[Fanfic] We'll Always Have Paris - Chapter Ten: Taking the Consequences
An update!! :D It's quite short because I want the next part to be all in one chapter (and it's going to be really ecchi. :p) but Johnny-san appears and Sophie gives you a tiny, little hint about herself towards the end of the chapter. LOL. Any guesses on her real identity?? :p
As always, this is unbeta-ed so tell me if there are any errors. Comments, suggestions, reactions and criticisms are gladly welcomed. Happy reading!! :D
Chapter Ten: Taking the Consequences
The deafening silence inside the conference room makes this meeting even more nerve-wracking than it initially is as they wait for their boss to arrive. Seating around the long meeting table are the four members of Arashi and a man they fondly called Kuro-pi, their chief manager. Even after getting their chief manager to the edge of frustration, the four members stand still in their decision to protect Sho and Sophie even if they know that it will get them into big trouble. Now all that’s left to do is to survive Johnny-san’s interrogation and it’s all over… Or so they thought.
A click on the frosted glass door’s knob startled all of them, including the very formal Kuro-pi as Johnny-san entered the room along with his assistant, who rolled down all the blinds before taking a seat beside the old man. Johnny-san looked at them one by one with piercing eyes and they responded by looking down on the table, no one is brave enough to look through those terrifying gaze.
“You.” Johnny-san pointed to Matsumoto Jun as the younger man lifted his face after being nudged by their manager. “Care to tell me what Sakurai is up to in Paris?”
Jun took a sigh before he speaks. “Johnny-san, I thought we made it clear over that phone call that this is Sakurai-san’s personal matters. You need to hear it straight from him not from us.”
Johnny-san lifted his right eyebrow. “You didn’t say that over the phone, Matsumoto. All you said to me is that your opinion doesn’t matter.” He stated calmly and Jun pursed his lips. “Now, Matsumoto, I want to hear that opinion right now.”
Jun meet the nervous gaze of his three members before he cleared his throat to answer the question. “It’s true that I did not agree with Sakurai-san’s decision at first. I thought that it’s reckless and very selfish.” Jun tried to be calm and collected as possible. “But now, I fully understand his decision and I respect that a lot. I think, just like the rest of my members, that you need to hear it straight from Sakurai-san. We don’t want to get involved in this personal matter.”
Nino, Aiba and Ohno were looking at their youngest member in appreciation as Jun gave them a small smile while Kuro-pi buried his face on his hand in embarrassment. He didn’t know that these men, in their late twenties and early thirties, are still capable of this level of stubbornness.
Johnny-san remains uncanny calm. “Arashi…” He mumbled in a low voice as he placed both elbows on the table and crossed his fingers. “People say you’re all close but I never knew you were this close… unifying for the sake of one, quite impressive.” He smirked feebly and the four men still remained lip-tight.
“It’s a girl, is it?” Johnny-san’s voice was much louder this time as they all lifted their head to look at him, tense and uneasiness is written all over their face. “There’s no other reason but a girl.”
Silence. Even if they remained quiet, their reaction gives it away.
“You’re right.” Johnny-san continued talking. “It’s Sakurai’s personal matter and that talk should just be between him and I, the four of you are out of it… But…” He suddenly taps his hands on the table. “He puts the four of you in a big problem…”
“What do you mean… a big problem?” Nino asked in a low voice.
“Sakurai left a lot of jobs hanging with this rash decision and since the four of you are determined to help him, you will all save his face and do his job for him until he finally decided to come back.” Johnny-san announces as the four Arashi members looks at him in confusion.
“You mean…” Aiba staggered. “We will all divide his jobs?”
“Exactly.” Johnny-san nodded. “Now, let’s see… It’s going to be Monday in two days, that means…” He smirked as he let them finish his sentence.
“News Zero.” Ohno said flatly and the other three members were creasing their eyebrows.
“You.” Johnny-san pointed to Kuro-pi. “Arrange their schedule and see who’s available to take Sakurai’s position on Monday.” Kuro-pi nodded obediently. “Until Sakurai comes back, you will all take turns on News Zero. Understood?”
“But we don’t have experience on news casting.” Nino argued. “Moreover, we only have two days to prepare.”
“Not really my problem. You all agreed to defend Sakurai, suffer the consequences.” Johnny-san firmly said.
No words came out from the Arashi members.
