Next Saturday.
After school, I came to the rental studio 'Studio Octa' in Kichijoji with Ichikawa-san, Sako, and today, Azuma-san joined us as well.
Apparently, Taira-chan had reserved the school studio today. She said, "I want to practice more and more and become the next president of the Rock Club!" Good for you, Taira-chan, though you're a bit ahead of yourself.
"Welcome."
When the elevator doors leading to the studio floor opened, the languid voice of a staff member reached us.
Taking the lead, Ichikawa-san headed toward the reception desk.
"I'm Konuma, I have a reservation for 14:00!"
No matter how many times I hear it, Ichikawa-san identifying herself as 'Konuma' makes me feel kind of restless...
While I was scratching my cheek internally,
"...Wait, President Maika?"
Azuma-san raised her voice in surprise.
"Oh, it's Yuribou."
Drawn by the voice, I looked up to see that the staff member behind the counter was Kamino-san, the drummer of the band 'Butter' who had performed at the After-Festival Party.
Her bright brown hair was tied in a ponytail. She was a cool-looking senior with fox-like eyes, yet she didn't seem intimidating, but rather friendly.
Since I had only seen Kamino-san on the professional-style stage at the After-Festival Party, she was like a bit of a celebrity to me, so I was a little surprised to see her suddenly in front of me. Right, she's just a regular high school student too...
"I mean, Yuribou, I'm not the president anymore. You're the current president, aren't you?"
She laughed with a "Nihihi" and ruffled Azuma-san's hair. Yuribou... is Azuma-san called by a name that sounds like a baby wild boar?
"Geez, stop messing up my hair... And besides, I've already retired, so I'm not the president anymore either."
Azuma-san let out a sigh while her hair was being ruffled. Seeing the junior version of the 'big sister' is quite a fresh feeling.
"Ah... sorry, sorry, that's right."
Kamino-san scratched her head, looking slightly awkward. She must know well how much thought Azuma-san had put into the club.
Seeing an opening, Ichikawa-san spoke up from the side.
"Um, Maika-senpai, I saw the After-Festival Party, you were really cool!"
"Oh, thanks. But the blues must have been boring, right?"
"No, it's a genre I haven't heard much before, but I was really drawn into it!"
"I see, I see, then I'm glad."
Kamino-san thrust her hands into the pockets of her shop uniform (?) hoodie and laughed happily with a "Nihihi."
I was also full of a desire to praise that day's performance, but seeing her in person, my shyness kicked in for some reason, and I just stood there silently.
When I glanced to the side, Sako was looking at me, and for some reason, her lips were curved down by 0.x millimeters.
"Well then, are you all second-years at Musashino International?"
"Yes, this is Takuto Konuma-kun, and she is Sako Hasu-san!"
""Hello.""
The shy version of me and Sako, who usually spoke like that, gave a slight nod.
"Oh, nice to meet you. ...Wait, then, who are you?"
"Ah, that's right...! I'm Amane Ichikawa from the Rock Club, nice to meet you."
"Amane... I see, I get it."
Watching Ichikawa-san introduce herself bashfully, I felt like Kamino-san narrowed her eyes for just a split second.
"Is something wrong with me?"
"No, it's nothing. Sorry, that was sudden."
She apologized while scratching her own head.
"Anyway, President Maika, are you working part-time here?"
Azuma-san asked the question she was likely curious about.
"That's right, though I only started recently."
"Eh, but it's already October? Are you okay with your entrance exam studies? President Maika, you even forgot to submit the entry sheet for the Instrumental Club's spring tournament, so you might not even realize the exam schedule...?"
"How long are you going to keep bringing that up? Give me a break..."
Kamino-san waved her hand to brush off Azuma-san's attempt to look after her. Azuma-san worrying about a senior who seems hopeless... that's very like Azuma-san.
"I mean, didn't I tell you? I'm going to study music abroad."
"Heh!? Is that true!? I didn't know at all..."
Azuma-san's eyes widened.
"Yeah. Even if it goes well, I'll be enrolling from next September. I'm working part-time hoping to help with the tuition until then. If it's a part-time job at a studio, they let me practice for free when the rooms are empty as long as I don't turn on the lights. See, I'm not using any electricity."
"I see... that's a level of planning unlike you, President Maika..."
"Haha, you're being quite rude too. Don't cry because you're lonely after I go overseas, okay?"
"I won't feel lonely for a senior who didn't even tell me she was going overseas until today."
Azuma-san turned away in a huff as if she were sulking.
"Oh, oh, are you a tsundere? Yuribou is as cute as ever, huh? ...Wait, sorry, sorry, it's time. How many mics do you need?"
"I'd like to borrow two!"
Ichikawa-san held up two fingers to Kamino-san. I wonder why she always borrows two. Even though only one person sings.
"Alright, here you go. You're in Studio 3."
Kamino-san put two microphones in a basket and handed them over.
As we headed toward the studio, I spoke quietly to Sako, who was looking displeased.
"Did something bad happen with Kamino-san?"
"...Not really."
"Then why are you looking so grumpy?"
"I'll tell you later, stupid Takuto."
...Wait, the cause is me?