An Annoying Paradise - Den-O 32 - Repairing the Damage - 12/30/12 season finale

[resop2]

(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 33

"I'll have to ask Aika Monday what she thought of our performance."

Seiji smiles a dreamy smile.  "Aika.  Kiraki, you have a class with her.  Do you think that Aika would go out with someone like me?"

"What!"

"I know it's a long shot.  She doesn't really seem the type to be easily impressed by rich boys.  And, I will admit, I'm not the most macho guy around.  And, she does seem attached to that Reina girl."

"Seiji, are you crazy?  You're just on the verge of breaking through and you're going to throw everything away for a girl friend?  A girl who's on the verge of breaking through herself?"

Seiji smiles a sinister smile.  "Not really.  But, someone's reaction tells me that he might."  Seiji looks over at Hiro who is blushing deep purple.

"Hey, I know the difference between fantasy and reality.  It's just Aika seems like a nice person who would be easy to talk to."

"Big brother has a crush."

"Geez, Seiji, it's not like a lot of guys in the audience tonight didn't share my opinion."

"Yeah, I heard the reaction when she came out.  What about you, Kiraki?  You're her classmate.  And, you said that she's the only girl in the school who talks to you.  Are you fan boying her as well?"

"I think that there's a side to Aika that you two haven't seen.  She might act nice and laid back, but that's only because she has a hidden bad ass streak that allows her to be that way."

They hear a knock on the door.

Josephine enters the conference room with the new boy.  He is short and kind of effeminate looking, but someone who also projects great confidence and pose, as if he had been an idol or a model before.

Kiraki sees Hiro looking at the boy in absolute shock and panic.

"No way!"

The new boy smiles and looks at Hiro.  "Hello, Santa."

Kiraki does a double take.  Santa was Hiro's name when they first transferred to the school.  "Wait a second.  How do you know that name?"

Hiro gets up and embraces the new kid.  "Seiji, Kiraki, this is Towa.  We were on the softball team together at our previous school."  Hiro points to Kiraki.  "He was also at our school, but our paths never crossed."

Josephine winks and exits the room.

Kiraki looks depressed.  Did I make so little an impression at our previous school?

"Hey, cheer up S- ... Kiraki, it was a big school."

He must be nervous to start to call me by Seiji's name.

Hiro grins like a lunatic.  "Kiraki, do you remember the JE audition?  Do you remember the guy whose short wig fell off?"

Kiraki nods.

"It was Towa."

Kiraki eyes double in size.  "No way!  I was sure that that person was a girl."

Towa waves his hand in front of his face.  "Don't worry about that.  My parents are very strange.  They always wanted me to look pretty.  A lot of people mistook me for a girl."

Kiraki offers Towa his hand.  "I'm glad that you finally made it here, although, selfishly, I know that if you hadn't had that problem they never would have looked at me."

Towa shakes Kiraki's hand.  "Let's not worry about the past.  The four of us have a future, or at least that's what Josephine was telling me."

Seiji nods.  "Did Josephine give you any information on the group?  He's been pretty tight lipped with us."

Towa nods.  "He mentioned that the group name would be 'Friend ☆ Ship' with the star part being the symbol for a star."

Seiji smile broadly.  "That's really good style!  I really like group names with a star in the middle."

Towa starts staring at Kamei.

"Oh, how rude of me.  Towa, this is Kamei.  She follows me around and helps me with my homework."

Towa pretends to act shocked.

Hiro sits down at the table.  "Gentlemen, we still have an important topic to cover.  We don't know what type that Towa is going to be."

Towa groans and sits down.  "Not this again."

Kiraki raises his eyebrow.  "Again?"

"Oh, Santa was a Wota, so he was always telling me about idol lore."

Kiraki smiles.  "Hiro thinks I could be a rebel bad boy."

"You don't look very tough."

Kiraki goes in to rebel bad boy mode and stands up.  "Hey, you.  I don't have to be told that I'm not tough looking from someone who looks like you."  Kiraki invades Towa's personal space.

Towa effortlessly takes Kiraki down and twists Kiraki's ankle.  "Other than that ridiculous stance, that wasn't bad."

"Itai!  Let go!"

"Oh, sorry."

