Update! I'm so glad I'm getting closer to having everything come together. It'll be hard (and long...) but I'll feel so relieved once everything is settled
Next POV will be Ai-chan's. If you notice, you can easily tell who's POV is next by looking at the color indicating the member's color
Once I go through everyone I'll be recycling through everyone again, but in different order.
Hey! Just Smile:
Chapter 4 - Fear
====================================================================Junjun struggled to shake off the grip of her family's security guards off her arms. Her hands were put behind her back, pinned down one on top of another by one of the guard's hands. She scoffed as she looked at Kato, one of her family's bodyguards, in annoyance as he firmly yet gently pushed her forward into the black limousine. She didn't have time for this, especially since she had a job interview at a private school coming up within an hour. Junjun knew what this was all about, she just didn't expect her father to use such force upon her. For the past few weeks she's been let off scot free with only a few failed attempts at cellular communication with her by her father. She was always daddy's little girl, though she never fully abused that.
She ducked under the roof of the vehicle, and proceeded to go in. Sitting down on the red seats of the limousine, she crossed her legs and quickly yanked away her hands from Kato. Junjun crossed her arms across her chest and sighed heavily as she closed her eyes.
"Hurry up and just hook up the video connection. I don't have all day." Junjun rolled her eyes and motioned for Hiro, the other bodyguard, to do as she said.
"Your father is dying madam. I think it's best not to bo-"
"Buubuu~ I know you suck at lying Hiro and my father is even worse at it. If he really was dieing then why on earth did you have to push me into the car as if you were arresting me?"
Hiro remained silent, keeping a stern look on his face contrary to the embarrassment he felt. "Yes, madam." Hiro bent over to push a button on the ceiling. Within a few seconds, an opening in the ceiling of the vehicle opened and a thin screen slid down for everyone facing it to see. The screen opened showing a number pad. He dialed the number for Mr. Li's office on the touchscreen and laid back into his seat as they waited for a connection.
Mr. Li, Junjun's father, appeared sitting in his office chair with a cigar in his mouth smoking happily as his secretary draped herself over him, circling an area on his chest with her finger as she giggled playfully. Junjun coughed, not wanting to see any more of her father and his playmate go further into what they were doing. Li jumped, the girl on his lap falling onto the floor with a loud 'thud!', and stood up with his hands flat on his desk.
"C-chun!"
"
Still the same old pervert I see." Junjun cleared her throat and began to speak in chinese, "Haven't I said no already?"
Calming down, Li dusted himself off and sat down in his leather office chair, totally forgetting about his secretary on the floor with a broken heel. "Ahem... I know you're having a hard time with such a burden put upon you. But, please, just come home. You're just making things harder for you by doing this."
Junjun chuckled slightly, "Home? I'm not a part of the Li family anymore aren't I? and for pete's sake, I'm 22 years old I can take care of myself. "
Li sighed, and folded his hands across his desk. "Chun, there's no one else who can take over. You know your brother is too sickly to take over my position. It's better if you stay at home. That way your duties-"
'Duties'-Junjun became irked when she heard that word. With that, she didn't want this conversation to go any further.
"If I remember correctly, you said on the day I ran away 'you're not a member of the Li family anymore!' " Junjun waved her hands in the air in imitation.
"..." Li scratched his chin, "I-I didn't mean-"
"OH YES YOU DID!" Junjun went up closer to the camera on the screen, "So wouldn't that mean I don't have responsibility for that company of yours?"
"CHUN!"
"End of conversation! Driver stop the car!" The car came to a slow stop and immediately Junjun pushed Kato out of the way to exit the car.
"CHUN!" Li grabbed the monitor on his desk and shook it. Once he saw Junjun had left, he sank back into his seat and stared at Hiro and Kato in anger. He began speaking, switching back to japanese, "Why didn't you two stop her?! and YOU! Matsumoto! Don't stop the car unless I say so!"
