Chapter 4: Chit Happens
So... I decided to delete my Mini Chapters, I'd just have to make another real chapter anyway. ' Anywho, sorry this is so late, school, life, and other things like holidays and house calls got in my way. As well as no inspiration. Sorry, I've changed the date of the competition. Heheh.
I do NOT own the Bunkamura, and I don't know what it looks like inside for the record, I've never been to Japan... I do NOT own Digimon just Lynn-z, Jazlynn, Chassidy, and Chika as my OCs. I also do NOT own the songs I mentioned in this chapter, or any other chapter for that matter. Though I do own a copy of the CD for the F4 song and the LIPS single...
Anyway, ENJOY, tanoshi! Yoroshiku! Or as Kame puts it, Yoropiku!
Four days after the sign ups for the "Z Needs A Boyfriend" contest were over, the girls, without Zoe, began to decorate and set up the Bunkamura for the competition. Zoe, noticing their strange behavior and extreme spending of vacation money, automatically assumed they were up to no good. She spent these previous four days sitting in her room, and walking around the city, pondering the possibilities and preparing herself for the worst.
Of course, the girls figured she would get suspicious of their spendings. This wasn't the first time they'd tried something like this. They did a similar contest in America, which got Zoe an okay boyfriend for a year, until she found out he was cheating on her. That was a bad time for her. They wanted her to be happy, even if it meant doing this again.
So, the girls are leaving the Bunkamura, after finishing their four-day labor, trudging their way home. Just waiting to plop down on their soft, temporary beds. Zoe lay down on her bed, reading, they imagined.
"I bet she already has something in mind, as to what we're doing!" Lynn-z sighed.
"Yeah, she's probably already figured out that we're up to something..." Chassidy admitted sadly.
"And, she's probably already trying to prepare herself for something..." Jazlynn added.
They reached their apartment door, the smell of pasta emitting from the front door lured them in. As soon as they opened the door, they found Zoe sitting on the couch, watching a show called "Hey! Hey! Hey!", and eating homemade Alfredo chicken and pasta. She turned her head to the girls and swallowed.
"Dinners on the counter." she informed, not surprised by their lateness, nor did she seem to keep her attention on them for long, because she turned back to the television.
The girls quickly advanced to the kitchen to make their plates. And just as they were sitting down, Zoe finished her plate, got up and placed her plate in the sink for washing. While her hands held a soaking wet, soap drenched, wash rag, she talked to the girls.
"I don't know what exactly it is you're doing, but just don't think I'll participate willingly." she sounded... well she didn't really sound like anything, she was just so monotonous.
The girls froze just a little, then sunk in their seats as she said that she wasn't going to participate willingly.
After she finished washing her plate, Zoe made her way to her doorway. Just before entering, she turned her head to the girls. "And don't think I'm happy that you're scheming something behind my back, again. Last time, it was a stupid "boyfriend contest", and it worked. Until after a year and he started cheating. I'll be in my room for the rest of the night. If you need anything, knock before you come in please." And she disappeared in her room.
"Oh crap, she's definitely pissed about this..." Lynn-z chirped, unhappily.
"I hate it when she's mad. She can get really scary..." Jazlynn cowered in her seat.
"Well, this time it should have a better outcome. After all..." Chassidy paused, taking her time slurping up her pasta noodles. "You-know-who entered." She looked at the girls with a sly smile, causing them to think hard for a moment or two. Then they realized who she was talking about and smiled too.
After they finished their dinner, they washed their dishes and went to their rooms for their beauty sleep. Now that the preparations were completed, the day after the next is the day that the competition was to be underway.
Next Morning...
The girls all got up and entered the living room.
"Where's Z?" Jazlynn asked, rubbing her eye.
"I think she's still asleep." Chassidy yawned.
"It's okay, she wasn't too happy last night anyways. She probably sat up reading and listening to some music for a while." Lynn-z stretched her arms towards the ceiling.
Zoe, in her room, lay sprawled out across her bed. Her eyes were shut, and her breathing was steady. Until she sighed and sat up. 'What the hell is wrong with me!?' she thought groggily, as she stretched her arms up in the air and allowed herself to fall back down onto her bed. After a frustrated growl, she opened her eyes slowly. 'I can't believe they're doing this stuff for me. Even though it's behind my back, and yes, I'm not too thrilled about it. But I should still be glad that they're doing it for me!' she closed her eyes and sighed once more. 'But...' she paused and sat up with her eyes open again. "I keep thinking about someone else other then them and myself..." she said aloud, but not loud enough for them to hear her outside of her room, nor over her music still playing.
Lightly shaking her head, dismissing the unhappy thought, she stood from her bed, running her fingers through her hair lazily to get her bangs out of her face, she advanced towards her door. She placed her hand on the nob, but didn't open it. Instead, she listened intently to what her friends were saying in the living room.
"But, what if he's just doing this to play around, or waste time?" Jazlynn, she could tell by the concern the voice held.
"That's nonsense! Why would any of them enter just to play around!?" Chassidy, she could tell by the commanding tone the voice held, yet it also held an air of question with it.
'Who...?' Zoe thought, and decided to listen a little more.
"Yeah! Come on, she's a freaking popstar for Christ's sake! Why would they try and play around with her!?" Lynn-z, she could tell immediately, only because she's heard the shrill height her voice could go to when she was irritated.
"The ones who just want her for her looks, her money, her youth, and also those who don't know how scary she is when she's pissed off!" Jazlynn again.
'They're definitely talking about me, but what for...?' Zoe thought and decided it was wise to walk away from the door and pretend she didn't hear any of that when she went to enter the living room.
So she backed away from her door, replaced her curious face with a tired one, and came closer to her door, without pausing before she turned the nob. She heard the voices stop as soon as she turned the nob. She suspected they were looking at her door, almost horrified.
She lightly pushed her door open, and faked being sleepy. They weren't as horrified as she thought they would be. She lazily waved a hand at them and went into the kitchen. She heard the girls sigh in unison as she poured herself a cup of coffee.
