A Little Show
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Post by Mizukami Ayumu on Jan 16, 2011 2:13:08 GMT -6
It was Saturday.
Ayumu was in the open-air square of the district, where roads, and people, stream in and out, and where the shops were arranged in a little circle, attracting customers like ants. Even with the weekend, with people relatively free, the center still seemed rather large. The adolescent had yet to see the place truly fill up. Perhaps when there was an event that didn't take place elsewhere... the last festival wasn't held here.
The boy, being his absentminded self, leisurely walked around. There was something different from the usual sights and sounds in the place. A modest stage, not exactly large and not exactly small, had been placed in the middle, or almost, just beside the fountain. The view inside the platform was obscured by red curtains, but one could make out silhouettes of people seemingly busy inside. Would there be some kind of presentation?
It seemed Ayumu was not the only one to muse that. He had, instinctively, been drawn to the spectacle, and he was not alone. Little kids, although busy in their ever demanding world of play, stopped to wonder what this thing was doing in the middle of their running space. Some teenagers, some even with their significant others, shot it inquisitive glances. There was not yet a peep of music nor a flicker of light, but it had definitely garnered attention.
Were there announcements about this? thought the Mizukami, as he strolled about, keeping an eye on it. Maybe he could find more information in the bulletin boards... and probably grab a bite too. Maybe this would be fun to watch.
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Post by Otomo Kojiro on Jan 17, 2011 10:55:10 GMT -6
Sat upon the opposite edge of the stage, plucking, somewhat detached from the world, at the nylon strings of the slightly worn acoustic guitar perched on his lap forming a set of chords, one after the other. His brother, and his band had caught whiff of this little event, and had booked a slot, in which they would play. They were, currently setting up their equipment backstage, whilst Koji remained out front to keep an eye out for a crowd.
As detached as he was, he still noticed a familiar face. Mizukami Ayumu, one of the people who had aided him in creating a poem to express his feelings for Fujibayashi Kyou, which as far as Koji was concerned went very well. Carrying the old instrument with him, he hopped off the side of the stage, and approached Ayumu.
"Mizukami-san. Hello. Are you here for the show? I can get you backstage with the band if you like," he joked, "my brother's band is playing in a little while if you'd like to stay. Not sure about who else is here though, there's different time slots."
Koji was dishearted to see a smaller crowd than his brother had hoped outside the stage. Admittedly, it could have been advertised a little better, but his brother's band wasn't exactly famous, even by any local standard, so that was expected. He didn't notice any other participating group advertising themselves.
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Post by Mizukami Ayumu on Jan 17, 2011 21:00:41 GMT -6
"Oh, Otomo-san..." he observed, a little belatedly. If it was any consolation, the other boy seemed almost as out of it as he was. He noticed a few other things, besides what Otomo had commented on; in fact, he had noticed the words last. He carried a guitar, and had seemed to be a little able at playing it; Ayumu felt a little envious at that; he loved music, but he couldn't for the life of him play an instrument. Well, he had never had any training, formal or otherwise. He could sing well, as far as what his grandparents say...
"I'm... mostly passing by." he stated, a little airily, and then followed up with a little sheepish smile; he was getting in contact with reality again. One had to give full attention to the person one was talking too, and although Ayumu only knew the boy from their brief poetic encounter, in which he had given almost no comments (Amami-san did most of the work...), Ayumu considered him somebody he was in good terms with.
He usually did so with acquaintances.
Even if they didn't strike him particularly.
"Oh." he said, as he realized something, belatedly, again. "You're older than me, right? So it's Otomo-senpai." He wondered if he knew Furukawa-senpai...
"...I guess I'll stay and watch your brother's band." he said, looking a little more intently at the red curtains that turned the people behind it into silhouettes. As if he could read what was going on in the other teenager's mind, he surmised, "...if they're good they'll earn their crowds."
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Post by Otomo Kojiro on Jan 18, 2011 17:58:23 GMT -6
Gladdened to hear that at least one person would stay to watch his brother and his friends play, Koji smiled. He did not care very much for the whole senpai/kohai hierarchy, frankly being called senpai was a little embarassing. Most students that were older did not bother to refer to their juniors as kohai either, so Koji simply waved off the gesture.
