Boys Before Flowers
LVI.
Yamato woke up with drumming in his ears.
He checked the clock. 11:26 AM.
"Kuso…" He sat up and pressed his hand to his face, the other hand groping around for his cell phone. When it wasn't on the dresser, he forced himself out of bed and into the kitchen. Yamato found it charging on his desk, flashing with new messages; he chose to ignore them and instead made himself breakfast.
He received two more messages while he was in the middle of toast and eggs, and another whilst he was cleaning up. Finally, he sat down and reviewed –four voicemails and three text messages. He went through the voicemails first.
"Oy, Nii-chan." First came Takeru's voice.
"Hoo, Yamato-kun!" Then Hikari.
"GANBATTE!" They cheered in unison.
"We'll see you at the show!" said Takeru.
Yamato saved the message on his phone then moved on. The following was not so encouraging.
"Yamato-kuuuuuuuuuuuuun!" He deleted Jun's voicemail immediately, morbidly curious as to how she got his cell phone number. The next voicemail came on.
"Hey, it's Keitaro. Please don't forget that today we're meeting at On Air East at 11:30. Otherwise, Toru isn't going to be happy. Ja."
Yamato checked the time. Twelve o' clock. Oops.
The next message blared through the phone's speakers,
"Yamato! It's Reiichi! Toru just tried to jump off of the building again! Please come quickly! Toru, Toru don't jump-" Yamato rolled his eyes and reviewed his text messages. All were from Toru, which he conveniently deleted with one accidental push. Then he moseyed into the shower.
As he stepped out dripping, he heard a noise from the front door. It resounded again as he dressed himself and carefully styled his hair. The noise grew louder as he left the bathroom to get his bass. It was a pounding sound, one easily confused with the drumming in his ears.
Yamato grabbed his keys, wrestled on his shoes and opened the door.
Toru stood outside.
"Morning." Said Yamato.
Toru raised his right hand and, in one perfect swing, Yamato felt himself collide uncomfortably with the foyer. His band mate breathed heavily; his eyes were red, and he sweat slightly as if he'd run all the way from Shibuya.
"If your throat weren't so valuable…" he said slowly as Yamato picked himself off the ground, "...I would slit it wide open."
Yamato picked up his bass and rubbed his head.
"Rough night?"
Toru did not answer as they marched to the elevator. It was a superfluous question, anyway.
LVII.
"Sanda."
"Present-o."
"Suzurimi."
"Here-u."
"Tabamura."
"Here-u."
"Tachikawa…iie. Tetsuda?'
"Matte, matte." Bromwell-sensei interjected, "Tachikawa wa doko desu ka?"
Okawa Hayasa raised her hand.
"Sensei!"
"Yes, Okawa?"
"Tachikawa wa…"
"Matte," she said again, flicking her red hair over one shoulder, "In English, please."
Okawa bit her lip, then stood up.
"Ano…Tachikawa…is a…music concert? Sumi masen!" She squeaked, embarrassed at the mistake and sat down in a rush. Bromwell-sensei sighed; she hated taking attendance the most.
"Tachikawa is at a music concert?"
"Haaaaai." The class chorused.
"In English please."
"Yessss." They said again. She sat back in her desk, and allowed Hayasaki to finish taking roll.
After forty-five minutes of translating The BFG, Bromwell Angela-sensei made her way from Class 2-E to Class 3-H.
"Fujimori Saori."
"Present-o."
"Honda Kentaro."
"Here-u."
"Matsubara Toru."
"Absent-o!"
"OK. Mimada…"
"Wait." Bromwell-sensei put her hand on her forehead, "Where's Matsubara?"
Abe stood up.
"Toru had concert practice, today. He said…he would come in after break…to make up the test, and to please…stay beautiful, Ms. Bromwell."
Abe sat down proudly as several of the students applauded. Bromwell-sensei shook her head.
"Alright."
"Mimada Natsumi."
"Present!"
Class 3-H conjugated thirty-six action verbs. Then Angela went to Class 3-C, her last class before lunch.
She found herself sitting through attendance once again.
"Akibara."
"Here."
"Ishida."
"Absent-o."
"Ueda."
"Present-o."
"Eijima."
"Here."
Ezawa finished roll, then handed it to Bromwell-sensei. She scanned the list.
"Is Ishida here today?"
Ezawa wet his mouth carefully.
"No." He hesitated, then quickly went to his seat. Ueda tentatively raised her hand.
"Bu-romwell-sensei?"
"Yes, Ueda?"
"Ishida Yamato is in…"
"Music concert practice?"
Ueda blushed for no particular reason.
"Mm."
Bromwell-sensei stood up.
"Please, raise your hand if you are going to this concert."
There was slight hesitation and a few hands went up. Then, several more. Finally, everyone in the class had raised their hand. Except for Harada, who had fallen asleep.
Bromwell-sensei put her hand on her forehead.
"Alright, thank you."
Fifty-minutes later, Angela Bromwell was eating lunch with the rest of the teachers in the Staff Room.
"The youth of today." She whined chronically, unwrapping her bread, "These students are getting just as bad as the ones back home."
"Mm. It's tragic, really." Said Harumi, another language teacher.
"So disappointing. I was never so nonchalant with my studies." Said Seishiro, a math teacher.
"Three of my students ditched class today, just for a concert." Said Angela sadly, "And the rest are leaving early to see them."
A hush fell over the teacher's lounge.
Angela paused, momentarily confused, then looked among her fellow teachers.
"Harumi?" Harumi looked embarrassedly away. Angela turned her head to Seishiro,
"Seishiro?" He seemed particularly fascinated with the color of his slippers. He wasn't the only one.
Angela dropped her bread.
"You're not…"
"It's all my students ever talk about." Said Harumi pathetically, "So, naturally, my curiosity was aroused…"
"There are posters all over the district." Said Seishiro. Other teachers nodded in unison.
"I don't believe this!"
"Actually, Angela…" Harumi scooted closer, "I have an extra ticket, if you'd like to join us."
Angela sat back in her chair, staring incredulously. Then, much to her own surprise, she slowly shrugged.
"I guess…I guess that would be fine."
"Yosh." Harumi exchanged a thumbs-up with Seishiro. He grinned coolly,
"I've actually got one of their tee-shirts in my briefcase."
"Really?"
The teacher's lounge erupted with gossip.
Angela couldn't think of anything to say, so she stuffed her mouth full of bread and didn't say anything at all.
LVIII.
The Teen-Age Wolves and Mimi ran through the set twice, the first time with criticism and constructive listening, the second time with just the music.
"I didn't think we'd do it, but we did it." Said Toru, finally. There was a large band-aid on his head from this mornings 'suicide attempt'. To make it less conspicuous, Reiichi and Keitaro wore one as well, on different parts of their body. Mimi opted to wear a shirt with a band-aid on it. Yamato put his on his guitar.
"Oh, ye of little faith." Said Keitaro.
"What does that mean?" asked Reiichi.
As Keitaro proceeded to explain, Toru suggested everyone take a break. Mimi swayed over to Yamato, who had just finished replacing one of his bass strings.
