“Are you two lovers?”
Minako sighed softly. No, but why do I suddenly wish I could have answered 'yes'?
The way to the radio station was paved clear, surprising for that hour of the day. Or perhaps she was just so lost in her thoughts that traffic seemed to pass by without recognition.
Going around the back way and entering as an employee also helped the dreamlike state of avoiding fans. Before Minako knew it, she was live on the radio (and broadcast over the TVs) and she quickly had to snap out of reverie lest she drool in front of thousands of viewers.
“For those of you who are just tuning in, we are now welcoming Japan's favorite all-time idol, Aino Minako, to Risha's Entertainment Weekly!” Cue cheering fans on the other side of a thick glass panel.
Minako smiled and waved at the camera and the fans. Maybe there was something about those scented candles, Minako's thoughts offered as a reason for her sluggish mindset.
“So!” Risha started, “Let's get it all out into the clear. Your sudden trip home stunned many of us, Minako-chan. What was the reason behind it? A national tour? A new album made from home sweet home?”
Minako remembered just in time what her manager had told her to say. She leaned forward towards the microphone. “Well actually, I suddenly woke up one morning and realized I missed my fans here in Japan, so I thought I spend a week or two here to sing at school dances and charity events and the like, going to my fans instead of letting them come to me, you know? It's also a bit of a vacation from the hectic schedules I have overseas, so I do hope I can have fun with everyone in the mean time.”
Risha seemed momentarily spellbound by this for some reason, but she quickly recovered. “Well! This is certainly a treat! I'm sure the chosen functions will be thanking their lucky stars for the opportunity to hear our Minako-chan sing live just for them. So, Minako-chan, what did you think of your time overseas?”
Minako smiled easily. “Without a doubt, it's an experience I'll take with me to the grave, I've learned so much from both my peers and my rivals, but Japan will always have 'the hometown advantage' in my mind.”
“Quite... And is it true that you were so devoted to your work that you didn't dabble in lovers at all?”
Despite having been asked this several times in the past, Minako could feel a slight blush coming on. She coughed before answering, “Aside from affirming 'yes', I'll leave it at 'no comment'.”
But Risha was persistent. “But surely you had to have met many... willing men, no?”
Minako put on a plastic smile, lest her true one show her desire to pap the woman upside the head and tell her to shut up. “Well... yes... but honestly, I was only really ever interested in... well... a certain someone back home.”
The moment that slipped out Minako knew it was the wrong thing to do. She was immediately hit by a breath-stolen silence from her fans, and the obvious insight of Risha. “Oh? So you have a love here in Japan? Who is it? It's surely someone as famous as you, right? A scandalous affair? A dynamic duo? Come on, Minako-chan, you can't stop there...!”
Minako inwardly sighed, knowing she would get chewed out by her manager for her slip up. All of a sudden, an idea popped into her head, and she prayed that her scapegoat would forgive her for this.
She looked down, using her innate acting talent to put on the most naturally forlorn, lonesome face she could possibly have, and stage whispered, “They are no longer in this world... so I'd rather not talk about them... it would be... an insult to their memory.”
Minako knew her quick acting had worked when a guilty look instantaneously plastered itself onto Risha's face. Had Minako been the sort of woman that relished in the reactions of others... this one might have made it into her mental scrapbooks.
“Ah... erm...” Risha coughed. “In that case... let's move on! Have your favorites changed since you last answered our fans, Minako-chan? Like your favorite color? Or clothing brand?”
Minako smiled easily as she shifted according to her own will. Crisis diverted. For now at least.
“Mm... yeah, at one, can you make it?” Makoto absently swatted at Usagi's outstretched hand before it could reach the cooling half of the pastry.
“Well... I have a 12:00 appointment... but it shouldn't take too long... I think... At Rei's shrine, you said?”
“Mmhmm. Well, I don't think it's that big of a deal if you come a little late... hey, I'm making a special new pastry today- no Usagi, not yet!- ah... it's really good, you know.”
“Ahh... Don't say that now... I've recently had a craving for one of your homemade pastries...”
Makoto laughed. “You know, that's the exact same thing Minako said.”
Ami sighed on the other end. “Well, if I end up not making it... save me some anyway?”
“Are you going to swing by here then?”
“That's what I was thinking... though... how long will the rendezvous last, you think?”
Makoto blew a stray lock of hair out of her eyes. “Oh geez, I don't know. It could last all night, considering the occasion.”
“Oh... well then, I'll make sure to stop by at the shrine after I finish up here.”
A sudden flash of inspiration hit Makoto just then... though why that particular flash hit her was beyond her current knowledge. Still... “Hey... Ami-chan”
The other end paused, obviously suspicious. “What... what is it?”
“You know that...” Makoto glanced at Usagi, who was still trying to sneak a grab at the food. “Place you were talking about before?”
“Which...? Oh no... Mako-chan, you don't seriously-”
“Why not?” Makoto offered with a smile that she was sure Ami could sense. “We're all of mm... legal age...”
“But Mako-chan...”
“You can be my designated driver even. Or it might turn into a massive sleepover...”
“The... students...”
Makoto grinned, knowing she was breaking Ami's resolve. “Rei'll find a way to handle 'em, I'm sure. Come on” Makoto realized she had to wrap this up quick or else Usagi's inquisitive stare would turn into something more... verbal.
