Part VI
It is within the next span of days that Lucia, Hanon and Rina all take it upon themselves to look up any information on Taiki and his mother Sylvia. In the presence of Nicole, they find out all of the details in the public records about his tragic past including the murder of his mother Sylvia, the subsequent actions of Taiki being lost in the shuffle and going out of attention before arriving at his most recent appearance in the news. He was a special guest star at the rock and glam metal band's concert. None of them can believe this at first, but it then sinks in for the Princesses just how right he was when he was talking to them about what he had lost when they see what had transpired with his father Kazuo, whom had left everything to him and Sylvia.
Nicole: Oh my goodness… that young man doesn't deserve what he's going through right now. There must be something we can do for him and help him return to his rightful home.
Lucia: Nicole, he knows of the legend of the allies from the surface; his mother seems to have taught him about it, from what he told us.
They put their heads together in an attempt to figure this out when they arrive back at the hotel, while Taiki tries to get ahold of himself after what he had recently experienced.
"Three days or so later, the long-anticipated cosmetics contest was taking place. Normally, I didn't particularly show all that much interest in this, but being that I was in the area anyway, I thought that I really should show a little more diversity in my interests. So I was among the observers and quick to shove away my initial disinterest when I saw that Rina was one of the models. But then something weird happened, for while all of the entrants were undergoing their transformations into stars, there was some form of aural torture – I cannot call it music – being played into a microphone somewhere. No one really noticed it as out of the ordinary except for me and the three idols, whom had appeared on the stage out of nowhere a minute or so later. The one dressed in green started off singing something to combat it, the aqua-haired one came in on the second line and the blonde-haired one came in on the third line, before all three of them sang the fourth line. THAT made the stereo short out and burst apart, thereby allowing the new song to play and the idols to sing it, with the green-haired one as the lead voice.
Noticing the girl whom had attempted to use that previous aural attack, I saw that she looked a little weird and her outfit suggested that she had two faces and personalities to her. The song playing was hurting her and by good fortune, not me as well. Good thing, for the rock-like melody to the song was awesome.
When it concluded, they said their line of "How about an encore?" and I felt uncharacteristically thrilled.
"You sing me an encore anytime you want, Green Idol! YEAAAAAHHH!"
Almost immediately, I regretted shouting that out over everyone's clapping. I nervously laughed and then saw myself back out of sight in order to regroup.
'Damn it, Taiki, you IDIOT! Don't get carried away like that!'
After a couple of minutes, I uneasily came back to the spot I was standing at previously and I didn't regret it. Ishibashi had put the finishing touches on Rina via makeup and I was blown away at the sight. She was a work of perfection now and I could NOT find any fault in her look. It was already decided in my mind that Ishibashi should win and it turned out that was the decision made by the judges. To that, I whistled and applauded the victory, then I left for home after having seen Lucia and Hanon in the crowd. Left in thought, I had the mind for what I wanted to put into my album booklet concerning my words. I spent most of the night working on that and then after getting naught but a short nap, went out with a swimsuit and a change of clothes on a ship for a brief excursion to an island. Well, as luck would have it, once I disembarked the ship…
Lucia: Taiki, is that you?
Turning, I saw Lucia along with Hanon and Rina.
"What brings you three here?"
Hanon: A class trip; what about you, though?
"A new perspective."
Rina: Hmm? I'm not sure I follow.
"It's nothing all that important. In any event, if you want, we can all talk later…"
Lucia: Well, there's something I have in mind, so… where can I call you if I don't get to you today?
Taiki quietly wrote down the phone number for her.
"I can only imagine what it could be… maybe I'll find out later but, for right now, I'm going to hopefully catch up on lost sleep."
Sunscreen went on along with sunglasses and I hoped that the few bodily scars I had from my attempt to protect my mother weren't going to be troublesome or attracting a lot of attention once I laid down somewhere on the beach. Eventually I saw Lucia, Hanon and Rina in their swimsuits, then gave them a thumbs-up as my approval. Later, some of the students did take notice of my pair of sea star glaive weapons and were getting in my sun as they tried to get a closer look.
