Scoop II – The journalist in love
Act II: Osaka
Scene I: Friday morning the following week at the train station
–Ohayo minna! I'm sorry if I made you wait! Kaho, I can't believe you got here before me!?...
Nami greeted her friend in her usual affectionate manner.
– …I guess it's probably Ousaki-senpai's influence, ne? Oh, that dress is really lovely; I told you it would suit you!
Ousaki couldn't help chuckling. That girl still talked nineteen to the dozen! At least she had enough cheerfulness to make up for Len's sobriety.
Len had watched her arrival but now turned his face away from them and pretended to be absorbed in the train timetable.
Kahoko noticed this.
–I think Tsukimori-kun wants a hug too!
He looked back indignantly.
–I do not!
Nami moved closer to him, smiling slyly.
–Don't worry; I won't compromise your reputation! You never know if there are paparazzis following you, right?!
They all laughed except for Len as they boarded the Shinkansen to Osaka.
Scene II: At the front desk of the Limegrove hotel
The hotel lobby was buzzing. Nami thought that the staff was rushing about its duties, as efficiently as bees. The girl at the front desk looked a little tired but welcomed them with a smile. She eyed the four of them as they started filling out forms; they looked like they might be willing to help her…
–Sumimasen, I know that you all asked for single rooms but, right now, we are being overwhelmed with requests from tourists and people attending the music festival, and… since you two are a couple…
She looked at Kahoko and Ousaki, then at Len and Nami.
–… and you two as well… would it be alright if I offered you two double rooms instead?
They stared at each other and dropped sweat...
Nami was the first to recover.
–I'm sure Kaho and I won't mind sharing a room, if that could help you…
–In that case, Tsukimori-san and I will take the other one.
The girl beamed at them gratefully.
–Thank you so much all of you. Please enjoy your stay!
Scene III: Inside Memorial park, not far from the hotel.
The two girls made their way to the amphitheatre situated in a lovely corner of the park.
–Wow, it's huge!
Kahoko went down the steps with her violin case until she stood on the sunken platform.
–But it's perfect for playing music I'm sure.
She took her violin out and started playing Pachelbel's canon.
Nami sat down on one of the stone terraces and relaxed as she listened to her friend's gentle music.
She was the one who proposed the idea of exploring Memorial Park after lunch, as it was the chosen venue for Saturday's concert. Len and Ousaki agreed to join them later as they first had to meet the organisers of the festival.
The afternoon sun was so warm that she felt inclined to lie down fully on the terrace and close her eyes. She wished she had brought a blanket she could spread so that her blouse wouldn't get dusty. She yawned.
–This is as close to heaven as I'll get today!
Kahoko smiled and played one lovely tune after another.
Nami's little nap was suddenly disturbed by the sound of someone's clapping. She raised herself slowly and peered at the newcomer. It was a man in his late twenties, with chestnut brown hair and a friendly smile.
He came down the steps and addressed himself to Kahoko.
–That was a beautiful performance!
–A… Arigato!
–My name is Aki Tennouji, I'm a local journalist.
–I'm Kahoko Hino and this is my friend Nami Amou.
Nami came down to greet him.
–It's a pleasure to meet another journalist. I'm a freelance at the moment… may I ask which paper you work for?
–Er… the Osaka Daily.
He turned towards Kahoko.
–You must have been practicing for the festival, right?
–Iie… I'm not a participant, although Nami and I are attending the festival.
–Not a participant? It's hard to believe. You play very well Hino-san. And your violin looks just as attractive as you!
Kahoko blushed from his charming smile.
–Would you mind if I take a look at it?
She handed him the violin.
Mmmm… How intriguing… I can't see any sign that would allow me to know its origin or make… I can't even tell if it's old or new… and I've never seen a golden string on a violin… Mmmm… Most unusual…
–It seems like a special violin Hino-san. It's a shame you're not playing in the two concerts.
–Ah, but my friends are. They are much better! Oh, here they come!
Ousaki and Len had reached the amphitheatre and were surprised to see the girls chatting with a stranger. They came down to be introduced.
Aki Tennouji greeted them cheerfully and they talked about the festival. He suggested going to a nearby coffee shop for afternoon tea, and the four couldn't find a reason to say no.
Scene IV: At the coffee shop
Nami couldn't help observing him throughout the afternoon. He knew a lot about music and he did ask questions of the three violinists, but he never took a notepad out. Either he had a perfect memory or he was actually taping the conversation… Well, there was no harm in that, but what annoyed her was that every time she asked a question about his work as a journalist, he would only give vague answers and hurried to change the topic. It wouldn't be far from the truth to say that he tried his best to ignore her, while he seemed strangely intent on talking to Kahoko in particular. Nami knew that her friend held a mysterious appeal for musically-inclined bishonens, but surely even he could tell that she was already engaged!
When he finally left them Nami frowned and faced the others.
–Don't you guys think he's weird?
–Well, I think it's nice to meet someone who is as enthusiastic as we are about music, Amou-san.
–Doesn't he seem too jolly somehow?
–He's just like you.
She glared at Len.
–He's not! I find him suspicious anyway…
To be continued