The Kings: A Band's Tale

Japan and The Like [37]

The band was gathered in The Main Library, a large map of Japan spread out on the table. Uno Winter stood at the head of the group, gesturing to different cities with a pen while his blue hair reflected the sunlight streaming in from the windows. Lance Summer leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, while Angelo Jackson tapped a rhythm on the edge of the table with his drumsticks. Matt Spring was scrolling through a tablet, pulling up venue information, and Maury Miles, Lorenzo Shelby, and Sherwin Stewart were deep in discussion over potential dates.

"Alright, so Tokyo is a must," Uno said, tapping the map. "We can kick things off there. Maybe play at Budokan. It’s iconic, and it’ll set the tone for the rest of the tour."

Lance nodded, pushing his green hair back. "Makes sense. We’ll draw a huge crowd there. After Tokyo, we should hit Osaka. It’s another major city with a big music scene."

Angelo grinned, spinning one of his drumsticks. "Yeah, and I’ve been dying to try Osaka’s takoyaki. It’ll be a win-win."

Matt chuckled, swiping through his tablet. "Osaka’s got some great mid-sized venues too. We could go for a mix of big arenas and more intimate settings. Keep things fresh."

Maury leaned forward, his greyish hair catching the light. "What about Kyoto? It’s not as big, but it’s got a cultural vibe that could fit with our acoustic sets."

Sherwin nodded in agreement. "And then there’s Sapporo up north. We could schedule it around the snow festival if the timing works out."

Uno grinned. "That’s a great idea. We’ll freeze our fingers off, but it’ll be worth it."

Lorenzo pointed to the map, his brow furrowed. "Don’t forget about the smaller towns. Kannami’s not huge, but it’s got this charm that could draw a unique crowd. And Tsurui—imagine playing there with the cranes in the background."

Uno clapped Lorenzo on the back. "Good call, Lorenzo. We’ll add it to the list. This is shaping up nicely."

Behind him, Denise sat on a plush couch, her hands resting on her very pregnant belly. Her brown hair framed her face as she watched Uno animatedly lead the discussion. Her yellow eyes sparkled with pride as he effortlessly navigated the logistics with his bandmates. She chuckled softly to herself. Even in the middle of planning a massive tour, Uno had this magnetic energy that drew everyone in.

Suddenly, she felt a sharp kick. She gasped, her hand instinctively going to her belly. "Whoa, little ones, calm down in there!" she murmured with a laugh.

Uno immediately stopped mid-sentence, his instincts kicking in like the Road Runner screeching to a halt. He turned so fast that his green tuft of hair almost smacked Lance in the face. "Denise! Are you okay?" he asked, rushing over to her.

She giggled, shaking her head. "I’m fine, Uno. The boys are just practicing their moves early, I guess."

Uno dropped to his knees in front of her, his blue eyes wide with concern and excitement. "Kicks? I need to feel this." He placed his hands on her belly, his touch gentle, and then leaned in, pressing his head against her bump. "Alright, you two, let your dad in on the action."

As if on cue, another kick came, this time right where Uno’s head was resting. He gasped and pulled back slightly, his expression lighting up. "I felt it! That was amazing!" He turned to Denise, grinning ear to ear. "Did you feel that? They’re strong! Definitely gonna be athletes."

Denise laughed, her fingers brushing through his hair. "I did feel it, Uno. They’ve been active lately. Guess they’re excited about this Japan tour too."

Angelo called over from the table, his voice teasing. "Hey, Uno, if they’re this rowdy now, just imagine them in a few years. They’ll be running circles around you."