Roadshow
Chapter 5:
Cheap Sunglasses
The Hugh Hefner SkyVilla was warm, wet and steaming with love as the morning began to creep over the Las Vegas Valley. Yui Hirasawa opened her eyes and saw the afterglow shine on her, Ui Hirasawa, Azusa Nakano and Nodoka Manabe. They were all hugging her, still sleeping, and Azusa's head was sandwiched between the motherly quantities of the sisters.
"The most wonderful feeling I could ever get is the pleasure of a foursome in Las Vegas," Yui said, her fingers tweaking her still-erect nipples in boredom. A smile of pleasure and achievement graced her face. "Ui, Azunyan, Nodoka-chan, I think it's morning already."
"Nyan?" Azusa meowed, rubbing her eyes. "Oh, it already is."
"Azunyan, rubbing your body against mine's felt so nice."
"How are they so big, yours and Ui's, Yui-sempai? It's not fair."
"Don't worry. Give it time, and they will get bigger."
"Mou."
"Onee-chan, is it morning?" Ui said, yawning. She looked at the clock. "7:00 a.m. And we slept at about...?"
"9:00 last night," Nodoka replied, getting up. "I'll go first to take a bath."
"I'll go next, Nodoka-chan," Ui said to her as she got herself cleaned up.
"I'll go after Ui," Yui replied.
"So I get to go last, huh?" Azusa grumbled. "Jeez, you guys are so greedy."
"Good things come to those who wait," Yui said, stroking her ladyfriend's long black locks before sniffing them. "You still smell fresh."
"Please don't sniff me. You've already sniffed me long enough."
"Ehhhh? But Azusa's smells so good, even when she's asleep."
"It's 7:00 a.m., and onee-chan wants to give us one for breakfast," Ui giggled. "So silly."
"You're mean, Ui!"
"I'm just kidding," she replied, giving Yui a peck on the cheek.
Azusa snuggled herself between Yui and Ui, resting her arms between their cleavages as she waited. "This is so not fair..."
"Damn, it's morning already," Ritsu Tainaka said, getting up.
Tsumugi Kotobuki stretched, yawning. "That was the best sleep I ever had. I felt like I was hugging a marshmallow."
"Really? Did I melt in your mouth?"
"Mmm-hmmmm."
"Ritsu, I never felt so warm in my life," Mio Akiyama said, smiling as she rubbed her eyes. "It's not very often I get to sleep with someone I like and two others. But it felt nice."
"I wish my house was like this," Jun Suzuki said, "but without all these Playboy porno mags lying around."
"Who's gonna go take a bath first?"
"I will!" Ritsu exclaimed, jumping out of bed and scurrying to the bath in the nude before closing the door behind her.
"Well that didn't take long," Tsumugi said, a hand to her cheek. "Ricchan is so cute when she runs naked." The comment drew a look of contempt from the two bassists. "The way she moves, she makes me want...to..." A trail of blood was leaving her nose.
"Jun, go get Mugi a tissue," Mio said.
"Here." She plugged Mugi's nostrils.
"She is so impossible, that Tsumugi Kotobuki." Possible is nothing. Impossible is everything.
"And suddenly, I feel better already," Tsumugi said, a palm to her cheek, giggling.
"Mio," asked Jun, "can you turn on the TV?"
Mio flipped it on. "What channel do you want to watch?"
"MTV."
"Here we go." At that moment, Jun jumped out of bed and danced like crazy. C&C Music Factory. "Sweat." Old school.
"She so animated this morning, Jun-chan is," Tsumugi giggled.
"Well, isn't it obvious?" She turned to the bathroom. "Oy, Ritsu, are you done? I'm next!"
"Shut up, Mio, I'm still washing myself!" Ritsu shouted, pouting as she scrubbed her hair.
"Be quick, dammit!" Mio sighed. So this is how dorm life will be next year, she thought.
Tsumugi's head was cool as a cucumber. "Good things come to those who wait, Mio-chan." She laid back on the pillow, and Mio had to follow suit as Jun continued to gyrate in the nude.
