Naoto's flurry of text messages finally petered out.
It felt odd at first; not hearing that 'BZZ! BZZ!' that she'd become so accustomed to. The silence in her room at night had become deafening and it felt like such a drastic change to not have messages constantly popping up at the top of her screen.
He would still manage to text at least once a day, but it seemed like nothing compared to before. Despite being relieved that his messages were starting to fizzle out, part of her still jumped to read the daily message he did send…and she hated that about herself.
But today, she was going to let it go.
No constant messages, and no stress, she was going to fully enjoy herself today – the day of her music video shoot.
She entered the sound stage and stared at the giant set.
It kept with the night time fairy tale theme of her jacket shoot.
In front of her was a beautiful black and blue sky with bright lights to create stars and a big silvery crescent moon at the top. The flooring was a big over grown garden with a raised circular platform that was covered in a powdered blue silk cloth. In the corner was a big tree with a wooden swing – mimicking the one at the amusement park.
Her eyes darted around the set, absorbing in the beautiful sight with awe. She couldn't believe her eyes. It was so perfect and fitting. A dreamy set for this dreamy experience.
She quickly snapped a few shots before heading to hair and makeup.
Her hair was curled as it was in the photoshoot, except instead of being down, it was pulled into a high ponytail. Blue and black plaid strips of fabric were clipped into her hair as well and a giant star clip which dug into her scalp was placed at the base of her ponytail towards the right side.
No one escorted her to the dressing room as they had done prior and considering she'd done this so many times already, she didn't really feel the need to be. She surprisingly only had one dress, a blue and black plaid strapless dress that was almost exactly the same as the one for her jacket shoot, except it was cut shorter – to thigh length.
The shortened dress in a combination of the boot heels that had replaced the previous black glittered ones, would make it much easier to dance in. Her accessories maintained a star motif with the addition of a moon on her earrings. The stylist also added blue plaid cuff links and fake collar.
Minami stared at herself in the mirror and snapped dozens of photos. It was interesting to see how such a similar dress could be made to look so different while keeping the same concept.
She twirled around and watched her dress flitter outward, the fabric shifting as elegantly as a butterfly flapping its wings.
"Wow!!" Minami's face turned red as she covered her mouth with her fingers.
The girl in the mirror was really her! Suddenly everything felt surreal.
When she was younger, she'd stare at the covers of her CDs and think about how beautiful and glamorous they were. She'd watch music videos and think, 'Wow, that's so amazing, I want to be just like them. They're so cool!' and now she WAS that girl.
She exited the changing room and fanned her eyes, trying to stop herself from crying as so many beautiful emotions began to overwhelm her.
"Minami come here for a moment!" called the director.
Minami carefully rushed over to him, making sure not to trip on any of the many cords twisting about on the floor.
"So, I want you to sit on the platform, and stare upwards as you sing, lift your hand upwards as you sing this line and touch your chest here." He showed her a small booklet of what looked like comic panels, and explained each of them to her.
It was a storyboard of how the music video would play out and gave her a general idea of what to do at each portion of the song.
So, she got onto the set and sat on the silk platform.
Fog machines were turned on and began filling up the flooring of the set with smoke.
"Ready…..ACTION!"
Two monotone beeps and a slightly higher one at the end rung throughout the set, signaling the song was beginning.
The music began and Minami crossed one leg over the other and leaned back on the platform, her hands bracing her weight, and started moving her head to the music.
"In my heart, like the beauty of the night
You sparkled and lit up my world
Cherishing these moments, with all my might
I'll transform into your pearl"
She did as the director said in relation to the lyrics and closed her eyes with a soft smile on her face.
The director didn't cut, so she continued. She'd seen the storyboards beforehand so she had an idea of what to do.
"The happiness you bring these are my days!
A smile on my face thanks to you, these are my days!"
She gently brushed upwards against her cheek with the back of her index finger and tilted her head into it as she closed her eyes and lip synced to the song.
Finally, the director yelled, "CUT!"
Everyone started clapping and Minami could hear murmurs amongst the staff as she got off the set and walked over to the screen set up so she could self monitor.
"Wow, she's really so pretty…."
"She did that in one take…it was perfect."
"She's going to be such a big hit, she's gorgeous."
"No…that doesn't do her justice, she looked like an angel just now."
She couldn't help but blush after overhearing the compliments.
Her manager rushed up to her and handed her a handheld fan, "Use this to cool down."
She hadn't really noticed it before, but all the lights and bodies in the studio had definitely created quite a bit of heat.
Minami sighed in relief as the small fan provided a much appreciated breeze and they played back the portion she had just shot.
Her eyes widened, "Is that really me?" It felt so odd, to see herself there like that.
"Mhmm, you did a really great job! Everyone is complimenting you!"
After viewing her shot, she returned to the stage and filmed the dance portion. The movement caused the heat to become much more noticeable this time and she couldn't wait to have that handheld fan in her hands.
She monitored herself just as she had done before, but this time it wasn't compliments she was overhearing.
"What do you mean they're gone?" the voice of her manager said.
"They're gone. We've looked everywhere, we can't find them…" the stylist said.
"Sir….we've got a big problem…"another staff voiced.
"What is it this time?!"
"Sir, some of the equipment is missing….we can't continue with the next scene…"
"Damnit….film what you can and I'll call the office and see what they want to do."
"Yes sir!" the stylist and staff member said in unison.
They continued shooting a few more shots before Minami's manage ultimately had to relay the bad news that the rest of the shoot would be cancelled and rescheduled until the missing costumes and missing equipment showed up.
Minami hung her head in disappointment. She wanted to cry, she wanted to yell at how unfair that was. How could such a thing go wrong? Was this normal? She'd never heard of it, or seen it happening in the videos she'd seen.
She returned home and stared at the photos she and her manager had taken. Suddenly, it didn't feel real. It felt like it had never happened. Maybe these photos were just an illusion. Is that how it went? You're in such a high during the filming of your music video that once it's over, it's just….over?
BZZ! BZZ!
Ah, the daily text from Naoto.
[Naoto] Can we please just talk? I'm getting annoyed. Can't we just either resolve this or not? Don't leave me in this limbo.
Minami bit her lip. She didn't want to be with him anymore, she wanted to break up. He wasn't wiling to respect her decision and if she was going to be with someone, she needed someone who would support her dreams and he was just not that person.
She texted Akina.
[Minami] Hey, will you come with me to the café next Saturday? I need to talk to Naoto about a few things, but I'm too scared to do it by myself. I also have something I need to tell you. Can you come?
Half an hour later, Minami received a response from Akina.
[Akina] Sure, no problem! I've been missing him anyways! <3
[Minami] Okay, thanks, I'll send you a time when I work it out with him.
Now, to face the music and take the first step to the end of her very first relationship, and possibly lose one of her closest friends.
[Minami] Can you meet at the café next Saturday?
BZZ! BZZ!
[Naoto] Yes.