Yuuki
Pairing/Subject: Yamada Ryosuke x OC (Joshu Kichiko)
Rating: PG
Genre: Romance, Drama, Slice of Life, Christmas Season
The idol Kou Aoki never uttered being a fan of JUMP, who she had been lucky to have had numerous jobs with, but she supported them quietly. They fairly kept their distance to avoid any rumors, until one day Takaki got her player accidentally, while it was playing 'beat line'. They had been close ever since. She even suggested Inoo a partner/tutor/classmate for school, her best friend Kichiko as Aoki saw both college students struggle at their school work during breaks for different reasons. Aoki and JUMP were having a photo shoot at the studio for SEVENTEEN magazine.
"Ne, how is Inoo doing with school?" Aoki asked as Chinen was having his shoot.
"It's great; Kichiko-chan is a great help! Thank you, Aoki-chan!" Inoo said as he squished her into a friendly hug.
"I can't breathe! Save me!" Aoki said as she grasped for air exasperatingly.
Someone grabbed her hand and pulled her out of Inoo's grasps. It was Hikaru. They looked at each other for a few seconds, before he let goes and both of them shying away from each other; starting to go back to what they had been doing once again.
"Anyway~" Aoki tried to regain composure as her cheeks flashed a bright red color.
"That's good to hear. I heard from Ki-chan that she's been having fun as well while doing her assignments and projects with you..."
"Don't you think that's odd, since she is being caged up with us in here at the building?" Yamada asked Aoki and she frowned.
This had been going on for a while now. Yamada always points out Inoo's flaws on school work for no reason at all; only Aoki had started to see a pattern.
"Hmm? I don't think so. She's my best friend, I should know when she's lying to me and she never lies to me." Aoki told him in a as-a-matter-of-fact tone.
"Inoo has been busy with all his concerts, shoots, cms and varieties with JUMP. It's impossible to already do all that and still be able to do assignments." Yamada pointed out with a tone of experience.
"That's not true. I try to help out with assignments and projects with Kichiko-chan." Inoo said with a frown.
"But you make her stay here in the building up until late to do them with you." Yama-chan pointed out with concern as he had seen Kichiko napping after a couple of days working on their projects in the dressing room a couple of times before.
"She doesn't have too but she does this for your sake." Yamada pointed out with a bit of sadness and bitterness in his voice.
"B-but..."
Inoo was speechless. He couldn't say anything back it was true and it pissed him off how Yamada was right about all the things he had been pointing out at him. He was a burden even when he tries to be responsible. He got angry at himself for the things Yamada had been pointing out and just snapped. Inoo stomped his way to the dressing room excusing himself from the shoot to go where Joshu Kichiko, his official Johnny approved school partner and friend, was doing their projects and assignments over Christmas break.
"Kichiko-chan~!!!" Inoo whined as he entered the room.
The tall girl took off her earphones and looked at Inoo who had just entered.
"Hai? Doshitano, Inoo-kun?" The mature looking girl asked.
"I'm really sorry~" Inoo apologized sincerely.
"Eeehh?"
"Datte, datte~ We were having the photo shoots and Yama-chan said something like 'Inoo! You're a bad partner!' Demo, demo I can't help it… I'm so sorry!!!" Inoo explained as he paced back and forth.
Kichiko giggled in amusement.
"It's fine. Don't worry. You aren't a bad partner. You can't help it if you're busy." Kichiko assured Inoo with a warm smile.
Aoki entered the room with a pout and sat down next to Kichiko.
"He only said it because he's jealous." Aoki spat as she eyed Inoo.
"Jealous?" Inoo echoed.
"What's wrong with you, Ao-chan?"
"Yamada was making fun of me." Aoki answered as she looked away from Kichiko still pouting.
"And, yes, Inoo-kun he's jealous of you." Aoki added.
"What do you mean by that, Aoki-chan?" Inoo asked with wide eyes.
Aoki's eyes narrowed at the door as she saw an all too familiar guy's leg kid of sticking out from his hiding place.
"Oh~ that's too easy." Aoki commented to no one in particular, but was heard by the people in the room causing them to become somewhat confused.
"Ao-chan?"Kichiko looked at her best friend carefully studying her façade.
"You two have been busy with your projects and assignments together, ne?" Aoki said with an innocent smile.
"Yeah?" Inoo answered still trying to process what was going through Aoki's mind.
"Yes, we are. It's due when we get back after all." Kichiko explained.
"And the fact that Ki-chan is a Johnny's approved study partner for Inoo and is always around BEST especially Inoo has nothing to do with THAT~" Aoki said with a sing song voice as if she was taunting someone.
The figure stiffened at Aoki's accusation.
"Eeeh?" The partner chorused.
"Of course, it's not~ Specially, when Ki-chan helps Inoo out on their assignments and projects or the times Ki-chan would bring Inoo sweets, bentos, coffee or tea~" Aoki continued casually as her gaze never left the ease dropping figure; she had hunched it was Yamada.
Aoki smirked to herself; everything is going just as she planned. Yabu walked by to fetch Aoki for their composing and lyric session with Hikaru, when he stopped near the door.
"Oh, hi, Yama-chan. You look pale. Are you alright?" Yabu asked as he was looking at the figure hiding next to the door.
Yamada grunted and blushed in embarrassment. Aoki started to laugh as her suspicion was confirmed.
"Yama-chan!?" The two college students chorused once again as Yabu entered the room.
"What's up with, Yama-chan?" Yabu asked curious as to what happened when Aoki jumped off her seat and straighten her clothes.
Aoki walked towards Yabu with a contented smile on her face, which Yabu noted as the answer of Yama-chan's current state.
"Saa~~ Jaa~! We're going to see Hikka now~" Aoki announced at the two as she grabbed Yabu's arm and pulled him out of the room with her.
Kichiko glanced at the place where Yamada was hiding but didn't find him. Aoki peeked back in the room.
"Inoo, chotto… Onegai kara." Aoki said as she gesture him to go with her.
"Ahh. Inoo?" Inoo asked Kichiko with a grin, the pun was totally and obviously intended, and she nodded as she smiled back.
Aoki started whispering over in Inoo's ear, as Aoki eyed Kichiko; making sure she doesn't hear or try to hear. Yabu came back to get her again not long after.
"Mo! This is where you went?? You really find Inoo that interesting?" Yabu scolded.
"Iie, gomen~ Inoo onegai kara..." Aoki said as she bit her lower lip and frowned.
Yabu sighed and held her hand.
"Hikaru and the others are waiting; we have to go now." Yabu said calmly and brushed his hair away from his face with his free hand.
Inoo gave Aoki a thumbs up before she got dragged away by a subtly jealous Yabu. Kichiko stared at them suspiciously, knowing her best friend's mischievous ways. Kichiko shook it off and went back to work as Inoo entered.
"Back to work?" Inoo said with a smile and they went back to work, until late.
----
"Aaahhh! Tsukaretta~!!" Inoo exclaimed as he stretched.
"We're almost done." Kichiko sighed as she relaxed a bit.
"Jaa~ Let's have a change in scenery maybe we'll get a bit recharged and continue with the projects and papers." Inoo suggested with a smile.
"Ok." Kichiko answered as she smiled back.
They packed up and Inoo carried their stuff before leading the way.
"Where are we going?" Kichiko asked simply as they have been walking for more or less 10 minutes around the building.
"Well, we can't go out to do our project or assignments. Obsessed fangirls will surely try and go after us, but I do know one place we can go to." Inoo answered thoughtfully.
They arrived at a conference room and Inoo opened the door.
"You could say it's a room with a view." Inoo said with a grin and displayed a typical conference room with 3 doors and a single glass window surrounding the opposite wall.
"Ladies first." Inoo said as he ushered her in.
Outside the window was the lighted up bridge on theriver, the room had a long table accompanied with executive seats and two unexpected gifts in the middle. Gifts that are neatly wrapped, a big one and a small one. Kichiko approached the familiar gift, not believing her eyes.
"Uso… How..." Kichiko and a familiar male voice chorused which made them look at each other.
"Have fun." Daiki said with a smirk as he and Inoo closed and locked the door simultaneously; making the two victims glance at the doors they had entered.
"Kichiko..." Yama-chan softly said with a light blush on his cheeks.
"Hai?" Kichiko asked simply at she looked at him again.
