krystalkatzficz | Book club part 4

Matsumoto Juran rolled over in her bed her hand hitting the warm lump that was her long time lover Ikuta Toma. She let out a grumpy sigh and tried to snuggle back into her bed even though she knew that she would have to be getting up soon and get across town for a table top reading of her new movie. Toma’s hand snaked around her waist pulling her closer to his body and although she liked the touch it was too hot and too early.

“You’re not an octopus, stop clinging to me” She ground out pulling herself out of his grip and reluctantly getting out of bed. It was still only 5 but she needed to get ready and exercise before heading out.

“Ran, it’s early come back to bed…” Toma purred lightly pushing himself up so the light cover moved down his body to reveal his chest and stomach. Juran was tempted, she really was, but she had a routine and she wasn’t going to break it, not even for her hot idol boyfriend. Toma’s grin spread over his lips as he saw her hesitation and Juran growled, picking up the bunny she had had since pre-school and throwing it at him. The man was impossible, she thought as she stalked to her bathroom. She closed and locked the door behind her knowing her lover well enough to know that he would follow her if she didn’t.

She and Toma had been together since they had met on the set of Hana Yori Dango four years ago. People considered it to be her breakthrough role and in a way it had. Before getting the role of Tsukushi Makino her company had been actually thinking of letting her go. Since then she hadn’t had a break and although it was what she had wanted since she was a girl it was tiring more so having to hide her relationship with Toma. The press would love to get a scandal like that, and her company would happily forbid her from ever seeing Toma again. Toma’s company, Johnny’s would happily bury her carrier.

Stepping back out of the bathroom she saw that Toma had left the bed and was probably already in the kitchen. They weren’t technically living together as Toma had his own place, but the man had more than enough clothes here to stay for months. They were careful never to be seen leaving or arriving at the building together however and so far, they had gotten away with it. She sighed grabbing some shorts and a t-shirt she headed out into the living area and saw Toma making breakfast while singing tunelessly.

“What are you doing today?” She asked heading over to the treadmill next to the window and Toma stopped singing to hum;

“I have a rehearsal this afternoon, it will be easier for me to head back to my apartment, I probably won’t be back for a few days”

“Oh, so I get a break?” She asked with a smirk and Toma gave a laugh. There was no real heat in her words, actually she would miss him, which was a bigger problem. She was getting too used to him being there with her, too comfortable with dating him. Comfortable meant that they wouldn’t be as careful as they should be.

“You’re gonna miss me”

“I won’t miss you snoring…” She answered getting on the machine and starting it up. She had never been a morning person, when she had been at school, she had been a nightmare to get up in the morning, but exercise worked better than coffee she found. Running she focused on the view in front of her before looking at the reflection of her lover through the window. She had never imagined herself to be the type of woman that would want marriage and children but Toma brought that out in her. She loved being an idol though and she knew her parents were proud of her. Finishing with the run she got of the machine and went on to the rowing machine. She had discovered a love for the sport when she had been doing a TV show and she tried to go as often as possible often running into Ninomiya Kazumi who lived in her apartment building. She had never imagined the teen to be interested in rowing, but she had learnt quickly that although she looked like an introvert, she was actually pretty sporty, and they had started a friendly rivalry.

“Ran, breakfast” Toma called breaking her from her thoughts and Juran nodded getting up and wiping her face with a towel. She joined her lover at the table, Toma had already finished his own breakfast but stayed sitting so he could talk to her about nothing important. “Oh yeah, I read something interesting on the notice board last night”

“Yeah? What?”

“There’s a book club starting up on Saturday, you should join, you are a bookworm after all”

“Am not” Juran pouted but honestly, she was rather excited about the idea. She did love to read, it was part of the reason that she was so interested in acting, she loved bringing stories and characters to life. Most of the people in her social circle however didn’t seem all that interested in talking about books they had read. Toma could see that he had got her interested and started to tease her about it before she got up and went to take a shower. She had a free day on Saturday, there wouldn’t be any harm in checking it out.

She showered swiftly but thoroughly and then dressed in a simple outfit that would hopefully not draw too much attention to herself. Toma was cleaning when she went back out and he smiled at her before pressing a kiss to her cheek. Juran let her arms wrap around him slowly enjoying the warmth of his body before sighing and saying reluctantly. “I have to go”

“Yeah, sorry, take care of yourself, and try to remember to sleep” Toma smiled and Juran nodded with a little smile before grabbing her script and heading out of the apartment. The apartment building was a lovely place with most of the people inside being rich and elite which meant that hardly any of them cared about her. The elevator stopped and she stepped on seeing Nino, the woman from the penthouse and Nino’s mother Kazuko. The fierce woman from the penthouse wished her a good morning and Juran replied before saying;

“Nino”

“Yo” Nino replied flicking through her phone while shifting somewhat awkwardly around by the woman from the penthouse. Barking on the next floor made her shift quickly before Aiba Madori, Japan’s number one Instagram model came running on dragged by her two overly friendly dogs. The next stop was the floor of a woman Juran felt pity for. Ohno Samai always looked a little absent but Juran had seen the way she was treated by her mother in law, kids, and even husband. The idol didn’t know how the woman put up with it all. She would have killed at least the mother in law who looked like ET alien in a grey wig, Juran doubted that anyone would miss the old hag, in fact the only danger Samai had was getting an award for services to the country.

Madori started talking about the book club in a happy voice and Juran decided that there was no harm in going along, if Madori was the one running it, it might be a disaster, but it would be a fun one. She glanced at the poster as she stalked out of the building noticing that Nino and her from the penthouse as well. Her mind made up she tucked her script more firmly under her arm and then went out into the world.

TBC

A/N: Is this boring to read? I’m having so much fun writing it but I worry that its boring.