Ch:7 “Complicated”
I want you to want me.
I need you to need me.
I’d love you to love me.
I’m begging you to beg me.
-Cheap Trick
“You want me to tell you right now?”
“Yes” Aya answered.
“Right now Right now?” Yossy teased.
“Za-kun, come on” Aya half-smiled.
“Well what do you know?”
“That the day the PV for Mr. Moonlight was being recorded you were crying at the bridge. The only other person that was there was Rika who I saw running from that direction.”
“Well that saves me the trouble of explaining those parts.” Yossy scratched her head “ Once upon a time, before recording the video of “I wish” me, Rika and Goto started hanging out more…………………………………………………..
“Yossy, are you here alone?” A little voice called from behind the taller girl.
“Oh hey Rika-chan. Yeah I’m here alone, I wanted to get in a few extra hours of practice before the dance teacher came in” Yossy was practicing her newly learned dance for “I Wish”
“I see” Rika eyed her “You just can’t get that move down, huh?” Rika assumed.
“What gave it way?” Yossy blushed “my stumbling or my stumbling?”
“ummm I’d have to say your stumbling.” She playful imitated Yossy.
“You think you can help me with it?” Yossy hoped she’d say yes.
“I was just about to ask you if you wanted my help” she placed down her things and stood face to face with Yossy. “Watch me carefully” she instructed.
‘gladly’ thought Yoshizawa
She performed the move impeccably. “How do you make it seem so effortless?” Yossy was awed. Rika laughed the compliment off.
“Stand up and let me see your posture” Rika steadily studied Yossy as she stood up “Your dancing posture is all wrong” she noted.
“I know, the choreographer keeps telling me the same thing over and over again but she doesn’t explain how the dancing posture looks” Yossy whined.
“It’s okay… I’ll show you.” Rika walked behind Yossy and placed her hands on Yossy hips. The touch caused a few shivers to run through Yoshizawa. “Slightly spread your legs open a bit” Yossy silently gulped but did as instructed. “There! Remember to keep them about two feet apart” Rika started to slide her hands up Yossy’s back stopping on the shoulder blades “Stick out your chest and bring back your shoulders” this was causing chain reaction inside Yossy, a reaction she couldn’t exactly pinpoint at that moment. But she knew that if Rika didn’t stop touching her she might loose control of what ever it was she was holding back.
“uh… Rika-chan” Yossy brokenly called. Rika suddenly stuck her head out by the right side of Yossy.
“You got it all wrong, stick your chest out not up” Yossy lightly tinged at the cheeks; it was weird having someone that close to your body. “Perfect there you go, now remember to always return to this position. It makes it easier to manipulate your muscle movement.” Yossy tried the move once more and miraculously got it down.
“Look at that!” Yossy smiled beamingly. Rika clapped hyperly. “I did it” Yossy hugged Rika and Rika hugged her back. “What would I have done with out your help?” they swayed side to side for while not wanting to stop.
“Hey you two enough with the couple act! Get ready and into position, we have a long rehearsal today.” Nakazawa busted through the door with her duffle bag over her shoulder, water bottle in her right hand and sunglasses in the other. Her white hoodie still on with black track pants and white sneakers. They immediately felt embarrassed and quickly released one another.
“Let’s talk later” Yossy turned to her spot
“Ano” Rika blurted.
“Ano?” Yossy gestured for her to continue.
“Do you wanna do something together after reharsel?” She happily asked. Yossy was extatic, one of the few girls she admired for her hard work and dedication was taking notice of her. But she wanted to play it nonchalant.
“Sounds nice, just got to call my mom and see if it’s okay with her” Yossy causally said.
‘Call my mom, what am I 12? Idiot’ she mentally kicked herself.
“Good, I’ll have to call mine too but I don’t think she’ll say no” she cheerfully announced.
Early evening after rehearsal
“First ones here and last ones to go” Rika yawned while using her duffle bag as pillow. She was waiting for Yossy to finish.
“Just five more minuets I’m trying to get this right with one try” Yossy panted as she attempted the routine from start to finish for the 5th time after rehearsal. “Aahh” she screamed. “Why can’t I get this right?!? I almost look as bad as Iida-sempai” she ran her fingers through her hair in frustration. “What do you think Rika-chan?” she turned around to find that her fellow 4th generation partner had drifted into blissful sleep. Yossy’s heart skipped at the unbearably cute scene. As if by magnetism Yossy found her self drawn to Rika, walking slowly and delicately as she approached the sleeping child of 15. To common eyes it was a normal uneventful scene but to Yossy it was a revolutionizing moment. She kneeled by the unconscious body and brushed away her hair to fully appreciate her looks. Yossy was unaware of when this started, this peculiar attraction to Rika, a person she didn’t think much of at first. But she knew what it was that caused this strong like she had for her, Rika’s character. She was strong, independent, do my best, loyal type of girl; it out weighed all her negative traits.
