Wow, this story is pretty cool. haha I like Miki-centered stories and Reina too. So Gaki's one of the beaten girls? Or is she the killer? Guess I'll have to read more to find out!
Thank you very much for reading my story strawb3rrykream-chwan.
I know you like Gaki-san and you might feel let sown but please fear not. She will have her time to shine, later on. (damnit, I did it again).
Anyway, here is the second part of the first chapter. this time we intro two more important (or three) characters.
This first chapter will focus on Miki-sama most so the others won't be appearing much, part from Rei-chan and Ai-chan and Michi and...oh damn!
Here we go...
...........
.....
...
.
-II-
“CHEERS!”
Glasses chink as the people present in the room toast to some occasion.
“It’s kind of late because of business but let’s begin the party to properly welcome Fujimoto-san to Morning Musume.”
Starting with Ai-chan, everyone takes a turn in giving embarrassing welcome speeches.
“Now if Fujimoto-san will give a few words.” The leader of Morning Musume introduced.
“Thank you very much Ai-chan.”
I have been with the new agency and the girls present for a while now. I am surprised that I get along fine with all of them actually to the point that I am on first name basis with all.
“I am a woman of very few words and there is something that has been bugging me for the whole evening.”
It has been really bugging me...
“Why in God’s name did I have to do the cooking on my own party?!”
“Well Miki-tan, rumor had it you were an awful cook so we had to see just how bad you really are.”
I knew it. It was her idea.
“And who spread these rumors pray tell? Why the hell are you even here Aya-chan?!”
“Hmmm. I have no idea as for why I am here, could it have to do with stuff like best friends or something, I don’t know.”
Aya-chan pretends to be hurt but everyone knows she really isn’t. The other members have had visits to out apartment a few times and know that this is how I and Aya-chan’s friendship is.
“Well whatever. Anyway, I am really glad to have made it into morning Musume. I have a lot more to learn but so far I find that I will really love it here. Please continue to take care of me from now on.”
I bow to show my thanks. I really love this group thing. At first I wasn’t sure I would be for it but everyone has something that I would want in a friend and so they are all my friends.
“You indeed do have a lot to learn...Like improving your cooking.”
I glare at that smirking face with a demonic heart. But before I fire back a reply...
“But it tasted good. The presentation wasn’t good though.”
I want to hug this girl. She’s really growing on me.
“Thanks Koharu-chan. Only you are on my side.”
I sniff.
“But, that last part denies you a nice hug.”
I give her one of my looks and she looks stricken. Perhaps she should have left out that last part. I guess I am rubbing off her already.
“It only tasted nice because Eririn interfered in the add sugar to beef stew plan of yours.”
“Okay Aya-chan that’s it! I have had enough of you.”
I turn to a concentrating Rei-chan and grab my weapon.
“Give me that!”
“Hey, what gives? I am still using that.”
Reina whines about the disturbance but I ignore her.
“Bring it on Miki-tan. It seems I need to remind you of your place.”
She turns to Sayumin who is sitting besides Rei-chan and grabs her weapon also.
“It’s on!”
We both shout and press “ENTER”.
“Round one start!”
I waste no time before I throw a punch at Aya-chan’s chin. Wrong choice of target.
Aya-chan dodges and catches me in the stomach area.
Not to be outdone, I quickly retaliate with a left hook!
Hah! She never sees that coming.
We continue hammering each other but there is no end and before we know it, it’s one in the morning.
“Oh damn! It’s this late already?! Sorry girls I got to go. Tomorrow is the day after all.”
“Whoa! You are right Ai-chan. We have to practice till noon too so we need to rest well. I will go call a taxi for us.”
Eri-chan says before she rushes to the house phone.
“Could call one for us too Kamei-san?”
Aya-chan says to Eri who is dialing numbers as we out back the Wii-station to its resting place.
“I will go to the bathroom first before we leave.”
I excuse myself and go to freshen up.
I am still amazed at how large Sayumin’s house it. I mean it has the running green men all over – I mean the emergence exit signs.
Seeing as the excitement has died down now, I can’t help but think about what’s been bugging me.
Tomorrow is the day for that famed Hello Project concert that takes place every year on the same day.
We have been preparing for it for the last week but that isn’t what is bothering me.
