"It was almost a year and a half since we know each other. So Rage, what do you think about the DDR community today?" I asked.
"Honestly, I don't really know much." Rage said. "From what I know, there are several regional teams across Canada. Although Toronto is the largest city in Canada, it does not have any DDR team. But there is one in Ottawa and even more remote city like St John's, Newfoundland. But, as you may already know, most teams are rather short-lived and now ceased to exist."
"Ever wanted to make one, Rage?" I said.
"I don't have the damn skill and time to manage one." Rage said.

It was June 2001. My high school life was soon to be over, and I was accepted into University of Waterloo. Most of my classmates readied themselves to set off to another journey of their life. Rage and Emi told me that they were going to New York for college. I finished my DJ career for the year and it turned out great and I would never forget that experience. I would remember playing DDR songs to the school; I would remember my friends telling me that "I think I heard this song somewhere" when they hear Butterfly and so on.
On the Bemani scene, Orbit was finally opened in Pacific Mall, with some of the newest, rare and "not-so-well-known" Bemani games like ParaParaParadise, according to my friends.
I never thought I could actually see the game. ParaPara was popular in Hong Kong, thanks to those who performed in Tsim Sha Tsui, near the culture centre by Victoria Harbour and the massive media coverage received. I once told Eric that I never thought "Konami Bemani dance games [could] have a second wave in Asia after DDR." I wondered how far could ParaPara go in Toronto. "I don't think ParaPara can go very far." Emi said. "But I like the idea - less physical demanding and ParaPara has its own style -- good for girls."
It was also the time when TeamGwaiLo (TGL, found at teamgwailo.net) reopened to the public. It was no longer a DDR team site; it was now a purely Bemani news site based in Ottawa. It also hosted a message board including a forum for Toronto Bemani players. This is where I met most of the Toronto Bemani players.

One of them is Tim Wong (Wizzard). He is a Canada-born Chinese who is a vivid player with excellent skill. Other people I met on the message board at that time included Karmen Lam (drummer), a rather young Chinese girl, Katy Watts (JetGirl), TGL owner, and Nebu Pookins (NebuPookin), Katy's assistant in Montreal. TGL did not have many users back then. Even though most of us never met each other, we were quite close to each other.

One day in the summer vacation Tim asked me to go out. Until now I did not know the reason why he asked me to meet him to Playdium. Another thing I did not know was that the DDR machine was changed to a 4th Mix.
"Do you play a lot?" I asked Tim.
"Sure. All over the place. Like here and Orbit in Pacific Mall, of which the machine is a 4th mix. I know Lovegetty Station has a 5th Mix, but I cannot travel there by bus. And don't forget, orbit has many other Bemani games."
"Do you have a car?" I asked.
"No. And I sold mine a while ago." Tim said.
"Why?"
"I don't want to tell anyone right now…"

That night I called Emi. I had not called her for a while.
"Ah. A rare caller. For what reason made thee call me, my friend? Thou must hast a solid issue to discuss." Rage said.
"Just to talk. Besides, I heard that you are going to move to New York soon. It will not be long before we separate apart and unable to talk." I said.
"We can always talk over ICQ and over DDR message boards. You know, Team Gwai Lo reopened with a Toronto regional board for Toronto DDRers." Rage said. I don't know if there are many players are in New York."
"God knows." I said. "Maybe you can find some and there are more hiding in the corner. By the way, how is your school life? And how is Emi?"
"Both of us are going to New York for college. It is not a bad place, but I don't want to leave this place, honestly. Still, my marks are not high enough for a good university degree here and colleges here are crap."
"Well. Good luck there." I said.
"Thanks man." Rage said.