Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Love or Hate ❯ Volume Four, Chapter Twenty-Three: Salt Envy ( Chapter 23 )

Salt Envy

Shinta wants to be a rock star. For years, everyone said that he had no talent. He still wouldn't quit. He took singing and guitar lessons. His father found it pointless.

“Quit this music dream!” he told Shinta when he was fourteen. “You will go into the family business.”

The family business.

Shinta wanted to gag. He never wanted to do banking.

“I refuse to be boring,” he told himself. Shinta wanted to go out with glory.

Maybe he should listen to his father.

Shinta's music was horrible. His band is a joke. And that's putting it nicely. He still won't stop. And he dragged two others into his scheme. One isn't any better.

Snow came first. This was a strange case. Shinta met him at a drag bar. (Yes, you read right.) At the time, he wanted to piss off his dad. To be fair, Shinta did have some friends here. One night, he came in after another argument with his dad. Shinta just wanted to be alone. The bartender, Dorothy, looked up.

“Rough day?” the drag queen asked. The wannabe musician snorted.

“I don't want to talk about it,” he grumbled.

“I'll get you your usual,” Dorothy said.

“Thank you,” Shinta said. He dropped down his head. The bartender got to work. The banker's son groaned.

“Why doesn't he get it?” he asked. “That old man! He just doesn't understand!”

“Uh-huh,” Dorothy said. Shinta lifted his head. He happened to turn and look onto the stage. A white man sang a foreign song under the bright flashing lights. He tilted his head. Oh yeah, it was karaoke night. Was this guy singing words? It didn't sound like it.

“Here you are,” the bartender said, handing him his drink.

“Thanks,” Shinta said. “Who is that?” He pointed up on stage. Dorothy took a look for herself.

“Oh, him?” she asked. “He's just some foreigner. He just showed up one night and has been coming here ever since.”

“I see,” Shinta said. The wheels began to turn in his head.

Now for Kenta. He himself doesn't know why he's in Salt in the first place. Kenta's too good for Salt. He's good looking. He was really talented. Why was he even with the other two?

Truth was Kenta wanted to leave the band. Shinta wouldn't let him leave.

“Come on,” he pleaded. “The band is nothing without you.” That phrase again. Kenta wanted to scream when he heard it. Still, the drummer couldn't leave. Shinta knew what he was doing. Damn it. Damn him.

Since then, Shinta's been working to the top of the charts. Only Kenta can see reality. They won't make it. Too bad Shinta won't listen. The drummer can't leave either. He's just stuck.

Meanwhile, Snow is just there for the ride. He couldn't be happier.

Track Twenty-Three