Two Strings, One Song: Memory Fragments and Parallel Songs

Memory Fragment: On the road!

"Alright. Everyone ready?"

Everyone nods their heads and answers the same way. Hiroko pulls a CD case from his pockets and takes the disc out.

"Ready for some music?" He asks, putting it in.

"You bet." Anthony answers with a smile.

Suddenly, Shine As Usual plays throughout the RV.

"Wait, is that?"

Hiroko shudders and quickly takes the disk out.

"Ahaha, what the hell is that, huh? Um, y-yeah, here's the actual playlist."

He takes out another CD and puts it in the player.

"M-My dad listens to a lot of American music."

"Oh, really?"

"Y-Yeah.."

Hiroko leans back against the passenger seat.

Anthony smiles softly and looks in front of him.

Hiroko: If they know I like Kessoku Band or even discover that I was a member of it, I'll definitely get kicked from Autonoma.

"Alright, boys! First stop, Rochester!"

Fujin starts to whoop as the RV starts moving.

"Okay, I have a bunch of ideas where we're gonna perform."

"I was thinking we should look for public spaces that a lot of people go for every state we're going to."

"Okay, let's get this planned out, lads!"

Hiroko looks at his phone, sending a message to Kessoku Band's group chat.

"Alright, we're off to our first state! Wish Fujin and I good luck!"

He then puts his phone in his pocket, watching the sun rise.

Hiroko: I hope you guys are doing great, too.

(A/N: for like I don't know, the next few minutes, just imagine Autonoma playing somewhere and constantly driving on highways and then just having fun planning out their next place. Have fun listening!)

State after state, day after day, show after show, the boys did great. But even after everything, Hiroko still kept his secret of being a member of Kessoku Band.

Every time Fujin asked him if he was going to tell the band about Kessoku Band, he would just start up another conversation or pretend he was daydreaming.

In Los Angeles, California...

"Woo wee! That was a fantastic show thanks to you guys!" Anthony tells the boys in their RV, taking a sip of beer.

"Muy bueno. Muy muy bueno." Manny raises a glass of high class wine before drinking it all in one go.

"M-Muy, what?" Hiroko asks.

"It's Spanish." Ivan and Alexi tell Hiroko.

"Aw man, y'know if I met my past self I would've patted him on the back and told him your future is gonna be great!" Fujin says to himself, holding half a bottle of whiskey.

"Well, I wish I could do that too." Manny leans forward.

"My mamá and papá worried that I wouldn't make it that far in my career back in Mexico." He starts to get deep.