“Recording for your regular shows will resume on Tuesday, regardless if Sakurai comes back or not, it will continue. Aiba, take the MC role for VS Arashi and Ninomiya for Shiyagare.” The two nodded dutifully. “The same goes for your new single. We will not postpone the release and we will push through with the PV making even without Sakurai. Chances are, you need to record it again without him and you need to promote and perform without him.”
“But there’s a rap part in the song…” Aiba reminded him.
“Then one of you will take over the rap part.” Johnny-san stated knowingly as the four gaped at him in shock. “One for all, all for one… right, Arashi?”
They nodded weakly. These consequences are a lot harder than expected.
“Ohno will take his slot in that special drama on TBS, shooting will start this week.” Johnny-san continued.
“Eh? This week?” Ohno repeated. “I’m okay with taking over for him but I have no idea on what the role is.”
“Your manager will give you the script after this meeting.”
“Okay.” Ohno agreed, although he knows that it’s hard to prepare for a role with such short notice.
“Schedule a meeting with the drama staff and inform them that Sakurai will be replaced by Ohno.” Johnny-san instructed the manager.
“What if they ask about Sakurai? What should I tell them?” Kuro-pi asked and they all looked at the old man for answer. “And if four-member Arashi appears on their TV screens for weeks, people will start asking questions.”
Johnny-san crossed his arms and sighed. “Well then, Arashi… What should you tell them? You all put yourselves in this mess, find your own solution.” He observed the four men, all thinking hard of a realistic excuse.
“We’ll just tell them that Sho-kun got sick from our vacation and was confined, the media will fall for that.” Jun is so confident with that excuse.
Johnny-san nodded, noting his suggestion. “Anything else? Do any of you have a better idea than that?”
“I think that’s the most plausible one, Johnny-san.” Ohno replied.
“Okay then, Sakurai got sick and were confined. You will all announce this on your first regular show recording, understood?” Four men nodded politely like young boys being reprimanded by their father.
“This meeting is over then.” Johnny-san stood up from his seat and his assistant followed before him. “We will meet again in this room when Sakurai comes back.” And with that, Johnny-san left the room.
“So who will be the first to go to News Zero?” Nino slouched in his chair, looking at his members’ faces one by one before all of them shared one long sigh of relief.
----------
“Are you really pushing through with that decision?” Ai-chan asked, keeping her voice low as they are seating in the middle of the university’s library.
The two best friends started talking again after Sophie’s endless attempts to please her.
“It’s what’s best.” Sophie answered in the same hushed voice as she continue taking down notes. She doesn’t really want to be reminded of her decision but she needed to tell someone about it. Putting it in a letter for Matsumoto Jun is not enough since she hasn’t heard from him after that awkward airport moment. “He has a reputation to protect and I have my family’s name to keep. It’s not going to work, especially with me.”
“Are you going to confess to him about you before he leaves?” Ai-chan asked again.
Sophie looked up to face her. “What for? Even if it hurts me to say this, he will never see me again. He doesn’t need to know.” She felt a sharp pain slowly stabbing her from the chest.
“He will find out sooner or later…” Ai-chan reminded him.
Sophie felt the tears threating to come out again. Every day, the tears never fail to fall out from her eyes, no matter how much she try to be strong, the tears doesn’t lie.
“And when he does, I am not his anymore.” Sophie softly said as her voice breaks.
“Sophie, you’re going to hurt him… you’re hurting yourself too.”
“I can take all the pain, the tears and the sadness, even twice as much. I just don’t want him to feel all of that.”
Ai-chan took Sophie’s hand for support as Sophie quietly let the first tears of the day to fall.
“Do you know how normal his life is before he met me? He is at the top of his game, he is very successful in every path he choose to take. He gets to do what he love and he enjoys it, he gets love and attention from the entire nation and most of all, he have four dependable friends who stood by him in everything, no matter how good or bad things are… All of those things he freely enjoys before will be limited if I let him in my life.”
“As far as I know, Sophie, you don’t get to let him in your life. He lets you into his life… Am I correct?” Ai-chan smiled and Sophie returned the gesture weakly.
“You’re right. If he marries me, I’m free… But I just can’t let my parents down like that. My parents’ dreams got shattered when my sister decided to get married after she graduated college and since then the pressure is on me.”
Ai-chan pulled Sophie to let her cry on her shoulders.
