I'm Not - Chapter 2: Realization
Here’s the second chapter. It’s a bit longer. Just so you know, my style of writing involves quite some explanations per subject. I’m afraid that with that habit is my style of going out of topic. Maybe even the spelling errors are a habit of mine. :D
‘Why must I do this?’ Ohno thought bitterly as he held up his hands and uncomfortably moved about.
‘I am supposed to be a respected lawyer! What did I do to be degraded to this?’ Ohno turned around on one leg as the upbeat music continued to play on.
-Earlier that morning-
“Ohno? Are you alright?” Nino called out with a very worried voice. This game had turned bad quite quickly. The person he was asking merely continued to stare at him with the same shocked expression as 5 seconds ago, which was too long for Nino’s liking. He hugged Riida which usually made him react even a little. “I’m sorry for making you fall. I knew I should have cleaned up the wrappers but I was too lazy.” Nino pulled back and showed Ohno a sorry smile.
Ohno felt himself smile back. If given a smile, one should give back a smile as well. Behind that cover of a smile, he knows that something was wrong with him.
Ohno felt uneasy. There was a pain from his head and he was quite dizzy. He looked around and familiarized himself with the surroundings. He was in a dressing room. He was with these good-looking people. Models? Actors? He is unsure. He was supposed to be handling a case right about now.
It struck him. He realized that he knew these people. Matsumoto Jun, Aiba Masaki, Sakurai Sho, and Ninomiya Kazunari. He was Ohno Satoshi. He remembers, but he doesn’t feel that he is himself.
-Late in the evening-
‘My frame of mind has changed,’ he told himself. ‘This is a peculiar feeling. I know who I am but I don’t know how I’m supposed to act.’
Ohno feels that he is Naruse Ryo, the angelic lawyer who is kind and is looked up to by everyone.
He knows that he is Ohno Satoshi, the unwilling leader of Arashi who is kind and is looked up to by everyone.
Basically, he feels confused. Ohno Satoshi and Naruse Ryo are somehow mixing. It’s a very weird thing to feel, but that’s what Arashi’s Riida is experiencing.
The man named Ninomiya Kazunari is suspicious. He has seen him before. The recognition was too sudden and all he could do at that moment was to be shocked.
Kumada Masayoshi. Son of Kumada Takahiro, one of the men that he has killed. Therefore, he wants revenge. Typically, it was like that: the parents get killed and then the children are to seek revenge. He has dealt with cases that were similar, like that of the Ariake Family...
Ah, yes. That was the family in the drama that Nino acted in. Ohno kind of confused it to be real...
Eh. Now he was even more perplexed.
Anyway, how could he? Nino, the person who was often the closest (literally and figuratively) to him, wanted him dead? Surely it couldn’t be true. All those words of love and possession, surely they mean something, right? Those gentle touches and loving gazes, of course they would carry some deeper, more significant meaning? All those nights spent in each other’s arms, surely those weren’t lies?
Then again, Ohno couldn’t be sure if that was a drama or not. He couldn’t decide.
“Ok! Cut!” The director’s voice broke Ohno’s thoughts and he stopped dancing. “Good shoot. Ohno-kun, you made a very irritated and confused face! You are very in-character, ne? Good work everyone!” The staff began to pack up for the night.
Ohno flashed Nagae-san and others greeting him a convincing smile and bowed slightly, expertly hiding his death glare. He had been here for the whole day...
Singing. Dancing. Acting.
He didn’t even know he could do any of those things. A well-respected lawyer does not do those things. He just went here because he was told to by that man.
He knew that man. At the tunnel, how could he forget? It was bright out but the tunnel was dark inside. The two of them were the only ones there. He was slammed against the wall, their faces inches away. That guy dared it to be closer. How could he forget? Their bodies were pressed together, breathing the same air, lips just itching to-
No. That guy happened to be the son of the man he killed. Nobody knows. At least, to his knowledge...
He swallowed painfully. How is Ohno sure that that man doesn’t know? Maybe, to avoid further suspicion, he could just get his gloves and shut him-
“Oh-chan!” The man in question appeared behind him as if by magic.
“I came just in time. Let’s go.” Nino grabbed Ohno’s hand as they went to the dressing room to change. Nino had become a regular onlooker after the night Ohno came to Nino’s apartment slightly drunk and in one of his bear costumes a couple of weeks ago. Ever since, Nino had come to pick him up or arranged for someone to get Ohno if he definitely couldn’t make it.
Ohno thought it was sweet of him, but he also couldn’t help but wonder if this was all a plot to reveal him as a two-faced lawyer-murderer.
He hadn’t told Nino of his supposed evil as of yet. After the fall, they were called to the photoshoot already and he had not the time nor the guts to say it, for it might jeopardize his life. What if he was after him? What would, or could, he do? He’s not taking chances. Nino thinks that he’s all fine anyway.
“Oh-chan, it’s fine now. I’m the only one here.” Nino unzipped the costume for Ohno and stripped the costume from Ohno so skilfully as if it was his own body. Ohno was still engrossed in his own thoughts but reached for the shirt that Nino was offering him. He changed fairly quickly, his mind still in the clouds, thinking about what Arashi’s Riida would think of. Nino folded the costume for him and observed the oldest Arashi member as he rocked his head back and forth in what seemed to be an attempt to lull himself into sleeping.
‘Ah, I’ll think about this later. I’m too hungry.’ He told himself and snapped out of his daze. He locked gazes with Nino just a second after snapping out of it, though. Only then did he realize that he was in a shirt and jeans. His eyes unconsciously narrowed at Nino.
“Did you just... undress me?” Ohno ran his hands on the fabrics of his clothes as if to see whether it was really there or not. He received an energetic nod as a reply. Ohno barely hid the furious blush he suddenly developed.
“...Okay. Let’s go, Ninomiya.” Ohno grabbed the bag he came in with and headed for the door. Nino hurried after him and got to him as Ohno was crossing the road.
“Oh-chan, you walk too fast.” Nino pointed out with slight breathlessness. Nino noticed that he was being left behind again and quickened his pace even more. He said nothing, just trying to keep up with the older man as they walked. They reached this street with some ramen shops. Nino pulled him to one.
“My treat, Ohno-kun.” Nino somehow looked pleading and the kindness inside Ohno couldn’t help but agree, even if he were to dine with a potential enemy.
Nino was quiet as they ate.
Ohno tried to make some conversation to suppress the pressure of silence. “Uh, thanks for treating me.”
“Un.” Nino continued to eat the ramen.
“It’s good, ne?” Ohno pushed.
“It is.” Nino sipped the soup. Ohno wondered if he did something wrong, just a while ago, he was talking animatedly.
Nino put down the bowl with a loud thud.
“Ohno, why are you so far away?” Nino’s voice was stern, like a parent scolding their child, but with an undertone of pain. Nino hadn’t looked at him but Ohno could tell that his glare was intense.
Ohno looked at the gap between him and Nino which seemed to be able to accommodate a super thin Matsujun. “Are you still mad about this morning?”
Ohno gulped, wondering what he should say. “Of course not.”
Nino turned to him this time, his glare intensifying even further.
“Then why are you avoiding me?”
~~~~~~~~~~
Sorry, I just naturally like dialogue cliffhangers. I’m sorry. :]
Thank you for reading the second chapter! Please tell me what you think with a comment! I think the next chapter might come this week as well. :D
Random Trivia: Uta no Oniisan’s director is Nagae Toshikazu.
Toshi- Ohno Satoshi
kazu- Ninomiya Kazunari. I apologize, I couldn’t help it! It was just there so I... sorry. D: