Meeting the parents.

With less than two weeks left till the UA entrance exam now, I realized I couldn't get to all the students of 1A and 1B on such a short notice. Not if I wanted to complete putting the finishing touches to the last part of my pre-UA prep work.

So came the hard choice.

Get to as many students as possible or get to finishing the last few videos and songs to make Himiko and me into national sensations.

Well that wasn't a hard choice at all. It was obvious even.

I pulled out my journal, and began to put pen to paper. These last few bits would rock the nation, nay, the world. Hopefully.

The next day, I brought my guitar and journal, meeting Himiko and the crew at Soga's shelter.

"Mind telling me why we're doing this again? Didn't Himiko get acquitted?" Soga asked, first thing in the morning.

"A good morning to you too, Soga." I sassed.

"No seriously. Haru. Equipment costs money, you know?" He said.

"I'm not an idiot, Soga. We'll be monetizing these and the previously made songs. Makoto-san has already used her connections to get us a meeting with the indie label publishers. After this, I doubt any of us will have to worry about money ever again!" I answered.

"When did you even do all this? And write the songs?" Rapt asked.

"Last night." I replied nonchalantly.

"You never cease to amaze me, you damn brat!" Soga said, hitting my head.

"Jesus. That hurt. Besides, I'm 14 already. Stop treating me like a kid." I said.

"Sure kid. Let's go. We have a long drive to make."

"A long drive? Isn't there a park nearby where we can do this?" I asked.

"No. The generator's a bust. We're going to lake Hamana. It's got a campground where we can get the equipment working. It'll cost a pretty penny but it'll be worth it."

"Hold on. If we're going to Hamamatsu anyway, why not just use Haru-chan's house as a recording location. It's close to the beach and the lake." Deku suggested.

"No. No. My house is just a small farm. I mean where will we even record it what with the pigs squealing and what not!" I said.

"Didn't you say your family doesn't raise pigs anymore though?" Deku replied.

I glared at him, aghast. How can you betray me like this Deku?

"He's just shy about it, is what." Rapt said, grinning.

"Aw! How cute. So you're still human huh?" Pop commented.

"Wait a minute. What do you mean I'm still human? Did you think I was a monster or something?" I asked.

"Well, not a monster exactly, but more of a ... stiff nugget." Soga answered.

"Like you had a stick up your ass and a thousand secrets to hide!" Rapt added.

"Aw c'mon. I'm not that bad, right guys?" I said.

They looked away, awkwardly laughing.

"Guys? Deku?" I asked.

"Haru-chan, uh... you do seem like that sometimes." He said.

"Haah! Fine. We can go to my family's farmhouse. But please don't go looking for my baby pictures or anything." I said.

"Now that you've said that, how can we not do exactly that?" Makoto teased.

I sighed in defeat. Why did it come to this?

As we pulled up to my house, the dogs began to bark, alerting my dad to our approach.

We stopped outside the gate as I got off to ask my parents' permission.

My dad walked out to meet me, dogs in tow.

"Haru? Everything okay? Why are you home so early? Didn't you go out with your friends?" He asked.

"Yeah. About that, uh..can we use the basement for the day?" I asked.

"Sure. Are your friends coming over or..?"

"No they're here already."

"Those are your friends?" He asked.

"Yeah. Remember that song I wrote for the girl I liked?"

He nodded.

"Yeah, you never told us how it went."

"Well, so what happened was that people liked it. Like a lot. So I got a deal from a music label. And now we're recording that and a couple other songs I wrote."

"That's great news! Of course you can use the basement. Come, bring them in." He said, opening the gates while as I gave a thumbs up to the crew.

"What's up here?" My mother asked, walking out of the chicken coop with the feeding tray.

"You remember that song he wrote?" Father told her.

"Uhuh? What about it?" She asked.

"He got a record deal for it. So he's got his friends from his band to help record it." He explained.

"You have friends, Haru-chan?!" My mother asked, with great shock.

Et tu mamma?

"Why does everyone think I'm some friendless weirdo?" I muttered.

"It's just you never talk about them or bring them over, or anything of the sort. I was almost worried you were being bullied at one point." My mother answered.

"That sounds exactly like him!" Makoto said.

"Ugh! You're all just ganging up on me today!" I complained.

"It's not my fault you're so fun to bully!" Makoto replied.

As the rest of them got to setting up the equipment in the basement, I went up to lock my room. Can't have them find more ammo on me.

When I got back, my mother pulled me aside.

"So, which one is it?" She asked.

"Which what?"

"The girl. The one you wrote that song for."

"I don't know what.." I said before she interrupted.

"It's the blond one isn't it?" She asked with a cheeky smile.

"Momma!" I protested.

"So it is!" She chuckled.

"How did you even know that?" I asked.

"I'm your mother that's how!" She answered.

"Is that why you pulled me aside?"

"No. I want to know if they're staying for dinner?" She asked.

"Uh, I think so?" I answered.

"Alright! I'll whip up the best meal they've ever had! Just you wait!" She said, as she skipped away to the kitchen, humming a happy tune.

I sighed and returned to the basement.

"The equipment is ready. What are we shooting first?" Soga asked.

I looked around at the basement and thought for a moment.

"I have an idea. Rapt, switch on that light. The one at the end, with the crooked bar. Yeah." I said, giving instructions, "Deku check that box over there. I think we had some spray paint cans left from painting the doghouses. Himiko, get a loose fitting jeans from the van, about Deku's size."

"So we're doing the rap one first?" Soga asked.

"Yup. Brittle bones 1 and 2 both. Pop, can you make some masks, one white, one red, with horns?" I asked.

"Yeah. On it." She replied.

"Are you going to sing or...?" Soga asked, switching on the casio.

"No. Deku is perfect for the role. Short and sweet. And with the freckles." I said.

"You aren't that much taller than me Haru-chan! Just 3 inches bigger!" Deku protested.

"Hehehe. Three inches can make a lot of difference, Deku." I replied to a confused Deku.

"See. This is why we think you're weird. What 14 year old quips like that?" Makoto said.

"A very smart one!" I replied proudly, as Makoto chuckled.