"Please. Call me Koji. People might think me strange for not being a stickler for etiquette, but my whole family is like that. So they can blame them." Stated Koji, turning the guitar, held close to his body with a black strap, around to face his back. Koji hoped that perhaps someone else he knew would turn up and join the rather meager crowd. Classmates perhaps. Koji rubbed the back of his head wondering.
"I think they should've given us some folding chairs for people to sit on. Standing is all very well, and a concert usually involves standing, but this isn't exactly Saitama Arena." He mused. Koji longed to play, or at least see someone he taught play somewhere like Saitama. Becoming either a musician, or a music teacher would be difficult, but it wasn't beyond him if he practised and worked hard, and work hard he would. It was his dream. He had his brother's support. His brother's friends. His mentor, Rumi, whom herself was going through a musical course at college, working on both vocals, and enhancing her guitar skills to find her genre.
"I think they'll be starting soon." Koji added, jabbing a thumb towards the stage.
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Post by Mizukami Ayumu on Jan 19, 2011 3:42:53 GMT -6
He grinned at the older boy's waving off of his little politeness.
Japan was a country where one had to be courteous, and although it didn't exactly backfire at you every time and immediately after you trespass certain unwritten laws, you might just be marked off as rude.
He... had only been getting used to all the ways of calling people, having only had a few years in these islands... and it was always nice not to worry too much of how you call people. "Then I'm Ayumu." he replied. Koji-san had been calling him by his surname, too...
His senpai, even though he had specifically stated that he didn't really like being called that, seemed happy with his presence; indeed, one would be happy to find a familiar face in the crowd. The throngs were thickening, although they were mostly joined in knots of people clumping with each other, obviously friends hanging out or something to that effect. He wondered if they had come to see the show specifically, or had been passing by, like him, and were curious enough to wait.
Koji seemed to be happy not just about the people, but the music, which he had hinted at. "Your brother taught you how to play?" he asked, gesturing at his guitar; he had felt a little inquisitive. He went a few steps back to a nearby pillar; his knees can endure a long stand, but having something solid to lean on was nice when watching events like this.
"Saitama, huh..." he wasn't that familiar with it, but... judging from the context and what he had heard from other people, it was a big place... for equally big events...
His train of thought was cut off by an even voice coming from the speakers. "We will be starting in a few minutes. Thank you all for coming." A few cymbal sounds and a bit of static floated off into the air. A little more... Koji was right... they'd be starting in a little while.
Koji seemed to think they were good, and Ayumu wasn't exactly very critical with music. He waited with bated breath, although he didn't look like it.
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Post by Otomo Kojiro on Jan 19, 2011 17:34:49 GMT -6
Jun? Teach him? Koji would've been thrilled if his brother had taught him how to play guitar, though Jun could not play, it would have meant a great deal if they had both dealt with their parents' split together. Both brothers, however dealt with it their own way. Jun was more upset, and he felt more betrayed than his sibling, who wrestled with an unhealthy amount of anger towards his father.
Jun took a musical route, and formed a band with some of his friends, Sho, Rumi, Osuma. Together they formed Front. It gave Jun an outlet to express his feelings through song, and was what later piqued Koji's interest in pursuing a musical career. Koji himself vented his anger through kickboxing. It took time, but he decided to forgive his father. Though still resenting the man for deserting his family, and breaking his mother's heart, he did not hate him. They were distant, Koji and Masato, though he hoped one day he could find it within him to actually forgive his father personally. Shaking himself out of his wondering, he looked over his shoulder at the worn acoustic instrument. Swinging it back around into his hands he shook his head.
"One of his band members actually. Kono Rumi. She's a good friend to us both. She's like a big sister to me. Plays her guitar right-handed, but she's ambidexterous, so that made it easier for her to teach me. I'm left-handed. I sometimes wish Jun had taught me, but being a lead singer is his forte, not being a guitarist." Koji explained. He suspected that Rumi and Jun would end up in a relationship. Such a thing would please him, as the two were childhood friends, and such a bonding was either exceedingly rare, or the stuff of manga and fantasy. Koji strummed down all six strings, and gave a longing look at the stage.