It’s the murder that that reporter...Konno-san, spoke of. I checked up on it from the library news of the last two years and indeed there was such a gruesome murder.
I couldn’t connect everything but there were hints of it having to do with the Concert murders. Tomorrow’s concert during which Sayumin lost her parents.
“Finally found it!”
I sigh as I enter the fancy bathroom.
My thoughts return to Konno-san. Seeing as she is journalist, she must know more about this. I hope O can see her again and ask her more about it.
I clean up my hands and face and return to the others.
“You are finally back. Did you get lost or something? The taxi is already here. Ai-chan and Eririn already left.”
“Well, this house is so big you can’t blame me.”
Then I notice that Rei-chan is relaxing in the couch watching some animation with no intention of leaving!
“You not going home Reina?”
“Nah! I think I will stay here for the night. It’s too bothersome to go across town.”
She answers as she takes a sip of her drink.
“Oh! Well then see you tomorrow. Good night Sayumi-chan and..Oof!”
Koharu-chan nearly knocks me off my feet with a tackle.
I smile and hug her back.
“’night to you too Koharu-chan!”
“Good night Fujimoto-san. I will see you tomorrow morning.”
She beams at me. I really like her smile and those small teeth of hers.
“Well, ‘is all well and good but the meter is running. Let’s go.!” Aya-chan commands.
“Yes Oh fearless one!”
She rolls her eyes but I smile and after waving to Rei-chan who is thankfully still looking my way, I follow her out.
I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be one long day.
***
“Thank you everyone. That was a fantastic performance. Let’s keep it up until the end.”
Our leader congratulates us to a performance well done.
The concert has already begun and we have performed five of the ten songs we are to do today.
“Okay, every break for an hour and we meet in the changing room.”
About time. I am sweating like a pig. I need to freshen up.
Back at the stage we can hear the crowds cheering for the Berryz as they are on right now.
Perhaps I should go out back for some fresh air first.
While I am enjoying the nice cold air on my hot skin, I hear voices murmuring.
My curiosity makes me search them out. No one is supposed to be able to get into the back but staff.
But what would they be doing here? Everyone should be busy at the moment.
“Ah...Konno-san! What are you doing here?”
How did she get in here? Is she a part of Hello Project?!
“Oh we meet again...eh...”
But before Konno-san finishes her sentence she is cut off.
“Hmmm...you must the new member of Morning Musume Fujimoto Miki-san, right?”
I am a little startled when another person reveals herself from the shadows. Now that I think about it, I heard voices not voice.
“Who are you and how do you know my name?”
“Ah forgive me. I am Ogawa Makoto of the Tokyo Daily. Asami-chan here is a good friend of mine and we work together. As for your other question, I am a reporter and so naturally I know about you...More than you think I know.”
This Ogawa-san smiles mysteriously. I don’t like it.
“Well, very mice to meet you Ogawa-san but what are you doing here? Most importantly, how did you manage to get this way?”
Even if they are reporters I don’t think Tsunku would let them into the private area. He seems to hate reporters a lot.
“We are reporters. Where there is a juicy story we go, by any means necessary.” Again that annoying know it all smile.
“I want to threaten them by saying I am going to report them but something lights up in my brain.
‘And where there is a juicy story we go.’ She had said.
“So, how are you faring in the new agency?”
Konno-san asks trying to get back into the conversation.
“Huh? Oh, I quite like it here. I think I am liking it more than my previous agency.”
“Ho? That is good then.”
“Erm...You said a juicy story. What do you mean exactly?”
Ogawa-san chuckles to herself. I wonder what she finds so amusing!
Thankfully Konno-san isn’t like her at all.
“You must have heard rumors about this day from your friends by now, right?”
“No one told me about it. Whenever I asked they would say they don’t know or change the subject. But I went to the library and read about it myself. I still don’t get it all though. That is why I wanted to meet you and ask you about it.”
“Oh? You are curious about that huh?”
“Well, two years ago the Michishige were killed at this concert, right? And then the year after that, a former member of Morning Musume Niigaki Risa was killed too. I can’t find the connection still but I am bothered by the fact that the killer hasn’t been found yet.”
I am taken out of my thoughts with Ogawa’s annoying laugh.
“Is that all you know? Well, I kind of like the fact that you are interested so I will tell you everything we know about this rumor.
