Alice closes the door on the April shower crawling through the skies over Mitakihara, giving the raindrops on her coat some time to sink in the rug underneath her feet before she steps into The Smile. She doesn’t usually come in through the main entrance, but she’s come to enjoy catching Tada in his usual spot at the bar, jumping and quickly pocketing his phone out of fear of Midori catching him slacking off on the job.

As she announces herself, this is exactly what happens, and she can’t help but chuckle when he damn near drops the device just as a high-pitched voice chirping “good job, Captain” leaves its speakers. After asking if he’s okay, she heads up to the stage, where her new band’s latest recruit appears to be hard at work setting up her gear on the stage. Hunched down with a rose gold Gibson Les Paul strapped to her back, Naomi is surrounded by a positively futuristic array of synthesizers, laptops and other electronic devices, fiddling with the wiring and pressing buttons like the pilot of a spaceship in a cheesy science fiction movie.

Alice: (she whistles) Didn’t expect you to drag an entire studio up on stage for a rehearsal, eh— It would’ve been fine if you’d just brought the guitar.

Naomi: (she is bending over one of the synthesizers to plug some thick, nylon-sleeved cables, each of them in a different bright color, into the back) Sophisticated art requires the finest craftsmanship, Emerald.

Kiyoshi: (slouched over behind his drum kit, he scoffs) You’re gonna be sorely disappointed when it turns out all I can do is hit skins with sticks, then.

Alice: (surprised to see Kiyoshi already geared up and ready to go, she meets his smarmy grin, then glances back at Naomi) Sounds like you two’ve gotten to know each other already?

Kiyoshi: Hey, I’m invested. I ain’t surprised you picked up another wayward soul, Rinju. Or are you forcin’ her to pay you back for saving her bacon when her drink got spiked? 

Alice: That’s just a coincidence. 

Kiyoshi: Sure, I’ll buy that for a dollar. (he tosses one of his drum sticks into the air and effortlessly catches it) You ask me, though, a band doesn’t really need two aloof misfits desperately tryin’ to get into the front girl’s good graces.

Naomi: That’s three, if you count Yui.

Kiyoshi: (he guffaws) Hah! We callin’ ourselves “Alice and the Doormats”, then? Great band name. (he raises his hand) Who’s with me?

Alice: We’re not calling ourselves that. (she rolls her eyes) And at least wait until Yui’s here before you hose her like that.

Naomi: Hey, we’re mostly hosing ourselves here. Just two bros, hosing. The burden of the hose is for the two — or three — of us to bear together.

Alice: (she replies sarcastically, as Kiyoshi fails to contain his laughter) Along with that torch you’re bearing for me, I’m sure.

Kiyoshi: Speaking of bearing a torch for ya, where’s the missus?

Alice: Yui’s gonna be a little bit late, eh. (she takes her spot at the centre of the stage and crouches down, checking the pedalboard someone’s already set up for her) There’s an… emergency at her work, but eh— 

Naomi: She’s got folks she can delegate that kinda stuff to, no?

Alice: … I mean, it’s kind of her responsibility—Shit. (a curse escapes her mouth when she notices the board won’t switch on) I’m sure it’ll be nothing major, she should be here any minute now. (she gets back up, gesturing at the PA guy) You should have a look at this, Tada. My gear’s not getting any juice.

Naomi: There may not be enough power to go around. My babies are hogging all of it.

Tada: (unaware of Naomi’s obvious joke, the beleaguered technician scuttles up the stage) T-That’s not how electricity works, sir… or, eh, ma’am.

Naomi: Yup. That’s my name. Sir Orehma’am of Mitakihara. 

Kiyoshi: Hey, Tada, where’s that beer I asked you to get me?

Alice: (she sighs, as if repeating a line for the umpteenth time) No booze on stage.

Naomi: And no hosing that poor PA guy!

Kiyoshi: You must be new here.

While Kiyoshi and Naomi bicker, Tada replaces one of the cables plugged into Alice’s pedalboard, finally bringing it to life when she hits the “on” switch. With a sigh of relief, she thanks the technician, before finally putting down her guitar case and beginning to get her instrument ready. At the same time, the front doors open again, Yui entering and uncharacteristically taking her time placing her rain sheltering coat and umbrella by the door, hung uncharacteristically neatly. She makes her way to the stage, bass guitar in its case over her shoulder.

Yui: Yo, sorry I’m late.

Naomi: Everything okay? You look like your pet ran off or something.

Kiyoshi: I mean, she’s right here.

Alice: Hilarious.

Yui: Some shit went down at work, that’s all. Won’t affect my playing, don’t worry. (She gets on the stage, pulling her bass out and making sure it’s ready to go)

Naomi: Well, as long as you’re sure. No need to carry that weight on your own, though, right?

Alice: Uh-huh.

