“Man, first off, good job on the recording.”
“Thank you very much...!”
I bowed deeply while still seated.
“Thanks for doing it at our studio. The manager was happy too. Having you perform at a live event we planned and then entering Seishun Rebellion with that recorded audio will be great promotion for us.”
“No, it was only possible because we were allowed to record for free.”
“That's something you guys won for yourselves. Even beating out Butter.”
“Thank you.”
While feeling a sense of pride, it occurred to me just now that the reason Maika-san's own band—who are staff members—didn't get the free recording rights might have been to avoid the appearance of a rigged contest.
If they just gathered bands by dangling prize money and ticket quotas only to give the prize to their own people, it would naturally invite suspicion of foul play.
That said, I doubt anyone who saw Butter's performance that day would have suspected anything underhanded...
“Also, don't forget to properly apply for Ao-Ribe, okay?”
“Maika-bucho, are you really the one to say that?”
“Oh boy, as usual, you're quite the greeting junior, Yuribou. So cute.”
“Hey, please don't mess up my hair.”
Azuma, who had muttered an insult, was for some reason being pampered with her hair being ruffled. They seemed quite close.
“Now, about the talk regarding Lock-on at the Holy Land, Planetary System, where that legendary live was performed.”
“Yes! I'm sorry for trying to leave earlier...!”
Ichikawa-bucho straightened her posture. She seemed to think it was a blunder so great that she couldn't even react to high-pressure words like 'legendary live' or 'holy land.' I felt the same. I'm so sorry...
“No, no. When you record something, you want to listen to the audio about a hundred times right away, don't you? Careful though, if you listen to the same song too much, you'll feel nauseous.”
“Yes...!”
I've had that experience many times, so I understood.
However, thinking that Maika-san had also experienced that made me feel a sense of kinship.
“In order to perform at a live house, there are three major things we need to decide.”
Maika-san held up three fingers.
“First is the timetable. This is naturally formed once we decide how many bands will perform, the set time for each band, and their respective rehearsal times.”
“Understood. I'll check the number of bands that want to participate.”
“Yeah, do that.”
Maika-san nodded and kept two fingers up.
“Second is the ticket price. How much it costs to get in.”
“That's true...”
Inside the school, it was obviously free, but it might not be the same for an external live house.
“Is there a problem if it's free? I feel like we shouldn't be making a profit from club activities, so I was hoping we could cover it with the club budget...”
“Not particularly, but drink fees will definitely be required.”
“Understood. That goes to the shop, so I think it's fine, but let me check with the school just in case.”
Amane is really acting like a club president...!
“Amane-bucho, you're so cool...”
“I was like that too when I was president, you know?”
Tsubame-chan's eyes sparkled, and the former president, Azuma, sulked. The power balance between you guys has become complicated lately.
“Third is entry rights. When we do it in school, the school itself only allows related parties, so there are no entry restrictions. But when playing at a live house, normally anyone can come as long as they pay the ticket price. You can call family or friends.”
“Some club members might be happy about that!”
To the smiling Amane, Maika-san prefaced with, “Well, that's true, but...” and continued.
“On the other hand, people who have no connection to Musashino International and whom we don't know at all could also come. If the ticket price is free, then even random passers-by could walk in. That would be dangerous, right?”
“I see...”
It seemed there were more merits and demerits than I thought.
“Anyway, discuss those things at school and let me know. For now, as long as I can secure the date, the fine details can wait until later.”
“Understood, thank you very much!”
“Alright, then hurry home and listen to that recorded audio.”
Maika-san sent us off with a bright smile.
“Well then, I'll leave the audio to you.”
“I would be happy if you could send it to me too!”
As I started to walk toward the station with Sako, Azuma, and Tsubame-chan, my clothes were tugged sharply.
“...?”
When I turned around, Ichikawa... no, Amane, was pouting her lips as if sulking and staring intently into my eyes.
“...Let's talk, just for a bit.”