First of all, this care goes back to more than two years. It all started when Hello Project hadn’t even been opened yet.”
“What? So this isn’t about this agency alone?”
“Ah but it is all about H!P.”
Huh?
“I am confused.”
“Well if you let me finish you won’t be confused anymore.”
Smart ass.
“The building of Hello Project was archived by trampling on not just a few people’s heads.
It took a whole two years to complete the constructors only and even during that many constructors died of mysterious deaths.”
I gulp. I have a bad feeling about all this. Should I really be getting myself deeper into this?
“After the opening it quieted down a little but then five years ago, those connected to the agency started disappearing.
Seven people have gone missing so far and no one has yet to be found.”
Here Konno-san cuts in.
“No bodies until last year when one was found but with no head. The police dismissed it saying that it had no connection to the disappearance cases but we, myself and Makoto here think otherwise.
Even if a body was found last year, there still was a disappearance. The girl you spoke of – Kusumi Risa is the one that disappeared last year.”
Wait, Kusumi?
“You mean Niigaki Risa, right?”
I ask, confused.
“Her birth name is Niigaki but she was adopted into the Kusumi family and thus given the family name.
The Takahashi family, Michishige family and the Kamei were the three founders of Hello Project though the most share holders are the Michishige.
All three families had only daughters but the decision of successors was already made.
The Kamei parents went missing three years ago then the Michishige. Putting the dots together, At the time the Kamei were in charge and then the Michishige would be the heads as successors but then two years ago they too disappeared.
I think you know who is next in line as successor and what today is?
And that my dear little girl is why we are here.”
Ogawa-san puts an end to her speech by lighting a cigarette.
She can’t be serious! They can’t possibly be serious.
That would mean that Sayumin is to disappear or whatever tonight!
“We...We have to tell the police about this! I have to tell the guards!”
“Good luck with that. You should have seen the security on this place last year yet the heads still disappeared.”
Ogawa-san takes a drag and lets out a heart of toxins.
“There is no need to worry though. Tsunku-san is in Police custody as protection for the night so he should be safe.”
Huh? Oh right. It is the presidents that are the targets.
“But if that’s the case, should you be at where Tsunku is now? Why are you here?”
Now that I think about it, she asked who next in line to be head not who is.
“Tsunku-san is not a member of the three families and by everyone’s suspicions of this being the families’ feud, he shouldn’t be the target but who is next.”
Konno-san puts in her three cents as well.
“Tsunku-san is just a temporally head until a true successor takes over.”
So they are here to cover the story of the murder of the next successor of Hello Project.
“I still don’t get it though. Last year only Niigaki Risa disappeared, well, plus the headless body but she isn’t of the three families so what gives?”
“Well, about that...We think that...”
Konno-san is interrupted by Rei-chan’s voice.
“Ah Miki there you are. Come on, we are almost up. We’ve been looking for you everywhere.”
I look at my watch and...Oh bummer!
“I have to go now but could you at least please tell someone?”
I beg the two women.
“We will try.”
I smile for I know Konno-san will help.
“I will talk to you tomorrow then?”
“If all goes well.”
I don’t like this Ogawa so far.
I turn and run towards Reina who was impatiently tapping her foot. She looks at me as we head back with questions in her eyes but I am grateful that she chooses to not ask questions.
An idea then hits me while I think of what to do to protect Sayumin.
“Ne Reina, can I ask you a favor??”
She looks at me again with scrutiny but nods her head.
“Is it okay if we sleep over at Sayumin’s tonight?”
“What like a sleep over or something?”
I know she hates the idea but I sense curiosity also.
“Yeah, something like that but only you and me.”
“Why?”
I should have seen that one coming.
“Please? I will tell you about it all tomorrow, okay?”
“Al right, I don't see why not. I like sleeping over there anyways.”
“Thanks.”
I try to show my appreciation through the smile and I hope she gets it.
We catch up to the others soon after and go back to the stage. The cool air outside was enough to punch me up for the rest of the concert.
After our performance we go into the special area to watch the rest of the H!P girls perform too. Aya-chan is amazing as always and so are the others. I think I will like it here after all but my attention is divided.
***
“Rise...Bow...”
Ai-chan leads.
“Thank you very much for today Sensei.”
We all say as the lessons end for the day.
It is two days after the festival but we are all still tired.
