The MC doesn't have a default name, so I named her 'Aika' meaning 'love song'.
In the future, not near or far from now-----
A world was deprived of the freedom to sing.
Only those who joined the Referral Club are invited here,
'Own The Night', a secret members' only gig.
Two band groups are now performing on that stage.
A skillful drummer, a prodigious bassist...
A perfect and delicate keyboardist, and....
A guitarist and vocalist with passion in his voice and an overwhelming center.
A singing voice so intense that shakes the heart.
A powerhouse drummer, a versatile bassist...
A guitarist and vocalist with outstanding ability and an aura of absolute charisma.
A well-honed melody that leaves a beautiful imprint----
The stage was shaken by the endless cheers of the crowd....
A man standing off-stage looks at the slightly glowing screen of his phone.
???: "The game hasn't even started.....yet."
He had a happy smile on his mouth as he typed his message----
-----Meanwhile, only silence reigns in another room.
A man turned to his phone which was still on his desk and,
He raises his eyebrows at a message he has just received.
???: "Excuse me, Secretary."
After a light knock, a smiling beautiful young man entered the room.
???: "We have brought you a new list of regulated people."
A deep sigh escapes the mouth of the man called 'the Secretary.'
The young man stood in front of the desk, put down his documents, and tilted his head slightly with a smile on his face.
???: "Speaking of which...How's your new dog getting on?"
Right next to the material on the young man's desk is a poster.
It belonged to 'The F', the first government-approved band group, which had been active for a year.
???: "So far, no problems. But..."
???: "You have to train your dog well so he doesn't bite your hand in the future."
The man held his brows and muttered only that.
He quickly removed his finger and quietly reached for the list of regulated people.
It was a pleasant, sunny day.
A soft breeze fluffs my hair.
I held my hair down and looked up to see a gentle hill.
Aika: "I didn't know there was a road like this..."
As a piano teacher, working in a government-accredited music school,
I visited this town for the first time in a long time because of a presentation by one of my pupils.
I was on my way home after a successful presentation.
As if lured by the sunny weather, I took a diversion on the road to the station, thus strolling through a residential area.
(Sometimes it's good to take a diversion like this)
(The end of this slope may lead to some nice place)
Thinking that much, I looked around.
There was not a soul on the hillside or in the park that could be seen nearby.
Feeling confident, I reached for my bag and took out a music sheet.
(The lyrics are overflowing in my mind)
(Let's just quickly write it down)
In the middle of the road, I opened my pen and began to write the notes on the music sheet and the lyrics to match.
The Music Control Authority (hereafter referred to as 'the Authority') can decide whether or not to authorize the sale and exhibition of songs and can 'monitor' those who have committed offenses.
The Music Regulation Act aims to control all music, including 'lyrics', in order to prevent the occurrence of harm and thereby ensure the safety of the public. This law applies to all persons in Japan.
Any music containing 'lyrics' that has not been authorised by the authorities is an offending music, and the following acts must not be performed using the offending music:
Distribution or dissemination of anti-transnational music whether paid or unpaid is prohibited.
It is prohibited to play the offending music source in a situation where an audience of 30 or more persons is perceptible.
It is prohibited to play the offending musical composition in an environment where an audience of 30 or more persons is mobilized or where it is perceptible to a large and unspecified audience.
An audience of less than 30 persons does not constitute an offence, but the offending music shall not be played or performed repeatedly to the same audience.
It is prohibited to play or contribute to the playing of the same offending piece to a total of 150 or more spectators in one month.
Any person who commits an offence is subject to 'surveillance' by the Music Control Authority.
Any person who commits an offence shall be liable to a fine of up to 10 million yen.
If a person who hears the offending music causes an offense within one month, the person who distributes disseminates, or performs the offending music" shall be punished by imprisonment for up to 10 years or a fine of up to 10 million yen.
