CHO SANG IL

Ju-Ken is one of the high demand bassist in Japan who worked with Gackt, Anna Tsuchiya and many other promising figures and he is the protégé of him. At first he think the fact of him being under Ju-Ken is a joke but after a few training session he is sure he is the protégé of the so called high demand bassist, Ju-Ken.

“Reagan” a strict sound comes from his mentor and he stopped playing eyes on him. He know he just spot him making a mistake somewhere. “Start again from first” he says later without much comment and he did as he told to. Reagan starts to play the bass again from the start.

The sound of bass fills the studio and then once again Ju-Ken stops his play. Ju-Ken caress his hair with both of his hand and his expression is strict not like always. The usual Ju-Ken is a little bit easy going and understanding but not today.

“Enough of it, Ju-Ken. You’re too strict to him today” says owner of the studio in which both of them used to practice. Ju-Ken looked at him, totally oblivious the guy coming in.

“Yeah I know” he says admit his moves. But his face clearly shows disappointment that Reagan never seen before.

“I didn’t care what happen just don’t fight and destroy the equipment” says him before he walked out of the room leaving the two of them alone. Reagan looked at him and he began to nervous about it.

Ju-Ken eyes are looking at him before he says “I know you used to be in a group… What its name?”

“Ongoku Adore” says Reagan and Ju-Ken nodded.

“Do you still plan to go with that group?” Ju-Ken question throw Reagan away makes him bites his lips. His thought think of them who the last time he meets is when they decide the hiatus. However they keep a contact with each other asking the wellbeing and wishes.

“I… We still don’t know”

“I’m asking you. Do you plan to go on with that group when they decide to regroup?” another question throw making Reagan shocked but he doesn’t have the answer for that question. He doesn’t even know when they will get back together but he hoped that they can since he is fond of them.

“I know it hard to answer. But for now, when Ongoku Adore is still in hiatus, do you want to perhaps debut under different group?”

“Huh?”

“X Japan’s Yoshiki and Sugizo, Gackt and Miyavi. Four name who not foreign in this Japan music industry, each of them for few years have trained a protégé each. By that name, what do you think?”

Reagan shocked at first but when asked he began to think about it. “S.K.I.N” he answered the name of the super group in which he wish for once to see them perform on the stage but he never got a chance.

“Yes. All of them are planning to revive S.K.I.N once again but since they didn’t have time to get together and perform together, they plan to make their protégé takes this step. And well… Since I’m used to be their session member, they tell me if I can nurture someone to fit into the group”

“And that’s me?”

“I meet a few people and teach them and you’re one of it. You’re one of the best I thought that you will suit this. If you decline, I will arrange someone else for it. Think about it first”

Reagan never thought about it to be debuted once again and in another group than Ongoku Adore. And to top of it the group member will be the protégé of someone who he can’t think of.

His phone rings disturbing his thinking time making him shocked a little and looked at the caller name who comes out to be his sister. “Hello~” he says right ahead when the call connected.

“Hello~ What are you doing right now, Sangil?”

“Nothing. Thinking”

“Just that? You’re not in practice?”

“Already ended a few hours ago. Now at home”

“I see… You’re not planning to do anything else rather than practice under Ju-Ken? How about Ongoku Adore? Aren’t you guys plan to regroup and comeback?”

“I…” he doesn’t know what to answer from that.

“Get settles down already. How long you’re going to be a protégé?”

“Kyeongri…” called Reagan and she hummed back.

“Do you think I should perform on stage?”

“Isn’t that the time in which you feel happiest? You always say about the thrill and the interesting of the stage. How your adrenaline pumped when you play bass on the stage. Don’t you feel a little bit gloomy nowadays? I can feel the whole mood of you”

“If I got a chance to stand on the stage once again…” he says without finishing his sentences when Kyeongri disturbed him by staying “Do it!”

“Listen to me first”

“Yes. I am…”

“Stand on the stage but with different group and different member” says Reagan and she became silence. After a brief second she says “I know you still hang on with Ongoku Adore but how about you take this chance since we never know when Ongoku Adore will end its hiatus”

“That what you think I should do?”

“It’s a chance and also you can learn more when you perform rather than stay in the basement”

“Are you sure?” asked Ju-Ken during their next session practice. “If you need more time to think I will let you” he added later but Reagan shakes his head.

“I think being on stage will give benefit on me” he says and Ju-Ken nod and says “I agree. The more time you stand on the stage the better for you. And you can learn more of it”

This time it is Reagan who nods and then says “I also want to gain name for myself”

“That the way to put it too. If you continue with Ongoku Adore later in future, you already got a name. And it’s actually normal for Japanese band to be in one or two group”

“So, I can?” asked Reagan and Ju-Ken answer “Yes” with a smile before mention that Reagan can continue practice. Through his practice suddenly Ju-Ken says “Ah!” a little too higher that makes Reagan think he makes a mistake.

“Do you perhaps have a suit? We will have to go to a formal party of New Year and late Christmas”

“Erm…” Reagan put on thinking mentally checking his wardrobe and then says “I don’t think”

“It means we need to get one before the party. It will be in one week”

“That fast?”

“Most time go with you thinking over the decision”

It’s a huge party from the card that Reagan has in his hand as he is checking it over. The thought that there will be a lot of shocking figure he will meet during this party makes him flutter a little and he doesn’t realize they arrived.

Both of them get out of the car and headed inside as someone shows them the way. “Can I know if Gackt and Miyavi arrived yet?” he asked toward the staff that shows him the way.

“Miyavi-san arrived a while ago and Gackt-san just arrived a few minutes ago” he explained and Ju-Ken nodded at it. “Looks like we’re the last one” he says looking at Reagan.

“We’re going to meet them?” he asked and Ju-Ken answered with “I didn’t tell you that I will introduce you to them? Well… Basically today all of the protégé will be introduced to each other”

“I will meet them today?”

“That’s right” he says smiling a little “Get along with them as you did with your former member”

“That I need to see first. But I wish that too” he says before both of them enter the room and some eyes on them. Ju-Ken quickly spotted the group in the middle that spot him enter the room.

When both of them get there only Gackt and his protégé’s Raiden there and he asked “I just see everyone here when I come and now they are gone?”

Reagan looked at Raiden and their eyes catch for a while and make him think that this guy will be one of the bands he will be in. He doesn’t catch the talk they share until his mentor say “This is my protégé. His name is…” and later Gackt stop him by saying “Let’s wait. When everyone here we will do the introduction”

 Ju-Ken says “Okay” and they waited for the others to come in which for a few second only. In matter of time the other are there Reagan can see all of them including the protégé.

♛