Disclaimer: Author owns nothing. Mai-Hime belongs to Sunrise.
CHAPTER 16
The two women were now queuing inside a coffee shop. The young director decided that fine dining was their last option at the moment and she had to feed the superstar pronto. Luckily, the universe conspired and they were only a customer away. The coffee shop was also not that much crowded with only a few patrons occupying the plush sofas situated inside.
"Hey, will salad be fine with you?" Natsuki asked the superstar to her left who just nodded her head in agreement. "Iced tea or hot? I think they have green tea." She further inquired in a volume loud enough for her companion to hear but not for the other patrons.
"Hot." The superstar whispered to her left ear sensually before continuing. "Green tea. Venti." Then, withdrew herself and stood calmly beside the movie director.
"O-okay." She stuttered as she gulped visibly and tried to will down the upcoming blush. She casted her emerald orbs in front just in time when the customer before them finished her transaction.
"Welcome to Starbucks!" The cheerful attending barista chirped. Her eyes fell on emerald orbs and all professional behavior was tossed out of the window as she leaned towards the young director. "May I take you, Ma'am?" she shamelessly drawled in a seductive manner as she bit her lower lip and let her eyes roamed over the young director's body like the act would undress said movie director in front of her.
"I would love…" Natsuki played along seductively in her husky voice as she leaned closer to the attending barista but before she could continue, she felt a not-so-gentle pinch on her left side. "Ow." She turned towards the superstar who was obviously glaring behind those dark glasses as ominous aura started to emit from her. The woman started to remove her dark glasses but was halted just in time.
"Don't do that, honey." She said pushing the dark glasses frame back with her free left hand before wrapping her left arm around the superstar's waist and pulled her a little closer to her. The gesture effectively calmed the woman which made the young director sighed in relief. She faced the attending barista once again, all playfulness set aside. "I want large salad, Venti hot green tea, and Venti Caffé Americano. All in quantity of one. Dine in." She finished quickly.
"That's one large salad, one Venti hot green tea, and one Venti Caffé Americano." The barista reiterated as she punched the order on the touch screen machine in front of her, albeit a little frustrated when her advances was quite ignored. She regarded the young director again. "That's 8.85 dollars in total, Ma'am."
"Here." Both women held out a platinum debit card simultaneously, making the barista blinked her eyes at the them with confusion.
"Here. Take mine. I made the order." The young director said as she held out her platinum debit card, dismissing the superstar's offer.
"Alright. Here's your card, Ma'am." The barista said after swiping the card, holding it out to the young director again of which the latter took. "Please make yourself comfortable. We will be serving your order in a moment. Thank you for patronizing Starbucks Coffee!" she finished merrily, smiling at the two women in front of her.
"Hey, what was that for?" The young director looked at the superstar to her left as they started treading towards a vacant spot near a glass corner.
"Ara, I was just trying to make Natsuki get our order fast. She seemed to be distracted a while ago. I thought she might have forgotten the real reason why we are here." The supertstar replied, hidden crimson orbs were glancing at the young director to her right.
Contrary to what she was saying, she actually felt something uncomfortable at the pit of her stomache the moment the young director flirted back. If her glare could melt down the not-so-innocent barista and make her existence vanished from the world, she would have been charged of murder. She was starting to become unhealthily possessive of the young director's attention in just a short period of time that she had known her.
"Yeah. Yeah. I apologize, Ojousama." The young director playfully replied as they settled on a two-sitter couch found in the corner.
The two women were now settled in a quite secluded area, away from the other patrons who were busy in their own little worlds. Their ordered food and beverages were laid on a small glass round table. The young director was facing the coffee shop's entrance, her back was turned towards the glass wall behind her. The superstar was seated in front of her. Her back was turned towards the small crowd. She was still in her incognito mode get-up. Her purple jacket's hood was pulled over her head to hide her tawny mane and dark glasses were on her eyes to cover her crimson orbs.
The young director's state of dress was relatively less suffocating compared to the woman in front of her. Her jacket's hood was pulled down and she didn't have to wear any sunglasses on.
