.
"Wahh~.. this airport is beautiful!"
James and his team had just arrived in Tokyo. They are now at Haneda Airport walking around and admiring the beautiful sight of the world class airport. Since this is the first time for each member of his team to be in another country, he let them have it and enjoy the experience for little while.
James is back in Japan after 2 years, the land of the rising sun. The country where he had a lot of memories, good and bad. He is having a mixed emotions that he set foot again on the very country that he left 2 years ago. Past memories are coming back to him again, all the good memories making him want to stay and live in Japan again. The bad memories reminds him the very reason why he left the beautiful country. He had decided to leave it all behind and moved on, but there are just things that is hard to forget.
But none if it matters because the reason why he is in Japan is that he will be doing a guesting on Kang Hodong's show Let's Eat Dinner Together. James was invited on the special episode of the show for a number of reasons.. one is because he can speak Japanese fluently which will be a great help for the cast and for the show itself since they are doing an episode in another country. Another reason is that this will be an early promotion for James' upcoming stand up comedy special. And lastly, Hodong wanted all his Brothers in Knowing Brothers to be a guest in his other show like this one, and James is the only Brother left who haven't done a guesting in one of his show. James is suppose to be a guest in earlier episodes but Hodong suggested that it will be better to put James on the Japan special.
"James.. gwenchana?" Yuna asked James if he is alright.
"Oh.. uh, yes.." James snapped out of it.
"You sure?"
"Yes noona, I'm just excited that after 2 years here I am again.." James just smiles.
"Are you planning on meeting some of your friends?" Yuna asked him.
"Ani.. there's not enough time to visit them" James replied.
"Okay, I thought you are thinking about Irene.." Yuna said to him.
"Well, I'm always thinking about her. She is always in my h---" James just admits that he never stopped thinking about Irene but it was too late before he realized that he just said it in front of his team. "dammit noona~".
Yuna can't stop giggling. The two stylist are giggling as well but they weren't surprise because they also know the thing about Irene.
"I will not be surprised if one day I see in the news that you and Irene are in a relationship.." Minji said to him, she is one of the stylists, she is mainly in charge of wardrobes.
"James-ssi is a very lucky guy~" Yeonhee teasingly commented, another one of the stylists, she is mainly in charge of makeups and hairstyling.
"Wha-- so the three of you are teaming up on me?" James suddenly finds himself in the middle of all the teasing coming from his own team. The three girls didn't stop and they continue to talk about Irene.
"Come on, everyone is thinking the same thing we do. It's been two days since the airing of the Red Velvet episode and everyone else are wondering if something is happening between the two of you.." Yuna said to him. "People are speculating, especially their fans whether you guys are dating or something.." Minji added.
"Yeah, you even posted photos of your dinner date with her in your SNS/IG.." Yeonhee mentioned.
"Noona it's not a date. And I'm not the one who posted those photos... it's.. it's her.." James told her.
"What? I don't get it. It was your account right?" Yeonhee is confused, same goes with Yuna and Minji.
"It is my account, but she was the one who took the photos and the one who uploads it.." James explained it to them.
"Wait.. so Irene took your phone and use it to do those stuff?" Minji wanted to clarify some things. James nodded to her. "uh-huuuhhh.." Minji then smirks and looked at Yuna and Yeonhee.
"Yep, she is your girlfriend" Yuna blatantly said.
"Eh? She is not my girlfriend" James said to her.
"You do realized that girls don't usually do that?" Yeonhee asked him.
"you mean using my phone?"
"Exactly"
"uh.. I don't know.. maybe.." James is unsure of what Yeonhee is trying to say.
"James listen.." Yeonhee put her hand to James shoulders, "Girls don't usually do that to a guy they don't have feelings with"
"Noona, we are very close, like bestfriends. I think she is just very comfortable hanging out with me.." James is rather naive to understand what Yeonhee is trying to say.
"Araseo~ that too, it can be. We give you that.. but Irene is the one who posted the photos right?" Yuna joins in and help Yeonhee.
"Yes.."
"You do understand what she did?" Yeonhee asked him.
"huh?" James is very confused and have no idea what the hell the girls are talking about.
"Irene posted photos of you and her having dinner together. She is an idol, and things like that is a little risky because it will be subject to rumors and scandals that will affect her career.." Yuna explained it to him but James still have that little confusion in his face, "I'm actually surprised she did that because it seems like she doesn't even care if the two of you get involved in dating rumors..".
"Noona what the hell are you talking about? Where'd you get all those things? I only said she is the one who uploads the photos.." James chuckled, still have no clue what the girls are talking about.
"Oh god.. you are helpless James..." Yuna facepalmed herself out of frustration.
"Araseo.. this will answer everything.." Yeonhee asked everyone to stop walking. The four of them are now standing somewhere in the middle of Haneda Airport. "Can I borrow your phone for a second? You don't have to open it.." Yeonhee is asking James to give James his phone to her.
"uh.... su- sure", For some unknown reason James is a little hesitant at first but he then handovers his phone to her. Yeonhee smiles as she take the phone away from his grasps. Yuna and Minji each moves to her side to look at the James' phone. Yeonhee pressed the button to show up the lock screen, and bingo! They found what they are looking for..
"uh.. huuhh.." Minji have that smirk in her face again.
"Would you like to explain why your lock screen wallpaper is a photo of you and Irene?" Yeonhee have the same smirk as she shows the lock screen wallpaper.
"uh... uh... well... uh..." James is in a pickle. Sweats starts to run down in his forehead. ".. I-Irene noona s-set that wallpaper so that we have a remembrance on our first dinner outside.. j-just the two of us.." James shyly explained.
"Ohh.. it was her idea? that's even better.." Yeonhee teasingly remarked.
"Noona wae? there's nothing wrong about it right?" James laughs nervously.
"Oh yeah sure, nothing is wrong with that. It's normal" Yuna sarcastically said to him. Seconds later Yuna loses it and she can't take it anymore, "Yah! You still don't get it?!" Yuna raised her voice.
"Unnie calm down~" Yeonhee is giggling as she told Yuna to cool it off.
