Ultra A/N:
This is an alternate retelling of Bridging the Gap. It's uploaded here as it was meant to be read before I realized I was getting nowhere with this plot. This story ends at Chapter 8; I do not plan to continue writing it.
Chapter 7: Party People
A/N:
I originally conceptualized the party scene to be made up of just one chapter, but it turned out to be a bit long. So I cut it into half, ending the chapter just right after a good shock. Ahahaha.
Disclaimer:
I do not own La Corda d'Oro; the whole concept belongs to Kure Yuki-sensei.
Previously:
Chapter 6: The Morning After
"Kaho-senpai?" came Erika's clear voice. It was serious this time. "Have you heard about Azuma's welcome party?"
"Yes, Kazuki invited me."
"Will you be going?" Erika asked.
"No, I don't think I should be there."
"On the contrary, you should be there," Erika said, surprising Kahoko. "This party is unlike any other, Kaho-senpai. It's an open challenge from Azuma to me."
Chapter 7: Party People
"Kaho, there's another one of them outside."
Kahoko turned slowly in her seat, pulling her cap lower. Indeed, a man with a large black camera was standing outside Café Forte, snapping pictures of her shamelessly.
"I'll go take care of it," Yuuji, Nao's head waiter, offered, already walking towards the perpetrator.
"Thanks, Yuuji," Kahoko whispered, bending lower to make herself more inconspicuous. Seeing her friend's position, Nao laughed out loud.
"What's so funny?"
"You should take a good look at yourself," Nao said, wiping her eyes. "Hiding under that baseball cap makes you look more like Kazuki. Now you're really in trouble."
"Nao, you're not helping!" Kahoko complained.
Today, she had tried to hide under a baseball cap, a grey sweatshirt and loose pants. Yesterday, she had worn a dark, plain corporate outfit. The day before that, she had locked herself in her apartment, refusing to come out. All these endeavors she had undertaken to become inconspicuous to the media - to no avail.
They seemed to know her every move: they trailed her around as she went jogging, visited the supermarket, met with producers interested in her work – there was no escaping them! Kahoko finally made sense of Erika's fashion tip; she really needed to look her best if she was going to be photographed every five seconds. And yet Kahoko did not want to be noticed; she just wanted to hide.
Kahoko found it difficult to believe that Yunoki was behind the paparrazi's sudden interest in her daily life. Yet she couldn't dismiss the fact that the sudden surge in her popularity was due to her relationship with Hihara.
The day after she heard of Yunoki's party, every tabloid in Japan had headlines about Hihara Kazuki and Hino Kahoko, under which was plastered a photo of her flinging his hand away. Most of them implied a lovers' quarrel; others entertained the thought of Hihara harassing her. Either way, the tabloids had it wrong: none of them had heard of their actual conversation, despite Hihara's voice being loud enough to carry throughout the neighborhood.
Speaking of conversations, Kahoko thought, reflecting on the conversation she had with Hihara after seeing the news.
"Kazuki, I'm so sorry!" Kahoko cried in anguish over the phone. "I didn't think it would reflect so badly on your image!"
"Don't worry about it!" Hihara replied cheerfully, obviously forgiving her. "Things like this happen all the time. The media has a tendency to twist the truth, as they say. After all, it's their job to present things from the most interesting perspective."
"But still, this could affect your career," Kahoko moaned. "Is Mimiko-san angry?" Hihara's manager was infamous for being overprotective.
"Nah, she actually thinks this is a good thing."
"How can she possibly take this calmly?"
"Remember the movie I'm filming right now? My Sassy Boy?"
"Er, sorry, no…"
"Well, you see, in this movie, I play a guy who's acting rudely towards this girl he's dating-"
"Why would he?"
"That's because he sees his dead ex-girlfriend in his current girlfriend, and he's being tormented by her memory."
"It sounds interesting," Kahoko said sincerely. "I'm sure it'll be a big hit."
"Yeah, the thing is the actress who's supposed to play my ex-girlfriend got into a fight with our director, so now she's off the cast list," he explained. "We're still looking for someone to replace her, but because of recent events…"
Kahoko waited for him to continue. Then it hit her.
