A/N In this chapter, Keiko tries to help a terrified Yukiho, and will eventually have to deal with her own fears. Be sure to let me know how you like this story and my OC character. I do not own The iDOLMASTER. (Edited 3-23-13)
Chapter 2: Keiko and Yukiho
Makoto: "You ran into a man that was walking his dog?"
Yukiho: "Y-yes. I… I was on my way to the studio, I walked around the corner, and… t-there they were. It was horrible."
Makoto: "Aw, sorry to hear that happened to you."
Yukiho: "I was about to dig a hole and bury myself in it, too."
Makoto: "Yukiho, you can't dig a hole in the middle of the street. Come on, let me help you on to the couch."
Makoto helped Yukiho on to her feet, and walked her to the couch while Keiko stood by and watched Makoto care for the frightened idol. Yukiho sat down on one of the couches, and Makoto says,
Makoto: "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you, Yukiho."
Yukiho: "It wasn't your fault, Makoto-chan."
Makoto: "So, is there anything I can do for you? Maybe get you some tea?"
Yukiho: "Yes, please."
Makoto: "Okay. Wait here, I'll be back soon."
Makoto leaves the room to get tea for Yukiho, Keiko looks at Yukiho as she had a depressed look in her eyes, and decides to try and do something about it. She sits in front of Yukiho, and says,
Keiko: "Hey, Yukiho."
Yukiho: "Huh? Oh, uh, h-hi, Keiko-chan."
Keiko: "So, you're afraid of men and dogs?"
Yukiho: "Y-yes."
Keiko: "Aw, I can't imagine how hard it must've been for you, going through life with fears like those."
Yukiho: "Y-yeah, things were pretty hard. When I first became an idol, I did it so that I can get past my fears."
Keiko: "Oh, I see. How've you been handling them since then?"
Yukiho: "Well… not so well, at first."
Keiko: "Were you even afraid of Producer-san?"
Yukiho: "I… use to be."
Keiko: "But not anymore?"
Yukiho: "I-I have been getting better at being around Producer-san and performing in front of lots of men in an audience."
Keiko: "Ah, so ever since you became an idol, you've been able to do well with men that you're familiar with like Producer-san, and in an audience while you perform, but not with men that you're not familiar with and that are up close to you, right?"
Yukiho: "Yes."
Keiko: "But the same can't be said for dealing with dogs?"
Yukiho: "No. T-they're… so scary."
Keiko: "Hmm… hey, you wanna know what my fear is?"
Yukiho: "Uh… what is it?"
Keiko: "It's thunder and lightning."
Yukiho: "Thunder? And lightning?"
Keiko: "Yeah. They terrify me. Ever since I was little, I've always been so scared by them."
Yukiho: "Really?"
Keiko: "Yeah. I can't do anything when they're around, not even my work at school. By the way, were you serious about the whole burying yourself in a hole thing? "
Yukiho: "Um, I-I, uh… yes."
Keiko: "Oh… heh, you know, to tell you the truth, I actually thought about doing the same thing once when I was younger."
Yukiho: "Y-you have?"
Keiko: "Yeah… but, I didn't, because some part of me had told me that it's still gonna be there and I'll still hear it no matter what I do. My sister, Yumi actually wrote a poem about something like that."
Yukiho: "Uh… y-your sister writes writes p-poems?"
Keiko: "Yeah, it's something that she likes to do occasionally. She's really good at it, too."
Yukiho: "Oh, t-that's good."
Keiko then noticed that Yukiho began looking uneasy as soon as she mentioned poetry, and leans a bit forward as she asks,
Keiko: "You okay?"
Yukiho: "Y-yeah, I'm fine."
Keiko: "Okay then… well, anyway, when I'm with Yumi and Grandpa and there's thunder and lightning happening outside, they're always there to comfort me amd keep me company until they're gone. It's pretty much the only thing that can keep me relaxed."
Yukiho: "Oh, that's really sweet of them to do that for you."
Keiko: "Yeah, thanks, I know. Actually, one of the things that we like to do together is… well, every year on Christmas, my Grandpa makes as much origami as he can so that all three of us can decorate our home with them together."
Yukiho: "Wow, your grandfather sounds like a really nice man."
Keiko: "Yeah, he is."
Yukiho: "You know, my birthday is on the day before Christmas."
Keiko: "Really? Cool, heh, I guess that makes you extra special then."
Yukiho: "Ha, ha. Thanks. Ah, Keiko-chan?"
Keiko: "Yeah?"
Yukiho: "Could you play a song with your flute again, please?"
Keiko: "You got it."
