughter share her bed. It was normal to be close to your children, and they shared a closer bond than most.

When her half-hearted flailing with one hand failed to detect the presence of her personal remora, it was with more than a mere frisson of worry that she opened her eyes. Maternal paranoia kicked in full force as she inwardly panicked over what could have happened, until something occurred to her as she took stock of the room she was currently alone in.

It. Was. Spotless.

Now, Ai kept a clean house and spotlessness was not such a rarity. However, having an active kid who hated tidying up after herself tended to sabotage her attempts to make sure everything was scrupulously neat and in their rightful places. It was frequently a source of exasperation for the fastidious Takahashi.

What she was faced with currently, however, could practically be enshrined as a tribute to the altar of Order. Everything, at a glance, was precisely where it was supposed to be. Even the dressing table was meticulously organized and the various objects placed at aesthetic angles. Ai was impressed. Not even she was that anal.

Yet her mind could not focus on this apparent miracle, since it was occupied with a far more pressing issue: Where. Was. Her. Daughter?

No time like the present to check things out, Ai concluded. Still bemused, she slid out of bed -- and made it out of habit -- before checking quickly in the closets. No Riho. A quick peek into the bathroom yielded the same results.

Where could her daughter be? Fear was starting to creep in. Ai wondered if the last 12 years had been but a mere dream, and she had always been, and always would be, alone...

The hallway was silent as she stepped out. The pale light of false dawn seeped through the light curtains on the far side of the living area, and it was in that direction that Ai went, anxiety gnawing at her innards. All that worrying was making her hover perilously close to tears, and she felt a vast surge of relief when she caught sight of her beloved daughter asleep with her head buried in a pillow of her arms on the dining table.

She was about to launch into an automatic reprimand as she neared her dozing daughter, when suddenly Riho jerked up from her sleep with a wild look in her eye, turning this way and that in panic. Her initial words was garbled and murred by sleep, but Ai heard "Tanaka-san", "I'm not slacking off" and "please don't kill me", which was enough for her to fill in the rest.

Suppressing a chuckle that was half-hysteric from her sheer relief at seeing her daughter safe and sound, Ai reached forward and ruffled the unruly locks of her little girl, who blinked rapidly and craned her neck backwards to level an owlish sort of gaze at her mother. Ai said nothing, though she narrowed her eyes, waiting for an explanation.

"Ahhhh!!!" Riho shrieked in a most unladylike way, then blushed in embarrassment as she sprang from the chair, her hands covering her face. Ai tapped her foot impatiently, though her eyes strayed over to the table, where preparations for breakfast were halfway ready.

It didn't take a genius to put things together. Her daughter was obviously trying to impress her, and Ai only just belatedly remembered that today was Mothers' Day, so that took care of the 'why' of things. She could only hope that the kitchen was not...destroyed...like that one time, three years ago.

"Um, Mama! You just...sit down here first and I'll get everything ready in a bit!" Riho flailed about wildly, ushering (or kind of shoving, really) her bemused mother into her just vacated seat. Deciding to humour her daughter, Ai gave in with little resistance, wondering just what Riho had in store for her this time.

Her daughter always took these things so very seriously. Last year, she had put up a puppet show using the various stuffed animals as props. Her drama background really showed in the various voices she utilized for the characters in the performance. Ai had been heartily amused by it, and touched by the amount of effort her little girl had put in for her sake.

She didn't have to wait long. Riho must have had things all done already before deciding to take a quick nap at the table. Ai was inwardly tickled by the lopsided sausage grin underneath the googly egg yolk eyes on the plate shoved in front of her. It was just so...cute.

Best of all, it wasn't even burnt!

Smiling widely, Ai clapped her hands together with a quick "itadakimasu", her eyes flashing over to the visibly tired but gleeful Riho...who looked like a cat that got the canary. Ai wondered what else the crafty little brat had under her sleeve. Mothers always knew when something was up.

Under the expectant gaze of her daughter, Ai lifted a forkful of breakfast to her mouth, taking care to chew carefully. She was already inordinately proud of how Riho had taken the initiative to do this, and had few expectations for the meal...

...which, actually, tasted surprisingly good. Even if the sausage was a tad overcooked.

"This is good." Ai declared after a moment of contented chewing, which sent an expression of vast relief cascading through her daughter's face. Ai hid a smile at that. No doubt her child had practiced fervently to make up for the culinary accident that one time. Her Riho was a perfectionist, and it showed. Ai could understand. Failure was unacceptable, especially when it was through one's own faults.

Granted, it was kind of difficult to mess up eggs and sausages. Or toast. Unless you're just that inept -- which could happen! Ai only had to remember the fate of her poor frying pan to remind her of the fact. Personally, she was just happy that Riho hadn't burnt the house down in her attempt to fix breakfast this time.

Relieved by the approval, Riho settled down and started wolfing down her share -- elegantly, of course. Ai wasn't sure how her daughter managed to shovel all that food in without breaking her table manners. She knew she had taught the kid well, but really...

Ai tended to take her time with food, so Riho finished well ahead of her. The girl even obediently trotted over to the kitchenette and started washing the plates. Her daughter really was going out of her way to be the model of a perfect child. A warm feeling rose in Ai's chest as she polished off the last of her toast. Now, if only she could put in half the effort shown today on a more regular basis...

"How did you manage to wake up before me?" Ai had to ask as she brought her own plate over to the sink. Riho fidgeted nervously.

"I asked someone to give me a wake up call, actually." Riho admitted. Ai raised an eyebrow. Did Riho have a friend from school help her? That didn't seem likely. Her little girl was always so shy and awkward around new people, and she hadn't yet mentioned making any close friends at her new school yet. It made Ai a little concerned, but she knew she couldn't force the issue. It would happen eventually once Riho began to warm up to her peers.

"And I didn't hear it because...?" Ai might not be a light sleeper, but she didn't sleep like the dead. She was fairly certain she would have heard something that had woken her daughter, who did sleep like a log.

Sheepishly, Riho held up a bluetooth receiver. Ai's brows rose almost all the way to her hairline. She hadn't bought it for her, and unless Riho bought it herself...

"I borrowed it from Moriya-san. She's PLAY's manager." Riho had managed to involve more than just Reina into her scheme. It spoke volumes about her ability to convince people, even at her age. Then again, maybe it was because she was so young that they thought it was cute for her to be trying so hard for Mothers' Day.

"Thank you dear, it's very sweet of you to be doing all this for me." Ai said warmly, patting her daughter on the head before pulling her into a spontaneous hug. Riho leaned happily into her Mama's embrace, though she discreetly tried to dry her soapy hands on the nearest dishrag without getting anything else wet.

"Oh! I have something else for you. Hang on!" Riho bolted from the area the moment Ai let her go, and Ai shook her head gently as she dried the rest of the plates and put them back into the cupboard.

"Here it is~" Riho sang out, holding out a squarish object in front of her. Ai blinked before recognizing it as a CD.

"Oh? What did you get for me?" Ai was curious now. It was unmarked, so it couldn't be one of her favorite albums or the like.

"You'll know when you listen to it~" Riho was practically hopping from foot to foot, not quite bouncing but nearly so. Her expression was a mixture of excitement, pride, and a desire for approval. Ai hooked an arm around Riho's shoulders in an one-armed embrace as she headed towards the CD player taking pride of place by the TV on the other side of the room.

Riho was practically brimming with nervous energy, and it showed in how her eyes kept shifting. The fact that her Mama's arm was still around her stilled her a little, but not by much. She desperately hoped that her Mama would like the present. Discreetly, she checked her cellphone. She hoped her other present would not be late.

Riho knew she owed a crapload of favors to one Tanaka Reina right now, since her mentor had helped her so much, and was in fact delivering the last part of her surprise for her Mama right now. Riho had not believed it could be done on such short notice, but Reina had laughed when she heard her fears.

"There's nothing you can't do if you know the right people." Reina winked as she flipped open her cellphone. "And I just happen to know someone..."

Riho was eminently grateful. Reina was going to be due a lot of massages. And chocolate. Yes. Debts had to be paid back in full.

Ai instinctively felt herself tearing up as her daughter's voice flooded the room, singing what was obviously a modified version of a song she knew. She couldn't hold it in by the time she hit the chorus, and let the tears run freely. Riho wisely held out a box of tissue. She knew her Mama well enough to anticipate the reaction.

When the song wound to a close, Riho scuttled closer to her Mama on the couch, throwing her arms around her still-emotional mother.

"I love you Mama." Here Riho hesitated, trying to find the words to express her feelings. "That song...was how I really felt. You're the best Mama in the world, and I am so proud to be your daughter."

Ai really lost it then, bawling even harder as she clung to her daughter. Riho awkwardly patted her Mama's back, feeling the truth in her own words. She really was proud to be the daughter of Takahashi Ai. Even if it were just them against the world, Riho had no regrets.

As if on cue, the doorbell rang, and Riho had to extricate herself from the slowly recovering Ai, who was attempting to regain some form of coherency after the touching display. Riho loped over to the door with all the intensity of a panther on the hunt, opening the door to her partner-in-crime who came bearing the box that was the final part of the gift. They shared a mutual, conspiratorial grin before the visitor stepped in.

Riho led the visitor into the house, but not without a warning to not mind her Mama's current state. As Riho put it so very bluntly, "Mama cries at the drop of a hat. At least these are happy tears."

"Mama, look who's here!" Riho announced with all the guile of an innocent child, eager to please. Ai, who was drying her eyes and trying to regain some form of presentability, looked up.

And time stopped.

It might have been years, days, minutes or mere seconds later, but the silence was shattered, had to be shattered, and it was with muted voice and ashen face that Tanaka Reina said, strained.

"Ojamashimasu."


====================================================


For the song Riho sang, look at the lyrics here (http://www.jpopasia.com/lyrics/21126/thelma-aoyama/mama-e.html)

I thought it was appropriate. :D

Also, the puppet show thing referenced? I totally did that with a friend on Mothers' Day, years ago. XD

And finally, ReinAi meet. What will happen next? What is Riho's last present (no, it's not Reina). Stay tuned for the next episode of MSF!

:lol:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [12/5 - Chapter 12: A Little Surprise]
Post by: kawaii beam on May 11, 2011, 06:57:43 PM
my goodness the cuteness never ends! X3 riho's so cute trying to please her mama like that!  :cathappy: i felt sad for ai when she started worrying about the last 12 yrs being a dream and feeling alone D: made me wanna just huggle her up.

lol at riho and her constant destroying of stuff XD how on earth does she and ai survive? XD the pupet show idea was ubber cute~ i mostly just drew pics for my mom and gave her a card ^^; mostly cus she ALWAYS woke up before me and like the only thing i could make in the morning was toast and like cereal XD

oh god the ending! the silence! poor little riho has no idea what she unleashed XD cant wait for the next chapter~
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [12/5 - Chapter 12: A Little Surprise]
Post by: Kikk4r on May 11, 2011, 08:14:39 PM
haha i guess riho likes to distroy stuff  :lol: awwww and riho trying to impress her mother is so cute and all the hard work for Riho to do it. ahhhh i wanna now what the present is  :panic: :banghead:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [12/5 - Chapter 12: A Little Surprise]
Post by: rndmnwierd on May 11, 2011, 08:20:53 PM
Wow Essy, is this the first time I've gotten to tell you that this chapter killed me with cuteness? XD Riho is so adorable, continuing to share a bed with her mother, going to such great lengths to please her and Ai has just reluctantly gotten used to everything. :lol: I love the little asides about Riho burning or breaking things, it shows that little miss perfect is still in the making.

And now Reina and Ai meet face to face! What will happen next!?!?!
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [12/5 - Chapter 12: A Little Surprise]
Post by: SarangAi on May 12, 2011, 12:00:01 AM
one word:

KAWAII!!!!! :heart: :heart: :heart:

That was so cute, the way Riho made breakfast, and the song, and the hugs, and the tears.... WAHH~~~  :wub: :wub:

That was so enjoyable, i was grinning like an idiot  XD

but then... DA DA DUM~~~ TANAKA-SAMA ENTERS :shocked :shocked
Wonder what will happen now... is reina gonna recognize Aichan?  cuz Aichan obviously did... AGH getting nervous!!!  :panic: :panic:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [12/5 - Chapter 12: A Little Surprise]
Post by: mmsuki on May 12, 2011, 02:02:25 AM
when i started reading it i was really looking forward to the meeting of ReinAi.. but as i went on to read further.. 'oh crap, she's gonna end it with a massive CLIFFHANGER!!'.. and i was right.. :rofl: rawr!! the torture for the next chapter... :panic:

Quote
Ai wondered if the last 12 years had been but a mere dream,
lol! quite a paranoid Mama.. XD

Quote
Her initial words was garbled and murred by sleep, but Ai heard "Tanaka-san", "I'm not slacking off" and "please don't kill me",
:lol: poor Riho even in her sleep Reina haunts her.. XD

Quote
Riho wisely held out a box of tissue. She knew her Mama well enough to anticipate the reaction.
that is sooo cute!! it looks like Riho really planned it out well, even came prepared for her Mama's reaction..  XD

although...
Quote
"Mama, look who's here!" Riho announced with all the guile of an innocent child, eager to please. Ai, who was drying her eyes and trying to regain some form of presentability, looked up.

And time stopped.
this is one reaction/situation she surely did not anticipate!!! XD
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [12/5 - Chapter 12: A Little Surprise]
Post by: oddball on May 12, 2011, 12:44:55 PM
Aww Riho is so cute, doing so much for Ai!  :wub: and not buring down the kitchen this time  :P I'm glad that Ai really liked Riho's song to, bless her the girl was doing so well until, well until the last bit of her surprise turned up...

I wonder what Reina and Ai will do, I think alot will go unsaid infront of Riho, hmm why do I see an akward chapter coming up......  :panic:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [12/5 - Chapter 12: A Little Surprise]
Post by: Shiawase_Honoo on May 12, 2011, 01:04:31 PM
Wow, Riho such a good girl :wub:
I love how little Riho presented her love to her Mama which I never done before :thumbsup
(All I do just to not cause any trouble to her, that's enough :nervous)
Oh, and good enough that our little Riho not to burn down the kitchen or hurt herself :lol:
*imagined little Riho wolf down her food* It's so amused :rofl: I don't know how, but maybe because of her 'genuis' that she didn't break down table manners :lol:

And the awful has come with Reina's entering :panic:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [12/5 - Chapter 12: A Little Surprise]
Post by: Kikk4r on May 12, 2011, 03:46:07 PM
 oh and one more thing i think the present is something with karaoke


if it is it`s typical Reina  XD :lol:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [12/5 - Chapter 12: A Little Surprise]
Post by: eruchan on May 12, 2011, 04:07:26 PM
Wow, Riho... she prepared so much for her beloved mama  :thumbup
I agree! she's the perfect kid  :heart:
although this time her good intention kinda have the opposite effect... Reina...  :nervous
I'm looking forward for ReinAi interaction  :lol:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [12/5 - Chapter 12: A Little Surprise]
Post by: gab98 on May 14, 2011, 08:42:15 AM
i want a Ai-chan Mama  too :mon cute:

hahaha Riho is a good daughter ...this chappie is really cute..

but...
Quote
It might have been years, days, minutes or mere seconds later, but the silence was shattered, had to be shattered, and it was with muted voice and ashen face that Tanaka Reina said, strained.

"Ojamashimasu."

Holy crap... :mon spit: ...

Tanakacchi is appear in Takahashi's House!!  :shocked  very shocked

Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [12/5 - Chapter 12: A Little Surprise]
Post by: aussie on May 15, 2011, 06:43:15 AM
Dum dum dum. Poor Riho, we all know she meant well, even mistaking her mama's lingering gaze on Reina as a sign of her mama fangirling over the kitten, so she thought it would be a nice surprise to invite her mentor over. Maybe Riho won't be the only one guilty of destroyed furniture in the Takahashi household, not directly at least this time ^^; Though, I do hope Reina would have the decency to hold her anger(??) in in front of the kid.

Reina has certainly recognised Ai. I'm guessing it would be vice versa; if Ai recognised Sayu straight away (while Sayu took her time to recognise Ai), I have a feeling she won't have any problem recognising Reina. What was it that left Reina (and Sayu, to a lesser extent) bitter after Ai left 12 years ago is slowly starting to eat me up with curiosity :lol:

...though you probably won't divulge into it this soon XD


Can't wait to see how things will unfold....and what the secret final present Riho has arranged for her mother.



Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [12/5 - Chapter 12: A Little Surprise]
Post by: Estrea on May 20, 2011, 07:17:25 PM
Ugh, sorry to take so long with an update. Life intrudes.


kawaii: Riho is just a bundle of cuteness. :D And Ai is forever a drama queen. XD Queen of Emo, yo. And Riho is too awesome, so she needs flaws. As for how she survived, sheer good luck? Protagonist immunity? XD And yes Riho has no idea what events she has just set into place. XD

Kikk4r: I wouldn't say she likes to destroy stuff. She just accidentally does it. XD But isn't she so cute, trying so hard? :D

rndy: I'm glad I could do that. :D Have I mentioned how much I couldn't get my head straight in the chapter? Well, at least my readers seem to process it well enough. XD Little miss perfect needs to be...not so perfect, so I throw failures at her like sakura in spring. XD Besides, she has to live and learn on the road to becoming Wunderkind. XD ReinAi confrontation coming right up!

SarangAi: Hehe kawaii's the right word. :D Enter the Tanaka. *imagines dragon-kitty Reina* HM. XD Relax! It'll turn out just fine~ maybe

mmsuki: Aww you learned to read me already. :D I just enjoy torturing you guys, really. XD And Riho having vivid dreams was something I picked up from her radio show. XD And Riho can only plan for things that she has information on! :P

oddball: Well, thing about Riho is that she isn't perfect. She tries and tries, but SOMETHING always happens. XD She was doing so well too...XD;

Shiawase_Honoo: Riho's a wonderful daughter. I wonder if there's really such a specimen on earth. :lol: And yes, Reina's entry brings drama in its wake!

eruchan: Riho loves her mama. :D She did say she won't lose to anyone when it comes to love for her family, so...:D Didn't you hear how the road to hell is paved with good intentions? :D I just love being evil like that...

gab98: I want an Ai-chan Mama too. >_> XD What's so shocking about Reina showing up? They have to meet eventually...although, yes, the timing is dramatic. :P

aussie: Riho can only act on what she knows or can guess (however wrongly XD). Human perception isn't perfect in the absence of critical facts. XD What happened to cause the acrimony between ReinAi (and also Sayu)? That is the question. XD And yes, you know my methods too well! :P


Wow that's a lot to reply to. And ugh tired. Time to edit and post.
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [12/5 - Chapter 12: A Little Surprise]
Post by: rokun on May 20, 2011, 07:19:19 PM
*wedge*
>.>
<.<
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [12/5 - Chapter 12: A Little Surprise]
Post by: Estrea on May 20, 2011, 07:25:20 PM
A Moment in Time


Waking up early was not a common habit for one Tanaka Reina.

Even less likely when it was not for work. Reina wondered what sort of insanity she had tumbled into in agreeing to participate in her little protege's harebrained scheme. Her taste for mischief had not diminished as the years rolled on, and Reina was quite determined to stay young at heart, even if time chose to erode her outer shell. That was her way of thumbing her nose at nature's inevitable progress.

Still, this was not a prank, at least not in the usual sense. It involved deception, which appealed to the trickster in Reina, and the girly side of her positively squealed at the earnest effort little Riho was putting in for something like Mother's Day -- not that she would let her appreciation slip, of course. One had an image to maintain.

The display did, however, shame her into sending along a handwritten card along with the usual flowers she still sent on the day, as she faithfully did every year. Reina might be terrified of the cantankerous old bat -- a dangerous chill ran through her at the blasphemous thought -- but that didn't mean she didn't love her. They were both busy people, but they did make time to have meals together at least once or twice a year.

It was thus somewhat inconceivable to her how Riho was so abnormally (to her) attached to her Mama. Once upon a time, Reina imagined, she had felt close to her mother, but that seemed buried under that colossal mountain known as Work.

Reina had grown up practically on her own, since she did not have the benefit of a supportive extended family the way the Takahashi household had banded around Riho and her Mama. She had never met her grandparents, who had disowned her mother for being, ironically, too respectable. Reina knew little about the family history, but guessed enough to know that she probably didn't want to find out.

Her mother had proved too strong a character against her obviously weak-willed father, whom she did not recall, since the man either ran away or killed himself, depending on how cynical you wanted to be while listening to a mother's drunken rambles. Reina grew up relatively independent and able to hold her own in a scuffle, though she preferred to avoid them to begin with, if possible. Still, some fights could not be avoided, as was her inevitable involvement with delinquents during her younger days.

Such a far cry from those days, her idol self now. Reina eyed her nails with her usual alacrity, not bothering to suppress the yawn that came reflexively. Her bag bounced on her shoulder, weighted down by the parcel she was set to deliver to Riho. The invitation to come to her house was a surprise, though what surprised Reina most was how she had accepted it to begin with. She had taken a liking to the little tyke somehow, damn it.

It helped that Riho was quiet, obedient, and quick to learn. Reina's famous impatience could hardly find anything wrong with the Wonderbrat, except maybe with the singing, but the kid was young yet, and she at least possessed some sense of pitch. Reina's inner critic despaired of ever instilling that instinct into her dear cousin. Thank God for autotune.

The building was well maintained, though hardly spectacular. The general neighborhood was not particularly glamorous compared to her own, even though by some odd twist of fate, they were not located all that far apart. Had Reina really wanted, she could probably have walked there from home. Less than 2 kilometers away by her estimate, which was a trifling. Not that she would have walked there in heels. Or walked there, period. There was a somewhat unsavory neighborhood smack in the middle of their two districts, and Reina would never take such risks with her person. She had too much to lose.

With a fashionable beret on and famous face masked by her usual shades, Reina was convinced she looked no different from the average young woman on the streets. Going incognito became more of a imperative as the years passed; while early in her career she would have been more than happy to be noticed on the streets, time had eventually urged her to caution -- that, and growing fame made it difficult to do anything without people stalking her. While the attention was flattering, an older and hopefully wiser Reina had decided that having private time was more precious than she had reckoned.

Checking the address on her phone, she looked back up at the door. It had to be the right place. The wonders of GPS. Gone were the days when she ended up hopelessly lost! Technology was such a wonderful thing...once she figured out how to use it. Thankfully, her phone was more or less idiot-proof.

She rang the bell. The door opened between one yawn and the next, though she hid any signs of it quickly enough. The kid had to be parked right beside the door to open it that quickly. Smirking slightly in greeting, she lifted a small box out of her bag and waved it at Riho, who beamed widely in welcome.

Riho was prattling about one thing or another -- excitable little thing she was, really, though you wouldn't have imagined it of her -- and Reina nodded, not really listening. She turned her attention instead to her surroundings, which were quite spartan overall, but the inward progress into the tiny apartment yielded more signs of being lived in.

When Riho bounced forward to announce her, Reina's eyes caught sight of something on the table, an old photograph that had a visibly younger Riho and...

Her throat seized up. A ghost, it had to be. Ghosts from a past she tried to forget, though it still appeared in her dreams from time to time. She sucked in a deep breath, and turned.

Terror greeted her. For her part, Reina's eyes went absolutely blank, her brain doing the equivalent of CANNOT COMPUTE as seen in computers. This lasted but a mere moment, as she quickly recovered her composure -- outwardly, in any case -- and looked more closely at the teary-eyed woman on the couch.

That short hair, still mussed from sleep. It looked so different, yet so familiar, that a part of Reina almost reached towards it, but only sheer will prevented such an instinct. Her own eyes were hard, to mask the shock she was feeling, her posture wary, like a cat about to bolt.

The tear-streaked face...tears had not been a big part of those long-buried memories. Those long forgotten days were possessed of an innocent joy that excluded the need for them. The days that followed though...Reina felt her heart squeeze, then harden painfully at the memory. That time of her life shamed her deeply, a shame that she could never quite bury because one other person -- her dear cousin, Sayu -- had been privy to the depths to which she had sunk.

Those feelings of weakness, of vulnerability...all that was in the past. She had moved on past them, and no longer had any use for them. Useless emotions, that was all. She amused herself toying with young men, breaking hearts with the carelessness of a child, and never ever opened up her heart to anyone. No good could ever come of being open to others. It only ever allowed for betrayal.

This grim memory jolted her back into present times, and her own voice sounded distinctly clipped as she mouthed the usual formality, even managing a tiny upward quirk of the lips to suggest some sort of smile -- though no Oscars would be won for it.

Riho seemed unaware of the tension brewing in the room, and Reina briefly envied her for it. To be young and ignorant again! She watched with a steely glint in her eye as Riho catapulted back into Ai's arms with a contented sounding 'Mama~' emerging from her lips.

The perfect image of mother-daughter bonding would have been disgustingly sweet in any other situation, but it only made Reina cold in this case. She stood awkwardly at the edge, unsure of what she should do.

It was Riho who made that decision for her, bounding back to retrieve the case that Reina had obtained for her. Reina watched dumbly as Riho opened the box for her Mama (who just as obviously was hyperaware of Reina's presence), and in moments the room was filled with the haunting notes of an orgel.

Reina watched as Ai's eyes softened at the music, a motherly tenderness directed at her daughter, and inexplicably felt a kind of jealousy at the situation. Riho was beaming to see her final gift so well received, though even Reina had to let slip a hollow chuckle when Ai's next act was to rap her little girl's head and scold her for inviting a guest in to see her in so unglamorous  a state. Riho looked suitably chastised, and did not need much a second smack to dash off in the direction of the bedroom to fetch a hairbrush.

And it was just the two of them, briefly, in that suddenly claustrophobic living room.

"Reina..." Oh, so she remembers me, thought Reina bitterly, though her face remained impassive. The idol glided closer, her stocking feet making nary a sound on the tiled floor. She stopped just short of the couch, looking down at the person she had not seen in a dozen years, a confusing gamut of emotions tangled in her chest.

Ai did not shy away from meeting her eyes. Their eye contact remained unbroken from when Riho exited the room, and even now, less than a foot apart, neither looked away. A whisper of thought reminded Reina of how things change. The Ai she knew could never have met her eyes so consistently, so bravely, so...so...honestly. There was something almost naked in that gaze, and it made Reina uncomfortable -- which irritated her more than she could ever say.

"That kid..." Reina began abruptly, the first words simply leaping off her lips as they crossed her mind. "She's yours?"

"Yes." This close, Reina could see the defiant set of her jaw, and briefly entertained the notion of running her fingers along it. She dismissed the thought as quickly as it came.

"You left because of her." The words came out in a rush; hypothesis, conclusion, accusation all. Her thoughts all in a whirl, Reina stood alone in that roaring vortex, a silent calm within that churning storm. She was calm because the other option was hysteria. She felt nothing because she would not.

"Yes." There was something unutterably sad in that honest gaze, but it did not conceal the determination within. Reina jerked back slightly when Ai stood, their faces finally level.

A moment of tense silence, and Reina twitched visibly when Ai stepped towards her, placing a tentative hand on her arm. She was about to shake the grip off, but Ai had already let go after a light squeeze and a whispered "we'll talk later" before stepping past her to greet Riho with a smile on her face.

Reina's own expression was unreadable as Ai left Riho instructions to entertain their guest while she freshened up. She had half a mind to leave just then, but some perverse instinct made her stay. Her younger, more impetuous self might already have stormed out long ago, but Reina had learned a kind of stillness over the years. The kitten of yore had matured into a seasoned predator, and deep down, she wanted answers. She needed, no, demanded an accounting.

Her arm still burned where Ai had touched her. Reina wondered what it would take to exorcise old ghosts from the past, and hoped, not for the first time, for an end to it all.

And then what dreams would come?

Reina did not know. She could not.

===============================================


Preliminaries. Riho being there makes things difficult, but also interesting, in a way...
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [21/5 - Chapter 13: A Moment in Time]
Post by: rndmnwierd on May 20, 2011, 09:59:49 PM
I guess it was too much to hope for a Takagaki at all... Le sigh. :lol:

Oh well, my theory of 'Reina is the father!' seems a little more plausible now. Obviously, Reina cared for Ai in the past, probably intimately since it seems she wants to caress her jaw and run fingers through her hair. And after Ai left, Reina despaired so much that, what? Her innocence was destroyed? I wonder if Sayu ever brings it up when she feels a need to be spiteful?

Of course, little Riho has no idea, still. :lol:  Will she learn? Or will it probably scar her for life?

So, they've met with a promise to talk later? How long can Reina stay calm, how long can Ai stay calm, for that matter? It's been a long time, they're both different people, but they're both still the same on many levels. Will they rekindle whatever they had? Or is it just too late to fix? Despite my bias, I'm actually hoping they can work it out.

That is, of course, assuming I'm right about who the daddy is. You know what they say about people who assume, though. XD
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [21/5 - Chapter 13: A Moment in Time]
Post by: SarangAi on May 21, 2011, 02:36:16 AM
WAHHH  so many mysteries!  :panic:

So it seems like Ai was special to Reina no doubt, moreso than she was to Sayumi.  Seeming that the cold hard mask that reina usually manages to keep up just broke down as soon as she saw Ai...  :O

I wonder if this will lead to reina being colder to riho...  :(
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [21/5 - Chapter 13: A Moment in Time]
Post by: mmsuki on May 21, 2011, 03:40:08 AM
Quote
Thank God for autotune.
ahhhh.. no, not really.. lol.. i hate that damned thing..

Quote
For her part, Reina's eyes went absolutely blank, her brain doing the equivalent of CANNOT COMPUTE as seen in computers.
:rofl: i certainly know that feeling.. but for me its more like the loading bar that takes forever to process.. XD

Quote
Reina felt her heart squeeze, then harden painfully at the memory.
hopefully it didn't harden enough that would make it impossible to break.. XD

Quote
That time of her life shamed her deeply, a shame that she could never quite bury because one other person -- her dear cousin, Sayu -- had been privy to the depths to which she had sunk.
what?  :shocked something really deep and dark(?) happened in the past.. :grr:

Quote
She amused herself toying with young men, breaking hearts with the carelessness of a child, and never ever opened up her heart to anyone. No good could ever come of being open to others.
oh wow... Reina is definitely scarred.. if she still feels and does the same then she needs closure/answers to truly move on and live a healthy, happy life..  XD

Quote
It only ever allowed for betrayal.
trust issues surfacing.. will this be playing a role on the ReinAi interaction?  :? XD

Quote
And it was just the two of them, briefly, in that suddenly claustrophobic living room.
just when the tension couldn't get thicker... it did.. XD

Quote
Their eye contact remained unbroken from when Riho exited the room, and even now, less than a foot apart, neither looked away.
i know that its not the time for this... but.. -->>:wub:  XD

Quote
"Yes." This close, Reina could see the defiant set of her jaw, and briefly entertained the notion of running her fingers along it. She dismissed the thought as quickly as it came.
why dismiss an awesome thought??..  XD yes, i know i know.. its not the time nor is it appropriate given the situation.. :mon sweat:

Quote
"You left because of her." The words came out in a rush; hypothesis, conclusion, accusation all. Her thoughts all in a whirl,
so...... is it now safe to assume that they had a relationship in the past?  :huhuh  XD and my thoughts are in a whirl too... LOL! stupid unrevealed past.. :lol:

THE TALK..  :mon huh: what would be revealed there.. :banghead:

i think Riho being there made things civil between Reina and Ai.. :lol: if it were just the two of them suddenly meeting i don't know what would have happened.. XD
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [21/5 - Chapter 13: A Moment in Time]
Post by: Shiawase_Honoo on May 21, 2011, 10:21:22 AM
For this chap, I have no word to say :sweatdrop:
because I want to know the past of them :cry:
And maybe the theory that a member of PLAY is Riho's father (mother?) would be true XD

^ do not pay attention to my odd assumption :nervous
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [12/5 - Chapter 12: A Little Surprise]
Post by: eruchan on May 21, 2011, 06:13:31 PM
The display did, however, shame her into sending along a handwritten card along with the usual flowers she still sent on the day, as she faithfully did every year. Reina might be terrified of the cantankerous old bat -- a dangerous chill ran through her at the blasphemous thought -- but that didn't mean she didn't love her. They were both busy people, but they did make time to have meals together at least once or twice a year.
The relationship Reina has with the mother is such a contrast with Riho's  XD

Checking the address on her phone, she looked back up at the door. It had to be the right place. The wonders of GPS. Gone were the days when she ended up hopelessly lost! Technology was such a wonderful thing...once she figured out how to use it. Thankfully, her phone was more or less idiot-proof.
ah GPS... such a wonderful technology  :lol:

"That kid..." Reina began abruptly, the first words simply leaping off her lips as they crossed her mind. "She's yours?"
aaand... Reina and Ai finally meets! what a revelation...

"Yes." This close, Reina could see the defiant set of her jaw, and briefly entertained the notion of running her fingers along it. She dismissed the thought as quickly as it came.
I wonder why is that...
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [21/5 - Chapter 13: A Moment in Time]
Post by: dark-atrox on May 22, 2011, 12:02:36 PM
i wonder what happened to the other gokkies  :?
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [21/5 - Chapter 13: A Moment in Time]
Post by: gab98 on May 22, 2011, 05:31:21 PM
so good!!!!  :thumbup

what happened between Ai and Reina in the past??  :shocked

They were together, but when Ai knows of you pregnancy, leave to Reina... :?

maybe the father was not responsible for Riho ... or do not know about she... or maybe he (she) being now before them .... is that possible?  :dizzy:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [21/5 - Chapter 13: A Moment in Time]
Post by: oddball on May 23, 2011, 11:59:04 AM
So Reina meets a ghost from her past eh.....

seems as though, at some point Ai and Reina were close, how close I am still not sure but close enough it seems for Reina to be badly effected buy seeing Ai again, of obviouly causing her pain in the past.

Was it more than Ai having a baby, was Ai getting preganat a betral again Reina (in least in Reina's mind) and was it why Reina changed into who she is now....

I wonder too how this will affect Reina and Riho, obviously she will not see her the same as she did before, will she push her away, as she is now a reminder of Ai or will she use her to perhpas get back at Ai??? as of know, who knows...
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [21/5 - Chapter 13: A Moment in Time]
Post by: aussie on May 23, 2011, 12:24:07 PM
Clearly Reina cared for Ai in the past.....on some intimate level (yes, like that was going to be hard to see XD), to the point it plunged her into a state of despair when Ai left behind a huge void that no one could fill.

Now, is Riho going to be picking up on the unusual vibe around her mentor and her beloved mama? She may be Wonderbrat, but I would still like to think of her as an innocent little kid who is just clueless when it comes to these adult-y "issues" yet XD

And also, nice to see there is some kind of love between the two cousins. Sayu cared enough to feel some sort of anger towards Ai, and I like to think it was not just because she became deprived of being around her beloved(coughworshippedcough) senpai. Having seen how Reina despaired after Ai left, and her reminder to Ai at their first meeting in 12 years of how there is one person who she owes an apology more than anyone else is driving me insane with curiosity to get to the point to see what happened 12 years ago, dammit!!! :lol:

So Ai isn't exactly avoiding Reina, even making a promise to talk later. Can't wait till the next chapter~~


Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [21/5 - Chapter 13: A Moment in Time]
Post by: gracula on May 26, 2011, 11:21:16 AM
Oh god, what a time to have RL bite me in the ass. I was just remarking to bee and ropy how this story had taken an interesting turn and I needed to keep up with it. No matter, for I am now here with many useless things to say!

Chap 9: Jigsaw
This entire chapter is too brilliant and deserves many words of praise and exaltation. Therefore, as the saying goes, I present you a picture:-

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y214/gracthemusical/18092988_m.jpg)
Looming/Imminent Pedophile*


I believe the title of the work, says it all.
*gacked from Pixiv


Chap 10: A Little Happiness
I loved the Ai-Riho here- there was so much to glean from this simple interaction between mother and daughter. They are both so similar- level-headed, yet with moments of randomness.

Quote
"Okaeri." She only just managed to lay a stack of neatly folded laundry aside before her daughter all but flew into her arms. Even at the ripe old age of 12, Riho still repeated this little ritual with her Mama every time she came home.

I don't remember if I have ever, ripe or unripe, done this to my mother. But then again, if my mom was Takahashi Ai, I might consider it.

Quote
...the original had been Ultimate Ichiban Kawaii in Known Universe, as inscribed by the owner of said number.
With the display limit on my phone, it would read 'Ultimate Ichiban Kawa'.

Quote
As her daughter put it, "it's really sweet, but I don't know why she is doing this".
See illustration above for reason.

Quote
Then again, it wouldn't hurt for Riho to spend time with Reina. She hadn't planned for it, but it would be good for them.
Fruit of their loins and all that. Heh hehheh.

Quote
Granted, the kid was barely more than a toddler when it happened the first time, but Ai could never bring herself to forget the state of her poor hairdryer after little Riho somehow managed to make the thing explode in a shower of sparks and smoke.
What the heck was a toddler doing with a hairdryer?

Chap 11: A Little Plan

Quote
The woman tended to make her more than a little nervous even on the best of days.

(http://www.valdezlink.com/re/media/beardog4.jpg)
A *little* nervous?

Quote
(including that one year with the spontaneously combusting frying pan -- she didn't know oil could do that)
Seriously, this has long gone past helpless moe to frighteningly destructive.

Quote
It made her look years younger in an instant, and Riho was struck by how amazingly adorable her mentor was, in a cuddly, cat-like sort of way.
(http://www2.picturepush.com/photo/a/396635/img/396635.jpg)
Sheeyah. Cuddly kitty. Nom.

Quote
Mama's attention tended to linger just a wee bit longer on Reina whenever they went to watch PLAY live in concerts.
Oh! Angst. I love it.

Quote
Tanaka-san can be my 'other' present! Riho thought gleefully at the brilliant idea. It sounded wonderful. After all, what could go wrong?
Tis the gift that keeps giving!

Chap 12: A Little Surprise

Quote
Trying to get Riho to sleep in her own futon was an exercise in futility, as her little girl tended to automatically find her way to wherever Ai happened to be sleeping.
Hell, why wouldn't anyone? I would.

Quote
Her daughter always took these things so very seriously. Last year, she had put up a puppet show using the various stuffed animals as props. Her drama background really showed in the various voices she utilized for the characters in the performance.
:lol: and at the fact that you've done this too.

Quote
Her daughter really was going out of her way to be the model of a perfect child.
Okay, it's official. I want a daughter like Riho. But then again, she might irritate me out of the sheer fact that she will remind me of how flawed I am as a daughter myself.

Quote
Riho knew she owed a crapload of favors to one Tanaka Reina right now
Better one Tanaka Reina than a Michishige. <---- should be made into a proverb.

I got busy right after reading this update's cliffhanger. It bugged me constantly the entire time, especially since I couldn't respond to these amazing chapters.  :panic:

Chap 13: A Moment in Time

I loved. LOVED this chapter. The ReinAi meeting was perfect. BLOCK QUOTING!

Quote
That short hair, still mussed from sleep. It looked so different, yet so familiar, that a part of Reina almost reached towards it, but only sheer will prevented such an instinct.
Quote
even managing a tiny upward quirk of the lips to suggest some sort of smile -- though no Oscars would be won for it.
Quote
"That kid..." Reina began abruptly, the first words simply leaping off her lips as they crossed her mind. "She's yours?"
"Yes." This close, Reina could see the defiant set of her jaw, and briefly entertained the notion of running her fingers along it.
Quote
Her younger, more impetuous self might already have stormed out long ago, but Reina had learned a kind of stillness over the years

I know this ending is unresolved, but I can live off this happily for the rest of my life next month or so. Very apt chapter title.

And hey, lookie:-
Quote
And then what dreams would come?
Do I spy a Shakespeare reference?  Forsooth!

Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [21/5 - Chapter 13: A Moment in Time]
Post by: Estrea on May 29, 2011, 08:53:35 PM
Comment reply time~ Anyone miss me?


rndy: I refuse to write TakaGaki anymore. Well, mostly. It's over-saturated and TakaGaki is freaking everywhere. It makes me physically ill. :P But I still read good TakaGaki fics though. :D Anyway, well, evidence of past ReinAi closeness is readily available here. Riho shall remain young and oblivious...for now. :D Reina and Ai will simply have to resolve...whatever it is still simmering between them. Eventually. Hoho. XD

SarangAi: Yes, Ai was definitely special to Reina. Reina tends to obsess, you see. She can and will keep up a strong facade though. It's her way. How long she can do it for though, I wonder. XD

mmsuki: Sorry about the autotune mention? XD Trust issues will not be as...crippling...as in NR. Promise. XD I'm good at creating tension~ :P I love unrevealed pasts~ XD

Shiawase_Honoo: Everyone wants to know the past! :D

eruchan: I'm glad you noticed the parallel that Reina has with Riho in regards to their relationships with their mothers. XD

dark-atrox: The other gokkies will show up eventually. Don't fret. XD

gab98: Your comment confuzzles me. o_o;

oddball: Reina and Ai have a past, that much is obvious, yes. And you're obviously being cynical (with good reason!) about how Reina will deal with her trust issues and stuff. Then again I don't have a very good track record with writing ReinAi in such a situation. *points at NR and snerks* :lol:

aussie: Glad you saw the IN YOUR FACE evidence of ReinAi. XD Wonderbrat is still a brat. She will...be her bratty self. That is all. XD And I maintain that Sayu is evil but misunderstood. She's a lot nicer than she lets on. Doesn't change the fact that she's still evil though. XD I could write a whole different story for "12 years ago", but I druther not. :P

drac: GRAC YOU BACK!!!!!!! *inserts unicorns and rainbows* Boy am I glad to see you with your "many useless things to say". :lol: THAT PICTURE! SO MUCH WIN!!! Pedo!Sayu is beyond awesome. XD As for toddler with hairdryer, let's just say that Riho was an active child and Ai left her things around. Enuff said. Also, your animal pics are just so hilariously appropriate. I missed them. :lol: Yes, that is a Shakespeare reference! Fie, woman, disappear thou on me no more! :lol:

Time to edit and post. :D
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [21/5 - Chapter 13: A Moment in Time]
Post by: Estrea on May 29, 2011, 09:03:36 PM
Here and There Again


The situation, Ai decided, was just a step short of surreal.

To be alone with Reina for the first time in 12 years, to be seen and acknowledged by her, and not have it de-evolve into a screaming match was something out of her expectations. That they were actually civil to each other, that Reina could actually be patient enough to not let her temper run wild (with good reason) -- all these things were more than she could ever have hoped for.

Though, to have her so close and acting so...detached was somewhat jarring. After the first, intense moments, Reina had retreated into her aloof image, haughty and untouchable. She treated Ai as if she were a stranger, choosing instead to focus on Riho. Ai noticed how Reina studiously scrutinized Riho whenever her daughter wasn't paying attention, as if trying to figure out something. Ai could have told her right out what she was missing, of course, but she had a feeling that whatever she had to say wouldn't be easily accepted, if at all.

And now they were out, all three of them, because she wanted to take Riho shopping. Riho only wanted to spend time with Mama, and Reina tagged along because Riho asked her to stay...and probably also because she was still waiting for that talk with Ai.

Right now, Reina seemed to be deeply immersed in a conversation with Riho while they browsed through a rack of clothes, with Ai tailing a step or two behind. Ai couldn't help but raise an eyebrow when Reina managed to talk Riho into trying on certain styles that she hadn't expected the kid to like. Then again, perhaps it shouldn't have surprised her, all things considered.

"Are you trying to turn my kid into a mini-version of you?" Ai commented curiously, stepping up to stand beside Reina, who was still browsing through the rack. Riho had disappeared into the changing room, and Ai couldn't pass up the opportunity to speak more openly.

Reina shifted slightly to acknowledge the added presence, replying tersely.

"Not my fault that's exactly the kind of clothes she likes. Don't you ever buy her anything she really wants?" Reina turned on Ai with a disapproving look over her shades. Ai tensed, her jaw locking defensively.

"When I can afford to, I do." Reina snorted, turning away.

"At least she still looks presentable." Ai half-smiled at that. It wasn't quite an apology, but coming from Reina it was practically conciliatory. There was a thin veneer of manners over that half-wild yankii brat she remembered. Perhaps less of a brat now, she mentally amended. There was a renewed sense of confidence and sureness in the way Reina carried herself, as if she had become more like the self she had exhibited in her younger years, magnified and expanded. Reina always knew exactly what she wanted and how to get it, Ai remembered with a small smile.

"If she comes out looking like a yankii I am so blaming you." The words left Ai's lips before she thought them through entirely, and she was rewarded with a quizzical eyebrow from her companion. She caught the edges of a smirk from Reina, and a hint of their old dynamic as Reina bantered back just as casually.

"Just for the record, I did not pick the colors." As if on cue, Riho emerged from the dressing room. Reina's smirk grew wider. Ai wondered if she should be amused or resigned, and settled with a small sigh. Frilly black lace, short skirt, some leather involved. If anything, the fusion had obvious influences from both women standing there.

"I did try to get her to wear pink..." Reina commented idly. "But she was quite adamant on the black. Not unlike a certain someone..."

The offhand remark coaxed a smile out of Ai, and she visibly relaxed for the first time since leaving the apartment. The comforting ease in these little interactions calmed her more than she imagined, and left her aching for more of their old familiarity.

"How do I look?" Riho asked with obvious anxiety, shuffling around nervously. Ai expressed approval, though Reina was a tad more critical. Fashion queen that she was, she demanded exacting standards, down to the last detail.

"Boots. Now." And they were off to the next store, burdened with one more bag. Reina paid for everything before Ai could even protest. When Ai actually did protest, Reina just gave her a shark-like grin and said that Ai could simply buy them lunch later.

For her part, Riho seemed simply too caught up with the momentum to notice the little byplays between her mentor and her mother. For which Ai was exceedingly grateful, for now. Then again, she was playing an excellent game of chicken with Reina, with them dancing around the delicate issue of them obviously knowing each other and not inadvertently revealing that connection with the barbs they traded as the day progressed.

Reina's almost sardonic "Takahashi-san" and Ai's primly correct "Tanaka-san" whenever they addressed each other in front of Riho verged on the realms of hilarity to those in on the game, namely only the two playing it. Reina's liquid amusement was evident in her attitude, only growing when Ai matched her blow for blow, never giving way or failing to return a snide remark that had significance to them alone.

It was almost exhilarating, in a way. Ai could not remember having quite as much excitement in her life since...forever. There was a scintillating sort of thrill in saying things that threatened to cross the line of revealing how well they used to know each other in front of Riho. Something about Reina made her feel oddly competitive, and she relished the challenge it brought.

If Riho noticed anything strange she did not let it show. Then again, in between shopping, snacking, and alternating between clinging to her Mama and Reina, Riho was having so much fun that she was barely aware that anything was amiss. She was just happy that her Mama and Tanaka-san were getting along. Everything would work out just fine.

The day flew past faster than any of them could have expected. Reina had ended up paying for the yakiniku they had for lunch, though Ai sneakily managed to pay for the Korean food they had for dinner. Though it must be said that Riho managed to surprise them both with ice cream somewhere in the afternoon. Never let it be thought that the kid knew not how to save.

Now they were at a cafe, and Ai was acutely aware that Reina was watching her with apparent amusement as she flatly rejected Riho's pleading for cider.

"No."

"But Mama!"

"I said no. That is final." Ai was very firm about that. Riho did not need the sugar rush at this hour. Ai vividly remembered an incident involving a Christmas tree, ribbons, and sparklers. Not to mention the alarms. Oh the alarms. Never again.

Riho pouted, scuffing the floor indignantly with her new boots. Ai ignored the outburst, knowing better than to indulge the tantrum. Riho was a good kid, but could be fairly bipolar when things didn't go her way. Ai shot a flat look at Reina, who was about to open her mouth.

"You're not getting it for her either." Reina's jaw worked silently for a split second, then snapped shut with a disgruntled sound. Ai did not miss the quick exchange of commiserating glances between Reina and her daughter -- one sulky, the other petulant. They appeared evidently wounded by Ai's actions. Ai had to suppress her laughter. Both of them looked like kids. At least Riho had the excuse of actually being one.

Dessert went by quickly, and Ai had had to intervene in the inpromptu parfait competition that sprung up between Riho and Reina. For the record, Riho won. Ai had to resist kissing away the pout on Reina's face, and resorted instead to babying her triumphant -- and suddenly sleepy -- daughter.

It was in the taxi, with Riho practically unconscious on her lap, when Reina finally broke the charade, never looking at Ai as she stared straight ahead, and said.

"You know, I thought I hated you."

Ai sucked in a deep breath, her hand stilling in its motion of stroking her daughter's silky hair. She kept her face neutral, but that pose was trembling.

"And you know what? I still kind of do." Reina admitted freely, leaning her chin on her palm as she stared out at the scenery speeding by. Ai sat mutely, not knowing what to say.

"You're infuriating, exasperating, and the most confusing person that has ever walked into my life." Reina turned her head slightly to look down at the peacefully sleeping Riho sprawled between them. There was a pregnant pause.

"That kid..." Reina let out a breath, slowly. "I don't know how or why, but..." There was a flash of raw pain in those quicksilver eyes, making Ai's heart seize painfully.

"I can see why you value her." Reina turned back to the window.

"Reina..." Ai began uncertainly.

"Tell me something." Reina said abruptly. "You were pregnant with her before graduation?"

Ai hesitated, then replied softly. "Yes."

Those small shoulders trembled faintly, so faintly that Ai thought she might have imagined it entirely. But there was no mistaking the accusatory note, the hidden hurt in Reina's voice.

"There was someone else then?"

Ai couldn't help the scowl that crossed her face, the affront and injury that remark did to her. Her reply was scathing and short.

"There never was."

The taxi slowed as they approached the Takahashi domicile. The sudden silence was deafening in the wake of Ai's declaration, only broken by Riho stirring at Ai's urgings.

As mother and daughter alighted from the cab, Riho waving a sleepy farewell to her senpai, Reina quite suddenly got out as well, rounding the back of the cab to stare straight into Ai's eyes. Confusion met wounded pride, and Ai's fists clenched briefly. Riho rubbed at her eyes sleepily, not fully aware of her surroundings.

"Don't lie to me." Reina whispered, her voice low. She seemed suddenly very small and vulnerable. Ai looked very tired in that instant, holding Riho's hand in one of her own.

"I've never lied to you, Rei." Trust me, her eyes begged. Believe.

Reina looked uncertain for a moment, then averted her eyes. Ai sighed, tugging along her barely awake daughter to walk past Reina, when the idol gripped her arm as she passed.

"I..." Reina hesitated, unable to continue, unable to decide. Ai shook herself free, gently. Reina let her hand fall, but her muttered words, tired and exasperated, were still audible to the retreating Ai.

"You're still so damn beautiful, Ai."

Ai did not look back. Moments later, she heard the door of the taxi slam shut, and the hiss of rubber on asphalt as it pulled away. Only then did she turn back, wistful eyes staring after the diminishing lights of the cab.

Only another gigantic yawn from her nearly comatose daughter managed to yank her from her reverie, and even as Ai shepherded her groggy daughter home, she wondered, not for the first time, how things had gotten so convoluted to begin with.

If only...Ai shook her head. Life was already full of sorrow, and she refused to regret the things long past. For better or worse, she was here. All that time had passed. They were all older, and not always wiser -- much to her chagrin -- but there was always room for hope.

Reina called her beautiful. Ai smiled. It was a start, maybe, to a healing.

She could only hope that they could all survive the truth.


==============================================================


Time to flop into sleep!
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [30/5 - Chapter 14: Here and There Again]
Post by: rndmnwierd on May 29, 2011, 09:28:48 PM
You know, I never thought about RenAi until you wrote them. Because of Mini Moni, I was introduced to Ai, way back when, and so I've always kinda seen her, if not been an outright fan after Yossui graduated. Risa, has always kind of popped to me, and as such, is my current number one, Ai not far behind. Surprisingly, it's Reina that rounds out my Top Three in H!P these days. It's been a long time since the yonki heyday for me, a long time since Momusu's so called golden Age, but still, my fandom for these girls keeps going strong.

That being said, I really don't like RenAi pairings.

I blame you for this. XD

Was it Nocturne or Nanchatte Renai that turned me off to it, I wonder? Granted, I am a pretty hardcore Takagaki fan and I can (reluctantly) acknowledge the very deep friendship that Reina and Ai share, but I always feel that in most RenAi pairing stories, Risa gets shafted or portrayed as the annoying little cling-on with no more brains in her head than a stalk of corn.

So, even when I read a RenAi story that doesn't make Gaki out to be the bad guy or the annoyance, some of my old, I dunno, anxiousness? comes to the surface and prevents me from enjoying the story to the fullest.

Not to say that I'm not enjoying this story now, as much hilarity and drama has and will ensue, but it still doesn't make me want to see Risa pop up here any less, if only to put in more glow in the dark hair references.

Now, all that being said, onto my review.

Quote
*shopping and banter*
What better way to break the ice than with shopping!!

And banter! I really do love the way you described them dancing around each other, an interesting game of chicken. XD

Quote
Frilly black lace, short skirt, some leather involved. If anything, the fusion had obvious influences from both women standing there.
More Reina is the daddy references? I'm just waiting for the official announcement. I'm seeing lots of yelling and then, when Reina is accusing Ai of cheating, using Riho as her proof, Ai let's loose with the truth.

Quote
"You're still so damn beautiful, Ai."
Something I think we can all agree on, correct?

Quote
Reina called her beautiful. Ai smiled. It was a start, maybe, to a healing.
Because I love you, Essy, I'm rooting for them to work it out. Only because you're the author, though!

Quote
She could only hope that they could all survive the truth.
REINA IS THE DADDY!!!!! :panic:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [21/5 - Chapter 13: A Moment in Time]
Post by: mmsuki on May 30, 2011, 04:38:23 AM
mmsuki: Sorry about the autotune mention? XD Trust issues will not be as...crippling...as in NR. Promise. XD I'm good at creating tension~ :P I love unrevealed pasts~ XD
:lol: just not a big fan of it! :P YEY!! happy happy sunshine.. XD hopefully.. :shocked yes!! you are painfully brilliant at it.. XD


Quote
Ai couldn't help but raise an eyebrow when Reina managed to talk Riho into trying on certain styles that she hadn't expected the kid to like. Then again, perhaps it shouldn't have surprised her, all things considered.
all things considered?.. considered what... what... :? grrr-rawrrrr.. :nervous

the ReinAi interaction during the shopping.. is  :wub:  XD..

Quote
Ai vividly remembered an incident involving a Christmas tree, ribbons, and sparklers. Not to mention the alarms. Oh the alarms. Never again.
:lol: just exactly how much of a klutz is Riho??  XD

Quote
Ai had to resist kissing away the pout on Reina's face,
ahhh.. alas for better judgement.. XD

*breaks the charade*
reading your fic always turns me into an emotional person.. LOL!! i seriously wanna cry... i hate you for that..  XD its just oh-so-awesomely written.. ;) definitely better and more effective than any movies or t.v. shows i have ever watched.. XD

Quote
It was a start, maybe, to a healing.
:cry: :thumbup

Quote
She could only hope that they could all survive the truth.
how about us?.. will we be able to survive the truth??..  :lol:

*ok.. time to go watch something happy..  XD
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [30/5 - Chapter 14: Here and There Again]
Post by: aya-chii on May 30, 2011, 05:02:06 AM
WHOOOOOOOO~!!!!
WHOOOOTTTTTSSSSS!!!!!!!

hahahahah. that was fun... reina and ai acting all the way
and our little riho being completely oblivious....

Quote
"You're still so damn beautiful, Ai."
wub wub wub wub wub wub wub
it is really not my habit to quote, this is actually my very first time quoting something
but i just really have to quoteee!!!

Quote
Reina called her beautiful. Ai smiled. It was a start, maybe, to a healing.
YESSHHH!!! MOAR ReinAi!!!!

Quote
She could only hope that they could all survive the truth.
DAMN that truth! until now still unknown!
when do you plan to tell us author-san!
i'm also eager to leaarrrrnnn!!!
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [30/5 - Chapter 14: Here and There Again]
Post by: aussie on May 30, 2011, 09:51:43 AM
I'm with rndy on this: REINA. IS. THE. DADDY!!!!!!!!!!

:lol:

This chapter just has the vibe of the long-lost daddy finding out about the kid (s)he never knew existed, and is having some bonding time......while shopping. I'm sure normally dads wouldn't really resort to shopping to bond with a daughter, but hey. Reina is just special like that :P
(Just loving it how I'm running with a theory that you could so easily overturn as the story progresses.....)


Following on from what rndy mentioned about the ReinAi relationship, about how they share a deep friendship. I get the feeling IRL, that Reina is not someone who opens up herself easily to anyone, but with Aichan she lets her guard down, at least a lot more than she does around other members, even her fellow 6th gen. And that she doesn't mind being babied by Aichan (at least, me likes to think XD). It made me think a bit when Reina expressed the view Aichan's graduation news was the most shocking of the all the announcements she has been through, even beating out the news of Eri's rather unexpected graduation announcement. That Reina's first reaction was to ask "What for?" when Aichan made her announcement, and that Aichan was unable to muster a response (source: Sayu's radio XD) and their manager had to intervene made me smile when I heard it the first time. Maybe that is my inner ReinAi-ism at work, but I found it to be quite telling, personally.

Part of the reason I'm sad about Aichan's graduation is that we won't get to see her interactions with other members anymore *coughmainlywithReinacough* :D
I'm also finding it amusing how I refer to Aichan as 'Ai' when referring to the fictional character, and as 'Aichan' when discussing the real person.


(Apparently Reina expressed her view the timing of the 10th gen audition isn't quite right with Aichan's graduation and 9th gen having just joined, in the DeView interview she recently did with Sayu. Another interesting point for me. Not sure if that will be in the article itself, but that was from the comments of the interviewer who did the interview).

Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [30/5 - Chapter 14: Here and There Again]
Post by: SarangAi on May 30, 2011, 11:53:37 PM
OMG do i detect a ReinAi past?  Yes. Yes I do.  XD

So I was trying to predict some sort of happy explanation for everything such as Reina actually being the daddy, but then i realized we'd have to be in the WAY WAY distant robotic future to do that, and obviously we're not so... i chucked that weird imagination of mine  :lol:

But what doe it matter?  It seems like Reina's love for Ai is still too big for her NOT to give Ai another chance... and she seems to get along better with Riho every single chapter.   :wub:

can't wait for more~~~  :cow:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [30/5 - Chapter 14: Here and There Again]
Post by: Shiawase_Honoo on May 31, 2011, 07:42:38 AM
Oh!! This...is the chap I waited for!!! :w00t:

But when I saw anyone do the theory that Reina is the daddy,
I just remember to how Ai-chan mentioned to her friend: Konno
And she had told little Riho to not get something to eat in Konkon's kitchen :?
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [30/5 - Chapter 14: Here and There Again]
Post by: dark-atrox on May 31, 2011, 11:51:58 AM
ah! mata RenAi da  :catglare: :catglare: :catglare:

I'm still rooting Gaki as the father  :twisted: though I'd say their bonding at the mall was cute  :cathappy:

PS: I want Sayu cameo  :roll:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [30/5 - Chapter 14: Here and There Again]
Post by: eruchan on May 31, 2011, 12:21:27 PM
The playful banter between Reina and Ai is amusing to read.. Though it's annoying how they try to avoid the issue..

I'm glad that Reina asked about Riho in the taxi.. OMG who's the dad if Ai never cheated? Reina? Or perhaps it's the product of Konno's experiment gone wrong? Or right?
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [30/5 - Chapter 14: Here and There Again]
Post by: oddball on May 31, 2011, 12:38:14 PM
Interesting, even though Ai and Reina started off by being polite to each other for the sake of Riho it seemed that as the day went on they both began to act natrually and forgot their freindlyness was forced, natually slipping back to how they were....

Seems as though perhpas Reina still has the feelings she had for Ai all along, perhpas spending time with Ai has brought them to the front of her mind once more...
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [30/5 - Chapter 14: Here and There Again]
Post by: rokun on May 31, 2011, 03:50:37 PM
To be alone with Reina for the first time in 12 years, to be seen and acknowledged by her, and not have it de-evolve into a screaming match was something out of her expectations.
O_O This impresses me. Did Ai really think it'd be that way? Maybe that's how it used to be between them, but they've both certainly grown since... maybe especially her, now having 12 years of experience being a single mother and all. And hoping for? So she really wants to make up with Reina? ^^

And now they were out, all three of them, because she wanted to take Riho shopping. Riho only wanted to spend time with Mama, and Reina tagged along because Riho asked her to stay...and probably also because she was still waiting for that talk with Ai.
And a shopping trip too? That really is amazing. :lol:

There was a thin veneer of manners over that half-wild yankii brat she remembered.
If she was that much of a brat then why...? Oh nevermind. XD

As if on cue, Riho emerged from the dressing room. Reina's smirk grew wider. Ai wondered if she should be amused or resigned, and settled with a small sigh. Frilly black lace, short skirt, some leather involved. If anything, the fusion had obvious influences from both women standing there.
Somehow I'm imagining goth loli Riho here... :ph43r:

Reina's almost sardonic "Takahashi-san" and Ai's primly correct "Tanaka-san" whenever they addressed each other in front of Riho verged on the realms of hilarity to those in on the game, namely only the two playing it.
I'm halfway surprised Reina didn't start calling her "Takahashi-sama", knowing her yankii overuse of keigo :lol: Perhaps that's something else she's grown out of a little bit...

"I said no. That is final." Ai was very firm about that. Riho did not need the sugar rush at this hour. Ai vividly remembered an incident involving a Christmas tree, ribbons, and sparklers. Not to mention the alarms. Oh the alarms. Never again.
Sheesh. What the heck kind of child was Riho? Seriously! XD Or is this just a single mama's exagerrated memories? :lol: Also at Reina's amusement to it, well, she certainly has never been a parent. :lol: More like that supreme bachelorette Sex in the City-type woman...

Dessert went by quickly, and Ai had had to intervene in the inpromptu parfait competition that sprung up between Riho and Reina. For the record, Riho won. Ai had to resist kissing away the pout on Reina's face, and resorted instead to babying her triumphant -- and suddenly sleepy -- daughter.
Okay, well this certainly shows what kind of relationship they used to have :lol: :wub:

As mother and daughter alighted from the cab, Riho waving a sleepy farewell to her senpai, Reina quite suddenly got out as well, rounding the back of the cab to stare straight into Ai's eyes. Confusion met wounded pride, and Ai's fists clenched briefly. Riho rubbed at her eyes sleepily, not fully aware of her surroundings.
Reina's totally gonna slug her, isn't she? >.> If not, then she really has grown too...

But instead...

"You're still so damn beautiful, Ai."
Awwwwwwwwww  :luvluv2:


So we're finally past this "first meeting" hump? :lol: Well at least nobody ended up getting slugged...
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [30/5 - Chapter 14: Here and There Again]
Post by: gracula on May 31, 2011, 07:22:57 PM
This chapter was everything I hoped for and more. It was heart-warming and heart-wrenching all at once- I had tingles. It’s been a good long while since a fic I read did that.

Quote
Ai noticed how Reina studiously scrutinized Riho whenever her daughter wasn't paying attention, as if trying to figure out something. Ai could have told her right out what she was missing, of course, but she had a feeling that whatever she had to say wouldn't be easily accepted, if at all.
I look forward to Reina’s interaction with Riho from now on. Much like Sayu’s unhealthy obssession, Reina will also probably find herself observing Riho and seeing Ai’s traits in the kid. Question is, will Reina see her own?

Or :lol:

I'm still rooting Gaki as the father  :twisted:
 
Reina might see everyone else (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/LukeIMightBeYourFather) in Riho just cause she’s difficult like that.

Whatever it is, Essy. Please never *EVER* use the “Oh look, the kid has a cat-shaped birthmark on her tush, just like mine.” plot device to have Reina discover the truth. I’d rather DNA testing. Maybe Reina could ask Konkon to do it.

Quote
She could only hope that they could all survive the truth.

“Rei, the truth is… Riho’s mine. Like, really just mine (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TrulySingleParent).”

I love how blissfully unaware Riho is throughout all this. I’d like to see a scene where either Ai or Reina tells Riho about the birds and the bees. (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HomosexualReproduction)

Edit: I forgot to mention.

So we're finally past this "first meeting" hump? :lol:

I totally read this out of context. My fevered mind is ecchi.
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [30/5 - Chapter 14: Here and There Again]
Post by: Dreamcato on June 04, 2011, 08:38:44 AM
I don't know why, but something about this last two chapters reminded me Nanchatte Renai and Destiny Love.
What if .... Ai had to "sacrifice" herself by the sake of the kitten. Or maybe it's just that I'm a little traumatized by those fics. XD

Perhaps, traumatized is not the word that works there.

But, then...
Reina is the daddy!!
I agree  :P
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [30/5 - Chapter 14: Here and There Again]
Post by: Estrea on June 04, 2011, 07:53:29 PM
Look who's back! :D

rndy: Lol I feel singlehandedly responsible for poisoning the ReinAi fandom now. *feels guilty* I hope to repair it...somehow. XD I must say, Gaki really isn't my favorite in Momusu, and I almost dislike her, but not really. I just don't like her as much. But she has a lot of potential both in Momusu and as a character. I promise to give her a fairer deal from now on. XD And as you wish, there is much Gaki in the coming chapter. Ask and ye shall receive. I am a merciful God writer. *cough*

mmsuki: I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter. And my writing in general. Hehe. Even if I do torture you a great deal. :P I like making people emotional! And this wasn't that sad, was it? :P

aya-chii: Yeah ReinAi dancing around each other is always fun. Little Riho might be a smart kid, but she's still a kid, and some things just completely fly over her head. She'll wise up...eventually. XD There shall be more ReinAi, given time. Patience. XD

aussie: I'm so glad to have a ReinAi supporter in you, I really am. We are the few and proud, I think. XD ReinAi isn't immediately obvious IRL, you get the sense that they have this deep bond, or had, even though they don't seem to goof around as obviously as the others do. Hell, we have more evidence of Ai hanging out with just about everyone else except Reina. It annoys me, but then Ai also has this habit of never really revealing the really private stuff. It might be inner ReinAi fan in my talking, but the more they have to hide, the more real they are to me. XD I'll settle for them having a high level of trust and a deep friendship if nothing else. The kind where you don't really need words. You get the feeling they really appreciate each other, since Ai likes how Reina is able to be so sure and honest about herself, while Reina feels like she can tell Ai anything (an interview a year or two back XD). But yeah, I tend to blur the lines when I write fic about them. They are a pairing near and dear to my heart. :)

SarangAi: This is fic. Specifically, this is Essy fic. I have an explanation ready for everything. All in good time. XD Don't worry about it. :P

Shiawase_Honoo: Yes, just follow that line of thought... :P

dark-atrox: You sound so disappointed. XD More Sayu coming up. I think she wins the next chapter, personally. XD You'll see why~

eruchan: Well you can't blame them for avoiding the issue. Riho is there, and this is their first reunion in like 12 years. Give them a bit of time to work things out lol.

oddball: You can't erase chemistry that easily. I went for years without seeing my best friend, and when we see each other again it's like we never left to begin with. The same logic applies, but with some awkwardness involved due to their more complicated past. XD

rokun: Oh mai, you actually commented. It's been a while. :P Welcome back. XD I think Ai didn't think it was possible to make up with Reina, but if she had the chance to, she certainly would want to. Oh and goth loli Riho? Totally happened IRL when she went on a shopping trip with Ai. XD Also, some of Ai's memories might be exaggerated. After all, some things might feel more traumatic to her than it actually is, since, you know, it IS her kid. Aren't you glad everything was so civil? XD

drac: I'm glad you liked the chapter. I was worried that it wasn't good enough. As usual. Lol. Reina will certainly have more reason to pay attention to Riho now. As you say, she's more than likely going to be able to see a lot of Ai in the kid. XD Don't worry, I don't intend to use that awful trope to prove Riho's heritage. Speaking of tropes, you're evil for linking tvtropes in your comment. EVIL, I say. And I like your fevered mind. It didn't occur to me until you pointed out the ecchi implications. Bad grac. :lol:

Dreamcato: Welcome to my thread! Glad to have you around. :D Don't worry, there will be a lot less angst, since MSF is not intended to have a lot of angst. So rest easy. *pats* Sorry for traumatizing you with those fics. :lol:


Well that certainly was a lot of work. o_o Long comments deserve long replies...*twitch* XD

Time to edit and post!
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [30/5 - Chapter 14: Here and There Again]
Post by: Estrea on June 04, 2011, 08:07:13 PM
Encounter


If she had an option to never see another curtain for the rest of her life, she would have taken it in a heartbeat.

Niigaki Risa was normally a patient person. Scratch that, she was patient on her own time, not on other people's time. It was what made her efficient, since her drive to finish everything in the shortest amount of time possible made her more productive than others in the same line.

Detail-oriented and a hundred percent focused on tasks handed to her, she could somehow match the client's expectations to an overall aesthetic level that would satisfy her own exacting standards. Far from being obsequious like so many of her compatriots, Risa would not hesitate to tell a client when something would most definitely not work. Certain colours were never meant to go together, and if the client insisted...well, she wasn't the one who had to live with it after it was done. Though she would most definitely volunteer a "I told you so" to anyone who regretted it after the fact.

Currently, she was very seriously contemplating smashing her iPad on the nearest object...preferably over the too-hard head of her client. If she heard just one more word about the curtains she was going to scream. Literally.

"I really can't decide if I want them to be pink with white trimmings, or white with pink trimmings..."

Risa prudently decided that yelling at the woman to have both sets and alternate them would probably sound a lot better when not delivered at a screech. Taking deep calming breaths, and carefully removing herself out of range from any sharp objects -- the better to stab her client with, her mind added -- Risa mustered her most professional smile and composed herself to reply.

"You know, curtains are not a permanent fixture, so you could change your mind about them at a later date." There. She managed to even not sound too sarcastic. Way to go Risa, she congratulated herself, and discreetly massaged her temples to quell the building headache.

Indecisive clients were a trial to her, particularly on bad days. Picky clients were comparatively less annoying, provided they knew exactly what they wanted. Put those two qualities together and Risa was about ready to go into ogre mode and tear up furniture. It was a testament to her professionalism that she had held up for as long as she had.

"I suppose that's true." Her client conceded, browsing through a catalogue. They had just started a discussion about lighting fixtures when they were rudely interrupted by a loud banging at the door.

"Oh bother." Her client frowned, before pushing off from her beanbag chair to answer the door. Risa took the opportunity to take a sip from her lukewarm coffee, rubbing at her eyes as she muffled a yawn. Due to the hectic schedules of this particular client, this had been the only open slot that wasn't past midnight or in the wee hours of morning where they could discuss the layout of her new apartment.

Risa was used to irregular hours, but she had been run ragged lately, and would really appreciate having some time to herself that wasn't devoted to crashing into bed for the necessary 8 hours (or less) before having to be up and about again.

"What brings you here?" Risa raised an eyebrow, peering over the rim of her cup. The surprise visitor came into view only a moment later, and a second eyebrow flew up to join the first in its attempt to merge into her hairline.

Rubbing shoulders with celebrities wasn't an everyday occurence, though she had had her fair share of famous clients. She had very quickly gotten over dealing with one Michishige Sayumi over the last couple of weeks, but seeing a scowling Tanaka Reina in the flesh was...probably less impressive than it should have been.

For one thing, Tanaka was tiny. Risa wasn't very big herself, but the singer was a lot smaller than she looked on TV. Though the sense of her presence certainly justified her celebrity status. An aura of menace seemed to hover around the dimunitive idol as she stalked in, taking in the boxes stacked in a corner.

"Good, I thought you moved already." Reina grated, her eyes sweeping over the stock-still Risa, who suddenly decided that the best course of action would be to blend into the wallpaper for the time being. She dropped her gaze and pretended to be very interested in her iPad. There was something raw and oddly violent in that angry gaze, and Risa was quite keen on maintaining her state of health, thank you very much.

"And you still came?" Sayumi padded in lightly after her partner, arms folded. "What's gotten into you, Reina? You seem out of sorts."

Reina whirled on the taller girl, fists clenched as she gritted out.

"You knew she was back. You knew and you didn't tell me."

Sayumi seemed briefly taken aback, and her eyes seemed to shift around before settling into a cool mask. She appraised her cousin calmly, as if trying to weigh her response.

"I have no idea what..."

"Oh don't you give me that, Sayu." Reina cut in, folding her arms indignantly. "The way you've implied things whenever you referred to the kid, the way you always follow her around so creepily -- yes I know that was you." Reina threw her hands up in the air, her frustration evident.

"I know you, Sayu. It just didn't occur to me before without a reason to believe. But now I've actually seen..." Reina sucked in a breath, her shoulders tightening visibly.

"And you expect me to tell you, what?" Sayumi parried back immediately, not waiting for Reina to gather herself for another attack. The self-proclaimed ichiban kawaii idol suddenly seemed less like her normally bubbly self, and a lot more like the serpent she occasionally portrayed on TV. Gaki risked a look, but did not dare move. Some instinct told her to stay as still as possible while those two duked it out.

"You were in pieces after she left. You were the one who said that you never wanted to see her again when she didn't come back. Or did you forget already, dear cousin? How you locked yourself up and cried..."

"Shut. Up." It came out more like a growl than as real words, but there was no mistaking the intent. Reina trembled with barely controlled rage. "You have no right..."

Sayumi chucked lowly. "Oh, but I do." Her eyes glittered in challenge. "I gave you back your life. I picked you up when you were broken and left for dead, or did you forget? When you lost your pretty little head and decided that you could take on a bunch of gangsters on your own..."

"You go too far, Sayu." Reina said flatly. Her nails were clenched into her fists, and from where Risa was sitting, it seemed like she had already drawn blood. She couldn't tell for sure though.

"But you don't deny it." Sayumi picked daintily at a piece of lint on her sleeve, letting it flutter off with a breath. "I really didn't want to bring the past back to you, seeing how you always react so badly."

Reina twitched visibly, and Risa thought for a moment that she was going to attack Sayu. Her hand slipped discreetly to her phone. In case anything happened she could always call the police...

"I was angry back then." Reina admitted sourly, glaring at her smug cousin. She turned away, facing the opposite wall. "I don't hate her now. If I ever did."

"You've met then." This was not a question. Sayu studied Reina's back for a moment. "I'm surprised you're...intact."

"You sound so disappointed." Reina drawled. Sayu smirked.

"I was half expecting you to kill her actually. Or tear her clothes off. The fact that you're here all tidy-looking is out of my expectations." Blunt as always, Sayu never gave any quarter to anyone, cousin or no.

"Give me a little credit, I'm not a hot-headed brat anymore." Reina said with a half-smile, turning back to face Sayu, who answered with a sardonic smile.

"So says the one who comes barging into my house at such a late hour, demanding explanations." Sayumi tsked, waving a finger disapprovingly. Reina let out a short bark of laughter, her anger apparently fading, though Sayu still sensed a dangerous tension hovering around her cousin.

"Not so late I see, since you still have a guest." Reina finally acknowledged Risa's presence in the corner, and the interior designer gulped reflexively, wondering if she could walk out of the apartment alive.

"I'm sure Gaki-san is tired. Why don't you head on home first? I'm sure we can schedule another appointment." Sayumi's smile seemed almost too good to be true, though if the chill that ran down Risa's spine was anything to go by, it was far from friendly.

"O-of course. I'll forward you my sketches tomorrow, and you can tell me what else you would like changed before we proceed." Risa fell back on work to hide her anxiety, and managed to not fumble too much as she gathered up her things and prepared to leave.

She almost made it past the famous duo when Sayumi caught hold of her arm, leaning in with a too-friendly smile as she whispered.

"I'm sure you saw and heard nothing earlier, yes? It would be such a pity to have to find a more reliable interior designer who can keep her mouth shut." The taller idol let go of the petrified Risa. She was still smiling.

"Good night, Gaki-san. Have a safe trip home."

Risa all but ran out of the door. Before the door slammed shut, she thought she heard one of them laugh. Suppressing a shiver, Risa held her briefcase close to her chest, wondering just what kind of madhouse she had escaped from.

Celebrities. Not a sane one among them. Risa hoped little Riho was doing fine. She made up her mind to visit her best friend and her daughter. She had been neglecting her friends of late, and felt a stab of guilt at that.

Putting the incident behind her -- because nothing happened, not at all, no siree -- Risa started texting her friends, glad to have something other than batshit crazy idols to focus on.

It would be good to see her more normal friends again.


========================================================


Poor Gaki. XD Caught in the crossfire. XD

I hope everyone enjoys this chapter. I know I had fun with it!

Also, please excuse any irregularities regarding the job of an interior designer. I'm just pulling stuff outta my ass for that one. XD If anyone knows better, you are free to tell me what they actually do. XD I would appreciate the input lol.


And off to bed I go!
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [5/6 - Chapter 15: Encounter]
Post by: Kikk4r on June 04, 2011, 10:05:14 PM
WHAT AN AWESOME CHAPTER~ :cow: i just love the fight between Reina and Sayumi i`ll give you credit for that and sorry for not commenting i just didn`t have any thing to comment on :nervous

and poor Risa must suffaire from Sayumi`s famous glare (i think :nervous) ahhh and some Takagaki :wub: (that will show up i hope and i guess it is but you now what they say about people who guess ..... they end up wrong hope im not one of does :nervous)

hopes for more ...... all ways do XD
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [5/6 - Chapter 15: Encounter]
Post by: rndmnwierd on June 05, 2011, 07:19:36 AM
Gaki chapter? GAKI CHAPTER?!! :w00t: :w00t: I love you! Totally! Completely! You have made my day!

And not just because this is a Gaki chapter, but because it's YOU writing a Gaki chapter. XD

Well, okay, I guess it's not really a Gaki chapter, it's more of a "Reina confronts Sayu in the aftermath of meeting Ai through Risa's POV" chapter, but I'll take what I can get.

So, I have fully accepted the lack of Takagaki romance and have been much appeased by Takagaki friendship. Now, I think I can safely root for RenAi to work things out, as long as Ai has her friends to lean back on somewhere along the line. And there's more of Risa being intimidated by Sayu. XD

Have I mentioned that I really love the way you write characters? Cause, I do, a lot.  :wub:

Quote
rndy: Lol I feel singlehandedly responsible for poisoning the ReinAi fandom now. *feels guilty* I hope to repair it...somehow. XD I must say, Gaki really isn't my favorite in Momusu, and I almost dislike her, but not really. I just don't like her as much. But she has a lot of potential both in Momusu and as a character. I promise to give her a fairer deal from now on. XD And as you wish, there is much Gaki in the coming chapter. Ask and ye shall receive. I am a merciful God writer. *cough*
Well, as for my take on RenAi, that's just a Risa fan's view of things. :sweatdrop:

And I'm probably, okay definitely, biased in my fandom, but do you mind if I ask you why it is that you don't particularly care for the Gaki? Other than the whole "Takagaki saturating the market" bit? I am curious, and very glad, about how you didn't outright say you hated a person you've never interacted with on a one on one basis before.

I tend to feel a bit squicky whenever someone says, "Oh, I hate this girl, I hate that girl." Even though it has similar, if opposite, tones from loving a member. In fact, even though I shouldn't do it, I still say "I love this girl, I love that girl." I mean, they are pretty strong words, right? So even in the positive context, you shouldn't really say that about someone you only know superficially. Am I babbling? I'm totally exhausted right now, so I'm not sure if I'm making my point.

...What was my point...?

Hate and love, right? I've been trying to break myself of those habits of speech, instead of saying, I hate so and so, I try to say, "I don't really care for her." or "I'm not really a fan." And instead of saying I love so and so, I have been trying to say, "I'm a huge fan." or "ZOMG she's awesome saucem!"

Okay, now I know I'm rambling. Sorry for that. :sweatdrop:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [30/5 - Chapter 14: Here and There Again]
Post by: KirikomoriHime on June 05, 2011, 09:40:34 AM
Hello! This is my first reply on your story (yeah I just started reading today) and I have to say I really love it  :heart:

Riho is my favorite kyuuki... I love the character you give her in this story!  :wub: And I love tsundeReina! I have to admit the way you write her makes me think of a super tough badass biker chick. Which is not a bad thing! That's hot too~  :drool:

All I can really say about this last chapter is

"I was half expecting you to kill her actually. Or tear her clothes off.
Please?  :twothumbs
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [5/6 - Chapter 15: Encounter]
Post by: gracula on June 05, 2011, 10:02:55 AM
Quote
Currently, she was very seriously contemplating smashing her iPad on the nearest object...preferably over the too-hard head of her client. If she heard just one more word about the curtains she was going to scream. Literally.
Even before you said 'pink', I already knew it was my future bride. Is this what they call romantic attunement?

Quote
"The way you've implied things whenever you referred to the kid, the way you always follow her around so creepily -- yes I know that was you." Reina threw her hands up in the air, her frustration evident.
What? Was Sayu in costume or something that Reina couldn't recognize her? Or was it because Sayu, despite being hidden from sight emitted a creepy aura so strong that even Reina could detect it?

Quote
Suppressing a shiver, Risa held her briefcase close to her chest, wondering just what kind of madhouse she had escaped from.
:lol: What a pleasurable rarity to have Risa entirely cowed by Sayu and Reina in a story. Congratulations, this is the first for me. I love it.

Quote
Celebrities. Not a sane one among them. Risa hoped little Riho was doing fine. She made up her mind to visit her best friend and her daughter.
1) Little Riho, you mean the one your client is perving over stalking?
2) Interesting- Risa, as Ai's best friend and doesn't know about her past with Reina.

Quote
It would be good to see her more normal friends again.
Normal is relative, Gaki-san.


Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [5/6 - Chapter 15: Encounter]
Post by: dark-atrox on June 05, 2011, 05:40:33 PM
dark-atrox: You sound so disappointed. XD
:lol:  LOL but nope, I'm not disappointed, its just I can't seem to like RenAi
even if u paid me, btw! kidding  :cathappy:
And Gaki, it's Gaki  XD XD XD (TakaGaki loyal fan) it's Gokkies time, i guess  :)
And I lol'd too much at Sayu and with her ebil-ness  :twisted:

PS: So, they're Takahashi-mama's common friend eh?  :cathappy: (Gorokkies?)
Anddddddddddd I'm still rooting Gaki as the father  :lol: :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [5/6 - Chapter 15: Encounter]
Post by: aussie on June 06, 2011, 10:35:36 AM
Poor Gaki. So Sayu was the mystery celebrity client she had been dealing with that was being difficult. Go figure :lol:

I liked the TanaShige confrontation here. Despite the outward appearance of hostility, I like the thinly veiled love and caring between the two cousins, such as the reference to Sayu pretty much picking Reina back up from the wound that was inflicted on her by Ai's sudden departure. I like it how Sayu says she gave Reina her life back, and I also liked Reina's admission to it rather than fighting back and the whole scene exploding out to a major....er, disagreement XD
I guess then it was not only out of family feeling Reina asked Sayu to tag along in PLAY.

Curious though, how Gaki does not seem to know Sayu and Reina personally and only knows them as members of the famous idol group. She is best friends with Ai yet she does not seem to know her past with Reina (and Sayu). Makes me wonder how Ai came to know the two cousins, and I'm gathering now it was probably not at school then, if Gaki does not know them. Another mystery added :D

Will Gaki be in for a shock when she visits her 'normal' best friend? XD Staying tuned.
One last note, will Eri be making some sort of an appearance in this story, or was she just used as a relevant excuse to force PLAY on break and give them time to meet up with Ai and Riho? XD



aussie: I'm so glad to have a ReinAi supporter in you, I really am. We are the few and proud, I think. XD ReinAi isn't immediately obvious IRL, you get the sense that they have this deep bond, or had, even though they don't seem to goof around as obviously as the others do. Hell, we have more evidence of Ai hanging out with just about everyone else except Reina. It annoys me, but then Ai also has this habit of never really revealing the really private stuff. It might be inner ReinAi fan in my talking, but the more they have to hide, the more real they are to me. XD I'll settle for them having a high level of trust and a deep friendship if nothing else. The kind where you don't really need words. You get the feeling they really appreciate each other, since Ai likes how Reina is able to be so sure and honest about herself, while Reina feels like she can tell Ai anything (an interview a year or two back XD). But yeah, I tend to blur the lines when I write fic about them. They are a pairing near and dear to my heart. :)

I do have a soft spot for ReinAi. When Eri was still around I used to struggle between TanaKame and ReinAi, and while I still appreciate TanaKame I have been finding myself leaning towards ReinAi a bit more lately. I don't know what it is I find so appealing about them, because they are not the 'best friends' pairing like SayuEri or even TakaGaki *shudders*, nor do they have the fangirling appeal Sayu has with Aichan. I think I just like the air they have around each other, and how Reina doesn't seem to mind being the 'baby' character when she is with Aichan.

Reina never really hangs out with anyone XD It's one thing about her that frustrates me a little as a fan, but hey, that's just the way she is ^^;
As long as you continue to write ReinAi fics I think my ReinAi fandom shall be safe, especially with Aichan's graduation which is expected to force a shortage of ReinAi goodness IRL :(
(I'm still waiting for Destiny Love to be updated, just because you promised a happy ending for once :P)
Oh, I do hope ReinAi can work it out here too :D



Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [5/6 - Chapter 15: Encounter]
Post by: oddball on June 06, 2011, 12:14:12 PM
Oh dear seems as though Gaki isw destined to get caught in the middle quite alot in this story, seems as though she jsut got very much stuck with Reina and Sayu and it will I'm sure only be a matter of time before she figures out about Ai and Reina and I suspect she will be in the middle again, especially now that Sayu mentioned how hurt Reina was by Ai leaving...

As for Sayu, eeep, talk about a scary side, I wonder if this is a side which really on Reina, and I suppose to an extent Gaiki, see from her. Did she really keep Ai's return a secret from Reina for her own good? Maybe she did, but perhaps she had her own agenda in that as well.... Hmm, I wonder if Sayu will casue some trouble to riho now, to get at Reina, if not Ai.....

Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [5/6 - Chapter 15: Encounter]
Post by: Estrea on June 06, 2011, 06:50:34 PM
Quick update because I'm awesome like that! Also because you guys commented lots, real fast. XD


Kikk4r: No problem, I always find it difficult to comment for other people, and I'm a writer! :lol: Reina vs Sayumi is always full of win. XD Here's more~

rndy: I knew you would be happy with the Gaki POV. I definitely thought of you when the idea came to me. XD As for why I don't care for Gaki, I'm not entirely sure why. I seem to like her well enough when it comes to her voice. I really like how she sounds on radio, and I think she sings really well. She amuses me with her personality sometimes. But I just can't seem to like her the way a fan would. Something about her just doesn't sit right with me. I appreciate her and what she brings to the group, but I can never be a dedicated fan of her. Plus she can also sometimes be quite hot, which my brain cannot compute when it happens. XD Most of the time she just makes me laugh when I watch her in performances. Again, don't ask me why. Maybe it's the fact she just seems so over the top at times. I take her more seriously when she doesn't overdo things, and like her better then too. But yeah. That's why. And I get what you mean about the hate/love thing. I try to not use "hate" for anything, because it's such a strong word. Love though...I usually mean in the daisuki sense, rather than the aishiteru, which is why I like Japanese better for their ability to qualify those two nuances separately. XD English can be horrifically imprecise for that particular word. XD And I don't mind you ranting! Look at what I did! XD

KirikomoriHime: That is a longass nickname. Can I just call you KiriHime and skip the inbetween? XD Welcome to my threads! May you return with regularity! I'm happy to hear that you like my story. :) Riho's my favorite kyuuki too, and I miss badass Reina IRL, which is why I bring her back in fic so often. XD Please direct your final request at rokun. I'm sure he can produce something with a hint or two from me, like in so many of his pervs. Right. XD

drac: Sayu has an incredible presence. Even moreso in creepy stalker mode. Reina knows her cousin. She figured it out eventually. XD Risa is always the senpai in other fics, whereas here seniority means nothing, and hence the SayuReina combi can work their magic. XD Ai keeps her secrets very well. Besides, Ai is Risa's best friend. I never mentioned anything about it being the other way round. Not that Ai doesn't appreciate Risa. She is just...less likely to talk about things. XD And Gaki-san knows well enough that normal for her is...less than normal for the more normal people out there. And that's way too many qualifications of normal in one sentence.

dark-atrox: I will convert you. Maybe I'll never make you a ReinAi devotee, but in the way rndy has been converted, I can make you appreciate ReinAi when I write it. Hurhur. It will happen in time. I'm that good. :P More random Gokkies here. XD

aussie: I love building links between my characters in the background. Six degrees of association (or less!) is very much at work here. XD I'm glad you picked up on the TanaShige chemistry here. They might fight a lot, but they do care. Reina doesn't like how she is indebted to Sayu, but she is grateful. Sayu might be evil and poison-tongued, but Reina's still family, and Sayu looks out for family. In her own sneaky way. There's a very good reason as to why Gaki (and by extension Ai's friends in general) don't know about Reina and Sayu. But that's another story (please don't tell me I need a prequel in addition to the sequel I'm already planning orz). Eri will have a cameo, but her presence, or lack thereof, is really just a catalyst, as you've noticed, for Reina and Sayu meeting Ai and Riho. They would have been too busy otherwise. XD
ReinAi has their own dynamic that I always find so endearing when done right. They play around a lot, and Reina doesn't mind being a kitten with Ai. She seems...softer...somehow with Ai. Normally she's always so proud and tsundere. XD I'll probably continue writing ReinAi until some other pairing gets my attention *coughwhen9thgengrowsupcough*

oddball: Gaki just has the misfortune of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, though "caught between" might not be the best word for it. She's hardly the point of contention there. XD Just...an innocent bystander who got dragged into the mess for no discernable reason. XD But yes, you noticed Sayu's dualistic nature. Perhaps she means to help Reina, perhaps she has her own motives. I like writing Sayu like this. XD She's so much more interesting this way, don't you think?


Aaand time to edit and post!
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [5/6 - Chapter 15: Encounter]
Post by: KirikomoriHime on June 06, 2011, 06:54:18 PM
WEDGE -wanted to do that- lol KiriHime is fine xD
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [5/6 - Chapter 15: Encounter]
Post by: Estrea on June 06, 2011, 07:02:06 PM
The Enquiry


It had been a strange two weeks.

First, the good news. Riho had two copies of the magazine where she had made her modelling debut. A small step, but definitely one in the right direction!

It was somehow very satisfying to see herself on the glossy pages of the magazine, even if she still found fault with a lot of things about herself in general. Being self-critical came naturally when you had Takahashi Ai for a mother. It ran in the blood.

Everyone had been effusive with praise. Both Konno-san and Ogawa-san called to tell her that they bought copies of the issue. Niigaki-san also dropped by to treat her and Mama to dinner to celebrate the occasion, which gave Riho a headache deciding whether she was more happy about the amount of food she could gorge on or her debut. Then the food came and she forgot all about the question. One track minds were such useful things at times.

That was the good news. Well, technically having Michishige-san tell you that she bought a dozen copies of the spread would be a good thing, but Riho had found herself instinctively taking a half step back with a wide eyed look of apprehension at the declaration. Apparently, her instincts for self-preservation were well developed already.

Tanaka-san did not bother buying a copy. She just 'nicked one of Sayu's, since she has so many' -- her words exactly. Riho couldn't quite fault that logic. Though Tanaka-san also bought her a lot of chocolate to celebrate, so all was well in the world.

Speaking of Tanaka-san, well, there was that odd thing that had been bugging her for the past week and a half. Or thereabouts. She couldn't be sure. Because Mama had also been more mopey than usual, so Riho's concentration on anything else had been just a little scattered.

It was probably the last week or so when she began noticing how things were not quite the same. Oh, there was always the familiar sense of being watched. She had learned to ignore the chill running down her spine after a while, though it still kept her on her toes.

Tanaka-san wasn't talking very much. That was odd. Sure, Tanaka-san didn't talk very much when they first met, but after she had warmed up some, the more experienced idol was a veritable chatterbox. Riho was somewhat in awe of the effortless way Reina could make conversation, and not only that, make it interesting. She was a one-woman show, and was  somehow still able to make space in the conversation for Riho to participate.

Instead, there had been a return to the sulky Tanaka-san of their first meetings, except sulky might not quite be the right word. Sullen? It was surely pensive enough. Tanaka-san seemed perpetually distracted and deep in thought. On more than one occasion, Riho had caught her senpai muttering to herself when she thought Riho wasn't looking.

It worried her. Riho had come to genuinely like the young woman. She had gone from 'Tanaka Reina - superstar' to 'Tanaka Reina - fun and friendly senpai' to her over the months. While they were not quite friends, Riho had grown quite attached to the cat-like idol. It made Riho wonder how anyone could have bought into that scary image that Tanaka-san projected at times. The real thing was harmless. Well, mostly.

If anything, Tanaka-san just seemed...depressed. The usual scowl had no fire in it. Tanaka-san often looked troubled as she looked at her. That really worried Riho. She even mentioned it to her Mama, but Ai had just smiled a little sadly and told Riho not to worry about it.

Which made Riho more than a little suspicious. She was not often given to doubt, especially not when it concerned her mother, but there was just something in the way her Mama had referred to Tanaka-san that just didn't quite click with her. The amount of time Mama spent in her own world had also increased of late, and that just amplified Riho's anxiety.

Of course, she hadn't been quite so desperate to go to a certain Michishige Sayumi. There was no getting past the fact that while Michishige-san certainly liked her a lot, Riho still felt understandably quite jumpy around the (self-proclaimed) ichiban kawaii idol. She liked Michishige-san well enough, but was content to keep her distance.

And so, borrowing advice she had so often heard from her Mama's lips, Riho went to seek out one Konno Asami instead. 'When in doubt, ask Kon-chan. She knows something about everything.' It did seem that way to little Riho. Whenever she ran into difficulty with her homework, she never needed a tutor, not when Konno-san was but a mere phone call away.

Granted, this was advice of a different sort, but Riho had faith in her Mama's smartest friend. She didn't tell her Mama she was going though. Something told her it would defeat the purpose. God would forgive her for this minor deceit. Or someone would, somehow. It was for the greater good.

Riho vaguely recalled bedtime stories where a funny old wizard with twinkly eyes often spouted that phrase. Seeing as how Mama was the one reading them to her, Riho logically concluded that her Mama must agree with those words.

That said, Riho had had an interesting childhood. Where other children grew up on ordinary fairytales, Riho had Harry Potter instead. Along with assorted other fantasy titles and stories about depression and child abuse. Not that she knew what they meant. But Mama seemed to like them, and they might have contributed to Riho's inability to sleep alone. Being terrified to death had a great deal to do with it.

But back to her present circumstances. She was having tea and takoyaki with the resident genius and eccentric (some say mad) scientist, otherwise known as Konno Asami. Riho had eyed the refreshments with some wariness, remembering a time-honored warning from her Mama, but hunger (and repeated assurances) had won out in the end.

Though she had nearly choked on the takoyaki when Konno offhandedly mentioned that the sauce was part of a demonstration at the university. They didn't have to do the Heimlich to remove any obstruction, though water (and a brief digression into fun anecdotes from the fluid mechanics lecture Konno had helped to conduct in the absence of her fellow professor) had helped.

Now fed and watered, Riho related her worries to the bespectacled genius, who seemed to be doodling DNA helixes in the leftover sauce on the dish. When laid out in logical fashion, Riho felt mildly foolish for coming all the way to ask Konno-san about her concerns. It did feel a lot like she was doing a whole lot of worrying over nothing. She was just about to forget about the whole business when Konno looked up slowly, peering at her as if from a great distance. Riho suddenly felt very small in her seat.

"You first noticed this...strange behavior since, a week ago?"

Riho nodded. "Mama's been a little strange, well, stranger than usual, since after Mothers' Day, actually. I didn't actually see Tanaka-san until a week ago, and she was weird too."

"Did anything in particular happen?" Konno had a very intent expression on her face. Only the microscopes in her lab ever bore witness to that expression, since it was only while peering through them that she ever got that kind of look. It was one of utter concentration.

"Not that I know of." Riho shrugged. "Well, Tanaka-san helped me to surprise Mama on Mothers' Day, but nothing weird happened. In fact, they seemed to get along."

"Really?" Konno frowned, stirring another cube of sugar into her tea as she pondered the facts. "You say they got along?"

"They seemed..." Riho struggled for the right word to express herself, "...comfortable around each other? I don't know. Mama is usually more reserved around strangers, but she wasn't like that with Tanaka-san, not really. And Tanaka-san seemed to be having fun too."

"That's...interesting." A light seemed to come to life behind those wire-rimmed glasses, making the lenses spark strangely as Konno pushed them further up her nose. A look of understanding washed over her face, and she reached reactively for her notebook, her hand already scribbling away furiously as she studied Riho intensely again.

Riho squirmed under the gaze, feeling vaguely like a specimen under a microscope. What was it with the adults around her? Were none of them properly sane and reasonable? Well, there was Niigaki-san, when she wasn't being excessively histronic. It was a pity Ogawa-san wasn't around. She missed her bluff good humour.

"Um, Konno-san? What did you figure out?" Riho asked tentatively after a few minutes where the scientist had been muttering away to herself.

"Hm? Oh, nothing in particular. Just...a little piece in a puzzle I've been missing for a long, long time." Konno beamed as she regarded Riho. "It all makes sense now, except for how. And possibly when, but I know when it, I mean you, happened -- but never mind that."

"What?" Riho didn't get it. Konno chuckled nervously. If Ai knew that she had blurted out anything at all, she was sure her old friend would turn her into a pincushion for her own test tubes.

"Just let the adults work things out themselves. You're not going to be able to help much with your worrying." Konno advised, patting Riho on the head. Riho squirmed away from the touch, disliking being treated like a pet. She might tolerate it coming from her Mama, but not anyone else.

"I still don't get it though." Riho grumbled, pouting sulkily with arms folded. She tapped the floor impatiently with one foot, as if it would give her answers by sheer force of will alone.

If anything, her words only triggered a strange laughter from Konno. When her little visitor finally decided to leave, Asami stared after her from the door, before chuckling again to herself.

"Oh you'll figure it out, soon enough." Asami removed her glasses, cleaning it absently on the hem of her shirt before returning them to their usual place.

"Ai-chan never leaves anything unfinished, after all..."


============================================


Wrote this on a whim. It practically wrote itself, come to think of it. XD

Bedtime nao. Gotta wake up early for work.

EDIT: Congrats! Your first wedge, I believe? :D Good job!
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [5/6 - Chapter 15: Encounter]
Post by: KirikomoriHime on June 06, 2011, 09:40:48 PM
Ai-chan is depressed? Oh no! -gives her Reina porn- There you go! -pats on head and gives Ai-chan porn to Reina-  :deco: <-- ... that's starting to look weird to me : x

AH more Konno :wub:

Sorry I'm not very imaginative with my comments, I'm going on 4 hours of sleep...  :sweatdrop:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [7/6 - Chapter 16: The Enquiry]
Post by: SarangAi on June 06, 2011, 11:22:34 PM
AGH missed two chapters!  Sorry...  :sweatdrop:

But I caught up today!  and you have NO idea how happy i am to see Gaki-san and Konkon too!  even if it's just a little, it's good to see some gokkies~  :twothumbs

lol chapter 15 was so interesting... i can totally imagine Sayu giving that evil glare with a sweet smile to Gaki-san... what a paradox XD

chapter 16... aww~ it's kinda cute how Riho is all worried about her mom.  but Konkon definitely knows what's going with Reina and Ai, i think.  That last line kinda half-scared, just the way it was written, but maybe it means we'll get to see some happiness in this returned ReinAi love?  :wub:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [7/6 - Chapter 16: The Enquiry]
Post by: mmsuki on June 07, 2011, 03:48:09 AM
mmsuki: I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter. And my writing in general. Hehe. Even if I do torture you a great deal. :P I like making people emotional! And this wasn't that sad, was it? :P
thats the weird awesome thing about it.. it wasn't even that sad or depressing like the one in NR but something about that little scene/encounter was just so sad and painful(?) lol.. i don't know, its just the way you wrote and presented it... it was powerful enough to draw out emotion within me that thats not usually there.. LOL!  XD

Encounter
i'm really surprised that Risa is not aware of Sayu & Reina's connection to her good friend Ai-chan?..  :huhuh i mean, aside from knowing that Riho works with them.. does she not know of the past of Sayu, Reina and Ai?? XD

Quote
"The way you've implied things whenever you referred to the kid, the way you always follow her around so creepily -- yes I know that was you."
it looks like the Bunny was not being discreet as she thought she is.. :nervous the bunny's out of the hat now.. XD

Quote
"You were in pieces after she left. You were the one who said that you never wanted to see her again when she didn't come back. Or did you forget already, dear cousin? How you locked yourself up and cried..."
*clears throat, channels inner announcer/commentator voice* the anticipated match between the bunny and the kitten has began and the first blow is delivered by the bunny.. XD Kitten - 0 ; Bunny - 1 :onioncheer:

Quote
"I gave you back your life. I picked you up when you were broken and left for dead, or did you forget? When you lost your pretty little head and decided that you could take on a bunch of gangsters on your own..."
Kitten - 0 ; Bunny - 2.. the kitten not recovering from the previous blow, receives another.. at this rate if she doesn't start delivering blows of her own, she will lose.. the bunny is well known for giving out such poisonous blows that stuns its receiver effectively.. the Kitten should have known that from the start, and if she wants to win this one, she should start resorting to her yankii ways of responding that we all know she is very capable of.. that is the only way to even out her cousin's poison tongued blows..

Quote
"You sound so disappointed." Reina drawled.
here it comes, here it comes.. the Cat has finally shown her claws... will she scratch the living crap out of the bunny to end and finally win this match? from the looks of it... this is the only way the Kitten could gain victory after receiving those 2 blows, there is no other way.. she should start scratching and clawing now..

Quote
"So says the one who comes barging into my house at such a late hour, demanding explanations."
'DOH.. :doh: and another blow from the Bunny.... making the score 3 - 0 in favor of the Bunny.. at this point i don't know how the Cat will recover, after a devastating blow like that... my advice; start scratching NOW! and fast!!!..  :panic:

Quote
"Not so late I see, since you still have a guest."
what is this? what is this?.. the Kitten deflected the last blow!! - part of it anyway.. XD but it is NOT enough to put her on the score board..  :smhid though it is enough to postpone the match where the bunny has a massive lead over the kitten.. stay tuned for the next round of this epic battle.. this war is far from over, expect the unexpected for the next round.. because we all know that the Kitten will not go down this easily.. things should be heating up.. and who knows, there might be a sudden turnaround and the Kitten actually pulls off a victory.. nothing is certain yet.. *end scene* XD

LOL! WTH.. i seriously don't know where that ^ came from..  XD i wasn't planning to comment like that..  :lol: excuse the randomness and nonsense-ness.. XD
btw.. will the third member of PLAY make an appearance any time soon?? lol.. just want to know and see how the turtle would react to this whole mess.. XD

The Enquiry

Quote
Well, technically having Michishige-san tell you that she bought a dozen copies of the spread would be a good thing, but Riho had found herself instinctively taking a half step back with a wide eyed look of apprehension at the declaration.
:lol: stalker Sayu makes another appearance.. thats right Riho, back away slowly... don't spook the hentai bunny..  XD or else things might get worse.. :P

Quote
It was probably the last week or so when she began noticing how things were not quite the same.
Riho, ever the observant child.. XD

Quote
Oh, there was always the familiar sense of being watched. She had learned to ignore the chill running down her spine after a while, though it still kept her on her toes.
:lol:  :rofl: Sayu!! stop creeping the kid out.. and it looks like Riho's spidey senses are tingling whenever Sayu's around.. at least she's aware that she is being 'observed keenly' from a distance and that gives her a heads up.. XD

Quote
"Hm? Oh, nothing in particular. Just...a little piece in a puzzle I've been missing for a long, long time."
hmmmmmmmm... :?  :shocked

Quote
"It all makes sense now, except for how. And possibly when, but I know when it, I mean you, happened -- but never mind that."
:banghead: :banghead: wait... Konkon doesn't know the how? lol!! so Riho was not her experiment then..  XD  but that still doesn't answer any question from Riho's questionable existence..  :banghead: XD

Quote
"I still don't get it though." Riho grumbled, pouting sulkily with arms folded.
you are not alone Riho.. XD

Quote
"Oh you'll figure it out, soon enough."
:shocked i doubt it..  :lol:

Quote
"Ai-chan never leaves anything unfinished, after all..."
again.. --> :shocked and more --> :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [7/6 - Chapter 16: The Enquiry]
Post by: nighell on June 07, 2011, 01:50:38 PM
Walked all around, not daring to write that either...

Chap Encounter
Poor Gaki   :lol:
Quote
"I really can't decide if I want them to be pink with white trimmings, or white with pink trimmings..."
Risa: :frustrated:

Quote
"What brings you here?" Risa raised an eyebrow, peering over the rim of her cup. The surprise visitor came into view only a moment later, and a second eyebrow flew up to join the first in its attempt to merge into her hairline.

Imagine: Risa aka shadow is sitting in the corner, peering over the pink curtains with white trim))  :mon cweepy:

Quote
"Good night, Gaki-san. Have a safe trip home."
Risa convulsively clutching his briefcase quickly went from the house muttering under his breath: i'm alive... :farofflook:

Chap The Enquiry

Quote
Ai-chan never leaves anything unfinished, after all...
Frightening phrase...  XD
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [7/6 - Chapter 16: The Enquiry]
Post by: dark-atrox on June 07, 2011, 03:14:28 PM
er...so, Rena is really the father?  :smhid yadda!  :thumbdown: lol jk :P

well, it's not like I don't like RenAi  :nervous
I actually like some RenAi fics that u wrote  :thumbsup
though I'm a loyal TakaGaki fan that's all  :cathappy:

Sayu's being creepy...kinda funny  XD
I can actually imagine her buying all those copies of magazines  :lol:

PS: ur going to include the turtle here, right?  :roll:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [7/6 - Chapter 16: The Enquiry]
Post by: Shiawase_Honoo on June 07, 2011, 06:09:45 PM
I wanted to comment for more, but my brain just stopped working :bleed eyes:
because I have to study a lot :bleed eyes:
but I'll keep an eye on your updating :thumbsup
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [7/6 - Chapter 16: The Enquiry]
Post by: oddball on June 08, 2011, 11:15:06 AM
Hmm interesting that Riho has noticed her change in her mother and Reina after the happenings on Mothers day but perhpas has not made a connection between Ai and Reina past that, seems as though perhpas KonKon has twigged, finally by the look of her reactions, what might of happened at the time that Ai left.

Seems as though it is something that Ai sows not want Riho to know but I feel as though Riho's curiosity will force Ai to tell her, at least in part, a bit more about her past than Riho currently knows....
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [7/6 - Chapter 16: The Enquiry]
Post by: Kikk4r on June 08, 2011, 06:29:51 PM
YAY GLOSER TO THE TRUTH :cow:


im glad to hear it from you though that makes it easier to comment in some way :nervous

THE TRUTH WILL OUT ............(someday) :nervous

and ................. YAY UPDATE  :cow:

yay Riho is learning something everyday hahaha from konkon (i just love her character hereXD) HOHOHO Reina is the father right ...... (is that even possible?) hahahaha Ai is not sane :lol:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [7/6 - Chapter 16: The Enquiry]
Post by: eruchan on June 09, 2011, 06:53:16 AM
wow... you update real fast this time... and finally I got the time to comment, I'll do it XD
I have to say, the more things got revealed, the more confused I am XD
so... Riho noticed the changes in Reina and Ai, and lol for her reaction to Sayu...
and poor Gaki-san... having Sayu as her client XD I wonder how she'll get involved in this whole mess
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [7/6 - Chapter 16: The Enquiry]
Post by: rndmnwierd on June 09, 2011, 01:32:28 PM
Quote
*Essy's thoughtful reply to my previous question*
So you pretty much feel the same was for Risa as I do for Sayu. I was curious. :D

Hmm, this is going to be a short reply....

So! Riho begins to notice things. I wonder if the tyke will eventually put two and two together and set Reina and Ai up together?

Speaking of putting two and two together... Kon Kon! Is she asking how because she just can't figure out what her concoction did or was it really not her fault?

Was grac right?! Is Ai like the (probably not so) virgin Mary? I still support my 'Reina is the daddy' theory, but now, I'm a little less sure of how it happened.
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [5/6 - Chapter 15: Encounter]
Post by: aussie on June 09, 2011, 02:33:01 PM
Spooky pedo-Sayu is full of win XD

Hm. So Wonderbrat is catching on. I was actually curious about Konno, because she seemed to be a bit more privy to Ai's past than the rest of the Gokki gang. She knows something, and I'm gathering she at least knows of Reina (and Sayu??).

I'm still holding out hope for ReinAi to work things out. And I do want to see Eri make an appearance. I just want to see Reina have a friend to lean on :lol:


I'll probably continue writing ReinAi until some other pairing gets my attention *coughwhen9thgengrowsupcough*
Then hopefully no other pairing would rise up your rankings to edge out ReinAi for you :D

(And I welcome a sequel....and a prequel as well, though the prequel sounds like it would end up like NR if it was written XD)


Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [7/6 - Chapter 16: The Enquiry]
Post by: kawaii beam on June 11, 2011, 05:10:38 AM
man i feel bad for not comenting D: so here i am^^ 1st off im happy to have a pretty much gaki-chapter from before~ X3 thankies so much essy~ 2nd seeing that riho notices that something's up and going to konkon for help was ubber cute X3 i cant wait for the next one, and today while reading sayu's blog translations on hyakupa it seems even she feels that (in her cellphone pic) that riho and ai looked like mother and daughter XD

http://hyakupa.net/wordpress/?p=20070 (http://hyakupa.net/wordpress/?p=20070)

that link'll explain it all lol
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [7/6 - Chapter 16: The Enquiry]
Post by: Estrea on June 13, 2011, 07:24:04 PM
*yawn* Wait long for the update? *checks* Only a week though. :)

KiriHime: Haha yeah, that icon is so straight, which neither of them (or much of anyone else) are. XD I know how it feels to be going on 4 hours of sleep, so you are forgiven! :lol:

SarangAi: No problem, I updated quickly those times. XD I'm glad my inclusion of gokkies made people happy. :) They do have their uses. Sayu is an expert at smiling while being evil. XD As for ReinAi...hmm...more to come in the next chapter?

mmsuki: That was an epic comment. :lol: I love your ringside commentary for the Sayu vs Reina. XD You get to be the official commentator in case any other bouts happen. *hands you clipboard for scorekeeping* :P Riho is a wonderful child. XD I know the answer to Riho's questionable existence! Me! Me! *jumps up and down* Wait, I'm not answering that yet. :P  Teehee.

nighell: Hi and welcome aboard! No fear, all cheer, and here's cookies for joining the party! :D Yeah, Risa barely made it out of there in one piece. XD And Ai can be pretty frightening when she wants to be (and Reina can be worse XD)

dark-atrox: Can't blame you for being a loyal fan. But I swear to make you like the ReinAi here. :P Creepy Sayu is fun! As for turtle action....I know she'll feature in some manner later on. :P That's all I'll give away.

Shiawase_Honoo: Ganbare for your studying! I hope my fic can bring you joy as you study. :D

oddball: Riho is very sensitive to her Mama's moods. She's also an observant brat, albeit an innocent one. She hasn't put things together because she has no reason to. As far as she knows, she has just noticed that the adults she likes in her life are both acting strange for no apparent reason. Of course she worries. XD

Kikk4r: Riho learning from Konkon was just a spur of the moment thing that came to me and just made sense. I wanted Konkon to be more involved anyway, and it was a good way to pull her in. :D The truth is coming soooooon~

eruchan: I enjoy confusing people. I bet when I finally lay things out clearly, everyone will be like OH SO THAT'S WHY. XD Gaki-san will just be a spectator with ring-side seats and be there to help a friend up whenever necessary. :D No hurts for her this time!

rndy: Riho might just try that. Maybe. Who knows. XD Poor Konkon gets blamed for everything. it's not even (fully) her fault. XD She kind of sort of figured out how everything happened, even with people not telling her everything. XD Genius, yo. Haha.

aussie: I love my spooky pedo-Sayu too. XD Konno knows more than the rest of the gokki gang, that much is obvious, though exactly how much is a toss up really. XD I know, but you don't. :P Actually the prequel is mostly hilarious until the end, so yeah...XD

waiwai: Aww there you are. XD You must have been busy. Haha. You're welcome? :P And thanks for that link! Lol, I love how Sayu has such a wonderfully wota stalker mindset. :heart: Such an awesome insider to have to spill the beans on cute happenings within Momusu. XD Sayu, we are grateful! :D


And time to edit and post!
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [7/6 - Chapter 16: The Enquiry]
Post by: Estrea on June 13, 2011, 07:36:46 PM
Second First Date


There was this niggling feeling tugging at her all afternoon as she alternately paced, pulled out more clothes, and tried on more jewellery.

Tanaka Reina was no stranger to anxiety. She had performed in front of a sold out stadium with fifty thousand screaming fans. Anxiety had nearly had her vomiting out everything she had eaten, but the moment she had gone out there, all nervousness was forgotten.

She still felt anxious when someone blindsided her on national TV, sending something unpredictable and unplanned for hurtling her way during a live broadcast. She felt nibbles of anxiety when forced to undergo scary things for the sake of entertainment. She still screeched with panic when forced on rollercoasters, felt her stomach tumble more than was physiologically possible while it did crazy stunt flips at 3-g pressures.

She had just about emptied out her entire walk-in closet, and she was still pacing. Turned on the lights, then snapped them back off at the glare. She put everything back in. Paced some more. Watched a little TV, then turned it off when the afternoon news came on, with that conspicuous time stamp on the upper left. Tried to write a little music, but everything came out either discordant or all too familiar. She tossed the latter into the already overfilled waste basket, crowded with her previous attempts.

A thoroughly unproductive day, if there was one. Reina growled under her breath as she took her third (unneeded) shower of the day, letting the cold water drown out her thoughts.

She folded a few towels. Stacked them by colour. Unfolded another and used it to scrub vigorously at her face. She stared at the full length mirror opposite her. A small face stared back at her, redder than the almost unnaturally paler skin that made up legs, arms, a torso.

She seemed almost dwarfed under the massive red towel that still covered her from after her shower. A slow, sardonic smile comes to curve her lips. Red. How appropriate.

She stands abruptly now, the red of the towel slipping off her pale form like blood washing off a statue. Her nakedness bothers no one in the privacy of her own home, least of all herself. No one was getting in without her permission, not even Sayu, who knew where the spare key was. She had deadbolted the door from the inside.

Without fuss or hesitation, she picks out the simplest underwear she has (cotton? I still have white cotton underwear?) that she doesn't even remember buying, but had seen during the Great Emptying of her wardrobe earlier. Then, still in those bare essentials, she padded across the chaotic central of her room to fetch her hairdryer. Her hair falls loose and fine as the heated air buffets the moisture out of them, and she unknots not a few tangles as she goes.

Putting the hairdryer aside, she almost absently pulls up part of her hair in a semi ponytail of sorts, then thinks better of it and lets it fall naturally back into place. The caramel highlights weave intricate patterns with the blonde, creating an illusion of waves. Reina does not seem to notice, but her fingers flick self-consciously through the strands, combing them out evenly to heighten the effect.

She spends less time on makeup than she recalls ever having done in the last 5 years or so, except when she was just heading out to the convenience store. Just a few touches to cover up the usual signs of sleep deprivation; foundation, a little eyeliner, some lip gloss.

Sparing her glossy (but otherwise devoid of any decoration) nails the briefest of glances, she ignores the impressive rows of nail paraphernalia on a shelf and heads instead into her even more impressive closet.

Her fingers reach out for, and peel out, the articles of clothing she had subconsciously decided on during the Great Hunt earlier. She could not have explained to you why or how she picked them. They simply felt right, and Reina trusted her instincts.

The skirt was as short as she remembered, maybe even shorter, which led Reina to check her height against a nearby mark in the wall. Nope, no taller. It had been a long time since she wore a skirt that sinfully short. Sure, she still did it on occasion, but never on her private time. Not anymore anyway.

Reina does not hurry as she gathers what she needs, though her eyes flick casually across the room to set their gaze on the time. The clock strikes 5 precisely as she straightens, a beret pulled low over her face. She reaches automatically for her shades, fingers brushing over the smooth frames before pulling away empty. It was getting late and she didn't think she needed them right now.

Another row of boots, another decision to make, greets her before she can leave. She pauses ever so slightly, then steps into the soft calf leather, feeling the difference instantly as an inch was added to her height.

Head down, bag held protectively in front of herself, Reina walks briskly through the crowd with a purpose, and blends right in with the churning masses. No one gave her a second glance, though she stomped instinctively on a foot when some fingers brushed irritatingly close to her thigh. Her aim was unerring as always, since the fingers withdrew immediately with a pained hiss. Rush hour gave her the perfect cover as she slips through, just one more person heading somewhere in the big city.

It was a different city, and a different time, but certain things don't change, wherever you go, whenever you go. High school girls gathered in little cliques, some smoking, some not. Most of them talked loudly, decked out in flashy accessories. Sleazy youths lurked around the darker edges, some drinking, some making crude jokes and gesticulating at his fellows or wolf whistling at a pretty girl. There are a couple of salarymen, ties barely loosened, briefcase in hand, waiting by a lamppost or bench, checking their watches every other minute. Reina takes in all these, and finds them all familiar, in a way she hasn't thought of in a long, long time. Then again, she hasn't been out like this, coming out to meet someone in a place where everyone was either waiting for something, or someone else, not since she traded her freedom for her fame.

It is precisely 6.30pm and the sky is already dark overhead. The streetlights cast a pale, barely adequate light on the sidewalk, but no one cares. It is the neon signs, the fluorescents from shop front and building that are the true lights of the city headed into night.

Reina is also a half hour late, but she had intended to be. Her sharp eyes scan the milling groups, pausing on individuals, but never for long. She maintans an haughty, untouchable facade, just one more girl on the streets, and pointedly ignore some of the glances she receives from older men who obviously thought her about ten years younger than she actually was.

For some reason she is not very surprised when she gets a tap on the shoulder, barely enough to even be called that really. It was in the scuff of the shoe, the pause before making herself announced, even in the rustle of fabric as the person she came to meet tugged at her clothes nervously before finally getting her attention.

Reina manages to keep her expression neutral as she turns to face her companion, though there is no hiding the jolt of amusement that lights up her lively orbs as she takes in the sight of her companion. Likewise, she notices how her companion seems visibly amused, even pleased, by Reina's own getup.

Without really thinking about it, Reina reaches forward and pinches a few strands of the boyishly ruffled hair, rubbing it between her fingers even as startled eyes follow her movement. Reina purses her lips briefly, and with nary a smile to hint at her intentions, tugs hard enough to make the owner of said hair yelp in a most unfeminine way.

"No wig this time?" Reina asked innocently even as her companion rubbed at her head with a cute pout, boyishly charming in both face and feature. Reina had to blink to clear the double image memory attempted to layer over reality, but felt a familiar gleam reflected in her own eyes as they crossed gazes. This was a game, their game, and no one else's.

It didn't matter that they hadn't spoken more than a dozen and a half more of polite civilities when in public company since their reunion. It didn't matter that they hadn't played, not even met, in more than ten years. It didn't matter that they were no longer kids, Reina no longer bait, and her companion no longer a trap. They hadn't even planned this, not explicitly, not even complicitly. All the message had said was to come. The rest had fallen into place as if nothing had come between them to begin with.

"Rei." Husky, forlorn, longing. One hand reaches up to tuck the silky strands of Reina's hair behind one ear, and lingers, tracing the edge with the tip of an evenly trimmed nail. Reina barely suppresses a pleasurable shiver at the act, and almost feels regret as the hand falls away, balling by the side with evident tension.

"Ai." She acknowledges finally, letting a trace of the affection she still felt, no matter how angry she had been, no matter how hurt, seep through. She watches how a shadow of hope simmers almost fearfully in those doe-like eyes, too femnine to be that of a true man, but made more beautiful in this cariacature of a boy-who-is-not.

There can only be so many first meetings, and even fewer second chances. Reina lets her senses capture this moment, almost perfectly preserved in time from that true first time, back when they had been mere strangers; one tipsy and well-meaning, one cynical and suspicious. They are not all so different now, almost fifteen years on. Reina sees this, and feels a strange nostalgia for the days long past, but puts it aside as she smiles disarmingly, without warning.

"You, are in so much trouble."

Ai winces. Reina smirks. They are right back where they begin, and they both know it.

Except that nothing is at all the same, and they know that too.

Time goes on, as do they, and others take their place in that crowded square, barely noticing their departure, shoulder-to-shoulder. Their secrets laid sealed between them.

Only time could tell how they would resolve them.


==========================================================



Some allusions made to a prequel I have yet to write. I actually dreamt a goodly half of the prequel and bits and pieces of MSF proper. Can't wait to get to the good parts. XD This is just a placeholder chapter before we move on to the fun stuff!
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [14/6 - Chapter 17: Second First Date]
Post by: rndmnwierd on June 13, 2011, 08:30:33 PM
So MORE than thoughts, I see.  :P

I'm glad, though, that Ai reached out and Reina accepted. Really, it would have been rather... NRish, had Reina pushed away a second chance. :sweatdrop:

The old feelings still there, create parallels to a time BEFORE and the two go on a date, to see what has changed and what is still the same. I so can't wait for the next chapter, when you (hopefully) let us in on what went on there.

