Chapter 13 - Stepping Out & Moving In
"Alright, from what I can see, things are pretty much even in terms of the overall color palette. . ."
Our runway coach scanned us like he was looking through a magazine, giving each of us a quick glance before moving to the next model. "Half of you went to the dark side while the rest of you embraced the light."
"Um, did I just hear a Star Wars reference in that description?" I hear Kankuro whisper, and from the corner of my eye, I could see Naruto nodding in confirmation, the two of them smirking as if they knew a secret that no one else knew about.
Then again, maybe my brother found himself a fellow Star Wars fan to bond with?
"For today's show, the progression will go from light to dark, like how it's always bright and colorful during a sunset before the nighttime slides in to take over," He adds, explaining the theme for the production. "So, let's get you all in order, shall we?"
Yamato takes a hands-on approach to put us all in the proper order, guiding each of us by the arm to the spot he wanted us to be in. I was put closer to the back of the line, just ahead of everyone that was dressed close to or in all black.
Gaara and Hinata were right behind me, both fitting into the close to all black category. TenTen and Temari were up near the front of the line, while Naruto and Neji were put closer to the middle, while Kankuro got placed close to the very end.
By wearing the brightest outfit in the group, Matsuri was given the honor of opening the show, while Jugo, who was wearing the blackest of all of the all-black ensembles, was given the task of closing the show out. Opening and closing runway shows were highly prized positions for models to get on the runway, and there were a few envious glances sent their ways, but hey, I couldn't begrudge their luck.
They just happened to get the right clothing for the occasion.
"Alright, we got ourselves a show order!" Yamato cheers after going down the line one last time. "After I do the introductions, I will give you the signal for your turn to walk. Once you've had your turn, make your way to the back of the line for the final walk. . . Walk tall, and walk proud. Are you all ready?
"YES!" We all screech, some louder than others.
"Now that's the spirit . . . Alright then, follow me everyone!"
"Well, this is new. . ." Gaara mumbles as we step into a makeshift hallway, obscuring us from the view of the awaiting crowd. "They must have put this up while we were getting ready, but in 20 minutes though?"
"Fashion tends to be a high paced industry," I say as the line quickly comes to a stop. "Plus, I guess they want to keep our outfits a surprise for the audience."
Forour convenience, there were a couple of monitors set up throughout the makeshift hallway, giving us all the chance to see each other walk the runway. Soon enough, Yamato emerges on screen with a microphone in hand, ready to start things off.
"And so, it begins . . ."
"Welcome everyone!" The applause was thunderous as the runway coach greeted the audience, becoming so loud that Yamato didn't dare to speak again till the crowd noise finally died down.
"First things first, I would like to thank you all for taking some time out of your busy schedules to join us for today's presentation. Tsunade and the judges, as well as Kakashi, Dan, and myself, are very excited for you all to see this year's crop of young models, probably our most talented and unique group yet . . . This year's edition of You Wanna Be on Top? is going to be a big one, and so, without further ado, let's meet the models!"
"Hey! There's Ino and Lee!" Hinata calls out, pointing at the monitor closest to us. "They're right by the runway."
"Well, at least they're not completely left out of the festivities. They have front row seats!" I couldn't help but say as I spotted the scowl Ino was wearing. ". . . But yeah, Ino looks absolutely pissed."
"Well, at least Lee looks like he's taking his disqualification in better spirits," Gaara points out, and he wasn't wrong. While Ino was stewing in her anger, Lee looked quite eager for the show to begin. "I'm sure Lee's going to get points added to his record for taking his bad news so well. Ino, not so much."
"Clients do like a positive model more than a negative one," I add, just as a dark sounding electro-pop song started blaring from the speakers. "But still, they wouldn't be where they're at right now if they had just got back in the time that was allowed. . . I wonder what exactly made them late though."
"Maybe they'll be nice enough to tell you if you asked them?" Hinata suggests.
"Maybe . . ." I say, nodding my head to show that I heard her, but I was too busy watching the screen to really give her my full attention.
After all, the show was just beginning.
Matsuri was the show's opener, and as I was watching her walk, I couldn't help but notice a couple of things.
Firstly, her light blue dress looked very nice on her. Like seriously, it suited her skin tone perfectly.
Secondly, her heels looked a little too big on her feet, which resulted in a walk that was very poised from the ankles up, but wobbly from the ankles down. Thankfully, she didn't fall once, and when she was finally finished, she disappeared from the screen, only to reappear at the end of the hallway, wobbly making her way toward the back with frustration on her face.
"How was it?" Hinata was quick to ask as Matsuri came our way.
