Disclaimer: I do not own Skip Beat! or La Corda.
An extremely attractive young man walked into the studio where Kin'iro no Corda would be filmed. He was quite tall, at least 6' 1" and dressed as though he didn't care to be noticed. Unforturnately (or fortunately) Murakami Arata was always noticed, but this was normal to him. Much like normal mortals don't notice gravity, Arata didn't notice the women who would stop and stare at him has he walked down the street. At 17, he had been having these reactions from women (and some men) since he turned 13 so it really was like gravity. His athletic build from playing sports had served him well. Apples fell from trees and people stared at him while he walked down the street.
He met his best friend Iwakawa Toshio in the lobby. Toshio greeted his friend as they went up to the meeting room for the rest of cast. Toshio glanced sideways at his friend and wondered how different Arata's life would be if they had not been fortunate (or unfortunate if you asked the piano teacher) to very briefly study piano with the same teacher when they were young. Toshio came from famous family who had been in the movie business as actors, writers, and everything else. Toshio's mother, who always grooming her son for his eventual rise to stardom, wanted her son to be as well prepared for whatever he would eventually do. The result was Toshio had taken many classes he had absolutely no proficiency in. Music lesson were one of these which made his casting as a member of the concourse slightly laughable.
Arata had been diligent and had talent which was one of the reasons he had been cast in the role of Tsuchiura Ryoutarou. Arata could actually play his instrument, and he was beyond proficient. He was amazing. He had received multiple scholarships for music to every important school in the country. He had just finished high school when he had been hanging out with Toshio when his friend had been called to audition for on of the roles. The casting agent had taken a look at him in corner and declared him a perfect fit for the strong and silent piano player.
Arata had been hesitant at first, but the knowledge that he would be with his best friend eventually persuaded him into joining the cast. He still was filled with nerves. Toshio had been in commercial and minor parts for several years. He'd actually been a main character as a kid several years before that. Arata had supreme confidence in his piano and hoped this gig would help push him through the years of paying his dues as a music student into the realm of professional musician. However, actor was still a very new role. He had been working with Toshio at his acting class for the past few weeks since he had received the part but still had concerns for his readiness.
As the two friends approached the elevator, they heard a shout.
"Wait!" followed by clicks on the floor and labored breath that could only mean a female in heels.
A young woman joined them in the elevator. Her hair was quite short, shorter than he preferred actually, and it had been lightened. The girl wore a dress (he was guy so couldn't describe it beyond the word blue) and white something or other over it. She turned to smile at him and Toshio who didn't return the gesture. Toshio could exude arrogant and cold to those who didn't know him. He was also extremely proud of his family and didn't really mix well with people he didn't know. Arata didn't mind as he was fairly quiet himself. They frequently could spend hours in each other's company and communicate through grunts.
The girl looked slightly put out that her smile and been rebuffed but turned to flash one on him. He looked down at her and got a small heart attack. Her eyes were bright and slightly mischievous. Her face was slightly feline and had a bit of a restrained wildness to it. He had never seen such a face before. He would bet that it would cause others to notice her as well. He realized that he had been thinking all of this without returning her smile either. She had by this time turned back around.
Arata noticed that she seemed to be going to the same floor as he and Toshio. As they exited, they continued to walk down the hall as if they were going to the same room. As he approached the conference room, she showed no signs of veering off. Then, director Tanaka came out.
"Ah, Mogami-san, Murakami-kun, Iwakawa-kun. I was just about to start. Thank you for being so prompt. Everyone else is already here."
Arata and Toshio both glanced down at the girl beside them. So this was their love interest?
Kyoko walked into the room and blinked. Not from the all the lights, but from the blinding smiles of all the young men. As she squinted, she realized she may have never been the presence of so many attractive men. Granted, Ren could probably beat all of them with a smirk, but there was only one Ren, and there were currently three very attractive men in front of her and the two behind her.
Once her eyes adjusted, she noticed a small girl standing off to the side. She must be playing Fuyuumi-Chan.
The director gestured for her to come and stand next to him. As she reached him she turned and wondered if death by dazzling squad were possible. Well, actually three of them were dazzling. The two that had been behind her were very handsome but didn't give quite the same aura. Must be the scowls on their faces.
Kyoko introduced herself, and the director added her credentials including the commercial, PV, and two other dramas. It was a novel experience that everyone accepted her as lead, and she didn't receive any glances or glares from jealous female cast-mates.
The girl who Kyoko had correctly identified as playing Fuyuumi-chan was Watanabe Mami. She was small and had a slightly nervous edge to her speech.
Kyoko glanced back towards the first young man who started speaking.
"Hello, I am Ito Masahiko, and I will be playing Yunoki Azuma," he said jovially. Kyoko didn't see his open countenance fitting with the princely Azuma. She had read the first several chapters of the story the day before and so had a vague idea of who she thought everyone should be.
