It was after school the next day.
In front of me, Ichikawa, who had trotted over to my seat, was pressing her hands together apologetically.
“Sorry, Konuma-kun. I have a Club President Meeting today. I think it’ll take about an hour... It’d be bad to make you wait, so if you have something to do, feel free to head home first?”
“Ah, no, I’ll wait.”
It’s not like I have anything else to do...
“Really!?”
Suddenly, Ichikawa’s eyes sparkled brightly.
“O-Oh...”
“Then, I’ll finish up quickly and come back! Thank you!”
Ichikawa slung her bag over her shoulder and dashed out of the classroom. Well, even if she wants to, I don’t think she can finish it quickly just by her own will.
Left alone in the classroom, I was completely idle. In Okinawan style, a Himajin.
For now, I decided to take a walk in the hallway. I might find a manga someone left behind or something. That would be the Treasure of the Idle...
As I walked while singing BEGIN in my head, I saw the former Youth Club President staring out the window on the second-floor connecting bridge, lost in thought. Well, that in itself looked pretty youth-like.
“Hey, Azuma.”
“Hoe...? Ah, it’s Konuma...”
She looked at me with a weak smile.
“What were you looking at? The air?”
“What do you mean, the air...? No, I was just secretly watching the Instrumental Club’s practice from the shadows...”
“Oh...”
Following Azuma’s gaze out the window, I could see the lecture room—which served as the Instrumental Club’s clubroom—from below.
Big sis Azuma’s eyes lacked their usual spark. It seemed she was still suffering from Instrumental Club Loss.
The lack of light in her eyes made her look like a total burnout. In Okinawan style, a Haijin. A ghostly ‘Air Azuma’ was even escaping from her open mouth like an astral projection...
“Azuma, are you okay?”
“Hmm...? About what...?”
“Well, just... everything...”
As I looked at her face with concern—
“Wait, where’s Amane?”
She suddenly snapped out of it and looked around.
“You didn’t let Amane go home alone while you’re just casually strolling around again, did you...?”
She gave me a suspicious look. I see, since she’s an older sister type, she pulls herself together when she has someone to worry about...
“I am casually strolling, but Ichikawa is at a Club President Meeting.”
“Ah, that’s right, it’s today...!”
Reacting to those words, she let out a deep sigh.
“Even though it’s the Club President Meeting, I don’t have a seat there anymore...”
Right, that’s how it was. I’ve gone and triggered Azuma’s Instrumental Club Loss again...
I should probably do something about this. Basically, she just needs to find a reason for living that isn’t the Instrumental Club.
The task of gathering potential live houses for ‘amane’ seemed to temporarily alleviate the condition, but she needs something more consistent to throw herself into, not just something temporary...
“Hey, Azuma, what if you looked for a place where you could play the bass again?”
“Bass? Why?”
Azuma tilted her head.
“Well, it doesn’t have to be the bass, but it’s just a waste for you not to be able to enjoy the rest of your youth.”
“A waste?”
Big sis Azuma is full of questions. This is rare for her, too.
“You entered this high school because you wanted to experience youth, right? You still have half of your high school life left.”
“...I see. You’re right.”
Once I explained that much, she finally started nodding repeatedly with a look of realization.
“...Wait, Konuma, why have you suddenly become so understanding of me?”
She looked at me, slightly furrowing her brows.
“I mean, after hearing you talk about ‘youth’ so much, I can at least understand that much.”
When I looked at her with exasperation, she said,
“Wait, no way. Did I really say ‘youth’ that often?”
“Wait, no way. You weren’t aware of it?”
I teased her by pretending to be shocked, so I mimicked her response.
She laughed happily, saying, “Ahaha, that’s funny,” and then—
“...In that case, maybe I’ll join the Rock Club.”
Big sis Azuma muttered quietly.
“Oh, isn’t that a good idea?”
“Then, you see.”
Azuma looked up at me with upturned eyes.
“I’ll be in the same club as you, Konuma.”
“I guess so...”
Even if you say such a normal thing as if it has a deep meaning...
“That feels pretty strange. Until now, we’ve never been in the same class or the same club.”
“Well, we’re in the same band.”
We are in the same band, and to me, she’s almost my only co-creator. In that sense, our connection is deeper than that of mere classmates. Though, I wouldn’t say that out loud right now.
“Heh, so that’s how you think of me, Konuma.”
...Ugh, I totally forgot, this person has a Skill...
“Well, how should I put it... For me, too, you’re an important... It would be misleading to call you a ‘partner,’ so... what do you call that kind of thing?”
“I don’t know. Words are your specialty, Azuma. Besides, you don’t have to go out of your way to say that... What are you, a tsundere?”
“D-Don’t get the wrong idea! I’m just telling you that I feel the same way because it made me happy that you thought of me like that!”
She replied with a strange, theatrical voice.
“That’s not even being a tsundere...”
When I looked at her with half-closed eyes, she was giggling.
...Back to the subject.
“But even if you join the Rock Club, it’s not like there’ll be a band looking for a bassist right away...”
“That’s true. I wonder what I should do...”
She put her hand to her chin, humming in thought.
“Well, it’s not something that’ll be solved today or tomorrow, but for now, it’s just one of the options.”
“You’re right. Thanks.”
A soft moment passed between us.
The days were getting shorter, but it was still a clear autumn day with a lingering warmth.
“Also, if you write a song, I can write the lyrics for it.”
She nudged me with her elbow.
“Is that really a reason for living? That’s just relying on someone else.”
“Whoa, seriously? I really don’t want to be told about ‘relying on others’ by you, Konuma.”
Azuma made a disgusted face.
“Besides, even if I made a song, wouldn’t you just send back the lyrics in less than a day? It wouldn’t be much of a project.”
As I said that and looked at her, she clapped her hands as if she’d hit upon a great idea.
“Then, how about this? You make a song every day, Konuma. And I’ll add lyrics to it every day.”
To the grinning Azuma, I let out a sigh.
“Don’t ask for the impossible...”
“Ahaha. But I’ve heard there are people who actually make songs every day, you know?”
“Well, I guess so, but...”
As I scratched my cheek, Azuma stared intently into my eyes with a meaningful look.
“What...?”
“...No, it’s not like there’s anything I can say to you right now.”
“What’s that supposed to mean...?”
While I tilted my head, Azuma chuckled.
Watching that slightly lonely smile, I made a suggestion.
“Azuma, next time we go to the studio for ‘amane,’ why don’t you come with us?”
“Is it okay...?”
“Of course it is. You’re a member, aren’t you?”
“I see... You’re right.”
She nodded to herself happily and looked up.
“In that case, please take care of me!”
I felt like she had regained just a little bit of her usual normie smile.