"Haha I'm just kidding.." Yuna was just playing around and starts laughing.
"Come on James, you really don't get it?" Yuna goes back to James
"I really don't know noona.." James replied.
"Araseo~ let's put it this way. You know that some animals are rubbing their scents to mark their territory or objects that belongs to them right? they even pee to leave their scent on it.." Yuna starts explaining it to him, ".. so what we are trying to say is that, Irene is sort of doing the same thing.. to you. She is already claiming you.. as hers".
"She is basically saying that you belongs only to her.." Yeonhee added.
"First of all, that is a disgusting comparison. You really can't think of something else that is not disgusting?" James told them and the girls started laughing. "Second, you guys are just overthinking it. Why would she claim me as hers?".
"because she likes you.." Yuna replied. "or because she loves you.." Yeonhee giggles.
"How do you guys even know that? You guys only met her once.." James told them.
"Oh believe us, we know!" , "It's a girl's thing!" Yuna and Yeonhee said to him.
"What?? Do all girls have a handbook?" James mockingly laughed.
"Yeah, something like that" Yuna remarked and Yeonhee nodded, agreeing to what Yuna said.
James just laughed at them, "You know what.. we better get going. They are waiting for us and I don't want to be late.." James tells his team that they need to head to the taping site in Shinjuku.
"Come on girls, James is right. We still have to check at the hotel" Minji agrees with James. "We can continue teasing him about Irene later.." she added and let out a laugh.
"what.. noona.. come on~" James thought Minji turns to his side for a moment.
..
..
About an hour later James and his team had already arrived in the hotel where they are staying at. James' team quickly went to work once they got in the hotel. Yeonhee immediately put James in the chair and starts doing his hair. Minji and Yuna took out the clothes they packed and decides which is best for James to wear in the show. Once they are done, a car from the show picked them up and took them to the taping site in Shinjuku.
Since their hotel is located in Shinjuku, it only took them around 15 minutes to reach the taping site. And while in the car...
"James you should take a short nap, you haven't got enough sleep since yesterday. You will get tired later" Yuna told James.
"It's okay noona I'm fine, gomawo~.. uh noona can I hotspot on your phone?" James asked Yuna as he remembers something quite important.
"Sure. But I told you earlier to buy a SIM Card for yourself.." Yuna readies the hotspot while she is scolding James.
"Two is enough. One for you and one for Minji noona" James replied. "here it is, gomawo~"
"You should get one. How are you going to be in touch with Irene later?" Yuna told him.
"I'm going to use the free wifi at the hotel.." James chuckles.
"Are you going to leave a message to Irene?" Minji asked what James is doing at that moment.
"Ani.. it's not for Irene noona..." James replied. "Done. Yuna noona gomawo~" James disconnects from the hotspot.
"You're done? that was fast.." Yuna is a little surprised.
..
Meanwhile in Seoul..
"Hey.. turn it on.. pali~~" Chanyeol, Sehun and Baekhyun are doing something and they are being noisy. EXO members are currently in their waiting room in a music show, waiting for their turn to perform in the stage.
"What's going on?" Suho asked his members.
"James sent a message, telling us to turn the radio right now and tune in to their radio show" Chanyeol explains.
"huh? I thought he is in Japan right now?" Suho is confused. "Maybe he is still here.." Kai said to their leader.
"Ani.. he told me that his flight was this morning so he is already in Japan by now" Xiumin told them.
"Then why is he telling us to listen to his radio show?" Suho asks. "Don't know" Xiumin replied.
"Okay here it is" Sehun find the channel. The members are now gathered around the radio. They just got in time while Kim Shinyoung ending the radio show..
"Thank you for hanging out with me on this Saturday morning. My partner James is currently in Japan doing another show. For his fans and to all our listeners don't worry, he will back next week. One more thing is that James picked the last song for today's show, so it is like he was here" Shinyoung chuckles as she is preparing the last song to end the show. "He dedicated this song to a close friend of him who I believe and I hope listening right now." Shinyoung is already giggling and she can't stop herself. "Mianhae.. I know who this friend James is talking about and he have a message to you....
"you already know why I'm doing this. Peace out.."
Shinyoung started laughing as she reads the message. "haha.. aigoo~ I'm just following what James instructed me to do. Haha. Goodbye everyone, let's hangout again tomorrow morning. Have a nice day! And here is the song.. " Shinyoung said goodbye to their listeners and ended the show. She then plays the song.
jjijeojin jongitjogage
damanaen naye jinshime
seonmyeonghaejyeo somethin' bout you
Taeyeon's song 'Fine' started playing on the radio. And as soon as the song started and the first lines were sang. The members of EXO burst out laughing. Their laughs echoes in the waiting room, even their stylists and managers are laughing hard on what James did.
"He still managed to make fun of you even though he is in the different country" Suho is in tears from laughing too hard. Baekhyun feels totally defeated, all he can do is laugh. He can't help but to be impressed at the same time because James devised a plan to tease him about his ex-girlfriend.
"That's it, I will never try to make fun or tease James ever again.." Chanyeol remarked while he is on the floor laughing.
..
Upon their arrival, the production welcomed them and they immediately took James to meet the other guest on the show. James is trembling out of excitement to meet the other guest. He has been wishing that someday he could have a chance to meet that person and now, it's going to happen..
"Oh---- god...." James' heart starts to beat fast now that he finally saw the other guest. He took a deep breathe before he approached the other guest of the show.
"Oh.." the other guest saw James walking towards her and she stood up to greet him.
"Annyeonghaseyo~~" James immediately and politely greets her.
"Annyeonghaseyo~" Dara greeted him back with a delightful smile and asked for a handshake.
The other guest is Sandara Park, a member of the legendary girl group 2ne1. She is one of James' all time favorite Kpop Idols, and she is his bias in 2ne1. James immediately agreed to be a guest on the show when they told him that Sandara Park will be with him.
