PROLOGUE

"Welcome to TalkJapan, I'm Aira Takumi our host! Our first story today: Two young men, Izaya Orihara and Shizuo Hewajima, have become extremely popular on social media for singing duets! In the studio today we have Izaya Orihara. Hello Orihara-kun, welcome to the studio!"

The bubbly talk-show presenter turned to Izaya, her caramel hair bouncing as she did so. Izaya had a show-stopping grin on his face.

"Hello, Aira-san! It's a pleasure to be here! You can call me by my first name if you want." He winked at the camera, most likely making many women swoon in from of their TVs.

"So Izaya-kun, is it true that you and Hewajima-kun actually hate each other in real life despite having sung many duets?"

"Getting right down to business, eh~? Yeah, it's true. For some reason, whenever we meet we end up feeling fighting. I think Shizu-chan has said before that it because of my smirk, but I think he just hates my guts." Izaya grinned heartily.

"If that's so, how do you two ever complete your duets?" The talk-show host was intrigued, and rightly so.

"Well, me and Shizu-chan have two mutual friends, Shinra Kishitani and Celty Sturleson. Shinra delegates the parts and plays the instrumentals, before he gives then to Celty, his girlfriend, and she brings a copy to each of us. We never even meet in person."

"So this Kishitani-kun must play a lot of instruments to do all the instrumentals!"

"Yep. He's a musician but he isn't very popular, sadly. So all the viewers should go and see him on YouTube- he has great music and he's currently in the middle of writing an original song for me and Shizu-chan to see! Isn't that great?"

"Wow! Can you tell us anything about this song?"

"Well, let's just say it's a love song. Oh, look at the time! I've got to rehearse the latest cover- it'll be on YouTube on Friday, so subscribe to mine and Shizu-chan's channels to get notifications of all new covers!"

The talk show ended and it was just adverts. Shizuo turned of the TV. He got out his phone and dialled. Izaya picked up.

"IIIZZAAAAYAAAAAAA!"