"Yamato…I'm sorry about…"
"I don't want to talk about it." He said curtly, never once looking at her. Mimi's words had frozen in her mouth and she stood, slightly befuddled. Yamato set his bass down and, without another word, headed backstage.
Mimi felt as though he had put out a cigarette on her heart.
"He gets like that near concert time." Said Toru, "Don't you remember?"
She hesitated the shook her head.
"Not really."
"It's nothing to worry about. He's probably just going to have a smoke or something, you know, to cool off. He's all I'm-the-Cool-One-of-the-Group, but really he's all nerves." Toru grinned, "You don't remember?"
Mimi shook her head again, inwardly fighting the guilty expression that started to surface on her face.
She had been like this all week; on the one hand, if anyone could convince Yamato not to leave the band, it was Toru. On the other hand, the last thing they needed was their lead-singer's contemplated quitting on their conscience. Indeed, Toru seemed none the wiser.
"Hey, Mimi-chan"
She looked out, startled out of her thoughts.
"It'll be…difficult next year, with all of us graduating." He started slowly. Mimi caught her breath, "But I was thinking, assuming that the schedule worked out and everything you know, if you wanted to…you know, become a member of the band."
Her heart stopped.
"It was just something that…you know, we were talking about. It's not a big deal, no pressure but…having you around really gives us the kick we need to make it big. Bands with girls go big, especially in America. And if we play our cards right, we could end up in the States, so…"
Toru noted her expression and shrugged casually.
"I understand if it's out of the question, but it's just an idea. We haven't really…well, Yamato doesn't know yet, but Reiichi and Keitaro seem for it, if you're for it."
"I…" Mimi flustered, "I guess I'll think about it."
"You'll think about it? Because if you don't want to…"
"No." She tried to smile convincingly, "I'll definitely think about it."
"Cool."
Toru went off to join whatever conversation Keitaro and Reiichi were having, leaving Mimi alone with her mouth open and her head spinning. Maybe Toru was aware of Yamato's reluctance to make it big. Perhaps he had asked her to join the band as a replacement.
Mimi, quietly as she could, walked backstage and out of the back door where, just as Toru had said, Yamato sat facing an empty alleyway, an unlit cigarette in his mouth. He glanced at her in the corner of his eye. Mimi quickly put on her face of nonchalance.
"Didn't know you smoked."
"I usually don't." Came his muffled reply. Mimi sat down on the steps beside him, smoothing her skirt over her legs.
"Don't make a habit of it. You'll ruin your voice."
They sat in awkward silence. Mimi stretched her arms and fingers, wet her lips. Yamato stared forward, the cigarette dangling precariously in his mouth.
"Last year today," she started with a small smile, "we were at that Christmas party, remember?"
Yamato didn't say anything. Mimi, in turn, pushed her hair behind her ears and looked away. It was unbearably silent again.
Finally, she said,
"Toru asked me to join the band permanently." Contrary to the reaction she expected, Yamato remained motionless. She wondered if he had heard her at all. Mimi frowned deeply, "I wonder, if he knows what you're thinking. Or did you tell him?"
Yamato took the cigarette out of his mouth.
"I don't want to talk about it." He stood up.
"Well," she flustered, "it's not fair to Toru and Reiichi and Keitaro that you feel this way but don't tell them!"
She felt herself shaking. He was, however, still calm. He had put the cigarette back in his mouth and stared, meditatively in the opposite direction.
"You want to sing right? You want everyone to hear your music! Don't give up on your dream so easily!"
He remained undisturbed. Furious now, she wiped her eyes and stood up.
"Why are you always so cold?" She demanded. When she didn't get an answer, she turned and retreated inside, slamming the stage door behind her.
Mimi was in such a fluster that she ran into Dime-a-Dozen and barely remembered to apologize. She looked, blinking rapidly, into the face of their attractive foreign drummer whose name, at the moment, escaped her.
"Excuse me." She said shortly.
The stage door opened and closed. The effect was like ringing a bell; she felt something strange come over her, like a twist in her heart.
Mimi batted her eyelashes and smiled.
"Hi. Tachikawa Mimi." She stuck her hand delicately out.
"Kazumori Rocco." He smiled in turn and took her hand.
"NICE-U TO MEET YOU." She said, in English, "I'm Mimi. Let's be good friends."
"Sounds good."
She stood on her tip toes and kissed both of Rocco's cheeks.
"Wow," said one of their guitarists, "how cool. You're so worldly."
Mimi shrugged airily and strolled back to her place with Teen-Age Wolves. Yamato, in the corner of her eye, appeared impassive. But like the rest of the band, she could tell that he was not thrilled.
He lifted his head,
"Does anyone have a light?"
The Dime-a-Dozen guitarist pulled a lighter from his pocket and lit Yamato's cigarette. He nodded in gratitude, puffing coolly as he returned to the side of the Teen-Age Wolves, lifting his bass.
"Let's play through the set again." Keitaro suggested, taking up his own guitar beside Mimi. Reiichi sat at the drums. Yamato took center stage, blowing smoke out of his mouth before crushing the cigarette right at her feet. Mimi turned her head, inwardly scornful, catching Toru's inquisitive and slightly reprimanding gaze as he adjusted to the weight of his guitar. Everyone seemed to sense their tension.
Keitaro quickly began the notes of the first song. Reiichi clapped his drumsticks together.
"One…two…one two three yeah!"
LIX.
"I've been thinking…" Hikari turned around in her seat.
Takeru looked up from his cellphone.
"Uh oh."
"Rude." Her face pinched, "Anyway, about Yamato and Mimi's 'thing'…I bet Matsubara would know all about it."
"Toru?" Takeru inquired, "I don't know…"
"It makes sense though, right? I mean, he knows Yamato pretty well…"
Takeru smiled sourly.
"You're awfully familiar with my brother…"
"Well, he is pretty cute." She smiled at his expression, "He's tall and in a band. Yamato is super cool. Way cooler than you."
"Ouch." He said, trying to keep cool, "Maybe you should go out with him."
"No way." Hikari blushed, and looked away. Takeru blushed in turn.
"Oy." Daisuke slapped his hand down on Takeru's desk, "What's all this love-love business going on here?"
"Shouldn't you be in class?" Takeru commented.
"Like I would listen to you." Said Daisuke bluntly. "But anyway, do you have any extra tickets to the show tonight?"
"You can still get tickets at the door right?" asked Hikari. Daisuke's mood did a one-eighty. He actually batted his eyelashes.
"Nope, Hikari-chan, it's not possible."
"Why?" asked Takeru.
"Some girls in my class went last night to get tickets, but they were all sold-out."
"Huh? No way…" Hikari leaned forward her eyes wide.
Within seconds, Takeru was on his cellphone.
"Hey, Nii-chan. It's Takeru. Listen, you're not gonna believe this but these girls at school went to buy tickets and…"
"Excuse me." Their teacher set his briefcase down, "Class is about to start. All cellphones should be put away and all students from other classes should leave, now."
Daisuke sneered quietly and ran back to his classroom. Takeru hung up and, while the teacher was distracted, hid the phone in his lap. Hikari watched as he quietly and quickly texted the rest of the message. Takeru then put his phone away.
"Sneaky." She whispered, "When did you get so rebellious?"