"I'm not in a talking mood today, everyone."
Then I sensed someone was trying to touch the weapons.
"STOP. Don't touch them, or—"
I heard them start to rattle and then reacted the same time as their blades jutted out into view by lunging up to stop the weapons from going up and after whomever had tried to touch them.
"These things seem to have a mind of their own, and they don't want most other people touching them. I'm sorry, everyone, but the last thing I need is for one of you to get injured…"
I had no choice but to get up and move from the spot, in so doing remembering to rinse off the sand that had gotten on me by going into the waves.
"Ugh, that was close… well, I guess that's the end of my day laying out in the sun."
I headed to go off somewhere else and amuse myself. Despite seeing Tarou, I was keeping to myself. Though there was electricity on the ship to charge my iPod back up to full, I just couldn't help myself and pulled out a set of non-powered computer speakers and put the 3.5mm plug into the player's headphone jack when I woke up and I stepped outside to greet the sunrise, taking my bag with me. As the horizon illuminated, I pressed play and the trance track I had left the player on now plays. This, combined with my own singing harmonized to the singer on the track, wakes up everyone else where they were sleeping. Everyone gathered and saw me with my eyes closed and arms raised as the refrain hit. To them, it was like a real spectacle. When the track hit its fade point, I unplugged the speakers, hit pause, turned down the volume and plugged in the earphones once again to keep the music to myself now. This did nothing to impede hearing the applause from everyone who was present.
"If you think that's impressive, then wait until you hear what I'm preparing for the near future."
With that stated, I walked right to the ship and waited for it to set sail. I did perform some parapara on the way back to mainland and back at the dock, I only had enough time to wave to Lucia, Hanon and Rina before I set off for the rest of my day. Once under the home roof again, I just snacked on something and spent time online to search up things. After having my dinner, I went right to bed and remembered dreaming of strange events.
Episode 11.5 — A Grieving Friend
[Jikai, Mameido merodii pichi pichi pitchi
Kanashimi no aru yūjin
Sorekara watashi wa utaudarou ka? (Shall I sing, then?)]
The next day I warmed up with a jog before sunrise and then I continued to work my mind and body with more sea star glaive practice after the sun had risen. I heard my cell phone ring once I put down my bag. Answering the phone, I was surprised to hear Lucia's voice for a moment.
"Hello, who's calling?"
Lucia: "Taiki, it's Lucia. How are you?"
"I just got back from early morning workouts… and yourself?"
Lucia: "There's no school today, so I wanted to let you know where I live and work in case you wanted to visit."
"Well, I suppose that will be in order as I have no plans for today."
Lucia: "If you've been around the coast, then I'm sure you've seen the place… the Petit Hotel Pearl Piari."
"I'll work my way around the area and find it."
Lucia: "Alright then, hope to see you soon!"
"You shall. Goodbye."
Hanging up, I decided it was time to make my best first impression to the place. A shower and cleansing to wash off the sweat, my best clothing now being worn and I was on my way out the door.
"I wonder what the place is like if she's going out of her way to invite me over out of the blue like this… and WHY, even…"
I eventually came upon a stately and homely classic home shape for a sea-view hotel.
"I think that's it."
But I did see a stairway down to the shore from the street right next to the place and made a decision to go down there first so I could sing a little bit to what I was hearing from my iPod. On the way down, I did see the rear of the place with a set of sheets and the like hung out to dry in the sun and wind."
Taiki: No doubt I'm at the right place. But first, to unwind from that exercise earlier…
After walking out closer to the edge of the water, Taiki opens up and starts to sing accompaniment to what's playing in his ears. An already-classic trance tune by AURORA from the year 2000 with the vocals of Naimee Coleman was the first track, but even that first bit of singing was what caught the attention of who came out to check on the laundry.