I hope it goes well >.<
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [14/6 - Chapter 17: Second First Date]
Post by: Kikk4r on June 13, 2011, 10:03:36 PM
YAY REINAI IS REBORN!!! :cow: ....... (almost we say it`s reborn XD)


Is this the blond short hair Ai have\had? 

and Reina and Ai going on a date is to good to be true  (i`m hope it`s not to good to be try)


hopes to see more soon :thumbsup :cow:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [14/6 - Chapter 17: Second First Date]
Post by: kawaii beam on June 13, 2011, 10:25:23 PM
so wait, this is after everything or not...? im so lost~! D:  :panic: is ai and reina like having secret dates behine little riho's back???? *needs awnsers*
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [14/6 - Chapter 17: Second First Date]
Post by: mmsuki on June 14, 2011, 03:03:03 AM
mmsuki: That was an epic comment. :lol: I love your ringside commentary for the Sayu vs Reina. XD You get to be the official commentator in case any other bouts happen. *hands you clipboard for scorekeeping* :P Riho is a wonderful child. XD I know the answer to Riho's questionable existence! Me! Me! *jumps up and down* Wait, I'm not answering that yet. :P  Teehee.
i was just actually gonna say 'oooooohhhh.. burn!!' on the bunny's poisonous retort to Reina but then i thought, what the heck.. might as well make a career out of it..  XD of course you know and you're torturing us by not telling yet...  :fainted:  XD

Second First Date
by the title.. i'm now (100%)sure that Ai-chan and Reina dated before.. :D  XD
and wow... this is just all kinds of torture..  XD :badluck: although i am quite excited for the next chapter (well, i'm always excited for the next chapter)..  :) because it makes me wonder how you're going to present the first first date.. will you be paralleling it with the current first date?  XD
also when you say 'fun stuff'.. fun stuff by your definition or by your readers'??  :P :lol: i'm a bit apprehensive about it.. XD hopefully we all have the same definition of fun stuff.. :lol:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [14/6 - Chapter 17: Second First Date]
Post by: eruchan on June 14, 2011, 11:33:44 AM
Looking at the title... I take it that they dated before...
now, I'm looking forward to see how the 'date' goes  :D
Glad to know this time you're not going to torture Gaki-san... the girl needs a break from all the drama you involve her in your other fanfics  :lol:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [14/6 - Chapter 17: Second First Date]
Post by: oddball on June 14, 2011, 12:04:01 PM
It's sweet really, you wonder what Reina is sort of doing for the first part of this chapter but as soon as Ai comes in you understand that Reina's efforts are all an attempt not to panic, and to look pretty for Ai!  :wub:

It's interesting to see that despite all the issues the two have had in thier past that perhpas both of them just can't help themselves around each other and just revert back to something like the way things were before Ai left....
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [14/6 - Chapter 17: Second First Date]
Post by: Estrea on June 22, 2011, 05:51:08 PM
And I return with story. Another week has passed, it seems.

rndy: Definitely more than thoughts. I do intend to push things quickly along a positive path, though I will litter the way with enough obstacles to provide a satisfying challenge to overcome. XD

Kikk4r: Not quite blond short hair, but that dusty darker hair she has been sporting lately would be quite close. Reina and Ai going on a date is a good sign, definitely. XD Where they go with that though, is quite another thing altogether...

waiwai: I like how you questioned the timeline. You get cookies. *hands over dino cookies with double chocolate chip* Some answers present in the coming chapter, I would think. :P

mmsuki: You must remember I enjoy torturing you people. :P Yup that title was just a dead giveaway, huh? XD Well, if it helps, it starts off with fun stuff for me, then fun stuff we all can enjoy. :P So in the end, we arrive at the same meaning....XD

eruchan: You'll forgive me if I advance the plot at the expense of skipping over certain details. But since it seems like I am obliged to provide a prequel to this story, I think I'll make it up there with as many sappy details as possible. You have my solemn word on this. XD

oddball: I like how Reina attempts to distract herself, but fails anyway. XD When you're close to someone, that closeness doesn't vanish even after certain things happen...maybe you get a certain distance, but some habits and routines you'll end up just falling back into quite unconsciously. Take my word on it, I've been there. XD


And it seems I am obliged to edit before posting! :D
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [14/6 - Chapter 17: Second First Date]
Post by: Estrea on June 22, 2011, 06:05:52 PM
A Friend, A Talk, And A Consequence



The doorbell rang while she was cleaning, and Takahashi Ai absently stuck the feather duster in the mop bucket and the mop up on the shelf, walked two steps before realizing her mistake, and then swore a great deal before turning to fix the problem.

Thus it was with a slightly irritable scowl on her face when she answered the door. Her annoyance vanished when she realized who her visitor was.

"Takoyaki." Her visitor said by way of greeting, holding up said package. Ai raised an eyebrow as she let her friend in. She removed her outer coat with evident relief, as it was still soaked from the persistent drizzle outside. Even as Ai made to take the coat, she took off her glasses and produced a cloth to wipe them off, before replacing them with a thoughtful frown.

"Ai-chan, why is your feather duster dripping?"

Ai made an irritable sound as she hung the wet coat up. Shoving her old friend along, she replied briskly.

"Don't ask." She glanced at the package. "I see you got started with the takoyaki already hm, Kon-chan?"

"It was a long train ride." Konno Asami said by way of explanation, without even sounding vaguely defensive. It was a widely accepted fact in their circle that food left with Konno Asami never escaped unscathed. Even when she intended them for other people. Best laid plans and all that.

"Not that long." Ai countered, taking the half-eaten box of takoyaki and putting it on the dining table. "What brings you here? Good thing though, since I was planning on calling you."

"Is Riho-chan at school?" Asami looked around, dropping her bag in a chair. Ai handed her a face towel, which she took gratefully. Ai then nodded at her question, taking a seat at the table.

"Just wanted to tell you that we're having Riho's birthday party here in Tokyo this year."

"Ah yes," Asami nodded. "I was wondering whether you would be heading back to celebrate with the rest of the family. I would still make that trip of course, I always do."

Ai smiled. "Yes, both you and Gaki-san always manage to make it down. Even Mako-chan manages to squeeze in a video call when she can't be there in person." She picked up one of the takoyaki, plopping the piece in her mouth. "But since we're in Tokyo already, we might as well have the party here. It's easier since she still has work commitments."

"Won't your parents object? They love their granddaughter." Asami pointed out. Ai shrugged.

"Dad's hooking up a fancy video array at home. He's too busy with work to come, but we figured we could have a conference call so that it feels like they're there too. Mama's not feeling well so she can't make the trip down herself..."

Asami nodded. "We should make this birthday extra special for Riho-chan though. It's her first away from your hometown, and it's her first one in the entertainment industry."

"Mm, I was just talking with Gaki-san about it yesterday. She's probably already shopping for decorations, knowing her." Ai made a wry face. "At least that's one thing I never have to worry about."

"We can figure details out as we go at least. Can't plan without Gaki-san here though, we won't want the themes to clash." Asami made a note on a notepad she produced out of seemingly nowhere. As for where she got the pen, Ai wasn't sure, since it was something not quite unlike sleight of hand with how Konkon did it.

"Do you want to see the present I got for her though?" Ai forged on, a smile coming naturally to her face at thoughts of her daughter. Asami gave her a sidelong glance.

"I don't suppose it will involve you telling her she has been working with her daddy for months on end now?"

Ai, who was about to say something else, burst into a round of coughing as she choked on her own saliva. Or perhaps on air. The exact cause is unclear, except for the obvious effect of choking. Asami patted her back until Ai recovered, a wide-eyed look on her face.

"How did you..."

"Oh, I didn't know for sure until just now. Thanks for confirming my theory." Asami smiled beatifically, then strategically moved her chair to the other side of the table to make it less easy for Ai to make a grab at her.

Ai scowled at her crossly, though her heart really wasn't in it. To tell the truth, she was uncommonly nervous about the secret being out in its entirety. While Asami had known that she had a girlfriend back then, what the genius had not known was who the girlfriend was. Ai hadn't fully trusted her friend to not go behind her back to tell Reina about the pregnancy and her culpability in it. It was merely a precaution she had taken to safeguard her own privacy...and that of Reina's too, of course.

"Before you ask how I figured it out, you can thank your kid. Riho-chan's such a remarkable child, really. She noticed how you and Tanaka-san were both acting strangely since you two met, and she came to me because she was worried." Asami resisted the urge to smirk. "Turns out she probably doesn't have to worry that much, all things considered..."

Ai narrowed her eyes at Asami, wondering if she could possibly get away with trying to choke her friend to death with the takoyaki she brought. Maybe if she stuffed them down faster than Kon-chan could chew on them...

"You didn't tell her anything, did you?" Ai's voice was dangerous. Asami smiled nervously.

"I'm not quite that suicidal, no. I did tell her to not worry about it though." Asami eyed her friend cautiously. "There isn't anything to worry about, is there? I mean, are you going to tell Riho-chan? More to the point, are you going to tell daddy dearest?"

"I already have." Ai replied distractedly, wringing her hands nervously. Asami stared at her, open-mouthed. Her jaw worked soundlessly for a second or two, before finally closing with a snap.

"I...didn't expect that." Asami admitted. "I thought you would have kept on dragging things out for longer. It's not like you haven't already kept it from her for twelve years."

Ai winced. "I know. It sort of...slipped out." She admitted reluctantly, shifting awkwardly on her seat. "We were out together, things were going sort of well, then she got upset at me over Riho, and I just got so angry when she said that I two-timed her that I just said that Riho was hers..." Ai trailed off hesitantly.

"Did she believe you?" Asami was interested. Ai gave her a wry look.

"What do you think?"

"I don't imagine she did." Asami said candidly, nicking one of the takoyaki from the open box. "Not that I blame her, it's not widely known that such a process is even possible, since most of it is still confined to lab work."

"I'm still not sure how I got that lucky that time." Ai grumbled. Asami chuckled awkwardly.

"Neither do I, really. I've tried it over and over in the lab, but trying to recreate the conditions for a viable embryo to take root and develop seem challenging somehow. It works when I use the tried-and-tested lab process in parthenogenesis, but I'm pretty sure your case had an additional element that skipped some steps somehow. If only you would tell me exactly what happened that night..."

"No." Ai said flatly, her cheeks reddening faintly at the idea of telling anyone the exact details. It was a precious memory, and Ai didn't really want to tell anyone about her sex life. Even a friend. Or especially because it was a friend. She would never live it down.

"Fine. I looked it up anyway, so I have some idea how it might have happened." Asami showed no signs of embarrassment whatsover. Once the genius entered her 'work' mode, she was immune (or perhaps, oblivious) to any other implications which fall outside of her research purposes. It was good for her as a scientist, though her social cues suffered a little during those phases. Not that it really mattered. For whatever reason, geniuses were expected to be eccentric, and Konno Asami played that to the hilt.

"You don't have to tell me about them." Ai said primly, valiantly suppressing her blushing cheeks to little avail. She was almost 30! Too old to be reacting like a blushing schoolgirl...

"If you say so." Asami peered curiously at Ai. "Honestly, Ai-chan, how do you feel now? You spent the last dozen years hiding your daughter from her other parent, and then you just go ahead and tell her anyway. What changed? You were the one who said that you didn't want to burden her with the knowledge...even though that really was a dumb idea. I never agreed with how you just decided everything on your own."

"It's too late to regret anything, isn't it?" Ai said simply, but her lips firmed into a thin line. "I don't regret having Riho. I would never have aborted her, even though my own mother suggested it at first...how could I?" Her eyes watered at the remembered pain, and Asami reached over, clasping her friend's hand in her own.

"I was so scared, Asami-chan...I was only 18 and I had my whole life ahead of me. I had so many dreams that I never wanted to give up on. So many things I wanted to do and see..." Ai's hand went subconsciously to her belly, her fingers clenching on her top.

"I was ready to go with you to the hospital if you had taken that option. You know I would have." Asami said quietly. Ai nodded, once, sharply. As if she was reluctant to even admit having considered aborting her child. There wasn't a stigma to it. In fact, it was the right thing to do, rather than raising a child in an incomplete family. She made the selfish decision to keep the baby, and accepted all the consequences onto herself, come hell or high water.

Ai felt like she had failed Riho in so many ways, the first and foremost being how she would never be able to give her a real family, one where she could have a father as well. She couldn't even legally marry the true biological parent. Ai wondered how she could ever tell Riho that she had two mothers. Would her daughter hate her for being a freak? Or worse, would her daughter hate herself for being an abnormal child?

No, Ai couldn't do that to her kid. Again, she was just too selfish, she scolded herself. But her resolve had weakened upon seeing Reina again. To have her so painfully close, to be able to talk to her and be within reach, even if they did not touch. That was why she had chosen to slip away, the coward's way out, leaving only a letter. She knew that she couldn't keep anything a secret from Reina for long, and the only way to preserve this one was to run away. Ai hated herself for doing it, but she couldn't force Reina to become part of her baby's life. Reina had dreams of becoming a star. Ai couldn't take that away from her. Reina deserved to be free, and Ai refused to become a burden.

So she left. She kept their daughter,  symbolically one part of Reina always close to her. Ai might have regretted many things, but she never regretted keeping the baby. Riho had becoming so much a part of her life that she felt like she was literally living through her daughter now. She had given up so much, yes, but what she had gained in return was beyond price.

"Ai-chan, you're crying." Konkon's voice swam back into her consciousness, and Ai was vaguely aware of her longtime pal by her side, holding out some tissues and patting her back comfortingly.

"I've missed her so much." Ai confessed, her shoulder trembling as she held the worst of her sobs in. "I want my best friend back. She always knew what I had to say. We're so far from each other now...it hurts."

"If she's your best friend, what are we, chopped liver?" Asami made a lame attempt at a joke, handing more tissues to Ai as she tossed the used ones onto the growing pile on the table. Ai chuckled, a low sound thick with unshed tears.

"It's not the same, Kon-chan. You'll know it when you meet someone you're in tune with. You just know it." Ai smiled almost unconsciously. "Not that we hit it off right away. We spent so much time bickering over the silliest things. We were such kids back then..."

"And somehow we still love you, even though you totally putting your lover over your friends. Honestly, Ai-chan. I should tell Mako-chan so she can knock some sense into you."

"I'm not that bad!" Ai said defensively, then sniffed loudly. She held one hand to her nose self-consciously, met Asami's eyes, then started laughing.

"Thanks, Micchan. I needed that."

Asami smiled. "What are friends for? Though, you know, now that I know who Riho's daddy is, a lot of things make sense about her. I guess it's only natural that she found her way into the entertainment world. That's where you would have been, if you hadn't had her. And of course, you know..."

"I know. The talent must be genetic." Ai deadpanned in her best Konkon voice. The two women giggled again. Ai managed to get herself under control, sobering up slightlly.

"I should do something about this." Asami raised an eyebrow at the undercurrent of decision in her friend's speculative tone.

"Ai-chan, don't be reckless..."

Ai grinned impudently, an expression Asami could have sworn she had never seen in the almost twenty years she had known the woman. It was mischievous and so vivaciously alive. The scientist in her marveled at the subtle changes this Tanaka Reina had wrought in her friend, simply by being in her life.

As a friend, and as a scientist, Konno Asami simply couldn't let such a wonderful opportunity to learn something new about one of her oldest friends get away.

You learn something new every day... She mused, and out of the corner of her eye, she could have seen the front door twitch close. Was it even open to begin with?

Perhaps she was seeing things. Absently wiping her glasses once more, Asami completely missed the descending fist that landed squarely on top of her head, and she yelped at the sudden impact. Ai simply sat smugly in place, not even looking too ridiculous with a tear-stained face.

"I always get my way in the end, Pon-chan. Don't forget that."

Konno Asami never did. But that did not mean she took such provocation lying down either.

It was much much later after they finished cleaning up the horrendous mess they had made of the kitchen, in which process they discovered that they were, after all, not too old for childish games, though they were adult enough to deal with the consequences, as evidenced by their efforts to restore the kitchen to its former pristine state.

It was also then that Ai made an observation that would become a source of worry for the next few hours (if not longer, but she could never truly tell when forced to recall, distraught as she was during that period).

"Riho's not back yet." She said, a conscious glance at the clock perched atop the fridge.

"Maybe she's out with friends?" Ever practical, Konkon offered an alternative. Ai frowned briefly, then shook her head.

"No, she would at least call if she will be late." Ai paced over to the counter, arranging cutlery and giving the space another (unnecessary) wipedown to ease her own tension. The sense of foreboding hanging over her senses did nothing to quell her worries, even with the best efforts of her loyal friend.

An hour became two, and stretched still longer until it became three, at which point Ai was on the verge of coming completely undone after having tried calling every single resource available to her that she knew of. Asami was not much help in that matter, having been influenced by the waves of panic Ai was exuding as the minutes ticked by.

But it was best not to be alone in such circumstances, even if said friend was unable to help you solve any problems, their presence alone was comforting enough. Asami did her best to prevent Ai from complete emotional collapse, even enlisting Gaki-san, who made herself available immediately upon hearing the news (and cancelling all appointments regardless of the business lost).

So they were three when the answer they desperately sought finally came, in the form of a text. It was a number none of them recognized, those Ai found it vaguely familiar.

She's with me.

The message was ambiguous enough to mean nothing, or everything, and unless one knew the sender, it was useless. While it was true that none of them recognized the number, one of them most certainly recognized the peculiar way the message was signed off, and in that recognition, came to the realization that while she no longer had to worry about her daughter's whereabouts, she now had to deal with a whole new set of problems.

"Ai-chan, who are you calling?" Risa asked, while exchanging wary glances with an equally perplexed Asami, who, by virtue of being somewhat more privy to the secrets their reticient friend held, had some suspicion about the origins of the ambiguous message.

"Riho's manager." Ai said tersely, then started speaking rapidly into her phone as her call went through. Risa turned to Asami.

"Didn't she already call him?"

Asami shrugged in answer. Ai was in the midst of taking down a note on a stray receipt, before ending her call quite decisively. Then she made another call, this time obviously following the number on the receipt. This time though, she moved away from her friends, removing herself out of earshot. Risa raised an eyebrow at that, about to make some comment on it, to which Asami shrugged but eloquently, herself having already formulated an opinion as to what exactly Ai was up to.

A minute or two later, Ai returned to them, a tight-lipped expression pinching her features, though in annoyance or suppressed excitement, it was hard to tell. Her friends though, were both taken more than a little off guard when they were summarily dismissed, with only the words that Riho has been found, and that Ai would go and fetch her.

"Alone? At this time? Shouldn't we accompany you?" Risa, ever the concerned (some even say paranoid, but one would also observe that her paranoia has thus far kept her in perfect health) friend, did not like leaving the matter unfinished. Asami seemed inclined to agree, but a discreet glance from Ai in her direction settled the matter, and she added her persuasion to the act of removing the reluctant Gaki-san from the premises.

When Ai was finally alone, she finally allowed herself to relax, all her otherwise hidden emotions finding full expression on her face. Worry, relief, fear, anger, and perhaps even a tiny bit of joy (or would that be hope) flashed in turns, and sometimes in combination, across her countenance, and it was a little while before she gathered herself together sufficiently to make her next move.

"I hope..." Her lips moved, but that was as far an utterance that could be heard. Perhaps even Ai herself feared voicing her innermost desires, for fear of them evaporating like her breath into the wind, the words vanishing more surely than if had never been said, locked securely in her heart.

She did not waste time leaving, though in her heart, it felt like, for the first time in twelve years, she was finally heading home.


=============================================================================================


Difficult to write. Work takes away all my time and energy, and it seems that I have discovered a social life. Even more difficult, my characters decide to take matters into their own hands and get ahead of themselves. So we take a slightly different route, but always inching still nearer to our destination. I promise this might even be good. XD

Stay tuned!
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [14/6 - Chapter 17: Second First Date]
Post by: shenlog on June 22, 2011, 06:48:48 PM
Reina is the daddy  :mon spit: i didn't expect that  :lol:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [14/6 - Chapter 17: Second First Date]
Post by: kawaii beam on June 22, 2011, 07:08:27 PM
1st off YAY~~~~ I GOT COOKIES~!!!! XD this is the first time i've ever got dino cookies i belive XD

2nd...SO REINA IS THE DADDY...or the mama....or the ma..da? XD mada XD that sounds so silly doesnt it? XD

3rd did riho just find out and possibly run over to "papa's" house to see if it was true???? D:

4th paranoid gaki is the best XD

and 5th KEPP IT UP~~~ i cant wait for more essy~ :deco:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [14/6 - Chapter 17: Second First Date]
Post by: Kikk4r on June 22, 2011, 07:22:41 PM
WHAT A FREAKING AWESOME CHAPTER  :cow: :twothumbs :yossi:

so Reina is the daddy woho i was right

and im sure in away that riho had been lisening all the time about being said between konkon and ai im i right 

and Riho is probably with Reina or mako or maybe even sayumi  :?

so many qustions :panic: i need to get answers on all of them but your not gonna tell me it are you  :smhid
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [14/6 - Chapter 17: Second First Date]
Post by: nighell on June 22, 2011, 07:26:28 PM
Quote
"I don't suppose it will involve you telling her she has been working with her daddy for months on end now?"
My reaction was the reaction similar Ai XD  I thought it was just a joke, but it's true  :w00t:
I forgot the English language *shock*
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [14/6 - Chapter 17: Second First Date]
Post by: rndmnwierd on June 22, 2011, 08:00:09 PM
Reina IS the daddy! Somehow, I still wasn't expecting it. XD XD

Better yet, Ai told her so! And of course wasn't believed.

So, what is Reina doing with Riho now? I hope it's Reina with Riho.

I also wonder whether Ai will ever come clean to her friends about what really happened?
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family)[22/6-Chapter 18:A Friend,A Talk,And A Consequence]
Post by: Shiawase_Honoo on June 23, 2011, 10:22:00 AM
HAHAHAHA :rofl:
Reina is the DADDY XD
and if I were Reina, I wouldn't believe that I can make someone who be the same gender as me pregnant :nervous
But for this fic, I believe :lol:
I think that Riho is with her daddy (mommy?) :?
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl: My Stupid Family) [14/6 - Chapter 17: Second First Date]
Post by: aussie on June 23, 2011, 10:30:45 AM
I was waiting to see how that 'second first date' went, but you just jumped right ahead of things. I do approve :D

So. Reina is indeed the daddy. Must say, as much as I was rooting for it, I wasn't really expecting events to actually turn out that way.
And the daddy also knows (s)he is the other parent as well.
Much awkwardness for Riho.....and she is oblivious to it all!

Ah. The noble Ai had to make an appearance in an Essy (can I call you that? XD) fic.
I find it sweet how Ai sees Riho as keeping one part of Reina with her for the past 12 years.

I'm assuming that was "daddy dearest" with the kid. I'm looking forward to the family reunion again.
And I can't wait to see when ReinAi get to er, play, with each other soon XD

Riho's reaction to finding out who her 'father' is also mouthwatering to anticipate. Just trying to think just how much talent Riho has stored in her.
It's in the genes!!

In short: please update again soon :D XD :P


Oh, and:

"...but I'm pretty sure your case had an additional element that skipped some steps somehow. If only you would tell me exactly what happened that night..."

"No." Ai said flatly, her cheeks reddening faintly at the idea of telling anyone the exact details. It was a precious memory, and Ai didn't really want to tell anyone about her sex life. Even a friend. Or especially because it was a friend. She would never live it down.

XD
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family)[22/6-Chapter 18:A Friend,A Talk,And A Consequence]
Post by: oddball on June 23, 2011, 11:19:18 AM
Wow, so Reina really is the daddy...... also she is Riho's father!  :lol: Well, definatly a wierd situation that one, no-wonder that perhaps Ai has been afraid to tell Reina, or Riho for that matter that they are and who is respectivly, the father....

So Ai is going to get Riho, from Reina's, I wonder how this will play out, Riho knows, or at least had guessed that there was something between Ai and Reina but does she have any idea at quite how far that releationship went and Reina, Reina who Ai told the truth too but did not beleive it, I suppose why would she, with something like that but how will she react to it all know, and how will Ai feel, to she her 'family' all in one place but being the only one who knows, or indeed believes it.....
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family)[22/6-Chapter 18:A Friend,A Talk,And A Consequence]
Post by: stefy on June 23, 2011, 07:06:49 PM
*raises eyebrow* is that even possible? Or did you turn reina into a tranny~ hah XD ...

...

Wait...

...

O_O;;

that's just teh most HORRIBLE mental image ever!!! Yadaaaa!
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family)[22/6-Chapter 18:A Friend,A Talk,And A Consequence]
Post by: SarangAi on June 23, 2011, 09:36:42 PM
HOMG that was an AMAZING chapter  :w00t: :w00t: :w00t:

I felt so sad, excited, relieved, yet worried at the same time?  I don't even know if it's humanely possible to feel all those contradicting emotions at the same time, but you did it, Essy.  :lol: :lol:

And can I say that I was SO RIGHT  :twisted:
Quote
So I was trying to predict some sort of happy explanation for everything such as Reina actually being the daddy, but then i realized we'd have to be in the WAY WAY distant robotic future to do that, and obviously we're not so... i chucked that weird imagination of mine 
I guess the future is closer than we think it is.  ONWARDS TO DISTANT 21ST CENTURY!  XD XD
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family)[22/6-Chapter 18:A Friend,A Talk,And A Consequence]
Post by: eruchan on June 24, 2011, 07:40:48 AM
So, ai confirmed it herself.. Reina is the daddy dearest XD
If you're going to write a prequel I'm sooo looking forward to it XD
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family)[22/6-Chapter 18:A Friend,A Talk,And A Consequence]
Post by: aya-chii on June 24, 2011, 10:17:10 AM
I KNEW IT~!!!
riho is a product of asami's wonderful scientific skills!!!

but.. that was.. unexpected.. REINA IS THE DADDY

and riho overheard. and went to reina's house...to confront her daddy?

MOOOOOOOOOOOREEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family)[22/6-Chapter 18:A Friend,A Talk,And A Consequence]
Post by: astro18 on June 26, 2011, 09:50:52 AM
 :shocked I can hide no more, I must comment.. Just WOW! So Reina is the father, eh? :hehehe:

You've completely sucked me into your fic, once again estrea :sweatdrop: Ah, I can't wait for the next chp now :panic:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family)[22/6-Chapter 18:A Friend,A Talk,And A Consequence]
Post by: mode107 on June 29, 2011, 03:42:59 AM
This chapter  :cry:

Yes, I'm glad to have learned that Reina is the father, but , I guess the thing that saddens me the most is the hardships that Ai had to endure. What gets me even more is the fact that Reina herself was hurting, but didn't even know what Ai was going through. 12 long years; the heartbreak.  :cry:

Anyways, Reina and Riho... the thought of Ai giving Riho an 'R' name after Reina is really cute, but in actuality, if we're talking about Japanese language characters, than that's a different story. :lol:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family)[22/6-Chapter 18:A Friend,A Talk,And A Consequence]
Post by: gracula on June 30, 2011, 09:00:41 PM
I read chapter 16 and 17- and judging from my cursory glances at the comments of those below me, I might not be able to use the following pic for my GROSS speculations anymore. So, I share my 'cannot unsee' moment with you first before i continue reading chapter 18.

Quote
Well, technically having Michishige-san tell you that she bought a dozen copies of the spread would be a good thing, but Riho had found herself instinctively taking a half step back with a wide eyed look of apprehension at the declaration. Apparently, her instincts for self-preservation were well developed already.

First, some cuteness to temper the proceeding trauma:

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y214/gracthemusical/sayuriho.jpg)


Sayu=Riho's Daddy (or so she wishes)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y214/gracthemusical/cannotunsee.jpg)
Is it wrong for me to find this slightly sexy?

*Ahem* Now that that's out of the way...

I love the Gokkie love. I didn't realize how much I missed Konkon until I read chapter 16.

and this:
Quote
What was it with the adults around her? Were none of them properly sane and reasonable?
WINS!

Chap 17

Quote
The skirt was as short as she remembered, maybe even shorter, which led Reina to check her height against a nearby mark in the wall.
Is Reina still secretly holding on to the hope that she will get taller?  :lol: I love it! You are genius.

Quote
Reina no longer bait...
of the 'jail' variety? ehheheheh.
[ /pedo]

We got to follow Reina around, learned nothing and everything about her. The build-up to the meeting was deliciously drawn-out and beautifully written. I don't even need to see the actual date proceedings anymore because in my head, everything is just perfect. Fantastic.

Okay, now I will go read chapter 18.  :P And do live commentary as I read.

Quote
Takahashi Ai absently stuck the feather duster in the mop bucket and the mop up on the shelf...
Noob. :rofl: Ai is definitely not housewife material.

Quote
Konkon eating.
XD Lucky there was any left at all.

Quote
"Ah yes," Asami nodded. "I was wondering whether you would be heading back to celebrate with the rest of the family. I would still make that trip of course, I always do."
Because she wants to see when Riho would pop that extra mutated limb due to her mysterious genetic origins.

Quote
"We can figure details out as we go at least. Can't plan without Gaki-san here though, we won't want the themes to clash."
Said Asami, recalling Riho's legendary 'Dr. Snow White in Wonderland' 6th birthday party.

Quote
Ai narrowed her eyes at Asami, wondering if she could possibly get away with trying to choke her friend to death with the takoyaki she brought. Maybe if she stuffed them down faster than Kon-chan could chew on them...
But what a way to go, huh?

Quote
"I'm still not sure how I got that lucky that time." Ai grumbled. Asami chuckled awkwardly.
I love your Ai-chan so much. She’s all the right measures sardonic I love in a woman.

Quote
You were the one who said that you didn't want to burden her with the knowledge...
Isn’t there a trope for this? We should make one. This fic will be a prime example.

Quote
Ai wondered how she could ever tell Riho that she had two mothers.
Ah. Thankfully, there *is* a trope for this.

Quote
And somehow we still love you, even though you totally putting your lover over your friends.
Bros before hos. Or hos before hos.

Yay for the finale to the chapter!! I am so excited about these new developments already.

Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family)[22/6-Chapter 18:A Friend,A Talk,And A Consequence]
Post by: KirikomoriHime on July 01, 2011, 09:42:23 AM
P-pp-p-pa-pppp-PAPA REINA?  :shocked I was half expecting it to be Tsunku  :nervous

(http://i55.tinypic.com/68gac4.jpg)

-cough- xD

But omg Reina @~@ I can see drama in the near future. But hopefully everything will be settled and there will be steamy make up sex...?  :wub: chee~
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family)[22/6-Chapter 18:A Friend,A Talk,And A Consequence]
Post by: Estrea on July 03, 2011, 06:49:34 PM
Hey I'm back! Took a while, been busy, and I really really hate my job. =_= But I'm back! :D


shenlog: *hands you a face towel* Yes, Reina is the daddy. XD I thought it was obvious about a couple chapters ago. :lol:

waiwai: First time for everything. :D You definitely deserved those cookies~ And lmao, the "mada" thing...you deserve...a whack upside the head, and jelly bean babies. :lol: Well Riho heard something. You have to figure out what she heard though. XD

Kikk4r: Riho heard something. She couldn't have heard everything. And as everyone knows, hearing one part of something can totally lead you off track as opposed to hearing the whole conversation. :D And no I won't tell you. :P You knew I wasn't going to~

nighell: Jokes are more painfully hilarious when they turn out to be true. XD

rndy: I'm glad I could still surprise you without actually surprising you! :lol: Ai will eventually have to come clean with her friends about things. It's just a question of when and how. XD

Shiawase_Honoo: Yeah, Reina's skepticism can't be helped. XD It's hard to believe that you got someone of the same gender pregnant. XD Poor Reina lol.

aussie: Of course you can call me Essy. :D Everyone can, and should! :lol: Yes, Riho is in an interesting predicament now. How much has she figured out by now? That's what we all wonder. XD I look forward to the family reunion too. :) RihoRiho's inherent talent is OVER NINE THOUSAND. I mean, just look at her parents. :lol:

oddball: Yeah Ai can't really be blamed about not wanting to tell them...who'd believe her? XD

stefy: Who ask you go and imagine! Stupid! :lol:

SarangAi: Thanks. :D Yes, you got it right, Reina really is the daddy. :D But who else could it have been anyway? :P

eruchan: Yeah I almost certainly have to write that prequel. XD It promises to be quite fun.

aya-chii: Yeah Konno totally had a hand in this happening. It's not her fault, but without her it wouldn't have happened. :lol:

astro18: Welcome aboard! No more lurking, y'hear? XD I'm glad I can suck you into my fic! Muahahahaha...

mode107: Well, we can only see our own pain. Sometimes the real tragedy is in ignorance.

drac: GRAC YOU BACK! :heart: :heart: :heart: I love that manga page, and that splash was...I have no words. :lol: I'm so glad that you saw how chapter 17 basically laid Reina metaphorically bare before the audience. The actual date itself matters little, now that you know how she feels going into it. And yes, Ai is epic fail at housework. She has learned a lot, but really...XD It's not something that comes naturally to her. :lol: Also, I might actually have to write that 'Dr Snow White in Wonderland' themed birthday party as an omake some day. Thanks a lot. >_> XD

KiriHime: WHY DID YOU HAVE TO SCAR MY BRAIN AGAIN! *scrubs vigorously with brain bleach* :lol: I want to get to the ReinAi make up sex too! XD


Ok time to edit and post. That was a lot of comments for the daddy reveal chapter. :lol:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family)[22/6-Chapter 18:A Friend,A Talk,And A Consequence]
Post by: Estrea on July 03, 2011, 06:57:54 PM
Interlude - In the Sun



Papa...my Papa's in the same city as me...

Riho stumbled drunkenly down the street, or at least what would have been drunkenly had she been old enough to drink. She wove unsteadily in no certain pattern, her hands moving in random gestures in accordance with the chaos in her mind.

She hadn't expected to hear anything when she snuck home early to surprise her Mama; hell, she hadn't expected visitors of any kind. But she had spotted the extra pair of shoes in the entryway, and only proceeded to sneak even more carefully to avoid detection. Curiosity was ever a fault of hers.

Only to hear Aunt Konno say that Mama had been hiding her from her Papa all this time. Riho didn't know what to think. She loved her Mama, but how could Mama keep Papa away? Didn't Mama love Papa? Did Papa not want her?

Riho had retreated in confusion not long after. She couldn't understand this whole turn of events. The logical thing to do, the right thing to do, would have been to come out and ask Mama, but Riho found that she couldn't bear to ask Mama. Was Mama somehow ashamed of her? Mama loved her, and Mama said she loved Papa too, all those years ago. If she loved both her and Papa, why would she do something like this?

It made no sense. Riho was frightened by all the potential implications. Mama had spoken to Papa about her. If she had, where was Papa? Did Papa hate Mama for not telling him about her? Did Papa not want to have anything to do with them? Did Papa even care about her, his daughter? Riho trembled at the final thought. The very idea that she had a father who disliked her, who didn't want her, was terrifying. She'd rather not have one, in that case.

It was like having a whole world crash down around your ears. Riho had always imagined a father who was tall, strong and who would smile lovingly down at her. Cracks were appearing in her mental image, and she hated every moment of it. Her face was screwed up tight, in an effort to not cry.

She did not even realize how far she had wandered. Subtly, the buildings around her changed, though she paid them no heed at first. Where at first she was ambling down a street with uniform buildings of grey and white, they now seemed more decayed, more rundown. It was not anything easily definable, merely an atmosphere of gloom. The only major difference visible to the naked eye was the spontaneous outpouring of grafitti on the walls of various darkened alleyways.

Eventually her senses caught up with her, and Riho suddenly looked around her, bewildered. A battered street sign caught her eye, and she couldn't help the small gasp that escaped her lips. This was the neighborhood that Mama told her never to enter. As a rule, she always took the longer route on her bicycle, just to skirt the edges of this place.

The rule made sense to her. Even skirting around the edges, she could often make out the yankii gangs loitering around the area, doing whatever it was that delinquents did instead of going to school like normal people. They seemed fierce and completely alien to the soon-to-be twelve years old Riho, who had never seriously gone out of bounds in her entire life. At her worst she had only been disobedient and even unruly, but she had never done anything so terrible that it would stand out on its own.

Keeping her head down as her Mama instructed her, she scanned the vicinity around her furtively, trying to get her bearings and hopefully slip out before anything happened. She had only gone about two steps before even that slim hope shattered.

"Oh look what we have here, a cute little Toei student~" A voice drawled in a dialect so garbled that Riho had to pause before translating it into standard Japanese. She froze, her face a mask that showed nothing. It only ever happened when she was scared out of her wits. Where some people expressed terror openly on their faces, Riho did it in inverse instead, showing nothing but a cold face to the world. It gave her an imperious expression, as if she cared nothing of the fact that she was surrounded by a small gang of delinquents who looked all too delighted to find fresh meat on their turf.

"Such a cute ojou-chan, ne, Kenta-kun?" One of the girls cooed mockingly at Riho, her heavily painted face lending weight to her implied sneer as she sauntered closer, closing the circle. Riho swallowed nervously, her eyes darting around, looking for either escape or a savior. She didn't really expect to find either, but she couldn't just give up, could she?

Four of them. All of them bigger than her. Riho started sweating a little when she noticed the other girl in dreadlocks using a pocket knife to clean her nails. Dreadlocks saw her noticing, and hefted the knife almost in greeting, an oily smile on her face. Riho clenched her fists. This was not good.

Ganguro Girl stepped closer, and Riho found herself taking a step back, not wanting the girl anywhere near her. There was a strong sense of menace emanating from her, and Riho instinctively sensed that Ganguro was the unofficial leader of the bunch. The muscled idiot behind her with his flashy leather jacket -- Kenta, she had called him -- seemed little more than a puppet in her strings. Riho couldn't have explained to you how she gleaned so much in just a few seconds of observation, but some things were worth knowing.

Riho backed right up to another solid wall, in the process leaping aside to avoid colliding into Buzz Cut -- the other guy that had been standing next to Dreadlocks, and who was fiddling with a lighter almost compulsively. There was something hypnotic about that clicking sound as he flicked the wheel, coaxing out a small tongue of flame each time.

"What do you want?" Her words were formal, though her voice wavered uncertainly in the face of such danger. It was the only sign that she feared these people, and Ganguro's smile only widened at it.

"It's not safe for a little girl to be out here. Who knows what thugs might kidnap you?" Ganguro tsked. Buzz Cut chuckled, his thumb flicking faster.

"But we're nice people, so we'll help you out here. We'll escort you out safely, and in return, you give onee-chan and onii-chan all the money you have on you, ok?" Ganguro's smile was so sincere, Riho wanted to puke all over the wall behind her. Her hands trembled a little.  She didn't want to give everything to these thugs. She didn't even know if they would really leave her alone if she gave them money. Hell, Riho was notoriously tight-fisted about her money. It came naturally from not having much of it to begin with. It hurt to even imagine parting with it like this, even though Mama had taught her that it was better to hand over the money in such a situation, since money wasn't worth her life.

Then again, she didn't have much on her. Riho wondered if they would hurt her anyway, when they saw how little she had. Sure, she might be studying at the prestigious Toyo Eiwa Girls' Academy, but most of her allowance went towards necessities. Mama had drilled the need to be frugal into her from a young age. Some things never changed, even when her circumstances did.

"I won't." She found herself saying, and her eyes widened at her own defensive, even challenging, declaration. She clutched her bag to herself, a futile gesture of defense against an enemy she had no chance of defeating.

Mama, I don't want to die... She squeezed her eyes shut, expecting the blows to come.

And then, laughter. Hands slowly clapping, a confident step on the cracked pavement. Riho cracked open a single eye, fearfully. Both eyes snapped open, her mouth forming a small 'o' as she beheld her potential rescuer.

Hair shone like spun gold in the afternoon sun, honey wove in caramel fluttering in the breeze. It looked barely tame, similar to its owner, bouncing wild and cocksure with every step. The light caught on the golden hoops at her ears, completing the aureole around her head even as smaller pinpricks winked at her from the tip of one ear, as if in reassurance.

"Such spirit in a child..." The new girl was addressing her. Riho eeped quietly, her eyes peering like that of a hunted animal over her bag as she all but shrank behind it.

"It's a disgrace, really. Four of you picking on a cute little girl like this..." A disappointed shake of the head, the confident smirk never wavering. Dreadlocks took a step forward, knife raised, but Golden Girl was already moving, and then Dreadlocks no longer had her knife, only a sprained wrist and already howling in pain. The other three looked startled, exchanging wary glances.

The stolen blade was silver in her hands. Riho stared in wonder at this girl, resplendent in careless glory. Her school uniform was defiantly out of regulation, everything a good girl wasn't, but Riho felt no threat towards herself from her. Her shoulders relaxed as the friendly delinquent positioned herself in front of her, facing the punks.

"Get the hell out of here, kid." The girl hissed softly under her breath, jerking her head in the direction where a gap had opened in the circle. Riho needed no further prompting. She looked up at her rescuer, gave a nod of thanks, then took to her heels.

She did not look back. For some reason, Riho felt that her savior could take care of herself.

Fortunately, she wasn't all that far from the boundaries, and she burst out from a dingy alleyway into a slightly more respectable area, breathless from fear and exertion.

Equally unfortunately however, she wasn't watching where she was going, and skidded almost right out onto the main road as she hurtled out of the narrow alley.

The last thing she saw was bright lights and the screeching of brakes before she blacked out, dead to the world.


==========================================================================


Mini-chapter. Not a full one. Spot the cameo! :D

Also, the hint of what exactly Riho heard. Note that Japanese can conveniently omit gender pronouns when referring to people, so Riho simply assumes that her other parent is a Papa. After all, what normal kid wouldn't? XD

Ok, bedtime. Ugh, work.