"Guess it just runs in the family."
They smiled.
LX.
After the Teen-Age Wolves ran through their set, Toru called a lunch break and everyone trailed out of the room. Kazan-Kirin's bass and vocalist, Dido, caught up with him as he finished changing another guitar string.
"Hey, Toru."
"Yo, Chiyo." They had met a few shows ago, talking about touring together or something that never came through. Still, Toru liked her; she had stage presence and a good personality. She was still in high school, like them. "Kazan-Kirin's sound is as good as ever."
"Thanks. You guys were great, better than before. Ishida's really intense today." She grinned slightly, "It's that Tachikawa girl, isn't it?"
"How'd you guess?" asked Toru sarcastically. Chiyo laughed.
"What's the deal with them, anyway?"
Toru gave her a look. Chiyo went to Uwahime Girls School; she had probably heard the story from Takenouchi, Yamato's friend. He shrugged.
"You wanna know?"
She stood back, her laughter fading a little bit.
"You know, Toru?"
Toru shrugged again.
"Maybe.
It's not my business."
"Fine. Let's make a bet." She
dug into the pocket of her plaid pants, pulling out a coin, "Tails:
you tell me and we go on a date. Heads: you seriously consider
touring with Kazan-Kirin."
"You're awfully forward." But he grinned, "What's in it for me?"
"Tails." She said, tossing him the coin. "You call it."
Toru shoved the coin in his pocket without looking at it.
"Tails." He said, "Let's go."
LXI.
It went like this:
Like a year ago, Teen-Age Wolves was still pretty underground and had only maybe done two shows. Tachikawa had just moved back to Japan after living in America for a few years; meanwhile, we were trying to think of something to spice up the act, you know, add some variation. Anyway, Yamato mentioned that this one girl, Tachikawa, had some good pipes why they were kids and I told him what the hell, he should ask her to be in the band, you know like, for this once-in-a-lifetime show, and maybe a gig or two.
So Mimi said 'yeah, I'll sing with you guys' and for like a month or so we all rehearsed together, and it was great and she was the spice, you know like, the missing ingredient. And then Mimi and Yamato started getting kind of close which Taichi (Yamato's friend) said was kind of odd because they never really talked before. So things went along smoothly and then the concert got closer and closer, but then Mimi's parents said that she was starting to do bad in school, you know, so she couldn't play with us anymore ("But she was still in the concert, right?" asked Chiyo. "Don't worry, we'll get there." Said Toru).
Anyway, Yamato and Mimi got closer than ever because of it. They started meeting at this seesaw that was close to Mimi's house after school, right, and Yamato wrote this awesome song about it. Once, he told me that they had made this promise there when they were kids, but he couldn't remember what he was supposed to do except that he was supposed to marry her if he didn't keep it or whatever and some other silly kid stuff, right? Well anyway, Yamato wrote this awesome song and it was called Hitori Bocchi no SEESAW ("Oh!" said Chiyo, and she blushed), and the words are like: on the lonely seesaw, waiting for no one, waiting for someone to come. I'm the same but I'm sitting on the other side, anytime. You know, like super relevant to what they were going through. So of course we decide to learn it last minute and play it at the concert. But Yamato wanted to keep it a secret, you know, like to surprise her or whatever.
So yeah, Mimi begged and begged her parents to let her be in the show and finally they said yes as long as she improved her grades, so she started studying with this other kid, our lighting guy Izumi who's like, wicked smart. And then Yamato got kind of jealous or whatever, and stopped meeting her after school. And then Mimi got upset and said she didn't want to play in the show anymore. It was all really stupid so finally I told Yamato to get his act together, 'cause we have to play the show with her. So Yamato went and apologized like a few days before the concert was supposed to play, and Mimi accepted his apology and we did some last minute practices and then we played the show.
But here's the thing. When we played Hitori Bochi no SEESAW, Mimi thought it was like a love confession or something and started like making the moves on Yamato, right? But then Yamato was still kind of pissy and jealous so he denied it and like, didn't want to have anything to do with her. So of course Mimi gets all upset and doesn't want to talk to him either. But then Yamato started feeling bad and it was kind of a stupid, whiny period that was really annoying, and he finally went and apologized and asked if there was anything he could do to make it up to her, or if she would forgive him. And Mimi said that if he wanted her forgiveness, he had to keep his promise from when they were kids, you know? And he agreed.
So flashing forward, Yamato and Mimi were still pretty good friends though they never really talked at school or anything, just whenever they felt like it, you know, 'cause they both try and play it cool or whatever. But then like two weeks ago, Yamato was supposed to meet Mimi at the seesaw right, so they could like fulfill their childhood promise. But he like spaced out because he was involved in something else and didn't even think of it (Chiyo gasped. Toru snorted, "Dumbass, right?") and Mimi got all pissed off and asked why he didn't come and meet her and he got all uppity and was like "Why do you care, we're not going out" or whatever, and then Mimi got upset and like, stormed off. And the next day, that whole thing started.
So even though everyone thinks Yamato's cool or whatever, he's really like five-years-old emotionally and kind of acts like a girl when it comes to Mimi, or whatever. But maybe she likes that since they keep talking and getting upset and making out or whatever. But seriously, as long as they play the show it's fine with me. It's just annoying, that's all.
LXII.
Eight o' clock rolled around, and Yamato and Mimi still were not speaking. Not only this, but they had ceased to acknowledge each other's existence entirely. They would speak over each other, not bothering to stop while the other spoke, much to the confusion of everyone else. They wouldn't use the same microphone. They wouldn't even stand on the same side of the stage. Toru was at his wit's end.
Moreover, Mimi's incessant flirting with Rocco only aggravated Yamato, making him yell more than sing, much to her delight. Finally, at eight-twenty-two, Toru took Yamato by the collar and dragged him out of earshot.
"What is your problem?" Toru demanded.
"I don't have a problem." Said Yamato.
"The hell you don't!" He had not let him go yet, "Get your act together! Your stupid kid fighting is fucking up our group dynamic."
Yamato didn't struggle against his grip. He just looked casually to the side, but Toru knew he was contemplating what to do. He let him go.
"Apologize, for fuck's sake." Then he went back to band. Yamato stood for a moment in contemplation, watching Mimi out of the corner of his eye. She was still talking to Rocco, even as Dime-a-Dozen was setting up. Watching them like that, he couldn't bring himself to open his mouth.
Mimi kissed his cheek and winked; Rocco's hand had found its way to her waist, and he smiled roguishly as she headed back stage.
She strutted right past him, swinging her hips casually. Then, she opened her mouth and out came the first words from her he had heard in hours:
"The show's about to start."
And she walked on by.
LXIII.
It was freezing outside, so everyone stood huddled with excitement. Sora had to go back to her apartment twice for more clothes; consequently, she, Taichi and Jyou were stuck at the end of the line, rubbing their hands together. Shibuya bustled with holiday lights, red and green, skinny men dressed as Santa Claus. Most of all, there were young people everywhere: from every school high school (some wore their uniforms still, though why, no one could be sure), even a good few college students, lined up all the way down the street.
"It's packed!" chattered Taichi, "Do you think it's sold out?"
