Chapter 2

*

In front of my eyes was the greatest building in Japan, NG; whose president was Tohma Seguchi, one of the greatest keyboardists in the whole history of Japanese music. And how can I forget about his partner in crime; Ukai Noriko, who is also one of the greatest keyboardists in modern Japan? And of course the god of gods, idol to million of fans (including me), the extraordinary, magnificent, wonderful, Ryuichi Sakuma, lead singer. Together they formed the best band on earth, formally known as Nittle Grasper.

"Hiro… what are we doing in front of NG?"

He didn't answer, he just got off of his motorcycle and followed the man inside the building. I didn't have a choice but to follow them and see what happens. I had so many questions my head was starting to spin. Who was this guy? Does he really work at NG? Will he really talk to the president about us? Will he really talk to Tohma Seguchi? What do they have planned for us? I just wish the waiting was over and they would tell us the answer.

He told us to wait for him that he shouldn't be long. W took a seat on some leather couches and we waited…after 30 minutes of waiting I couldn't bear the silence anymore.

"What's the guy's name?"

"Sakano-san. " You could tell by the sound of his voice that he was eager to find out the verdict…so was I.

"You know, I was wondering…is he really going to arrange us a contract or why did he bring us at NG? Does he really work here?"

"Well that's a stupid question, think why would the guards let us pass otherwise? And what do you think this company is for? It's like it's the first time you hear about NG."

Maybe I shouldn't have opened my big mouth…it's true I sometimes act before I think but I also have a rite to know if this was some big joke or reality.

"I'm sorry, I'm really sorry about this morning! You know I didn't do it intentionally!"

"Shuichi…believe me I am very nervous about our chances….I'm really not in the mood for childish things…"

"Childish, huh? Do you really believe you're the only one who cares? That this is just some joke for me? A game?"

"If you don't think it's a game than why can't you act it up for once? Like coming on time for once? Who knows what the guy must think about us…"

"Jeez, I said I was sorry already!"

'Whatever…I am so not in the mood to fight with you. Excuse me while I go calm my nerves with a cigarette."

I really screwed up this time didn't I? Maybe I sometimes come of as not being serious, like it's just a game… but the band is my life. Music is the only thing I can do…if I can only write music that would reach at least one persons heart for the rest of my life I'd be the happiest man on Earth. God I don't want to ruin this…Where is Sakano-san?

"Didn't he come yet? It's almost been an hour and nobody has come to tell us anything…" I wisely chose to keep my mouth shut, it's better to let him get it out of his system.

An hour and 15 min. That's how much has past until we heard the news we were dying for…

"Hey sorry to keep you waiting….How about singing at Zepp Tokyo? Would you be interested to sing there tonight?" I couldn't believe my ears.

"Tonight at 9 o'clock sharp. Be there and after the concert you will find out whether you got the contract or not." Oh my god how can he make light of the most important event in our lives?

"Why are we only going to hear if we got the contract tonight? You already heard us playing…"

"That's because I'm not the one who is going to listen to you but someone much more important. That's not the issue now because if you sing like you did last time you have nothing to worry about."

"Who will come see us?" I couldn't just give up I had to know who was controlling our destinies…

"Doesn't matter. Go get some rest and prepare for tonight and I hope to see you guys tomorrow." With these parting words and an encouraging smile he led us to the exit. I turned around to look at him one last time and that's when I saw him… Tohma… Seguchi…

"Come on Shuichi, let's go home."

"I'm scared Hiro…"

"Me too, but we will give our all and we'll see what's going to happen" His smile calmed me, he was right everything will be fine…

**

Damnit! Notagain?! WhydoIalwayshavetofeelthiswaybeforeaconcert? That'sitIcan'ttakeitanymore! "Hiroooo!"

"What is it now? Can't you see I'm trying to tune my guitar?"

"I don't want to anymore!"

"What are you talking about?"

