Disclaimer: Nothing of Tennis belongs to me.
A/N: As usual, reviews are loved!:)
"Words" - talking
'Words' - thinking
"Throw your dreams into space like a kite,
and you do not know what it will bring back,
a new life, a new friend, a new love, a new country."
- Anais Nin
Six months later
With a few quick snaps, Kisaki Reiko uses her camera to capture multiple shots of the couple dancing together on the wooden platform. She moves slightly to her left before taking a few more photos, trying to capture the look of bliss on the faces of the couple. With a slight smile, she lowers her camera to take a look at the photos she has just taken.
Contented, she then proceeds to adjust her lens in preparation for the last dip in the dance. As the music starts to slow down, Reiko raises her camera in time to take a photo of the groom gently lowering his bride before bringing her back up into his arms again.
"Perfect."
The wedding ceremony is almost over, and being the official photographer, Reiko uses the remaining time to walk around the ballroom to take a few more closing shots.
--
Since her return back to Japan a few months ago, Reiko has been immersing herself in work, and this wedding is her fourth project to date. For her, wedding photography has always been her forte, and even though she tried her hand at other forms of photography, nothing gives her the same satisfaction that she receives after completing a successful wedding shoot.
Perhaps, it is the happiness she sees in all the people who gather together for a wedding ceremony. Maybe, it is the celebration of love that weddings stand for. In the end, it can just be a simple thankfulness for being able to participate in such an intimate, joyful affair.
After taking a few more photos, Reiko raises her glass in a toast to the couple in front of the guests.
"I wish for you both, many happy years ahead together."
She takes a sip of the champagne and sets her glass down to get ready for the final group photo. For Reiko, the last photo at a wedding always fills her heart with a bitter-sweet feeling.
"Sometimes, I wish the dream can last a little longer."
--
"Risa-chan, can you lift up your chin a little?" Fuji Syuusuke calls out to the model in front of him.
He nods at her adjusted position and continues to take a photo after another. With a swift motion of his hand, he signals for the photography crew to dim the lights. One of the advantages of being an established fashion photographer is that models in general are more willing to comply with his wishes. For after all, the photographer is the one who will help them to look their best.
After a few more positions and a wardrobe change for the model, Fuji is ready to wrap up the photo shoot.
"Alright, good take. We're done for today", he bows slightly in appreciation to the crew before walking over to the model to share with her his comments about the photo shoot.
--
After everyone has left, he sits alone in his office. And as he looks down at the camera in his hands, he wonders if he should have used his mentor's camera for the photo shoot instead. Somehow, for a usually confident Fuji Syuusuke, he doesn't feel like he is ready yet to use his mentor's camera for his work. A nagging feeling reminds him that perhaps he is embarrassed at the thought of using his mentor's well-known camera for his so-called photography.
Fuji knows clearly that in the photography world, a fashion photographer is hardly treated as a real photographer. The only people who treat fashion photographers well are the models themselves. To them, the photographers are the ones who can make or break their image, but apart from that, the works and efforts of fashion photographers like Fuji, are seldom recognized.
His mentor would probably have wanted him to challenge his own photography skills. Fuji knows he will step over the boundaries one day, but for now, he just wants to believe in his own work.
With a determined look in his eyes, Fuji picks up his bag and starts to walk out of the room.
--
"Fujiwara-san, I'm at the café already. Did you say the other photographer is on his way?" Reiko sips her tea while waiting for her current employer's reply.
Meanwhile, she takes the opportunity to survey the patrons and the surroundings in the café.
"Yes, Fuji-san just sent me a message to tell me he will be there on time", Fujiwara-san sounds the same as before, and all of a sudden, Reiko wishes she can see her.
When she set her mind to go traveling two years back, she resolved to remove herself from all her previous responsibilities and she only kept in contact with her family members. At the start of the trip, she refused to use her camera, as she felt like she wasn't ready to take photos then. It was difficult, but she didn't want to be reminded of the reason why she had to leave.
It was only after half a year that Fujiwara-san finally got through to her. Somehow, she managed to find her in a remote part of Switzerland. Reiko was surprised to see her ex-employer, but it provided her with some comfort that some ties just cannot be broken. Fujiwara-san was the one who give her the first job as a wedding photographer, and it was only at her persuasion that Reiko managed to pick up the camera once more. It took Fujiwara-san two months to force Reiko out of her escapism. But when she did start to take photos again, Fujiwara-san told her it was worth all the effort.
"I see. I'll wait for him then. And yes, I have not forgotten about the dinner on Friday", Reiko chuckles lightly as she hears Fujiwara-san's playful reminder.
Just as she flips shut her phone, Reiko notices someone coming into the café. She remembers the photo Fujiwara-san sent her earlier, and recognizes the person to be Fuji-san.
"Kisaki-san?" Fuji approaches Reiko, and hopes she is the one waiting for him.
Reiko smiles at the man in front of her, and nods her head in confirmation. She takes a quick glance at his polished appearance, and thinks to herself, 'So this is the Fuji-san I'll be working with for the next few months.'
--
Fuji received the news about the new partner he will be working with a few weeks back. Fujiwara-san asked him for a favor, and he obliged. Normally, he works solely on fashion photography, but with his current skills, he is capable of working adequately on other forms of photography as well. Because of that, Fujiwara-san roped him into what she terms as the "Wedding of the Year Project."
Apparently, one of the models he used to work with is getting married this autumn, and on Fujiwara-san's recommendation, she has requested for Fuji to be one of her two official wedding photographers. The reason why the model didn't select more prominent photographers was because she didn't want to allow the media to blow up the affair. In this case, two low-key but well-established photographers will fit the job perfectly.
He steps into the café just in time to see a female waving at him. He smiles lightly, and thinks to himself, 'We'll see how this goes then.'