The Hannya mask grinned, its mouth opening to reveal a void of scrolling code. “You didn't want the song, Kenji. You wanted the shortcut. You wanted the ego without the price.”
"Ego Rock" was a cover he’d been waiting for. Originally a vocaloid hit, the idea of Yuko Suzuhana’s powerful, traditional vibrato tackling those frantic lyrics was too much to resist. But the official release wasn't hitting the streaming services in his region for another forty-eight hours. Kenji clicked the link. The Hannya mask grinned, its mouth opening to
The music grew louder, the wadaiko drums thumping in sync with Kenji’s accelerating heart. The walls of his apartment seemed to vibrate, the wallpaper peeling back to reveal glowing circuits underneath. The Hannya mask grinned