CHAPTER 10
The Battle Begins
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Silence reigned in the Bad Luck office.
K watched as his companions studied the television where surveillance footage was paused on a surprising scene on the driveway of the Hotel Intercontinental, last night's party venue. In the shot, staring and pointing people were just visible on the edges of the frame. Seguchi Mika and Yuki Eiri stood to the right of the shot, behind Seguchi Tohma himself ushering Shuichi into a limousine to the left.
Pointing the remote control at the console, K backed it up a few moments, to the frame where Seguchi-san first found himself with an armful of singer. The scene was one he found the most telling. Here, Seguchi's face was visible only to a portion to the driveway and maybe the people behind Shuichi… and to the camera. On that face was an expression of honest concern… and a tinge of fright. Save for himself he was certain that seeing the NG president this way, and the manner with which he had held Shuichi close, was a side none in the room had ever witnessed.
K was truly puzzled.
Arrangements had been for the president and his brother-in-law to speak to Shuichi about a certain plan the two had concocted to finally get the former couple in each other's company. With the lifestyle and schedule the two had, not to mention the upcoming tour, there would be little chance the two would ever cross paths again on their own. Sure, they shared a few friends but those people were either not in support of the relationship, or stupid enough to try something. The one person who was smart enough, had weight enough, to pull it off had not succeeded. The lack of this success was as yet unknown and it didn't seem likely that anyone would soon find out since Shuichi appeared to have withdrawn again, this time not talking to anyone but Seguchi.
It annoyed him that the singer would shut him out, but it shocked him that Shuichi had shut out not just him but his band mates and producer as well. He had not told anyone about Shuichi's health problem, respecting the boy's desire to shield them from the pain and trouble of it, so it didn't make sense for them all to be on the boy's black list. With the secret safe and the singer having expressed intentions of eventually telling them all the truth, shouldn't he be basking in the uncomplicated affections? Enjoying it while he could?
The same should apply to Yuki-san.
The singer should be taking advantage of the novelist's attention while he still could, right? Well, that's what made sense. Though, in all honesty, K preferred that things be over and done with between those two, as cleanly cut as possible. They were far too much trouble together, the headaches outweighing their Publicity worth as a couple. But he could now clearly see what Hiro had been warning him about and it annoyed him that he had not noticed it sooner: The distance from Yuki, regardless of the betrayal, was slowly killing his singer. And the Shuichi was ignoring the needed lifeline right in front of him, which he would have thought the boy would be snatching at.
"It's fortunate that I handled the security for the launch party," K commented, rousing the room from their thoughts. "What do you make of it?"
Hiro's open-mouthed shock melted into an infuriated scowl. "That bastard deserves to be run over!" He clenched his fist on the table top, "He's run Shu into the ground again, of all the-- I'm glad Shuichi ran from him!" He turned to regard his band mate next to him and said, " i He /i has always held Shu back, messed up his creativity and music. i He /i was never good for Shu, who deserves to be happy…" He sighed, his rant trailing off, and sat back in his seat.
Uesugi Tatsuha shot the guitarist a mild yet familiar-looking glare from across the table. K was again startled by the physical similarities between the Uesugi brothers.
K turned to catch Hiro's gaze and sternly told him, "Don't even try to sing that song, Hiro. We have to be honest here, take everything we know into consideration." He gestured generally to the roomful of people as a whole. "You know Shuichi best, Fujisaki and Tatsuha know both Shuichi and Seguchi, while Sakano…" He paused to threaten the whimpering man with his gun, "Knows Shuichi and more than a few things about Seguchi." He turned his gaze back to Hiro. "We have a good balance and we need to figure this one out between ourselves since Shuichi isn't talking to any of us."
As his listeners fell into deep thought, considering everything they had just learned and trying to piece things together, K rolled his eyes. They were supposed to be speaking out loud, trying to get thoughts out and see how it fit it with that anyone else had in mind… not dreaming up individual ideas and conspiracy theories to—
Oh, yeah. Conspiracy…
K sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as he tried to ease the rising headache and tried again, "Do you really believe that Shuichi is getting over Yuki? After all the love songs, the troubles, the emotional breakdowns—"
"And the fact that he calls for Yuki-san in his sleep," Fujisaki interjected. Tatsuha and Hiro glance at their younger friend with mild surprise. Fujisaki tossed them both a derisive look before pinning Hiro with his gaze. "He spent time in my bed, too."