"Perk of working behind cameras. No hungry mob chasing after me." She thought as she regarded the superstar who was eating her salad calmly like she had all the time in the world. "She looks too relax for someone who's starving." She thought when suddenly a realization hit her. "Oh. The classy type of diner. I see. Mom will definitely love her." She mused in her thought as she drank her dark caffeinated beverage. "Wait! What the fuck did I just think of!?" Her emerald orbs dilated as she coughed on her drinks, catching the superstar's attention.
"Ara, is Natsuki alright?" The superstar inquired, a concern look was plastered on her face.
"Y-yeah. Coffee's hot. Don't mind me." The young director said, waving his hand and dismissing the woman's unnecessary worry before continuing with the caffeinated beverage that came in unhealthy volume.
"If that's what Natsuki says." The superstar said before resuming with her salad which she was savoring with delight.
"No. No. No. No meeting with Mom else I'll be signing my freedom goodbye and definitely no girlfriend! No strings attached. No commitment. No problem." The young director thought as she kept nodding her head behind her cup of coffee.
"Did you say something, Shi-" she paused when a diner to her right snapped her head to her direction. The lady diner was eyeing the superstar the moment they sat on the plush couches, glancing at their direction more often than she liked. She caught the superstar mouthing something but she was too engrossed in her thoughts that she did not catch what the woman was saying. "I mean what were you saying, honey?"
"Ara, I said Natsuki's large consumption of that caffeinated beverage is unhealthy." The superstar commented with disapproving mark. She can't help but noticed the young director's addiction to the drinks during their previous unhappy encounters.
"Why does everyone hates coffee all of a sudden now? That tea of yours is no different. They're both caffeinated. Plus this tastes better than that root or grass or whatever it is thing." The young director defended her addiction to said beverage. And to prove her point, she took another sip.
"And that evil tea brings back bad memories." She thought as memories of her acquaintance with the innocent beverage made her cringed. She gulped a mouthful of her coffee again to erase the memory.
It did not help that another series of unfortunate events involving an iced black tea, a tawny haired woman, and a drenched shirt had recently added to her traumatic experience that was filed with the label 'reasons-to-never-go-near-tea' in her mind palace. Although she liked its taste when mixed with a certain superstar's plump mouth but her ego will never let her admit that.
"Ara, I am not persuading Natsuki to switch preference. I am just trying to tell her that she should consume it with moderation." The superstar said as she sipped on her green tea.
"Another health freak. Why am I not surprise? Grass-eating woman." The young director commented dryly as she rolled her eyes. She really did not understand why people treated her large consumption of the beverage like a crime when she believed it to be the most amazing discovery that man had ever had.
"Ara, Natsuki is turning deaf ears to reason." The superstar commented as a small frown started to form on her beautiful face when her salad was insulted. "Vegetable salad is not grass, Natsuki. It's a one-dish meal that provides the body with the necessary nutrients that it needs. It has protein, carbohydrates, and minerals. And tea has more benefits than coffee. It helps keep the skin healthy. Different flavors have different purposes. Some aid in digestion problem…" She went on with her explanation though she tried to keep her voice volume in check.
The superstar's on the spot health lecture failed to background as the young director's focus was on her dazzling face while the woman passionately went on with her explanation. The young director's left arm was folded on the table as her right hand that was still holding the coffee was placed beneath her chin as she inched her body closer to the table. Her upper limbs were forming an L from the superstar's perspective. Her emerald orbs were fondly looking at the still-talking superstar who was engrossed in her explanation opposite her.
"Ara, do I have any dirt on my face, Natsuki?" The superstar asked when she noticed the emerald orbs of the woman sitting opposite her seemed to be glued to her face. The young director's lack of attention to her explanation was lost to her.
