“Yuribou, weren't you supposed to join that band?”
At Kamino-san's question,
“Eh?” “Hm?” “Hm...?”
The members of amane were momentarily thrown into a stir.
Azuma-neesan, who was at the center of the storm, held her head with one hand and let out a sigh.
“Haa... This is why Maika-buchou is so insensitive...”
“Yuri...?”
As Ichikawa asked timidly, Azuma explained to us, including Kamino-san.
“...I was just invited, to that band. It was through Otomo Yutaka, though.”
“Is that so?”
At the mention of Otomo-kun's name, it clicked for me too.
“Ah, so that's what that was about the other day...”
“...That's it. Since Konuma already knew something was up, I was planning to tell you the details later.”
So that was why they were talking at Excelsior. I had completely thought Otomo-kun was confessing his feelings to her...
Kamino-san, hearing Azuma's response, scratched her head looking a bit guilty.
“I see, sorry, sorry... So? From the looks of it, you turned them down?”
“Yes, last night.”
When Azuma answered that, Ichikawa peered into Azuma's face.
“Um... asking this might be 'tasteless' and get me in trouble, but... why did you turn it down? I thought that if it was an invitation to play bass, it would be the same as the Instrumental Club, so it would be fine. But, maybe, were you worried about us...?”
As Ichikawa asked with concern, Azuma smiled awkwardly.
“Hmm, that's part of it, but also not really. I didn't turn it down because I felt guilty or anything.”
“Then why?”
Sako followed up with another question.
Then, Azuma replied with a serious face.
“I've decided to bet all of my youth from here on out on amane. That's why I turned down Soushi-san's band. That's all.”
“I see...”
Ichikawa looked like she was in a daze.
I'm sure it was a mix of surprise and joy. I felt the same way. Even Sako's usually motionless expression had softened.
Beside her, Kamino-san smiled.
“I see—you've got good eyes, Yuribou. The same eyes you had when you decided to become the club president.”
“What's with that master-like position you're taking... It's actually kind of cool.”
“Oh? Just be honest and say it's cool, okay?”
“No, I am saying it...”
Azuma's eyes narrowed as her hair was rubbed vigorously, looking bothered. She really loves Kamino-san, doesn't she...
With the mysterious situation Kamino-san brought in resolved and the application submitted, we left the studio.
“Well then! See you Monday!”
Ichikawa, who lives in Kichijoji, waved and walked off toward her home.
When the remaining three of us reached the Kichijoji Station ticket gate.
“Ah, Takuto. I'm having dinner with a friend today, so just go home on your own.”
“A friend...?”
Because Sako said 'friend' without naming 'Erina' or 'Kenji,' I frowned and looked at her.
“Shut up. Unlike Takuto, I actually have friends.”
“Is that so...”
I have a few now, too...
“Well, see ya, Takuto. Yurisuke too... enjoy your time, or whatever.”
“Yeah... see ya, Sakohasu.”
“Bye,” Sako said, lightly raising her right hand as she entered the ticket gate.
After watching her back as she left, Azuma let out a wry laugh.
“Ahaha... Sakohasu is really being considerate...”
“Considerate...?”
Where? As I tilted my head, Azuma looked up at me.
“Eh, what...?”
“Um... just a little bit... just for today, would you come with me?”
“Oh...? Uh, where to?”
“...Tasteless.”
I left the station with a slightly sulky Azuma. Neesan didn't say anything and started walking along the Chuo Line tracks away from Inokashira Park, toward Nishi-Ogikubo.
“Azuma-san? Where are we going?”
“No, I couldn't think of a good excuse, so I'm just walking in the opposite direction of Amane's house for now.”
“What...? I don't understand at all...?”
“Be quiet... originally, I was planning to talk about Soushi-san's band.”
Listening to her grumbling excuses, I suddenly remembered.
“Ah, that's right. Azuma, about that band... was it really okay? Everyone was surrounding you earlier, and I wanted to hear how you really felt.”
‘Hey Azuma, how about looking for a place where you can play bass after all?’
Recalling the words I had said to her in the corridor, I asked her.
“Ahaha, so you're asking me.”
She laughed as if she had cheered up a bit, and then she told me.
“It really is okay.”
Azuma kept her hands in her blazer pockets and continued talking as we walked.
“I thought about a lot of things last night. You know, since it was my awakening chapter.”
“You did say that...”
I think it's a bit strange to set up an 'awakening chapter' in your own life.
“And so, I thought about what I want to say, what I want to do, what I should say, and what I should do...”
“Yeah.”
Azuma let out a breath.
“I've decided to bet the rest of my youth on amane's re-debut... no, on the band amane being able to debut.”
“Heh...”
Once again, a breath of admiration escaped me.
It wasn't much different from what I heard at the studio, but hearing that determination as her true feelings again made me feel moved.
“What kind of things were you thinking about?”
I was curious, so I asked.
“Hmm, where should I start... At the very beginning... yeah, while listening to Konuma's songs, some doubts started to sprout. They say things like 'it's better to regret doing something than to regret not doing it,' right? It's like with Erina—which is better: the regret of saying something or the regret of not saying it?”
“True.”
Since Erina-san had actually said that, I wonder if those words were woven into the song I made. No, the fact that she can hear those things as words shows that Azuma's skill is as out of the ordinary as ever...
“I think I'd rather have 'regret from doing it,' but well, either one is fine for now.”
“Either one is fine?”
“Right, right. And then, on the day of the school festival, Konuma turned down being amane's ghostwriter, turned down the professional debut for singer-songwriter amane, and even threw away the chance for the band amane to debut, right? Prioritizing your own feelings.”
“O-Oh...”
Wait, am I suddenly being scolded...?
“Ahaha, I'm not scolding you, don't make that face. ...I thought that was really cool too, honestly.”
To dispel my anxiety, Azuma laughed and lightly patted my shoulder.
“It's not that, I was just thinking about whether that would lead to 'regret from doing it' or 'regret from not doing it.'”
“Thinking about that... you mean about me?”
“Yeah, about Konuma.”
Azuma stated firmly.
“Using that doubt as a starting point, I thought about many things, took many detours... and then, what I want to do—no, my wish was decided. And that is,”
Azuma let out a breath as if to firm her resolve.
“I'll be damned if I let that become a 'regret' in the first place.”
Leaving me breathless at her strength, Azuma continued.
“I want to prove that Konuma's decision that day, that your resolve, was perfectly right. A future where that becomes a regret is not welcome, is it? So, I've decided to make it come true no matter what.”
“I see...”
Her profile was so cool that I couldn't find my voice.
“Because I truly felt from the bottom of my heart that being able to say 'I'm glad we did that back then' is my happiness.”
Azuma grinned.
“So, I'll do everything I can so that the band amane can debut. I don't care if it's as a lyricist or a manager. Anyway, I've decided to bet the rest of my youth and beyond on making amane's debut happen.”
“How about that?” she asked, tilting her head toward me.
“Azuma, thank you...”
The only thing that escaped my mouth was a useless word of thanks.
“I told you, it's not about thanks. It's something I want to do. Besides, being able to chase the same happiness is quite a happy thing in itself.”
“Is that so... ...The same happiness?”
“What's that...?” When I frowned, Azuma immediately spoke up.
“Hey, Konuma.”
“Hm?”
And then, she turned around, both hands still in her blazer pockets, and showed me an exceptionally cool smile.
“I'll make Konuma happy, so make me happy too in that form.”