Cassie
100 facts about Takahiro Moriuchi
100 facts about Toru Yamashita
100 facts about Ryota Kohama
I scrolled down the screen but there wasn't one with the same headline as Tomoya's. Weird. But what's more weird is how I could work with these people and know next to nothing about them. As a Communications intern, I totally suck. How am I supposed to promote them without even knowing the basic stuff about them. This is so frustrating. I don't know why I prefer to consult Google instead of asking the people themselves.
"Are you stalking us?" Taka said, rolling his seat towards mine and leaning closer to look at my computer. Unlike Ryota, Taka could be a bully at times that's probably the reason why we got along with each other. Someone like a partner in crime. We both like playing pranks on the other guys.
"It's called working," I said making quotation marks with my fingers in the air, emohasizing the word work. "I'm doing my research."
"Come on, no need to be shy about it," he said lightly elbowing me on the side. I poked him back in return. "Nobody beats Toru when it comes to stalking."
"Toru?" I asked. I stopped calling him noodle-hair since it makes me hungry just by thinking about it. What about him?
"Yep," he said popping the 'p' on the end. "Before I came to join the band, he stalked me until I agreed to watch their rehearsal. I mean the guy doesn't know when to give up."
"I'm glad he did," I said. I think Toru would have been a successful sales agent though, with his great convincing skills and all.
"Me too," Taka grinned. He looks so young when he acts like this. "So, what else do you want to know?"
"Hmmm...I don't know," I said, scrunching my nose. I honestly don't like asking people questions. Rather, I think I wasn't actually interested in what they were saying. Or maybe I just don't want to get too involved. I don't want to be too nosy either. "Just tell me what you can."
"I was a really messed up kid that time," he started. You still look like a kid, I thought. But who am I to talk. I've been always been mistaken as a lost child. Taka wouldn't be good if I started teasing him about that.
"I ran away from home after my father kicked me out," he shrugged. That caught my attention. "I didn't want to go to school because I wanted to continue singing. He was really mad at me that time."
Right, Mel once mentioned he came from a family of singers. She must have told me a lot more but I barely listened to her so there's no doubt I don't remember.
"What?" I asked when I saw him gave me a small smile. Did I say anything subconsciously?
"You're not giving me that look," he said.
I don't know what he's talking about. I must have looked confused, too.
"Like I was a kicked puppy or something." he explained.
Was that how people who knew his story treated him? Looked at him with pity? He didn't need that. I do think he was brave. On the other hand, he was someone to look up to.
"Maybe because I understand," I said to him. That feeling of wanting to be free. Like a bird in a cage. It's easy to forget how to use its wings.
I did.
"I think that was really cool," I told him. He probably didn't know but not all people could do that. Run away and leave everything behind.
"You do? It's not as easy as you might think though," he sounded like some wise old man about to give the younger generation some life changing advice. "I lived with my grandma for a while. I also worked to earn money. I was in a band but things wasn't looking so good as I hoped," he said seriously.
"I know. That's why I think you're really amazing. You went through all that because you knew what you wanted," I wish I could do the same. Not regret my decisions because I knew I did everything I can.
"I guess I was lucky Toru found me," he said. "I was a piece of shit but because of him I became a cool shit."
"Well, that was quite a humungous transition," I said laughing. "By the way, Toru mentioned about HEADS once."
I remembered our little detour on top of the hill. I guess I got a bit crazy for a while, but at least now everyone's at peace. Toru sounded melancholic that time.
"Ah, Toru used to be in a hip hop group but they eventually disbanded. It was his idea to form a rock band," he paused thoughtfully. "He convinced Ryota, then invited Alex and Yuu. Tomo and I were the last to come into thw picture.
"Alex and Yuu?" I asked. I've never heard of their names before.
"Yuu was the drummer before Tomoya. He left the band to pursue an acting career and his parents didn't want their son to pursue that line of work," he said making a funny face. I think Yuu's more obedient than Taka.
"And Alex?" I asked. "What happened to him?"
"He was arrested for groping the leg of a twenty-one-year-old female student on a train and went back to the States," he said. "I think that was our lowest time. Ryota thought of quitting the bass to learn the guitar. We didn't think we could manage to add another member. Our tour was also cancelled. My whole world collapsed on me for the second time."
It must have been specially hard on him, I thought.
"Thank god Toru didn't lose his shit," he smiled. "Toru took Alex's place as lead guitar, and we re-arranged our songs to be played for one guitar. He had been our pillar of strength."
"You guys really like him, don't you?" I said. I thought of Ryota and how he told me the same things about Toru. I'll bet Tomoya feels the same way too. No doubt Mel loves these guys so much.
"Who wouldn't?" he replied.
He's right. Who wouldn't? Afterall, I think I'm beginning to like him, too.
