Chapter Text
Band Practice Break
Taiga and Akira were outside the studio taking their regular smoke break. They didn't frequently smoke but every once and awhile they dabbled into some cigarettes. "You know Sasaki seems like he'd be some self-centered carrot head but" Taiga paused. "But?" Aki ears perked up as he stared at Taiga. He took another drag out of his cigarette as he continued, "He's actually really good at helping people" he said. Taiga thought about it for awhile before actually responding. As much as that punk got on his nerves he never thought of it that way. "Yeah he is, why bring that up though?" he asked Taiga.
"I don't know it just reminded me of when he first joined of how much a brat he was" Taiga dragged the cigarette once more as a cloud of gray smoke followed. Aki shrugged, "The way I see it…he was only a complete brat due to puberty" He said. "For someone so young, he's crazy good at guitar" he held onto his cigarette. Aki felt confused as what is Taiga is getting at here. He continued his point, "I think fundamentally he's a good guy, just messes up every now and again ya know" he tapped his cigarette in the cigarette bin close by. He took another drag, as Taiga stared at him. "You really are observant aren't ya despite you always spacing out during practice sometimes" Taiga chuckled as he put out his cigarette.
Aki rolled his eyes "gee thanks mom" he followed suit as he threw away his cigarette. "C'mon let's head back before Shuumei rips our heads off" he chuckled.
Honestly, I don't think its because he wants to help that kid, its definitely more like a strong urge to protect him. It might even be…
While Taiga and Aki stepped out for a smoking break Shuumei took this time to show Yoshikazu the basics of learning his guitar. Might as well he taught him at this point. "First things first" he pointed towards the pickups of the guitar, the coil strings. "You want to play between the pickups here" he instructed. "Okay" Yoshikazu nodded.
"Since you're just starting out memorize a few chords for fun.. it helps in the long run" he stated. He moved his fingers gently against them as he turned up his volume knob as he played the infamous A chord on his telecaster. That familiar feeling, the one Yoshikazu knows. Whenever he sees Shuumei play the guitar it's all he thinks about.
“Then you should learn a simple song” Shuumei continued. Should Yoshikazu be taking notes at this point? The words were certainly going through one ear onto the next. He figured to respond to at least give the impression to Shuumei that he's listening when all he can do is just stare at his face. “Okay” Yoshikazu said not thinking much of it.
“It doesn't have to be complex, just learn it one step at the time.. the intro” Shuumei continued. “Yeah” Yoshikazu answered. Shuumei didn't think much of it as he went onto the give him a reminder. “Remember you're playing to have fun a lot of people tend to forget about that part” Shuumei stared at Yoshikazu whose eyes were clearly not on his guitar but him. “Did you even understand what I even said?” Shuumei asked.
“Yeah” Yoshikazu answered.
Shuumei felt his inner wrath slipping through but he did give him a whole word salad. “You do know you can answer with anything but 'Yeah' right?” he had his head still lowered. He fully expecting him to probably say now 'Okay'. He wondered if that were the only two words in his vocabulary ever since he met him. Otherwise from 'Can you please teach me? Please' very limited.
I have no idea if I'm even getting through to him at this point.
Yoshikazu took this time to strum his fingers against the guitar. His stance wasn't perfect as he looked a little wonky just stammering against the strings. If he isn't careful they could possibly snag once again. Shuumei's hands were in his face at this point. He quickly lowered it once he heard Taiga announce him and Aki were back from their annual smoke break.
Taiga took notice of Yoshikazu, he currently is strumming his guitar. A big step from only knowing one chord. He witnessed him experimenting with the Gibson in real time. “Hey hey Yoshi, if you're serious about learning music you'll need something” he softly smiled. Music certainly isn't cheap. Taiga already didn't have much from his graduate stipend. If only he could be young and naïve living with his parents again. Those were the golden days.
Picking up Taiga's drift, Shuumei sighed. He couldn't juggle three careers at once but the bigger picture is important. One day he'll be selling out arenas with the Seasons and possibly Yoshikazu. “That's something I have a hard time with” Shuumei sighed not wanting to even think about it. Sure, he helped out with his family bakery, his parents hardly paid him a cent always saying 'It's for his college fund'. The only way he actually makes money is working at Jirou's family convenience store and they don't pay enough to cover studio time. Shuumei could also sell CDs but that meant more live shows. Which in the end, burnt out his pocket even further. He began taking up odd jobs he could do on days of their breaks. Yet.. no luck.