"Don't tell me Mimiko-san is considering me for the part?!"
"Don't sound so panicked!" Hihara said hastily. "It's not a very important role. I mean – er – you don't have to say anything. We don't even have to show your face, if you don't want us to. It's just that," he paused, hesitating. "I'd really appreciate it if you accepted the part…I've always wanted to be in a movie with you…"
Kahoko thought accepting the offer was a good way of making up for the issue she had caused. So she said yes. Apparently, it was the wrong choice because the next day, the news that she was playing Hihara's love interest in his latest movie leaked out to the press, and speculations regarding their relationship multiplied exponentially and intensified tenfold.
There's no one to blame but me, Kahoko thought with a sigh. She really was sighing too much these days.
"Hino Kahoko-sama," someone said from behind her.
"Please," Kahoko moaned. "Leave me alone."
"Er, Kaho," Nao said. "It's not the paparazzi."
Surprised, Kahoko spun and saw a stern but beautiful woman in a sharp black suit.
"Yamamori Umi desu," she said with a bow. "Yunoki Azuma-sama sent me to assist you in your preparations for this evening."
"Preparations?" Kahoko repeated uncomprehendingly.
"Yunoki-senpai sent a professional makeover team?" Nao marveled aloud. "I see he hasn't changed."
"I'm sorry, but I have other plans-"
"No, Kaho, go with her," Nao urged. "We'll meet you at the venue."
"But I promised Nami and Mio-"
"Nami and Mio don't exactly need fashion advice," Nao commented dryly. "Go on. You should never turn down the great Yunoki Azuma."
Chills running down her spine, Kahoko laughed nervously. How ironically true.
XXX
That night, Kahoko found herself visibly fretting in the opulent hotel room where she had been prepped up by a team of beauty experts. The group of stylish, confident women, which included Yamamori, watched her pacing nervously as she waited for the signal that Hihara had arrived to pick her up. Had Kahoko been calm enough to observe their expressions, she would have seen the pleased smiles on their faces, proof of their pride at their success.
"Yamamori-san," Kahoko begged. "Please let me see a mirror."
"No, Hino-sama," Yamamori said. "Yunoki-sama instructed me specifically not to let you see your reflection until right before you enter the party venue. It seems he wishes to surprise you."
"Don't you think you're being a bit harsh, Yamamori-san?" Kahoko said. "I let you have your way with me for five straight hours, and I can't even see the results of my pain?"
"I assure you Hino-sama," Yamamori said, smiling freely for the first time that day. "You have absolutely nothing to worry about." The other women nodded in agreement.
At that moment, the door opened and one of Yamamori's subordinates entered.
"Kahoko-sama," she said, bowing slightly. "Your date has arrived."
Oblivious to the excited squeals of the ladies around her, Kahoko stood still, watching the door. Even without a mirror, she decided she would gauge her appearance based on Hihara's initial reaction. Despite her nervousness, she found herself wondering how her date would react. Somehow, she hoped he would be pleased.
For the second time, the door opened and in walked Hihara Kazuki, looking completely gorgeous in a sleek black tuxedo, his hair looking artfully windblown. His first move was to scan the room for Kahoko, and when he found her standing solo in the middle of the room, checking for his reaction with flushed cheeks, his jaw dropped.
"Kaho… chan?"
If Hihara's reaction was a good reflection of Kahoko's appearance, then she was either genuinely dazzling or indisputably hideous. Either way, she surmised she looked somehow… stunning.
She briefly wondered how Erika looked tonight.
"Kaho-chan," Hihara whispered, regaining his ability to speak. "You look simply breathtaking."
"Arigatou, Kazuki," Kahoko smiled. "Shall we go then?"
Hihara merely nodded, still looking stunned.
Turning to her saviors, Kahoko bowed deeply.
"Arigatou gozaimasu, minna-san," she said sincerely. "Thanks to your generosity, I'll surely enjoy tonight. Yamamori-san, I can't thank you enough."
For the first time, Yamamori smiled freely.
"Tonight, all the lights in Tokyo shine for you," she said.