"N-nothing..."
"Yama-Yamada-san, you're still here at this time?" Kichiko said being formal towards her favorite JUMP member.
"Yeah, after JUMP's photo shoot, 7 still had a recording." Yamada explained as he joined her in the middle of the room.
"Do you have any idea what's going on?" Kichiko whispered to Yamada cautiously as she thought maybe someone was ease dropping on them.
Yamada shook his head.
"Daiki and I were suppose to grab some drinks for 7 and told me that this was a detour he knew about, before getting locked in." Yamada answered sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"I was told we were going to continue with our work here though." Kichiko explained with a frown.
A person suddenly came out under the table and cuffed the two together before dashing to the other end of the room. Kichiko was the first to realize who it was.
"Ao-chan!!!" Kichiko accused and as if on cue the door, Aoki was headed for, opened.
Aoki stopped right in front of the other 3 members of 7 plus Takaki to look at the expression on the two's faces.
Aoki smiled and stuck out her tongue at them.
"Yama-chan only bought a gift for Kichiko-chan this year, ne?" Yuto exposed Yamada with a smug smile.
"Yuto!" Yamada squealed with wide eyes.
"So you better give it or we'll definitely never forgive you." Takaki added as he crossed his arms.
"Both of you come clean. It's not nice knowing just one truth." Chinen said as if from experience with a charming smile he often does in front of the camera.
"We’re not letting you two out until you do." Keito warned as he swung his finger back and forth, like he was scolding them.
"Ki-chan was up all night yesterday making your gift. So you both be a good boy and girl and just enjoy." Aoki said with a smile as she tilted her head slightly.
"Get us out of these cuffs, at least!" Yamada complained, but Aoki just held up the keys.
"Gomen, we said it, didn't we? We'll let you out when you two come clean." Aoki shrugged and was pulled out of the room by Takaki when he saw Yamada was about ready to pounce at her for the key.
Keito closed and locked the door right after Aoki was already pulled out of harms way or rather to be specific Yamada's way. The two were left in awe, but Yamada broke the ice as he started to have a laughing fit with his free hand on his forehead to support his head.
"We were set up! In a really good way too!" Yamada exclaimed and sighed at the end as he was helpless.
Yamada offered her a seat near the gifts.
"I'm not so surprised. Ao-chan is quiet a tactician." Kichiko informed him as she took his offer.
The lights slowly dimmed as if to set the mood as Yamada sat next to Kichiko, because of the cuffs he could only seat there without hurting him or Kichiko.
"Ah! They dimmed the lights." Kichiko announced as she looked at the ceiling.
Yamada took that as an opportunity to take the small lavender box tied with a red ribbon.
"I like it though- it's rather comfortable this way. I mean because the light doesn't strain the eyes." Yamada explained thoroughly trying avoid any misunderstanding as he blushed at the thought.
Kichiko nodded in agreement and Yamada regain a bit of his tension back.
"Plus it does have a great view." Yamada added as he pointed out the window with the box he was now holding tightly.
Kichiko looked over and saw the view. A deep dark blackish blue sky in the background and the calm river mirroring the fully lighted bridge sparkling standing tall on top of it. The setting had a warm and romantic feel to it and the lights had enhanced the effects of the environment.
"Ano- gomen- I've been bullying Inoo-chan. What Aoki said- it's true." Yamada admitted, but was cut of by Kichiko who suddenly spoke.
"Ao-chan has always been right, but don't tell her I said that." Kichiko confessed with a light giggle as she faced him.
Kichiko took the big box with a label that said 'pull me' in English. It was Aoki's hand writing no doubt. Kichiko did as it said and pulled the box up, which to her surprise was actually only a lid that opened the box flat on the table. Two slices of strawberry shortcakes set on fine china with desert forks were placed attractively and neatly inside accompanied with two cans of cold strawberry pokka milk.
"Jaa-Keki tabemashou ka?" Kichiko offered him, thinking Aoki had probably planned the whole thing all day long.
"Un. Arigatou." Yamada answered as the plate was placed in front of him with the milk can.
Kichiko slowly ate the cake and drank her milk to wash it down, when she noticed Yamada not eating.
"Doushita? Oishi ja nai?" Kichiko asked with a worried look on her face.
