Former Band Members - Ryo

Hiro cried out on his shoulder. “Why did I have to meet her?”

It had been a long time since Ryo had seen Hiro this miserable. But last time had also been because of Shiraki. He had apparently seen her with some other guy about ten years ago and he had been the same way back then.

“Will you ever tell her that you miss her?” Ryo chuckled to himself. He already knew the answer to that.

“No. She doesn’t care about me anymore.” He threw his weight backwards, making Ryo stumble to stay upright. “I messed up, man.”

“You were a kid. Do you really think she haven’t forgiven you by now?” He carefully put his friend down on a bench.

“Does it seem that way to you? She stared me down. Didn’t you see that?” Shiraki had looked at Hiro a lot during the day, but it seemed more like she was as much over her own feelings as Hiro was. Ryo should speak to Aki about them. Could whatever happened in their childhood really be so bad that it kept them apart forever?

“She hates me, Ryo.” Hiro threw his balance again. “I thought I could ignore it, but I can’t. Not when I see her.”

“What about your new girlfriend. Do you think it’s fair to her that you’re obsessed by your person?” If he was to get Hiro home tonight, he needed to chance the topic.

“You don’t know this, because you don’t have a person, but it’s kind of hard to not be obsessed by the person you were meant to be with.” He laid down on the bench. “But you’re right. Maybe I should break up with her. It’s not like we’re any serious anyway.”

“That’s not what I meant.” Ryo sighed. Drunk Hiro was hopeless. And what’s worse was that he would forget everything when he woke up. “Besides, I have a person. Or at least I am someone’s person.” He sat down on the bench beside his friend. Thoughts of the last few days filled his mind. She really did want him.

“Who? Hiraoka?” Hiro sat up. “Man, I did not see that coming.” He shook his head. “And what do you mean? She has your dreams?” He shook his head again. “Poor girl.”

“Yeah. I wish she didn’t have to see those.” He scratched the back of his head. There wasn’t anything there anymore, but feeling the lack of the travel device still brought him a bit of comfort.

“Just stop having them.” Hiro leaned against his shoulder. “When I and Kumi used to sleep together, the dreams would be nothing but pleasant. You should try it.”

Was that a thing? Thinking back, he didn’t remember having the nightmares last night, when she had been in his arms. And the night before had been a mild memory. Maybe there was some truth to it.

“Her being friends with Kumi is a pain though.” Hiro mumbled. “I still love her, you know.”

“I know.” Ryo sat still. When he looked over, Hiro had fallen asleep. “About time,” he chuckled. He carefully stood up and picked his friend up in his arms. “Let’s get you home.”

“Ryo?” Chiko opened the door. That was a relief. “Did he drink too much again?”

“Yeah. And he met his person.” Ryo kicked his shoes off by the entrance. “So it’s bad.”

“I’ll get some water for him.” Chiko ran a hand through his hair. It was green now. It suited him better than the blue he had a few days ago. “You know where his room is.”

“Thank you.”

It felt weird to be in the house he had called home for years, but knowing that he didn’t live there anymore. It was bittersweet.

“Here.” Chico arrived with a bottle of water and a glass of strawberry milk. “How are you holding up by the way? I heard you found a new place.”

“Yeah. Thankfully.” He chuckled. Chiko had voted for the new songs that led to Ryo leaving. But he knew Chiko’s goal was money. His little sister was sick and his goal had always been to be able to spoil her. So Ryo couldn’t blame him.

“I’m sorry you had to leave, by the way.” Chiko put the glass of water down at Hiro’s bedside table.

“I don’t blame you. The new producer means more money, doesn’t it?” He patted the drummer’s shoulder. “Besides, I was out of it for months. It only makes sense.”

He relaxed. “I’m thinking of quitting.”

“What?!” Ryo couldn’t believe it. Chiko may not have been an official member through out the years, but he had been there from the beginning. Stepping in when different drummers bailed on them. “Why?”

“It’s not the same without you. Saturo is tripping from taking over as band leader and the new songs are nowhere near as fun to play.” He sank down on the floor. “I’m sorry for kicking you out.”

“But what about your sister?” Ryo took a sip from the glass of strawberry milk. “Weren’t you going to be a cool famous rock-star for her?”

Chiko burst out laughing. “You see, that’s another issue. She also liked your songs more.”

“She did?” Ryo had never thought about it but knowing that a ten year old girl liked his songs more than some big name producer’s made him proud. And he had only met her once.

“She yelled at me when I told her you left.” He chuckled. “Eriko did too.”

“Your brother?” Chiko didn’t speak about his brother often. All Ryo knew about him was that they were twins and that the only thing they had in common was their love for their sister.

“Yeah. He practically chewed me out.” Chiko sighed. “He called me a disgrace and bad friend. He hasn’t spoken to me since.”

“It’s been less than a week. When did you speak to him?” Ryo couldn’t help but laugh. Chiko made it seem like he had been out of the band for years.

“Oh, I told him before you moved out.” Chiko shrugged. “So he hasn’t talked to me in about a week.”

Ryo was about to ask why Chiko hadn’t said anything before he moved out, but he was interrupted by the vibration in his pocket.

“Where are you?” Aki’s voice was somehow too calm. Like she was holding herself back.

“I’m at the band house. I just put Hiro in bed.” His eyes wandered between the two band-mates. “What’s going on?”

“You need to get over here. Now.” Her voice cracked a little.

“Coming.” She probably hadn’t listened to him, because as soon as the word was out, she hung up.

He turned to Chiko. “I need to go. Will you keep an eye on Hiro?”

“Where are you going?” Ryo had almost forgotten that Chiko was a worrying type.

“The time building.”

“Masaichi!” He called and the man instantly appeared by the door. “I’ll go with Ryo to the time building. Hiro’s drunk.”

“Got it.” The guitar player nodded. He never was much for words but he and Chiko always seemed close. “I hope he’ll talk to you.”

Chiko grabbed Ryo’s wrist and dragged him to the door.

“Why are you coming?” Ryo caught himself staring at the man.

“Because it seems serious and my brother is a workaholic who is probably in that building right now.”