The performance ended, and we retreated to the wings of the stage.
...Yuri was not waiting there.
“Konuma-kun.”
Looking back, I saw Ichikawa with a serious face and tearful eyes, grabbing my sleeve.
“Go to her.”
As I hesitated to answer the sudden request, Ichikawa continued.
“I don't mind if the future changes as a result. I don't mind if your answer changes, Konuma-kun. I'll accept all of it, so please...”
Then, a single tear she had been holding back trickled down.
“Don't let Yuri fight alone anymore...!”
I gently touched her hand for just a moment.
“I'll bring her back.”
I climbed the stairs and went outside.
I thought about how it was bad manners not to listen to the sixth band, or whether I should talk to Ariga-san, or the people who came to see us.
But I threw all of that back inside the live house and stepped out.
Looking left and right, I saw a figure across the road on the right.
Leaning against the show window of a department store that had already closed for the day, I found a shadow that seemed to be catching its breath.
“Yuri.”
When I called out, Yuri spun around and immediately turned her face away again.
“Why do you only chase after me at times like this...!”
Without giving me a chance to speak, Yuri continued.
“I mean, that was a really great performance. Did you give it your all?”
“Yeah... thanks to you, Yuri.”
“Hee... Well then, since it's over, should I reveal the secret to you?”
“Reveal the secret...?”
Just as I wondered what she was talking about.
“...I called it a 'charm,' right? That was just lyrics. The whole thing was just a magic spell. So, it wasn't my true feelings. You don't have to worry about anything, Konuma.”
“There's no way that's true...”
Such a forced excuse—even I could tell it was a lie in this situation.
“How can you say that for sure? Since when did you become so overconfident...?”
“Because, Yuri,”
Because, in the reflection of the show window,
“You look like you're about to cry...!”
I could see Yuri's face as she desperately bit her lower lip to hold it back.
“...I can't afford to cry right now, can I? Because this is the path I chose for myself. If I'm going to cry, it'll be when I get closer to my dream. ...I won't waste tears on something like this.”
Then, lowering her tone, she whispered softly.
“Hey, Konuma?”
“What is it?”
She turned back toward me, wearing a clumsy, forced smile, and said:
“Please be happy, okay?”
After staying there until Yuri calmed down a bit (in the end, she didn't shed a single tear during that time), the two of us returned to the venue just as the results ceremony was about to begin.
The man who seemed to be the manager of Studio Octa stood on stage and was talking in a good mood, saying, “All the performing bands today were wonderful...”
“The manager is bad at public speaking, isn't he?”
Maika-san laughed beside me with a hearty 'ka-ha-ha.'
After a speech as long as a school principal's, it was finally time to announce the band that won today's Recording Award.
“And now, the announcement! The one who gets the recording rights is...!”
As we watched with bated breath.
The manager of Studio Octa dragged it out unnecessarily... and then.
“Entry number five, 'amane'!!”
He called out our name.
“Oh...!”
“Wow...!!”
“...I figured as much.”
There was me in surprise, Ichikawa purely rejoicing, and Sako acting tough for some reason.
“Congratulations!”
Maika-san offered her heartfelt blessings. She really has a big heart...
“We did it...!!” “We did it, didn't we...!”
A little further ahead, Erina-san and Taira-chan were hugging and jumping around.
“Thank goodness...”
And beside me, Yuri was looking at the stage with a dazed expression.
There was a simple award ceremony after that, and then we organized our instruments and luggage.
After the members of the other bands said things like “Congratulations” or “That was good,” Ariga-san approached us.
“Good job! Congratulations!”
“I was already certain of it when amane's performance ended! I was going to shower you with praise immediately, but where did Konuma-kun and Yuri-san go?”
“Ah, sorry...”
“Honestly!” Ariga-san crossed her arms and sighed like a senior close in age. She's in high spirits, isn't she?
“Even so, it was wonderful. You really found your 'answer,' didn't you?”
“Yes, thank you very much...!”
I flinched at the pure praise from someone I once thought was a Demon King, but a feeling of joy began to swell up inside me.
“With this, surely the Youth Rebellion scouts will also...!”
A shadow interrupted Ariga-san's words as her cheeks flushed with excitement.
“No, I'm pushing for Butter.”
Daikoku-san cut in.
“Tsukiko, are you... serious!?”
“What's with that face? It's true that amane's performance today was great. An explosion of emotion that no other band could keep up with. I heard the judges were unanimous in voting for amane, you know?”
After saying that much, she smiled, probably deliberately being spiteful.
“...But you prepared a trump card that can never be used again just for today, didn't you?”
“That's...!”
Yuri's eyes widened.
I was overwhelmed and speechless. What does this person see? How far can she see through us?
“If that's the case, there's less chance they can perform with the same intensity at the next live. In that regard, Butter is much more reliable. Their skill isn't something momentary.”
“But, Tsukiko! You've always said music is emotion...!”
“Are you saying Butter has no emotion?”
“That's...! That's not true, but...!”
Ariga-san faltered.
It was no wonder. Butter's performance was top-tier in both emotion and technique.
“Hey, Ariga? Adults are dirty, aren't they? But even if you have to use dirty tricks, there are things you want to achieve and people you want to stay by your side.”
“Huh...? What are you talking about all of a sudden...?”
Ariga-san frowned at the topic that seemed to change abruptly.
“If you really believe in amane, there's something you can do, right?”
“You don't mean you did this for...!?”
“Could it be...!”
This time, Ichikawa's eyes widened.
“If Ariga says right here and now that she'll 'become a judge for Youth Rebellion,' she can use that judge's authority to advance amane to the Youth Rebellion finals.”
