Chapter 4
Jun yawned, stretching his arms above his head before he gave Brian a sleepy wave hello and stepped into the club. If someone asked him in an interview if the early starts and late nights with only Sundays off were worth it, of course he would have said yes. If someone asked him now, when he was running on the power of a cup of tea and four hours of sleep, he wasn't quite sure his answer would be the same. His Canadian manager and his Korean manager both stepped out of the office together, and Jun looked between them in confusion.
"In," his Korean manager ushered him into the office and Jun just sat down in front of the desk, getting more and more confused as the time passed. The tension hung heavy in the air and he sipped at some of water while he waited.
"Yuzuru," Jun's head snapped up and he saw the other artist step into the office with his guitar over his back, "thanks for coming in early."
"It's no problem," Yuzuru sat down next to Jun, finishing off his breakfast bar as Brian and Jun's Korean manager sat on the other side of the desk. "Thanks for coming in early Jun."
The youngster blinked at him, shrugging with a shy smile. "I'm always here at this time. It's no trouble. Uh... Why are we here?"
"Mr Hanyu has made a request to write and record a collaboration with you," Jun's manager cut in before Brian could respond, speaking in Korean just to confuse the other further, "for his newest album."
"I have no idea what he just said," Brian's tone was scathing and cold, full of disdain for the other, "but Jun, Yuzuru would like do collaborate with you on a song."
"I'd love to!" Jun responded in English first before he glanced at his manager, smile dropping. "I can, right?"
Brian wasn't quite sure what his Korean manager was saying, but, from Jun's expression, it wasn't pleasant news. Jun nodded, responding quietly in Korean before he swapped to English for the benefit of Brian and Yuzuru.
"I can!"
"Great," the pair left the office together to head into one of the studios with a piano. Yuzuru made a firm point to shut the door in Jun's manager's face.
"Jun," Yuzuru asked as the younger sat in front of the piano, running his fingers over the keys, "have you ever been in love with someone that you can't be with?"
He sighed, playing a few notes from the start of his signature song, Boy with a Star. Yuzuru sat beside him on the piano stool just watching as the younger played through the song, humming the tune instead of singing it.
"What does it mean?" Yuzuru asked him, a little hesitant to break the gentle atmosphere.
"Across a long way, illuminating the dark night, stars resemble you shining brightly. With a glittering appearance inevitable to look at, the stars resemble us shining in sadness. That's what the chorus means roughly. So yes, to answer your question, I have been in love with someone I can't be with. Even if I wanted to be with them, I couldn't because I'm not allowed to date."
"But you can tell them through the music."
"Like they understand Korean," Jun mumbled and Yuzuru nudged his shoulder.
"That's the point. We do it in Japanese and Korean, with one part in English for them to understand."
Jun nodded and gave him a small smile as he got out his notebook too. "Lyrics first and then the music, or music then the lyrics?"
"Music."
Yuzuru mapped out some chords for them to follow and Jun improvised to them on the piano, keeping the melody light but sad. They adjusted it together, making little alterations that Jun noted down on the manuscript in his notebook, adding chord markers above the lines of handwritten music. Time seemed to fly by for the pair of them and, after a few hours of bouncing ideas off each other and ignoring the incessant knocking on the studio door from Jun's manager, had most of the melody and piano part down.
"Time for a break?" Yuzuru asked Jun with a smile and the youngster nodded, following him out of the studio and into the cafe. Once again, to Yuzuru's dismay, he only sipped at his water.
"Little birdie told me that you guys were working on something together," Jason slipped into the seat beside Yuzuru, setting his guitar down on the spare seat next to him. "Care to share?"
"Oh, just a little something for the Seven Stages of Grief," Yuzuru nodded to Jason's guitar with a raised eyebrow and a smile. "Play us something from your album?"
"Right now in the cafe?" Jason looked around. Being an exclusive facility, the only people in where the staff or the few artists who had signed with the studio.
"It's only us and that poor guy over there who looks like he'd rather be anywhere else," Yuzuru said with a shrug. "You don't have to if you don't want to."
Jason shrugged and carefully got his acoustic guitar out of the case. He adjusted the tuning of the strings for a moment before he put on the capo and started picking at the strings, playing light notes.
"Alright. This is track number six on CA-23 and it's called Let Her Go. I hope you guys enjoy it."
Jason, although often overlooked as a musician compared to other American artists, had a beautiful voice and, when performing a song that was as soulful as this, it really shone through. The pair sat transfixed as they watched Jason pour his emotions out through his guitar and song lyrics. He kept his eyes closed; perhaps it was out of fear that they would see the emotion in his eyes and realise who the song was truly written for, even though the pronouns were changed. The last few words were unaccompanied and, even in the poor acoustics of their cafeteria, they still carried for a few moments before they were replaced by deafening silence.
"Wow," Yuzuru was the first to break it with a word barely whispered, "that's a beautiful song, Jason."
"You think so? I was a little worried that it might be too... Emotional for the world."
"I think the singing world is emotional right now, and that's what we need." Jun pointed out. "Javi left. We all need time to process the change and, for us, music is the best way to do it. Besides, I'm sure your entire album isn't just emotional songs, is it?"
"Oh, God, no," Jason laughed. "I've written this one that's like an upbeat country thing. Very American."
"Just like you then." Jun teased as both he and Jason laughed.
