The Interlude
Diary of Minako Aino
May 18th, 2008
Starting a diary, which feels silly, but I need to organise my thoughts a bit better. Recorded a new song today, and Setsuna is sure that it will sell even better than the last single. She wants to schedule the video shoot for as soon as possible.
May 21st, 2009
It's Usagi's wedding day today. I didn't sent a card, but then she's a bit odd about me meeting her husband anyway.
June 3rd, 2008
Usagi and I got into a fight about Rei. There is something wrong with her, she is so distant lately, and yesterday, I caught her talking to herself when I stopped by the shrine unannounced. Ever since her grandfather died and she closed the shrine to the public, she has become a different person. All she does day in day out is sitting in front of the holy fire and brushing those stupid steps. That's not a life! I think she needs psychological help as soon as possible, but Usagi wants to try talking to her first. Usagi has now left the record studio, and she was really angry with me for suggesting that we need to have Rei committed. I love Usa, but she can be so naive sometimes. Nevertheless, I will have to continue recording the new album, otherwise the record company will kill me...
June 4th, 2008
Usagi is dead. I just can't believe it. Usagi is dead. I stopped the recording to follow her home, but when I got there, her house was in flames and the fire-fighters were all over the place. They told me that there was no way anyone could have escaped from it. Usagi. My sweet sweet Usagi.
June 5th, 2008
Ami, Mako and I are heading to the countryside for the weekend. I hope Rei will come too, we can't deal with this alone. I miss Usagi.
June 12th, 2008
I tried calling Rei, but she doesn't answer her phone. Mako went to the shrine, but she wasn't there. I haven't told the girls, but I'm afraid that she was in the house with Usagi. I couldn't stand it if it were true. Rei has to be alive, somewhere. She just has to.
June 29th, 2008
Had a strange dream last night, I only remember that Usagi's husband was in it, and that Usagi was calling him Endymion. Weird. He has always creeped me out, there's something strange about him.
Still no word on Rei. I think... I think she's dead.
June 30th, 2008
Today would have been Usagi's birthday. I'm sending some flowers to her mom.
July 15th, 2008
It's been six weeks since Usagi died, and we haven't heard from Rei. Spoke to Ami and Mako, and told them about how Usa wanted to talk to Rei about her problems, and they are now convinced that Rei was in the fire with Usagi. Oh God, we lost two friends that night.
(…) I don't know how I'm supposed to still function after this, but Setsuna has booked a number of concerts all over Asia to promote... well, to promote me. Will leave for tour tomorrow.
September 9th, 2008
MUST remember to call Ami tomorrow, it's her birthday. MUST REMEMBER IT!
September 30th, 2008
Brief break before the tour starts again. I've never been so tired, but it takes me ages to fall asleep at night. I can't stop thinking about Usagi and Rei. Did they die because of me? Did Usa tell Rei that I wanted to have her committed? Did they get in a fight over this? Did they perhaps knock a lamp over in the process? I don't know, I'm overthinking this, but I can't help feeling guilty. Setsuna has given me some sleeping pills, she said pop stars are supposed to be pretty and I was beginning to look like crap. Stupid bitch.
October 22nd, 2008
Happy birthday to me... Happy birthday to me...
Happy birthday to me... Happy birthday to me... Happy birthday to me...
November 16th, 2008
Someone offered me a line of blow at a club yesterday night. I accepted. Ami would be so disappointed.
Dec 6th, 2008
Couldn't make it to Tokyo for Mako's birthday yesterday, but I'm meeting her in ten minutes. We'll have dinner, I bought a number of DVDs we can watch, and then we'll have an actual slumber party. Ami has to work (Boooooo), but Mako and I will have fun. I wonder if she'll like her present?
December 25th, 2008
I fucking hate Christmas.
Jan 3rd, 2009
Woke up crying tonight. No idea why.
Jan 12th, 2009
Another strange dream. There was a tall man in some sort of silver uniform. He seemed familiar, but I'll be damned if I can remember where I know his face from. Perhaps a security guard or a promoter?
Feb 14th, 2009
Valentine's Day. I'm all alone. Aged 24, and I'm already the lonely cat lady.
March 6th, 2009
New man. His name is Ace, and he claims that he's an actor. Haven't seen him in a movie, but perhaps he's more of a theatre guy? Oh, who cares. It's not as if I want to keep him around for talking.
April 17th, 2009
Rei's birthday. Even though she wouldn't have appreciated the gesture, I'm getting drunk in her honour. I'm trying so hard to remember Rei the way I knew her: elegant, smart, proud. She always said that I don't have to wear short dresses to be successful as a singer, but she never knew how this business worked.
April 19th, 2009
Ace got us some cocaine tonight. I'm beginning to enjoy it too much, and it doesn't help with the insomnia.
June 11th, 2009
Paparazzi are getting crazy. One follows me everywhere, snapped me falling flat on my face yesterday and now the pictures are all over the glossies, asking whether I was drunk when I fell. Pff. Stupid press, they have no idea.
June 17th, 2009
Had to go to the hospital because I collapsed on stage. Setsuna told the reporters that I was suffering from dehydration, but we both know that it's because of the sleeping bills and the blow. I'm loosing myself.
July 19th, 2009
I KNOW him. I fucking KNOW him. The pap that always follows me around, I have seen his face in one of those strange dreams I keep having. I need to talk to him.
