●A Chance Encounter
Just as the heat was reaching its peak and the days were growing shorter, Takashi was in a rush. His club activities had run long, and he was in danger of being late for band practice. Fueled by his grumbling at the advisor, Takashi pedaled like a ball of fire, his legs showing not a trace of the fatigue from rugby practice.
He glanced up and saw a cute girl across the street… Oh no! The next moment, a concrete utility pole loomed right in front of him. A sharp pain shot through his shoulder, but he put on a calm front in front of her and quietly walked away.I wonder if she noticed… He was more worried about her reaction than his own injury, but when the doctor told him at the hospital that his broken collarbone would take three months to heal, he was devastated. Naturally, he couldn’t go to band practice—the other members laughed their heads off at him—and he couldn’t attend club practice either, losing the starting spot on the team that had almost been his.
The silver lining was that my beloved Fender Stratocaster was unharmed—only the nut was chipped. “Ugh, this is the worst… but I’m glad the Strat’s okay…” It was a total disaster for Takashi, but I was completely captivated by the girl I’d spotted that day, and my imagination ran wild while I was in the hospital.
●Reunion
As soon as I was discharged, I took my beloved Strat to my regular shop, TCGAKKI. “It’s been a nightmare—could you replace the nut on my Strat, please?” This music shop always treats even unprofitable customers like me with kindness. “By the way, Takashi, what happened with your club activities?” She hit a sore spot… There was no way I could bring myself to admit that because of this injury, I couldn’t keep up with everyone else and had to quit—it was just too embarrassing.“W-well, I just figured music is all I’ve got left…” “Hmmmm…” So, he’d found out after all.
Just as I blushed and tried to change the subject, I heard a woman’s voice from afar. Oh, it’s her! “My name is Kikuchi. I started working here this month!” Takashi was so surprised and nervous he almost fell off his chair. I don’t remember what we talked about after that. Her gentle, slightly nasal voice and sweet scent… there’s no doubt I felt like I’d hit the jackpot.
●Internal Conflict
Takashi was a frequent visitor to TCGAKKI. It had always been a music store he was on good terms with, but now the real reason was that Ms. Kikuchi. In Takashi’s mind, his focus was split 9:1 between her and the band. At his first band practice in a long time, he hadn’t memorized the songs and his playing was all over the place, earning the band members’ anger and putting him at risk of being kicked out. Even so, just thinking about her made him happy.
One day, the band’s vocalist was standing in front of his house, his face flushed red. “There’s a lot I want to say, but I’ll just say this: choose between the band and the girl.” Thinking to himself that the saying “It’s like being hit in the head with a hammer” was spot-on—even though it didn’t make any sense—he lay down on his futon.His gaze wandered through the room and settled on his beloved Stratocaster, standing there with its rusty strings. Come to think of it, how long had it been since he’d even touched it…? Tears began to flow down Takashi’s face without him even realizing it.
●The Decision
“I’m going to make the band my top priority.” He felt certain about it. The truth was, if he kept playing music, he’d be able to see her again♪ To hide his impure motives, he threw himself into rehearsals with his bandmates. Once the live show schedule was set, he felt a renewed sense of focus and became even more eager to achieve the best possible sound. Since one of the songs required a delay pedal, he stopped by TCGAKKI.Looking around the Effector section, I saw rows of beautiful units—though used, they were all fully serviced and cleaned. The staff let me try out as many as I wanted, which is exactly why I love this store. I’d narrowed it down to a few options. But I didn’t have enough money!
I went back home and pulled a Tokai Strat and an Ibanez electric guitar—both of which I hadn’t used in years—out of the closet. I’d take them to TCGAKKI to trade them in. To show my appreciation for all they’ve done for me, I wiped down the bodies and necks and changed the strings. When I gripped the neck, that familiar, beloved sound brought a smile to my face. That’s right—I’ll take this Tokai Strat to TCGAKKI for their “Instrument Health Check” and have them do a quick setup as well.If I sell the Ibanez, that should help cover the cost of the Effectors.
