Ryouji let out a yawn as he sat there looking so bored while Megumi and Junichi busy talking about Japan Action Club. He started to wonder exactly what he's doing there. Megumi seemed genuinely interested in whatever Junichi was bragging and he can't help rolling his eyes secretly at the sight of Megumi's eyes that full of sparks.
"Oh Megumi, tomorrow we'll be spending more time at the set too. Have you seen the script?" Junichi finally get off his personal resume and smiled as he caught Ryouji rolled his eyes showing him how boring his conversation was. But Junichi just ignored it.
"Ah.. The Villainous Wrestler's Love episode" Megumi smiled as she recalled the script where there's a scene with only Junichi and herself.
"I'm sure we'll do the episode 7 too with all the future lab scenes and episode 8 too as well as 9 although I won't be in it" Ryouji said as he yawned again and pointing at his watch toward Junichi.
"So Miki, do you live on your own?" Ryouji glanced at her as he finished his drink. From their earlier conversation with Junichi, he learned that she actually live nearby his place.
She nodded as she took the last bite of her Katsu-don.
"I'm originally from Tokyo anyway but just decided to live on my own. It's easier that way. What about you guys?" she glanced at both of them and watch them laughed at her question.
"Definitely alone! I need the space and privacy" Ryouji laughed as Junichi laughed too.
"I'm sharing a place with a friend but not with parents too if that's what you wondered" Junichi winked at her.
Megumi found herself smiled at him knowing he's teasing her.
"It's getting late. I'd better head home so I won't be late tomorrow" she announced as the both nodded and the three of them stood up and make their way out.
She's glad she decided to come afterall. They both looked so much at ease and she felt much closer to them by getting to know them better outside the set.
"Thanks again guys. I had fun. See you both tomorrow then?" she waved as Junichi and Ryouji waved back seeing her off as they parted outside the restaurant.
"Take her home, will you" Ryouji nudged Junichi in the ribs and signalling him to run after her.
"But she lived in the opposite direction" protested Junichi before he finally got the message.
"Ah! Miki wait up. Let me take you home" Junichi called after her as she turned and looked surprised.
"Kuroda, you live in different direction from me. If anything, Akama actually passed my way" she chuckled as Junichi scratched his head feeling like a fool before he glared at Ryouji who laughed.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine. I will see you again tomorrow anyway" she looked amused and struggling to hide her smile as Junichi blushed.
"He wanted to make sure you home safely. Let him, Miki" Ryouji tapped her shoulder making Kuroda slapped his back feeling even more like a fool with his help. First he invited her for dinner only to come out as a lame pick up line and now this. Gaaahh!
Megumi just chuckled as she shook her head firmly.
"Its fine! Really.. There's no need for bodyguard", she laughed when Junichi suddenly looked at Ryouji and grinned.
"At least let Ryouji take you home then. Like you said, he would head on the same direction with you anyway so might as well drop you home and of course I'll see you tomorrow"Junichi grinned at both of them making Ryouji glared at him in disbelief. Not only Junichi dragged him along to his date, even making him takes her home now. But Junichi just laughed dismissing his glares as if making him payback for his own suggestion to take her home.
"Really.. It's fine. I'm ok on my own" Megumi said quickly with a slight of annoyance that she can no longer hide. She waved and turned before making her way before any of them could say anything.
She knew Ryouji was reluctant and she can't be bother to stand there watching him giving in when she's not even expecting anyone to give her a ride home. She's been taking care of herself for a while and doesn't need a guy to make her feel like she needs to depend on them.
She walked hurriedly when a hand grabbed her shoulder turning her around and found Ryouji stood so close to her she had to stepped back.
"He's right. You're on my way anyway. Here. I didn't bring a spare so just use it" he passed her a helmet before he pointed at a motorbike parked not far from there and she looked back to see Junichi has left. She hesitated for a while but Ryouji didn't exactly leave any room for her to say anything so she walked towards him.
He jumped on his motorbike before helping her climbed on the back seat. She was putting on the helmet that's quite big on her when he turned and helps her tighten it as he laughed.
"You look so funny like that" he laughed making her rolled her eyes knowing for sure she would look like an idiot for sure.
"Glad you find it amusing. I wasn't planning to look like this" she shook her head in disbelief as he turned on the engine and drove off so suddenly she almost lost balance and had to hang on to him.
"I take it this is your place?" she heard him said as he stopped in front of her flat. She let go off him as she nodded. She was about to come down when he already stood down from the bike and helped her off the bike. She took off the helmet and handed back to him.
