Sour Notes

“You’re wonderful! Good night!”  Hishikawa Isao shouted to a packed house. The crowd cheered as the band left the stage. It felt great to play another show. Tokyo was the last stop on the tour. Five years in and Charm Inu was finally getting major recognition. Isao basked in the glam around him. A perk for the music, of course.

“Great show tonight,” Kaz, their manager, said. “Excellent as always! Wonderful! Wonderful!”

“Thanks Kaz,” Isao said. He walked out of the building with his guitar on his back. Such a kiss ass. But, the vocalist didn’t think about that. Isao only had one thing in mind.

Outside of the club, he found a limo waiting for him. A small smile came onto Isao’s face. He shook his head. The vocalist walked up to the back seat and tapped on the window. He waved as it rolled down.

“Yo,” he said. A man with light brown hair poked his head out the window. His eyes lit up when he saw Isao.

“Missed me?” the man asked.

“I guess,” Isao said. He opened the door and got inside. The other man looked fancy in his light purple suit. His hands looked well-groomed. Even his hair was neatly cut.

“How are you?” he asked.

“Good,” Isao said. “And you?”

“I’m good,” the man said. He cuddled up to the vocalist.

“I missed you so much,” he purred. He tried to kiss him on the neck. Isao pushed him off.

“Not tonight, Gary,” he said. “I just want to get home.” Gary looked so disappointed.

“Fine,” he muttered. Gary let go and sat on his side of the limo. Isao looked out the window.

“How was the rest of the country?” Gary asked.

“Pretty good,” Isao said. “Hokkaido was beautiful. Mom would’ve loved it.” His mind went back to his mother. How long had it been since he last saw her? Isao rubbed his forehead.

“Something wrong?” Gary asked.

“Eighteen months,” the vocalist said.

“Excuse me?” the other man asked. Isao turned to him.

“I’ve been away from home for eighteen months,” he said.

“It happens,” Gary said. “That’s how your career is.”

“I know,” the vocalist said. “I’m just tired.” He looked out the window again. Gary said nothing.

“Driver, could you take Hishikawa-san to his home?” he asked.

“Yes sir,” the driver said.

“Thank you,” Isao mumbled. Gary rubbed his shoulder. The vocalist shoved him off. The other man looked out the window.

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The limo pulled up to Isao’s childhood home. (Gary gave him the directions.)

“Good night,” Gary said. Isao bowed and waved as the limo pulled away. The vocalist took a breath and turned to the door. He had waited for eighteen months to see his mother again. Nothing could keep him away from her. She would always come first in Isao’s life.

“I’m home,” he said as he walked into the house. When he took off his shoes, something didn’t feel right. Isao slowly made his way to the living room. His stomach dropped at what he saw. His mother sat on the couch in the arms of an Indian man. They were kissing in the dark. Isao’s jaw dropped.

“What the hell is going on?!” he cried. The couple jumped as they broke away.

“Isao-kun!” his mother said. “When did you get home?” Isao pointed to the man next to his mom.

“Who the hell is this?!” he asked. The man grabbed Isao’s man by the hand.

“I’m her husband!” he said.