After the practice at the school studio ended, the three of us—me, Azuma, and Sako, who had just finished her club activities—were swaying on the train.
Of course, Ichikawa was with us when we left the school, but she got off at Kichijoji, looking reluctant and somewhat resentful. Even if she looks at me like that...
“Whoa... so this is the view from the train window that Sakohasu and Konuma see every day...!”
The president of the Seishun Rebellion club had both hands pressed against the window, her eyes sparkling as she looked outside.
“I guess so...”
“No, it's just a normal view...”
“That kind of everyday scenery is exactly what's important...! Come on, you two should sear it into your memories too!”
““Ah, yeah...””
Rather than being discouraged by mine and Sako's lukewarm response, Yuri-neesan, for some reason I don't know, was recommending the view from the window to us instead.
Still, it feels very fresh to see Azuma on the train connected to Ichika-cho.
“Takuto, I'm glad you're finally going to be taught by that person.”
“Yeah, you're right.”
Sako looked at Azuma, who was absorbed in the train window, with a fond smile before turning the conversation to me. I had already told them on the way here that Kanno-san was going to teach me the drums.
“I wonder what Ichikawa-san will do.”
“She was worried about that. For now, she said she'd do her best with basic practice.”
“Well, in her case, rather than being taught weirdly, it might be better for her to develop her own style. She has good ears.”
“I guess so...”
It's true that being taught isn't necessarily everything. ...But, somewhere deep down, I wonder if that's really okay, or if there are other connections. I might should ask Ariga-san. I don't know if I should rely on her, but if I get scolded for relying on her, then so be it.
“And, I wonder if that girl is working hard right now too.”
Sako murmured softly.
“That girl?”
“Yurisuke's disciple.”
“Ah, Taira-chan.”
Looking at the master, Sako seemed to remember and suddenly started saying that.
“Until summer, she was only saying things like she was cursing people, and she didn't have a shred of ambition.”
“No, I wouldn't go that far...”
I swallowed the words of denial and gave a bitter smile.
“...Well, maybe that was true.”
I think Taira-chan changed a lot after meeting Azuma.
She was struck by her way of life, trying to fulfill her youth even if it meant throwing everything away, and she made up her mind to live that way too.
『If I stay like this, I won't be someone who can lead the Rock Club in half a year.』
To be honest, I think she could easily become the president of the Rock Club just by volunteering.
Even Ichikawa only became the president because she was the only dedicated member of the Rock Club, and there probably wouldn't be any other applicants anyway.
However, becoming the president of the Rock Club might have a bigger meaning for her than I think.
“I didn't realize that mixing was an option.”
“Hmm?”
I tilted my head at those somewhat abrupt words from beside me, and Sako continued.
“I've decided. I'm going to be number one in this band, in amane. That's what competition means to me.”
“...I see.”
While I nodded vaguely, she continued.
“...And yet, I have no idea how to do it.”
She whispered.
“Takuto probably thinks, ‘How many times are you going to say that?’ but I don't have anything. Not songwriting, not composition, not singing, nothing.”
It's true that Sako says that at every opportunity.
And I was always unable to return words that properly denied it.
“amane also sings, ‘It doesn't matter if there's something only I can do,’ but from my perspective, Ichikawa-san, Takuto, and Yurisuke have all already found it.”
Sako spoke indifferently, as if stating only facts.
“But I just can't help but think that I'm the only one who's replaceable.”
She said it plainly.
“That’s...”
“Yeah, the fact that I think that way is the problem itself.”
My words, as I tried to deny it somehow, were cut off.
No matter what words I convey, if Sako feels that way, there might be nothing I can do.
...No.
Am I just being pampered again by Sako's kindness, saying, 『So, you don't have to say anything』?
Actually, the answer hasn't come out.
Of course, I think that if Sako leaves, it won't be the band amane anymore. I truly believe that without any lies. I could bet all my fingertips on it.
But.
Even after I’ve told her that many times, Sako is stuck in that thought process, and even if I tell her many times, it would probably just sound like we're “playing friends” or “playing comrades.”
『There's no reason, but Sako's bass is good.』
...I could say that as much as she wanted, if that was enough.
“You know how people often say to use frustration as a spring?”
“...They do say that.”
And in the end, I could only give a repetitive response, and I gently pinched my own thigh.
“But I think jealousy isn't such a refreshing emotion.”
“What do you mean?”
“I think jealousy is more of a ‘muddy’ feeling.”
Sako, who had once claimed to be an expert in jealousy, continued while fiddling with the zipper of her bass case with her fingertips.
“Jealousy is more thick and slimy. It grabs your feet, and you can't get out of it at all, and it's hard even just to stand up. You can't.”
“...Maybe so.”
As I listened to those words, I remembered the feelings I had when I was recording Ichikawa's electric guitar and singing yesterday.
...That certainly wasn't such a refreshing feeling.
“People who can use that as a spring to aim higher are abnormal to me. ...I think they're truly amazing. Not as irony or a sarcasm.”
“But,”
I interrupted Sako there.
“I think Sako, who can admit that, is truly amazing.”
“...I'm pathetic.”
But my honest feelings, which sounded like encouragement, were gently pushed back into my chest.
“But you know, Sakohasu.”
Azuma, who should have been looking out the window the whole time, was suddenly looking over here with a serious face.
“To be honest, I can't think of a way to convince you that ‘Sakohasu is irreplaceable.’ Or rather, unfortunately, in our case, everyone is equally replaceable.”
“What do you mean by ‘equally’?”
Sako tilted her head slightly.
“It means everyone is replaceable. Even if I don't write lyrics, Amane can write them, and even if Konuma doesn't write songs, Amane can write them.”
“...But then, Ichikawa-san is still special after all.”
“No, no, that's not how it is.”
She said it in a roundabout way, “tsk tsk tsk,” and wore a proud smile.
“Because even if Amane can't write songs, Konuma can, and even if Amane can't write lyrics, I can.”
“Azuma...”
...Azuma, who shouldn't have been able to say this for a long time, was now able to say such things with her chest puffed out.
That felt like proof that she was no longer just a devotee, much more so than the fact that she was able to stand up to Ichikawa.
“So, in the end, we're all still replaceable humans.”
“But Ichikawa-san's singing can only be sung by Ichikawa-san.”
Even so, Sako, who has thought and worried a lot in her own way, doesn't seem to be able to resolve it so easily.
“That's true. And Sakohasu's bass can only be played by Sakohasu. Is there any difference?”
“I don't have enough individuality to call it my bass.”
“That's why you practice, right? To find the sound that only Sakohasu can make.”
“Is that... so...?”
What Azuma was saying made sense to me, but well, it might be more difficult to ask for a solution with just words.
『We will soon arrive at Ichika-cho Station.』
While we were talking about that, a recorded announcement played from the speakers.
“Well, anyway, it's back home to practice, Sakohasu!”
Azuma pushed Sako's back and got off at the station.
“I get it, so don't push.”
“I'll push. If you have time to think with your arms crossed, you have to practice. If it's something you absolutely have to think about, let's think while moving our hands and feet.”
“Azuma, that's...”
“Hmm?”
『If you have time to think with your arms crossed, practice. If it's something you absolutely have to think about, think while moving your hands and feet.』
“...No, it's nothing.”
As I thought, Azuma really loves her senior.
“Oh, that's right. Konuma, thanks for the amp.”
“Leave it to me, I'll deliver it to your house.”