The next day. Once again, at the rental studio in Kichijoji—Studio Octa.
"Alright, let's put together the setlist for the Planetary System 30th Anniversary Live!"
amane's secretary, Azuma, stood in front of the whiteboard.
"How much time do we have?"
"Our allotted time is 25 minutes. Well, there are ten bands performing, so it's shorter than usual."
"So about four or five songs then! Since we aren't the headliners, there probably won't be an encore. Hmm, I'm worried about which songs to play."
"How about... a Wow-Flutter cover?"
Sako asked, her voice flat as usual.
"Hmm, it's not a live hosted by Wow-Flutter, you know? That might feel a bit out of place," Azuma gently declined.
"I see, you're right..."
"Besides, since we have the chance, don't you want people to hear as many of amane's songs as possible?"
"That... is true."
Hmm, as expected of Azuma-neesan, she's really good at leading the conversation...!
"Right! Even with just amane's songs, there are so many I want to play! Konuma-kun, what do you want to do?"
"Ah—sorry, even though we have to be selective..."
I responded while raising one hand to my chest.
"Actually, I tried writing a new song for the live."
"Eh, just since yesterday? That's fast!?" Ichikawa looked surprised.
"It's always like that, isn't it?"
"That might be true, but that usually only happens during your 'Awakening Arc'," Azuma used her usual metaphor, and Sako leaned forward intently.
"I know because we're childhood friends, but Takuto loves Wow-Flutter. He'd definitely have an awakening. I know because we're childhood friends. Right, Takuto?"
"Well, yeah..."
Since that was exactly the reason, I scratched my cheek slightly.
"If that's the case, why didn't you send the data yesterday? During your Awakening Arcs, you always send it early in the morning."
"Ah, I actually like that about Konuma-kun. It feels like... how should I put it, it feels like 'Konuma-kun'!"
"I understand, Ichikawa-san."
"Amane and Sako-hasu are hitting it off...? When did you two become Konuma's disciples... No, I guess you were before."
Azuma started to mutter, "I'm not one to talk either..." but then she turned back to me.
"Ahem. Well, whatever. You have a demo, right? Can we give it a listen?"
"Yeah."
I tentatively pressed the play button.
By the time the playback finished...
"Ah, so that's why you didn't send it yesterday."
Azuma had a wry smile on her face.
Beside her, Sako's eyes were sparkling with excitement.
"This is interesting, Takuto. Right, Yurisuke and Ichikawa-san?"
"Yeah! Well, I only understood after Sako-san explained it to me."
I had intended to do the 'explanation' myself while listening to the demo, but Sako had done it all for me.
"It's overflowing with love for Wow-Flutter, Takuto."
"I guess so..."
In short, this new song borrowed accompaniment phrases from several Wow-Flutter songs, connected them, and then I added a completely different melody that I had created on top of them.
Sako pointed out every single one without fail, saying things like, "Ah, this is the intro from that song," or "This is the guitar solo from that song."