“—So, that’s how it is. Did you get the general idea about the equipment?”
After IRIA-san finished her explanation of the equipment and its uses, she turned around and crossed her arms. She looked quite the part.
“Yeah, thank you! Even though the manufacturers are different, I thought they were pretty similar to the gear Takuto-kun has at his house.”
“Yeah, I thought so too. I know because I’m his childhood friend, but it’s the same as the equipment at Takuto’s house. I know because I’m his childhood friend.”
“What’s with that pressure...?”
While looking suspiciously at Sako-san, who puffed out her chest as if competing, IRIA-san continued.
“Well, I’m a masked singer, so I don’t use a camera. In that sense, I might be the same as Takuto-san. But Amane-san, you’re going to show your face and sing in the videos, right?”
“Hmm... I’m actually a bit torn about that. I wonder if I should also do it as a masked singer. Using a completely different name and everything.”
If I wanted to achieve results while keeping my distance from 'amane,' I thought that might be better. Since the name 'amane' comes from me after all...
“Hmm. Like having someone draw an illustration for you?”
“Yeah, but that doesn’t feel quite right... It might not fit well with an acoustic cover. ...Maybe I should just do it with a pitch-black screen?”
“Who would even watch that...?”
“You think so...?”
IRIA-san let out a sigh of exasperation.
“Even if Amane-san weren't cute, it would still be better to have movement. How much more so for the beautiful girl Amane-san.”
“Ha?”
When Sako-san’s brow furrowed by a fraction of a millimeter without her voice rising,
“I-I meant that even if Amane-san weren't a beautiful girl, a video would still be better, so if she is a beautiful girl, a video is definitely the way to go.”
IRIA-san responded hastily.
“...You know some difficult Japanese. Even though you lived overseas.”
“I-I happen to like books...”
“Heh, that’s impressive.”
“...!!”
At Sako-san’s straightforward praise, IRIA-san’s eyes widened with joy. Yeah, yeah, I understand that feeling.
“R-Right!? That’s right, I am impressive!”
“No, like I said, if you’re Japanese, use polite language.”
“Okay... Honestly, it’s a bad Japanese custom...”
“There you go using difficult words again.”
The interaction between these two was somehow strangely heartwarming.
“Hey, 'interesting woman' over there, this is no time to be laughing. Anyway, even if you just record with your smartphone camera and layer the recorded sound over it later, you can’t go wrong with taking a video. You should buy a tripod for your smartphone before buying recording equipment.”
“Hmm... What do you think, Sako-san?”
I was still feeling indecisive, so I turned the question to Sako-san.
And then.
“Not really. Either way is fine, isn’t it?”
Was her reply.
“You’re not interested... I guess that’s true...”
Even though I decided not to rely on 'amane,' I only turn to Sako-san when it’s convenient—
“No, that’s not it.”
Sako-san interjected, cutting off my thoughts as they began to sink into negativity.
“Ultimately, you’ll be recognized regardless of the method. If it’s Ichikawa-san.”
“Sako-san...!”
I was surprised by Sako-san’s words, and joy followed immediately after.
“No, don’t get the wrong idea. I’m just saying it would be a problem if our... our band’s guitar-vocalist wasn’t like that.”
“'Wrong idea' or not, that sounded exactly like praise...? Hasu Sako-san, you seem prickly, but you actually value Amane-san, don’t you...? ...A tsundere?”
IRIA-san chimed in with an exasperated look.
“I told you, that’s not it. Since this stubborn woman decided to do this, if it doesn’t work out, we won’t be able to play together anymore. ...That would be a problem.”
“...That’s true.”
Sako-san’s words were full of indirect references, but they were more than enough to fire me up.
“Um... if you’re going to flirt, could you please go home?”
“Nn-ah?”
Thinking she had to use polite language after hearing Sako-san’s low, threatening voice, IRIA-san said,
“P-Please enjoy your way home...?”
“Now you’re just trying to mock me...?”
* * *
I walked with Ichikawa-san toward the edge of the Kichijoji district.
Although we both live in Kichijoji, the Hirosue sisters’ house (where Airi Hirosue, known as IRIA, and her recording engineer sister Hichika Hirosue live together) is in the direction of the Tokyu Department Store from Kichijoji Station, while Ichikawa-san’s place is beyond Inokashira Park, so it’s pretty much the opposite direction.
When we got near the Tokyu Department Store, I said,
“I’m stopping by a music store before heading home.”
“Eh, then I’ll go too...”
“Don’t come, you’re a nuisance.”
“How mean!?”
Because she really would be a nuisance...
“Fine, then I’ll just go home and practice...”
“You should just buy a smartphone tripod at the Loft and go home.”
“I don’t know if I’ll use it.”
“You can probably use it for something.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know. Recording live footage?”
“True. I’ll buy one and head home.”
She’s so honest...
“Well then, see you at school tomorrow! Watch out for your tenosynovitis!”
“I told you I’m fine.”
Watching Ichikawa-san walk away toward the Loft while waving her hand, I let out a small sigh.
“...I wonder if I have enough money.”
I understood the basics of what I needed at Hirosue’s house, but at the very least, if I were to use a microphone and an audio interface. And if I’m not going to rely on Takuto...
“I might have to get a part-time job...”
As I walked into the music store with a heavy head.
“...?”
There, I heard a familiar—no, a riff I was very used to playing.