*********
And what will result now, since I have been sleeping on this, is a series of short chapters. Actually, a chapter broken up into smaller sections.
*********
The Platform Surfers
Chapter 14a
Piano...or drums?
Time passed. The Platform Surfers had their first concert a few days later, at the Bunkamura Entertainment complex. The album had finished, entitles One, since the whole gang had decided to call their first album One, the next, Two, and so on. Life became more hectic for Ran with each passing day. Morning called for recording, the next, interviews and autographs, leaving a few hours for free time. The guys had never sipped so much so much alcohol in their lives. They could tolerate it, but for how long? Usagi never tolerated any part of the band being drunk while recording. Their was fear by the other members of staff at Serenity Studios of instruments being destroyed. Yuuya seemed to be the rowdiest, but he was only yelling like crazy, the product of days, no, week, no months of caffeine and sugar on end, combined with lack of sleep, and eyes redder than tomatoes. Rei, meanwhile, was completely sleepy: he slept at the studio, between interviews; he himself was the result of confusing valium for aspirin. He had a conscience, though, and never went on an overdose, not even considering the word. He would quit taking those pills a few days later, and regain a background of normalcy, cradling Aya into his arms, cocooned in closure and reconciliation.
Ran and Tatsuki wouldn't deny it: they made out like there was no tomorrow. It was not surprising to see the Kotobuki household looking like this: Tatsuki sleeping with Ran in her bed, Miyu sleeping with Yamato in his bed, Sayo and Masato chitchatting in her room, while Satsuki did cleanup, even talking with the 'rents on the daily agenda.
And if you thought that was crazy, Mami and Yuuya were definitely head over heels for each other. In fact, some of the local paparazzi tabloids posted pictures of Mami and Yuuya graphically eloping, it made both of them so full of it, ripping the press for the lack of [sexual] privacy, and fittingly so.
It wouldn't be long before they finally came back to where their friendships all started.
---
The crowd at Kounan was on their feet, as the Platform Surfers, fresh off their first release of One last month, went up onstage for their annual concert.
"Hello everybody!" roared Yuuya to the mob of fans. Some were still asking for
"We're going to play a few tunes for you," said Ran to everyone at Kounan one day in April, at a time where the cherry blossoms were blooming like confetti. "Our first tune is called...'Baja.' Ready, you guys?"
The band let out a big "YEAH!"
"Okay. 1, 2, 3, 4!"
What resulted was a mother lode of background, chemistry, and consistency in order.
Mamirin, always the drummaster, started the beat, then Aya let out the bass, and soon the crowd got into the groove. Ran started it out on her Kotocaster, with Rei responding on his. On the bridge, to the surprise of everyone, Miyu, once a sole person on rhythm, landed it out, hotdogging it like Eric Clapton mixed with Carlos Santana, her lipstick shining like the sun, as did all the other girls. Yuuya kept strumming, Tatsuki kept the form in motion with the synthesizers, and the kids made the rhythm possible, dancing in a choreographed manner in the background while on rhythm. This was called, as Hachiko's master called it, "Teamwork."
The crowd loved it. They loved every minute of it.
-------
"Hold on just a minute," Mami said a few days later, back at the studio. "I just had an idea."
"Hmmmm?" asked everyone else.
"What is it, Mami?" asked Yuuya inquisitively.
"I just realized, back when I was at Kurosawa High, that I had a talent for the piano."
"Okay...and...?"
"And...I don't know about you guys, but...do you mind if I do piano and synthesizer duties instead?"
"Hold on, hold on," said Ran, her arms outstretched. "Let's get back to square one here. Now here we were thinking you were the drummer extraordinaire, and we've been had these past 12 months!? Oh, like that is so lame."
"Lame, as in double-crossed," said Miyu, plucking a few strings. "Gah, it's out of tune."
"But...who's going to play the drums?" asked Aya.
The room fell silent.
"Hey you guys," asked Usagi, peering. "What are you guys do...ing?"
Still silent.
"Can someone explain to me what is going on here?"
One second, two seconds, three...
"I'll do it!" said Yuuya, raising his hands. He went over to the drum set, cracked his knuckles, and got to work.
"What is he doing?" asked Sayo to Masato.
"Yeeehaaaaa!" roared Yuuya, jamming on the drums.
"Dang, he's much stronger and faster than I am on it," Mami mumbled to herself. "Ah well, it's a good change." A snicker of evil genius-style glee. Everyone else collapsed.
--------
RIBON: And after "One," you guys made a move like that?
RAN: Mmm-hmmm. I didn't know that Mamirin had a knack for the piano as well. Didn't tell us, after all these months. (laughs) It worked out fine. From that point on, our music became a refined version of surf. You know the band can/goo?
RIBON: Certainly, yes.
RAN: And their pianist/lead vocalist Tapiko?
RIBON: Mmm-hmmm.
RAN: Well, in Mamirin's case worked it out that way. Youthful voice still, high-pitched, but with a talent like that, she might as well be a protégé of Tapiko, y'know?
RIBON: That Kotocaster still works like a charm, doesn't it.
RAN: You betcha.