"It was exciting! It was nerve wracking! It was everything I expected and more!" She exclaims as she approaches. "I just wish I had found a better pair of heels to wear!"
It wasn't long before the first of our friends made their presence known on the runway. TenTen was the first to try her luck and I was honestly nervous for her, especially since she insisted on wearing those sky-high heels. . .
. . . However, I gotta admit, she handled herself like a champ, walking the runway like she completely owned it. Temari held her own too, but it was obvious she was in some pain thanks to how many times her eyes winced whenever she took a step.
"She shouldn't have worn those damn shoes," I mumbled as the next person appeared on screen. "I knew they were too tight for her feet!"
"That's my sister for you. You can give her as much sound advice as you want, but she won't take it into consideration if she thinks she can handle things without it." Gaara couldn't help but add as we shuffled forward.
"Is she like this with you and the rest of your family?"
"Us, her friends, her classmates, teachers and professors, the neighborhood barista . . . Yeah, pretty much."
After a few more people, including my brother and Neji, had their turns on the runway, I finally found myself at the head of the line after Kiba moved up to take his turn. Being so close to the stage, it was hard to keep a cool head as my blood was pumping in my ears in tandem with the ongoing music.
With Kiba now striking a pose at the end of the runway, Yamato finally gives me my cue to step forward. Walking up the few steps that lead to the platform, I put my model face in place, taking a deep breath before stepping into the spotlight.
The crowd had been raucous and encouraging from the beginning, so I used their cheers as a bit of a confidence booster as I kept my eyes forward and strutted my stuff, keeping in time with the music as I tried my best to exude confidence and ease.
When I reached the end, I posed for the photographer for a few pics before turning around in time to see Gaara appear at the other end. We walk by each other at the middle of the runway, never acknowledging the other as we cross paths, though a part of me was tempted to do so. As soon as I knew I was finally out of the crowd's view, I rushed down the stairs and headed for the very back as fast as I could.
It wasn't long before Gaara rejoined the line, coming to stand right behind me.
"How are you feeling?" I ask, now noticing the slightly dazed look on his face.
"Good! Better than I felt before I went up there," He says as he wipes the dazed look off his face. "You?"
"My adrenaline is a little higher than what I'm used to, but besides that, I feel absolutely wonderful." I say as Hinata approaches. "Hinata . . . Are you shaking?!"
"A little. . ." She concedes as she holds out her hand, which was vibrating so fast that you would be hard pressed not to think that she had too much coffee this morning. "Walking that runway was probably the craziest thing I ever did, well, besides auditioning for this competition in the first place of course."
"No truer words have ever been said. . ."
Watching everyone walk was an interesting experience, with some having good walks, while others had not-so-good walks. Thankfully, no one fell flat on their face, but we had a near face plant courtesy of Karin. The crowd was nice enough not to laugh, but there were a few amused expressions in the audience, including Ino, who wisely hid her mouth behind her hand.
Eventually, it was time for the final walk. With Matsuri leading things off once again, we all stepped back onto the runway in a single file line, gracing the audience with our presence one last time before making our way back to the tent, clapping all the way until we were no longer seen.
"That was AMAZING!" I hear TenTen exclaim from inside. When I entered the tent, I found her wearing a big grin on her face with her arms around Neji and Temari's shoulders, my brother standing nearby. "I want to do it again!"
"I'm sure there are future shows down the road. You just have to be a little patient, and consistent," Neji advises her as he unwinds her arm from his shoulder. "I'm just surprised that no one fell on stage. That's rare, especially this early in the game!"
"Considering that You Wanna Be on Top? has a history of models majorly stumbling during their first show, I consider today's show an absolute miracle!"
We all turn to see Yamato walk in with a pleased grin on his face, quickly followed by Dan, Ino, and Lee. The COO of Senju Model Management also had a smile on his face, but it was the cards in his hands that really got my suspicions up.
He was holding our critiques, and we were about to hear our judgement.
"I must say. . . Collectively, you guys did well out there! After all, it's not every day you have to put on a show where you had to do all the styling yourself," says the runway expert. "However, it's time to get back to business . . . I think you all have noticed by now that Dan has some note cards in his hands, right?"
"While I was in the crowd watching you all, I took the liberty of taking some notes," He explains, displaying his cards like a game show model. "This is standard procedure for me whenever I come to shows that I know are featuring new models."
"Even the ones not signed to SMM?" Yamato asks.
"Just because the model is signed to a rival, doesn't mean they'll stay there forever," Dan explains, and Yamato couldn't help but nod at that little piece of wisdom. "Anyway, I've been to plenty of runway shows over the years, and I got to admit, for newcomers like yourselves, this was one of the strongest performances I've ever seen, so congratulations. . . Tsunade got herself a tough batch of recruits this year."
