Arashi Fanfic: Snapshot - Chapter 7

A week passed before they finally received a call from Makoto, asking them if they can come to Liason and continue the photo shoot. During the past days, MatsuJun kept trying to contact Jo to apologize but whenever he tried to call her, the replies he got were: She's out, she's busy, she didn't come to work.. He even tried to call her mobile phone but she refused to answer.. It was Ohno who answered the phone and he was obviously surprised when Makoto asked him why they didn't visited Liason these past few days. Ohno decided not to tell Makoto the reason. Instead, he told him that it's better to ask Jo.. As soon as he placed the phone down, he sighed at Arashi, who happened to be waiting for Jo's call and hoping her to ask them to return. "Looks like she didn't tell anyone about the latest.. Um.. Problem.."

Jun sighed at this then refused to look at any of them. He was aware that it was his fault but he was also a bit angry at Jo. For him, there's no need to extend the issue for a week.. Not only it disrupted their schedules, it also kept him on his toes.. And he hated the uneasy feeling.. He can't understand why she is so pissed off with such small matter.. To top it all, he doesn't understand why he was feeling all guilty.. 'Damn..' He simply thought to himself. Ohno and Aiba were the only ones whom he can talk the very next day after the incident since Sho and Nino kept ignoring him.. Sho talked to him after Aiba resoned out with him and Ohno did the same with Nino.. He opened his uneasiness to Aiba just to get it off his chest and Aiba did said something which helped him clear things out a wee bit.

"You did promised her.. Though she's professional, she's still a woman MatsuJun.. Do you really expect women to simply smile and say everything's alright after a broken promise?" These were Aiba's exact words. "To tell you the truth, she cried.. She tried to hide it from us but she cried.." Aiba said and sighed. "That's the main reason why Sho-chan and Nino-chan are totally pissed.. And she did waited for a very long time.." He added. "Let her cool down for a few days, Jun-kun.." And Jun did exactly that.. As a matter of fact, he was also relieved when Jo called the group up for the photo shoot.

"I think we better go.. No sense in making her angry now that she called us, neh?" Nino asked then and they all agreed. "And MatsuJun.. Do try to apologize.. Knowing you, I think you're also mad right now.." Jun smiled at this and nodded and with that, they left JE building and headed to Liason.

As soon as they reached the studio, Jo smiled brightly at them. "Good that your early." She simply said then fixed the camera stand. "I'll be done with the setup in a few minutes. Go change." She simply said. Arashi stared at each other then smiled. It seems like everything is going well. They went on their tasks and Jo snapped her finger as if she was reminded of something. "Oh.. MatsuJun, we will be doing your solo shots today after the group shots. We need to do overtimes since we are way behind schedule." MatsuJun replied with a nod before heading to the dressing room. Jo may act as if nothing happened but deep inside, she was still a bit angry at MatsuJun but decided that it would be very unprofessional to put her emotions first before work. She sighed and fixed the lightings. "Yosh! We're gonna work hard today!" She said to Tomi and Mako who nodded in return.

"Is she ok?" Makoto asked Jo as his eyes followed her movements. "Her movements.. Especially her smile.. Her cheery aura.. Looked like.. Forced.." He opened up.

Tomi nodded at this. "I don't know what happened and I think Arashi haven't noticed it.. But.. It is indeed forced.. She's too cheerful behind the fact of very delayed schedules.." Tomi added. "We better be on the look out then.." At this Mako nodded and called on Rina to ask for something regarding the email of the photos.

The photo shoot lasted for four hours and they haven't packed up yet.. Groups pics are done and the ones left are Jun's solo shots. Most tried to control their high rising tempers, including Jo's. Arashi tried their best to comply to Jo's instructions on how to pose and such. Jo tried to control her voice so she wouldn't sound irritated. She even controlled her temper every time she saw MatsuJun roll his eyes on her instructions. 'Baka.. If you showed up during our earlier shoots, we'll be done by now..' She inwardly thought. She caught Sho giving Jun an elbow nudge every time Jun rolled his eyes or give an irritating huff. 'At least Sho-kun's not dense..' She added to herself. "A bit more patience Matsumoto-san.. We're almost done.." She commented before getting a new memory stick for her digital cam.

'What the heck with the -san thing?' Jun thought as he fixed his clothes and sat on the couch.

As soon as Jo returned, she then began instructing MatsuJun on how she wanted the poses to look like. Jo expected that this shoot with MatsuJun to end quickly since he had the most modeling experience.. Unfortunately, she was mistaken.. Again.. "Do you need to rest?" She asked him but he shook his head. "Are you sure? You can't even pose according to my instructions.. We can.." She said, a bit worried but she was cut midway when MatsuJun answered.

"I can handle this.. Sooner it's done, the better.." He snapped. Jo blinked at his answer and Nino sighed. Do-S is reappearing. Nino caught Jo took a shaking breath in, trying to control temper. He was thankful that Jo knew MatsuJun's attitude. Another hour passed and MatsuJun sighed. "Will this be long?" MatsuJun asked Jo and in return she blinked. Nino looked at her then placed a hand on his head, thinking that Jun is staring to lose his temper and forgot to realize the fact that he haven't apologized to her yet..

"Another hour more, MatsuJun.. We need to finish this.." She said, her hands clenched on her camera. 'He had the nerve.. Is he the only one hassled with this?!' In reply, MatsuJun sighed then sat on the couch once more. "Be a bit more patient MatsuJun.. And.. A favor.. Could you please try to move a little bit more at ease? The photos we took looked too stiff.. That's why we have to take the same poses again and again.." She said the words off-handedly that it sounded as if she was complaining.. She was unaware that she made such intonation..

