This is a little one-shot article. This is an AU, since I'm not sure if Momokuri actually has a band or not. Everything is fictional, save Maron and Chiaki. And or course, the color scheme, so please you. Enjoy.

KKJ and Co. property of Arina T. Do I have to tell you the stupid fine print!? Okay. Here we go. I originally wanted to put this separate, but I thought otherwise.

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Rosebud Phaerietaylez
Chapter 6

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The Momokuri News-Journal

Marching to a different beat
A behind the scenes look at The Momokuri Academy Marching EuroBand

By Sakeda Masato
News-Journal alumni staff writer

4 months prior to this writing, I was finishing grading another quiz on Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, and class was dismissed for the day. I heard some music playing on the football field at Momokuri Stadium. I decided to investigate the situation, since I never heard a marching band play before.
What I found was a large group of people, dressed in uniforms similar to the practice suits worn by the Rhythmic Gymnastics team in the typical teal, purple and white scheme, but with a different twist. It had a patch that had a logo, a stylized "M" that could double as a musical note, with wings. Below it were their first names...in Romanji and Kanji. On each of their jersey backs showed the school's coat-of-arms, and below it, "Momokuri Academy Marching EuroBand," and their slogan, in English, "We strive for success while marching to a different beat."
I then thought to myself, "Hold it, hold it. They are a marching band all right, but 'EuroBand'!? They don't play what I think they will play...?"
Stuck in the sea of curiosity, the bandmaster stepped down, gave the musicians 15 minutes rest, and shook my hand. The bandmaster's name was Dr. Kouriyama Naoko, and he was well decorated, with a M.A. in Music from Konan University, and also a Ph.D. in Music from Stanford University. "While I was attaining my doctorate," he explained, "I observed the rather...unconventional technique and execution of the Stanford Band, and I was amazed at their execution, while maintaining a high energy level, without fatiguing. The only flaw I could complain with was the unusual, yet coincidentally uncanny display of makeshift instruments. I studied taiko drumming techniques, and the showmanship of marching bands from historically black colleges and universities, or HBCU's. and also participated in a music consortium with Dr. Arthur Bartner [bandmaster for the University of Southern California Trojan Marching Band]. Combining those, I could devise a balance there. However, among legions upon legions of young Japanese, they prefer to listen to para-para music. And, as you know, the tempo is 150 beats per second.
"That would not be a problem. I returned to Japan, and, as a former graduate of Momokuri ('86), I asked the head of the music department, Dr. Wakai Gen, if I could start a marching band. He was hesitant, since he wasn't sure if this would work. See, the big picture was that the music department was losing some money, and had to look for other sources. A few minutes into our discussion, he then agrees to it, but only if I had at least 50 recruits.
"As it turned out," continued Dr. Kouriyama, "upon the students receiving the news, everyone flocked to my booth to sign up. Even first-year students came to sign up. That meant one word: Audition. A five-day audition, which tested the students on their musical skill, and technique. Out of 500+ students that showed interest, more than 3/5 of the kids did not even come close to impressing me. So that left less than 200...190 remained for the fifth and deciding day. On that day, I slowly eliminated 65 students, since I could only manage 125. When I selected my 125-member band, I asked them if they want to play the music that they like. The consensus wanted to play some Eurobeat songs, so I came up with the name "EuroBand," and everyone likes that name.
"Next, I asked some of the members what they want their practice uniforms to be. One pointed out that the rhythmic gymnastics practice suits look better than the other suits our non-gymnastic varsity and JV athletes wear. I forged a deal with the gymnastics coach if I can use her uniforms, and she said yes, but only if some members of my new band visit her girls at practice, and at any home meet. I shook hands, and a select delegation of 10 (5 boys, 5 girls) came to the meets. The male contingent," he said with a chuckle, "went over-the-roof for the co-captains of the team, Kusakabe Maron and Toudaiji Miyako. One of the guys even screamed out loud after Kusakabe-san completed her routine, 'Maron-chan~~~~!! Please marry me~~~!!', alienating the rest of the folks, but it was all for show.
"After that was decided, we asked what our official uniforms will be. We made a decision, and on the night of the game against Biwa Senior High, you will find out personally. You'll like it. It's heavenly, but modest."
I asked Dr. Kouriyama what other songs does the EuroBand play besides Eurobeat songs, and he replied, "The kids play the traditional songs of Momokuri, as well as some omnipresent band music heard in the United States. Our formations are scattered before a song, and transitioned in precision during a song. They practice 2 hours after school, and refreshments and snacks are provided. Of course, it's fair game...every musician for him or herself."
I laughed at that statement. Such camaraderie.
He added, "I don't like to put you in on secrets, but, during every home football game, if we are leading by at least 10 points by the end of the 3rd, our band will play a song called 'The Horse.' When the cadence part of the song (which is in the middle, fittingly) begins, the yell leaders are going to start the wave. Our drumline, called the Drum Boys, will continue, or loop, the cadence, until three back-and-forth waves are successfully completed. Then we finish the song. If we are leading by 2 touchdowns at the end of the 3rd, the multi-snare drummers put in an improvised beat to mix in. If we lead by 15 or more, we add in the Taiko Drum Boys to join in the blowout. See, what you should realize is that my mission is to make Momokuri more than a gymnastics school. I want to make it a school for everyone."