Junjun ran away relieved. She began to estimate how long it would be until her father thought of some other way to permanently capture her and drag her back to their mansion. What would he do next time? Put her out with a gas mask? Tie her up and drive her back to the mansion? Take away her inheritance? Well, Junjun didn't care about that. He could give it away for all she cared. Li was turning 65, not quite that old, but seeing as he was easily burnt out and becoming easily sick he thought of passing his company on. Rather than just having one of his corrupt employees become the head, he thought of putting it into the trustworthy hands of his own children. If he were to die, he would die happily knowing that his company and children were off well. Junjun on the other hand, just saw it as stupid-another one of her father's decisions made without actually thinking. She didn't want power, she liked to follow, to care for others and watch from the sidelines. Being a leader was something she dreaded to think about or rather feared. What if she messed up? What if the company fell because of her? Junjun wasn't ready for that kind of stress and every time she thought about failing, Linlin's words would repeat themselves over in her head: "
You've always been afraid of responsibility, even though you're so tough...".
"
Tough? I eat too many sweets, act like a burikko all the time and get into childish arguments." Junjun pouted her lips, "
I'm not tough. Don't say that."
She marched on forward and looked around her. The driver didn't drive that far. It seemed as if he only circled the area a few times, stopping in front of her apartment by coincidence. Junjun grunted at how far she would have to walk. She mumbled angrily under her breath and marched forward toward the school, which a few minutes ago was only 10 minutes within reach. She passed through the park and remembered what happened the night before.
"I wonder if that Niigaki-san remembered now."
Junjun bent down to touch the pavement, specifically the spot where Risa's cake had dropped last night. The spot had been cleaned, looking as clean as it was before the cake dropped unto it. She moved her hand back and forth while she touched the stone, then drew it back to rest on her knees.
"
Should I be grateful that they didn't meet?", Junjun closed her eyes and shook her head "No. Kamei-san wanted to confess. I shouldn't be happy. She became hurt."
Junjun stood up and resumed walking to the private school nearby. She crossed the street and looked at the display in the windows of the bakery across her. Her mouth began to water at the sight of three delicious cakes in the window display. She began to think the place was familiar and remembered that it was the place she had wanted to work in, "Miracle Bakery". Junjun sighed and closed her eyes at the thought of all the free cake and pasteries she could have had.
"Ahh!"
Immediately Junjun opened her eyes in surprise to see Eri exiting the doors of the bakery, dropping her bag as she did. As if on instinct, Junjun ran up to Eri. She picked up Eri's purse and in the process grabbed the bag of sweets she was holding as well to lighten her load.
"Oh, Junjun!" Eri looked up at Junjun, her eyeglasses sliding off her face and landing onto the floor.
In awe Junjun stared at Eri. It was rare that Junjun would ever see Eri without glasses, this being one of those few times. Her face without the glasses made her face sparkle and her eyes that were often hidden behind her glasses, were now noticeably alluring and charismatic. Junjun blushed furiously and tried to turn away but couldn't. She grabbed the glasses Eri had now picked up off the ground and held them away so that she could look at her longer. Usually Eri didn't wear much makeup, most of the time all she had on was a bit of eyeliner. Eri stood there, increasingly becoming embarrassed with how Junjun was looking at her.
"
Niigaki is definitely spoiled." still Junjun stared at Eri, now in sadness, "
If only you didn't love her." Junjun dropped her arm and gave Eri her glasses back. She watched Eri as she put them on hurriedly, getting her hair caught in the hinges a few times. "
If only I didn't care about how you felt about her." Junjun gave Eri her purse again, putting up a slight smile then letting it drop again into a frown. "
Maybe if I did that you would like me instead."
"U-umm, J-Junjun you've been quiet for a while now. Where are you heading to?" Eri said, pulling at the ends of her hair that became stuck in the hinges of her eyeglasses.
"
Who am I kidding." Junjun began chuckling, causing Eri to look up at her puzzled. Shaking her head with a forced smile, Junjun grabbed Eri's hand and began walking to the school with her. "You have nothing to do today right?"
