The Dojo goes by a strict schedule that everyone must follow, opening at 9:00 pm every night and closing at exactly 2:00 am. No one is allowed to stay any later, and no one except employees are allowed in early. With these hours, all Hamato family members are up all night working and performing at the club, not arriving home until 3:00 am, then sleeping most of that morning. With this strict time, Splinter and his sons' days don't officially start until around 11:00 am.

The routine goes as usual, Splinter and Donatello being the first to wake up so the two can begin working on paperwork regarding the club. Beside his talents in singing, Donnie is also known to have a brilliant mind. Ever since he was little, he helps his father with his accounting and taxes, keeping track of how much money is gained and lost each night at The Dojo. Though if you ask around, some believe Donnie is putting his genius mind to waste.

This little arrangement often helps Donnie get out of performing on stage, but with how things are at the moment, Donnie knows his father expects him to do his part and give the people what they want.

As always, the father and son begin their accounting, and this morning was exceptionally different because of the riot that broke out the other night.

"I've already ordered new chairs and glasses to replace the ones that were broken last night," Splinter tells his son. "They should be delivered by noon. So I will be leaving early to take care of the delivery."

"That's good, and with Raph's alleged performance tonight we should make enough money back to pay off this month's extra payments!"

Splinter smiles in relief, "Wonderful... Let's just hope your brother will go through with the deal."

"Father, may I ask you one thing?"

Splinter looks at his son, curious to hear his question.

"These numbers..." Donnie started, looking over the files, "something's off about them. Did you... take some money out of our account again?"

"I did." He refused to make eye contact with his son.

"Why? Where is this money going?"

"As I told you many times before, it is for personal reasons. Let's keep it between the two of us for now. Alright?"

"Father, if you want me to be your personal accountant and help you manage your finances, I have a right to know where this extra money is going. Looking at the files, you've been doing this for-"

"Are you really questioning me?" Splinter scolded, giving his son a cold glare.

"N-No, sir..."

"Good. Now, could you finish up the paperwork for me? I have to be at the club when they deliver the new furniture and glasses. You and your brothers don't have to worry about helping, Slash will be assisting me." Before he walks out of the family office, he looks at his son to give the same reminder he gives every morning, "And remember, you and your brothers must be at The Dojo at exactly 7:00 pm, no later."

Donnie nods, assuring his father that he understands and will follow through with his strict scheduling.

He always gets dismissive when Donnie asks about the money. A secret between the father and son for quite some time. Though Donnie has known for a while, his father always refuses to give detail as to what it is for, but there has been no great harm to their profit, so Donnie always lets it go. Curiosity killed the cat after all, and Donnie is too scared of a cat to only go as far to question his father, but never take further action. Let alone tell his brothers.

"Um, Dad?"

Splinter stops at the door, looking back at his son.

"I, uh, just wanted to let you know that after Raph's performance, Mikey and I will do one of our classic duets. A little final surprise could really 'wow' the audience and make a little extra cash, right?"

Splinter's smile returns, "Wonderful! Thinking like a true business man! I'll see you tonight."

The home grew quiet as Donnie was left alone to finish up the paperwork in the family office to finish The Dojo's paperwork, while his father was out and the rest of his brothers were still asleep.

Once the clock struck two, Donnie knew the coast was clear and he began to head out himself. Collecting his stuff, a backpack full of pencils, notebooks and textbooks, Donnie makes his way out of the family office. He is shocked to find his brother, Raphael, already up and dressed, sitting at the kitchen counter. He was staring intently at a notepad as he furiously tapped his pen against it.

"What are you doing up?" Donnie asked, approaching his brother. "You usually sleep in a little longer."

Raph's eyes remained focused on the notepad, "I wanted time to brainstorm the song I was going to sing tonight."

"Just sing one of your classics. Dad won't care what you sing, as long as you just do it and make him back the money."

Raph sighs, "Yeah, I know. I just want this to be special..." he then looks up at his brother, "Aren't you going to be late?"

