| Fan Fiction |
by biniBningPunkista
Erika invited me and Toma for a late night dinner fest to try the newest menu in her restaurant and to celebrate our one month non-singleness.
When I got in the restaurant’s kitchen Toma was already sitting at the kitchen counter, and then my mouth started to water when I smelled the aroma of pasta ala bien as Erika called it, which I have no idea what’s in it but smells really delicious. Toma had gyudon with several stuff that’s too hard to pronounce but looks great as well. Erika got some champagne from the wine bar while Toma and I waited on the kitchen counter. The restaurant was closed so we had the place to ourselves.
“So why didn’t you bring Shota with you? I could have brought Saeko with me you know… where is Abe senpai by the way?” Toma asked Erika and me as he went digging in his gyudon.
“Silly! This is just for the three of us. I miss having your company… I mean just the two of you. It’s been awhile since we’ve spent time together just the three of us.” Erika muttered before taking a forkful of pasta.
I smiled inwardly, Abe was in a business meeting that day that it felt good spending time with just the two of them.
“That’s good to hear, you still haven’t forgotten us.” I smirked at Erika.
“Of course I won’t. How are you and Abe senpai anyway?” She asked me with a raised eye brow.
I looked at her and Toma with an annoyed look.
“Why do you guys keep on asking about my relationship when I know you just want to ask yourselves, “How is my relationship compared to Mao’s?”, I know what you guys are thinking. Both of you are bakas. All I could say is life is good. It’s great actually. The sex is good.” I winked at both of them.
They both looked at each other then suddenly burst out laughing. I can’t help laughing along with them. It was contagious.
“You’re still you Mao. I thought you’re sick or got abducted by an alien or something...” Toma motioned.
“Why did you say that?” I asked him, but then Erika answered me instead.
“You know Mao, this guy here…” she put an arm on Toma’s shoulder.
“…just misses you.”
Toma coughed out his food while I almost dropped the pasta I was about to shove into my mouth when Erika mentioned this.
“Eh…..??? Who said I miss this baka?” He said while pointing his thumb at me.
“Me, because you’ve been asking about her a lot... let's see... since weeks ago? Come on Toma, let’s just admit it. We do miss Mao don’t we? I seldom get to spend time with her now ever since she got hooked up with Abe.”
Toma gave out an exaggerated sigh.
“Souka… fine. I miss this brat.” He hugged me side ways while looking at Erika.
“No one’s finishing up my left overs in the fridge, no more unnecessary phone calls and no more late night crash outs in my pad. I so miss Mao.” He said sarcastically that I hit him on his head.
“Hey! That hurts you know.” He muttered at me while rubbing his head.
“You’re fault for missing me Toma-kun.” I stuck my tongue out at him.
I wonder why my heart gave a leap when Erika suddenly mentioned that. Toma missing me was not something new, but hearing this felt really good inside.
We ate comfortably that night and shared out more laughter that the three of us missed out for the past weeks. Then Erika raised her glass and said…
“This is for our love life.”
“This is for our undying friendship.” Toma joined in and raised his glass with Erika.
“And this is for... for the three of us. May we live life as we want it to be.” I muttered.
“That is so you Mao.” Toma smirked at me.
“Shut up.” I told Toma while smiling.
“For love, friendship and life... cheers!” Erika shouted.
“Cheers!!!” The three of us shouted at the same time and downed our drinks.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A mini work studio was set up especially for me at the back of the gallery. Due to some unknown inspiration that came out of nowhere, I started working on a final piece for the last night of my gallery show and was making final touch ups when Aoi burst inside my place with Tamaki sempai behind her.
“Nani? What’s wrong?” I asked her worriedly because her face was registered with a panicked look.
“Mao!!! I need you!!! Please help me…” Aoi pleaded helplessly while holding my paint streaked hands not minding that her own hands were getting painted.
“Eh…? How can I help?”
“I need you to model for me.” She said straight out with a pleading look on her face.
“Nande??? Are you serious???” I looked at her then at Tamaki sempai then back at her.
“I am seriously serious Mao!!! I need you to model for me for my next week’s run way.”
“Are you crazy? In case you’re forgetting Aoi that’s my gallery show’s last night!!! And besides, although I love clothes and walking on the street like a model, I’ve never done something like that in my entire life.” I said to her bewildered.
“About that…” she looked at Tamaki sempai and motioned to him to say something.
“I made several arrangements for that Mao.” Tamaki sempai said with out a trace worry on his face.
“What do you mean by you’ve made arrangements about that?! Don’t tell me that you cancelled my show just for Aoi???” I looked at him accusingly while Aoi pouted at me.
“Of course not!” Aoi said defensively for Tamaki sempai’s account.
“He would never do that to you or to me or to any associate he has. By arrangement, he meant that he did something that a manager normally would never do.” This time, Aoi was grinning at me widely.
“What exactly does this ARRANGEMENT mean?” I asked Tamaki sempai suspiciously.