"Not really. There's some schoolwork I have to do but I don't really think I'll get to it."
"Mind waiting for me after my job interview? It won't take long." Junjun smiled at Eri, giving her one of the most angelic smiles she had. One of those smiles that made it hard to refuse whatever she was asking. Reluctantly, Eri nodded slowly. Although she had nothing to do today, all she wanted to do was go home, watch tv and spend the rest of the day eating and sleeping. She found it interesting why Junjun would want her to wait for her. Did she need to talk about something?
"What position do you want?"
"Me? Well they said they needed a substitute for english."
"I don't think you have any of the requirements or training for it though..."
"Well, worth the try right? It's only english anyway." Junjun looked down at their hands. She noticed that she was holding onto Eri's hand rather tightly. She wanted to let go but she wanted to savor the warmth of Eri's hand in hers. "How about you? What did you buy?" Junjun focused her attention on Eri again, praying for her not to let go.
"I didn't really buy these. A woman in the store gave me these for free seeing how hungry I was. She seemed air headed but was real nice!" Eri smiled up at Junjun, jiggling her hand in Junjun's as she happily told her about the woman. Junjun smiled in response and began to feel her face getting hot.
"Then what were you doing in there then?"
"Well, there's this girl." Eri started to blush, which Junjun noticed, "I went over to give her something as a thank you for helping me out last night."
Junjun began to feel her heart sink. She remained silent and swallowed a few times. For Eri to blush like that for Risa was something Junjun became used to, but who was this other person she should be worrying about?
"She wasn't there since she's at school, so I just left it with her mother-that woman."
"
Last night? It couldn't be that girl could it?." Junjun walked up to the doors of the school, letting her jealousy and the thought of Koharu slip her mind. She pulled the handle with her other free hand, letting Eri go in first. Still, Junjun hoped that Eri wouldn't let go and thankfully she didn't. Amazed, Junjun grinned like an idiot.
Junjun lead the both of them through the hallway. She was unfamiliar with the building and had trouble finding where the staff room was. As they passed through, many of the students in the hallway stared at them strangely making Eri feel uncomfortable. Eri let go of Junjun's hand and for a brief moment Junjun became disappointed. Right after Eri let go she hugged Junjun's arm close to her, staring at her feet as she walked. Junjun became surprised and straightened her back. She began to stare into space while she walked and totally forgot about which direction she should go. Eventually she bumped into someone in front of her and woke up.
There was a huge gathering in the hallway in front of the school store. Many of the students were pumping their fists into the air yelling as they did. The both of them stood watching in curiosity, when suddenly Junjun heard a familiar voice,
"Tanaka-san? TANAKA-SAN!! what are you doing!?"
"
Linlin? Reina?" Junjun turned, releasing Eri's hold on her arm. She poked her head up in search for Linlin's voice. "Kamei-san, please wait here a moment." Junjun pushed through the crowd searching for Linlin and Reina and eventually she ended up being in the front. Turning her head to the right, she noticed Reina and Miki fist fighting. "
Amazing how there isn't a teacher to break this up." Junjun did a quick glance and went on with her business and in a few moments realized who she saw. She did a double take, her eyes growing wide at seeing Reina clawing Miki in the face with her sharp nails.
"I wonder what happened here." Junjun stood and watched with a blank expression. "
I'm sure she can take care of this. No need to jump in... yet." She moved her focus from Reina to the first year behind her. "
I know this girl. Reina's friend right?"
"Junjun!" Linlin grabbed Junjun by the arm and dragged her near her. "What are you doing here!"
"Junjun?!" Reina immediately stopped and let her hands drop from Miki's face on to her sides. She looked at Junjun in surprise, her mouth gaping open as she tried to form words.
Miki wiped her lips with her arm and smirked. "Bitch get back here, we're not done yet." She rolled up her sleeves and slowly marched towards Reina, preparing to give her the hardest punch she could give. Junjun noticed Miki's movements and widened her eyes in surpise.