Hiro smiles at this display.  "You two will definitely get along well.  So, Towa, what type do you think you could do?"

"Laid back mellow type?"

Hiro rubs his head in frustration.  "Towa, that's a girl's type.  We need a boy's type for you.  How about bashful and unassuming?"

"Well, I'm willing to play whatever role that you guys and Josephine want me to play."

Hiro nods.  "Good, oh, there's one other thing I want to ask you, ..."

--

Kiraki comes into homeroom class early.  Josephine had told him that weekend that he had graduated from cleaning the JE office rooms, so he could attend homeroom every day now.

Kiraki sees Reina enter looking very depressed.  She sits down and looks at Aika's seat and sighs.

Hiro enters with a big smile on his face.

"So, are you going to ask Aika today how you guys did?"

Hiro nods.

Finally the homeroom teacher enters.  "Class, I'm afraid there's been some bad news.  Our classmate, Aika, has had a family situation come up and she is not expected to come back to this school in this school year."

Kiraki sees that Hiro has a crushed look on his face.

"However, by some bizarre coincidence, we have a new transfer student today."  The teacher brings in Towa who makes his introduction.

"So, Towa, why don't you sit ..."

"Teacher, may I sit with Hiro over there?  We're from the same previous school."

"I guess that would be okay.  Miyabi, could you sit with Reina?"

A fearful Miyabi moves over.

Towa slaps five with Hiro and Kiraki who now sits behind Towa.  Towa winks at Hiro.  "That wasn't too hard."

"She was cold crushing on me."

The end of the "Shounen Jump" Chapters, and the end of An Annoying Paradise.

[kuro808]

Finally caught up well that was an interesting fic from a alternative perspective and after talking to you it gave me an expectation of your future work

[oddball]

Yeah I managed to catch up to now! this fic was pretty darn interesting and I will be looking out for your next fic!

[resop2]

But wait!  There's more!

For those who haven't heard the podcasts yet (links in the writer's cafe), yes, "An Annoying Paradise" is over, but that doesn't mean the story is finished.  There are not one but two sequels.

But first, the meta-story:

At the end of the first season An Annoying Paradise was not "renewed" by Sho-Komi or by Shounen Jump.  Much scrambling around was done and the series was able to be picked up by two other "mangas".  However, to get into these mangas some changes were required.

The most noticeable change is that the two points of view of the story will change from Towa/Aika and Kirari.

Who are the new points of view?  What Mangas did this story wind up in?  To find out, stayed tuned for the first sequel: "An Annoying Paradise - Lost"

[oddball]

Cool, a new part of the story, definatly ibnteresting it will be from different perspectives too!

[resop2]

(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.)

Authors Note:  At the end of the first season An Annoying Paradise the manga was not resigned by Sho-Komi and had to scramble to find another home.

Author's note: The chapters from Reina's point of view are supposed to be from the "Nakayoshi!" manga (home of Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon, Card Captor Sakura, Magic Knights Rayearth, Shugo Chara!, and Tokyo Mew Mew).

Author's note: Keigo is formal Japanese dialect, as might be used in a royal court.

An Annoying Paradise Lost Part 1 ("serialized in Nakayoshi!")

Reina looks at herself in the mirror.  What's wrong with me?  Usually this particular ensemble of clothing, lack of clothing, make up, and accessories makes me feel bad ass.  She sighs.

"Reina-darling, it is time for you to go to school."

Wow, keigo this early in the morning?  "Yes, dearest mother."  I guess it's okay.  She does tolerate my fashion style since it is part of my job.  And, talking royal dialect does kind of make me feel like a princess.

Reina looks in the mirror again.  A princess who has lost her smile.

Reina looks at a picture of her and Aika together that is in a small frame on her desk.  Wow, it's been a week since you had to leave.  At first I was completely destroyed, but now I think I can understand.  If it had been my family, I would have done the same thing.

Reina temporarily changes into chibi form and throws a tantrum.  But, I wouldn't have dumped you like that!

Reina says her goodbye's to her mother and walks to school.

"Hey, it's that cool and spicy girl, Reina."  Two boys, slightly younger than her, start following Reina.  Finally, one speaks up.  "Hey, cutey!"