Keiko picks up her flute and starts playing a song to lift Yukiho's spirits. A few seconds later, Makoto came back in the room with a cup of tea, gives it to Yukiho, and she takes a sip while listening to Keiko play the flute. A couple minutes later, Keiko finished the song.
Yukiho: "That was great, Keiko-chan."
Makoto: "Sure was."
Keiko: "Thank you."
Makoto: "You feeling better now, Yukiho?"
Yukiho: "Yeah, I am. I really appreciate it. Thanks, you two."
Makoto: "No problem."
Keiko: "Glad I could help."
Keiko takes a look at the time, and realized that a whole fifteen minutes had gone by, which was also how much time she had left before it was time for her lesson to start.
Keiko: "Hey, listen, I gotta go and do some practice before my lesson starts."
Yukiho: "Oh, okay."
Makoto: "See ya later."
Keiko: "Bye."
Keiko leaves the room to head up to the dance room and practice while Makoto and Yukiho remained in the breakroom to have their own conversation. A few minutes later, Makoto and Yukiho had decided to join Keiko in practicing as they had gone to the dressing room to change into their training outfits. Once they were done, they went to find their new comrade while they continued chatting.
Makoto: "So, Yukiho. What do you think of Keiko so far?"
Yukiho: "Um, well, she seems really nice. I still don't understand why the president called her a tough girl, though."
Makoto: "Well, she mentioned that she used to get into fights with bullies at school."
Yukiho: "Uh, s-she did?"
Makoto: "Mm-hmm, she even got a scar from one of them. But other than that, you're right, she is nice, Yukiho."
Yukiho: "Y-yeah. Earlier, she said that I was extra special because of the day my birthday is on."
Makoto: "She did? Well, that was sweet of her."
Suddenly, they heard a thunder clap from outside the agency.
Makoto: "Hm, sounds like it's starting to rain out there."
And then, Yukiho remembered one of the things that Keiko had told her, and gasps,
Yukiho: "Oh no…"
Makoto: "Yukiho, what's wrong?"
Yukiho: "The thunder! Keiko-chan's terrified by it!"
Makoto: "What?"
They hear another thunder clap. This time it was much louder than the last one. The two idols hear someone scream, which they figured that it was Keiko, and rush to find her. They found her in the dance room she was practicing in, and entered it. She was sitting on the floor, curled up to the wall with eyes closed, hands covering her ears while whimpering and trembling.
Yukiho: "Aw, she looks so miserable."
Makoto: "Yeah. Hey, Keiko?"
Keiko did not respond. Another thunder clap goes off, and she curled herself up even tighter.
Yukiho: "Makoto-chan, is there anything we can do to help her?"
It was a good question. Makoto wasn't sure what to do. They couldn't stop the thunder from making their noises since they had no control over them, and trying to talk to Keiko has already proven to be of no use.
Makoto: "I'm not really sure what we can do for her, Yukiho. I don't suppose she told you about how she has a way to be able to get through this, did she?"
Yukiho: "Um… well, she said that if she was with her grandfather and Yumi right now, then they would be there for her until the thunder was over."
Makoto: "Really? Hm… all right, then that's what we're gonna do."
Yukiho: "Huh?"
Makoto: "We're gonna stay here and practice with Keiko until the storm blows over."
Yukiho: "Ah, good idea, Makoto-chan."
Makoto: "All right then, let's do it, Yukiho."
They had started playing a song with the radio in the room and began dancing. Keiko was hearing bits of music, even though she was still covering her ears. She opened her eyes a bit to see what was going on, and she sees Makoto and Yukiho dancing in front of her. Keiko figured out what they were trying to do, and meekly smiled. It was similar to the way her family comforts her, but more active. She wanted to join them, but there was still thunder and lightning happening outside. A few minutes later, Keiko's fear had finally ceased, and she joins in on the dancing with the boyish and shy idols just as they started another song. Keiko was now relieved and having a good time practicing with two of her friends. When the song finished, the three started complimenting each other about their dancing until the Producer came in the room.
Producer: "Keiko!"
Keiko: "Uh, yes, Producer-san?"
Producer: "It's time for your lesson to begin. The instructor's waiting for you."
Keiko: "All right, I'm coming. Oh! Makoto? Yukiho?"
Yukiho: "Yes?"
Makoto: "What's up?"
Keiko: "Thank you both for keeping me company till the thunder stopped. I really appreciate that."
Yukiho: "You're welcome, Keiko-chan."
Makoto: "Just returning the favor."
And then they bowed, said goodbye to each other, and Keiko leaves the room for her lesson.
TO BE CONTINUED