“Ah that” Aki closed his eyes not wanting to think about it. He is currently struggling to find a studio apartment he could live in that is close to all his jobs, university and to their current studio. He kept finding the equivalent of a shoe closet. That could not even account for his drum set, violin set or guitars. He surely didn't want to play in a storage unit just to get to hone on his skills. Not to mention his workout material. It was a mess.
“What is it?” Yoshikazu confused about what is so special about it
“Glad you asked” Taiga smirked as he dropped multiple part-time magazines on the ground. Some specifically tailored to teenagers — he used them before in helping Shuumei find all his odd jobs and even the current ones he has now such as Jirou's convenience store despite some calling it nepotism.
“Money” Taiga laughed like an evil villain as he held up a 1000 yen dollar bill. “The world is controlled by money. Anyone in a band needs money, money for speakers, and for studio rentals and...” the list grew longer and longer. “Hurry and pick something from this pile” Shuumei grinned mischievously. Yoshikazu backed away to the wall only for them to follow and bring the magazines.
Yoshikazu decided his fate as he gripped onto a magazine called 'Job Search: Path of independence in teenagers and young adults'.
Cat got my tongue, and I don't think I get along with anyone
Blood runnin' cold, I'm on the outside of the greatest inside joke
ballad of a homeschooled girl by Olivia Rodrigo
Birds loudly chirping in the distance. Wind gently passing by the trees. Chatter among students in the classroom. Simple afternoon bliss.
“So are like you guys friends now or what?” Jirou asked. He held onto his milk box. Shuumei flinched, holding his yokisoba pan “Who are you even talking about?” he asked.
Jirou slurping on his milk box, “I don't know man that kid from next door” he paused trying to think of his name as he only heard it in passing once. “Was it Mi.. Miy.. something” he shrugged. “You mean Miyano?” Shuumei stared at him confused. “YES him, so what's even happening between you two? Don't think I haven't noticed you ditching basketball for him” Jirou rolled his eyes.
“I mean you and him have gotten quite close lat—” Jirou explained before getting interrupted by their other friend, Kyouji. Shuumei flinched once more at this interrogation. “What he's trying to say is.. the girls from the school next door have taken notice especially considering you're both have different personalities” he smirked. There were multiple girls with their eyes on Yoshikazu and maybe a few guys too. “So we're just wondering why since you know you can be a real pain in the ass Shuu.. Are you bothering him?” he joked.
Shuumei scoffed. Of course. “So, they're gossiping about us? Is it not normal for us to hang out? And why does it even matter?” he asked. Kyouji interrupted, “Not much about you but more about Yoshikazu.. he's pretty cool if you ask me. He has a lot of fans but they're pretty low-key about it considering how unapproachable he is. So when they saw you talking to him, many backed off immediately” he admitted. For some reason when hearing that he felt a strange feeling in his chest. Normally he could care less about what a few girls saw about the boys at their school. He knew the right one would come at the right time.
Just as he wanted to say something to even encourage fans to leave Yoshikazu alone. A classmate yelled “Shuumei! The kid next door is here for you”. Speak of the devil huh? He felt glad Yoshikazu came to 'save' him from what could've been a disaster.
Then with complete honesty, Kyouji whispered “Are you guys gay or what?” he knew there is no heterosexual explanation for them. A scene that could only be straight out of a bishojo game. This made Shuumei choke on his split. Shuumei quickly got up bringing his lunch and gig back to go with Yoshikazu to their usual spot.
After his long pleading, their official lessons at school are held during their lunch breaks.
Shuumei sat in front of him showing him the basics of strumming. Despite their guitars being different brands, there is not much of a difference in learning. “As you're strumming, you want to kinda quickly strike the strings here” his arm on the neck of his pick-up. He demonstrated strumming as he played a simple cord. He turned to Yoshikazu as it is now his turn. “Got it?” he asked.
Yoshikazu played the exact note back at him. Pleased enough, Shuumei went on further to explain “If you do that in sequence then..” he repeated the chord creating a loop.
Yoshikazu is picking this up faster than I expected. For someone who doesn't know anything about music he sure has a good ear. It's always cool to see someone learn something new and get good fast. Is that how people saw me?
The strange feeling came back to Shuumei once again. This time not about Yoshikazu's possible fans, truly his skill. It took him countless sleepless nights to get where he is now whereas Yoshikazu understood in fifteen minutes. How does he even compare with that?