A person who 'distributes or disseminates' an offending musical composition with malicious intent shall be punished by imprisonment for up to 20 years or a fine of up to 20 million yen.
Japan, where 'singing' has been regulated since a year after the 'Example Incident' 19 years ago.
Now there's a specialized government agency----
The only 'songs' authorized by the music control bureau are allowed to perform.
(It's a 'song' that I don't intend to show or sing to anyone)
'Songs' with lyrics are unconditionally subject to censorship.
Any freely created 'song' is considered an offending piece of music, and
In order to sing this 'song' they will be faced with strict conditions.
In other words, what I had was a music sheet that could not easily be sung.
Memories of enjoying 'singing' with my father when I was a kid rushed into my mind....
And around the same time, I was influenced by a nice breeze, and natural sounds from the wind I heard in the park.
I recall wishing that I could create music too.
(Someday, I hope to create a song that will make my loved ones smile too)
The moment when I stopped writing...
The wind up the hill played tricks on me and blew all the music sheets from my lap.
Before I realized it, all my sheets were scattered around the road like petals. Some even blew further away.
I hurriedly crouched down, hastily gathering up the music sheets.
Aika: "Seven, eight, nine...wait! where's the last one?"
I looked around again, searching for the last music sheet on which I wrote the lyrics.
Then, I heard someone singing.
(Whose is singing right now? And that song is....)
No way, this song is-----
It was the melody and lyrics I had just created.
???: "Kono sakamichi o nobottara kitto matte iru..."
???: "Nanika sutekina koto kaze to sora in irodora reta kokoro furuwaseru basho..."
I slowly stand up and I see a man I don't know....
The person has a white music sheet in his had and his voice struck my heart.
When the man had finished singing, he slowly turned his head towards me.
The moment our eyes met, I forgot to breathe.
My heartbeat jumped in my chest as if the needle on a metronome had swung off.
(I know him. He's the guitarist and vocalist of the government-approved band 'The F')
The F debuted a year ago as the first government-approved band.
Their music is not only distributed in Japan but throughout the world.
They are the hottest band right now!
Even though there is no freedom or novelty in its compositions, created under the Music Regulation Act, it is still a very important part of the music industry.
They have music that can be listened to and enjoyed by all types of people.
(I believe I saw on the news the other day that they had successfully held their first live music concert!)
(And that Haru just sang the song I wrote)
Haru, just keeps staring at me.
He may have been out for a walk to buy groceries or something. Soon he approached me.
I can feel my heart thumping against my chest.
In the silence, with only the wind blowing, Haru's lips finally opened.....
For a moment, it felt like time had stopped.
Aika: "Umm...excuse me...that's my...?"
Haru: "You should write more freely."
Haru deliberately sighs and shows the music sheet in front of my face.
Haru: "It's cute. But not interesting enough."
Aika: "Wait..wait a minute."
I quickly felt my cheeks turn red at the words that were suddenly spoken to me.
(This is the first time I'm meeting a celebrity! What should I say? Wait! How do I look!? Also...)
Aika: "You sang my song without my permission!"
Aika: "Anyway, give it back!"
When I reach out to take it back, Haru quickly avoids my hand.
Haru: "Hey, do you live here?"
Aika: "I happened to take this road by chance after meeting one of my students....Now give it back!"
Haru: "A music teacher, huh."
Haru kept muttering while he kept avoiding my attempts to grab my music sheet.
As soon as I almost got hold of it....
A fluffy happy white dog barked and waved his tail at Haru's feet.
Seeing me freeze in an awkward position, Haru laughed.
Haru pulls the dog's chain and walked up the hill.
Aika: "....Hey! Give me back my music sheet!"
Haru: "Sorry, finders keepers, isn't it?"
(What the hell, already?)
Without the care in the world, he starts to walk.
Staring at the white dog and its back up the hill, I am suddenly reminded.
(Come to think of it, this might be a violation of the Music Regulation Act)
It prohibits 'The act of distributing offending music, whether paid or free....'
