Chie: Name list: http:/ chierafied . livejournal . com / 1061 . html

18. Speculation

597 Words

"I think the casting personnel made a mistake while they were choosing the actors for this TV drama." Satsuki said, leaning back in her chair.

The group of friends were enjoying the last moments of their lunch break and chatting with each other. They were seated in the corner of the studio, their chairs dragged together to form a circle.

Satsuki's brown eyes were narrowed and watching the form of a certain actor across the room, once again surrounded by various female staff members and extras.

"They should've picked Narita Ken for the role of 'Miroku'."

Mitsuo and Taiki chortled and burst into laughter.

Kouji smiled at the young actress amiably. He did not take the woman's jab personally, he was very confident in his acting abilities, and Miroku's character wasn't too hard for him to portray – even though their personal tastes differed greatly.

Kouji well realised that the barb was not intended for him but for Narita Ken. Satsuki seemed to bear a noticeable animosity towards the handsome actor. Kouji had some rather deep-rooted suspicions as to why Satsuki seemed to detest the man so much.

Not that Kouji could really blame her. Narita Ken was simply that kind of a man. His looks, his manners, his charisma, his talent… There simply was no unattractive thing about him.

Not a single one.

"I bet he hasn't ever even had a girlfriend," Satsuki muttered.

Taiki shook his head.

"Impossible. He's the type who would get any woman he'd want. I highly doubt he'd be inexperienced."

"I didn't say he was inexperienced. I meant he's the type to avoid… long term commitments."

"You know, taking into account his popularity and charisma, it's really peculiar that there has been little coverage about his love life. Of course there's the occasional rumour or alleged relationship every now and then, but there hasn't been any kind of a scandal. Maybe he's the serious type?"

"Or maybe all that is just for a show and he's actually gay." Mitsuo suggested, sending Taiki into a new fit of hearty laughter.

Kouji rolled his eyes.

"Nope, he's straight."

"The way he leers at women is quite obvious," Satsuki huffed.

"I don't know, I haven't seen him leer at anyone," Taiki frowned.

"I have," Satsuki muttered, remembering the several occasions when she had caught Narita Ken's dark eyes on her, holding in their depths the kind of an expression that always seemed to make her shiver.

"Really?" Mitsuo asked incredulously. "Who?"

Satsuki almost let the 'me' slip out of her mouth, but then she swallowed that treacherous word. Their teasing was already bad enough as it was, and Mitsuo and Kouji had only some days ago insisted that Ken appeared to be interested in her. She didn't want to hear their wild theories, so adding fuel to the fire would have served no purpose for her.

"Like I remember every person's name who works here," she retorted instead, the tone of her voice irritable.

Mitsuo decided to let it drop.

"Fine. Chill. I was just asking."

"He's looking over here," Kouji whispered urgently.

"Nah, he's looking at her," Taiki corrected, jerking his head towards Satsuki.

Satsuki turned on her seat, and her cold glare met the inquisitive dark eyes of Narita Ken.

For a moment, the two stared at each other, before Satsuki turned her head so swiftly that locks of her semi-long black hair bounced softly.

Her back turned to the actor, she missed the grin that slowly spread onto his lips while his eyes still attentively stared at the tomboyish actress' slender back.