Chou

Yamada Ryosuke.

The 19-year-old boy haven't moved a bit since five minutes ago. The most popular member from Johnny's Hey! Say! JUMP, who's now on the most comfortable zone of his life are now feeling numb. Ryosuke, is on the roll past these years, dramas, concerts, CM, and he even got an offer to play in a movie, as the main character. Nothing could go wrong, everything is fine, but not until today. The boy stares at his hands for a couple of minutes already.

"Yama-chan, what is this all about?" Yabu, the oldest one in the group said, taking a seat beside him on the sofa. "Ah, yabu-kun. Um-" The other members focused on Yabu, after 5 minutes of silence before. "It was probably a crazy fan" Takaki bursted, folding his arms together, leaning at the wall. All of them used to come to the office after their dance practice every thursday, but it was very rare for them for having a guest. Not too many people are allowed to get in, anyway. "Can you tell me, with details guys?" Yabu asked. He just got back from the cafeteria for lunch and got a call from Chinen.

"Did you see a girl when you came in? Outside? Sitting on the waiting room?" Keito asked. "E-? Now that you mention it, I think I saw someone.. with a baby" Keito nodded, with a serious face. "Um, that girl-She, umm- She said, the baby was yama-chan's..."

"What?"

Chinen stopped at Yabu's 'what'. "Yes, that girl claimed that, she had done 'it' accidentaly, with Yama-chan" Hikaru continued. "Are you kidding me?" Yabu said, with a small laugh. "The bar" Yamada stopped him.

"Do you remember? When we're all going to the bar for Hikaru-kun's hatachi? You guys left me there right?" He almost sounded frightened.

"Oi Yamada, you can't be serious, right? We thought you were going back home already-" Takaki stopped leaning on the wall.

"That time... that time I was drunk"

"what the..." Yuto is getting worried by listening to the scared tone.

"I remember her. I was rather, feeling down that day. But you guys forced me to go. And then, I stayed there, I didn't notice that you guys are going home. I drank a lot that night.. And then, I met her. That girl outside."

"Yama-chan..." Chinen frowned.

"Then, what?" Yabu asked firmly.

"I think, we were both drunk. It was my first time drinking, though. I swear, I don't remember anything, everything went black. And the only thing I remember was waking up in a hotel room"

"Fuzaken janai yo! You never tell us about this!" Yabu stood up angrily.

"Yabu-kun, wait... listen to yama-chan's story first" Inoo tapped his shoulder, and asked him to sit down again. "I- I panicked. I woke up alone. But, I don't remember anything. I can't remember. So i'm not sure what happened. I never thought it would become like this. I didn't even know her. So I ran back home that morning. I.. I don't know" Yamada buried his troubled face in his palms.

"This is, really bad. I can't believe it" Daichi finally spoke, after listening to all his younger friend's confession. "But, Yama-chan didn't even know what happened, right?" Yamada turned his face to Chinen who defended him. "Yeah, maybe it was.. just a crazy fan" Keito added. "That's why, I said I can't believe it" Daichi sat on the single chair near the door. "Minna.." Yamada feel a little lightened by those words.

"Let's just hope, nothing happened." Yabu said. "For now, let's call the girl in, okay? Settle this down, and everything might be just fine" He added.

Yamada nodded, without saying a word. He's really confused. And the thing with having a child? A baby? That's just out of the question. That can't be true. He closed his eyes, trying to calm himself down.

"And, after that- we have to talk" Yabu said, while opening the front door. Everyone sat on the sofa. There's two sofa facing each other with a desk inbetween them. This room used to be the place for them to relax while waiting for the manager. The door opened, and a girl stepped in.

The girl have a proportional figure, even though she's a little short. A nice light skin tone added more points for her. She had a shoulder-length black straight hair, with a puffy bangs. She bowed before she lifted her face. Her face, was even added more points for her, the tiredness couldn't hide her beauty. She looked just like a mature university student. She's carrying a baby in her arms. A healthy baby-boy. Maybe about 6 months old. "Excuse me" She nodded, looking down to her shoes. "Dozo" Yabu said, asking her to sit on the sofa, in front of Yamada and the others.

"It's really you" Yamada said, still amazed with the girl's appearance. He remembered a little bit about the girl he saw that night at the bar. If she's not carrying a baby, she would probably be chased by a lot of young mens outside.