*hides under blankies*
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [1/7 - Chapter 18.5: Interlude ~in the sun~]
Post by: KirikomoriHime on July 03, 2011, 08:29:37 PM
I KNEW YOU'D LIKE THE PICTURE  :heart:

Riho stumbled drunkenly down the street,

Wait...

or at least what would have been drunkenly had she been old enough to drink.

...the fuck?  :? :? :?

Never mind! Moving on.

DON'T CRY RIHO!! -gives pocky- IT'S OKAY BECAUSE ESTREA PROMISES HOT STEAMY MAKE UP SEX (ok well you didn't really promise it, but you want it too so that's good enough for me)

Two questions:

1. I remember reading here a while back something about RihoXKanon? Is that still happening or did you give it up? Is it going to be introduced after the whole Reina-daddy thing dies down?

2. WHO IS THIS MYSTERIOUS GOLDEN GIRL I MUST HEAR MORE OF THIS MYSTERIOUS GOLDEN GIRL. Is she important? I'm trying to think of blond/have been blond H!P girls. Yuuko... nah too old xD. Makoto... Riho knows her, doesn't she? Rika... still to old. Yossy... old. Ai-chan... xD ok I have no clue
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [1/7 - Chapter 18.5: Interlude ~in the sun~]
Post by: Kikk4r on July 03, 2011, 08:49:18 PM
ehhh.... now your just making more quastions in my mind that i might go to bed already


RIHO IM SURE REINA LOVES YOU and i cant belive you made me wrong but its fine cuz it was a update so i forgive you :nervous


hmmm but i dont get the chapter though :nervous
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [1/7 - Chapter 18.5: Interlude ~in the sun~]
Post by: gracula on July 03, 2011, 09:51:12 PM
Quote
Interlude - In the Sun
Is this Joseph Arthur? In any case, I highly recommend readers to use  this  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNF2cbW37mo#) as the BGM and reread the chapter again.

Quote
Papa...my Papa's in the same city as me...
(off-topic: I'm in the same city as you, btw)

Quote
*Riho's Papa angst*
Aw, Riho... it's okay- Daddy Had A Good Reason For Abandoning You (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DaddyHadAGoodReasonForAbandoningYou).

Quote
Where some people expressed terror openly on their faces, Riho did it in inverse instead, showing nothing but a cold face to the world.
Gets that from her Papa, she does.

Quote
The last thing she saw was bright lights and the screeching of brakes before she blacked out, dead to the world.
This seemed like a good place to stop? Really? It is the cliff I will go hang myself off of right now. Well, on the bright side, at least we know Riho was found by Ai.

I liked Riho's reaction to finding out. I remember being in a similar emotional situation at her age- the confused numbness and unexplained chill of fear. For someone who placed her father on such a high pedestal and who loves her mother so unconditionally, Riho will have a tough time trying to resolve this.

(Edit) PS:
Quote
Also, I might actually have to write that 'Dr Snow White in Wonderland' themed birthday party as an omake some day.
'Magic' mushrooms- we must have auntie Mako bringing that. Maybe Ai punches someone under the influence (or not).

Quote
Thanks a lot.
You're welcome.
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [1/7 - Chapter 18.5: Interlude ~in the sun~]
Post by: astro18 on July 03, 2011, 10:54:18 PM
Ah, if it is Joseph Arthur.. I do love this song :cow: Poor Riho though!! :bleed eyes: Your papa loves you. And she was the one to find Riho.. right??!

This golden girl, she baffles me :? Hmmm..

Will they actually sort things out now?? Or more hiding? :panic:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [1/7 - Chapter 18.5: Interlude ~in the sun~]
Post by: oddball on July 04, 2011, 11:13:30 AM
Ahh!!! Riho found out, without hearing the whole story only that her 'father' Ai had been hiding, er, well 'him' from Riho for all these years, no wonder she felt so dumbstruck

It's funny though, how you look back at some chapter, and this one here and you seem to pick up parts of Reina's character in Riho now,  the cols stare, the stubborness, suddenly it means a lot more.

Riho in danger!!! I hope it was Ai that found her in the end... but who is the Mysterious 'golden haired' girl who save her? I wonder who it is unless Riho was seening things that weren't fully true, something along the lines of a knight in shining armour?
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [1/7 - Chapter 18.5: Interlude ~in the sun~]
Post by: aussie on July 04, 2011, 12:26:01 PM
If it is indeed the song In The Sun the chapter title is referring to, while I do appreciate Joseph Arthur's original version, my preference will have to lie with Michael Stipes's version featuring Chris Martin. Strange how I used to dislike the remake version, until I heard it in passing one day and it just sounded a bit different to me :lol:

Ho ho ho. RihoRiho found out. I didn't pick up on that vibe from the previous chapter. Though it sounds like she ran out before her Mama got to the juicy parts? :P
Can't figure out who the cameo was for the life of me ^^; Was she just a one-off saviour for Riho, or will she be a recurring character? Curious. Though good thing she was lurking around the one time Riho accidentally slips into the 'hood XD

My money is on Papa who made a brief appearance at the end of this mini chapter. Don't worry Riho, it's not like your daddy abandoned you willingly. Though I don't know how (s)he is coping with the bombshell (s)he managed to have a kid with your Mama.

Oh, and to burst the final bubble, your Papa is definitely not tall either XD
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [1/7 - Chapter 18.5: Interlude ~in the sun~]
Post by: SarangAi on July 04, 2011, 03:46:23 PM
WOAH so Riho now knows her daddy's in town... but she still has no idea that daddy is... WOman  :nervous

omg now i really wanna know who this golden girl is!  I first thought it might be Eri because she's the only GoRokkie who hasn't appeared yet, but i can't imagine her like that....*gasp* or maybe our other Rokkie, Miki?  XD
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [1/7 - Chapter 18.5: Interlude ~in the sun~]
Post by: rokun on July 05, 2011, 09:16:32 PM
LoL you were so vague about this :lol: I'm not sure I would have gotten it either had we not talked (okay, well maybe I had... though those were a lot of talks...) Good job! Though the golden hair might confuse some people a bit, I think it's a good example of what Riho might have thought about it XD

You're just full of little (and big) mysteries in this story... No wonder everyone loves it so much, though I hope they're not too confused after this one. ^^;
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [1/7 - Chapter 18.5: Interlude ~in the sun~]
Post by: eruchan on July 07, 2011, 03:04:31 PM
riho wandered to yankii area  :shocked... she's lucky though to be saved by a stranger...
i wonder who the stranger is, and whether she'll be important to the story...
and the one in the car, is it daddy dearest? XD
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [1/7 - Chapter 18.5: Interlude ~in the sun~]
Post by: Estrea on July 15, 2011, 02:54:28 PM
Hey I'm back. Sorry it took so long. Didn't have much time to myself to write. Work sucks.


KiriHime: You're evil for posting that picture. :< :lol: I didn't promise any steamy make up sex! *eyes rokun* I might have to outsource it again, but then again, who knows? XD As for your questions, 9th gen pairings are going to take a while before showing up. Also, mysterious golden girl is just a cameo. She might show up again, I dunno. XD But she's definitely not a main member of the cast. :P

Kikk4r: Haha sorry for confusing you. :P I believe I shall continue to do so in this chapter!

drac: You are awesome. We need to meet up someday. XD I love how you have a trope ready for everything. Someday, we have to make a trope page for MSF. Or every story I've ever written. I have a feeling it would be Troperific indeed. :lol:

astro18: Yes, papa loves Riho. XD I mean, who wouldn't? There's going to be a start, but twelve years won't magically disappear. But hey, these things take time. XD

oddball: Yup, I had Reina as daddy in mine since before I wrote this, as I felt that Riho had certain Reina-ish characteristics that would be obvious on hindsight. XD The mysterious golden haired girl....well, if the culprit refuses to admit it...I won't yet, either! XD

aussie: Yes, RihoRiho found out! But you know, in Essyfic, we always have to have misunderstandings created by listening to half a conversation. Rule of Drama, you know. XD And yes, Riho's conception of her Papa is wrong on all counts. XD Poor girl lol...

SarangAi: Yup, Riho's still missing the critical part of the information. She'll find out. Eventually. XD As for mysterious savior, it's not yet time for the identity reveal. XD You'll see why~

rokun: Of course I had to be vague. :P Now you have to do your part. Seriously. XD You know how I enjoy confusing people~

eruchan: Yeah Riho was lucky to be saved. XD But she has Protagonist Immunity, so yeah. XD Daddy dearest to the rescue! :D You shall see the aftermath here.


And on to the chapter! It took days to write this. -_- But I do rather like how it turned out in the end, even though the middle was awfully weak. XD Without further ado...actually, wait, I still have to edit and post. Damnit.
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [1/7 - Chapter 18.5: Interlude ~in the sun~]
Post by: Estrea on July 15, 2011, 03:09:37 PM
One More Time


Reina didn't think her day could get any worse after the disastrous strategy meeting with the managers. They wanted her to re-activate PLAY with just her and Sayu. Reina refused. It was pointless without Eri there, and Sayu just couldn't handle the parts that were Eri's. With her own load, Reina couldn't exactly shoulder everything either, unless she rewrote and remixed the tracks just for the two of them.

Which Reina rejected. Flatly. The higher-ups didn't understand. They weren't the ones working with Sayu, Reina thought bitterly. If nothing else, Tanaka Reina was incredibly harsh and exacting when it came to work. Anyone who couldn't match her, or at least make the effort to do so, was useless to her. She knew Sayu was trying, but it didn't help that her cousin was tone deaf half the time and flat for the other half. It wasn't a very charitable assessment, but Reina was not known to mince her words.

The meeting hadn't quite come to blows, but there was a great deal of shouting. There might also have been chairs thrown. No visual record would ever released. Even the minutes would have to be carefully edited to leave potentially scandalous portions out.

So it was in a great deal of ill temper when Reina stormed out of the building, flagged the first taxi she saw, and ordered it to head for home. Whenever she got into one of these moods, her first recourse was to head home and stuff herself with ice cream. A lot of ice cream. And then proceed to watch TV until she passed out from sheer exhaustion. She was strange like that.

Just the thought of ice cream and TV made her feel marginally better. She had a number of recorded drama serial episodes she had yet to catch up with, so she might as well. Never a better excuse than an attack of bad temper to catch up with her TV habit.

Or so she thought. Life had a way of screwing you over when you least expected it. She never did get to start on her ice cream when she got home. No, instead she was here in her kitchen warming up some milk and wondering just what she had done in her past life to deserve the confusion thrust upon her in this one.

On the bright side, at least no one was killed. So she comforted herself. She really didn't want to have to tell Ai that she ran her daughter over. Our daughter, a traitorous little voice reminded her in the snidest way imaginable, making Reina narrow her eyes and mime stabbing the imaginary voice in her head with the spoon she was holding.

No, it was not possible. They were both girls, for god's sake. It was a biological impossibility. Reina might have been indifferent to school, but she remembered that much. Male plus female plus sex equals babies. It was not so complicated an equation to follow. It goes to follow that what Ai told her could not possibly be true...

But it was also too damn ridiculous to be a lie. The microwave beeped. Reina opened it, reached in, and started swearing in every single language she knew (one, but she had somehow mysteriously picked up swear words from other languages without actually knowing them). Blowing on her scalded fingers, she reached for the oven mitts with her good hand and pulled the cup out with a ferocious glare.

Riho was Ai's daughter. Reina wanted to smack herself for not noticing it any sooner. The way she spoke and carried herself --- that was all Ai. She put the cup on the tray, and poured some juice for herself. She would have liked milk too, but that was her last bit, and she felt like the kid could use it more than she did, given the scare from earlier.

The brat had sustained nothing more serious than a few bumps and bruises. A couple of scratches on her knees and elbows too, which Reina herself had treated with the first aid kit after bringing the kid home. Riho was hardy, she had to give her that. She had regained consciousness before they even made it to a hospital, and the kid had even refused to go to one, insisting that she was fine. So Reina had simply given in and offered to take her home, which the kid surprised her by refusing as well...

Which somehow led to her bringing the kid to her own home instead. It was the first time she'd done that, she reflected. Her house was meant for a single occupant, and it showed. She literally only had one set of everything she needed for herself in the kitchen. The only exception was the garishly pink cup that Sayu had planted on her very first visit. Her cousin had reasoned that since Reina was so intent on being anti-social, the only way she was going to be properly entertained whenever she chose to barge in without invitation was to bring her own things to use. Thus far, other than the cup, Sayu had also brought chopsticks, a couple of bowls, and her own plate. All cheerfully designed and completely out of place. Reina stuck them in a cupboard, out of sight. Her own utensils were a lot more elegant in comparison. Even if she did still have giraffe-print curtains. But that was a completely different matter altogether.

At least Sayu's foresight allowed her to actually serve the kid a drink without using her own cup. Reina was quite particular about that. She never let anyone touch the things she used. Despite her seemingly careless image, she was actually a cleanliness freak deep down. And that meant no sharing of her things. Reina hoped Riho liked pink. Reina liked the color herself, but having it so offensively bright and in your face was a little disconcerting. No wonder her cousin loved it.

Precariously balancing a very full tray (for some reason, she had absently thrown in just about everything she had thought remotely necessary, so now there were cookies, chocolate and various sweets jostling for space alongside the cup of milk), Reina stepped back into the narrow hallway leading to her spacious living room.

Her home was bigger a space than she strictly needed, but she hadn't exactly gotten the extra space for herself. Neatly sidestepping her dozing cat (who was occupying the exact center of the hallway with all the imperial majesty of his name), Reina wondered again if she could get away with bringing her other cats to her apartment here in the city. Then again, King didn't take very well to sharing, which made the point moot.

As she trotted past with her very full tray, her trusty feline companion opened one eye to track her progress, then yawned widely as he arched his back, rising with the motion. Reina wasn't alone when she finally reached the sofa where Riho sat, but the little girl had...fallen asleep?

Carefully putting the tray down, Reina stared down for a moment, lost in thought. The kid really could sleep anywhere, her head lolling to one side in what must be a totally uncomfortable position, but it didn't change the fact that the kid was sleeping. Contentedly. And snuffling in a way not unlike a kitten.

King took stock of the unknown person, having been hiding in a corner when Reina first brought Riho in. He was always lurking somewhere unseen, and Reina never bothered looking around for her cat, trusting that he was somewhere around. In a way, she understood that King would show up when he wanted to, just as she did whatever she wanted when she wanted. They made a good pair, master and pet, king and queen of their own realm.

It always amused Reina to see her cat assessing strangers, however rare they were in her home. King never took to Sayu, ignoring her cousin whenever the narcissistic bunny tried to coax him into her lap. He didn't dislike her, he just didn't care. Sayu always complained, but she never stopped trying to win him over. It never worked, but at least King knew enough to not scratch her. Not after the first time anyway.

So it came somewhat to her surprise when King obviously decided that Riho was acceptable, as he wound sinuously around the girl's limply outstretched legs a couple of times before leaping right onto her lap.

That woke Riho up, and she quite nearly fell off the sofa in her surprise. Only sharp reflexes saved her from a tumble, and she found her hands full with 8 pounds of fur in her lap. She blinked, then sneezed. Reina winced, hoping that King wouldn't scratch in retaliation. He hated being sneezed on.

King purred instead, placing one paw on Riho's nose as if to comfort her instead. Reina blinked. So did Riho. The little girl placed one tentative hand on the back of the cat's head, stroking almost hesitantly, then with greater confidence. The purring intensified, and Reina watched with no small amazement as her uppity cat curled up peacefully in Riho's arms, his head resting on her chest. That was quick. Not even she had gained his trust so easily. Then again, he was but a half wild stray when she first saw him. He was only a bedraggled kitten back then, a hissy ball of fur that didn't even back down when backed into a corner by an overenthusiastic puppy.

That was a long time ago, and that kitten was now a lot older. Positively ancient actually, in cat years. Reina couldn't help the small smile quirking her lips. No doubt the puppy that had led her to him was equally advanced in years, if not already deceased. The thought was slightly depressing, but Reina shook herself out of it by addressing Riho.

"That's King. He seems to like you." Riho looked up at Reina, still petting the mass of black fur sprawled in her lap. Reina flopped down next to the kid, reaching over to tickle her cat's tummy, and grinned as King twitched his tail, opening one eye to stare at her.

"We have a dog named Prince, back home in the country." Riho rubbed King's exposed tummy, and the cat yawned, settling comfortably on the girl's lap. "He's old though, so he sleeps a lot. I like your cat, Tanaka-san, he's so cuddly." Riho added the last as if on an afterthought, earning another deep purr from King as she continued rubbing his belly.

"He acts like a big kitten even though he's old." Reina commented, earning another sharp glare from said 'kitten'. She sometimes wondered just how smart her cat was. Riho's revelation that Prince was still alive though, brought another broad smile to her face. If not for that dog, she would never have met her cat.

"I wish we could have brought Prince over with us, but he's not really in good health anymore. Mama had him since he was a puppy. He's older than me too, actually..." Riho was silent for a moment, and King raised his head, meowed once, questioningly, prompting the girl to smile.

"Don't let him con you into giving him anything. He's a trickster, that one." Reina warned. King gave his owner a haughty look, then leaped off Riho's lap with all the dignity of his name. They watched as he disappeared into the next room, tail held high.

Reina turned her attention back to the quiet girl by her side. The kid looked pale, which could have been an aftereffect of the accident, but the troubled look on her face gave her the sense that there was more to it. Riho sighed, fiddling at the hem of her school uniform, when a cup was thrust in front of her nose.

"I hope you like milk." Reina looked on as Riho accepted it with a small word of thanks. They fell back into silence, before Reina finally broke it again, irritably.

"What's eating you, kid?"

Riho looked up, startled. To Reina's surprise, Riho's eyes were more than a little watery, though the brat was obviously holding back her tears with all the bravery a not-quite-yet-twelve year old could muster. Impulsively, Reina reached forward and pulled the kid into an embrace, patting her head in a comforting gesture.

"What's wrong?" Riho had gone stock still in Reina's arms, but Reina could feel the minute trembling in the little girl's shoulders. Prudently, she removed the half empty cup from her hands and shoved it onto the coffee table. Riho's face was hidden in Reina's shoulder, and there was a muffled sob.

"Tell me." Reina all but ordered, feeling a surge of protectiveness over the kid in her arms.

"Mama...I...I don't know." Riho admitted. "I think Mama met my Papa. But...Papa hasn't come. And Mama didn't want him to know about me. What if Papa doesn't want me? What if Mama hadn't wanted me? I'm scared..."

The words spilled from trembling lips, raw with fear and uncertainty. Pushed past her last barrier of endurance, Riho couldn't hold the tears back, great wracking sobs that heaved her tiny shoulders with every breath. She looked lost and pale, and Reina held her tightly, not knowing what to say or do, but feeling her pain keenly.

"It's alright. It's going to be ok..." Reina found herself saying quietly, repeatedly, trying to calm the crying child in her arms. She felt out of her depth here. It was the first time she had to comfort someone like this. She felt an irrational wave of anger at Ai for some reason. What had the woman done to her kid? It felt easier to target her frustration and confusion at that person. Reina really didn't want to contemplate her own possible role in this.

It took a while, but after Riho had finished sobbing out her fears, Reina found herself rocking a sleeping child. She felt worn out too. Who knew watching an emotional meltdown could be so exhausting?

At least she hadn't started crying along with the kid. Reina didn't let her emotions take over so easily, even though things could still touch her on occasion. On this one though, it had been an imperative that she be the pillar of support for the vulnerable Riho.

Gently laying the comatose kid down on the couch (she certainly hadn't the strength to carry the girl without dragging her half the way), Reina tiptoed to her room to wrestle her blanket away from King, who had arbitarily claimed it during her absence. She earned a scratch on the back of her hand for her efforts, but one of the cat's ears would not be twitching proudly for a day or two in return. She returned with the blanket and spread it over the sleeping kid, taking a step back and looking over her with something approaching maternal satisfaction. Then the scratches on her hand twinged, and she winced, reaching for the first aid kit she had earlier used on her guest.

Reina pondered the recently disinfected scratches on her hand and wondered if she should slap a band-aid on it. Her gaze drifted over to her phone on the counter. It was not the first time she did so, since Riho first stepped into her home. She returned her gaze to the tiger striped carpet, its very presence a fierce splash of colour in an otherwise austere setting. She liked the carpet, even if it didn't quite go along with the pale rose and sharp angles of her living room.

Sitting cross-legged on the self-same carpet, it didn't take her too long to make a decision. She left the scratches well alone -- they had been disinfected and it would be enough, she had survived King's claws before -- and approached her phone. Her phone, that had a number.

Riho had given it to her, weeks and months ago, before she had even known that Ai was her mother. Sensible child that she was, she felt that it was good to inform the adults in her life about who to contact in the event of emergency. So she had given her mother's number to Reina -- Sasaki already had it, since he did have access to the company's personnel records -- simply because it was  "the right thing to do". Reina had entered the number without giving it much thought. She certainly wouldn't have any reason to call the brat's mother, or so she had thought at the time. She had anticipated that, if nothing else, Sasaki would handle any emergencies, or Moriya would. That's what the managers were for.

She most certainly had not anticipated it becoming a matter of personal concern, and Reina hated the fact that the role de-evolved to her by default. She tried treating it impersonally -- telling herself that any mother would be worried about their child and she should at least inform A--the mother, she corrected herself, her lips compressing to a thin line.

She was doing what needed to be done, or so she told herself as she fired off a curt message that had all the sensitivity of a stroke patient in the 4th year of his coma. Then, in a turnaround just as abrupt as her message, placed a call to her manager and informed her that all her calls for the night would be diverted to her, no questions asked. Then she hung up.

Reina wondered why she felt a sense of vindinctive triumph after setting her phone to divert all incoming calls, but brushed it aside as unnecessary. She trusted her instincts. Striding over to the windows that were the entirety of one wall of her living room, she breathed out slowly, allowing the tension to ease out of her as her usual confidence came back to her. In fits and starts at first, to be sure, but it returned, because she refused to worry. Such a concern was beneath her. She was Tanaka Reina, she could most certainly do whatever the hell she wanted and get away with it. Somehow.

The city beneath seemed to wind sluggishly amidst the neon tenements interpersed with the claws of high-rises surging towards a muggy sky hanging heavy in humid pregnancy. The heat would be oppressive out there, Reina knew. Here in the comfort of her apartment, climate control kept it at a comfortable temperature, so that she never had to break into sweat. She rarely did anyway, even when work called for more physical exertions. Her cool detachment was often mistaken for arrogance, but Reina had little patience for the fools who simply assumed that. They might even be right in their whispers, she thought vehemently, resting one clenched fist against a pane. She refused to be anything less than proud of what she had achieved. All she had, she had earned with her own hands, her own ability. She had succeeded despite her privileged background, not because of it.

So what if her mother was the controlling interest behind half the publishing industry in the Kanto region? Reina certainly didn't see any reporting biased in her favour. Oh, certainly, the more damaging scoops somehow never made it to press, but Reina had her own connections to achieve such an erasure. She had clawed her way to success, ensconced in a swanky apartment high up in a flashy district. She owned everything in here, with the possible exception of the little girl sleeping on her couch...which might not even be an exception at all.

That kid. Reina turned once more to regard the tiny figure huddled under her favourite blanket. Without conscious thought, she found herself crouched next to the plush couch, absently combing strands of silky long hair from the kid's face, wondering about her own conflicting feelings towards her. Riho was cute, she admitted to herself. She was brilliant in her own right, though still unpolished. A diamond in the rough. Reina had never had thoughts of a legacy past her own career and the songs she had written that would be immortalized in memory. Now, looking down at the peaceful, if tear-streaked, face of this sleeping girl, she felt as if she could see a future for the first time.

Reina had no idea why she felt like her heart would break as Riho shifted in her sleep, clutching the blanket in tightly clenched fists, murmuring a soft "Mama" that would have been missed had Reina not been right next to her. The tiger-striped carpet bunched under her suddenly tight fingers, and Reina had no idea how long she stayed there, on her knees, until the doorbell rang.

Somehow, Reina was not surprised. With all the unhurried calm she could muster, she headed towards the door. The short distance felt like a thousand miles, and she felt King's eyes watching her from behind. Letting out a slow breath, Reina opened the door.

Dark eyes met hers, and Reina wondered how a woman could age so quickly in such a short span of time. Yet those eyes were still lively, still tense and alert as they locked with her own. Reina nodded sharply, giving nothing away, as she swung aside to allow passage in.

They said nothing as her guest all but kicked off her shoes and removed the waterlogged jacket that had to be peeled off. Reina reached out to take it, but her guest showed no signs of giving up the threadbare material, her hair hanging as limply as the soaked cloth folded over one arm.

And yet, despite everything, Reina thought she had never seen anything more wonderful.

They continued on in silence, Reina half a step behind behind the anxious guest who simply barrelled ahead with all the subtlety of a steam engine. They stopped by the couch where Riho slept, and Reina watched without comment as the engine simply ran out of steam, the sails literally collapsing without any wind to propel them, as a relieved mother sank to her knees beside her now located child. Reina thought the woman might cry, but was surprised, maybe even a little disappointed, by the lack of reaction.

"Thank you for finding her." Those words held an undercurrent of sincerity so strong that Reina felt herself dragged along by it, unable to fight the tide. She inclined her head, murmuring some platitude or other she couldn't quite remember. She watched as one trembling hand traced the slumbering planes of the little girl's face, invested with an emotion that Reina couldn't properly identify. She did, however, feel an inexplicable surge of jealousy. She suppressed it. It was not worthy of mention, let alone demonstration. She simply stared, uncomprehending.

Reina wanted to yank the woman to her feet, push her away, do something to her -- but the only thing she found herself doing was fold her arms, the very expression of indifference. Her insides screamed for action, but she stood rooted to the spot. Where were her clever retorts, those sharp barbs she had planned from the start? Reina was mute when it mattered, unable to overcome the barrier that mother and daughter presented to her.

It took a third party to break the tension, and that while not even being awake. Riho stirred briefly, her face distressed in some nightmare only she could see. Her mouth opened, as if in a soundless cry, and closed with a gasp and a single word that froze both adults in place.

"Papa..."

Slowly, deliberately, the kneeling mother looked up at the frozen shock on Reina's face, her face bland, perhaps mildly amused. Reina recovered in a snap, her face hardening despite the flash of pain that greeted her expression.

"The kid needs a father." Reina said slowly, her features neutral. On the floor, on her knees, Ai smiled in response. A quiet smile of private amusement.

"She has one." Ai tilted her chin upwards, defiantly, as if challenging Reina to contradict her. Their gazes clashed fiercely, neither willing to back down. Ai pronounced the next words carefully, every syllable bearing the full impact of a runaway freight train.

"Only if Papa will take responsibility."

Reina felt her face twist, noted with irritation the light of laughter flashing in those damnable eyes. She closed her own eyes briefly, clenching and unclenching her fists to regain control. Her counter was impeccable, betraying nothing of her internal dilemma.

"Only if he knew of such a responsibility." The 'he' held approximately a dozen years of accumulated bitterness, and fell with all the grace of an anvil on Ai's head. Reina noted with satisfaction the involuntary flinch, setting her jaw proudly as she waited for the next salvo.

"I love you, Reina."

That was the last thing she had expected to hear. It was not a confession. It wasn't even an apology or even an explanation. It was simply a statement of fact. There was no surrender in those dark eyes, no remorse. Just a plain honesty that was searing to gaze upon.

It was Reina's turn to flinch, but her body also reacted before she could think, her arms slamming down on Ai's shoulders as she sank into a crouch half on the older woman's lap, her eyes fierce and wild as she stared into Ai's unflinching eyes.

"Then you should. Never. Have. Left." She spat the last few words, her fingers digging painfully into the bare shoulders of her former lover. Ai took the pain without complaint, her hands reaching to pull Reina closer to her.

"I'm sorry, Rei..." She was not apologizing for leaving, they both knew. Only for the pain it caused. Reina shuddered, a gasping breath that made her shoulders shake. She felt Ai's arms tighten around her, a familiar embrace she hadn't felt in so long, but had never forgotten.

"I hate you." Reina bit out, her forehead resting against Ai's. They were not looking at each other, but into each other. Ai bowed her head.

"I know." They stayed silent for a moment, then Ai spoke up.

"That's our daughter over there." Reina said nothing, but Ai thought she could feel one eyebrow raising. Reina chuckled lowly, turning her head slightly to watch the troubled sleep of the kid.

"It's impossible." She said flatly, and Ai felt her heart sink. But Reina wasn't done yet. Her eyes remained fixed on the sleeping child, calculating.

"You'll have to tell me how."

Ai felt like she could hope again. Reina turned fierce cat eyes back on her, eyes that Ai always felt secretly thrilled by, with the feral light dancing in them.

"I'm still upset with you. Don't think you're forgiven. Not so easily."

Ai felt herself smile. How could she not?

"Thank you, Reina."

Thank you for giving me a chance. For giving us a chance.

On the couch, Riho shifted restlessly, watched over by both parents, for the first time since she was born. She could not know. She would not know, not now. When she settled down, it was with the cool touch of her mother's hand on her brow, smoothing away her fears. It was her "father" who bore the brunt of her weight as they carried her to the bedroom. When she woke, she would not be alone. But she never was to begin with.

It was one step to mending a broken family. Who knew where it would lead?


==============================================================



That was exhausting.
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [15/7 - Chapter 19: One More Time]
Post by: kawaii beam on July 15, 2011, 03:56:44 PM
so many emotions and such as usual. i live how yoy write reina~ and im happy that we actually get to see riho acting her age, well crying wise ^^;. the little moment with king was cute too XD i would love more of that lol either way, nothing felt weak to me. it all was pretty stable and understanding X3 and im happy to see that mama and papa together with wittle riho~ X3 cant wait for what's next, and what will happen when riho wakes up lol kepp it up essy~! :deco:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [15/7 - Chapter 19: One More Time]
Post by: Kikk4r on July 15, 2011, 05:12:53 PM
yey so Riho is going to get to know it soon right btw how many chapters are you going to writ ? :?

and ai and reina are going to have make-up-sex right XD

hahaha yes you confused me again :nervous
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [15/7 - Chapter 19: One More Time]
Post by: SarangAi on July 15, 2011, 05:30:53 PM
My gosh, all that was BRILLIANT  :bow: :bow: :bow:

All the emotions that you described that Reina felt... and with King... and the little invisible fight that Ai and Reina were having with their words at the end... until the "I love you Reina"  :wub: :wub:

I love how Reina feels naturally responsible and loving towards Riho.  I guess Ai's confession that Riho was her child rly got to her.  Will this lead to a happy family now??  :D
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [15/7 - Chapter 19: One More Time]
Post by: eruchan on July 16, 2011, 05:38:09 AM
You finally update it! :D
I have been waiting for this chapter, and it's a long and wonderful chapter. So I'm happy :D
Such an emotional chapter. And I'm happy that Reina is willing to hear Ai's explanation instead of pushing her away. Although she probably also wants answer from Ai.
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [15/7 - Chapter 19: One More Time]
Post by: gracula on July 16, 2011, 07:39:22 PM
You updated! And yes, I have tropes for everything. Tropes and animal pictures.

...making Reina narrow her eyes and mime stabbing the imaginary voice in her head with the spoon she was holding.
Wouldn't a fork have made a better stabbing device?
(http://www.crainium.net/jdjArchives/CatFork.jpg)

Quote
No, it was not possible. They were both girls, for god's sake. It was a biological impossibility.
trollollolforever!

Quote
*Sayu parking her utensils at Reina's*
This bears repeating: Why is your Sayu so completely awesome?

Quote
*Reina's animal print deco*
Kansai, much?

Quote
Impulsively, Reina reached forward and pulled the kid into an embrace, patting her head in a comforting gesture.
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xwE0rBDpg1Y/SXBS9dbob7I/AAAAAAAADS8/J4Uhunb2hi4/s320/black-white-cat-hugs-loves-hamster-friends.jpg)


Quote
They said nothing as her guest all but kicked off her shoes and removed the waterlogged jacket that had to be peeled off. Reina reached out to take it, but her guest showed no signs of giving up the threadbare material, her hair hanging as limply as the soaked cloth folded over one arm.

And yet, despite everything, Reina thought she had never seen anything more wonderful.
Irresistable.
(http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/thumblarge_471/1263931504AGSS5G.jpg)

Quote
Ai felt like she could hope again. Reina turned fierce cat eyes back on her, eyes that Ai always felt secretly thrilled by, with the feral light dancing in them.
(http://www.dailypets.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/catandpoodle1.jpg)
Ai loves her feral kitty cat.

-----

Now with all the nonsense out of the way- i should attempt to make a meaningful comment.

You mentioned before that MSF was coming to an end soon and I suspected a happy one, given the style of writing. I thought, "Eh? Too fast- there needs to be more Ai groveling and Reina (fe)male-bonding with Riho." But this chapter managed to somewhat put it all together in a nice pace.

comment wasn't meaningful at all. more of a 'things i want to see'.

Oh well, since we're on a 'things i wanna see happen' tangent:-

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4036/4653268932_8dd1c9e39a.jpg)
I want to see a family reunion.
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [15/7 - Chapter 19: One More Time]
Post by: SarangAi on July 17, 2011, 04:33:29 AM
^OMG you made my day :wahaha: :mon lol: :mon lmao:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [15/7 - Chapter 19: One More Time]
Post by: aussie on July 17, 2011, 09:03:15 AM
Ok. I am now officially counting down towards hot, steamy make-up sex between Mama and Papa XD

Papa Reina was cute and adorable, how she didn't quite know how to comfort Riho but found herself instinctively jumping into that 'parent' role.

Though, my favourite part of this chapter (aside from Ai's "I love you, Reina" :wub: ) was King XD
You're right, master and pet make quite a nice pairing :D

I wonder if Aichan would still call Reina by that nickname of 'Rei'. I know Yaguchi told Reina off for calling Aichan 'Ai', which is why the whole 'Ai', 'Rei' thing stopped (such pity :smhid), but I secretly hope this is a special nickname for Reina that only Aichan refers to her by (much like Gaki's 'Tanakacchi'), now that they are the senior members of the group and all.



Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [15/7 - Chapter 19: One More Time]
Post by: KirikomoriHime on July 18, 2011, 04:28:51 AM
^I'm not the only one who wants it~~~ :inlove: lol kidding! kinda

Nice chapter! I had thought that Riho ran to Reina's house when she heard Ai-chan talking about her daddy but it seems that she got hit by a car... HM lol

I love your Sayu. She is amazing. I ALSO LOVE KING

bwahhh I have to go now ; 3; I'll comment more next chapter ><
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [15/7 - Chapter 19: One More Time]
Post by: Shiawase_Honoo on July 19, 2011, 08:37:33 PM
Nice chapter as always, Estrea :hee:
It always the best reading about how Reina treats Riho :shy2:
I can't wait for your next chap :squirrel:

*dash out for doing homeworks*

P.S. Oh! My 100 post is for you, hahahaha :lol:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [15/7 - Chapter 19: One More Time]
Post by: Estrea on July 20, 2011, 10:37:34 AM
Not an update. But I felt the need to add to grac's awesome animal pics. XD

(http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/2994/46532689328dd1c9e39a.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/691/46532689328dd1c9e39a.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

Fufufu.
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [15/7 - Chapter 19: One More Time]
Post by: oddball on July 20, 2011, 11:39:45 AM
^

 :lol: I'm going to be imagining the rest of this fic with these animal in mind now you know!!!

A great chapter though, seeing Reina almost falling into the 'fathers' role without even knowing it, and she really does play it like a father too, a sort of more gruff treatment, unsure of what to do but wanting to do something until the mother turns up you see the diferences between her and Ai, literally as mother and father in thier care of Riho.

Will Reina ever believe she really is the biological 'father' though?
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [15/7 - Chapter 19: One More Time]
Post by: Estrea on July 22, 2011, 06:12:44 PM
Hey I'm back! :D Anyone miss me?

waiwai: I like writing Reina. She's so much fun. :D Well Riho isn't invincible, despite being Wonderbrat. Haha. I'm glad you liked the chapter. :3

Kikk4r: I believe I should end comfortably before I hit chapter 25. XD More or less. Lol. Why is everyone so fixated on the make up sex? Oh right, this is JPHiP...

SarangAi: I'm glad you like. :3 Yeah Reina subconsciously already sees Riho as hers, even if her conscious mind still has doubts. XD Amazing what ideas can do.

eruchan: Haha yeah it took some time to write since I was so busy. I'm glad that you liked it. :) Well, this is meant to be a happier story, so of course Reina will hear Ai out. It's not like NR lol..I must really have scarred a lot of people with that. XD

drac: It amazes me sometimes, how you have an animal picture for every occasion. You should make a business out of it. XD I suppose I should have written the spoon <-> spatula reference. The comparison eluded me at the time of writing. Ah well. XD I think you made up the lack of a meaningful comment with all the animal pictures. They are very cute. Thank you. XD

aussie: Again with the make up sex. Can I not get away with not writing it? Haha. XD Lol King is turning out to be the unexpected MVP in this chapter. XD I didn't plan for him to be so awesome! Yeah that Ai/Rei thing always makes me want to curse Yaguchi for breaking it up. Meh. XD In my mind Reina and Ai still use the nicknames in private, but never in front of anyone else. >D Haha.

KiriHime: I refuse to write perv. Haha. I ALSO LOVE KING. And Sayu is awesome, what I can say. Haha. See you next chapter!

Shiawase_Honoo: Good luck with your homework, and thanks for your 100th post! :D

oddball: Well blame grac for posting the picture to begin with. XD It is a rather accurate animal portrait though. XD And yes Reina does fall into the father stereotype quite easily. Her personality lends weight to her acting that way too, since she's more likely to be direct and abrasive about it -- ex-yankii, after all. haha. Well, I will find a way to convince Reina that she really is a daddy. :3 Trust me. :lol:


Ok that took a while. Time to edit and post!
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [15/7 - Chapter 19: One More Time]
Post by: Estrea on July 22, 2011, 06:20:44 PM
Cat's Eye View


Golden eyes in the dark.

I stare unblinkingly, every muscle coiled in wait. A hunter is patient. Must not let my skills get rusty, even though my pet human feeds me well. I inch forward, my belly brushing the carpet.

There are strangers in my human's bed. My whiskers twitch, and I leap lightly onto the edge. My claws extend to gain traction as I scrabble on the silky material, but I manage to gain a foothold. I pad forward, tail half raised.

One of them is the kitten my human brought back. They're not so much different in size, but the kitten is still smaller than my human. I purr quietly, brushing against an outstretched leg. The young one has a soft touch. Good eyes. Could make a good hunter, if trained in time. Kittens need to be taught how to hunt. I hope my pet human knows what she is doing.

The other...my ears flatten back, and I hiss. My tail twitches as I circle around to the larger human curled around the young one. The youngling clings to that human like a nursing kitten. My tail swings around restlessly as I nose forward to the larger of the sleeping humans. She smells of my pet human, but only vaguely. I paw at the material over her skin. That is where the smell of my human is coming from.  I wonder why my human lent her her fur. Her hair even smells like my pet human after a shower.

Most peculiar. My human rarely lets people in to our nest. Even the loud human who comes every now and then doesn't stay overnight. I snort. The loud human has shifty eyes. My human would do well to keep her away.

A hand suddenly swoops under my belly, scooping me up from the bed as I yowl in protest, my claws extending on instinct. A sharp word from my human quiets my reaction, but I hiss at her anyway, to show my displeasure. I have taught her to stalk too well, if she is able to surprise me in the dark.

My human is more like a cat than most, and I approve. That is why she is my human. We are both hunters, active in the night. I allow myself to be carried away, and shift myself to a more comfortable position, close enough to hear her erratic heartbeat.

She lingers for a moment by the two strangers in her bed, and I can hear her breathing change as she stares down. Her heartbeat is anything but normal as she turns away suddenly, and I meow questioningly at her, nosing up at her chin to get her attention. She shakes her head at me, scratching my ears as she leaves the room.

The television is on, though the rest of the lights are not. My human likes to sit in front of that loud box, and I've grown used to the lights and sounds coming from it. I curl placidly in her lap, kneading contentedly as I allow her to pet me. She is a good human to have...ahh, that's the spot...

My human is distracted, and my tail swishes around her arm as I roll over onto my back, looking up at her. This human is my responsibility, part of my territory like the rest of our nest. I have the duty of watching out for her, as she has no claws like mine. I have known her since she was little more than a kitten herself, when I too was a kitten. It has been a long time, and I know my human. She is...uncertain. Less than completely content.

I meow at her. Tell me. She raises an eyebrow at me, chucking me lightly under the chin. My whiskers twitch, and I bite playfully at her outstretched hand. We play a little, and I can feel her relaxing. Ooh, string!

I pounce upwards, and my human laughs as she jerks the ribbon out of reach. I end up flopping on her shoulder, and bat my tail into her nose. She makes a grab for my neck, but I eel my way out of reach, flicking my one good ear at her defiantly. The one she grabbed earlier was still sore. Damnations.

