the vending machine
[06.27.2008]
Title: The Vending Machine
Pairing: Shige x Sho
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1500+
Notes: For jojibear, who actually wanted more of Sho/Shige.
Summary: Sho and Shige exchange notes by means of an old vending machine, and Sho learns a lot about Shige and himself in the process.
The Vending Machine
When asked how his correspondence with Shige started, all he can say is that it started at the old vending machine near Arashi’s end of the hallway, by the stairwell that no one uses since it is out of everyone’s way.
That day, Sho walks down the hall just as Kato emerges from the dusty, abandoned stairwell. Conversation ensues, extremely polite and heavily stilted; Sho teases Kato for using those stairs because even his group members didn’t want to bother with the six flights of steps. Before Kato can respond in any manner, Jun pokes his head out of their door and yells at Sho to look at something, so he leaves with a quick goodbye.
Sho thinks nothing more of their encounter, but then he gets a text message a couple of days later from the kid. He vaguely wonders why Kato has his number but then recalls that he had Kato’s number because he needed to call him for last year’s countdown. Sho reads the message.
“Check the vending machine by your room.”
At first, Sho thinks it’s one of the dumbest texts he’s ever had to read. What on earth is that supposed to mean? But then, curiosity gets the best of him, as it often does, so after the rehearsal, Sho heads to the vending machine.
There is nothing to be found there, and he is about to angrily text Kato back when he notices a slip of paper peeking out from behind the slot of the machine. Sho reaches in and after fishing around for a while, he pulls out a small stack of papers. There is a three page article on everyday exercises to maintain good health, and on the second page, Shige has highlighted a small blurb about the virtues of using the stairs whenever possible and circled it with a permanent marker. Sho also finds a photograph of a pair of lean and sculpted thighs, and there is a note attached to the picture which reads, "These are my thighs. Thanks to the stairs, they look good, do they not? Maybe you should be taking the stairs as well."
The note is written in formal, polite Japanese, but Sho can practically taste the blatant teasing behind Kato's words. At first, he is offended, and rightly so, but his shock turns quickly into intrigue. He has never been so interested by a kouhai's disrespect.
The least he can do is respond.
So the next day, Sho comes to work with a newspaper clipping about the fast growing price of tuna and on it, a written note: "I would, but I've been too busy eating tuna before the price goes further through the roof. PS: Your thighs are very lovely."
He leaves the note in the vending machine slot apprehensively, wondering why he is even bothering and more importantly, wondering if Kato will respond. He's not even sure if the kid will ever find Sho's response, so he mentally prepares himself for that to be it and gets back to work.
But a couple of days later, Sho checks the slot and finds a stack of coupons for discount tuna at a grocery near the Jimusho and a note on the back of a travel pamphlet, "Fatten up now so that you won't be able to fit in those flying harnesses you hate so much."
It all goes downhill from there.
Now Sho walks into the Jimusho expecting any note of some sort, whether it is ten words or a hundred. Sho doesn't know if Kato has told anyone. Sho certainly hasn’t, not yet; he doesn’t know what to say even if he wanted to. Whether it is out of embarrassment or because he likes their private exchange, he isn't quite sure.
Sometimes their exchanges are solely for amusement's sake. Kato often leaves Sho advertisements of Yatterman and nearly rips Sho a new one every time with his biting, sarcastic remarks.
And sometimes they are serious. Sho once sent a picture of Kato in Hokaben attire and asked him if he'd rather be there than in the Jimusho. Kato didn't answer directly and instead, gave Sho a screencap of News Zero and a question: What about you? Sho didn't answer either, and they left it at that.
Sho learns a lot about Kato through their exchange, and while Sho has heard that Kato is quite the intellectual and a lot like Sho himself, he doesn't quite realize how true that is until this correspondence. Kato once sent Sho an essay for school and a note begging Sho to proofread it, and Sho was blown away by the brilliance of Kato's writing and his articulation of thoughts and ideas. Sho actually finds himself proud of Kato doesn't really have much to change about Kato's essay.
