Arriving at the Kichijoji studio at 12:58, just in time for our 1:00 PM reservation.
“Phew, we made it somehow~”
“Yeah.”
Just then, the smartphone in my pocket vibrated.
Hm? As I pulled it out, Ichikawa and Sako both took out their own smartphones as well.
“Oh...!” “Wow...” “That was fast.”
Looking at the screens, the three of us let out exclamations in our own ways.
Yuri: 『I somehow finished writing the lyrics! I responded to Konuma's song at 120%!』
A Yuri-poem from Azuma-neesan has arrived!
* * *
『Heijitsu』
Chased by the alarm clock, I left the house
With my leather shoes just barely slipped on
I dived into the classroom at the same time as the chime
Everyone laughed at my bedhead
Waking up should be gloomy, the train should be cramped, school should be a chore,
I wonder why
At the secret message running under the desk
I let out an “Eh?” and got scolded
Instead of me, who was called on in 4th period,
My stomach answered and I was laughed at again
Lessons should be boring, studying should be hard, school should be a chore,
I wonder why
On the way home, I let many trains pass by
Watching the sun set from the platform
On the train back, remembering today,
It’s strange, it hurts a little
The walk home should be a pain, the train should be cramped, school should be a chore,
I wonder why
Hey, I wonder why?
The bigger the fun and happiness, the bigger the sadness becomes
Split-bill ice cream, graffiti on the desk, the “Good morning” greeting
I started to count how many times were left, then stopped
Hey, I wonder why?
I wonder if I’ll find the answer while these days are still ordinary
The sunset bench, the convenience store on the way back, the “See you” greeting
I wonder how many more seconds I can look at that profile
Pretending not to notice, I laughed again
The only one, natural, ordinary daily life
* * *
“Hoh...!” “Waa...” “Amazing.”
We each read it and let out voices of admiration again.
She had perfectly written the lyrics for the added Grand Chorus part too.
The reason it feels overwhelmingly better than when I read it before is surely not just a matter of expression technique, but because I’ve become able to read into it.
It must be because I have that real sense of it now.
Good grief, Azuma, you’re really sparkling...
“Yuri is amazing... right, Sako-san?”
“Yeah.”
I agreed with the conversation between the Natural Angel and the Blonde Queen.
However.
There was one thing that felt off... It wasn't the content, though...
“Um, hey,”
“Ah, it’s already past the time! Let’s get into the studio room quickly!”
Setting aside my attempt to speak about the discrepancy, Ichikawa looked at the clock and hurriedly headed toward the counter where the staff was.
Well, I guess after we enter the studio is fine. In fact, that might be better.
“Excuse me, I’m Konuma, with a reservation from 1 o’clock!”
Ichikawa spoke to the staff like that.
...Somehow, having Ichikawa introduce herself with my surname feels a bit nice. Yes.
“...Are you an idiot?”
My childhood friend is harsh for reading my mind.
We borrowed a microphone at the counter and entered the room.
“Heave-ho.”
Ichikawa tried to sit on the floor again.
“Ichikawa-san.”
“Hm?”
“It’s fine to stretch, but face the wall.”
“Eh? Okay, I understand...”
Yeah, that’s for the best, Ichikawa... Sako, nice move... yeah...
I-I’m not disappointed or anything!
“Mmph, mmph...”
Ichikawa was making muffled sounds while facing the wall.
“Nn...”
No, how do I put it, this is also kind of...
Just as I was preparing to start chanting my mantras again, a violent heavy bass sound attacked my eardrums.
“Uwoh!?”
Covering my ears and looking toward the source of the sound, Sako was looking displeased.
“Ichikawa-san is just, really like that, isn't she...”
She said that with a clear frown. What do you mean by ‘like that’...?
“Alright, shall we do this!”
In the meantime, Ichikawa, who seemed to have finished her preparations, gave a shout and we started performing the new version of 『Heijitsu』.
The true identity of the discrepancy I felt in the lyrics should become clear with this...
The performance continued and reached the Grand Chorus.
It seemed both Ichikawa and Sako had listened carefully to the newly added Grand Chorus, and the performance proceeded without a hitch.
Yes, until just before the very last verse.
“『I wonder how many more seconds I can look at that profile』”
After finishing singing that part, Ichikawa furrowed her brows and stopped her hand playing the acoustic guitar.
Sako and I also stopped playing.
“Um, Konuma-kun, this is...?”
“I knew it...”
“Stupid-suke.”
There was still more to the lyrics Yuri had sent.
However, the song I originally added ended where Ichikawa just sang.
“So that’s what she meant by 『I responded to Konuma's song at 120%!』...”
I let out a wry smile.
Yes.
Azuma had sent back additional lyrics for the part where I hadn't yet added any music after the Grand Chorus I wrote yesterday.
“She got me...”
I couldn't help but mutter that.
“Takuto, why are you grinning?”
Sako called me out.
I intended to give a wry smile, but it seems I ended up with a smirk.
Well, but that’s natural.
When I added music, Azuma added even more lyrics and sent it back.
This kind of fun retaliation is a first. This is something that definitely wouldn't have happened when I was doing bedroom recording alone.
“You look like you're having fun, Konuma-kun?”
Ichikawa said with a provocative smile.
“Yeah.”
I couldn't stop my excitement, realizing how interesting it is to create something with someone else.
Alright, what kind of music should I put to this...
Just as I opened my smartphone to reread the lyrics,
“But you know, Konuma-kun,”
Ichikawa said, strumming a chord,
“I can’t afford to lose either.”
Saying that.
She took an action I never could have imagined.