Before Zoe turned around to face them, she quit faking and proposed, "Why don't we go buy souvenirs?".
The girls all gaped at their own stupidity. 'How could I forget she's as good at acting as she is at singing!?' they thought in unison. Hearing Zoe's footsteps getting louder, they all quickly regained themselves.
"Sure, that sounds great." Jazlynn complied for all of them. The other two nodding their agreement.
Zoe smiled at them.
Later, the guys...
The guys were out together at a café, again. J.P. was helping Tommy with his homework from that day, while the other three worked on their own assignments. Kouji and Kouichi worked on their Physics work, while Takuya worked on his English work. J.P. helped Tommy with his Algebra and History homework. The group was quiet, with low chatter, for a while.
It took them two hours to finish all of their work. They all sighed in unison, leaning back in their seats to relax. Tommy sipped his Pepsi, then sighed again.
"So, that competition is tomorrow, right?" He asked, seeing that he was the only one who wasn't rubbing his neck or wrist.
"Yeah, I can't wait! I hope she picks me to be her new boyfriend!" J.P. exclaimed dreamily while the others sweat dropped at him.
"I'm gonna watch with Kouichi and my girlfriend." Tommy cheered.
J.P. and Takuya glued their eyes on Tommy in disbelief. "You have a girlfriend!?" they questioned.
"Uh... Yeah." Tommy replied while sweat dropping.
Kouichi just looked over at the two from his seat and simply stated, "Kouji and I already knew this."
"So anyway, what are we gonna do about school? After all, you guys did make it through the elimination round on Friday last week." Tommy asked.
"I only have one class tomorrow." Takuya placed his fist on his chin in a thoughtful way.
"I took tomorrow off of work." J.P. added.
"I'm calling in sick tomorrow." Kouichi looked a little remorseful about lying to his professors, but he wanted to go.
"I'm only attending my first class." Kouji said his peace with his eyes closed.
"Alright, we're all ready then." Takuya cheered.
About one hour later, the guys left and went home. It was nearly 8:00 pm.
Tommy went home and ate dinner with his family.
J.P. got to his apartment, and sat down in front of his television with his tv dinner.
Takuya went home, studied a little more, ate, and then went to bed.
Kouji and Kouichi got home. Kouichi started dinner while Kouji set the table. After they ate dinner, they each went to their rooms. Kouichi sat on his bed, cellphone in hand, texting with Jazlynn. Kouji, on the other hand, was debating whether to call or text Zoe.
At the girls' apartment...
Zoe had cooked once more, making a nice tempura. After each ate and thanked her for dinner, they went to their rooms.
Jazlynn sat on her bed, happily texting away with Kouichi.
Lynn-z was reading through the registration forms the guys had filled out for the competition. As she went through them, she sighed at most of the answers. She came across the last one, Kouji. She had been curious about his ever since last Thursday. The more of his answers she read, the more she thought, 'He's just so perfect for her... That Takuya better not be thinking I'm just someone he can play around with!'.
Chassidy stood in front of her closet, pondering what to wear. Then she got an idea. They would all wear the same thing, only in their favorite colors. She had an evil smile on her face.
Zoe lay sprawled on her bed once again, her cell phone on the night stand next to her bed. She was almost asleep, when she heard her phone vibrating on the wooden top. She sat up immediately and grabbed her phone. When she opened the message, she chuckled a little to herself.
'Hey Z, I think my bro likes one of your friends...'
Her eyes widened a little after she reread the message. She smiled and chuckled a little more while replying.
'Ah so it would seem. I think she likes him back too. I'm kinda tired, so I'm gonna head to bed. Night Kou-kun! :P'
That was her reply. She knew he would reply with an 'alright, night.' and probably comment on the use of the nickname she had just come up with, so she kept the phone in her hands.
And sure enough, about three minutes later, the message came. She opened it and couldn't help but smile.
'Don't call me like that! Anyway, sweet dreams, Z'
She shut her phone and set it back in it's place on her night stand. Then she crawled under the blanket and drifted to sleep, for the fifth day in a row, thinking of him.
Next Morning, 5:30 a.m.,...
The girls stood in the living room, yawning, stretching, and rubbing their eyes. Zoe's look was a blank one as she was wondering why she was up as well. Chassidy looked like she was happily drunk or something.
Unknowing to the other girls, she had slipped out of the apartment the previous night, went to Karen, a designer of Zoe's, and had her make them a creation of her mind's eye for their contest.
She was so excited and couldn't wait for the girls to see them. She hadn't gotten back til 3 a.m..
Zoe, on the other hand, was wondering who she could get the most answers out of. Jazlynn was always vulnerable, Lynn-z was a little boisterous and might not spill. She'd never in her life seen a drunk Chassidy, so she didn't think she would be easy to get the answers from.
Before Zoe could open her mouth and ask the question she was going to ask, Chassidy opened her mouth. "Let's go to Karen's!"
"Huh!?" the others gaped at her.
"At this time!?" Zoe asked, outraged by Chassidy's lack of decency.
"Yep! She's making our hostess costumes for our performance later today." Chassidy almost blew their cover.
They knew they shouldn't argue, so they followed the victorious Chassidy out the door and into the elevator.
On their way down, Zoe's suspicions grew to the extent she was willing to have. She had to ask.
"So..." she started, sounding icy. "What are we really doing?" it sounded more like a demand to know instead of a question to the others.
"Well..." Jazlynn started.
"We're holding a contest later." Lynn-z finished for her, knowing Zoe's heated stare was on her back already, burning a hole in her.
"Another lame 'Boyfriend Contest'!?" Zoe exclaimed in frustration.
The other girls winced, Chassidy didn't notice the rage and decided to tell more about the contest this time around.
"Buuut!" she started, "It's gonna be toootally different this time around! We have a special entrant!" she finished, and kept humming.
"Special entrant?" Zoe was a little surprised at this little turn of events.
"Chassidy!" Jazlynn and Lynn-z yelled at the caffeine drunken woman.