"Ha!? Iie, oishi! Oishi keki!" Yamada said as he took a big piece of the keki and scoffed it down causing him to cough.
Kichiko handed him his milk as she patted his back. Yamada took it with his cuffed hand and drank, while held on the box tighter and his fingers were already starting to turn white from it. Unexpected fireworks had started to appear on the sky as Yamada set the milk can back down and this caught the attention of the two. Yamada checked his watch curious as to why there was fireworks. It read '12:03 AM' and with that it was Christmas morning.
----
Inoo had just left after being bullied by Yamada. Aoki wanted to break the bad tension in the air and the silence was killing her edge.
"Hey, isn't it romantic to confess on Christmas morning?"Aoki asked JUMP suddenly.
Yamada blushed intensely as if he was caught doing something.
"You'd want to have such a unique type of confession, huh?" Takaki said as he poked her side and she jumped on her seat.
Aoki push Takaki, who was sitting beside her, to the opposite side causing him to fall down from his seat.
"Eh? But won't the girl be distracted by all the events happening all around?" Daiki mused at Aoki.
"Ahh~ I get what you're saying, Aoki-chan. She'll least expect it since there will be a lot of things on her mind right?" Keito agreed with a couple of nod.
"AHH!! Like visiting the temple, watching her favorite Christmas special show or going to meet her friends?" Hikaru continued with excited wide eyes and Yabu laughed at the kid-like Hikaru.
"Yes, exactly that! It's romantic, ne??" Aoki squealed at the thought.
JUMP became quiet and thought of it for a bit. Aoki was eyeing everyone expecting someone to answer or at least agree with her.
"Maa~ Sounds like something that can only happen in a drama." Yamada was the only one who answered instantly shutting it down.
Aoki pouted and stomped her way out of the studio excusing herself since she was done with her part.
----
"Jikan da-" Yamada muttered under his breathe as the fireworks continued.
"Ha? Did Yamada-san say something?" Kichiko asked a bit louder than her usual voice as she can only hear muffled sounds coming from Yamada, because all the loud fireworks.
The fireworks slowed in their appearance as if the people who were releasing them were running out.
"Kichiko-san- Kore- Onegai- wear it always." Yamada said as he presented the box he had been holding to Kichiko nervously.
"Eh? Nani?"
Kichiko took it from his hands and opened it carefully.
"I had Daiki ask Aoki what you'd like for Christmas… Because I wanted to give you something."
The box contained a thin white gold chain necklace with a light pink teardrop crystal in the middle.
"Kirei! But isn't it expen-"
Yamada took her free hand instantly and cut her off mid sentence. Yamada gulped and gathered all his courage into the next few moments he had with her.
"Kichiko, I will protect you-I'll be by your side- Dakara! Dakara onegai! Only look at me!"
Yamada stared into her eyes while waiting for her answer. Kichiko gazed back at him, his focus was intense and his hand was shaking and sweaty from nervousness.
"Un! Atashi mo, Yama-chan suki dakara..." Kichiko said as if there was more to it, but her warm inviting smile said otherwise.
Yamada's courage was starting to fade fast and a dozen if not more possible outcomes had ran in his head. His heart was thumping louder and louder.
"Dakedo."
Yamada's world started to slow down as if it Was about to stop completely at any minute. His eyes went wide as he was expecting her to say something like 'I'm sorry.' or 'But I like Inoo more.' He braced himself for the worst, he held his breath and close his eyes suddenly as his grip tightened a bit.
"Onegai." Kichiko said to him as she keep her eyes on him and slightly tilted her head.
She had held out the necklace in front of Yamada as if telling him to put it on her. Yamada sighed in relief, looked into her eyes and smiled gently and lovingly. He nods and puts it on her, placing his lips just a few cm next to her ear.
"Merry Christmas, my Kichiko." Yamada whispered in his low serious and seductive tone.
----
A couple of block away from the building at the river bank, Aoki and the other JUMP members along with Ryutaro were setting off fireworks when she looked back to the Jimusho where her best friend was with Yamada.
"Merry Christmas, Kichiko, Yamada." Aoki said softly to no one in particular, while the boys were busy playing with fireworks.
