Two Strings, One Song: Memory Fragments and Parallel Songs

Memory Fragment: Kenjiro Hayasaka (Part 1)

"So now, prepare yourselves."

"Because it's time,"

"To get,"

"HYPER!" Saki and I shouted together. And five seconds later, Daisuke bangs his cymbals.

After the song...

Everyone clapped and cheered, and the three of us smiled.

"Thanks everyone! That's just one out of three covers!" Saki says.

"So we hope you have more fun!" I add on.

Then as I look around again, I notice a girl with long messy hair looking... Right at me with wide eyes and slightly parted lips.

We both stare at each other for a moment before I blush and look back at Saki and Daisuke.

Our last song was the one by Asian Kung Fu Generation that we practiced when we first came over to Daisuke's. It was fun. Everyone seemed to enjoy us and our vibe, and we ourselves had fun performing.

But, one thing that did disappoint me was that my dad didn't come. Even though he promised he'd watch my first performance.

When the school festival was over and I went back home, my family and I attempted to celebrate, but I... I just had to talk with my dad.

We sat in the living room, eating dinner while watching some random movie. And while my mom and dad were having fun talking, I decided I would finally speak to him.

"...Hey, dad. Why did you lie?"

"...Kenjiro, look, it's complicated. I had to go to-"

"No, WHY would you lie to me again?"

"Kenjiro, calm down." My mom told me, but I obviously didn't listen.

"You could've been honest that you didn't want to go instead of just covering it up with some bull crap story. And if you did go anyway, you probably wouldn't even have watched or listened."

"Ken-"

"No! You could've at least said something directly like 'Sorry I couldn't come' or at least been happy that my band worked out!"

"Don't raise your voice at me." My dad said, standing up and looking down at me.

"I wouldn't have, if you could just say you were proud of me! Better yet, you could at least just lie about it." I stood up and tried to be on my dad's level.

We look each other in the eye, waiting for who would give up.

"...Kenjiro. Go to your room." My mom tells me, closing her eyes.

"Wha-... Mom-"

"Go to your room. Now." My mom said strongly.

I clenched my teeth behind my lips, and I stormed off into my room.

"...Fuck you, dad."

I walked to my room at the end of the hallway and slammed my door shut.

"...He could've at least lied."

I grab my headphones and cassette player from my desk and put in a cartridge of one of my favorite Michael Jackson songs.

I sigh and walk towards my bedroom window, opening it and sneaking out.

"American music... Man, they really hit the spot for me."

I proceed to go walking to nowhere. Probably somewhere like that Hachiko statue. So I started wandering around as I listened to the song on repeat.

And once I saw I was close to the Hachiko statue, all I had to do was to cross the street. Simple. Or so I thought.

I decided to walk across the street with my eyes closed since there was barely any person or any vehicle.

But then... I heard a car beeping, and I opened my eyes.

A car was heading straight towards me, and I didn't have enough time to react.

Shit... I guess this is it.

But out of nowhere, somebody pulled me to the sidewalk, and the car passed by like a flash of light.

My breathing was fast, and so was my heartbeat. I looked at who was holding my arm, and it was exactly the girl who made eye contact with me during the festival. Up close, she was... Extremely cute.

"Wait, you..."

The girl covers her face with her hair, and I try to move her hair away.

"Hey, wait, don't hide yourself! I wanna see you!"

I moved the girl's hair away, and she looked at me. Her eyes were both purple like Saki's. Her hair was black, slightly messy, and so long that it dragged across the floor when she sat.

"Oh. You're... The person at school that everyone calls a ghost."

"And... The girl who looked you in the eyes during your school festival performance."

"Ah, I see, I see. So why didn't you talk to me earlier? Y'know, when the festival ended?"

The girl stays silent which makes me ask more questions.

"Are you, shy or something?"

"...Mhm."

"Right..."

We both sit on the ground in silence, and then the girl looks at me again.

"H-Harumi."

"What?"

"I-I'm Harumi Sakurai."

I look at her and then begin to smile.

"Kenjiro Hayasaka; The next revolutionary rockstar."

"That's... Pretty strange for a title."

"Yeah, I uh... I just came up with it."

We both laughed, and Harumi tried to cover her mouth.

"Hey, don't cover your laugh. I wanna hear it."

And I'm pretty sure Harumi gained the confidence to keep laughing.

After ten seconds, Harumi stopped laughing, and she looked at me with a smile.

Out of the blue, she asked,

"Kenjiro... Do you want to date?"

"...What?"

Memory Fragment: Kenjiro Hayasaka (Part 1)

To be continued

Alright everybody! Hope you guys will enjoy this spin-off! I got nothing else to say, but this was a project I've been wanting to work on for a long time. I look forward to writing again! Lastly: Don't forget that my Project Sekai story is out. If you're curious, then give it a read!

Mann out!