Hiro froze at this. Tatsuha got a funny look on his face and opened his mouth to speak but K cut him off with a pointed glare, figuring the Yuki-look alike was about to ask a stupid question.
"He came to me also," K admitted, deciding the young guitarist needed to hear his side of this story as well. Hiro turned to face him now looking completely shocked. "But then he stopped, thanked me politely for my support, and never came back. I figured things were better then."
Fujisaki tossed his housemates a quick look, "He stopped coming to you first, K-san, then me, then Hiro." He settled back in his seat, folding his arms across his chest as he considered his own words. "He stepped away last from those closest to him. He was trying to withdraw some time before this," he gestured to the TV, "was ever even planned."
"Speaking of plan," Tatsuha interjected, learning forward, eyes narrowing at the gunman. "How did you know what Seguchi-san was up to?"
"I helped arrange it," K bluntly replied. Tatsuha backed down. "So, the question stands. Do any of you really believe that Shuichi is getting over Yuki?"
Hiro sat back in his chair and glanced over at Fujisaki next to him, before sighing as he tipped his chin down, hair sliding forward to hide his expression. "No."
Thoughtfully, Fujisaki gestured to the television and the scene displayed, and K noted the expression as one the boy wore when composing new musical arrangements. "Tohma's behaviour is predictable only in that he will always protect what he wants or cares about. Business, family, friends, it's all the same."
"Then why would he protect Shuichi this way?" Hiro gestured to the scene on the television. "Sure business wise, it makes sense, but this looks personal to me."
Catching Hiro's gaze, Fujisaki quickly replied, "I agree. Then there must be something that needs greater protection over Yuki-san, which is rather puzzling because in the hierarchy of things, Yuki-san is pretty high up."
"Aniki is second only to Mika," Tatsuha agreed. "Whatever it is, whoever it is, it'd have to be incredibly important for it to surpass him."
"Unless it actually hasn't surpassed Yuki-san at all, na-no-da!" A childish voice interjected.
"Ryuichi-sama!" gasped Tatsuha, losing all seriousness, reduced to goggle-eyed fan boy wonder at the sight of his idol.
"Tatsuha-kun!" squealed the music god as he bounded into the room. "Long time no see, no-da!"
Hiro stared at the new comer, eyes narrowed in a frown. "What do you mean by hasn't surpassed Yuki-san?"
Ryuichi blinked, his features hardening into a disconcerting solemnity, and turned his sharp gaze on the blond gunman. K caught the look and held it, saying, "What he is implying is that Seguchi is doing this i in order to protect Yuki. /i "
Tatsuha looked all the more interested in the serious side of the man he adored, seemingly unable to tear his gaze away from the handsome rock star…
K caught the monk's startled expression, disliking the uncertain dawning of puzzlement in them. Apparently looks were not the only thing he shared with his brother. He was about to shoot the rock god a warning look, something to just prod the singer into awareness of the fanboy's perception, when the office door slammed inward with a resounding crash.
In its threshold stood a fiery Seguchi Mika, eyes narrowed and looking dangerously close to losing her temper. Tatsuha, attention jerked away from the object of his obsession, cringed with sudden fright. She swept them all a ferocious glare before focusing on the television and the scene still paused there.
"I was about to ask you," she glared at Hiro, "what in hell was wrong with that brat."
Hiro bristled a little at her name-calling of his best friend.
"But now, I think we all need to have a little chat." She turned her icy gaze on K, "Don't you agree?"
K chomped down on his irritation, the earlier slight clench of a headache rising to a painful throb behind his eyes.
He could handle the kids and the secret he was hiding from them, but Mika was a whole other animal. He slowly eyed her up and down, hiding his trepidation, with an air of carefully appraising her. Around the cigarette dangling out the corner of his mouth he told her,
"You first."
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It had been two days since Shuichi had seen Yuki.
And he was right back to where he had been three months ago: writing sad and longing love songs. He sighed as he trudged his way through the halls of NG, annoyed and frustrated. He couldn't help it. He just had no other emotions to write about. No matter what, he just could not write about specific things on demand. It really depended on how he was feeling, what was going on in his life. That was the problem with feeling his music as deeply as he did.