"That's what Hikari told me." Said Sora. She pulled her jacket closer around her and scooted closer to him, "These kids at her school couldn't get tickets last night."
Taichi blinked,
"How come she told you?"
"She told both of us."
Taichi scratched his nose. Sora rolled her eyes.
"I can see the entrance." Jyou blinked, adjusted his glasses, "Or maybe that's backstage."
"Great." Said Taichi sarcastically.
"I'll call Koushirou and see if he can get us inside."
"Yo, Nii-chan!" Hikari ran down the street, attracting the attention of a few line inhibitors. She dragged Takeru behind her. Daisuke followed with a sour expression on his face.
"Were you already inside?" asked Taichi incredulously.
"Yeah. It's really crowded, so Miyako and Ken are trying to save our spot up front."
She and Takeru still had their hands linked. Taichi increasing bore the same sour expression as Daisuke.
"Can you get us inside?" asked Sora.
"Only two." Said Takeru apologetically, "And they're cutting us slack 'cause of Nii-chan."
"I'll stay here." Said Jyou, "You and Taichi good inside. I'll try and call Koushirou to see if he can get me in."
"You sure?" asked Sora. Taichi had already stepped out of line, huddling between Hikari and Takeru, much to their dismay. Jyou nodded, pulling his cellphone out of his coat. Sora gave him a victory sign and dragged Taichi away from his sister, the group of them heading for the entrance as Jyou chattered into his cellphone.
Inside, the atmosphere made a 180˚ as the body heat of the crowded area made everyone instantly want to shed their coats. Which they did. Hikari, Takeru and Daisuke guided Sora and Taichi through the massive, pushing, pulling sway of the audience towards the front, flashing the 'STAGE' badge that Yamato had given him a day before, which seemed to make people more lenient. Dime-a-Dozen was already half-way through their set, sweating in the heat that only seemed to get hotter the closer they got to the stage. Finally, the roughness of the crowd ebbed off a little as they arrived at the front, where Miyako pushed and shoved to make room and Ken squeezed painfully by, allowing them next to the stage.
"I guess refreshments are out of the question?" He yelled against the loud music, making everyone laugh. He laughed too, despite that he was serious, and pushed awkwardly against the strangers trying to force their way upfront.
"Dime-a-Dozen always gets a moshpit!" Takeru shouted, "Once Kazan-Kirin starts to play, it won't be so bad!"
The song finished with the vocalist Abeshi holding the microphone over the audience; everyone screamed, even Ken, when it pointed over them. Then he held it up above his head and started the next song.
LXIV.
After Dime-a-Dozen finished their set and the stage hands started moving Kazan-Kirin's instruments on stage, Mimi threw her arms around Rocco and laughed.
"You guys were great!"
"You think so?" Once again, she felt Rocco's hand moving uncomfortably for her waist, which she had begun to dislike slightly but at least Yamato had appeared to dislike it even more. She wasn't particularly into Rocco –he was the different-girl-every-show type and had already mistaken her name for someone else twice. What she did like was the change in Yamato's attitude; watching her constantly, stone-faced and distant. It was possibly the most direct display of emotion she had ever gotten out of him. Currently, he stood near the backdoor, glaring in the other direction. Mimi took Rocco's arm and dragged him over, delicately keeping her gaze away from Yamato and smiling her best smile up at his foreign face.
"Why don't we go for a Congratulation drink after the show?"
"Why after the show when we could go now?" Now his hand moved to the small of her back and she smiled, more uncomfortably than the last, and tried discreetly to loosen his grip.
"What
about the show?"
"Don't worry about it." He lowered his
tone in an attempt to be seductive, "This guy here has enough
intensity for everyone in the band, right?"
Rocco smiled at Yamato, which Mimi realized was probably a bad move. Yamato didn't respond; he started towards the rest of the band, pushing hard past Rocco with only a quiet, unintelligible apology.
"Hey, what's your problem?" asked Rocco, half-playfully but half-serious as well. But Yamato kept walking. Rocco took his hand from around Mimi (much to her relief) and started towards him, "I'm talking to you. What's your problem?"
Rocco shoved Yamato lightly from behind. He turned slowly, another unlit cigarette balanced between his lips. Rocco was bigger than him in upper arm strength, but not much taller. His jovial, flirtatious expression had faded into one of severity.
"Well?"
Yamato took the cigarette from his mouth and tossed it at Rocco's feet. The drummer turned slightly red. Mimi stepped up to them.
"Hey…" she started. Yamato spoke then, facing Rocco but speaking directly to her, she knew,
"Do whatever you want. I don't care."
Mimi suddenly felt like crying, though she didn't know why. Rocco snorted cockily.
"We will." She once again felt his hand on the small of her back. This time, however, she pushed away.
"Stop it."
"Why? What's going on with you?" Rocco pulled her towards him, "We're going somewhere, right?"
What happened next happened very suddenly.
Mimi pushed herself forcibly away. Rocco turned slightly, confused as to her sudden reluctance. Mimi shook her head,
"Forget it." Rocco frowned.
Then Yamato, in one swift movement, stepped forward and threw his fist into Rocco's face.
The guitarist tumbled over, hit his head on the refreshment table and fell to the floor.
Mimi froze in place. Yamato stood idly, glancing at her briefly, angrily, before walking out of the backdoor. Fifteen seconds later, everyone backstage realized what had happened and ushered Rocco to the couch with ice. Reiichi asked Mimi if she was okay and she nodded dumbly.
"Where's Yamato?" asked Toru.
Mimi pointed to the backdoor,
"He walked out." She said quietly.
There was a lot of commotion, and some of the members from Dime-a-Dozen started yelling at Keitaro and Toru. In the midst of the argument, Mimi found her way backstage and slipped out, forgetting her jacket, into the streets of Shibuya.
LXV.
Finally, Ken couldn't stand it anymore and told everyone he would bring back a few bottles of water from the counter at the far end of the arena. Kazan-Kirin had just begun their set and, true to Takeru's word, the audience had died down a bit. Hikari had passed the STAGE badge onto Ken so he wouldn't have too many problems getting back to the front. Then, he began the arduous task of fighting and shifting his way through the massive, swaying crowd.
A few minutes later, Ken finally arrived at the front and took his place in the concession line. It was there that he happened to catch a familiar face outside, green wristband clashing with his black pants. Ken leaned forward, trying to see as much of the person's face as possible, and finally ended up getting out of line.
"Yamato-san?"
He started to walk outside when the bouncer stopped him,
"If you're out, you're out for good."
"It's cool." Said Yamato, straightening up, "He's with Izumi on tech."
The bouncer nodded and let him outside, Ken stumbling into the brisk night air. It was very cold but at the same time very nice. He realized how hot it had been inside.
"Big crowd." He said, taking his handkerchief out of his pocket and padding his forehead. Yamato shrugged casually.
"How is it going so far?"
"Good, I guess." Ken shrugged coolly, or tried to. Yamato intimidated him a little. "Are you nervous?"
Yamato shrugged again. There was a lot of shrugging between them.
"So uh…" Ken shifted slightly, "I guess I'll just wait inside for your set. I have to get some water for everyone."
"There's some water back there."
Yamato removed his green wrist band and gave it to him.