I asked him if he can direct the band on a run-through of the halftime show. He said, "Certainly," and he began his magic.
The band ran out onto the field, and their first number had them form the insignia of the Virgin Mary, perfectly done, while playing "Night of Fire." When I heard it, it seemed a bit slow, but that was because the winds and flutes had to play as the synthesizers. All was in precision. The tone was set. Next, the band scattered into a lightning bolt, transitioning to the kanji letters for "kamikaze" and "tsunami," to the ode of Franz Tornado's "Super Euro Flash."
For the next number, I was expecting another scatter, but this time, there was a regular transition, this time in a camera formation, to the tune of a non-parapara classic, J. Geils' "Freeze Frame." The band upped the tempo again, as they scattered to the formation of the map of Japan, the extra members forming the kanji "nihon koku," for Dave Rodgers's "Allez Japan."
Finally, their ending number had them form a red rose, transitioning to an image outline of Joan of Arc (!) to the tune of another non-parapara hymn, "I'll Be There For You," from the American TV sitcom "Friends," segued into yet another one, Bodeans' "Closer To Free.," as they marched back to their seats. Looking at it, I didn't see much flaws in their technique, save a few musicians who felt a few dragonflies in their guts.
Dr. K (I'll call him "Dr. K" from now on) decided to confer with the band regarding the finale. It took 10 minutes, but someone mentioned that Kusakabe-san would go to the game. After that, they kept their new finale plan top secret, and I had no clue what it was going to be. Then again...
Fast forward to yesterday. It was 5:00 p.m. Game time would not be for another 2 hours. I meet Dr. K again, and he shows me to a room a half kilometer away from the stadium. Coincedentally, it was next to the gymnastics complex, and within good viewing of the girls practicing. There were no gymnasts practicing that day; it was an off day. I went into the adjoining room, and there were the EuroBand musicians and Drum Boys chatting amongst themselves, some doing meditations, others looking over their sheet music, some even chatting about personal issues. This group of 125 strangers cohesively bonded into a compassionate, committed clan of students who could see what would happen next.
I saw their official uniforms, and they were very innovative. Part traditional, part scatter band. For the guys, they wore green suit jackets, white collared shirts, yellow vests, a green tie decorated with yellow orchids, greek khaki pants, and shiny black "Flashdancer" shoes that had a half-formal, half-casual look. These shoes were designed to handle any traction, weather, or elements. On their jackets had their logo and name, on the back, the school coat-of-arms, and the band's name. For the girls, they also wore long, white collared shirts, but on top of those shirts was a thin, but flowingly comfortable sweatshirt, a yellow blouse with their logo and name, the school coat-of-arms and band's name on the back. They also wore a white skirt that connected itself with the shirts through an invisible belt, and this gave the look of a postmodern angelic tunic. The shoes the girls wore, which were also "Flashdancer" shoes, were a cross between high heels, platforms, and Nike shoes. These gave the female band members a naturally womanizing feel and style, while at the same time, giving comfortable cushioning and comfort to their feet, and giving the same toughness as their male counterparts. This outfit was so comfortable for the girls that some of them decided to do some suggestive positioning to test the limits of its pleasure, an act that provided titillation at the least bit to the male members, and they too joined in. After some more naughty play (no clothes were taken off, thank god!), Dr. K stopped everything, and it was back to the last-minute rehearsal. I respectfully left, and took my seat in the middle home bleachers, next to the band section. Then I took my mind off them for a bit, and into the game at hand. I wasn't sure if Momokuri's players, many who come fresh out of JV, would go up to the task.
The next thing I know, somebody sat next to me. She had a natural smile, had long brunette hair tied in rosettes, wore a sweater over a modest white blouse and skirt, and holding a small purse-box. Next to her sat a guy wearing shades, had blue hair, in a corduroy sweatshirt and Wrangler jeans, and he put an arm around her so as to say they were lovers. They were content to be here, and when the brunette saw me, she shook my hand, and said, "My name's Kusakabe Maron. Pleased to meet you."
Kusakabe Maron!? I'm sitting next to Kusakabe Maron!? But...how did she get here? I thought she was going to be busy studying at home, when she wasn't busy with her ribbon and ball routines. I control my nerves and say, "Sakeda Masato, Momokuri News-Journal. And this man of yours is...?"
"Nagoya Chiaki, playboy, and Maron's lover," he proudly said. Maron could only blush.
"Nice, nice," I say. "So, what brings you here, you two?"
"Well, um, actually..." said Chiaki.
"-I thought if Chiaki can take me to an American Football game, I would feel better," she said. "Right, sweetheart?"
"Yes," he said, as they went into another long, voluptuous kiss. I groan in boredom, and wait for kickoff to begin.
At the end of the half, Momokuri was delivering it to Biwa, 28-0. Time for the Halftime show.
"And now, ladies and gentlemen, fans from across Tokyo and Japan," said the announcer, "we have for you, one of the most promising marching bands of all Japan playing in their first halftime show EVER! Minna-san, welcome to Momokuri Stadium...THE MOMOKURI ACADEMY MARCHING...EUROBAAAAAAND!!!" The band storms out onto the pitch, quicker than practice, and commences their flawless show.
However, at the finale, the announcer says, "And now, the Euroband would like to finish this show with a message and a tribute...to the person sitting in Zone C, section 2, row 3, seats 3 and 4..."