Rika’s head slowly tilted to the left causing her lips to part slightly. Yossy suddenly took noticed of her lips and how close they were to her. She shook her head as she argued with herself. Half of her was urging her to do it… to kiss her, pleading with her and saying that if she didn’t take the chance she’d burst. Her other half advised not to for reasons Yossy herself couldn’t rationalize. Yossy unwillingly lifted her gaze from the sleeping Rika and meticulously looked around her for any sign of human activity. There was no-one there, no one to witness anything had she decided to. She closed her eyes and pushed herself forward towards Rika’s face but as soon as she felt Rika’s breath caress her cheek she opened her eyes and stopped. Not having enough courage to fulfill her desire she decided to kiss Rika’s forehead instead. Yossy could feel Rika eyes flutter open the moment her lips made contact with the skin.
“Uh… Yossy?” a baffled Rika sleepily called.
“I think we’re too tired to go out” Yossy stood up and walked over to her stuff. Rika unconsciously touched her forehead on the spot that was still slightly moist. “Come on let’s go” Yossy nodded to the door.
“Sure” Rika mechanically nodded.
After the encounter the days these two lived would become a constant routine of accidental day dreaming, staring at one anther, cracking jokes all the time and harmless but intentional flirting. With every passing day their attraction would only increase and soon the days became weeks, and the weeks became months. They became so comfortable with one another that even the way they addressed each other privately had changed. Yet none were sure of how the other felt, none were sure of how they themselves felt.
“I’m done with my fitting” called Nono from her dressing room.
“Great I’m almost done with mine, come and show me” Rika was standing as straight as she could waiting for the dress to be properly fitted.
“What do you think?” Nono walked in imitating a model on a runway.
“Sexy” Rika joked. Nono giggled and sat on one of empty chairs.
“Think Yocchan, Gocchin and Nacchi are done?” Nono asked while spinning herself on the chair.
“I don’t know but I can’t wait to see them dressed up as guys… it must look so funny” Rika grinned at the thought. “Think about it, I can see Goto play the part but Yossy and Abe” Rika turned her head to speak at Nono “has to be…a…laugh” she whispered the last words. Yossy had just walked into the room stunning Rika’s brain activity
“I don’t think I look funny at all” Yossy had an offended expression painted all over her face.
“YOCCHAN” Nono jumped up to her feet. “You look….Kakoii” the younger 4th gen member couldn’t help it and hugged the boyish looking Yossy.
“heh, if you like how I look you should go see Abe and Goto” Yossy smiled widely. Nono didn’t need to be told twice, the girl split from there in less than two seconds. Yossy looked up and saw a jaw dropped Rika still standing speechless gawking at her. The recently awoken Mr. Moonlight in her made her walked up to Rika and very slyly with one finger underneath the infamous chin close the gaping mouth. “It’s rude to stare” she grinned charmingly and placed her hands in her pockets. Rika blushed intensely.
“I’m done” the woman that was fitting Rika informed “I’m going to take these measurements and input them okay” the woman nodded at the two and walked out the room closing the door behind her. Yossy and Rika were alone again and silence hung between them once more.
“You look-”
“Amazing” Rika interrupted Yossy. Yossy cocked an eyebrow.
“How did you know I was going to say that?” Mr. Moonlight asked.
“No” Rika’s blushing became worse “I…” she looked away from Yossy “I mean you… you look amazing” Yossy shifted uncomfortably.
“You really think so?” Yossy twirled and practiced her ending pose of the song.
“I’m really shocked” Rika spoke.
“Gocchan and Abe were pretty shocked too but so was I when I saw them in their get up” Yossy walked up to the mirror and fixed her bangs. Rika couldn’t stop staring at Yossy.
“Could you do me a favor?” Yossy looked at Rika through the mirror.
“What?” Rika shifted her gaze to Yossy’s eyes.
“Could you stop looking at me like you’re going to eat me? It’s making me a little uncomfortable” Yossy turned to face Rika and time seemed to slow down as her hair flipped with the momentum. It was too much; Rika was moments from literally melting onto the floor.
“oh…sorry…I just really like how you look. Hard to find you unattractive in those clothes” She looked at floor.
“Really?” Yossy asked. Rika just nodded. “I’m glad” she lightly laughed “To be honest, I was trying to think how everyone would react. Oddly enough you were the person whose reaction I really wanted to know.”
