LOVE IN THE FAST LANE=================
CHAPTER 8a - ROMEO + JULIET
Previously...
Mariko placed her hand on the second newcomer’s shoulder and said, “And last but not the least, to complete, the Flag Girls team, I’d like you to meet Itano…” Mariko was cut off when Takamina, Haruna and Miichan blurted out –
“TOMOCHIN?!!”*****
"Haruna! Miichan! Takamina! Long time no see! So you're the new drivers these three has been babbling about." Tomochin said pointing at Yuko, Mariko and Atsuko. She then gave the three cousins a hug, minding their injuries.
"Eh~~ You know them Tomochin?" Mariko asked.
"Yup, I've known them since we were kids. We all went to the same school until high school. It's kinda sad that they didn't keep in touch when we went to different colleges." Tomochin pouted.
"Gomen ne Tomochin. We all went to the UK to study at Oxford University." Takamina said, scratching the back of her head.
I'm sorry for the excuse Tomochin..."Hmmm... okay, I'll accept your excuse. I remember you once said that most your family members are Oxford graduates." Tomochin said. This new information caused murmurs from the other members of the team.
"You all seemed very close with one another." Yuko observed, changing the topic.
"Yup! For some reasons, the four of us end up as classmates since kindergarten." Haruna said.
"But I think Takamina is closer to Tomochin. Asides from being a member of some sports clubs, Takamina is in the drama club with Tomochin back in high school." Miichan added, who didn't seem to mind Takamina's nudging.
"Oooohhh... I think there's a good story behind that." Mariko said, looking at Atsuko's direction.
Tomochin giggled as she saw Takamina's face turned red. "Before we graduated, our class were in charge for the stage play for the school festival. Our play was Romeo and Juliet." she said.
"So... which of the characters did you portray?" Atsuko asked, slightly raising an eyebrow.
"I was Lady Capulet." Haruna smiled.
"I portrayed Mercutio, friend of Romeo." Miichan said and made fencing movements which made everyone laugh.
"Erm... as a member of the drama club, I was asked to play as one of the main characters. I portrayed Romeo." Takamina said shyly.
"Masaka, then that means..." Atsuko thought as she looked at Tomochin who placed her hand on Takamina's shoulder.
"Please don't say it!" "And I was Juliet." Tomochin simply said, grinning at Takamina.
"The audience were amazed at their performance, especially at the part when they kismmmph..." Miichan was cut off as Takamina clamped her hand to her mouth.
"AAaanyway... you could say that the play was a success." Takamina interjected.
Everybody then began asking questions about their past with Tomochin. Atsuko on the other hand, stayed silent which was noticed by Mariko and Yuko.
*****
A week has passed and the day for the scheduled race finally arrived. The AKB48 racing team arrived at the meeting point early for the registration.
"It says here that we can only submit one entry for the race. Since we have three drivers, the organizers chose who will represent the team." Sayaka informed Takamina, Haruna and Miichan.
"And...? Who did they pick?" Miichan asked excitedly.
"Takamina." Sayaka replied, patting the girl's shoulder. Though not picked, Haruna and Miichan hugged their cousin as a sign of support. Just as they were walking towards where the rest of the team is, they heard thunderous footsteps and loud screams headed their way.
"What the --?!" Takamina gasped. Suddenly, the three cousins were surrounded by large group of girls holding autograph books and pens. There were constant flashing of and loud squeals from the fangirls.
The Flag Girls and some of the Pit Crew members who were already at their booth looked at the direction where the loud screaming came from.
"Hoho! Looks like our drivers now have their own fangirls! Good job!" Sae said, raising a thumbs up at the three cousins' direction. Yukirin smacked her head with a magazine.
"I actually don't blame them. They've been very competitive since they won to join our team." Rena said, looking at the cousins who were frantically signing autographs.
"They should be careful though. I bet some of the fangirls are gonna confess their love for our drivers." Mayu said, pointing at some persistent girls.
Mariko raised an eyebrow and huffed. "It seems that I need to tell them to back off of MY Miichan." she said, leaving the Flag Girls slack jawed.
*****
"Haruna! Sign my autograph book please!" "Miichan kawaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!" "Takamina you're so cool!!!!" and various squeals can be heard from the fangirls.
"Mou~~ we have to get out of here!" Haruna said to Takamina and Miichan.
"I'm getting claustrophobic!" Takamina said as she signed an autograph for one of the fans.
"Miichan, are you still single?" asked one of the fangirls with hopeful look in her eyes.
Miichan held her hands up, trying to make the fangirl back off. "Ah... well..." she stammered, then saw Mariko's approaching form. "Actually, there's a girl that I like. Gomen ne, please continue to support me still." Miichan bowed. As Mariko approached Miichan, she extended her hand which was gladly taken by Miichan and then they walked smoothly back to where the AKB48 team is standing. Though disappointed, Miichan's fangirls squealed and cheered for their idol.