"Oh. Nothing, really. I'm just admiring the pleasant view as she proves herself to be a total health freak. That's all." Theyoung director said like she was just talking about the weather, not moving from her current position as she lightly shook the cup of coffee in her hand. A smirk formed on her lips when she saw a hint of blush formed on the superstar's cheeks but was immediately willed down. "So, that's what it takes to shut her up. I should keep that in mind. Let's create a new folder for that. 'How to Shut Shizuru Up.' Okay, next folder. 'How to Make Shizuru Blush'. Filed. Saved." She continued in her thought as she kept saving the newly acquired information in her mind palace. Why was she bothering herself with the triviality about the woman? She did not know neither was she aware of what she was currently doing.
"Ara, I do not know whether to feel flattered or insulted by Natsuki's words." The superstar said after taking a sip from her cup of green tea. Her throat dried up from her quite lengthy health lecture. The incoming blush was adding to her need for the healthy beverage to cover it and calmed her soaring heart down after hearing the open declaration of admiration.
She was used to be on the receiving end of exaggerated compliments but never did she blush nor feel giddy about any of them. Those words of admiration had lost their meaning long ago and had been reduced to meaningless flowery words that used to be uttered by people who worshipped her blindly like some kind of a higher being.
"How about both, Ojousama?" The young director retorted playfully.
"Ara, Natsuki is mean." The superstar playfully whined.
Suddenly, the young director calmly stood up from her plush couch, grabbing the shopping bag containing the superstar's discarded clothes in her right hand before going to the superstar's direction and grabbing her right hand, urging her to stand up.
"Ara, I am not yet done with my tea, Natsuki." The superstar said as she followed the young director, their fingers were laced once again as she walked closer to her.
"That lady on your five o'clock kept glancing at you." The young director informed in her low volume husky voice. "Don't look." She added when the superstar was about to turn towards the said direction. "She kept looking at you. I think she recognizes you."
"Ara, kaninna, Natsuki. I must have attracted her attention with my talking." The superstar said apologetically with a bit of sadness in her melodic voice. She was actually saddened with the fact that she wasn't given the chance to finish her much loved green tea.
"It's not your fault, honey." The young director said, trying to sooth the superstar who seemed to be sulking, thinking that the woman was feeling apologetic for that. The real reason for the woman's gloom was actually her being deprived of finishing her green tea which was unfortunately unknown to her.
The two women continued walking towards the coffee shop's exit.
"Look! Look! Isn't that Director N.K?" Teenager one in her high school uniform said, pointing at a direction.
"Director N.K? As in the recent Oscar Award winner for Best Director? The one who directed the best Hollywood movie of last year. The gorgeous lady in gown that we saw on TV two months ago." Teenager two said as series of questions spurt from her mouth, excitement was evident in her voice.
"Yeah. Add the Palm d'Or Award, The Golden Bear Award, The Golden Leopard Award, Grand Jury Prize Award, Golden Globes Award, and Golden Lion Award. She won all of those for Best Director category." Teenager three with thick glasses on said as she counted them in her fingers like she was just counting numbers.
"How did you know about those? I thought you read nothing except those boring academic books." Teenager four snapped her attention towards teenager three, eyes blinking.
"I did my research. Besides, it's not everyday you see a beautiful young director not to mention a brilliant one. If my research is correct, she is still 21. Though her real name is unknown. So, she just goes with Director N. Kruger." Teenager three with thick eyeglass explained.
"Does she have any boyfriend or girlfriend?" Teenager five asked, her eyes were looking at the spectacled teenager expectantly.
"I read facts not some stupid celebrity rumors. I don't know." The spectacled teenager three replied as if she was insulted by the question before continuing. "But if that's her then, I think she has a girlfriend. That is judging from their intertwined hands. Well, unless it's a common practice among Americans to walk with their friends in that intimate manner." She finished as she adjusted her glasses, trying to get a better view.
"Oh my god! That's her." Teenager one said as she covered her mouth with her hands, eyes brimming with disbelief as they got a closer look of the figure.
"What is she doing in Japan?" Teenager two inquired as she looked at the two figures that were approaching towards their direction.
"It doesn't matter. Come on, let's take a selfie picture with her." Teenager one beamed as she urged her other friends to join her.