“Well, I really like it” Rika looked up again. “Now we really look like a couple” she ran to Yossy’s side and hooked her arm around the other. She turned them both to stare at the mirror.
“My my my, we don’t look half bad together Rika-chan” Yossy really did like how they both looked. She lifted her arm and wrapped it around Rika’s shoulder. “There, now we look better”. Rika was starting to get a head ache from all rushes of blood that kept overwhelming her face.
“Hmm” She said out loud. Rika then with out moving from where she stood wrapped her arms around Yossy. “Now it’s perfect”. It was now Yossy’s turn to feel the heat rise in her cheeks and ears.
“You know, we have to take a picture like this?” Yossy said. Rika widened her eyes.
“You’re right!” she clapped her hands. “When are we recording the PV?”
“Eto… in a week.”
“We’ll take them there with the professional photographer then” Rika decided.
As the days passed by many noticed that Rika and Yossy were being particularly close to each other. Of course, Yossy’s new mastered charm was making a big hit with all the girls in the group. Yet she seemed to reserve her best lines, smiles, and looks for Rika. The days of the PV had finally arrived and everyone was extra excited. Nostalgically enough the first one to arrive there was Yossy and the second was Rika.
“Are you going to do anything afterwards?” Yossy called out to Rika as she stretched herself.
“No, want to do something?”
“Yeah there’s this bridge over on the south east side of the lot. Maybe we can walk around there and explore a bit.” Yossy lifted her hands reached for the ceiling.
“What a weird thing to do” Rika commented.
“Um… yeah it was a dumb idea” Yossy was slightly embarrassed.
“I’m up for it” Maki had just entered the studio. Rika spun around in partially shocked, she hadn’t turned down Yossy yet.
“You’re what?” Yossy stopped stretching and turn to look at Maki.
“I want to go explore the bridge with you” Maki specified.
‘No, wait… I was going…’ Rika’s words were trying to force themselves to her mouth. She finally opened her mouth to speak but Yossy spoke before her.
“Really?”
“Sure, why not?” Maki shrugged. “I’ve always wanted to go there my self, one day me and Nacchi were going to go but we were transferred to the newly built studios. So to make a long story short we never went.”
“You are so weird” Yossy shook her head.
“ME? I’m not the one who is going to take a cute girl to a bridge as a first date” Maki grinned.
Rika bit her lip, she still hadn’t said “no” but apparently Yossy didn’t care to hear her answer. Her emotional reaction to this was simple, to get angry at both of them. She bawled up her hands and humphed loudly as she pushed her self pass the smiling Yoshizawa and Goto.
“What upset her?” Maki stared off as Rika walked into the make-up room. She shook her head and decided to ignore it “Oh well, I’m off to the wardrobe. See you after filming Mr. Moonlight” she turned and followed the exact path Rika had taken. Yossy gave a big smile but it slowly became halfhearted. She really wanted to go with Rika but apparently Rika wasn’t interested.
“You two planning on going to the bridge after rehearsal?” Kei walked in.
“Yeah, it looked interesting” Yossy decided to resuming her stretching.
“Well, don’t stay out too late, tomorrow we have to film the PucchiMoni PV and you don’t want to look like crap”
“Don’t remind me” Yossy let out low groan. “We’re finally on the last day of filming this one and we have to start another one tomorrow”
Kei sighed “That’s the work of a H!P idol”
As the day progressed the hours seemed to be painstakingly long. The hours seemed to be particularly cruel to one member in particular, Ishikawa Rika. After the misunderstanding of the morning her attitude had pretty much stayed low. Though Rika was still able to do what Rika did best, be ha~ppy… or at least fake it well. She had been extra sweet with the new members, along with her mentor; trying to be as understanding as possible to them and as helpful as her knowledge could carry her. Things seemed to be getting better when the opportunity to have a photo op with Mr. Moonlight her self presented it self. Just as they had posed in front of the mirror they posed in front of the camera. For a slight moment things did seem to get better for Rika, unfortunately watching Yossy’s scenes with the new member Ogawa Makoto brought everything down once more and watching how the other girls would literarily go gaga every time Yossy whipped her hair ruined any chance of the day getting better again.
Everyone was exhausted from work. A snail would have most likely walked to the wardrobe, change, pick-up all it’s stuff and leave faster than any of the girls that day. The studio was basically empty with the exception of a still changing Yossy, a gloomy Rika leaning against the entrance of the door and a play fighting Abe and Maki.
“Ready to go?” Yossy zipped up her sweatshirt.
“yesh” a currently pinned down Maki mumbled. Abe slightly pouted and got off Maki.