"So, you remember me?" The girl asked. "My name is Fuyumi Arimura" She introduced herself in a brave tone. Yabu silently stood up and gave a sign for everyone to get out of the room. Even though this could be a fake thing from a crazy fan, Yamada have to face it. "Okay, now- please tell me what is the real problem here" Yamada said while looking at everyone going out of the room.

"The problem is, I want you to take your responsibility" She's really the "get-to-the-point" type.

"This boy here, is your son"

If he coud, he would laugh at this and send this girl out. Call a a security or something. But, this girl seemed so sure about it. "that can't be true" Yamada spoke the most logical response for this situation. "That night, do you remember?" The girl named Fuyumi asked. "Yes! Yes, I remember, we were drunk and all. It's been so long, you know. It was like, 2 years? 2 years ago! And I didn't even remember, I don't remember doing anything to you" the tone was raised. "You can't deny it, whatever you say" Fuyumi insisted.

"You can't be serious"

Yamada took a look at the boy for a bit. He's sleeping, in this girl's arms. He already grew a little strands of hair on his tiny head. The baby looked so cute, he's a little fat, but looked healthy. His chubby cheecks shows circle shades of redness. "this baby? Mine? No way. It can't be..." Yamada thought, while looking at the sleeping baby.

"Please, don't mess with me—okay? I'm sure you have no proof or anything on it, right? So lady—"

"If you won't admit it and take the responsibility of what you've done, I'll tell everyone" The girl suddenly spoke, stopping Yamada.

"Eh? What? Chotto—"

"I can tell the media"

"What the heck? Are you threatening me!?" Yamada said, feeling a little cornered down. "I am, because I know I was right. I have never, NEVER done it with anyone else. So it must be you! That night at the bar"

"CHOTTO MATTE YO!" Yamada is getting angry.

"How can you be so sure!? Do you even know how am I feeling now!? Don't you ever—ever tell the media anything about this!"

"What? Are you afraid?" The girl frowned at him. She looked really tired, and stressed at the same time.

Yes.

Actually, the answer is yes. Yamada's hands were trembling. He's now afraid of something that he didn't know. He can't remember, he's trying hard to remember what could have happened that night, but there;s nothing popped in his head. Did he, really—done it?

"Are you afraid of losing everything? Your fame, your fans, your mo—"

"SHUT UP!"

Yamada stood up and shouted at the girl in front of him.

"Hu-Huwaaaaaaaaa~ Aaaaaa~"

The baby in the girl's arms suddenly woke up, because of yamada's anger. "Eh!" Both of them get shocked at the baby's cry. "Waaaaaaaaa" Yamada stopped, and looked at the baby's crying face. "Heeey~ don't cry. Mommy's here" Fuyumi stroked the baby's head, trying to calm him down. "Gomen ne" she said, with a sad tone. Yamada slowly sat back on his seat. "Sorry" he said.

The room was filled with silence except the baby's faint cry. He finally stopped slowly. "I think he's getting sleepy again. Thank God" Fuyumi said, breaking the silence. "He's really cute" Yamada smiled a little, that made Fuyumi fell silent, and keep nursing the little lad. "I'm sorry, i'm just—really confused. You have to understand" He said. "I'm still not sure, okay. You came so suddenly and telling me these stuffs" There's no answer from Fuyumi.

"I Just, don't wanna trouble my friends"

Fuyumi lifted his face, looking at yamada's worried face. He's definitely scared of what could affect Hey! Say! JUMP from this rumor. Not only for himself. He didn't even know if this is really his fault.

"Please understand. Don't tell anyone or any media, magazines or anything—okay?" Yamada is feeling a little hopeless, that he have to beg for it.

"Okay" the girl finally replied.

Yamada sighed, feeling a little relieved. "I just want him to meet his father" She said. Her face looked a little sad. "Oh God, what have I done. Is this really happening?" Yamada closed his eyes and whispered to himself. "What do you want, from me? Why now? Why didn't you tell me before?"

"Do you think it's easy to contact a star like you? I didn't get here by just walking inside, I;ve done a lot to meet you, okay? And why now? because—i know it would ruin your life if you knew before, right?"

"what's the difference?" Yamada said, looking straight at the girl's eyes.