Yui: (She gives a weak, somewhat unconvincing smile) Don’t worry about me, guys. Even if I’m not at 100%, I’m still tougher than most. You can count on me tonight. But uh, thanks. Really.

Naomi: No biggie. I can only imagine what it’s like going through something like that.

Kiyoshi: Like what? Lay off her, man. We don’t even know what this is about.

Alice: (she raises an eyebrow) No. We don’t.

Yui: (She casts a sidelong gaze, then plugs her bass in) Forget it. Let’s just focus up, guys. …I need a drink after this set, though.

Kiyoshi: Now you’re speaking my lang— (he suddenly falls silent as Midori saunters in, clearly in high spirits as she waves her phone around)

Midori: All hands on deck, folks! There’s very important matters to discuss— (barely managing to contain her laughter, she interrupts herself as she sees Naomi working on her station) Oh, hey! You’re the new Angel, I’m taking?

Alice: W-We’re, uh, not calling ourselves that anymore, Midori.

Midori: Well, you gotta call yourselves something alright. I gotta market this gig somehow and no one’s gonna show up for TAKTIKS vs., like, A Bunch of People Some of Which You Might Know and Some Of Which You Definitely Don’t.

Naomi: I’m Mitsunaga, by the way. Naomi Mitsunaga.

Alice: I’ll come up with something. Err, we will, I mean. This is our first rehearsal together, man, cut us some slack.

Midori: Oh, no no no, madame Rinju. You see, you’re playing in the big leagues now, if our good friend Suzukaze is to be believed. (she chuckles) He sent on some, eh, suggestions for the upcoming event. (she shows Alice her phone)

Alice: … (she reads the message Suzukaze sent Midori, raising an eyebrow) I’m not renting a suit.

Yui: (she scoffs) No fuckin’ way, man.

Midori: I know, right? And I’ll just have the entire stage moved so “the playing field is more even” and it’s all feng shui and shit—

Kiyoshi: Whatever, just tell him to fuck off.

Naomi: Wow, something tried to find its way up your colon and didn’t make it, huh?

Midori: No, seriously, in like — in all fairness, there’s probably some stuff in here we should discuss.

Yui: Yeah? We’re listenin’, Midori. (She hits a few notes and nods, somewhat satisfied)

Midori: Well, they’re not wrong about how we should probably have a think about what order you’ll be playing in. I’m not against this suggestion to have you guys play some kinda game or something over who gets to go first, or last, or whatever.

Alice: (she grimaces) … I wouldn’t mind a humble coin toss, y’know?

Yui: (Visibly shudders)

Midori: You’re not gonna make it far in the entertainment world if you insist on being allergic to a little fun and games, Alice!

Alice: … Rock, paper, scissors, then?

Naomi: Oh, I’m a real pro at rock, paper, scissors. Never lost a game, not even once.

Midori: I was thinking something more along the lines, like, of a trivia contest or something.

Kiyoshi: We playin’ music or we entertainin’ a bunch of preschoolers?

Midori: Hey, I’m always open to better suggestions, dude.

Kiyoshi: I’ll leave that up to the boss lady, then. I gotta go take a leak. (he gets up from behind his kit, dismissively throwing up his arms as he hops off the stage)

Yui: Uhh… who’s the boss lady again? It ain’t me… right?

Naomi: I don’t believe he is referring to anyone specifically. Just as long as it’s not him.

Alice: (she sighs) One sec.

Entrusting her guitar to Midori, Alice hurries off stage and follows Kiyoshi down the stairs, into the basement. As she opens the door to the men’s bathroom, she spots the drummer relieving himself at one of the urinals, and calls out to him.

Alice: Hey.

Kiyoshi: (he blinks a few times as if snapping out of a funk) Jesus. What the fuck. Can a guy have some privacy—

Alice: I thought you said this wasn’t preschool.

Kiyoshi: Uh… yeah? You don’t agree, or anything? Or hey, can this wait until after I’m done doing, you know, like, this intimate thing a guy generally gets to do away from the prying eyes of others?

Alice: (she crosses her arms, leaning against the closed door) If this isn’t preschool, then why’re you running away from a difficult conversation instead of—

Kiyoshi: Whatever, man, a guy’s gotta pee when a guy’s gotta pee.

Alice: There’s a couple of things you gotta do, now that you mention it.

Kiyoshi: (he sighs) Look, I’m not exactly the talking kinda type. I’m not lookin’ for drama, okay? Just tell me how to hit the skins with the sticks and I’ll do what you ask of me, that’s all I’m here for.

Alice: That’s not how it works, man. You gotta talk things out with Midori, not just for the band’s sake, I mean, I don’t even care how it affects the band, it’s just… I think she deserves it. It’s the only way you’ll be able to move on. You, plural.

Kiyoshi: (he sighs, again) … You’re not gonna go away until I promise you I’ll take care of it, are you?

Alice: Nope.

Kiyoshi: Fuckin’ hell…