Today, I knew that I had to go to the Tokyo Avex Records and take out my stuff so they can let the new music producer take over my desk. Arashi had helped out with cleaning while I left Nino's apartment to clean up my office. “Bye-bye. I have to go now.” I waved good-bye to Arashi and left to the Avex Records building. I was greeting by my old workers and I saw Mimi, who was busy taking phone calls. I went up to my office and started to pack up my stuff. It was a short time working with everyone but everyone was so nice to me.
I carried my 2 boxes to the taxi that was waiting for me outside. There I loaded them in the taxi and asked the taxi driver to drive to the Johnny & Associates building. There I was greeting by the famous Johnny-san in person and 2 other employees. “Matsuda-san, welcome to the Johnny & Associates building. Your office is on the 10th floor. Here is your pass.” Then one of his employee beside him came forward and gave me a pass. I nodded and then walked to the elevator which was filled with a lot of people. I got on but before the elevator left, someone was calling to stop the elevator. When the person rushed in, I noticed it was Nino. I was standing on the side in the crowded elevator. Then suddenly someone pushed someone else and that made Nino stand closer to me. “Nice to see you again.” I whispered to Nino. He nodded and then the elevator stopped. I got out since it was the 10th floor and also Nino got out with me. I started to walk to my office when I noticed that he was walking beside me. “Aren’t you suppose to go on another floor. This floor is for producers.” I said with a grin.
He smiled and ignored what I said. I finally found my office and it was bigger than the one I had in the Avex Records building. Nino had followed me in my office and quickly sat in my new comfy chair. “Get out, anyways what do you want? I’m going to be busy, unless you do my job.” He smirked and said. “I have a song that I want to put on the album. Let’s talk about it over coffee.” I nodded and then I placed my boxes on the desk and followed to where Nino wanted to have coffee.
We walked to a little coffee shop around the corner of the Johnny’s building. I ordered a mocha cappuccino and he ordered a coffee. “Okay, what is your song about?” I asked him while he was looking through the store’s window. “The song is about the word “love”.” I looked at him but he was still looking through the window. “Love, huh. Since you want to sing a song about the word “love”, tell me what is love.” Then he turned around to look at me. He looked surprised when I asked him that question. “You don’t know what love is? You must be kidding.” I smiled and I held up the cappuccino that the waitress had placed on the table.
“Ever since I was little, I was never “loved”. I mean my parents died in a car accident when I was only 7 years old. After that I had been tossed to relative to relative. They were all old and didn’t have much time to live. Then one day, my relatives decided to ask Kaoko-san, to take care of me. She agreed and took me in, but she only treated me as a friend looking after her friend's child. Ever since then, I never knew what the word “love” is. Now, I have no one that “loves” me. I just have myself to lean on.” I drank some of the cappuccino and I looked up at Nino who was still looking at me. Then he asked “How is Kaoko-san? I mean you must talk to her everyday since you moved out of Osaka. I’m guessing you’re going to visit her after working with us. I want to see her too.” I looked down at my cup. The dark circles began to swirl as the steam floated up from the hot cappuccino.
“I’ll be visiting her soon. It has been 2 years since her death.” Nino was puzzled and I continued. “Kaoko-san died in a car crash while she was driving to her workplace 2 years ago... I moved here because I wanted to forget everything that had happened in Osaka.” I started to cry. Talking to Nino was bringing back my sad memories about Osaka and the memories before I left Tokyo. Nino reached out his hand and gently touched mine that was on the table. He whispered. “It’s okay. I’ll be here for you.”
I stopped crying and wiped my tears with my hands. “Arigato. Anyways let’s get back to business.” I snapped back to business mode and Nino giggled. “You are one of a kind.” I smiled and he talked about his song. I found out that he wanted to dedicated to Kaoko-san because he didn’t know about her death until today from me. He also said he wants me to take him to her grave, on the day of her anniversary. I agreed and we went back to the Johnny’s building to talk with the other members of Arashi.
Wednesday came and I attended a meeting. Since I knew everyone and didn’t have any questions, the meeting was short. Nino had discussed about putting his song on the album with Johnny-san and he was quick to reply, in agreeing to his request. While I tried to make songs for them, I had asked some help from former artists who I had helped me in the past. They agreed since I had asked them.
By the time I knew it, the songs and lyrics were done. I thanked everyone who helped and wrote down their names so their names would be in the credits. For 2 weeks, I went to the recording studio with Arashi and made sure the songs were okay.
A month of busy writing and planning, the new Arashi CD was out. “Boku no Ongaku” was the name of the album. It included Arashi latest singles and few other songs that I had helped write and produce. It became a best seller and by the time I knew it, my nickname was 'The Queen of Music Producers'.
Jun has been signed to be on 2 upcoming dramas, Aiba has more variety shows now, Ohno has more dramas and more guest appearances, Sho was more on the news now and he has been chosen as the MC for a lot of different shows and Nino has more dramas and movies. Thanks to the great success of the album, their schedule became more jammed pack than ever. I also came busy with writing lyrics for other Johnny idols.
It was a hot Friday morning, I decided to listen the his song dedicated to Kaoko-san. The song was called “Memories of You.” The lyrics were so sad, I started to cry because the lyrics were about Kaoko-san.
~Everytime I see your face, I smile.
Then when you laugh, I laugh with you.
I can never forget my memories of you.~
I picked up my cell phone and sent a text message to Nino.
You are a great songwriter. I just heard your song that you wrote and I was sad because you were talking about Kaoko-san. I love the part when you sing, "I can never forget my memories of you". This is my first time crying to a song. I guess because the lyrics are about my feelings too.
-Sakura
I wiped my tears with my sleeve and went to check my calender. A week from now, I’ll be in Osaka and seeing Kaoko-san on her anniversary of her death.
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