Chapitre 9
- Ah, Ren, what a coincidence, I am so glad to see you! Said Lory.
- On the other hand, you're the one who summoned me, President, Ren muttered.
It was 10 am and the young man wondered what the president was up to. The latter was beaming, which was worrisome.
- Sit down Ren.
Ren sat down on a bush chair, in the distance the roars of lions could be heard. Lory wore the perfect explorer's outfit, colonial helmet on her head. A rifle was placed on the desk, Ren wondered if it was loaded.
Lory was direct:
- I want you to do a TV reality show in Okinawa. The concept is to survive 3 days with the contents of a backpack.
- Um... let me decline, President, reality TV is not really my thing...
- Very well then, Mogami-san will go alone with Kijima-san, Fuwa-san and Murasame-san.
- ...
- Do you want to reconsider your answer?
- Okay, I'll do it. But there might be blood!
Lory smiled a twisted smile and Ren took his leave. Damn Lory with his twisted schemes!
- And now let's tell Mogami-san the news, exclaimed the LME president.
He had the girl come for an ultra-urgent meeting. The latter, busy photocopying invoices in the accounting department, had to run to Lory's office. It was disheveled and in a flashy pink jumpsuit that she entered the president's jungle-office.
The president explained to her that she had to participate in a TV reality show with Ren. But don't worry, it was just a 3-day vacation with her sempai and Kotonami-san in Okinawa.
- Moko-san is coming? Kyoko was very excited. That's perfect, I'll do my best to free up my schedule for 3 days.
Once Kyoko left, Lory called Kotonami-san. She was in the love me section's room, so she went up right away.
- Kotonami-san, as a task of the love me section, I force you to accompany Ren and Kyoko-chan on a reality show in Okinawa. Your goal is to put them together.
Kanae had no choice... She thanked the president and fled the jungle before being eaten by a lion.
The die was cast, Lory thought. The two girls would leave tomorrow and Ren very early the day after. The game would start in the afternoon, may fate reunite these two lovebirds.
The heat was stifling, Ren, in long pants and a grey t-shirt, was already warm. And yet it was November. To that point, Okinawa resembled his native California. Everyone was gathered at the foot of the hiking trail. The film crew was ready and began filming.
There was Kijima Hidehito, Mogami Kyoko, Tsuruga Ren, Kotonami Kanae, Fuwa Sho, Morizumi Kimiko, Murasame Taira and Komatsu Nana.
Kyoko had almost turned around when she saw Shotaro, it was Kanae who had begged her to stay. Kyoko had been sulking ever since, cursing her childhood friend, her little demons swirling around her. Ren was trying to be nice to Murasame-san who was still angry with him for behaving like a psychopath during the filming of Tragic Maker. Kimiko was shamelessly flirting with Ren. Kijima-san and Fuwa-san were glued to Komastu-san. The latter seemed serene and happy to be there without worrying about the other members of the group.
They were all allowed to take a backpack for 3 days and two nights in the wilderness.
- I suggest we all call each other by our first names, says Nana, it's nicer. Mine is Nana.
- Are you sure, it's a bit... Well, we don't know each other very well, murmured Kyoko, who didn't want to hear her name from her sempai's mouth.
- No, that's a good idea, insisted Murasame-san. My name is Taira. Glad to go camping with you.
They introduced themselves in turn, even Shotaro played along.
Then they started walking to their camp, the path was steep and they were all walking in single lane. They overlooked the sea, it was magnificent. After an hour Nana started to fall behind, Kanae noticed it and told Ren who was walking in front of her. Ren stopped and let the troop pass. When Nana was at his height he offered her a drink of water. He helped her put down her bag and exclaimed:
- My word, what did you bring in there? The complete works of Nietzsche?
- Wake up Ren-san, it's digital time. I have everything on my tablet!
Ren laught.
- So, can I know what is so heavy?
- These are onigiri. I made some for everyone.
- Ah, Ren said, a little disappointed. Can I ask you a question? Did you lend your voice in the last Pixar movie?
- ...
- Forget it you just have the same voice.