"Oy, Mugi, what are you...?" Mio saw Tsumugi snuggle herself next to her.
"Mio-chan...Your body is so nice and warm...and squishy..."
"R...Right..." This was a sticky situation, until the bathroom door slammed open, startling the three of them.
"Mio! I'm done," Ritsu said. "Wanna go next?"
"Let's go together," Mugi said to Mio.
"I want to go to the bath with Mugi," Mio said to Ritsu.
"The shower should be big enough to fit two people," Ritsu replied as Jun wrapped herself with a bathrobe.
"Great. Mugi, let's go."
"Yes, let's!" Tsumugi couldn't wait to clean herself with all the amenities available.
"So I'm going to go set this radio to...some electronica," Ritsu said, flipping some of the channels. "Ah. Here's David Guetta again." As she put on her outfit, which consisted of a collared shirt, a red suit tie, a blue blazer with HTT's crest and a plaid khaki skirt along with her yellow hairband, she cocked an ear to some interesting sounds inside the bathroom.
"Ah, soap me more, Mio-chan!" Tsumugi said as Mio worked her hands around her erogenous zones while shampooing her hair. "It feels so fucking good!" Ritsu's eyebrows were raised, and her mouth twitched through her shaded face.
"Sex in the shower?" Ritsu whispered. "Man, we are feeling it this morning."
"Ritsu-sempai, what are they doing over there?" Jun asked, drinking a can of Coke from room service.
There was a dark tone in her voice. A mean one. "Just washing themselves, that's all."
"I think they're getting busy," she giggled.
"No, they're washing themselves. Of course they're getting busy; isn't it obvious?"
"Scrub me more Mugi, I want to feel you so much!" Mio moaned inside, her chest heaving as Mugi touch reverberated on her shiny skin.
"Hey you two, hurry up now; Jun wants to go in!"
"We'll be out in a bit, Ricchan," Tsumugi replied. "Just give us time to-AHHHH!"
Ritsu slapped her forehead. "Goddammit; it's getting steamy down there."
"Too steamy," Jun added.
"We'll both go last, Azunyan," Yui said to her as Ui brushed her locks back in the other room. Nodoka was finished.
"All right." Azusa took a hop, a skip, and a jump into the bathroom.
"Onee-chan, you want me to take a shower with you?" Ui asked, blushing.
"We've never done it, Ui," Yui explained. "SO, I thought, might as well."
"This could be a bit embarrassing..."
"No it won't. Just leave it to your onee-chan who knows best!"
"Onee-chan?"
Yui thumped her chest. "I am greatest!"
"So what are you guys going to do?" Nodoka asked, putting on some jeans and a blouse.
"Breakfast and practice," Yui replied.
"Well that's a plan." She turned on the television. "Hey look, you guys are on the news."
"We are live here outside the Palms Casino Resort, where Hokago Tea Time is staying this week," a news anchorman from Channel 3, KSNV-TV. "We have some Hokago Tea Time fans that are here with us today. What's your name?"
"Stacy," she said.
"Where are you from?"
"Henderson."
"And why are you here?"
"I want to see Hokago Tea Time and Yui! She is the best!"
"Ooooh!" Yui loved hearing that. "Did I just hear my name? Did I just hear my name?"
The news anchorman went on. "We have another here. Sir, what is your name?"
"Roger."
"You're from?"
"North Las Vegas."
"And you're here because?"
"I have two grandkids that have tickets to the show and I wanted to take photos of the band. I know they are up there inside the SkyVilla, and I hope they come out so we can see them."
"I've got the urge, the urge," Yui said, the spirals forming in her eyes.
"Here's another fan," said the Channel 3 anchorman. "What your name, little one?"
"Kathy."
"Where are you from?"
"Henderson."
"And who's your favorite band member?"
"Mio."
"Cool, cool, and what's your name?"
"Desmond."
"Where are you from?"
"Right here in Las Vegas."
"And who did you come here to see?"
