I've got four High Teens in my apartment, one of them is unconscious on my futon, and "romance" will ultimately be on the agenda. But please hesitate from rushing to the nearest koban and filing a report because, I promise you, this story does not involve drugs and underage sex. (I'm saving that for a later column.)

The only pills being consumed are prescribed by my doctor to prevent me from hyperventilating as I am playing host to the best live band in Japan (and I only pronounce that once every two or three years, by the way).

I meet Fukuoka rock 'n' roll temptresses Thee 50's High Teens at an izakaya in Ebisu. I buy them curry rice. They are tired after the trip from Fukuoka and have time to kill before tonight's show. They refuse offers to get wasted -- they just wanna chill. So after the izakaya, we decamp to my pad next door.