A rock band stood inside a large recording studio. On the wall behind them read the name "Sony Records Japan". They were performing a song for their new album. Two people sat at the mixing deck. A young woman and a young man. They sit, listening to the band moving equalizer sliders as the band continues their song. The young woman was wearing a T-Shirt that read SCANDAL 2014 WORLD TOUR. It was Haruna. She gestured them out of the room.

"How was it?" asked the lead singer.

Haruna shook her head.

"It's okay," she said. "Needs a little more work though. You guys take a break and we'll have listen to it."

They nodded and left the room. In the distance, the door to the outside could be heard opening and closing.

"Were you just saying that or did you mean it?" asked the young man next to her.

"They have potential," said Haruna. "They just need to put more effort into their music, that's all. Give it some more passion."

"Sony will be on your case," he said. "This album is already two weeks late."

"You can't rush perfection," said Haruna. She grabbed a pair of headphones and threw them on.

Several small children, no older than her own daughter, sit in a classroom full of various musical instruments. They sit, chatting to each other. Rina entered the classroom and the children were quiet instantly.

"Good morning teacher!" rang the children's voices.

"Well good morning children!" said Rina. "And how are you?"

"Fine thank you," they called. "And you?"

"I'm fine too," said Rina.

She picked up a grey book and took a register. After every kid declared themselves present she laid it down and turned to look at them.

"Now today," she said. "We're going to be making a lot of noise. The principal has allowed you to play the drums. So stand up and get some sticks from the cupboard."

"Yeah!" cried the kids. They all shot up and raced to the store cupboard.

A key scraped a lock. The door was unlocked and it opened slowly. Mami entered her tiny apartment. She took off her boots and set them down next to the door. Being a street sweeper, her house; just like the streets she sweeps, it is immaculate. Mami took great pride in her apartment, despite how small and dingy it was. Everything had a place. She filled a steel kettle up, placed it on the gas ring and began to boil some water.

Mami left the kitchen and sat down on her tiny bed. Next to her bed was a small framed photograph of a little girl. She looked no older then about four or five years old. She had long black hair, and her eyes. She had Mami's eyes. Mami picked up the photograph and looked at the little girl. The little girl also had her nose and the same wide smile. A small tear welled up in the corner of her eye. It fell and splashed onto the picture. In the distance, her kettle whistled. Mami put the photograph aside and went to the kettle.

She took it off and began making herself a cup of tea. After she finished she took a seat on her small sofa. She pulled out her cellphone. A battered old Sony Xperia. She scrolled through it and found the number she was looking for. She pressed "dial" and waited. There was a ringing and then a gruff voice answered.

"Hello?" it said.

"Hello," she said timidly. "It's Mami. Is Haruka there?"

"Haruka?" he asked.

"Yes," replied Mami. "Our daughter. Is she there?"

"No," he said. "She's at school now. It's Monday."

Mami nodded.

"Yes," she said. "Of course. I'll call back later, when she's at home."

The man hung up. Mami pressed the "end" button with shaking fingers. She placed her cellphone next to her before putting her head in her hands and crying silently.

A large black Honda NSX roared across the Rainbow Bridge onto Odaiba Island. It passed the monorail and overtook several cars on its journey. The owner revving the engine to the red line before changing gear. They reached the end of the bridge and stopped at the traffic lights. The engine rumbling with a rowdy idle. The lights changed to green and the car drove off slowly.

The car drove slowly down a narrow street. This street was lined with large, luxury and expensive houses. The car drove to the end of the street and pulled into the driveway of the house at the end. It was a large, two storey house in complete darkness. The engine of the car was stopped. The door opened and Haruna exited. She was wearing high-heeled boots, mini skirt and her SCANDAL world tour T-Shirt. She closed the door. The car locked itself as she walked up the driveway.

She flashed her ID Card at the door. It unlocked and the lights in the house fired up, casting a subtle, white glow around the building. Haruna entered the house and placed her keys into a small china bowl next to the door. She removed her boots and walked into through the house into the enormous kitchen. Her house was huge, easily big enough for a family three times larger then hers.

She opened the fridge and pulled out a ready made meal. She took it out of the packaging and slid it into the microwave. She entered a time and the microwave started. She left the kitchen and into the bedroom. She flicked on the light and the room was bathed in yellow light. Her bedroom was just as large as the kitchen with a huge walk in wardrobe and an en-suite bathroom. She opened the wardrobe and started picking out things to wear around the house.