"Sugoi~~ Mariko onee-chan is cool!" Yuko said as Mariko and Meechan approached them, still holding each other's hands.
"Well, Haruna and Takamina are still in trouble..." Tomo-mi said.
Yuko saw one of the fangirls trying to kiss Haruna and frowned, pulled her sleeves up her shoulders then stomped her way to Haruna. "Nobody has the right to kiss NyanNyan! Heck, I didn't even kiss her yet!" she growled, making everyone laugh.
*****
Haruna was trying to fend off a fangirl when she heard - "NyanNyaaaaan!" Every one of the fangirls stared at the fuming Yuko trying to get in the middle where Haruna is standing. Once Yuko got to where her object of affection is, she suddenly grabbed Haruna intro a hug and glared at the fangirls.
"Back off! She's my NyanNyan and she's mine alone!" Yuko screamed.
*crickets chirping*After a few seconds of stunned silence, the fangirls resumed their screams and squeals.
"Oh my God! Haruna-sama is with Yuko-san, captain of the AKB48 Team Flag Girls!" "They look cute together!" "Yuko-san! We place Haruna-sama in your care!" they all cheered."N-Nani?!" Haruna exclaimed as she was dragged by Yuko from the crowd.
"O-Oi! What about me?!" Takamina shouted at Haruna and Yuko.
*****
Haruna and Yuko finally made their way to the team. Takamina on the other hand is trying her best to appease the crowd and continued signing autographs.
"Aren't you gonna help her Acchan?" Mariko asked, looking at the crowd getting larger by the minute.
Atsuko made a thinking pose. "Hmmm... I think we'll let her stew for a couple more minutes. Let's see how Takamina handle such a large crowd." she said, smiling mischievously.
Meanwhile, Takamina was patiently signing each of her fans' autograph books and tried even harder to smile when asked to have her picture taken. She even dodged a few fans who tried to kiss her.
Takamina looked at the team who's standing a few meters away from her.
"Are they just gonna stand there? Haruna! Miichan! ANYONE! HELP ME!" She silently pleaded with her eyes.
Tomochin looked at Atsuko and gently shook her head.
"I think she's giving Takamina a hard time. Geez Atsuko-chan, now is not the right time for that." she thought. Smiled playfully and thought,
"I wonder how Atsuko-chan will react to what I'm gonna do." nudging Tomo-mi. Tomo-mi looked at her who has a sly glint in her eyes, nodded thinking that Tomochin has a plan to save Takamina.
Tomochin dramatically sighed then flicked her hair. "Well, I think Takamina has suffered enough. I might as well save her for the race." she said, winking at Haruna and Miichan's direction and not minding Atsuko's surprised look.
"Knowing Tomochin, I think she's up to something..." Haruna whispered to Miichan, who responded by nodding furiously.
*****
Meanwhile, Takamina is already getting tired of entertaining the large crowd that's surrounding her.
*Sigh* "Did I do something bad in my past life that no one's helping me right now?" she thought. She was surprised and disappointed at the same time, when she saw Tomochin approach. This earned displeased looks from the fangirls.
"Let me guess... you're Takamina-sama's girlfriend?" one of the aggressive fangirls mocked.
Tomochin seductively wrapped her arms around Takamina and simply said, "You could say that..."
"We don't believe you!" "Prove it!" "We'll still love Takamina-sama!" some of the fans yelled.
"These fangirls sure are stubborn!" Tomochin inwardly sighed. She then made Takamina face her and wrap her arms around Takamina's neck. "Takamina... Remember Romeo and Juliet..." She purred in her ear.
*****
The AKB48 team gasped as they look at the scene unfold between Takamina and Tomochin. Miho gently tugged Tomo-mi's sleeve to get her attention.
"Ne, Tomo-mi... aren't you gonna stop your girlfriend?" she asked.
Haruna and Miichan looked at their direction. "G-Girlfriend?!" they both exclaimed.
Tomo-mi giggled at their reactions. "Yes, I'm Tomochin's girlfriend... and no, I'm not going to do anything." she simply answered. Just like Tomochin, she looked at Atsuko's worried eyes looking at Takamina. Tomo-mi inwardly sighed,
"Atsuko-chan, you may be good at teasing, but try to be more honest with your feelings..." she then shifted her look back to Takamina and Tomochin.*****
After Tomochin whispered to Takamina, she slowly guided Takamina's hands to her waist and then moved her arms back to Takamina's neck. Takamina responded by pressing Tomochin's body closer to her. Looking at Tomochin's eyes, she gently tucked Tomochin's hair beside her ear, then cupped her cheek. Ever so slowly, Takamina inched her face towards Tomochin's, then completely closing the gap between them.
The AKB48 team again, gasped at what they are seeing while the fangirls squealed.
"N-No way..." Mariko whispered.
"Kiss?!" Yuko shouted.
To be continued...
please don't kill me...