"Take as much as you want."
Then he strolled casually away. Ken looked between Yamato and the green wrist band unsteadily then slid it on. The bouncer let him backstage without a second thought; he took a few bottles of water in his arms; he came back inside the main arena and started pushing and shoving his way back to the front. Soon enough, the music was blaring and the lights were bright and it was very hot again, the iced water bottles pressed against his chest.
"What took you so long?" Asked Takeru, sweating profusely. He started taking water bottles from Ken's arms and passing them down the line, "Long line?"
"No," shouted Ken, "I met Yamato-san outside. He gave me this (he struggled to lift up his wrist for Takeru to see) and they let me backstage for free water and stuff."
Takeru stared, a little bit shocked.
"That's Yamato's band pass. He won't be able to get back inside without that." He gave Ken a concerned, almost frantic look, "Where did he go?"
"He just walked off. I didn't know where he was going." Takeru gave the rest of the water bottles to Sora and took the pass from Ken, forcing his way through the crowd and disappearing.
Hikari squirmed her way to his side,
"Where's Takeru going?"
"To find Yamato, I guess!" shouted Ken.
Hikari hesitated, then took the stage pass from around Ken's neck and started fighting her way after him. She also disappeared, Ken staring after her.
"Don't worry about them!" Miyako yelled, shifting over towards him, "They'll be fine! Takeru knows his way around most of the venues!"
Ken nodded, but it wasn't Takeru or Hikari he was worried about.
LXVI.
Mimi had run in the other direction, a mindless sensation running through her. Why? Why was she always so dumb?
She stopped, looking behind her. On Air East was still visible. She held her arms close to her; it was very cold outside.
He wouldn't really leave over something like that, would he?
Her stomach flooded with guilt. She reached around for her purse but realized she had left it, along with her cellphone, back at the venue. Mimi hesitated; if he, by some miracle, decided to call her, she wouldn't be able to answer.
Just as she was about to turn back, she caught sight of him trailing away. Mimi raised her arms,
"Yamato!" And ran after him.
Mimi followed him for quite a while, pushing through the hoards –being Christmas, it was very crowded –and she never could quite catch up with him. Finally, he moved into a less crowded area and she shouted again, "Yamato!" but he didn't respond. She breathed heavily, almost on the brink of tears,
"Yamato!"
He stopped and spun around.
"Mimi-chan?"
"Takeru!" She fell to her knees in surprise, "Itai…"
"Mimi-chan…" He bent down and pulled her up, "Have you seen my brother?"
"I was looking for him." Much to her horror, she really did start to cry. "It's my fault…"
She hiccupped as her makeup began running a little bit down her eyes. Takeru put his hand on her head, a gesture she remembered, from a long time ago, when Yamato had disappeared and Mimi had been the one to put her hand on his head, and had said,
"Don't worry. We'll find him, okay?" Which is exactly what he said now.
Mimi didn't remember when Takeru had grown so tall. Despite the slight differences (the eyes, the smiling mouth), he really was the spitting image of his brother. It made her sad, in a way.
Takeru handed her his handkerchief which she took, gratefully, and padded beneath her eyes, careful not to smear whatever makeup remained. It was then that Hikari ran up, panting slightly.
"Takeru. Mimi…"
"Hikari?" said Takeru.
"I just overheard some girls…they said they just saw the Teen-Age Wolves singer outside of the train station…"
"Yamato!" Mimi exclaimed and started, without a word, running through the park and back towards the street. Takeru pulled Hikari after her,
"Mimi! Mimi, wait!"
She spun around suddenly.
"Takeru! Let me use your cellphone!"
LXVII.
Toru strums his guitar nervously, playing quietly over a riff and realizing he has yet to put the instrument in tune.
"Where is he? Did he call yet?"
"Hey," says Keitaro, returning from the left wing, "the crowd seems anxious. I can't believe it, but it looks like a full house."
"All the more to beat us up, my dear." Says Toru, sarcastically.
"I'll call him again." Reiichi exits through the backdoor.
Outside, the noise of the music begins to fade, replaced instead by the vociferous screaming of the audience. Chiyo –Dido –speaks to the crowd in muffled tones; her voice is tired, but she maintains her enthusiasm. Toru leans his guitar haphazardly onto its stand and grabs his coat.
"Yamamoto-san, can you please have Kazan-Kirin play a few more songs?" The stage manager exits into one of the wings with a nod. Toru pushes his hand through his hair; sweaty now, it spikes up. He shuffles quickly for the back door, hoping not to be noticed. His heart is screaming.
"Yamato, you bastard…"
Reiichi opens the back door.
"I can't get a hold of him…" He pauses, "Where are you going?"
"Where do you think I'm going?" Toru snaps.
"No way." Keitaro appears out of nowhere and pulls him back, "If he comes back and you're not here, we're still screwed."
"But we've still got Mimi-chan." Says Reiichi, "She can sing until he comes back."
"Where is she, anyway?" asks Toru, quietly, almost to himself, because now everyone is thinking about it.
"Come to think of it…" Keitaro says slowly.
Toru tries to force his way through Reiichi to the backdoor, but he catches him and forces him back inside.
"I'll try calling her!" Reiichi interjects, "Just hang on!"
The backdoor being too dangerous, the three of them (Keitaro and Reiichi with Toru in tow) move away, towards the changing room. Once inside, Keitaro closes the door and Reiichi lifts up his cellphone. Mimi's chipper cellphone ring fills the air.
They all hesitate. Keitaro spots her purse on the dresser, lying on top of a coat, and her cellphone flashing beside it.
"Fuck." He says simply.
"Yamato wouldn't turn his back on us, like this." Reiichi says kind of pathetically, kind of lost and unsure of what even he is saying, "He wouldn't screw us over!"
But Toru and Keitaro are quiet. Reiichi looks between them desperately.
"Hey…" he whispered a little bit, "hey, don't…don't' say that…" They hadn't said anything, but they might as well have.
Suddenly, there came a frantic knocking on the door. Reiichi ripped it open, forcing Keitaro and Toru up.
"Yamato!" He cries.
But it isn't Yamato. Izumi stumbles inside the changing room.
"I just got a call from Hikari. She and Takeru are with Mimi."
"Tell her to bring her here!" says Toru loudly.
"That's the thing…" He looks up, the apologetic messenger, "She won't come. Not without Yamato, anyway."
"Fuck!" He yells. Izumi winces. Toru swipes his hand from his forehead to his neck; the band-aid from previously sticks there now, instead, more resilient than any band-aid before it.
"I'll find him, and bring him back here." Says Izumi and, without another word, is gone.
Keitaro leans on the dresser.
"I don't suppose there's a Plan B?"
Toru lets his hand rest on his neck, silent. Finally, he asks,
"What time is it?"
Reiichi checks his cellphone,
"10:17."
"Then, I guess there's going to have to be." Says Toru. He leaves the room, followed quickly by his band mates. But they stall as he heads directly for the stage.
"What are you doing? Toru?" calls Keitaro, but he pays him no heed. He moves past Yamamoto, patting her shoulder ("It's alright.") as Kazan-Kirin finishes a blasting song and the crowd grows louder.