"Singing ! I mean Why do I have to go through the same stupid nervousness again when I have just barely made it the last time a few nights ago?"

"Alright, so what you are saying is that we should tell everyone that the whole thing is off and then of course we should go home and loose maybe our only chance to become professionals." (note: this was said in the most sarcastic way possible, probably making the king of sarcasm proud. Heh, snarky Hiro.)

"Are you nuts? Or is this a very stupid joke of yours which, if I may add, wasn't funny at all!"

"Well didn't you…"

"I what? Just because you can relieve your stress by tuning your guitar doesn't mean I can't try to find another way to calm down even though it means whining and sprouting stupid things out of my mouth. I need something to get all the mixed emotions in my heart settled."

After saying this Hiro simply stared a couple of seconds at me with a blank face and then continued playing with his guitar. He's ignoring me again and I can't figure out what triggered that answer. I mean what did I say this time?

Never mind…back to feeling nervous: 'I'm going to die!!'!

'Just two steps and I'm going to be on stage. Now I only have one'…I took the last step and I felt my body go stiff. I couldn't move my legs, it was almost like my muscles weren't listening to me anymore. I stood perfectly still for a couple seconds and suddenly I felt a pain in my back. I stumbled a little and found myself in front of the microphone. Ok! How did I get here? Did Hiro just…

Never mind that, the music started and I'm not ready. I glanced at the public hopping to catch a glimpse of the person who is controlling Bad Luck's destiny but in doing so I made a mistake I would probably regret latter: I missed my turn in the song. Luckily Hiro managed to work his magic and cover it giving me another chance to start. This bought me a little more time and I once again trained my eyes on the public. Typically the first rows were full of 16 or 17 years old that probably came here to detach themselves from the hardness of life. Next you have some adults who were probably bored at home and decided a concert was better than staying at home with nothing to do. 'Ah there on the last row I can see Sakano-san! I wonder who the guy with blond hair, black shades and a black suit is? And wait is that a cigarette? Doesn't he now that smoking isn't allowed in here? It can't be the guy Sakano-san talked about, right?'

But unfortunately my thoughts were interrupted when the intro was over. As the concert proceeded I gradually forgotten about what I was thinking before, but I still couldn't shake the feeling that the man looked strangely familiar…

At the end of the concert we actually got a standing ovation. They liked us! That made me very happy and made all the efforts worth it. But now the real challenge starts. 'I wonder if we were good enough for NG?'

***

We waited patiently for about 20 minutes in our dressing room. I'm afraid that my patience was blown down the drain…

I was really scared but something calmed me: hearing Hiro sing one of our old songs from Junior High school…*sigh*' Those were the days…We were little kids back then with absolutely no worries in the world. It makes me want to stay a kid forever, and why not? I mean what's the point in becoming a heartless and cranky adult who doesn't even know how to appreciate the little things like a present or simply staying with your friends? I don't want to forget all my precious memories of being a child just to fit in with society! A robot! No…nobody can take away my innocence that I express through the one thing that never judges me: music.'

"Hiro I think it's time we leave. I mean it's getting late and I don't think anobody is coming…"

"I am terribly sorry for being late but I was caught up in the most interesting conversation."

At that moment I saw him….HIM…after that I felt everything went black.

****

I felt something cold and I jumped startled. I think somebody, maybe Hiro, threw some cold water on me so I would wake up. I think I fainted when I saw Tohma Seguchi. Well that's not important right now.

He smiled at me and started talking, but I couldn't understand anything, I was to busy ogling at him. For all I knew he could be talking in a foreign language. With a last smile he left the room.

"Hiro…What did he just say?"

"Baka!" He started saying something about how I never pay attention and other stuff like that that I really wasn't interested in at the moment.

"Yeah, yeah right! Can you please save the lecture for later and tell me what he said?"

The only thing I understood after that was "Tomorrow morning we are expected at NG"

That single sentence was enough to make me faint again.