"Ritsu Tainaka, one of the best drummers in the world."
"Here's another," the anchorman said. "What's your name?"
"Sandra, and I am a mother of two from Laughlin."
"Who did you come to see?"
"Mugi. My two wonderful daughters love her long blonde hair and they say she reminds me of me."
"Fabulous. And what is your name?"
"Alfred from Primm."
"Who did you come to see?"
"Azusa because she is so awesome. I love you Azunyan!" Somewhere in the bathroom, Azusa was getting chills.
The news anchorman went on. "And what is your name?"
"Victorique from Sauville."
"You're a visitor, then?"
"That's correct."
"Who's your favorite Hokago Tea Time band member?"
"Yui."
"That's it, I'm going out!" Yui exclaimed, wrapping herself with a bath robe and heading out to the veranda by the Jacuzzi.
"Onee-chan, that's dangerous!" Ui said, worried.
"She'll be fine," Nodoka said.
Azusa came out of the shower. "What's going on?"
"Apparently, the morning news followed us here."
Yui was waving at the crowd of people at the entrance to the Palms, who roared in delight.
"And here is Yui Hirasawa in her bath robe, flashing the victory sign to us. How about that?" the anchorman laughed.
"I love Las Vegas!" Yui exclaimed, tears forming in her eyes. "I love you all!"
"She just said, 'I love Las Vegas, I love you all.' Haha, we love you back."
"What is Yui doing?" Ritsu asked as Mio and Tsumugi finished changing into their outfits. Tsumugi's outfit was the same as Ritsu, while Mio went for a purple hoodie, a white collared shirt, a red tie altered to look like that of a Scout and plaid khaki skirt. Basically, it was the same at Ritsu's, but the blazer was replaced by a hoodie which hid most of her hair.
"Let's find out, Ricchan," Mugi replied as the three of them went over to Yui's room.
"Yui, what are you doing?" Mio asked her.
"Mio-chan, Mio-chan, look!"
"Oh my God...there's loads of people!"
"And with Yui are Mio Akiyama, Ritsu Tainaka and Tsumugi Kotobuki of Hokago Tea Time!" said the anchorman to the roar of the crowd.
"Unbelievable," Ritsu groaned, as she faked a smile while waving. Mio and Mugi were waving too, Mugi more excitedly. "Did they really have to follow us here? Shouldn't they be busy eating breakfast or something?"
"This is so much fun!" Tsumugi exclaimed. "They followed us here! What dedication!"
"And you're happy with it?" Mio wondered.
"Mmm-hmmm!"
"You have no life."
"Mou, Mio-chan, that's mean!" Mugi groaned, squished Mio's cheeks with hers.
"Oh my, it is pretty fun down here at the Palms. We'll keep you posted as the countdown to the concert, scheduled for Friday, July 2 at Sam Boyd Stadium goes on. Reporting live here from the Palms, Steve Gershowitz, News 3."
Azusa emerged from the shower, while Jun was wrapping up her run at the bath. "Guys, what's going on?"
"We're on the news," Ritsu deadpanned.
"And I wasn't on it?"
"That's cause you were in the shower while they were filming, Azunyan," Yui replied as Azusa pouted.
"Onee-chan, let's go in," Ui said.
"All right, I'll be right back," Yui said. "You guys can go meet with Sawa-chan downstairs. We'll meet you in a bit." Mio, Ritsu, Tsumugi and Nodoka headed downstairs. A group of hotel staff would move Ritsu's drums to a studio inside the hotel, where practice would take place. Jun and Azusa would have to get changed first before join them. Ui and Yui would be the last to join the group. Yui and Azusa's outfit was identical to Ritsu. Ritsu would have her sleeves rolled up.
"Is everybody here?" Sawako Yamanaka asked the group. Ui and Yui hustled down the stairs to meet up with them. "Great, everyone's here. If you have an instrument with you, be sure to carry it with you. We're going to be lugging this when we head to the buffet this morning so bear with it."