Reina turns around and glares.

The boys run off terrified.

Reina sighs.  If only I could feel bad ass as opposed to merely looking bad ass.

The morning passes quietly enough, with the exception of getting back a math test.  Yikes!  Maybe I will have to take Sayumi up on her offer for homework help, even though she'll probably want to make me her girlfriend.  Icky.

During lunch Reina seeks out Sayumi in the hall.

"Reina!  Looking punked out as usual."

"And, you're looking cute, as usual, Sayumi."

Sayumi does her usual pose in spite of Reina's sarcasm.

"Um, I might have to take you up on your homework help offer."

"Hey, as the senior member of Harmony Project, it's up to me to go the extra mile for those girls underneath me."

Reina smirks.  I know what you mean by 'underneath me', hentai girl.  Reina imagines a silhouetted scene where Reina is lying down and Sayumi is leaning over trying to try to kiss her.  "Yeah, I totally blew my math test from yesterday."

"Really?  Let me see."  Sayumi points to Reina's right hand.

Reina looks at her hand in horror.  It's the test!  I had meant to burn it.  I forgot that I was holding it.  "Oh, this?"  Reina emits a nervous laugh.  "Oh, this is just a scrap of paper."  Reina crumples up the test and throws it blindly over her shoulder.

"Well, you'll have to show me the chapters and we can go over some sample problems.  You do know which chapters the quiz was on?"

"Hey!  Gangster Barbie!  Were you born stupid or did you try to get a 30 on your math test on purpose?"

Steam comes out of Reina's ears.  You know, a week ago my classmate Hiro was a quiet polite boy and now he's a total jerk.  Okay, so he got to perform at our concert.  Now he's walking around like he's the big man on campus and that it's only natural that girls fawn all over him.  "I don't recall asking for your opinion!"  Reina snatches the test back and pulls down her eyelid and sticks her tongue out.  "Beda!"

Hiro turns up his nose.  "Baka."  Hiro walks away.

Reina sighs.  If only Aika were here.  Hiro would be stuffed in a trash can by now.

"Don't let that jerk bother you.  I'll help you get your grades up in no time."

Reina watches Hiro walk away.  What is wrong with him?  He used to be a likable loser like his sidekick, Sumo boy.  But, now with this new buddy by his side, Towa, it seems like he has stolen all of my coolness.

"You know, I'll bet in a couple of weeks he'll calm down."

"You think so?"

"Yeah, a lot of people go off the deep end when they get their first real taste of being an idol."

Reina nods.  "What about you?"

Sayumi's every present smile vanishes.  "Reina, there are parts of my life that I am not proud of.  Before you came to the agency I hit a bad patch where I was doing whatever I felt like without a thought to the consequences."

"Like you were better after I came?  Being a bully and having a girl friend?"

"Well, I thought about those two things before doing them.  But, by that point I had built myself back up to where I could be forgiven for a few minor indiscretions."

Reina sees Risako walking past out of the corner of her eye, walking over to Saki.  Reina looks at Risako's figure and then looks at her own chest.  Reina shakes her head.  There is nothing minor about those 'indiscretions'!

"But, the truth is that I got into such strange trouble that you would never believe me if I told you.  It was a very scary time.  But, if I can come back, I'm sure that he can."

Reina nods.  They pick up their lunch and Reina grabs a copy of the free school newspaper.

Reina looks at the front page and makes a face. Well, Hiro isn't going to be reforming any time soon.

The front page of the school paper has a huge picture of Hiro and Seiji, the boy she caught flirting with Aika.  Jeez, I haven't seen Seiji acting like a jerk.  He's still acting like your average otaku.  Still, the two of them do look like rock stars in this picture.  Reina blushes.  But, that jerk Hiro doesn't deserve to!  Reina throws the newspaper in the trash.

After lunch, before Reina can make it back to class, she is stopped by Yurina.

"Yo."

Reina looks at Yurina crossly.  "What do you want?"

"To apologize."

Reina looks at Yurina, not knowing what to think.

"I talked to Aika before our performance and she convinced me that she's wasn't fooling around.  I know this issue must have caused you some pain, so I want to make things right."

"And, who was it that she was supposed to be fooling around with?"

