“Konuma, sorry to keep you waiting.”
“Yeah.”
Azuma, wearing her short-sleeved uniform, comes out of the Instrumental Music Club room with her bass slung over her shoulder.
Today was a self-practice day for the Instrumental Music Club since their training camp had just ended. Azuma, who had planned to practice all day, had told me, “I’ll cut practice short after noon because I want to talk about the song at school.”
Even though it’s summer vacation, it seems the high school is open as usual on weekdays for students in clubs. There are still so many things I don’t know...
“Sorry for making you come all the way to school.”
“It’s fine. If anything, I’m sorry for making you find time when you’re busy with club activities.”
“Ah, no, mine isn’t anything that impressive... but, I’m glad you came... it helps.”
As we are talking in front of the club room—
“President Azuma, good work today!” “Pre... sident... good... work... today...” “Master! Good work today!”
The first-years of the Instrumental Music Club greet her as they pass by. Good, good, I’m glad to see Hoshikage-san putting effort into self-practice too.
...Wait, a third person!?
“Ah, Konuma-senpai! Oh my, oh my, are you and Master really dating after all!? Is that how it is!?”
A small animal came scurrying over, wagging its tail.
“Taira-chan, why are you here...?”
When I voice my question, Azuma sighs with her hand on her forehead.
“I don’t really get it either, but for some reason, your junior is here today...”
“No, no, she’s more like your junior than mine at this point, Azuma.”
“Wha!? It looks like you two are trying to foist me onto each other! I am Konuma-senpai’s junior and Master Azuma’s disciple!”
Taira-chan corrects us, looking shocked.
“I don’t remember taking on any disciples!”
“No, no, I am your disciple!”
“Ngh! Then you’re excommunicated!”
“No way! Why!?”
I’ll just ignore the fact that Taira-chan sounds like a very popular junior who whispers words of love every day. I didn't get permission for that. (Sorry.)
After playing around (?) for a while—
“But but, if you aren't dating, why did you gather all the way at school? Is there something you two need to consult about?”
Taira-chan tilts her head and asks.
“Today, I have to look over Konuma’s summer homework.”
Azuma-neesan answers without hesitation.
Heh, I see, so that’s the pretext for today. ...But why am I the one being taught? Wouldn't the reverse work just as well?
“Is that so! And then and then, why at school?”
“...Because textbooks and notebooks and stuff are left at school.”
...Hmm, did she hesitate a bit just now?
“I see, I see, so that’s it! And here I was speculatively thinking, ‘Maybe having a boyfriend from another club come pick you up at the club room’ is a quintessential youth situation that Master Azuma has secretly dreamed of since middle school, and to make it come true, even though it’s an errand that could be done somewhere else, she went out of her way to make the meeting spot the high school—and right in front of the club room at that! There’s no way that’s the case, right!?”
On the contrary, this girl is talking like a streak of lightning... and her assumptions are terrible. There’s no way that’s it...
“T-T-T-There’s no way that’s the case...! Tsubame, you, show your Master more respect...!”
Azuma-neesan fans her face with her hand. Yeah, it’s hot, since it’s summer.
“Wawah! Does that statement mean you’ve recognized me as your disciple!? I've got your word! You can’t take it back now!”
“Ah... I failed, I failed, I failed, I failed, I failed, I am a fail...”
Everything’s getting all mixed up here, I can see glimpses of White Fox flickering... If we stay here, Taira-chan is going to drain all of Azuma’s stamina.
“Uh, anyway, I have to... learn about the homework from Azuma, so can I borrow her?”
“Ah, is the order a Master?”
“Ah, yeah, I guess so...”
If you overdo it, your heart won't go pyon-pyon anymore...
“U-Um... today is a self-practice day so it’s fine for you to be here, but make sure not to cause trouble for Stella and the others...”
“Yes!”
“Wow, what a great smile...”
Azuma looks considerably exhausted after just these few minutes...
“Yes! Well then! See you tomorrow!”
“You don't have to come tomorrow!”
The only ones who can shake Azuma’s emotions this much are probably amane-sama and Taira-chan... Oh, and ghosts.
“Sigh, seriously, do something about your junior...”
Since it’s summer vacation, Azuma entered the classroom for Class 2-6, which wasn't being used by anyone, and closed the door behind her.
“No, she’s your disciple.”
“Like I said, I didn't take any disciples! I mean, a disciple in what... Where’s your seat, Konuma?”
“There.”
When I point to my seat, Azuma sits there, so I sit in the chair in front of it facing backward.
“...So, Konuma, about the song.”
Azuma speaks up as if it’s hard to say, but with determination.
That kind of decisiveness is really cool...
“O-Oh.”
In contrast, I’m still stuttering, scared, and uncool.
“First, why did you send the song only to me? You could have sent it to the ‘amane’ group LINE.”
Azuma looks into my eyes and questions me.
“T-That’s because I thought I should send it to you first since you write the lyrics...”
“That doesn’t count as a reason at all.”
She says it clearly and bluntly.
“Was there something shady?”
“It wasn't anything shady, but...”
“Hmm... In the first place, when did you return to composing? I didn't even know you could make music again, so when the audio file suddenly arrived, I was surprised. I mean, it’s a good thing. But isn't there something behind that too?”
“I became able to write music the day before yesterday, but...”
Seeing me not even returning a minimal answer, Azuma breathes out an “Mmm...” as if thinking for a moment.
“Then, I’ll tell you my thoughts first.”
“O-Oh...”
My gaze drifts across the top of the desk.
“Even though I’m really nobody to be saying this, I want you to forgive me for saying it...”
Azuma gently bites her lower lip, and I swallow hard.
“The song you sent yesterday... is an imitation of ‘My Song.’”
“I see...”
I look up at the ceiling with a wry smile.
Deep down, I already knew.
I connected chords familiar to my hands and pleasant-sounding phrases, trying to reach out to my ‘longing.’
As a result, on the surface, something very similar to that ‘longing’ was created.
It’s not bad. Of course it isn't, because if you only look at the appearance, it resembles a masterpiece.
“Really, I’m sorry. It’s not that I want to deny you, Konuma, but at this rate, it’ll probably turn into something even you won’t be satisfied with. So, let me hear it.”
Azuma stares me down with a serious expression and asks.
“First, the circumstances of how you became able to write music again. And the other thing is,”
She takes a breath, just like that day.
“Was this song created with some kind of intent?”