Seeming calmer, and definitely more cheerful than usual, Hihara offered Kahoko his arm. Smiling, Kahoko accepted it, and together they exited the room amidst the cheers of Kahoko's new friends.
As they swiftly walked out of the posh Averon Suites, trailed by a flock of ardent followers led by Yamamori, the other hotel guests ogled and openly pointed at them. Flushing even deeper, Kahoko felt Hihara's hand squeeze hers reassuringly.
"Think of this as practice," he whispered. "It will be ten times more intense at the party."
A shiny stretch limousine was waiting for them at the driveway, its door held open by a straight-backed regal-looking driver. Kahoko gulped at the level of extravagance this whole event was unleashing in her friend. Seeing the look on her face, Hihara joked, "My baby didn't seem appropriate for tonight's occasion."
They settled comfortably at the back of the limousine, waving goodbye to Yamamori and the others, who gathered at the end of the driveway. Already feeling light-headed after the first stage - as it turned out Yamamori wasn't a beauty expert but a professional personality consultant tasked to coach her for tonight's event - Kahoko began to inhale and exhale deeply, trying to calm down.
"You nervous?" Hihara asked her with concern.
"Yes, of course," Kahoko replied. "Didn't you feel nervous at all during your first red carpet entrance?"
"Of course, I did," Hihara replied. "But I didn't think you'd be this nervous. You've been to awards ceremonies before haven't you?"
"Well, yes," Kahoko replied. "They weren't this stressful though. And the reporters didn't even know who I was, so they didn't pay me much attention."
"I'm sure they knew who you were," Hihara said. "You're a famous composer now!"
"Sometimes I wish I could just get a normal job away from the media," Kahoko admitted. "But every time one of my compositions is interpreted by an orchestra, or a singer, or a band, I feel a sort of inner peace. I love seeing and hearing my music come alive… I guess being watched all the time is a small price to pay for doing what you love."
"I think so, too," Hihara said. "I really love my job: it's fun, and I get to meet a lot of interesting and talented people. Although there are times when I wonder how my life would be if I had entered a professional orchestra, at the end of the day, doing what I do doesn't prevent me from enjoying my music. Maybe someday I'll even get to launch a side-career as a trumpeter or something-"
He stopped talking halfway, alarmed at the expression of deep sadness on Kahoko's face.
"Kaho-chan?" he asked gently. "What's wrong?"
Kahoko's head snapped up.
"Oh, was I spacing out?" Kahoko asked, apologetic. "I was thinking of something."
"Maybe you're just nervous," Hihara said with a small smile.
"Yeah, maybe…"
"Don't worry," Hihara said, squeezing her hand again. "I'll catch you if you trip on the red carpet."
Kahoko stuck a tongue out at him. He laughed, content to see she was all right.
In truth, Kahoko wasn't thinking about the party at all. She had been suddenly reminded of the circumstances leading her to pursuit of a career as a composer. They were not happy thoughts, and Kahoko did not like to think of them often.
I had to give up the violin-
"Oh, look, we're here," Hihara said, looking through tinted windows as the limousine pulled into a cobblestone driveway. He turned to Kahoko, whose feelings of nervousness returned full force, causing her to blanch clearly. In perfect contrast, Hihara was blushing furiously, and he looked as though he was having some sort of painful internal struggle. Apparently coming to a decision, he exhaled, met Kahoko's eyes-
And kissed her on the lips.
Completely and utterly shocked, Kahoko's eyes widened. Ka.. zu.. ki?
It was over just as quickly as it had begun.
They stood apart for a few heartbeats, looking into each other's eyes. Both were searching for something: one sought for answers, the other waited for confirmation. They sat immobile on their seats, their breath catching in their throats, the world melting into oblivion around them.
Why? asked one.
Why not? asked the other.
If they had been granted enough time to sort out their jumbled thoughts, they would have kept on in silence until one of them found the strength to ask unspoken questions. But the fact of the matter was, they were at one end of a red carpet flanked by the Japanese media, and the limousine door had been opened at that exact moment.
