Thank you all for your lovely comments and for sticking with this story! Thanks to all the readers! You all motivated me to write this story and I’m really glad you all love it so far. I hope you all enjoyed it and I hope this final chapter does justice 
Replies:Chichay12: Thank you! Lol I’m also sad it has to end since I enjoyed writing it
den_takacchan: Thank you!
chemicalstar: Lol, I think I made it to the deadline! 1 hour left before the 24 hour limit passes!
Thanks for showing so much interesting, hope you like the final chapter!
d_ruffi: Thank you. There is realism to Minami’s worries and feelings.
FlameHazeKatsu: Haha thanks as always! Here’s the final chapter, didn’t want to keep you all waiting too long
Tanchan: Lol let’s see Atsuko’s reaction!
Haruko: That was most likely Minami’s reaction
Keisthename: Well this is the ending and I hope it satisfies!
chiqinna: Thank you for the compliment! And attempting to make it as realistic as possible is what I was going for so I’m glad you felt like it was
abcari: Thank you very much!
Mikomiko: Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m glad I was able to write something that allowed you to feel for the characters. Thank you!
cisda83: Yup you got it right! Here is the final chapter to see what happens
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Chapter 5 – The compromiseThe leader was frozen in place due to Atsuko’s sudden presence, while the other members greeted her cheerfully.
“Hey Atsuko, glad you stuck around and stayed in place. I was worried you might come storming out or something.” Yuko said as she gestured for Atsuko to come down from the stage.
Hold on! She was here the whole time...Then that means...she heard everything! Minami turned to her fellow AKB members and said, “You guys set me up!” she didn’t know whether to be mad or not.
“Easy Takamina. We just figured it’d be best for Atsuko to be here to listen to whatever you had to say. This way it saves you the trouble of having to explain things again. We knew that, otherwise you wouldn’t have opened up if asked to confront Atsuko alone and directly.” Miichan explained.
Minami inwardly sighed at her friends antics. No doubt this was Yuko’s plan. It’s true she has nothing to be mad over; however...she was still at a loss as how to confront Atsuko, who was only a few meters away from her.
The others noticed Atsuko and Minami were having some sort of staring contest and figured it was time for them to bolt. “Well, we’ll be taking our leave. Please try not to kill each other.” Yuko joked, as Atsuko gave them all a grateful smile before they left.
When Atsuko turned her attention back to the older girl, Minami felt extreme anxiety build up, and a part of her wanted to bolt out of the theatre like the others. Though she knew that wasn’t really an option.
Okay Minami focus. You always talk about your responsibilities, so take responsibility for your feelings. As Atsuko began to approach, the older girl bowed forward at an 80 degree angle and shouted, “Sorry!”
The actress paused directly in front of the bowing girl and furrowed her brows. She placed her hands on the girls’ shoulders and directed her to return to her proper stance. They made eye contact once again as Atsuko spoke, “you better not to apologizing for your feelings. Because you have plenty of things to be sorry for, but that’s not one of them”
The stern and angry look on the actresses face left no room for argument. “Um, right. I’m sorry for keeping this from you... for worrying you, and for not being honest.” Minami sincerely apologized.
Atsuko relaxed her facial features, and out of nowhere, she flung both arms around Minami’s neck and buried her head into the shorter girls’ neck. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” Atsuko lightly cried out as tears slid down her face. At first Minami was shocked, but as soon as she felt Atsuko shake against her as she cried, she slowly encircled her hands protectively around the girl to return the hug.
Why is she apologizing? “I’m sorry. I didn’t know that you were worrying about this the entire time. You must have felt alone, and scared, and I never realized” she sobbed against the girl.
After holding the sobbing girl for a bit to wait for her to calm, Minami gently pushed Atsuko back so she could look her into her eyes. “Hey hey, what are saying? There’s no way you could’ve known. I was keeping it a secret remember, and for the longest time even I didn’t know.” The leader gently used her sleeve to dry the actresses’ tear stained face.