The young director was leisurely walking with the superstar to her left. They were traversing towards the mall's exit knowing that it was not safe for the superstar to stay long in the crowd. Her cover can be blown anytime if they won't be extremely careful. The woman was hard to hide, still shining in the crowd and sticking out like a sore thumb despite her casual attire.
Well, in those onlookers defense it was a rarity to see two dazzling women walking side by side with their hands intertwined. The superstar's incognito mode attire attracted more curious eyes. The young director's slim and tall figure was not helping in dissuading them from further looking at the two women.
"What in the world?" The young director thought when she found five teenagers clad in their school uniform flocked around her. "Don't tell me they recognized Shi…" She thought, dreading the implication of the small crowd flocking around them.
"Welcome to Japan, Director NK!" The teenagers bowed after greeting her in unison.
"Huh?" She asked, eyes blinking at the teenagers. She looked at the superstar to her left who just smiled.
"Director NK, can we take a selfie with you please?" Teenager one said with puppy dog eyes pleadingly.
"Just grant their request, Natsuki. I'll stay behind." The superstar whispered to the young director's left ear before unlatching her hand from her and stepping away.
If there's one thing she learned about dealing with fans from the teenage bracket, it was to give in to their request as they can be persistent. They can either be trouble or simply adorable.
"Don't stay too far." The young director whispered back at the superstar who just nodded her head in agreement.
"Okay, ladies. Take out your cameras." The young director said as the teenagers went to her sides.
"One…two…three... Say cheese!" teenager one chirped as she held out a selfie stick with her camera phone on it.
"Cheese!" the teenagers, together with the young director, said as they flashed their signature smiles to the camera.
Flash* Snap* Captured*
"I want to take a picture with Director NK alone." Teenager one announced before looking at the raven haired young director. "Can I? Please?" she said in her pleading puppy dog eyes again.
"Sure." The raven haired young director agreed, wanting to get over it.
Flash* Snap* Captured*
"Thank you, Director NK!" Teenager one beamed, flashing her smile towards the young director who just nodded at her.
"Me, too!" teenager two chirped as she went to the young director's side. Her camera phone was ready in her hand.
"Okay, okay." The young director relented.
Flash* Snap* Captured*
After all the teenagers got a selfie shot with their admired Hollywood movie director, they finally started bidding their goodbye.
"Thank you, Director NK!" The teenagers bowed their heads in unison once again.
"Yeah. No problem, ladies." The young director said, smiling at the teenagers who went their merry way as they giddily showed each other the recently captured image while talking animatedly.
"Ara, Natsuki is popular with the young ladies." The superstar commented, amusement evident in her voice.
"Let's go before they realize who is the real Ms. Superstar here." The young director commented lightly, rolling her eyes.
"I told you that's Shizuru-sama!"A voice yelled from behind.
"Shit! Run!" The young director barked before grabbing the startled superstar's right hand. Her emerald orbs caught the sight of the same diner with suspicious eyes in the coffee shop and behind her were her friends.
The two rushed towards the mall exit where the paparazzi were awaiting them.
Flash* Snap* Captured*
"Dam it!" The young director cursed as she covered her eyes from getting blinded by the flashes of cameras that attacked her vision the moment they got out of the mall exit. "This way." She commanded before dragging the superstar to the right.
The paparazzi chased after the two women with cameras in their hand.
Flash* Snap* Captured*
"Shizuru-sama, over here!" Yells from different directions were heard, all clamoring to get a closer shot of the superstar.
"Shizuru-sama, who's the lovely lady with you!?" Press person one yelled with a microphone held out.
"I think that's Director NK from Hollywood!" Press person two yelled pointing at the two retreating women.
"Shizuru-sama, wait!" Press person three yelled.
"Wait a little more." The young director whispered as she leaned her forehead on the wall beside the superstar's head. Her arms were pressed on either side of the woman in front of her. To her left was a glass window pane where her emerald orbs caught the sight of paparazzi and media men who were rushing by.
The superstar's back was pressed on the wall. The two were breathing heavily due to exhaustion from their recent running marathon. Chest heaving as each tried to catch some much needed oxygen.
