Arena Națională, Bucharest, Romania
October 17, 2020
The International 10 Grand Finals
The arena was on their feet as they witness the beginning and what they didn't know, it also marks the end of one of the greatest dynasties in competitive music history.
Host 1: 2 years ago, they created a miracle!! Last year, they silenced all the doubters!! Now we can say, they are THE band!! They are now, the greatest band of all time in competitive music history!! OG!! Your TI10 champions!!!!!
Cheers can be heard around the arena as he announced the won TI, the 5 men who has been declared the winners were in tears, winning their 3rd TI in a row without changing anything for the past 3 years, it shows that the brotherhood that they share throughout the years they have together, is unbreakable against all odds.
Host 2: OG gave their all in this tournament from day 1, giving no chance on who they face. Dominated in the Group Stage. In the Main Stage, they 2-0 Team Secret. 2-0 Invictus. 2-0 PSG.LGD and they just 3-0 Team Spirit with no effort at all. OG made history just now, a perfect record in a TI Main Stage not even dropping a single song.
Host 1: N0tail, Ceb, Topson, SumaiL and Iku. These 5 brothers, defied all odds, silenced all the doubters and now, they made their mark in TI history as the only band to take their 3rd Aegis in 5 years since the founding of this band. Once again ladies and gentlemen, your TI10 champions OG!!!!!
As the 5 men hoist the Aegis together, the cheers became louder and celebration began, and it marks the end of The International 10 which will be remembered as the TI where a stand-in, a producer, a king, a prodigy and the betrayed brother won their 3rd and final Aegis.
3 Months Later
January 17, 2021
Riku POV
I, Nagae Riku, am currently in a private jet owned by the Nagae Family making it's way to Japan from Portugal, well not just by myself.....the thing is.....I am together with the rest of the retired OG.
2 weeks before my flight to Japan, our leader Johan aka N0tail decided that the band will have a long term vacation to celebrate our 3rd win along with our retirement.
Everyone agreed and as they were choosing where to go, I suddenly blurted out that they should go to Japan with me, I'm going back home to Japan, so might as well take them there for a vacation.
And another reason for this, is for the group can find a place where we can make a bootcamp for OG in case of any tournament that will be held in Japan.
Everyone was down for it and it was decided that the band will leave for Japan, good thing Johan has people he can trust to run OG while he's away, but they'll receive some work from time to time cause N0tail and Ceb are co-owner's of OG.
I just woke up from my nap and I took a peek on the window and I can see it's already daylight, I checked my phone and it's 10 in the morning.
I see JerAx and Topson still sleeping. N0tail and Ceb were awake taking care of files for OG via tablets that they had.
As I was fixing myself in my seat, I was greeted by Ayabe holding a cup of coffee and gave it to me.
Ayabe: Good morning Riku-sama. How was your sleep?
Riku: Fantastic. Got some of the best sleeps that I had in a long while. Thanks*takes coffee from Ayabe*
Ceb: Riku, good morning. You finally woke up.
Riku: Morning Ceb. So, what are you and Johan checking at?
Johan: Just something that me and Juan will do once our vacation is finished.
Johan gave me the tablet and, I took a look at it and I was surprised on what the content was.
Riku: The Monkey Business Show........a podcast?
Johan: Yup. We were thinking that every week we get a special guest from other bands and talk about well....you know...anything. from our debut, on how we adapt and change during our performances, the shit that we go through everyday. That's basically it.
It's good not gonna lie, having a podcast will be a good change of pace to the seriousness of the competition.
Riku: It's a good idea, can't wait to watch it. Make sure I get a chance to be there okay?
Ayabe: Riku-sama, we're about to land at the airport. Please prepare the things that you need.
Riku: Ok. Wake Jesse and Topias up, tell them we're about to land.
Ayabe: Understood.
I got up from my seat and get ready while Ayabe wakes up Topias and Sumail.
Haneda Airport, Japan
30 minutes later
Minutes have passed and we're all awake, refreshed and prepared, the jet finally landed in Japan.
Riku: I'm home at last..........it's been 8 years since we've been here right Ayabe?
Ayabe: Indeed it has Riku-sama.
As we were having our casual talk. A limousine approached us. The driver of said car got out, and greeted me with a bow.
???: Welcome back to Japan, Young Master.
Riku: You are......Aizawa right?
Aizawa: It's good that you remember me. Now that you have arrived, the master has assigned me to take you to the mansion.
As Aizawa finished, one of the suits(A/N: I got the male version and Kokoro has female) approached me and informed me that they will take care of my luggage and directly sending it to the mansion. I agreed to it and made my way to the car. So me and the boys get into the car and Ayabe sat beside me and we made our way to the Nagae Mansion as scheduled.
40 Minutes Later
40 minutes have passed since we left the airport and I've seen some changes since I was here. Johan and the rest were admiring the view, guessing this is the 1st time they've been to Japan.
And what caught my interest the most is there are so many Live Houses. Ayabe saw me looking at the Live Houses and he said.
Ayabe: It seems after OG's win at TI8, well....more likely you, the rise of Live Houses and bands has increased for the past 3 years. As of now, there are at least 700 Live Houses across Japan.
Riku: That much?
Ayabe just nodded at my answer and I just continue looking at the city through the window.
As I was looking outside through the window. There I saw a young teenage girl with pale skin, and big, slanted violet eyes. She has long black hair styled loosely after a hime cut; heavy bangs across her forehead with straightened sidelocks that reach past her shoulders.
