Chapter 1:
THE ECHO OF SHIBUYA
NEXUS: The Genius and the Legends
Tokyo, Wednesday, 7:30 PM
Tokyo was as colorful as ever, with neon signs and giant billboards lighting up the streets. People rushed back and forth, completely ignoring their surroundings, carrying that classic vibe of a metropolis that never sleeps. The noise of Shibuya always felt like a solid wall. After six months here, I still couldn't get used to being just an invisible silhouette blended into the neon light.
But… have I actually gotten any better during this time? Has anything changed since I arrived? Have I taken at least the first step toward achieving my dream? Will I ever make it?
There I was, drowning in a sea of questions. My eyes were glued to my phone, and my headphones rested around my shoulders like a piece of armor to block out the world. I was just another ghost fading into the city lights.I was waiting for Gumi. Or rather, the "Legend" who had decided to swap packed stadiums for my guitar chords. I checked the time on my phone for the tenth time. She was running late for our planned night out. With my music still playing softly, I waited at our usual spot.
—I wonder where Gumi-san is. She’s taking longer than usual. Well, I can't blame her. She probably had something to take care of first.
Suddenly, the hurried footsteps of a girl caught the attention of everyone around. She had green hair, matching green eyes, bright orange goggles resting on her head, and a flashy pop-idol outfit. People stopped in their tracks, watching her pass by in absolute awe.
—Oh no! I'm so late. I hope Victor-san is still waiting for me. I didn't even text him to say I'd be delayed. I need to get there right now, it's just a couple more blocks!
—Just a little further… I hope he's right around the corner.As she turned the corner, she saw him. He was staring down at his phone, wearing his custom neon-green headphones, looking as carefree as always.
—Heyyy! Victor-san… Helloooo… I'm finally here!
Hearing her voice, I looked up. Her emerald-green eyes were locked onto me, her hand waving through the air with a sweet smile. I had always loved her sense of style.
The people around us stared in shock, whispering to each other.I smiled back at her.—Oh, Gumi-san! You made it! I was starting to think you wouldn't show up.
—Don't say that, Victor-san! You know I'd never ditch you, I just got held up. Sorry to keep you waiting, but I'm all yours now!
Gumi said, giving me a playful wink.
—So, what's the plan for tonight? I have a feeling it's going to be a great night! What are we doing first?
—Well, now that you mention it, I didn't really plan anything. But we could head to the café for some dessert first. I heard they have a new hazelnut and chocolate coffee with cinnamon. Plus, a new cake flavor: carrot cake with double white hazelnut cream.
—Oh, wow! That cake sounds amazing, I want to try it right now. Let's go, the night is still young!
She grabbed my arm as we walked through the busy streets of Tokyo, heading toward our usual café. We talked along the way.
—Hey, Victor-san, can I ask you something?
—Yeah, sure.
—Why do you always act so relaxed? I mean, I love that about you—it makes you seem wild, like a fun challenge. But aren't you worried about just walking around like this? Someone might recognize you now, and it could cause a bit of a scene.
I knew exactly what Gumi meant. In the music industry, idols, J-pop/J-rock bands, and legends always attracted cameras and fans wherever they went.
—Uh, honestly? Not really. Compared to you, I'm still someone who stays out of the spotlight. Sure, I stood out during our last few gigs, and the videos went viral, but that’s mostly because you were singing next to me. Next to you or the others, I'm still just a guy who blends into the background.
—A guy who blends into the background? Haha, that is so you! Well, you might be right for now, but that can change in a heartbeat. With your talent, your music will be playing everywhere soon. You'll grab the attention of tons of fans, and not just them—other musicians, bands, and legends too.
I turned to look at her as she spoke. We had played a few gigs together over the last three months, and people were starting to notice me on stage. Sometimes, fans would even ask me to sign their guitars or a Gumi poster. But I always figured they did it because of her, not me.
—Remember what you told me the night we met? You said you wanted to reach the top. And these past three months playing together on small stages prove you can climb the ladder fast. Your name is going to get big. I don't want to scare you, but if fans see you on the street, they’ll crowd around and overwhelm you with questions. You should be more careful about showing your face. A musical genius like you doesn't come around every day.
Her words always triggered a battle in my mind. Part of me felt I wasn't good enough as a musician, but whenever she talked about me like that, my confidence rushed back.
—You're right. We've done several shows these past three months where people noticed me. Actually, before you got here, I was checking Twitter and Niconico on my phone and saw a post that was starting to trend. It already had hundreds of retweets: 'A new talent discovered by the idol Gumi! Who is this mystery man making his guitar roar next to the "Legend"? Is he a prodigy? He's not from Japan, so where did he come from?'
—It doesn't bother me at all, though. It's all part of the journey to the top, right?
I scratched my head, a goofy grin forming on my face.