I crouch at the far end of the sofa, golden eyes intent as I spy the ribbon still lying limply in her other hand. I settle down to wait, feigning defeat to make her let down her guard. There would be time enough to catch hold of that string. Oh yesss...

"Ne, King..." My human often talks to me, since I'm always with her in our nest. She winds the length of the ribbon around her hand slowly, and my tail follows the motion idly. I lay flat on my stomach, my good ear perked up to listen as I started washing my paw.

"What should I do?" She mutters mostly to herself, her voice hushed, but I have good ears. I continue my routine, content to let my human ramble on. She does love the sound of her voice. The red ribbon is still wrapped around her hand. Curses. How am I supposed to get to it now?

"I don't know what to believe, but..." My human looks down, toying with the ribbon wrapped around her hand. My whiskers twitch. I drop quietly down, careful to not make any big moves. So close now...

"I want to believe." Her voice was quiet. There! I pounce, my teeth closing around one end of the ribbon, my paws scrabbling around her hand as I tug my prize free. Mine!

I raise my head triumphantly at my human. The ribbon is now in my jaws. I have won the day! My human only smiles, rubbing my head absently. What, she's just letting this go? That's it? She must really be out of sorts. Dropping the ribbon carefully between my paws, I give a conciliatory lick at her hand -- the one I scratched earlier. She deserves something for being a good loser.

She rubs the pinkish scratches idly -- I didn't scratch too deeply, we were just playing anyway -- then pauses, looking down at the scratches with renewed interest. I bite at my ribbon -- ooh, it frays into even tinier strands! -- and watch as my human sinks deeper into thought. She is up to something, certainly. I prudently take my prize further from reach. I won it fair and square. She'll have to fight me if she wants it back.

She dashes off into the kitchen instead. I roll around with my ribbon, wrestling with it as it tangles around my paws. Wretched thing! I shall vanquish it!

We tumble around some more. Blast! This ribbon is like that, that hydra thingummy on that late night show on the loud box. You know, the one with all the snakes and how it never ends...my human tends to leave the box on and I do watch it sometimes, you know. There isn't much else to do other than stalk the occasional insect or prowl around corners.

I almost miss my human coming back. She has something tucked inside a clear ziploc bag, and my whiskers twitch at the faint scent of blood. I mrrow'ed grouchily, trying to fight off the cursed ribbon that has split into many little strings out to trap me. The scheming thing! I will defeat it if it's the last thing I do!

My human laughs. Can you believe it? She's laughing. At me! The temerity. I hiss my displeasure, shredding more of the ribbon as I bat it away from my whiskers. I am on my back now. The silly thing is trying to restrain me, but I will not be foiled!

Damnations, my hind legs are stuck. I struggle, hissing in frustration. Then I feel my human's hands lifting me onto her lap. Hey, I've got this! I don't need your help! I yowl in indignation, thrashing my tail wildly as her clever fingers untangle the ragged remains of my mortal foe from me. The last of it comes free and I wriggle out of her hands in a huff, fluffing my fur in a gesture of irritation. I flick my ear at her and stalk off, leaping onto my favorite window sill.

She chuckles lightly again. I ignore her, and begin washing my fur. I most certainly had not needed any help. I had the situation totally under control. Meddlesome human.

The next time I look up, my human is curled up on the couch with the loud box still on. She does that all the time. Makes me wonder why she has a bed to begin with. She hardly spends any time in it, unless it's winter and she's burrowing under the covers.

I give the underside of my hind leg one last lick, and was ready to curl up for a quick nap when I hear footsteps. My eyes snap open, following the source of the sound.

It's that other human. The smaller human is not with her. Kittens do sleep a lot. She's approaching my human, and my hackles rise a little. What did she want with my human?

She has a blanket in her hands, and spreads it over my sleeping human. Oh...I suppose that is a good thing to do. My human lacks fur like mine, and catches cold more easily because of that too. I hop off my perch, stalking close. Just in case, you know. I don't know what to expect from this new human. My human seems nervous around her, so I have reason to be suspicious.

I meowed my presence, leaping onto one end of the couch and watching this human warily. She smiles at me, her hands absently pushing my human's hair back from her face. She does not seem like she means any harm, so I relax my stance a little.

As I step closer, I watch as this human leans close to my human and appears to nuzzle her. My tail curls questioningly. Is she close to my human then? I most certainly would not nuzzle a stranger, or someone I did not like. The contact is brief though, and the new human pulls back suddenly, her breathing erratic. I drop onto my human's sleeping form, careful not to wake her...or well, she's not entirely asleep. Her heartbeat and breathing aren't even. Her eyes are closed though. Most peculiar. What is she up to now?

"Good night, King." The new human whispers, reaching out to scratch a spot on my back. Ahh, so good...wait, how does she know about that spot? Only my human knows. My whiskers twitch as I purr. This new human seems vaguely familiar now, somehow...

She tiptoes off. I uncurl myself and nose at my human. One eye opens lazily, meeting my curious gaze. She smiles at me, and pulls the blanket more securely around herself, pushing me off in the process. I slide off my spot, and only my superior balance lets me land on my feet. I hiss at her, but she ignores me. Fine, be that way. I stalk off to find another comfortable spot.

She is still smiling when her breathing evens out into true sleep. Back in the bedroom, the other human is also smiling. Humans, such peculiar creatures. I yawn widely, curling up in my basket after my last patrol. It's been an eventful day.

I fall asleep eventually, and dream of cream and ribbons. Tomorrow will be a good day too. I am sure of it.


==============================================================================


Writing as King is fuuun. :D
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [22/7 - Chapter 19.5: Cat's Eye View]
Post by: kawaii beam on July 22, 2011, 06:33:53 PM
gah~! so cute~!!! X3 lol at little kitten riho XD so cute~! and king really seems to be more of the bodyguard too XD the whole interaction with the ribbon was adorable too~ X3 essy whatever you write is gold~! X3 :deco: hope to see more king pov another time XD cant wait for the next one~ :deco:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [22/7 - Chapter 19.5: Cat's Eye View]
Post by: astro18 on July 22, 2011, 07:06:15 PM
 :inlove: I thoroughly enjoyed this chapter XD Not to say I didn't enjoy the last one.. lol. King is such an an awesome cat hehe. Reina =  Pet human :lol:

 :wub: Aichan Reina rabu :deco: Can't wait for next chp! :cow:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [22/7 - Chapter 19.5: Cat's Eye View]
Post by: Kikk4r on July 22, 2011, 07:15:22 PM
HAHAHAHAHAHA King is pure winning :cow: gah and he`s kinda cute like that to XD

Naw King does not know yet that Riho is Reinas but king is still awesome he is now favorite in this story hahah hope you writ more in Kings opv :cow: :yossi:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [22/7 - Chapter 19.5: Cat's Eye View]
Post by: eruchan on July 23, 2011, 03:57:22 AM
Lol.. I really didn't expect a chapter from a cat's point of view.
But it is an interesting and at the same time, a strange reading material XD
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [22/7 - Chapter 19.5: Cat's Eye View]
Post by: KirikomoriHime on July 23, 2011, 04:48:34 AM
That was... strange to say the least xD I don't think I've ever read something from an animals point of view anywhere xD

King is such a BAMF. HO-ly crap xDDD  :heart: I love his description of Riho.

LOL the whole make up sex thing  :rofl: that's JPHiP for you

Reina's blood? Hm... is she going to do like a blood test or something? Is that what people do? @~@ -can't remember- I know there's a way to check who the father is but I'm kinda stupid and can't remember... AGH SUMMER SCHOOL IS OVER I DON'T WANNA THINK D;

Thanks for the update!
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [22/7 - Chapter 19.5: Cat's Eye View]
Post by: aya-chii on July 23, 2011, 08:36:12 AM
WHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA SO CUTE ~!

just in time i was reading this, this new kitten of my lil' sis jumped on to my lap.. oh yeah ok. do whatever you want. i can't still figure out what's happening
continuing my read, it climbed in front of the computer. damn it kitty, i'm reading.

wait... i think i'm gettin' it.. IT'S THE CAT !


i started off to the start again as i realized whose point of view it is,.. damn you kitty, are you thinking of me as your own pet?!
and the kitty began playing with my hands which is holding the mouse beneath its lil' head, just like King. I'll never look to the cats the same way again...
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [15/7 - Chapter 19: One More Time]
Post by: aussie on July 23, 2011, 10:38:32 AM
Even the loud human who comes every now and then doesn't stay overnight. I snort. The loud human has shifty eyes. My human would do well to keep her away.
Poor Sayu. Not very welcomed, is she? XD

This was an interesting chapter. Kind of reminds me of that Japanese novel where the narrator is a house cat, and makes observations about the household where the cat is kept as a pet. It took me a while to realise the title of this chapter was a pun XD

It's adorable how King feels a "responsibility" over Reina as his "pet human", and is affectionate towards her in his own way.
Ai nuzzling Reina was simply :wub: Yay for them being on the mends :D
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [22/7 - Chapter 19.5: Cat's Eye View]
Post by: Yuuyami on July 24, 2011, 02:57:42 AM
I pretty much said all there is to say about this chapter in person, but when I saw this pic, I just had to post it.

(http://i56.tinypic.com/2v61u.gif)

HI KING!

/pun
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [22/7 - Chapter 19.5: Cat's Eye View]
Post by: gracula on July 24, 2011, 10:14:04 PM
We all know how much you love your cute animal pictures around here.  :lol: This place is turning into a lolcats thread.

And as always, I have nothing useful to say- so I shall contribute with (horrendous quality) fanart! (I sense a rotational theme in my replies to your fic.)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y214/gracthemusical/King1.jpg)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y214/gracthemusical/King2.jpg)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y214/gracthemusical/King3.jpg)

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y214/gracthemusical/King4.jpg)


(I don't have a scanner at home. Mebbe if I find one, i will repost an improved scan.)
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [22/7 - Chapter 19.5: Cat's Eye View]
Post by: oddball on July 25, 2011, 10:44:44 AM
Aww so King can kinda remeber  Ai from the past, hmm seems as though even he, like his owner, is not sure around thism particular human and of course he was the one to notice that Reina may not of been sleeping when Ai er "nuzzled her" and he noticed the smile on Reina..... I wonder quite how much Ai saw of that too......

Seems as though King is a little bit protective of the new "Kitten" too, something that perhpas mirrors how Reina is beginning to approch the situation as well.....
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [22/7 - Chapter 19.5: Cat's Eye View]
Post by: Estrea on August 07, 2011, 04:16:31 AM
Hi guys sorry for the long delay. I just haven't been in a proper writing mood. >_>; XD

waiwai: Yesh Riho ish a little kitten. What do you expect when you have Reina as a 'papa'? XD And thanks, I had fun writing in King's POV. :D

astro18: Glad you enjoyed the chapter. I know I had fun too. Cats are generally awesome. XD

Kikk4r: King is awesome. For an old cat he certainly knows how to get his way. Ahahaha now King really is the MVP in this story...

eruchan: :P It's not so unusual to write from an animal's point of view. :P It's fun too!

KiriHime: Yes King is awesome. I think the term you're looking for is DNA testing. :P Haha don't think if it suits you then, you can just wait and see until I explain everything. :P Thanks for reading too!

aya-chii: I laughed at your interaction with a real cat while reading the chapter. XD Cats are devious little things, they are. :lol: I'm sorry for altering your view on cats? XD

aussie: Yeah poor Sayu. I'm kinda semi-evil to her here. XD But yes, it's a myth that cats don't care about their owners, so despite King being standoffish and referring to Reina as his pet human, he really still cares. XD

Yuuchan: That is an awesome pic. XD Thanks!

grac: Cute animal pictures win. :D And that's a great fanart! So cute. :3 I should write an omake for it. XD Except that you've already delivered the setting and punchline so it wouldn't be fun to do so anymore. :P

oddball: Yeah King does sort of remember Ai, vaguely though. It's been a long time and her scent if nothing else is a tipoff. XD I find it amusing that no one has noticed that to a cat, they don't have a human equivalent term/concept of kissing, so I just threw nuzzling in as King would interpret...yup. XD


Ok I have a confession. I actually finished this chapter last night but was too tired to comment reply and post, so I'm only doing it now first thing in the morning. Haha. XD Time to edit and post!
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [22/7 - Chapter 19.5: Cat's Eye View]
Post by: Estrea on August 07, 2011, 04:27:48 AM
Baby Steps


Riho was confused.

Such a state was not particularly rare for any child in a hectic educational environment. Or really, in any kind of environment. Adults grow up to be perpetually confused, not that they would ever admit it. Children, at least, are more honest about their own feelings.

The facts of the matter were clear, really. She had (unintentionally) run away from home, been found by Tanaka-san, and ended up staying over at her place. Waking up to find Mama by her side had been a surprise, though Riho felt a vague sense of betrayal at Tanaka-san for that. Tanaka-san wasn’t supposed to tell Mama where she was. It broke all the rules of running away! Not that she had been planning to run away. But it was the principle of the thing!

However, it was good to see Mama again, even if the sudden bursting into tears flew against all established convention. Riho prided herself on being practical and in control of her own emotions. To find out that she could be exactly as emotional as Mama came as a shock.

Not that it really mattered. She was only twelve. She could get away with it. Or so she reassured her ego later, when no one was looking.

But back to the matter of her confusion. As far as she knew, Mama and Tanaka-san had only really met that one time on Mothers' Day when they had all gone out together. Riho hadn't really been paying much attention at the time, but she definitely noticed how familiar Tanaka-san and her normally aloof Mama were acting around each other.

It wasn't anything they said, really, at least not in front of her. In a sudden flash of clarity, Riho noticed how Mama would often glance affectionately at some little thing Tanaka-san said or did, as if she knew precisely it was how Tanaka-san would act.

And then there was the matter of Tanaka-san herself, of course. Riho had very good eyes, so she knew how Tanaka-san looked at other people. Her mentor could be intense and focused at work, or with people who had something to teach her. If someone was unknown or of little interest to her, her gaze would pass over them as if they were completely insignificant. If such people approached her, she would watch with wary indifference, ready to harden to outright suspicion or hostility.

Tanaka-san could also look amused or angry or excited under the right circumstances, and her eyes often softened with exasperated affection even when she was speaking disparagingly of Michishige-san. Riho liked to think that Tanaka-san sometimes looked at her with approval, though that in itself was rare and a moment to be savored when earned. Mostly she was subject to amused looks or exasperated sighs, and was more than once on the receiving end of sharp criticism that she knew was for her own good.

That the fiery and independent Tanaka-san now looked to her Mama for some sort of approval baffled Riho. Tanaka-san was more successful in life than her Mama, even though Riho loved her mother dearly and thought her wonderful at everything. Yet Tanaka-san seemed to subtly defer to her Mama in a way Riho couldn't quite put her finger on.

It just felt odd to her. Like there was something going on that she couldn't quite understand. Adults were strange, she reiterated to herself, not for the first time, and certainly not for the last. She resolved to do better when she grew up.

Practical resolutions aside, Riho had other concerns. It was the day before her birthday, and Mama had inexplicably shipped her off to Tanaka-san for some reason. Well, they had done it really well, and Riho shouldn't have suspected a thing, but she just had to overhear a certain phone conversation which made her more than a little suspicious.

They had been at the office, with Riho practicing her signature for an event and Tanaka-san working on something else. Riho had gone for a break some time in between, and on her way back she had overheard Tanaka-san on the phone.

"Yes yes, it'll all go to plan. Don't worry, I'll take care of her. Quit worrying. Yes I remember. No, really. You better not forget what you promised me. Kay. Yes, yes...fine...I'll be there."

Taken on its own the conversation could have meant nothing, but when Tanaka-san asked her oh-so-casually if she wanted to go out after work and maybe have a sleepover at her place later, Riho started connecting the dots. Especially when she phoned Mama for permission and the permission had been given with barely any fuss. That alone would have been fishy, really. Mama had never been a great liar, though she would have taken Tanaka-san at her word had the other factors not been as obvious.

As it was, Riho's suspicions were already aroused, and the convenient placement of her birthday gave her enough of a clue to the motive for such a deception. She was willing to go along with it though. Even if knowing that there was going to be a surprise party made it less of a surprise, not knowing what the surprise was retained enough of an element of mystery to keep her on her toes in pleasant anticipation.

Besides, Tanaka-san was good company. And she bought Riho lots of things, usually clothes. If there was one thing both of them enjoyed, it was shopping. Mama liked it too, but they always had budget restraints. Tanaka-san though, had few such qualms. She was living the single life, raking in big bucks, and spent little enough of what she earned on frivolous things (except clothes, one could never have too many as an idol). She also invested wisely, as she told a boggled Riho once, and had offered to teach Riho how to make her money work for her in the future. Riho was looking forward to that lesson. Mama deserved a better life, and Riho was going to make sure she could give Mama everything she ever wanted once her career got on track.

When Mama arrived earlier to drop off spare clothes and other necessities for a sleepover, Riho had caught a moment of whispering the two adults, something about chocolate. Riho hoped her cake was chocolate. She couldn't wait for her birthday already.

Then Mama had hugged her, and in the wake of her departure, Riho started pondering how she was going to be able to sleep tonight without clinging on to something. Her cat naps didn't count; she could fall asleep anywhere, anytime during those naps. But when she bedded down for the night, she usually had to sleep curled around something and clinging tightly on to them...usually Mama. Well, she was going to be officially twelve tomorrow, so she had better get started on this whole sleep independence thing. Maybe that's why Mama shipped her off to Tanaka-san. To get used to sleeping alone.

But then why not Konno-san? Aunt Konno was a friend of Mama's for a lot longer, and it would make sense for Konno-san to babysit Riho -- she had done so before, and hilarity ensued. Perhaps that was why she didn't get the job often. Riho still remembered how red Mama went when a little Riho asked her innocently about a vagina, after Konno-san's attempt to teach her about the female reproductive system with a chart. She hadn't seen Konno-san for about a week after that, and the bruises hadn't quite faded when she showed up at their house again.

Alright, so maybe Konno-san was off that list. Niigaki-san then? "Gaki-san's reliable", Mama had always said so. But she seemed like the busy sort, so maybe it would be inconvenient? Riho wasn't sure. The few times that she had ended up under Niigaki-san's care, they usually went to Disneyland (not really her idea, but not such a bad place to visit) or stayed in watching, what else, Disney movies. Riho had a feeling Niigaki-san was quite aggrieved with her about those movies though. Maybe it was Mama's influence, but for some reason or other Riho usually ended up pointing out logical loopholes in the movies and over-rationalizing things in general. After a particularly interesting session while watching Beauty and the Beast, Riho was sure Niigaki-san had words with Mama. Very loud, indignant words about how Mama was ruining her childhood. Riho wasn't sure what she meant by that. Surely an interest in the original version over Disney's adaptation couldn't be that much of a sin. Besides, Riho didn't like Gaston. He was the bad guy and meant to be disliked, yes, but did he have to be so annoying?

So that ruled out Niigaki-san. Sort of. Riho couldn't think of anyone else Mama would trust enough to drop her off with. And that, Riho suddenly realized, was what really bothered her. Mama trusted Tanaka-san enough to leave her only daughter with her. Even when Riho had had school field trips, Mama still made her call her daily to report back on her safety. Riho still did so out of habit, if only to spare Mama from worrying herself sick over her. But Mama didn't say a word whenever Riho said that she was out with Tanaka-san, except to ask where they were going or what they were doing, and what time to expect her back home.

Riho couldn't figure out what would make her worrywart of a Mama trust a semi-stranger so implicitly. Surely it couldn't be that Mama was so blinded by her fandom as to hand her own daughter over without protest. Riho had noticed that Mama didn't seem particularly awed by Tanaka-san's presence. Or even Michishige-san's, for that matter. She had been wary though, if Riho's memory was accurate. That in itself was odd. It wasn't like those two celebrities were going to bite her head off. They were rather nice people, even if Michishige-san gave her the heebie-jeebies sometimes. Riho didn't particularly appreciate being made to feel even smaller than she already was, which Michishige-san did on a regular basis with surprise bear hugs whenever they met. Riho had had to keep planning escape routes, to Tanaka-san's amusement. At least her cat-like mentor was not so cruel as to abandon her to her predatory cousin. Riho needed every advantage she had to stay ahead of the game.

At the very least, she was definitely ahead in this particular game. Riho had to try very hard to not smirk when Tanaka-san threw down her cards for the umpteenth time with a scowl. It seemed like her mentor was a sore loser, and Riho was gracious enough in victory to not rub it in. Not gracious enough to stop winning, but well. She hated losing even more, and Mama certainly didn't raise her to be a loser.

Tanaka-san was really adorable when she was sulking. Riho hid a smile at the pout on her mentor's face. Even better, the friendly cat called King was firmly planted in her lap. After a few attempts to coax her disloyal pet back to her, Tanaka-san gave up and called him "a damn traitor". King only opened one eye, gave his erstwhile mistress a dismissive glance, and continued purring as Riho stroked him. Riho found that absolutely hilarious, though she had sense enough to not laugh aloud.

Despite her show of injured pride, Tanaka-san seemed to get over it quickly enough, and Riho found herself breaking her decorum to first giggle, then laugh her head off, at the stories Tanaka-san told of her school days. Her descriptions of a teenage Michishige-san was sufficient to send Riho into a fit of hysterical laughter.

"And did you know, she used to stalk Ai all the time and was like the president of her fanclub back in school?" Tanaka-san snorted again, but Riho just stared at her with wide eyes. The older idol paused, realizing what she just said.

"You knew Mama back when you were in school?" Riho asked slowly, unable to believe her ears. Tanaka-san looked like she was going to facepalm any moment now.

~*~*~

"Uh...yes, well, she was our senpai." Reina looked at Riho with a growing dread. She had let her guard down too easily around the damn kid. She wasn't usually so trusting, for god's sake! What a stupid slip of the tongue.

The kid looked fascinated by the idea. Clearly, Ai had not told her daughter anything from those days. Reina watched carefully as a look of realization dawned on the kid's face. What had the brat figured out now? Damnit, was the kid just too smart or what? Reina was sure Ai was a lot more dense in comparison. If the woman's claims were true though, Riho must have gotten the quick wittedness from her. Talk about being done in by her own cleverness.

"So that's why Mama seemed familiar with you! You must have been friends, yes?" Riho seemed happy, like she had finally figured out something that was bothering her. Reina couldn't help the smirk that touched her lips at that. She had been friends and a lot more with Ai. Not that she could tell the kid. Things were awkward enough as they were, without any added complications.

"Well yes, we were. Sort of." Reina cast her thoughts back to the beginning. They certainly hadn't hit it off immediately, or met in quite a normal way. Not that she would tell Riho that she met Ai while she was out doing compensated dating on the streets, and that a drunk Ai had latched on to her in a fit of moral superiority and tried to get her to give up working the streets. No, definitely not a story to tell anyone, much less someone who was possibly their kid.

"She got on my nerves at first, so I wouldn't say we hit it off immediately." Reina said carefully, with a hint of a smile at the memories that flooded her. Riho looked fascinated by the topic, so Reina gave her the barest sketch of their school days, leaving out the more incriminating details.

"Was Mama really that popular?" Riho asked, her eyes wide. Reina grinned.

"Popular? Maybe not in the way you're thinking. But everyone knew who she was, though they didn't crowd around her. She was, well, intimidating to approach." Reina flopped back on the couch, idly scratching at one leg. "Your Mama was amazingly talented. If she hadn't disappeared entirely, she would be as successful as I am, maybe even more."

"But I happened." Riho said quietly. The kid looked guilty about it, her hands kneading her knees as she bowed her head. King meowed questioningly, and Riho rubbed his ears absently as she continued. "Mama gave up everything for me."

"Yes." Reina said bluntly, but her eyes softened kindly as she reached out to lay one hand on Riho's shoulder. "It's not your fault though. You didn't choose to be born. Ai chose you over her dreams. That shows how important you are to her." She chose you over me, and ran away to raise you. Reina thought with just a hint of bitterness. If anything, I'm jealous.

"That's why I want to stand on the stage Mama couldn't." Riho's eyes glittered with determination. "I'll live my own dreams and let Mama live her dreams through me too. I'll make her proud."

Reina smiled wistfully, ruffling Riho's hair affectionately. "You're a good kid." Riho flushed in embarrassment, covering her face to hide it. Reina grinned.

"I'm sure she already is proud of you."

"Really?" Reina nodded.

"She loves you, kid. Don't worry so much. She's never been good at expressing her affection in words. She'll show you in action instead." Reina smiled wistfully.

"You're damn lucky she's your mother."

Riho smiled back proudly. "I know. Mama is the best." She looked closely at Reina.

"You really seem to know Mama very well. You two must have been close." Riho concluded, smiling radiantly at Reina, who flushed at the remark, though she added nothing save for a quiet cough.

Their conversation became general after that, and Riho soon showed signs of exhaustion. As before, Reina directed the kid to her bed, fully prepared to either take the couch or just lay out a futon for herself. She wondered at the irony of that. No one else had been in her bed before, and she didn't even let anyone sit on it normally. But here she was letting some kid get in for the second time within a week. That had to be a record of some sort.

"Any birthday wishes from the birthday girl?" Reina asked as she tucked the little girl in. It was nearly midnight, and Riho's eyes were drooping.

"Can't say, it won't come true otherwise..." Riho mumbled, clinging on to the extra pillow Reina gave her. "But since you asked...I want my Papa to come back." She dropped off between one word and the next, and Reina was left staring at the kid.

"Silly girl, I'm already here." Reina whispered impulsively, planting a soft kiss on her kid's forehead and smoothing away the stray strands. She still had her doubts about Ai's tale, but Reina couldn't deny the growing sense of kinship with the kid. Perhaps the effect was psychological from everything Ai kept telling her, but Reina trusted her instincts. She could not help but feel the growing sense of protectiveness over the little kitten curled in her bed, and wondered if that wasn't Ai's real motive for letting Riho spend increasing amounts of time with her.

Not that Reina minded in particular. It meant that she got to see more of Ai in general, though there was still a small awkwardness between them. The habit of suspicion ran deep, and Reina was more paranoid than most. She couldn't help it. Ai had left her once before. It was difficult to build that same level of trust again overnight.

Time for all things, and patience in them, she supposed. Reina tried to remove her arm, but found it stuck in Riho's death grip in sleep. After a few unsucessful attempts with muttered curses, Reina gave in and crawled into bed next to the little tyrant.

It was strange sleeping next to anyone. Reina felt herself curl protectively around the brat in her arms. Out of the corner of her eye she spotted King, who seemed to be sporting a knowing sort of gleam in his eye. Reina decided to not think about it.

Let the events of tomorrow be resolved as they come.

======================================================================


My disclaimer here is that I wrote without really thinking about it, so I apologize for the long digressions and random spiralling-off in my thought processes. XD

More to come. This story isn't quite over yet. :P
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [22/7 - Chapter 20: Baby Steps]
Post by: KirikomoriHime on August 07, 2011, 04:39:40 AM
Riho-chaaaaaan!! Such a good little daughter!!! ; A; Give Kiri a hug >w<

Konno and Gaki baby sitters *o* oh gawd Konno xD that's what you get for corrupting Riho~  :cathappy: hm no Mako?  :?

Yay thanks for the update!! Such a cute chapter  :cathappy:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [7/8 - Chapter 20: Baby Steps]
Post by: xyukie56 on August 07, 2011, 09:00:58 AM
HAH! The way I think of it is ; the more you ramble, the more you read !  :twothumbs
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [7/8 - Chapter 20: Baby Steps]
Post by: eruchan on August 07, 2011, 10:35:27 AM
'Father' and daughter bonding time? Looks like Reina accepts Riho as her daughter now.
LOL at Konno attempted to teach little Riho about female reproductive system, and completed with a chart too! XD
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [7/8 - Chapter 20: Baby Steps]
Post by: aussie on August 07, 2011, 12:06:28 PM
PAPA REINA :rockon:

Looks like King has taken quite a liking to his master's hidden offspring XD King is just awesome, I can't help but keep referring to him. He truly is turning out to be the unexpected star in the story. Reina's tantrum when he refused to respond to her coaxing was just hilarious, and I could just picture Reina's ticked off face as she sulks XD

So Papa is getting more and more used to the idea of RihoRiho is her kid. It's just natural, I guess. Must say though, I look forward to Sayu's reaction when she finds out about the truth behind Riho's parentage XD Ho ho ho. Fun scenes.

But Reina, compensated dating????? That's a bit beyond simply being yankii isn't it? Meeting each other for the first time, one being drunk, the other in a rather dodgy business, sure is not the usual meet cute :lol: They were just meant to be.

I want to see more of Mama and Papa trying to make up the 12 years lost between them (no, I'm not just talking about the make-up sex :P), sweet as it is to see Papa bonding with a long lost daughter. I can imagine Ai being the strict mother and Reina being the easy-going dad who tries to cheer up Riho after being scolded by Mama, and gets frowned on for being too easy on the kid XD

I always say this, but I'm already counting down towards the next chapter :P
(There are no words to describe Konno's 'lesson' with Riho and Ai's violent retribution XD Oh Konno~)
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [7/8 - Chapter 20: Baby Steps]
Post by: Kikk4r on August 07, 2011, 04:43:27 PM
YEY UPDATE :cow: Finally

PAPA REINA Rocks :yossi:

Sooo Riho probably got some sort of hint of what happend and that wish was sweet of her :)Reina too

are Reina going to trust Ai again any time soon?

hopes for more soon

Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [7/8 - Chapter 20: Baby Steps]
Post by: SarangAi on August 07, 2011, 08:37:35 PM
Ahhh sorry for not commenting on the previous chapter!!!  For some reason, I thought that I did, but I hadn't... so yeah :nervous

Anyway, I absolutely LOVED King's POV.  In the matter of appreciation for good literature, my appreciation for that chapter cannot grow larger than it already is.  Really, it was so unique and fun to read :lol: :lol:

omg and I'm so happy to see Reina finally warming up to Riho!  I guess deep inside, she actually wants to believe that Riho is her child so she can somewhat numb that pain of Ai-chan leaving her for some guy/kid.  then, Ai-chan would've left for their child while still being in love with Reina.... *fangirls* :wub: :wub: :inlove: :inlove:

Every time I read a chapter of your story, I learn something new about styles and writing and such.  I absolutely love it! :twothumbs
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [7/8 - Chapter 20: Baby Steps]
Post by: oddball on August 08, 2011, 12:53:26 PM
Aww Reina/Riho bonding, I wonder though, if perhpas Reina's feelings towards being the father are those of someone truly having a paternal interest towards a child or is it because she feels as though it may be true after spending some time with the girl and getting to like her, hmm perhpas it may be partly becuase however untrue/impossible Reina might think Ai's story is, she herself may want it to be true.....
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [7/8 - Chapter 20: Baby Steps]
Post by: Shiawase_Honoo on August 08, 2011, 07:35:01 PM
Ahahahahahaha :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
I can imagine little Riho's face  :rofl:
But...daddy and daughter bonding...awwww :wub: :wub: :wub:
Nothing to say as ever :nervous
I have to leave before the homework moutain fall down onto me :nervous
Thanks for this chap, Estrea :bow:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [7/8 - Chapter 20: Baby Steps]
Post by: Estrea on August 08, 2011, 09:00:40 PM
I'm back! :D Hehe. Mini chapter!

KiriHime: Riho is such a good kid. :heart: But yes, she's a little hellion too, considered the people who helped raise her. No Mako because Mako wasn't around at the time. But we'll get to a tale of Mako-babysitting eventually. It shalt be epic for I have decreed it. So mote it be. XD

xyukie56: Hiiiii welcome aboard! I suppose that's one way to look at it. Hope to see you around more! :D

eruchan: Reina has taken a liking to Riho. The whole daughter thing is still sinking in, I think she's still trying to wrap her mind around what it means to be a parent, or that she's a parent at all. XD And yes, Konno did try to explain with diagrams! :lol: What can I say, I like my scientists eccentric. :D

aussie: Papa Reina for the win. XD Even if she hates being called Papa. XD And yes, even I didn't expect King to be so well received. Unintended awesome, can you imagine? XD Sayu does find out in this chapter, but sadly there is less crack than I thought. I suppose I could omake it, but eh. XD Mhm Reina has had a very checkered past. I really need to write that prequel now. Lmao. Oh the commitments...
Yes, well, I haven't really done much on the ReinAi side of things because this story was really supposed to be about Riho. XD I shall rectify that as soon as I am able, I promise. :D And I agree with those archetypes. Reina will probably teach Riho how to get away with murder, to Ai's disapproval, of course. XD And aren't you glad you don't have to wait long for a new chapter this time? :D

Kikk4r: :P At least you got an update! :P Well you can't expect Reina to throw away 12 years of absence like nothing happened. She's wary and for good reason too. But she does like Riho so that helps. XD We'll work on it!

SarangAi: Haha no problem, at least you commented this time. XD And thanks for considering my work "good literature". I think that's the first time anyone has said that to me. :lol: *head inflates and bursts* XD It's true that Reina does want to believe Ai, though her head is still suspicious since it's all too improbable. XD I'm glad I could be of service!

oddball: Thank you for observing all that. Reina does have a motive in wanting to believe in Ai. It'd be easier on her feelings to believe Ai, but first she would have to conquer her mind, or at least convince herself that it's the right thing to believe. XD And she's not easily swayed lol. But she has gotten to know Riho, and she can't reject the kid at this stage, not after already accepting her without knowing how they're related. XD Caught in an interesting dilemma there, Reina...

Shiawase_Honoo: But yes, father and daughter bonding. :heart: I'm glad you still came to read and comment despite having homework. ^^; Hope I didn't distract you too much and that it made you happier for a while before having to go back to fight that mountain of homework. XD


Ok time to edit and post!
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [7/8 - Chapter 20: Baby Steps]
Post by: KirikomoriHime on August 08, 2011, 09:06:22 PM
Wedge? :D
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [7/8 - Chapter 20: Baby Steps]
Post by: Estrea on August 08, 2011, 09:08:20 PM
Midnight Visit


The door creaked open slowly as one pale hand groped around blindly for the light switch. Creative curses were invented on the spot as toes were bumped and knees knocked. There was an indignant yowl when she stepped on something warm and furry, and our midnight visitor very nearly fell over as she tried to regain her footing to a cacophony of disgruntled hissing.

Fortunately, she had come prepared for the eventuality of the feline sentinel in her cousin's home. Catnip was produced, and King was pacified. For as long as it lasted anyway. He did not easily forgive nor forget the offense of having his tail stepped on. But he would let it pass for now. Truce would be honored...ahh, glorious, wonderful sensory delight!

Michishige Sayumi sighed aloud as she finally located the switch, the soft glow of the spotlights making her wince at first. Behind her, in a corner, King was curled around the herb with a blissful enjoyment of an addict. The devious bunny congratulated herself on the tactic. Her previous tool of food had been wearing thin as an effective form of bribery, so more extreme measures had been required.

Looking around the hall, Sayumi was surprised to hear no soft rumble of television noises, and the couch lacked the familiar sight of her cat-like cousin lounged in it. Reina never went to bed this early unless she had to wake up before dawn, and sometimes not even then. Was the brat sick? A distinct possibility.

Being the good cousin she obviously had to be, Sayu laid down her burdens on the dining table, then went padding in search of her missing relative. She made a beeline for Reina's room, hesitated at the door briefly, before pushing it open very slowly and carefully. Reina never liked it when people invaded the sanctity of her room. Even as her cousin, Sayu rarely entered without permission, save for the times when she forced her way in for Reina's own good. That couldn't be helped, not when the stubborn brat decided to barricade herself in for days. Sayumi was a practical woman. Certain realities had to be observed...

...the current reality of which could not possibly be true. The bunny almost made an about-turn to check if she really was in the right apartment. Then she turned back, blinked several times, rubbed her eyes, counted to ten while holding her breath, and pinched herself.

Yes, there was Reina in her bed. There was someone next to her. A certain, very familiar someone that could not possibly be there and why on earth was RihoRiho latched onto Reina like a newborn puppy?

The mind boggles. Bed. Reina. Riho. Bed. Sayu felt an irrational wave of hatred and jealousy at her peacefully dozing cousin. Honestly, how could the brat get everything all the time? Without even trying!

Then she re-evaluated the scene with a critical eye, and sighed. It was rare enough that Reina was actually getting some sleep. Sayumi might not always be there for her cousin, particularly in recent years, but she did keep an eye out for her wayward relative. Spontaneous, unannounced visits like these often had her finding Reina either still awake and cranky, or passed out at her desk with the lamp still burning. She alone knew that the sunglasses Reina wore everywhere weren't just a fashion statement, they helped to hide the dark circles under her eyes as well.

They didn't talk about much of anything anymore, what with Reina and her stupid pride and damn secretiveness getting in the way, but Sayumi had her ways. By being loud and annoying and forcing her way in all the time, she made sure that Reina ate properly and was in reasonably good condition. She would be worried on the day when Reina stopped biting back at her whenever she was being deliberately obnoxious. It meant that her cousin was in one of those moods again.

Sayumi shook her head, deciding that tonight, obviously, her intervention would not be needed. Her thoughts wandered to the bento boxes waiting outside. Her own stomach rumbled. She had not eaten after the TV recording ended earlier, choosing instead to come straight over. Not that she was ever appreciated. She sighed.

"Sayu? That you?" Reina yawned widely, peering sleepily at the figure highlighted in her doorway. She stretched lazily, like the cat she resembled. Sayu had almost forgotten how light a sleeper her cousin was. Those same piercing eyes, though fogged with sleep, were now trained on her.

"No, I'm your mother." Sayumi shot back smartly, earning a derisive snort from Reina.

"Ha. Not funny." Reina tugged at her formerly captive arm, the death grip on it having been loosened as Riho turned in her sleep. It was still numb though, and Reina flexed her fingers gingerly to regain some feeling in it.

"Before you ask, yes, Ai knows she's here. She asked me to take her for tonight, actually." Reina pressed a finger to her lips, gesturing at Sayu to leave the room as she extricated herself from the bed with infinite care. Riho snuggled deeper into the pile of blankets Reina left as a substitute, and the cousins exited without a word.

"So." Sayu wondered how to voice all the nagging questions in her head. Reina seemed amused by her internal struggle as they sat at the dining table. It was a testament to the ritual it had become that neither of them needed further prompting to start digging into the food Sayumi had brought with her. Reina, as usual, picked at her food, but for a different reason this time: she was actually not very hungry, not after having a proper meal with Riho earlier that evening.

"You and Ai?" Sayu left it hanging. Reina pushed a cherry tomato around idly, considering her answer. Sayu smiled, taking the uncertain pause as an answer. Reina looked up and smiled wryly. They knew each other too well sometimes.

"I'd have thought you'd be more stubborn about it." Sayumi commented airily, popping a slice of salmon into her mouth. Reina chuckled.

"So did I, cousin."

Sayu peered closely at the closed mask of Reina's face, reading the subtle cues that were barely present...as well as the significance of the mask actually being there. Reina only ever used it when she was deep in thought, or if she wished to conceal her feelings. Sayu sensed it was the former now, all things considered.

"You're totally whipped." It was a goad, an obvious one at that, and Sayu did not expect Reina to be caught by it. Nor was she, at least not obviously. The fact that Reina chuckled at it was a tad surprising though. No denial there.

"I wonder if it isn't I who held her in chains instead, or if we're both fools yoked together by some cosmic sense of humour." Reina shook her head in disbelief as something obviously occurred to her, and then laughed lightly, ironically, for no reason that Sayu could perceive.

"Doesn't it bother you? With, you know, the kid?" Sayu had to ask. She was curious. Also a little baffled at the strange mood Reina seemed to be in.

"That's the punchline." Reina deadpanned. Sayu looked confused. Reina took one look at her face, laughed, then shook her head again.

"Oh Sayu, the joke's on us." Her cousin looked confused. Reina chuckled.

"It's a long, long story..."


==========================================================================



In between sort of chapter. XD I'm totally cheating with all these .5 chapters. :D I did say it would end at 25ish. So...ya. Giving myself wiggle room without compromising on plot or pacing. :3 Hehe.

And now I scoot off to bed!

EDIT: Grats KiriHime! :D Your wedge is successful!
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [9/8 - Chapter 20.5: Midnight Visit]
Post by: Kikk4r on August 08, 2011, 09:51:03 PM
I wonder what will happen if Sayu gets to know that Riho is Reinas

and that sayu is a stalker is kinda creepy-_-

and i dont really know what to comment-_-"
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [9/8 - Chapter 20.5: Midnight Visi
Post by: xyukie56 on August 09, 2011, 02:53:57 AM
haha. i`ve been reading your fanfics for a while. i just never commented.
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [9/8 - Chapter 20.5: Midnight Visit]
Post by: KirikomoriHime on August 09, 2011, 08:58:25 AM
YES SUCCESS haha  :cow: :cow: :cow: :cow: :cow: :cow:

King, you marvelous, deviant mastermind you. -snuggles- Shall we plot your revenge? Oh Sayu, you're in for it...  :twisted:

Poor Sayu. It's not your fault that Reina was gifted with the ability to impregnate your former high school stalkee. And what is this? No cat fight? -no pun intended- Sayu, I was expecting more from you xD

Thanks for the update!!  :thumbup :cathappy: :cathappy: :cathappy: :cathappy:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [7/8 - Chapter 20: Baby Steps]
Post by: oddball on August 09, 2011, 12:22:38 PM
There was an indignant yowl when she stepped on something warm and furry, and our midnight visitor very nearly fell over as she tried to regain her footing to a cacophony of disgruntled hissing.