(If I get penalized....I'll be fired from my job)
Just imagining me losing my job send shivers down my spine.
Haru looked back and smiled.
Haru: "I'll give it back to you. But before that, there are some people I want you to meet."
Looking at him, who was standing at the top of the hill, I tightly held the straps of my bag with my cold fingertips.
(Will you really give it back if I meet your people?)
Leaving me no choice, I followed him.
I glanced at Haru, who was walking next to me, his expression which I couldn't read.
Aika: "..... So where are we going?"
(Looks like he's not going to tell me)
(I do have some time to spare, though)
I looked up again and frowned.
Cherry blossom petals blew again over my head.
While I was starstruck by such mesmerizing sight.
(Lyrics....music....it's overflowing again)
I can feel another 'song' starting to resonate deep in my mind.
Blinking quietly and focusing on the tone, I catch my breath....
Haru's voice arrives to break the tone and I looked up.
At the top of the hill was one old but a beautiful and large house.
Aika: "It looks like a castle."
(Is this where Haru lives?)
I noticed Haru opening the gate and walking in and I hurriedly followed him.
Eventually, Haru opened the front door and called out to me.
(I thought he is a rude person, but surprisingly he's not)
I looked up at Haru who followed me behind after gesturing me to go in. Our eyes met and I was thrilled.
I looked away in a hurry and Haru came inside with his dog.
We took off our shoes and stepped further into the mansion.
I was instantly greeted by a man in the hallway with a cute atmosphere.....
Aika: "You're Ritsu-san, right?"
Ritsu: "I am....and you are?"
The keyboardist of The F and also a professional pianist, Ritsu.
(As a pianist myself, I have always been his fan and wanted to meet him so badly)
My eyes were sparkling in pure excitement, while Ritsu looks at me dumbfounded....
Haru: "I picked her up from the streets."
After wiping his feet on the doormat, Haru steps in and hands him the music sheet he was carrying.
Ritsu: "What do you mean 'you picked her up'? Who the hell is this woman?"
Ritsu looks at the sheet and raised his eyebrow.
(Oh my god! The Ritsu, is reading MY song....this has to be a dream)
A black cat, which had somehow arrived at Ritsu's feet, was rubbing against his leg.
(There's also a cat. So cute....this has to be a dream too!!)
(.....Shit! Don't get too carried away! Wake up Aika!)
I returned to look at the figure standing in front of me.
(No...it isn't a dream. It's actually Ritsu)
The black cat moved away from Ritsu and both the cat and the dog amicably runs into the hallway.
Ritsu: "Hey....aren't you a bit too close?"
When he said that, I realized I was standing way too close to him.
Haru, who was looking at us, sighs in a disapproving tone.
Haru: "You're so biased. Calling Ritsu, Ritsu-san, and me, just Haru?"
Aika: "What can I say? You didn't make a good first impression."
Haru: "Ritsu is much more of a loudmouth than me."
Ritsu: "Excuse me, don't deviate from the main topic."
Ritsu: "Why isn't anyone here answering my question? Who is she?"
While we were talking in the hallway-----
???: "Wow! It's so lively here."
A door opened and a man was standing there looking at us.
Another 'The F' member, Eisuke the drummer.
Our eyes meet, and Eisuke smiles.
Eisuke: "Is she a guest?"
(Wowww, his smile looks even dazzling from this close up)
Girls of all ages find Eisuke's smile giddy....
Haru: "I wanna sing this."
Eisuke and Ritsu: "....Haa?"
Don't ask me why I translated this. I wanted to upload it for a long time because the concept of this game is so interesting. Imagine, actually living in a world where we only have to listen to one band ONLY!!! Imagine only listening to BTS for the rest of your life. BTS is freaking awesome, but I won't survive on that group alone. I need other groups too!!!!
Anyway, I wanted to make MC's personality is little different from previous MCs. I wanted to make her more of a fangirl like me!