***************************************************************Author's Note*******************************************************

To make up for me updating late, I bring to you immediately the next chapter. That's two chapters posted in a day everyone! There'll be Arashi-Mao interaction here, mind you... Dozou...

-sachiyo-sama

**************************************************************************************************************************************

“Don’t you miss this, guys? I mean making a grand entrance and getting all the boys attention by just walking pass by them? This is so much like our old days!” Becky exclaimed beyond the music after telling the bartender their orders.

“I know right! I miss having this kind of attention. I’m honestly getting sick of the attention I get as a lawyer. All the hate and intimidation kinda gets into my nerves. It’s really a good thing Mao-chan decided to call this night out.” Maki-chan agreed.

“Well I badly need this kind of attention. Isn’t it obvious from what I’m wearing?” Mao laughed and then felt someone occupying the empty seat beside her. Maki was at her right while Becky was on Maki’s right. “Mind if I join you, ladies?” the guy who just seated beside her asked them. “Not at all.” Mao replied.

“Well then, hi! I’m Nino. NinomiyaKazunari. May I know the names of the ladies whose drinks I shall buy?” Nino flashed his sweetest smile at Mao.

“I’m Becky!” she waved at him quickly.

“My name’s Maki. We should probably get on the dance floor. Enjoy yourselves!” Maki hurriedly grabbed Becky’s arm and dragged her towards the dance floor, leaving Mao and Nino.

“Guess I’m only buying drinks for you, miss..?”

“Inoue Mao.” Mao replied, tucking lose hair strands behind her ear.

‘She looks too cute!’ Nino couldn’t help but smile at this thought. “Well then, one Mary for me and Inoue-san.” Nino called out to the bartender. “You wouldn’t mind, would you?” asking Mao for her opinion on the drink.

“I’m perfectly fine with anything. So tell me, Nino-san, what brings you over here?” Mao-chan asked as she moved closer to Nino

“Well I couldn’t think of anything to answer your question besides your beauty. Frankly I was mesmerized by it.” Nino answered in a straight-forward manner, enjoying their closeness to each other.

“That was quite an honest answer.” Mao was surprised at the compliment the person in front of him just told her. Their close proximity allowed Mao to study this guy named Nino a little further. She clearly was charmed by her innocent-looking face and boy-next-door smile. This person’s more likely to be just her friend but who cares? If he’s flirting with her, then why not? Mao-chan’s objective of obtaining attention have visibly been attained.

The two continued taking and laughing, basically flirting shamelessly much to the other Arashi boys dismay. Nino clearly knows his way around girls. However, Sho wouldn’t just let the brat win tonight.

“Guess it’s my turn already in this game of ours. Wish me luck!” Sho winked at his three best friends and left them as he headed towards Nino and the prize.

“Glad you’re enjoying yourselves. Mind if you introduce me to your new found friend, Nino-chan?” Sho grinned at Nino upon reaching the bar.

“Mao-chan, this is one of my best friends, Sakurai Sho. Sho, this is Inoue Mao and as you may have seen, I’ve recently met her in this bar.” Nino reluctantly introduced his friend to Mao.

“Nice to meet you Mao-chan. You look stunning tonight.” Sho took hold of Mao’s hand and kissed it while holding eye contact with Mao.

“Nice to meet you too, Sakurai-san. Are you and your friends really this much of a sweet talker?” Mao asked with twinkling eyes that could have melted Nino and Sho right then and there.

“As for me, this ability of mine only comes once in a while especially if I meet such a lovely young woman like you, Mao-chan.” Sho’s compliments for Mao were just overflowing.

“See? Sweet-talking! You’re clearly good at this kind of stuff. Mind if you amuse me with this special ability of yours, Sho-san?” Mao pleaded, flashing her sweetest smile which Sho definitely couldn’t say no to. With this the Mao-Sho flirting began, of course still with Nino butting in between.

“Looks like those three are having fun neh?” Aiba said, motioning his glass towards the direction of the bar. “Well, it’s up to me to make it more fun, don’t you think?”Aiba stood up, placing down his glass and walking towards that direction.

All of a sudden Aiba stood in front of Mao, which did startle her a little. “ Yes? May I help you?” Mao asked the guy in front of him.