Yurina blushes.  "I'm ashamed to say this now, considering how much he has changed."

"You thought Aika was with Hiro?"  Reina's eyes double in size.

Yurina waves her hand in front of her face.  "Keep it down."

Reina smiles.  "Well, don't worry about it.  I don't care."

Reina hears a bell ring and looks at the wall clock in distraction.  When she turns back Yurina has vanished.  How does a girl who is five foot nine do that?

To be continued

[kuro808]

yurina disappearing at the end

[oddball]

Hmm, seems as though Reina is missing Aika more than anyone else, I wonder what will happen if Towa makes a return and meets Reina?

and Hiro is suddenly a jerk now?  perhaps he will need to be put in his place sooner rather than later...

[resop2]

(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 Lost Part 2 ("serialized in Nakayoshi!")

Later that evening, Reina passes Miss Megumi in the halls on the way to her vocal lessons.

"Megumi-san, gracious good evening."

Megumi stops and looks at Reina with sorrow.  "How are you doing?"

"Been better."

"I was absolutely crushed when I heard the news.  Aika was so easy to work with and was such a good influence on the people she was with.  It's been six days and I still have absolutely no idea who I can replace her with in the Shabondama Four."

Reina winces.  She doesn't want to think of some girl replacing Aika in that group any more than she wants to think of some girl replacing Aika in their duet.  But, even so ...

"Megumi, what about Sayumi?"

"She has a higher voice than Aika.  It wouldn't be the same."

"You know, Sayumi told me something weird today.  That she was once in deep trouble."

Megumi suddenly becomes very serious.  "Reina, as I am sure you know, being a national idol can open the doors for all sorts of misbehavior.  But, behind some of those doors are horrors so terrible that good and decent girls like yourself shouldn't even hear of them."

Wow, she must be really used to me dressing like 'Gangster Barbie' to be calling me a good and decent girl.

"Let's just say that it took a lot of personal effort on my part to get her back.  Effort I would rather not think of again."

Reina nods.  Wow, what had Sayumi gotten herself into?  A biker gang?  Reina imagines Sayumi doing her Usa-chan Peace pose on a motorcycle and the other bikers looking embarrassed.  No, that's not it.  A hostess club?  Reina imagines Sayumi surrounded by a group of men who look bored because Sayumi continuously stares at herself in the mirror.  No, that's not it either.

Reina smiles.  Maybe there will a bonus for having Sayumi as a math tutor.  Maybe I will find out about Sayumi's dark secret?

Before she can reach her rehearsal room, Reina bumps into Momoko.

"Reina!  How is my Edge sister doing?"

Reina cringes. Oh great, it's out of control ego girl.  She still thinks I want to hang out with her just because we are in the same group. "Trying to hang in there."

Momoko starts babbling at high speed.  "So, what do you think of this accessory?  I found it at this great store in Shibuya today.  The people who work there were so nice.  They really know how to find things that bring out my true star power.  Do you think it works best with this shirt or this shirt?"  Momoko points to the shirt that she is wearing and the shirt that is tied around her hips.

Momoko looks up and Reina has vanished.  "What was that about?  Oh, well, I guess I'll have to ask Maasa."

After vocal practice, Reina relaxes in the idol's lounge.

"Reina!  How are you holding up?"

Reina cringes inside again.  Now I have to deal with the hentai twins?  "Risako, Saki, how are you guys?  I'm hanging in there, I guess, still in a little bit of shock."

Saki nods.  "It's been way less fun this week."

"But, I've been throwing myself into my work.  I don't want you two girls to get ideas and think that you can be my rivals."

Risako laughs.  "Hard to imagine.  After all, that would involve hard work, right?"

Reina frowns.  "Don't you girls work hard?"

Saki shakes her head.  "It's hard for us to really dedicate ourselves.  We are youth, you know?  Working hard is such a hassle."

Risako sighs.  "I wish there was some magical way to become better at being an idol without all the hard work."

Saki nods her head.

"Maybe you two need negative reinforcement?"  Sayumi walks up and twists the ears of both Risako and Saki.

"Geez, stop it!"

"We'll work harder!"

"That's better."

Reina giggles at little at Sayumi's antics.

