Whew. It's been like three years since I last touched this. I was starting to lose my interest in continuing this. I don't think I have enough courage to. But, still...I told myself not to give up. Hopefully, someone reads this. This chapter is a sort of side story. I call it a side story cause it doesn't actually focus on Saya and the rest of the chapter focus on another character, unlike the first three chapters.
Cast Meet
Chapter 4
Coming Home
Saya turned the key in the lock, twisted the doorknob, and entered the house.
"I'm home," Saya murmured. Although she knew that no one was at home, she grew accustomed to saying those words. It just made her feel she was truly at home. And somehow, the house became warmer. It was only her way thinking.
Without taking as much as a glance at her environment, she crossed the foyer and headed straight for her bedroom. It was her habit that the first thing she would do when she arrived home was to go to her room to change out of her school uniform, replenish herself with an afternoon snack, and rest for an hour. Sometimes, she slept in the afternoon. Sometimes, she would only lie down in bed staring at the ceiling. And when she had enough, she would take out her homework, working on it for at least two hours. By six o' clock, she would start preparing dinner. When the food had already been cooked and the table was set, Saya would take a bath. Then, she would sit at the table and wait for her father to come home. They would eat dinner together or if he wasn't home by around 8 p.m., Saya would eat ahead. After cleaning up and leaving food on the table for his father (if he still hadn't come home), she would dawdle around doing anything she felt like. Such was her life. Saya spent most of her time alone, but she was used to it.
Saya set down the keys and her bag on her desk. She undressed, changing into a loose shirt and baggy shorts. She picked up her clothes in a bundle and dumped them in the hamper inside the bathroom.
The twelve-year old paused outside the bathroom, brows furrowed. Saya made her way to the living room, coming to a halt in front of the telephone stand. The young girl lifted off the receiver from its cradle and dialed a number.
Saya pressed the receiver close to her ear. Kriiinnng...
...Kriiinnng...Kriiinnng...
...Kriiinnng...Kriiinnng...
...Kriiinnnng...
After the sixth ring, Saya replaced the receiver.
"Of course, she must still be in school," Saya said to herself. She would have to call later and made a mental note to remember it.
Takamine Iris, famous teen icon and star of the TV series - "Cat's Paw", was currently wearing a very ugly expression as she sat inside her hotel room. For one thing, she was feeling really resentful towards her manager, who insisted that they shoot a few scenes in that vicinity. That vicinity, which happened to be the same place that the Angelic Layer International Tournament was being held at. Stupid manager. Stupid Angelic Layer.
Of course, Iris did not openly told people that it was what she thought. Her manager only knew that she somehow refused to affiliate herself with the enterprising sport. Piffle Princess had repeatedly offered the popular teen actress to endorse some of their latest products. Iris' manager was all too ready to accept the offer if it were not for Iris' adamant refusals. No deal. No contract.
Iris' manager could not understand why she seemed to hold such a strong grudge against anything Angelic Layer. Well, blame it on Angelic Layer, for ever being invented. Her TV series, "Cat's Paw", had been doing well on air. Lately, though, the ratings were drastically fluctuating for ten consecutive weeks. The reason was because of a string of AL tourneys being telecasted at the same time as Cat's Paw. And from the looks of it, the AL season would be staying for quite a while.
The AL hype overshadowed her own popularity. Iris felt that she was all too quickly losing her fans. There just wasn't enough fans fawning over her. They were either too busy playing with dolls in the AL domes or too busy to unglue their eyes from the TV screen, watching angel fights instead of pretty magical girls who can turn into adorable cream-colored cats.
Three days earlier, when the crew came to shoot a scene at the park, Iris was met with hyper fan girls and enamored fan boys. Her inner self was in an extremely ecstatic state. The sound of her screaming fans, all clamoring for her, was music to her ears. These people who worshipped the ground she walked on, they were her source of sheer euphoria. Without them, she felt nothing.
But curse whoever created Angelic Layer. When word got around that some prodigal deuses had a regulated battle between themselves at a nearby elementary school, her so-called shippers flocked away to see these prodigal deuses or whatever they're called. Only a few staunch loyalists remained, but not enough to get her into the mood to act.
So what did she do? She threw a fit, yelling at her manager that she was not ever budging a foot until the AL season was over and that she would only venture out of her trailer if AL died she did not care in how many years. She stomped off towards the hotel and locked herself inside her suite, sulking. She would live in there if she had to.
Her manager had been pounding on the door, for some time now, and to no end was he relenting. It annoyed Iris.
"Iris! Iris! Enough of this nonsense! Will you please get out of there? Why are you acting so immature!"
"Go away!" shouted Iris. She cupped her ears, trying to block out the noise. No matter what you say or do, I am not leaving this place!
"Iris! If you don't open this door right this instant--"
Iris' manager stopped short. Iris could hear him saying something in a muffled voice to someone else outside the room. A while more and Iris heard the lock turn. The door opened; a tawny -haired boy stepped inside, looking very cheerful.
"Hello, dear sister."
"Haru," Iris said flatly. She squinted her eyes at the boy. "What are you doing here and how did you get in?"
"Why, through the door, of course," answered Haru, appearing mildly surprised.
