The Genius Vocalist

Flashback

"Nii-san, what's up with all the noise?" Sakura asked while knocking at Shuichi's door. The noise suddenly faded away. "Is it only you, Sakura?" Shuichi asked. "Nee-san is downstairs," Sakura replied. The door slightly opened and Shuichi quickly pulled Sakura in his room. "Nii-san what's going—eh?" Sakura glanced around the room. She saw of Shuichi's things bundled up with a large cloth. Shuichi smiled proudly, "I'm moving to Yuki's apartment today." "To Yuki-san's apartment?" Sakura repeated, "Did he invite you?" "I'm going to make him. I have to stay with him," Shuichi replied, "He doesn't know that I'm moving in. I'm planning to surprise him." "Uh huh." "If Maiko asks, tell her that I'm living in an apartment near N-G Building," Shuichi told her, "Just don't mention Yuki. You know that she gets high when it's about him." "It's more likely that you would tell her," Sakura mumbled. "Sakura," a voice came from outside the room. "It's Suguru-kun," Sakura rushed out the room and found Suguru at the stairs, "Suguru-kun, ohayou gozaimasu." "Ohayou gozaimasu, Sakura. Are you ready to go?" "Yeah." Suguru's gaze saw Shuichi carrying his things, "Sh-Shindou-san?" Sakura turned around and sweat dropped, "Nii-san, can you carry all of those?" "Don't underestimate me, Sakura," Shuichi said, "Even though I have a lean figure, I can carry these. I, Shindou Shuichi, can carry these to Yuki's apartment!" "Yuki?" Suguru curiously asked, "You mean Eiri Yuki-san? The novelist? Seguchi-san told me about your relationship." "Kindi slipped in your last sentence, Nii-san," Sakura said. "Huh? What sentence?" "You mentioned the name Yuki." "Eh! Why didn't you stopped me from saying it!" "You're all fired up." "You're no fair," Shuichi munbled then turned to Suguru, "Nee, Fujisaki. Don't tell anyone that I'm moving to Yuki's, okay?" "H-Hai." "So where are you two going? Not on a date are you?" Shuichi asked. Suguru blushed into ten shades of red, "A-Actually we plan to watch a movie with our friends." Shuichi nodded, "Oh, I get it. A double date." "Nii-san!" Shuichi sighed, "I must've been too loud," he patted Sakura, I completely understand you. Ja ne. Take care of Sakura, Fujisaki." Shuichi headed downstairs and left. "Ikimashou, Sakura," Fujisaki asked as Shuichi was gone.

End of Flashback

"You know, Yuki, they look sooo kawaii. Although they don't want to—" Uruse, kono kuso daki," Yuki growled. "But Yuki—" "You already told me this many times." Shuichi scratched his head, "But they look—" Yuki crushed his lips to Shuichi's. This is always his technique to make his pink-haired lover quiet down. Yuki pulled away and smiled at Shuichi, "You look more kawaii than anyone else, Shuichi." That was the night before their first date. Before Yuki disappeared...

"WWAAAAAAAHHHHHH! SAKURAAAAA! DOUSHIYOOO! YUKI LEFT MEEEE!" Shuichi wailed. "Nii-san, calm down," Sakura felt sorry for her older brother. It's been a long time since Shuichi left to settle at Yuki's apartment. Shuichi loves Yuki's apartment. Shuichi loves Yuki as much as Yuki loves him. However, there were many obstacles in their way, trying to destroy their relationship. "Did you ask Tohma-san? Sakura asked. "I already asked him but he won't tell sniff." "What about Mika-san or Tatsuha-san?" "I haven't asked them yet," Shuichi replied. "Why don't you try asking them?" Sakura suggested, "Tohma-san is jealous because Yuki loves you. Most likely, Mika-san or maybe Tatsuha-san will tell you." Shuichi looked out of the window, "I'm guessing that he's at New York. He told me that I was a burden. He has to go to New York to get away from me." "Nii-san." Shuichi turned to look with Sakura with lonely eyes, "I don't want Yuki to be away from me but there's nothing that I could do." Sakura's gaze turned to Shuichi's shelf, containing mostly of Nittle Grasper's videos. She elbowed the shelf, enough to let the videos fall. "AAAHHHHH!" Shuichi rushed and managed to catch the videos in no time, "What are you trying to do Sakura!" "Nii-san, you're too serious." Shuichi blinked, "Eh?" "In this situation, the normal Shindou Shuichi would still be smiling," Sakura explained. "Demo, Yuki wa—" "Yuki-san didn't want to be away from you, does he?" Shuichi was stunned at Sakura's question, Yuki... Yuki didn't mentioned that he wanted to go... Sou ka. "All right! I'll definitely go for it," Shuichi said, "Arigatou yo, Sakura."