They found an antique shop when they rounded a corner and hastily went inside. Luckily, there was no customer inside. It was a four-cornered shop with the entire floor painted with an image of a clock that was set at 12:00. The clock's hands were currently pointing at the two women. Around them were displays of clocks of different sizes and designs. Some were hanging on the wall while others were laid on racks.
"Ladies, be at ease. Your pursuers are gone now." A small female voice devoid of any echo reached their ears.
The two women detached themselves from each other and faced the voice which actually came from the counter's direction.
"Welcome to Himeno Fumi Time Shop where you can buy the most luxurious thing that not everyone can afford. Time." A maiden that glowed like a goddess spoke with an aura of mystery and charm around her. She smiled at the two women with a knowing smile as her eyes twinkled with mirth.
"I'm sorry but we are not interested with anything. Thank you for allowing us in." The young director said, bowing at the pink haired antique owner who was dressed in unusual medieval maid attire like she did not belong to the 21st century. Well, they were in an antique shop. Perhaps the woman was just trying to match the theme of her shop.
"Come, Shizuru." The young director said, grabbing the superstar's hand as she started going to the shop's exit. But she was immediately halted when she found herself being blocked by the shop's owner.
"At least take this with you, young lady. Accept this as my token of gratitude for being my first customer of the day." The antique shop owner held out a silver wristwatch to the young director. "You will need this in the future if not today. I believe you are a preoccupied young lady with a lot of things in her hand. It is always good to keep track of time seeing as you don't have any watch with you." She insisted, looking at the young director's wrist which was devoid of any accessory.
"Oi. Oi. How did she come here that fast? Wasn't she behind the counter a second ago? Creepy magic trick." The young director thought.
"You might wish to be the one to strap this timepiece on her wrist, young lady." The antique shop owner said, turning her attention to the superstar who just stared at her with a questioning gaze. "In a place where I came from, we have this belief that strapping a wristwatch to one's important person will keep him or her by our side for the rest of our lifetime. I see no harm in believing in that." She informed in her distant voice like she was looking back at a far memory before offering the wristwatch to the superstar.
"Ara, Ookini, Himeno-san." The superstar said before accepting the offered item, earning her a nod from the antique shop owner.
"What are you doing, Shizuru?" The young director asked with slim eyebrows rising when the superstar grabbed her left hand and started strapping the wristwatch therein with ease expertise.
"Ara, I am just accepting the kind shop owner's generosity, Natsuki. It is impolite to turn down a token of appreciation." The superstar said as her expert hands worked on fastening the straps around the young director's left wrist. "Now, express your gratitude to Himeno-san." She commanded after successfully securing the timepiece around the director's left wrist, smiling at the latter.
"Fine." The young director gave in before turning her attention to the antique owner who was once again behind the counter. "How did she do that again?" She asked, blinking her eyes a few times before composing herself. "Thank you, Himeno-san." She bowed at the smiling antique owner.
"That state of the art precious handicraft is durable and water proof, young lady." The antique owner informed before adding in her mind. "and special just like you."
"We are going, Himeno-san." The superstar announced.
"Use your time wisely, young ladies." The antique owner said to the retreating figures.
"My business is done for the day. I believe it is closing time." The pink haired antique shop owner announced to the empty room. "Customers are really a rarity these days. It seems like people are becoming less interested with time." She continued feeling a bit down before finding a new found hope and cheered herself up. "Well, tomorrow is another day." She finished before snapping her fingers and the shop's blinds were rolled down while the lights were turned off.
"That woman is creepy." The young director mumbled as they strode towards the busy road.
"Ara, that timepiece suits Natsuki well." The superstar commented, ignoring the young director's negative remark.
"We're hailing a cab. I don't think it's safe to go back to the mall. We can just have your car and my bike picked up." The young director announced, looking at the superstar to her left before realizing some drawbacks with her plan. "Shit! You can't be in a confined space and that's one hell of a thirty-minute walk from here plus it's already dark."
