Kiyoshi Tanemura drops his cigarette and extinguishes it with his foot as he approaches the backstage entrance to The Smile, before noticing a black van parked right in front of it, accompanied by two middle-aged men offloading pieces of a drum kit and bringing them inside. As one of the workers tosses the other one a bag, a flamboyant young man emerges from the backstage entrance, yelling out in a thick Nagoya accent.

???: Hey, hey! D’you gophers have any idea how much that shit’s worth? You wanna play rough, I can show you rough, damnit!

The men shrug their shoulders in disbelief at the scene their employer is causing, and continue working, while Kiyoshi walks up to the entrance.

Kiyoshi: Bag of cables can take a couple of hits, dude. Don’t worry. Folks here know what they’re doin’. (he looks up at the roadies, raising a hand at one of them in greeting — they seem to know each other)

???: Look, “dude”. This isn’t the kind of equipment this kinda venue usually ge—(as the man turns around, he recognizes Kiyoshi and immediately switches to a more suave tone of voice) Oh, well, would you look at that. Long time no see, man.

Kiyoshi: … Remind me again?

Suzukaze: Suzukaze? From TAKTIKS? You and that girl Nakae were a great opening act for us that time at Yozakeira. We’ve been keeping a close eye on you since.

Kiyoshi: Well, good to hear at least someone seems to think we were a good fit.

Suzukaze: (his eyebrow twitches) Hmm, well, I suppose you could say a festival that size isn’t exactly the right audience for… whatever it is Sugartits do. That kind of raw, visceral performance art isn’t exactly for mainstream audiences.

Kiyoshi: (flatly) Uh-huh.

Suzukaze: I’m sure one day people will come to appreciate your unique sound, though. I mean, I remember TAKTIKS getting boo’d and called “pretentious wankers” and look at us now, freshly signed to a major label. The next single we’ve got in the pipeline’s been chosen to be the theme song for an upcoming anime. I’m not really into that kinda stuff, but I’ve heard it is based on a light novel that is quite popular—

Kiyoshi: Sure, man. (he puts a hand on Suzukaze’s shoulder to get him out of the way so he can enter) I’ll let Shiori know we’ve got your blessing next time I go an’ visit her grave.

Suzukaze: Oh… (he looks dejected, though more for being exposed than out of any actual compassion) Oh, I’m… sorry for your loss.

Kiyoshi: Yeah, I’m sorry too, man. Whateve— (as he opens the door, a head of bright ginger hair bumps straight into his chest)

Midori: Come on, folks, we haven’t got all d—Mmph!

Kiyoshi: (paralyzed for a few seconds and Midori regains her bearings, he instinctively takes a few steps back) S-Sorry, I—

Midori: Oof, ow… (she rubs her face and eyes, seemingly to massage out the impact) No, m-my bad, I wasn’t looking… Oh! Hey there, Kiyoshi.

Kiyoshi: … Hey. I’m, eh—

Midori: You know you can just come in through the front, right? Sorry, backstage’s a mess, cos those Tic Tacs guys are playing tonight, so they’re getting all of their gear in order.

Suzukaze: Excuse me, it’s TAKTIKS—

Kiyoshi: Uh, yeah, no, I mean, I was just here for a rehearsal. Alice texted me saying she’d found someone she’d like to try out with, but if the stage’s occupied, I’ll just tell her we’ll rehearse at my place, no worries—

Midori: My bad, I should’ve let you guys know, but it was all a bit last-minute and sudden, so—

Kiyoshi: N-No problem, I’ll just, eh, I’ll figure something out. 

Midori: Hey, are you okay, dude?

Kiyoshi: Yeah. Eh, no. I dunno. Maybe I’ve had too much to drink.

Midori: At five AM on a Wednesday?

Kiyoshi: Yeah, eh, I need help. Probably. B-But not from you! I mean, professional help. You can still help me with… other things. Maybe. Someday.

Midori: S-Sure… 

Kiyoshi: See you around, then.

Kiyoshi turns and leaves, producing his phone from his pocket to look busy. As fast as he can, he disappears out of sight, although Midori sees him off with a worried frown.

Midori: … I hope everything’s alright.

Suzukaze: Maybe he’s just starstruck ‘cause he just met his big idol, y’know?

Midori: Uh-huh… yeah. That must be it.