I ran at full speed from Ichinatsu Town Station toward my house.
I wanted to touch my guitar as soon as possible.
I wanted to make a sound as soon as possible.
There was only one thing that only I could do.
'On the day of the school festival, why didn't you realize that Kyousou wasn't Ichikawa-san's song?'
Of course, there was the possibility that I was overestimating Ariga-san. There was also the possibility that Ariga-san simply didn't understand amane.
But if that were the case, would that person have asked us to be 'ghostwriters'?
'I don't do work I can't take responsibility for.'
Would that smart and straightforward adult use such a major foul play?
If she simply thought Kyousou was good, wouldn't she have scouted me or Azuma as a composer or lyricist?
Well, I don't know much about Ariga-san either.
But, surely.
Surely, because our song was wonderful 'as an amane song,' she asked us to be ghostwriters.
Me, Azuma, and honestly, Sako too, had listened to amane so much and knew amane so well—including the vocal range, singing ability, voice, and lyrics—that we had become able to create songs for amane even better than Ichikawa herself.
That's why Ariga-san couldn't realize it wasn't Ichikawa's song.
...No, that's a bit different.
Ariga-san thought, 'This is an amane song.'
And that's why she tried to ask us to be ghostwriters.
But if that's the case...
No, that's exactly why.
It means there's a reason for Ichikawa Amane to do music with us.
It means there's a reason for us to become a band.
It's simple once you realize it.
Because the moment we stop being believers, we become the strongest songwriters for amane.
"I'm home."
I stepped through the front door and went straight to my room.
"Ah, so that's how it is..."
I thought I heard Yuzu's exasperated voice from behind me, but I didn't care; I was just too impatient.
I tried to take my phone out of my pocket to listen to Ichikawa's new song again.
However.
"Hm!?"
It's not there!? Wait, where did I put my phone?
As I flustered about, I heard a vibrating sound from inside my bag.
"Huh? My bag?"
Did I put it in there? I wondered, but I took it out for now.
'Incoming Call: Yuri'
The cause of the vibration was a call from Azuma.
I answered the phone, my legs still twitching from the rush of running home and my own impatience.
"Hello?"
'Hey Konuma, I realized something!'
Suddenly, a high-tension voice came from the other side of the phone.
"What is it? I realized something too. If you're asking what I noticed..."
'Wait a minute, don't just start talking about yourself! Listen to me first!'
"No, really, I'm in a hurry."
'Amane wanted to make music together too!'
"...Eh?"
Perhaps sensing I was about to hang up, Azuma told me her realization with great urgency.
'See, you didn't realize it!'
"What do you mean...?"
'That's what happens if you read today's lyrics properly! Amane wanted to make music with us too, but we were just thinking of Amane and ourselves separately on our own. That's why we hadn't fully become a band!'
I recalled the lyrics.
* * *
If there was no 'until yesterday' and today was the first day
Would I have chosen the same tomorrow?
Maybe, like the Earth turning a somersault
The scenery might have shifted by just a few millimeters, fatally.
The answer sheet that should have been perfect
A blank space that appeared on the back before I knew it
For the first time, I don't know the words to fill it
I won't say 'tell me,' but...
Lalala...
* * *
I couldn't decipher it immediately, but if Azuma said so, it must be right.
"I see... Ichikawa too..."
Just as much as we wanted to be in amane, Ichikawa wanted to be in a band.
'So, what did you realize, Konuma?'
"That's..."
It was tedious to explain.
Now that I understood Ichikawa's intentions, I wanted to make a sound even faster.
But with Azuma, this should be enough to convey it.
"It's that we were more 'amane' than amane herself."
'...Huh?'
I got a flat response.
"Don't say 'huh.' If you think about it, you'll understand right away. There's never been a time where you didn't understand what I wanted to say."
'Well, I'm happy you trust me, but...'
It was rare for Azuma to be bewildered.
"It'll be absolutely fine. Well, I'm going to make the song now, so I'm hanging up. Oh, are you free tomorrow?"
'I get it already. I mean, tomorrow? I'm free, but tomorrow you said earlier...'
"If you're free, keep it that way. I'll finish the song today, so let's all give it shape tomorrow."
I made a declaration so bold it felt strange even to myself.
'What's with you, Konuma? Suddenly acting like a manga protagonist...!'
"I was a protagonist too."
'Huh...?'
I was so excited that I didn't even really know what I was saying anymore.
"We're all protagonists. We're not supporting roles to make Ichikawa stand out. Me, Sako, and you too, Azuma."