But what impresses Sho the most is Kato's never ending creativity.
While Sho writes hardly anything of creative value (and perhaps this lack of creativity is the reason Sho fails so horribly at impromptu declarations of love and the like), Kato appears to be a fount of artistic writing and thought. Sho now has a drawer dedicated to their exchange and it is brimming with napkins with excerpts from Kato's Myojo essays, poems on pieces of cardboard, ideas and thoughts written on scraps of paper (which Kato later admits are for his upcoming one man play), and notes asking Sho's advice or thoughts on a variety of interesting subject matter.
Sho doesn't know whether to be amazed or depressed that this mere boy, Kato Shigeaki, makes Sho feel just a little less intelligent. He is used to being THE smartest one, and that role has never been challenged in such a unique manner.
This upsets him for about a week until someone in the Jimusho tells him that Kato once said that Sho was his most respected senpai. To his embarrassment, Sho can't stop smiling for a couple days after that.
He has never found someone so fascinating, and as their letters to each other grow longer and more personal, Sho begins to realize that despite writing to Kato for only a few short months and still barely talking to him in public, he has shared with Kato more than he has with a lot of his closest friends.
He starts wishing that he can meet Kato in person, or that he can least call Kato "Shige" in their letters (because he's already started calling Shige that in his head). But he worries about ruining their dynamic, of making things awkward.
For weeks, he writes each note with the intention of asking Kato out to lunch, but he never gathers the courage to actually do so.
One day, as per usual, Sho turns the corner and heads to what has now become "their" vending machine. But then, he halts. The old vending machine is nowhere to be found and a brand new one sits mockingly in its place, full of desirable snacks and drinks. Logically, the change is understandable, considering that the old one hadn't been operable in years and it was just taking up space.
But Sho doesn't know what to do and a million thoughts race through his head. People will actually use this vending machine. Will Shige and I never speak to each other again? Is this the end of our notes? What am I going to do without-
He then hears footsteps behind him and a pause, and Sho turns to find Kato with papers in hand, staring in shock at the beautiful new machine. It is rare for them to be there at the same time, but when they are, they usually pass each other silently and smile knowingly.
This time, neither of them really know what to do.
Sho sighs, fishes around in his pockets for change, then buys two Pocari Sweats (he remembers Kato once saying he loved the stuff) and hands one to Kato, who takes it with a shaky hand and wordlessly exchanges it for the papers in his hand.
It is a promotional photo of Arashi for their “One Love” single and a hearty, congratulatory note. Sho looks up at Kato, who, though still in shock, manages to smile, "Congratulations, Sakurai-kun."
Sho shakes his head, "I think that after all these months, we can at least call each other by our first names…Shige-kun." Everything has changed now, so why not?
To his delight, Shige beams and nods his head in agreement, so Sho takes a deep breath, "Well, now that our old vending machine is gone," Shige's smile fades a little and Sho bravely goes on, "I guess we'll just have to continue this in person."
It takes a little for Sho's words to register but when they do, Shige's bright laugh and brilliant smile are absolutely breathtaking. They excitedly make plans to meet up for dinner later that night, and both happily go back to their respective dressing rooms with a smile on their faces.
When Sho walks into Arashi's room, Aiba jumps him while Nino calls out a greeting, eyes refusing to leave his DS. Aiba cries, "Sho-chan! Have you seen the new vending machine at the end of the hall? Jun requested the change and it is NICE. It has all my favorite drinks, and it's, like, two feet away. Isn't it the greatest thing EVER?"
Sho holds up his Pocari Sweat in response; as he thinks of his dinner plans, he grins, "Yeah. It's fantastic."
