Beat Your Heart

A solitary militant call shatters the sunset silence.

Taresukuten taresukuten

Seventeen voices respond in unison.

Don

Their exchange continues, rising in urgency before falling back into rhythm.

Taresukuten taresukuten

Don don

Taresukuten taresukuten

Don, don don don don don don don don

Their chant is repeated, once, building further with a more forceful eight-count added at the end. The voices break together for another melody.

Don, don, don-don--

A brief interjection from a different set of voices, twenty strong now: "Sore!"

Don, don, don-don

"Hai!"

It repeats for a total of four rounds, shaking the glass panes and vibrating the floorboards. A volleyball hits the windows but is drowned out by the building force within.

The twenty voices lead now.

"Sore zu--" Don

"Zu--" Don

"Zu--" Don-don

The briefest moment of pause after three repetitions before--

Don

And the Cha!--cha!--cha! of wood-on-wood.

Don

Cha!--cha!--cha!

Unified, hearts beating with each stroke, they return to the original melody.

Don, don, don-don--

"Sore!"

Don, don, don-don

"Hai!"

Twelve full rounds, two position trades, sweaty hands resisting blisters, aching arms continuing fueled by willpower alone, cramping feet pushing for balance. Despite it all, the hearts continue beating in harmony.

The drummers end together, a final "Hai!" before they pose, drumsticks in the air, feet planted, chests heaving. Blisters, calluses and sore muscles will form, but won't prevent another harmony.