"Yes, ma'am!" they all said.
"Let's go."
"How tall is that stack of pancakes?" Ritsu asked suspiciously as they got their first platefuls at the Bistro Buffet.
"Ten high," she said, shrugging.
"Dammit man, how are you gonna finish that?" With a steak knife, Yui sliced through the stack of apple pancakes and put a forkful of the maple-drenched goodness into her mouth. "You warrior."
"Correction: Amazon, Ricchan."
"I love getting my fill at a place like this, it's so amazing," Tsumugi said, munching on some bacon.
"We could get used to this," Mio concurred.
"Don't choke on those pancakes, Sempai," Azusa warned Yui, who scruffed her hair. "Eh?"
"Onee-chan always believes that breakfast is the most important meal of the day," Ui said, snacking on a Denver omelet.
"I'm pleased they have some donuts here; I thought there would never be any," Jun sighed.
"You all are pigs," Nodoka deadpanned, drinking on some orange juice. Sawako had to smile.
A group of tourists, also from Japan, noticed the band at the buffet. "Hey Ichika," Huang Lingyin asked Ichika Orimura, "is that the band you were talking about?"
"You're right, it's them," he said.
"Who? Who is this band you speak of?" Cecilia Alcott said with a look of suspicion.
"They look like the real thing," Houki Shinonono remarked.
"I've heard of their music on the radio in my dorm," Laura Bodewig said.
"It's them, no question," said Charlotte Dunois. "Let's say hello. Bonjour, Hokago Tea Time!"
"Bonjour?" Yui asked. "That means hello in French, right?"
"Oh my gosh," Ling exclaimed. "It's them! Azunyan!" She gave Azusa a huge glomp and a kiss.
"Hey! That's my Azunyan you're touching!"
"Sorry, tee hee. Anyway, my name is Huang Lingyin, and I am a member of the Infinite Stratos School in Tokyo. It's a pleasure to meet you and Azunyan."
"What is going on here?" Azusa asked everybody.
"Ling, mind your manners regarding these so-called rock stars," Cecilia said, yanking Ling back by the ears.
"Owowowowowow!"
"I am Cecilia Alcott. It's an honor to be with you."
"My name is Houki Shinonono," Houki said.
"Hey, you sound just like me," Mio said.
"Coincidence?" she grinned.
"Guten Tag, my name is Laura Bodewig," she said, curtsying.
"I'm Charlotte Dunois," she said.
"And my name is Ichika Orimura," he said. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Can we get your autograph?"
"Let's finish our breakfast, and we'll help you out, all right?" Sawako asked. "You guys are a bit too close for our comfort."
"We're sorry!" the six of them said, bowing. The IS team grabbed some breakfast and sat next to the HTT crew.
"I always liked your music," Ling said. "The way you sing, it's so angelic, and the way you play your music just makes me want to dance in nothing but my panties!"
"Oh Lord," Cecilia said, a palm to her face as the girls and Ichika laughed. "What an abomination!" Houki looked away, blushing.
"I wonder if we really needed to hear that," Mio laughed hesitantly.
"Glad to see someone is expressing her love for our music," said Tsumugi.
"The music you guys play has a powerful, emotional feel to it," Ichika said. "It's uncanny. It's fresh and youthful. I like it."
"Thank you," they all said.
"Your music makes me proud to be a French woman," Charlotte said, blushing.
Ritsu laughed. "Never heard of that, but I'm glad to hear you like it in your own special way."
"I mean, I am singing 'Fude Pen' when I am at the school, and everyone is telling me, Charlotte, what are you singing? I tell them, have you heard of this band called Hokago Tea Time? Then they listen, and suddenly, I've converted them!"
"But I was a fan of their music before you were," Lingyin pouted before breaking into song. "Please don't say you are lazy, datte hontou wa Crazy, hakuchoutatachi wa sou, mienai toko de batashi surun desu..."
"There she goes, rattling off one of my pieces," Mio said to Ritsu. Her face was shaded once she heard Charlotte, Laura and Cecilia join in.