- No, you're right, it was me, but men usually know me for my other roles.
- I see… I love animated films, I go see them every Sunday morning with Maria-chan, the granddaughter of the President of the LME.
They set off again, Ren struggling under the weight of the two bags. They arrived at the camp after everyone else.
The place chosen by production, full of cameras and microphones of course, was a small cove of white sand surrounded by a thick forest. A small stream would allow them to have fresh water. A real of paradise! The sun was beginning to set and cast its golden rays on the wild grasses.
Kyoko was in heaven, sure that this forest was full of fairies and this sea of Sirens! Kanae, exhausted by walking under a blazing sun, did not understand the gaping look of her best friend.
Ren approached the stream and opened his bag, taking out some beer and coke that he put in the cool water to cool them down.
- That's a good idea, exclaimed Hidehito.
Taira and Shotaro pretended not to hear.
Then, Ren surprised everyone by undressing, he folded his clothes carefully. In swimming shorts, he was magnificent, the setting sun gave him bronze reflections, he looked like one of those statues of Greek gods. He dove into the sea.
- Holy cow, it's cold!
- Well yes, it's November, Kanae said ironically.
- You're coming, it feels good!
It was Nana who joined him first, she undressed without any hesitation and jumped into the water.
- It's not cold, it's frozen!
And she swam to join Ren. Kimiko, who didn't want to be left behind, imitated her. When they saw that the girls were going, the other three boys jumped into the waves too.
After some hesitation Kanae began to undress. Kyoko looked at her in horror. She didn't feel ready to show herself in a bikini, even if it was Kanae who had help choosing it for the game.
- Kyoko-chan, be brave, this bikini looks great on you, Kanae encouraged her.
In the end, Kyoko took off her clothes. The two love me girls cautiously stepped into the water. For Ren the world stopped turning, the waves became silent, and he could only hear the beating of his heart in his chest. She was wearing a rust macramé bikini that brought out the paleness of her complexion and the color of her red hair. She was even more beautiful than in his fantasies. Next to him Nana didn't miss a piece.
- You should put your head in the water and stay there for about fifteen minutes... You're smoking out from your ears... She mocked him in a low voice.
- She is beautiful!
- I prefer her girlfriend.
- Pardon?
- Yes, I like girls.
- ...
- With my job I know it's hard to believe but I've been living with my girlfriend for 2 years. It's our secret, I don't tell Kyoko you don't tell anyone!
- Deal!
And to follow her advice he disappeared under the water. Then he swam towards his kouhai who was having difficulty getting into the water.
- Come on, Kyoko-chan. Once you're in, it feels good.
Kyoko flinched at the use of her first name, she managed not to blush, it was already embarrassing to be in a bikini in front of everyone. Ren found her charming, her stomach contracted at the contact of the cold water and she had goosebumps. Finally too embarrassed, and to escape the gaze of her sempai, she dove into the cold water coming out a little further.
- Mo... I can't go, Kanae shouted at her. It's too cold.
But she was caught by Kijima-san who threw her into the water. Kimiko was swimming towards Ren, when she reached him, she stuck to him. Kyoko felt like drowning. Ren gently pushed her away and suggested that everyone swim to the nearby cave.
This beach was beautiful, the green water was clear, the cliffs surrounding the cove cast a mysterious shadow on the sea. In the cave the girls were scared and wanted to turn back. The boys discovered a small beach that must have been covered at high tide. Then, as the day was coming to an end, they returned to the beach, got out of the water, dried themselves and went to change in the woods, the girls on one side, the boys on the other.
It was Taira who took command of the camp, he was the eldest after all. He, Sho, Kimiko and Kanae went to get wood for the fire. Meanwhile Ren gathered some branches at the edge of the ocean. And on a sandbank, he lit a beautiful fire with great efficiency.
Kyoko opened her bag, she had brought bentos for everyone. Nana asked her, impressed, if she had done all that. She loved cooking and chatted with Kyoko about the recipe of her oyakodon. Kyoko, inexhaustible on the subject, thought that she had made a new friend.
The wood-pickers returned and threw their bundles of wood near the fire. The first stars appeared.