Yoshikazu is truly a mystery to him.
I still don't understand his motivation to learn music.. and also that guitar. That's no rookie guitar. How could a non-musician even have that?
“Hey. Is that your dad's old guitar or something?” Shuumei pointed towards the guitar. Yoshikazu went pale. His fingers that were perfectly fine began fidgeting and he felt the tears coming. He knew Shuumei doesn't seem to know about his dad but that never made the weight of the casual question didn't affect him, 'How's your dad? or where's your dad?' those could get him crying a river in no time. He wanted to avoid this conversation as much as he could. Shuumei backed off once he got this huge reaction out of him
“Nevermind that.. what type of music do you like?” Shuumei asked.
Yoshikazu sighed as he almost had a flare up.
On a hot summer afternoon, Toukai played his guitar in his studio as Yoshikazu coloured next to him. Frustrated as he could not figure out the notes he wanted to write his new song with, Yoshikazu looked up at his father's stress ridden face. Yoshikazu cried as he never liked to see his father upset. He always argued it ruined his face. Taking him out of his thoughts, he stared over at his son who had tears falling down his face as he held a blue crayon in his hand. He rested down the guitar down immediately as he went over to his son.
"Shh" he took him up and began rocking him to calm him down. "It's okay Yoshi, I'm here now" he gave him a reassuring smile. Tears stopping as Yoshikazu stared at his father. He is smiling again which is good. He attempted to escape his father's arms as he gave him a drawing that he drew of his father. Toukai's eyebrows furrowed unsure how to look at the picture. On one hand, his motor skills were improving as the stick man actually looked like a stick man. Was that a guitar? He smiled as it definitely a picture of him. "Wow, this is amazing" he complimented his son.
"Really?" Yoshikazu's eyes lit up as he smiled widely.
"Yes, my amazing artistic son" he ruffled Yoshikazu's hair.
Yoshikazu pointed at the guitar as he wanted his turn in playing it. Toukai chuckled as he had recently gotten it - but he liked to spoil his son. Though he figured he would hear it from Yuki later at dinner that he should never learn the guitar. Toukai sat Yoshikazu in his lap as he dragged the guitar strap around his body. He gently would place Yoshikazu's hands on the guitar, taking full control with his as he strummed on the guitar. "Papa I'm playing it!" he smiled up at his father. "Yes you are" he chuckled as he began softly singing a song about a boy and his crayon.
The memory always ended with a slight hum, one that Yoshikazu can recognize anywhere. Only his father could produce it. He often used this hum in helping him fall asleep when awoken from an nightmare. After realizing he's been reliving his memory once again, Shuumei crouched down in-front of him. He held onto his hands as he had realized tears now were on flowing down his cheeks. Just great. The one thing I was trying to avoid.
"Look Yoshikazu" he encouraged Yoshikazu to look up at him.
How long have I been replaying that memory? He definitely finds me ridiculous now.
Shuumei took out the handkerchief out of his pocket as he gave Yoshikazu for his tears. Yoshikazu gently wiped them. "I didn't know this would be a difficult topic for you, I'm sorry truly" he apologized. He felt horrible knowing he is the cause of this meltdown. Shuumei stood up as he figured to take his leave. He placed his guitar into his gig bag only to be stopped by Yoshikazu. He remembered the question Shuumei had asked ten minutes ago.
"I don't have a favourite genre.. but whether I like it or not there's this song that always playing in my head. I can never get it out" Yoshikazu said. Shuumei zipped up the bag as he rested it on his lap. "Uh huh, well what does that song sound like, if you don't mind me asking?" he asked. Yoshikazu thought about it for a moment as he attempted to re-create the song he heard.
"la la la la la"
The world around them came to a halt while Yoshikazu sang. Shuumei couldn't take his eyes off him. His heart palpated faster as he continued each note. Who knew a non-musician could have vocals like that? the universe definitely have their favourites. Shuumei felt blessed as each note resonated with the empty room. Yoshikazu turned to him, "So, that's how it goes" he said. Yoshikazu felt exhausted as he knew his vocals could never compare to his father's he had tried his best. Shuumei lowered his head immediately as he attempted to hide his tears. Droplets fell on top of his gig bag which left Yoshikazu concerned.
"Shuumei?" he asked as he tried to get a glimpse of his face.
Yoshikazu stared back up him as he exclaimed, "Will you join our band?"
…
Did he even understand what I just SAID?
“No” Yoshikazu declined.