I can feel Rei-chan’s eyes burning into my back. I have been trying to avoid talking to her about the reasons for my weird behavior on the night of the concert.
I quite liked the fact that I spent the whole night next to Rei-chan. I found it quite hard to sleep that night and it wasn't all because I was worried for Sayumin.
Thankfully nothing has happened to Sayumin and it’s been two days already. Tsunku is still here and going strong too but there is a strange atmosphere in the whole company now.
I have noticed lots of murmuring and whispers going on though I don’t know who about.
It’s getting to me.
As I pretend to be engrossed into Eri-chan’s conversation to evade Rei-chan, Nakazawa-sensei calls to me.
“Fujimoto-san?”
“Yes?”
“You have a guest in room 1108.”
A guest? I wonder who.
I make haste for the room which is on this same floor. Could it be Konno-san?
When I get to the room however it is not Konno-san I find.
At first I think it is a young man but when the person turns towards me after I open the door, it is a woman.
A very tomboyish woman is sitting there. The hair is cut short and styled in a very sexy way. Her features are quite a catch too.
She is wearing simple clothes of black women’s suit over a half-buttoned white shirt and nice short hoofed back shoes.
“Good afternoon Fujimoto Miki-san. I am inspector Yoshizawa Hitomi. There is a few things I would like to ask you.”
She stands up and shakes my hand.
“Coffee?”
She asks as she walks over to the coffee machine.
This room is the staff breaking room. Each floor has one but we aren’t allowed to use them. Only the top staff can use them.
“Ah, thank you very much.”
I thank her as I take the cup from her.
“I will get straight down to business.”
The inspector reaches into her pocket and takes out a picture which she passes over to me.
“Do you know this person?”
It’s Konno-san in the picture with her camera all ready to do some scooping.
“It’s Konno Asami-san. She is a freelance, right?”
She takes the picture back and nods her pretty head.
“Yes. When did you last see Konno-san?”
“Erm...I talked to her two days ago at the night of out concert, why?”
She gives me another picture. This time it’s of the other woman I saw with Konno-san.
“What about this one? Have you seen her?”
This is starting to rub me the wrong way.
“Yeah, only once. The same night of the concert she was with Konno-san. Her name is Ogawa-san I think.
Is there something wrong?”
I can’t help but ask.
“Did you notice anything strange about the two? Anything at all is fine.”
Yes, really rubbing me the wrong way.
“Well, the fact that they were where they were is strange enough but...did something happen?”
She takes a sip of her coffee and sighs.
“Actually Konno-san was found dead yesterday.”
What!
“Time of death is estimated to be just before midnight on the night of the concert.
The autopsy says that it’s suicide.”
Gulp!
“Suicide?”
Konno-san wouldn’t do that. She didn’t look like the type to do that.
“Apparently she clawed at her throat to her main artery. But there were bruises pointing to assault beforehand.
At first we had presumed drugs but there was no trace of it in her tissue.”
“What about this woman?”
I ask as I show the picture I have been holding.
“Ogawa-san is missing and hasn’t showed up at work since that day to. We think she is connected to the case seeing as she was with the victim at the night of murder.”
But what does this all mean? The two as far as I know weren’t at all connected to Hello Project. Were the rumors about the ‘curse’ not limited to the three families after all?
But...
“So, another incident happens this year too.”
I let it out unknowingly.
“Oh so you know about the curse?”
“Yes but I thought it had to do with those connected to this agency. How come those two...?”
“That is what is bothering me as well but I have a few theories!”
Here she stops as if in deep thought.
“Well, I came to see if you have seen Ogawa-san but it appears you haven’t since that night.”
She finishes her coffee and walks to the sink.
“Well, if you bump into her again, or if you hear anything please call me.”
She smiles and her face is of a beautiful woman not a fearsome detective.
I take the business card she hands me and shake her hand as good bye.
“Well then, until next time Fujimoto-san. It was nice talking to you.”
She leaves me to my thoughts.
I have been forced to go deeper into this labyrinth that I don’t know where it leads.
I can’t handle this on my own.
It’s time to talk to Rei-chan perhaps.
I leave the room and head back to the others.
.
....
.....
...........
To be continued...
Topic: Morning Musume no Naku Koro ni Chapter 1 - Part 2 (Tue 27/01) (Read 3694 times)