Note: The song is called "Scrambling Rock 'n' Roll". You can find it on Youtube.

Chapter 5: Grease breakdancing

As an experiment he left the pocket mirror behind. He wasn't in the mood to see his twin brother. On a Saturday noon the park was obviously rather busy with picnickers, which could also be blamed on the blooming cherry blossoms. As such, he was pleased to see his favourite spot completely devoid of those bothersome things.

However, Naru wrinkled his nose as he drew closer. Not far from the barren tree, a crowd had gathered around a noisy band and some oddly clothed break-dancers. Naru considered leaving the place in search for another, but the singer's voice caught his attention. A male voice amplified by a microphone and speakers sang a Japanese rock and roll song.

"I gathered some some money and came from a faraway town.

Without even frolicking around to my heart's content

I lost my way in a jungle land."

Naru went closer to the stage to see who the singer was. He was dressed in a white shirt, shiny black jeans and jacket. Naru stared at the SPR irregular for a while and then considered backing out. It was going to be awkward if the monk knew he was watching. Naru wasn't a music person. Let alone a rock and roll fanatic. With his light brown hair tied behind the back of his head, the monk plucked at his bass and roared the following into the microphone:

"In the darkness a sleepy boy lacking sleep

weaves together his loneliness and dreams.

Even if the accelerator of my frightened heart blows out

I won't run away from the city!"

Unfortunately for him, the crowd had expanded and there was no way out. Suddenly, Naru realized that he had been attracting some annoying teenage girls. They eyed him as if he was a piece of meat. Instead of squirming his way out to the back, he decided to leave through the left side of the crowd. When the band began rocking their way through the chorus again, the singer took the microphone and sang to the crowd.

"SUKURAMBURINGU ROCK 'N' ROLL!

SUKURAMBURINGU ROCK 'N' ROLL!"

Their eyes fatefully met.

"HELLO SUNSHINE ROCK 'N' ROLL!"

Naru froze. The confused crowd stopped cheering, but the monk continued singing with what were the original lyrics. The crowd seemingly forgot the lapse and went on cheering. Likewise the break-dancers were thrown off for a second, but continued their routine. Naru wisely left the crowd through the side and went to the barren tree.

When the song ended, a man yelled at the bassist, "Norio! You got the lyrics wrong!"

"Huh what? I did? Oh sorry 'bout that, Suzuki-san," Takigawa said, sweat-dropping. He didn't know what was so bad about it. He was standing in for the lead-singer after all, so it was only inevitable he would forget the lyrics.

"It's no problem. The dancers want to take a break. Should I get you some beer?" Suzuki asked.

"Ahaha, I had my share last night," The monk smiled uneasily. "I'm still recovering!"

"How about some tea from the vending machine over there?" Suzuki pointed at somewhere in the distance.

"Sure! Oh, but... Get two for me, please? Think I spotted a friend in the crowd just now," Takigawa said. "He might like some tea too."

Suzuki frowned.

"All right. I'll be back soon."

He sat down by the barren tree. Naru browsed to the music player on his smart-phone and took out his earphones. Actually he did not listen to music in his spare time. Now that there was a noisy band in the vicinity of his favourite spot in the park, he would rather listen to music that he chose himself.

Before he could press the play button he heard a familiar voice.

"Oy! Naru!"

The monk approached him with a silly grin.

"Bou-san..."

"Now now what do we have here... Naru-bou in a public park... trying to get a tan!"

When he was met with an expressionless face Takigawa laughed uneasily to himself. Crap.

"Or not? So uh yeah, what are you doing here?"

Naru sighed.

"Sunlight."

"So it's a tan after all?"

"No. On doctor's orders."

"Oh."

The conversation ended. Takigawa was at a loss on how to carry it any further. He knew Naru wasn't the type for small talk, but he hoped there was at least something that they could talk about outside of paranormal stuff and the like. The monk pondered. Music, girlfriends, bars, night clubs... No stop! Takigawa groaned. Why would he talk with Naru about those kind of things! There was no way Naru would-

"Bou-san."

