“Senpai, Senpai! Is the Master at school today?”
As we were walking up the stairs, Taira-chan asked me that question.
“I don’t know...”
“What?! You don’t know?!”
No, why would I even know Azuma’s school attendance status during summer vacation...?
“Who’s the Master?”
Sako asked from the side (probably).
“Oh, it seems she’s talking about Azuma.”
“Why is Yurisuke the Master?”
To the blonde girl tilting her head, Taira-chan puffed out her flat chest proudly, as if it were about herself.
“Master Azuma is the genius at making geniuses geniuses!”
“A genius... at making geniuses... geniuses... Hey Takuto, this girl suddenly said something that sounds like a tongue twister.”
“I guess so...”
Yeah, I can tell even without you tugging on the hem of my shirt to report it, Sako-chan.
“Somehow, it seems I’m not being understood... But, but! I also respect Hasu-senpai!”
“Huh? Why?”
Just as Sako tilted her head, we reached the second floor.
The second floor is the Rock Club studio, and the third floor is the Instrumental Music Club room.
“Ah, then I’ll be on the third floor!”
Wait, Taira-chan, you belong on the second floor if anything, since you’re not an Instrumental Music Club member...
Watching Taira-chan naturally point upward and go running up the stairs with light footsteps, I entered the studio with Sako.
“Ah, Konuma-kun and Sako-san, good morning!”
“Oh! You’re here. Morning! Konuma and Sakohasu!”
The black-haired genius and the brown-haired poemer greeted us.
“Yurisuke, what’s up?”
“Well, I’m just one step away from finishing the lyrics, but I can’t quite get them. I was worrying about it on the way to school when I found Amane on the stairs. I thought maybe if I heard everyone play, I might get a flash of inspiration! So, I’m intruding!”
...Azuma seems unusually energetic.
“I see. Oh, we just met Yurisuke’s disciple out there.”
Sako said as she lowered her bass from her shoulder.
“Ah, Tsubame is here today too... Well, it’s self-practice this morning, so it’s fine. Besides, she only comes when it’s okay, and she behaves herself so she’s not a nuisance. In fact, she’s been acting as a human metronome for Stella’s chair, so it’s actually good...”
She was pretending to be annoyed, but it seemed Big Sister Azuma had grown quite fond of that kouhai over this summer break.
“Tsubame-chan doesn’t come to see me at all. Why is that...?”
I’ve never heard a more dejected “Why is that” from Amane-san...
“Hmm, is she mad about the LINE thing...?”
...What’s this about a LINE thing?
“Hahaha! Well, well, maybe Amane is just an object of awe to her? Amane, you should just stay dignified! Ah, you should just be majestic like Pomp and Circumstance!”
Azuma made a joke that lacked any real punch.
“Actually.”
Don’t those two notice?
“Azuma, are you okay?”
I gently redirected the conversation toward Azuma.
“...What? About the lyrics? Of course, I’ll finish them by the deadline, so leave it to me!”
Azuma said that and rolled up her sleeves to show off her biceps.
“No, I’m not worried about you missing a deadline.”
“Huh? Then what? Are you worried about the quality?”
“I’m even less worried about that. It’s just...”
I pointed at Azuma’s forced smile.
“You look like you’re pushing yourself harder than usual. Don’t overwork yourself and get sick.”
At those words,
“Ah... yeah... thanks.”
Azuma touched her hair and looked down slightly.
Wait, what’s with that reaction...?
““Hmm...””
Ichikawa-san and Sako-san, what is that reaction...? (Ver. 2)
“Umm, should we start practicing...?”
““Sure...””
When I made the suggestion, the two of them slowly started preparing their instruments.
Hey, get some motivation!
“Azuma wants to hear the new song, right?”
“Ah, about that.”
The fidgety Azuma raised her hand slightly.
“I want to hear ‘Daily Life’ once more after a long time. I feel like I might be able to hear it differently now.”
Hearing Azuma’s words, Ichikawa, who had been sulking until a moment ago, suddenly broke into a wide smile.
“That’s a great idea!”
I didn't miss that Sako, though hidden by her blonde hair, also raised the corners of her mouth slightly more than usual.
“...Alright, then, shall we do it?”
I gently tapped out the count with my sticks.
* * *
Chased by the alarm clock, I left the house
Leather shoes still barely on my feet
I dived into the classroom as the chime rang
Everyone laughed at my bedhead
The wake-up call that should be depressing, the train that should be cramped, the school that should be a chore
I wonder why
A secret message running under the desk
I accidentally said “Eh?” out loud and got scolded
When I was called on during 4th period
My stomach answered for me and they laughed again
The class that should be boring, the studying that should be hard, the school that should be a chore
I wonder why
On the way home, I watched the trains pass many times
Watching the sun set from the platform
On the train back, when I remembered the day
It’s strange, it feels a bit like a sting
The commute that should be troublesome, the train that should be cramped, the school that should be a chore
I wonder why
Hey, I wonder why?
The bigger the fun and happiness,
The bigger the heartbreak becomes
Splitting the cost of an ice cream, doodles on the desk, the “Good morning” greeting
I started counting how many more times, then I stopped
Hey, I wonder why?
While these days are still ordinary
I wonder if I’ll find the answer
The bench at sunset, the convenience store on the way home, the “See you” greeting
I wonder for how many more seconds I can keep looking at that profile
Pretending not to know, I smiled once more
At the only one, obvious, mediocre daily life
* * *
Gently, I made eye contact with Azuma and did a fist bump in the air.
...Yeah, Azuma was right. Now that I’ve let go of my inferiority toward ‘My Song,’ it’s actually a good track. Well, I guess ‘actually good’ isn’t enough.
Still, while feeling satisfied with a performance that felt different from before, I happened to look out the studio window.
In the small space between the door facing the hallway and the studio door itself, Taira-chan was standing there with her mouth agape.
“It’s Yurisuke’s disciple. Didn’t she go back because her Master wasn’t there?”
Sako was making a fairly reasonable deduction.
“I told you, I haven’t taken a disciple. What’s with that expression...?”
That space is outside the soundproof door, but you can hear the performance quite well. In terms of vocals, since the noise from the drums and such (excuse me) is cut down, the lyrics are actually quite clear.
What is it? Was she moved by Ichikawa’s singing again...?
As we all watched her, her eyes gradually began to well up and her body started to tremble.
“Hey, Tsubame, are you okay...?”
When Azuma opened the studio door, worried about her disciple,
“M-Master... this is serious... it’s an incident...! The two gods were the same person...!”
Taira-chan, who could barely stand, looked up at Azuma and grabbed her arm.
Azuma managed to support her as she stumbled.
“Wait, Tsubame...? God...? Are you okay?”
Then, while supported by Azuma, Taira-chan slowly looked toward Ichikawa.
“Club President Amane, no, amane-sama...”
“Eh? Wh-What is it...?”
Ichikawa, who had been feeling lonely because the kouhai hadn’t warmed up to her, was bewildered by the sudden religious fervor in the girl's eyes. Then Taira-chan said with a voice that sounded like she was about to burst into tears:
“amane-sama was Yamatsu Rui-sama all along...!”
“Eh...?” “Unya...?”