**(Originally, Lee Hong-gi is the other guest that will appear in the show with Sandara Park. But on this one, I replaced him with James. I'm really sorry for all the Hong-gi fans and F.T. Island fans, TT. I don't hate Hong-gi, I actually admire his vocals. This is all just for the story)
"It's an honor to finally meet you~ mianhae I'm nervous and excited to see you.." James quickly apologized for his shaky hands. He is trying his best compose himself and not to faint or cry in the presence of Sandara Park.
"Nice to meet you too~" Dara giggles at James' reaction meeting her. "Gwenchana? You need water?" Dara pats his shoulder and noticed that James seems like having a hard time breathing. Dara then looked to one of her assistant and signaled to get a water.
"here~" Dara gives a water bottle to James.
"Oh.. k-kamsahamnida~" James shyly gets the water bottle from her. "mianhae~ I just cannot believe I'm here talking to you".
"Aigoo~" Dara chuckles, "let's have a seat.."
Dara and James sat down together and they start get acquainted with each other while they wait for their turn to be on the show. James is having a time of his life, he is sitting down with a legend in Kpop. He cannot help it but his inner fanboy comes out and he didn't waste this opportunity to interview Dara.
"uh.. noona.. can I ask a question?" James shyly asks.
"Sure what it is?" Dara gives him a smile.
"Noona, how old are you really? I mean look at you.. I'm 22 and it looks like you are younger than me..",
Dara started laughing at his question, or it is a compliment.
"Am I right, right?" James is looking at the other people around them who are laughing as well. He easily got comfortable around Dara because she is really kind and friendly. "Just look at her baby face and tell me that she is 33 yrs. old, she even got the cute hair bun" James continue to talk to the production staff around them.
"If we walk in the streets people will think she is my younger sister" James said and send another laughter to them.
..
The had already started but Kang Hodong and Lee Kyungkyu is in another part of Shinjuku. The plan is for the two to walk around first and look for possible family who will invite them to have dinner in their home.
Several minutes later, the two hosts/cast of the show finally arrived at the meeting place where the Dara and James are waiting for them..
"So this is Shinjuku's KoreaTown.." Hodong stopped in a front of an establishment along the KoreaTown or Hallyu Street in Shinjuku.
"Oh, these are Kpop groups.." Lee Kyungkyu takes a look at the posters of different Kpop groups outside of the establishment.
Suddenly while Hodong and Kyungkyu are talking, a Kpop song starts playing out of the establishment. It was 2ne1's Fire. But what happen was, the two host didn't realized it was a cue for their guest to appear. And just according to the script..
Dara runs down from the stairs behind Hodong and Kyungkyu. She is already visible in the camera angle but the two didn't see her until she is just a few steps from the ground.
"Konichiwaaaa~ eh eh eh eh eh 2ne1~ " Dara cutely interrupts them, she then started singing and dancing their hit song.
"Ohh.." Hodong and Kyungkyu got surprised by the sudden entrance of their guest. Both of them are speechless.
"Annyeonghaseyo~" Dara bows to them.
"Is she really our guest?" Kyungkyu cannot believe it.
"It's Sandara Park~ Dara-ya" Hodong exclaims. "Are you our guest?"
"Yes!" Dara replied.
"Alone?"
"I don't know.." Dara chuckles, she doesn't if she can introduce the other guest.
"Can you speak Japanese?" Kyungkyu asked her.
"A little.. but I can ask for food" Dara replied and starts speaking a few Japanese words.
"Sandara is a little fluent because she held concerts here in Japan with her group 2ne1.." Hodong explained it to Kyungkyu. Then while they are talking, James finally makes his appearance. He starts running down the stairs where Dara came from earlier.
"AHHH!!" Kyungkyu got surprised to find out that James is the other guest.
"Annyeonghaseyo~" James excitingly and politely greets Lee Kyungkyu and Kang Hodong.
"James, when did you get here?" Hodong asked his younger Brother.
"This morning" James replied.
"So are you guys our guests today?" Kyungkyu asked Dara and James.
"Ani.. we just dropped by to make an appearance. We're doing our own show, DaraJa TV.." James sarcastically said, he is off to a fierce start. Dara burst out laughing at the name of the show. Hodong is laughing as well, he is smiling proudly as it seems like he has nothing to worry about James being in other show for the first time. "Ani ani.. of course. We are here to help you guys" James quickly let Kyungkyu know that he was just kidding.
"Now that James mentioned it. I think Dara and James are perfect guests to help us in this episode" Hodong remarked. "Both of them can speak Japanese well, especially James because he used to work and live here in Japan before he went to South Korea" he added.
"Jinjja?" Kyungkyu is surprised to hear that.
"Yes, for about 3 years before I went to South Korea where I suddenly became a comedian" James confirms it.
"Hodong told me about the story on how you became a comedian, but he never mentioned that you used to work here in Japan.." Lee Kyungkyu seems to be curious about it.
James understands that Lee Kyungkyu wanted to hear about him working in Japan before coming to South Korea, so decides to tell them a rather shorter version of it, "A close friend of mine back in grade school is a half Japanese but he moved back to Japan when we got to high school. Then he found out that I stopped studying and started working. Then one day he contacted and asked me to come to Japan, then after that I started working in their family business for 3 years. Then after that I went to South Korea and... things turns out great, hehe".
"Ohh.. so you didn't finish high school?" Lee Kyungkyu asked.
"Yes, I started working to help my family" James replied.
"Wahh.. you are a great son.." Lee Kyungkyu is touched by James' story of hard work to help his family. "How are they now?" Kyungkyu asked him afterwards.
"They're fine. They are living much better now compare before.." James gives them a smile.
"aww~ your parent must be so proud of you" Dara said to him.
"k-kamsahamnida noona" James bows and thanked Dara.
"..but my Mom doesn't think I'm funny" James added, completely ruining the mood. Hodong, Kyungkyu and Dara burst into laughter.
"Jinjja? Your Mom doesn't think you're funny?" Hodong is still laughing.
"Yes. When I told her that I became a comedian and I'm part of a variety tv show in South Korea. You know what my Mom said to me?"
"What?",
.
"Are you on Drugs?!"
.
It sends in another wave of laughter to the cast and to the production crew of the show. Hodong's face is getting red from laughing too hard.
"I now know where you got it" Hodong laughingly commented.