The lights are blinding and the heat from it all strikes him immediately. Still, Toru walks across the stage (the crowd goes fanatical). Dido sees him moving towards her and slacks her bass a little bit, taking the moment to breathe.
When he arrives at her side, he touches her waist (the audience grows even louder) and whispers into her ear,
"What do you think of an improv? Right now?"
The rest of Kazan-Kirin exchange glances. Dido looks at him peculiarly. Then she nods. Toru pecks her on the mouth and that tears it, the crowd screams, stomping their feet, whopping and cheering and jumping. Toru heads backstage, motioning for the stagehands to bring his guitar out on stage.
"What the hell is going on?" asks Reiichi.
"I'm buying us some time." He said, hoisting the other guitar over his shoulder, "Just hang tight, okay? And keep trying to reach that bastard."
Then he moves back into the stage glow and almost disappears. Keitaro and Reiichi exchange glances.
"He's lost it." Reiichi says.
"Surprise, surprise." Says Keitaro.
LXVIII.
Yamato stood outside of Shibuya Station, contemplating leaving but not really wanting to go, just yet, for reasons he couldn't explain. Despite his intention of blending in, he was getting a lot of female attention –girls whispering and pointing and smiling at him –that he paid no mind.
He had run out of cigarettes a long time ago –just as well, he had only smoked that one, for fear that anymore would ruin his voice –and now simply leaned against a pillar, unsure of all the thoughts and guilt and anger tumbling around inside of him.
His cellphone rang and he instinctively pulled it out of his back pocket. The last few had been from Reiichi but, having nothing to say, he wouldn't answer the phone.
He checked the name. Takeru. Yamato lifted the phone to his ear and pressed 'speak'.
"Hello?"
"Please don't hang up!" The voice screamed, "Please, please just listen to me!"
Yamato paused, almost frozen. Mimi's voice was trembling.
"Are you still there?" She asked.
He lifted it to his ear again.
"Mm." She sighed. Loud noises from either side of her seemed to mute her tone.
"Please go back and play the show." She said.
Yamato lifted himself from the pillar and stepped forward,
"Why?"
"Because
you have to!" He moved from the station onto the street, walking
without realizing.
"Why?" He asked again.
"Because I'm asking you to. Please don't turn your back on your friends. You all worked so hard…"
She hiccupped on the other end and he wanted to smile, without meaning to, without knowing why.
"Please, Yamato…" Her voice had died to a whisper against the bustling of the street around them. Yamato had walked for quiet a ways now, back towards On Air East without realizing it. It was crowded, too crowded to move freely, glowing red and green and white. Happy faces, smiling faces and one he caught out of the corner of his eye, one girl sobbing, her makeup running down her cheeks.
Yamato whipped around to see her. Much to his dismay, it wasn't Mimi –some other girl with bright red hair, rubbing her eyes and walking in the opposite direction. But it might as well have been her –he stopped, being pushed slowly backwards by the great number of people.
He lifted the phone back to his ear.
"…there? Are you still there?"
He wet his lips,
"I'm still here."
"Good." She smiled through the phone, "Are you going back?"
"Yeah." He said, "I'll see you there."
He hung up and started fighting again, fighting his way back to On Air East, pushing by people, murmuring so many excuses he lost the meaning of the word as he traveled up the street. Out of nowhere, someone grabbed his sleeve and yanked him forward.
"Hey!" He cried in protest before realizing that it was Koushirou, with red cheeks and a big coat on, glaring at him and pulling him forward,
"Where have you been?" He demanded, "Your set should have begun ten minutes ago!"
Koushirou waved his hands,
"Never mind. Do you know how many people are here tonight, just to see you? Not to mention everyone tuned in over webcam. You're lucky Toru's here…"
Before he knew it, there were back in front of On Air East. Koushirou yanked his green pass off of his wrist and tossed it to him,
"Go!" He shouted and moved for the other entrance. Yamato didn't waste another second; he ran backstage, flashing the wristband at the bouncer and scooted through the backdoor.
As he moved inside, Keitaro and Reiichi were there. Before he could open his mouth, they smacked him hard over the head, careful to avoid his throat and arms. Yamato caught himself before he face-planted.
"What were you thinking?" They yelled. But they were smiling. Reiichi pointed out onto the stage before going to ready the drums. Yamato took a deep breath and moved out onto the stage, where Toru and Kazan-Kirin were playing a song he had never heard before. When he came into view, it was like a volcano had erupted; there was screaming everywhere, from every corner, so much so that everyone on stage stopped playing and looked at him.
Toru barely remembered to unplug his guitar as he walked up to him, stopping short about a punch's length away. Yamato breathed heavily, deaf to the screaming of the crowd.
"Gomen." He said.
Toru hesitated, then threw an arm around him and slapped his back, the guitar wedge uncomfortably between them.
"After the show," he whispered, "I'm going to kill you."
Yamato grinned, a little nervously, and slapped his back in turn. Then he took one of the microphones in front of a speaker, wet his lips and lifted it to his mouth. Before he could say anything, everyone started screaming. He smiled. The stagehands began to exchange Kazan-Kirin's instruments for the Teen-Age Wolves.
"Konbanwa, minna-san." He said, greeted again to a rush of cheers. It was a huge audience, one he had missed even when lingering outside of the doors. It made his stomach fluster, "We're Teen-Age Wolves!"
A stagehand gave him his bass and he took his position beside Toru in the front of the stage, making sure the instrument was in tune. For a second, there was only the four them, positioned on the stage. He glanced at Reiichi, gripping the drumsticks and sweating already, as if he had been playing for sometime, at Keitaro, his guitar itching in his hands. At Toru, who for once looked at him for the word to begin. And at the audience, whose collective voice had died down to a dull roar with anticipation, swaying before them in with what could have been absolute silence.
Yamato pulled the microphone to his mouth, as if he were about to kiss it. Keitaro started the opening riff. Reiichi clapped his drumsticks together but it was Yamato, this time, to opened his mouth to sing:
"One two three yeah!"
Music seemed to come from out of nowhere, blended with intensity as a thousand voices came together and sang with them. It was a sensation unlike any other –like multiplying the body several times over or leaping off a cliff with no rope or jumping from a plane with no parachute. Everything erupted, the reverse Pompeii, bringing something back to life within him that he believed to be gone for some time.
The first song was over, it seemed, before he could take a breath. So he breathed in and checked the song list. Kirei na Kanjou was only two songs away, but Mimi had yet to appear. Yamato glanced at Toru, who seemed to be thinking the same thing. But just as quickly, Reiichi cued the next song and they started playing again, Yamato losing himself once again to the euphoria of music.
LXIX.
As it happens, Takeru, Hikari and Mimi had a much harder time fighting their way back to On Air East than they had moving away from it. When they finally did make it back, Teen-Age Wolves was already on stage, Yamato's voice ringing dully even from outside.
"Hurry, Mimi!" called Hikari, she and Takeru pulling each other towards the front entrance.
"How will you get back inside?"
"Don't worry about it." Said Takeru, flashing Yamato's green wrist band and gesturing for her to go. Mimi ran off backstage.
Takeru and Hikari gave simultaneous sighs.
"It's too close…" She said.