"I've got time," Donnie glares. "Are you going to go through with our deal?"

"Yeah, yeah." Raph dismisses, turning back to his notepad, "I'll be friendly with that cigar girl!"

"Oh please don't tell me Raph is gonna put his moves on her!" A voice sneers.

As per usual, Leonardo is the next to wake up. Though he sleeps a little longer than usual, claiming he needs his "beauty sleep", once he's up, Leo spends most of his day pampering himself to prepare for his shows later tonight. He was already dressed and ready for tonight, wearing a clean white shirt, blue tie, and black pants and vest.

As he enters the kitchen, Leo gives Raph a smug smile, patting his brother's shell in a mocking manner, "Just stick to picking up women on the streets. O'Neil is better off with someone better."

"I wouldn't dream of it," Raph shoots back, while also silently assuring Donnie that he will never go after her. Despite Donnie's claim that he doesn't like April that way, Raph knew the truth from the worry in his brother's eyes the moment Leo brought up the idea. Though Raph can't say it, Donnie truly has nothing to worry about, for another woman has already caught Raph's eye.

"Besides, she's not my type. From personal experience, she seems to love putting her nose into other people's business," Raph smirks. "Seems like your kind of woman."

Leo huffs, ignoring his brother's comeback. He then looked at Donnie, noticing his brother's backpack, "Where are you going?"

"No-Nowhere special!"

"Whatever. I don't really care. Where's Father?"

"He went to The Dojo," Raph says, putting his focus back onto his notepad.

"Without me?! Why?!"

"He and Slash are taking care of a delivery before we open tonight," Donnie tells him.

"Eh, that sounds like a bore."

"Then why are you upset?"

"Because regardless, I should be there! If I am going to be running this business someday I should be involved in all business related events and purchases!"

Donnie glares, "I didn't see you rushing out of bed this morning to help work with Dad and I on our taxes and paperwork for the club."

"Math is for boring people," Leo smiles, fixing his tie. "Now, if you'll excuse me, gentlemen, I must go. If I am going to be the future owner of The Dojo, I should be present during these important shipments. Au revoir!"

Throwing his coat over his shoulder, Leo happily leaves the penthouse with a proud smile. The two brothers were alone once again.

"Can you imagine what The Dojo will be like when Dad retires and Leo takes over?" Donnie asked, the moment he saw the elevator door close and Leo was finally out of their sight.

"Absolute hell." Raph says, just thinking of the idea brought him dread.

They share a little chuckle as Donnie checks his wrist watch, "Oh! I'm gonna be late!"

Raph snickers, "Told ya."

Donnie rolls his eyes as he begins heading out, "I'll see you later tonight. And please, don't forget your promise."

"I won't."

Donnie smiles and quickly leaves, with Raph now all alone in the kitchen. Just him and his notepad. He still couldn't think of any ideas for what song he wanted to sing tonight. Raphael wanted to pick the right song. He knew, well he hoped, that Mona Lisa will be attending tonight, so he wanted to pick the right one to impress her, but no ideas came to mind.

"I'm usually so good at this..." Raph sighs to himself in frustration, "Why is trying to impress her making me so nervous?"

The silence was quickly interpreted by the sudden appearance of Raph's little brother, Michelangelo, happily skipping into the kitchen, still in his pajamas.

"Good morning!" Mikey cheers as he enters the kitchen.

"It's 2:30."

"Well then, good afternoon!"

As it always is since they were little, Mikey is the last to wake up. He usually sleeps the longest, often skipping breakfast and going straight to lunch. He sleeps in not because he's exhausted after a long night of performing, more of just at his core, Mikey can be quite lazy. Their father never complains about it however because Mikey still does his part at the club and performs when needed. Raph on the other hand gets an earful when he sleeps in too much.

"How are you feeling, little brother?" Raph asked as Mikey began making himself something to eat.

"Better, but I'm still thinking about Renet..."

"You gonna talk to her?"

"At some point I will. Donnie told me it would be best to talk things out with her. I just... need to think things through before I see her again..."

