Chapter 8 – Cutting Down the Competition
You know what the bad thing is about yesterday ending?
Today beginning.
Usually, I'd be happy to say that I survived to witness another sunrise on this good green Earth, but I couldn't celebrate today, not when I'm so nervous about what's supposed to happen in a few minutes' time.
It's Elimination Day, the first of many I hope to witness, well, if I manage to stay long in this competition. The upcoming cuts have been hanging over our heads ever since we got the Tsunade Mail yesterday, and while we tried to keep our spirits up, it was mostly a halfhearted effort.
"Um, did anyone else wake up with a serious case of elimination anxiety this morning?" TenTen asks as we wait for the elevator, breaking through the tense silence that we've been drowning in since Hinata suggested that group yoga session earlier in the morning.
Yeah, leave it to the sound of silence to indicate when a person was obviously tense about an important life-altering decision happening in their upcoming future.
"Not only did I wake up feeling anxious, but it's cousins Dread and Stressful decided to pay me a visit as well. They're currently having a party with the butterflies in my stomach right as we speak," Temari mumbles, vainly trying to be funny as she picked off a piece of lint from her gray halter top. "I just want them to put me out of my misery and tell me my fate already. . . Damn, the wait is killing me!"
"I'm sure you're not the only one Temari," I say as the elevator doors finally slid open. "Sheesh, you probably won't find a single person in this competition that's not nervous about the upcoming cuts. . . If there is someone like that, then I want to know what that person is smoking so I could get some for myself."
"If I was a bit braver, I would join you Izuka," Hinata admits, her words a bit surprising as we stepped into the compartment. "What?! It's not fun knowing that your model dream could be cut short in a matter of minutes! It's quite terrifying if you ask me.""
"Eh, I try to not think about what's coming next, but I can't help myself . . . I end up worrying even more," TenTen concedes as she jabs the button for the second floor, where the conference room was supposed to be. "I hate to ask the question, but I'm gonna ask it anyway . . . How many people do you think are getting cut today?"
"Um, first things first, that question didn't have to be asked at all, so there's that, but to answer your question, I honestly don't know," I say as we start going downward. "The number tends to vary from year to year. The highest it has ever been was that one season where they cut a third of the competition."
"I remember that season!" TenTen exclaims, pointing my way. "Everyone was so shocked once they heard the results! There were so many tears, and not enough Kleenex!"
"Hopefully the producers stocked the conference room with enough Kleenex so that the same thing doesn't happen again . . . A whole bunch of people are going to need them by the end of the day," I mumble, just as we come to a stop. "Well, showtime girls!"
After the doors slid open, we shuffled out and walked toward the conference room, back in our little quiet bubble. Everyone that arrived before us were waiting along the walls that led up to the sealed doors, either so chatty that they just couldn't hold their nerves in, or so silent that you could see them internalize them just by looking into their eyes.
"Huh, this kinda reminds me of those long lines you always see leading into the neighborhood movie theater whenever a big blockbuster was premiering . . . The experience is fun, don't get me wrong, but man is it a struggle when it's the middle of winter!"
"Um, TenTen? How is waiting on a long line a fun experience?" I couldn't help but ask. "Better question: How is waiting on a long line when it's WINTER a fun experience?!"
"It's all about the camaraderie Izuka," she says, her grin practically cheeky. "You know, like-minded individuals coming together to see a film that they've been waiting for months to come out, ready to see it before any of their other friends could . . ."
"Because you want to brag that you saw said film before any of your friends did?"
"Well, that, and to avoid spoilers Hinata," TenTen finishes as we join the line. ". . . Spoilers are never fun."
"Oh yeah, I can see the parallels . . . It really is just like waiting for a movie premiere, except there's no popcorn, candy, or drinks waiting for us inside." Temari adds as she leans against the wall, not sounding malicious as she looked up at the clock that was hanging on the opposing wall. "It's 9:52. Only eight minutes remain until we learn our fate, and where the hell are the boys!?"