"But she finally believed when she watched the show and my stand up in U.S" James said to them.
"This will be your first guesting in another show, what do you think the reaction of your Mom when you tell her you are in another show?" Kyungkyu asks him.
"Oh.. uh.. aniya, I'm not going to tell her. She will get mad if she watch this show" James chuckles.
"Why?" Hodong and Kyungkyu are a little confused why his mother will get mad if he will appear in their show.
"In this show we are going to knock on doors and ask for dinner right? She will get mad if she saw me begging for food.. on tv!" Everyone started laughing while James is talking about what will be her Mom's reaction, "She will say 'If you're going to be a beggar in another country, go back here!..', so aniya~ I already know how my Mom thinks". It send another wave of laughter to everyone, specially to the producers and directors.
"That's right! I'm not going to tell my parents too. I think they will be disappointed.." Dara laughed for a couple of seconds before she agrees to what he said. James giggles how Dara cutely agrees with him and the two of them high fived each other.
..
Now that guests have been introduced, they are now set to explore Shinjuku and find families who will welcome them to have dinner in their homes. They continue to head in the middle of KoreaTown. They turned and enter a street that will lead them near Shin-Okubo where a number of Koreans is living around the vicinity.
"James, have you been here before?" Hodong asked him as they are walking down the street with establishments being run by Koreans.
"I think I have.. but I'm not sure. I lived in Nara before. I only go here in Tokyo when it's my day-off.." James replied.
"Jinjja? That's far, and there is a lot of deer in there.." Kyungkyu commented. "Oh, I want to go there and see the deers" Dara remarked and show a little excitement.
"Okay Dara noona, let's go there. Bye everyone~" James jokes around about leaving in the middle of the taping of the show.
"How far Nara is?" Dara asked James.
"About 3 hours, more or less"
"Wahh.. it is far~" Dara exclaims, she didn't expect it to be that far.
"Tokyo to Kyoto via Shinkansen is around two hours, then from Kyoto you will take another train for about an hour before you reach Nara. So yeah, more than 3 hours.." James explained it to her.
"Araseo~ Let's go James, if we leave now we will back in Tokyo by night" Dara grabbed James arm and acted like they are going to ditch the taping of the show. "Okay noona, let's go" James goes along with Dara's acting. The two of them are showing a good sign of chemistry in their guesting in the show.
"Wahh.. you two will be a good team" Hodong acknowledged.
"We got acquainted while waiting for the two of you.." Dara told Hodong.
"So the two of you are close now?" Hodong asked them. Dara and James looked at each other and..
"Yes!" Dara and James said it at the same time, they continue to show their unexpected chemistry in the show.
"Wahh.. haha" Hodong is loving it and he is clapping his hands.
..
The show goes on and the four of them proceed to their quest on finding Koreans living in Shinjuku. They continue to walk around and managed to scout a few possible houses where they might be a Korean living there, but it is not enough because they can get rejected so they visit a nearby Korean Real Estate Agency to seek for more help to locate the houses of Koreans in Shinjuku. But once they got there, they received a rather sad news. They were told that the possibility of them finding a Korean household that will accept them is very low because most Korean living around the area are still in their work and while the college students are probably in their universities.
Despite the sad news, Kyungkyu, Hodong, Dara and James went back on their search. They are now walking their way near Shin-Okubo station wherein they were told that a number of Korean families is living nearby. During their walk, they passed by a number of Korean students who are studying at a nearby Tokyo Korean School. They asked the students for the direction to where the school at, and they decided to visit the school as well, in hopes of finding more clues. The group talked to the principal of the school, and the principal told them a certain place where a lot of Korean families are living. With this information, the group head their way to find out if it is true. And they were not disappointed, they even managed to meet a good number of Koreans around the complex that the principal suggests.
Now that they got a good number of choices, they went back to the houses they scouted earlier and started knocking to their doors. Their first couple of attempts were failed because it's either empty houses which means there are no people at home or the one living is a Japanese.
After a couple of more attempts they finally hit a jackpot. Hodong and James managed to find a Korean family who welcomed them to their home to have dinner with them. The family composed of a Father, Mother and a Daughter. The mother prepared a very delicious set of meal for their guests, Hodong and James are very much delighted that they picked this one because they really enjoyed the food.
As for Kyungkyu and Dara, they continue to walk around and resume their search. After a number of failed attempts, Kyungkyu and Dara are already losing hope. Plus it is already getting dark outside. But then when they're about to give up, they finally managed to find a home who accepted to have dinner with them. It was two Korean college students who are sharing an apartment. Since they were just college students, Kyungkyu didn't really expect much for the dinner they will be having. The two students can only serve Kimchi Fried Rice for their guest, but Kyungkyu and Dara is fine with that. They were even more than happy that they will be having Kimchi Fried Rice.
..
After the show ended, the cast and the guests where invited by the producers to have a late dinner celebration for the success of Japan Special episode of Let's Eat Dinner Together. The producers managed to find a great restaurant somewhere in the middle of Shinjuku. They reserved the whole restaurant, it is a little small but enough to accommodate each person that is part of the show. Hodong and James decided to go along with the producers and head to the place where the dinner celebration will be having. While Kyungkyu and Dara went back to their hotels first to change their clothes and rest a little before going to the dinner celebration.
Approximately 30 minutes later, Dara arrived in the restaurant that the producers reserved..
"Sorry I'm late. We can't find the right street.." Dara is bowing to them and apologized for being late.
"It's okay, it's okay.., Don't worry Kyungkyu hyung is not here yet. Have a seat.." Hodong told Dara to settle down. Dara then went over and sit beside James.
"Where's Kyungkyu sunbae?" Dara asked.
"He is still in his hotel. He is probably taking a short rest" Hodong told her.
"Noona, you can order now if you want.." James gives Dara the menu.
"Oh, gomawo~ I may just order a little, like appetizer first.." Dara scanned the menu.
..
"James, excuse me.." Yuna shyly approached the table and talked to James.
"Yes noona.."
"Minji unnie and Yeonhee wants to talk to you.." Yuna called the other two to come.
