"...Hey, stop loitering and peering in front of other people's classrooms."
"Azuma...! No, loitering and peering?"
"A combination of loitering and peering. Exactly what you were just doing, Konuma."
"Ah..."
It was lunch break the next day.
While I was loitering and peering in front of Class 2-4, Azuma, who seemingly couldn't bear to watch any longer, came out of the classroom to talk to me. Thank you, big sis...!
"I'm not your sister, though... Anyway, do you need something? It looks like Sakohasu went to the store."
"Ah, no, I actually have business with you, Azuma."
"With me...!"
Azuma's eyes widened for a split second before narrowing immediately.
"...Then you should have just called out to me sooner," she rebuked me.
"Sorry... I thought with how I am now, I could handle charging into another class, but once I got here, the hurdle was still too high... See, your seat is near the window, Azuma, so it's hard to call out to you..."
"Then you could just use LINE. Use your smartphone smartly, for once."
"I'm sorry..."
"...So, what is it? This 'business' you have with me...?"
As Azuma looked up at me with expectant eyes, I briefly stated my business.
"Could you come with me to Kanno-san's class...?"
"...Konuma, you really are the worst."
"The worst!?"
"Sigh..."
Azuma let out a heavy sigh.
"You want to ask Maika-bucho to teach you drums, right?"
"Ah, yeah..."
As expected, Azuma saw right through me.
Although the schedule hadn't been decided yet, considering the timing for the demo submission, there was less than a month until recording.
The only way I could think of to grow in such a short time was to be taught by someone.
I figured if I could be taught by Kanno-san, whom I respected as a drummer, that would be for the best.
However, barging into a third-year classroom was something a coward like me could never do. Thus, I had come to rely on Yuri Azuma, a communication powerhouse who also had connections with the seniors.
"Well, I guess relying on me isn't necessarily 'the worst' in itself..."
Azuma scratched her head while grumbling dissatisfiedly.
"But is Kanno-san the kind of person who would accept if you asked her?"
"Who knows? Well, why not just try asking? Then you can just crash and burn into a thousand pieces."
"Your words have some thorns in them..."
"Ahaha, that's funny."
Azuma laughed once, put her hands in her blazer pockets, walked ahead a bit, and then looked back at me.
"Well, are you coming?"
And so, I was led to Class 3-6 where Maika Kanno-san was.
However.
"Maika-bucho isn't here..."
"True..."
Even peering into the classroom, there was no sign of her.
Just then.
"Ah, it's Yuri-bou!"
A senior I didn't know called out from behind us.
"What's up, what are you doing in a place like this?"
"Kagami-senpai, it's been a while! H-Hey, please don't mess up my hair, you're going to ruin it...!"
"It's fine, it's fine. Let me absorb some nutrients from my cute junior. I'm exhausted from studying for entrance exams..."
"Exhausted... using words like you're in a literature exam, you really must be tired...!"
"Indeed I am, Yuri-bou-kun..."
This Kagami-senpai was likely a senior from the Instrument Club.
Knowing the senior was tired, Azuma allowed her head to be patted.
Azuma, who usually acted like a senior or a big sister herself, was acting surprisingly like a junior in front of her own senior. It was quite fresh. And she's really loved as a junior, isn't she...?
"So, do you know where Maika-bucho is? Was she the type to go to the cafeteria?"
"Ehh, you don't have business with this one, Yuri-bou-kun...?"
"Senpai, your first-person pronoun is getting weird... You've never said 'this one' before..."
"Is that so, is that so. So this one doesn't matter at all..."
Kagami-senpai's expression clouded over theatrically.
It was obviously acting, but for the senior-respecting Azuma, it was incredibly effective.
"Ugh...! P-Please don't make such a disappointed face! I like you, it's okay! I love Kagami-senpai too!"
"Do you like this one more than that boyfriend over there?"
"...! H-He's not my boyfriend!"
Azuma denied it with a bright red face, and I, naturally, looked away a bit.
Kagami-senpai gave a grin like a Cheshire cat and finally released Azuma.
"Well, jokes aside, if it's Maika, she's probably over there."
We arrived at a bench near the main gate.
Kanno-san was eating bread while listening to music through earphones.
"Maika-bucho, we've been looking for you...!"
When the exhausted-looking Azuma stood before her, she took off her earphones and tilted her head.
"Oh, it's Yuri-bou and Takuto. What's up?"
"It seems Konuma has something to talk to you about. Or rather, why are you eating outside in this cold...?"
"Because it's outside, I can stomp my feet without bothering anyone."
"Stomp your feet...?"
When I tilted my head this time,
"You should understand, Takuto. Stomping is stomping. It's practice for drum kicks."
She looked at me with exasperated eyes.
"Everyone's a test-taker now, right? When I eat in the classroom, everyone's already on edge, and I end up moving my feet unconsciously while I eat. They tell me the pitter-patter is noisy. I don't want to be a nuisance, so I've been eating here lately."
"Isn't that bad manners...?"
"If I have to choose between someone with refined manners who's bad at drums and someone with bad manners who's great at drums, I'd choose the latter every time. Don't say such crap. ...Anyway, if you have business, sit down."
Kanno-san patted the spot on the bench next to her.
There was just enough space for one person.
"Well then, I'm going back. Argh, I'm going to run out of time to eat my own lunch..."
Sensing the mood, Azuma tried to leave, but Kanno-san called out to her.
"Wait, Yuri-bou. Here, have a katsu sandwich from my place. You like them, right?"
"I love them!"
Azuma's eyes sparkled. From her place?
"Eh, is it okay? What about yours, Maika-bucho?"
"It's fine, it's fine. I brought a bit too many today."
"Is that so...! Thank you very much!"
The happy-looking Azuma wore a friendly smile that made it clear why she was liked by her seniors.
"Yeah, if that's enough for you. Thanks for coming all this way for Takuto's sake, Yuri-bou."
"No, no. ...Wait, why is Maika-bucho acting like the main wife...?"
"Main wife...? What are you talking about?"
The two of them frowned and looked at each other at the same time.
"Sigh... This person is so oblivious... It's nothing. Anyway, please take care of Konuma. Konuma, you behave yourself, okay?"
"Ahaha, what are you, Takuto's wife?"
"Ugh...! Honestly, why are third-years so lacking in delicacy!"
With a huff, Azuma turned on her heel and started walking back toward the classroom with her shoulders squared. I called out to stop her.
"Ah, Azuma!"
"What...?"
She looked back with a face that practically screamed, 'Are you planning to embarrass me even more?'
"Sorry for taking up your lunch break. Thanks for everything."
When I said that, she turned away again abruptly.
"...Shut up! Don't say things like that! I don't care anymore! Do your best! Stupid!"