"Hm, either they're still in their room, or they're making their way down," Hinata easily replies as we hear the familiar elevator ding. Most of the models were already out of the lift by the time we turned our heads; Naruto and Gaara walking right at the front of the pack. "Here come two of them right now."
"Yeah, but where are the others? Since they all share the same room, I figured they would all be coming down together," Temari grumbles as our respective brothers finally reach us. "Hey, how come Neji and Kankuro didn't come down with ya?"
"Apparently, Kankuro lost his lucky puppet, so Neji decided to stay back and help him look for it."
"Go back for a second Naruto. Kankuro carries around a lucky puppet?" I ask, not really believing in what I was hearing.
"Yeah, you heard him right Izuka," Gaara admits, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "He got it from our father as a gift for his tenth birthday, and he's been carrying it around with him at all times since. . . It's not like one of those normal sized puppets you see at puppet shows. It's more like a palm sized trinket if you ask me."
"I would appreciate it if you didn't call my lucky puppet a palm sized trinket,little brother," calls said middle sibling as he and Neji finally arrive. "With the luck it has brought me over the years, it deserves the respect it has earned!"
"Why should I refrain from saying something that's absolutely true though? Your lucky puppet actually fits into your palm!" Gaara argues back as he raised an eyebrow . . .
. . . Which immediately gets my attention since I now realized that he doesn't have any eyebrows.
They were nowhere to be found on his face, which makes me ask the question.
Was he simply born without them, or did he choose to shave them off?
Don't get me wrong, he's freaking handsome even without his eyebrows, and it's actually quite hard to imagine him with them right now, but still . . .
. . . How did I not notice this before?
"Okay, you got me there." Kankuro concedes as he reaches into his back pocket, taking it back out a second later to reveal the little luck giver. "I'm just glad I finally found it, well, thanks to Neji's help."
"No problem, although, I have to admit. It was a little hard finding the thing thanks to its misleading name," says the Hyuga, crossing his arms over his chest. "He told me that he named it Crow, so I immediately assumed that the puppet was modeled after an actual crow."
"But that little thing looks nothing like a crow!" Naruto exclaims, pointing at the puppet. "What kind of crow has three eyes, four arms, and no wings?"
"Did I forget to mention that Kankuro has a very bad tendency of giving objects horrible names?" Temari snidely asks, earning a sharp glare from her brother. He likely would have said something, but the conference room doors started opening up before he had the chance to open his mouth. "You can say what you want to say later Kankuro. We got much more pressing matters to get to first!"
"Gather around everyone!" Yamato exclaims, making his presence known as he and Kakashi emerged from the room. The doors close as soon as they're past the threshold, giving none of us the chance to see what was going on inside as we moved to form a half circle around the two gentlemen.
"You all have been put through your paces these past few days, but unfortunately, all good things must come to an end." Kakashi starts off, bringing the mood down right off the bat.
"One hundred of you managed to make it to the semifinals. One hundred, out of thousands and thousands of applicants that tried out this year," Yamato adds, his face turning somber. "But after today's elimination, only 50 of you will remain in the running. . . Half of you will be going home!"
"Fifty?" Hinata whispers as the group buzzes with shock and worry. ". . . Please tell me I didn't hear him right; that my mind is playing tricks on me!"
"I wish I could say that, but you heard him right Hinata," Naruto answers her with a slightly glum look on his face. "We all heard him . . . Seriously? Fifty? That's pretty much unheard of!"
"You got that right my whiskered friend," TenTen grumbles. "Thanks to my knowledge on all things 'You Wanna be on Top?', I can confirm that this is the biggest elimination this competition has ever seen. Unfortunately for us, we get to be a part of it!"
"Why our year though?" Kankuro whines as he raked his free hand through his hair. "Couldn't they have waited till next year?"
"I guess not . . ." I mumble as the crowd begins to quiet down. "We don't get everything we want in this world after all."
"Alright, alright! I think we gave you all enough time to talk amongst yourselves. . . It's time to get back to the task at hand everyone!" Yamato reminds us, not bothering to hide his bemused expression.