Sayumi sits down with Reina at her table.  "So, when do you want to start the math tutoring?"

Reina's smile vanishes.  "Um ..."

Sayumi realizes that Reina isn't ready to talk about the subject.  "Hey have you seen this magazine?"  Sayumi pulls out a copy of Idol Singer Monthly.  "They have a huge list of everyone's heart song."

Reina smiles.  "I remember filling out the form for that."

Sayumi opens the magazine and points to the entry for Reina.  "Figures that you would choose such a bad ass song."

"Well, it was a big song.  A lot of girls were influenced by it."  Reina quickly looks through the section and then points to another idol.  "You'll notice I wasn't the only idol to pick that song."

"Risako, I need your opinion on this accessory!"  Momoko runs up and starts chatting with Risako.

"Saki, I have contacts sheets for that shoot we did yesterday.  Want to see them?"  Yurina walks over and starts talking with Saki.

Reina hears an unexpected sound from her purse that pierces her soul like an x-ray.  Her eyes bug out.  "SHUT UP EVERYBODY!"

Everyone at the table looks at Reina in shock.

Even Megumi sticks her head in the idol's lounge to tell her to be quiet.

Reina pulls out her phone.  "It's Aika's ring tone."

To be continued!

[oddball]

What the, Aika's ringtone??? I wonder has towa decided to give Reina a boost by ringing her as Aika???

[resop2]

No matter what you're thinking that Towa is calling about, the truth is going to be a lot stranger!

And, for Hiro getting his comeuppance, well, we've just begun to see how much Hiro deserves a comeuppance.

[resop2]

(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.)

Authors Note:  At the end of the first season An Annoying Paradise was not resigned by Shounen Jump and had to scramble to find another home.

Author's note: The chapters from Hiro's point of view are supposed to be from the "Dragon Age Pure" manga (home of Seitokai no Ichizon, Kanon, and Clannad: Tomoyo Dearest).

An Annoying Paradise Lost Part 3 ("serialized in Dragon Age Pure")

Hiro steps into the hall of the school after putting on his indoor shoes.  He takes a deep breath.

Hiro sees something in the corner of his eyes.  Is it Aika?  No, just some other random idol.  Hiro sighs.

Hiro then notices that when he turned around he caught several girls staring at him.

"Excuse me?"

Hiro turns to see his admirer from homeroom, Miyabi.

Time stops.

A large screen appears with a "RPG card" with a picture of Miyabi and thermometers on it.  Then a separate screen appears with three choices on it:

A) Proposition her.
B) Speak to her as a class mate.
C) Flirt with her to try to get to know her better.

Hiro concentrates deeply.  Let's see.  I know that Miyabi is into me.  So if I chose A I will probably get some.  However, I know the way these games work.  Getting some with some girl you barely know is a one way ticket to BAD END.  Now, I could pick C, but that's probably wasteful of my resources.  I could always come back to her, but if I spend my time with her now I could lose my chance with the more difficult targets.  So that means ...

Time restarts.

"Yes, Miyabi-kun?"

"Could you sign this?"

Hiro looks at what Miyabi has in her hands.  It is the school newspaper.  On the front page is a picture of him and Seiji doing high kicks during their concert.  "What the heck?"

"It just came out today."

Hiro signs it and smiles.  "I guess you can tell people that you have the first autograph I ever wrote."

"Really?"  Miyabi giggles nervously and then runs off.

Hiro shrugs his shoulders.

During lunch Hiro, Kiraki and Towa wait in the hall for Seiji to join them.  Hiro relaxes, aloof, leaning against the wall.

Kiraki pulls Towa aside.  "I'm worried about Hiro."

"Oh?"

"He's been acting really weird this week."

Towa nods.  "Some guys go through changes when they get popular.  Who knows?  Maybe you'll get popular and change as well."

"If I start acting snooty like that then please beat me up."

Towa smiles.  "If that's what you want."

Suddenly, Hiro gets hit in the head with a crumpled up piece of paper.  Hiro snickers to himself.  That's one corny way to flirt with someone.  Then Hiro uncrumples the paper.  To his disgust it is not a love love note, but a badly blown test.  Hiro checks the signature.  Reina?  That scary girl in home room?

Time stops.

