The day slipped into evening as I was dressed in my kimono ensemble. The same dance, but different. I matched Osamu-san's movements in the pair dance of assembly. He was quick and sure, so I had to be. Concentrating on the next moment. 

Though still light outside, it was after dinnertime by the time we started discussing the day's events for tomorrow. A light, catered dinner was there waiting for us in a hastily put together meeting room full of couches and chairs. I'd already eaten with Sana, so we sat on a couch together with his cheek laid on a tea towel barrier on my silken shoulder. 

I'd been surprised to find us rolling up to a university. It looked very modern. The ride here had been unusually long as well. I was very interested to know about this particular performance, because it was a very unusual venue.

Among the delicious smells of Mexican food, Keitaro started to speak. My arm went tighter around Sana as we listened.

"As you can see, we're at a university," Keitaro began. He gestured to the room welcomingly. "When we were organizing the tour, we thought it would be a nice change of pace. Not as much pressure, after L.A and Las Vegas."

Everyone nodded in acknowledgement. Some looked relieved, others were obviously nervous. 

He cleared his throat and went on. "We'll be arranged differently this time. We'll be joined by a few students from the university who are studying traditional Japanese music-"

"Ohh!" I interrupted him, unable to help myself. Too happy about it. 

He chuckled at me, and there were a few other little giggles. In particular, I noticed Fumi giggling at me. It was refreshing, so familiar. No doubt, he thought I was being childish. I didn't care. 

"I knew you'd be happy about that," Keitaro pointed out. "This is one of the reasons why I wanted you to be here. For these students, your dancing and singing in particular is an honor to see and hear. I can't wait for you to meet them. From what I've been told, they haven't yet arrived."

"What do they play?" I asked.

"Shamisen, koto, and taiko. I hear their taiko player in particular is out of this world."

Taiko. It had been so long since I'd danced to it, but I could already imagine it. My feet moving to those beats, searching out when the next would come at a rapid pace, or a slow drumming to show a gentle emotion. It was only filling me with excitement. 

He went on, and I could hardly pay attention. "We'll be arranged on the stage differently. A half circle towards the back and sides, to showcase Tetsu's dancing. It's more of an educational performance. The audience will mostly be university students and faculty. However, by no means does that translate to this being more casual. If anything, it's more formal than what we've been doing. We have to be at our best. It's the very definition of the purpose of this tour: showing the west Japanese culture and how it can be blended with the west for a universal understanding. We'll be performing Yellow Lizard songs in a more traditional format, but also traditional songs."

This would be Lyra's adaptation at their best. Suddenly, what they'd said before was becoming more clear. How Keitaro had been testing them to see their adaptation abilities before. It had to be true. 

Masaki carefully raised his hand. Keitaro chose him. He cleared his throat.

"What if we don't know some of the songs?" He asked. Nobu was beside him and seemed to want to know eagerly, too. A memory of him in Okinawa saying he wasn't a Yellow Lizard fan appeared in my mind. It made me worried. It definitely meant he didn't know how to play Yellow Lizard songs.

"Sorry, if I was being unclear," Keitaro said, bowing slightly to the room. "Yellow Lizard is playing with the students, not Lyra. Lyra will still have the standard thirty minute set beforehand."

Now Shizue's hand was raising in the air. He chose her as well.

"What if some of us want to play with Yellow Lizard?" She said this with such confidence. Beside her, Hikaru was definitely interested to know the answer, too. I could understand why. It had been a long time since we'd performed purely traditional songs together in Mermaid Orchestra. Really, this performance was reminding me a lot of Mermaid Orchestra. And with that, I solved the problem.

My hand went up next. Sana adjusted on my shoulder and I squeezed him close. "Maybe we can make this be like a Mermaid Orchestra performance," I suggested. This made Hikaru's eyes light up, so clearly.

"It's a Yellow Lizard performance," Fumi said quickly, almost interrupting me. "That's who they've paid to come see. Keitaro is doing most of the singing."

That's not what I'd meant at all, but Fumi being contrary was definitely familiar. Instead of being offended, I was relieved to see it. 

"It's an interesting idea, though. I want to hear more," Keitaro said, taking control again. This is exactly why he was the leader of Yellow Lizard. Fumi settled back into his seat, sticking his fork into his burrito bowl again in quiet defeat.