********
END CHAPTER 14A
And what will result now, since I have been sleeping on this, is a series of short chapters. Actually, a chapter broken up into smaller sections.
*********
The Platform Surfers
Chapter 14a
Piano...or drums?
Time passed. The Platform Surfers had their first concert a few days later, at the Bunkamura Entertainment complex. The album had finished, entitles One, since the whole gang had decided to call their first album One, the next, Two, and so on. Life became more hectic for Ran with each passing day. Morning called for recording, the next, interviews and autographs, leaving a few hours for free time. The guys had never sipped so much so much alcohol in their lives. They could tolerate it, but for how long? Usagi never tolerated any part of the band being drunk while recording. Their was fear by the other members of staff at Serenity Studios of instruments being destroyed. Yuuya seemed to be the rowdiest, but he was only yelling like crazy, the product of days, no, week, no months of caffeine and sugar on end, combined with lack of sleep, and eyes redder than tomatoes. Rei, meanwhile, was completely sleepy: he slept at the studio, between interviews; he himself was the result of confusing valium for aspirin. He had a conscience, though, and never went on an overdose, not even considering the word. He would quit taking those pills a few days later, and regain a background of normalcy, cradling Aya into his arms, cocooned in closure and reconciliation.
Ran and Tatsuki wouldn't deny it: they made out like there was no tomorrow. It was not surprising to see the Kotobuki household looking like this: Tatsuki sleeping with Ran in her bed, Miyu sleeping with Yamato in his bed, Sayo and Masato chitchatting in her room, while Satsuki did cleanup, even talking with the 'rents on the daily agenda.
And if you thought that was crazy, Mami and Yuuya were definitely head over heels for each other. In fact, some of the local paparazzi tabloids posted pictures of Mami and Yuuya graphically eloping, it made both of them so full of it, ripping the press for the lack of [sexual] privacy, and fittingly so.
It wouldn't be long before they finally came back to where their friendships all started.
---
The crowd at Kounan was on their feet, as the Platform Surfers, fresh off their first release of One last month, went up onstage for their annual concert.
"Hello everybody!" roared Yuuya to the mob of fans. Some were still asking for
"We're going to play a few tunes for you," said Ran to everyone at Kounan one day in April, at a time where the cherry blossoms were blooming like confetti. "Our first tune is called...'Baja.' Ready, you guys?"
The band let out a big "YEAH!"
"Okay. 1, 2, 3, 4!"
What resulted was a mother lode of background, chemistry, and consistency in order.
Mamirin, always the drummaster, started the beat, then Aya let out the bass, and soon the crowd got into the groove. Ran started it out on her Kotocaster, with Rei responding on his. On the bridge, to the surprise of everyone, Miyu, once a sole person on rhythm, landed it out, hotdogging it like Eric Clapton mixed with Carlos Santana, her lipstick shining like the sun, as did all the other girls. Yuuya kept strumming, Tatsuki kept the form in motion with the synthesizers, and the kids made the rhythm possible, dancing in a choreographed manner in the background while on rhythm. This was called, as Hachiko's master called it, "Teamwork."
The crowd loved it. They loved every minute of it.
-------
"Hold on just a minute," Mami said a few days later, back at the studio. "I just had an idea."
"Hmmmm?" asked everyone else.
"What is it, Mami?" asked Yuuya inquisitively.
"I just realized, back when I was at Kurosawa High, that I had a talent for the piano."
"Okay...and...?"
"And...I don't know about you guys, but...do you mind if I do piano and synthesizer duties instead?"
"Hold on, hold on," said Ran, her arms outstretched. "Let's get back to square one here. Now here we were thinking you were the drummer extraordinaire, and we've been had these past 12 months!? Oh, like that is so lame."
"Lame, as in double-crossed," said Miyu, plucking a few strings. "Gah, it's out of tune."
"But...who's going to play the drums?" asked Aya.
The room fell silent.
"Hey you guys," asked Usagi, peering. "What are you guys do...ing?"
Still silent.
"Can someone explain to me what is going on here?"
One second, two seconds, three...
"I'll do it!" said Yuuya, raising his hands. He went over to the drum set, cracked his knuckles, and got to work.
"What is he doing?" asked Sayo to Masato.
"Yeeehaaaaa!" roared Yuuya, jamming on the drums.
"Dang, he's much stronger and faster than I am on it," Mami mumbled to herself. "Ah well, it's a good change." A snicker of evil genius-style glee. Everyone else collapsed.
--------
RIBON: And after "One," you guys made a move like that?
RAN: Mmm-hmmm. I didn't know that Mamirin had a knack for the piano as well. Didn't tell us, after all these months. (laughs) It worked out fine. From that point on, our music became a refined version of surf. You know the band can/goo?
RIBON: Certainly, yes.
RAN: And their pianist/lead vocalist Tapiko?
RIBON: Mmm-hmmm.
RAN: Well, in Mamirin's case worked it out that way. Youthful voice still, high-pitched, but with a talent like that, she might as well be a protégé of Tapiko, y'know?
RIBON: That Kotocaster still works like a charm, doesn't it.
RAN: You betcha.
********
END CHAPTER 14A