Enjoy Things While We Can

Lively Setting

The competition soon kicked off without a hitch. The contestants' morale was high, eager to perform on stage in front of a wide audience that consists mainly of their fellow competitors, family and friends. But, there were also interesting guests amongst the sea of spectators. There were managers from famous record labels and smaller ones, eager to find their next big investment.

Amongst the crowd, there stood an elegant dressed man with short greyish hair, holding onto an elegant class walking stick by his leg. Mr. Adam was here representing his record label, 'Gunn Records'. He glanced at his wrist watch to see that it was almost time for the second contestant to perform. The first band's performance was quite mediocre for his standards so he didn't care to even remember the band's name. Soon, the second contestant began their performance and Mr. Adam kept his eyes on them.

Beside Mr. Adam, stood a stylish-dressed man in a black and white leaf patterned dress shirt. His sleeves were rolled up to his forearms, revealing a series of tattoos. Either the tattoos are re-telling of an fearsome tale or it was his personal taste. He stood with his arms crossed over his chest as he spectates the competition with an eager smile, awaiting a band that would catch his eye. The first performance was a great effort but didn't live up to his expectations either.

Mr. Adam noticed the man standing next to him and decided to make small talk with him. He felt bored of the second band's performance so he decided to delve into the activity of mingling with people. Mr. Adam turned towards the smiling man and introduced himself.

"Who might you be, young man? I'm the owner of 'Gunn Records', Adam Hadler," Mr. Adam introduced himself, putting a hand out for the man to shake.

The man glanced at him then turned to phase him. He grabbed Mr. Adam's hand and gave it a firm shake.

"Wonderful to meet you, Mr. Adler. I'm no one really. I'm merely here at my own leisure, nothing to do at home you know?," the man chuckled.

"I see. Well, I've introduced myself. Would you care to introduce yours?," Mr. Adam coaxed.

"Well, if you insist, my name is Jun. You can call me Jun," Jun introduced himself.

Jun placed his hands in his hands in his pockets after Mr. Adler nodded in acknowledgment. The men tuned their eyes towards the stage after the announcer announced that the second band on the list was ready to begin.

"Jessieeee, I wanna go to the bathroommmm!," Cherry whined, grabbing onto Jessie's arm and shaking her a little.

"C-Calm down, C-Cherry," Jessies stammered.

"Cherry, shush. Don't cause a commotion!," Ranni whispered harshly from the seat behin Cherry.

"I guess it's time for a bathroom break, I'll follow you," Hua Fang said, combing her fingers through her long straight hair.

Carter counted how many bands took turn and realized that 'The Black Panthers' would perform after another band.

"Maybe, all the 'Black Panthers' should get ready cause it's your turn after another band," Carter suggested.

Farihin glanced down at the paper he was holding and saw that their turn was indeed coming up soon. He tried to get up from his seat slowly before he felt a soft hand touched his. He looked over to his right to see Kokomi touching his hand.

"If you get up now, you'll divert the audiences' gaze upon yourself. You don't want that now, no?," Kokomi softly reasoned.

Farihin shook his head and sat back down on his seat. Kokomi placed her hand back on her lap with a smile and then turned her attention back towards the performing band. The others who wanted to use the rest room, agreed with her reasoning and fell silent. Hua Fang checked the time in her phone and concluded that there was indeed only 3 minutes left before the current band finishes their set list.

Carter could listen to Kokomi's her soft voice everyday like a lullaby lulling him to sleep. He had no chance of experiencing the lively aspect of a live performance because of his fated predicament. After practicing with a band who's specialty is live music, he knew the aspect very well. It was showmanship. Showmanship carries the feelings and energy of a band onto it's audience. That's The Clockworks understanding of it, he followed because he understood why.

Ever since he decided to join a band, his life has been nothing but joy and hardship. The practice session weren't held everyday so they had to make it count every minute they spend. Practice wasn't the only thing to make a band's worth, its the feelings and creativity portrayed which gives a band a certain look of uniqueness to draw in an audience. The songs that were written must be either whimsical, a good beat or just simply relatable to one's heart. It didn't matter if your lyrics are on repeat, as long as it's meaningful, it'll do wonders to person's thoughts and inner conflicts.

Those were the things that Carter learned during his time with the band. He remembered the conversations the band members would have to encourage and motivate themselves and what's the purpose they were even pursuing the life as an artist. Most the members were merely doing it just for fun or to gain experience outside their field of knowledge. That's what being in a band was supposed to be all about.

Carter haven't found his purpose in pursuing this path yet, he simply found it fun to be surrounded by people who share his interest in music.

'Heh, more like obsession,' Carter chuckled in his mind.

These inner thoughts kept him at bay from falling a sleep. He would usually have these deeper thoughts when he analyzed his conversations and his realizations. Sometimes, it will interrupt him from living in reality when speaking to someone. So he decided not to think about anything too deeply when he's conversing with someone.

'It'll only raise concern,' he said in his head.

After a few minutes, Kokomi felt a light mass fell on her shoulder. She glanced to her right to see that Carter had casually fallen asleep on her shoulder. His dirty blond hair had been tussled around as he soundly slumbers. She smiled and adjusted her figure so that he could sleep more comfortably. Kokomi then continued to stare at the live band with a small smile, knowing in her heart that this was confirmation that Carter had fully put his trust in her through a simple gesture. She could be wrong but that was what she decided to believe in.

Kokomi had grown fond of Carter over the pass 2 weeks, treating him as if he was her own child. She treated her band members the same as well. Acting like a mother figure to them, making them home-cooked meals every band practice session, trying her best to give advice when needed and keeping Nahida from plucking her hair out in clumps. A close bond had form of the two, a bond that they wish to continue as long as it has to.

She wondered what would happen of them if they were indeed chosen to represent their state in another competition or even be called to perform in an overseas music festival. Would they have time to have practice sessions? Will all the members have time to attend? Would the venue of the place interfere with their budget costs?

Thinking about these scenarios made Kokomi reluctant to participate in future competitions. She didn't want to see her friends fall into hardship. But 'what is a goal without hardship?' She recalled one of her older brothers, Jun used tell her that when she came crying to him after she was scolded by her band leader during practice sessions. She smiled to herself at the small but impactful memory which had changed her views in life.

"I should stop with these negative thoughts. I should embrace the change, whatever change that is. The band will go on. I promised, Jun and Kazuma. I shall not break that promise yet," She said in her mind determinedly.

The competition was getting heated as the bands face off each other. Soon the first half of the participants had finished their turn.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, the first half of our exciting competition had come to an end. The participants were spectacular, don't cha think? Well then, now lets take a long well deserved break and we'll begin our second part immediately after that. Good luck second part participants!," the announcer announced.