I do not own Skip Beat.
Enjoy!
Nobody had told them how long it would take for a professional looking CD to be developed or be taken by shops.
Astar turned 17 when they all received a notification that their CD was out and could be brought in store and online.
But they wanted a physical copy so they could either wait for a month for copies to be sent to them or they could go to every music store in the state and haunt it down.
So, they hopped into Kuon mother car and went from music shop to music shop trying to find their CD in the state, Kuon got several looks from girls who had never seen him before as they were doing so.
And then when all hope seemed lost, they found it.
Vigour.
On the cover was a cool looking heart.
However the CD was at the back of the rack, they took it and paid for it before heading back to Kuon place to listen to the music.
They put it in the laptop and even got a loudspeaker software to play it on before hitting play.
When that drum started, it would be a lie if everybody did not feel a rush of pride hearing their song come out of the laptop.
It was by far the proudest moment of their lives.
"Hey, dad. The CD is out. You can download it now" said, Shawn talking his father and he wasn't the only talking to a family member.
All of their family agreed to support them by buying the album when it came out.
And of course, in school, they proudly showed off their CD's when they got them and was selling them for 5 bucks.
They had spent their allowance buying the album so that they can listen to it where ever they went.
The pride they all felt only lasted a week though because they were then slapped with reality, the reality of albums released by musicians that can easily top the charts, where their record did not even enter the top 500.
When they heard what was flying off shelves and making bank online, reality gave them a cold hard slap.
Their Album did not compare at all to the world class musician currently making million out there.
There was not only a giant difference in skill but also the fan base spanned all over the world.
So it was with depression that nearing winter time in big large coats and scarves, they sat on a bench after being kicked out by Kuon mom who wanted them to see the bands doing gigs in freezing cold weather.
"We need to get stronger," said, Kuon.
"You think so too?" said, Charly.
"I was listening to a foreign star that is number one in his country, and even he is better than us despite not speaking the same language!" said, Astar.
"So…we all agree to go to some crazy expensive camp that could turn us into better musicians?" said, Shawn.
"I started searching this morning," said, Kuon, the benefit of being in America was that America had everything. "There are several camps we can go to, for Winter holiday. Its like 250 dollars per person for the holiday time."
"Why is everything so expensive!?" said, Shawn.
"My Ma, told us she can just put the money we've made into the training camp," said, Kuon.
"So all that money gone to make us better musicians?" said, Charly.
"Yep," said, Kuon.
And then they all walked away, going home and sneezing, there CD's were doing well though when they sold them at their gigs.
So hearing about the camp, each of their families made sure to drag them out of bed when the bus came for them and sent them off with their instrument strapped to them and their suitcase.
Kuon was no different, as Kuon found himself on a bus with grown men who wanted to be bigger than the beetles.
They all stared at him, as the bus picked the rest up until they headed to the training camp.
"OKAY! MAGGOTS DROP AND GIVE ME A THOUSAND!" suddenly a councillor said, the moment they got off the bus.
Wait.
What?
Out here!?
"But its freezing cold!" said, one man.
"And what will you say if you perform at a cold venue to a dozen fans who paid to see you!?" said, the councillor, before he said in a locking whiny voice. "Sorry I can't play because its too cold."
The man shut up.
"NOW DROP AND GIVE ME A THOUSAND!" shouted the councillor, and when they about to remove their instrument, he said. "With your instruments on your back."
Everybody did so.
Kuon wondered how good the others must have it.
#Scene Change#
"Why are you throwing water at me while I'm drumming!?" said, Charly.
"No questions! Drum!" said, the councilor as they were all put in a line and forced to drum while being assaulted by ice cold water.
And what Charly wouldn't do to swap with his other bandmates right now.
#Scene Change#
"KEEP SINGING! SING UNTIL YOU CAN DROWN THIS SOUND OUT!" Shouted a councillor, pressing chalk onto a chalk board.
Shawn and many others, were trying to beg the man to stop but he just did it harder, how was singing supposed to drown out chalk when their ears were bleeding from the sound!?
What Shawn wouldn't do to be his band mates right now.
#Scene Change#
Astar wanted to cry out from pain as he held a several grams heavier Bass Guitar, near him were rows of guys trying not to drop theirs.
"Before you learn how to play, you must learn how to hold your instrument" shouted the councillor. "You must know how much pressure you need to even strum one string. Those who know a bass inside and out, are world-class musicians. You will learn to play with your hands AND your feet."
What?
#Scene Change#
"KEEP RUNNING!" Shouted the councillor.
They all ran and hadn't sat down since they came here.
"To be a guitarist! You must be physically fit!" shouted the man many were wishing death upon, already.
Everybody did the same lap even if they had longer legs; the longer legs people were stopping them from stopping until they were about to pass out as well.
When they finally did stop, men were throwing up.
And then they were shown to the place; they would be staying.
For almost 300 per person, they were given a place that looked nothing more than a shack in the middle of the woods, the beds were low brow bunk beds, the toilet was outside and smelled, and the food was slop.
A lot of them felt conned.
"WHERE IS MY PHONE!" suddenly a man said. "IM GOING TO SUE THIS PLACE!"
"Is a problem?" said, the councilor that had been given them hell.
"Yes, there is a problem," said, the man. "Do you think I don't see your scam? You may pull the wall over these suckers eyes but you're not fooling me. I paid because you claimed that you trained big-name guitarists. A big fat lie! You just swallowed my money!"