Chassidy snapped out of the small trance and said nothing more. "I'm not going to spoil the surprise."
The elevator reached the first floor of the apartment building. Chassidy sauntered on out of the elevator and the apartment building with the girls following not too far behind her, but behind her nonetheless.
At Karen's, around 6:00 a.m.,...
The girls reached Karen's and entered her office. Karen is a small, thin, petit woman with thin rimmed glasses and dark brown eyes. Her long, silky black hair was in a sloppy bun on the top of her head. She's wearing a pair of short shorts, a tank top, and room slippers. She had been working on their costumes all night long, with some of Chassidy's help. She had finished them just three seconds before they entered the office.
"Ah! Chassidy you're just in time, I just finished them all." Karen chirped, sipping her green tea, with her accent slipping into her speech occasionally.
"Great!" Chassidy's caffeine drunk state was now gone, and she was serious. "Well, come on! Let's go try them on!"
"Yes, yes, come on." Karen ushered them to the back by the changing rooms in the far left corner of the office.
There's only one female changing room, so Chassidy decided she would go first since it was her own thought.
A few minutes later, she came out in a thigh-length dress, up the neck halter type top, with slits that went up to her ribs. That was where the front and back parts of the dress were connected by a zipper. In the middle of the chest area, there is a light blue, see-through circle. The dress itself is a normal blue color. The inside of the dress was also light blue. She wore mid-shoulder length, aqua colored gloves, with light blue circles in the middle of the back of her palms. The gloves were half finger tips. So she didn't flash anyone, there's a pair of super short shorts, aqua in color, with light blue circles on the outwards sides. Her blue boots were mid-calve, with light blue soles. She had her light brown hair up in a bun on top of her head.
The girls stood there in awe. They were so shocked that Chassidy herself had come up with this costume.
"Well, what do you think?" she sounded hopeful.
"It's great!" Jazlynn was excited, smiling widely.
"It's hot. I can hardly believe you actually thought up this outfit on the spur of the moment." Lynn-z teased and complemented at the same time.
"I do like it." Zoe admitted.
"I'm glad you all like it." Karen smiled, truthfully grateful that they were happy.
"I'm next!" Jazlynn volunteered. She couldn't wait to see hers.
"Ok." Karen brought her over to the table, gave her the costume, and she went into the changing room. She threw Chassidy her clothes before she started changing.
Another couple minutes went by and Jazlynn came out in her costume. Just like Chassidy's, it was a thigh-length dress, only orange in color, with slits up to her ribs, up the neck halter type top, with the front and back held together by a zipper on the sides. Hers had a light, yellow orange see-through heart on her chest area. Her super short shorts were yellow, her gloves are yellow orange, reaching to right below her elbow, with heart cut outs on the back of each of her palms and the fingers are cut off to the first knuckle. Her orange boots came up to her lower thigh and had yellow orange soles.
"I love it!" She squealed with delight.
"It looks great, Jazz." Zoe complimented.
"Yep, sure does!" Lynn-z agreed.
"I'm glad you like it." Chassidy said, her happiness coming through her words. She was still in her costume.
"Alright! My turn!" Lynn-z chose to go next. Karen grabbed hers from the table, handed it to her, and she went inside the changing room, throwing Jazlynn her clothes.
Again, with the minutes going by, sheesh. Lynn-z came out in her green entourage. Same styled dress, just in green with a neon green, see-through diamond on her chest. Her shorts are a little different from the others. Neon green in color, the outward sides have a triangle like shape to the legs. The bottom of the triangle is a dark green strip. Her gloves have no hands, make a point that goes all the way up to her mid shoulder, and a strip around her arm on a lower part of the point in neon green. Her boots are green with the same type of point as her gloves, with a neon green strip around her lower thigh, and the soles are neon green too.
(akizakura9./art/Lynn-z-Chassidy-79651574 that's the link to Chassidy and Lynn-z's costumes. It's really hard to explain how Lynn-z's looks on here :P.)
Zoe sighed after Lynn-z retrieved her clothes from the changing room and Karen handed her the costume. The girls found their adrenaline rushing while waiting for Zoe to exit the changing room in her costume.
And sure enough, she stepped out of the room in a purple dress, styled like the rest. Hers has a cherry blossom petal shaped see-through lavender cut out on her chest area. Her gloves are fingerless and cut off right before her wrist, in a slightly darker lavender. Her short shorts are the same lighter lavender as her cherry blossom petal on her chest. Her shoes are lavender converse with dark purple laces.
"This dress is hard to put on..." Zoe stated under her breath.
( akizakura9./art/Zoe-Jazlynn-79681673 the link for Jazlynn and Zoe's costumes. They really are hard to explain. .')
"Okay! We have one more thing to wear at the contest." Chassidy informed.
"What?" they all asked, a little irritated.
"Yup. I was serious when I said performance before." Chassidy smiled like she knew it all.
"..." they stayed silent and waited for the big boom.
"Zoe will sing her song 'Anything' and we will dance with her!" Chassidy seemed like the happiest, and smartest person in the room. At least, she felt like it anyway.
"Ok." Zoe agreed.
Jazlynn and Lynn-z looked surprised by her agreement. Now they had no choice but to give in.
"Alright..." they sighed in unison.
"Well, this is what I came up with since I knew what Zoe's outfit was." Karen handed the other three their outfits and Zoe's was in the closet in the right corner.
Zoe wore her scene two outfit from her music video. Chassidy was the first who was able to change.
She wore green baggy pants, light pink wrist bands on each wrist, a light blue sweat band on her head, hair in low pigtails, a reddish-brown tank top, and white and blue Addidas.
Lynn-z changed next. Hers is teal baggy pants, a cut up yellow spaghetti strap shirt, a dark teal arm band on her left lower shoulder, a red wrist band on her right wrist, a green visor on her head backwards, her hair in an up do with a clip, and dark pink K-Swiss.
Jazlynn changed last. From head to toe, an orange choker around her neck, an aqua blue half sleeved shirt, reddish-brown baggy pants, half finger orange gloves on her hands, and sea green Vans.
