【8】

Around 10:45 pm that night is when the girls finally exited the Nippon Budokan Arena.

Waiting outside for them was a big crowd of press photographers and their fans. 

They were thankfully held back behind barricades so that they couldn't bombrush the girls.

Their manager Haruka led them out the back of the indoor arena.

Their driver had pulled around the silver Toyota Hiace Airstream van that could seat up to 17 people.

It had plenty of room for the girls to stretch out after a long day.

Peony was directly behind Haruka.

She was dressed down yet remained stylish in a $1,370 Olympia Le-Tan Paris 'Araki' Black Graphics Oversized Sweatshirt that she wore with black high waist black velvet shorts with elastic ribbon waist tie, ¥13,000 Dolly Bae 'Velvet Rose' Black Platforms and a Marc Jacobs 'Snapshot' Black Camera Bag worn crossbody.

Also, a Karl Lagerfeld Choupette The Cat Straw Black Cat Ears Baseball Cap and Valfre Black Silk Bowtie Choker Necklace.

Her long colorful hair was in loose ringlets beneath the cap and there was zero makeup on her youthful and pretty face.

Sakura was behind her; dressed in Lauren Moshi Pink and White Oversized Sweats and a ¥69,000 Lazy Oaf Pink Teddy Bear Backpack.

Apple wore a Japan L.A. 'Rilakkuma Space' Poncho Sweatshirt and $495 Ron Herman 'KOKU' Lip Grey and White Applique Fax Raffia Shopper Tote Bag.

She held her Rilakkuma Kigurumi Giant Plush Pillow in her arms.

Yui was after her; she wore a Lazy Oaf Eyes White Large Crop Sweatshirt with Uniqlo denim shorts and $665 MCM 'Liz' Large Reversible Shopper Tote Bag with a $510 MCM Rabbit Fur Punk Charm.

Alice held a $575 Mulberry 'Lily' Mini Metallic Leather-textured shoulder bag.

And the leader Reina had on a $350 KARA Nano Tie Leather Shoulder Bag.

Their style-watcher fanatics no doubt would be looking online for those items so that they could purchase them for themselves.

Hara Kana were always rocking the trendiest or soon-to-be trendy items.

That's what made them stand out from the rest of the J-pop girl groups.

Their fans created Ameba and Tumblr pages to post about their pretty looks and great style.

They snapped pictures and yelled out for the girls.

Many held magazines and such for them to autograph.

Also gift bags with expensive presents.

As exhausted as the girls were, they couldn't neglect their fans like that.

Therefore they stopped and went over to pose for photos and sign magazines that they were inside or on the cover of such as JELLY, S-CAWAII and Non-no.

"Anata no onamae wa? (What is your name?)" Peony asked a teen boy.

She wrote a message to him on the cover of VIVI magazine with her on the front.

She also took a picture with him.

At times like that, the girls knew to fake a smile.

After ten minutes or so, they were ushered along to the van by Haruka.

Megumi and Akina were already relaxing when they got inside.

Meg had on her headphones listening to music.

While Kina chatted with her mom on her LG VIO cellphone.

The other girls occupied seats and tossed their bags elsewhere beside them.

None of them sat beside each other.

Most sprawled out across the seats.

"Aaa! Watashi wa tsukaremaa! (I'm tired!)" Alice exclaimed.

"Nemutai desu! (I'm sleepy!)" Apple joined in with the whining.

But they all felt the same exact way.

"Hai, nemutai" Peony agreed, stifling a yawn as she took out her phone and checked messages while the van headed in the direction of their dorm house.

She read ones from her mother, father and older brother Shun. Also, Naomi had sent her a message wishing her good luck with the show.

They'd hung out and gone shopping about a week ago when she'd returned to Japan for a photoshoot.

Jada, Hani and Hee-Bon had kept in touch with her since she had met them for the first time a month ago.

They were now her Korean girl squad.

They made plans to meet up again.

Once Peony returned to Korea.

Which would be sooner than anyone thought...

She had only let Naomi in on her plan to surprise everyone with a quick visit. 

Especially Jaejoong.

For some reason Peony couldn't seem to get the Ikemen bishounen out of her head. But she knew it was because he was very much her type.

She kept replaying the goodbye kiss he had given her the last time she saw him.

It was sweet and tender.

Peony touched her lips each ti