Barrier

Rin want to send those two to the airport but someone from her circle inform there are rumours about a Japanese idol actually in her city for something. She could only meet Aria that morning at a café for short breakfast without Ryouhei who has something that he need to do first before they take their flight back to Tokyo.

Rin ask once more since she’s still worry, “Will you be okay when I’m not around?”

“You don’t have to worry about that as I don’t want to miss your performance at the end of this course!” Karina says that and she come out with weird idea, “If I’m not around, you may run wild and I don’t want that.”

Aria seems remember something and take out something from her bag, “I found this while going out and think it suits you.”

Rin checks it is a necklace with snowflake locket; design that she always love. She’s happy to receive that since she knows that girl want to assure her that she won’t do weird things. She says, “I take this as promise.”

Aria shows her necklace that has sun locket and says, “Of course, this is our promise.”

**********

After she watches Aria get on the taxi to the airport from inside the cafe, Rin goes straight studio since that day is important day where they know who will get a role for upcoming stage play. Worry feeling still in her mind as she knows that girl’s way dealing with something like that a bit different but she could understand why that girl says they are too close like family. One question that keeps come to her mind is, “Will she be okay?”

She walks into the building where the studio located and notice various interactions in there that make her doesn’t notice someone dashes towards her. She could feel her heart almost jump out when a force stop her before she realize it is John.

That guy pushes her to the wall and confront her, “Why it really hard for you to accept my feeling? No one ever dare to hurt my feeling before.”

“I already make it clear that I don’t have any interest on you. I‘m only here because of this short course.” Say Rin. Even she has martial arts in her sleeves but that guy’s strength superior than her as he manages to lock her movement.

John pull-up her chin to make she looks into his eyes and she could his eyes in fire. That makes her a bit scared on any possibilities that could happen. She knows she’s in deep trouble when see how that guy bring his face close to hers and others choose to ignore them.

“Hey! You know it is not good to force yourself on girl that clearly shows that she doesn’t like you. That makes you look lame.” A voice interrupts them and Rin get snatch away from John.

John annoyingly scowls, “Mind your own business, Jun! What are you doing here? You’re not even in same class with us.”

Rin feels really secure in Jun’s arms and knows he is one of John’s friends but never think he will help her in that situation since she thinks he has same attitude with him. She hears that guy says, “I’m here because I’m also being called by them too.”

“Why would they call you when you in different class from us?” ask John but they could not get the answer as their instructors walk in to the area and ask everyone to take their seats.

They get the answer when they hear the announcement, “John and Jun, both of you will become love rival for this musical play while Rin will become the main heroine.”

Everyone surprise to hear that since they just witness the tension between those two guys earlier and that girl is the reason of that. Rin also shock to hear that and when get the hand-out print, she browse it before realize, “This story…”

************

As soon they arrive back to Tokyo, they go to separate way as they has sudden business to attend. Aria plans to relax before want to go check the shop but a phone call force her to change her destination. She makes stop at a supermarket to search for things that she need for tomorrow’s business.

On the next day, Aria arrives at a studio where a photo shooting is happening. She’s there because it is Kai’s idea to prepare bento for quite number of people. She thinks her brother will be there but surprises to see FLY there. One of staff explains, “They have been chosen as Kuzuryu Kimono House’s main model for upcoming line.”

“Why no one tells me about it?” Aria couldn’t believe that as she usually gets brief info about that.

“It seems they divided between our group and our senior’s group but that group couldn’t make it to the schedule and we got the place.” Keitarou explains to her as he’s already done with everything and happens to overhear her question.

Aria turn to greet him but for some reason, light blush appear on her cheeks. She never thinks he will look that good with dark blue kimono with matching obi. She touches her hair a bit to calm down before says, “It must be my mom really work out as she really like this new line.”

“What about you? What about you?” Keitarou sound a bit confuse.

Aria doesn’t know how to answer that since she also wonders the same things. She knows her parent’s marriage is arranged one and that only happen because her grandparent impresses her skill while working at the shop and has been involve with the business but no one know how she make those huge decision.

She casually changes the topic by pointing to a table and says, “My brother ask me to prepare bento and I already place it there. Feel free to enjoy it but I can’t really guarantee the taste.”

“If it is Aria-chan who prepares it, I’m sure the meal taste great!” Ryouhei’s scream make everyone surprise. He leaves the dressing room as soon he’s ready and happy to see that girl. He always loves to see that girl wear beautiful kimono with delicate patterns and even pull her long hair into neat bun.

Aria scolds, “Don’t scream too loud! People are still working right now!”

“Of course you will say it is delicious because you always eat it. I’m really jealous with you~!” whine Yurio. It seems everyone else ready to shoot and walk to the studio, join them there.

Many people curious on Ryouhei and Aria’s relationship and Yuuma ask, “Both of you know each other?”

“Yeah, we’re childhood friends and she is ojou-sama of this line’s owner. You guys are lucky because you guys taste her cook when it already delicious. I still can’t forget your charcoal toast.” Ryouhei says that while his face twist in disgust when remembers the taste.

“That only happens because I don’t know how to control the fire yet!” Aria knows too well what that means and tries her best to shut him before he elaborates anything.

They casually takes their seat while waiting for the shoot to begin and Ryouhei take the chance to tell her, “I want to eat your cooking first.”