The problem was, he was supposed to be writing about happy love. He needed to replace a few lines in a couple of old songs up for rearrangement in preparation for the upcoming tour. And the words were just not coming to him.
He sighed again as he stepped into the elevator, punching the button for the penthouse – the presidential office.
A few people got on and off the lift as it made its way up through the tower of NG, but Shuichi was far away, staring out through the glass at the city of Tokyo becoming smaller and smaller beneath him. No one disturbed him and no one called the singer's attention. He supposed it was because of the rumours from the concert crew of how Yuki had been at the concert, and was thankful that people let him be.
Sparing the sentinels on duty a quick smile, he waved to the secretary on the phone at her front desk and stepped up to the large oak doors of Tohma's office. After his usual quick rap upon the wood, he pushed his way in.
"—and there is a party coming up to celebrate the good sales figures we have been experiencing. It would be best if you attended so that you can meet the rest of the NG family." Tohma was speaking, audience listening with rapt attention in spite of Shuichi's intrusion. He recognised the group, a trio punk rock group called Hungry Young Poets (1). He smiled at the star-struck group who stared adoringly at Tohma, and who had yet to realise there was a newcomer to the room.
Tohma looked up from the contracts and smiled warmly. "Hello, Shindou-san. Please take a seat." He never turned Shuichi away anymore. The rock group turned and goggled, losing what little of their composure they'd had left. As Shuichi moved toward them, he smiled and took up the last line of Tohma's familiar welcoming speech,
"Hello! Welcome to the NG family." They stared, smiles breaking out.
"Cool!" the singer and bassist exclaimed. He stepped forward to introduce himself as Arashi with a polite little bow, addressing the Bad Luck singer as Shindou-sama. Shuichi waved the formalities aside.
"Don't worry about all that, you are part of NG now. I've become your senpai!(5)" He smiled as he spoke, coming to stand near them before Tohma's desk. The band manager leaned forward to discuss a few small details with Tohma while Shuichi held the band's attention.
Arashi's warm blue eyes shone down at Shuichi happily. "This is my girlfriend and guitarist, Miwako, and this is our drummer, Kajiura." Miwako was a small girl, just a tad shorter than Shu himself, her pale pink corkscrew curls bouncing as she hopped a little with her excitement. Her brilliant grey eyes sparkled as she giggled joyously. (2)
"Oh, it's so nice to meet you, Shuichi!" Her singsong baby voice entranced him and he found himself taking to her sweet and open manner. She teased him a little, telling him he shouldn't have copied her hair colour, her blush giving away it had truly been he who'd inspired her hairstyle. In the course of their conversation, Kajiura asked if they might do a cover of Rage Beat, Bad Luck's first hit single. To this, Shuichi shook his head in the negative.
"This is your time to shine and put out your own music," he scolded. "You have so much talent or Seguchi-san would not have signed you, and I believe in that talent." They sighed as he spoke, smiling softly at the praise. "I wouldn't mind working with you on a new song, however. But you will still have to do most of the work!"
The group excitedly agreed, exclaiming they would indeed hold him to his words. Their manager began to usher them out but they seemed loathe leaving, so absorbed they were in discussions of music.
"Get going and see your office!" Shuichi told them, excited for the new group.
"We have an office?!"
He laughed. "I'll show you the Bad Luck office sometime. Have fun!" And with final farewells they were herded out the door.
Shuichi turned to take his seat, catching a genuine smile on Tohma's face, and he realised the man had been watching him interact with the group.
"What's that smile for?" Shuichi teased, unable to stop his own answering smile.
"I am pleased to see that I am not mistaken, Shuichi," he replied, gently approving. "Your experience, attitude and personality, not to mention the many songs that you have written that Sakano and I have cut from your albums… you really are suited to becoming a producer later in your career." There was a flash of intense excitement that Tohma easily caught in the singer's eyes, though he was rather surprised at the intensity.
He arched a brow at the startled singer. "Just think of all the raw talent out there waiting to be discovered." He studied Shuichi carefully, watching the boy's eyes cloud dreamily, and continued, "It's incredibly satisfying to see young dreams bloom into mind-blowing reality, and I know you have experienced a taste of this working with Jubilee."