AN: Speaking of vending machines, Korea has some of the sweetest vending machines ever, let me tell you that. Why do American ones fail so badly in comparison? Sighs…
Title: The Vending Machine
Pairing: Shige x Sho
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1500+
Notes: For jojibear, who actually wanted more of Sho/Shige.
Summary: Sho and Shige exchange notes by means of an old vending machine, and Sho learns a lot about Shige and himself in the process.
The Vending Machine
When asked how his correspondence with Shige started, all he can say is that it started at the old vending machine near Arashi’s end of the hallway, by the stairwell that no one uses since it is out of everyone’s way.
That day, Sho walks down the hall just as Kato emerges from the dusty, abandoned stairwell. Conversation ensues, extremely polite and heavily stilted; Sho teases Kato for using those stairs because even his group members didn’t want to bother with the six flights of steps. Before Kato can respond in any manner, Jun pokes his head out of their door and yells at Sho to look at something, so he leaves with a quick goodbye.
Sho thinks nothing more of their encounter, but then he gets a text message a couple of days later from the kid. He vaguely wonders why Kato has his number but then recalls that he had Kato’s number because he needed to call him for last year’s countdown. Sho reads the message.
“Check the vending machine by your room.”
At first, Sho thinks it’s one of the dumbest texts he’s ever had to read. What on earth is that supposed to mean? But then, curiosity gets the best of him, as it often does, so after the rehearsal, Sho heads to the vending machine.
There is nothing to be found there, and he is about to angrily text Kato back when he notices a slip of paper peeking out from behind the slot of the machine. Sho reaches in and after fishing around for a while, he pulls out a small stack of papers. There is a three page article on everyday exercises to maintain good health, and on the second page, Shige has highlighted a small blurb about the virtues of using the stairs whenever possible and circled it with a permanent marker. Sho also finds a photograph of a pair of lean and sculpted thighs, and there is a note attached to the picture which reads, "These are my thighs. Thanks to the stairs, they look good, do they not? Maybe you should be taking the stairs as well."
The note is written in formal, polite Japanese, but Sho can practically taste the blatant teasing behind Kato's words. At first, he is offended, and rightly so, but his shock turns quickly into intrigue. He has never been so interested by a kouhai's disrespect.
The least he can do is respond.
So the next day, Sho comes to work with a newspaper clipping about the fast growing price of tuna and on it, a written note: "I would, but I've been too busy eating tuna before the price goes further through the roof. PS: Your thighs are very lovely."
He leaves the note in the vending machine slot apprehensively, wondering why he is even bothering and more importantly, wondering if Kato will respond. He's not even sure if the kid will ever find Sho's response, so he mentally prepares himself for that to be it and gets back to work.
But a couple of days later, Sho checks the slot and finds a stack of coupons for discount tuna at a grocery near the Jimusho and a note on the back of a travel pamphlet, "Fatten up now so that you won't be able to fit in those flying harnesses you hate so much."
It all goes downhill from there.
Now Sho walks into the Jimusho expecting any note of some sort, whether it is ten words or a hundred. Sho doesn't know if Kato has told anyone. Sho certainly hasn’t, not yet; he doesn’t know what to say even if he wanted to. Whether it is out of embarrassment or because he likes their private exchange, he isn't quite sure.
Sometimes their exchanges are solely for amusement's sake. Kato often leaves Sho advertisements of Yatterman and nearly rips Sho a new one every time with his biting, sarcastic remarks.
And sometimes they are serious. Sho once sent a picture of Kato in Hokaben attire and asked him if he'd rather be there than in the Jimusho. Kato didn't answer directly and instead, gave Sho a screencap of News Zero and a question: What about you? Sho didn't answer either, and they left it at that.
Sho learns a lot about Kato through their exchange, and while Sho has heard that Kato is quite the intellectual and a lot like Sho himself, he doesn't quite realize how true that is until this correspondence. Kato once sent Sho an essay for school and a note begging Sho to proofread it, and Sho was blown away by the brilliance of Kato's writing and his articulation of thoughts and ideas. Sho actually finds himself proud of Kato doesn't really have much to change about Kato's essay.