The next day, before my part-time job, I stopped by TCGAKKI to get the “Instrument Health Checkup” and have the guitars appraised. They checked the neck condition and electronics, and even did a quick setup—all for 2,500 yen. As for the Ibanez, the appraisal came back at more than the cost of the Effectors, so that’s some unexpected cash! And then I got to tell that special someone♪
● A Chance Encounter
On the day of the show, while we were chatting in the green room, the other bands in the lineup walked in. They seemed a bit older than us. After exchanging brief greetings, my eye was caught by a guitar.“That’s a cool-looking guitar,” I said. The finish was peeling, and the fretboard was pitch black—it had the look of a battle-hardened veteran. He replied casually, “It’s a vintage Fender, made in ’73.” Wow! That’s super cool. “I really like the sound, and it was cheap—plus, I’m a fan of the large headstock.” Huh? Large headstock… I didn’t really get it, but it definitely did sound great. “I bought it at a shop in Shin-Okubo.”
“Um, is that TCGAKKI by any chance?” “Yeah, yeah, I go there all the time♪” I’d always thought vintage gear had nothing to do with me, but seeing and hearing the real thing right here on the spot really makes you realize the difference. “Yeah, yeah, that girl who works there—she’s so earnest and cute.” “Oh, Ms. Kikuchi… huh.” I’d been planning to ask him all sorts of detailed questions about the guitar, but I suddenly lost my nerve. What the heck—has a rival appeared? I glanced to my side and saw our vocalist glaring at me with narrowed eyes…
●Shock
After our set ended, I wasn’t satisfied with how the show went, as expected. Shouts of “You messed up after the B-melody in the first song!!” and “You’re rushing too much!” echoed through the venue. To clear my head, I decided to go listen to the other band—the one whose members had been so friendly to me earlier. I remembered them saying they were just playing a cover, so they’d be relaxed about it, but I hadn’t asked what song they were covering. It seemed they’d finished setting up on stage, and the lights went out……
“Zuuuuuuuuuuu...” Whoa!! What is this distortion? Even though I was listening from the very back, the contours were sharp and the sound cut right through—a solid, core sound that didn’t get lost in the distortion. Is this the magic of vintage gear?
Although I didn’t recognize the song itself, I was overwhelmed by the sheer presence of the music and the sound. After the performance, I went up to them and said, “Wow, that was amazing! So cool!! By the way, what band are you covering?” “Deep Purple. Don’t you know them? It’s classic rock, but I’ve gotten really into them lately and have been listening to them a lot.”Deep Purple, huh? After looking them up—well, on Wikipedia, to be honest—I learned they’re a legendary band that has had a massive influence on today’s music.
While realizing once again that we were just frogs in a well, Takashi couldn’t hide the passionate fervor for music that was welling up inside him.
● The End of a Romance
That day came suddenly. I looked up at the sky, trying to hold back my tears… but when I closed my eyes, they began to flow. Yes, Ms. Kikuchi had a boyfriend. On the way home from band practice, as we were all chatting and laughing, a voice called out, “Wow—that’s a Mercedes!!“It’s the latest model!”” At the sound of that voice, everyone turned their gaze toward it. In the brilliant sunlight of a perfectly sunny day, sitting in the passenger seat was Ms. Kikuchi, her face beaming with an even more radiant smile. The Mercedes pulled up smoothly in front of the station; in the driver’s seat was a man who, even from a distance, was clearly handsome. Ms. Kikuchi got out of the car, exchanged a quick kiss with him, and walked away.Even when I thought about how it all began, it felt like mere self-delusion; even when I told myself there was no beginning or end, only a sense of emptiness filled my heart. The vocalist put his arm around my shoulder and said, “I get how you feel. Maybe this is a good way to draw the line…”
It was the first time I’d ever felt this frustrated about being a student and a broke band member. Afterward, I bought some alcohol at a convenience store and downed it at home; my bandmates pretended not to know what was going on and kept me company. Just as I was deeply appreciating how grateful I was to them, someone said, “I found this used CD—let’s give it a listen,” and Deep Purple—a band I’d only just discovered the other day—started playing.There were many songs I’d heard in commercials or as background music—and as I realized just how great the legacy of those who came before me was, I felt how insignificant my own love troubles were. “They still sound awesome even now, don’t they?!” “Yeah, they really do!” I don’t know if the band will last forever, but the music will remain. That summer, Takashi resolved to cherish the friends with whom he was building that music together.