"Yuuki da!" Chinen announced with a huge grin on his face as it started to snow.
Rating: PG
Genre: Romance, Drama, Slice of Life, Christmas Season
The idol Kou Aoki never uttered being a fan of JUMP, who she had been lucky to have had numerous jobs with, but she supported them quietly. They fairly kept their distance to avoid any rumors, until one day Takaki got her player accidentally, while it was playing 'beat line'. They had been close ever since. She even suggested Inoo a partner/tutor/classmate for school, her best friend Kichiko as Aoki saw both college students struggle at their school work during breaks for different reasons. Aoki and JUMP were having a photo shoot at the studio for SEVENTEEN magazine.
"Ne, how is Inoo doing with school?" Aoki asked as Chinen was having his shoot.
"It's great; Kichiko-chan is a great help! Thank you, Aoki-chan!" Inoo said as he squished her into a friendly hug.
"I can't breathe! Save me!" Aoki said as she grasped for air exasperatingly.
Someone grabbed her hand and pulled her out of Inoo's grasps. It was Hikaru. They looked at each other for a few seconds, before he let goes and both of them shying away from each other; starting to go back to what they had been doing once again.
"Anyway~" Aoki tried to regain composure as her cheeks flashed a bright red color.
"That's good to hear. I heard from Ki-chan that she's been having fun as well while doing her assignments and projects with you..."
"Don't you think that's odd, since she is being caged up with us in here at the building?" Yamada asked Aoki and she frowned.
This had been going on for a while now. Yamada always points out Inoo's flaws on school work for no reason at all; only Aoki had started to see a pattern.
"Hmm? I don't think so. She's my best friend, I should know when she's lying to me and she never lies to me." Aoki told him in a as-a-matter-of-fact tone.
"Inoo has been busy with all his concerts, shoots, cms and varieties with JUMP. It's impossible to already do all that and still be able to do assignments." Yamada pointed out with a tone of experience.
"That's not true. I try to help out with assignments and projects with Kichiko-chan." Inoo said with a frown.
"But you make her stay here in the building up until late to do them with you." Yama-chan pointed out with concern as he had seen Kichiko napping after a couple of days working on their projects in the dressing room a couple of times before.
"She doesn't have too but she does this for your sake." Yamada pointed out with a bit of sadness and bitterness in his voice.
"B-but..."
Inoo was speechless. He couldn't say anything back it was true and it pissed him off how Yamada was right about all the things he had been pointing out at him. He was a burden even when he tries to be responsible. He got angry at himself for the things Yamada had been pointing out and just snapped. Inoo stomped his way to the dressing room excusing himself from the shoot to go where Joshu Kichiko, his official Johnny approved school partner and friend, was doing their projects and assignments over Christmas break.
"Kichiko-chan~!!!" Inoo whined as he entered the room.
The tall girl took off her earphones and looked at Inoo who had just entered.
"Hai? Doshitano, Inoo-kun?" The mature looking girl asked.
"I'm really sorry~" Inoo apologized sincerely.
"Eeehh?"
"Datte, datte~ We were having the photo shoots and Yama-chan said something like 'Inoo! You're a bad partner!' Demo, demo I can't help it… I'm so sorry!!!" Inoo explained as he paced back and forth.
Kichiko giggled in amusement.
"It's fine. Don't worry. You aren't a bad partner. You can't help it if you're busy." Kichiko assured Inoo with a warm smile.
Aoki entered the room with a pout and sat down next to Kichiko.
"He only said it because he's jealous." Aoki spat as she eyed Inoo.
"Jealous?" Inoo echoed.
"What's wrong with you, Ao-chan?"
"Yamada was making fun of me." Aoki answered as she looked away from Kichiko still pouting.
"And, yes, Inoo-kun he's jealous of you." Aoki added.
"What do you mean by that, Aoki-chan?" Inoo asked with wide eyes.
Aoki's eyes narrowed at the door as she saw an all too familiar guy's leg kid of sticking out from his hiding place.
"Oh~ that's too easy." Aoki commented to no one in particular, but was heard by the people in the room causing them to become somewhat confused.
"Ao-chan?"Kichiko looked at her best friend carefully studying her façade.
"You two have been busy with your projects and assignments together, ne?" Aoki said with an innocent smile.
