[ CH 2 ] Between You And Me, Kid; You Rock.

Ok…; so this is harder than I had already anticipated.

Togawa’s Log: Today is November 7th, 2064. I have spent the last few weeks trying to figure out my sound; just what kind of music should be on this EP (Since I decided against taking on a larger project quite quickly. Like, literally seconds after the first chapter ended.) 

This has led me to indulge in plenty of new, and old genres. It took me back to my junior high days when I discovered (the band you are thinking of, you genius), My favorite band of all time.

But, that was back when I was so sure of myself. Nowadays, I am heavily critical. Nothing may ever reach the heights of what I felt in my youth…, not unless I meld it with my own egotistical hands.

I only have my guitar and my computer, and of course my voice. Trust me when I say; with those three alone, I can do a lot of damage.

And believe me…, I have.

*Knock!* *Knock!* *Knock!*

There goes my hot landlord again.

“Mr Togawa…, Please explain to me why I am at your front door again…, for the third time this week. Don't you understand I have a noise ordinance- there are elderly people on this floor boyo?!” Mr. Ito explained rapidly, hot with anger.

Yes, He was hot alright, on account of his weight. The older man was marginally overweight for an obese man, and walking up to the third floor was quite an exertion of force, almost cosmic.

Ok, ok, I am sorry about the heavy jokes, but this gentleman and his cohorts hate me simply because I'm young, single, and look a bit off.

As my guitar straddled over my shoulder, I calmly responded ”Sir, I understand that you’re upset, but to be honest I’m not sure why as I’m using a practice amp; Really Mr. Ito, I mean i-” 

“Listen here boy, the deal is this…”

He got closer. Then look left and right. Then behind him. Then back to me. What he chose to say was:

“...I don’t really like you.”

[NARRATOR] The Truth!

  I was flabbergasted.

After being given one last warning, I decided to at least stop singing in the room from then on.

[NARRATOR] An obstacle stands in TOGAWA’s way; How will he bend around it?!

Togawa’s Log: It’s July 16th, 2065. As of now It has been nine months and 5500 hours that I have spent working on my EP. In truth, I’ve actually just been making demo after demo and messing around on the guitar. Every week I say I’ll start producing something, add some drums; but I can't stand to do it.

I found a job that aligns with my goal; a service job nearby a guitar shop. Every now and then after work I go in there and record my voice and practice some guitar. 

I feel I have improved as desperately as I had hoped, but honestly; It's starting to wear on me. When that happens, I do get a bit of a lift when I speak to my new friend from the guitar shop; an old man who likes to be called “Sammy” Shotaro, 

He happens to be the store owner, but I think he forgot about that long ago.

“So boy…, hmm? Hmm? What troubles you today? Is it your girlfriend?”

…Don’t get the wrong Idea, I didn’t tell the senile old man anything weird like that-

“You told me last time she's been wanting to get serious; have a child, though…In this economy? Why don’t you tell her to wait until you tie the knot?” He said as he started laughing heartily to his manager, the more meek Mr. Tanaka.

Mr. Tanaka looked at me with the edges of his small lips curled high up to his plumber ‘stache.

Oh no, he knows!

“Uh, err.., No sir, It's not that. Actually, If I’m being honest…, I’ve been feeling a bit lost lately.”

“Lost, huh? What, is it your eyesight? Or maybe the state of the economy; did I mention it's really bad right now I mean my God…!”

I was staring at him and Mr Tanaka, but honestly I just wasn't present.

Sammy got silent for a bit.

“Hmm, is that so…?” Sammy responded.

“You know, there is a lot that goes into that feeling; that of being lost. For most, to be lost; means one has a place they are meant to be, and perhaps that they are meant to be found…”

“And yet, young man, I’ll tell you what my best friend once told me; no one is coming to save you. Perhaps you are meant to be found somewhere, but if you haven’t been found standing in place where you are now…; move!”

“Move?” I responded as I subconsciously rolled my eyes.

“Yes, move! What are you doing right now that gives you a better chance of being found? Are you searching, are you asking the right questions? You must be doing something for you to ask an old man like me…”

“Well…, I’m..m..making an album. A sort of requiem to my youth?!” It was the first time I had told anyone.

…

“Haha! That was so random…!”

Turns out I had just told a few people as some high school girls walked in and I heard their laughter. Don’t ever confess your secrets in public. I do not recommend it. Seriously.

At least the old man's eyes lit up. 

“Well, what are you waiting for kid…let me hear it!”

“Hmm…I see. You have good instincts…The production is a bit off, but that's a style in itself…” Sammy waxed his beard as he spoke. 

“I can work with this kid! Between you and me; you rock!”

Togawa’s Log: My name is Hiroshi Togawa, and this is My Crib. 

To be serious, today I am in good spirits. I quit my job today. After two years of ups and downs, and thanks to the support of my good friend Mr. Shotaro; I’ve done it.

I have completed my album.

[NARRATOR] TOGAWA has completed the album!

Thank you. Thank you.

Thanks to Sammy’s nagging, I was able to check out some modern acts at livehouses in the area, and he also supported me with the production side of the project. This cultivated my already potent talents, and really pushed my passion to the brink. In the end, I spent 10600 hours working towards these six songs.

“r00kie is the solo project of one Hiroshi Togawa. ‘malcolm gladwell’s eiei fantasia’  It is a work that encapsulates a man’s struggle parting with the past, a past that won't let him live in the present due to its powerful draw.“

“If looking back to the past causes one to be lost in the present, then it only follows that one must solve the past. This is impossible for man, so the next best thing is to commemorate the past in order to part with it. That is the synthesis of this work”

That was the primer to my album on fundcamp. An album that only few would hear. And maybe only my friends and I would hear the album; but that too would be ok. Because I liked the songs, and I memorized each part to the point I can't help but sing along. There's a certain awesomeness like that to creating something; even if it's third rate.

And no one can take it away from you.

*Knock!* *Knock!* *Knock!*

My landlord must be steaming again. Excuse me as I go check on him. 

Man I'm so happy today, I don't even care If the old codger does evict me.

*Knock!* *Knock!* *Knock!*

“I'm Coming!” I responded.

He’s Home.

It’s ok, we have the go ahead, let's blow it down.

Those were not the voices of my Landlord. He only has one voice after all.

“Mr. Ito…?” I asked, one last time.

*Boom!*

Two foreign men in trenchcoats straight out of a mafia movie just broke through my apartment. What happens next you won't believe:

“Where is the drive, To-gawa.?” 

While one of them starts shaking me, the other begins dismantling my computer and breaking my monitors. My drawers, my bookshelf; my manga, all in disarray.

“WHERE IS IT!” The ransacker said as he circled back to me.

I began hyperventilating; and truthfully I was going to cry right there on the spot.

          “The drive…? What do you mean?” I answered.

          “The drive containing your album, Mr. To-gawa. Give it to us.” The dark skinned gentlemen stated sharply.

          I reached for my pocket, fumbled around my keys and put it out; my thumb drive.

          “He..here, take it just leave me alone…!” I cried.

          The gentleman yanked the drive out of my hands, and they swiftly left for the door, almost like a movie.

          I hate movies.

          “Mr To-gawa…” the foreign man said. “You must be very careful from here on out.”

Then the other one spoke before they swiftly left. But it was what he said that rang in my ear.

           “Between you and me, kid. You rock.” he said as he snickered horrendously.

I don’t think I will ever touch another guitar again.