I took his suggestion gratefully. "Well, we have Hikaru here. He knows a lot of traditional songs due to being in Mermaid Orchestra. In fact, Lyra knows Mermaid's Orchestra's entire discography, because Sana loved to practice with our songs. Performing a traditional song set from Mermaid Orchestra would work, because then the majority of us would know the songs we're performing, back to front. We didn't only have original songs, we also had folk songs that everyone knows, though our own renditions of them. I would hope the students we're performing with would know these folk songs, too. They're pretty common, such as 'Akatonbo' and 'Edo Lullaby'. In what better way can we showcase Japanese culture? We can put western instruments into it, just like Mermaid Orchestra does. In fact, Sana and I were talking about just this sort of thing. He wants to create a medley of folk songs on our mini album using the same concept."

I was so proud of what I was saying. The more I spoke, the more it sounded exactly like what Keitaro had been suggesting. The sounds of the instruments were filling my head, an old recording of "Edo Lullaby". However, what would it sound like with everyone's participation? Suddenly, I wanted to get right onto the stage. I couldn't wait. 

Keitaro looked thoughtful, considering this. However, Hikaru was already committed. He didn't even have to tell me. I could tell just from his face. Always my loyal kouhai. 

Fumi interrupted us again, though. He even put down his fork for it. "The students have been practicing Yellow Lizard songs. They've been practicing for months. We can't change it on them last minute, because suddenly more people want to participate."

My dreams of dancing to westernized versions of folk songs was fading with this. Maybe my face reflected it, because Keitaro waved his hand in front of his nose as if to dismiss what Fumi had said. 

"Let's not argue. I'm sure there's a little bit of adaptability. Let's see what the students want to do, as well. For now, let's eat. I really like your ideas, Tetsu. That's exactly what I was talking about. I'm glad you're enthusiastic."

Fumi shrugged and began eating again. I was glad he didn't have any sort of retort. 

After a small while as I imagined it all in my head, liking it more and more, I chanced to glance over at Sana. I was pleased to find him dozing. It caused me to remain more still, holding him gently but firmly, as I dreamed some more. The things he'd said a while ago, about creating a medley of folk songs. The idea was correct. Our enthusiastic conversation, about it being universally loved. How it could bring in an audience of the variety that Lyra wasn't used to, opening us up to spreading even more smiles. Mixing with it with the west. It was already reflected in Lyra's costumes, too. This was definitely what Keitaro was already leaning towards. This performance was the perfect way to test out the idea. 

I couldn't wait to meet the students. What would they say? Could they speak Japanese? What got them in studying Japanese music, and why those instruments in particular? There was so much I wanted to ask. it was rare to find people who were that into traditional music, and finding Americans who loved it was rarer still. In fact, the only American I knew who liked it was currently asleep on my shoulder.

Sawai-san came over to us after another while. She had a burrito in her hand and kept it smartly well away from my white silk. I felt like I should be covered in a blanket due to all the food in the room. 

"Is Sana alright? Yuuhi said he was sick earlier. Tummy sick. He's not going to be performing, is that right?" She sat on Sana's other side, being careful with him.

"Yes, he's not feeling well. I want him to rest. We think it's the food here. It's so heavily spiced, and everything has at least a mild heat. He had some McDonald's earlier."

Her lips pressed together at this as she considered it. "I'm glad he isn't eating this dinner, then," she said. "Did you eat, also?"

I smiled at her. "Yes. I always eat a little bit before I get into my costumes. I often can't eat when I'm wearing them. They might get stained."

"Ohh, yes. I remember from before. You ate while you were covered in a towel."

I was pleased that she remembered this. "Yes, that's usually how it is. Really, having to eat with Sana earlier was a blessing. I can't imagine trying to eat Spanish rice and seasoned chicken while wearing this."

She gave a small chuckle. "Yes, that would be a disaster. It sure is tasty, though."

"I'm sure it is."

Silence filled the room as everyone continued eating, waiting for the students to arrive. Yellow Lizard's manager went around, making sure we'd received tomorrow's set list on our phones. So, it was set in stone. There was no room to wiggle. However, I had to understand. I wanted to do what the students had practiced, after all. The more I read over the set list, the more I came to understand that. These students weren't professionals. They couldn't just change things at the last minute like we could. 

As I read it, Sana dozed on, causing a warm feeling in my heart. Thinking about my dancing to these songs, getting more excited for what was to come. Not being able to wait to hear the mixing of traditional and west that the students would bring.