"True fan girls always sing in front of their idols," Tsumugi explained, drinking some freshly squeezed orange juice.
"How was it?" Cecilia asked her.
"Did we pass the audition?" Lingyin asked Azusa, who looked at the others pleadingly.
Yui whipped out a few stickers, which she placed on some buttons. "You deserve a seal of approval!" The stickers read, "I met Hokago Tea Time!"
"Thank you for the buttons," Ichika said. "Ladies, how about you all gather for a group photo?"
"Ichika, you should join in too," Houki said.
"But who's going to shoot it for us?"
"I will," said a local resident in his 60's, wearing a pair of cheap sunglasses from one of the shops. He took a few photos of the Infinite Stratos team with the HTT entourage, and so the memories were immortalized.
"Thank you for allowing us to spend some time with you," Laura said, bowing. "We will be on our way."
"Godspeed, HTT!" Ichika said as the IS team left.
"And that, ladies, was the Infinite Stratos All-Star crew," Nodoka remarked while nibbling on French toast.
"How many more minutes before we head to the studio, Sawa-chan?" Yui asked Miss Sawako.
She looked at her watch. "I think we have time for one more run before we head over to the studio."
After wrapping up breakfast, Miss Sawako led the girls up the escalator to the studio. "Here it is," she said. "This is Studio X, the largest of the two studios here at the Palms."
"Wow," Yui said. "It's huge!"
"I chose this because I'm gonna have you do some demo recordings. We have a local radio interested in playing some of the music from this ahead of the concert this Friday."
"Is that so?" Ritsu said, crossing her arms while stroking her chin. "I like where this is going. By the way, is my drum set there?"
"It's waiting right there."
"Great. Guys, let's go set up shop."
The control room at Studio X featured a 72-input Neve VRP, equipped with 8 auxiliary busses, 4 reverb returns, a multi-channel film monitoring sys and Flying Fader Automation. Miss Sawako elected to use a 64/64 i/o Pro Tool HD System with Apogee converters and a Studer Gold A827 recorder. Other amenities include a Martech MSS-10, an ATR OneTwo 2-Track recorder, DigiDesign-HDIII software, KRK EST Monitors with V12 Subwoofer, Genelec 1031A speakers, and API 560 Graphic Equalizer, a Universal Audio LA 3A, one FATSO JR, an AV SAN Storage Network device, a Lexicon 960L Effects, a Universal Audio Blackface, an Apogee DA 16X Coverter, a Yamaha SPX 2000, a DBX 786 Dual Mic Pre, a NEVE 1084, a NEVE 33609J, an Empirical Labs Distressor, a Panscan 1000, a TC Electronic 2290, a Universal Audio LA 2A, an AVALON 2055, an Apogee Big Ben and a NEVE 1081.
As the band broke out their instruments and did a few tunings here and there in the live room, Jun, Ui and Nodoka sat with Sawako in the control room to observe. There was a crew of three that would be doing the mixing, and the four of them would watch the magic. Jun didn't want to see this on an empty stomach, and would be snacking on some donuts as the band went along.
"I like the fact that there is a Baldwin 7 SF10 Artist Grand Piano here," Tsumugi said. "When we do 'Pure Pure Heart,' I will use this."
"Never underestimate the power of convenience, Mugi," Mio said, tuning her bass a little, checking the acoustics.
"Ready to record some of our music, Azunyan?" Yui asked, scruffing her ladyfriend's head a little.
A pout came from her lips. "Sempai, you know I'm always ready."
"Good to hear." She turned to the others. "Are we all set?"
"I think my drums are ready to roll," Ritsu replied.
"Elizabeth is a go," Mio added. Tsumugi gave a thumbs-up and a wink.
"Okay, sir, we are ready to record."
"Thank you very much," said one of the staff members at the studio. "When you're ready, start."
Ritsu counted off. "One, two, one, two, three, four!" And the band broke into their signature piece, "Fuwa Fuwa Time."
