“Then, Konuma-kun, you’re staying at school? I think I’ll head home,” Ichikawa-san said as she stood up and stretched with a groan.
“I really want to stay until Erina-chan’s club is over, but I need to practice too. The performance is coming up soon, after all.”
“That’s true... Wait, does that mean the school studio isn’t available today?”
If that was the case, I wondered where I should spend my time. It was obvious, but just like Ichikawa-san, I wanted to practice since the performance was close.
“Ah—yeah, the studio is technically booked, but...” Ichikawa-san chuckled. “Well, if it’s Konuma-kun, it should be fine.”
“Huh...?”
And so, after waving goodbye to Ichikawa-san in front of the classroom, I headed to the studio.
Peering through the window on the door, my eyes met with someone crouching inside, fiddling with their smartphone.
“Ah.”
The one inside was amane’s lyricist.
Nee-san frowned slightly before giving me a small beckoning gesture. Since I had permission to enter, I opened the door and crept inside.
“Yo, Azuma. What are you doing?”
“Good work, Takuto. I’m writing lyrics.”
“In the studio, of all places? I mean, what lyrics? Were there any lyrics left that you had to write?”
Question marks practically floated above my head.
“Yeah. You know that new song Amane is making on her own? I wanted to verify the lyrics for that on my end too. Just blindly accepting things is the worst way to handle it.”
“That’s impressive...”
Azuma doesn’t take two steps back for every three steps forward; she keeps evolving. That’s something I truly admire and respect about her.
“Yes, yes, thank you. Anyway, when Amane first sang that song, it was in this studio. I wanted to write the lyrics here where I can feel the remnants of the emotion, so I talked to the Rock Club president and booked it.”
“Remnants of the emotion...?”
I thought it was a bit of a luxury to use the studio without playing an instrument, but since she’d cleared it with the president, there was no problem.
I finally understood what Ichikawa-san meant by ‘If it’s Konuma-kun, it should be fine.’ Or rather, it wasn’t so much about ‘me’ specifically, but more that she couldn’t be in here with Ichikawa-san because hearing other lyrics would be distracting.
“Wait, did you join the Rock Club, Azuma?” I asked, thinking that normally a non-member wouldn’t be able to borrow the room alone.
“I did.”
“Seriously? Since when...?”
“The day after you told me, ‘Why don’t you join the Rock Club?’”
“That was quite a while ago.”
She really has initiative... There isn’t a single area where I can compete with Azuma.
“So you and I are in the same club now, Konuma. We can be in the graduation album together. We couldn’t be in it together just by being bandmates, right?”
“What’s that about... Who cares? Even if we aren’t in the album, we could just take a photo, couldn’t we? Like those artist photos Osada-san took for us recently.”
“I want to be in the graduation album. Those things are important to me.”
“...I see.”
I couldn’t really empathize, but since it was the Youth Club President’s logic, I could understand it.
“Anyway, what are you doing? Where’s Amane?”
“Well, today Sako and Erina-san are...”
I explained the details of the upcoming operation.
“Heeh...”
“Hey, give me a better reaction than that.”
“Ahaha, sorry, sorry.”
When I pointed out the very thing she usually nags me about, Azuma continued with a laugh.
“No, I just thought, before I knew it, Konuma has actually become useful to people. You’re growing up too, Konuma...”
“What is that supposed to mean...?”
Did Azuma really become my older sister or something?
“I’m not saying I’m your sister, but doing things for Amane is expected in a way. However, running around for Sakohasu and Erina... I think that’s genuinely admirable and amazing.”
“Is that so...”
Being praised to my face by Azuma made me unsure of how to respond, so I looked away while scratching my head.
Then...
“...I wonder if my turn will come eventually.”
Azuma muttered, almost like she was talking to herself.
“Huh? What was that...?”
“No, don’t take it too deeply, okay? I’m a band member too, so I just thought maybe I’d get a chance like that at least once.”
I thought about it for a bit.
“Hmm, Azuma, you’re so reliable that you probably don’t need help from someone like me. But if there’s ever something you seriously want handled and I can be of use, I’ll gladly do it.”
“Eh, really...?”
She stared at me blankly with innocent eyes.
“I mean, don’t take it too deeply either, okay...? I’ve been helped by you so many times, so if I can be useful, I naturally want to repay the favor.”
“Whoa...!”
Azuma’s eyes widened happily.
“Then, can I consider that I’ve received a ‘Right to have you do something for me someday’?”
“What’s that? Like an ‘Once-in-a-lifetime request’?”
“Ahaha, something like that.”
“Well, sure, I don’t mind...”
Having it put that way felt like I was giving her a strange amount of leverage, but...
“Yes! ...Ah, but I’m the type of person who can’t bring myself to use accumulated points on a rewards card because it feels like a waste.”
“It’s a bigger waste not to use them.”
“That’s true, but unless the expiration date is close, I always think, ‘Mmm, maybe now isn’t the right time to use this.’”
I could actually understand that a little bit.
“Then, let’s see... How about it expires if you don’t use it by the end of our second year?”
“Whoa, how stingy.”
“You’re the one who said you wanted an expiration date, Azuma...”
“Yeah, but isn’t that too short? At least make it for our entire high school life...”
“I don’t mind if it’s that long, but...”
I originally didn’t intend to put a limit on how many times I'd help her, but I figured saying that would derail the whole point of the conversation or be called ‘unrefined,’ so I kept my mouth shut.
“Ah, is that what you were thinking?”
Ah... here it is, the usual pattern. Azuma can read my thoughts perfectly.
“Please pretend you didn’t see into my heart...”
“Ahaha, sorry, sorry. Oh, anyway, we’ve been talking for a long time. You can go ahead and practice. Is it okay if I stay here? Won’t I be a distraction?”
Azuma was being quite considerate.
“No, you booked the studio first, so don’t worry about me... If anything, my drumming is loud, won’t I be in your way?”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. I like your drumming.”
“I-I see...”
I was slightly shaken by the sudden confession (not a confession).
“...What?”
“Don’t ‘what’ me...”
“Ahaha, that face is hilarious.”
Embarrassed by her laughing at me, I looked down, sat in front of the drums, and began striking the snare with my sticks.
Azuma put on her earphones and started tapping away on her smartphone with both hands.
After that, while the two of us were practicing and writing lyrics respectively...
“Hello— Duty officer here! It’s the final departure time!”
Osada-san came into the room.
“Wow, Osada-chan! The duty officer today is from the Photo Club?”
“Yes, that’s right! I wonder why such a small club gets rotation for duty; having to go around the whole school is exhausting...! Anyway, I’ll be taking my leave now! Good work!”
Osada-san left after only a few seconds. The Photo Club has so few members, so it must be tough...
Regardless, it seemed that the final departure time was approaching, and club activities were over.
“Well, shall we go...?”
To witness Sako and Erina-san finally meeting, I stepped out toward the school entrance.