The screen appears with a RPG card with Reina's picture and a bunch of thermometers that all seem to read zero.  Another screen appears with three choices:

A) Proposition her.
B) Speak to her as a class mate.
C) Flirt with her to try to get to know her better.

Well, she is kind of hot.  I wonder what would happen?

Another screen pops up and a list of options scrolls down.  Hiro chooses Save Game.  Always be safe!

Time restarts.

Hiro walks up to Reina.  "Reina!  I'm sorry my handsomeness distracted you so badly that you blew your math test.  May I make it up to you with a date?"

Reina kicks Hiro in the balls.

Hiro drools in pain on the ground.  Time stops and a large screen appears with the words BAD END on it.

Another screen pops up and a list of options scroll down.  Hiro chooses "Resume From Last Save".

Time goes backwards and then restarts.

Hiro waves the test.  "Hey Gangster Barbie!  Is it okay for you to get a test score like this?"

Reina runs over and grabs the test.  "No one asked for your opinion."  Reina sticks out her tongue at Hiro and then walks away.

Towa walks up to Hiro and smacks him upside the head.  "Hiro, she's your classmate."

Hiro nods.  "I know.  I guess what I said was harsh, but at least it got her attention."

Towa smiles.  "I'm not sure you want her attention."

Hiro remembers back to the bad end.  "You might be right."

"Everyone!  Sorry I am late."  Seiji runs up with Kamei-ko on his shoulder.

Hiro puts his arm around Seiji.  "My brother.  I understand.  With all this unwanted attention from school paper picture I'm happy you made it here at all."

"Attention?  School paper?"

Hiro points to a stand with the school paper.

Seiji has a blank look on his face.  "Everyone has treated me the same today."

Hiro scratches his head.

After lunch Hiro walks up the stairs and nearly runs into Yurina on the stair landing.

Time stops.

A large screen appears with Yurina's card on it with thermometers and the same decision questions.  Hiro thinks hard.  Okay, she's hot and all that, but she's a very creepy.  Maybe I could just steer her in the friendship direction so I won't have to worry about her?

Time restarts.

"Hey, aren't fashion club members supposed to be graceful enough to avoid colliding with clumsy people like me?"

Yurina looks at Hiro with sadness on her face.  "I had such hopes for you.  You're not the guy I thought you were.  Good bye."

Yurina walks around Hiro and walks away.

Hiro stares at Yurina.  What was that all about?

To be continued.

[kuro808]

The sudden twist to the story prompts

[oddball]

Definatly an interesting chapter,  seems as though our Hrio is getting a little bit to big for his boots, at least he's still got the awareness to stay away from Reina, though it seems as though perhpas he's inadvertantly got ris of Yurina! 

[resop2]

(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 Lost Part 4 ("serialized in Dragon Age Pure")

Later that night, Hiro, Seiji, Towa and Kiraki take a break half way through their dance lessons.  They drink water in the talent lounge and horse around.

"Gentlemen?"

Hiro looks around to see Josephine.  Wow, I have never seen Josephine look this way before. He really looks serious and concerned.

"The rest of dance practice is canceled.  Clean up and meet me in conference room six."

Hiro looks at Seiji.  "Do you know what's going on?"

Seiji smiles a mysterious smile.  "I'm pretty sure I do."

Yikes!  Seiji usually doesn't act this way either.

After showering they meet up in conference room six.

"Hiro, Towa, Kiraki, what I am about to tell you might seem a little shocking.  However, Seiji has already been through this experience before and he can back up what I am about to say."

Hiro nods and leans forward.  This should be good!

"There is another world out there, separate from our own.  Not many people know about it and not many are allowed to visit it.  However, it is not uncommon for people in the idol industry to need to visit it from time to time, and now is one of those times."

Hiro looks at Kiraki and Towa.  A tumbleweed rolls by.  Okay, they're just as baffled as I am.

Towa leans forward.  "What's this place called?"

"Lost World.  Towa-kun, you joined us too late to meet the boss' two nephews.  They had to be fired for their lazy scandalous behavior.  Well, we have received credible reports that these two boys have been kidnapped and taken to Lost World."

Kiraki rolls his eyes.  "Are they being turned into donkeys?"  Kiraki laughs.