(akizakura9./art/Gangsta-Like-Girls-81846278 link for the three's outfits for the performance)
Zoe's outfit consisted of a green army style hat on sideways towards the right, a Fushia half jacket over a tan bandeau, her pendant, black fingernails, dark pine green baggy pants, and teal converse.
"You all look marvelous!" Karen sang. "When did you have to get there again, Chassidy?"
"Well..." Chassidy looked over at the clock. "Oh crap!"
It had already been a whole hour while they were there.
Chassidy thanked Karen, along with the rest of the girls, and invited her to come watch the contest. After that, they headed towards the Bunkamura. Zoe got to sit in the stands while the girls set up the judging system, table, and computer. Jazlynn worked on the computer, Lynn-z had motioned for Zoe to help her with learning the dance moves, and Chassidy was working her charm on the lighting crew. This whole process took three hours.
Good thing they made the opening time 11.
Everyone at 10:00 a.m.,...
Kouichi: Showering and picking out what to wear to spectate the contest.
Kouji: Walking home from school, showering quick, and then heading over to the Bunkamura with Kouichi in casual clothing.
J.P.: Showering fast, gelling his hair fast, and rushing as fast as he could over to the Bunkamura to be first in line.
Takuya: Walking home from school, showering quick, dressing casually, and hoping Lynn-z will see his romantic side from this contest, as well as hoping she won't beat his lights out.
Tommy: Having his brother pick him up from school, along with his girlfriend, and heading over to the Bunkamura, hoping to get there before eleven.
Zoe: Teaching the girls her dance for her song 'Anything', and then quickly getting ready for the opening act.
Lynn-z: Dance moves are already set in her mind, quickly helping the staff set up remaining chairs for extra guests, and getting herself ready for their opening act, ready to kill Takuya if he isn't serious about their relationship.
Chassidy: Slowly learning dance moves, quickly readying herself for the opening act while still practicing dance moves, hoping she won't screw up.
Jazlynn: Dance moves nearly finished, quickly getting ready for their opening act, hoping she doesn't embarrass herself in front of Kouichi.
So, 11:00 a.m. rolls around...
The line of people at the doors of the Bunkamura stood impatiently, then the doors opened and the people flood in like a racing river. More than half of these people are contestants. The guests who were there to spectate sat on the left of the whole auditorium. The contestants sat according to the day they signed up, on the right side of the auditorium. Special guests got the seats closest to the judges and the stage.
So J.P. was closer to the stage than Takuya and Kouji. Takuya was in the middle and Kouji was closest to the back. Kouichi, Tommy and his girlfriend Chika, sat the closest of them all. They were right behind the judges seats. Although, none of the girls were out in sight. They were backstage.
After everyone, male, female, and child, was seated, the lights dimmed low and a big booming voice came from every speaker in the room.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls," it began, a light forming on center stage, and curtains started to rustle. "Please help me welcome our hostesses for today!"
The beat to Z's song, 'Anything' came on as Chassidy stuck her pink wrist band clad hand through the curtain and the light turned to a very light blue color.
All the guests gasped. Chassidy hopped out onto center stage. "Chassidy!" the booming voice suddenly came out of nowhere and startled a few guests.
Chassidy shook her hips a little and moved out of the spotlight as it turned a light green.
Lynn-z stuck her K-Swiss suited foot out, and a few seconds later, she bounced onto the stage. "Lynn-z!". She strut a little to the left of the stage, Chassidy was on the right.
The light turned slightly orange and Jazlynn stuck both of her orange gloved hands through the curtains, making a bird in the shadow. She parted the curtains and sauntered out through the part she made, slightly fast paced so it didn't fall on her. "Jazlynn!" the voice only had one more job to do and then he was done, and he was happy about that too.
Jazlynn made her little mini-dance short and hid back in the left corner so Zoe could make her big entrance. "And now..." there was a big pause as the words from the beginning began again. "Please put your hands together for our main attraction!"
(It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do)
Backstage was still dark as the curtains began to lift, and a figure was there. The crowd went wild, with realization. "Z!"
The girls began to dance in sync with Zoe as she came to the front of the stage and Jazlynn took her place next to Lynn-z.
Yo I don't know
What you do when you do what you do boy
But baby baby baby baby
I don't even care no more
You've got me so
Caught up in ya spell, it's voodoo boy
Well baby baby baby babe
I wanna be there for sure
Cause every time that we rendezvous
I don't wanna go back home
And every time that I'm holding you
There ain't no way to let you go
You're shining down boy the game is through
I don't wanna play no more
Cause the only one that I want is you
So tell me what you wanna do because baby
Cause I just can't stay away
There's nothing that I can do
And baby you can have your way
Just as long as I can have you
And I'd do anything baby, do anything for ya
And I'd do anything baby, do anything for ya
Now I've been told
That you got you a few and you ain't sure
But baby baby baby baby
You gon wanna let em go
Cause I've been sold
On you, I don't check for dues no more
Cause baby baby baby baby
You the way I wanna roll
Cause every time that we rendezvous
I don't wanna go back home
And every time that I'm holding you
There ain't no way to let you go
You're shining down boy the game is through
Listen I don't wanna play no more
Cause the only one that I want is you
So tell me what you wanna do because baby
Cause I just can't stay away
There's nothing that I can do
And baby you can have your way
Just as long as I can have you
And I'd do anything baby, do anything for ya
And I'd do anything baby, do anything for ya
I'm down anything, boy you and me
It's the way you know it's supposed to be
Cause I would do anything for you baby
I'm down anything, boy you and me
Should be doin what comes naturally
Baby cause I
Cause I just can't stay away
There's nothing that I can do
And baby you can have your way
Just as long as I can have you
And I'd do anything baby, do anything for ya
And I'd do anything baby, do anything for ya
Cause I just can't stay away (Ooh no)
There's nothing that I can do
And baby you can have your way
Just as long as I can have you
And I'd do anything baby, do anything for ya
And I'd do anything baby, do anything for ya
The crowd continued to go wild as they sang and danced through the whole song. After they finished, they quickly got backstage again and changed into their costumes.