"Not bad, ladies," Sawako said from the control room. "Azusa, I need to hear you a little bit more on your bits, but not bad overall. Vocally, Ritsu, Tsumugi, Azusa, be a bit more stronger, will you."
Yui was embarrassed to know her kouhai was a bit shy. "Eheheheh."
"I guess I wasn't as audible," Azusa said. "Sorry."
"Curry Nochi Rice anyone?" Ritsu asked.
"Track Number 2!" Yui replied, a bubbly soul.
"All right, we're ready to record again," Mio said, giving the thumbs-up.
"When you're ready, go right ahead," said the staff member.
Ritsu counted down. "One, two, one, two, three, four!" As suggested from Sawako, Mugi, Ritsu and Azusa projected their voice a little better.
"It just takes a little coaching to get these people clicking," Sawako said to Nodoka as an aside while Jun continued to snack on her donuts and Ui nodded to the music.
"Duly noted," she replied.
Soon after, the number finished. "Well done, that was a little bit better. When you guys perform on Friday, everyone must be heard. Not just the instruments, but also the vocals. Got it?"
"Yes, ma'am!" they all said.
"Hey, what song should we play next?" Yui asked Mio.
"How about 'My Love Is A Stapler?'"
Ritsu interjected. "It's settled. 'Stapler' it is!"
"Ehhhh?" Yui was wondering why that didn't take long to debate. "All right. We're ready to go." A few flourishes and the melodic hook gave way to Yui and Mio taking the lead vocals in this classic number. KFRH 104.3 FM, a radio station based in North Las Vegas, and Las Vegas-based KKLZ 96.3 FM would both air HTT's music from the Palms Sessions hours following the official recording.
"Hokago Tea Time: It never misses a beat," Jun said, still snacking on her donuts as the number finished. "Never had, never will."
"Are you still snacking on your donuts, Jun-chan?" Ui asked.
"I have five more in this pack, and I think I've reached my limit. Want 'em?"
Ui's stomach was growling. "Sure."
"Well done, ladies, very nice," Sawako said. "Just work on the projection, but don't let it dominate the performance too much."
"Let's play 'Fude Pen' next!" Yui suggested.
"This is a good one," Tsumugi said.
"I love this number," Azusa said. "Let's do it!"
"Ritsu," Mio said, "count it down."
"One, two, three!" Another melodic hook from Azusa gave way to Mio and Yui sharing the vocals.
"Very good, ladies," Miss Sawako said. "Mugi, I need to hear a little bit more of your keyboarding; it's drifting too much into the background. It has to weave a little better, you know?"
"Got it, Miss Sawako." Tsumugi walked over to the piano for the next number.
"You know what that means," Ritsu snickered to Yui. "Time for a little 'Pure Pure Heart.' Ready guys?"
"Let's do it, Ricchan," Yui responded.
"One, two, three!" Here, Tsumugi's piano work was accentuated more to go with the driving guitars of Yui and Azusa, as well as Mio's heartfelt vocals.
"Is it just me," Jun asked Ui, "but does Mugi look more comfortable with a piano by her side rather than her keyboard?"
"She was trained in the piano before she graduated to the keyboard," she replied.
"Ahhh. I see what she did there."
Soon after, the number completed. "Better spontaneity from you, Mugi-chan," Sawako said. "Approved!"
"Let's go ahead and do another of our favorites, 'Ichigo Parfait ni Tomaranai,'" Yui asked the band. "Ready?"
"Hold on, let's go ahead and get ourselves settled here," the staff member said from the control room as Tsumugi returned to her keyboard. "Okay, when you're ready, go right ahead."
"Ricchan!"
"One, two, three!" A light poppy song dedicated to strawberry parfaits of every decadent persuasion was recorded, and Ritsu joined enthusiastically in this one.
"Ooooh, fabulous, fabulous stuff," Sawako said. "Ricchan, I am pleased that you have decided to finally lend your voice to the cause. I couldn't hear you well in the other pieces aside from 'Curry,' but I can in this one."