"What kind of songs have you got written Jun? You had such an amazing blend of styles on The Beginning, especially when you compare ones like Juliette and Energetic with Boy with a Star, and She's in the Rain. Are you going for a blended style album again?"
"Kind of," Jun shrugged. "Almost all the songs are kind of sad this time around."
"How many have you recorded so far?"
"Only four. I'm meant to have six done by the end of the week but I don't think it'll happen. Maybe we'll move things around so that I can film some of the videos and do the album art instead."
"Which four have you recorded?"
"My Turn to Cry, Lonely, Ah Yeah, and Love in the Ice. Ah Yeah is more upbeat I promise, even if the lyrics are still a little sad."
"Oh I've got a song like that!" Yuzuru sat back and let the conversation flow between Jun and Jason. "It's called Go Your Own Way, and it's honestly one of my favourite songs from the album. What's your next album called anyway Jun?"
"Love Story. I named it!"
"And what about you, Yuzu? How many songs have you recorded from Seven Stages of Grief?"
"Two, but Jun and I have practically written one and will be writing another one together so soon we can record them together too. Tears, and Cassis have been recorded."
"Man, we really are depressing at the moment with our music," Jun burst out laughing. "Maybe I shouldn't wear pastel colours. They don't really fit the vibe."
"You should keep wearing your pastel colours Jun," the table looked up at Conrad slipped into the free seat beside the KPop star. "They really suit you. You look really cute in them."
Yuzuru and Jason exchanged a look when they could have sworn a blush ran across Jun's cheeks.
"How's your album going, Conrad? We were just discussing all of ours." Jason invited him into the conversation with the same warmth as a mug of hot chocolate on a winters day.
"Damn, I missed hearing about my favourite artist," Conrad joked, "but my album is going alright. I'm still not sure what to call it yet, but I've got two songs written. Kid in Love, and Mercy."
"Please tell me that you're not joining the depressing group," Jun gestured to the rest of them before his smile dipped and he stood from the table. "Sorry guys, got to go. Same time tomorrow, Yuzu?"
"Bye Jun," Yuzuru gave him a wave and inhaled sharply as he watched the youngster go. "Dear God is his management bitchy."
"What happened?" Jason asked. "If you don't mind saying, of course."
"My Korean is by no means perfect, but I'm pretty sure his manager said he's going to be working Sundays now. You know, rest day. He's going to be working them to make sure that he gets this album done in time."
Although he adored dancing, one of Jun's favourite things was taking the art for the album covers and promotional material. His hair was styled in a way to make it look completely natural, with little waves in the rippling black strands that stood out against the softness of the pastel pink hoodie they put him in and white jeans. Comfortable and casual, his stylists had done light makeup to bring out the best in him, and all the light colours contrasted the sleek black of the piano lid.
"You want me to what?" Jun asked as politely as he could manage.
"Lie on the piano on your side and, with your lower arm, play one of the keys." The director of the photo shoot repeated as the camera crew adjusted the green screen behind it.
"I'll dent the piano," Jun protested lightly. His manager rolled his eyes and stepped in front of him with his arms folded and glared at him.
"You wouldn't if you stuck to that diet we told you to and lost the 28 pounds, that wouldn't be a worry. We're already days behind schedule and that's why you're going to be working extra days until we get back to where we should be. Now get on the piano."
He lay on the piano, doing as he was told, and adjusted to fit each of the poses that the director instructed him to do. For hours, he kept his smile up and did what he was told until they declared he was done.
"Go to the gym," his manager instructed as Jun headed to go back towards the club to work on his songs. "You need to."
While Yuzuru worked on his album with only Keiji and Ghislain daring to interrupt him to either take him home or record it for him, Jason got ready to film the music video for Dancing on My Own. He'd gone out with Tracy and Shoma accompanying him, as his manager and stylist, and they congregated at the night club filled with extras that Jason had requested. In the back stage part, mirrors had been set up for him as a makeshift dressing room. Shoma handed him the outfit that had been selected: casual pale blue jeans, a light blue shirt, and a red and black plaid shirt over the top. His curls were pushed out of his eyes and he prayed that Shoma didn't notice the blush that spread across his nose and cheeks as the other applied his makeup for him. It was subtle but enough to bring out Jason's eyes more, making them sparkle in the low light of the club setting. Shoma lingered beside Tracy, watching as the story of the music video unfolded and they recorded Jason singing about being left and replaced by her, whoever she was.
I'm in the corner, watching you kiss her. Shoma's heart fluttered when Jason happened to face him, singing the words as they would then cut out the audio and overlay the song to make it fit.
I'm right over here. Why can't you see me? I'm giving it my all, but I'm not the guy you're taking home. I keep dancing on my own.
Shoma's heart hurt and he forced himself to look away, earning a look full of concern from Tracy. She reached out and gave him a silent comforting pat on the shoulder. Every word Jason sang went straight to Shoma's heart.
"It's a beautiful song," Shoma said to him when he managed to plaster a smile on his face for his friend at the end of the recording.
"I'm glad you like it," Jason said, avoiding Shoma's eyes and looking instead over at one of the walls that suddenly became the most interesting thing that he'd ever seen.
"Is it written about someone?" Shoma dared to ask. Jason nodded in response and his heart sunk
You don't see me standing here