Hello there, I hope I've caught your attention! This is my first story, so it might not be really good, but enjoy!
Warning: OOC and AU world. Some fans might not like this, and I'm really sorry for that.
Going Down
Chapter 1
~Game Plan~
"And we are now introducing the all-time famous singer, Harune Aira!" A host called into his microphone, though his voice barely passed through the loud screaming of the crowd below him. Doors opened magnificently and a redhead walked out, her aura seemingly shimmering around her. The girl waved, and the audience screamed more, squealing something along the lines of 'Aira' and 'We love you'.
"Sit, sit!" The host invited, gesturing to an empty swivel chair beside the one he was sitting at. Aira walked over to it, her heels clicking loudly against the smooth surface of the stage, and set herself down. She raised her head and waved once more, her cheeks tilted up into a friendly smile, causing a wave of screams and squeals to rise again. The host laughed into his microphone, extending a hand for Aira to shake. She gladly took it, flipping on one of her glamorous smiles. The host wasted no time once the crowd died down and asked questions almost immediately.
"So, Aira, what inspired you to become a singer?" He asked, and Aira raised her own microphone to her mouth. Her shoulder-length red hair that was twisted into a simple ponytail hung limply on her right shoulder as her equally red eyes fixed onto the host's, her perfectly manicured fingernails catching everyone's eye.
"Well … I guess, mother? She always wanted me to be a singer, plus I had the ability … so, why not?"
The host nodded appreciatively. "So … liking red, huh? Is that your favourite colour?"
Aira found herself smiling by herself. Red was her favourite colour, yes. And she made sure that it was obvious. Hence, Red nail-polish and Red outfit, along with Red lipstick. She nodded. "Yes! It represents me, I guess, fiery and passionate. I was often teased for my red hair and red eyes in elementary school so I hated the colour, but not anymore! It is now my signature colour, after pink."
"That's really great. Okay, last question. Dating yet?"
Aira bit her lip to stop a frown from invading her lips. "N-no." She hated that question, because her answer always made her sound so ... lonely. And besides, her manager won't let her date anyone in case it gets in the way of her idol career. "I don't want to get into a relationship with anyone at the moment, because I may have more problems and stress, like if my boyfriend would run away with another girl. ... At least, that's what normal girlfriends worry about?"
The crowd laughed, along with the host, who burst into a hearty chuckle. "Dating doesn't bring stress and problems, Aira ... it actually makes you happy. I have a wife myself, and I think my life would be incomplete without her." The crowd 'aww'ed, and Aira laughed a little just to be polite.
You don't know how it's like to be an idol. Your life is perfect, but mine isn't.
"Okay, time is running out, and it is a culture," The crowd laughed again at this, "to end a show with a quote, or a promise from our guest! Harune, please?" He gestured his microphone to Aira.
Aira raised it slowly to her mouth again, her brain working furiously for a line. Finally, she found it. "One day, I'll find the perfect guy to date." The crowd cheered and the host whistled. "But," She added with an emphasis so that the audience with quiet down, "I don't believe in love." She turned to the camera and looked directly into it. "Make me." The crowd cheered and cat-called, while the host laughed once more and patted Aira lightly on the arm.
"Well said, Aira! Now our fanboys will be working hard! Thanks for watching our Idols' talk show!"
Lies. All of them. Lies, lies, lies. Never the truth.
Aira is sick. She is really sick of this whole mask, the mask of friendliness. Manager demanded that she act friendly onstage in case she scares off her fans. Seriously? Some fans like singers with 'mysterious' auras, Aira had argued. Perhaps more fans will come her way once she acts really cold and aloof. Of course, manager had not agreed. She protested more and literally flung Aira out from her office.
Her pocket vibrated. Aira whipped out her phone, and found forty-one new messages. Most of them were praises about how she did well on the talk show, but a certain message caught her eye. It was from manager, as usual. Maybe she said something wrong.
Meet me at the office at ten. Quick.
Aira shook her head, walking to the back entrance where an assistant and her limo would be waiting for her. She opened the door and soon enough, her personal assistant, Rizumu Amamiya, was standing there in her business suit. At the sight of Aira, Rizumu was bouncing with happiness. She grabbed Aira by the arm and began pulling her to the limo, where the doorman had the door open and ready for Aira.
"Oh, you were brilliant in that talk show!" Rizumu gushed, fanning her face with her hands. "Your demeanour, Aira, I think I've fallen in love with it! I mean, the way you started saying that you didn't believe in love, I think I felt a drip of blood trickle down from my nose! But ... what was that about love? I think you'll be in great trouble with manager? Oh look, you are. You are to be in her office at ten." Rizumu stopped babbling and pulled up her sleeve to check the time. "It's nine o' clock now ... we still have time! Hop on in!" Rizumu gestured to the door of the limo, where the doorman bowed on cue. Aira wordlessly stepped in before Rizumu did, and with a click and a start of the engine, the car swerved off into the night.
Manager slammed her hands on the table, leaning in so she was face-to-face with Aira. "I thought we discussed this." Her voice was shaking slightly with anger and frustration. "You will 'fall in love' with a certain singer, real or fake, I don't care. And you're a friendly and kind singer. Do you know that the last few lines gave away your whole facade?" Manager hissed, her glasses slipping off her nose slightly. Manager straightened her composure and pushed her glasses back into place. Rizumu tilted her head, looking on curiously.
"Is this some sort of rebellion, Aira?" Rizumu asked, her hazel eyes travelling to Aira and lingering, a faint smile on her lips like good job. Her orange hair that was tied into a messy bun was falling apart as she pressed her head against the wall. But Rizumu didn't seem to notice, or care.
Aira nodded slowly and hesitantly, wondering if she would be kicked out if she nodded. No worries, she assured herself, because there are plenty of companies out there who want her working for them. But she didn't need more public attention adding up to the large pile that is simply known as 'Aira's many worries and stresses' and provide her, well, more stress.
Manager actually hissed, like a snake. She eyed Aira with an equally 'snake-ish' glare, meaning that it was venomous. Aira stared right back, playing along with manager's game. "Aira. Please." Manager said in a calm voice that didn't go with her clenched fists or sharp breaths at all. "I need you to cooperate for just a month. Is it really that hard? Just ... for a while? Please, Aira. It's for your sake, my sake, the company's sake, everyone's sake. Please. I know how it feels."
You don't know. Do you? No, you don't. You don't know anything. You all don't know. Nobody knows. Only I know, and it'll remain that way forever. Continue lying, but you won't know. What do you know? What do you want to know?
"F-fine." Aira managed, averting her gaze to the floor. Rizumu tapped her heels on the floor, and the atmosphere was quiet and awkward until manager broke the silence.
"Aira ... you're going to go on a cruise with the famous singer, Shou Yoshida."