"What is it noona?" James asked his two stylists.
"Uh, can we go to Shibuya? Yeonhee and I, wanted to see the Shibuya crossing. We won't take long, we will just take pictures and we will be back as soon as possible, promise~" Minji shyly asking for James' permission.
James looked at Minji and Yeonhee before he laughed, "Haha noona of course you guys can go. You don't have to ask for my permission.." James gives them a smile.
"We have to ask. You're our boss~" Yeonhee told him.
"Eh.. I-I'm not.." James feels strange that girls were calling him boss.
"She's right" Yuna commented.
"B-but.. araseo~" James sighed, "You guys can go.. take your time and enjoy" James said to them.
"Kamsahmnida~" Minji and Yeonhee politely bows to their boss before they excitingly run out of the restaurant.
"Aigoo~ they were just teasing earlier" James commented and laughs. "Eh? Noona you're not going with them?" James saw that Yuna stayed behind and didn't go with them.
"Ani.. I'm your manager. I should be by your side all the time. I'm still work.." Yuna winked at him. "Plus, the food here is great, and Sake.... Whoo~" Yuna giggles and she went back to the other table.
"Haha araseo~ easy on the Sake noona.." James chuckles.
..
"That was really sweet of you.." Dara smiled at him. She overheard his conversation with them.
"Oh ani.. t-they deserve it. This is their first time in another country so it's the least I can do since our flight is tomorrow morning, we don't have time for sightseeing" James explained to her.
"Yeah I understand. I feel bad for my staff too if there isn't enough time for doing other stuff than work.." Dara can sympathize with him. "That's why I told them they can go out tonight if they want to, but they rather stay in the hotel and rest" she added.
..
One of the producers approaches their table and gives them a news about Kyungkyu..
"uh.. excuse me. I just got a call from Kyungkyu that he will running a little late, he told me that we can start the dinner without him" the producer told them.
"Araseo~ tell the staff they can eat first. They must be very hungry.." Hodong said to the producer.
"Choi hyung nim~ where are the others?" James asked the producer about the other staff of the show.
"Some of them went back to the hotels and rest. While the others go to other place or went sight seeing" the producer told him.
"oh, okay.. kamsahamnida" James thanked the producer.
"This is your first time guesting right? Do you already know all the staff of the show?" Dara curiously asked.
"Yes noona, they're same staff on Knowing Brothers hehe" James replied.
"Oh jinjja? that's why~" Dara exclaims.
"James befriend with all of them that's why he memorized each one of the staff" Hodong explained.
"You are very kind. People will love to work with you" Dara remarked.
"Yeah, he is making us looks bad" Hodong giggles, "I know them too but now everyone" he added.
..
Hodong, Dara and James. the three of them soon orders their food and started eating. Hodong ordered extras of the best dishes the restaurant has to offer. Dara enjoyed the variety of Sushi. While James orders Unagi because it is one of the Japanese foods he missed the most, good thing the restaurant have it. About 30 minutes later Lee Kyungkyu finally arrived and joined them for dinner. With all the delicious food they were having, the late dinner in Japan will not be complete if they didn't order a good bottle of Sake. Even though James doesn't usually drinks, he made an exemption since they are having a good time and Dara is with him so he gladly joined them and drink like 3 to 4 glasses of Sake. Plus the Sake tastes really good.
While everyone are enjoying the late dinner celebration, they are not aware of what's happening outside. Suddenly..
"James... James..." Yuna is running towards their table and looked worried.
"Noona what's wrong?" James is starting to get worried as well. Everyone in the tables as well stopped, even the table of the producers beside them.
"I received a message from Yeonhee. They can't get to the restaurant because they are being harassed by a group of men just outside.." Yuna told him..
"What?!" James stood up and went out of the restaurant to look for Minji and Yeonhee. Hodong immediately follows his younger brother outside to aid him. Soon everyone in the staff went outside to see what's going on, even Kyungkyu and Dara.
Just about 30 feet away from the restaurant James saw his two stylists that are being surrounded by 5 men. He didn't even think twice to run and save the two girls. Hodong and Yuna run after him.
"Hey hey, what's going on?" James started speaking Japanese, as he pulls Minji and Yeonhee away from those 5 men. The girls immediately rushed to Yuna and hides behind her.
"Minji unnie, Yeonhee go back to the others.." Yuna told them to go away.
"What's going on?!" Hodong angrily stood beside James. The 5 men backed away a little when they saw how huge Hodong is.
"Hyung, calm down.. let me talk to them first.." James tries to calm the beast standing beside him. He knew the capabilities of a former Ssireum Champion, Hodong can beat those 5 men. But as much as possible, James doesn't want a fight to break out.
James started to engage a talk with the 5 men. He is speaking Japanese fluently to them. Even though he is fuming inside, he is still calmly talking to them. While James is talking to them, one of the producers comes to them together with a couple of guys from the production crew of the show.
"Hodong nim.. please stay back" the producer cannot let their main cast to be involved. But Hodong refuses to leave his younger brother.
"Gwenchana.. I'm not going to. James is trying to talk to them.." Hodong said to the producer. "Yuna-ssi, you can go back it might get dangerous.." Hodong saw that James' manager is with them.
"It's okay Hodong oppa.. I can take care of myself. I can't leave James behind.." Yuna replied, she surely can take care of herself in case a fight breaks out.
The commotion had got the attention of the nearby people in the street. Some even got out from the nearby restaurant to see what is happening. The atmosphere in the street is getting tense because in the middle of it, there's a group of 5 men being confronted by 1 guy, behind him is a few Korean guys. In addition to that, Hodong's angry presence is making the situation really tense. Everyone is getting anxious because they don't understand what they are talking because James is talking to them in Japanese.
"We just want a peaceful dinner. We don't want any trouble, so can you guys please leave.." James is trying to be cool and deescalate the situation because they are now attracting crowds around them.
"We don't want trouble, we just want to ask those girls to come and have a good time with us" one of the 5 men told James.
"I'm sorry but I cannot allow that. They are just coming back from sightseeing and they are not here to have 'good time' with you guys.." James is getting mad to those perverts but he is still trying to politely talk to them.
