As expected, the microphone setup for the bass amp was finished faster than the drums.
To begin with, in the case of a bass, the sound recorded directly via cable is mixed in more prominently, so apparently, the sound recorded by the microphone can be cut out at worst if needed.
“Why did it end up with the two of us coming in?”
While the microphone preparation was over and Hichika-san was doing the final settings in the control room, Sako, standing in front of her amp, asked the question.
“That senpai told me. Takuto, you decided it yourself, didn't you?”
Her tone didn't rise at the end, yet she was bombarding me with questions.
“I decided it.”
To be precise, I decided it based on a hint from what Kanno-san told me.
“And why is that?”
“Sako, what have you been practicing for these past few weeks, matching the metronome?”
“That's...”
She answers without getting fed up with me answering a question with a question.
“To be able to play at whatever timing I like.”
“Whoa...!”
Realizing Sako understood the essence of the practice, my eyes widened in admiration.
“That's amazing...! No, I thought until just a moment ago that it meant being able to play as accurately as a machine.”
“To be honest, I thought so too, but Yurisuke told me that wasn't it.”
“Azuma... I see.”
Well, Azuma and I are studying under the same person in a way.
But if so, back during the school festival—no, even back when we first met—Azuma already understood that while playing bass.
Somehow, I'm starting to re-realize how incredible Azuma is.
“And?”
Prompted by that single word, I snapped back to reality.
“Well, there's not much point if Sako's desired timing and my desired timing don't match, right? More specifically, if I drum first, the timing Sako should play at will be influenced by my drums.”
“That's true.”
Sako made a gesture as if she were thinking for a moment.
“So, we'll play together while consulting each other.”
“You can do it, right?”
“Of course.”
Behind that 0.something millimeter lift of the corners of her mouth, I felt like I could see the real black-haired Sako Hasu.
I know this whole conversation is being overheard, so I don't say it out loud, but Sako and I can consult each other through eye contact.
Sako and I have played together many times since before we became amane, and we've synchronized our timing countless times.
When I hit a cymbal, Sako's bass rings out from there; when Sako plucks a bass string, the drum sound comes from the amp—we've practiced repeatedly, aiming for a level of synchronization so high it feels like an illusion.
On top of that, we'll now intersect the results of our separate, rigorous metronome training right here.
“But if either of us makes a mistake, we'll have to start over.”
“Well, we're humans, not machines...”
“What's that?”
Sako let out a small chuckle.
『Alright, are you ready?』
To Hichika-san's question coming through the headphones,
““...Yes.””
Responding at the exact same moment, we look at each other and smile.