Once again the AINORI members are in sunny South Africa. This week the
members are visiting the the capital,
Pretoria.
The entire city seems to be blanketed in beautiful purple blossoms called
Jacaranda Blossoms. Under this canopy classical government and
scholastic buildings line the streets.
For lunch the AINORI crew dine at a fine restaurant serving a steak
dinner, the local delicacy. They are very impressed by the steak when the
find out that it is made of ostrich meat. HAORO is happy to exact his
revenge on the bird that put him in the hospital. As HAORO is shoveling
the bird into his gullet, he lets out an accidental burp and winces in
pain, his still damaged collar serves as a constant reminder.
JURI happily calls out HAORO's name and they sit under the shade of a
nearby tree. HAORO is very happy whenever he sees her. They talk briefly
and HAORO leaves with a smile on his face. Later back on the LOVEWAGON,
KOHEI makes another attempt to smoothen things over with MIKI. She
proceeds to tell him how different they are and that it is impossible for
them to have a relationship together.
At the next rest stop, KOHEI stays back and begins to cry. He can't
seem to leave MIKI alone no matter how mean she is to him. He takes more
preverbal shots to the head and real ones to his heart. Meantime JURI has
been sitting in front of the couple listening to everything as it has
transpired. She says she really likes KOHEI and wonders about MIKI.
JURI receives a letter from her family. She has never left home before
so they are very close. It wishes her luck and it gives her the strength
to put her next plan into action. She wants to encourage KOHEI to be
strong and to let him know that she likes him so she will write him a
'love song'. To be fair, that afternoon she has a special song for each of
the guys on the group. She has changed the lyrics to three different
children's songs to suit each of the guys and sings them to the group.
First she sings a song to HAKASE and when she's done, hands him the
lyrics.
Next she sings a song to HAORO who's smiling cheek to cheek. Finally
she sings her song to KOHEI. The lyrics are much stronger and KOHEI gets
very embarrassed. MR. DOMINIC doesn't receive a song from JURI possibly
not even aware that he IS the fourth man in the group. Late in the
afternoon while the members are busy exploring Pretoria, KAJI walks up to
the LOVEWAGON to speak with MR. DOMINIC. MR. DOMINIC doesn't know exactly
what to say and eventually asks her if she would like to go for a ride.
KAJI gladly accepts.
MR. DOMINIC let's out his token sigh of exasperation as KAJI runs to
the passenger side door. While driving around KAJI brings up the general
topic of relationships. MR. DOMINIC politely let's her know that he isn't
in the market for a girlfriend right now (being a millionaire playboy and
all!). KAJI goes silent for a moment and soon MR. DOMINIC apologizes that
his Japanese isn't very eloquent and hopes he hasn't been totally rude.
KAJI says she understood and that it was ok . . .
That evening KAJI gives the producer her impressions of their
'ride-together'. She doesn't have too much to say but expresses that she
has dug herself into hole and isn't sure how she'll get out. In his room
KOHEI is busy training again so that must mean he is planning to meet with
MIKI!
And sure enough KOHEI meets with MIKI early that evening in the parking
lot behind their hotel. Of course it's the usual silence interspersed with
the occasional character attack. MIKI is unaffected as usual. Frustrated,
KOHEI tells MIKI if she keeps living the way she is she'll be a strong
woman but will have very stern eyes. This, compounded by other recent
attacks, seems to penetrate her hard shell and she begins to cry.
She tells KOHEI about how her parents got divorced when she was 9 years
old. She talks about how hard it was on her mother. MIKI says she kept
smiling and hid her feelings to make it easier on her mom. Even though she
would often cry when she was alone. She says she became very good at
keeping her feelings hidden on the inside
KOHEI doesn't how to handle this sudden burst of emotion from this
usually stoic girl and does the best thing he knows to do. He walks over
to the LOVEWAGON (wait a minute, weren't they just BY the LOVEWAGON?! 「Bad
edit!」) and asks MR. DOMINIC for a ticket!! The hosts can't believe this
guy. MIKI doesn't do anything but make KOHEI's life miserable!
Is there any chance at all that this scheme of KOHEI's is
going to work? Will MIKI remain exposed and vulnerable and open to a
relationship with this guy who is obviously stupid in love with her? Or
will she once again become an island and send KOHEI back to his? Also next
week the members are leaving South Africa. Can KAJI convince MR. DOMINIC
to go home with her or will she have to leave her playboy behind. All
these questions will
be answered on
next weeks show!
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