"Tohma," Shuichi begged, a touch of a whine in his voice, "don't tease…"
"Actually I am quite serious. I am hoping you will consider it further when you return from recovery."
The smile slid off the singer's face. " i If /i I return from recovery."
Tohma maintained his smile with effort. "I am of the opinion that this will be successful."
A little frustrated, the emotion manifesting in a low warning tone, Shuichi reminded him, "The operation is a fifty-fifty chance, Tohma, and you know it."
"I do know," he sighed a little, his smile fading altogether. "And it pains me greatly." He slipped the Hungry Young Poets' contracts away for the legal department to handle then turned to regard his visitor. "What may I do for my number one singer today?"
Shuichi fidgeted a little in his seat. "I realised I forgot something." His gaze met Tohma's. "I wanted to thank you for the other night and to apologise for the trouble you must have had with Mika-chan afterward…"
"There is no need for any of that but who am I to tell you what to do?" His eyes sparkled before he seized the opportunity presented, "Perhaps you can accompany me to lunch by way of thanks?"
Shuichi ignored the kind gesture, one he recognised as Tohma's effort to shield him from prying friends. Stubbornly, he stood his ground on the matter. He shook his head, stood and solemnly faced Tohma before bowing and giving humble thanks. Tohma's brows rose a little, before he stood and came around the desk to the singer.
Fondly rumpling the boy's hair, he smiled. "You are welcome, Shuichi."
There was a look in the man's eyes that Shuichi had only glimpsed before, but which now shone clearly. It was an expression of sadness, longing and delight all at once, and he quirked a brow in query.
"You remind me of someone I once knew," the man admitted.
Catching the subtle tenderness, Shuichi understood who it was Tohma was thinking about. "I am not him," he whispered.
"You are not, indeed." Tohma affirmed with a reassuring smile. "But you are precious."
Shuichi didn't have anything to say to that, startled by the expression he had seen earlier, now shining again in the man's eyes and directed at him.
"Thank you, Shuichi."
He was about to deny having done anything worthy of thanks when he saw Tohma meant what he said. It was then he realised that somehow, he had come to be important to the man separate of protecting Yuki and Bad Luck. Hesitating but a moment, he reached out and laid a hand gently on Tohma's arm in a gesture that could be equated to the man ruffling his hair earlier.
"You are welcome, Tohma." They shared a small smile. Flashing a mischievous grin, Shuichi continued, "but I already have a lunch date."
Tohma's eyes slid shut as he tilted his chin up for a laugh. "And who is it who has stolen your time from me?"
With a small blush, Shuichi admitted, "Well, you did introduce me to him…"
"Then I believe I know who you are going to see."
"Is there anything you i don't /i know?" Shuichi pouted a little, earning himself another rumpling of his hair.
Eyes twinkling, Tohma replied, "Very little, actually." He turned to make his way back around his desk and resume his seat.
"Well?"
Tohma hid his smile. "It is your decision."
Giving the man an annoyed look, Shuichi retook his seat as well and glowered across the table.
Tohma chuckled. "You know, I've seen so little of that expression in the past few years. I find it an amusing and refreshing thing to have someone besides my wife brazen enough to pull that face on me." Shuichi continued to glower and that rare, genuine smile curved Tohma's lips.
"He is gentlemanly," He finally answered Shuichi's unasked question. "Though his eyes, as I am sure you have noticed, are anything but. It is there you will clearly read what he really thinks despite what he says and does."
Just like Yuki.
Except the gentlemanly part.
Shuichi winced and Tohma's brow tightened. Not for the first time, Shuichi suspected the man of reading his thoughts. Thankfully, he didn't apologize, which would only have brought Yuki truly into the conversation. It was a turn Shuichi was not certain he could handle right now.
"I believe he will make a good friend, of course." Tohma continued easily. "He can be very attentive and charming. I think you will have fun with him."
Shuichi nodded, eyes refocusing. "We are working together on the production of Jubilee's debut album."
Tohma inclined his head politely. "I am sure you will find many things in common, and have quite a good time."
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Mika carefully shut Eiri's apartment door behind her with a sigh.
Eiri had stormed in ahead of her just a moment ago, slamming the door behind him with his ire. She'd called out to him to remind him she was still on his tail, but he'd ignored her. Hence, the ringing ears.