“Basically, we have set your paintings on the runway show. It was also Aoi’s idea… she wanted to have your paintings as walls on the runway. So before and after the show, people would be looking around instead of waiting. Since you would be a model you could also be on the spotlight at the same time with Aoi. You would also be introduced not just a model but a painter as well. Who knows what could happen after this? It’s hitting two birds with one stone. With this proposition Mao, it’s all in the water. It has never been done and it could be a one time event if it isn’t successful, I’m ready to take the risk. So what do you think?”
After Tamaki sempai’s explanation, I was at awe with the idea. It was wroth a risk, but also not that feasible that I started to unconsciously fidget with my hands as I thought about it.
I could be a model and at the same time be an artist… and it’s a one time show. I also don’t have to worry much about the paintings since almost all of it is already sold. What do I got to lose?
“Aoi, why me? Why bug someone like me with a 5’2 stance instead of someone who’s really tall, glamorous and more model like?” I asked her with a tinge of insecurity in my voice.
“Are you even INOUE MAO??? Where is that self confidence I saw when I first met you? I chose YOU because you are a natural. I need someone who is normal and a natural. I don’t want my clothes to be worn by just the top people in the industry, I want it to be worn by normal people, someone who’s a real person and not just a wannabe, confident and definitely has a feel good attitude on clothes.” Aoi was making gestures with her hands to let me imagine the things she was saying to me. I can’t help but smile at her. I was half wondering with myself if she just said all those things to let me agree on being a model for her.
“Just say yes Inoue. This conversation will not be over until you say yes.” Tamaki sempai said to me before I even opened my mouth to agree.
“Souka… just don’t expect me to be good on the runway Aoi. You know I hate cocky people. I will be bitching with those models if they start acting like queens.” I warned Aoi as she started shrieking and hugging me in delight that she almost got paint on her lovely dress. I caught Tamaki sempai give a small smile. He also had a relieved look on his face although he tried hiding that expression from me.
“Thank you very much Mao! You’re simply the best. I’ll see you tomorrow for the briefing. Ja!” Aoi waved at me as she and Tamaki went out of the door.
That’s when I realized that she was indicating about tomorrow. I still haven’t finished with my artwork and I have nothing to wear! I had put both hands on my face unconsciously while thinking about these things forgetting that my hands were full of wet paint.
“Shit!!!”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The runway building was just a few blocks away from my apartment. It wasn’t that hard to find and I was the earliest comer. As I entered the lobby the female receptionist who was wearing her hair in a bun and cat rimmed glasses asked what my purpose was.
“I’m a model.” I told her.
She looked me over head to foot with doubt on her face.
“Ummm… who’s your employer?” she made a click on the computer while waiting for my response.
“Miyazaki Aoi.” After saying this she gave me a knowing look on her face.
“Souka… miss Miyazaki is one of a kind ne? I thought you were kidding when you said you were a model because of your… ummm… stature.”
God this woman doesn’t know how to be tactful. I know I’m not that tall but there was no need to rub it on my face.
I just shrugged at her and asked where the runway back stage was. When I got in it was partially full of clothes for the runway and mirror drawers with lots of make up kits. There were a couple of chairs strewn over the place and some workers were setting up the room for the incoming models. Then suddenly a bright cheerful 12 year old looking girl appeared at my side. She had a black fitted shirt on, cargo khaki pants and rubber shoes. Her hair was in a high neon green ponytail.
“Hi! I’m Hikaru and I would be you’re PA for the rest of the show. You’re Inoue Mao right? I’ve been in your gallery a couple of weeks ago and I love your art work. It was so nice of Aoi-sempai to make me your assistant. I’m relatively good in arranging clothes, hair style and make up. I’m also an artist and designer myself. I just don’t know whether I like hair and make up better or designing. So I went under Aoi’s wing to be trained and see where I’m really good at.”
The girl was talking non-stop and telling me things relative to the show, but I’m still doubting if she’s really going to be my PA.
“Ano… Hikaru, how old are you?” I asked her in a cautious tone so as not to imply anything.
“Oh… I’m 21.” She said casually as if it was normal.
This Hikaru girl was so cute nonetheless that I couldn’t help but smile, although it was weird that she was so small for a 21 year old.
“Are you sure you’re really a stylist? You look a lot more like an elementary student!” I exclaimed at her as I stifled a giggle.
“I knew you would say that. God! I always get those from people… and I’m not actually wondering why. I’ll show you how good I am when the runway starts, for now let’s go and find a seat for the briefing.” She winked at me and pulled my arm to the nearest seat as more models come in.
I think I’m going to like the company of this girl.
~To Be Continued~
This is purely a fan-fiction.
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FYI: I kind of got lost while thinking of how to maintain Mao and Toma's character in here... thanks for the inspiration everyone/minna san!!! you got my imaginative side on the roll again.. Till the next chapter… Ja ne!
-biniBningPunkista