Snapping back to reality, Hihara reached out for his date. Squeezing her hand one more time, he led her out of the car and into a sea of bright, blinding camera flashes. Kahoko had to squint before adjusting to the harsh glare of a literal spotlight. When she could finally see properly, she was amazed to see dozens of press photographers and reporters lining up along the sides of the red carpet. She had never completely worried about their existence before, but then again, she had never been the focus of so much attention.
Her renewed self-consciousness must have manifested itself so visibly, because Hihara suddenly smiled at her, causing a fresh wave of camera flashes to be directed at them.
"Relax," he told her in a low voice. "Just smile and wave a bit. Like this-"
He demonstrated the standard red carpet protocol, his actions looking truly genuine, as though they weren't merely for illustration purposes. Grinning despite her anxiety, Kahoko imitated him, waving at the press and paparazzi as though she had forgiven them for invading her privacy.
As Hihara guided her forward, Kahoko began to feel at ease. She had actually seen some familiar faces in the crowd, and as she greeted them from a distance, she realized her smile had become genuine by the time she and Hihara stepped off the red carpet.
Hihara seemed to notice the change in her mood.
"That wasn't so bad, was it?" he asked her, teasing.
"It got better towards the end," Kahoko admitted. "I just didn't think there'd be so many of them. Isn't this a welcoming party for Yunoki-senpai?"
"It's not just a homecoming party, Kaho-chan," Hihara explained. "It's also an early birthday bash and a formal celebration of Yunoki's sponsorship of Rising Star Orchestra."
"I didn't think he was that rich," Kahoko muttered as they entered the Yunoki Group's luxurious corporate headquarters. "He was always being held back by his two brothers, wasn't he?"
"He made a name for himself in America," Hihara explained. "They do things a little less culture-bound there, so he found the freedom to excel as he was meant to. Although in the beginning, his family, particularly his Obaasama, thought he was becoming too liberated, in the end he made so much money and brought much pride to the Yunoki name that disinheriting him seemed foolish. He contracted the construction of this building, you know?" He examined the impressive cutting-edge design of the upper floors. "As expected of Yunoki!"
He's not even twenty five! Kahoko thought, amazed.
"I helped plan this party, actually," Hihara shared as they walked towards the ball room. "It's a bit… overboard, but that shouldn't be a surprise. Yunoki wants to spend some of his hard-earned money, I guess," he finished, smiling at Kahoko.
She tried to smile back, but everything she had heard had only made her more apprehensive. Suddenly, she felt seriously underdressed.
"D-don't worry, Kaho-chan," Hihara assured her, turning scarlet upon seeing the look on her face. "I'm sure you'll have fun when we meet Nami-chan and the others-"
"Just a minute, Kazuki," she interrupted. "M-may I…?"
She gestured towards the toilets, suddenly remembering Yunoki's specific instructions.
"Yeah, sure," Hihara said. "I'll wait for you right here."
"Thanks. I'll be right back."
Trying hard not to run, Kahoko headed for the ladies' room with quick strides. She had a good idea what Yunoki had in mind, but she wanted to see things for herself.
There wasn't anyone else inside the bathroom, for which Kahoko could only be grateful. Taking a deep breath, she turned to face the mirror.
She heard herself gasp. Staring back at her was a beautiful woman in a sapphire silk dress, her shiny red hair wrapped in a bun that rested on her head. An exquisite pearl necklace rested on her long, white neck, complementing the pair of fine earrings she wore, and giving her attractive face a youthful glow. Kahoko looked at the woman through her skillfully curled eyelashes, her painted lips parted in surprise. Was this person… really… her?
At that moment, a group of chatting ladies entered the bathroom, shaking Kahoko back to earth. Blushing slightly, she exited the room with her head down, not oblivious to the sudden hush that fell upon the group as they stared at her retreating back. She blushed deeper.
Yunoki-senpai… You've created a miracle yet again.
"Kaho-chan, are you all right?" Hihara asked, seeing the look on her face.
"Y-yes, I'm all right," Kahoko said breathlessly. "Shall we go in then?"
Hihara nodded, smiling. He offered her his arm, and together they entered the ballroom.