“Hajimemae! Aiba Masaki desu.Yoroshiku onegaishimasu!”Aiba suddenly bowed to Mao, just like a formal greeting. This one really did startle Mao. She clearly was enjoying this much attention. She also bowed down in response. “Inoue Mao desu.”

After that, Aiba suddenly hugged Mao, which surprised his best friends and Mao also. “It’s really nice to finally meet you. I was looking forward for this chance ever since I laid my eyes on you, Mao-chan” Aiba then let go of Mao who was certainly blushing. “Anou.. I’m glad to meet you as well, Aiba-san” Mao replied, still having pink cheeks from blushing. Mao-chan’s blushing didn’t get ignored by the three. Aiba was grinning at this thought. He even silently mouthed “One point” towards Sho and Nino, which then earned him a smack on the head by Sho.

“Mao-chan, I’m really sorry if this baka suddenly hugged you.” Nino apologized in Aiba’s behalf. Sho even got hold of Aiba’s head and forced it to bow in apology.

Mao-chan shook her head. “Don’t worry. It’s okay. I’m quite used to hugs as greetings. I’ve been in different countries where they also do that.” Mao reassured Aiba with her sweet smile.

“Well then, if it’s okay for you, could you tell us more about your journeys to those countries?” Aiba asked as he took a seat near her. That was the sign that the Mao-Aiba flirting has commenced.

After a couple of minutes staring at Mao and the other members of Arashi, Ohno has decided to claim his turn on this little game. “Anou… Jun-kun, do you mind?” Ohno asked him while pointing to the direction of Mao. “Not at all, riida. Go ahead.” Jun motioned for Ohno to go. With that, Arashi’s riida went to meet Mao.

Ohno was looking very determined as he walked towards her. However with just one smile from Mao-chan, this cool character completely crumbled when he chuckled and showed his embarrassment. After rubbing the back of his neck and smiling shyly, Ohno reached out his hand to Mao. “Anou… I’m Ohno Satoshi. Uhm.. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Inoue Mao desu. You may call me Mao-chan, just like what your friends have decided to call me.” Mao shook his hand and showed a sweet smile.

From the party mode, the music inside the VIP section of the club changed its tune to mellow. The DJ played a song by Ken Hirai which Mao-chan immediately recognized. “Ara! That’s my favorite song by Ken Hirai. This day truly is a good one for me.” Mao professed.

“I know what will make your day better.” Ohno said and then started singing this song. Mao was utterly captivated by the singing voice of Ohno. She couldn’t help but close her eyes and sway her head as Ohno’s angelic voice filled her ears.

Upon finishing the song, Mao-chan gave Ohno a kiss on his cheek. “That’s for making my day a lot better. Thank you.”

Ohno was so surprised with what Mao did that was frozen for a moment.

“Ohno-kun? Daijoubu?” Nino asked, waving his hand in front of Ohno’s face.

“Eh? Nani?”Ohno replied, looking a little bit dumbfounded. With that, the four older Arashi members began laughing.

Jun gave his band mates a little bit more time to spend with his Hime. ‘Hime’ was the nickname he decided on himself for the lovely lady that has captured all of Arashi. Whilst all the laughing and talking, Mao suddenly shifted her gaze and quickly scanned the area. She was abruptly stopped when her gaze met a pair of dark brown eyes. ‘Those eyes are dangerously beautiful.’ Mao thought, as she prepared to look at the owner of these eyes. Rather than look, the word stare would describe what Mao did at the man who had the most beautiful eyes she’d seen. She was then staring at the face of a gorgeous young man who had the most perfect eyebrows that go well with those mesmerizing eyes. From the style of his clothes and the way he carried himself, Mao was convinced that this man was truly a fine-looking specimen that would suit her taste in guys. ‘Too bad this guy’s not making a move on me. Oh well…’ Mao ignored that thought.

Jun was enjoying every second of Mao staring at him. He clearly can see that Mao liked what she was seeing in him. However she quickly turned her gaze back to his friends after being satisfied with what she saw. Jun took this as a cue for his shot at the game. “I’ll prove to those bakas that ‘Save the best for last’ works in this game too.” Jun muttered to himself as he made his move to capture his Hime.

*Nino, Sho, Aiba and Ohno have already made their move on Mao. Jun's the only one left. Will he be able to win this game's prize? Stay tuned for the next chapter.