She froze as she found a black and white checked shirt. It was a man's shirt. She picked it up and held it in her hands carefully. She felt the fabric on her skin. She then sniffed it. It had the smell of a person. A man. That person was her ex boyfriend. She missed his smell. The smell of the expensive perfume he always used to wear. At once, the scene of their break-up ran like a movie in her mind.

"All you do is work!" he said. "You're always gone when I wake up and you always arrive home so late."

"What do you expect?" asked Haruna. "I can't work close to home like you."

"I never asked you to," he replied. "All I ask is that you come home a little earlier at night so we can spend time together. We live with each other but we seldom see each other. I saw more of you when we were dating."

"It's different now," said Haruna.

"Yes," he said. "Now we're living together it doesn't matter what time you get home, cause I'll always be here."

He turned and walked away. Haruna chased after him.

"Wait!" she called.

She came back to reality. She seemed to be standing over the microwave with the door open with no recollection of being there. She sighed and pulled out her dinner from the machine. She transferred it to a plate and closed the door. She carried the plate into the lounge and sat on her giant sofa. She poured herself a glass of red wine and turned of her huge 72" Sony BRAVIA TV.

At once an advertisement began. It featured songs from rock bands ten years past. One of the songs playing was Scandal- Haruka. Haruna looked up at the advertisement at once.

"Back due to popular demand," began the host. "A one night collection of the greatest rock bands in Japanese music history. Featuring UVERworld, Aqua Timez, X Japan and many many more. Come to the Odaiba Stadium on New Years Eve and welcome the new year in style."

After that came a phone number and a listing price of the tickets. Haruna looked at the clock on her wall. It was November 1st. She sighed. The commercial ended and her favourite TV Show began. She began to eat her ready made dinner, the sound of her massive TV echoing around her empty house.

The red Nissan Cube rolled to a stop outside a house in suburban Saitama. The house has two storeys and nothing about it could make it different to everyone else's. It was a normal looking suburban house. The only indicator that shows people of their wealth is the large, black Nissan GT-R parked in the driveway. Tomomi smiled as she rolled to a stop behind it. At once a large floodlight illuminated, bathing her in bright white light. She got out of her car.

A brown cat kissed up to her.

"Hello Neko-Chan," she said sweetly.

The cat mewed at her. Tomomi walked to the door and entered the house. The cat trotted merrily behind her. Tomomi closed the door and the cat was kissing up to her, almost like she wanted something.

"Did Keisuke forget to feed you?" she asked.

"On the contrary," he said. "Her bowl is full."

Tomomi entered the kitchen to see Keisuke cooking salmon. The cat turned her attention to him and was eyeing the salmon with beady eyes. Tomomi looked down to see a large portion of fresh tuna in Neko-Chan's bowl.

"What Tuna isn't enough for you honey?" asked Tomomi sweetly.

"Yes," said Keisuke. "But I much prefer Salmon."

Tomomi looked at him.

"I was talking to the cat," she said but a smile played on her lips.

"I know," he said.

He cut off a small section of salmon and dropped it into the cat's bowl.

"There you go," he said. "I should have called you Garfield."

The cat meowed at him in thanks and began to devour the fish.

"Are you trying to turn her into one of those fat, contented house cats?" asked Tomomi watching Keisuke grilling the salmon.

"Yes indeed I am," he said. "There's nothing cuter than a fat house cat."

Tomomi giggled. She stood up and kissed her boyfriend.

"I'm going to have a shower," she said. "Mrs. Kanagawa threw up on me this afternoon."

"Thanks for that." said Keisuke. "We're just about to have dinner."

She chucked again and kissed him on the cheek.

"Don't start without me," she said.

"I will," he said.

Half an hour later, Tomomi emerged from the bedroom wearing sweat pants and a T-Shirt. She entered the kitchen and saw the table laid with grilled salmon and vegetables. To complete this was a small bottle of Californian wine. Tomomi sat down at the table and looked around.

"Keisuke?" she asked. "Where are you?"

There was the sound of a flushing toilet to answer her question. He exited the bathroom and walked over to the table.

"Did you wash your hands?" she asked.

"Yes, I did," he said.

He sat down opposite her. At once she began to eat. It was delicious.

Rina laid down her spoon. She had just enjoyed a delightful meal of curry and rice. She sat back in her chair and looked very, very relaxed. Her husband had also just finished eating, he too laid down his spoon. His trousers were uncomfortably tight. After loosening a couple of notches on his belt, he felt much more comfortable.