  :O uh oh Sayu know your in for it!!!!

Quote
Catnip was produced, and King was pacified. For as long as it lasted anyway.

 :lol: bribery, King you devious cat you, I wonder if he is still planning rvenge though........  :panic:

I wonder if Reina is going to tell Sayu about how she could be Riho's father and what might happen, or more likely what Sayu might do with this sort of information.....
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [9/8 - Chapter 20.5: Midnight Visit]
Post by: nighell on August 09, 2011, 01:16:49 PM
Stupid, but...
Interestingly, this is just me over the last few chapters, there is a wild desire to stroke the Reina as a cat?  :nervous

In anticipation of the next chapters:
good close the door if you're going to talk about than something important.
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [9/8 - Chapter 20.5: Midnight Visit]
Post by: eruchan on August 09, 2011, 03:39:17 PM
Ha.. Sayu comes well-prepared XD perhaps a lesson she learned from her first attempt of sneaking in?
And LOL at her jealousy.. Although she has the right to, since her dear cousin really get all that she wants, Ai and Riho.. I'm looking forward to see her reaction when Reina reveals that Riho is her daughter XD
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [9/8 - Chapter 20.5: Midnight Visit]
Post by: SarangAi on August 09, 2011, 05:27:43 PM
LOL and so the stalker bunny returns  :mon cweepy: :mon look: :mon rush:

I love how she's obsessive over Riho so much  :lol:

lol like everyone else, i'm also curious as to what will happen when she finds out Riho is Reina's daughter... maybe she'll be happy to know that Riho is actually family?  she's her second cousin or something then, right?  XD

can't wait for more~  :gmon twirl:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [9/8 - Chapter 20.5: Midnight Visit]
Post by: aussie on August 11, 2011, 03:16:31 PM
Devious bunny, and King, who is surprisingly susceptible to bribery XD I thought he would be too cool to fall for such tricks.
I wonder what happened on Sayu's first visit that taught King a lesson about scratching Sayu though.....

I like these chapters, where more background is given to the relationship between characters. I like it how it is reinforced in this mini chapter again how Sayu looks out for Reina, and Reina doesn't exactly object to it or is too proud to accept it. She even appreciates Sayu being around, which is a nice touch. It's like they can get along, deep down....so long as Riho doesn't get involved or Reina doesn't lose her patience in the recording booth XD

So Ai and Reina are slowly getting back together. It just crossed my mind though, exactly how young Reina would have been when Riho 'happened' :nervous
Hey, at least Sayu can take comfort in the thought that Riho is related to her by some distance :lol:

Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [9/8 - Chapter 20.5: Midnight Visit]
Post by: Br0wnie on August 13, 2011, 10:00:47 PM
Alright, you got me.  :bigdeal:

I was lurking... but after reading all these chapters, I was tempted to sign up and show you some looove  :jphip:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [9/8 - Chapter 20.5: Midnight Visit]
Post by: Estrea on August 19, 2011, 09:17:30 PM
Hi everyone! Sorry I took so long. I got...distracted. XD


Kikk4r: Creepy Sayu is fun. What? I like her. XD and it's ok, I never know what to say either. :lol:

xyukie56: Aww you should comment more. :P

KiriHime: Haha yes, King is a devious little cat. Who likes his catnip. Hurhur. Clever of Sayu, really. Well I can't be writing cat fights all the time. I could, but eh. XD

oddball: Yes, King would remember. XD He holds a grudge sometimes lol. Reina probably wouldn't tell Sayu at first. She still hasn't come to grips with the information herself, why would she tell anyone? Haha.

nighell: Lmao, I guess because I tend to make Reina terribly cat-like? ^^; Well, they didn't talk about anything too important. :P So that's a moot point.

eruchan: Yes, Sayu learned from her first lesson. XD And yes, Sayu does have a good reason to get indignant. I too look forward to her finding out that Riho is Reina and Ai's daughter. XD

SarangAi: Return of the stalker bunny. I like that. XD I wonder how she'll take to Riho being family though. Should be fun anyways. Haha.

aussie: King vs Sayu. Who will ultimately triumph...? Coming soon. :lol: I like writing little chapters like that too. I feel that it's important to show that Sayu is not just her wonderfully creepy narcissist self with pedophilic tendencies. XD If I don't flesh them out, they'll be little more than 2-D cardboard cutouts. And I hate that lol. But yes, I was hoping someone would notice how young Reina would have been when Riho happened. :P It says volumes about why Ai chose not to tell her. It was bad enough for 18 year old Ai. I doubt she would have wanted to drop such a burden on a kid like Reina back then. XD

Br0wnie: Yay I delurked someone! Go me! :lol: I'm glad you joined. Welcome aboard! Do participate more, we're glad to have you. :D I'm glad you like my story too! :D


Ok that took a while. My head is killing me. Time to edit and post!
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [9/8 - Chapter 20.5: Midnight Visit]
Post by: Estrea on August 19, 2011, 09:25:21 PM
Party Party Party


"More sparkles?"

"Yes." A distracted answer followed by a focused hand applying the finishing touches to the banner. Beside the artist, a bemused looking Konno Asami sat with a bag of chips in her lap. Her part in the set up was mostly done, so now she was simply playing spectator and occasional helper to her friend's great work.

Said friend, one Niigaki Risa, was currently hovering over her precious banner with a critical eye. Having strung up the rest of the decorations, only the banner remained. It would soon take pride of place in the middle of the hall.

"I wonder if Ai-chan's done with the cookies." Asami lifted her nose and sniffed experimentally. She wasn't allowed in the kitchen. None of them were. Though one would not think it of her, Takahashi Ai turned into a veritable control freak in the kitchen. She had her own way of doing things, and woe betide anyone who even attempted to lend a hand.

"Should be. The cake's ready from what I saw earlier." Risa nodded to herself as she inspected her handiwork. The silver streamers dangled down from the ceiling, glittering in the light. They had gone for a futuristic fairytale sort of feeling this time. After the wonderful disaster of their Dr. Snow White in Wonderland themed party the last time, every single one of them swore to keep things relatively simple. Then again, Risa mused, it helped that Mako-chan wasn't able to come to town this time. She was still stuck in Milan for work. Her present made it though. Risa personally thought that the jewellery was excessive, but she supposed Riho would have use for it eventually.

"I do wonder how Ai-chan managed to send Riho away so we can prepare properly." Risa mused aloud. Asami coughed and mumbled something intelligible, which made Risa turn to her for clarification. Ai chose that moment to poke her head out of the kitchenette.

"Riho's on the way back!" The rest of her body came into view as she untied the strawberry-print apron with one hand while the other held her cellphone to her ear.

"Yes we're about ready. Just stall a little so I can get changed...oh, she's coming along too? No no, it's not too much trouble. Oh she can't be that bad...really? I didn't think so...she doesn't have to...alright, I'll see you later. Yes I have brownies...I'm hanging up now. Bye."

"Brownies?" Asami looked interested as Ai ended the call.

"Enough cookies to go round, I assure you." She avoided the brownie question deftly by ducking into her room for a quick shower and a change of clothes. The other two exchanged bemused glances. Asami wondered if she could get away with stealing a cookie from the kitchen. Risa foiled her (unconsciously) by asking her for help to put the banner up.

"That must be whoever Ai-chan asked to take Riho." Risa speculated as they tied their respective ends of the banner. "Higher, Pon-chan. No, that's too high. And don't pull it so tight."

"Yes, I'd imagine so. Does this look alright?" They both took a step back to inspect the result.

"It'll do." Risa nodded, then looked around the mess. "I suppose we better clear these up before Riho-chan comes back. And before Ai-chan kills us."

Asami thought that Ai would probably let it slide just this once, but decided against sharing her insight. She was rather looking forward to the famed Tanaka Reina showing up later, really. For all she had heard of the woman, she had yet to actually see her in action. It would be fascinating to lay eyes on the other genetic donor that spawned Riho. Not to mention all the interesting data she could probably collect on the couple's interactions. Asami wondered if the two could reconcile. Or if Tanaka could even accept the fact that she was Riho's "father", so to speak.

Even better, she was entirely curious about how they were going to break the news to Riho. Asami vowed to somehow be present for when it happened. It would certainly be interesting to see the results. Riho was such a sensible child, but who could take such news calmly?

"Pon-chan? Konkon? Asami. Are you listening to me?" Risa had her hands on her hips, looking at her friend exasperatedly. While she expected Asami to be relatively eccentric occasionally, having the woman start smirking with a faraway expression on her face was usually bad news for those her plans concerned. As a law-abiding and upstanding citizen, Risa found it necessary to rein in such impulses. Especially when she didn't know enough to approve of what was going on.

"You don't suppose we could steal some cookies before Ai-chan comes out of the shower."

The sound of Risa's hand meeting her forehead punctuated the silence.

~*~*~

They got away with cookie theft. Sadly, there were no sign of any brownies. At least, none within reach. Risa brushed the cookie crumbs away with just the faintest hint of guilt. Asami had no such qualms.

If Ai discovered their little heist, she said nothing. She seemed distracted, in any case. Risa observed how her best friend seemed to have taken extra pains to dress up, though it wasn't obviously done. The faint touch of makeup, carefully coordinated clothing, even the faintest whiff of perfume. It was all accomplished in a casual manner, but Risa had known Ai for almost fifteen years. Ai was trying to impress someone, but who?

"Do you know who's coming?" Risa whispered to Asami. She had to wonder if she was underdressed, but dismissed the notion. Her white peasant blouse with its blue trimmings was quite fetching, and her wrist bangles clinked as she moved. She had gone for a slightly gypsy look today on a whim. Put next to Asami, who was casually dressed in a simple polo tee and slacks, she looked a tad overdressed in comparison.

"Who knows?" Asami seemed evasive. Risa wondered what the woman was hiding. Sometimes she just couldn't tell what was going on in the genius' head.

Ai's phone buzzed, and she checked the message eagerly.

"They're coming up the stairs." She hissed at the two behind her. Watching the three grown women tiptoe to the door in broad daylight might have been comical on hindsight, but no one thought to point it out at the moment.

Keys jingled in the lock, and there was a murmur of voices behind the door.

Riho was whispering to Reina when she pushed the door open.

"Does she really have to--"

There was an explosion of fog in the threshold. Startled, the newcomers all took several steps back. Out of the cloud, came the (expected) shout.

"SURPRISE!!!"

Riho plastered on a suitably surprised face. It didn't take much work. She was surprised by the random explosion. Then again, Aunt Konno was involved.

"Tadaima." Riho uttered blankly, unsure how to respond. Ai emerged from the rapidly dissipating fog of dry ice. Her smile was warm as she took in her daughter and Reina, who was totally not hiding behind the little girl. Really. She was simply standing behind the kid. What?

"Okaeri." Eyes swept over both girls outside the door, before fixing on the younger of the pair.

"Happy birthday, Riho."

"Mama." The greeting came with a smile and an instinctive hug. Reina looked on just a little jealously. She had almost forgotten about the third member of their party, but that was about to change.

"Ojamashimasu~" Michishige Sayumi all but floated to the forefront with her best bubbly smile. Ai, who had been forewarned of the bunny's arrival, graced her with a welcoming smile. Reina simply scowled at her cousin out of habit. Asami was inscrutable. The last member of the gathering, however, was less calm.

"You!" It was not a shriek. Not really a gasp either. An exclamation with equal parts of horror, chagrin and wtf-are-you-doing-here. Reina suppressed a grin at the look on Gaki's face. That expressive face had just gone through about eight emotions in approximately three seconds. Reina was not charitable enough to help. She was perfectly content to sit back with popcorn and watch the incoming fireworks. This ought to be fun.

"Gaki-san~ What a surprise. You're a friend of Ai-chan's?" Sayumi breezed off easily. She seemed amused by the situation. Risa twitched.

"You call her 'Ai-chan'? Ai-chan, I didn't know you knew Michishige-san so well." Risa deadpanned, obviously struggling to keep her hysteria under control.

"Oh, I've known her for over 10 years. I was your kawaii kouhai, ne, Ai-chan?"

Reina coughed something suspiciously like 'stalker' into her fist. Sayumi pretended to not notice. Ai looked vaguely bemused. Riho looked bewildered. Asami was fascinated. Such a treasure trove of information!

"We were in the same school?" Risa looked like she couldn't believe her ears. Reina couldn't resist taking a jab at her beloved cousin.

"Sayu was a bit of a hikikomori during middle school. I'm not surprised you don't remember her. She certainly doesn't look like it now though."

Sayumi winked outrageously and flashed a peace sign. Reina rolled her eyes, folding her arms.

"And now she talks too damn much."

Riho looked from Reina to Sayumi and then back to her Mama. She seemed to be sorting things out in her head. She looked up at Ai.

"Mama, does that mean that all of you were in the same school?"

Ai shot a look at Reina. Exactly what did you tell her? Reina shrugged eloquently, affecting a look of complete innocence. Ai plastered on a benign smile for Riho's sake, though her eyes promised appropriate retribution when the time was right.

"Yes dear, we were. It was a long time ago though."

Riho's eyes were very large now. "Why didn't you ever tell me?"

Surprisingly, it was Sayumi who came to the rescue.

"Oh, we fell out of touch after your Mama graduated, so I guess she didn't think we remembered her." That wasn't so nice. Ai winced, though you wouldn't notice it unless you knew her well. Reina did, and elbowed Sayu not-so-discreetly.

Risa, for her part, was still somehow catatonic. Asami prodded her experimentally, just to make sure the woman had not gone into shock or something. Brought back to reality by the contact, Risa stared for a long moment at first Sayu, then Reina.

"So you're here because...?"

It was Riho who answered.

"Tanaka-san's my mentor, and I had a sleepover at her place last night. Michishige-san came by and um..." She struggled to find a diplomatic term. "Decided to accompany us."

"More like invited herself over." Reina muttered under her breath. Sayumi returned her cousin's earlier favour with a well placed elbow. Reina scowled and moved away, placing herself somewhat nearer to Ai and Riho.

"Well how could I pass up an opportunity to visit? Especially it's my dear RihoRiho's birthday~" If Riho had not been standing in between the protective figures of Ai and Reina, Sayumi would have undoubtedly glomped the poor kid. Reina scowled at her wayward cousin and deliberately moved to block the kid from her cousin's grasping hands.

"RihoRiho?" The kid in question mouthed. Since when had she gotten the nickname? Sayumi did not seem phased at all.

"A cute nickname for a cute girl! It suits you~"

Even Ai was giving her skeptical looks now. Riho stepped as close as humanly possible to her mother, hoping that it was enough protection. At least Tanaka-san was conveniently in the way between her and the creepy person.

"Well we shouldn't keep standing in the doorway. Come on in, everyone." Ai, the voice of reason, finally cut through the babble. Risa kept shooting nervous glances at the pair of cousins who trailed in after them. Asami, for her part, seemed to be off in her own world. Riho was just glad to be home, with Mama's reassuring grip around her shoulders.

All in all, it wasn't a bad 12th birthday. Apart from having to dodge a certain someone, there was the usual amounts of hysteria (Aunt Niigaki), glee (presents!), and unintended hilarity (various). And the cake was indeed chocolate. There were also cookies! What more could she want?

Except, well, for just one little thing.

Riho was sure she wasn't meant to see it. But she had managed to give a certain devil bunny the slip for the thirteenth time in the past half hour, and was making her way to the kitchen for more cookies, when she spotted Mama passing something to Tanaka-san furtively in a brown paper bag. Tanaka-san looked pleased, and was about to take whatever it was out of the bag, but Mama stopped her. Riho couldn't hear what they were whispering to each other, but she surely could not miss the smile that lit Mama's eyes up when Tanaka-san said something to her. Riho had never seen Mama so happy before. She had never seen Tanaka-san look so vulnerable before. Now she believed that they were indeed friends, and close friends at that.

Then Aunt Konno had found her, and all but dragged her away before Mama and Tanaka-san could discover either of them.

"Mama looked so happy." Riho observed. Aunt Konno smiled.

"It's your birthday, and we have an inpromptu reunion going on. She has good reason."

Riho shook her head stubbornly. "Not that. It's just...she looks so...so..." She couldn't find the right word to express that strange quality she had picked up on.

"If she's happy, why are you thinking so much?" Riho blinked. That was true. It didn't matter why. Mama was happy, and that made her happy too. She smiled up at the bespectacled genius, who squeezed her shoulder lightly before drifting away.

Not that Riho was hurting for entertainment. Before Mama could locate her and stash her away for the night, she could always watch the adults' antics, made more amusing this year by the inclusion of Michishige-san into the proceedings. It was probably uncharitable to think so, but Riho found that the way Aunt Niigaki seemed to be treading on thin ice around Michishige-san highly entertaining. Watching the excitable Niigaki-san freak out around the sly Michishige-san was a delightful reprieve from her own torment at the hands of the creepy bunny. Riho silently thanked Aunt Niigaki for the sacrifice. She could not have found a better decoy.

"And there you are, young lady. Off to bed with you."

"But Mama!"

"Hush, you can watch from the room if you really want."

"...really?"

"Yes. Now go before I lock you in."

"Hai!"

As Riho scampered off, Reina came to stand beside Ai.

"You talk like a drill sergeant with that kid."

Ai shrugged. "If I'm not firm, she won't listen sometimes."

Reina smirked. "Is it bad that I find it weirdly sexy when you talk like that?"

Ai flushed. Reina grinned and slipped away, leaving the older woman to stare after her. Really, twelve years and Reina was still such an incorrigible flirt. Not that she minded.

Watching the rest of her old friends chat and mingle brought an odd nostalgia to her. With Riho safely tucked away, she supposed she could break out the alcohol. Ai made a mental note to lock the door before she got started. There were some things kids really shouldn't be exposed to.

Before she could contemplate further, Ai found herself dragged into the game they were playing. For all the noise and clutter, Ai was surprised to find that she really didn't mind it at all. Especially not when it was a grinning Reina who pulled her down beside her in the circle, so that they were pressed close to each other. When Reina's fingers secretly interlaced with hers behind their backs, Ai smiled.

Nope, she didn't mind at all. Not one bit.

========================================================


Braindead. Need sleep. Good night.
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [20/8 - Chapter 21: Party Party Party]
Post by: Shiawase_Honoo on August 19, 2011, 09:57:14 PM
AHAHAHAHAHA :rofl: :rofl:
You made me laugh so hard at first :rofl:
But you just throw a bomb in the last :bleed eyes:
Thanks for your hard working like always :bow:
I have to write a short story for my literature homework :bleed eyes:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [20/8 - Chapter 21: Party Party Party]
Post by: KirikomoriHime on August 19, 2011, 09:58:37 PM
Meddling Konkon <3 -steals along with King- you are mine~

LOL Sayu don't tease the Gaki~~ they know each other... um... WAIT I REMEMBER THIS. hold on... OH YEAH Gaki was Sayu's designer from a while ago, right?

Ohoho, so Reina likes it when Ai-chan gets controlling? Interesting...  :deco:

-rolls-

Thanks for the update!!
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [20/8 - Chapter 21: Party Party Party]
Post by: SarangAi on August 20, 2011, 02:31:14 AM
LOL omg that was such a cute chapter, especially at the end :wub:

I wonder what Ai and Reina were talking about in the kitchen... and the brown paper bag! CURIOSITY :bleed eyes: :bleed eyes:

lol I can totally imagine Sayu eyeing Gaki-san creepily and Riho just giving off that content smile at escaping Sayu's clutches :rofl: :rofl:

I find it ironic how the adults are all partying after the birthday girl goes to sleep... not that i mind, of course XD XD

can't wait for more~~  :cow:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [20/8 - Chapter 21: Party Party Party]
Post by: astro18 on August 20, 2011, 05:22:34 AM
Partyin, partyin, YEAH!

Dat brown paper bag..... brownies?? :wth LOL. Anyway, soooo cute :wub:

Breaking out the alchohol, eh? One thing usually leads to another when you're under the influence.. :twisted:

Thanks for update! Can't wait for next one :twothumbs
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [20/8 - Chapter 21: Party Party Party]
Post by: Kikk4r on August 20, 2011, 01:32:15 PM
naw that`s kinda cute though

and i can`t comment on much cuz everything you writ turns to be awesome all the time :)

ugh well did ai lock riho in her room?

and im really glade you updated :cow: do it again soon cuz i have to know what happens know :cow:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [20/8 - Chapter 21: Party Party Party]
Post by: Fushigidane on August 20, 2011, 11:48:56 PM
Hihiii Reinai that is!!! :grin: :heart:
Konkon is some scientist, but she isn't even as creepy as Sayumi XD
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [20/8 - Chapter 21: Party Party Party]
Post by: eruchan on August 21, 2011, 04:56:53 PM
RihoRiho's birthday party XD
Lol at Sayu inviting herself..
Sayu and Gaki XD poor Gaki having to deal with the narcissist bunny.
The brown bag.. I suppose it is the brownies mentioned before?
And Ai bringing out the alcohol.. I sense a hilarious situation coming up, and perhaps secrets being spilled out?
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [20/8 - Chapter 21: Party Party Party]
Post by: oddball on August 22, 2011, 02:43:52 PM
Hmm at the moment it feels like it's only a matter of time before Riho puts enough of the pecies together to figure out about Reina and Ai, at least enough to get an explanation anyway.....
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [20/8 - Chapter 21: Party Party Party]
Post by: gracula on September 03, 2011, 05:07:05 PM
I'm here! And as with Bee, I've already gushed about how much I love this to you on Skype. So I leave my mark of appreciation with my usual nonsense:-

Fanart!

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y214/gracthemusical/essy-sayuriho2.jpg)

(this is my first attempt at drawing and coloring 'people' with my new tablet I bought specially for this occasion. So, please forgive the hideousness.)


Animal video!
Cat mom hugs baby kitten (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vw4KVoEVcr0#)


Hope for things to come!
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y214/gracthemusical/essy-ponchanslab.jpg)
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [20/8 - Chapter 21: Party Party Party]
Post by: aussie on September 10, 2011, 12:45:43 PM
Came across this photo (I'm assuming it was during a practice session for the Ribbon? musical), and I couldn't help but be reminded of MSF, with a touch of Sayu:

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g396/Shiyasshi_Futa/img20110906125344153.jpg)

:D

I felt sorry for Gaki, having to see her worst nightmare of a client during her private time as well, but hey. The entertainment value is just too much to let go :lol:

Riho is picking up on more things. Will she be left to fit the pieces together, or will her parents sit her down and break the news to her? The anticipation is building up. Dum dum dum....

It looks like Riho talked about Reina on her radio show recently, how Reina acts against her aloof image and is very gentle and kind to her, how Reina is the senpai member that talks to her the most, and little Riho finds Reina to be a senior she can depend on and turn to for support like an older sister figure. I wonder if Sayu was listening in on this.... :P

Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [20/8 - Chapter 21: Party Party Party]
Post by: Kikk4r on September 24, 2011, 11:34:21 PM
please update again ... dont torture us
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [20/8 - Chapter 21: Party Party Party]
Post by: nighell on October 14, 2011, 11:59:36 PM
*sigh*ah, every time I look here, I hope to update.
I understand that the author is also a man (yep, it's true). Maybe he will not have the suitable mood or real life interfered  and diverted... But, please, give us a beam of the hope on the update. This is so cruel to stop on the most interesting place.
Estrea, please, write even a some of the hint or an answer, the silence is killing. X_x
P.S.: sorry for the curves of the phrase :sweatdrop:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [20/8 - Chapter 21: Party Party Party]
Post by: xyukie56 on January 11, 2012, 02:33:03 AM
What happened to this ?

Lol, I miss reading this!  XD

Hope a new chapter is coming...  :cry:

Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [20/8 - Chapter 21: Party Party Party]
Post by: Estrea on April 23, 2012, 04:03:36 PM
Hi guysssssss I'm backkkkkkk. Does anyone even remember this story? Lmfao.


Shiawase_Honoo: Sorry for the wait! I've been all over the place lol. Glad I could make you laugh ;) Check out the latest chapter!

KiriHime: More of meddling Konkon. I love Konkon. XDDDDD And yes Gaki is Sayu's interior designer. Lol. And mhm Reina just likes Ai-chan soooo.... :P I'm sorry I took so long for this latest update!

SarangAi: I generally like cute chapters :3 Yes, Riho enjoys escaping Sayu's clutches, if only for her own sanity. :lol: And I think it's normal for adults to find any excuse to party. :P I apologize for the long delay!

astro18: Yup, brownies! :D Alcohol is always fun. XD And yes Ai pretty much had to lock Riho in before the alcohol started flowing. Don't wanna scar the kid after all XD I'm sorry for the long wait for this update!

Fushigidane: ReinAi :heart: No one can out-creep Sayu. :lol:

eruchan: Yes I love Sayu and her shamelessness. XD And yes that is correct, the brown bag has the brownies! Ai's bribe to Reina. XD

oddball: Riho is only 12. :P She's smart, but I don't think she'll figure it out like that so easily lol. It's not exactly normal after all. She might assume something else though...

grac: Ha! I love your fanart and animal videos! :D Your mark of appreciation is always appreciated! :lol:

aussie: Aww that picture :heart: I like building up anticipation. :3 Will RihoRiho find out on her own? Will they have to tell her? Will she freak out? Lmao. And yes Reina is a lot of a better senpai than you'd think her image would make her out to be :lol: Harsh outside, but a huge softy, is our Reina. :3

Kikk4r: Fear not! Your torture is over!

nighell: HEY I'M NOT A MAN. *fumes* :lol: Well I'm sorry I vanished for so long lol. Too many things were going on in my life...and well, here's a chapter! :D I apologize again for the long delay!

xyukie56: Hi hi! Welcome to the thread, and thanks for bumping it! I finally read through everything and wrote an update because of it. Haha. Sorry for going on such a long hiatus, but here's an update for you guys!


Ok time to edit and post. I bet everyone thought I abandoned this...lol. Almost right, almost! But since RihoRiho is my favorite, I can't really abandon this now, can I?
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [20/8 - Chapter 21: Party Party Party]
Post by: Estrea on April 23, 2012, 04:12:23 PM
My Days For You


Safely ensconsced in her ivory tower, the evil mastermind of lollipops and candy cackles to herself.

That is to say, a certain mad scientist, otherwise known as Konno Asami, was in her lab and being pretty damn happy about it.

Her half written report was on the screen nearest to her. On another screen, she had a 3D model of some unidentifiable organism rotating in the precise center. Various files were stacked on the far side, the edges of some papers peeking out of a few. More charts and scrawled notes were spread on the empty parts of the desk.

Her desk was the only disorganized part of the lab. The actual work area was perfectly pristine. Everything was clearly labelled and stowed away in their proper places. Asami was big on safety procedures in a lab setting. Particularly due to the nature of her work. In her worst nightmares, Asami had pictured a bio-plague emerging from the bowels of her lab and running rampant across the globe, leaving zombies and other biological disasters in its wake.

That's it, she needed to stop playing Biohazard with her interns.

Worst case scenarios aside, Asami was actually feeling fairly smug this bright morning. Her hangover cure worked! Well, she had taken a few precautions the night before. Like eating a lot to buffer against the alcohol intake. Like imbibing lots of fluids. Like not actually slinging back drink after drink like a certain narcissistic idol...

Asami was quite surprised by Michishige Sayumi actually, in more than one way. Despite the woman's self-centered facade, the sunny idol was actually quite personable and entertaining to talk to. She was also a heavyweight in the alcohol department. Asami had been surprised when a certain Tanaka Reina was the first to pass out though. Apparently alcoholic tolerance did not run in the family. She made an absent note to herself on another piece of paper.

Ai-chan had been the next to go down, not long after Reina did. Asami smiled at the memory. The pair had been sprawled all over each other in their inebriation, though no one gave it a second thought. They were drunk. Though Asami did catch Michishige eyeing them with a strange look on her face when she thought no one was looking.

It would not surprise Asami if Michishige knew about Reina and Ai-chan. The bond between the cousins was obvious to those who bothered to notice. Even when the narcissistic bunny was taunting the fierce kitty about her inability to handle hard drinks, which led to the kitty drinking 3 shots in a row and passing out almost immediately afterwards. Asami silently gave a point to the sneaky idol.

Though, even in defeat Reina still managed to pass out in Ai-chan's arms, so perhaps that wasn't so much a defeat as it was a victory-in-disguise. Certainly the bunny had had a mix of envy and fond exasperation veiled by her outward sneer when her cousin passed out. Asami felt that the narssistic idol was a lot more complicated than she let on.

On the other hand, Gaki-san was about as transparent as one could imagine. Then again, Asami had known her for years and knew that the woman was completely without pretensions. A little over the top at times, but really meaning well and enthusiastic even when everyone else wasn't. Knowing that Ai-chan was a relative lightweight with alcohol, she had helped to intercept a few drinks, but she still managed to last longer than even Asami herself expected.

Still, Michishige did manage to eventually drink her under the table, though towards the end Asami had been greatly amused by how the normally affable Risa had started blabbering about how she wasn't afraid of Michishige and for her to "bring it", among other interesting (and somewhat lame) schoolyard-type threats. Asami wondered what grudge Risa held against the idol. Surely work stress (that had come out early in the drinking session) couldn't have been the cause. Then again, judging from the smugly amused expression the idol wore, something must have happened.

Asami resolved to ferret out the reason some time. She wasn't just merely being a nosy parker. She needed to satisfy a professional curiosity. Yes. It was an occupational hazard. Finding out "why" and "how" was the very basis of scientific inquiry!

Despite having also succumbed to an alcoholic haze the night before, Asami prided herself on her near total recall of the night's events. It was a trait she had. She was a quiet drunk. Also, her ability to remember everything also provided excellent blackmail material for her reference. Not that she planned to use that information against her friends. Oh no, definitely not. What kind of person did you she was? Well, at least not until she next needed a favor. But that wasn't blackmail. Not at all.

Her mind went back to her primary project as she opened the 5th notebook she had started ever since a certain Takahashi Riho was born 12 years ago. It was part scrapbook, part diary, part research journal. Flipping to the latest page, she skimmed through her previous entry where she first confirmed a certain Tanaka Reina to be the biological "father" of that miracle child, Riho.

May 20th: Visited Ai-chan. Tested hypothesis re Riho's other biological parent. Hypothesis confirmed. T.R is the other genetic donor. More testing required, possibly acquirement of genetic material to cross-reference inheritance patterns. Check with senior at hospital?

There were a few more scribbles along the margins, as well as some equations that she had been thinking about at the time. Looking at the entry reminded her of something she had been putting off all week.

Even as she hurriedly jotted down her observations from last night's party, her other hand went through her contacts list for the name she required, then dialled the number.

"Moshi moshi~ Konno here. May I speak to Yasuda-sensei please? Yes, yes..."

~*~*~*~*~

The bell rang, and Riho slumped onto the table, finally abandoning all pretense of remaining awake during class. She hated studying sometimes, but she made the attempt to do well anyway.

All around her students chattered as they brought out their bentos, while others streamed out of the classroom to stretch their legs or just go looking for friends. Girls in their own cliques gathered to have their lunches together, inpromptu islands forming in the sea of tables within the classroom. Riho sat alone, face down in her textbook, drooling blissfully for all of 5 minutes before her latest mini-nightmare where her Mama threatened to ban her from ever drinking cider again jolted her out of her daze.

Rubbing sleepily at her eyes, Riho glanced around, but felt no urge to join any of the chattering girls. She was a bit nervous about approaching new people, especially with her being a transfer student coming in late in the term. Everyone else had been together for years and years, and the friendships they had seemed easy and ironclad. Not much space for a quiet newcomer like herself.

Pulling out her lunch (yakisoba pan, orange-flavored cider), Riho unwrapped the bread carefully and munched with singleminded focus. It didn't take long for her to finish. Taking a long drink from her cider, Riho felt alive for the first time since she shambled into class.

The rest of break passed uneventfully with her doodling mini pictures of omu-rice and chicken wings, her usual way of passing time in school. She was used to being alone, so it wasn't too bad. Besides, this way there was no one to ask her uncomfortable questions about her family. Riho really didn't like it when the conversation inevitably led there. She didn't want to lie about her situation, but most kids didn't really have any tact when it came to the "where is your father?" question. Which inevitably came after the "what does your father do?" question.

"No my dad isn't with us." Riho mumbled to herself, her usual response. Having a social life meant dealing with uncomfortable questions. She'd rather pass in this case.

Not for the first thing, she imagined a reality where she had a father. One who'd treat her like his favorite princess, who would take her to amusement parks along with Mama, who would take her side whenever Mama decided to scold her for something or another...

It wasn't that she wasn't happy with Mama. It was just...

If only. Riho couldn't help but feel a pang of envy when others spoke of their fathers. She was happy, but there were things that she wished she could have too.

Especially now that she knew that her father was in contact with Mama. She had lived 12 years with just her Mama and no expectation of there ever being a Papa, even though Mama had never lacked for suitors back in their hometown. Mama had turned down every single offer over the years. Secretly, Riho felt happy about that. She most definitely did not want to share Mama with some other man. They weren't her real father. She could not help but feel resentful and suspicious of each and every one of them, and always breathed a sigh of relief when Mama turned them away.

She really shouldn't be thinking about this. Her 12th birthday had come and gone. She had a great time with Mama and Tanaka-san and all the others. Even Michishige-san. She blinked away the sudden wave of tears that threatened to spill over. She was alone.

Sitting in a class full of people, all avidly listening (or pretending to listen) to their homeroom teacher, Riho felt acutely and painfully alone. It didn't matter that Mama loved her and would do anything for her. She felt selfish thinking that way, but it didn't stop a tiny part of her blaming her Mama about her lack of a complete family. It shamed her to feel so.

Time flew by. When the bell next rang again, Riho only vaguely registered their homeroom teacher calling out "don't forget to do your summer homework!" as everyone in the classroom let out a whoop and started packing up.

Right, this was the last day of class before summer holidays. Crap, what was the homework again? Riho sighed. Time to go find out.

It promised to be an interesting summer...

=================================================================


Tralalala. Mostly a placeholder chapter. More stuff to follow.

Note that Biohazard is the Japanese name of the Resident Evil series. Figured I'd keep it more authentic by referring to it that way.

Again, I apologize for my long absence! *grovels*

Also, I do not know why I stole ManoEri's song title for the chapter. >_> :P

Happy reading!  :ph43r: *poof*
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [23/4 - Chapter 22: My Days For You]
Post by: Kikk4r on April 23, 2012, 04:33:54 PM
GOD YOUR BACK!  :cow:

aw, Riho is kinda cute though :wub: . Thanks for not torture me much more :P but i am not sure if i can forgive you for your absence :smhid
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [23/4 - Chapter 22: My Days For You]
Post by: Kikk4r on April 23, 2012, 07:21:23 PM
btw i really missed you....
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [23/4 - Chapter 22: My Days For You]
Post by: astro18 on April 23, 2012, 08:31:39 PM
(http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2y2pvZlxE1r46mp0.gif)
 
:bleed eyes: I can't believe you're really back. I've missed you :bow:

Lol @Biohazard and zombies. I actually just started Walking Dead too haha. *patiently waits for zombie crossover fic*

Ahh poor Riho.. When is the great reveal about her father??
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [23/4 - Chapter 22: My Days For You]
Post by: Koei on April 23, 2012, 10:38:36 PM
 :shocked Could it be !!?!!?!!?!?!  :shocked MY eyes are not failing !?!?!?! :shocked The cheese in the refrigeeta is for me and not for the dog !?!?!?!?!  :shocked Oh my sweet Mentaiko pan !!!! It's real !!! (almost freaked out after seeing the comments and not the post but...) !!!! Estrea-sama !!!!   :cow: This is so refreshing!!! Okaeri ~ !!! I've quite missed your writings !!! I've been following this since the begining and I must say that my hopes for it were dwindling at each passing day...then month... and then 2011 to 2012 !!! But as of today !!! Arigato !!!! HOPES RENEWED !!!! You've made my day a whole lot better !!!!  :bow: :bow: :bow: :cow:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [23/4 - Chapter 22: My Days For You]
Post by: SarangAi on April 23, 2012, 11:43:32 PM
oh gosh yes yes yes yes yes~~~~  :cow: :heart: :heart: :heart:

I've been waiting sooooo long for this.... i was about to go stalk this thread again and bump it  XD

LOL at mad scientist konkon... she'll forever be cute :D

and awwwww rihoriho is lonely???  she needs a papa now.  comeon mama ai and papareina, figure it out and get back together....  :P :P

thanks for the update!!!! :twothumbs
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [23/4 - Chapter 22: My Days For You]
Post by: nighell on April 24, 2012, 12:07:36 AM
Oh my God!  :w00t:
This is probably the best thing that happened over the few last months. I mean the return and of course the update.  :twothumbs  Thank you
HEY I'M NOT A MAN. *fumes* :lol:
Okay Okay  :lol:  I will make Dictionary of the English my favorite handbook, I promise.

I have no words, only emotions :on gay:
P.S.:One more step to the mystery of birth Riho :glasses:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [23/4 - Chapter 22: My Days For You]
Post by: rndmnwierd on April 24, 2012, 02:41:58 AM
Awesome placeholder is awesome. Drunken adult antics, lols.

Daww, poor Riho. She really needs some friends.
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [23/4 - Chapter 22: My Days For You]
Post by: Estrea on April 25, 2012, 06:06:00 PM
Look who's back? :D


Kikk4r: I'm not God, but thank you. :D I'll try not to torture you too much and I'm really sorry for going missing for so long! Aww thanks for missing me. It's always nice to see that people actually care about me ;_;

astro18: LOL that pic. Yes I'm back! And no I don't want to write a zombie crossover fic yet. :P Great reveal will take some time. Focusing more on a few other things first. Taking things slow for now...

Koei: Oh, your comment made me chuckle. I saw what you did there! Ahahaha I am honored to have such an enthusiastic reader. :3 I tend to get really erratic with my updating but it helps now that I have a somewhat more stable environment in which to write. :3 Thank you for being so patient! :D And I'm glad I could make someone feel better. :D

SarangAi: Ahahaha thanks for always stalking my threads lmao. Bumping them is like an accusation to make me update. ^^; Yes, Konkon will always be cute! and yes it's hard being in a single parent family, poor Riho. XD Mama and Papa need some time to get back together, cos I don't want them to get together just for the sake of the kid. I have lots planned!

nighell: Hahaha thanks for remembering this story! :D And btw, your English has improved. :P Good work! :D

rndm: Sorry my promised update was two days late, but hey, at least it wasn't 2 weeks or 2 months! XD And yes Riho needs some friends lol. That will come in time!


Time to edit and post. :3
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [23/4 - Chapter 22: My Days For You]
Post by: Estrea on April 25, 2012, 06:23:43 PM
Missing You


When you think of the words "summer vacation", wouldn't the things normally associated with it be stuff like beaches, barbeques, ice cream, and ghost stories at night? Even if ghost stories weren't exactly her cup of tea...

Then there's watermelon bashing, festivals, fireworks, and all sorts of other fun activities that could, and rightfully should, have been part of a fun summer vacation. But no, Mama had other plans.

"Homework, honey, or you're going nowhere."

"But, Mama!"

"No buts. Now get started, or else..." Ai trailed off menacingly, and an appropriately cowed Riho ducked her head and shuffled off reluctantly to the desk. The only outward sign of her petulance was in the way she scuffed her feet against the floor, but one didn't question Takahashi Ai in full Mama mode twice. Not unless they were prepared for...consequences.

"Aren't you too hard on the kid?"

Ai turned to face her unexpected guest, who was currently sprawled on the couch like she owned it, a thick sheaf of papers in her hand. A casual tee with punk rock designs hugged her slim form, and covered part of the top of her mini-shorts, while a slightly unglamorous pair of reading glasses perched on her nose completed the look. She certainly looked at home.

Ai noted that her toenails were baby pink. Putting one hand on her hip, she frowned at her guest, who, despite the mischievous grin on her face, was a haggard sight underneath the light touches of makeup.

"You, on the other hand, are too hard on yourself. When was the last time you slept?"

"Last night?" The cat-eyed girl blinked innocuously and scratched idly at her temple with the butt of her pencil. Ai glowered at her.

"Reina."

"Fine! This morning..." The idol grumbled, her glasses slipping off her nose. She glared at the giggles coming from a corner. "Shuddap, runt!"

Ai ignored the antics of her "children", sidling up to the pouty Reina and firmly removing both the glasses and the papers from the tired idol. Reina made a half hearted grab for them, but got distracted by the fact that her face was basically level with Ai's chest. She swallowed drily, but the moment passed as soon as it had come when Ai retreated. The damn woman probably hadn't even noticed. She was right.

