(This is a fan fic based on the "public images" of various Hello!Project artists and is no way, shape or form trying to imply anything about the personal lives of the real people behind the public images.)
An Annoying Paradise Part 9 ("serialized in sho-komi")
Aika looks to the left, towards the back of the closet, squinting. Aika can discern two nearly half naked figures entwined with each other, both mortified for being caught in flagrante delicto.
Risako closes her eyes and starts blubbering.
"Please, don't tell anyone. Okay?"
Aika looks at Saki in shock. "Um, you guys better put your clothes on and come out. Like now."
Aika closes the closet door and takes off his raincoat and waits. Geez, are they going to be in there all day?
A horribly embarrassed Risako and a slightly annoyed Saki come out.
After hanging up her coat Aika lashes out at her group mates. "It's not like I care that much what you two do together, but this is a really bad way for me to find out about it."
Saki aggressively defends herself, waving her handing in front of her face. "It is a bad way, that's true, but this is our first time fooling around, so we couldn't have told you if it hadn't happened yet, right?"
Aika stares at Saki, not knowing what to think. "So, what was yesterday? Both Yurina and I thought your behavior together was kind of suspicious."
"Oh, that?" Saki nervously laughs. "Well, several months ago Risa-chan decided to let her dark side out at my expense. She didn't realize that I have a dark side as well. So, I when she had to grovel to get in with the in crowd, I was more than happy to get some payback. So, after the meeting I texted her that she should really do some servant work for me the next day, just to show that she was serious about wanting to be in the group."
Aika glances at Risako whose expression seems to be in line with what Saki is saying.
"But, she really surprised me yesterday with her being a good sport. So, last night I texted her that she passed the test and then for fun I sent her a picture of myself blowing her a kiss. What I didn't expect was for her to send me back a picture kind of upping the ante. I guess I got caught up in the moment, but soon we were 's/texting' each other."
Ehhhh? Aika looks at Saki as if she has no idea what Saki is talking about.
"Wow, did you transfer from a school from out in the country?"
"It was in Tokyo, but not really a very hip part of Tokyo."
Saki leans over to whisper in Aika's ear. "We were sending naughty pictures to each other by cell phone."
Aika turns red.
"So, Risako suggested that we could do it in real life in the closet after lunch. She didn't expect you to show up, though."
Aika thinks for a second. "I was going to say that you guys had better not let anyone else know, but on the other hand, you guys better tell Yurina. It would be a lot better if you told her rather than having her find out the same way I found out."
Saki turns red. She had not thought of all of the consequences of their forbidden love yet.
"But, definitely no one else. I don't know if you two read your contracts, but you two could easily get bounced out of the agency for misbehavior in public. Just saying."
Saki and Risako nod.
Finally Risako speaks up. "I know this is a bad time to ask, but I was wondering if you could do us a favor?"
Aika gives Risako a stony look, but Risako gathers her courage.
"It would be bad if the wota suspected me and Saki of being a couple, so when we shoot the commercial, and shoot the making of video, could you pretend to flirt with us? We know that Reina likes you, so we know that it wouldn't mean anything, but at least it will throw the media off the trail. What do you say?"
Aika looks grossed out. "I say I need to get to study hall. Maybe tonight I'll be in a better mood and I'll even be able to think about your request."
The other two girls nod.
"By the way, when we do concerts together I hope you two will changing costumes faster than that. The audience will be falling asleep."
Risako pushes her fingers together. "My bad."
Aika play smacks Risako in back of the head.
In study hall Aika catches up with Reina.
"You're later than usual."
"Had a situation that I had to deal with."
Reina looks at Aika suspiciously.
"Maybe you could clue me in on some of these idol customs."
"Oh?"
"About idol girls coupling up?"
Reina rolls her eyes. "What a bucket of worms. It's really not something that you want to deal with at all. Even though all of the wotas think that all of us are doing it with all of the other girls, it would be awful for a girl's popularity if she was caught in real life with another idol."
"Why?"
"There are some twenty girls in our agency. Believe me, no matter who else you name in our agency there are hundreds of wota who believe that I am that other idol's one true love match." Reina makes a heart shape with her two hands. "If I was caught in real life with a one specific person then all the people who paired me up with someone different would burn all of their posters of me."
Aika nods, taking all this in. "So, suppose an idol is on a video shoot and she openly flirts with another idol. That would be bad, right?"
Reina nods.
"But, what if she flirted with more than one idol?"
"Oh, that would be fine. People who pair you with one girl will view your flirting with her as proof of truest of true 'love love' bonds, while your flirting with the other girl will just be viewed as a cute sisterly exchange."
"Even if she treated both girls equally?"
"Especially if both are treated equally. The mind of the wota will see what they want to see."
"What about duos?"
"Duos are almost always assumed to be couples, unless they both make an effort to stay associated with other girls."
Aika nods gravely. How did my life became so complicated?
That night she arrived early to agency. When she got to the practice hall, Saki and Risako were still changing. However, Yurina was waiting for her.
"They told me." Yurina whispered, not trusting her own agency for privacy.
"What do you think?"
"I think they're gross, but at least it's better than them bullying each other."
Aika nods.
"So, are you going to be their beard?"
"Beard?"
"Their cover story. You know, 'Oh, we're not together, we share Aika as a boyfriend,' that sort of thing."
"I won't if you disapprove. We're a group now. We should be of one mind."
Yurina smiles. "Well, I sure don't want to do it myself. So, if you can take it, I'll support you."
Aika smiles. Aika goes to high five Yurina but Yurina puts her hand up farther than Aika can reach. Aika grabs Yurina by the shoulder and jumps up to slap her hand.
Both explode into giggles.
After practice, Risako catches up to Aika as he walks to the subway. "Wait up."
"Wow, they move fast don't they?"
"I know. We record tomorrow and then shoot the video this weekend."
"Are you excited for it?"
"Absolutely. This is what we get paid for right?"
"More excited than school closets?"
Risako pushes Aika. "Well, no. You should know that if you had told us to stop seeing each other I would have ignored you, no matter how badly you would have thrashed me."
"So, that's how it is?"
Risako nods.
"Well, let's hope our videos are half as interesting as the back stage stuff."
To be continued!
Topic: An Annoying Paradise - Den-O 32 - Repairing the Damage - 12/30/12 season finale (Read 52559 times)