"Thanks for the tweety head. You can have them back now. And thanks for the ride" She smiled at him as he chuckled.
"Ah! You right! You did look like tweety bird just now" he laughed as she joined him.
"Well, have a good night then and see you tomorrow" he said signalling her to go in as he jumped back on the bike before drove off.
She stared at his back for a while before getting inside the flat. He maybe a playboy, a heart breaker or whatever everyone thinks of him but to her, he's still a gentleman who treated her with respect and seemed like a good guy despite his reputation.
Oh no! He got you too! She shook her at her own realisation that made her shudder.
They did all the future lab scenes first thing in the morning as she took a seat between Junichi and Ryouji while he pretended to read the newspaper and she peered through it.
Spending time with both of them last night really helped her feel much comfortable around them now and no longer felt so awkward and distance.
After the scene where they discuss the missing of precious stones, they did the scene from the next episode where they pretended to examine the computer infront of them as she stood next to Ryouji again.
She's fully aware that Midori and Sayuri smirking at her sudden closeness to Ryouji as she stood next to him quite often while he looked just as relax around her. But she couldn't care less. She's used to people talked behind her back as they always seemed to find an excuse to do that regardless what she did to avoid it.
As soon as they finished the lab scenes, she head back with Junichi to the next set together with their guest star.
"You seemed more relax now around us especially Ryouji" Junichi smiled as they walked ahead of the guest star.
She chuckled "Thanks to the dinner you suggested. You both seemed more human to me now", she giggled as he laughed.
"More human huh?" he gave her an amused look. "Glad you do Miki. You really impressed me. There's more to you than just what it seemed," he said as she smiled.
"Thanks Kuroda. That's deep." She said as he smiled too.
"Let's help each other and make this work a memorable experience shall we?" he continued as she nodded in agreement before they arrived and get ready for their next take.
On the way back they just talked about each other's dreams and how they get into the entertainment industry. Surprisingly, she found Junichi is so easy to talk to. The guy who once seemed intimidating turned out to be quite a warm person and she felt comfortable around him straight away. He listened to her stories and dreams as she listened to his before they sat on the garden not far from the hall eating their lunches.
She admired him and respected him more now that she knew how hard he work to get where he was and she only knew too well, based on her own experience that it's not easy. She was doing modelling at a much younger age and helping to support her parents with what she earned so knowing Junichi dropped out from high school to pursue his dream were something she can relate to.
"Miki sure knew how to be around guys eh? Look at that! She's on to Kuroda now. I heard she also dated many guys especially co stars and been around too. Quite a playgirl huh?" Sayuri said to Mazurka pointed them out as Ryouji walk-passed them and shook his head in disbelief at her remark.
"You girls really had nothing better to do than talk about others behind their back huh? Don't be too jealous if you don't have her look" he said casually as they both gasped in shock, not aware that he would hear them out loud. He left them speechless before any of them could say anything.
Ryouji hated gossips and rumours that easily spread thanks to all the girl talks. He's sure they also talked behind his back but he doesn't care. However listen to them talked about Miki like that somehow urged him to say something to shut them up. He realise he's being a bit over protective toward his co-stars which is quite unusual. He never really care about them and often enough the girls can be very nasty toward each other on the set and he's seen enough harassment too when it comes to actresses and their agent or production crews. However, it's just how the industry they're in was all about. He often blamed the woman for putting themself in the spotlight and gave in to the situation.
He felt grateful enough that this series seemed to have a much descent screenwriter and production team to respect most of the woman there. The director, Shohei Tojo, was quite a strict man and he's been keeping them all in line. Apart from Mazurka's costume, the rest seemed to be just descent enough compared to how some series using the female sex appeal and revealing costumes to make the episodes more interesting.
He went to the practice area and while he warmed up, he saw Goggle Red came his way. Kazuo Niibori aka Goggle Red smiled at him and gave him few pointers on the fighting technique. Ryouji was grateful for all help his co stars and stuntmen gave him throughout the series so far.
They're all going on a day trip tomorrow for an outside location to take the scenes from episode Hell's Mushroom Village as well as Aiming at a beautiful Professor. There will be a fighting scene where they required doing without the suit actors. So the last thing he wanted was to look like a fool among the rest of them who had a strong martial art background including Miki.
Ryouji closed his eyes momentarily after a long day of shooting outside location when female chattering interrupted his peaceful moments.
He looked around but couldn't see anyone but the voices. It was getting a bit louder when he suddenly recognise one of the voice instantly. They've been doing a lot of voice over work to know precisely that one of the voices outside belong to none other than Megumi Ogawa aka Momozono Miki. The girl who seemed to capture the eyes of most male around the set.