"Anyway, I have to mention this one quick thing that I noticed before we continue . . . Apparently, some of you guys decided to wear shoes that were either a little too big or a little too small for your feet. Trust me, you did not play it off as well as you think you did," Yamato announced, his words causing Temari and a few of the others to blush in embarrassed guilt.
"Some of you were a little hindered by your choice of footwear, and it definitely showed on your faces, regardless of how well you tried to hide it, and some of you valiantly tried," He adds, smirking despite the commentary. "Ill-fitting shoes is just one of the quirks of the modeling lifestyle. Some will never faze you, but others will. The key is to not appear like you're fazed by anything . . . Fake it till ya make it may be an old, clichéd saying, but trust me. It still has its merits."
"Now then, on to the good news!" Dan adds once Yamato finished his speech. "There were definitely some exceptional walkers up on that runway, but one model really took the cake today."
"The winner of today's challenge will receive the key to the model house," says Yamato, reaching into his pocket to take out said silver key. "Not only that, the winner will also get to pick their bed first, which is quite advantageous considering there are 21 of you . . . I've been to the house for the final walkthrough with Tsunade, and well, I hope some of you guys don't mind sharing."
A quick glance around at my competition instantly told me that the beds were going to be a contentious debate on the bus ride to our new house, if the facial expressions were any indication. Beds, and who slept where, have become a hot button issue ever since Tsunade increased the number of competitors allowed past the semifinals from the original 14 many years ago. It always manages to stir up drama between people, even though it's an expected part of the journey at this point.
"So, the winner of today's challenge . . . is," Dan says, pausing for, or course, dramatic effect. "Sasuke!"
The Uchiha looked absolutely pleased with himself as he stepped forward as courteous applause rained down around him. Taking the key from Yamato's grasp, he nodded in gratitude before returning to his little group of friends at the far corner.
"Now then, it is time for us to make our exit," Yamato announces as he and Dan start backtracking out the tent. "Your bus is waiting for you all outside, ready to whisk you away to your new digs. I hope you all enjoy your new house!"
"We will be seeing you all later! Have fun!" Dan adds, following Yamato out the room, but not before departing without one more wave first.
It only took about 15 minutes for everyone to change before we went out to our awaiting ride. The bus started moving just as everyone was seated, but we didn't make it fully off the block before the discussion devolved into the rooming situation.
Matsuri made the big mistake of calling dibs on the biggest bed first, and though it was likely an offhand comment not meant to be taken seriously, it got people talking. Some started to call dibs before even seeing what the house's layout actually looked like first, but thankfully, Temari managed to get everyone to agree on settling the room situation once we reached the house first.
To be honest, a commanding Temari is quite the scary sight.
The drive took us out of Osaka's downtown area, onto the highway, and then finally into one of the outskirts of one of the more opulent suburban sectors of the city. There were mansions lining either side of the street we were cruising through, with some of them following a more traditional design, while others embraced a more modern look.
I was so enamored by the architecture that I almost didn't notice that the bus was slowing down, pulling to a stop on the curb, right at a quiet intersection.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is as far as this bus will go." The bus driver announces via intercom. "Please disembark and grab your luggage, but before you do, take a moment to look out the window to your left . . . Say hello to your new home!"
Someone in the back, most likely Matsuri, started ecstatically screaming, and soon enough half the bus joined in, much to Shikamaru and Sasuke's notable ire as all eyes went to the mansion on our left, a modern three-story marvel with a touch of traditional influence. Once we all got our luggage, we stepped through the black iron gate and walked up the short driveway, lined on each side by a weeping willow tree, to our new accommodations.
Sasuke, who had the key, unlocked the large door, but any sense of good decorum we had as a group left us as soon as the door swung open.
It was pretty much a mad dash after that, with people discarding their luggage right on the porch to rush inside to see what the rooms were like. I was standing in the back of the group, so I managed to avoid the crowd. When I turned around, Gaara was the only other person that stayed back with me, and everyone's luggage of course.
"Didn't want to get crushed by the crowd, right?" I ask as the shouts of joy and amazement started erupting from inside the building.
"That's one of the reasons," He says in that deep voice of his. "After all, why should I be in there trying to pick a bed for myself when I barely even sleep in the first place?"
"You make a very good point Gaara. . . Also, once enough people are eliminated, there should be enough beds available for everyone to get one," I say as I pull my luggage into the foyer, where a plasma screen stands perched on the main wall, the You Wanna Be on Top? logo serving as a screensaver. "Huh, that must be where the photos of the week will be displayed."