Jun stared at Jo for the longest time he can. He was irritated and no one had ever spoke to him nor to any Arashi members in a manner Jo did. "Are you saying that I don't know how to pose?" He demanded, his eyes glaring at Jo. If only looks could kill, blood would probably be all over the floor.. Jo quickly turned around. Her eyes suddenly in huge orbs since she was surprised at his harsh reply.. "Are you impying that I don't know how to pose?" MatsuJun asked the question again and at this, Jo's temper went flaring non-stop. She was glaring back daggers at MatsuJun. At this moment though, Aiba tried to calm Jun down, saying to MatsuJun that Jo didn't meant anything with her comment. Ohno stood up from his seat, planning to intervene if something not too pleasant was to happen.

"No.." Jo calmly replied as she eyed Jun. "All I'm saying is that though you have the looks and aura of a sought after model, you're still one of the unprofessionals that I've worked with.." And with this, the room fell into silence and the rest of the Arashi members felt as if someone dropped ice down their spines.. "If you only arrived on your alloted schedule, the we're probably all done by now.. You're not the only one bothered by all this.." She replied.

Jun laughed this off. Tomi and Mako rushed into the room as they heard the rising of irritated voices inside the studio. They were surprised to see Jun and Jo glaring at each other. "All you have to do is press that button.. If you think I look unpleasant.." Making sure that he emphasized the last word. "Then why not use photoshop or whatever tool you need to fix it? Of all the photographers I met, you are the most difficult to please.." Jo was slightly taken aback by this.. "All you need is a camera, a model and some flashy poses and you're done. Unlike us.." Pertaining to Arashi. "We have to perfect everything that we do.. We don't have all day to look like mannequins and please you.."

At this point, Ohno moved in front of Jun and blocked Jo from Jun's view, "Matsumoto! Watch your mouth!" Riida ordered him with a matching warning look.

As if Riida's warning made Matsumoto realized what he said, he bit his lower lip and ran a hand over his hair. "Anou.." He started.. Meaning to apologize for being short tempered but he was cut short as he heard Jo gave a suppressed laugh.

"Is that how you feel?" She asked as she looked at him. Seeing that Jun cannot answer, she gave a forced smile, took the memory stick off the camera, removed the camera from the stand and clicked the lights off then looked sternly at Jun. "Fine then.. Shoot's over.. But before you go.. I have you to know.. You don't have any rights to speak to me in that manner.. Have your forgotten that you are the one who threw me off schedule? Did you heard any complaints from me? Even when.. Even when.." She stopped short as she realized that she was bringing up the broken promise issue. Instead, she covered up by saying. "Even when I saw you roll your eyes out of irritation?!" She then gave an irritated laugh. "Of course not.. You are the infamous Matsumoto Jun, right? A high priced JE possession.. Japan's top idol.." She gave a sarcastic laugh at this. "I thought of you being some sort of a Prima-Donna were just rumors.. Seems like I'm mistaken.." She added.

MatsuJun was surprised with the turn of the situation. Worse, he was the one who caused it.. Wasn't he supposed to apologize to Jo? He tried to apologize but to his surprise, every time he opened his mouth, no sound came out.. He doesn't know what to say nor how to start the apology.. He was aware that what he said can't be taken back.. Worse, it hurt Jo.. A lot.. "Jo-chan.." He started but he was once again cut in mid-sentence.

Sho looked at the scene unfolding in front of them. He stepped forward to calm Jo down but she simply raised her hand. "I'm fed up with this.. That's the last straw.. Matsumoto.." Jun winced at this.. Never did he heard his surname spoke in such icy manner. "You don't know what I gave up for this position.. Unlike you, Looks has nothing to do with it.. I did everything I can to get to where I am now.. I gave everything for this.." She moved away from Sho to move closer to Jun. "You-don't-have-the-right-to-judge-me.." She said as she used her index finger and at each word, she pressed her finger on Jun's chest for emphasis. She took a  shuddering sigh then turned around. "Please leave the room.. Oh-chan.. I want to talk to you.. Mako.. Tomi, show them out please.." And at her request, both did what they were asked.    

Jun tried to stay and wanted badly to apologize but Tomi said that now's not a good time to do so.. Defeated, Jun nodded and the rest went to the lobby with Mako and Tomi while Oh-chan was left inside Jo-chan's room. They were silent for a while. Jo staring at the floor as if she wanted it to swallow her whole. Ohno tried to weight in the tense aura of the room until he decided to take the initiative to talk first. "Are you ok?" He asked.

Jo simply shook her head. "I was surprised really that Jun regarded my job as shallow as 'click-of-a-button' job.. Oh-chan.. Don't take this the wrong way but.." She sighed once more. "I know you wanted to apologize for what happened but.. I really am hurt beyond words.. I love my job and I can't work with people who referred to my job in that manner.." She explained. "I'll.. Call.. Again.."

Ohno looked at her for a while then nodded. There was nothing more he can do but agree. He bowed very low in apology and turned around to leave but Jo stopped him. "And.. Oh-chan? If you ever hear something from anyone, just say that you have no idea about it or whatsoever, ok?" She asked him then gave him a small smile. "Promise me.." Ohno looked at her worriedly but nodded. "Thanks." And with that Ohno left the room and Jo placed her head on the desk. "What the hell's happening to me?" She asked herself as she closed her eyes.