"Thank you Mummy," said Yuki as she too finished her dinner. Like most children she hadn't quite mastered the use of basic cutlery. There was segments of rice all over her mouth and chin.

"Oh Yuki," said Rina. She got up and grabbed a towel, wiping Yuki's face. "You're so messy."

"I'm sorry mummy," she said smiling.

"It's okay," said Rina. "You ate all your dinner so I forgive you."

Ota stood up and began to clean the table of all the dirty dishes. Rina began helping him.

"I was going to do that," she said.

"It's okay," he said. "I can do that, you can help Yuki with her homework."

He turned on the water and began to clean the dirty dishes. Rina helped Yuki out of her chair.

"Okay Yuki," said Rina. "Go get your homework."

Yuki sidled off to her bedroom and picked up her school bag. She carried it into the lounge and perched herself on the sofa next to her mother, who was waiting for her.

On the TV was the same show Haruna was watching. Rina looked up at it as she waited for Yuki. Yuki took out her books and spread them on the table. Her mother tore her eyes from the TV and turned her attention to her daughter.

"It's English mummy," she said. "Is that okay?"

Rina nodded. She knew a little English, but she wasn't sure if it would be enough to help her daughter.

"Let me see," she said.

Yuki took out her homework. It was very easy. It was simply the names of animals.

"Okay," said Rina. She took the stack of pictures and held them up for her daughter to see.

"What's this one?" she asked.

"It's a cat," replied Yuki.

Rina nodded and changed the card.

"It's a lion," said Yuki at once.

"Well done," said Rina in a voice of praise.

She picked up another one. It was a picture of a Turtle.

"What's this one?" asked Rina.

Yuki looked at it. She knew this, but she didn't remember how to say it.

"It's a..." she began. Her mind was blank.

"It's a..." she said again.

Rina looked at it.

"T...T..." hinted Rina, trying to help her.

"It's a...T..." said Yuki.

She was silent for a moment.

"Turnip!" she cried at last.

Rina turned the card around slowly.

"It's a Turtle," said Rina smiling.

"Oh no!" she said. Her face falling slightly. "A Turtle."

Rina smiled at her.

"It's okay," she said. "Don't worry."

She laid down the card on the table.

"Mummy," said Yuki. "What's a Turnip?"

"You're a Turnip!" said Rina playfully.

She reached for her daughter and began to tickle her.

"No Mummy!" said Yuki, struggling to talk through her fits of laughing. "You're a Turnip!"

"You're a big Turnip!" called Rina tickling her daughter harder.

"You're a Turnip monster!" called her daughter as she laughed harder.

"Turnip monster eats naughty children!" called Rina.

"Oh no!" said Yuki. "Daddy help me!"

Her father peered around from the kitchen to see the two girls having an enormous tickle fight.

"Go on Yuki!" he yelled. "Go get her!"

Yuki flailed her arms around as her mother tickled her. She lifted her tiny feet and began to tickle her mother's side. Rina jumped back in shock. Yuki leapt up and began tickling her mother. Ota stood and watched them fighting.

"Go Yuki!" he yelled. "Go Yuki!"

Yuki tickled her mother with passion.

"Okay!" she called. "Okay! I surrender! I surrender!"

Yuki stopped tickling her mother. Rina sat up, both of them were out of breath.

"Oh my!" gasped Rina smiling at her daughter.

"I have to go to the bathroom," said Yuki. "Mummy you made me laugh so much I almost pee myself."

Yuki stood up and raced into the bathroom. Her mother watched her, a smile played on her face.

"She'll be a heartbreaker when she gets older," said her father.

"She already is," said Rina.

Her attention was turned to the commercial on the TV. It was playing Scandal- Haruka. It was the same commercial that Mami had seen, moments before. Rina watched it with interest.

The toilet flushed and Yuki emerged from the bathroom. She bounded to the sofa and slammed herself next to her mother. She turned her attention to the TV.

"Mummy," she said. "I recognize this song. It's called Haruka isn't it?"

Rina looked at her daughter.

"Yes," she said. "How did you know that?"

"You played it in the car to school a few times," replied Yuki. "Who is the singer?"

"Let's do some more of these words shall we?" asked Rina picking up the flashcards. Yuki tore her eyes away from the TV and back to her flashcards. If it was, in a half-hearted manner.