"Yeah?" Inoo answered still trying to process what was going through Aoki's mind.
"Yes, we are. It's due when we get back after all." Kichiko explained.
"And the fact that Ki-chan is a Johnny's approved study partner for Inoo and is always around BEST especially Inoo has nothing to do with THAT~" Aoki said with a sing song voice as if she was taunting someone.
The figure stiffened at Aoki's accusation.
"Eeeh?" The partner chorused.
"Of course, it's not~ Specially, when Ki-chan helps Inoo out on their assignments and projects or the times Ki-chan would bring Inoo sweets, bentos, coffee or tea~" Aoki continued casually as her gaze never left the ease dropping figure; she had hunched it was Yamada.
Aoki smirked to herself; everything is going just as she planned. Yabu walked by to fetch Aoki for their composing and lyric session with Hikaru, when he stopped near the door.
"Oh, hi, Yama-chan. You look pale. Are you alright?" Yabu asked as he was looking at the figure hiding next to the door.
Yamada grunted and blushed in embarrassment. Aoki started to laugh as her suspicion was confirmed.
"Yama-chan!?" The two college students chorused once again as Yabu entered the room.
"What's up with, Yama-chan?" Yabu asked curious as to what happened when Aoki jumped off her seat and straighten her clothes.
Aoki walked towards Yabu with a contented smile on her face, which Yabu noted as the answer of Yama-chan's current state.
"Saa~~ Jaa~! We're going to see Hikka now~" Aoki announced at the two as she grabbed Yabu's arm and pulled him out of the room with her.
Kichiko glanced at the place where Yamada was hiding but didn't find him. Aoki peeked back in the room.
"Inoo, chotto… Onegai kara." Aoki said as she gesture him to go with her.
"Ahh. Inoo?" Inoo asked Kichiko with a grin, the pun was totally and obviously intended, and she nodded as she smiled back.
Aoki started whispering over in Inoo's ear, as Aoki eyed Kichiko; making sure she doesn't hear or try to hear. Yabu came back to get her again not long after.
"Mo! This is where you went?? You really find Inoo that interesting?" Yabu scolded.
"Iie, gomen~ Inoo onegai kara..." Aoki said as she bit her lower lip and frowned.
Yabu sighed and held her hand.
"Hikaru and the others are waiting; we have to go now." Yabu said calmly and brushed his hair away from his face with his free hand.
Inoo gave Aoki a thumbs up before she got dragged away by a subtly jealous Yabu. Kichiko stared at them suspiciously, knowing her best friend's mischievous ways. Kichiko shook it off and went back to work as Inoo entered.
"Back to work?" Inoo said with a smile and they went back to work, until late.
----
"Aaahhh! Tsukaretta~!!" Inoo exclaimed as he stretched.
"We're almost done." Kichiko sighed as she relaxed a bit.
"Jaa~ Let's have a change in scenery maybe we'll get a bit recharged and continue with the projects and papers." Inoo suggested with a smile.
"Ok." Kichiko answered as she smiled back.
They packed up and Inoo carried their stuff before leading the way.
"Where are we going?" Kichiko asked simply as they have been walking for more or less 10 minutes around the building.
"Well, we can't go out to do our project or assignments. Obsessed fangirls will surely try and go after us, but I do know one place we can go to." Inoo answered thoughtfully.
They arrived at a conference room and Inoo opened the door.
"You could say it's a room with a view." Inoo said with a grin and displayed a typical conference room with 3 doors and a single glass window surrounding the opposite wall.
"Ladies first." Inoo said as he ushered her in.
Outside the window was the lighted up bridge on theriver, the room had a long table accompanied with executive seats and two unexpected gifts in the middle. Gifts that are neatly wrapped, a big one and a small one. Kichiko approached the familiar gift, not believing her eyes.
"Uso… How..." Kichiko and a familiar male voice chorused which made them look at each other.
"Have fun." Daiki said with a smirk as he and Inoo closed and locked the door simultaneously; making the two victims glance at the doors they had entered.
"Kichiko..." Yama-chan softly said with a light blush on his cheeks.
"Hai?" Kichiko asked simply at she looked at him again.
"N-nothing..."