They decided to eat Nana's onigiri first. Ren went to get his cans from the stream, they were very cold. He gave one to each, Kyoko and Kimiko who were minors were given coke which made Kimiko grumble but Ren was firm. He wasn't going to encourage minors to drink alcohol in front of forty cameras!
Ren sat down next to Taira and even though his presence seemed to displease the latter, he started the conversation on the success of Tragic Maker. Ren sensed his colleague's reluctance but with the help of alcohol he managed to make him say what his plans were after the film. Taira spoke enthusiastically about a samurai film retracing the life of Myamoto Musashi. He loved martial arts.
- I do karate and Thai boxing. What about you? Ren asked.
- Aikido and kung fu… You mostly do romantic things, have you ever wanted to make an action film?
- I'm not being offered that kind of role at the moment. But I'd like to. If only to wear a marcel like Bruce Willis! concluded Ren with a laugh.
This made Taira smile. Maybe Ren wasn't a bad person after all.
- What if we played the truth or dare game, Nana suggested, everyone asks a question and we have to answer. Without lying.
- Mo... We're not 14 anymore. Kanae grumbled.
- You start, said Hidehito to Nana. Ask your question.
- OK… Well, Ren, how was your first night with a girl?
- It's off to a great start! Look, it went pretty well, I was rather proud of myself for that one. She was my best friend, and we had already done tons of mischief. It made sense that we would sleep together. Plus, it was raining that day and we had nothing else to do, he finished with a mocking smile.
The others laughed, he continued:
- To Shotaro: Why do you hate me?
- This game sucks, Shotaro replied.
- Because he's jealous, answered Kyoko for him.
- No, I'm not jealous, it's just a matter of time before I steal his status as Japan's top star.
- That's without counting on us, laughed Hidehito and Taira.
- It's good to feel loved, Ren said ironically. Your turn, Shotaro ...
- No, for you it is Sho, no Shotaro! To Kyoko: Can't you see that I will always occupy the first place in your heart?
- Sorry to disappoint you but that's not true, Kyoko replied. I'm not angry with you anymore, even if spending time with you is still unpleasant. In my heart there's Kanae-san, Tsuru ... Uh Ren-san , Maria-chan, Yoshiro-san, Amamiya-san, my hosts... and even my mother. No, there's no room for you anymore.
She looked serene as she said that and Shotaro felt a pang in his heart. Kyoko then turned shyly to Nana:
- Uh… I didn't know you before the game, what are you doing in life?
Nana burst into a fit of laughter.
- You're so cute Kyoko-chan. I'm in porn movies, it's normal that you don't know me.
Kyoko blushes and clears her throat.
- Hmm. You're the one asking, Kyoko murmured.
- Ok. Kimiko-san why are you on bad terms with Kyoko-chan and Kanae-san ?
- What? uh, they're jealous... Kimiko replied.
- What about? Kanae asked.
- From my special relationship with Tsuruga-san...
- What special relationship? Ren asked, stop lying for 5 minutes. There is absolutely nothing between us, I thought I had made that clear 1 year ago.
Ren was pissed, this little bitch was going to put bad ideas in his kouhai's head. To really drive the point home he told her:
- I will not tolerate any further innuendos of this kind, understand?
The atmosphere was tense and that ended the game. They took out their duvets to sleep under the stars. Kyoko was not very reassured, fortunately she was between Kanae and Ren. She made a cushion with her clothes and looked for shooting stars... She thought about that evening... Ren making love to another, sure that it must have happened and not just once, but it hurt her just thinking about it. On the other hand, she had been very happy that he had put Kimiko back in her place, she had not shown anything but she was relieved that he was not in love with a psychopath, she wondered who was this mysterious young girl was who occupied her sempai's heart.
Ren had fallen asleep in 5 minutes, as comfortable as in his bed, he must have been used to camping. Just to light the fire, it had only taken him a few minutes. She would ask him tomorrow.
Finally in the sky passed a shooting star. Make me cherish Ren, even from afar, Kyoko prayed. Then she fell asleep lulled by the murmur of the waves.