July 21th, 2009
It was easier than anticipated. I took Ace to the alley behind the record studio, and blew him. The pap was in his car, taking pictures, and I looked him right in the eyes, and that was that. He contacted me an hour ago, his name is Hisaya Nigoshi, and we'll meet tomorrow.
July 22th, 2009
When Hisaya shook my hand, it felt like a punch in the stomach. These images, they invaded my mind, and for a minute it felt as if I was standing on a battle field rather than my in living room... He had a sword, and his eyes looked so...dead. Dead eyes in a living face.
July 29th, 2009
Dumped Ace, he was getting a bit too intense for my liking. He kept talking about "finally getting married" and keeping me all to himself. I hope he doesn't talk to the press, it could ruin my career if he told them about the blow.
August 5th, 2009
Met this really nice guy in a book shop. I don't think he recognised me, and we went for a coffee. His name is Jirou. When I told him that I work in the entertainment industry, he laughed and asked me whether I already have a sex tape out. He's cheeky, but funny, and he doesn't bother sucking up to me. It's so nice to talk to someone who doesn't care about me being a singer. We really clicked.
August 8th, 2009
I accidentally called Jirou by another name today, good thing he wasn't offended. Btw: name was a really weird one. Jadeite. Never heard that one before, but might be a good title for a song?
August 17th, 2009
Jirou and I talked, and decided that we're better off just being friends. The sex was fantastic, but there was something wrong. It's as if we like each other too much and in the wrong kind of way for a relationship. I hope we stay in touch, I really like him.
August 21th, 2009
Jirou called me in the middle of the night, he was drunk as a bucket. He kept calling me Aphrodite, and I don't think he meant it as a compliment. He meant it as a name. The strangest thing is that I kind of like it. I even responded to it when I picked up the phone and the said "Aphrodite". I just said "Yup, that's me, what's going on?". Perhaps that's why he wasn't offended when I called him Jadeite a while ago? Because he responded to it just like I responded to Aphrodite?
The reason for his call (and his drinking, I think) was that he has nightmares. He says that he dreams about battles and bloodshed all the time, and there is always this girl in his dreams. Even though we're no longer dating, it still felt a bit strange that he would tell me about this woman he was dreaming about.
August 26th, 2009
Jirou told me more about that woman. He was able to describe her down to the eye colour. Purple. It reminded me of Rei, she's the only person I know knew who had purple eyes. I still can't believe that both she and Usagi are gone.
September 10th, 2009
Sent Ami flowers and a boxed set of Grey's Anatomy for her birthday today. She has off having dinner with her mum now, but we spoke on the phone an hour ago. I have to drive to Radio K-FM now, another interview.
September 18th, 2009
I think Hisaya was once called Zoisite.
Something about him is a bit terrifying, even though he's actually rather shy and quiet. He smokes a lot, which is disgusting. He was here yesterday, and we talked a bit and had some wine, and smoked one cigarette after the next. He's very restless, but then again, so am I.
September 30th, 2009
Endymion, Aphrodite, Zoisite, Jadeite. What does all of this mean?
Oct 22nd, 2009
In London for the press tour. Bored. I don't think they like me here, I'm too J-pop for them. Setsuna said that she doesn't care, we'll run the scheduled interviews and then I have to go Harrod's to open the winter sale. Great. That's precisely how I planned to spend my 25th birthday. My parents haven't called yet, I wonder if they forgot all about it? That bitch Setsuna didn't even congratulate me.
Oct 23rd, 2009
Got a belated birthday text from both Jirou and Ami. :) :) :)
Oct 24th, 2009
Dreamt of the man in silver again. In the dream, he was after me, but rather than feeling scared, my dream-self was sad.
Oct 30th, 2009
Finally back home. Will try to see if Ami and Makoto have time to hang out tomorrow. It's been too long. We have yet to celebrate Ami's upcoming move to the States. She will be a brilliant surgeon, she's so clever. I might get her a diamond bracelet for the occasion, she'd like that. Must remember to ask Mako if she wants to help pick it out.
Nov 2nd, 2009
Can't reach Mako, even called the café. Her colleagues told me that she had gone on holiday earlier this month, and hasn't reported back. It feels like Rei all over again: this sudden and unexplained disappearance. Something is going on, I know it. Should I call the police?
Nov 4th, 2009
I feel haunted. I went out to get some curry an hour ago, and I put on a hat, and a big scarf, and wore a wig, so I don't think any fans or paps would have recognised me. But there was this woman that trailed me all the way to the curry place. She didn't follow me in, but when I left, she was following me again. She bought a paper at the newsagent opposite the curry place, but really, who walks six blocks for a paper? She walked behind me all the way until I was home, and it was a bit scary. There was something familiar about the way she walked, but it was dark, and she was just as bundled up as I was. All I could tell is that she had really gaudy red hair. My mother would call it cheap prostitute hair, but then my mother calls everything out of the ordinary cheap.
Nov 5th, 2009
Called Ace. I need some company because every time I'm alone, I get completely paranoid. Plus, it's easier to fall asleep when there's someone next to you. God, I've sunk so low as to fuck someone I don't care about just to have some company. Shit shit shit.
Nov 7th, 2009
I'm afraid that I'll be next.
Newspaper clipping from The Tokyo Evening Bulletin, dated Nov 9th, 2009
The body of pop singer Minako Aino was found in her apartment in the early hours of the morning. Police suspect foul play. Aino had recently travelled to the UK to promote her first English record.
End of the Interlude.