Quickly, Junjun moved forward and pushed Miki's hand out of the way. She raised her hand up to punch her in the face but remembered that she was applying for a job at this school. She let her hand fall and instead caught the next punch Miki delivered and twisted her arm, putting it behind Miki's back.
"Itai! Itai! Itai! Let me go!" Miki said, yelling in pain.
"Alright, alright everyone break it up." The school's principal, Mitsuo Terada, marched through the pathway the students had made for him. The male students groaned in disappointment, retreating back to their classrooms. The girls sighed in relief and did the same. Linlin hurriedly followed the others in fear of being involved with the situation. Back at home she would ask Junjun why she was at her school. Terada put his hand on his hip and with his free one massaged his eyebrows in irritation. Junjun let go of Miki, gave Reina a sympathetic look and mouthed the words "It's alright now." Junjun went over to Eri who was clutching on to the bottom of her shirt and took her hand, holding it with her fingers in between hers. Reina watched the two and rolled her eyes in disgust.
Miki, Reina and everyone else that was left in the hallway bowed with their heads down. They all knew they were in trouble.
"I'm assuming you're the new job applicant yes?" Terada looked towards Junjun, who raised her head up and nodded. "If you and your friend could wait in the staff room please. Just go down the hall and turn left. First room you see." Terada smiled at the two and waited for them to leave before dropping the smile. He gave the four students and Reina a deadly glare.
"You three!" Terada moved in towards the yamanba three with his hands on his hips. "In my office."
"But-"
"Don't even try explaining. It's very much obvious who started all this." Terada motioned the three to start walking by waving his hand ahead, while he tapped his foot on the floor. He looked to Reina and the first year beside her and smiled.
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"Mou, Tanaka-san you should've just let Fujimoto-san have the last soba bread!" Aika whined, kicking a rock that was in front of her towards the grass beside the walkway she stood on.
"But she started it! I already said she could have the damn bread..." Reina said and crossed her arms.
Today Reina had no classes to go to and decided to pay Aika a visit. Since Reina knew Aika was at school, she thought it would be okay to visit her there. Former alumni were allowed to pay visits anyway. Home was silent with no brothers or parents to bug her. Watching TV became boring when there were only re-runs being shown. All she was left with were her thoughts and all she could think about was what happened two days before between her and Junjun. Every time she remembered her crying over Junjun she would roll around her bed, stuffing her face into her pillow screaming "Baka Jun!" until she felt satisfied. Every time she thought about her possibly falling for Junjun she rocked back and forth as she held her pillow close to her, repeatedly saying "To-mo-da-CHI!!" followed by hysterical laughter.
Reina trusted Aika. She counted on her to listen to what she thought, to take her mind off things. Of course Reina had other friends, but none that would listen to her like Aika did. Sayu was always trustworthy, but sometimes the girl had too much of a habit of talking to herself. Although her and Aika had an age difference of four years, Reina was always amazed by how mature the teenager was.
Aika sighed, "Why are you even here? How-"
"I wanted to see you." Reina fiddled with her fingers and tilted her head up to look at Aika.
Stiffening up her back, Aika's cheeks became rosy. She coughed a little and took a seat beside Reina on the bench, "W-well, it's good that Junjun-san was there to stop Fujimoto-san."
"I was doing fine on my own!" Reina stood up abruptly, towering over Aika. "I didn't need Baka-Jun's help!"
"
Baka-Jun?," Aika backed away a little, staring up at Reina in surprise. "Is this why you're here? Why you suddenly appeared in my room last night? Did you and Junjun-sa-" Before Aika completed her sentence, Reina threw the soba bread she held in her hand at Aika's face. The bread wrapped in plastic then landed on her lap.
"Hurry up and eat, your lunch period ends in twenty minutes."
"How will I ever know whats on your mind if you don't tell me." Aika threw the soba bread back at Reina, hitting her back in the face, "I'm willing to listen Tanaka-san. I'm right here. We've been friends since we were kids, don't you trust me?"