—I'll be more careful from now on, Gumi-san, even if being cautious isn't really my thing.Gumi looked up at my awkward expression after switching from my serious face.
—Haha! I know it's not your thing, and it's going to be tough for you, but you have to try. By the way, have you thought about what I told you at the end of our last show?
—About starting a band? Yeah, I've been thinking about it, and I like the idea. But right now, it's just the two of us. Where are we going to find other members?
—Well, I've been thinking about that too, and I've already made a few phone calls to look for people. I don't know if they'll join us yet, but I'll tell you all about it after I get my dessert. Tonight, you're paying!
We arrived at our favorite café, called "Sweet Escape" The owner and the waiters already knew us well, treating us kindly whether we were famous idols and musicians or just two ordinary teens. They had the best coffee and desserts in Tokyo.
—Welcome! Oh, what a wonderful surprise! Victor-sama, Gumi-sama, it's been a while since your last visit. Right this way, please, we'll take care of you immediately
The café owner said, leading us to a table by the window. He then asked
—I take it you both were very busy this past month?
Gumi got comfortable in her seat and sighed.
—Yes, we had shows in Kyoto, Sendai, and then Osaka. Ahh, traveling around is so exhausting
She replied, stretching her arms back.
—But we're finally back!
She leaned over the table, bursting with energy and excitement.
—Hey, Kondo-san! Victor-san told me you have a new carrot dessert! I'm so excited to try it!
I settled into my chair too, placing a reassuring hand on Gumi's shoulder to calm her down.
—Kondo-san, could I get the new hazelnut and chocolate coffee with cinnamon? And for Gumi-san, the carrot cake with double white hazelnut cream. As you can see, she's practically dying to try it.
I said with a smile, looking at Gumi, who was acting like a little kid.
—We'll get that ready right away! Excuse me
Kondo replied warmly.
While we waited for our coffee and cake, we went back to our conversation about forming a band. Gumi had first brought it up right after our show in Kyoto. Back then, I thought it was just casual talk fueled by the excitement of the moment. But bringing it up again meant she was completely serious about making it happen.
—Hey, Gumi-san, do you really want us to start a band? I don't dislike the idea, I just want to be sure. Someone like you can easily book the biggest stages without needing a group.
Gumi narrowed her eyes at my question.
—What do you mean by 'someone like me'?
—You know what I mean. You're world-famous. You can stand on huge stages all on your own. Any agency or manager would jump at the chance to get you a gig anywhere. To be honest, it surprises me that you walked away from all of that just to tag along with me. I haven't brought it up before because I never understood why you dropped everything to start this adventure with me.
She took off her goggles to fix her hair.
—Hmm, I guess I just got tired of everything being so safe and easy. Everyone did exactly what I asked, and I never took 'no' for an answer. If I wanted a concert in Shibuya, they got it for me. If I wanted to perform somewhere in Europe, they pulled the strings to make it happen. Plus, I like the idea of climbing to the top together with you. That’s what you told me that night, remember? That you didn't want to ride my coattails to fame. So, I decided I would start from scratch with you, without using my idol privileges or contacts. It’s always been just me. Most people only know me as Miku's rival. That’s why, when I met you, I loved the idea of having someone by my side so the stage wouldn't feel so empty. Now that we're thinking about forming a band, the idea of reaching the top with even more people excites me even more.
I sighed and ran my hands through my hair at her response.
—I see. So that was it. I worry that I might make people forget about your career. Months ago, you told me I must be the biggest idiot alive for thinking the way I do. But hearing your reason for leaving those massive stages tells me you're just like me!
I let out a small smile, and she turned to look at me.
—Doing something like this—a gamble with no safety net, where everything could go completely wrong. You're definitely unusual, Gumi-san.
She gave my shoulder a playful punch and smiled.
—That’s what makes it fun! If you already know how the story ends, it gets boring. Not knowing what lies ahead is what makes it exciting, don't you think?
Our food arrived, and we dug in. The look on Gumi's face when she tasted the new carrot dessert was incredibly sweet! She looked like a kid tasting chocolate for the very first time. I smiled as I sipped my coffee; she made that exact same face every time she tried a new cake flavor.
Kondo walked over, looking happy.
—It looks like you're both enjoying it! Do you like the new flavors, Victor-sama, Gumi-sama? The expressions on your faces say it all! Could we take a quick picture to promote the new menu items on our social media?
She pushed her plate aside the moment he mentioned a picture. "Victor-san, say yes! I want a keepsake photo!
I nodded, closing my eyes with a smile.
—Of course, Kondo-san. They're delicious! Go ahead and take the photo.
She leaned in closer to me, wanting to capture a natural, happy moment.
—Alright, one, two… say carrot!
Click!
—Perfect! Thank you both for your help.
