Title: Let’s Return (Part 1)
Pairing: ShoxMaoxJun
Rating: PG (subject to change in the following parts…)
Warning(s): Once again, I know not much about their relationship *sighs* and “The Little Cafe” is totally made up :3
Note:.
Gomen, it’s short again! I hope it’s likable, though it’s kinda… eh to me. I am sorry that it’s not as great as I hoped, but I hope it’s at least a little bit.. ok. I think the next part will be more interesting. With a lot of tension. I hope I can pull it off.
I’m also starting to realize that the title isn’t so fitting *siiiiigh* Hopefully I can make it fit better. (Also, I haven’t been able to thinks straight lately, so if anything is toally off or something, feel free to tell me!)
Requester: The wonderful Aiba-wifey, Ace!!
Part 2! CLICK!

——

“Ah!” Sho jumped at Mao’s exclamation. He was jittery and her voice from behind wasn’t doing anything to calm him. The SP was over and he was standing at his specified table looking over a bunch of scattered magazines. His fingers flicked through the pages of one nonchalantly, unable to focus on the articles.

            “Chiisai nii-san jyan!” Mao said, head suddenly popping up under his. It was cocked in a questioning way and a sly smile was embossed on her lips. Sho’s eyebrows raised in surprise and question.

            “Who’s ‘Chiisai nii-san?’” He asked, even though he clearly remembered the nickname from the Otousan SP. His old habits of teasing her were coming back.

            Mao frowned at him and poked a slender finger in his chest. “It’s you, duh! Don’t you remember the Otousan SP?” Sho held back a grin. He was having fun teasing her even though they hadn’t seen each other in years.

            “Ehhh? And when was that?”

            “Mou!” Mao pouted, stomping her foot in a way Sho couldn’t help but notice to be amazingly cute. It made him smile despite his attempts not to. “You’re teasing me!”

            Sho couldn’t believe how well this conversation was going. She had totally taken interest in him. A short chuckle escaped him and he patted her head. His arms had moved without his mind’s consent and he immediately regretted the brotherly action. “What reason would I have to tease you?” he joked, covering up his mistake the best he could by shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans.

            She glared up at him, holding her position. He remembered the look from the filming days. “You always liked to tease me. I know you remember perfectly. I mean, if I do, surely you do too. You don’t seem to have changed at all.” She huffed at him and turned her back, but didn’t walk away. Sho took this as a sign she wanted him to retaliate.

            “Well, then, if I haven’t changed, surely you haven’t either,” he said, throwing her words right back at her. He saw her back stiffen then slump and his smile turned down a bit at the edges.

            “Oi oi,” Jun’s tired voice called. “You two are like cats and dogs. Calm down, ne?” He came up to them and lazily threw an arm around Mao’s slight shoulders. Sho sucked in a breath and held back his glare. He would not let jealousy overrule him.

            “Aw come on Matsujun. We were only teasing.” Jun swung Mao around so that they were both facing Sho. Her eyes were cast down and she was biting her lip. Sho’s eyes widened in shock. What was wrong with her?

            “Obviously, you said something to hurt her.” Jun pulled Mao closer to him and Sho looked at his band mate with frantic eyes.

            “But I… What did I-“ he couldn’t finish his rambling stutters as Jun started moving around his stiff body.

            “Come one, Mao, let’s get out of here.”

 

            Sho paced around his loft, confused and concerned. What had he said wrong? Had his words been hurtful? He surely hadn’t meant to hurt her. He had only been innocently teasing. At least that’s how it seemed from his perspective… “Ah! Mou!” He plopped down on his couch and dropped his head into his hands. He couldn’t get Mao’s hurt face out of his mind. He wanted to apologize to her, but didn’t know how that would be possible. It wasn’t like they would be seeing each other anytime soon. He didn’t have her number wither. How could he talk to her…

            “Oh,” he said, lifting his head when the thought clicked. “Through Matsujun, of course.” Sho pulled out his cell phone by the strap. He flicked it open, expertly found Jun’s number in his contacts and dialed it in under two seconds.

            “Yeah?” Jun’s voice drawled in Sho’s ear.

            “Do you have Inoue-san’s phone number?” Sho asked, not willing to waste a second with pointless conversation.

            There was a pause on the other end of the phone before Jun answered, “Yeah, I do.” He didn’t ask why Sho wanted it or gave it to him, which cause Sho to steam. Why did Jun have to make things so complicated?

            “Well, then, would you mind telling me what it is? I want to apologize…” Sho trailed off. Jun was huffing on the other end. Probably in annoyance, Sho thought a smirk cracking on his lips.

            “Sure, sure. I’ll give it to you. It’s…” Sho went over to his desk as Jun told him Mao’s number and scribbled it down on a sticky-note.

            “Thanks, Matsujun,” Sho breathed into the receiver, anxious to end his call with the exasperated Jun and call up Mao.

            “Hey, Sho!” Jun yelled just before Sho hung up, causing him to fumble with his cell and bring it back up to his ear cautiously.

            “Eh? What?”

            “Just don’t… Ah never mind. Ja.” The line went dead and Sho pulled the phone away from his ear to stare at it. Jun’s words had been convicting, for what they were, but he hadn’t finished. He shrugged the forming feeling of caution off and hurriedly dialed Mao’s number. His hands and heart shook with nervousness while the phone rang.

            “Moushi moushi?” Mao’s voice said. Sho let out a deep sigh.

            “Inoue-san? Sakurai desu.”

            “Eh? Chiisai nii-san? What’s up?” She didn’t sound hurt at all which startled Sho. If she had been hurt by his words, wouldn’t her voice be a bit more yielding than it was?

            “Ah,” Sho cleared his throat and wiped his free hand on his jeans. “I was wondering if you were free tomorrow… for lunch?” He held his breath anticipating her answer. His heart thudded in his ears but he was only focusing on the foreboding silence on the other end.

            “Ah… Sure! I’m free! How about 1:30 at “The Little Café” by the Johnny’s building?”

            “Eh? Ah hai. Wait.. eh? Does that mean you want to?” Sho let out his breath in a rush with the words. He couldn’t believe what his hears were telling him and he heard a tinkling giggle from Mao.

            “It’s a yes, Chiisai nii-san. So see you then?”

            “Hai! Hai, see you then!” He could hardly contain his excitement.

            “Ashita, ne? Bye-bye.”

            The phone clicked off and Sho said “Ashita” into the dial tone, smiling like his life depended on it. “ASHITA!” he shouted, pumping his fist in the air.