"What? Who are you to allow that huh?" the same guy raised his voice.
..
"Oh no, those perverts again.." , "They are always looking for trouble" , "Now they are even harassing tourists, should we call the police?" the bystanders are now talking to each other because they are worried of what might happen. And then..
"yosh~" a guy in an alley behind the crowd started cutting his way through the crowd and walks towards where the commotion is happening.
"Come on, those girls are not for that purpose. You guys can just go somewhere else to do that.." James said to them.
"What did you say?!" one of the 5 men got really mad and flexed his arm, ready to punch James.
James saw that, and Hodong saw it too. They are already prepared for this to happen if those men will not back away. James is ready to dodge and counters it while Hodong is ready to jump in and pummeled those guys to the floor. Then all of a sudden..
.
"Oioi-oi!!"
A Japanese guy coming out from the nearby crowd shouted. It was loud enough to be heard by everyone in the street, and enough to make everyone stop.
"Kare o panchi shi, watashi wa go-nin ga shi no kami o miru koto o kakunin!!!~"
Loosely translates to: "Punch him and I will make sure the five of you will see the Shinigami".
.
Everybody else looked at the direction where the loud shout came from, and they saw a guy in a suit walking towards in the middle.
James' eyes grew big when he saw the guy, as if he just saw a ghost. He wasn't expecting to see that person at all.
The Japanese guy continue to walk towards them until he reached and stand in between the two group. The Japanese guy then face the 5 perverts, and those men took a couple of steps back.
"W-w-wait... that's...." the five men are now trembling in fear when they realized who is standing in front of them.
"Gomen nasai.." the five men are suddenly on their knees apologizing.
Hodong and everyone else are shocked to their core. In just a matter of seconds the five men are on their knees and bowing. Even the people around them who are watching are also shocked on what is happening right now.
"yon..."
"san..."
"ni..."
The five men looked up with terrified looks in their face. They realized that they are being counted down..
".... ichi"
The Japanese guy started laughing as he watch those five perverts run for their lives. He then turns around and look at James and his company.
"Kuroba-san, nice to see you again~" The Japanese guy smiles and bows to James, a rather polite bow.
"Sojiro...." James is still stunned to see Sojiro.
Hodong and everyone else are very much surprised but more so, they are also confused why that Japanese guy who just scared those men away is giving respect to James.
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Meanwhile,..
"I'm home~" Yeri had just arrived in their dorm.
"You're a little late.." Seulgi said to her.
"Yeah, we were having so much fun we didn't realized what time it is..", Yeri went out with her friends, Kim Yoojung, Kim Saeron and Lee Suhyun. "Where's Irene unnie?" Yeri asked.
"In her room.." Seulgi replied.
Yeri went to Irene's room and knocks on the door. "Come in~"
"Unnie, here's the album.." Yeri entered the room and gives the bag which have the album in it.
"Oh~ Kamsahamnida~~" Irene is happily clapping her hands as she received the album. "Tell Chanyuk-ssi and Suhyun-ssi thank you so much, I owe them big time" Irene said to Yeri.
"Ne~~" Yeri walks out of Irene's room.
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"Yeri-ah.. what is that? Irene unnie seems a little happy?" Seulgi and Joy are waiting for her outside.
"It's AKMU's latest album.., unnie asked me if I can get a signed album from them. She will gift it to James oppa.." Yeri explained it to her older sisters.
"I see.." Seulgi mutters.
"Unnie, are they uh... in a relationship?" Joy asked Seulgi.
"What? aniya..... well, actually I'm not sure anymore.." Seulgi replied.
"Hey why are you guys standing here?" Wendy came out of nowhere.
"Wendy unnie.. do you think Irene unnie and James oppa are now in a relationship?" Joy asked the same question to Wendy.
"huh?" Wendy is a little flustered why Joy is suddenly asking that kind of question. "Why are you asking that?"
"Well, lately something feels different about Irene unnie.." Joy said to her members.
"What makes you say that?" Seulgi asks.
Joy starts explaining all the things she observed, "I know she is very close and comfortable with James oppa that's why she acts like that when she is around him but recently,.. uh.. Irene unnie is acting like she is his girlfriend. She is giving him small gifts, she always waiting to see if James oppa comes home safe before she went to sleep. Oh, and the dinner they had couple of days ago, they even posted their photos online. I mean what was that??".
"Well.. one thing is for sure. They are not in a relationship.." Wendy said to Joy, "..yet! maybe, I don't know. Irene unnie will tell us if ever that happen so don't worry".
"She's right, Irene unnie will definitely tell us if ever that happens" Yeri agrees with Wendy.
"Actually, it was Irene unnie who posted the photos and not James.." Seulgi remarked.
"She did?!" the girls are shocked. "How did you know that?" Wendy asks,
"When she got home that night, I asked her about the photos and she told me that she is the one who posted the photos.." Seulgi explained to her members.
"So that means?"
"Aniyaaa~" Seulgi cutely whines a little. "But do you guys think we should ask Irene unnie? I'm also curious as well..." Seulgi suggested.
The girls looked at each other for several seconds thinking carefully if they are going to ask their leader or not.
"Araseo.. let's go~" Wendy speaked up, and then go to Irene's room.
..
"Unnie~~" Wendy knocks on the door first before barging in.
"Wae? wae? what's going on?" Irene got a little startled that all her members are inside her room.
"Unnie, we have a question for you. Please answer honestly and tell us the truth.." Wendy sat in the bed facing their leader.
"Uh.. okay.." Irene have no idea what's going on.
Wendy took a deep breath before she ask the question, "Unnie... are you and James are already in a relationship?".
Irene is a little surprised at the question that her members wanted to ask. She looks to each member and saw in their eyes that they are waiting for her to tell the truth.
.
.
.
"We're not.." Irene looked at her members and a cute little smile appears in her face.
"Oh.." the girls doesn't how to react because their leader sounds very sincere just now. There's a silence between the members.
"But if you girls are wondering...." Irene speaks again, "... I do love him". Irene gives her member a bright smile.
