Chapter 30
"You want us to what?"
It was an awkward conversation with his uncles. Akira went to them personally to request their assistance with Yuuma. "We're starting a band, but we want to make sure we sound good. Can you help us?" he asked.
Street appeared to think it over. Knuckle however paused. "Wait, Yuuma is one of Amai's kids isn't he?"
"Yeah, and he want to stick it to him becoming a better musician than he is." Akira explained.
"Well shit, why didn't you say so in the first place!" Knuckle slapped Street in the chest. "I got this bro," and was quick to leave the apartment. "Led the way!"
#
They met in the mountains. Yuuma and Jason sat in the middle of nowhere in a sense, just far enough so hopefully no one will hear them sing if they sound terrible. When Akira arrived with Knuckle they were on their feet. "Okay boys, you want to do this, let's get started. First let's hear your pitch!"
Yuuma went first, he could hit the notes, yet was a little rough around the edges. Jason could carry a tune, yet his voice needed work. Akira was the same story. "Okay, just from what I hear there is potential. It's best you three all practice your singing voices, in a band it pays to have more than one who can sing in case something happens to the main vocalist right?"
The three nodded. "Good, let's practice with a song. One that covers different ranges… now, I want you three to pick a song, one with an easy tempo and vibe, but all three of you are going to sing it together!" he said.
"Wait, why?" asked Yuuma.
"Because, as a band you need to be synced to each other. Now, do you have a song?"
They huddled among themselves before one could be agreed upon, when they did Knuckle took a seat, "Okay, begin, and I will stop you to correct your tone. And… go!"
The three were silent. "Without music?" asked Jason.
He rolled his eyes, Knuckle opened his palm and was able to access a library of content and tunes, he found the song they wanted to sing and began to play the music only.
It would be a long three hours and forty-five minutes until the three needed a break. "This is getting us nowhere!" protested Yuuma. "I can sing fine on my own!"
"Yeah, but remember what I said…"
"Who cares about what you said. I'm the one that wants to be the singer!" he protested.
"Okay, I'm going to sound like the asshole here, but you are talking a lot like Amai Mask right now."
Yuuma froze stiff to the comment. His face flushed with embarrassment. The last thing he would ever want to do is sound like Amai. "I… I'm sorry." He muttered.
"It's okay, just know your tone kid." Knuckle said. "Now, again the reasoning for this. You need to be safe than sorry on all fronts. Sometimes one can lose their voice very suddenly, another time equipment won't work, so you need to bide time, have someone who can sing. Now, you got a voice like Drax and Amai. It can go high and low, but have a bit of a grunge tone to it, a little aggressive and it isn't a bad thing. Jason, Akira yours are both similar, but I feel Jason's can go like Yuuma's here. A little rougher for different tones and textures to the music. Akira, you're a little softer yet you can keep up with these two. Now. Keep practicing. Each day practice that song alone, together, whatever. I'll come by once a week and see if you improve, do voice exercise and try and improve yourselves okay?"
The three nodded. Jason laughed. "I didn't think I could carry a tune at all! I mean Zombieman doesn't sing to my knowledge!"
"Hey, my dad doesn't either." Said Akira.
Yuuma went silent. "Why didn't we ask Drax to join our band? He would be great to help us!"
"We could ask him, he is busy though between Neo Heroes and movies with Amai… Oh… sorry…" Akira said.
Yuuma shook his head to it. "I am not upset about it, although Drax is as of late… it's okay, maybe we shouldn't bother him with it."
"Ask anyways" said Knuckle. "Who knows, he may have the key to taking Amai down a peg right?"
The three smirked. "Right!"