"Seems like it . . . Anyway, everyone's probably going to gather in the living room to discuss the bedding situation," Gaara reminds me as he comes onto the porch. "Shall we join them?"
"We likely have the least say though . . . Eh, might as well!" I say as Gaara pulled his luggage inside. When we found the living room, we left our bags just outside the doorway before walking in to see what the place had to offer, and it had plenty.
The seating centerpiece was a large, dark blue, L-shaped sectional with matching laz-y-boy chairs on either side of it, and a glass coffee table standing a couple feet in front of it. If extra seating was needed, several bean bag chairs in assorted colors lined the wall on either side of the doorway, ready to be brought into service when needed.
The wall opposite of us was entirely made of windows, showcasing the immaculate side yard outside. A plasma screen TV was perched on a large wooden cabinet fitted with three shelves, with the first shelf holding a stereo system while the remaining two shelves held an assortment of movies and TV shows on DVD, and in the very back of the room was a clear runway that ran from one side of the room to the other.
We weren't the only ones in the room either. Neji and Kankuro were seated on the sectional while Shikamaru sat in one of the laz-y-boys.
"You're finished checking out the house already?" Gaara was quick to ask as I continued to look around the room.
"More like we decided to just sit back and let everyone else run amok around the place instead of joining in on the fun," Neji mused as Kankuro kicked his bare feet onto the table. "Besides, we could always explore once we figure out who sleeps where once and for all."
"The others should be walking in here any minute now," Kankuro adds, turning to us. "They are all either still upstairs or in the backyard. Not only do we have a pool and a hot tub out there, we also got an island grill! I can't wait to put that thing into action!"
"You barbecue Kankuro?" I ask, taking a seat in the purple bean bag chair.
"I dabble, but I'm a bit out of practice. . . I'm not allowed to use the family grill anymore." He says, looking a little embarrassed as he looked off to the side.
"And why aren't you allowed to use the grill anymore?"
"Our father hosted a small charity barbecue two years ago and he allowed Kankuro to man the grill for a little bit . . . Everything was going fine until he poured a little too much lighter fluid into the grill while cooking the steaks. The head of Japan's second biggest marketing firm almost lost her hair in the process," Gaara buts in as he sits in the beanbag chair on my right. "Dad hasn't allowed him access to the grill ever since."
"It wasn't that bad. In fact, I think I did Ms. Matsumoto a favor by singing off those split ends of hers!" Kankuro grumbles as he glares at his brother. "And since dad's not here, there's no one stopping me from using the grill out back! You and Temari better not get in my way Gaara!"
"Who said I had plans to?" The redhead mumbled, just as Shikamaru started shaking his head. "Got something to add Shikamaru?"
"I don't think anyone is going to stop your brother from having a turn on the grill Gaara. However, Kankuro, just be mindful. If you plan to use it anytime soon, you're likely going to be cooking for more than just yourself . . . All it takes is one bad meal, and boom, you're banned from grilling once again," Shikamaru advises as he leaned deeper into his seat, as if he was allowing it to swallow him whole.
"We shall see about that . . ." Was all the middle Sabakuno managed to say as people started making their way into the room. "So, how are the rooms upstairs? Do we have enough beds?!"
"Hardly!" Kiba screeched as he flopped himself into one of the chairs.
"I was afraid of that."
"I counted all the beds, and, well, Yamato was right. There're definitely not enough beds for everyone. At least, not immediately," Temari announced as everyone else either takes a seat in a chair or bean bag, or leans against the wall. "There's only 17 beds in this house. Six in one room, four in one room, five in a third room, and two in a fourth room, leaving four of us without a bed for a while, of course . . . Sasuke, have you decided which bed you're going to pick yet?"
"Hmm, I'm going to go with one of the beds in the two-person room." The Uchiha announces, leaving the room without a word.
"Well, someone's in a hurry. . ." Ino mumbles, shaking her head at the duck head's retreating form. "Okay, what's next?
"I guess, who's willing to room with Sasuke?"
Jugo and Suigetsu were the only ones who instantly raised their hands at Temari's question. Karin looked like she was thinking about joining in and raising her hand to, but apparently thought better of it and kept her hand down. . . That was probably for the best.
"The both of you can't room with him," Temari scolds, shaking her head. "You guys need to settle it, here and now."
"Rock-paper-scissors for it?" Suigetsu suggests. Jugo silently nodded before readying his fist. Suigetsu was quick to follow suit, and after seven ties, Suigetsu finally won with rock against Jugo's scissors. "I win! Good game man!"