"Ara, I don't mind having a lovely late night stroll with Natsuki." The superstar said. The idea of being cramped inside a small cab was not at the slightest appealing to her. She would rather go on a three-hour mountain climbing hike than be on a ten-minute ride and be suffocated in that small cab's passenger seats.
"I could try mind conditioning with her but that would be pushing my luck further. The probability of it working the first time is less likely especially in a very enclosed area. Damn it!" The young director cursed in her thought. "I can't believe that weird woman is right." She thought as she lifted her left wrist to her plain sight and looked at the time. "It's still 6:01PM plus estimated travel time of thirty minutes. We'll be there by 6:31PM or could be earlier if we get fuckin' unlucky and meet nosy paparazzi along the way. Why was I not informed that I am in for a running marathon today?" She finished dryly.
"Ara, Natsuki, I believe we can get to our destination early if we will start walking now." The superstar informed when the young director in front of her seemed to be spacing out.
"Y-yeah. Are you sure you're fine with going there on feet?" The young director inquired as she followed the woman who had already started walking to the direction of their building residence.
"Ara, will Natsuki carry me there if I will tell her I am not fine with it?" The superstar asked, glancing at the young director to her right.
" . What do you think of me? A carriage horse?" The young director snapped her head to the woman walking beside her, looking at her incredulously like she had just lost her mind. "Sorry to disappoint you, Ojousama but that's beyond my capacity." She finished before slinging the shopping bag on her right hand over her right shoulder.
"Ara, I thought Natsuki loves carrying me in her strong arms." The superstar retorted, remembering the time when she was abruptly swept of her feet without warning whose culprit was now walking to her right.
"That's because lovely Ojousama loves being a brat." The young director replied without batting an eye.
"Ara, Natsuki thinks I am lovely. I am flattered. Ookini." The superstar said, fluttering her lovely lashes towards the young director.
"Oi, I said you're a brat. Why are you hearing only the positive one?" The young director said.
"Ara, Natsuki never heard of selective hearing?" The superstar inquired.
"You just said it." The young director retorted but continued when the superstar started opening her mouth. Not wanting to hear another lengthy lecture, she continued. "Hearing what you only want to hear. Sounds like a perfect closed-minded brat attitude for me." she finished with all honesty.
"Ara, I believe that sometimes a person should not always entertain negative comments, Natsuki. It is true that there are those referred to as constructive criticisms which are good in aiding a person to improve and develop herself but sometimes there are those that are excessively unhealthy and offensive to even warrant an attention." The superstar spoke. Her eyes were focused on the pathway in front of her.
"Isn't that just being a coward? You know, not accepting reality?" The young director commented.
"Ara, Natsuki might think that it is an act of cowardice to ignore those offensive remarks but it takes a lot of courage to accept reality and not everyone is blessed with it. To be courageous means to feel secure and sure of yourself. In times of doubt and insecurity, it's hard to be brave especially if you don't have any strong grounds to keep you sturdy and up. Even the strongest mountain will erode when faced with recurring heavy downpour, Natsuki." The superstar continued, her voice becoming distant by the second.
"Y-yeah." The young director agreed, not expecting the superstar's reply. "A bruise on your knee might not hurt that much but bruising your entire body? Even gay Superman will piss in his disturbing inside-out-brief. Hurts like hell." She commented lightly, not liking the mood where their conversation was heading to.
"Ara, Natsuki I don't think Superman is gay." The superstar laughed lightly, hidden crimson orbs looked at the young director to her right.
"Maybe but I'm sure as hell that his costume designer was gay. I mean who will put pants before brief first? That's crazy." The young director said with incredulity lacing her husky voice, smiling at the now lightened up superstar.
"Ara, perhaps Superman was in a hurry to save the world when he first wore the costume, Natsuki." The superstar offered a reason, chuckling.
"But his brief is red, Shizuru. Bloody bright red. Yeah. The designer is surely gay. I'm 99.9% sure. 1% margin of error." The young director supplemented her argument.
