It was called Project Orfice. A group of bands from different agencies would be touring alongside each other. When we weren't touring we'd be living in the same building together, seems the higher-ups intended us to learn from one another and interact. And that would be fine and all... if those groups weren't delinquents. There were already four people there when we boarded it. The awkward atmosphere as we greeted them only to be met with silence and eyes that sized us up was suffocating. I flipped through the company profile sections the moment I sat down, to familiarize myself with the groups, most of these bands we're to travel with have been... well blacklisted. By blacklisted I mean they all have bad reputations. Similar to our group, these groups had one or more than one member that has either been sued, thrown into juvie, or a child that's been in and out of the foster care system. It reminded me of blacklist... he paired up his daughter with a group of problematic but ta

Their band name was Mange. A rather disgusting name for a band, but their music had a similar feel. The sound was electrifying, the sensation was akin to repulsion but oddly in an awe-striking way. I was walking by one of the practice rooms when I witnessed their performance one day. Tanjiro on guitar, a pair of dirty blonde-haired twins one with beauty marks on opposite sides looking symmetrical with an unexpectedly focused Shirai going away at drums. Its heavy-hitting sound was different once heard live, I felt goosebumps on my skin, I could feel the sound reverberating throughout my body, I felt dirty like I might drown in a pit of mud. This...was their sound? Tanjiro and the weird Shirai... as well as everyone else in their band... how extremely talented. Before I knew it my feet were rooted to the spot and I felt a fear creeping up in my throat. Why can't I perform this well? I play it correctly, I support the band but I feel as if I'm barely there... like something's not

To think they would keep it in the cafeteria... after lunch. I returned from our concert to replenish my fuel when I saw the group standing there and staring at passerbiers like abandoned puppies. Shirai-san's eyes lit up the second he saw me. "Fukuda-saaan!" I ate and watched them. "Why don't you try playing something?" "We did but no one paid much mind." (Akai) "Other bands are really disinterested in this huh?" (Hiro) As I sat there boredly watching their failed attempts an idea suddenly came up to mind. I got up and walked to the stage once I was done eating. Thankfully I was too tired to head back to my dorm and still had my guitar case with me. Tanjiro-san stepped away from the mike for me. "Hello, Empty audience and Cafeteria ladies," I greeted. "Today we'll be playing a game called...guess that beat!" "He totally just made that up just now didn't he?" I heard the others whispering. "The game is simple, if you know the song join in and play along once its your turn

Was that okay? In the end, it seemed like the songs felt misaligned story-wise but the crowd as in lunch ladies swallowed it up and applauded. Agawa's face twitched. "What's with this crowd? Ha..." "You have a problem with our cuties?" I asked him. "You've got to be kidding me." "Don't look down on them, they ride or die." Tanjiro chimed in. Agawa rolled his eyes. "I get it." He made a zipping gesture with his mouth. I didn't expect Banshee to drop in the next day but they did. Even if we didn't host any games or perform, we'd take turns giving each other a listen. "Kagami." That day we weren't doing anything really, everyone was on their phones. Tanjiro entered the lunch room scanning the area until his eyes fell on me. "What's up?" He pursed his lips, his eyes darting in the direction of his buddies. A cue he wished to speak in private. Sluggish from my burger, I climbed onto the stage and sat there cross-legged. No one noticed, and Tanjiro followed suit. "Whassup?" I

It was a day I knew would come but I never wanted to think of it. When I went downstairs for breakfast that morning, a bald-headed Japanese man was sipping on some coffee while looking over a tablet. My heart froze and shat shit all over my chest cavity. An invisible barrier had been erected that prevented me from proceeding. My lips glued shut and it took everything within me to think as my mind pulled a blank. In the end, the only thing I could think of was tiptoeing as quietly as possible back upstairs. I'm a ninja. A ninja. My relatives always told me I was creepy since I made no sound, randomly appearing out of nowhere. I am silence, I am stealth! Turns out I was a fraud. No, just a big fish in a pond. "Good Morning..." I was instantly spotted! My heart froze as I stiffly turned around. "Amara...was it?" He was looking at me, but he was wearing sunglasses. I couldn't read his expressions so the knob on my anxiety began to skyrocket. "Y-yes." A silence passed. "Ah!" I b