Her members jaws dropped and they are having goosebumps after hearing their leader's confession. Seconds later Joy is the first to squeal, followed by Seulgi and Yeri, while Wendy is still shocked and her mouth is wide open.
"UNNIIIEEEEE~~~" soon all the girls are squealing and all of them turns into dolphins.
.
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.
.
"Sojiro.." James is not expecting to see Sojiro.
"You still haven't change at all. You are still a little pacifist.." Sojiro said to him.
James and Sojiro looked at each other's eyes for a couple of seconds..
"psh.. you're gonna get punched if I didn't barged in you know that?" Sojiro laughs.
James let out a laugh too and said, "arigatou".
James and Sojiro gives each other a hug. Both of them started laughing at this unexpected reunion.
"Hold on.." Sojiro then looked at the people around them. "Show's over. Nothing else to see here! You guys go home now!" Sojiro told to the people who are still watching. And one by one each people walk away and some went back inside.
"Couldn't you be more polite?" James told him.
"tch.. don't mind them. None of them even tried to help you and your friends. They don't deserve to receive respect.." Sojiro doesn't care if he is being rude to them. All James can do is to laugh, this is the Sojiro he knew.
.
"James.." Hodong approaches his younger brother. Behind him are the producers and Yuna, as well as the few crew member who are about to help them if ever a fight breaks out, thankfully nothing happens.
"oh.. uh hyung.. this is Sojiro. He is a friend of mine" James introduced Sojiro to his older brother.
"I'm Hosokawa Sojiro, nice to finally meet you Mr. Kang Hodong" Sojiro bows and shakes Hodong's hand.
James is shocked to hear that Sojiro just speak in Korean fluently. "huh? He speak Korean?" Hodong is shocked as well.
"Eh? wait.. you can speak Korean?" James have that shocked expression.
Sojiro just laughed at him, "After you left, the company expanded in South Korea. Since then Inui-san and the others are always back and forth to settle deals with Korean companies. So I was required by Inui-san to learn Korean". From this point Sojiro decided to talk in Korean so that everybody else can understand him.
"Oh.. wow, you're Korean is good" James smilingly told him.
.
"uh.. James, please invite your friend as thank you for what he did.." the producer approached them.
"Oh, okay. By the way Choi hyung-nim, you guys can talk to him. He can speak Korean" James said to the producer.
"oh.. jinjja?" the producer then talked to Sojiro to invite him to join them, as a thanks for what he did. Sojiro looked at his friend, and James gives him a nod.
"oh uhm... araseo~ if you don't mind" Sojiro said to the producer.
"Please.. it will be our pleasure" the producer then escorted Sojiro back to the restaurant.
"uh.. Kuroba-san.." Sojiro is now being escorted and he is looking for James.
"I'm right behind you~" James chuckled.
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"James.." Yuna and Hodong catch up with him.
"Why is he calling you Kuroba-san?" Hodong asked him.
"It's the name I used when I was living here. My friend's family gave the name Kuroba Shusuke to me when I started working for them.." James replied.
"But why?"
"Nothing important, they said it is for me to blend in easily so that some people will not try discriminate me for being a foreigner.." James explains.
"So that was your friend you were talking about.. he's a badass" Yuna commented.
"Ani.. that's not him. Sojiro is a bodyguard. And yes he is a badass.." James laughs as he told her.
"oh.. then is it the Inui-san he was talking about earlier.." Yuna said.
"Ani.. Inui-san is the vice-president of the company. My friend is the president.." James told her. "haha let's go back to our table, I will tell you guys everything" he just smiled at Yuna and Hodong.
..
..
Back at the restaurant, Sojiro joined them for dinner. The producers are very thankful that no one got hurt and they didn't get into any trouble. At the table, Hodong and Kyungkyu are interviewing Sojiro. Meanwhile Dara is still grasping the things that occurred earlier, James is helping Dara to calm down.
"I was really scared earlier.. I thought you and Hodong oppa is going to have a fight with those guys" Dara is still pretty shaken from the commotion earlier.
"Fortunately it didn't get to that point. Noona here drink some water first.." James gives Dara a glass of water.
"Gomawo~" Dara took a sip of water. "I have to say, you were very brave. You are ready to protect your team.." Dara compliments his bravery.
"Ani.. anyone will do the same for the people who are close to them. Plus I know Hodong hyung is in my back, he is enough to scared them" James is now trying to make Dara laugh, "I can take one and Hodong hyung will take the other four hehe. Plus the other crew members are there to help as well" he added. Dara is now finally smiling and laughing.
"Yuna-ssi, your manager, she is brave also. She was there standing for you" Dara remarked.
"Oh yeah, Yuna noona is a black belter in taekwondo so I think she can take down those guys easily" James laughingly explained.
"jinjja? wahh.."
"One kick in the crotch area and the lineage of those guys is gone" James commented, and Dara burst into laughter.
..
"Sojiro, if you don't mind.. I have another question, it's okay if you don't want to answer, I will respect that" Hodong wants to ask a permission to ask a little personal question.
"Sure.. what is it?" Sojiro gladly accepts.
"Those guys earlier, you just looked at them and they immediately got very scared. How that happened? they seem to know you.." Hodong asked him, and because of Hodong's natural loud voice, everyone in the nearby tables where the producers and other staff of the show are sitting starts to listen in their conversation.
Sojiro is a little hesitant at first to answer because he doesn't know if he can say it to them. He then immediately looked at James..
"It's okay, go ahead.." James gives him a go signal and just smiles.
"Okay.." Sojiro proceed to tell them the short story of it, ".. actually I don't know who are those guys but based on their reactions they obviously know who am I. To make it short, I was thug before, or gangster, or whatever you guys wants to call it. But I'm not the worst kind, I only beat other thugs who are causing troubles to innocent people, like those guys earlier, and the name Sojiro became infamous. Then several years ago, I got tired of doing those things, I got really depressed and lost my way of my life until I attempt to suicide. But then Kuroba-san, or his real name as you know him, James, he saw me standing in a bridge and he stopped me from jumping. Then here I am..".