“Well... okay... I'll bring it... but if Rei-chan or anyone else says 'no' you have to respect that, all right!”
Makoto laughed. “Of course, of course. So, see you then?”
“How are you getting there?”
“I'll walk; it's not far from here after all. Plus it's not a warm pastry... when it's finished anyway.”
“I look forward to it.”
Makoto nodded into the phone. “Ja ne, Ami-chan.”
“Ja.”
Makoto motioned for Usagi to hang up the phone since her hands were both busy, which Usagi obeyed. Followed by a hopeful puppy look for a 'reward'. Makoto sighed and gave the mostly empty dough bowl to Usagi to lick off as she desired. Which Usagi did with gusto.
As Makoto finished up and set the laden tray in the oven to bake, she washed her hands and then leaned against the wall for a moment, relishing the thought.
Ami-chan's coming And she's going to bring our special friend
Rei leaned against a wooden post, more tired than she'd thought she'd be. It's only the usual cleaning, so why...?
“Rei-sama?” Rei inwardly cursed. I've been found out. Sakura walked up and then paused a few feet behind her sensei. “A package just came for you. Do you want to see it now or should I put it in your room?”
Rei raised an eyebrow. Okay, maybe not. Rei opened her eyes and straightened. “Who is it from?”
Sakura looked at the parcel and scrutinized what was apparently not the best handwriting in the world. “Um... Hino... ah, your father, I think?”
Rei closed her eyes and leaned against the tree again. Oh Kami-sama not another stupid gift-of-the-year... “Stick it in my room for now, I suppose.”
“Okay!” There were patterings of feet as if Sakura were leaving... but then she stopped and turned. “Rei-sama?”
“Mm?”
“Are you... feeling all right?”
Rei cursed under her breath. “I'm fine. Don't you have duties to finish?”
“Ah, yes, of course, I mean, I'll get right to it! But umm... Rei-sama... were you...”
Rei sighed as Sakura trailed off. Knowing she'd regret it, Rei prompted, “Was I what, Sakura-san?”
Sakura gulped. She had never seen her sensei quite so... tired before. There was only one explanation for it. “Were you up late... because of Aino-san? Is that why you're tired?”
Rei's eyes opened halfway. Tired? Do I look tired? “I'm fine. Now git before I make you stay up all night cleaning the bathrooms.”
Sakura 'eep'ed and was out of sight before Rei could even be bothered to look in that direction.
Rei glanced at her watch. It's past noon... I should probably go... eat something...
She looked around the courtyard, finding the other students either dusting, sweeping, or otherwise tidying up the place. She nodded with approval before heading to the kitchen.
Alone, Rei got to thinking about Minako's proposal again. She scoffed to herself. Me? A duo with the Japanese all-star? Even if I was on the same level as her... Rei shook her head. What is that girl thinking
Not to mention what would happen to the shrine... and who says Minako's fans would be my fans? She scoffed again, deciding to forgo actual food and retiring to her room, and her secret stash of Pocky, making sure to lock the door this time.
Why the heck did she even say that? She had to have known I was going to refuse. What could she really have to gain by pairing up with me? It'd only... slow her down.
A Pocky stick received the kiss of doom... as Rei flopped down on the futon that she had somehow forgotten to put away and chomped off half the stick in one fell swoop.
Her sensitive nose twitch as she caught the unmistakable scent... She rolled over without thinking about it.
It filled her in one breath.
Minako's scent.
On her sheets.
Rei cursed, rolling over again, the other way.
Somehow, it was there too. Or was it coming from behind her...?
She growled, scratching her head furiously as if the distraction would be enough to ward off... the snippets of dreams she had had going to bed last night... when Minako...
She twisted, not wanting to lie in the same position she had... woken up in that morning...
Even if only half the dream had really contained dialogue, there was only one snippet of a quote that Rei now remembered of it... though the actions were so often repeated... almost night after night... they had burned their way into her soul... like a sinful brand.
Rei... unknowingly wrapping herself in the entanglements of dreams and slumber, wrestled with herself and the attempt to ward off the dreams.
But it wanted to engulf her... and the desire that fueled it was stronger than Rei's... too strong, in fact.
She didn't even hear her students raise a ruckus in the distance.
She didn't hear them calling her name, searching for her.
She didn't hear the jiggling of her door, affirming that it was locked.
She was too lost for that.
But when the door was opened with the spare-key-in-case-of-emergencies on the grounds that Rei hadn't answered at all no matter how much they pounded?
When an all too familiar scent attacked her senses like a monstrous tsunami?
When that sweet voice was calling her name, in tune with shaking?
She felt herself loosen her hold on the Dream World, or vice versa.
Just in time to hear Minako whisper, bent low, surely, “Wakey-wakey- Rei-chan We've got a sweet little treat here for you that even you can't turn down...”
Just in time for it to register that Minako was there, in person, in the flesh, right in her face.
The latter didn't truly register until she had tried to sit up quickly in her startled surprise...
And ended up getting retro CPR from a very wide-eyed idol.
Goodness knows, Rei's students were certainly surprised.
“Hey,” one whispered in the silence that followed, “I thought they said they weren't lovers?”
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