Come On! Koibito! 3/21
"Everyone, head for the production tent!" a loud voice called from the front. Nino looked in the direction of the voice to see the lead cameraman (Nakai?) waving at the sea of contestants. Nino was pretty sure they were supposed to be heading for the cars that he could see just past, in the parking lot, but well, best to not ignoring the frantically gesturing man, as they say.
Aiba and Nino detoured to the right, the crowd seeming not to hear Nakai's shouts. As they approached, the older man gave them a thankful, strained smile.
"Thanks for actually paying attention," he said as they got close enough to hear. He ushered them inside the tent before yelling someone's name. "Taka! Taka, where are you?"
"Yeah, boss?" a tall man popped out of the tent, adjusting the headset on his ear.
"Go and get those good for nothings over to the production tent. Nagase wasn't supposed to dismiss them directly to the cars and he knew it." The grumbles dissolved into angry murmurs. Aiba gave the man a questioning glance which seemed to bring him back into reality. "Sorry. It's just that you're supposed to be headed to the house with your cameramen. You know, to film your reactions and shit. But how can you do that if you don't come to the production tent to pick up your cameramen? I swear, that guy sometimes. Just because he got that stupid production..." And Nakai was gone again.
"Um, sir? Is there something we should be doing?" Nino tried his best to be patient, not wanting to make an enemy on the very first day. There was also the fact that Nakai seemed vaguely unstable. Caution should probably be used.
"Oh, yeah. Of course. Your cameramen. Come with me." He waved the two of them with him while he grabbed a clipboard from a desk. "Names?" He asked as they walked.
"Ninomiya Kazunari."
"And Aiba Masaki!"
"Ninomiya and Aiba?" Nakai muttered as he flipped through the sheets. The three turned a corner and entered a section of the tent that seemed to be filled to the brim with people, most likely the rumored cameramen. They came to a stop.
"Aiba!" Nakai announced, having found Aiba's name on the list. "You're with... Yokoyama! Yokoyama, get over here!"
Across the room, a young man stuffed one last eggroll from the food tray into his mouth before dashing over, a bright smile on his food-filled face. He shook Aiba's hand vigorously, words that were probably greetings spilling from his lips along with the crumbs. 'Great,' thought Nino. 'Two peas in a pod. This will get annoying.'
"And what was your name, kid? Ninomiya?" Nino nodded as Nakai scanned the list, his eyes finally landing on Nino's name. He looked over to the side and, Nino was pretty sure, winced. Something that pained Nakai that much either meant something horrible or something amazing for Nino. Time would tell.
"Ohno, you idiot. Get your ass over here!" Nakai yelled into the crowd. No one seemed to move and Nakai muttered angry things under his breath. A few seconds later, seemingly from nowhere, a man walked over, taking his own time and obviously not scared of Nakai's antics. As he got closer, Nino recognized him.
"You!" Nino exclaimed as the telepathic tailor came to stand with them.
"Me?" the man responded, seemingly unfazed by Nino's outburst, much less confused than Nino himself who was currently consumed by thoughts of 'idiot, idiot' at the remark.
"Ninomiya, your cameraman will be Ohno here." Nakai motioned at the man who hadn't really moved a muscle since he arrived. Nakai turned his attention to the other man. "Ohno, I don't know how Nagase managed to finagle you onto this season under my nose but god damn it, I'm watching you. No funny business this year, alright?"
Nino noticed out the corner of his eye that all the other people in the room were watching the two with interest, as if waiting for something to happen.
"The only funny business this season will be coming from your face," Ohno smiled at Nakai. Nakai, apparently predictably, exploded in anger, launching himself towards the small man who simply backed out of the way while the other cameramen, having expected this, restrained Nakai.
"He's my subordinate!" Nakai yelled from the embrace of five sets of arms. "He's not supposed to talk to me like that! I could fire you! I know Nagase likes you but that doesn't mean I can't fire you!"
Ohno, from somewhere behind Nino (when had he hid there?), chuckled.
"Anyway," Nakai calmed himself, turning a death glare towards Ohno, "now that you've found your partners, you can head to the cars. You'll be dropped off at the house, shown to your rooms, and then you should dress for the party tonight. You'll get instructions from there."
"Party?" Aiba asked, excitement in his voice.
"There's going to be a big party tonight where you all get to meet the bachelor," Yokoyama explained, enthusiasm in his voice. "It should be fun. Also, there's tons of food."
"Sounds great!" Aiba beamed.
"And remember," Nakai yelled at them as they exited the tent, headed for the cars, "no talking unless absolutely necessary!"
"Got it!" Nino yelled back before turning towards Ohno, who had been walking with him. "Just so you know," he warned the man, "I'm going to talk to you whether they like it or not. Unless, you know, I don't like you. Then I won't."
"I wouldn't blame you," Ohno agreed.
"I'm Ninomiya Kazunari, by the way. Nino," Nino introduced himself. "And you're Ohno?"
"Ohno Satoshi," the man smiled, hoisting his camera on his shoulder so that he could shake Nino's hand.
"Nice to meet you, Oh-chan," Nino smiled over their arms. At Ohno's confused face, he added, "I figure we should be on friendly terms, as we're going to be seeing a lot of each other."
"Good idea," Ohno responded, smiling. "I already like you better than the last one."
"Been doing this long?" Nino asked as they got in the car. Ohno shrugged.
"Long enough. Most people are just here to get on tv. They don't care about the camera people."
"That's what I've heard," Nino agreed. "How many casting directors are really watching this show to find the next big thing, though?"
"I don't know," Ohno wondered. "A good number of ex-participants have gone on to do stuff. Know that Daigo guy? His first gig was on CoKoi"
"Really?" Nino was surprised. "But he seems too cool for this show."
"And you're not?" Ohno teased.
"Oh, I am," Nino agreed. "I'm doing this as a favor for a friend."
"Ah."
"Yes. I'm just that kind."
"A saint."
"I'm the next Ghandi."
The two continued talking and joking the whole way through the suburbs into the outskirts of Tokyo. All of the sudden, Ohno seemed to realize where they were and grabbed his camera from where it sat beside him. Nino gave him a questioning look.
"We're coming up on the house. I'm supposed to film your reaction to it."
"It's a house." Nino deadpanned. Ohno shrugged and switched his camera on.
"What should I say?" Nino asked.
"You're not supposed to talk to me." Ohno shushed him.
Nino glared at the camera but looked out the window.
As the car turned around the bend, a gigantic mansion appeared out of the distance. This was better than Nino had dreamed. Did he still want to kill Aiba? Yes. But maybe slightly less than before.
"We're staying in that?" Nino asked Ohno. The cameraman nodded. "Wow."
The car pulled up to the house where what appeared to be a butler waited to help Nino with his bag. They waited for Aiba's car which was a few seconds behind them and the butler introduced himself.
"Hello, my name is Kusanagi and I'm in charge the house. If you have an issues with anything in the mansion, please come to me."
Nino was having trouble keeping track of who he should go to with what problems and made such a face towards Ohno. Ohno laughed.
"Aiba and Ninomiya, correct?" Kusanagi asked. The two nodded. "Your rooms are on the top floor. If you'll follow me."
Nino and Aiba grabbed their suitcases and followed the thin man inside the house, eyes wide at the riches that surrounded them. And Yokoyama and Ohno caught everything on camera.
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I'm on a roll. Don't expect chapter four to be this fast. Really. xD And wow, you guys. Thanks for such great response to this fic. I'm honestly kind of shocked. It's very flattering to see so many comments. Thanks so much! ♥ Hope you enjoy chapter three~