Chapter 2 – ‘Takamina’“Mariko, tomorrow morning at 8 you’re going to have a photo shoot for ‘VOGUE NIPPON’ at Ktoyo, later at 10:30 you have to go for a fashion commercial, at Kyoto as well. Then, at 2, an interview & photo shoot with Weekly Playboy. At 6, guest on a radio show back in Tokyo.”
“Sigh. Alright. Thank you very much for today Takamina.” Mariko said with a yawn at the passenger seat while the manager drives.
The manager laughs, “I did nothing much today, you’re the one who is working your ass off every day, why thank me?”
“Because you’re the manager, without you, my job wouldn’t be this smooth, and you’re also working hard alright. Handle calls from newspaper offices, calls from companies, annoying paparazzi as well.”
Once again, the manager laughs and shakes her head slightly.
“That’s what my job is right? I’ve already prepared for all these back when you said you wanted to be a celebrity.”
“I still don’t get why did you-”
“I’m doing this out of my own will alright? Plus, a huge woman like you who can’t take care of herself, how can I leave you alone? Plus, the pays is good.”
“Hey I am already an adult, I don’t need a kid to take care of me.” Mariko sticks her tongue out and gives the manager a devilish smile. The manager, even though she is focusing on the road, she can still see that annoying face of Mariko from the side of her eyes.
“Whatever whatever Mariko-sama...” she sighs in defeat, knowing that she’ll never win an argument against Mariko.
Seeing the short manager’s reaction, Mariko knows that she’d won. She closed her eyes as she steadily losing her conscious, but she is trying her best to stay awake to accompany her manager. She knows that her small manager is also tired from work, and she can’t fall asleep no matter how tired she is because she needs to drive Mariko home. Every time seeing how responsible she is, Mariko can’t help but to work harder in everything. She saw her manager yawns silently, probably don’t want to let Mariko knows that she is tired. The older girl turns on the radio and her song is playing.
Hearing her song, she wanted to switch channel but the manager stopped her.
“What are you doing?”
“Uhh switching the channel of course?”
“Why?”
“Because they’re playing my song.”
“Don’t swtich.”
“But-”
“Don’t switch, I want to listen to it.” the manager smiles and says firmly.
“Okayy....”
The both of them fell into silence, letting the song’s lyrics sinks into their minds and Mariko’s voice pierce through their heart.
*sob*
Upon hearing the sob, Mariko turns to face her manager, staring at her in disbelief.
“Don’t tell me you you’re crying.”
“No I’m not. *sob*”
Mariko rolls her eyes. “Of course you’re not, your eyeballs are just swea-”
Before she has a chance to finish the sentence, the other girl suddenly bursts into tears.
“OH MAI GAH STOP THE CAR TAKAMINA. I’LL DRIVE.”
**********
“What the hell is wrong with you?? I almost experience a flood.” Mariko asks in the driver seat.
“The lyrics together with your voice... Mariko I love you.” Takamina’s eyes are full of admiration, like a little fangirl.
“I don’t love you.” Came a flat reply.
“I know you love me Mariko-sama~~~” Takamina see the traffic light turns red, she unfasten her seat belt, and takes this opportunity and gives Mariko a surprise tight hug.
“Let go of meeeeeee” Mariko whines she is trying to push the short girl away but there’s not much effect since her seat belt is still fasten.
The moment the traffic light turns green, Takamina detaches herself from Mariko and fasten back her seat belt like a good citizen.
“Geez... Having a crazy fan like you around me sure is a pain in da ass.”
“Ohh ho ho, Mariko-sama’s assssssss~”
“Cut it out you pervert!”
Takamina alone laughs so hard at the older girl’s reaction. After a while, the laugh died and the car remains silent. There is not awkward moment between them, this silent is kinda more like a comfortable silent.
“So, Takamina, when is my next off day? Wanna go out for a movie or something??” the driver, Mariko asks.
“Hm... let me see.... the day after tomorrow is a day off for you.” Takamina checked the schedule in her phone and said.
“Ohh so soon? Finally, I didn’t have enough sleep for the past two weeks! 10am, Oblivion. Is it okay with you?”
“OH DAMN! My idol a.k.a. THE Shinoda Mariko is asking me out! But sorry Mariko-sama, I’m gonna spend the day with my family. Family still comes first before you~”
Mariko rolls her eyes.
**********
“Hm... let me see.... Cute high school boy or Handsome office manager?” Mariko mumbles as she opens her wardrobe.
“I think I’ll just go with something simple today.” She laughs at her own idea. Fishing out her phone from her bag, she dialed a number.
“Yo woman! Are you free today? I got a day off!” Mariko says happily.
“Oh you’re going there today? Can I come with you?”
Mariko laughs before continuing, “Don’t worry about my identity, no one there will know me right?”
“Don’t worry, I’ll wear some disguise.”
“See you there in an hour!”
**********
“Hey bitch!” Mariko yells from afar.
“Hey bitch!” the person greets back with a hug.
“What’s with your outfit?”
“I told you I’ll wear some disguise right?”
“But you look just like Takamina...”
Mariko grins at the comment.