Josephine stares at Kiraki with a totally serious face.  "Kiraki-kun, that Disney movie that you are referring to was based in part on some of the legends and stories about this other world."

Kiraki just stares at Josephine, not being able to believe that Josephine is telling the truth.

"Don't you remember the time you told Masaki and Satoshi that they were fired?"

Kiraki nods.

"Don't you remember the seedy types from those nightclubs that they hung out with?  Well, there are people in Lost World who also prey on fallen idols."

Hiro rolls his eyes this time.  "So they're in trouble.  Big deal.  They'll always be in trouble.  Why is this our problem?"

"Because the boss still loves those boys even though they act like morons.  He wants to send a team to get them back.  And, if he can't get a team together, he will close JE."

Okay, that got my attention.

Towa scratches his head.  "This sounds kind of dangerous."

"It is."

The other three boys turn around to look at Seiji.

"I know.  I did a similar mission when I joined JE a year ago.  It was rough, it was dangerous, but it was a once in a life time opportunity."

Hiro leans forward.  "So what's it like over there?"

"Well, let's just say that magic is real in this world."

Hiro looks at Seiji as if Seiji was an alien.  "This has to be a joke."

Seiji takes Kamei-ko off of his shoulder and puts her on the table.  "I met Kamei-ko in Lost World.  She came back to this world to be with me."

Kamei-ko nods her head.

Hiro raises an eyebrow.  "Come on, this has to be some cheap trick!"

Kamei-ko shakes her head.

Josephine smiles.  "Well then, who's in?  Who's willing to go on this mission?"

"I will do it!"

The other three boys turn and stare at Kiraki who burns with the passion of youth.

"I kind of know them the best, and I don't think that they are totally beyond redemption.  The boss has given me a great opportunity here, and I am willing to fight to keep it."

The other three boys exchange admiring glances over Kiraki's spirit.

Kiraki turns to Josephine.  "So, do you think there will be a fighting tournament there?"

Towa face plants.

Hiro throws a Dragon Age Pure manga at Kiraki.  "You read too much manga!"

Seiji smiles.  "There will probably be many times when you will need to fight over there."

"All right!"

Seiji smiles.  "I will also go.  It will be a chance for Kamei-ko to visit home.  Besides, I have experience being over there."

Hiro nods.  "No choice then.  I can't let Seiji do this without me."

"Why thank you, big brother."

Towa nods.  "You guys are my groupmates, so I'm in also.  But, ..."

The other three boys look at Towa.

"If there is a chance that I won't be coming back, then there's someone who needs to hear something from me directly."

Kiraki stares at Towa and blushes.  "Wow, Towa, I didn't realize what a serious guy you are."

"Thanks, I guess.  But, I do have to warn you guys that what you're going to hear next is going to be shocking."

Hiro laughs.  "Shocking?  We've just been told that we're going on a mission to a magical land to save a couple of boys who have been turned into donkeys and you're going to shock us?"

Towa looks at Hiro sadly.  "Santa, especially you are going to be shocked."

"Whatever, just go ahead."

Towa takes out a cell phone that is different than the cell phone that he usually uses and dials a number.  Towa coughs a couple of times and rubs his throat.  "Hello, Reina?  This is Aika."

The truth hits Hiro like running into a brick wall.  Oh no! I have heard Aika's voice for months.  There is no way that Towa could be doing an imitation of Aika's voice.  Towa is Aika.

A dark pit of despair opens beneath Hiro and his soul falls down a spiral, screaming all the way.



To be continued.

[kuro808]

hmm that was kinda unexpected....

[resop2]

Expect a LOT more unexpected things in the next couple chapters

[oddball]

O.K. then, things are getting more, well interesting now arn't they... magical Worlds, a rescue mission, Hiro it seems finding out about Aika....  and the next few chapters are getting more interesting, hmm what else can happen I wonder, expect of course if Reina finds the truth about Aika out......

[resop2]

(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 Lost Part 5 ("serialized in Nakayoshi!")

Reina pulls out her phone.  "It's Aika's ring tone."

Saki smiles.  "Put it on speaker phone."

Reina complies.  "Hello?"

"Hello Reina?  This is Aika."