"Is that so?" said, the Councilor. "Very well then, this camp will refund you and anybody who wishes to leave" stunning everybody who heard. "However, you have no right to complain when the guitarists that stay reach heights that you will never reach in your life time. Tell me, how many years do you have left before the public deems you too old to give money and attention too?"
The man's face turned red because he was 28, already his fans were moving onto much younger bands, he had come here hoping to outshine them with skill.
"Give me a refund," said, the man continuing to be stubborn.
"Please follow me, and anybody who wishes for a refund," said, the man and several got up but not all, Kuon did not dare get up despite the terrible taste in his mouth.
When dinner was done, 40 had become 25, and they were all given an assignment to build on a tune with a their guitar, they couldn't go to bed until it was deemed decent.
So many complained many were sprayed with cold water when they tried to sneakily sleep.
Kuon himself was deemed halfway decent at 3 in the morning and could sleep and was met with envious looks.
However, when he was sleeping, he could swear that somebody was staring at him throughout the bight and could feel somebody breath on his skin.
When he woke up, Kuon was shocked to find his shirt was unbuttoned.
It was safe to sag Kuon did not sleep with the rest of the guys again after that night. Instead, he went to the woods and used what his mother ham-fisted into him to make a tent in a tree.
However, on the third night, Kuon felt his heart stop when he realised he was being followed, but he managed to shake the person off and see who was following him.
He was not prepared to see three full-grown men, men he hadn't paid much attention to.
"Where is he!?" said, the fattest one, before licking his lips and saying. "Such a fine body."
Ans Kuon felt a sick.
All three of them loved young good looking males.
Kuon had heard stories about the music industry, but he never thought he would be on the other end of one, he was 16, he was in the presence of 3 paedophiles, and they had found out that they all shear the same interests and banded together to get him.
It was a terrifying thought.
That same night his mother called to see how he was doing, but for Kuon it was time to fight back, he hide a camera in a hat, and then showed up the next morning, he saw that the one of the men would follow him where ever he went.
"Excuse me, but why are you following me" He suddenly said.
The lean man stopped and said. "I'm not following you; I'm captivated by your beauty."
"But you do know I'm 16 right?" said, Kuon, making it clear to the man.
"Age is nothing but a number," said, the man. "Pretty people are pretty people."
"Sorry but I don't swing that way," Said, Kuon before finding a counsellor and the man suddenly looked innocent.
However, it wouldn't be the first incident that Kuon would be followed, and him being agile really served him well until he got to the bus.
When he came home, he told his mother what happened.
It was safe to say the idea of 3 grown men lusting after her 16-year-old son repulsed his mother and his mother smiled when he presented her with video evidence.
She put it online, discreetly and asked the internet to identify these men.
A paedophile case?
It hit number one on the web, as many went to work, before finally finding out everything to know about them and positing it online for everybody to see.
When their small group of fans saw clear proof that the person they're worshipped liked underage boys, the men were ruined, their place of work wanted nothing to do with, and the police even arrested then when they saw the clear intent to go after a minor thanks to the video.
If the person taking the video hadn't been so smart and agile, everybody could imagine it would become a camp that ruined a person's life.
Meanwhile, Kuon went to meet his bandmates in the studio, each of them looked physically more fit than when he saw them last and hardened.
"So how was your camp?" said, Kuon.
"IT WAS GOD AWFUL!" yelled Shawn.
"I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK!" yelled the usually quiet Charly.
"I WANTED TO KICK A COUNCILLOR OFF A CLIFF!" said, Astar.
So he wasn't the only one imagining his councillors death. Kuon noted.
"Let's start," said, Kuon and than they all began to play.
However, they all stopped immediately afterwards.
They didn't need to watch themselves to realise one thing.
Everybody on the band had a completely different level of skill than previously.
They were out of sync.
# Rockbar Label#
"Its the yearly Rookie Band competition soon," said, the vice chairman of the label.
"What Rookie Bands do we have to send?" said, the Chairman. "Or is nobody doing well enough to warrant attention."
"Well, we have three Rookie Bands," said, the vice chairman looking. "However the band Vigour is doing exceptionally well."
"Oh, how so?" said, the Chairman.
"We actually got some profit out of them, and they have even released a single" Said, the vice chairman shocking the man.
"Wait, isn't Vigour that group made from 16-year boys?" said, the man.
"One of them is now 17," said, the vice chairman correcting him. "They play at a night club now, and their manager is sending money from it. We are even getting royalty's from their album. They have sold 830 copies so far."
"WHAT!?" said, the chairman, for a band that was soon going to cross one years old, this was a shocking number. "This Vigour...have you ever been to one of their gigs? How good are they?"
"I have not," said, the Vice Chairman. "However, we can listen to their CD; we do have our own copies sent to us and its even online."
So the man went online to purchase the album, and both of them listened to it together.
You would think the pubescent voices would be a hindrance but it added to the charm, and then they got to the last song, and they didn't know what to say.
"...Is this really an album made by guys who don't have hair on their chin to shave" said, the Chairman amazed.
"There is something there," said, Vice Chairman. "And I heard they each went to a training camp and recently came back. Don't you think they may be our most promising rookie?"
"Send them," said, the chairman making the other blink. "I don't care how young they are, send them to the Rookie band competition. We may witness something amazing."
Amazing, indeed.
And scene!
Next chapter, the team is struggling to learn about each other now that they all have much higher skill levels when they hear they've been entered into the Yearly Rookie Band Competition. A competition that is broadcasted on live television. Review/fav and follow!