"Some day though, I'll try and play on stage with him, or with my own band. I am planning on becoming a music teacher, the band thing is good as a hobby, but I'd like a career. I love music. Learning to play the guitar is hard for me, since I'm a left-handed person trying to do it right-handed, but I'm positive it'll be worth it. I can go to college, get a music scholarship maybe. It's the dream."
He noticed Jun poke his head out of the curtains, giving Koji a thumbs-up, which Koji returned.
"I guess they're ready to start. I hope you like the metal genre. Jun just loves all those crunchy riffs. I prefer gentler rock myself."
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Post by Mizukami Ayumu on Jan 22, 2011 23:22:29 GMT -6
Koji was a sincere person, and he appreciated that. He also admired how he so easily shared the nuances of his life with him, who had been but a stranger until... a few days ago? Not that he thought himself insincere... perhaps he simply lacked courage.. or problems.
Besides his mother dying, (and he was rather sure she was very comfortable in her afterlife right now, though he had to admit he missed her presence from time to time, and wondered what she would say in a given situation...) he didn't have much of problems... well, Koji didn't say anything of problems, but he looked... distant when he mentioned his supposition of Koji's brother teaching Koji. He considered that expression sincere.
He also considered his words sincere. He had dreams... Ayumu wondered if he could possibly have any. He wondered if something so simple as liking Furukawa-senpai could be considered a dream; he even lacked the courage to visualize how they would be if... if... it was a little bit of overload to think about. He liked to write, but he wondered if that was a dream, in itself. He was... a little fragmented, and he admired people with direction.
"Metal?" Well, he almost disliked it, but as had been said, Ayumu was rather tolerant. Koji's brother can still prove himself... and his teacher, too. Light rock sounded nice, but that wouldn't probably be what he would be hearing... he wasn't really that informed about musical genres, but he did know that metal could be rather... noisy.
"Should I brace myself?"
The curtains parted, and some of those who had been waiting clapped a little, politely.
OC: Nick, you do their presentation. I've no clue how they do it XD
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Post by Otomo Kojiro on Jan 29, 2011 11:58:39 GMT -6
Though it wasn't exactly Budokan, Koji couldn't help but beam as his brother, along with his friends stepped forward onto the stage for a live performance. They had done so many times in bars, in nightclubs, and had no qualms about stepping out in front of a crowd. Koji didn't like small crowds, he prefered assemblies of hundreds, of thousands. One day, he'd perform onstage at a real arena in front of thousands. Or at the very least once he became a music teacher, one of his students instead. As usual, everyone double-checked their instruments and equipment, Jun performing a quick microphone test, before introducing the band. It was Koji's wish that they didn't play anything too... Extreme and clear the crowds in a heartbeat. Metal was too chaotic and wid for Koji's tastes. He prefered lighter songs, and drove away from the term "easy listening" as he found the term to be rather stupid, listening was easy. It happened in spite of one's self.
Mercifully the song was more relaxed, slower. Koji recognized it immediately. It was a typical song about broken hearts and crushed dreams. He found it somewhat ironic that many great bands performed songs like this when they had millions of adoring fans, and enough money to keep their great-grandchildren in the lap of luxury.
"I was going to suggest you plugged your ears, but I think it's safe. Well, for now at least..." Responded Koji, hopefuly settling Ayumu's concerns about the band. He watched them perform, Jun certainlly seemed to be getting into it. He wondered. Just how did they come up with the name "Front"? It seemed such a random name, plucked out of the blue. Jun wasn't a bad singer either, though he had Rumi and Osuma to back him up with their own vocals. Lasting another minute or so, Koji decided not to talk through the rest of the song, instead, listening to a song he'd heard many times before, he tapped his foot to the rhythm. Koji thought it must be a great feeling to play on stage, even after the inital nervousness. He wasn't nervous. He would gladly get up on stage and play, but he felt his skills could use improving before he ever endeavoured to step out on a stage. Jun spotted him again in the crowd and nodded as the light applause died down.
"I think they're only going to play one. You wanna meet them? Osuma's a really funny guy. Rumi's great too." Koji asked, picking up his own worn instrument.
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