The four came back out about a minute later in their costumes. They each had ear mics so they didn't have to hold them.
"Welcome everyone! It's a nice day today, here in Shibuya! Is everyone doing good?" Chassidy greeted in a MC way. And the crowd cheered excitedly.
"Wonderful!" Jazlynn smiled, standing on Chassidy's left.
"Well, what are we waiting for!?" Lynn-z asked from the right side of Chassidy.
"Let's get started!" The three chorused as the crowd cheered and hooted, anxious for the beginning.
"Will all the contestants who signed up on Tuesday please come to the stage in numerical order." Lynn-z almost sounded like a robot when she announced that, but that was how she was supposed to say it.
'Numerical order...?!' Zoe thought, surprised that they actually counted the number of guys that signed up this time.
After all the men lined up, no one that they knew in this line, that was the outrageously hopeless day. They were numbers one through two hundred and thirty. This round determined if they looked good next to Zoe or not. Only about thirty of the young ones of the group got through this round.
"Will all the contestants who signed up on Wednesday please come to the stage in numerical order." It was Jazlynn's turn to sound like a robot over the mic.
This time, J.P. was near the front, and Takuya was near the back. Two hundred and thirty-one through three hundred and fifty-two were in line this time. This time, only fifteen of the young ones got through, unfortunately for J.P., he didn't make it, but Takuya did. J.P. having special connections to Z, however, he got to sit next to Kouichi, Chika, and Tommy when he was done to see who won.
"Will all the contestants who signed up on Thursday please come up to the stage in numerical order." Chassidy played the final robot voice.
This time, Kouji was in the back, but the line went around the left side of the stage, towards the exit, so Zoe couldn't see him. Three hundred and fifty-three through six hundred and ten, the final line.
Yes, it was a truly unexpected turn of events, when Zoe saw Kouji was the final one to sign up. 'He might have been the one they were talking about... Special contestant...' she thought, eyes wide, surprise so totally obvious on her face it wasn't even funny. He had to smirk at that.
Kouji made it through that round, along with about twelve others, including the twins that were in front of him.
As soon as Kouji stepped through the doors to the sign ups on Thursday, and sat down with Jazlynn to actually sign up, the contest was decided right that very moment. There wasn't exactly a need to go through with this contest, they just did since they'd already booked it and everything else. This was just for fun now.
"The next round will be starting in a few moments, snacks are available out the doors on your left." The male host from up in the box behind the bleachers spoke.
And a few minutes later, the crowd was back in their seats with snacks in hand, ready for the next round.
"All right!" Chassidy cheered.
"Are we ready?" Jazlynn asked innocently.
"Yeah, are you boys ready to be put to the test of romanticism!?" Lynn-z asked in a host-like way to get them going.
Zoe could only stand in the middle of the stage while the other three played hostess.
"This round will test how romantic you are and can be with our dear Zoe." Lynn-z stated the theme of this round.
"This time she actually gets to play a real hand in the judging! You'll be picked according to her taste... in everything!" Chassidy explained the twist.
"The few who proceed to the final round of this competition, will be hand placed by Zoe, herself. The first place winner gets to share a kiss with our dear Z." Jazlynn, hostess-style, letting everyone know what the actual prize was, besides being Z's boyfriend, so they would have better choices in what they picked.
"You will be asked about things like music, foods, restaurants, date spots and more!" the three chimed in unison. "Let's begin."
"Please come up to the stage in numerical order." Jazlynn mentioned.
About half an hour later, it was Takuya's turn to be questioned.
"Contestant Kanbara, Takuya. First question. Where would you take her on your first date?" Chassidy asked.
He thought hard for a minute. 'This will be my chance to show Lynn-z how I am...' he thought. "More than likely to the movies and dinner." he replied.
'How normal...' all except Lynn-z thought, hearing his answer.
'Nice and slow...' Lynn-z had a small smile on her face while thinking that.
"Second question." Jazlynn started, "What kind of flowers would you buy for her?"
Another pause. "Lilies." he answered confidently.
"Third question." Lynn-z was next. "Would you mind if she dressed in a jersey around town?"
"No." that was a very quick response.
"Fourth question." Chassidy again. "What song would you dedicate to her over the radio to show your feelings for her?"
He had to think again, this one took longer though. "Shanghai Honey by Orange Range."
The girls were slightly surprised by that answer, even Zoe.
"Fifth question." Jazlynn. "Which do you prefer, candles or fluorescent lights?"
"Fluorescent lights." another quick answer.
'Candles are far more romantic...' they all thought, but again, Lynn-z thought differently.
"Final question." Lynn-z, with the final question. "How long are you willing to wait until she says she's ready?"
Takuya glanced over at Lynn-z, and she looked like she really wanted to know. "As long as it takes for her to be ready for me."
'Now THAT is romantic.' they all thought, including Lynn-z this time.
Takuya stepped down and the next contestant took his place on the stage in front of the microphone in the middle of the stage.
Most of the other guys were saying corny, drama related, movie related romantic answers, thinking that'll appeal to her tastes. All is seeming hopeless, until Kouji, the final contestant, takes his place on the stage.
"Contestant Minamoto, Kouji. First Question. Where would you take her on your first date?" This time, Jazlynn started.
Kouji took a minute to stare at nothing before he answered, "Some place we're both comfortable with and know well."
The girls all smiled. "Second question." Lynn-z. "What kind of flowers would you buy her?"
Kouji stole a glance down at her with his pause, and she was looking right back at him. She was clutching the pendant he had given her for her birthday years ago in her hand, and her pen in the other. "Snap dragons."
Another smile from the hostesses. "Third question." Chassidy. "Would you mind if she dressed in a jersey around town?"
"If that's what she's comfortable in, and feels like wearing when we're out, then I won't bitch about it." He was actually quick with that response, but only because it was longer than any other he planned to give. Ok, probably the longest.