"I actually walked passed by him, but then I saw that he looked tired and I saw nothing in his eyes, sadness, loneliness, nothing. That's why I stayed around for couple of minutes to see what he is going to do. And when he grabbed the railings and acts to jump over, I immediately ran and pulled him back" James added.
"Kuroba-san, sat me down and talked to me. He told me that it is a bad idea and it doesn't answer anything. He then introduced me to Okiya-sama, who welcomed me to their home and I started working for them afterwards as one of their bodyguards. That's why I owe him my life, and I have the outmost respect for him" Sojiro added more to it.
Hodong and everyone else are touched and admires their story. Everyone who heard the story at that moment respects James even more. Even though he always goof around in the set, they now realized that the kindness he is showing to them is real. Hodong can't help but to smile proudly to his younger brother, and he respects him even more this time. Meanwhile, Dara is very moved with the story that she unconsciously grabbed the sleeves of James' hoodie while they were telling the story.
"By the way, how's Seiichi?" James asked Sojiro.
"Oh, he's in Nara" Sojiro replied, "Are you going to meet him?".
"No, we are leaving in the morning, there isn't enough time to see him" James told him. "Wait, how did you end up here? Your timing earlier is.. impeccable.." James chuckled.
"It's weekend, so I'm visiting my grandfather.." Sojiro replied. He was on his way to his grandfather's ramen house when he saw a familiar person entered a nearby restaurant. He then waited outside in hopes of having a little reunion with James, but while waiting for him, the unprecedented commotion happened.
"Your grandfather? Wait... is this Adachi Street?" James apparently didn't realized that they are in Adachi Street, a place where he frequently hangout before with Sojiro.
"Can't blame you, lots of thing has changed here since the last time you were here" Sojiro started laughing at him.
"I would love to visit ojiisan" James got excited.
"Sure! He will be delighted to see you again.." Sojiro looked to his wristwatch, "but it's already late and I think he is already sleeping"
"Oh.." James sounds a little disappointed.
"Wait, I have an idea. Why not visit the ramen house tomorrow morning before you guys leave for the airport. All of you can have a breakfast there.. the ramen house is big enough to accommodate everyone.." Sojiro suggested an alternative solution.
"I like that, sure!" James quickly agrees to it. "Hodong hyung, Kyungkyu sunbae, Dara noona, are you guys up for it? They have the best ramen in Shinjuku" James asked the others to come as well.
"I would love to!" Dara excitingly said. "Me too!" Hodong is in. "Oh, I love to try that ramen" Kyungkyu loves that suggestion. James also asked the producers and the staff of the show, they also agrees that it was a good suggestion for a breakfast meal for everyone.
"Okay, I'll see you guys in the morning" Sojiro stood up.
"You leaving already?" James asks.
"I have to, I still need to help them to close the ramen house. And help them prepare, uh I guess 20 servings of ramen for everyone.." Sojiro laughingly explained as he did a quick count.
"Haha okay, I'll see you then. And probably make it more than 30 since there are others who are not here" James chuckled. "Oh, okay haha" Sojiro and James then bumps each other's fists.
"Thank you for the meal" Sojiro then thanked the others, especially the producers who invited him for dinner.
.
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The next morning, James and his team, as well as Dara and her team are the first ones to arrived at Hosokawa Ramen House. Just about 15 minutes later, the others arrived as well. All of them are now enjoying the most delicious ramen in Shinjuku. The ramen is so great that Hodong orders another huge bowl of ramen. James meets Sojiro's grandfather again after more than 2 years. Sojiro's grandfather is very happy to see James again, he treated him like a grandson because of what he did for his real grandson. Sojiro's grandfather is so happy that he will not charge them for the ramens they are going to eat, but of course James and the producers of the show is not going to allow that.
While everyone are still enjoying and having their breakfast. Sojiro asked them if they wanted to go to a nearby gift shop.
"We would love to!" James told him, "Dara noona would like to come?" he asked her.
"Sure!" Dara happily said.
"Okay, you guys wait for me outside. I'm just going to change my clothes, I smelled like broth" Sojiro laughingly said.
James' team and Dara's team are now outside of the ramen house waiting for Sojiro..
"Aigoo~ I'm full.. the ramen is really delicious" Dara wanted to eat more but her stomach is already full.
"Me too noona. I missed that ramen" James is happy to eat the Hosokawa's ramen again.
"I will definitely go back to this place when I visit Japan" Dara remarked.
"Noona, you will make this ramen house famous haha, and ojiisan is going to love that" James laughingly commented.
"If I mentioned your name, what's that.. uh, Kuroba Shusuke? Do I get a discount from him?" Dara jokingly said.
"Noona, no need to do that. Ojiisan will always remember you since he is going to put your picture in the wall" James starts laughing.
Even in the morning, Adachi street is already crowded because of the restaurants and shops. Good thing Dara is wearing a face mask to hide her identity. In the busy and crowded street of Adachi, James happened to look at the right moment in the glass window of a nearby shop where he caught a glimpse of a very familiar figure in the reflection..
"Natsuki-chan??!!" James muttered.
"What?" Dara, Yuna and the others looked at him.
"uh.. noona, wait here... e-excuse me, I'll be back.." James immediately run after that very familiar figure.
.
Several seconds later Sojiro finally got out from the ramen house..
"Sorry guys, I can't find my other socks. huh? where's Kuroba-san?" Sojiro asked for James' whereabouts.
"He ran after someone, I think he saw another friend of his. " Dara said to Sojiro.
"Oh a friend, hmm I wonder who it is.." Sojiro starts to think who might that possibly.
"I heard him said Natsuki-chan.." Yuna told Sojiro.
"W-What did you say?!... N-N-Natsuki-chan?" Sojiro's voice stutters and his eyes grew big when he heard the name Natsuki.
"Y-yes.." Yuna and the others seems confused on Sojiro's reaction.
"Which direction did he go?? Where?!" Sojiro is grabbing both of Yuna's shoulders.
"T-that way.." Yuna points to her left.
"You guys stay here. Don't go anywhere else and wait for us. I will get him back.." Sojiro sprinted away and hurriedly went to the direction where James went.
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To be continued...