She and her stormy brother had just returned from their weekly late-lunch date. Unfortunately, they had returned without having actually eaten anything. If that wasn't bad enough, they were not closer or more amicably acquainted as they usually were after these meetings.
No.
Instead, they had been unwillingly fed the latest bit of 'Shuichi gossip'. Apparently, the boy had been sighted on the arm of a tall blonde resembling Eiri, with a nasty accompanying headline. Mika had recognised the man and had tried to explain the man was a producer at NG, but her brother would hear none of it. His eyes had flashed before he'd stood up and left her to chase after him from the coffee shop in an unpleasantly nostalgic manner.
Mika sighed again.
Now would be her cue to go hunt her brother down. Depending on his mood, he would be either in the kitchen or the office. From their talks, she knew Eiri disliked the bedroom when he was upset about Shuichi. Something about it not being i his /i bed. She did not understand that. In any case, at times like this he preferred the sanctuary of his office or the one place away from the bedroom that he and Shuichi had enjoyed together –the kitchen.
Kitchen, she decided, a soft smile playing about her lips as she remembered a few tales of how Shuichi would sit with uncharacteristic patience to watch Eiri cook. Her brother had shared how Shuichi had told him that it was like being cooked for by a spouse, a gesture of love and responsibility. They both enjoyed good food, and the singer had proclaimed Eiri's cooking his favourite.
Mika had yet to draw her brother's attention to the fact that he sought out these places of good memories when he was upset, not wishing to remove a measure of comfort from his own home. Her brother needed to have safe zones in his own house which was too full of memories as it was.
Sure enough, there he stood by the stove, glaring out the window with both hands stuffed into his pockets. She silently took a seat in the breakfast nook by the door and looked out the window closest to her. She had changed; they both had. Silently, they watched the February gloom until Eiri let out a snort and turned to get busy. He pulled out a pot and filled it with water before setting it on the stove to boil. He pulled out seafood, vegetables and noodles, sesame oil and various other ingredients which Mika recognised as the components for Ramen (4).
Shuichi's favourite comfort food.
For the third time since she stepped into the apartment earlier, she sighed. Resuming staring out the window, Mika spoke softly, not really expecting a reply:
"I don't think it's a bad thing that you think of him… of Shuichi,"
Eiri did not pause.
"After all, he seems to think about you all the time too." She was trying to be careful of what she said, but at the same time wanted to reveal more of what she knew to her brother. "I think what really worries me is that while he has an outlet for his feelings in his music, I wonder if you have a way of letting out your own frustrations."
Eiri continued chopping vegetables. He did not, she noted, deny the existence of 'frustration'.
She knew Eiri was no longer even speaking to Tohma about such matters, not since Tohma had refused to share what Shuichi had told him. Eiri had considered it a betrayal of sorts until Tohma had argued he would in turn be betraying Shuichi for sharing what the singer had divulged. The stalemate had resulted in her brother's withdrawal from her husband, and Mika had taken the initiative to pledge she would not tell Tohma what Eiri shared with her. It was working well enough, the trust was building, but Mika remained dissatisfied.
"It would be good if you could speak to someone, in my opinion," Mika carefully worded herself in a calm tone.
Eiri had recently discussed therapy specifics with her, explaining how his doctor had taught him to communicate clearly. She'd learned a little from that conversation, and was mindful of it. In the past she would have angrily insisted that Eiri speak to her immediately.
Reflecting on that thought, she added, "I'm really quite impressed with the progress you've made in communicating--"
"What use is it if I can't use it?" Eiri muttered, not looking at her.
Carefully containing her joy at the response, Mika softly supplied, "You've only used it on me. If you applied it all the time I am sure others will soon notice the difference and respond."
Eiri smiled humourlessly.
"But not the one you want to benefit from it, is that so?" she mused.
Eiri lit a cigarette on the stove and took a leisurely puff. "Everything's been snatched away, just when I thought that there was a possibility, that there would be time and opportunities, it fell apart before I even had the chance to exploit it."
Mika understood. There was that 'contract' Eiri had told her about, that clever little idea to bring the two together. Even she had been impressed by her husband's trick.
She asked, "Has Tohma already withdrawn the contract?"
He shook his head. "My lawyer put in a compensation clause knowing how much this meant to me, and that'll take some time to work around."
