* * *
『Youth is a Lie』
Lyrics/Composition: IRIA
Out of season, out of expectations
From your side, it’s this side; from this side, it’s that side
The notes are... out of sync
The rhythm is... out of sync
From your side, it’s this side; from this side, it’s that side
A tedious formation, a predetermined arrangement
Surrounded on all sides, twenty-four seven
If you don’t flip over even when surrounded by black
If the rule of this country says the only choice is to vanish from the board forever
Pipe dreams are just pipe dreams
Nonsense is just nonsense
To think I was a brat for believing in them
What the hell, this isn't fiction or anything
It’s just a total lie
In a square room with only the bare minimum of oxygen
I spat out the tasteless air without reading it
It’s not blue, it’s not spring
Youth is a lie, youth is a lie, youth is a lie, youth is a lie
With the same mouth that prayed, "Let today end quickly"
I spat out, "I wish tomorrow wouldn't come"
Days like these
Youth is a lie, youth is a lie, youth is a lie, youth is a lie
At least tell me it’s a lie
Hey
* * *
“…………!”
The song played, and I gasped.
...Is this really the power of an amateur's recording?
To me, who was currently agonizing over sound production, the quality was cruelly high.
With this, even if it were lined up next to a professional recording, surely no one would feel any sense of out-of-placeness.
Of course, people's likes and dislikes would differ, but that meant she was standing on the stage where people could actually talk about 'likes and dislikes.'
Our pre-pro demo was a step before that. It was the kind of recording that would be cut and tossed away as 'unpleasant to listen to.'
“This person is incredibly cool...! Yuzu wants to be like this...! It feels like she 'has herself' or something...!”
Yuzu, who had been leaning forward as if biting into the sound, looked over at me.
“Hey, is IRIA-san at Tak-kun’s school?”
“No, I don’t know... Yuri, Sako, do you know?”
“Hmm, I feel like I recognize the speaking voice... But she’s a masked singer to begin with, right? Even if you say she's at our high school, I wouldn't know.”
“She almost said Class 1-5 earlier, so that narrows it down to about forty people.”
“True...”
Yuri and Sako answered my question.
Speaking of which, what class was Taira-chan in again? Just as I was trying to remember—
“Look, Tak-chan, Yuzu-chan, we’re here.”
The car stopped right in front of our house.
“Thank you very much. ...Well then, Sako, Yuri, good luck with practice.”
“Yeah, we'll work hard.”
“Konuma is pulling an all-nighter tomorrow, right? Make sure you sleep well today, okay?”
Sako nodded, and Yuri showed her concern.
“Thank you very much! Sako-chan, let’s do the sauna again! Yuri-nee, see you again!”
“Yuri-nee...!”
I saw the car off along with Yuzu, who was waving with a friendly smile.
“I’m home—”
As I stepped through the entrance, I searched on my smartphone and it linked to YouTube. An anime-like lyric video started playing, so I hurriedly turned down the volume.
On a screen based on red and black, the lyrics from earlier appeared and disappeared in white text.
Just as the radio personality said, the view count exceeded forty million.
While listening, I idly swiped through the comments.
『"If you don’t flip over even when surrounded by black, you have no choice but to vanish from the board forever"—is that about Othello and Go? Calling it genius is an understatement.』
『I knew it would definitely go viral after one listen. God.』
『Catchy melody with toxic lyrics. It’s addictive.』
『There’s a depth you don’t get just by listening casually.』
『I love the voice.』
『Twenty-four seven. Surrounded on all sides. Square room. The lyrics use words that evoke "Four" (Death) without saying it directly—the wordplay is insane.』
...No, this is practically a religion.
“What, Tak-kun, you’re interested too.”
From the side, Yuzu peeked at my phone.
“Not really.”
I hurriedly stuffed the phone into my pocket.
“...What’s wrong?”
“...It’s nothing, sorry.”
Apologizing for my sharpened tone, I quickly walked through the hallway and returned to my room.
I closed the door, leaned against it, and slumped down onto the floor.
...This is just middle-schooler syndrome.
...It’s like a religion. People are just getting caught up in the atmosphere where they praise everything this person makes.
...The song isn’t that good, the lyrics aren't that good. It’s just that person's arrogant attitude that somehow resonates.
...Singing with a tight throat like that.
...If Ichikawa gets serious, someone like her...
A barrage of foul words flowed through my head at incredible speed.
I desperately swallowed them down so as not to let them out of my mouth or put them into words, feeling like I was about to vomit. My hands were shaking.
I am amane’s drummer.
『Why would you say it’s not much of a song, Konuma-kun?』
『No matter what kind of song it is, it’s something precious that someone worked hard to create, so I don’t think anyone except the creator should ever say it’s "not much of a song."』
No matter what happens, I cannot say anything that denies the hard work someone put in.
And yet, and yet.
Why is this overflowing so much?
...Why is it so painful that someone younger than me, in a similar environment, is succeeding?
I see.
『Jealousy is more... muddy and slimy. It grabs your feet, and you can't get out of it at all. Even just standing up is difficult. You can't do it.』
This isn't a refreshing emotion at all, is it, Sako?