'Holy crap...' they all thought.
"Fourth question." Jazlynn again. "What song would you dedicate to her over the radio to show your feelings for her?"
He took his time answering this one. He wanted them to think he actually had to think about this one. But, in reality, it wasn't hard at all. Just when they looked like they couldn't wait any longer, "LIPS by KAT-TUN." he answered.
Another surprising answer for the girls. And even some of the crowd. But Kouichi, Tommy, Takuya and even J.P. knew why he would choose that song.
"Fifth question." Lynn-z, round two! "Which do you prefer, candles or fluorescent lights?"
Again with his time taking pause, but he didn't wait too long this time. "Candles."
"Final question." Chassidy sounded slightly relieved that this was the last time she'd have to ask these questions to anyone. "How long are you willing to wait until she says she's ready?"
Everyone was intense with his pause this time. This really was one of the two crucial answers he could give. "Until..." he blinked a couple of times, "she comes running to me; arms and heart wide open; willing to go through all the bad and good ahead; willing to be hurt but carry on; willing to stay with me like I'm willing to stay with her through all this. Arms and heart beared naked."
'Whoa...' everyone thought. No one, not even Kouichi... okay, maybe Kouichi, but no one saw this coming. Especially from him, Lone Wolf. Zoe looked as though she was about to cry from what he'd said.
Kouji left the stage and sat back in his seat. Meanwhile, Zoe was picking her favorites. Some were difficult, but one was absolutely certain to make the cut. The twins who were in front of Kouji on Thursday made it into the final round, but Takuya didn't.
(I'm not making up anymore names .)
The finalists were told to come up to the stage by the male host up in the box behind the bleachers. There were five of them. One of them was twenty-nine years old, another was twenty-six, the twins were twenty-three and then there was Kouji, twenty-one years old.
This time, they were told to stand from oldest to youngest.
"All right!" Chassidy yelled happily.
"It's time... Are you ready Lynn-z?" Jazlynn asked in an excited, doki-doki way.
"Oh yeah! This'll be interesting to see who's the winner in Zoe's eyes." Lynn-z had wide, extremely excited eyes.
"I've decided." Zoe announced, walking up the stage steps with a piece of paper in her hands.
"Okay then." Chassidy smiled towards Zoe.
"Before she announces who gets what place..." Jazlynn started, looking towards Lynn-z, signaling her to finish.
"Chassidy will announce what the actual prizes are for each place." Lynn-z bent over to look at Chassidy with a smile.
"Alright then." Chassidy sighed, giving in.
"..." Zoe was a little shocked, but didn't say anything, standing next to Chassidy with the piece of paper still in her hands.
"Fourth and fifth places will get a peck on the cheek and a handshake from Z." Chassidy smiled widely, knowing Zoe was going to kill her for this.
Zoe looked at Chassidy with shock written all over her face. Jazlynn and Lynn-z sighed, knowing they were gonna get it as well.
"Third place will get a hug, handshake and kiss on the cheek." Chassidy was still smiling.
Zoe seemed to be thinking about that as if it wasn't so bad.
"Second place will get a hug, kiss on the cheek, a picture with Z, and a handshake." Smiling with a little sweat now.
Zoe stiffened a little with the picture thing. Jazlynn and Lynn-z saw that, and knew the last one was sure to put them so far back in the dog house, Zoe would drag them out to the ocean and tell them to swim back to America on their own if they ever wanted to get out.
"And first place, always the most favorable, will get a hug, a picture, a kiss, a handshake, and if Z is willing enough, they will have the option to be her official boyfriend." The sweat was all over now and the heat from the deadly eyes directed on her face was known, even though her own eyes were still shut.
Zoe was more than ready to kill Chassidy, this was not the end of it. She knew she would have to think of a much deserved punishment.
"Well..." Jazlynn started.
"Are you ready, Z?" Lynn-z asked unsteadily.
"Yes..." Zoe answered and redirected her sight on the paper.
"We'll start with fifth place." Chassidy informed Zoe.
"Suzuki, Hiroshi." The twenty-six year old.
Zoe gave him a kiss on his cheek, which made him blush a little, and shook his hand, telling him thank you for entering and sorry that he had to go through this humiliation, it's their fault. And she pointed over to the other three by the steps to the stage. He said it was alright, it was an honor to meet her, his sister will probably bash him for not trying his hardest, and he should probably go pick her up from school.
"Fourth place goes to..." Jazlynn announced the next place standing.
"Sato, Masaru." The twenty-nine year old.
Zoe gave him a kiss on his cheek, he blushed madly at the contact, and shook his hand. She told him thank you for entering, sorry if he got humiliated during this, it's their fault. She pointed back to the girls again. He shook his head. He said to her that this happened for a reason, it was a good experience, and that he was thankful he got to meet her. He bowed and left.
"Third place goes to..." Lynn-z said, seeming a little knowing that it was one of the twins.
"Yamamoto, Ryuichi." Score one for Lynn-z; the older twin brother.
She gave him a hug, kissed him on his cheek, he looked a little proud, and she shook his hand. She said the same thing she said to other two. He chuckled a little and smiled at her. He said it was alright and he'd be waiting for his brother before he left.
"Second place goes to..." Chassidy tried her hardest to make it seem dramatic.
"Yamamoto, Ryuji." the younger of the twins. (I lied...about the names... I lied...)
Jazlynn went down to the table to get the camera while Zoe gave him a kiss on his cheek and shook his hand, while giving him her spew. He said it was okay, thought it was a little shameful that him nor his brother could win her heart. Jazlynn got back up on the stage, while they were posing for the picture. Once it was snapped, Lynn-z was back at the table with the camera, uploading the picture onto the computer and printing it once it was there.
Once he had his picture, he and his brother bowed and took their leave.
"And first place goes to..." All three girls said it in unison. (Insert dramatic, loud drum roll here)
"Minamoto, Kouji." Zoe smiled after that.
