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Secret Identity
by Black Rainbow

Chapter 3

Why hasn’t he called? Hanamichi thought angrily. Taoka seemed impressed by Androgynous Zone during the audition. But it’s been a few weeks and they still haven’t heard from *crush. Maybe Taoka was just pulling a power trip or something.

He guessed he could have asked Kiminobu, but his brother haven’t been home these past few days – in the sense that he goes out every morning before Hanamichi wakes up, and comes back way after everyone is asleep. Hanamichi wasn’t sure, but he thought he saw Kiminobu hanging out with Tetsuo’s gang once, which really worried him. His brother isn’t exactly the type of person you’d see hanging out with Tetsuo. Something weird must be going on.

Hanamichi heard the front door open. He looked up to see Kiminobu walking in. Speak of the devil. Kiminobu slumped onto a chair and took off his glasses. He glanced at Hanamichi. “With that hair, Hanamichi, even in your ordinary clothes you can almost pass for a skinny girl.”

Hanamichi glared at his brother, and scowled. “Taoka still haven’t called us,” he muttered a tad childishly. His brother’s eyes widened in dismay.

“I forgot to tell you!”

“What?” Hanamichi asked, fear gripping him. He may be the self-proclaimed tensai, but part of him feels so self-conscious when it comes to his music. Of course, he usually covers it up with more bragging. We’re lucky we got to audition, he told himself. After all, *crush is one of the hottest new clubs in Shohoku.

“Taoka wanted to know if you’re available for one set this Friday.”

“WHAT?” the redhead roared. “And he couldn’t call earlier?”

“He called last week…” Kiminobu said. “I guess I forgot to tell you. Gomen.” He really did look sorry, but Hanamichi didn’t care.

“How am I supposed to get a set ready by Friday?”

“I don’t know. You can always use your usual songs.”

“We still need time to practise!” Hanamichi snapped. Then he asked, “you’re going to be there, right?”

“Of course,” Kiminobu said, trying to smile.

“You blew us off twice already,” Hanamichi muttered. “I don’t think Mitsui and the band would be very happy if you ditch us a third time.” He threw in Mitsui’s name just to get a reaction out of Kiminobu. And sure enough, he could see his brother’s face fall as he stepped out of the living room.

About an hour later, ‘Miyamoto Hana’ stepped out of Hanamichi’s room, clad in a long split skirt and a red top with the words ‘rebel’ on it. He and the band had been out shopping for clothing to support their ‘new look’, especially for him (of course – like he’d have girl clothes lying around!). Hana walked down the staircase and saw his father trying to move a large box (probably full of books – new arrivals for his father’s bookstore).

“Need any help?” Hana asked in his newly cultivated ‘girl voice.’ His father looked up in surprise as he took the box out of his father’s arms and set it near the other new arrivals.

“Thanks,” his father grunted. “You’re really strong for a girl.” He glanced at Hana. “You’re Hanamichi’s friend?”

“You could say that,” Hana answered, glad that his disguise worked.

His father frowned. “Do I know you?”

Hana laughed. “I think so.” His father stared at him and staggered backwards.

“Hanamichi?” His father choked out, taking in the clothing. He scratched his head. His parents have warned him once about the dangers of raising two teenage boys by himself, but they never prepared him for this. Deciding that it’s just a phase and hoping his son would soon get over it, he asked, “are you going through an identity crisis or something?”

Hanamichi grinned. “Something like that,” he answered. It was a much easier explanation than the truth, he supposed.

“When you figure out what it is exactly, will you let me know?” his father asked.

“Hai,” he answered, suppressing a laugh. It’s a shame he couldn’t take a picture of his father’s face at the moment. It was hilarious – well, to him anyway. His poor ‘tou-chan was thinking he might get a heart attack.

Half an hour later, Hana was at Rukawa’s place for practice. Things seemed to be going well. Okay, so Taoka wasn’t making any promises. Kiminobu told him that Taoka was only hiring them for one set. Judging from that, he would decide whether to hire them on a nightly basis or not. As they practiced “Leave Me Now,” one of their newer songs, they hoped that their set would be good enough by Friday.

-TBC-

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