"Behind these doors is a room filled with 100 posters, one for each of you. They are simply enlarged versions of the Polaroids that you all took during the preliminary rounds." Kakashi explains as he jutted his thumb at the sealed doors behind him.
"If you find the phrase 'You're in!' printed on the back of your respective poster, then congratulations, you have made it through to the next round," Yamato adds. "However, if the back of your poster is blank - absolutely blank, no words, just plain white all around – then I'm sorry, your journey ends here, and you will have to go back to your respective suites, pack your bags, and go home."
"So, are you all ready to find out your results?!" Kakashi exclaims as the doors slowly opened up. It didn't take us long to answer him with one resounding 'YES!'. "Alright then, IN YOU GO!"
The crowd moved before he even got his last word out. We ended up bum rushing through the open doorway, passing the two - now frantic looking - men, both too slow to get out of our collective way. I couldn't even get a good look of the room before things broke down into a downright frenzy, with everyone moving back and forth and left to right to find their respective photos in the crowd. The sounds of tearful cries and shouts of joy blindsided me from all sides, and I still haven't found my photo yet.
"SIS, OVER HERE!"
Somehow, Naruto's voice manages to be loud and clear among the cacophony that is the noise going around in this room. Turning my head to find where his voice came from, I spot my brother standing next to my poster. He was already holding his, and judging from the big, megawatt-sized grin he had on his face, I think it's safe to say that he was continuing on.
"I guess they put them in ABC order by last time. That would explain why ours are close to the end of the line." I inwardly mused as I jogged over to him. "So, judging from the smile on your face, it's safe to say that you're moving on, right?"
"Hell, yes I am!" he exclaims, happiness flowing off him in waves as he hugged me with his free arm.
I couldn't help but smile at his antics. Naruto's joy was just that contagious. "Now hurry up and look at your poster! I want to know if you made it through or not!"
"I will, once you finally let go of me!" I say with a chuckle. Now realizing that he was still hugging me, Naruto quickly lets me go, shooting me a quick apologetic glance before shifting to one of anticipation.
I couldn't blame him for it. Naruto tended to get excited for the both of us at times, even when the situation didn't call for it.
"Here goes nothing," I say as I pick up the object that determined my fate. For some reason – it could have been out of nervousness, outright fear, or disappointment – I close my eyes before turning my poster around. Slowly opening one eye at a time, I looked down to see black lettering.
That alone sealed the deal for me. "Yes, I made it! I'm still in this thing!"
"It's two for two for the Uzumaki twins after all!" Naruto says, wrapping his free arm around my shoulders. It wasn't hard to disagree with his assessment, especially since it was rare for siblings to make it far in the competition together. "C'mon! Let's go see what the others got!"
"Hopefully their results are just as good as ours," I mumble as he starts dragging me further into the room. "It'll would be a bit depressing if any of them got sent home."
"You said it sis . . . I know people are going to be eliminated left and right as this thing goes on, but it's still going to be hard to see the people you start to get close to leave week by week."
"Aw, it's so nice to know that you feel that way guys! I'm touched!"
We both turn to our immediate right to see Kankuro standing a couple of feet away with a grin on his face and his poster in his hand, with Gaara and Temari standing a couple feet behind him.
"It's really good to know that you guys care so much. It hits me right here; right in the heart, right in the feels," the brunette further adds as he clutches at his chest.
"Oh, shut it!" Naruto exclaims as he jabs his finger at him. "Now it just sounds like you're mocking us."
"Sorry, but I'm being honest here. Your words really were quite touching," he says, just as Temari slapped him on the back of his head. ". . . That was so not needed sis."
"You brought this on yourself. Don't deny it!" She says with a smirk before turning to us. "Are you guys still in thing?"
"Yep!" I say as we hold up our posters. "What about you guys?"
"We're all still in," Gaara calmly confirms as they show us the evidence. "We all live to fight another day, I guess."
"HEY! Don't forget us!" TenTen exclaims, weaving her way through the crowd with Neji and Hinata in tow. "We're still in this thing too you know!"
"Well that's good to hear!" I say as I start looking around the room.