“You two better not have too much fun on that date of yours” Abe teased. Rika tensed in anger every time she heard the word date.
“It’s not a date” Goto tied up her hair.
“Yup, it’s not a date. We’re just going to go look at the bridge” Yossy reassured.
“Excuse us” Maki petted Rika’s head as she existed. Yossy didn’t even look at her as she walked by her. Of all things that had happen that day the only thing that truly hurt her was that, not even a look to say goodbye.
“It looks like it’s going to rain” Maki looked up at the sky.
“Hmm hadn’t noticed…………………………………………………..................................................................
“I said to her” Aya was hugging her knees starting at Yossy silently, profoundly, carefully; She didn’t miss a word. Yossy in the midst of telling her story had created a mountain of shredded grass.
“What’s the matter?” Aya quietly asked. Yossy looked up with a sad look. “is something wrong?” Aya stood up to her needs and went towards Yossy. She was starting to think that maybe asking Yossy to tell her the story was a bad idea.
“Yeah there’s something wrong” Yossy nodded “I don’t have anymore grass to shred anymore” she grinned maliciously. Aya was dumbfounded; she looked around and noticed the sudden grassless area that surrounded Yossy. She playfully pushed Yossy to her back.
“Don’t play like that, I was actually worried” She furrowed her eyebrows.
“I’m sorry, just that I’m getting bored of telling the story” Yossy laughed as she sat up.
“So what happen after that?” Aya returned to hugging her knees and staring at Yossy.
“To be absolutely honest, I have no clue” Yossy shrugged “We had finally reached the bridged and Maki received a text and had to go. She apologiesed 100 times before she left. I decided to stay for a while and take in the scenery.”
“If I recall there wasn’t much of a scenery” Aya spoke.
“Pretty much” Yossy agreed “The weather was starting to get a bit more menacing while I was there but not enough to scare me away” Yossy slightly laughed “Next thing I know I hear these loud thumps marching right at me. I looked up and there she was in all her pissed up off glory.”
“Who? Ishikawa-san?” Aya questioned. Yossy smiled and nodded.
“Who else could it be?” you could hear the sarcasm. “She came right up to me accusing me of absurd things. She thought Maki was still with me but when she realized I was alone she was very embarrassed. She calmed down and joined me on the bridge. She apologiesed for behaving rudely and admitted to being jealous… well she didn’t exactly say jealous she used the word “territorial” to be exact” both Yossy and Aya giggled. “We started talking about stuff and one thing led to anther and we began having a very deep conversation. A heart to heart conversation where I said everything there was to know about me and she said everything there was to know about her.” She paused for a moment “I don’t think I’ve ever had a conversation like that with anyone else” Yossy looked at Aya. “I realized that I really liked her and decided to tell her… but interestingly she beat me to the punch.”
“I don’t understand, they why were you crying like that?” Aya tilted her head.
“Because admitting doesn’t mean wanting.” Yossy inhaled sharply.
“You and Yasuda-san have this way of confusing me” Aya shook her head “what exactly do you mean?”
“She admitted she liked me but she didn’t want me. Not the same way I wanted her.” She exhaled in frustration “To cut it short Ra-kun, she kissed me and ran away.” Aya could tell Yossy had reached her limit. There’d be no more story telling.
“I assume I know the rest” Aya stood up and dusted her pants off.
“Yeah you pretty much do” Yossy looked up. “I tried talking to her afterwards… but she’d always avoid subject. I basically got fed up and pretended it never happen. Interestingly when I started doing that she started to look for me more. It’s become this endless cycle of fights since then. There’s really just one word I can use to describe our relationship.” Yossy stood up. “Complicated” she smiled as her gaze met Aya’s.
“That reminds me” Aya’s eyes flashed “Za-kun, after our encounter at the bridge” Aya blushed lightly.
“Yes?”
“Why did you smile?”
“Irony” Yossy grabbed a hold of Aya’s hand.
“Irony?” she pulled Yossy to a stop.
“I had just been clinging to you like a little kid and then when I stand up your so short. I found it funny” Aya’s jaw dropped.
“That’s it?” Aya asked stunned.
“mmhmm… why did you think I smiled” She spun to look at Aya. Aya shyed away a bit.
“No, nothing”
“Anyways, I have a better question for you” Yossy pulled Aya to a bench so they could sit comfortably. “What’s the real reason you wanted to talk to me?”
This was the second time Aya felt her emotions change so suddenly and in the same day.
Topic: Tears, Kisses, Cowards and The Brave (CH: 14 OBSERVATION) (Read 43376 times)