"I'm confiscating these. You will get some rest. Now." Ai waved said articles in her hand. Reina scowled.

"I have to memorize the script before the next rehearsal!"

"And when is that?"

"...next week..." Reina muttered. "But I have lots of other things to do in between!"

"Yes. And right now, you need sleep." Ai towered over Reina, since the latter was still seated on the couch. They were close to each other, but not so close as to invade each other's personal space. Neither were ready for that kind of contact, not after waking up snuggled into each other the morning after Riho's birthday party. The massive hangover didn't help either. They hadn't really come into close contact since then. Partially because they were still trying to figure out how they fit in each other's lives. Mostly because, well, neither of them knew how to take the first step. It was as if they had gone back to behaving like awkward high school kids.

"Tanaka-san, it's better to just give in..." Riho stage-whispered from the corner she had been banished to earlier. Ai didn't even turn around. She just held up one hand, and Riho eeped and dived back into her homework. Well, sort of, anyway. It wasn't every day that you got to see your normally unassuming Mama bully one of Japan's top idols. This was way more entertaining than doing quadratic equations!

Reina made several more weak protests as Ai all but shoved her into the room. The door swung close, and Reina rubbed at her eyes while suppressing a yawn. She really was exhausted. Standing like this in the room, with all her usual defenses down, Reina appeared younger than her 26 years of age, and even more vulnerable. Ai felt a sudden pang in her heart, but uncertainty squashed her impulse to embrace the idol.

"You work too hard." Reina looked up. Their eyes were level with each other, but Ai seemed somehow...bigger. She could feel the older woman's pain and concern. For her! An irresistible bubble of emotion rose within her, but Reina masked any outer expression of it with another yawn.

"Popularity does that. I have to work hard." Reina leaned against the dresser, letting her shoulders slump inwards slightly. She wasn't hiding, not really. In truth, letting Ai see how tired she was was more of a concession than she had given anyone. Even Sayu.

"You also have to rest. What if you fall sick?" Ai nagged gently, reaching forward to tug on Reina's slim wrist. The contact jolted them both, but neither let it show. They weren't actually kids anymore, despite their mutual hesitance. Neither of them wanted to ruin whatever it was that was slowly rekindling between them. To have found each other, to have acknowledged that there was still something, no matter how small, was precious to them both. If it made them too cautious, too tentative, well, years of separation did that. Trust didn't grow on trees, and neither did it sprout overnight. Ai knew all too well that she had broken Reina's heart before, and that she deserved whatever the woman did to her. To be friends again, maybe even more, well, that would take time.

"Hospital?" Reina kidded with a flippant gesture, but the instant frown from Ai made her hesitate. She allowed the older woman to lead her to the bed, though her pulse rate quickened. Ai had to notice, Reina thought feverishly. She has a hand on my wrist, she can't not notice.

If Ai did, she didn't say anything. The bed wasn't made yet, not since she had to physically haul her recalcitrant daughter out for a late breakfast/early lunch. While Ai did allow Riho to sleep in during the holidays, she drew the line at letting the kid sleep the whole morning away. Which Riho had demonstrated a clear capacity to do so on numerous occasions.

"There's only one bed." Reina said suddenly. She sat on the edge, not yet lying down. Ai had knelt down, and was now looking up at her. She still hadn't let go of Reina's hand. Point in fact, she seemed to have entirely forgotten that she was still holding on. Not that Reina was protesting in the slightest.

"Riho doesn't sleep well alone." Ai smiled to herself at the thought. Twelve years old and still a big baby. Well, Riho would always be her baby.

"I'm jealous." Reina meant to say it in a joking manner. Really. But somehow, her tone turned out to be more serious than she intended. The words hung in the sudden silence between them.

A different person, a person like Sayu perhaps, would have seized on the chance to tease Reina. But this was Ai. She never did. Never could, more like. All she did, to Reina's surprise (and secret glee) was blush. Almost 30, and blushing like a schoolgirl! The thought came to Ai, which made her flush harder, dropping her gaze to where she was still holding on to Reina's arm. As she made to let go, Reina reversed her grip to link hands with her, pulling her up to sit next to her on the bed.

"I really am, you know." Reina said conversationally. Ai turned an attentive gaze to her. Reina deliberately avoid the gaze, letting her eyes trace the patterns on the bedsheets instead. She felt Ai squeeze her fingers reassuringly, heard the deep intake of breath from the older woman, and yet was still surprised when Ai suddenly pulled her into a deep embrace.

I missed you. That was what the hug said, even though Ai said nothing. As usual, Ai could pull something totally unexpected out of the bag to surprise Reina. The idol would think she had everything figured out, but here comes Ai who could and would do something that Reina didn't think she was able to do.

She has always been the braver of the two of us. Wrapped in those warm arms, Reina once again felt an impulse to cry. Her shoulders trembled, and already Ai was whispering into her ear, whispering assurances, soothing words...when her presence alone was comfort enough. Was a trigger in itself. Reina buried her head deep into Ai's embrace, unwilling to let her weakness be seen. Her sobs were silent, heartbreaking.

Ai rocked the vulnerable woman in her arms, her own heart squeezed tight at the sight. There was little she could do, but she would give whatever she could. When the sobs resolved into tiny whimpers, Ai stroked the silky hair of her beloved kitten, pressing feather light kisses into her scalp until Reina's breathing evened out. It hurt to see Reina so haggard and worn.

Why are you here, if you are so busy? That was the question she did not let slip from her lips, every single time Reina dropped by on some pretext. Ai never punctured Reina's facade in front of others. It was her own way of protecting the girl's pride.

And if Reina found comfort by being here, Ai would do all within her power to ease her burdens. She owed Reina that much. She loved Reina that much. She had spent so many years away, burying that emotion so deep that she could scarce remember it, but all it took was seeing Reina up close and needing her, even if the girl said nothing, to reawaken those feelings.

"Baka." Ai whispered to the slumbering Reina. Fondly, in exasperation. Tenderly, with love.

So caught up was she with seeing to Reina that she didn't even notice the curious eye peeking through a slit in the slightly ajar door. A curious eye that backed slowly away, quietly amazed.

Mama and Tanaka-san sure are close...

Altogether, a succinct and astute observation. Even if she did miss the point entirely. Too soon for little Riho to step into the world of adults, after all. For all her maturity, she was only 12, and some things were beyond her understanding.

Before she could get caught spying though, Riho tiptoed back to the desk and went back to her homework. She didn't fancy a matching bruise so early into the holidays.

Though, with Tanaka-san so often around, that meant more sweet treats, and Mama being less inclined to keep a constant eye on her! Riho grinned impishly to herself, and snuck yet another pastry. Her cheeks puffed out contentedly as she chewed.

Life was good.

=======================================================================


A short, serious-like chapter. Not much crack, I'm afraid. Needed to address the adult difficulties. Your usual crack will resume after all the issues have been resolved. :P

* :ph43r: away~*
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [26/4 - Chapter 23: Missing You]
Post by: rndmnwierd on April 25, 2012, 06:33:04 PM
Slowly~ Slowly~ Ai and Reina are coming together again.

....Leaving Riho to take advantage by raiding the pantry~!

Score for the kid! And a small score for the adults.

Bring on more summer love!!
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [26/4 - Chapter 23: Missing You]
Post by: SarangAi on April 25, 2012, 11:23:33 PM
whoo hoo~~~ that was so fast, i love it  XD

omg i can't decide which of your writing i like more... the crack or the seriousness  :lol:

But I know I definitely loved this chapter~  I do like the slow process of Ai and Reina getting back together, and it's definitely more realistic.  I mean, it won't go:

Ai: I know I got pregnant and left you but I still love you.
Reina: I love you too!
Ai: yay mutual feelings!
-DA END

um yeah... *that was me being high*  :nervous

anyways.. can't wait to see what's next~~  :wub: :wub:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [23/4 - Chapter 22: My Days For You]
Post by: KirikomoriHime on April 26, 2012, 02:51:03 AM
Quote
o~ka~e~riiii  :otomerika:

It's funny since for some reason this fic came to mind last night. I must have some kind of 7th sense or something  :cow: :cow: --slapped--

I'm surprisingly grateful for Pon-chan's perspective in the story. It really clears a lot of things up. And is that GakiShige I detect?
And poor Rihoriho... make friends is hard, I know! :mon POd: BUT IT'S OK BECAUSE IN THE END THEY'RE ALL LIKE MOGI
(http://i389.photobucket.com/albums/oo337/illogicalisms/HP/honesty.jpg)

^No matter how long it's been, I will always love that picture

^ that was the reply I forgot to post on the 23rd and has been sitting open in one of my tabs ever since xD

AND NEW CHAPPIE

I must mention I absolutely adore Riho in this chapter. Not a huge presence but gotta love her PoV. It's so different from, say, Konkon's! Still cute <3

 :byebye:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [26/4 - Chapter 23: Missing You]
Post by: Fushigidane on May 01, 2012, 10:18:56 AM
Carefully ReinAi's getting back together. :)  :heart:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [26/4 - Chapter 23: Missing You]
Post by: gracula on May 06, 2012, 04:47:24 PM
What is this srs bsns fluffy catharsis?

(http://i.imgur.com/TWB5T.jpg)

Like everyone's already said before me, I like the pacing. But Riho needs more friends at school. Want to seeee quick!

Quote
Mama and Tanaka-san sure are close...
Mama and Tanaka-san sure like to take long baths and naps...


Oh, innocence.

On another note, Ponchan's Lab!! With Igor Kemeko-jiji! Thank you!
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [26/4 - Chapter 23: Missing You]
Post by: Kikk4r on May 06, 2012, 07:13:34 PM
Are you sure your not God cuz im not ... xD

btw ReinAi is creep closer to each other everyday that passes :D
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [26/4 - Chapter 23: Missing You]
Post by: Estrea on June 06, 2012, 11:18:17 PM
Hi I'm back! :D Excited to post!


rndy: Yup, Ai and Reina are taking their time lol. And Riho's such a sweet, innocent child. :D Summer love is the best!

SarangAi: Not so fast an update this time, but here ya go! And yes, if things happened that way we would have no story. :P I hope you like the next chapter!

KiriHime: lololol I can't believe you forgot to post XD But better late than never! Riho is all sorts of awesome, yes. :D

Fushigidane: Yup. :heart: I can't wait until the fluff starts!

grac: More crack for you. You have already sampled some. Here's more. I might have gotten progressively crazier as the time of night (day?) progressed. And you are welcome!

Kikk4r: XD I don't glow or look wise. No halo either. :lol: And yes, ReinAi are getting closer, slowly but surely!


Editing to post! Trembling in excitement! It's 5am! I'm mad!
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族 (trl:My Stupid Family) [26/4 - Chapter 23: Missing You]
Post by: Estrea on June 06, 2012, 11:29:06 PM
So Long, And Thanks For All The Lulz


Michishige Sayumi has never hated her job more than now.

Talk shows were fun, you know. Normally, she loved them for the chance they gave her to show off/practice sharpening her (verbal) claws on some hapless newbie or hassled host. She typically got lots of camera time due to her wonderlicious ways and ever so entertaining personality. That suited her just fine.

As she smiled winningly in the camera, Sayumi pondered her options, briefly wondering if she could seize her iced drink and toss it at the tangle of wires snarled around the production crew's feet behind the cameras and equipment. What were the odds of them being shorted out so that the filming could be cancelled? Could they even cancel it? This was a live broadcast, which was why she couldn't wriggle her way out or even pulled strings to get it rescheduled or something.

And damnit, those wires were insulated. Water wasn't going to cut it. Maybe acid?

Sayumi briefly entertained the possibility of snatching the suspiciously sharp hair pins out of fellow guest's pinned up hair (were those even street legal?) and tossing them House of Flying Daggers style at the regrettably insulated wires. Someone might die in the process, but at least it wouldn't be her, and she could probably sneak away in the commotion. Maybe.

The minutes dragged by. Normally, on these live broadcasts, time always felt short. Not this time. Sayumi cursed fate, the producers, her manager (somewhere, the lady sneezed, then cackled to herself for no apparent reason as she inked in yet another entry into Sayumi's already packed schedule book), and most of all her dear beloved cousin, who was in Okinawa right now.

Sayumi devoutly prayed for a typhoon (so soon after cursing people? Oh Kami) so that the trip would be cut short and thus her favoritest person in the world would be returned to her. She was having withdrawal symptoms! Forcing a laugh at a joke someone made, Sayumi was more ruthless than usual with her tsukkomi, disassembling the hapless girl with the titanium (?) Pins of Death in her hair into her atomic components. That made her feel better. For all of two seconds. When was this farce ending again?

If looks could kill, Sayumi's dazzling smile would have shattered every mirror and camera lens in the studio, the shards hopefully piercing everyone else in the studio and leaving her the only survivor in the carnage so she could just leave. Like right now.

But no, there was still the next challenge corner. Fun and games, ho yay.

She could almost scream.

~*~*~*~

"AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!"

Youth was energy! Energy was demonstrated in screaming! Or so her new friend (met all of 10 minutes ago) had diligently informed her in the most serious way possible.

Riho didn't need much persuasion. She was excited. This was the first time she was at a real beach! In Okinawa no less! Standing on top of the ridge, she and her new acquaintance yelled incoherently at the waves, just because they could. And y'know, youthful energy and all that.

"Yeah! That's how you do it!" The girl next to her giggled. Riho giggled back, feeling giddy for no apparent reason. Her serious facade had been sloughed away precisely 10 minutes 32 seconds ago, when this girl had nailed her in the head with a badly thrown (or well aimed?!) frisbee.

It wasn't so bad. There was no permanent injury. At least none that could immediately be seen. Any normal person would have apologized for braining someone with anything, much less a frisbee, but this Ikuta Erina person was not normal.

In fact, her first words to Riho had been: "THIS IS FATE!"

One does not question a person who declaims such lines with that much fervour. Riho had been kind of overwhelmed by the overpowering energy coming from the taller girl, who had immediately seized on her hands and babbled something about the energy of youth and HOW GOOD IT WAS TO NOT SEE OLD PEOPLE FOR ONCE.

To clarify, her idea of old people was anyone over 25. Reina, had she known, would Not Be Amused.

Riho had been somewhat nonplussed by this overenthusiastic greeting. For one thing, she did not know this person. Well, 10 minutes ago, scratch that, 11 now, she was happily minding her own business and wandering down the road to catch a glimpse of the sea. One flying frisbee and excited ranting from owner of said frisbee later, she still did not quite know what to make of this Ikuta Erina character. There was a lot of smiling and nodding on her part. Bemusement too. How could any sane person (sanity, tis overrated, as Riho would soon discover) be so unrelentingly...obtuse? Exuberant? Irrepressible?

...fun?

Which is why, 8 minutes and 25 seconds after their first meeting, Riho found herself clambering up a rocky promontory with her newfound friend, after having offhandedly mentioned that this was the first time she was at a beach and that she had never seen the sea before. Oh well, if you can't beat them, join them! Riho read that somewhere. She might as well just go with it and see where it led!

At least the view was great. Riho had been momentarily awed by the vista afforded to her eyes after they reached the top of the ridge. The sea sparkled in the sunlight, making her shade her eyes, but the cerulean captured her gaze again, matched perfectly against the baby blue skies with the puffy cloud sheep skipping across its azure pastures.

Next to her, the taller girl stood confidently, arms on her waist. Her legs spilled model-long out of her tiny denim shorts, her tank top with its Grateful Dead logo flapping in the breeze. Ikuta looked like she stepped out of a shounen manga at the beginning of some adventure. Kind of. Her bright purple flip flops kind of ruined the effect. Or at least necessitated a genre switch.

"Ne Riho?" Already on first-name basis?! Riho mentally exclaimed, wondering when that had happened. She was still calling her Ikuta-san. Well, they did barely know each other...

"Do you know how to get back down?"

Um. The girls looked back down the path they had climbed. It looked impossibly sheer and altogether too high. How they made it up in the first place, no one knew. Beginner's luck coupled with sheer youthful exuberance? Not unlike the kitten that had climbed a tree, they were now trapped at the top with no certain way of getting down.

"Oh dear."

~*~*~*~

Takahashi Ai was fretting.

She was much given to fretting, you see. Some people are like that. She fretted over everything. If she was not fretting, she would fret about that instead.

A certain kitty known as Tanaka Reina just laughed and called her a worrywart. Riho was a sensible girl. She could watch herself for ten minutes in a new place. It wasn't like they were out of Japan anyway. It was just Okinawa.

Reina had paid for everything and all but kidnapped the mother and daughter duo for a short vacation. This was right after she heard from Riho that the kid had never actually been to the sea. For whatever reason, the Takahashi family tended to go on nature hikes during their summer vacations. While that was all very laudable, Reina had been appalled. How could there be a child who didn't go to the beach in the summer? It was unaccceptable!

Therefore she had sought to rectify this error, and made a reservation post-haste. She even managed to clear her schedule, and pushed off whatever she could to her dear beloved cousin. Who, if the way her eyebrow was twitching was any indication, was probably pronouncing the worst of curses upon her right now. Reina smirked. She could deal with that.

Besides, any excuse to spend more time with Ai was good in Reina's books. This being a beach, it would entail swimsuits, and so...

Reina was very glad she was not prone to having nosebleeds. She hadn't seen much of what lay under Ai's clothes ever since, well, before Riho was born. It had been too long. The idol grudgingly admittted to herself that she was still attracted to one Takahashi Ai, who had aged remarkably well (or barely, if at all). She had no idea how the woman kept her figure (if she had but asked, Ai would have pointed unerringly to years of chasing after Riho, who in her childhood was in turns silent and batshit insane, Bipolar, indeed), but damn, she approved.

The deluxe suite Reina had booked had adjoining rooms. No, she did not planned it that way. It just sort of happened, okay? Really. Who was she kidding?

Not that she was planning for anything to happen on this trip. After all, Riho was around. Whether or not she believed that the kid was hers, Reina was not so immoral as to expose the kid to, uh, this and that. She did have some standards.

It was beginning to drive Reina more than a little crazy. Little hamsters were constantly running around the gears inside her head, always spinning and spinning, until it felt like her head was going to burst. There was no doubt she still wanted Ai, craved her company and more besides. That was why she found herself dropping by on whatever pretext she could dredge up, regardless how tired she was. And Ai, bless her soul, never questioned her motives. Reina did have an image to keep up, no matter how shot it might be by now.

They still hadn't done more than friendly hugging. Considering how intimate they used to be (with clothing on, jeez), Reina was acutely aware of the distance and it pained her on some level. It made her restless. But she refused to cave first. No, Tanaka Reina would not grovel for some woman's attention. People grovelled for her attention, not the other way round!

Reina was stubborn like that.

Unfortunately, Ai was probably equally as stubborn, if not more, but for completely different reasons. She was hesitant, naturally. Uncertain as to whether Reina still wanted her (poker faces were a double edged sword), she did not dare to test the waters too much. Rejection would be too much to bear.

And lastly, of course, the elephant in the room was Riho. Cutest elephant ever, but ever present and a huge obstacle to all parties. It left little breathing room.

To Reina, Riho would always prick a question: was she really hers? How could it even be possible? Ai's explanation had been almost too succinct, too neat and coincidental, to be true. However, it was also too absurd to be said with a straight face, and Ai had always been a lousy liar. Reina couldn't shake the idea of a man being involved in Riho's conception though (years of social indoctrination would do that to you), and it always gave her pause. She liked the girl, but could she accept the kid as part of their lives? There was no question that she wanted Ai, but wanting Ai meant accepting Riho as well. Reina knew this, and it gave her no end of a headache.

Ai, of course, brooked no nonsense when it came to Riho. Her daughter came first, before even Reina, if she had to admit to herself. 12 years of raising the kid, all that self sacrifice, that hard work, the tears and the joy it brought, Ai could no more give Riho up than she could give her soul away. Her daughter was her pride and joy, her everything. If Reina could not accept the girl, there would be no them.

Neither of them had formally discussed all this, of course, but they still read each other well enough to know that these were the issues. As to how they were going to get over them, well, before that...

"I should really go check on Riho." Ai worried again. Reina rolled her eyes.

"Hai hai, okaa-san."

Ai hit Reina over the head. Not gently too. Reina growled and counterattacked. It might have ended with sweaty limbs and mussed hair. Panting, too.

Sadly, no clothes were removed. There was a moment of intense gazing though.

Needless to say, they were sort of delayed before they went out of the hotel...to find no Riho on the sidewalk. Or anywhere in sight.

Now Reina was starting to panic, but Ai was deadly calm. She pulled out her phone.

"I thought you didn't have reception out here?!" Reina was slightly shrill, but she forced herself to at least look calm.

"Hotel wireless." Ai said tersely. Reina, being techno-dumb, wisely said nothing.

"There we go!" Ai cried out triumphantly a minute later. Reina blinked, catching herself mid-pace and circled back to Ai's side. She leaned in to look at the display on Ai's phone. A pulsing red dot was on the screen, located on some sort of map.

The old Ai might have launched into an extended explanation about the capabilities of GPS and tracking systems, but the new mother-of-Riho was a lot more practical. Probably a great deal more practiced in handling crisis. Mothers had to learn that the moment a baby is born. After all, was not birth in itself a great crisis?

"Let's go." The worry was real, etched in broad lines across Ai's face. Reina jogged to keep up, wondering what could be wrong if they had located Riho's position. Ai did not explain. She did not have time to explain.

All that mattered was getting to her daughter's side before anything precipitous happened.

~*~*~*~

"Careful..." Ikuta called as Riho tried to climb down again. She slipped, but the KY (as Riho mentally labelled her) caught her arm before any serious harm was done. All she suffered was a skinned elbow and sandy legs. With a little help, they scrambled back to the top of the ridge again.

"We could wait until someone passes by." Eripon offered. She had insisted that Riho call her that, but Riho couldn't make the mental switch over so quickly or easily. Her mind was quite occupied by the present crisis, you see.

Unfortunately, except for the occasional seagull, there didn't seem to be any passerbys. This being Okinawa, most tourists were concentrated at the beaches, and the locals probably didn't come by this spot that often either.

Riho was actually starting to get worried until she spotted two familiar figures in the distance.

"Mama!!!" She got up and started waving frantically. The figures doubled their speed.

Next to her, Eripon also stood. She squinted. She had not told Riho this yet of course, but her eyesight could rival a hawk, and while she was unfamiliar with Riho's Mama, she could very clearly see the person next to her.

Ikuta Erina was a fashionable sort of girl. She knew the latest trends, kept up with the news, knew her celebrities etc. She could hardly fail to miss the trademark scowl and the off-centered eyes.

As the couple drew near, the fangirl inside one Ikuta Erina must have woken up, because suddenly she became extremely animated and inexplicably started doing a full body wave, all while yelling:

"TANAKA-SAMAAAAAAAA!!!!"

Reina was not amused.

Ai was not amused either. Because in the midst of all that flailing, the KY Eripon actually managed to slam quite hard into Riho, who, despite all the balance her dance training afforded her, was unable to maintain her footing on the rocks, and thus slipped and fell.

Down the ridge. Pointy rocks. Hard sand at the bottom. The works.

Horror couldn't even begin to describe the look on Ai's face. She might have screamed. She might have put one foot forward, hands outstretched as if to catch her falling daughter.

Reina surprised herself. She was never much of an athlete. That was usually more Ai's department. She had pretty good stamina from singing and performing for years, but that was a different kind of exertion.

If you had asked her to duplicate the feat, she could never have done it again. If not for the quick actions of a certain idol wota, those moments might have been lost forever. As it was, they were preserved for posterity in her phone, complete with 15 different straps of varying size and shape dangling from it. How she managed to stuff that into her pocket was an eternal mystery. Did she even have a pocket? Was she Doraemon in disguise? Hammerspace?

But that is beside the point, and this is what happened:

Reina flew forward. She might have momentarily achieved warp speed. Her feet actually left the ground. A frame by frame replay of the video might reveal that she had actually tripped on the kerb as she made her mad dash, propelling her at a seemingly impossible angle and velocity towards her target.

Mechanics aside, Reina was hurtling through the air. Her sole concern was to catch the kid somehow. Her secondary concern might have something to do with the slow torture and deliberate murder of the one that pushed her, but that would be un-idol-like and she had no Sayu to help her hide the body, so that was out.

Warp speed was, unfortunately, quite difficult to control for any extended period of time, particularly without the aid of a computer, and Reina wasn't even that good at math to begin with. She might have flopped, flapped her arms like a chicken, and half stumbled inelegantly for the last few feet. Fortunately, the angle from which the phone was recording this was conveniently blocked by Riho's form tumbling towards Reina.

It was not a fun fall. Fortunately, Riho avoided most of the protruding rocks on the cliff face, but there were the unavoidable scrapes against abrasive rock. She might also have caught her lip on something. She most certainly did hit her head. In any case, she was thankfully unconscious when she landed squarely on top of Reina, who did not so much as catch her as she did cushion her landing.

Idol and idol-in-training whumped against hard sand. There was a long moment of silence following it. Eripon continued filming avidly, even when Reina, miraculously conscious despite the impact and none the worse for wear for the numerous scrapes and cuts she had gotten, slowly tilted her head up and fixed the wota with the most murderous glare known to mankind.

With the possible exception of the Michishige Shattter O' Doom, as mentioned previously.

A normal person might have felt a chill, a sensitive might have wet themselves, but the KY was completely unfazed. She even waved back, and continued filming. Reina slumped. It was too much effort to even move.

On the bright side, having Ai fawn over her sounded like a good idea. Reina decided woozily, before her better judgement decided that unconsciousness sounded like a grand idea, and she joined her 'daughter' in that blissful oblivion.

What dreams may come, they alone will know.

========================================================

Lack of sleep, reading Douglas Adams (I just finished Book 4!) and extended discussions with grac might have resulted in this.

I HOPE EVERYONE IS HAPPY.

 :wigglypanda:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族(My Stupid Family)[7/6 - Chapter 24: So Long, And Thanks For All The Lulz]
Post by: gracula on June 06, 2012, 11:37:43 PM
(http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/18100000/Follow-Your-Dreams-unicorns-18114191-612-792.jpg)
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族(My Stupid Family)[7/6 - Chapter 24: So Long, And Thanks For All The Lulz]
Post by: Koei on June 07, 2012, 08:12:00 AM
*sigh* ... ... ... WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!!!
...
...
...

Ok now that I've calmed down from the news of an update lets comment shall we?

Loved it; both the crack as well as the seriousness!! The way Reina is dealing with having a daughter is quite interesting as well as Ai's complete devotion to Riho. Go on Estrea-sama! And I can't help but wonder...by now Risa must have finished Sayu's apartment right? or is the sly bunny still changing her mind?  :P
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族(My Stupid Family)[7/6 - Chapter 24: So Long, And Thanks For All The Lulz]
Post by: rndmnwierd on June 07, 2012, 09:18:39 AM
OhgodEripon! :lol: :lol:When I said I wanted Riho to have a friend, I had no idea that the KY would come into play. And yet, it is so totally perfect!

And how the hell can you make a dramatic fall so hilarious? You genius, you! It's been a while since AA, so I had forgotten how awesome you are at dramatic crack.
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族(My Stupid Family)[7/6 - Chapter 24: So Long, And Thanks For All The Lulz]
Post by: Fushigidane on June 07, 2012, 04:49:55 PM
XDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD damn Eripon :doh: :doh: anyway this chapter was full of excitement :w00t: :thumbup
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族(My Stupid Family)[7/6 - Chapter 24: So Long, And Thanks For All The Lulz]
Post by: Kikk4r on June 07, 2012, 06:07:46 PM
I have never thought about it but the way you writ Reina is just to cute :wub:

and btw do you have a beard then since you`re a God now :mon star:

Awww ReinAi is to cute :mon crazyinlove:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族(My Stupid Family)[7/6 - Chapter 24: So Long, And Thanks For All The Lulz]
Post by: mochi.rini on June 08, 2012, 01:47:57 AM
Quote
"THIS IS FATE!"

All right!  Next semester, I will bring a frisbee, find targets and follow the steps of KY  :lol:  THIS is how you really get friends in life.

I'm so glad you've included Eripon in this fic :3  She's quickly become one of my favorites, especially her constant fangirling over Risa.  What a wota :lol:  Riho-Reina rescue video is going on youtube! XD  Aichan should've just left her up there so she could take care of her two babies :)

You sure do know how to make a person smile :3  KEEP IT UP ESTREA~ (^_^)d
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族(My Stupid Family)[7/6 - Chapter 24: So Long, And Thanks For All The Lulz]
Post by: Estrea on June 24, 2012, 05:41:40 PM
Crack is good. Had practice. Am back.


grac: Unicorns I love 'em unicorns I love 'em~♪

Koei: Haha glad my update was so well received. :D Reina is still adjusting to having a kid, and Ai has already adjusted to having a kid. For 12 years. It matters, you know. The matter of Sayu's apartment will be settled in this chapter. Sort of. XD

rndy: Eripon is awesome. I love that girl. XD Dramatic crack has its place, I couldn't have used it anywhere else hurhur. My level of crack might have increased exponentially ever since I got grac's number. Direct hotline to crack, yo.

Fushigidane: Eripon wins so hard. :heart: Glad you like it!

Kikk4r: I love Reina a lot too. *strokes imaginary beard* Hurhur. ReinAi is the Way and the Truth!

mochi.rini: Tell me how the frisbee thing works out. :lol: The Eripon Frisbee School of Making Friends. Oughta trademark that. XD And yeah that video is making it to youtube...once Eripon extricates herself from her situation. :lol:


And time to edit and post *rubs hands gleefully*
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族(My Stupid Family)[7/6 - Chapter 24: So Long, And Thanks For All The Lulz]
Post by: Estrea on June 24, 2012, 05:47:09 PM
A Series of Unfortunate Events


King was in a foul mood.

First his pet human dumps him with the loud one and told him to "be good", and now the loud human promptly vanishes in a whirlwind of clothes and flying heels after a shrill phone call that elevated her voice several octaves higher. King hissed his displeasure at having been woken up from his nap then, but any protests clearly did not register with the loud human as she tossed a handful of tuna into his tray before making her departure. Was that all for dinner?

To begin with, what was all this nonsense? Humans, he would never understand them. The wind was howling outside, making the cat's fur stand on end. Foul weather outside, which was a good thing he was indoors. Being wet would hardly improve his mood. Why would any sane creature go out in the wet and the cold? Then again, the loud one has never registered as 'sane' in his sights. Humans rarely were. At least his human had more good sense than the average. King stalked about restlessly, bounding off furniture and sharpening his claws on the unblemished wood of the dining table. The hideously pink curtains fluttered along the wall in the unfamiliar space of the apartment as he explored. The scents in this place were not yet strong, a clear sign that it hadn't been nested in for long. This was not his territory...

That would soon change.

Marking the boundaries was a very relaxing activity since the annoying human was so conveniently not around. It didn't take long. In fact, there was so little challenge that he almost wished that the loud human were around. Nothing like frenetic efforts to thwart him to make him feel like a kitten again. And he was soon bored once more.

Skulking after shadows only held so much allure for a while. He was no longer a kitten, and tail-chasing was never as entertaining after leaving kittenhood. The box with the moving pictures wasn't even switched on! His pet human always left it on for him. The travesty!

The offensively pink curtains with their lacy white trim fluttered again with the gusty breath of the storm slipping through a crack in the window. King's tail twitched.

Seconds later there lay only shredded remains of pink, with the lace firmly betwen kitty teeth and now property of King. It had the honor of becoming his chew toy after death. It should be flattered to be so.

Curling up by the carpet, King mused over a nibble of tuna that he could get used to this change of pace. Wanton destruction, giving in to the hunt, feasting in the aftermath...not too bad for a housecat.

He could use his pet human for a good bellyrub though. Speaking of which, where was she and why was she taking so long to come back?

King licked a paw. Well, he would just have to guard the nest until she did. That's what he always does. Housecat and Hunter Extraordinare, a King among cats...

He could really use a good movie about now. With a wide kitty yawn so human as to almost mimick a sigh, King arched his back and settled back into a furry ball. Sleep was good.

Hopefully there will be catnip in his dreams as well...

~*~*~

"Why am I looking for hospitals in Okinawa?" Ai muttered to herself as she frantically got everything in order to deal with her comatose daughter and ex-girlfriend/lover. The activity was calming, as long as it lasted. Then she started hyperventilating, and when the emergency paramedics came, they had had to sedate her and stick an oxygen mask on her as well.

At least the kid and the idol didn't need as much work. Just a matter of hauling them into the back of the ambulance and speeding away into the horizon.

Atop the rocky gnoll, a forlorn figure knelt in the dying light of the sun.

"Hello? Some help please?"

Sorry Eripon, you totally deserved it. Good luck getting down from there.

~*~*~*~

"I don't care! Push everything back! I'm flying to Okinawa whether you like it or not. It's only one day!"

Hurricane Michishige was in full force. One of the phone calls that Ai made was to the erratic cousin of Reina, since that was the only next-of-kin that Ai had the number of for Reina, and Sayu really should know about the whole incident, she supposed.

Sayumi, however, was far more concerned by the news that her dear RihoRiho was also out cold and in need of intensive hospital care. Her overactive imagination conjured up images of an invalid Riho, helpless in a flimsy hospital gown... {This section has been censored for inappropriate content}

Sponge baths were a wonderful thing. Which was why Sayumi had already booked a first class ticket on the next available flight to Okinawa.

Neither Heaven nor Hell would stop her now.

~*~*~

"Ai-chan! Get a hold of yourself! I'll be right over!"

Then the call had cut, and an immensely worried and near-panicked Niigaki Risa, more commonly known as Gaki-san, flailed about helplessly for a few seconds before resolutely making reservations to fly straight out to Okinawa to support her best friend.

The skies grew ominously dark as she threw together an overnight bag. She had to get there ASAP before Ai-chan had a panic attack. What kind of best friend would she be if she couldn't help her friend in her time of need?

Calls were made, tickets booked. Risa didn't even blink at the cost. Money was no object, and she could afford it anyway.

Anything for her friends.

~*~*~

Rain pelted down in bullet-sized drops as Sayumi sat safely ensconced in her first class seat, cradling a glass of brandy. What? One of the best parts of first class was the liquor! She paid for it, she could enjoy it however she wanted!

Stupid delays by a late boarding was wearing on her nerves anyway. And at the rate the storm was going, it was going to escalate to typhoon levels soon, and that would probably delay them further. To hide her irritation, Sayumi took another gulp of the brandy, feeling its warmth light up her insides, leaving a pleasant glow in its wake. Ah, the joys of inebriation...

"Sumimasen!!!"

That sounded familiar. Someone plopped down in the spacious seat next to her. Sayu looked up, one delicately trimmed eyebrow raised.

"What."

Truly, Reina and Sayu had to be related. Down to the deadpan reaction, the quirked eyebrow, and the non-scowl on their perfectly made up faces. Even the amount of disdain in their voices, though Sayumi was perhaps a shade better in that department.

"You!"

The temperature must have dropped ten degrees instantly, the rain outside notwithstanding. A pretty stewardess walked past with a genteel smile.

"Please put on your seatbelts. Can I get you anything?"

Gaki-san spluttered like a fish at her worst nightmare made flesh in the seat next to her. Without a word, she grabbed Sayu's brandy and downed the whole thing in a single gulp. Sayu's eyebrow shot up higher, then she turned to smile pleasantly (if predatorily) at the nonplussed stewardess.

"I will have another of those."

"Make it two."

It was going to be a long flight.

~*~*~

"This is your pilot speaking. We are currently experiencing some turbulence. Please remain in your seats and be advised that we will not be serving any drinks during this time. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding."

"Fuck this shit." Slurred one.

"I stopped at duty-free just now."

"Good. Pour on."

The storm howled its fury outside, unheeding of any and all circumstance.

~*~*~

That was the longest 4 hours of their lives. By the time they touched down at Naha Airport, both Niigaki and Michishige were grouchy, touchy, and piss-drunk.

Except they both looked perfectly fine, on the outside at least. High alcohol tolerances. They couldn't exactly do shots the way they did at Riho's birthday party, and they did have a limited supply. It did not help that the two of them were natural antitheses to each other, one being a lolicon and the other being, well, strictly of the older woman preference variety. Except she would never admit it. Though Sayumi did figure it out within the first hour, about a dozen drinks in. She stored it away for future reference. You never knew when such information could come in handy.

The airport was in chaos. The tropical storm had officially upgraded itself to a typhoon, thus stranding all passengers within the terminal for the short term.

Sayumi was muttering about goddamn typhoons and bad timing, and Kami was laughing at her. Well, ask and ye shall receive? Poetic irony right there. Gaki wasn't paying attention. She was drinking straight from the bottle now, at least until Sayumi stole it from her and finished the rest. They were both flushed, antsy, and tense beyond belief.

"Travellers are advised to make themselves comfortable until the typhoon has passed. Please approach our staff if you require any assistance. We apologize for the inconvenience caused."

"Inconvenience, pshaawww!" Gaki scoffed, tossing the bottle she was holding in the general direction of a recycling bin. She may or may not have missed. Fortunately, airport security was too tangled up trying to deal with a hyperventilating little old lady with luggage taller than she was to actually apprehend her for anything.

Sayumi noticed though. Got quite an eyeful of it, if you get what I mean.

"You. Me. Talk now."

Alcoholic rages. A need for privacy. Pounding headaches. Harried airport staff handing out pamphlets for nearby accomodations.

Recipe for impending disaster.

~*~*~*~

THIS SECTION HAS BEEN DEEMED INAPPROPRIATE FOR YOUNGER AUDIENCES.

~*~*~*~

"Oh my god."

"Oh my god."

"We shall never speak of this."

"Never. Oh my god. My eyes!"

"Your eyes? What about mine?!"

And the rest shall never be spoken of ever again. Never.


===================================================================


Too much crack a crazy story make. I blame grac. XD

The sponge bath reference was for you, btw. :P

Rock on!
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族(My Stupid Family)[24/6 - Chapter 25: A Series of Unfortunate Events]
Post by: rndmnwierd on June 24, 2012, 06:28:57 PM
OMG WHAT I HAVE SO MANY COMMENTS TO MAKE NOW!

Ok, not that many. For being such a short chapter, I laughed pretty hard.

King tearing up Sayu's apartment XD

Ai hyperventilating XD

Eripon XD

GakiShige meeting on the plane and drunkenness XD

GakiShige after the plane XD

I so can't wait for the aftermath of that!


I did have a question though...
Quote
the other being, well, strictly of the older woman preference variety. Except she would never admit it.
Are you implying a little Takagaki kataomoi here? Or is that my wishful thinking?
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族(My Stupid Family)[24/6 - Chapter 25: A Series of Unfortunate Events]
Post by: SarangAi on June 25, 2012, 05:56:25 AM
omg AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA I rofled so hard  :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

THE FOLLOWING SECTION HAS BEEN DEEMED INAPPROPRIATE FOR YOUNGER AUDIENCES.

Is it wrong of me to desire a detailed write-up of this part...?  XD XD

But I totally appreciate this.  made me laugh after a long day.  You are da crack mastah.  :twothumbs
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族(My Stupid Family)[24/6 - Chapter 25: A Series of Unfortunate Events]
Post by: Shiawase_Honoo on June 25, 2012, 10:54:59 AM
I rofled, really :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
Even you rarely update, you still make us happy with a chap you post :bow:
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族(My Stupid Family)[24/6 - Chapter 25: A Series of Unfortunate Events]
Post by: gracula on June 26, 2012, 12:09:54 AM
Why am I up? How many days have I been up?

This story brings so much joy to my life. I don't have enough time to write, but thanks for letting me play with your characters and imagine horrible things for them when we chat. Thank you for indulging my crack and being awesome.

And so I give you King, Killer of A Thousand Hideous Curtains.

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y214/gracthemusical/king.jpg)
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族(My Stupid Family)[24/6 - Chapter 25: A Series of Unfortunate Events]
Post by: Angel Asuka on October 07, 2013, 10:17:25 PM
OMG! Estrea you always amaze me with your fics, is very good  :panic: :wub:

but ... as they did to have Riho o.o? I'm staying with that doubt o.o!!
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族(My Stupid Family)[24/6 - Chapter 25: A Series of Unfortunate Events]
Post by: aya-chii on September 05, 2014, 03:46:47 AM
wait, whut ??? this is one of the best fics (i mean, estrea is just so good in writing anything!) how come i never knew it was updated ?!
lol, thanks for this. had me cracking-up in my morning. oh, life is good!

sayu and gaki. lol. i woould have never thought. but they might go well together xD
Title: Re: 私のアホ家族(My Stupid Family)[24/6 - Chapter 25: A Series of Unfortunate Events]
Post by: crosteks on March 04, 2015, 01:00:05 PM
waahhh.. why there's no update T^T i want to know what will happen to Reina & Riho
also curious about on what's happening to Rissa&Sayu '(^-^)
What Ai-san will gonna do now...anyone there please update this story (T^T)