The live performance ended amidst a massive roar of applause.
The clapping didn't stop even after we left the stage and went down to the floor. Taira-chan was sobbing and clinging to Azuma, and Erina-san was sobbing and clinging to Sako; it was a complete mess. But time flies, and soon it was time to vacate the live house.
The Rock Club members, still buzzing with excitement, decided to have a celebration at a nearby Saize. The Cherry Boys headed out first to secure tables for a Christmas at Saize.
Then, only the four members of amane remained at the live house after finishing the settlement.
...And then.
"Amane, here! Happy birthday!"
Azuma suddenly handed over a wrapped package.
"Wow, thank you! Can I open it...?"
"Of course!"
...Ah, that's right, today. Christmas. Christmas is... ah... that's right...
It's Ichikawa-san's birthday...!
"A fountain pen?"
"A ballpoint pen that looks like a fountain pen! Cool, right?"
"Yeah!"
Yeah, but it's okay.
Azuma is a very considerate person. Yeah.
As for Sakohasu, she wouldn't possibly for 'That Woman'—
"Ichikawa-san. This is from me too."
—Whoops?
"Sako-san, you can call me Amane, you know? Even Stupid-Amane."
"Shut up. Ichi-baka-san, just take it already."
"How mean... but, thank you! Can I open it?"
"Do whatever you want."
When Ichikawa opened the envelope.
"Is this... a small microphone?"
"Yeah. If you attach it to your smartphone, you can record high-quality videos even without an audio interface or anything."
"You went out of your way to pick this for me...!?"
"...Shut up."
Ichikawa hugged Sako. Oh, that's rare...
"Well, you said something about streaming yourself singing while playing... Anyway, if we're doing amane... if you decided not to stream anymore, maybe you don't need it."
"No, let's do streaming! All four of us!"
To Ichikawa, who said that with a smile, Sako asked with a concerned expression.
"...That means using SNS, is that okay?"
"Yeah. If that's the best way to reach people."
Ichikawa smiled.
"As long as it's amane's music, I don't care where it's played. We'll do live shows, we'll do SNS, we'll do streams, and we'll make CDs. We'll do everything! Is that too greedy?"
"...Why not."
The tsundere Sakohasu still looked happy, her lips curling up by a fraction of a millimeter.
Yeah, it's a good atmosphere!
"Um... so...? What about the boy over there...?"
Azuma looked at me.
"Ah, um, I..."
...I can't say that I was so caught up in everything else that I forgot.
""You're kidding, right...!?""
Even if I couldn't say it, it seemed the message got across.
"I..."
"Hey, Konuma-kun? Then, how about this,"
Ichikawa said teasingly, as if telling a joke.
"Konuma-kun's song, won't you give me one?"
She was mimicking me from that day.
"...No, that's not it."
However, I denied it with a straight face.
"I won't give you just one, I'll give you everything."
Honestly, it has nothing to do with it being her birthday.
I've already decided.
I will continue to write songs solely for amane.
"But, it'll be under the name Takuto Konuma."
"............Yes!"
And, I won't be a ghostwriter.
Without hiding behind anything, I will continue to make music with my head held high.
When you move forward exposing your true self, the rain and wind will all fall upon you personally.
The more you expect, the more it hurts when things don't go well.
It's uncool if you fall. You can't make excuses.
But, that's fine.
I won't avoid the pain or the wounds.
I want to be here. That's the only answer.
I can't run away from myself anyway.
I can't run away from my dream, and I can't run away from this band that I love.
I, a bedroom musician loner, will become a ghostwriter for that genius beautiful girl.
The story of amane began with such a catalyst.
To conclude this show that held up the banner of 'Last', let's end it with the most appropriate cliché.
To be continued!
"Ah, Takuto-kun, look! There's a comment like this on the music video we uploaded yesterday."
I looked over her shoulder at the computer she was holding out.
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@Hiiragi 1 day ago
I started composing music after listening to amane's songs.
Thank you for bringing this song into this world.
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