Princes of Rock
by Suke
Hoi! It's finally the Oishi chapter! Suke-san has been so looking forward to this. ^_^ Hope you like it as much as I do! About Oishi and a certain genki MTV VJ: R & R kudasai!
Personal notes at end.
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Chapter 4: An Overused Pun
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Oishi Shuichiroh: Really Oishi(i)? (Dec 9, 2003, Tuesday -- From the Inui files)
After releasing his second album, 'Cares of the World', to critical acclaim, Oishi Shuichiroh was voted Rock Artist of the Year by the Rolling Stones Magazine. He is also one of People's magazines 50 most beautiful people. He is best known for his incredible onstage presence and stirring performances, supported by one of the most stunning voices in the rock industry.
Other than that, he is notoriously elusive and camera shy. Oishi has never appeared in interviews outside of print and, even then, only very seldom (13%). In his few interviews, he is continuously portrayed as quiet and retiring, a far cry from his powerful performing persona. He has also never attended an awards ceremony, despite winning many awards, apart from last year's MTV Music Awards where he delivered stirring renditions of his hit singles 'Depend' and 'Seeing Blue, Feeling Red' to a standing ovation.
The mystery obscuring this famous star is further heightened by many stories of his aloofness, diva behaviour and possible (48%) darker pasts. This singer's hordes of loyal fans are not at all discouraged by the gossip however and it is true that nothing can be proved conclusively as yet.
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He hums to himself cheerfully as he walks through the aisles of the supermarket, pushing a shopping cart laden with fresh fruits and vegetables, meat and other foodstuffs. There isn't even a frown when he hits an off-note. It is a good day even if he did miss the morning marketing hours and end up buying food from a supermarket.
Under the artificial dirty white light, in a faded polo t-shirt from his tennis club days in high school and scruffy faded blue jeans, and an old pair of tennis shoes, cart full of incongruous groceries and a comfortably used black winter jacket, he remains an unremarkable sight. Hmm, what else does he need to get? He's going a little overboard with the quantity he knows but it's been so long since he last had a chance to eat dinner with his family, let alone cook for them. Tonight, he wants to make it extra special.
"Oishi Shuichiroh," the cashier tallying up his bill suddenly says and his face gains an imperceptible hardness, eyes quickly searching for the nearest exit.
"'Seeing Blue, Feeling Red', right? I love that song too!" He receives a grin from the cashier along with this statement about the tune he's been humming. "It's the most romantic thing. Makes me wish I had blue eyes and red hair."
She giggles and totals up his bill. He pays her, separating his purchases and arranging them carefully between his backpack and the cloth carrier he used for grocery shopping. He wouldn't want to crush the tofu now, would he?
"Yes, I have special feelings for that song too," he smiles at her warmly as he collects his change, relief washing through him.
So, he wasn't recognized after all. Of course, Oishi Shuichiroh seldom is due to his characteristically un-rock star-like dressing and behaviour. He's even cycled out today. It is what he chooses when he isn't on stage. Sometimes he feels that this is the real him. But then, that loud, glaring personality on stage is also Oishi Shuichiroh. It is just another side to him, or rather, the same side under different circumstances.
Once, he'd nearly been thrown out of a recording studio because of the disparity between his rock star self and daily self. It was quite funny but he had been very sorry for making the security guard feel so embarrassed.
Oishi smiles to himself as he enters his home, neatly arranging his shoes in place before putting away the groceries. He marinates the chicken and then puts it in the fridge. Now, he has an hour or so before he has to start cooking. It will be one of his family's favourites tonight: Teriyaki chicken with leek miso soup and rice plus an agedashi tofu side dish. And he's going to cook extra rice to make some unagi and sour plum onigiri too.
His smile widens when he sees the clock above the kitchen counter. Great! It's just past four, right on time for his favourite show.
MTV's Most Wanted isn't exactly a show typical of Oishi's preferences. Oishi likes documentaries and travel shows mostly but recently this show, which takes in the music video requests of viewers at home and plays them live, has become strangely attractive.
Maybe it is his increasing involvement in the music industry. Maybe it's because he likes to hear what fans think of his music. Maybe he likes to see the industry standard and what other singers are doing. Maybe it's the irresistibly cute and hyperactive host.