"Thank you very much, Sawa-chan. Let's go play 'Honey Sweet Tea Time', you guys!"
Yui turned to the others. "We're ready." The staff member flashed a thumbs up. The mixer crew were ready as well.
Ritsu counted down. "One, two, three!" Tsumugi had the lead vocals in this number.
"These donuts are quite filling," Ui remarked as the number progressed. "Jun-chan, I'm already full after two of them."
"Aren't they?" Jun beamed. "The people here put a lot of fiber in these donuts. So this will hold us for a while."
"The fact that you were able to take down 19 of them is shocking."
"But that's how I roll. You know that I will never be happy without a donut in my hands. I'm like Merry Nightmare in a way."
The number wrapped up. "Who's Merry Nightmare?"
"She's a dream demon with a flat chest that loves to eat donuts."
"Oh, from that manga/light novel series, right? Dream Eater Merry?"
"Precisely."
"All right, ladies, do you know what your next number is?" Sawako asked the band.
"Tokimeki Sugar, Mio," Ritsu cooed.
"Ehhhh? I don't want to sing that!"
"Fool! You wrote the lyrics, we composed the music; we might as well perform it!"
"Fine, fine. I'm not going to be in argument with you, babe."
"Excellent. Are we all set?"
"Sempai," Azusa deadpanned, "I fear for my sanity."
Ritsu counted down. "One, two, three, four!"
Ui studied how the mixers changed the volume, added a few effects and there, and weaved the vocals of all five members. For Ui, this was stock footage that was worthy of a documentary. "Interesting how the mixing crew does all this," she told Jun, who simply nodded.
After the number finished, Sawako took the mike from the control room. "Let's do one more number, and then we'll take a break."
"Fuyu No Hi," Yui suggested. "Shall we?"
"Let's do it," Mio said. "Take it, Ritsu!"
After a flourish from Ritsu, Yui took the lead vocals, with Mio and Tsumugi doing some in the background. Interestingly, Mio, Yui and Azusa were swaying as one while playing guitars. Nodoka nodded her head to the hook as it went along its path.
"Break time!" Sawako said, clapping her hands. "Take about 20 to cool down, and then we will see you here. Oh, and by the way, we have a couple of guests at the lounge that would love to have a chat with you girls. They're fans of yours."
"Geez, more fans?" Ritsu asked. "They just don't stop coming, do they?"
"More fans equal more fun," Yui said, enthused. "Time for a break."
As Sawako engaged in some conversations with the mixing team at the control room, the girls went to the private lounge, where a gentleman wearing a white collared shirt and blue tie with khaki slacks and a young, blonde woman wearing a short sundress with a light jacket awaited them.
"Are you the VIPs that wanted to meet us?" Mio asked the two of them.
"We sure are," he said in Japanese, with a slight French accent.
"Hold on a minute," Yui said. "Are you who I think you are?"
"I would fancy you take a guess," the woman said with a slight British accent.
She scratched her head. "Uh, I have no idea."
"Looks like we'll have to introduce ourselves, my love," he said to her.
"Go right ahead, my dear."
"Ladies of Hokago Tea Time, my name is Lord Blumiere, and this is my wife, Lady Emma Timpani."
"What?" the others exclaimed.
"You're th-th-th-th-that couple from Flipside!" Mio said, pointing in shock. "The one true pairing!"
"I guess you can say that," Timpani said with an embarrassed chuckle.
Tsumugi placed her hands together. "Did you want me go make some tea for you two?"
"Absolutely."
"I'll have it set in a bit. Anyway, why aren't you there?" Mugi asked. "We didn't expect the likes of you to pay us a visit."
"One must never underestimate the power of the Pure Hearts," Blumiere noted. "When we both married down in Flipside, the power of the Pure Hearts teleported us to France, where we now live. We like to travel the world and consummate in all the right locales. Timpani loves to make out everywhere we go. It doesn't matter if we are in a church, a mosque, a mountain, a forest or a concrete jungle...we always a place to savor each other's love."