I realize at that point that those seats were next to me. The spotlight shined on Maron and Chiaki, to their startled surprise. What the EuroBand did was form a rose, which turned into a formation that unfurled a beautiful portrait of Maron as a being called the Kamikaze and Chiaki and a being called the Tsunami. They are beautifully dressed, and the pictures could be seen from every seat on the home side. Maron and Chiaki held each other, the former crying. Then the band performed a medley: Shazna's "Piece Of Love," Pierrot: "Haruka," Hibiki's "Owaranai Aiwo," and ending off with a beautifully choreographed rendition of Lastier's "Dive Into Shine," a piece that everybody could sing. Maron cried in joy so happily, Chiaki holding her tight. She whispered, "Arigato...minna-san..." She smiled, and she would keep on smiling throughout the rest of the game.

At the end of the 3rd quarter, Momokuri led 45-0, and when "The Horse" played, everybody did The Wave, the taiko drums and other percussion playing with endless energy. Even though they did not score in the 4th, and they gave up a last-minute field goal by Biwa, everyone left happy. Especially Maron and Chiaki. Sometimes, I wonder what the future has for them. Then again...they already know. And I know that the Momokuri EuroBand will continue to entertain the fans, as well as enforce school spirit for Momokuri Academy.

(c) 1999 The Momokuri News-Journal, Inc. All rights reserved
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End Chapter 6
I'm hungry for FEEDBACK. *sings* Piece of love...