Atsuko sniffled and said, “Yah but...I was angry at you for not being honest before, but the truth is... I wasn’t either. I’ve always wanted to be with you, but I didn’t want to push my selfish needs and feelings on to you, so I told myself I’d be patient. That I’d wait for you. But if I hadn’t, if I’d shared with you how I felt earlier, then you wouldn’t have had to go through all that confusion and fear yourself!” Atsuko scolded herself and she tried to wipe the rest of the tears off her face.
Minami stared in shock for a bit at the young girl, and then...began to wholeheartedly laugh. Atsuko was dumbfounded at the singers’ reaction. “What about this is funny to you!?” she angrily pouted.
The leader tried to get her laughter under control, and once she did, she smiled to Atsuko. Her previous nervousness disappeared. “Sorry. It’s just that...we’re both idiots huh? It’s kind of like Yuko kept saying, that there was no meaning to our fight or whatever it was. If we’d just both been honest from the start, we could’ve avoided this but...Then we wouldn’t be us, would we? We’re two of the most stubborn people in the world, remember.” Minami gave a genuine smile to her one true ace, and Atsuko let out a little laugh.
“Yah. I guess you’re right. So maybe we should stop apologizing to each other and figure things out... It’s my turn to be honest now. Minami...I’ve always loved you. At some point on in our days in AKB, I realized that I never wanted to be apart from you. I don’t know when it happened or how, but it did. I was also worried about many things, so I decided I’d wait. Throw out subtle hints, ask you to move in with me...Like I said, be patient with you. A part of me was always scared that’d you’d never feel for me what I feel for you, and I was close to giving up one day...But you know what gave me the courage to hold on to my feelings?” Atsuko asked, with eyes full of nothing but love.
Minami almost missed Atsuko’s question. She was slightly getting flustered and attempting to keep her heart rate under control. “Um, what gave you the courage?” she asked.
Atsuko smiled her bright loving smile and pulled out her cell phone. She browsed through some files and when she found what she was looking for, she showed the screen to Minami. “Remember this. It was the response you gave to a caller when you were hosting All Nigh Nippon on your own.”
(Author note: [Real Event] Actual translation of the question and answer from ANN translated by a tumblr user)Minami looked to the screen:
Call from: KitarieLOVE-sanI’m a girl but I like girls. These days, I email this friend every day, and I have fallen in love with her. Mailing with her is really fun and playing with her is really fun. But recently I can’t stand just being friends. But if I were to confess to her, would it be a bother to her? Takamina, if you were confessed to, how would you feel?Minami’s Reply: What’s wrong with that? If you like someone you like them. But the hard thing is if you stay being friends or not. I think KitarieLove-san understands, but by saying your feelings, you might feel better, but the person might not know what to do. I think the feeling of liking someone is definitely right, but if you say that you feel happy right now then it’s a form of happiness. But even if you get rejected, “we’re still friends” is what your friend could say but there are definitely people that would say “if that’s how you think, it might be better if we keep some distance.” But those feelings of “I like you!” well if someone said that to me I’ll be like “Oh, is that so” and think about it deeply. And it’s not a bother at all to me and it actually makes me happy. I’m probably the type that can say “But you know, we’re still friends!!” but I don’t know how the person you, KitarieLove-san likes so it’s a little hard. I think that you can say it. But maybe you could just try saying it casually like “I like you, I like you~”. But the feeling of liking your friend, you don’t have to change it; yeah that’s how I think. “Ah! I remember that,” Minami said thoughtfully. Atsuko smiled and closed her phone.
“I was actually listening to that broadcast live, and when I heard your reply, I thought it was honest and beautiful. I wanted to believe in those words you said, and I did. And I know you’re scared, but I want to believe in your own words too Minami. The feeling of like each other, that’s not something we have to change. I want to say it properly to you Minami ...I love you.”
Minami was deeply touched, and this time tears slid down her own face. “Who knew such simple words held such power, huh? Well you heard how I felt but, I also want to say it properly and directly to you. Atsuko, you really are my irreplaceable partner, and I don’t care what it’s called. Friendship or love, as long as I can always be by your side, I’ll be happy. I...I love you.” The singer was blushing furiously as she said the words out loud.