"That's so awesome," Ui said, blushing. "Two romantics are fans of our music."
"My favorite song is 'Pure Pure Heart' because the Pure Hearts of Flipside come to mind," Timpani said. "I even know how to play Lady Kotobuki's part on my piano back in Marseilles."
Tsumugi handed Timpani and Blumiere some green tea. "That's where you two live?"
"My hubby here is a part-owner of Olympique de Marseilles and holds a 50% interest in the club. They're doing very well in Ligue 1, winning the title last year. There has been talk of OM having a women's side, and I have expressed interest in having part-ownership of this team."
"So you love football, just like us, huh?" Mio asked Timpani.
"Definitely. When we first came to France, we saw all these different players kicking a ball around, and they were playing football. Here in the USA, they know it as soccer. We settled in a villa by the ocean in Marseille and decided to meet with the owners of the club there, and Blumiere ended up purchasing half of the club. If this keeps up, he's going to own it outright because the fans like the managers, the players, the style of play...everything is looking good for Olympique de Marseille."
"Wow, that's great," Azusa said to them. "Congratulations."
"You know something?" Ritsu asked the two of them. "Is it just me, or do you love getting busy in bed every night?"
"Funny you should ask that," Blumiere said with a grin. "I love Timpani. She is the reason for my existence. I love every part of her body. Her scent endears me to be with her more. The taste of her soft, milky flesh makes me roar like a lion in need of having his hunger for sex satiated to the fullest-"
"Okay, okay, okay, no need for you to make me wet my panties with your lustful X-rated fantasies, Blums!"
"They're turning you on?" Mio deadpanned. "Don't I turn you on as well?"
"Yes, but that's a totally different story."
"Blums, is it?" he said. "I don't mind informalities; my peers call me Blums or Blumi, as a matter of fact."
"Blumiere knows how to turn me on," Timpani said, her voice starting to denature into a lustfully obscene whisper as Blumiere crept next to her, slowly dragging her straps off shoulder. The girls were taking a huge gulp as Blumiere revealed Timpani's voluptuous quantities. "Whenever he does this to me, I want him to thrust his all in. Blumiere!"
"Timpani!"
"Blumiere!"
"Timpani!"
"Where is this heading to, Ritsu?" Mio said to Ritsu. "I'm scared. I'm watching a couple of perverts do the nasty. Ritsu?" She had turned to stone.
Jun was hyperventilating. "Man! I knew these two were an OTP, but this is ridiculous! In an orgasmic kind of way! Why am I breathing hard dammit!"
"Onee-chan, are you all right?" Ui asked Yui, who was drooling at the spectacle. "Onee-chan!"
"Yui-sempai, hang in there!" Azusa said, shaking her.
"Azunyan," Yui mewed while stimulating the spot between her legs, "this scene is made of so much epic win..."
Suddenly, Ui's eyes were fixated on the love scene which had taken a whole new dimension. The dynamics of the sex on the sofa caused Ui to stimulate herself in the same manner as Yui. "Oh my God...oh my...so good..."
Azusa pleaded to the Hirasawas. "Yui-sempai! Ui! Hang in there! Get a hold of yourself, and quit touching yourself; they'll get shot!" Mugi had already passed out and needed some salts to get right. "They will...they will...oh no..." A jealous couple of fingers were crawling underneath her shirt and were tweaking her nipples with reckless abandon.
"I have noticed that some of the creepiest people are HTT supporters," Nodoka said, keeping her composure while sipping tea.
Miss Sawako opened the door. "Everyone, five minutes until...recording continues..." She saw Ritsu and Mugi passed out, Nodoka leaving to go to the bathroom, and the other six masturbating as they were watching Blumiere and Timpani have sex in the lounge, each crying out each other's name in lustful volumes.
Annoyed, she slapped her shaking forehead. "This will be the last time I ever invite those two to a recording session," Sawako said to herself. It would take them another 20 minutes for the group to go through their release before recording at Studio X continued.
END CHAPTER 5