“As always, you really like to eat.” Aria say that as she knows that guy always excited to eat her cooking even it is not his first time.

Both of them go to the table to choose what to eat but Aria sense something; someone glare towards her that make her feel hole could appear at her back. When she turns to check who it is, she surprise to see it is Keitarou. Even the distance between them quite far as Keitarou get ready at the set for his turn, she could see his eyes look straight to her.

Ryouhei snaps her back to reality by asking, “What will you do after this?”

“I don’t have anything else since Kai-nii asks me to watch over the shooting until the end. I thought he will be here too.” Say Aria as she looks around the studio for her brother’s presence.

Ryouhei remember something when that topic come out and says, “I heard from one of the staffs that your brother has something to do today.”

“Maybe that’s why he asks me to do this. He’s just lucky that I’m off today.” Aria says that before takes sip of tea to relax her body as she begins feel tired. Maybe prepare bento for large number really takes her energy for the day.

Ryouhei notices that and says, “You can use our dressing room to rest as I’m sure you drive to come here, right?”

“I know but I need to make sure that the shooting goes well.” Aria knows she has to do her job even her body say the otherwise.

“We will be okay and if anything happen, I’m sure they will inform you. You look like panda right now.” Ryouhei playfully pull down his eyes.

Aria grabs one of onigiri before shove it into Ryouhei’s mouth before says, “Call me that again, I will make you into hedgehog.”

Ryouhei couldn’t react to that because of that onigiri as he quickly reaches for water before says, “You’re trying to kill me, right?”

“Not really but if that happen, I will make sure to handle your funeral.” Aria casually says that as a joke.

Ryouhei gently says, “You don’t have to do that but I’m sure a short nap can help you a bit.”

*****************

Ryouhei return back to set after sends Aria to dressing room where she could get some rest. Hiro asks, “Is she just your childhood friend? Not lover?”

“We care each other like a family.” Ryouhei gives that reply as he takes his seat.

“Are you sure? You seem care her more than that, like handling fragile thing.” Kou could see that.

“There is part of her is fragile especially when our childhood friends not here for now. She usually spends time with her.” Ryouhei say that vaguely.

“Oh, that dancer, right?” says Yurio that make Keitarou gasps.

“Kei-chan, why you suddenly gasp?” Hiro ask that as he catches that brief response from that guy who notice it but no response. Keitarou never mention anything about the dancer to anyone else as to respect her request.

“But anyone who get her would be really lucky, she even prepare delicious meal.” Kou say that as he happily eats the meal.

“Hey! I also cook!” says Ryouhei, only to get silence from others.

***************

Aria wakes up after get good nap and checks herself on mirror to see she not look weird. She almost walks out from the dressing room when one of the makeup people notices her. That person says, “You have such a nice hair. Can I style it for you?”

She couldn’t say no to that and just let that happen. She watches through the mirror on how that person styles her hair easily. That person also put light make up on her face before says, “You should become model because you really pretty.”

“I don’t think I’m suit for that.” Aria gives that reply as she doesn’t have that kind of confident. She surprise to see herself on the mirror and say thanks before go back to the studio.

Once she reach there, everyone speechless to see her until Ryouhei asks, “What happen to you?”

“Just something happen after I wake up. Ryo-chan, do I look really weird?” Aria begins worry if that look doesn’t suit her.

“No, it suits you really well.” Say Ryouhei before her mumble, “Now, I need to be more careful with any bugs who want to get near you.” Aria tilts her head in confusion as she couldn’t hear the latter part, only inaudible from that guy.

Kou take the chance to tease him, “You really like papa to her.” that make most of them nod and Ryouhei retort by saying mind his own business.

****************

After the announcement being made, they make a bit briefing about the play to everyone and inform when the first practice is. Rin decide to stay in the studio as she wants to make some reading. She notice Jun still inside the room and she tells herself that she need to say something to him.

Before she could say anything, Jun asks, “How you feel about this?”

“This?” Rin wonder what he refers to until remember the play that they will do, “I’m okay with it as it is something that I should do. I’m here to study and not fooling around.”

“I admire your will to be here. That doesn’t get affect with anyone here and stay true to your true self.” Jun impress with her since he has witness too many things that is in different direction.

“You know me?” Rin ask since they never talk before until that incident.

“John keeps talking about a girl who never gets defeat to his flirting. It is first girl that he really wants to be since she’s really different.” Jun explains that.

Rin has some kind of feeling that guy would say something like that about her to someone else. She casually brushes that off, “He only wants to kill his free time with me and I don’t have that kind of time.”

“Just like how he said, you’re such an interesting girl! You catch my attention!” Jun confidently tell that to her.

Rin coldly says, “Even I catch your attention, I will never care about that.” she grabs her bag to leave the place.

Jun stop her to ask, “Where are you going?”

“Somewhere that allows me to have my own privacy.” Rin replies that before walk out from there.

“Are you running away?” Jun ask that after watch her for a while. He sense some kind of wall that girl build around her in order to stop anyone who try to get close.

Rin froze at the door to hear that and she only says without turn to look at him, “Don’t say like you really know who I am. It is better that you just mind you own business or you will only hurt at the end.”

“But I can see how you are actually asking for help unconsciously. I wonder how many actually can sense that.” Jun mumbles that in his mind after watch that girl leave the studio.