"Do what you think is best," Raph goes back to focusing on his notepad

"What ya doing?" Mikey asked, peering over his brother's shoulder.

"Brainstorming ideas for the song I'm gonna sing tonight."

"That's unlike you. Just sing one of your classics."

Raph groans, "That's what Donnie said, but I want to do something different." Raph thought it over for a moment. Raph then changed his tone to something more soft as he asked his brother, "How do you decide what song you want to sing every night?"

"Hmm... Well, I usually sing whatever I feel! Like the other night, I knew Renet would be in the audience so I sang a song that reminds me of her, and she knows it's for her! You're not singing for everyone, you're singing for that one special person. So imagine who you wish to sing for, someone special, and go on from there!"

Raph was silent for a moment, taking in his little brother's advice. Mikey does this act all the time when it comes to his relationship with Renet. Any night that the famous actress is out in the audience, Mikey sings a love song dedicated to her. It is also how their father used to show his admiration and love for their mother when they were young. A tradition that Mikey picked up and Raph could follow as well.

"You're not singing for everyone, you're singing for that one special person."

Raphael has never sung for anyone. He has always sung because he was told to. But now, he does have someone who he's singing for. While it started as a deal he made with his father to repair the damages after the massive fight that broke out the other night, the goal has now changed. Raphael now hopes that the burlesque dancer, Mona Lisa, will come to his show tonight.

He wants to sing a song for her, a song that will truly impress her. There are many songs he could choose from. He's won women over many times with his love songs, but Mona is unlike any other women he's met before. He remembers the other night when he first saw her on stage, dressed so elegantly as she danced and sang for all the men in the audience. Old and young, they were calling out to her. They all wanted her. Mona had many admirers that she'd fake a smile for on stage, but Raph was the one she gave a genuine smile to at the end of the night. Nobody else has ever been honored with that.

"Nobody but me..." Raph thought with a smile.

That's when Raph blinked with realization as he told his little brother, "I know what song I'm gonna sing!"

"Great!" Mikey cheered, "Which one?"

"You'll find out tonight," Raph tells him with a wink as he gets up from his chair, leaving the kitchen and heading into the main room of the penthouse to grab his coat from the coat rack.

"Awww! Come on!!" Mikey whines, following his brother into the living room, "Don't you trust me, big bro?"

"I gotta go," Raph says, ignoring Mikey's pleas, getting up from where he sat.

"Where are you going?"

"To The Dojo. I gotta let the Mutanimals know what song I'm doing and rehearse with them. The sooner we rehearse, the better the show will be tonight."

"You are going to rehearse?!" Mikey said in disbelief.

Another realization comes to Raph, changing his mood as he lets out an annoyed sigh, "And then I gotta apologize to that cigar girl..."

"And you're going to apologize to someone?!" The young turtle laughs, "Alright, who are you and what did you do to my brother?"

Raph looks at his little brother, gives a playful scoff and rolls his eyes. As he heads out, Raph puts on his jacket and exits through the penthouse's elevator, leaving Mikey alone in their home, taken aback by his brother's positive response to his teasing.

"Huh, wonder who put him in a good mood." Mikey comments to himself once he was alone, "Still, apologizing to April? Hmm..."

Mikey was surprised by his older brother's comment to apologize to April. He wondered what made Raph decide to do that in the first place. Maybe he feels bad for his actions towards her and getting her in trouble. Though he may not know the exact reason why, Mikey was glad to know his brother and new friend will be getting along better now.

"Looks like Renet was right! April had nothing to worry about!" Mikey smiles before quickly realizing, "Oh, right, Renet..."

Maybe Michelangelo owes someone an apology, too.

Mikey thought for a moment then turned and went to the family phone in the main room of the penthouse. He grabs it and turns the dials, entering in a number. He then lifts up the mouthpiece with one hand and holds the receiver end near the side of his face as he soon hears ringing on the other end.

"Hey Renet," Mikey says the moment he hears the actress's voice answer his call, "It's me. Um... Can we meet up later and talk?"