"The two-person bedroom is officially filled then," Temari proclaims, seamlessly becoming the voice of the meeting as Suigetsu made his exit. "Next question: who's willing to spend the next few weeks without a bed? Any takers?"
"It really boils down to which two of us are willing to go without a bed for a while. Don't you think?" Matsuri asks, not being subtle as she looked at me and Gaara. "Gaara and Izuka don't really need beds either way because they barely sleep at all. Right?"
"Just because we don't sleep often doesn't mean we won't need a bed period," Gaara grumbled, speaking for both of us as he looked at the brunette. "We insomniacs can sleep, just not as regularly as we want to."
"Second it!" I say, figuring that Gaara said enough for both of us. "So, who's going to join the No Bed Squad with us huh?"
"Eh, I guess I can go without a mattress for a while," Naruto volunteers, raising a hand. "I'll join. Anyone else?"
"I'll go without a bed as well," Lee announces. "To be honest, personally, I don't feel like I deserve a bed, at least, not at the moment, not after I bombed the challenge by arriving late and all."
"Wow, that's actually a little noble of you Lee, in a weird sorta way," Sakura mumbles, bringing a hand to her chin. "If only we were assigning beds based on today's performance alone. Naruto wouldn't have to give up a bed in that case. . . Isn't that right Ino?"
"Don't start Blossom Head! Like seriously, don't try it." Ino growls, staring Sakura down with annoyance in her eyes.
If anyone was questioning whether or not she was still angry about her disqualification, her reaction to Sakura's words gladly cleared that up. Thankfully, Sakura didn't say anything, choosing to turn away from the blonde instead.
"Okay, now we just have to figure out who sleeps in the three remaining rooms. Let's start the discussions!"
And thus, the next hour was dedicated to figuring out who would sleep in which room. For the first few minutes, the only thing that was agreed on was that Ino and Sakura wouldn't be sharing a room with each other. . .
. . . They just didn't like each other that much right now.
Hopefully, they work out their issues.
Eventually, the sleeping arrangements were settled. The six-mattress bedroom ended up becoming an all girls' enclave, with TenTen, Hinata, Temari, Sakura, Karin, and Matsuri all rooming with each other, leaving Ino as the odd girl out, well, along with me, technically. She ended up rooming with Sai, Neji, and Kiba, while Kankuro, Shikamaru, Choji, Juugo, and Shino took the other room.
When the dust fully settled, everyone started moving to grab their stuff and claim their beds, leaving my brother, Lee, Gaara, and myself in the living room to discuss our own night time arrangements.
"Okay, there's four of us, and there are two possible rooms left in this place where we can establish our own little space for ourselves: the living room, and the lounge room in the back of the house." My brother explains, looking completely serious for once, only to break into a grin seconds later. "I call dibs on the sectional!"
"I'll take the runway!" Lee exclaims seconds later, giving neither me nor Gaara a chance to respond.
"I guess that leaves us with the lounge room then" I grumbled as the two quickly got up from their seats. "Like seriously though? No debate on the subject first?!"
"Hey! Don't complain sis!" Naruto retorts, swinging back around to face me. "I don't know about Gaara, but I know for a fact that you don't need a couch or a runway to sleep soundly on like Lee and I do. Besides, if you do fall asleep one of these nights, well, it's called the lounge room for a reason. . . You guys will be just fine."
My brother was making a good point, but it was still annoying how he just upped and claimed the sectional like he already owned it. Sometimes, Naruto doesn't even realize when he does it, which makes it all the more irritating.
"Izuka, I don't think it's worth trying to argue with your brother on this one." Gaara advises me as he walks over to the doorway. "He may not have used the best words, but he did make a valid argument."
"Mm, I guess you're right," I slowly admitted as I followed after him. "Still though, it was annoying to listen to him just claim the living room like that though."
"You know what I suggest? Do what I usually do when one of my siblings annoys me to no end."
"And what would that be oh knowledgeable redhead?"
"Simple," He says, smirking up a storm. "Get back at him."
"Get back at him huh?" I mumble as we grab our bags, my thoughts already spinning with ideas. And then, it hits me. "Huh, I think I have an idea."
A/N: Leave a comment if you like
Just to let you all know, this is how the sleeping arrangement was finalized.
Six person room: TenTen, Hinata, Temari, Sakura, Karin, Matsuri
Four person room: Ino, Sai, Neji, Kiba
Five person room: Kankuro, Shikamaru, Choji, Shino, Juugo
Two person room: Sasuke, Suigetsu
Left without a bed: Izuka (lounge room), Lee (living room), Gaara (lounge room), Naruto (living room)