"Tell me about it."
LXX.
The next two songs went by too fast, and the band found themselves up a creek without a paddle again. Yamato had busted a string on his bass and took at that as an excuse to talk to Toru for a moment, while Reiichi entertained the audience for a bit.
"Hey…" He scooted over towards the edge, where Toru had also gravitated during the show.
"Don't ask me 'cause I don't know." Said Toru bluntly.
Keitaro moseyed over.
"Izumi can switch up the lighting cues for the next song…"
"It'll be too choppy." Toru said, "The music doesn't really go together."
Yamato noticed the stage manager gesturing from the wing. He set his bass down –Keitaro and Toru looked up sharply.
"It's just Yamamoto." He said. They let their suspicions fade and began, once again, to discuss modes of action. Yamato walked backstage, where Yamamoto pointed to the backroom.
"She's here." She said quietly. Yamato nodded, hesitatingly, then went to the backroom and pushed open the door, closing it gingerly behind him.
Mimi sat facing him like she knew he would come for her. They held their ground, the two of them staring at each other. Yamato could see her makeup streaked down her face, but instead of being unattractive, it made her look sad, maybe even helpless. She smiled weakly.
"You made it." She said.
He hesitated then said,
"Get ready. Your songs up…" And she smiled again, shaking her head.
"This is your big chance." She said, "It's your chance to win everything. I promise I'll be ready for the next song. But…"
She had a very peculiar look in her eyes. Yamato moved closer to her, wanting to touch her a little bit, but not knowing whether he could.
"…we'll be even, if you can do this one thing for me." She wiped her eyes and kept smiling, but he couldn't understand why; he couldn't bring any movement to his lips at all.
"It's a lot to ask right?"
Finally, Yamato leaned forward and rubbed his thumb under her eye, studying her face carefully. Then he nodded and left the backroom.
Outside, Reiichi was running out of things to say; Toru and Keitaro looked apprehensively through the wings where he left. He returned to the stage with an onslaught of applause. Toru and Keitaro glanced at him.
"What did Yamamoto want?"
"Nothing." He said bluntly –a stagehand had changed the string on his bass for him and he took the tuner out of his back pocket and started adjusting the instrument.
"Okay, so listen." Said Toru, "We're thinking about playing…"
"Don't worry about it." Said Yamato, pulling the bass over his head. The others instinctively put on their instruments after him.
"What are you going?" Toru demanded as quietly and coolly as he could.
Yamato turned halfway around,
"We're keeping the song order." He paused, then kept walking to the front of the stage. Reiichi saw him coming and blew a kiss to a few of the girls at the front, all of whom screamed, and slapped Yamato on the shoulder.
"So what are we doing?" He asked.
"We're playing the song."
"And…what are you doing?"
"I'm singing it."
Reiichi kind of blinked, but couldn't think of anything to say, so he kept walking and took his place behind the drum set. Just as well, Keitaro and Toru stared at him in silence.
Yamato covered the microphone with his hand.
"Toru, take it a couple notes lower, like River Edge. Don't worry, I've got this." Then he turned to an apprehensive audience, barely visible in the burning lights. He motioned to Koushirou for the lighting cue; the lights dimmed to a hazy purple-pink, making everything seem ethereal and warm.
He wet his mouth and put his hands on the microphone.
"This is a cover." That was all he said. Toru opened with the first few notes, accompanied by Keitaro now on keyboard. He took a deep breath and started to sing.
A hush fell over the audience; even the dull hum died down, replaced instead by a hypnotized silence. He tried to keep his voice steady and meaningful, as Mimi had sang it, and despite that the words were the same it was taking on a different meaning.
"Ryoute ni wa…afuredasu…kirei na kanjou…anata ni sasagetai…"
In both hands, the overflowing pure emotions.
I want to dedicate them to you.
The last few words filled the air and faded gently away, and Yamato realized he had closed his eyes. When he opened them, he could see the glow of the audience. And the applause was so loud it might as well have been silence. Then Mimi came out of the wings without a trace of visible sadness left on her face. And while the crowd was still cheering, Reiichi immediately went into the next song, as if nothing extraordinary had happened.
Yamato and Mimi lifted their voices together and sang, and the lights blazed and the crowd screamed and outside, the stars glistened above the streets and people laughed and danced. And all across the world, people were dreaming dreams not unlike this one; everything in the world blending together, all the happiness and all the pain of living and all the wonders of love and passion in one song of two voices. The emotion, pure and all-encompassing, touched everyone in the stadium and everyone, later, who heard about it, and maybe even somehow, someway, anyone who didn't. Such was the power of the music.
After the concert, people talked about it, and some of the girls cried a little bit when they spoke about the song that Yamato Ishida sang, but mostly everyone thought that they would remember the night forever. Of course, some people didn't. But to be perfectly honest, it was the thought that counted the most.
LXXI.
FAME MAGAZINE
Teen-Age Wolves Barking Up the Right Tree
Popular underground band from Tokyo ends the year right at their Christmas Concert
Article by Momotari Shingo (journalist and reporter for Syncopation TV)
December 26th
Against the bright lights of Shibuya on one of its busiest days of the year, the yellow shape of On Air East stood against the chilly air, where teenagers from almost every district of Tokyo lined up for one reason: Teen-Age Wolves, a local band from Odaiba with a huge fan following previously thought due to their good-looking band members and been-there-done-that music. But last night's performance proved the band to be much more than pretty faces and a catchy tune. The Teen-Age Wolves seemed to have grown up since their previous concerts, producing more thoughtful music, a bigger fan base and one of the most energetic and exciting concerts from the underground all year.
Preceded by Dime-a-Dozen and Kazan-Kirin, two bands equally popular with the youth of today, On Air East was filled to its one-thousand standing capacity from before 8:30 to after 11:30, and for good reason. Highlights of the show included a spontaneous collaboration between Matsubara Toru, Teen-Age Wolves' guitarist, and Kazan-Kirin's bassists and vocals Dido (who shared more than just music with their on-stage kiss before their improv set). Teen-Age Wolves also took the opportunity to introduce Tachikawa Mimi, who is rumored to be part of their band permanently. An excited high school student from Todai College, sporting one of their fashion-forward tee-shirts, had this to say:
"I used to think that if anyone were added or replaced in (Teen-Age Wolves), it wouldn't work, because the dynamic would change. But (Tachikawa) just seems to fit…I think she'll be a good addition."
Judging from the myriad of positive response about her involvement and performance, the fans appear to have little doubt that she will be the fifth member of Teen-Age Wolves.
"I like it. It gives them a little bit of edge." Said one of the older members of the audience, a teacher from a local high school who refused to disclose their identity.
Although the music, energy and spontaneous feel of the show contributed to making the concert memorable, a large amount of publicity is accredited to the interpersonal relationships between the members of Teen-Age Wolves, specifically the lead singer and front-man Ishida Yamato with Tachikawa Mimi. Although a collection of different and often interrelated rumors filtered through this reporter's ears, their chemistry in the least was undeniable. Conversation also circulated about Tachikawa's relationship with Dime-a-Dozen's drummer Kazumori Rocco, though this has yet to be confirmed by Tachikawa herself.