"I do, I do. What I'm feeling right now... I don't know if I'm ready to talk about it. " Reina took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. She stretched out her legs and rocked her feet side to side on her heels, "I just wanted to see you..." Reina paused slightly and looked up at Aika, "I need you Aika. Just talk to me."
"
Why is she being so honest now?!" Aika stared at Reina, forcing on a blank impression to hide away how embarrassed she was. When Reina turned away with a stubborn look, Aika loosened and put on a warm smile "
Tanaka-san..."
"Aika!" Hagiwara Mai, one of Aika's friends at school in the same grade, ran towards Aika waving her arms in the air. "Makoto-sensei wants to see you! Something about being class president."
Aika turned around to take a look at Reina once more. She gave her an apologetic look before saying, "Wait for me after school." Aika began to follow Mai, taking her soba bread, when she felt Reina grab her arm. She turned back around and focused on Reina's hand and then turned her attention to her face. "I'll be here. I promise. Just wait for me 'kay?"
"Aika..." Reina watched Aika run off, "
What do I do for 4 hours!?"
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After an hour long interview, Junjun bowed politely to the school's principal, Terada, and was ushered out the doors of the office. She took a short look at the staff room after she exited the office and was overwhelmed just by looking at all the paperwork on the desks. Becoming unsure of wanting a job as a substitute teacher Junjun began to walk out towards the hallway, meeting Eri who sat on a chair near the doors. Junjun apologized for the long wait and waited for Eri to stand up. Eri waved her hands in front of her and shook her head in denial. For the past half hour she had fallen asleep waiting for Junjun. Thankfully the staff room was empty enough that no one would have noticed her.
"You seem tired, maybe we should do this another time." Junjun put her hands in her pockets and shrugged.
"It's alright. It's still early." Eri lifted her hand up and checked the time on her watch. "Yup, see it's still 1:35!" She smiled brightly and tilted her eyeglasses up.
"
Nope. Not enough time at all." Junjun forced a smile. "
Thats not enough time to release your full potential." She scratched the back of her neck and let out a small smile.
Junjun put her hand on the cold metal handle of the doors. She slowly began to pull the doors open with her small smile still in place. Just as she was about to pull the doors fully open she had noticed that she left Eri behind. Junjun lifted her head up quickly to see Eri looking down the hall, her attention totally captured. She began to walk up behind Eri and tried to look for what had her attention so captured.
"
That girl?" Curiously, Junjun looked at Koharu in her gym uniform as she stared out the large windows in the hallway, her chin on top of her palms. After a while, Junjun focused her attention on Eri, who, for some reason began to look mesmerized.
Koharu watched her gym class out on the field, playing a short game of soccer. She had a calm look on her face, which matched her small smile perfectly. The open window let in wind that gently blew her hair away from her face, occasionally drawing it back in the opposite direction. When someone would try to kick a goal in the net, she lifted her chin off her palm, letting her jaw drop in amusement. When the game had ended, she made her way back to the field to rejoin her class, stretching her arms as she did.
Koharu let her arms drop when she was done and noticed a familiar person waving at her.
"Kamei-san!" Koharu began to run towards Eri, who had a wide grin on her face, which again Junjun noticed. "What are you doing here?"
"
This must be who she was talking about." Junjun began to retreat slowly, leaving the two alone to talk. Once she had turned around and was far enough from the two she whispered to herself, "Another time I guess."
Junjun walked leisurely on the pathway beside the school, swaying her arms by her sides back and forth. A rock was on the pathway a bit up ahead. Junjun noticed it and kicked it ahead of her. Sighing, she took a seat on a bench on the other side of the stone walkway opposite the grass. Lifting her head up, she noticed that Reina was in front of her. She had a soccer ball held up in front of her, ready to kick it into the field. After making sure where she would hit the ball by swinging her leg back and forth, Reina finally kicked the ball sending it flying upwards into the sky. She stood up tall and grinning, proud of how high she kicked up the ball. The ball arched over the field, slowly descending to fall into a group of trees. When the ball finally disappeared into the bushes of the trees, she fell to her knees and exclaimed cries of disappointment.