Emotions were really running high throughout the room. There was obvious joy, excitement, and relief on the faces of those that were still in, with some visibly crying as they digested their good news. On the other hand, there was, of course, disappointment, anger, sadness, and even some acceptance on the faces of those that didn't make the cut.
It was truly half and half, and though I felt really bad for those that were in the half that was going home - like how could I not? Their dream has been momentarily halted by the sting of elimination after all - it was relieving to know that me, my brother, and all of our friends were in the half that is still in the running.
"Hm, hopefully this experience won't be too demoralizing to those that have to go home." I hear Hinata mumble.
"If they're smart, they'll use this as a learning experience and grow from it," Gaara added, his face stoic, his tone, not so much. "If they work hard enough, they could audition again next year and try for a better result."
"Way to look at the bright side of things little brother!" Kankuro kindly says, patting his brother on the back. "He may look emo, but Gaara here can be full of surprises!"
"Can you not!?" Gaara immediately countered, shooting him a sharp look . . . Probably for the 'emo' line.
"Never, little brother," Kankuro countered in return. ". . . NEVER!"
"CAN EVERYONE GATHER UNDER THE CHANDELIER PLEASE!?"
"Looks like you're gonna have to hold that thought Gaara," I say, stopping the redhead in his tracks. Gaara looked like he wanted to tell off his brother - and he most likely would have if it wasn't for my interruption - but a quick glance at the growing crowd under said chandelier stopped him from going any further.
He had to settle with giving Kankuro a dirty look that screamed 'This isn't over!'. Kankuro, for his part, looked like he was up for the challenge.
"First of all, I would like to say that it was definitely hard to choose who would be this year's Top 50. It was a decision process that lasted well into the night, and by the end of it, we felt comfortable with the guys and girls we chose," Kakashi announces as he looked around at our variously emotional faces. "For those of you who were cut today, this is not the end of the road for you guys, nor should it never be. What happened today was simply a roadblock, one that I know that you all are capable of overcoming. This shouldn't stop you from chasing your dreams, and hopefully, we will see some of you, or all of you, back here next year."
"Thank you for participating, and we wish you all the best, but for now, we have to bid you all farewell!"
Yamato's voice was both formal and somber, a fitting tone for the situation as those of us that have survived clapped for those who had to go home. After they made their exit, a palpable silence enveloped us, as if we were mourning those who had departed from our ranks, which, in a way, we were.
That silence ceased once Yamato started clapping his hands, sounding like firecrackers that were just set off.
"Congratulations on being the Top 50!" he exclaims, turning from somber to excited in no time flat. "You all have rightfully earned your spots here in this phase of the competition, but how well you do later today will truly determine who makes it to the finals, and who goes home."
"This afternoon, you all will be attending a party that the hotel will be throwing in honor of this year's competition. Many people will be there, including some high-profile members of Japan's fashion community, as well as photographers who will be covering the soiree for many news outlets and publications," Kakashi calmly explains, holding our absolute attention. "Some of the photographers are freelancers that we hired to take photos of you, and only you. Their photos are what we are going to use to determine who's through to the finals and who's out."
"Here's the catch though: You'll have to be at your very best throughout the night, because you will not know which photographers are freelancers." Yamato further tells us as a slightly sinister grin begins to show on his face. "So, stay on your toes, but make sure you're looking natural while doing it."
"Don't let your guard down, or else you may end up with a very embarrassing photo by the end of the festivities. . . Trust me, you do not want Yamato, Tsunade, and me criticizing a photo showing you picking your nose." Kakashi adds, likely smirking underneath that mask of his. "Does anyone have any questions?"
"When are we going to finally meet Tsunade-sama?" asked the pink-haired girl with green eyes. I think her name is Sakura, but I'm not sure. . . Haven't asked her yet.
"You may see her at the party, and you may not. For now, you should worry more about what you're going to wear than who you're going to meet. . . After all, in the fashion world, appearances and first impressions are very important." says Yamato as he moves to depart, Kakashi following right after him. "The party starts at one o'clock. We'll see you all later!"
A/N: Leave a comment if you like!