All in all, their more alternative and meaningful music has left Teen-Age Wolves at the top of the underground scene, jogging the interest of new fans and quite possibly Divinity Records, as heard from their spokesman earlier today. They've certainly caught our attention; we at Syncopation TV and Fame Magazine think that even Little Red Riding Hood could have a howling good time with the Teen-Age Wolves so called 'SADIE MONKEY' sound. It sounds good to us, whatever it is.♫
(To read more about Teen-Age Wolves and other underground bands, please visit the Fame Magazine website)
LXXII.
Yamato awoke with drumming in his ears.
He sat up and checked the time: 3:00 PM.
Last night had been something else. Miyako had thrown a surprise 'Happy Great Concert Let's Let Bygones be Bygones Party; someone had brought beer and someone had brought a karaoke machine, and there had been a lot that he didn't remember since after a few drinks, he found his way back to his bed somehow.
He touched his forehead. No hangover, but still a lot of drumming.
He realized he was still wearing his concert clothes and, smelling of something foul, found his way into the shower. Afterwards, once he was clean and had managed to find a good pair of pants, he realized he could still hear the incessant drumming, which, on every other day, usually faded in hot water.
He stood, rubbing his ears, momentarily perplexed. Yamato then moved into the kitchen, where his instruments had been unceremoniously dumped in the living room, and leaned back on the couch. It was then and only then that he realized the drumming sound was coming from the door. With a start he stood up and cracked it.
Mimi stood blinking back.
Yamato groaned and tried to shut the door, but she thrust a bouquet of wildflowers through before he could do so entirely. Some of the stems broke, their flowers falling broken at his feet.
"Open the door…" She whined.
He sighed and let her inside. Mimi cradled the flowers in her arms, struggling to get her boots off. He noticed her blush at the sight of him and, realizing he had yet to put on a shirt, wrangled a black one from the closet and pulled it over his head.
Mimi set the flowers on his counter carefully, apparently awkward about looking for a vase, and faced him shyly.
"I've been knocking for fifteen minutes." She said, "I thought you'd be awake by now."
Yamato shrugged, hiding his eyes from light with the palm of his hand.
"I also brought this." She set something on his coffee table which, upon later inspection, was a copy of Fame Magazine Weekly, "Koushirou dropped it off earlier this morning."
"Did you want to go somewhere?" He interjected.
Mimi blushed.
"Mm."
LXXIII.
They found themselves at Akiwa Pond again, Mimi standing on the stepping stones, Yamato lounging in the shade. She was talking to him with her back turned,
"So I guess the war's over." She teetered on a rock.
"Yeah." Said Yamato, hands over his head, pretending to have his eyes closed.
"I guess you won."
"Yeah."
She waited for him to say something more and, when he didn't, squatted, peering into the water for any trace of Tsuyu-chan. Finally, his voice interrupted her search.
"Why did you ask me to sing that song, last night?"
She stood, hopping all the way to the stone closest to him before answering,
"I don't know. I guess I just wanted to hear you say those words."
He sat up, looking at her vaguely, squinting because her head was back against the sun, forming a golden halo around her honey brown hair. She sighed a little bit, lowering her eyes and squatting again with practiced balance.
"Gomen ne." She searched the depths of the pond half-heartedly, "I've been nothing but trouble for you and the band."
"I probably shouldn't have gotten you involved in the first place." He said, leaning on his knees, "But you don't bring out the logical side of me."
He was staring at her so closely, and she noticed that his eyes were so blue that it made her blush. She stood up and moved a couple of stones away. But much to her surprise, Yamato followed her, hands shoved in his pockets.
She moved from rock to rock until he arrived at the very middle of the pond and he stopped a stone behind her, watching her coolly, the way he always did when he was thinking about her and trying not to let it show. What was it that always betrayed him, she wondered. Maybe just being there, watching her at all.
Mimi came to a very important conclusion then and without thinking turned to face him, stepping on his stone. It was small and she had to stand very close; Yamato put his hands on her arms to keep her from falling backwards.
She was blushing horribly now, turning to the side so as not to rub against his neck but she could smell him, soap mostly, a generic but nice shampoo, fabric softener. The fact that he used fabric softener at all made her stomach flutter because it was so like him to do so.
"You smell nice." She whispered, too embarrassed to look at him. He didn't say anything but she felt the weight of his gaze on the hair behind her ears. And his hands kind of stroking her skin a little bit, even though he was still trying to keep her from falling.
Mimi opened her mouth to say something but couldn't exactly remember what. Just as well, she said,
"Daisuki-yo." Because at that very second it was all she wanted to say. There was a moment of hesitation, when the only thing in the air was the birds and the breeze and the tiny splashing in the pond. Then Yamato's arms wrapped around her, pulling her all the way into him and breathing into her hair a little bit. His voice came gently afterwards,
"Me too." And she felt like crying all over again, because she had wanted to hear him say that so badly but had never realized it until just then. His arms tightened around her and she thought that he might never let go; just as well, if he did, she might never speak to him again.
They stood there for minutes or hours or seconds, neither could be sure. Finally, Mimi lifted her head slightly so that she could see his face and, pouting a little as if hurt that he had not suggested it himself, said,
"So, kiss me already…" Yamato turned a slightly red but closed his eyes as Mimi took an inch step back and stood on her tiptoes, and they somehow managed to kiss without falling into the pond. Later, when it was all done and they started walking back, fingers laced like a cob web, she said,
"You know, I shouldn't have to ask." At which he kissed her again just to spite her.
The End.
Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.
Okay, so like I promised it's totally finished. I'm really excited. So much so that I can't even use exclamation marks. Thanks everyone for supporting me and the story and mimato in general, because it's a fading passion these days, and anything we can do to keep it alive we should, you know? Much love to everyone and I hope you liked it.
P.S. There's an epilogue, because I just couldn't stop.
Oh yeah, notes.
The big song that Yama sang was "Kirei na Kanjou", the ending song from the series Noir, originally sang by Akino Arai. It's a good song, it's very beautiful and I listened to it only God knows how many times when I found it for this story.
'Daisuki-yo' (just move along if I've already said this) is the more colloquial version of 'I love you'; it's more like something you would say to someone you have a crush on and really, really like. Stronger than "I like you" but less severe than 'aishiteru', kind of like 'I would die for you' love. Does that make sense?
Ganbatte means 'Do your best!'
Yamato saying 'Konbanwa, minna-san' just means 'good evening, everyone'. I dunno, it sounded kind of awkward in English.
Kazan-Kirin means Volcano Giraffe. Dido was a princess in ancient Greece who fell in love with Aeneas, Prince of Troy and founder of Rome. She's also a singer.
Tragically, the e-mail address listed will not give you more information about Teen-Age Wolves, or any other bands, for that matter.
What Angela Bromwell the English teacher says in the beginning isn't really important, so I won't explain it.
'Kuso' is a bad word. That's all I'm going to say.
'Gomen' just means 'I'm sorry', usually for something done, as in a mistake. 'Sumi' is 'I'm sorry', but more like 'excuse me'.
The drinking age in Japan is technically 20, but no one ever gets carded. Likewise for smoking.
Everything else is unimportant, so I'll just skip it.