They came up to each other first, gathering themselves for this embarrassing moment. After she heaved a heavy sigh, she gave him his hug first, then they took the picture. He had his arm around her waist comfortably and she was smiling brightly. He only had a small smile on his face, thinking about what he was going to do to her for his congratulatory kiss.
After Jazlynn got out of the way, and the camera was on its way back to the computer, Kouji tightened his grip on her waist and pulled her towards him. She caught on with a small smile, slung her arms around his neck, and, on her tip toes, planted a heated kiss on his lips. He knew they would snap a picture of this, even if nobody else got it, they would do it anyways.
They snapped the picture right as he was bending down for her and getting ready to wrap his arms around her waist, to pull her in.
As soon as Zoe heard the snap, her eyes opened fast as a bullet and she let go of him. She turned her flustered, irritated face towards the three devils and sneered evilly at them.
Kouji laughed. So did Tommy, Kouichi, J.P., and Takuya. The girls smiled innocently as Zoe gave in and just resulted to shaking her head.
"So..." Kouji started looking at her longingly. "Do I get the honor of being your official boyfriend yet? Or do I have to wait for you?"
"I..." Zoe started, regretfully. "I really need to think about it, ok?"
Kouji nodded. "I understand. You know where to find me when you're ready. I've got to get to class."
He started to leave, and Zoe, almost crying, yelled back at him, "I'm sorry!"
He chuckled a little on his way out.
The crowd disappeared, and the five in the audience came up to the stage to comfort Zoe. Unfortunately, only J.P., Tommy, and his girlfriend, Chika, were able to stay, because the other two had to get to class as well. (They actually went to look for Kouji...)
So... The contest is over now...
A week and a half went by and Zoe couldn't bring herself to even leave the apartment. The girls were concerned, knowing this was a very hard decision for her to make. Around the previous Friday, Kouichi had told Jazlynn he liked her and wanted to go out with her sometime if it was alright with her. Of course, she said yes. So, tonight they were out on their firs date. Lynn-z was mailing Takuya back and forth all night, Chassidy sat on the couch watching television and eating popcorn, while Zoe struggled to get the answer in her room.
Three days went by like this. That Friday afternoon, the girls packed their things. Lynn-z was a little late. She had come crying because Takuya had finally told her he wanted to be with her and they were leaving that very next day. He told her that him and the guys would all see them off.
So, Saturday morning, the girls brought their luggage down to the main lobby, Chassidy sitting with it while Jazlynn was on the phone with Kouichi, Lynn-z on her phone with Takuya, and Zoe paying their bill.
Little Star Café...
The guys sat in a booth, two on the phone, talking about meeting the other person at the airport. Kouji had been in his room, focusing on his assignments the past two weeks that he hadn't been exactly paying any attention to what was going on around him. So, when Kouichi said he would be going to the airport, it hit him.
Zoe and the girls were leaving today. He looked up across the table at Takuya.
"Ok, so we'll meet you there in about twenty minutes." Takuya and Kouichi talked into their cells at the same time with the same answer. Then more realization came to Kouji.
They had told the girls they liked them.
The two said they'd see the other person in a little bit and hung up.
"So, we going now?" J.P. asked Takuya, looking serious.
Takuya and Kouichi nodded. And they all got up from the table. J.P. paid for their drinks and they each got into their own cars.
Takuya drives a Super Red 2008 Mazda Reno.
J.P. drives his work truck, a 2008 Desert Stone Nissan Titan, with Tommy in the passenger side.
Kouichi drives a 2009 Quick Silver Pearl Galant by Mitsubishi Motors.
And Kouji drives a 2008 Kalapana Black Mitsubishi Eclipse.
They each start their cars (which they hardly ever drive except J.P.) and head towards the Narita Airport to see the girls off.
At the apartment building...
The girls pile into Zoe's limousine, making a scene. Everyone on the streets are gasping in awe, waving like a maniac and screaming because it's Z. They all sigh inside the limo, knowing how bad it is.
Zoe looked quite depressed, but the girls hadn't told her that the guys were coming yet.
About twenty minutes later at Narita Airport in Tokyo... (Start listening to the song Goodbye by F4 it goes very well)
The girls were at the counter picking up their tickets while people whispered and gaped in awe. After they handed over their bulky luggage, keeping their purses with them, they went over to the gate and sat in the chairs.
"We should probably get on now..." Zoe began to get up.
"But, don't you wanna see us before you leave?" came Tommy's voice from a little ways away.
Shocked, she turned around to find the guys. All five of them, standing there.
Jazlynn got up and walked over to Kouichi smiling with tears forming in her eyes. He pulled her into his arms as soon as she was close enough.
Lynn-z got up and ran over to Takuya, slinging her arms around his neck and burying her face in his neck to hide her tears. He hugged her back sincerely.
Tommy walked over to Zoe and held his arms out. She smiled, bent over and hugged him.
J.P. tried the same thing as Tommy, and actually got what he wanted for the first time. She hugged him back, crying softly.
Everyone knew that it was Kouji's turn so they left them alone but they were far enough away to hear the conversation enough to know what was going on.
"Kou-" Zoe started to say something.
But she was cut off by him wrapping his arms around her shoulders, close to him, his face in her hair, taking in her scent of lilacs and lilies.
"I'm not ready to let you go." he said, muffled by her hair, eyes closed so he wouldn't cry.
"Kouji, I haven't decided yet... I'm sorry."and she started to cry uncontrollably.
Kouji fixated himself so he could hold her close to his chest while she cried as well as the back of her head. (Scenario man to the rescue)
The others tried so hard not to make a sound about how cute they looked just then. The girls wanted to give them enough time so he could try and convince her to make him her boyfriend. The guys felt the same.
Kouji lightly kissed her forehead, and she looked up a tad surprised by that.
"Do you really have to walk out of my life twice?" he asked sadly.
She sighed and closed her eyes tight. "I... I have school and my parents-"
"You could transfer." he interrupted her excuses. "I'm sure your parents wouldn't really mind. Aren't you living with the girls in America?"