"Yama-Yamada-san, you're still here at this time?" Kichiko said being formal towards her favorite JUMP member.
"Yeah, after JUMP's photo shoot, 7 still had a recording." Yamada explained as he joined her in the middle of the room.
"Do you have any idea what's going on?" Kichiko whispered to Yamada cautiously as she thought maybe someone was ease dropping on them.
Yamada shook his head.
"Daiki and I were suppose to grab some drinks for 7 and told me that this was a detour he knew about, before getting locked in." Yamada answered sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"I was told we were going to continue with our work here though." Kichiko explained with a frown.
A person suddenly came out under the table and cuffed the two together before dashing to the other end of the room. Kichiko was the first to realize who it was.
"Ao-chan!!!" Kichiko accused and as if on cue the door, Aoki was headed for, opened.
Aoki stopped right in front of the other 3 members of 7 plus Takaki to look at the expression on the two's faces.
Aoki smiled and stuck out her tongue at them.
"Yama-chan only bought a gift for Kichiko-chan this year, ne?" Yuto exposed Yamada with a smug smile.
"Yuto!" Yamada squealed with wide eyes.
"So you better give it or we'll definitely never forgive you." Takaki added as he crossed his arms.
"Both of you come clean. It's not nice knowing just one truth." Chinen said as if from experience with a charming smile he often does in front of the camera.
"We’re not letting you two out until you do." Keito warned as he swung his finger back and forth, like he was scolding them.
"Ki-chan was up all night yesterday making your gift. So you both be a good boy and girl and just enjoy." Aoki said with a smile as she tilted her head slightly.
"Get us out of these cuffs, at least!" Yamada complained, but Aoki just held up the keys.
"Gomen, we said it, didn't we? We'll let you out when you two come clean." Aoki shrugged and was pulled out of the room by Takaki when he saw Yamada was about ready to pounce at her for the key.
Keito closed and locked the door right after Aoki was already pulled out of harms way or rather to be specific Yamada's way. The two were left in awe, but Yamada broke the ice as he started to have a laughing fit with his free hand on his forehead to support his head.
"We were set up! In a really good way too!" Yamada exclaimed and sighed at the end as he was helpless.
Yamada offered her a seat near the gifts.
"I'm not so surprised. Ao-chan is quiet a tactician." Kichiko informed him as she took his offer.
The lights slowly dimmed as if to set the mood as Yamada sat next to Kichiko, because of the cuffs he could only seat there without hurting him or Kichiko.
"Ah! They dimmed the lights." Kichiko announced as she looked at the ceiling.
Yamada took that as an opportunity to take the small lavender box tied with a red ribbon.
"I like it though- it's rather comfortable this way. I mean because the light doesn't strain the eyes." Yamada explained thoroughly trying avoid any misunderstanding as he blushed at the thought.
Kichiko nodded in agreement and Yamada regain a bit of his tension back.
"Plus it does have a great view." Yamada added as he pointed out the window with the box he was now holding tightly.
Kichiko looked over and saw the view. A deep dark blackish blue sky in the background and the calm river mirroring the fully lighted bridge sparkling standing tall on top of it. The setting had a warm and romantic feel to it and the lights had enhanced the effects of the environment.
"Ano- gomen- I've been bullying Inoo-chan. What Aoki said- it's true." Yamada admitted, but was cut of by Kichiko who suddenly spoke.
"Ao-chan has always been right, but don't tell her I said that." Kichiko confessed with a light giggle as she faced him.
Kichiko took the big box with a label that said 'pull me' in English. It was Aoki's hand writing no doubt. Kichiko did as it said and pulled the box up, which to her surprise was actually only a lid that opened the box flat on the table. Two slices of strawberry shortcakes set on fine china with desert forks were placed attractively and neatly inside accompanied with two cans of cold strawberry pokka milk.
"Jaa-Keki tabemashou ka?" Kichiko offered him, thinking Aoki had probably planned the whole thing all day long.
"Un. Arigatou." Yamada answered as the plate was placed in front of him with the milk can.
Kichiko slowly ate the cake and drank her milk to wash it down, when she noticed Yamada not eating.
"Doushita? Oishi ja nai?" Kichiko asked with a worried look on her face.
