__AN_OMEN__
(Vol. 1 Track 3)

Waitstaff: Welcome! What would you like to order?

Customer: We’ll have one hamburger and fries meal, and then…

[sfx: footsteps, Toki setting his tray down]

Toki: Hm, they’re still not here? Mitsuru and Hibari… Oh, they texted. Looks like they’ll be here soon… 

[sfx: phone text tapping]

Toki: (reading out as he types) We’re at the hamburger joint outside the station, there.

[sfx: TV presenter speaking indistinctly ^[1], Tsugumi setting tray down]

Tsugumi: Haah! Man, I’m starving. 

Toki: Are you really gonna eat all that? We’ve still got the bento!

Tsugumi: Don't you know? I always have room for dessert!

Toki: You’ll get fat, y’know.

Tsugumi: Unluckily for you, I don’t gain weight no matter how much I eat! Look!

Toki: Dumbass, don’t lift up your shirt, stop that!

Tsugumi: Well in that case, I’ll just tuck in! (with mouth full) What ‘bout Mitsuru and Hibari?

Toki: Either eat or speak, don’t talk with your mouth full! 

[sfx: Tsugumi chowing down]

Toki: Hibari already texted, they’re both on there way here. Seems like Mitsuru’s shift ran over a little.

Tsugumi: Hmm? Hmmn…

Toki: Huh? What is it?

Tsugumi: Studio musicians… They play different stuff every time, right?

Toki: Yeah, seems like it.

Tsugumi: Is it any fun?

Toki: Well, Mitsuru seems to be having a good time, right? If he wasn’t, he would’ve quit ages ago.

Tsugumi: I guess so…Yeah, that’s true. It’s music after all. Just creating sound at all is pretty fun… in it’s own way.

TV Presenter: And finally, currently on tour with their newly released album, how far will RUBIA Leopard climb this week’s charts? Exciting stuff!

Toki: RUBIA Leopard…

Tsugumi: Hm? You say somethin’?

Toki: Oh, nah, nothing.

TV Presenter: On that note, their tour is doing tremendously well. Tickets have already completely sold out, the very same day they went on sale! And that means maybe, just maybe… we can expect an additional venue to be added to the list?! You can’t take your eyes off of these guys for even a second! Now then, that’s all for this week…! 

Tsugumi: Hey, Toki! Lemme have a sip of your oolong tea, will ya? … Toki?

Toki: Huh? Uh, yeah, sure…

Tsugumi: What’s wrong?

Toki: Hm… Tsugu. You’re really still not interested in debuting professionally?

Tsugumi: Totally uninterested. Why? You thinking of going pro? 

Toki: Not me, no. I thought you…

Mitsuru: Ah. There they are.

Tsugumi: Oh! Mitsuru, Hibari! Over here!

Mitsuru: Sorry we’re late.

Toki: You’re good, we had some extra time anyways.

Mitsuru: Hibari said the same thing.

Hibari: It’s Toki-kun. I knew he would secretly get me to come early just in case!

Toki: Don’t go counting on it!

Hibari: Roger that!

Mitsuru: Hey, if we still have time, is it cool if I grab something to eat?

Toki: Feel free. But Tsugu already brought bento from work.

Mitsuru: I’ll have that too, but right now I want fries. Plus, I need to buy Hibari a vanilla shake.

Hibari: (soft laugh) Thanks.

Toki: Just don’t take too long, alright?

Mitsuru: Yeah.

Tsugumi: Oh, Mitsuru! Grab me chicken nuggets while you’re at it!

Toki: You’re really still eating…?

Tsugumi: Does it matter? Mind your biz! (slurping)

Toki: Hey, now wait a sec! I said you could have a sip!

Tugumi: Ah, busted… C’mon, it’s only oolong tea!

Toki: If you wanted some you should’a bought it yourself!

Tsugumi: Yeah, yeah, fine, I get it! Oh well! Guess I’ll just have to go buy you a new one! Maybe then you’ll be happy, hm?

[sfx: Tsugumi walking off]

Toki: Grr… What’s he doing, making it sound like I’m the greedy one?

Hibari: Hey, Toki-kun.

Toki: Yeah?

Hibari: What were you and Tsugu-chan talking about? When me and Mitsuru walked in, you had a real gloomy look on your face.

Toki: Uh, you must’ve imagined it.

Hibari: Hmmm…?

Toki: What?

Hibari: Hmm… Nevermind! You’re right, I must have imagined it.

Toki: Hmm.

[sfx: phone buzzing]

Hibari: Ah, it’s ringing. That’s… Tsugu-chan’s, isn’t it?

Toki: He’s forgotten his phone again, has he? He’s always doing this, leaving things behind wherever he goes.