She figured the scowling Iwakawa-kun would be Tsukimori. They seemed to have the same expression. Slightly condesecion and look of a vaguely unpleasant smell. His tall companion who had also been busy to be friendly was probably Tsuchuira. He was the only who fit the physique.
Kyoko shook her head. She was never this critical when first meeting someone, but something about both of them got to her.
The smaller boy who looked about a short 14 years was Ochi Shuu. He seemed friendly enough. He had just finished a commercial for sporting goods company.
Kyoko moved her gaze to the very friendly face next to Ochi-kun. This was surely the boy who would play Kazuki. He seemed affable and had that perfect puppy quality. His dark hair was messy from the wind outside and was currently sticking up in the back. His track suit and sneakers pegged him as an athlete.
"I am Mori Kaede, and I will be playing Tsukimori-kun. Please take care of me." He smiled happily.
Kyoko's face showed her surprise that the friendliest member would be playing cool and always slightly irritated Tsukimori. This also meant that . . .
"My name is Iwakawa Toshio. I play Hihara Kazuki." He smirked at Kyoko's obvious surprise. Fortunately he was the only one paying such close attention.
After, Murakami introduced himself, the director proceeded to fill them in on what would take place before filming. "Because the seven of you are playing instruments, each of you will spend 3 weeks to a month practicing your respective instrument. Watanabe-san will have clarinet, Ito-kun will have flute lessons, and Ochi-kun will be on the cello. Iwakawa-kun will be on trumpet while Mogami-san and Mori-kun will be sharing a violin instructor." The director saw everyone's glance except Iwakawa's go to Murakami. "And this one right here," he pointed, "Is already an extremely talented pianist, so he will just continue his normal practicing. Does anyone have questions? No? Alright, please meet your teachers here in the appointed time tomorrow. After you have finished studying, we will meet with the rest of the cast."
They were clearly dismissed. Kyoko was curious about Murakami who was currently looking down at his shoes.
"Murakami-kun? How long have you been playing piano?" she asked.
It seemed to take a very long time for him to hear her. "Umm, did you ask something?"
Kyoko's demons started to wake up from their slumber. They hadn't attacked anyone in a while, and this guy's attitude seemed perfect for puncturing.
"I was wondering how long you had been playing piano?" Kyoko repeated.
He started to reply when Iwakawa-kun clamped a hand on Murakami's shoulder and pulled him away without any resistance.
Kyoko really wanted to fume. No, she needed to practice being like Tsuruga-san. The more upset she became, she could be sparkling too. But, really, these two were going to test her fake niceness limit.
Her devilish thoughts were interrupted by Mori-kun.
"Would you like get lunch at the café downstairs with me and Ito-kun?" Mori asked.
Kyoko shook off her thoughts and decided to concentrate on her nice cast-mates. "Sure, that'll be great. I have to be here for something at 2:30 anyway." She didn't add that she would be coming in to film a segment as Bo.
As he watched Mogami walk off, Murakami was mentally kicking himself for being so distracted. He had been so nervous he hadn't been able to really concentrate on anything all morning. He needed to get himself together if he was going to do this. He did everything from piano, baseball, studying, and now acting to the best of his ability.
He watched her leave down the hall ahead of him. He purposefully walked at a slower pace so he would not catch up to her and the two others. She had seemed so calm and collected. She had been in these things before, and he must seem very new for surely his nerves were visible to everyone.
Iwakawa kept looking at his friend. It wasn't usual for Murakami to be so out it. He hoped he snapped out of it soon.
Yashiro heaved a sigh. Ren had been his usual professional self while filming, but he was beyond distracted once the camera stopped rolling, and Yashiro knew why. Ren was put out about Mogami being in the new drama. He and Ren crossed the lobby towards the exit from the studio where Ren had been meeting with producers about playing a baseball coach trying to get his team to nationals. Ren had used the excuse that he had not had anything good to eat recently which only proved his distraction that he would use such a clear lie.
"Tsuruga-san! Yashiro-san!" Ren's head turned swiftly and stopped. He observed Kyoko approaching them with her usual cheer that he hoped she saved just for him. He took a moment to notice the two young men flanking her.
"Mogami-san, I hope you're having a good day" he said with his frustration which only Kyoko and Yashiro could correctly interpret.
"Tsuruga-san! These are my new cast-mates." She performed then introduction. "Mori-kun and I will be learning violin together for a month! Isn't that wonderful?"
Yeah, thought Yashiro and Ren together (for once their minds perfectly in synch) that's great.
Notes: I hope you all enjoy the chapter. I realize there was a whole lot of exposition and very little action. I will work very hard to make future chapters with more action. Please Review!