Amara's Diary: When Nothing Free Ever Lasts

To keep this story short, my African American Mom married a rich Japanese man. "So? What do you think?" She stretched out her arms in front of our new house. This sort of perfectly fenced house with the family name mounted above the mailbox, I had seen these sort of middle-class homes a dozen times in anime. It was a surreal feeling. Something that belonged in a cartoon was right in front of me. "Are we... really living here?" Maybe it's because of the upscale wedding or the fact that her relationships never came this far but it felt as if I was dreaming. Instead of answering Mom lead the way into our completely empty house and introduced me to where my bedroom would be. It would seem... she already planned everything with Mr. Step-Father (or Step-Father-san, if you will, to be honest, I forgot his name already), the purpose for each and every room had already been decided. As I stood there, I could feel Mom watching me, waiting for a reaction. But I ignored her on purpose. I

She ignored me on our walk home as well, even though I made sure to keep up with her. Her whole being radiated negative energy that threatened to suck me in and obliterate me if I so even uttered a word that entered her subspace. It wasn't a pleasant feeling. I had seen her argue with her Mother before and it was scary. She was often quiet so I used to think she was timid, but a stronger personality ended up emerging out of nowhere. Today she had also surprised me in a different way. I was under the impression she was a reserved person... I didn't want to lose her. When I finally mustered the courage to say something she had already made it to her porch steps and closed the door with a quiet click. It was equivalent to someone chucking a glass of water. I felt cold and humiliated. Did she think I was a loser? She didn't even say goodbye... I walked home and as soon as I did Mom's eyes were twinkling. "Well? What song will you play for the audition?" "Huh?" A question sign h

"Huh?" The other numbers that walked in seemed just as surprised as me. For a brief second, time stopped. Did I fail? But I just got here! I could see myself leaving the building here seeing Amara's disappointed expression. That day at school, her twinkling brown eyes that dimmed into a soulless void. "You failed? Oh..." My very reality was on the verge of shattering into pieces. No. No. Amara wouldn't say that. *Even if by some chance those lovely people turn out to be dipshits and reject you Kagami, we can always turn to whotube!* But was that just her way of comforting me? "...have completely no sense of style for a rock artist. Your hairstyle and guitar are the only things that truly embody the spirit of rock. Let's hope your performance isn't as lacking." I heard only half of what she had said. My heart that had frozen and dropped slowly floated up to relief and irritation. "Stop intimidating the contestant, Ms. Yumena." A bald man wearing shades spoke calmly, he look

A welcoming ceremony was held in the company's concert hall. New Trainees pooled inside. There was only a handful of us, which was surprising. I didn't think many would be given the golden pass, you know... From the way, it looks there are enough people to tell me five bands or more (+)were accepted. Eh? Where's Kenichi-san? Ehhh, did he not make it in? I wonder if he wasn't able to perform so well... We never found each other in the end after the audition, so maybe he didn't pass? However, once the lights dimmed and I fixed my attention on stage, I saw him there. As the drummer started off with the drum, eh?! Wait a second it's Satoshi-san! With Renjiro on bass, Kenichi on guitar, and a woman I didn't recognize was also playing the keyboard, she seemed young... was she an auditioner like Kenichi-san as well? Lorraine was standing in front of the mike.

"Hello!" I greeted the others who were already waiting for me inside the studio with a big smile. Though my mind was somewhat distracted by Amara's reaction earlier. Was that weird of me?   "The heck do we all have to gather here again for?! I haven't even eaten!" Akemi-san had complaints about my random summoning.   "Well, don't you think we should get started as soon as possible?" I politely smiled.   "Oh," Being the gentleman that he is, Hagihara-san, the bald drummer came to help me carry in my items. I found it somehow intriguing how the person in the band with the most intimidating appearance turned out to be the most well-mannered and easy to get along with.   Agawa-san the foreigner-looking bassist must've smelled the food because he suddenly ejected himself from the sofa to the studio's center table.   "So you're not as empty-headed as you seem, you brought food for us?"