Sakura silently watched a video of the first solo concert of Bad Luck. It has been months since Yuki left and Bad Luck's fame is now at its peek. Her cell phone rang, making her jump in surprise. She lowered the volume but enough to hear the song, Rage Beat, while answering the phone.

Ryuichi: A little announcement. As Sakura and the person on the other line are talking, you'll find the lyrics of Rage Beat in between their conversation. It means that this song is heard by Sakura in the video with talking over the phone. If you want to, play the Rage Beat TV Version, the shorter one, while reading this and skip the lyrics. In bold letters are the romanji lyrics and in italics is the English translation. Let's proceed.

"Hai, Sakura desu."

Suguru smiled as he heard Sakura's voice, "Sakura, how are you?"

obieta mezuki de

iradatsu omoi

uwaki na kaze ni hakisutete

With a terrified look in the eyes,

spit those irritated feelings into the fickle wind.

hibi-wareta rojou ni

toketa shigunaru wa

kizuato dake nokoshite-iku

The signal that melted into the cracked roadway

is leaving only a scar behind.

"I'm fine. Arigatou gozaimasu for giving courage and hope to Nii-san while Yuki-san is away."

"N-No it's nothing. Speaking of Shindou-san, I have something important to tell you, Sakura."

"Nan desu?" she blushed, Is he going to confess his love like Nii-san predicted?

"Shindou-san's voice is mysteriously gone."

"Nii-san ga?"

"Yeah. This is serious, even thought K used guns and bombs, nothing happened."

Sakura sweat dropped, "G-Guns and bombs?"

"Aa. Don't worry about him. He's completely all right."

"Sou da ne because he's Nii-san after all. But what'll you do about the Bad Luck Gravity Tour? It's gonna start tomorrow."

madoronda noizu ga asu o keshi-saru mae ni

yabou ni hibiku kutsuoto o oikakete

Before the drowsy noise blurs away tomorrow,

chase after those ambitiously resounding footsteps.

doko ni mo tomaranai

mitasanai emotion

shikato kimete oikose yo

furueteru shai na sekai no

nuke-michi o neratte

tadoritsuku basho e

I Want New World

That unfulfillable emotion

that never settles down somewhere—

just decide to ignore it, then overtake it.

Aim for the loophole in this shy,

trembling society,

for the place we keep struggling towards.

I Want New World.

"We're going to wait until Shindou-san comes back. Nakano-san said that he probably went to find Eiri-san."

"Sou desu ka?"

"Nee, Sakura, would you like to watch our concert? Sakuma-san is going to be there."

"Eh? Hontou?"

"Yeah, so?"

"Sure, I love to. How much is the ticket gonna cost?"

"Iie, you don't have to pay."

"Demo—"

"Don't worry. I'll pay for you."

Sakura sighed, "Shikatta nai nee. Dewa, arigatou gozaimasu."

mein sutoriito ni kizamu

semegi-atta namida ga

ima mo kikoeru

kutsuon o hisumaseru

I can still hear the accumulated tears

carving their paths into main street,

warping the round of those footsteps.

doko ni mo tomaranai

mitasanai emotion

shikato kimete oikose yo

furueteru shai na sekai no

nuke-michi o neratte

tadoritsuku basho e

I Want New World

That unfulfillable emotion

that never settles down somewhere—

just decide to ignore it, then overtake it.

Aim for the loophole in this shy,

trembling society,

for the place we keep struggling towards.

I Want New World.

Both of them fell silent. They want to show their urging feelings to each other but they don't have the courage to do so. They have been the best of friends since middle school. They don't want their friendship to be ruined.

"So, see you later."

"Ja ne."

They days ended so fast that the Bad Luck Gravity Tour's first concert came. Sakura waited patiently at a corner near Zepp Tokyo for Suguru. After a while, she saw the backstage door open and Suguru stepped out, wearing his shades. he waved at Sakura and signaled her to approach him. "Gomen, Sakura," Suguru apologized, "We have a problem back there." Sakura shook her head, "Iie, daijoubu. Is Nii-san there?" "That's the problem that I'm talking about," Suguru replied, "Shindou-san is still missing and it's five minutes before the concert starts. Would you like to come in?" he opened the door and motioned her to enter. Suguru started to head for the Bad Luck's dressing room as he removed his shades.