"Ha!? Iie, oishi! Oishi keki!" Yamada said as he took a big piece of the keki and scoffed it down causing him to cough.
Kichiko handed him his milk as she patted his back. Yamada took it with his cuffed hand and drank, while held on the box tighter and his fingers were already starting to turn white from it. Unexpected fireworks had started to appear on the sky as Yamada set the milk can back down and this caught the attention of the two. Yamada checked his watch curious as to why there was fireworks. It read '12:03 AM' and with that it was Christmas morning.
----
Inoo had just left after being bullied by Yamada. Aoki wanted to break the bad tension in the air and the silence was killing her edge.
"Hey, isn't it romantic to confess on Christmas morning?"Aoki asked JUMP suddenly.
Yamada blushed intensely as if he was caught doing something.
"You'd want to have such a unique type of confession, huh?" Takaki said as he poked her side and she jumped on her seat.
Aoki push Takaki, who was sitting beside her, to the opposite side causing him to fall down from his seat.
"Eh? But won't the girl be distracted by all the events happening all around?" Daiki mused at Aoki.
"Ahh~ I get what you're saying, Aoki-chan. She'll least expect it since there will be a lot of things on her mind right?" Keito agreed with a couple of nod.
"AHH!! Like visiting the temple, watching her favorite Christmas special show or going to meet her friends?" Hikaru continued with excited wide eyes and Yabu laughed at the kid-like Hikaru.
"Yes, exactly that! It's romantic, ne??" Aoki squealed at the thought.
JUMP became quiet and thought of it for a bit. Aoki was eyeing everyone expecting someone to answer or at least agree with her.
"Maa~ Sounds like something that can only happen in a drama." Yamada was the only one who answered instantly shutting it down.
Aoki pouted and stomped her way out of the studio excusing herself since she was done with her part.
----
"Jikan da-" Yamada muttered under his breathe as the fireworks continued.
"Ha? Did Yamada-san say something?" Kichiko asked a bit louder than her usual voice as she can only hear muffled sounds coming from Yamada, because all the loud fireworks.
The fireworks slowed in their appearance as if the people who were releasing them were running out.
"Kichiko-san- Kore- Onegai- wear it always." Yamada said as he presented the box he had been holding to Kichiko nervously.
"Eh? Nani?"
Kichiko took it from his hands and opened it carefully.
"I had Daiki ask Aoki what you'd like for Christmas… Because I wanted to give you something."
The box contained a thin white gold chain necklace with a light pink teardrop crystal in the middle.
"Kirei! But isn't it expen-"
Yamada took her free hand instantly and cut her off mid sentence. Yamada gulped and gathered all his courage into the next few moments he had with her.
"Kichiko, I will protect you-I'll be by your side- Dakara! Dakara onegai! Only look at me!"
Yamada stared into her eyes while waiting for her answer. Kichiko gazed back at him, his focus was intense and his hand was shaking and sweaty from nervousness.
"Un! Atashi mo, Yama-chan suki dakara..." Kichiko said as if there was more to it, but her warm inviting smile said otherwise.
Yamada's courage was starting to fade fast and a dozen if not more possible outcomes had ran in his head. His heart was thumping louder and louder.
"Dakedo."
Yamada's world started to slow down as if it Was about to stop completely at any minute. His eyes went wide as he was expecting her to say something like 'I'm sorry.' or 'But I like Inoo more.' He braced himself for the worst, he held his breath and close his eyes suddenly as his grip tightened a bit.
"Onegai." Kichiko said to him as she keep her eyes on him and slightly tilted her head.
She had held out the necklace in front of Yamada as if telling him to put it on her. Yamada sighed in relief, looked into her eyes and smiled gently and lovingly. He nods and puts it on her, placing his lips just a few cm next to her ear.
"Merry Christmas, my Kichiko." Yamada whispered in his low serious and seductive tone.
----
A couple of block away from the building at the river bank, Aoki and the other JUMP members along with Ryutaro were setting off fireworks when she looked back to the Jimusho where her best friend was with Yamada.
"Merry Christmas, Kichiko, Yamada." Aoki said softly to no one in particular, while the boys were busy playing with fireworks.
"Yuuki da!" Chinen announced with a huge grin on his face as it started to snow.