Feeling a little guilty, Mika brazenly commented, "I don't see why you should surrender the contract if it is to your disadvantage to do so."
Eiri's eyes flashed golden sparks at her when he looked up from the simmering pot. Her gaze slid away at the sight of a familiar devilish glint.
"He told me," Eiri turned back to the pot as he spoke, "that Shuichi was occupied with too many other responsibilities. That he had no true control over what the brat decides to do or does with his time other than contractual obligation."
Mika snorted mildly, inelegantly, obviously not believing a word of it either.
Pulling out two bowls, Eiri's frown deepened. "He mentioned that it was you who had suggested the meeting at the party and you who would bring Shu, if he would bring me." He set the table with utensils. "He suggested it be you I speak to about arranging another meeting."
Mika scowled a little as she watched her brother spoon the aromatic stew into the bowls and set them on the table. He took a seat opposite her with his back to the window. He picked up his chopsticks and spoon then met her gaze,
"From your silence and that expression, he didn't tell you he said that did he?"
She sighed, shook her head, and began to eat. After a few bites she took the plunge. "I think there is something Tohma and Shuichi aren't telling us; something that doesn't have anything to do with your relationship."
He looked at her, silent.
"He really does miss you and--"
"Damn it, Mika! You did not hear what he said to me in that room."
"Then will you tell me?"
"I would rather not," he muttered, suddenly dropping the volume of his voice and resuming his meal.
"Shuichi and Tohma refuse to say a word to me about what happened," Mika admitted, "which in itself is odd."
Eiri ignored her.
She sighed, wondering if she was ever going to get used to any of this. "I won't lie to you, he did try to tell me that he would rather not see you, but his eyes…"
"It's always his eyes." They shared a smile.
Quickly, grasping at the opportunity of having Eiri in a good mood, Mika relayed the band's suspicions of things having been wrong before the incident of infidelity, of what may presently still be an issue. Eiri remained coolly unresponsive on the matter.
"It must either be we're completely off target or the security for it is too tight." Mika spooned up the last bit of her soup.
Eiri growled, "Speaking of security risks, I think I have to move house."
She looked up in surprise.
He gestured indifferently. "Book sales have dropped, fan mail has gone up… or should I say hate mail. Some of them have been making their way directly to my door." He frowned as he told her, "Someone recently slashed my tires." At Mika's small laugh, his expression darkened. He looked away when he grumbled, "And now I'll be forced to pack the brat's things."
"He left his things?" Mika demanded.
Eiri gave his sister a funny look. "He hasn't returned since walking out. All his things are still here."
Interest peaked, Mika queried, "Everything?"
"Even his back pack."
Mika's expression turned sly. "Where is it?"
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Eiri unceremoniously barged into Tohma's office and, shooting the man the nastiest glare of his entire repertoire, made his announcement.
He made it clear, with his words, tone and posture, that he would accept no contradictions over the matter. He would not be arguing over it, and he would not be making allowances of any sort. He would get exactly what he wanted or there would be hell to pay.
And Tohma, the poor bastard, would be whose hide from which he would extract that pay.
The NG president had eyed him with an appraising expression before putting on a small smile that annoyed Eiri to his limits. Tohma then made a call to the NG legal department and Eiri listened to this side of the conversation. He watched the man carefully, all the while unflinchingly meeting that aquamarine gaze. When he was certain things were going precisely as he desired, and his insolent brother-in-law had set the phone back down on its cradle, he left without another word.
He made a mental note to take Mika out to a nice dinner. He would share how he had been rudely concise, and relay the immense pleasure he'd derived from snarling out the words that had gotten him what he wanted:
"You will withdraw the contract for me to write the book 'Twelve Kisses: On Tour with Bad Luck', Seguchi Tohma, over my dead body!"
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(1) Hungry Young Poets is a defunct group of which my friend Ricci was bassist. They existed in two parts, but always with Ricci, once in America and next but lastly, in the Philippines.
(2) Arashi and Miwako are taken from the anime Paradise Kiss, no relation to this story and no, it is not a crossover. The only similarity is that Arashi really was in a band in Para-Kiss.
(4) Ramen: General term for Chinese noodle soup
(5) Senpai: Upperclassman, work or school environment. It has various applications.
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Review or comment, please!