The four high schoolers gasped.
Is she playing the villain just for that...?
“Hey, Tsukiko. I don't understand. Why would you go that far for me...”
“I don't want you to quit the company, Ariga. To borrow their words... there's a scenery I want to see together with you.”
It seemed Ichikawa was right when she said, 'I think Ariga-san wants to go independent.'
Daikoku-san continued with a serious expression.
“Of course, pushing for Butter is my honest feeling. I think it's the right judgment as a producer. It would be a disaster if a band put in through a scout slot was terrible during the actual performance, right?”
That judgment was certainly not wrong.
Ariga-san put her hand to her chin, and after a moment of hesitation.
“...I understand,” she said.
“In that case, I'll be a judge—”
“Ariga-san, you shouldn't do that.”
A voice interrupted her mid-sentence.
The owner of that voice was Ichikawa Amane.
“...Eh?”
“Of course, we want that right so badly our throats ache. It's a dream come true to be able to make music with Ariga-san again. But,”
Ichikawa looked at her with a gentle smile that didn't seem like a typical high schooler's.
“Wouldn't Ariga-san's dream be crushed by that?”
Ichikawa continued to the two stunned adults.
“Ariga-san, you want to go... independent, right? Then please don't throw that away for us. I don't want to sacrifice anyone's dream. If we do that...”
Ichikawa bit her lip slightly before speaking.
“Yuri's 'Resolve' will lose its meaning.”
“That's... But your debut is also an important dream...!”
“Oh, honestly...” Yuri said from the side, laughing as if exasperated. “It seems we're the kind of band that won't sacrifice anyone's dreams or anyone's feelings.”
Ariga-san narrowed her eyes and looked at us.
“Such idealism and pretty words won't work in the future, you know...?”
“I guess so...” Yuri responded.
But.
“I'm sure that's how it's been for bands until now. But...”
She added with a smile.
“We're aiming to be the strongest band. I think Amane is saying that the strongest band can surely do that.”
She took another deep breath and slowly exhaled.
“This is amane's resolve. ...Is it no good?”
Ariga-san remained still for a few seconds before letting out a large sigh.
“Sigh... what am I being taught by high schoolers, over and over again...”
Looking completely exasperated with herself, Ariga-san turned back to Daikoku-san.
“Sorry, Tsukiko. It looks like I can't become a judge.”
“...I see.”
Daikoku-san's spiteful expression vanished, replaced by a relaxed laugh.
“Damn it! I thought I had it this time!”
The mysterious atmosphere disappeared instantly as she gnashed her teeth like a young boy. I can't tell if this person is an adult or a child...
“By the way, members of amane, are you going to enter Youth Rebellion?”
She suddenly asked in a playful tone.
“Yes, we're thinking of entering!” Ichikawa replied with a smile.
“I see. Well then,” Daikoku-san smirked, “Let's meet again at the finals.”
With that, she waved and walked away.
“She's admitting you have the skill to make it to the finals, isn't she...” Ariga-san laughed, looking thoroughly exhausted.
“Um, I just want to confirm one thing...”
The Yuri who had been so cool just a moment ago suddenly raised her hand timidly.
“What is it?”
“That... do you think amane can turn pro?”
I see. This question was checking the success criteria for this live's goal.
* * *
'Recording Rights Battle Live' Success Conditions
• Get the recording rights!
• Manager Ariga recognizes the band amane!
* * *
“Well... I don't know if you can turn pro, but,” Ariga-san smiled gently. “...If I start a new label, you'll be the first ones I go to scout.”
Upon hearing that answer, Yuri blinked in surprise for a moment, and then—
“Ehehe, that's more than enough!”
As she said that, finally...
'If I'm going to cry, it'll be when I get closer to my dream.'
“I'm so, so glad...!”
She burst into the tears she had been holding back until now.
The following Monday morning.
“Morning, Konuma, Sakohasu.”
“Morning~”
“Morning, Yurisuke.”
“Morning, Konuma-kun, Sako-san, Yuri! ...Wait, the three of you came together? Invite me next time!”
“It was just a coincidence.”
The four members of amane happened to meet in front of the traffic light near Shin-Koganei Station.
“By the way, the live was really amazing. The excitement still hasn't cooled down!” Ichikawa brought up the topic energetically.
“Yeah...”
“Mm.” Sako was also looking at her hands, flexing them.
“Yeah. That's true, but Amane?”
“Hoe?”
Yuri looked at Ichikawa with half-closed eyes.
“I've been meaning to ask, you stopped Manager Ariga from accepting the judge position on your own, didn't you?”
“Eh? Well, because, I thought Yuri would surely think the same...!”
“Ah. I was actually pretty annoyed by that. You tried to take the cool spotlight again, didn't you?”
“That's not true!?” Ichikawa was being tossed back and forth between the two.
“Well, I don't care about standing out or not, but I'm the one who said I want amane to debut, and that was our chance, right!? You could have confirmed it with me!”
“Eh, but in the end, Yuri agreed too...!”
“Hiyah!” Yuri gave Ichikawa a chop to the forehead.
“Eh, did Yuri just hit me!?” Holding her forehead, Ichikawa's eyes welled up in surprise.
“Of course I'll hit you! I'll scold you if you're wrong, and point it out if you're being lame. Because,”
Yuri looked down for a split second, then raised her head and wiped the corner of her eye.
“Sakohasu, Amane, and Konuma... you aren't rivals, or icons, or lovers.”
Then, with the most brilliant smile I had ever seen, she declared:
“You're just my precious band members that I love to death!”