Kondo took the photo and uploaded it to his page to promote the café's new treats, tagging it with #GumiSweet&VictorScape. While we were still sitting in the café, things online went absolutely crazy. The internet users who had attended our shows were always watching for any updates or mentions of us. Gumi's fans were also waiting for her to post, so when they saw that picture of us, things escalated incredibly fast.
About 30 minutes after the photo went up, a crowd of 20 to 25 fans rushed through the café doors.
—There they are! Oh my god, they're really here! Gumi-san and Victor-san! This is amazing!
They swarmed our table, crowding around to bombard us with questions and snap pictures.Dealing with questions was definitely not my strong suit. It made me deeply uncomfortable because I was constantly terrified that someone would ask an invasive question about my past, criticize my guitar playing, or judge where I came from.
"Are they going to ask what my relationship with her is? Will they say, "Why is the great Gumi hanging out with a nobody street guitarist?" 'Who does this guy think he is, acting so familiar with her?"
Ever since I arrived in Japan, I had noticed these dark feelings brewing inside me. But in the end, they were useless—completely irrelevant to anyone else. Except to me. I know it's selfish to look for understanding, but I want to be perfect. Maybe then I could stop being afraid, and just for a moment… I could be someone she could look up to.
My feet grew restless, and I started tapping a rhythmic beat against the floor. My hands began to shake, so I hid them inside my jacket pockets. A cold sweat broke out across the back of my neck, and the café felt like it was shrinking. It seemed like the fans were closing in way too tight.Even though I looked calm on the outside, I was panicking internally.
—Calm down! Nothing bad is going to happen, everything will be fine
Gumi whispered, squeezing my hand tightly under the table.
—We’ll handle this together, I’m right here. This is something you’ll have to get used to from now on—like I said, your name isn't going to stay hidden forever. If I see things getting out of hand, I’ll stop it immediately.
("His hands are freezing. I hope this ends well. I know him, and during our last few shows, whenever people asked him questions, he got incredibly tense and nervous, completely shutting down. But this time has to be different. Come on, Victor! You have to push past this hurdle.")
I swallowed hard and gave a slight nod.
The fans didn't waste a single second, shouting questions and begging for autographs. Gumi waved at them with her free hand, forcing a bright smile.
—Hi everyone! How are you all doing?
—Hi! Gumi-san, would you please sign my poster? I'm a huge fan and I absolutely love your voice!
—Gumi-san, where have you been all this time? Is there something going on between you and Victor-san?
—Hey! Victor-san, could you sign my guitar? You're amazing when you play!
—That song you played in Sendai was incredible! How did you pull that off, Victor-san?
—Do you have any tips for a beginner guitarist, Victor-san?
I stayed frozen, unable to answer a single question or sign a single autograph. Seeing my intense gaze and my shaking hands, Gumi decided to call it a day.
—Guys! We really appreciate your love and support. But as you can see, Victor-san and I are just trying to relax and enjoy some dessert after being out of town for a while. We’d really appreciate it if you could give us some space to rest.
Kondo was also trying to calm the crowd inside the café, attempting to push them back to give us some breathing room.
Suddenly, my brain went into full defense mode, causing me to hallucinate in real-time.
Gumi and Kondo's voices began to fade, drowning beneath a sharp, high-pitched ringing that started deep inside my ears. The buzzing grew rapidly—thick, heavy, and electric—smothering the noise of the café until it sounded like a distant echo, as if I were trapped underwater. I tried to focus my vision, but the ceiling lights flashed with an unrealistic, jarring violence. The warm light stretched into sharp, blinding white streaks that hurt my eyes, distorting the shapes of the people around me. The air turned thick, hot, and impossible to breathe.
Then, the ringing stopped instantly, and a terrifying clarity flooded the room. The lights no longer flashed; they froze over the faces of the crowd.
No one was backing away. Instead, everyone was pointing and laughing at me. Their mouths twisted into ugly, mocking sneers, letting out harsh, piercing laughter that bounced off the walls. Horrified, I whipped my head toward Gumi, desperate for an anchor, but she wasn't holding my hand anymore. She was laughing hysterically, joining her voice with the mocking chorus of fans while looking down at me with pure disgust. A few steps away, Kondo held up his cell phone, staring at me coldly as he muttered.
—What a pathetic sight. I'm deleting that photo from my page right now.
The floor felt like it collapsed beneath my chair. In the blink of an eye, the laughter vanished completely. The lights snapped off all at once, swallowing the faces, the café, and Gumi. Everyone drifted away into nothingness, leaving me floating in absolute darkness, trapped alone with the echoing beat of my own pulse.
Author's Note: Thank you for reading the first chapter of NEXUS! 🎸 What did you think of Victor's musical journey and his sudden panic attack? If you enjoyed the story, please leave a comment and add it to your library. Your support helps the story grow! See you in the next chapter!
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