"He sounds really nice… wait, is that him?"
A couple of minutes later, as the song is fading out, a familiar voice once again graces his ears.
Hanon: Taiki, good morning!
Hearing her, Taiki pauses, presses the next track to skip ahead and powers down the iPod to put it on hold. This done, he turns to look at her.
Taiki: It's nice to see you again, Hanon. What brings you out here to the beach? Were you on a walk as well?
Hanon: Oh, no, it's nothing like that; I came to get you and bring you inside the hotel.
Taiki: Wait, you live here along with Lucia?
Hanon: Yes, exactly.
Taiki: Well, call my curiosity ever more piqued now that I know this. Rubbing elbows with you along with her on a regular basis is sure to get me sociable quicker.
Hanon: Oh, you're just saying that!
Taiki: We'll see if your opinion is validated, now, won't we?
He follows her back up the stairs to the street and then into the hotel.
Taiki: It all feels so homely; I already like it here.
Lucia comes out to greet him.
Lucia: Taiki, welcome! It looks like you had no trouble finding us. Come on in, please.
Taiki: Hm… it smells like the food's being made, yes?
Lucia: That's my older sister Nicole's claim to fame, but I'm also quite good at it.
Over the next span of minutes, Taiki is introduced to Nicole and then is brought to Madame Taki; after their introduction, Lucia and Hanon left him with her so she would look into his future.
Madame Taki: Ah, young Taiki… I can see that a pair of life-changing events lay in your future, both in the near and farther onwards, that will prove to be beneficial.
Taiki: Hmm… are you really able to tell what they will be? I do have one in mind that is really only a matter of time before it happens.
Madame Taki: Well, I wasn't exactly referring to you going gold and publishing your first album, but yes, I do believe it will have a ripple effect that causes the two I see to eventually happen as well.
Taiki: …Alright, who talked?
Madame Taki: Who talked about you having an amazing singing voice, you mean? Well, not only Lucia and Hanon as well as their friend Rina, but also Nicole seemed to have heard you a short while ago. With a voice like that, I think it is only right for you to follow in the footsteps of your deceased mother Sylvia.
Taiki: …How did you know?
Madame Taki: I had met her in the past after she moved here to Japan. In that time, I felt her benevolent nature and, I must say, you take after her with remarkable similarity. Keep doing as you are and the right things will come to you in time, including all that is yours which you have lost.
Taiki: You really and truly believe that, don't you?
Madame Taki: As for how the others here know about these events, I believe Lucia and Hanon went into searching the public records several days ago. They mentioned you didn't want to talk about your troubled past the day before this, when you all were checking in on how the musician Tarou Mitsuki was doing. Given the circumstances of your past, nobody can blame you for avoiding any talk of grief.
Taiki: Yes, I did not want to bring down an upbeat mood like that which the girls had.
Madame Taki: Well, I can tell they are worried for you after what has happened, including in the past couple of months. I join them in firmly believing that someone as kind as you does not deserve to be going through these kinds of hardships and having to live off the graces of those your mother knew best. Taiki, we will stand with you in asking that more diligence be put into finding the will of your mother and that you have access given back to you for what is rightfully yours.
He can hardly believe what he had just heard Madame Taki say to him.
Taiki: …Madame Taki, why would you and yours go out of your collective way for me? What have I done to earn this show of kindness?
Madame Taki: The good come to the help of others… suffice it to say, you are not the only humble and good one in this area. Really, do not think extraordinarily of this… even you deserve to be given some help and respite in the face of all you are doing.
There comes a knock at the door.
Madame Taki: Ah, I do believe that means breakfast is ready; won't you join us?
Taiki: I can't turn down such an offer.
The two of them head into the restaurant area where a couple of plates are set out for them.