They were greeted by the familiar melody of a classical piece – Tchaikovsky's Dornroschen – playing over the room's speakers. It took Kahoko by surprise; she thought, given the large number of musicians who were expected to be here, tonight's music would be performed live. Indeed, when she saw the world-famous Japanese conductor Chiaki Shinichi being dragged around by his wife, the illustrious pianist Noda Megumi, she felt the aching desire of wanting to hear their music in person.
So much talent pooled here and they're not even performing-
"Don't worry," Hihara said, laughing at her reaction as the couple flitted by, the woman full of energy, the man seeming resigned. "We'll get to hear them perform with RS later. They're playing Mozart's Piano Concerto No 26 in D. Right now though," he said, smiling at her, "let's concentrate on finding the host."
Smiling as well, Kahoko nodded back, and together, they made their way through the elegantly-dressed crowd.
Hihara was right: Yunoki had gone overboard with this party. Not only had he invited the who's who of Japanese society, he had also ensured that the event was well covered by the nation's top glossies. Here and there, Kahoko saw the trace of reporters, dressed to the nines themselves, walking up to people for photo ops or else taking candid pictures.
The catering, too, was out of this world; there seemed to be no definite food theme for the night. Kahoko gaped at the assortment of offerings on one of the guests' tables: lotus-wrapped rice on a plate beside tabbouleh and fromage à la crème, right next to samples of capon magro, pasta alfredo, and other exotic dishes Kahoko did not recognize. The wine was overflowing, as well. Everywhere she looked, she saw people with drinks in their hands, chatting animatedly with smiles on their faces. She remembered Erika's words,
He's going to play matchmaker to you and Hihara Kazuki, and he'll make sure the whole world knows it. Hence, the welcome party.
Kahoko sincerely wondered if that was Yunoki's intention. It was hard to believe he went this far not in order to celebrate, but for the sake of pairing his friends up.
She sighed. Kahoko was once again feeling ill at ease, an emotion triggered by the stares she received from Yunoki's guests. Somehow, she didn't like the curious looks she received from her fellow partygoers, particularly the cold look Yunoki Shizuka aimed at her from the other side of the ballroom. Blanching, she was thankful that Hihara led her onward, apparently still intent on searching for Yunoki.
They saw a lot of familiar faces in the crowd; apparently, it was true that Yunoki had invited a good number of people from Seiso. Kahoko saw Tsuchiura's tall frame standing beside the wine bar, facing another famous soccer player, apparently deep in conversation. She saw a member of the press approach the pair, introducing himself and gesturing to his camera with a friendly smile.
Or maybe, Kahoko reflected as Tsuchiura turned to pose for a picture, our schoolmates are becoming more famous in their own right. After all, Kazuki is a celebrity, Ryoutaro is an ace soccer player, Keiichi and Shouko are members of prominent orchestras abroad and Tsukimori is-
Kahoko blushed visibly. In her awe at the grandeur of Yunoki's party, she had forgotten about him for a moment. Despite herself, she scanned the room for a familiar cerulean blue head, wondering all the while who he had invited as his date tonight.
"There he is!" Hihara boomed suddenly, surprising Kahoko and everyone within a ten-meter radius. Laughing apologetically, he pulled Kahoko towards their old friend, ignoring the strange looks the other people were directing at them.
Yunoki was standing on one corner of the room, swirling his wine glass involuntarily, his eyes filled with worry. Hihara bounded up to him, throwing an arm around his shoulders as he said, "Why so down? Last time I heard, this was your party."
Yunoki smiled and turned around.
"Who says I was-"
He stopped the moment he saw Kahoko, his eyes widening as he took in her appearance.
Kahoko blushed. She did not expect this reaction from him, of all people.
"Hino-san," Yunoki said, regaining his composure. "That dress-"
"It's beautiful, right?" Hihara interrupted, grinning happily. "The first time I saw her, I thought, 'Wow! Kaho-chan looks gorgeous! She's really all grown up,'" he mumbled, turning red as he realized the implication of his words.
Fortunately for him, Kahoko had not been listening. She was looking at Yunoki Azuma, who was still staring at her, although with a slightly more composed expression. As quietly as she could, she whispered to him, "Thank you, Yunoki-senpai."