Hibari: Oh? It’s from Tobi-chan! … He’s not hanging up, I wonder if it’s urgent.

Toki: Hmm… Oh, whatever. Hello, Tobikura-san? This is Mizukawa. Tsugu isn’t here at the moment, but if it’s alright with you, I can take a message for him. Uh, huh. Oh! Is that so? Well, in that case, I’d like to discuss it with you a little. Is that alright? Oh, but we have practice in a little bit, so… Yes. Alright, we’ll talk again later. Thank you. 

Hibari: You’re so protective when it comes to Tsugu-chan, aren’t you, Toki-kun?

[sfx: alarm beeping]

Hibari: Hm! Perfect timing.

[sfx: Hibari grabbing his bag, door opening]

Hibari: Toki-kun! Time to get up!

Toki: (groaning) Hnnm… Morning, Hibari…

Hibari: Good morning! I have a class first period today, so I need to head out already. I’ll leave the key for you here.

[sfx: key clinking]

Hibari: Just put it back through the letter box when you leave like always.

Toki: Gotcha. Oh, have you eaten?

Hibari: I’ll eat while I’m out. Oh, and I bought something from the convenience store on the way back from practice, it’s in the kitchen if you want it!

Toki: Thanks. Sorry for crashing here again.

Hibari: Don’t worry about it! This place is pretty big, it could easily fit four people.

Toki: I’m just guessing here, but I take it that’s not a coincidence?

Hibari: Mhm, got it in one! During the first year it was just me and Mitsuru, but I knew you and Tsugu-chan would be coming to Tokyo the year after. The studio university apartments definitely wouldn’t fit all four of us. They’re far too small, I thought ‘no way’!

Toki: And that’s what you told your parents, is it?

Hibari: I would never! All I told them was that this place was nice. Going from paying 80,000 to 150,000 yen for rent is only a small jump, really!

Toki: Y’know your small jump pretty much doubled it, right?

Hibari: You’re so serious, Toki-kun! There’s no shame in relying on your parents while you’ve still got the chance!

[sfx: Hibari giving Toki a slap on the back]

Hibari: You said you had a class second period today, didn’t you? Don’t get too comfy or you’ll be late. I’ll be off now!

[sfx: Hibari walking away, door closing]

Toki: You’re one to talk, given you rarely even go to class… (yawning, stretching)

[sfx: microwave beeping, Tsugumi emerging from room]

Tsugumi: Hmmn… What’s cookin’...?

Toki: Look who’s finally awake! Breakfast is ready!

Tsugumi: Wait, really? Waking up to a pre-prepared breakfast is the best… I think I’ll just live here forever.

Toki: Maybe you’ve forgotten, but this is Hibari’s flat. I’m a guest, not a butler.

[sfx: drinks pouring] 

Tsugumi: Technically this place is for all four of us, isn’t it? (yawn) Huh? Where’s Hibari at?

Toki: He already left for class. Oh, and Tsugu, go wake up Mitsuru as well.

Tsugumi: Don’t make me laugh! Go do it yourself!

Toki: I already tried and I couldn’t. Come on, please?

Tsugumi: No, seriously, I’m being for real, it’s impossible to wake him up. The food could go cold and he still won’t wake up. Might as well give up while you can!

Toki: Guess you’re right… I’ll have to try again in a little bit.

Tsugumi: Haaah, I’m still so hungry! What did I have yesterday? There was the hamburgers, then the bento…

Toki: Your metabolism needs to be studied, seriously.

Tsugumi: Where does it all go? It weirds me out too! Thanks for the food! (sipping) Ah, this is instant miso.

Toki: If you’re gonna complain you don’t have to eat it.

Tsugumi: I’m not complaining! Y’know, they say miso soup for breakfast is the perfect way to get over morning fatigue! 

Toki: Is that right?

Tsugumi: Also, about what we all talked about yesterday. We really do gotta make sure we’re ready in time for the next gig.

Toki: You remember that’s next week, right? Considering all the practice we still need to do, we’re cutting it pretty close. If we’re not prepared to put on a show by then, then…

Tsugumi: Then what?

Toki: Don’t make it sound so simple…

Tsugumi: Eh? Toki… are you gonna give up?

Toki: Shut up, of course not.

Tsugumi: Well I know just by saying that, it’ll get you working ten times as hard!

Toki: At least try and be subtle…(eating) Thanks for the food!

[sfx: Toki getting up]

Tsugumi: You going to school?

Toki: I am a student, after all. Oh right, you’re only on shift until the early evening today, right? Head out with Tobikura-san after! He went out of his way to invite you.

Tsugumi: Oh, that’s right! He texted me something about that yesterday, I forgot! Though, I wonder what it is he wants to show me…?

Toki: Yeah, I wonder.