Surprisingly, Naru took the lead. Takigawa eyed him carefully.

"Yes?"

"Why are you here?"

"Well, to play music, obviously. You saw that."

"No, why in this park?"

Takigawa frowned and wondered why he would ask that particular question.

"Hm. Our band got hired to play music for some event in this park. Our lead singer suddenly got a problem with his voice on the way here, so I had to step in."

"I see."

Suddenly a muscled man joined them. At first sight he seemed intimidating, but friendly.

"Norio! Is this your friend?"

"Oh, Suzuki-san. Yeah, this is Na- I mean, Shibuya," Takigawa quickly corrected with smile. "Shibuya, this is Suzuki-san. He's the event organizer."

Naru nodded politely at Suzuki.

"Ryuuzaki said he could sing again. You can take a break," Suzuki said, and threw Takigawa and Naru some cans, "Here's your tea."

"Thank you! I'll pay you back soon."

"Oh no need for that," the man smiled, and then looked at Naru, "Hey, why don't you watch our break-dance event?"

"Yeah, wanna see them up close?" Takigawa said, and grinning, "The rockabilly dancers of Yoyogi park!"

In truth Naru hadn't even paid attention to the dancers. He had no interest and was about to decline. Before he could do so Suzuki yanked him by the arm to the monk's horror.

"Come on, boy! You're gonna like this!" Suzuki laughed, not releasing his strong grip on the boy's arm.

"Oy oy, Suzuki-san!" The monk protested, following them, "You can't just drag, Na- I mean, Shibuya to- Ack, are you even listening. Suzuki-san~"

The next moment Naru found himself at the front of a crowd and completely unable to move. His shoulder felt sore. Suzuki had conveniently disappeared. The band started playing an Elvis song. In front of the stage the men with their black hair slicked to the back, dressed in leather and denim made their appearance. Some people were taking pictures or just snickering, but most appeared to be there to cheer on the noisy band. Naru just blankly watched the moves the men busted out, and drank some tea. Silly dance moves and jumping.

When something jumped from above his head and made its unwelcome appearance, he nearly spit out the contents of his mouth.

After a while, Takigawa arrived at his side.

"Sorry about that, Naru-bou," he apologized. "Suzuki-san can be a bit... overwhelming."

Still drinking his tea, Naru completely ignored him. The monk knew he was angry and cried a little on the inside. Then he sighed and resolved to watching the rockabilly break-dancers. A few women clothed in colourful dresses had joined the Elvis clones and jived along with them. The dancers looked like they came straight from the movie 'Grease'.

Takigawa stopped. Wait what. What was that just now? He could have sworn there was a strange figure in black among the dancers. It had appeared for just a second and awfully looked like... He looked to the side. There was Naru. Oh come on, Takigawa thought, that lad would never dance, let alone break-dance, in this kind of group even if he was held at gunpoint. Just the image of Naru the narcissist dancing like this was... painful.

But wait.

Could it be? Nah, it couldn't be, right?

Takigawa couldn't remember the last time when he saw a ghost in broad daylight. In his childhood, yes, but then the accident happened.

"Haa... I think I'm seeing double," he muttered with a deep sigh.

Beside him Naru crushed the can rather loudly with his hand. For a moment Takigawa got frightened, not realizing the boy had finished his drink. He hesitantly asked, "Something wrong, Naru?"

He icily replied, "This tea is horrible."

Oh right, he was quite particular about his tea. Suddenly, Takigawa remembered the unopened can in his hands. He clicked it open and drank the bitter green tea.

"Ugh. Yeah it is kind of horrible."

Perhaps he should just blame it on a hangover.

Author's note

So yeah, I guess a certain spirit really is out there to make Naru's life miserable. The green tea isn't getting better either.

By the way, those dancers do exist and meet regularly in Yoyogi Park! Go to Youtube, type Yoyogi Rockabillies and watch a video.