She heard his sharp intake of breath. "Hino-san-"
"I don't believe it!"
Curious, Kahoko turned to Hihara. He was staring at something in front of him, although Kahoko could not see it because he was blocking her path.
"Hihara-senpai," Kahoko heard a familiar, deep voice say. "It's been a while."
Kahoko paled as Hihara laughed and Yunoki stiffened.
"You haven't changed at all, Tsukimori-kun," Hihara noted, still laughing. "Cold towards your friends as always. When did you arrive from Vienna?"
"Friday last week."
"I see," Hihara said. "I was out of town then. That sucks! I would have greeted you at the airport."
"It's all right, Hihara-senpai," Tsukimori said. "I know you're a busy person."
"Not as busy as you," came the good-natured reply. "Or Yunoki, here, for that matter," he added, pulling the frozen Yunoki from behind him.
Tsukimori considered his blue-haired senior.
"Yunoki-senpai, thank you for inviting me tonight," he said, voice devoid of emotion. "And thank you for inviting my friends as well."
"Ah, yes," Yunoki acknowledged, smiling. "I'm not who you should thank for that."
"Pardon?"
"Kaho-chan," Hihara said suddenly. "Kaho-chan, why are you hiding there?"
Kahoko looked up at Hihara. He didn't know of her past relationship with Tsukimori; they had started dating after he graduated from Seiso's high school department. If he knew, if he was aware that Tsukimori Len was the real reason she was so apprehensive about attending this party, would he be smiling at her so innocently at that moment, wondering why she stood rooted to the spot?
Kahoko smiled and gathered the last of her courage. Stepping forward to stand beside Hihara, she forced herself to meet Tsukimori's eyes.
"Good evening, Tsukimori-kun."
His passive expression changed as his eyes widened. Uncharacteristically, he stared at her face openly, causing her to flush even deeper, although she kept her gaze focused on him. Then, still looking hypnotized, he scrutinized her dress, a frown forming on his face.
"Where did you get that dress?" he inquired suddenly.
"I'm sorry, what?" she asked, surprised. She fingered her silk gown and looked at Yunoki, who was staring at her with a foreign look in his eyes. Was it… panic?
"I, uh," Kahoko began, unable to state the true source of her dress, the real culprit behind her appearance tonight. "A friend gave it to me."
Tsukimori's eyes narrowed.
"Do you know-"
"Len? There you are."
A gorgeous young woman strode forward, taking Tsukimori's arm. She was wearing a beautiful sapphire gown and pearl jewelry, her hair pinned to her head in a bun. Kahoko stared. It can't be.
Sawajiri Erika had come to the party looking just like her.
A/N:
I was a bit delirious as I wrote the last few lines of the chapter; I haven't had lunch yet. Sorry if the writing's a bit off. Gah. The second half of the party scene is the focus of the next chapter, and true to the story, the party hasn't even started yet. Chapter 8's gonna be another murderous one; I better go eat before I attempt it.
NB:
One: I really don't know how the Japanese paparazzi culture works. Just assuming.
Two: My Sassy Boy is a parody of the popular Korean movie, My Sassy Girl.
Three: Yamamori's line (Tonight, all the lights in Tokyo shine for you) is derived from Mameha's in Memoirs of a Geisha.
Four: Averon Suites is fictional.
Five: Rising Star Orchestra was taken unabashedly from Ninomiya Tomoko-sensei's Nodame Cantabile. So are the characters Chiaki Shinichi and Noda Megumi.
Finally: I hope no one's angry with me for making Hihara saying the USA isn't as culture-bound as Japan. I only meant that Americans promote individuality while the Japanese value cohesiveness. I'm told that's true, in any case.
Next:
Chapter 8: Revelations
She said all this offhandedly, and the face that was turned to Kahoko was calm. Her eyes, however, burned with raw hate.
"Do you deny it?"
Just by looking at Kahoko's face, stained by tear tracts and crumpled in anguish, one could surmise the answer.
"No," she whispered, closing her eyes. "No, I don't deny it."