Nicole: Taiki-san, you must be hungry. I am not one to let a guest go unfed, so please have this meal as a token of our thanks for having an interest in our place.
Taiki: You do mean guest as in a visitor to the restaurant here, or is it meant as a whole? I'm not exactly made of so much to stay a while here in a room, but I do indeed like the hotel very much.
Hanon: We believe you deserve better than to have to depend on what few people your mother knew and risk becoming homeless.
Lucia: So we were all talking and have come to a conclusion.
Taiki: What do you mean?
Lucia: We believe that it would be good for you by allowing you to stay here.
He is floored by what he has heard.
Taiki: WHAT?
Lucia: We'll also help you get you back into your home as well as start you back into a few years of proper education with us, if that's not a problem.
Hanon: All we would ask is for your help with the little things as part of running the hotel.
An awkward silence comes upon the room for several seconds.
Taiki: …Do you all believe I am worth the trouble?
Madame Taki: There is no question you are worth it, Taiki; your mother Sylvia would want you to be cared for in her absence and this is an extension of her wishes. We will help you onto solid footing so you can face the world and make her proud. All of this, of course, if you would be alright with it.
Taiki lowers his head and closes his eyes, again staying silent until the girls break the silence when they see tears fall down his cheeks and into sight from behind his bangs. Emotions are now clouding his judgment.
Lucia: Taiki, are you alright?
Hanon: If we did something we shouldn't, then we're sorry!
Taiki: Ladies, I'm going to be VERY BUSY and my soon-to-be launched career requires my full attention. I will accept, but only when I show up here of my own volition after I have sorted things out for myself. Right now, for the time being, I will finish my show of hospitality by eating with you. However…
Nicole: What is it?
Taiki: Why did you all have to look into my past via the public records? Did something compel you to do it?
Madame Taki: Your mother's spirit… I can sense her calling out for others like us to help you. Even if you can't bring yourself to admit it, any person needs help. But even past this, you said to the girls that you want friendship and companionship, right?
Hanon: We're your friends now, Taiki; why wouldn't you tell us?
Taiki: Tell you WHAT, Hanon?! That I'm a failure and always have been?! I couldn't do enough to protect my mother, much less anyone else, from the bastard pirates back in the past! It's because of evil men like them and my failure at being strong when I was younger that has left me as I am!
Lucia: No, no.
Taiki: There may be truly horrible people in the world, but… what I hate more than anything else in the world is my own past! I didn't want you — or anyone else that comes along — to know this much about it.
Nicole: Taiki, the people who cheered you at that concert and who have heard of you as result of it all love you the way you are now… really! They didn't know much of anything about you, but what they — what WE feel for you can only get better now.
Hanon: Taiki, we'll share in your past if that's the price!
Taiki: Hanon, it doesn't work that way… no one can share the burden of what I have done and what I have failed to do. I don't want to share the depths of my past with anyone; I just want to forget about it.
He walks past them and over to the table nearby, puts his headphones over his ears and his hands together…
Taiki: But… Lucia? Hanon? The last span of weeks where I've gotten to know you and Rina, however little… it's been more than I've ever hoped for in recent memory. Though I don't appreciate the digging into my past and asking me all about it, I'm glad that at least someone cares enough to engage me in such a way and provide support.
He takes a deep breath and exhales.
Taiki: Thank you for the food.
He goes right to work in clearing the plate with music consoling him. When he's done, he turns down the volume on the iPod and moves the headphones down around his neck.
Taiki: In comparison to everything else I've had that I can remember, I speak no hyperbole when I give this restaurant section of the place five stars, all things considered. This hospitality and the time spent with you… it's the most I've had in a long time. Now, then, everyone, I need to be on my way back to my incoming work. I'm sorry if something came out that I shouldn't have said. All of you, please, take care.
With a more somber tune in the headphones, he quietly sees himself out of the hotel and on his way along the coastal road. The ladies' collective gaze follows him out the front doors.