"Well, yeah but..." she started again, looking down at their converse.
"I won't hurt you. You know that." He told her straight forward, knowing that was what she was really worried about, seeming as the last boyfriend she had cheated on her after a year. It was all over the headlines.
"I know..." she sounded regretful.
"Why hesitate then? Even if we do break up, we'll always be friends, nothing can change that." reassurance was really what she needed.
"..." Zoe couldn't say anything and broke away from him. She walked over to the big glass windows overlooking the runway. She took out her cell phone from her tiny purse and dialed for home.
"What's she doing?" Chassidy asked the question low, for all of them.
Kouji stared at her back while she talked on the phone.
"Hey, it's me..." she said. A small pause for the other person to talk, then she answered. "I'm doing okay."
Another pause, and her face contorted, seeming to say 'I'm so sorry'. "I was wondering if I could transfer over here, if it was okay with you..."
Then it hit him, she was asking her parents if she could transfer over here to be with him. He smiled.
"Really?" she asked. "Okay, thanks dad." She sounded happier.
"Mm. Bye!" and she hung up the phone.
She slid the phone back into her tiny purse before jumping onto Kouji, nearly squealing, "They'll let me transfer!"
"That's great." Kouji smiled happily, eyes closed, hugging her tighter.
The others smiled happily as well, knowing she would be able to stay with him.
Kouji set her feet on the ground so she could stand and made a little space between them. "But what about all the stuff you've got over there?"
"I'll have the girls send it to me. Unless you want to come back with me and get it?" she asked slyly.
"Just have them send it over." he said, smirking.
"Oh, alright." Zoe gave in, smiling.
"Well! Now that you two have made your first step, we'll give these two couples some time." Chassidy announced loud enough for Zoe and Kouji to hear her.
Zoe and Kouji stayed in their hug position while Chassidy, J.P., and Tommy headed towards them.
Jazlynn couldn't stop crying so Kouichi hugged her tighter.
Lynn-z was crying lightly, so Takuya figured, 'Do something dramatic'.
"Hey, Lyn..." Started, turning towards her so they were face to face.
"Yeah?" she asked while sniffling, looking up at him.
He didn't say anything, tears tugging at his eyes, knowing she was leaving. He placed his left hand on her cheek, fingers in her hair, then his right on the back of her head, in her hair, bent over and planted a sweet kiss on her lips.
She closed her eyes and, right as she was bringing her arms up to wrap them around his neck, Zoe snapped a picture of it with the camera for her to remember.
The others snickered a little, but they enjoyed it like no one else was there and even deepened it a little. As he retracted, they both smiled at each other happily.
"Come back to see me okay?" he told her, totally serious.
"I swear I will." He pulled her into a tight embrace.
As Jazlynn pushed Kouichi back from their embrace to say something, her hands on his chest, his hands on each of her shoulders, she blinked away the tears from her eyes.
"I'll call you when I get there and I'll mail you everyday..." she told him, smiling as best she could.
"I will too." He smiled back.
"Don't forget!" she sounded playful and stern at the same time.
"I swear I won't."
And he bent over slightly and they kissed, just like that. Tears running down her faces, a tear slipping from his eye, as Zoe snapped another picture for them to remember.
Chassidy whispered something into J.P.'s ear, he nodded and ran off somewhere.
A few minutes later, which was full of embracing and sweet nothings being whispered into Lynn-z and Jazlynn's ears by said boyfriends, J.P. came back, huffing. He gave Chassidy a thumbs up and she nodded her thanks.
A man's voice came on over the intercom, "We are dedicating this next song to Kouji Minamoto and Zoe Orimoto, may you two be happy with each other. Congratulations, be happy." (Cue the song LIPS by KAT-TUN. Hee)
After hearing that, Zoe looked over at Chassidy, who just kept smiling. She was slightly embarrassed about that. She glanced over at Kouji, it was meant to be quick, but he was lip singing the song while smiling at her. It caught her attention.
The other two couples parted, Jazlynn and Lynn-z laughing at Zoe for being that embarrassed. Zoe getting slightly angry with them. Kouichi and Takuya following the two girls, just smiling at them quarreling.
Soon, it was time for the girls to get on the plane, cause the final call for boarding passengers was made. Jazlynn hugged Kouichi before she got on. Lynn-z pecked Takuya on the cheek and left before she started crying again.
J.P. got a hug from Chassidy, as did Tommy. She told them she would definitely see each other again, and she might even call J.P. later. He blushed a little at that. Tommy smiled and told it was nice to meet her and he hoped to see her again.
Kouji and Zoe had been gone a little before the call was made to get her luggage before the plane actually left.
The two came back, with Zoe's luggage in hand, and waved to the girls as they got on the plane. Zoe began crying after the doors shut, so Kouji hugged her for awhile.
As soon as the plane was out of sight, Kouji went with Zoe to apartment hunt. He told her he would put her luggage in the trunk for her, she should wait in the car for him.
So she hopped into the passenger seat of his Mitsubishi Eclipse and popped a cd into the cd player. He got in about a minute or two later, starting the engine.
"So, where do you wanna start looking?" he asked her, glancing at her face from the corners of his eyes.
"Somewhere close to you." she smiled, looking back at him from the corners of her eyes as the song 'Lovin' You' by KAT-TUN was flooding through the speakers.
He smiled at her and she smiled back.
"Alright then." and he drove off with her to find her an apartment that was close to his and Kouichi's.
The End
Well, that's it. The end. A beautiful one, filled with very good songs that I either got acquainted with recently, or earlier this year. So so soooo sorry this is like, almost a year later, but hey, it's worth it right? ' well, I hope you really looked for these songs while reading this. They really do fit. Even though you don't know what they're saying, kind of, you can tell they fit. They're great. I love them. / Kame! Vanness! Jin! That's just some of them too... Please tell me what you think of the ending. Also, I'm not wanting to write a sequel, so if anyone wants to, just tell me. -
Kyo tsukete ne. Thanks for reading, come again!