“Anyway, let’s get inside.” The person suggested.
**********
“Sayanee!!!!” the children greet happily.
“Hello everybody, how are you guys? Wait for me at the music room guys, I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“Yes madam!” the children run away.
“Thank you very much for coming Yamamoto-san. The children are so happy every time you visit them.”
“No need to thank me principle, I also wanted to make the kids happy and make them forget about what happened in the past.”
The principle sighs before continuing, “You’re right, all of these poor kids... growing up without knowing why they are here in the orphanage...”
“Anyway, who could this be? A friend of yours?”
“Konichiwa, I’m Takahashi Minami. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu!” Mariko ends the sentence with a bow, followed by a grin.
While the girl beside her just stares at her, not knowing what kind of reaction she should give.
**********
“I was still wondering why a fashion leader would dress up like this... Takamina’s fashion sense has improved but.... it’s still too weird for you.”
“Heheh even the orphanage principle didn’t recognize me, so I guess it’s a successful disguise.”
“Whatever.”
The both of them entered the music room together, only to find all the kids cutely sitting together on the floor.
“Sayanee!”
“Hello everyone! Miss me?? And let me introduce to you, this is my friend.... [sigh] Takahashi Minami.”
“Hello everyone, I’m Takahashi Minami. Nice to meet you guys!” out of a pop idol habit, Mariko stretches her hand out for a handshake like she always did on a handshake event. A second later she just realizes what she just did, she quickly squads down so they have the same eye level, and the children seems happy.
“Minami onee-san!”
“Are you going to play guitar for us again today Sayanee?” a girl asks timidly.
“Of course, unless you doesn’t want me to?” Sayaka fakes a sad face.
“No no! I want! Please!”
“If you say so milady. ” Sayaka bows like a gentleman and pats the girl’s head lightly. The girl quickly hides her face behind her friend’s back with a face as red as a tomato.
In a minute, every kid is already sitting on the floor, waiting for Sayaka to start.
“Kids, today we’ll have our *cough* Minami onee-san *couch* to sing for us, let me tell you, she is REALLY good in singing.”
The orphans clap their hands, excited.
Sayaka gives Mariko a knowing look which can be interpret as ‘You are a singer, SING’
Mariko drinks some water and clears her throat.
“This song is Hero, originally performed by Mariah Carey.”
“1, 2, 3...”
“
There's a hero
If you look inside your heart
You don't have to be afraid
Of what you are..........”
**********
“Not bad huh Mariko, the children love you.”
“Of course they love me. I’m Shinoda Mariko.” Says Mariko, proudly.
“No, you’re TAKAHASHI MINAMI. They didn’t know you’re Shinoda Mariko. So the kids love Takamina.” Sayaka grins as they walk towards their respective cars.
“Whatever. I’m starving.”
“Oh how about we go the restaurant I told you last time?”
“Uhh what’s the name again? Happy Little Nyan?” Mariko laughs at the last few words she just said.
“Yes. It may have a weird name, but the foods there are fantastic alright?”
“Sure sure, lead the way. I can eat a cow plus you as the dessert right now.”
**********
A few seconds after the waitress took the orders,
“You almost ordered EVERYTHING on the menu just now!”
“Wow, this ‘Happy little Nyan’ restaurant sure is.... happy.” Ignoring Sayaka’s words, Mariko observes around the restaurant.
Sayaka laughs but didn’t give a reply, she too, is observing the restaurant. The design of the restaurant is modern yet traditional, the workers are wearing a smile of their face which gives off a blissful feeling. Watching the happy workers, Sayaka smiles unknowingly. But there’s two girls stand out the most among the workers. It’s not only the look that stood out, but these two girls also give off a special aura. From the butt slap to hugging, Sayaka can tell they’re very close friends. Besides these two, there’s another who keeps on staring at the screen when she is free. Correction, she keeps eyeing the TV screen anytime possible, even when she is serving customers, she still glances often to the screen. Wondering what is so interesting, Sayaka moves her sight to the TV screen and nearly burst into laughter.
“Psst... Mariko, you got a big fan right there.” Sayaka whispers loudly to the person sitting across the table.
“Huh?” Mariko doesn’t know what her friend is talking about until she turns the direction Sayaka is talking about.
Mariko is on a variety show right now and the ‘fan’ is paying 95% of her attention to what is happening to Mariko. When Mariko got pranked on, she almost throw the plates in her hands towards the screen. When Mariko says something funny, she will ask her collogues to watch.
“Maeda-san! Take this to table two!” the chef shouts.
“Roger that.....” the girl answered with no energy.
They watched the girl takes a deep breath, putting on a smile before she heads to table 2. And after the food is placed on the table, her sight is once again glued to the TV screen.
“What an impressive fan you got there...”
“I know right... I bet this will be fun...”
TBC
So.... how was it? hehe hope it wasn’t too bad... more and more characters and pairings will be reveal soon guys! Stay tuned! Oh and thank to those who left a reply, it gives me motivation to continue writing
Topic: Sneaky Whispers [CHP 03] {MariHaru, AtsuMina, SayaMilky} (Read 8202 times)