“I turned twenty-one already, it’s time for me to do my duties for the family. It’s not going to be easy for him if he stayed by my side. The amount of pressure from the people will double up, I don’t want that for him. Being a celebrated celebrity is enough, being in a relationship with a member of the most powerful family in the country is too much.”
As always, this is unbeta-ed so tell me if there are any errors. Comments, suggestions, reactions and criticisms are gladly welcomed. Happy reading!! :D
Chapter Ten: Taking the Consequences
The deafening silence inside the conference room makes this meeting even more nerve-wracking than it initially is as they wait for their boss to arrive. Seating around the long meeting table are the four members of Arashi and a man they fondly called Kuro-pi, their chief manager. Even after getting their chief manager to the edge of frustration, the four members stand still in their decision to protect Sho and Sophie even if they know that it will get them into big trouble. Now all that’s left to do is to survive Johnny-san’s interrogation and it’s all over… Or so they thought.
A click on the frosted glass door’s knob startled all of them, including the very formal Kuro-pi as Johnny-san entered the room along with his assistant, who rolled down all the blinds before taking a seat beside the old man. Johnny-san looked at them one by one with piercing eyes and they responded by looking down on the table, no one is brave enough to look through those terrifying gaze.
“You.” Johnny-san pointed to Matsumoto Jun as the younger man lifted his face after being nudged by their manager. “Care to tell me what Sakurai is up to in Paris?”
Jun took a sigh before he speaks. “Johnny-san, I thought we made it clear over that phone call that this is Sakurai-san’s personal matters. You need to hear it straight from him not from us.”
Johnny-san lifted his right eyebrow. “You didn’t say that over the phone, Matsumoto. All you said to me is that your opinion doesn’t matter.” He stated calmly and Jun pursed his lips. “Now, Matsumoto, I want to hear that opinion right now.”
Jun meet the nervous gaze of his three members before he cleared his throat to answer the question. “It’s true that I did not agree with Sakurai-san’s decision at first. I thought that it’s reckless and very selfish.” Jun tried to be calm and collected as possible. “But now, I fully understand his decision and I respect that a lot. I think, just like the rest of my members, that you need to hear it straight from Sakurai-san. We don’t want to get involved in this personal matter.”
Nino, Aiba and Ohno were looking at their youngest member in appreciation as Jun gave them a small smile while Kuro-pi buried his face on his hand in embarrassment. He didn’t know that these men, in their late twenties and early thirties, are still capable of this level of stubbornness.
Johnny-san remains uncanny calm. “Arashi…” He mumbled in a low voice as he placed both elbows on the table and crossed his fingers. “People say you’re all close but I never knew you were this close… unifying for the sake of one, quite impressive.” He smirked feebly and the four men still remained lip-tight.
“It’s a girl, is it?” Johnny-san’s voice was much louder this time as they all lifted their head to look at him, tense and uneasiness is written all over their face. “There’s no other reason but a girl.”
Silence. Even if they remained quiet, their reaction gives it away.
“You’re right.” Johnny-san continued talking. “It’s Sakurai’s personal matter and that talk should just be between him and I, the four of you are out of it… But…” He suddenly taps his hands on the table. “He puts the four of you in a big problem…”
“What do you mean… a big problem?” Nino asked in a low voice.
“Sakurai left a lot of jobs hanging with this rash decision and since the four of you are determined to help him, you will all save his face and do his job for him until he finally decided to come back.” Johnny-san announces as the four Arashi members looks at him in confusion.
“You mean…” Aiba staggered. “We will all divide his jobs?”
“Exactly.” Johnny-san nodded. “Now, let’s see… It’s going to be Monday in two days, that means…” He smirked as he let them finish his sentence.
“News Zero.” Ohno said flatly and the other three members were creasing their eyebrows.
“You.” Johnny-san pointed to Kuro-pi. “Arrange their schedule and see who’s available to take Sakurai’s position on Monday.” Kuro-pi nodded obediently. “Until Sakurai comes back, you will all take turns on News Zero. Understood?”
“But we don’t have experience on news casting.” Nino argued. “Moreover, we only have two days to prepare.”
“Not really my problem. You all agreed to defend Sakurai, suffer the consequences.” Johnny-san firmly said.
No words came out from the Arashi members.
“Recording for your regular shows will resume on Tuesday, regardless if Sakurai comes back or not, it will continue. Aiba, take the MC role for VS Arashi and Ninomiya for Shiyagare.” The two nodded dutifully. “The same goes for your new single. We will not postpone the release and we will push through with the PV making even without Sakurai. Chances are, you need to record it again without him and you need to promote and perform without him.”