'...I see!'
However, it seemed Azuma liked this analogy.
'Got it. I'll send you the lyrics I've written so far, so...'
It was the opposite of how it was during 'Charm.'
"I've received the baton. Leave the rest to me."
After hanging up on Azuma, I took out my guitar with trembling hands and tried playing Ichikawa's song.
Just as I thought.
Compared to Ichikawa's voice, the range was too low.
With this melody, the place where Ichikawa's voice would sound most pleasant is...
I searched. I confirmed. I discarded. I searched again, confirmed, and after doing it several times, I found it.
"Okay."
With the key changed, I started composing the continuation.
The new melody was born without difficulty. It flowed out. It overflowed.
The song, which should have a part made by Ichikawa and a part made by me, blended so beautifully that surely not a single person would feel any sense of discord at the junction.
Once the melody was finished, I immediately began the arrangement.
I gave meaning to every note and every rest.
Every sound shouted the thoughts embedded within it at the top of its lungs.
And finally, it was done.
But this time, it wasn't the end.
Rather, this was just the beginning. It was just the first step.
'Only bass and vocals. Singing like telling a story. Melody lowered by one octave.'
'A bass line like a bass solo. (Sako, I'm counting on you) Instead, Ichikawa will support firmly on guitar. Play the low notes strongly.'
'Stop all instruments here, only vocals. Killer lyrics (Azuma or Ichikawa, please).'
'Drums with a grand rhythm here (I will practice).'
・
・
・
I added notes to the arrangement of the finished song.
To make the song belong to the four of us, I first put down my own intentions one by one.
When they hear this song, when they read these notes...
What will Ichikawa say?
What will Azuma say?
What will Sako say?
But among all the amane songs, I think this one is the best yet.
I finally did it—my favorite song in the world.
"...Alright."
Looking at the time, it was 2 AM. It seemed I finished earlier than usual...
I immediately called Ichikawa.
'Hello~'
"Hello? Ichikawa?"
'Yes, yes, this is Ichikawa. I mean, it's the middle of the night. What's with that voice?'
"You're free tomorrow, right?"
'...Only Konuma-kun should know that I'm NOT free, though?'
Ichikawa made a suspicious voice.
"I know that. But, I want to gather as amane, as a band."
'Hmm? Well, if Takuto-kun says he'll pick the band over his lover, then I guess I'll be free?'
Her voice sounded testing, but I didn't flinch.
Somewhere in my head, I heard a voice saying, 'That's not right, is it?'
I heard a voice saying, 'Aren't you supposed to cherish her?'
'Hey, is the band more important than your lover?'
But to this obviously troublesome question, I decided to say something that would only complicate things further.
"...Yeah, that's right."
'Hmm...?'
"Sorry. I don't want to hurt Amane. But right now, I think the best song in amane's history was born. A song that only I—only we—could make. I absolutely want to perform this live in perfect condition two weeks from now. And,"
* * *
Hey, is there even one thing that only I can do?
* * *
"It's a song that only Ichikawa can sing."
'Hmm...?'
"...Is that a no?"
When I asked with such pathetic words, all my previous vigor gone, Ichikawa let out a theatrical sigh, "Haaah..."
'Hmm... you know, Konuma-kun. No, ...it's very hard to say this to Takuto-kun, but...'
"Mm...?"
As I frowned on this side of the phone, Ichikawa Amane said lightheartedly:
'I also value the band more than my lover.'
I could see her refreshing smile through the phone.
Haha, a laugh escaped me.
'I'll have you make it up to me, though. To Amane, okay?'
"Yeah, of course."
Somehow the tension eased, and I gave a bold reply.
'Hey, Konuma-kun?'
"What?"
'...Thanks.'
"...Yeah."
This time I really hung up and lay on my back.
...Finally.
'If taking the chords of a song that came out of a vocal performance and adding a cliché bass line and a generic eight-beat drum pattern is what you call an arrangement, then maybe it is.'
'This is "My Song" that Amane-san made alone. To put it bluntly, it's just a little girl's vocal solo. Lyrics like scribbles written in a 14-year-old girl's diary. Even if you cleaned up the sound and added accompaniment to this as it is, would amane have grabbed your hearts?'
Ariga-san purposely chose annoying words to say...
If that's the case, then I'll just take that provocation head-on.
No matter what anyone says, we are already a band.
A band that plays music side by side.
I won't let anyone say we're just Ichikawa Amane's accompaniment anymore.
"...Alright."
Finally, finally.
Our Kyousou—our concerto of four—is beginning.