Chapter 19: Childhood friends
"You Kun!" Misaki scolded as Hinata messily munched on his chips. "You're making a mess!"
"But we're outside," Hinata said, plopping down under a tree. "The ants can eat the crumbs. Do you want one?" he asked.
Misaki shook her head. "I'm not allowed to eat snacks before dinner," she explained.
Hinata's chubby cheeks puffed up as he smiled. "Misa Chan," he said. "You're the best friend Hinata has ever had."
"That's stupid talk, You Kun," Misaki said, sitting next to him. "You have lots of friends!" she said, spreading her arms out.
"Like who?"
Misaki thought about it. "Suzuna?" she finally said. Hinata sighed. "Never mind," Misaki said. "We'll be best friends together then."
"Okay!" Hinata said, standing up. "I'll always be Misa Chan's best friend." He bent over and picked a tiny daisy. "This is for you," he said, beaming.
Misaki took it. "Thank you!"
Crack!
"You Kun!" Misaki exclaimed as a branch snapped off a tree.
"Eh?"
Misaki rushed over and pushed Hinata out of the way just in time. "Are you hurt?!" she demanded.
Hinata hugged his scraped knee and started to cry. "It hurts!" he cried.
"Don't move!" Misaki exclaimed. "I'll get help."
She rushed back into her house to the medicine cabinet. She grabbed a band aid and some cleanser with cotton balls.
"Hold still," she said, dabbing the cotton ball on his knee.
"That stings!" Hinata cried.
Misaki gently blew on the cut. "Just hang in there," she said, gently dabbing the edges. "You have to clean it or else it will get infected," she said, pushing her bangs out of her eyes. "You should have been more careful."
"Sorry Misa Chan…" Hinata mumbled.
Misaki stuck the band aid over the scrape. "Just remember to always stay with me, okay?" she asked. "I'll protect you."
"Misa Chan!" Hinata cried. "I promise I'll always follow you!"
Misaki smiled. "Of course you will," she said, patting his shoulder. "Come on. Mom left us some bunny apples."
"Oh goodie," Hinata said, trailing after her.
"YOU KUN!" Misaki screamed, rushing over.
Hinata grabbed her around the waist and pulled both of them out of the way as the light crashed onto the ground.
Everyone was silent. Misaki looked at Hinata. He was staring back at her.
"MISA CHAN!" he exclaimed suddenly, hugging her.
Everyone watched in surprise. Benedict immediately had people go clean up the broken glass.
"Is it really you, Misa Chan?!" Hinata asked, hugging her tightly.
Misaki gently hugged him back. "Yeah," she said. "It's me."
Hinata released her. "I didn't even recognize you," he said. "You're all grown up and pretty now- not that you weren't before," he stammered.
Misaki smiled. "You're all grown up too." She paused. "You made it on Broadway? Your parents must be so proud."
Hinata nodded. "They are. They'll never actually believe that I found you! Have you been doing well? Aren't you famous now?"
Misaki nodded. "I've been well," she agreed.
Benedict cleared his throat. "I'd hate to interrupt such a touching reunion but…we are on a schedule."
"O-Of course!" Hinata stammered. "Right away!"
He smiled a very boyish grin at Misaki and everyone resumed their places.
"I don't want to go!" Hinata whined as they sat on the swings.
"But you have to," Misaki reminded him. "Your parents want you to perform more."
Hinata kicked the woodchips. "I don't want to…" he pouted. "I want to stay here with Misa Chan."
"You're so talented, You Kun," Misaki said. "You can't waste your talent!"
Hinata sniffed. "But I won't have any friends."
"You make friends," Misaki told him. She hopped off her swing and stood in front of him. "This is such a big chance. The academy is really good." Misaki sighed. "I wish I could go…"
Hinata perked up. "Come with me!" he exclaimed. "I'm sure Mom and Dad wouldn't mind. You love acting!"
Misaki frowned. "I can't," she said. "I have to stay here with my family. I have to take care of Suzuna and Mom."
Hinata's face dropped. "What if I never see you again?" he asked.
Misaki thought about it. "Be famous!" she decided. "Then I'll come see your shows when you're older."
"Will you?"
"I promise!" Misaki said, smiling.
"Okay," Hinata said. "I'll wait for you then!" he said, pumping his fist into the air. "I'll definitely become famous for Misa Chan!"
Misaki giggled. "Take of yourself without me," she added.
Hinata nodded. "I always listen to Misa Chan."
"Good bye You Kun," Misaki said.
"I'll find you when I'm grown up!" Hinata promised.
"Misa Chan," Hinata said, sitting next to Misaki at dinner. "You were amazing today!" he complimented.
"She's always amazing," Takumi said, sitting on the other side of Misaki.
"I know that!" Hinata exclaimed.
Takumi nonchalantly sipped his water. Misaki glanced over at him.
"Hi," she offered.
"Hi," Takumi replied.
"Hinata," Misaki said, turning back to Hinata. "This is Takumi. He plays Derek."
"I see," Hinata said, eyeing Takumi up.
"Whoa, the tension," Vivian said, sliding to sit across from Misaki.
"Tension?" Misaki asked.
Vivian smirked. "How did you like your first day, Hinata?" she asked, sweetly.
"It was great," he said, taking a bite. "Everyone is such a good actor."
"Underling…" Takumi muttered.
"What was that?!" Hinata demanded.
Takumi rolled his eyes.
"Don't mind him!" Misaki quickly jumped in. "He's just always like that," she whispered to Hinata. "Horrible personality."
"I heard that," Takumi said.
"I didn't say anything!" Misaki lied. She looked to Vivian for help.
"So Hinata," Vivian said. "How long have you known Misaki?"
