<Author’s Comment>
I’m sorry for the sudden update of an extra chapter while I’m on break!
You’re thinking this is just an announcement, right? You’re correct. It’s an announcement.
An announcement, and one more thing.
There’s something I really want to convey here, so I would be happy if you could read through the main story and the afterword.
First, the main story!
“Konuma-kun, could you write a letter for me?”
In the classroom of 2nd year, Class 6.
Ichikawa smiled troubledly while placing a bundle of stationery and two ballpoint pens on my desk.
“A letter...?”
Seeing me scowl while sitting, Ichikawa turned the seat in front of me toward me and sat down.
“You don’t have to make such a disgusted face...! It seems like we received a donation for club expenses from an alumnus, and the advisor told me to write a thank-you letter.”
“Hooo...?”
Why a letter? An email should be fine. Anyway, who even is the advisor? Were they at the training camp?
“Man, being the president is tough...”
“That sounds like someone else’s problem to you, doesn’t it...?”
President Ichikawa tilted her head dissatisfactorily.
“No, I mean, Ichikawa, your handwriting is overwhelmingly better than mine, so there’s no point in me writing it...”
As I grumbled, Ichikawa let out a sigh with a “Geez...”
“I have to write two. Since we received donations from two people. So, I thought it would be nice if you and I could each write one. What do you think?”
“Azu—” “Yuri has part-time work today.” “Understood...”
I was about to suggest that Azuma would be suitable because her handwriting is neat, but I was cut off with a rejection. Damn...
“...Alright, I’ll do it.”
“Thank you!”
Seeing me surrender, Ichikawa gave a beaming smile.
I reluctantly pulled a sheet of stationery toward me, placed it on top of a notebook serving as a writing pad, and laughed self-deprecatingly.
“In that case, Ichikawa’s is the prize, and mine is the dud...”
“That’s not true! I’d be really happy if I got a letter from you, Konuma-kun!”
“...What’s with that?”
Being hit with such a killer line along with an innocent smile, my path of retreat was completely cut off.
I wonder how many times I’ve thought that the truly calculating one isn't Erina-san, but this natural angel here.
“...So, what should I write? Like, Dear so-and-so, or something...?”
“Ah, here’s the text.”
The paper Ichikawa pulled out of her bag had a text printed out, likely typed in Word.
“The advisor prepared it.”
“For real, Advisor?”
I’ve gained a bit of respect for the advisor. But who is the advisor?
Anyway, Advisor.
“Can’t we just fold this, put it in an envelope, and send it, Advisor?”
“I’m not the advisor, you know?”
Ichikawa laughed with a sigh, as if to chide me for persistently seeking a way out of writing.
“Handwritten letters are really something to be happy about, you know?”
“Is that how it is...? I feel like a printed one is better than poor handwriting.”
“...You know, I once received a fan letter written by hand.”
“............I see.”
At those softly spoken words, my right hand holding the pen twitched.
“It was anonymous. The handwriting wasn’t very good and slanted heavily to the right, but even that made me so happy.”
“...Is that so.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
I emptied my mind and began copying the text. It was like transcribing sutras. Dear sir, as the skies remain clear and high these days...
“In the first place, the fact that they tried to write their impressions, that they tried to convey them to me, made me so happy. On top of that, they told me, ‘I’m glad I encountered this song.’ Even after I became unable to sing, I read it over and over again...”
Ichikawa smiled slightly and murmured.
“...If it wasn't for that letter, I might not have even thought that I ‘wanted to sing once more’ in the first place.”
“...I see.”
Seeing my curt attitude, Ichikawa took on a mischievous expression and leaned toward me.
“Oh? Konuma-kun, could it be that you’re jealous?”
“N-No, it’s not like that...!”
When I turned my palm toward Ichikawa to deny it, her gaze dropped to the stationery I was writing on.
...Ah.
“............!”
Quietly, she took a sharp, deep breath.
“...This might be the first time I’ve properly seen your handwriting, Konuma-kun.”
“...You don’t have to look.”
I hurriedly hid the paper with both hands.
“Konuma-kun, your handwriting is—”
“H-Hey, your hands have stopped moving, Ichikawa. W-What happened to your usual concentration?”
“...It slants heavily to the right, doesn't it?”
In an instant, Ichikawa’s eyes began to well up with tears.
“Hey, could it be...”
“C-Concentrate...! Look, if you don’t write, we can’t go home, right?”
“B-But...!”
“...I’m going to keep writing. That’s the end of the conversation.”
I looked down again and continued writing.
...However, my handwriting was shaking.
Even though I knew I’d have to rewrite it, I couldn't stop writing. I couldn't afford to look up.
“Konuma-kun, thank you so much.”
A slightly damp voice vibrated against my eardrums.
“...For what?”
“...For writing a letter, even though you’re not good at it.”
“...You’re talking about what I’m writing right now, right?”
I prayed like a mantra that my ears and cheeks weren't turning red.
“Ehehe...”
I heard the sound of Ichikawa letting out a bashful smile.
“...I and my songs are truly happy to have met you.”
<Author’s Comment>
So! As I reported before, this work received an Excellence Award at the 26th Sneaker Taisho, and the release date has been decided! The title has been changed slightly to 'I, a Bedroom Musician Loner, Will Become a Ghostwriter for That Genius Beautiful Girl' and it will be released in bookstores nationwide on October 1st (Friday)! The official Twitter is also active. You can see tweets from amane members with a short-story feel, and you can hear daily voice clips from Ichikawa Amane. Please search for 'Takuroku Bocchi' on Twitter. Furthermore, a music video for 'Watashi no Uta' has been created! Lyrics and composition are under the name of Ichikawa Amane, both of which were handled by Ishida. The person playing Ichikawa Amane for both the singing and the voice clips is the voice actress Maeda Kaori-san. There’s a link at the bottom, so please check it out! (The song 'Heijitsu' will be out soon too!) I need to resume the 4th song soon. I'm sorry for keeping you waiting. And, more than anything. There is something I want to convey again in this place. It’s nothing special, but once again, I want to express my gratitude to everyone who has supported me this far. It is thanks to you, who are reading this text right now, that I have been able to come this far. A work that began with the very first character I typed while tapping away in a dark room, thinking that probably no one would read it. There were many times I felt like giving up. There were many times I felt like I was going to break. Or rather, in reality, I was quite discouraged, and I think there were times when I actually did break. Even so, at those times, I read the comments and reviews I received from all of you over and over again. You told me you 'laughed.' You told me you 'cried.' You told me it was 'something to look forward to every day.' You told me you 'thought you’d try your best starting tomorrow.' You told me 'my life changed.' In days full of nothing but pain, in days where nothing seemed to reach anyone, the reason I was able to not throw away today was, more than anything else, thanks to the words I received from you. Gently and strongly pushed by your words, I have finally been able to stand at the starting line. The reason I am happier than anything to be able to debut with 'Takuroku Bocchi' is because you are here, someone I can share that meaning and that fact with. The support I received from you is my pride and my medal of honor. Since it’s read by many people, it’s something I can’t say on Twitter, so let me say it here. I will always, from the bottom of my heart, cherish you, who have supported me this far. I cannot thank you enough. Please let me repay you in the future. So, it's not about 'please buy the book' or anything like that (though I’d be happy if you read it), but anyway, I always had the feeling that I had missed the chance to express my gratitude, and that was frustrating. So, more than the announcement, I wanted to convey this, which is why I inserted this piece. Once again. Thank you so much for meeting me, for finding me. If you would like, there would be no greater happiness than if you would continue to see the next scenery together with me. 2021.09.23 Ishida Touha