“I’m tired...”
As expected, singing ten songs in a row really drains your stamina...
While drinking some barley tea that was gentle on my throat, I listened to Ryuya and Neika’s duet.
As usual, they were just messing around... but they were in sync, and it was pleasant to listen to. They really are high-spec in everything.
While watching those two singing, dancing, and doing group gymnastics (why?) in front, Rion approached me.
“Good work, Sanada-kun. You were cool.”
“Ah... thanks?”
“Why are you saying it like a question?”
“No, it’s just the first time I’ve ever been told I was cool for singing.”
Ryuya and Neika are like you see. Kotono says it too, but that’s just a sibling dynamic. Besides them... ah. There was that person. My junior. Well, she’s basically like Kotono.
“Is that so? You were cool, right, Riran-chan?”
“Eh!? Ah, um...”
Riran, suddenly put on the spot, looked around flustered... and nodded. Just a small nod.
“...Thanks.”
“Nn...”
“(Smirk, smirk, smirk, smirk)”
Hey now, Rion, stop smirking.
“B-By the way, aren’t you two going to sing?”
“You’re right. I think I’ll sing soon.”
“I’m feeling a bit better, so maybe I’ll sing too~”
Riran and Rion selected songs on the same terminal. I wonder what kind of songs Riran sings... maybe something cool? No, something cute would probably suit her too. ...Maybe an anime song to catch everyone off guard would be good.
Once Ryuya and Neika finished singing, it was immediately Rion’s turn. The song was a Japanese-style piece. It was a mellow ballad, a song with an atmosphere that made you think, ‘When it comes to Ryuguin Rion, it has to be this song.’
A beautiful and translucent singing voice. Combined with her Yamato Nadeshiko-like appearance, it was very soothing to listen to...
“————. ...Thank you for listening.”
“Ohhh! Rio, that was awesome!”
“As expected of Ryuguin! All right, I’ll do a ballad next too!”
“No, no, when Ryuya sings, it becomes rock.”
“I guess you’re right.”
The three of them chatted excitedly. Meanwhile, the next song began to play. This is... a love song. A recent one, too. It’s a female vocal track, and the notes are so high even I wouldn’t be able to sing it.
In terms of order, this must be...
“Ah, Riran-chan. It’s starting.”
“Y-Yeah.”
It really was Riran. So Riran sings love songs too. Holding the microphone, she stood in front, took a few deep breaths, and then began to sing.
“Wow...!”
“Amazing...”
Even Ryuya and Neika, those monsters of mischief, were captivated by Riran’s singing voice. Of course, I was too. While I was like that, Rion approached me.
“Fufu. How is it, Sanada-kun? Riran-chan is very good, isn’t she?”
“Yeah... ah, no. You were good too, Rion.”
“Oh, thank you. But I can’t compare to her. Not to that singing voice of hers, filled with such straightforward feelings.”
Straightforward feelings?
‘Don’t you look away!’
“!?”
Eh, what!? Did I just get scolded!? I hurriedly looked at Riran... ah, what. It was just an interlude in the lyrics. S-She certainly put a lot of feeling into it. For a second, I thought I was the one being yelled at.
‘I hate how you look at other girls! But I love how you’re kind to other girls! I hate you! I love you! I hate you! I love you! I hate you so much! Still, I won’t forgive you for looking at anyone but me! So—’
Ah... our eyes met.
‘You should just look at me for the rest of your life!’
—Thump—
Ugh... e-eh, what...? W-What is this... My pulse quickened, and my heart raced. Something like this... it’s the first time. Come to think of it, I heard similar words at the family restaurant. It was a bombshell statement back then... but now, for some reason, it resonated clearly in my heart.
The interlude ended, and the song continued. But the lyrics from just now stayed in my head, and I couldn't concentrate on listening.
◆
“Phew! I sang and sang!”
“Karaoke really is fun!”
It was past 8:00 PM when we left the karaoke place. We felt a nice sense of exhaustion. It was a pleasant kind of tiredness.
“Still, that was surprising. I can’t believe Riran-chan would propose in a place like that.”
“I-I told you, those were lyrics, not my actual intentions!”
“Is that so~? You sounded pretty serious, Rira~”
Riran had been teased by Rion and Neika about that for a while now. Honestly, it made my heart race too. Riran, who was being toyed with by the two of them, changed the subject with a “More importantly!”
“L-Let’s just go home. We have school tomorrow too.”
“That’s true. Well then, let’s call it a day here—”
“Ahhh! Isn’t that Senpai!?”
A loud voice cut off Ryuya. This familiar voice... no way!
“N-Noa!?”
I turned toward the voice. Standing there was a girl wearing the same middle school uniform as Kotono. A chestnut-colored ponytail. A body developed for her age. Makeup that gave off a definite gyaru vibe. But even with the makeup, her natural features were top-tier. My junior, who was energetic and had been pestering me for some reason since middle school. Anrakuji Noa was standing there.