"Everyone. Everyone didn't want me to have him. This child. Everyone told me to give him away. And you must be one of them, if you knew earlier. I just want you to be responsible for what you;ve done" She answered smartly.

"For God's sake, I told you—i don't even remember—"

Yamada stopped, looking at the little baby in front of him. The traces of tears were still visible on his little cheeks. "Please, just give me a little time to think" Yamada bowed his head. "I'm really sorry, please try to understand me" he added. Of all things, he never thought about having a baby, in such young age.

"I—I'm not lying. I've been raising him alone since he was born. My parents didn't agree with the idea of having a child at my age. So I live alone, now—"

"Here" Yamada handed her a small paper note.

"What's this?" Fuyumi carefully moved her right hand and held the baby with his left hand. She found out that what's on the paper, is yamada's email and phone-number. Also an adress below the numbers. "What's this?" She asked one more time.

"My email, my phone-number and my apartement room number" He said.

"Contact me, if you need any help. Just, give me time to think about it. Okay?"

Yamada asked, again for the third time. He only asked her for a time to think. The girl nodded, at least he knew that yamada has taken this seriously. "Then, i'll be off" the girl stood up, fixed the brown bag that was hanging on her shoulder, while keeping the balance for the sleeping baby in her arms. She already made her point. "Please don't tell anyone about this" Yamada said, stopping the girl right in front of the exit. "Okay" She said.

"Ah, and—one more thing. What's his name?" Yamada asked.

The girl turned around, looking at him. "Chou" She simply answered. "Shitsureishimasu" She hurriedly left the room. Leaving Yamada with confusion, and worries. What will happen next?

"Fuyumi Arimura, 22 years old. She lives on a cheap apartement on Keiyo Line, Shin-kiba station" The room was now filled with 10 people again now, after Fuyumi left. "Hikaru-kun, how did you know?" Ryutaro asked. "Me? I know everything" Hikaru grinned at confused ryutaro. Everyone was very confused, especially Yamada, who's bowing his head and sighed.

"I, swear I didn't know what I was doing. I'm not sober. I'm so sorry"

"Yama-chan" Yuto tapped his friend's shoulder. "Okay, we understand. I think you can't really think about it right now" Yabu snapped. "Yeah, you should go home and rest" Said Daiki. "Thanks everyone" That's what he's been waiting for. He wanted to go home and sleep. They just did a performance on a TV show, and when they got to the office, there's a random girl who claimed that she had a child from him. The troubled lad stood up, took his bag and walked to the door.

"Um, And.. one more thing" He stopped at the door. "I promise I would do everything to prevent that girl to say anything to the media. I promise nobody would won't ruin our group" He hurriedly walked out and went home.

This is my email

I'm sorry for troubling you today

Fuyumi.

"Fuyumi, huh." Yamada rolled on his couch, looking at his cellphone's screen. He's currently living alone in an apartement in Tokyo. He had been saving up for this. The members are clearly allowed to live with their parents, but he just wanted to live closer to their work-place to be more focused on the job. And he's almost 20 years old, so his mom allowed him to live alone.

"Ah, what's the deal with this? What did I do?" He spoke to himself, looking at big TV screen in front of him. I just need to calm down, and think. The 19-years-old boy closed his eyes, and think about the baby he saw this evening. Could it be? His own child? "That made no sense at all" Actually, yes. Yes, he's really afraid of losing everything. Of all things, having a child? He's not even thinking of marrying someone in his young age.

"But that girl, how did she manage to raise him alone?"

Yamada looked at his cellphone, and pressed the reply button.

The next day.

Ding

Yamada hurriedly opened the door, responsing to the door bell's ring. "Yes, come in" He opened the door to find the troubled face of a girl, with a cute baby with her, like yesterday's evening. She's looking rather fresh today, her long straight hair is tied, a little hidden with a pretty maroon scarf. unlike the tired face the other day. "Excuse me" She bowed, then pulled off her shoes. She stood there for a moment. Looking at Yamada's apartement, it's kinda big for his age. It's really spacious and neat. "Come sit over here" She snapped out of her thoughts when the owner asked her to come to the living room in front of her to sit down.

"I'm sorry I called you over" Yamada said, while fixing his red sweater to avoid awkwardness between them. He sat in front of the two.

