Chapter 28：Rise & Fall

The white SUV is forced to stop further from a TV station gate. The way to it is closed by sea of people. "Can't we go through back door instead ?" Hiroshi asks with a little panic. The driver turns the car slowly, afraid to hurt the girls who immediately attack and surround the car.

Takeshi is awakened when the car windows being hit. He becomes as panic as Hiroshi to see the girls still surrounding the car even when it moves. "They're crazy," he hisses in worry. "Aren't they afraid to be hit ?!" he shouts to Hiroshi.

"Stop, okay. Just stop," Takeshi then orders the driver. He turns his head to Hiroshi. "We have to walk from here. It's too dangerous for them if we maintain moving. Just call the station, ask them some guards to help us in." To see his firm decision, Hiroshi holds his argue and instead does what Takeshi told him to.

The car is totally surrounded now. The hits on the glass and the hysterical screams calling Takeshi's name really make the three men trapped inside the car panic. The car even being slightly shocked because the crowd's push. Takeshi just sits still. His headache becomes worse.

A solid 10 minutes later, the crowd is split by 20 securities and guards. They immediately make a barricade forming a path for Takeshi and Hiroshi.

Right after the car's door is opened, defeaning screams welcomes him. Preceded by Hiroshi, Takeshi comes out of the SUV and in great difficulty walks toward the TV station's door. He totally ignores all the calling from his fans.

Once freed from the fans crowd, Takeshi is welcomed by the attack of reporters. They are not screaming, but a none stop questions being asked, buzzing his ears making his head almost explodes.

"Hurry, Hiroshi. I can't take it anymore," Takeshi hisses to Hiroshi who is just a feet away form him. Hiroshi turns his body around and makes Takeshi goes pass him. Hiroshi then stands facing the reporters with hands expand to his side, blocking them from Takeshi who continues to walk.

"I'm really sorry, Hasegawa-san can not fetch you now. He has to prepare for the show," he says in loud so it can be heard.

"You said the same thing previously, Is it really Hasegawa-san avoiding us ?" a reporter asks him. Hiroshi smiles. "Of course not. But he really has a tight schedule. Beside, nothing is worth to be published yet."

"How about Hasegawa-san's fight with his opponent ?" a different reporter asks. "There is no such thing. It's a rumor. They are in a good term," Hiroshi answers calm.

"And how about the confrontation with Yamamura-san, Saeki-san's boyfriend.. There were.." Hiroshi snaps the question, "There is no such thing. Forgive me, but I have to go inside."

Hiroshi then walks backward. "Hayashi-san, Hasegawa-san looks pale, is he sick ?" a reporter beside him asks. Hiroshi shakes his head. "No. He is fine. He just woke up, maybe that's why he looks pale." After answering, Hiroshi walks fast to the entry door. He keeps walking without looking back to the reporters.

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"Er Hua, hurry. The advert is finished !" Xiao Ping hails to Er Hua who is in the bath room. Right after a water flush is heard, Er Hua comes from the bath room. She quickly jumps on to her big bed with chest down ,beside Xiao Ping.

"Takeshi will perform after this," Xiao Ping tells her excited. She smiles until she loses her eyes. Today Xiao Ping is staying over at Er Hua's home to watch a music award that showed live at Japan. Er Hua has TV Cable so she can watch it. Takeshi will perform at the show. He event being nominated on few categories.

"That's Takeshi.. that's Takeshi !!" Er Hua shouts while clapping her hands. Both comes off the bed to enclose with television. Takeshi walks to the center of the stage while the orchestra starting the intro.

"好 帥 !! (Hao shuai !! - So handsome !!" both scream together with hands on their cheeks. When Takeshi starts to sing, both in silent, paying attention to their idol's performance.

"You know, there is rumor that he has crush on Miyu Saeki, his opponent. But Miyu rejects him because she already has Ryu Yamamura," Er Hua says when the advertisement comes. "I don't believe it," Xiao Ping comments. "They use to make that kind of gossip to advertise the movie," she adds.

Er Hua nods. "Me neither. I don't agree if Takeshi with Miyu,: she says. Xiao Ping smiles to respond. She doesn't mind. Whoever Takeshi with, as long as he's happy she will approve.

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Takeshi sits in the changing room, behind the stage. He drinks a lot of water. Hiroshi touches his forehead with the back of his hand. "You have a fever," Hiroshi says answered by a glare by Takeshi.

Someone comes to them. "Takeshi," he calls. "Hamada-san," Takeshi and Hiroshi greets back, in synchronous they stand and bend down. Mr. Hamada puts his hands on his waist and disappointedly sees Takeshi.

"Your performance was terrible. I had a lot of critic back there," Mr. Hamada speaks with blaming tone. Takeshi drops his head. Hiroshi sees it then turns to Hamada-san. "Boss, Takeshi is .."

Protest he was about to say is cut when Mr. Hamada tells him to be quiet. A voice from the stage is announcing nominations of New Comer category. Takeshi is one of them.

"And the winner is ... Hasegawa Takeshi !!" The person on the state exclaims, immediately welcomed with overjoy screams from the audiences.

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"Yeyy !!" Xiao Ping and Er Hua exclaim together. They hug each other when heard Takeshi's name. Both Xiao Ping's eyes shine proud.

In the screen, Takeshi slowly comes out from behind the stage. His face looks pale and his forehead is wet of sweat. But a wide happy smile rises on his face. His stare is locked on the top bench, where his fans are hailing his name.

"Takeshi !!" Xiao Ping worriedly screams at the very moment she sees Takeshi collapsed in the center of the stage.