"Does Natsuki prefer it if Superman wears no undergarment at all? I never knew Natsuki fancies men with no undergarments on." The superstar retorted with a light tease, a soft melodic laughter emitted from her.
"Oi, I don't fancy men." She blurted out before she can stop herself, not realizing the implication of her words.
"Ara, did Natsuki just openly admit that she is gay?" The superstar glanced at the young director who halted in her steps as her face became stoic. Believing that she might have offended said director, she started apologizing.
"Ara, I apolo…" she resumed but her next words were drowned in the young director's mouth as the latter captured her lips in a long passionate kiss. Her neck was held by the young director's free left hand as she was pulled closer. The kiss ended when their systems cried for much needed oxygen.
"Did I answer your question, honey?" The young director whispered in her husky voice as she gasped for much needed air. Her left hand was still holding the tawny haired superstar's neck.
"Y-Yes, Natsuki." The superstar answered in a dazed as she caught some air.
"Good. Now let's keep walking." The young director said after kissing the superstar's nose tip. She intertwined their slender fingers before urging the woman to resume walking.
The superstar glanced at their intertwined fingers before latching herself to the young director's arm and walking closely with her, leaving no space between their warm bodies. For some reason, she felt warm feeling inside her whenever she was near her. She could almost swear that butterflies have taken residency in her stomach and they kept fluttering inside.
6:38PM: SFV ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY RESIDENCES
"I think you're in trouble again, Ojousama." The young director chuckled upon looking at the blonde manager who was tapping her foot impatiently while crossing her arms on the reception area. Beside her was the spectacled producer who was just calmly standing in perfect contrast to the blonde manager's demeanor.
The young director released the superstar's left hand and distanced herself.
"Where have you been, Viola!? We've been surfing the entire Japan looking for you!" The blonde manager roared the moment the two figures sat a foot on the reception area.
"It's 'searching', Haruka-san." The spectacled producer corrected before facing the superstar. "Welcome back, Shizuru-san." She smiled at her.
"They mean the same, Yukino!" The blonde manager snapped her head to her left, looking at her childhood friend. "And why are you in that altar!?" She pointed at the superstar's state of dress.
"It's 'attire', Haruka-san." The spectacled producer corrected once again, her eyes were regarding the superstar's unusual attire.
"Ara, would Haruka-san prefer it if I expose my identity to the paparazzi?" The superstar replied as she pulled down her jacket's hood and removed her cap and dark glasses. She shook her tawny mane before running her left hand on them.
"Did she just say, 'Ara'?" The blonde manager snapped her head towards the spectacled producer who also snapped her head towards her upon hearing the word.
"I think so." The spectacled producer replied in her thought.
"Ara, if Haruka-san has nothing in mind. I wish to retire early for the night." The superstar announced.
"I'll let you go this time, Viola." The blonde manager said with a hint of gladness in her voice but she coughed it off. "Where's your car? I didn't you see in it." She inquired when the familiar vehicle did not come to her sight.
"We left it at the mall. Ten-minute ride from here. I'll have it picked up as soon as possible." The young director interjected, looking at the blonde manager.
"And how did you come here? Don't tell me you let her ride that mordacious bike of yours!?" The blonde manager roared at the young director.
"Mordacious?" The young director mouthed at the spectacled producer, waiting for some enlightenment that did not come.
"She said it right, Director Kruger. It's the synonym for dangerous." The spectacled producer offered an explanation although she herself did not expect the blonde to have such lucky mixed up of words.
"I always say it right, Yukino." The blonde manager huffed, crossing her arms.
"Ara, we took a stroll, Haruka-san." The superstar interjected when they started going off the track again.
"You what!? You could've been starnapped! Are you out of your sanity!?" The blonde manager once again roared at the superstar who was just calmly standing in front of her.
"Starnapped?" The young director looked at the blonde manager.
"Out of your sanity?" The spectacled producer mouthed, looking at her childhood friend.
