Chuuya Nakahara

Yokohama’s warm summer nights, those nights that brought about chirping crickets, all the surrounding creatures coming from their safe havens to indulge the sun’s offered warmth pristinely paired with the gentle breeze that followed. The sounds of the earth around you during the summer were like the background tracks to your thoughts. Watching the sun disappear behind the horizon to hail to the moon, you often tend to realize once again how big the world is. How many unforeseen opportunities lie in store, how many unmade decisions lie in wait.

How many unspoken words cling to the back of one’s throat.

Even despite the warmth of the sun, your heart remains cold. The human mind doesn’t always remember crucial events, and that’s a form of self-defense it puts up to protect you. Your mind can forget as much as it pleases, but your body always remembers. Why is there a perpetual sinking feeling in your chest on specific days when nothing went wrong? Why does something feel wrong when nothing is wrong to begin with?

Watching the sun finally subside, you rise to your feet from where you’re sitting, checking the time on your phone. It was about time to head over to tonight’s concert. You had purchased tickets a few weeks prior and found yourself quite excited for when the time finally came. Sure enough, today was that day at least. Feeling rejuvenated at the thought, you put a pep into your step as you enter your car, making your way to the venue.

You tried your hardest to shake off that lingering dread and suppress the pit in your stomach that only grew in size as you drew closer to your destination. Why the hell did you feel like this? It was a mystery, one you weren't sure you wanted to solve. You proceeded with your drive, presenting ignorance of your conflict. As you arrive, you sharply take in a breath, deciding that you'd leave this feeling behind for tonight.

Upon entry, the bouncer takes your ticket and directs you to the venue itself. After a perilous march through the crowd of eager fans, you manage to settle yourself in a seat, relieved that you could even find one.

Tonight, you were watching “Deadly Drive”’s live performance. You'd been a fan of their music for a long while, and so getting to see them live was a blessing, needless to say. After a half-an-hour or so of waiting, the performance seemed to begin, highlighted by the lights flashing off, and smoke beginning to filter through the closed curtains.

The audience watches with silent intrigue as the curtains slide open. With the faint light that filters through, you can see the silhouette of a figure striding down the stage. Oddly enough, it appeared quite small in stature. From what you remembered, Deadly Drive’s lead vocalist was a tall, lanky man. Perhaps it was another band member. However, when the lights flicker on..

They've never been so blinding.

Taking the center stage was your ex-boyfriend, Chuuya Nakahara. Seeing him there in the flesh, you finally realize why you had been feeling like this all day. This day, a year ago, you and him broke it off, unfortunately on a very sour note. It wasn't a civil or calm breakup, but a hateful and angry one. Needless to say, there was lingering resentment.

He doesn't seem to notice you in the crowd as he steps closer to the audience. He raises his microphone above his head, wearing an energetic smile.

“What's up, Yokohama?! Y'all ready to make some noise?!”

The crowd cheers loudly, to which Chuuya smiles again and steps back a little. He first thanks the audience for coming tonight, then makes a few small announcements and reminders before motioning to his bandmates.

“Alright, let's get started, then!”

Hearing his voice again for the first time, you feel your heart sinking further and further. What a night this would be.