When we were to passed by, she and I made eye contact just for a short moment, I looked at the back of the car and she's already far from us. Ayabe and the guys saw me doing that and asked me.
Ayabe: Riku-sama, is something the matter?
Riku: Nothing. It's just that.....I just saw someone that I know long ago.
Sumail: Someone you know my guy?
Riku: Yeah, she's one of my friends when I was a kid. She's good with the piano though.
Ayabe: Shall I stop the car so you can see her?
Riku: No need to do that. My gut tells me that we will meet again, that I am sure of it.
I just sat back and just return to our usual stuff. I'm sure, we'll see each other again...Rinko.
??? POV
As I was walking home with my friends after band practice, we came across a limousine, as it was about to pass us, I manage to take a look on who was at the back. And what I saw, was a boy who has short dark violet-blue hair that reaches at his nape, heterochromic eyes, red on the right and gold on the left.
Just when it passed by us he took a look at me and I followed his line of sight until the car was already far away from us. Those eyes, that hair. I'm not mistaken.....he's back, for so long he's finally back.
As I was in my own world right now, someone woke me up to reality and it was my friend Yukina-san, the vocalist and leader of Roselia. The band that I am with right now.
Yukina: Rinko, who were you looking at?
Rinko: E-Eh!? Yukina-san!?
Yukina: Sorry to surprise you so suddenly, but you were spacing out after you were looking at that car for a while now. Was that someone you know?
Rinko: Y-Yes. I used to know him back when we were kids. He's the very reason that I began playing the piano besides my mother.
???: So Rinko......is he good?
Rinko: I-Imai-san? Uh.....yes, you could say he's a good musician.....I think good would be an understatement to describe him?
???: What do you mean by that Shirokane-san?
???: Yeah. How good is he Rin-Rin?
Rinko: Hikawa-san, Ako-chan. What I mean is, he is considered a prodigy, back when I was young, I have won multiple music contests but him, he has won 3 times more than me, there was one contest where we get to participate together and........
Yukina-san asks me as I try to remember what happened back then.
Yukina: And what happened Rinko?
Rinko: He won....he won the competition like it was nothing. I was overwhelmed by the music he played, it's like.....it was a performance given by god.
Everyone was in pure shock as I told them on how good he was, I can't blame them, I'll be the same as them when I hear it the first time.
Lisa: He's that good? I mean, knowing you, you would've quit playing piano after that right?
Rinko: Yes, I almost gave up on piano...
Sayo: Then-
I cut off Hikawa-san as I continued.
Rinko: I was about to...but, he came to me after the contest and said that my music is very different from the others. He then taught me some piano techniques, hang out often, and after that we became fast friends. Until.....
Y, L, A, S: Until?
Rinko: Until he decided to go overseas to pursuit his career in music. I was 9 back then and he was 11 and he was the best friend I ever had, I was sad that he was leaving but, before he left we made a promise.
Lisa: A promise?
Flashback
9 Years Ago
Haneda Airport
Rinko: Are you sure you have to go Riku?
Riku: Yeah. If I want to step up my skills as a musician, I have to take it to the next level. I have to go overseas to learn more about their music and make my own.
Rinko: How long will you be gone?
I asked this to Riku while i held back my tears.
Riku: Hmmmmmm......I don't know how long I'll be gone but......then how about this.
Riku took something off from his neck and it was his necklace that he won in the arcade that we went.
Riku: Let's make a promise. You and I. I'll give you this necklace and I'll let you keep it. But only if you become a better pianist than you are right now, and I become a professional musician when I get back. You can return that to me.
I just stared at Riku while he holds his necklace right in front of me. As he said that he promised to return. So I took a necklace with a smile and promised him this.
Rinko: I'll take care of this, I'll become a better pianist and one day I'll return this to you...that's a promise.
End of Flashback
Rinko: And after we made our promise, he left for France and I continue to improve my skills on the piano and that promise still stands to this day.
I took out the necklace that Riku gave me and showed it to them.
Rinko: I've held this for 8 years. And If what I saw earlier on was truly him. Then the time to fulfill it has come. I'll show him how much I've improved and return this to him.
I said that with pure confidence and this is the 1st time the girls see me like this, the usual timid girl brimming with confidence.
I know that my current skills won't reach him yet, but I want to show him how much I've grown for the past years.
Yukina-san comes close to me and gently puts her hand on my shoulders.
Yukina: Is that so? well how about you show it to him, once we get into Future World Fes? That will be the perfect place to show him how much you've grown. Rinko, as a leader of this band and also your friend, I will support you on this one.
Lisa: Yukina's right Rinko. We'll support you all the way. I mean who knows, he might devote himself to Roselia if he heard us play.
Sayo: I might disagree on Imai-san's on the latter, but, I have your back Shirokane-san, I'll help you anyway I can on your promise.
Ako: That's right Rin-Rin! We got your back, so don't worry too much.
I am so happy what my friends said to me. That they will help me on my promise to him. I am so happy that I started to cry. I cried in joy that I have fiends that I can trust.
Rinko: Everyone....*sniff*...thank you so much...*sniff*.....
Yukina-san and the rest gave me a group hug to calm me down. Now I' more confident than ever, I'll do my best so Roselia can enter Future World Fes and to fulfill the promise I made years ago.
And I know we'll see each other very soon.
Lisa: So, what's his name Rinko?
Imai-san asks me his name. I said his name with a brightest smile that I can give.
Rinko: Riku. Nagae Riku.
A/N: Ok, so this is over 2,000 words....and expect the next chapters to be longer than this as this is just the start.