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"Hoi hoi! The next request is from Hito Ranmaru. Nya, what a cute name! I really like the name Ranmaru. I wish I was called Ranmaru." Kikumaru Eiji threw an adorable pout at his image on the screen attached to the camera. "Except Kikumaru Ranmaru sounds a bit weird nya."
When he looked directly at himself in the screen, it looked as though he was looking straight into the camera's lens to the television audience. Eiji thought that was infinitely distracting but, being the consummate professional, didn't even stop to notice how cute he was.
"This viewer who owns this wonderful name wants to see the music video of one of my all time favourite songs! Nya, what good taste! It's Oishi Shuichiroh's 'Seeing Blue, Feeling Red'!" He prattled on merrily.
"Oishi Shuichiroh is so hot nya! And it's like he's singing this song just for me since my eyes are blue and my hair," at this the energetic boy reaches up momentarily to brush his bangs from his eyes, "is red!"
"The other day, I actually had a dream about Oishi in his boxers! But I was so happy that I woke up," commiserated the boy to his audience and then he blushed. "Unnya, did I just say that out loud? I hope Oishi-san isn't watching. That was embarrassing."
"Why don't we watch his video now while I go over there and feel stupid nya?"
Eiji walked out of the camera's range at the director's signal and flopped down on an empty chair. Oh, that was stupid, the boy berated himself. He was practically gushing about the guy on international television to millions of viewers all over the world. How could he ever face his favourite rock star now?
Of course, rock stars were supposed to be busy people with lots of glamorous things to do so chances were that Oishi wasn't even watching the show. Which rock star would be sitting on his couch at four in the afternoon watching MTV? Rock stars led exciting lives! They had albums to cut, interviews, rehearsals, museum openings and parties to attend.
And Eiji had always secretly thought that Oishi would be more of a Discovery channel person anyway.
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"Shuichiroh-gen? Are you alright? You're looking a bit flushed." A gentle hand rested briefly on his forehead.
"Ah! Oka-san," Oishi sits up in surprise, not having heard his mother enter the room. "I'm fine."
"Okay, but make sure you take care of yourself," his mother pats his head. "Oka-san hardly gets to see you anymore so I worry."
Oishi smiles as she leaves the room. And then, his attention is caught once again by a certain bouncy redhead reappearing on the television screen.
Remembering what the redhead had said just moments before, Oishi finds himself blushing again.
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Oishi Oishii (Dec 10, 2003, Wednesday -- Great Reporter Inui)
Oishi Shuiciroh fandom has reached new heights. Not only has his newest album, 'Cares of the World' gone platinum, and his two newest singles released received numerous award nominations, popular MTV VJ Kikumaru Eiji has declared himself to be a huge fan.
Kikumaru Eiji is known for his unfailingly cheerful personality, wit and ability to make even the dumbest things sound like world issues. It is accepted worldwide that he has the capacity to make or break any performer in the music industry with his mere opinion. Record numbers of viewers tune in each day to catch his segments on MTV and he receives fanmail by the truckload.
Ever since Oishi's first single release, Kikumaru has publicly supported the singer's works culminating in an interview yesterday morning with a local teen magazine where he claimed that Oishi was his very favourite singer.
For another snapshot of his popularity, Oishi's name has also become synonymous with the word 'delicious'. Food and beverage vendors are interchangeably using the name 'Oishi Shuichiro' and words like 'tasty'. Several puns have appeared. Examples seen in shop windows recently are 'Shuu good!' and 'More Oishi than Oishii!'.
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Doumo for reading! Review? Please? *irresistible shiny puppy-dog eyes*
Next up is a side-track that Suke-san couldn't help putting in. Who is this Kunichi-san? Cameo by lucky (and pretty) Sengoku-san, a little Fuji and some Davide-san!!!
Thank yous to all of you who reviewed! Suke-san is so grateful! Regatto, Mew Mew, Cheeseburger of Doom, Yukirei, Cooro, hikaruchi, Witty Phantom and hellen! You're all so wonderful!
Haha, okay, about the votes: 2 for TezuFuji and 2 for TezuAtobe! Oh no, what now? The rest are pretty straightforward with 1 for MomoRyo and 1 for KajimotoWakato.
Yukirei: Thanks for reviewing! I don't mind if people don't review but it's always nice to know people are actually reading ^_^ And thank you for liking the puns!
hellen: Of course you can vote! I love votes! And Tezuka isn't really a song-writer. He's a --well, he turns up in the next chappie! Read a see ^_^