“But there’s a rap part in the song…” Aiba reminded him.
“Then one of you will take over the rap part.” Johnny-san stated knowingly as the four gaped at him in shock. “One for all, all for one… right, Arashi?”
They nodded weakly. These consequences are a lot harder than expected.
“Ohno will take his slot in that special drama on TBS, shooting will start this week.” Johnny-san continued.
“Eh? This week?” Ohno repeated. “I’m okay with taking over for him but I have no idea on what the role is.”
“Your manager will give you the script after this meeting.”
“Okay.” Ohno agreed, although he knows that it’s hard to prepare for a role with such short notice.
“Schedule a meeting with the drama staff and inform them that Sakurai will be replaced by Ohno.” Johnny-san instructed the manager.
“What if they ask about Sakurai? What should I tell them?” Kuro-pi asked and they all looked at the old man for answer. “And if four-member Arashi appears on their TV screens for weeks, people will start asking questions.”
Johnny-san crossed his arms and sighed. “Well then, Arashi… What should you tell them? You all put yourselves in this mess, find your own solution.” He observed the four men, all thinking hard of a realistic excuse.
“We’ll just tell them that Sho-kun got sick from our vacation and was confined, the media will fall for that.” Jun is so confident with that excuse.
Johnny-san nodded, noting his suggestion. “Anything else? Do any of you have a better idea than that?”
“I think that’s the most plausible one, Johnny-san.” Ohno replied.
“Okay then, Sakurai got sick and were confined. You will all announce this on your first regular show recording, understood?” Four men nodded politely like young boys being reprimanded by their father.
“This meeting is over then.” Johnny-san stood up from his seat and his assistant followed before him. “We will meet again in this room when Sakurai comes back.” And with that, Johnny-san left the room.
“So who will be the first to go to News Zero?” Nino slouched in his chair, looking at his members’ faces one by one before all of them shared one long sigh of relief.
----------
“Are you really pushing through with that decision?” Ai-chan asked, keeping her voice low as they are seating in the middle of the university’s library.
The two best friends started talking again after Sophie’s endless attempts to please her.
“It’s what’s best.” Sophie answered in the same hushed voice as she continue taking down notes. She doesn’t really want to be reminded of her decision but she needed to tell someone about it. Putting it in a letter for Matsumoto Jun is not enough since she hasn’t heard from him after that awkward airport moment. “He has a reputation to protect and I have my family’s name to keep. It’s not going to work, especially with me.”
“Are you going to confess to him about you before he leaves?” Ai-chan asked again.
Sophie looked up to face her. “What for? Even if it hurts me to say this, he will never see me again. He doesn’t need to know.” She felt a sharp pain slowly stabbing her from the chest.
“He will find out sooner or later…” Ai-chan reminded him.
Sophie felt the tears threating to come out again. Every day, the tears never fail to fall out from her eyes, no matter how much she try to be strong, the tears doesn’t lie.
“And when he does, I am not his anymore.” Sophie softly said as her voice breaks.
“Sophie, you’re going to hurt him… you’re hurting yourself too.”
“I can take all the pain, the tears and the sadness, even twice as much. I just don’t want him to feel all of that.”
Ai-chan took Sophie’s hand for support as Sophie quietly let the first tears of the day to fall.
“Do you know how normal his life is before he met me? He is at the top of his game, he is very successful in every path he choose to take. He gets to do what he love and he enjoys it, he gets love and attention from the entire nation and most of all, he have four dependable friends who stood by him in everything, no matter how good or bad things are… All of those things he freely enjoys before will be limited if I let him in my life.”
“As far as I know, Sophie, you don’t get to let him in your life. He lets you into his life… Am I correct?” Ai-chan smiled and Sophie returned the gesture weakly.
“You’re right. If he marries me, I’m free… But I just can’t let my parents down like that. My parents’ dreams got shattered when my sister decided to get married after she graduated college and since then the pressure is on me.”
Ai-chan pulled Sophie to let her cry on her shoulders.
“I turned twenty-one already, it’s time for me to do my duties for the family. It’s not going to be easy for him if he stayed by my side. The amount of pressure from the people will double up, I don’t want that for him. Being a celebrated celebrity is enough, being in a relationship with a member of the most powerful family in the country is too much.”