He shook his head as he tried to ignore the noises and get back to his rest before their trip back to Tokyo. But the voices was getting a bit too much as they started to speak on top of each other and despite his annoyance he can't help but overheard them.
"Do you think you so good that you can just charm your way to any guy you want?" someone said with a bitter tone. It was more of a statement than question.
"What are you anyway? Just some unknown model that I never even heard of" another chimed in while others hummed in agreement. Geesh! Female can be scary bunch!
"Just so you know this is not the place to act pretty and think you can get away with your pretty face" Ryouji found himself raised his eyebrows in amusement at the remark. Sounds like someone is jealous! He shook his head in disbelief.
"What did you do to land this role anyway? Sleep with the director?" another said in accusing tone.
What?! He grabbed the water next to him as he took a gulp and stare at the door which ajar. Judging from the voices and how loud they were, mostly likely they're not aware that he's actually inside.
"Seems like you all made up your mind on what you think of me "He heard Miki's voice this time cutting off the rest. "So think whatever you please. Nothing I could say would make any difference anyway.. Just get out of the way!" Ryouji raised his eyebrows in amusement at her replied.
"Didn't you know better than to have that kind of attitude with us stuntmen? What do you say if that pretty face of yours has a scar hmm? Afterall it's not uncommon to have accident at setting" Ryouji took a deep breath as he heard the laugher of mockery before he stood up from his seat and headed for the door. He kicked the door purposely making a loud noise and found them stare at him in shock.
"A...akama.." As expected, they seemed shock at his presence.
"Can you all be any louder?" he gave me the look as some of them blushed realising he must have overheard them. "Some kind of stuntmen and bullies you girls can be" He said in disgust making them flinched and some even looked down in embarrassment.
"That's fine Akama. We're just chatting here. Sorry to disturb you. We didn't know you're in there", Megumi said quickly as she walked passed them towards him as she made her way to enter the room but Ryouji grabbed her arm stopping her at her track.
"It's too late for apology. You're all too noisy and disturbed me already" He glanced at the girls before looking back at Megumi. "Beside it wasn't you who made too much noise so why are you apologising?" He sounded pissed.
"Is that how you all treated your co-star? " he sounded angry as he looked at all of them again before pulling Megumi in front of him.
"I think it's only fair if you apologise to her" He said as they all looked taken aback and saw Miki felt uncomfortable as she make a sound of protest but he didn't care.
"What's going on?" asked Aoyama, Kijima and Kuroda as they came towards them. At the sight of three of them, the girls looked even more embarrassed and shooting Megumi the dagger look.
Megumi took a deep breath as she sighed. She really wished Ryouji doesn't get involved. It will only make matter worse for her.
"Ask these girls. They just conveniently pick on Miki" Ryouji pointed at the girls as Junichi looked at them with a clear anger on his face so scary it made the girls took a step back. Everyone on the set knew just how short temper Junichi could be and he's definitely not someone to mess with.
"It's no big deal, really. We're just talking.. Let's not make it a big deal" Megumi pleaded as she gave the girls a meaningful look at all of them. "I don't even remember what you said earlier. That's how unimportant it was".
"Sorry we disturb you, Akama. It won't happen again. Let's go girls", one of the girls finally said after holding Megumi's gaze a bit longer than normal before turning and left, followed by the rest of the girls.
Ryouji just walked back without a word and threw himself at the chair as he closed his eyes again. He got a headache from all the drama and long day as it is. He noticed the four of his co-stars entering the room but he couldn't be bother to open his eyes anymore.
"Thanks Akama" He felt her presence next to him as he heard Megumi's apology in that sweet tone of hers.
"Don't thank me. I didn't do that to help you. I Just couldn't stand the noises. You're all too noisy and annoying. It gave me headache" he said without bothering to even look at her.
"Well.. for whatever reason it may be, thanks" she muttered. He said nothing in return as she left his side.
From the near distant, he heard Junichi and Aoyama talking to her as he finally opened his eyes before grabbing a water bottle and put them on his forehead. It's getting into summer and in a day like this it can be quite hot especially he has to wear a shirt and a jacket. If only he could wear Miki's short pants that would be just nice, he thought to himself.
"Are you really ok Miki? What did they said?" Aoyama sounded concern.
"It's unlike Ryouji to get involved like that normally. They must have said something disturbing enough" Junichi peered at her as Aoyama patted her back comforting her which she found quite funny as if they're all her brothers and just like one of the goggle v scenes with them protecting her. The thought made her chuckled.