"Yeah. Viola is not a kid so she could not be kidnapped. She's a star so, starnapped or superstarnapped if you don't like the aforementioned." The blonde manager explained, surprising everyone in the process before looking at the spectacled producer to her left. "Out of your sanity. Insane." She continued as a matter-of-factly
"Ara, as Haruka-san can see I am quite alright. No need to worry about me." The superstar replied when everyone seemed to lost track of the conversation again.
"Shizuru-san, would you like to join us for dinner?" The spectacled producer offered.
"Ara, Ookini, Yukino-san but I am afraid I have to decline. I wish to take some rests." The superstar offered her polite smile to the spectacled producer.
"Of course, Shizuru-san. I apologize for holding you further." The spectacled producer smiled at her childhood friend. "Good to see you back, Shizuru-san." She added in her thought before urging the blonde manager beside her. "Let's leave Shizuru-san to her rest, Haruka-san."
"Don't do that again, Viola." The blonde manager replied before following the spectacled producer out of the building.
"Director Kruger, I am going to Reito-san's restaurant. Care to join me for dinner?" The orange haired manager invited upon seeing the young director. She just came in and was meaning to look for the young director since she had to keep her away from eating unhealthy fast food takeouts.
"Hell, yes! I'm starving. Let's…" The young director cheered but was halted when she felt a tug at the back of her jacket. "Ms. Viola, what's…" she started when she saw the superstar's hand was clutching her jacket but was soon released before said woman turned on her heels and went towards the elevator's direction without saying a word.
"Follow her. I'll just send some deliveries to your unit." The orange haired manager gestured her head to the retreating superstar, knowing full-well the reason behind the woman's behavior.
"But I am hungry, Mai." The young director complained.
"Do as I say, Director Kruger. After her, now." The orange haired manager ordered with finality.
"Fine. Don't forget my coffee." The young director groaned before turning on her heels and running after the superstar.
"Wait!" The young director called out as she extended her right hand to stop the elevator door from completely closing. "Just in time." she released a sigh of relief before getting in, the shopping bag was still held in her left hand.
"What now? I don't even know why I have to follow her here. Aarrghh! That Mai." She grumbled in her thought when she was finally inside the elevator. The superstar's back was turned to her. "I'm really not in the mood for another hard slap." She laid down the shopping bag before gently wrapping her arms around the superstar's waist and inching her body closer to her. The woman stiffened, not expecting the gesture before she relaxed to the hold.
"Hey, nice view." She whispered to the woman's right ear as she let her chin rest on the superstar's right shoulder, her emerald orbs were looking at the terrific city lights which seemed to be dancing.
"Ara, I thought Director Kruger is going on a dinner date with Tokiha-san." The superstar said, not even hiding her disapproval to the idea.
"Oh." The young director chuckled before adding in her thought. "So, this is what Mai meant."
"Ara, I am just a temporary entertainment for Director Kruger seeing as how she sees things to be laughable." The superstar said, her jealousy becoming apparent in her voice.
"Mai likes someone else, Shizuru. Don't ask me who. I will never tell even if you will pry my mouth open. Mai will kill me." The young director said not having any idea how to handle the current word sparring. In her defense, she was already starving and exhausted so, she just went on spilling beans. "I'm tired. Let's just enjoy the view. No talking." She finished as her emerald orbs went back to the majestic scenery in front of them.
"Remind me again why I have to stay in your unit and be your pillow, Shizuru." The young director said in mild annoyance to the superstar who was snuggling closed to her. Her left shoulder was cradling the woman's head.
"Because Natsuki exhausted me from walking and she's warmer than my pillows." The superstar drawled in her sleepy melodic voice as she started drifting off to sleep.
"Oi, I'm…" The young director started to retort but was halted upon looking at the superstar who was serenely sleeping like an innocent child. Her soft pinkish lips were slightly parted as she breathed slowly.
After thirty minutes of staying like that, the young director slowly and gently removed herself from the already fast asleep superstar.
"At least take your shoes off when you're going to sleep." She muttered before slowly discarding the superstar's sneakers and setting them aside. She casted a final glance at the sleeping figure on the bed before going out and proceeding to her own living quarter.