"Answer me!" Iris' face contorted into one of anger and rage.
"I used a key. How else could I get in if the door was locked? I'm not Houdini."
"Haru. You are testing my patience."
Haru smiled, unfazed. "There, there. No need to be cross. I heard you were shooting at the park, but by the time I came, you were already gone. Your co-stars informed me that you went ahead to the hotel you were staying at."
"Hmph!"
Takamine Haru was Iris' shrewd, thirteen-year old brother. Unlike his sister, Haru was not into show business. Instead, he wass involved with AL. He does not play the sport, but rather developed angels for the company. A genius in his own right, Haru is the youngest staff member and worked in R & D. The angels he design usually become the most in-demand. Suffice to say, a lot of people start playing AL because of him.
Many say that Iris and Haru were too opposite and dissimilar to be brother and sister. He was reserved, with a very calm and composed demeanor. He did not easily let on what he was thinking about. He was so sharp, that it oftentimes got on Iris' nerves a lot. That was probably why the two of them were not close, even when Iris still lived with him and their parents.
Iris recalled. This was one more reason why she hated her manager utterly right now. This area was where she originally lived. Iris left her home two years ago. Two years ago was when she began her acting career. Two years ago was when she said that to her parents that she was moving out, to be independent. She refused to be funded by her parents. She bought her own place to stay with the money she earned from acting.
"Oneesan, aren't you going to visit mom and dad?"
The two siblings stared at each other as the question hung in the air.
Iris closed her eyes. "Haru, you know there's no way I'm going back to our house, not even for a visit."
"Aww. That's too bad. I already told mom and dad that I'm bringing you home tonight."
Iris' eyes snapped open, face livid. "What do you mean by that!"
"I just thought that you need a break from your strenuous schedule, right Aikawa-san?" Haru cocked his head towards the doorway, where Iris' manager, Aikawa Senta, was peeking out from.
"As I was saying, wouldn't it be great if Iris took a vacation from her acting career?" Haru told Aikawa.
"Y-yes, you're r-right!" Aikawa stuttured.
Iris glared smolderingly at Haru, who only smiled. When she turned towards her manager, he seemed close to fainting. Aikawa's appearance that moment was a far cry from the person who had been pounding on her door a while back.
The teen idol spoke in a hectoring tone. "I haven't agreed to a vacation. Aikawa-san, explain."
"I k-know. I also k-know h-how important your c-career is t-to y-you. B-but, s-since i-it's the AL s-season right n-now..." he trailed off.
Iris pondered those few words, which already meant a lot. Her manager knew how peevish she had been lately because of AL. Iris' competitor for attention was a tough one. She disliked sharing the limelight. AL was stealing away her fandom and she refused to accept it. It would be a good idea to get out of the picture for a while, Iris thought. It's not like she was quitting being an actress.
"Okay..." Iris finally yielded. But, what about--
"Don't worry, sis. The TV network can show re-runs of 'Cat's Paw'. Even though, they're re-runs, I'm sure your fans won't complain," Haru said, answering Iris' unvoiced question.
Iris peered at Haru. He was still so perceptive that it unsettled her. It was as if he could read minds, her mind especially. They were definitely not brother and sister. And both of them knew it was true. They were brother and sister only by law.
"WHAT!"
Iris sprung up from her chair. Oh, Haru was so going to get it. This was not part of the plan. He had tricked her, that conniving...
"Why do I have to attend school while I'm staying here!"
"Eris, you don't have to be violent. Please, sit down."
"Iris."
"Excuse me?"
"Call me Iris."
"It's her screen name."
"Well, this family will not be treating her like those fans of hers treat her. You will be Eris while you are in this house."
"..."
"Iris."
"Fine! Iris it is. Iris, you have stopped going to school since two years ago. I think it is time you start paying more attention to your education."
"Why do I have to? I said I was only spending some time off from work. I didn't say I was going to use that time to study."
"What you call 'work' won't be enough to ensure you a good future. Fame and fortune won't last forever. I'm sure you've realized that, at some point."
"..."
Iris sighed. This was the worst day of her fourteen years of living.
Saya had already prepared tonight's dinner. She had also taken her bath. Now, she was in the kitchen, waiting for her dad. Saya turned her head towards the clock sitting on the counter. 7:45 p.m., the hour and minute hand told her.
Saya suddenly remembered something, getting up from the table. She entered the living room area and went towards the telephone stand. Picking up the receiver, she pressed the redial button on the phone.
...Kriiinnng...
...Kriiinnng...
...Kriiinnng...
"Hello, Asami residence!" a feminine voice chirped on the other line.
"Ran," Saya said.
"Sa-chan! Is that you?"
"Ah."
"What time is it? has your dad arrived home yet?"
"Not yet."
"Is there anything wrong? Did something happen?"
"Nothing happened. It's about Saturday..."
to be continued...
I don't think this has anything to do with Angelic Layer anymore. -.- This has got to be the shortest chapter I've ever written. I think I've only written this to let people know that I'm still alive. This fic is. Well, please review. I need inspiration right now to continue this. Tell me if I should continue this. It's really going to be interesting in the next few chapters if I do. Thank you.