"I guess we must have been quite loud and annoying enough for him to intervene" Megumi continue to chuckle recalling the girls expression at the sight of Ryouji and his dramatic interruption. Must he kick the door like that?
It made her wonder exactly what he heard. The girls were approaching her about her closeness with both Junichi and Ryouji which makes them all feel uncomfortable and territorial in numerous ways. She's a newcomer on the set and both men were known to be cold and unfriendly outside their on-screen characters.
To be fair, these days she tends to stood between Kuroda and Akama on scenes and they're all getting along much better. Anyone can see that as their on-screen chemistry felt more natural.
Today they had a lot of fun dressing up in Edo style's clothing where they all had to repeat some of the takes because there's always someone laughing in the middle of the scenes including her. Especially when she did a dance number and had to wink at the mozu, the guys won't stop laughing and whistling it made them do the scenes over and over for a descent take where no one was seen laughing. Even Mazurka, who was dressed as a ninja, was laughing so hard they need to warn her several times before doing a re-take. It was a tiring day but they all had so much fun.
Her guess judging from what just happened, some people didn't have as much fun watching it.
Those girls were part of stuntmen that also acted as her back dancer at the episodes and they didn't get along from the beginning but she was having too much fun she didn't pay attention much to their sour faces and thinking back they must have cursed her for doing a retake over and over again while she was busy winking at the old man trying her best not to laugh as Aoyama made jokes that the guy was way too old for her from the side. She was laughing too much she nearly threw the knife at Aoyama in frustration before seeing him in his own outfit that's just look ridiculous on him.
Not to mention Kijima's hakama almost fell off a couple of times as he tripped over them in the fighting scene.
"What are you smiling about?" Junichi's voice startled her from her thoughts. She glanced at him and could tell he looked amused as she let out a short laugh that she's been trying to hold back recalling the day's work.
"I still can't believe how you all look in that stupid Edo styles" she giggled trying to cover her mouth as she remembers Ryouji who's asleep on his chair.
"And you look like some old maid cleaning up the street while trying to seduce a super old man" Aoyama laughed as Kijima and Kuroda followed before Megumi signalled them to be quiet trying her best to stifled her own laughter. She pointed at Ryouji by way of explanation as the rest of them followed her gaze and smiled.
"Glad you can still be so cheerful as if nothing happened. What a tough girl you are" Junichi said as their laughter subsided.
She shrugged nonchalantly "Nothing happened that's why! I don't let those kind of things bugged me too much or I would practically cry everyday" Megumi smiled as the three of them smiled back at her.
"So what exactly they said to you?" Junichi probed as she sighed. He sure is persistent.
"If you must know.. . Just the usual accusation" Megumi shrugged and noticed Kijima and Aoyama exchanging glances.
"They just not too happy I get to be so close with you guys and wondered if I slept with the directors to get the role" she snorted and found them stared at her in surprised.
"Did you?" Junichi asked widening his eyes making her glared at him.
"You tell me. Do you think I did?" she asked back feeling offended. And Kuroda quickly shook his head.
"Sorry Miki. I didn't mean to doubt you. Just surprised at the accusation" Junichi said after a while.
"Don't worry, like I said.. Nothing new to me. People always made their own assumptions so it doesn't really matter, what matter is that I know what I'm doing" Megumi sighed just as they heard their names being called from the distant. It's time for their trip back to Tokyo.
"It must be tough for you" Kijima patted her shoulder and offered her a smile.
"We're here for you if you needed someone to talk or if anything like that happened again" Aoyama gave her shoulder a light squeeze making her smiled.
"Thanks Kijima.. Aoyama. You both are very sweet" she said making her way to grab her bag when she Ryouji got up and walked out ahead of them without a word.
"By the way tomorrow is weekend. Do you have any plan, Miki?" Kuroda asked her as they walked back to the bus.
"Does sleeping all day count?" she giggled making Junichi laughed.
"Let's go somewhere" Junichi winked at her as he helped her get on the bus.
She looked at him in disbelief. "Are you asking me out?" she teased him.
"It depends. Are you saying yes?" he grinned making her smiled.
"Sure. Why not!" she took a seat with Junichi sliding next to her.
"Then I guess I'm asking you out then. I'll pick you up at 10?" Junichi sounded eager.
"I'm not exactly a morning person unless its work related. Let's make it at 11 ok?" she said and caught Ryouji looked her way before he looked away again. What is his problem? She thought to herself.
"It's a date then!" Junichi beamed at her as she smiled. She felt really comfortable with him and felt she could just be honest with him without worry about him making a judgement about her.