Hiro lazily yawned, "When is Shuichi coming back? I'm getting tired of waiting." The door slowly opened and he noticed a very familiar person with Suguru, "Sakura-chan! Did you pick her up, Fujisaki?" Suguru slightly blushed and nodded. "Sou ka. Is Shuichi home, Sakura-chan?" She shook her head, "He hasn't come back home yet. I tried calling at Yuki-san's apartment but no one's answering." Hiro sighed once more, "Then we have nothing more to do than to wait," he sat up and moved to one side of the sofa he was laying on a while ago, "Here. Sit beside me while we wait for Shuichi. I'm sure Fujisaki got a reserved seat for you, right?" Suguru looked down and sat quickly sat on a chair near the table. "Kids today don't know how to confess their love. What will become of the future?" "Hiro-san!" the annoyed Sakura said. "Hai, hai. I'll stop," Hiro raised his hands in surrender.

"What are you two doing? The concert is supposed to start last twenty minutes yet you're still sitting here lazily," the over acting Sakano said, "If you don't perform today, Bad Luck will—" "Well then, we'll just tell them the truth and commit suicide," Hiro laughed. Suguru joined in a short while but eventually stopped, "I don't think so." Anyway, all we have to do is to believe in Shuichi. Nee, Sakura-chan?" Hiro winked at her. She blushed and nodded. "That's what I'm trying to say," Sakano explained, "But in solving the current problem—" The door opened and Noriko stepped in, "Nee, Sakano, what're you doing? We're twenty minutes behind schedule."

Ryuichi: And this is where I step in!

"Shuichi, pika pika?" I asked, waving my Kumagorou up in the air. "S-Sakuma-san?" Sakura said to herself. She's been a fan of the legendary band, Nittle Grasper, just like Shuichi. And now that she saw the vocalist of her idolized band, she felt shocked. She never imagined that she could see me face-to-face. "Onegai desu, Sakuma-san," Sakano pleaded, "While Shindou-kun isn't here..." Noriko sighed, "It can't be helped. Let's do it, Ryu-chan." "All right! Pika pika suru no da!" I happily jumped for joy. My gaze caught an unfamiliar face. A girl with long reddish brown hair. She stood up as she saw Suguru approaching. "Do you want me to accompany you to your seat?" he asked. The girl shook her head, "Iie. iin da yo." "Watch us perform, Sakura-chan," Hiro told her. She bowed at us before leaving the room as a sign of courtesy. "Who's that?" I asked. "That's Shindou Sakura-kun," Sakano replied, "She's the youngest sister of Shindou-kun." "Sou ka," I looked down to hide my smile, "Sakura, huh?" Noriko stared at me, It's been my first time to see him serious, besides in hearing his songs. Could this Shindou Sakura be the reason?

Ryuichi: End of chapter. Votes on who will Sakura will end up with starts now and if ever you have suggestions, especially when Suguru or I are on a date with her (winks), feel free to tell Yukino-chan, okay?

---

Translations:

Aa

Yeah

Arigatou yo/Arigatou gozaimasu

Thank you/Thank you very much

-chan

Honorific. Can be used either as a diminutive (e.g., with a small child—"Little Sasuke"), or with those who are grown, to indicate affection ("My dear").

Daijoubu

It's all right.

Demo

But

Doushiyo?

How/What will I do?

(ga)

Subject marker

Gomen

Sorry

Hai

Yes/Okay

Hai, Sakura desu.

Hello, this is Sakura.

Hontou?

Really?

Ikimashou

Let's go

Iie

No

Ja ne

See you

Kawaii

Cute

-kun

Indicates familiarity or affection.

Nan desu?

What is it?

Nee

Hey

Nee-san

Elder sister

Nii-san/ Nii-chan

Elder brother

Ohayou gozaimasu/ Ohayou

Good morning

Onegai desu

Please

Pika pika?

Are you shining?

-san

Honorific. Carries the meaning of "Mr.," "Ms.," "Miss," etc., but used extensively in Japanese than its English equivalent.

Shikatta nai nee. Dewa, arigatou gozaimasu

It can't be helped. Then, thank you very much

Sou da ne

I think so

Sou desu ka?

Is that so?

Sou ka

I see

Uruse, kono kuso daki

Shut up, you damn brat