But what impresses Sho the most is Kato's never ending creativity.
While Sho writes hardly anything of creative value (and perhaps this lack of creativity is the reason Sho fails so horribly at impromptu declarations of love and the like), Kato appears to be a fount of artistic writing and thought. Sho now has a drawer dedicated to their exchange and it is brimming with napkins with excerpts from Kato's Myojo essays, poems on pieces of cardboard, ideas and thoughts written on scraps of paper (which Kato later admits are for his upcoming one man play), and notes asking Sho's advice or thoughts on a variety of interesting subject matter.
Sho doesn't know whether to be amazed or depressed that this mere boy, Kato Shigeaki, makes Sho feel just a little less intelligent. He is used to being THE smartest one, and that role has never been challenged in such a unique manner.
This upsets him for about a week until someone in the Jimusho tells him that Kato once said that Sho was his most respected senpai. To his embarrassment, Sho can't stop smiling for a couple days after that.
He has never found someone so fascinating, and as their letters to each other grow longer and more personal, Sho begins to realize that despite writing to Kato for only a few short months and still barely talking to him in public, he has shared with Kato more than he has with a lot of his closest friends.
He starts wishing that he can meet Kato in person, or that he can least call Kato "Shige" in their letters (because he's already started calling Shige that in his head). But he worries about ruining their dynamic, of making things awkward.
For weeks, he writes each note with the intention of asking Kato out to lunch, but he never gathers the courage to actually do so.
One day, as per usual, Sho turns the corner and heads to what has now become "their" vending machine. But then, he halts. The old vending machine is nowhere to be found and a brand new one sits mockingly in its place, full of desirable snacks and drinks. Logically, the change is understandable, considering that the old one hadn't been operable in years and it was just taking up space.
But Sho doesn't know what to do and a million thoughts race through his head. People will actually use this vending machine. Will Shige and I never speak to each other again? Is this the end of our notes? What am I going to do without-
He then hears footsteps behind him and a pause, and Sho turns to find Kato with papers in hand, staring in shock at the beautiful new machine. It is rare for them to be there at the same time, but when they are, they usually pass each other silently and smile knowingly.
This time, neither of them really know what to do.
Sho sighs, fishes around in his pockets for change, then buys two Pocari Sweats (he remembers Kato once saying he loved the stuff) and hands one to Kato, who takes it with a shaky hand and wordlessly exchanges it for the papers in his hand.
It is a promotional photo of Arashi for their “One Love” single and a hearty, congratulatory note. Sho looks up at Kato, who, though still in shock, manages to smile, "Congratulations, Sakurai-kun."
Sho shakes his head, "I think that after all these months, we can at least call each other by our first names…Shige-kun." Everything has changed now, so why not?
To his delight, Shige beams and nods his head in agreement, so Sho takes a deep breath, "Well, now that our old vending machine is gone," Shige's smile fades a little and Sho bravely goes on, "I guess we'll just have to continue this in person."
It takes a little for Sho's words to register but when they do, Shige's bright laugh and brilliant smile are absolutely breathtaking. They excitedly make plans to meet up for dinner later that night, and both happily go back to their respective dressing rooms with a smile on their faces.
When Sho walks into Arashi's room, Aiba jumps him while Nino calls out a greeting, eyes refusing to leave his DS. Aiba cries, "Sho-chan! Have you seen the new vending machine at the end of the hall? Jun requested the change and it is NICE. It has all my favorite drinks, and it's, like, two feet away. Isn't it the greatest thing EVER?"
Sho holds up his Pocari Sweat in response; as he thinks of his dinner plans, he grins, "Yeah. It's fantastic."
AN: Speaking of vending machines, Korea has some of the sweetest vending machines ever, let me tell you that. Why do American ones fail so badly in comparison? Sighs…