"Hi!  I'm in the lounge now.  Everyone is listening on speaker phone.  How are you?"

"Well, I'm okay for now.  But, I am about to go on a dangerous mission."

"Dangerous mission?  I thought you had to take care of your family?"

"Um, Reina, ... I lied to you about that."

"What!?"

"There was no family emergency."

"So, why did you leave me?  Why did you give up being an idol?"

"Reina, I lied to you about many things, including the part about giving up being an idol.  You were close to discovering the truth.  That's why I left."

"I don't understand.  The truth?  What secret could you have that could be so bad?"  Reina imagines chibi Aika hanging out on a street corner smoking a cigarette with a bunch of school girl gang members.  No, that would never happen.  Reina imagines chibi Aika posing for naughty photographs in silhouette.  Nope, that's not happening either.

"The truth?  The truth is that the girl that you knew as Aika never existed.  She was a made up character brought in by T.  She was brought in to try to help you with a problem."

"Problem?"

"But, since this is T we're talking about, it turns out that you didn't have the problem he thought you had, so all the effort was kind of wasted."

"That's not true, Aika!  We had a great time together!  You were in a group that still misses you horribly.  Your time here was not wasted."

"I'm not sure if my group mates will still feel that way, once they know the truth, that I'm not the person that they thought I was."

"Don't be ridiculous!  It doesn't matter who we were before we were signed.  All that matters is what we do once we became idols."

"In my case it does matter.  Reina, my name isn't Aika."

"So what?  My name isn't Reina, either.  My name is really Rena.  But since there was already a singer named Rena with the same Kanji they changed my name and made me spell it with Hiragana to avoid confusion."

"But, it's not just a matter of changing a name for a show business reason, it was changing a name to disguise this..."

Reina hears coughing on the other end of the line.  She then hears a boy's voice.

"Reina, my name is Towa.  The same Towa who transferred into your class the same day that it was announced that Aika was no longer going to be there."

"So where's Aika?"

"I am Aika."

Reina looks around the table.  Everyone is in shock except for Sayumi who looks uncomfortable.

Reina thinks for a minute.  She sees in her mind pictures of Aika and Towa side by side.  Well, they are the same height, same build, and have identical facial features.  "So, are you taking hormone therapy now?"

"Why would I do that?"

"I thought that's what people did when they were making the change from being a girl to being a boy."

Reina hears a thunk on the other end of the line.

"Reina, you still don't get it.  I don't need hormone therapy to be a guy because I have always been a guy, including the time when I was Aika."

"Oh."  Reina looks ahead, numb.  Aika is a boy?

"I am sorry, but T told me that you were afraid of boys and that by impersonating a girl I could help you ease yourself of this fear."

"T is so dead."

"Wait a second, I'm sure he feels bad about the mix up as well.  Anyway, because of the mission, I wanted you to hear this from me instead of hearing it from someone else."

"Are you going alone on this mission?"

"No, Hiro, Seiji and Sumo boy are coming with me."

"Um, Aika?"

The rest of the table stares at Saki.

"Is there any chance that you could do Harmony Project part time?  I don't mind that you're a guy.  And, we've haven't been able to replace you in our group."

They hear a chuckle from the other end.  "I don't know how that would work.  I would be pretty busy as a Jenny Boy, don't you think?  But, thanks, I do miss you guys."

Miss Megumi clears her throat.  "Aika, is Josephine-san there?"

"Yes, he is.  Do you want to talk him?"

"Yes."

"Megumi-san.  How may I help you?"

"Does this mission involve Lost World?"

Sayumi gasps.

"Yes, it does."

"If Miss Aika is going, then I should be there as well."

There is a long pause of over thirty seconds before Josephine replies.  "Megumi, of course someone with your skills would be useful in our mission, but how could we ever repay you?"

"You wouldn't have to.  But, if I convince Aika to come back to Harmony Project or to split her time between agencies, I would expect some cooperation."

They hear Josephine chuckling.

"Very well then.  We leave here in fifteen minutes.  We would like to chat more, but we need to keep to a schedule."

"I understand.  Thank you."

The phone hangs up.

To be continued!

[kuro808]

That was pretty shocking overall, although almost everyone came out with a secret