"Since forever! We've been best friends since childhood!" Hinata said, proudly. "She's the nicest girl I've ever met!"
Takumi got up from his seat and walked away.
"What's wrong with him?" Hinata asked. "You're right. His personality does suck."
Misaki shrugged.
Vivian picked up Takumi's fork. "There's something wrong with that guy," she pointed out, showing the bent metal fork. "What was he pissed about?"
Misaki shrugged again. She glanced over her shoulder but Takumi had already disappeared. What was wrong with him? Maybe he disliked Hinata…but then again, he didn't even know Hinata.
"Maybe I should go check on him," Misaki offered.
"Do you want me to come with you?" Hinata asked.
Misaki shook her head. "He's actually quite nice if you get to know him."
Hinata didn't look like he believed her but let her go. Misaki wandered out into the dark campgrounds. She found his trailer and knocked.
"What are you doing here?" he asked as Misaki pushed in.
"To see what you're doing," Misaki said, laying on his couch. "Man…you have a nice trailer."
"You can move in," Takumi teased. "We can share a bed."
"No!" Misaki exclaimed, blushing.
"Would you rather share one with Hinata then?"
"What are you talking about?!" Misaki spluttered. "I don't share a bed with anyone! Especially not you…you freaking pervert stalker alien."
Takumi studied her. "You really like him."
"Well, he's my friend," Misaki said. "We've known each other since we were kids."
"And he really likes you," Takumi noted.
"Just in a friendly way," Misaki reassured him.
Takumi sat on the edge of the couch and leaned his face over really close to Misaki's. Misaki, of course, turned red in the face.
"Why are you so close," she mumbled.
"You're so innocent," he sighed. "You don't see the way people look at you."
"As long as it's not the way you're looking at me right now," Misaki muttered, pressing her hand against his chest in hopes of keeping her distance.
Takumi patted her cheek. "I'll walk you back to your trailer….Princess," he said, getting up.
Misaki got up and almost tripped over a chair. Takumi held the door open for her. They walked across the camp.
"Misa Chan!" Hinata called. "Are you okay?"
"Of course," Misaki said. "Which trailer are you staying at?" she asked.
"The one in the far end," Hinata explained. "What about you? Want me to walk you back?"
"I-"
"I'm walking her back," Takumi said, placing a hand on Misaki's shoulder. "You should probably go practice your lines."
They locked eyes for a few moments.
"I can walk myself back!" Misaki reminded everyone. "Good night!" she said, going toward her own trailer.
Misaki took a shower and crawled into bed with a glass of water and her mini laptop. As soon as she turned it on, Suzuna was skyping her.
"Hey Suzuna," Misaki said, waving to her sister through the webcam.
"I can't believe you actually met Hinata again," Suzuna said.
"What?" Misaki asked. "How did you know? I just saw him again today."
Suzuna sighed. "Oneechan. It's all over the internet."
Misaki's chat box blipped as Suzuna sent her a bunch of links. Misaki hovered her mouse on the links and clinked on them.
Long lost star love story
Misaki Ayuzawa and her Prince
The new girl and new boy in town
Misaki Ayuzawa with a new boyfriend?
Inside Story of Misaki Ayuzawa
Misaki groaned. Of course, it blew up on the internet. She didn't even want to read any of the articles.
"What are you going to do?" Suzuna asked.
Misaki shrugged. "It'll blow over," she said, trying to reassure herself. "It blew over with Tora. Yesterday it was Tora, today it's Hinata, tomorrow it's just going to be someone else."
"Is it hard?" Suzuna asked.
"What is?"
"Having your life on display for everyone," Suzuna explained.
Misaki sighed. "You get used to it," she told Suzuna. "It's just something you have to accept if you're going to be in this industry."
"But some people are saying some really nasty things," Suzuna said, clicking on the other pages.
"Suzuna," Misaki said. "Don't read the tabloids. They're supposed to be nasty or else no one would read them. I really don't care what everyone has to say about me. Don't worry about me."
Suzuna nodded. "They don't even know you," she said, frowning. "How dare they judge you?"
Misaki laughed. "That's the price for fame," she informed her sister. "I'm a public figure therefore everyone gets a turn to say something about me- true or not and there's nothing I can do about it."
"And that really doesn't bother you?"
Misaki shook her head. "In anyone's life, you still have to keep living even when people try to bring you down. It's the same concept…just that instead of your classmates, it's a quarter of the world."
Suzuna gave Misaki a small smile. "Okay," she said.
Misaki's phone buzzed. "It's my manager," Misaki said, looking at the screen. "I'll talk to you later," she said to Suzuna.
Suzuna nodded and ended the video chat.
"Hello?" Misaki asked, answering the phone.
"Have you been on a computer today?" Honoka asked.
"Yes," Misaki said, evenly.
"What are you going to say?"
"We're not in a relationship," Misaki replied.
"I think this could really benefit you," Honoka said. "You could leap into this role of the long lost lover."
"No," Misaki said. "Hinata is one of my best friends. I can't do that to him. I only see him as a friend. It's not fair."
"Very well then," Honoka said. "How was filming today? You didn't get hurt by that light head, did you?"
"No, Hinata pulled us both out of the way," Misaki explained. "I'm fine."
"He certainly was the hero," Honoka remarked.
"I suppose," Misaki said.
"It's getting late," Honoka said. "I'll see you tomorrow morning. Get some sleep."
"Alright," Misaki replied. "Bye."
She turned off the lights and pulled the blanket around herself. Everything was so complicated and all she wanted was to get this movie wrapped.
It was back to that old saying, "everything should be kept professional." But professional these days was kind of hard to maintain…