Totsu, totsu, totsu, totsu.
Inside the almost silent venue, only the sound of Ichikawa Amane's loafers hitting the floor echoed slightly.
Ichikawa, who had walked up to the stage alone in silence, picked up an acoustic guitar and stood in front of the microphone.
No one else followed her.
"Wait, wasn't it a band?" "Their artist photo had like four people in it, right...?"
The audience stirred like a rippling wave.
Then, taking a deep breath in front of the microphone, Ichikawa...
Without even a greeting, she swung her right hand wide and began strumming the guitar.
* * *
『Start Line』
In the end, essentially, as a result
Even if each person gathers together
Doesn't it just stay as 'one person at a time'
My throat is choked, my voice won't come out
And even when everyone has gathered
Can we really say we've truly gathered?
I should have finally found it
But I'm so afraid of it breaking that I've become a coward
'It's okay to give, but you mustn't receive'
Who is it that whispers that?
Those children playing in the sandbox, covered in mud
Let me join in there
'Because you're beautiful'—that doesn't even count as a compliment
"If you just keep waiting, you'll never meet anyone"
Struck by those words, I opened my eyes to see
Words crossing paths, wishes crossing paths, thoughts crossing paths
And I realized that someone like me
Wasn't even standing at the starting line yet
* * *
"Maybe it's better if Ichikawa-san's intense songs are done alone?"
"It's the same as the Beatles' 'Yesterday'. In other words,"
Sako's words resurfaced.
During the practice on the day we stayed at the Ichikawa house, this was the performance plan Sako had come up with while we continued practicing even as Jinno-san, the clerk, interrupted us several times.
"In that song, Paul McCartney is performing solo with just his guitar, and only string instruments are accompanying him, right?"
"Does that mean the other Beatles members didn't participate?"
"That's right. But, I think it's different for us."
"What do you mean...?"
To Ichikawa, who was furrowing her brows.
"The other Beatles members were performing 'rests' from the beginning of the song to the end."
Sako didn't say that with a smug face, but with her eyes sparkling.
Seeing Sako looking so happy and delighted to talk about music made me happy too, and I had to desperately suppress the feeling of my breath catching in my throat.
"This song is basically a song filled with Ichikawa-san's frustrations, right? With you shouting and screaming as selfishly as you want."
"Hey, watch your phrasing...!"
"That's why, first, start alone. And then,"
Sako grinned, the corners of her mouth turning up.
"Let's show them that we're a band."
* * *
"Teach rhythm to me, who only knows melody"
"Teach words to me, who only knows rhythm"
"Teach harmony to me, who only knows words"
"Teach melody to me, who only knows harmony"
Wanting, seeking, I reached out my hand
No one was sufficient at all
We were all just holding onto staggered longings
Adding, receiving, multiplying, dividing
I don't know which side has more
* * *
Once Ichikawa finished singing that far, she played an interlude with just her guitar.
By the way, this was also a new phrase Sako had created for Ichikawa, who until now could only do basic strumming.
"Well, shall we go?"
"Yeah."
Sako and I lightly stretched and stepped out onto the stage.
Azuma gently pushed both of our backs.
"...Good luck, Konuma, Sakohasu."
Sako and I said simultaneously as we turned around.
"We've received the baton." "Leave the rest to us."
Getting onto the stage, I sat behind the drums and gripped my sticks; Sako hung her bass around her neck and turned the volume knob to the maximum.
Emotionally, it felt like I was in a crouching start position for a track race... though I've never actually done one.
After confirming the two of us were ready, Ichikawa flashed a bright smile.
She gave the guitar one sharp 'jaki' ring and then cut it off.
In that moment of silence, she sang the final phrase.
* * *
And then, 'I' becomes 'We'
* * *
"1, 2, 3, 4!"
I immediately called out the count.
Bang! The cymbals, bass, and guitar rang out perfectly in unison like a gunshot, and the intro to the next song began as if we were dashing straight out from the starting line.
The bass drum sounded like footsteps running step by step, and the groaning bass gave it a sense of speed.
The tempo was supposed to be the same, yet it felt as if we were gradually accelerating.
One by one, one by one, meanings layered, sounds layered, feelings layered.
The song of resolve begins.
* * *
『Kyousou』
My shoelaces came undone, I stepped on them, fell
I crouched down and couldn't move anymore
That probably wasn't because I got a scrape
But because I learned the pain of getting scraped
Afraid of starting over, sulking, moping
While I was acting out, it went far away
My hands and feet couldn't reach my longing
Before I knew it, I was in last place
Just when I was about to retire
I heard a powerful sound from somewhere
The true identity of that sound, ticking the rhythm and hitting the beat
Was the beating of my own heart
I don't have any confidence, I don't even know the definition
But I've decided right now, I'm going to be the strongest
Don't wait for me
I'll be there in no time
Just when I felt like I'd lose my breath
I heard a powerful sound from somewhere
The true identity of that sound, like fireworks, like drums
Were the words you gave to me
I don't have any confidence, I don't know if I'll reach
But I've already decided, I'm going to be the strongest
Don't wait for me
I'll go even further soon
Goodbye, the me who was sulking
Goodbye, the me who was moping
Goodbye, the me who was afraid
Goodbye, the me who was losing
I'm glad you guys were there
I will play this song together with everything up until today
* * *
Then, though I don't know when she had written it, the lyrics and melody Ichikawa had originally created were sung at the end.
With this one phrase, 'Kyousou' became a song for the four of us.
* * *
Look, gaze toward the direction of the dawn
Our Kyousou begins
* * *
"Good evening, we are amane!"
Cheers and applause returned from the venue.
Looking over, I saw Azuma, who had been in the wings a moment ago, now standing on the floor.
She gave a thumbs up and smiled, showing her teeth.
'If we are where we are today because of the last live, I want to convey that we are moving forward,' she had said. Bringing 'Kyousou', the last song from our previous performance, to the very beginning for the band seemed to have been a success.
"Today is our first time performing in a live house, but the sound is so good and it's really fun to play!"
Ichikawa laughed refreshingly.
"We will perform every song with all our might, with our whole hearts and souls, so please listen until the end."
Scattered applause returned.
However, turning from that comment, Ichikawa looked down slightly and smiled as if troubled.
"...That being said, the next song is suddenly a difficult one."
I tilted my head slightly at Ichikawa, who was scratching her cheek.
The next song shouldn't be difficult. ...At least, for Ichikawa and Sako.
"But, it's my mission to sing it through. ...Because that's my duty as Ichikawa Amane, the one who does the vocals for amane."
Sako pressed her lips together and looked toward Ichikawa.
"Well then, let's get right to it. ...Before the tears catch up."
Ichikawa held her guitar and took a deep breath.
"Please listen. The next song is..."