Any fang

"There's no schedule for today?" Fuyumi asked with concern. Makes him wonder if this is the same girl from yesterday. "Nope, fortunately. Today's my day off" He answered. "Konnichiwa, Chou-kun" Yamada smiled to the staring baby in front of him. That made the girl smiled, stroking the child's hair.

"So, um—i'm so—"

"I'm sorry"

Yamada interrupted fuyumi's sentence. "Eh?"

"I'm sorry for my selfish behaviour" He apologized, looking straight at the girl's eyes. "But I still can't remember what we did that night. But I want to help you—" He felt a little doubt, but then he continued. "I'll be responsible. But just, tell me. How. Because, I really have no idea what to do now" Fuyumi frowned, she almost feel bad for him. He sound so hopeless and confused as well. "P-please calm down. I—it's not like i'm asking you to marry me or anything" She said with a trembling voice. Yamada lifted his eyebrows. "No, i'm not. I just want you to know that Chou exist. He needs you" Fuyumi sighed, looking at the baby's big brown eyes. "Heeee!" The baby laughed, trying to reach his mother's face with his tiny hands.

"When I know I was pregnant. I know that I won't be accepted In my house anymore. My father was so strict. And I can't tell him about who did this to me, or anything else." She began to tell her story. "I don't want to do an abortion. Even though everybody told me to do so. But I really can't. And I don't want to gave him up"

"So I, I ran away from home and live alone. I did everything alone. Until I gave birth to him. I work in some places to get money for our apartement. My mom called sometimes, but I never told her about where i'm staying though."

"Why... didn't you ask anyone for help?" Yamada asked. He couldn't belive she could survive through that alone. It must be very hard for her.

"I can't. Nobody is going to help me"

"Why didn't you look for me or something?"

"I just did. That's why I came. Because I can't take it anymore" She said, giving a little realization to the boy in front of him. "I didn't say I can't take care of Chou anymore, I just wanted him to know you. I'm so tired" So that's why she looked so exhausted yesterday.

BRAK

Fuyumi's eyes widened when Yamada pounded the table with his fist.

"Of course you can't take it! Are you kidding me? You're what—20 years old?" He shouted. "Why didn't you come earlier? It's not easy to live alone, especially with such a big responsibility like this" Fuyumi is a little confused of what he's trying to say. "From now on, you can call me when you need help! I'll do what I can do. Okay!" he almost sound more like an angry guy than a concerned person. But that made fuyumi smiled a little. "Right" She laughed a bit.

"Hey! I'm being serious here"

The girl stopped laughing, and feel a little relieved. "I'm sorry, for the threatening words yesterday" She said. Yamada just gave her a little nod. "Chounosuke"

"Eh, Nani?"

"That's his name. Chounosuke Arimura. On the birth certificate" Fuyumi said, her face looked a little red. "Eh? Did you—name him from a bit of my name's—"

"Well, just call him Chou. And mine is Fuyumi Arimura"

"I know already, you've introduced yourself yesterday. Arimura-san" Yamada said smirked a little. "Well I thought you'd forgot, since i'm sure I looked like a crazy fangirl"

"Nah. So—um. Yoroshiku" Yamada said.

Fuyumi nodded awkwardly. The little baby yawned, closing his eyes. "Eh? I think he's sleepy~" Yamada said looking at him. "Un, well. He's always like this. He woke up at 5 and goes to sleep again 9 am, like now." She said. "Heeee—i see"

"Well, I think i'll be leaving now" Fuyumi stood up.

"Eh—already?"

"Um. Hai. I need to go to work, in 2 hours later" She said.

"A—okay. Um, don't forget to call me if you need help" Yamada walked her towards the front door. "Okay—ugh" Fuyumi seemed to be having difficulty in putting on her shoes while carrying Chou. "Um, here" Yamada strangely offered his help to carry the baby. She gave the sleepy child to Yamada, and hurriedly trying to put her shoes on.

"Hm~ babies are so small na~" He muttered while he put Chou in his arms. Looking at the little lad's face, he still can't believe that it's his, but somehow he feels really bad for this innocent child to live like this. "Well, of course he is. He's just 9 months old" Fuyumi said, taking Chou from Yamada. "Well—" Fuyumi bowed.

"Arigatou" She smiled again at him.