"AHH!" Reina plucked some grass and threw it in front of her. She watched it fall to her lap.
"Hahaha!" Junjun laughed, covering her mouth so that Reina would not notice her, though it didn't work since Reina turned around annoyed.
"Go away."
"I can't yet."
"Well, whatever. I'm not talking to you remember?"
"Eh? But you never said that right?"
"..."
"I see... the silent treatment." Junjun lifted her eyes to look at Reina who was now sitting on the grass with her back turned and legs crossed. Junjun sighed and looked around her, scrunching up her eyebrows because of the brightness of the sun.
"Go away. You said you're not coming back to school right? So go away."
"But I'm not at school."
"I don't care. Just leave me alone. I don't want to see you right now."
"I can't leave yet. Eri is still inside."
"
Ughh. Calling her by her first name?" Reina adjusted her bangs, "Who cares just go."
"But Eri is still inside. I can't leave her there."
"Stop calling her by her first name. You're not even that close." Reina looked over her shoulder and glared at Junjun.
"You don't like her do you?"
"..." Reina crossed her arms and faced front.
"Are you jealous?"
"No... I'm not." Reina let her blushing calm down before speaking, "Why are you here anyway?"
"I had a job inter-"
"Forget it and go back to school."
"Forget it. I'm not talking to you anymore." Junjun stood up and began to leave Reina.
"Why are you being so stubborn!" Reina stood up and made balls with her hands. "You're so selfish!"
"..." Junjun turned her head around and gave Reina an apologetic look. "...I'm sorry."
"Then come back to school."
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"I just can't!"
"You're not making sense Junjun. What do you mean you can't?"
"Why don't you just be understanding and support my decision?"
"Because your decision is stupid."
"Agh! It's like talking to a kid!" Junjun began to storm off.
"Ne, ne," Reina ran up to Junjun and began to speak as Junjun tried to walk away hurriedly, "you do everything for Kamei-san but you can't even do this one thing for me, your close friend."
"What you're asking for is too much." Junjun paused, "Even if Eri asked me this, I wouldn't do it."
"ARGH!" Reina grabbed Junjun's arm and dragged her back roughly, "Tell me, WHAT is soooo BAD about going back to school? Huh? Tell me!"
Junjun paused slightly looking away from Reina, her eyelids low. She closed her eyes, opened them again and looked at Reina, "What would happen is too scary Reina." Junjun put on a fake smile, "I'm too..." Junjun shook her head, "Nevermind."
Reina let go of Junjun's arm and looked at the ground while Junjun walked off. She became confused and somewhat guilty. The expression Junjun had on her face before walking out was filled with anxiety and unsureness. When Reina saw this she began to pity her friend. Maybe she just didn't know enough of Junjun's reasoning and became a bit too selfish. All she thought of was her own needs. Even though she thought she was thinking for what was best for Junjun, all she really wanted was for her to feel secure. This was the needy part of her, the part of her that took her guts to admit and sometimes never noticed. Just why does she want Junjun back at school so much? They're adults after all, they can visit each other anytime. She realized that the deeper she thought about the issue. But why didn't that settle with her or comfort her insecurities about Junjun leaving school?
"
We never hang out anymore." Reina put her hands in her jacket pockets, "
She never calls me." She still looked in the direction Junjun left, "
The distance between us will only grow bigger."
Yes. That was it. That was exactly why. It reassured Reina a little, but still, there was an unsettling feeling in her heart and the more she thought about it, the answering becoming clear to her, the more frustrated she got. Not yet. She didn't want to admit it yet, but it became annoying that she couldn't, that it was always nagging at her to fess up.
"She's... she's not my friend anymore," Reina swallowed hard. "Junjun is more than that."
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Topic: Hey! Just Smile: Chapter 8 - Nobody Nobody but... Me? 09/15 Update (Read 12250 times)