This time it was Atsuko’s turn to have her heart skip a couple beats. She beamed at the older who smiled back at her. “I’m glad that’s how you feel. ...But, I’m guessing you won’t let us engage in any couple activities as long as you’re in AKB right?” Atsuko knowingly asked.
Minami wore a light smile, “you know me well. I still have to keep up my responsibilities in AKB. I’m already somewhat breaking the rules by not holding on to a one-sided love but...I still need to lead by example, I can’t expect people to follow what I say if I’m off in a relationship myself... you understand that right?”
“Of course! It’s your job after all, plus it’s very you, and it’s one of the things I love most about you... I can wait, I always will, even if you remain in AKB for the next 20 or 30 years!” the actress teased.
Minami laughed, “it won’t be that long, don’t worry.”
“I’ll wait either way...Oh, and I hope that you understand that I’ll still have to kiss guys on screen and everything.” Atsuko smirked and watched Minami cringe and then sigh.
“Yah, I understand. That part is your job” Minami smiled to reassure the actress.
“It’s too bad though, I really wanted us to...have our...first kiss” Atsuko said as a light blush appeared on her face. Minami grew very flustered.
“K...kiss. Well...we can’t. That’d be cheating. That’ll have to wait once I graduate from the group.” The singer stated with much effort. Wait, did I just promise something... She tried to change the subject. “But...I don’t think there’d be anything wrong if we lived together...I mean everything is still in place back home so if you want... I mean if you’d like of course...” she trailed off as Atsuko took her hand and gave it a gentle grip.
“Minami, let’s go home. Our home, okay”
The older girl smiled, and nodded as she and Atsuko began to leave the theatre. Neither of them wanted to mention what would happen after Minami graduated from AKB, because that’s when things would get difficult for the two. They’d discuss that when the time came though. But both of them knew that somehow things would work out. That they would not regret this.
Holding each other’s hand, they both felt the power they gave one another, and knew that as long as they were together, they’d somehow survive, regardless of any outcome.
When Atsuko and Minami opened the theatre doors, they were greeted with the members all falling forward on the floor. Minami glared down at them while they all gave a sheepish expression.
“Sup leader, how’s it feel to finally be able to look down at us?” Yuko joked.
“You guys were listening in!?” Minami accused.
The others all tried to scramble back up to their feet, arguing with one another on who was to blame for getting caught. “I told you they were coming” Miichan said.
“Well Yuko should’ve found a better hiding place,” Mariko absently added.
“We wouldn’t be able to hear them anywhere else,” Yuko defended.
Atsuko laughed at her friends bantering, and Minami also let a smile grace her face.
...And of course, she and Atsuko weren’t alone. They had loving friends, comrades, a family who would always look out for them. Taking care of each other is what they all did best after all.
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Little bonus – The loophole As the two were walking home hand in hand after splitting up with the others, Atsuko glanced around to make sure no one was looking. She gathered courage for what she was planning to do.
“Mi~na~mi~” she sweetly called out.
The leader, unaware that the younger girl was plotting something, turned and slightly looked up, only to be met with Atsuko’s lips on hers. It was a sweet quick peck, and as quickly as it was initiated, it was over.
“Wh...wh...what” Minami covered her lips with her free hand, and then glared at the younger girl, who wore a smirk on her face. “Atsuko!?”
“What?” Atsuko answered innocently. “In order for it to count as a real kiss, both parties have to be performing the action, but since it was just me, we’re not really breaking any rules.”
Is she seriously trying to find loopholes! ----------------------------------------------
Well that’s the end! Thanks once again! Hope you enjoyed it and hope it was a worthy ending! lol
I’m already thinking of another short story idea and this one may be centered on Yuko and Minami’s friendship
Until next time my awesome readers
Topic: Leaders Responsibility to take Blame (AtsuMina) - COMPLETED (Read 23098 times)