Lucia: He's REALLY hurting, even now.
Hanon: I think this all WAS too much, too soon.
Madame Taki: I don't believe so. He will come back to us in time; I'm sure of it.
There is significance to where he has decided to walk.
Taiki: 'Life will never be as good without my mother here by my side to share in it. If I want only one thing in my whole life as a wish to be granted right now, then it would be for my mother to be brought back to life so everything can go back to being as close to the way it was in the past. Then she would know the joy of being on tour together and actually see me achieve my dreams.'
As he thinks this to himself between the music tracks, he looks to his right… and sees the estate from which he was removed, the mansion out of which he has been kept. His hands are on the metal fence as he looks inside to the front doors, closed and not exactly as he has remembered them, much less a good portion of how things looked from years ago.
Taiki: 'Have they been making the place yet more modern?'
He walks to the closed sliding gate and has a closer look.
Taiki: 'Is this preparation for when I come back here? It may not be for some time yet…'
Following this look, he walks away, hurried by seeing someone at the grand entry. Having left the person's line of sight, he returns to his current home.
"Feeling bad for what I had become in everyone's midst, I buried myself in my work while Yoshimi worked on getting me right back into school as soon as possible. Even with the album work done and ready to go into mass production once typeface and design for the CD was finished, I was still working very hard on other music to be part of a special edition of the album in a limited first run. I had asked for about twenty discs with a gold color to the plastic to dedicate to certain people as a precious secret for what I was doing."
The second disc was to contain a set of lost songs and otherwise never-before-heard material from his mother Sylvia that Taiki had restored with help from the studio. But more importantly, the paramount track amongst the group was an unfinished song that was to be a duet of mother and son which went unfinished due to her death. For this, she had her vocals previously recorded, exported to raw audio data files and burned onto a set of CD-R's in jewel cases as well as copied onto a small hard drive for good measure. The padded case in which all of these were found had been marked on the outside as "CRITICAL DATA" with a paper label saying "To Taiki - Very Important, Please Do Not Discard" inside it. This disc was found with the sheet music to the song. Taiki only luckily stumbled upon the case by pure accident at his home when he was in there for the last time and he vowed to never let another person handle it. Over time, he incrementally put in the vocals that Sylvia had written for his part in the aforementioned duet song. Once he FINALLY had these vocals done for a trial run, he would immediately save the raw data onto the media he had and bring it to the studio to do continuous work on it with their help. It took a lot of combined effort, but the final result was so well choreographed that nobody would be able to tell the vocals were stitched together into Taiki's layered elements. On July 2nd, in the evening, the second disc went gold and was saved, then ready to be put into mass production as well.
Taiki: I cannot thank you all enough for your hard work on this. Sylvia would be proud to hear this finished.
"After I came home at dusk, I had just eaten when news broke of a fire having flared up suddenly near the beach in one of the shacks. I ran into the night to have a look at the scene, but I arrived after the fire was fully doused. Noticing that Kaito was there, I came over to him.
"Hey! What happened here?"
He simply kept looking at the burnt, broken, almost completely ruined surfboard with a hibiscus flower design on it inside the remnants of the beach shack. I wasn't getting through to him no matter how much I tried, so I left, feeling distraught. Thinking about something, I started to piece together some bits of information in my mind and though I pushed that aside, I had to go let Lucia and Hanon know what happened. So I ran as fast as my feet could then take me and got to the hotel. Unfortunately, there was not a single light on in the place. Confused, I got up to the door and all I saw has a small hanging sign that said 'Closed' on it. From what little I looked in and saw of the furniture covered up, I was in complete shock.
"No… what's happened? Where did they go?!"
I ran down behind the hotel to the coast to look for any signs of activity, but none were to be found. It was as if they had all disappeared without a trace. The grief of having lost my friends and companionship suddenly engulfed me in pain that dropped me to my knees and that was the last thing I remembered of that night…"
—
