「「……?」」
In front of Sako and me, who both had question marks floating above our heads.
While playing the chords of the grand chorus with a "jang," Ichikawa started to sing.
『Pretending not to know, I showed a smile once again. My only, ordinary, mundane daily life.』
Ichikawa sang the last of the lyrics with a melody I didn't know.
Then, she stopped her hands, turned toward me, and asked.
「How was that?」
Time stopped.
I was completely blown away.
I was sitting down so I couldn't tell for sure, but my legs might have given out. While Ichikawa tilted her head, I remained stunned, unable to say anything.
「I-Ichikawa……?」
「Ichikawa-san……」
How many things have happened in these last few minutes?
I mean, Ichikawa—no, amane—wasn't supposed to be able to do that, right……?
「D-Did you just compose that, Ichikawa……?」
I finally managed to squeeze those words out.
Because what I just heard.
Was a melody set to Yuri's lyrics; it was nothing other than a genuine, new song by amane.
「O-Oh? Me…… No way……? Did I just make a song……?」
As if only just realizing it, Ichikawa began to tremble as she looked at her own hands.
「Hey, Konuma-kun, was I able to make a song just now……?」
「Y-Yeah……」
My emotions were running wild, looking for a place to settle.
Was it the joy of being present at the birth of a new amane song?
Was it the frustration of having the lyrics I was trying to write a song for taken away?
Was it admiration for the fact that Ichikawa could compose again?
Was it jealousy toward the fact that the song was so wonderful?
Or was it that my role, my very reason for being here, was……?
「Takuto……」
I could faintly hear Sako calling my name with concern.
But I couldn't even answer her.
Ignoring my confusion, Ichikawa pursed her lips and took on a serious expression.
「Maybe, right now, I can……」
Saying that, Ichikawa softly placed her trembling hand on the guitar.
She closed her eyes, let out a long breath, and took a deep breath in.
After repeating this a few times, she opened her eyes once more.
This was the ritual Ichikawa performed when starting a song.
Then, she held down a C chord and gave it a strum.
「Are you serious……」
The words leaked out of my mouth involuntarily.
That chord, that phrase.
There was no way I could mistake it.
It was amane's single that I first heard at the in-store live.
The song I've listened to more than any other in my life.
Without knowing why, my vision began to blur.
「No way……」
Her hands must have been shaking. She couldn't press the strings properly, and several notes stopped with a "ping" without ringing out clearly.
Even so, amane slowly played C, G, and C.
The third C was a fermata. She let the sound ring out and linger.
After finishing the intro phrase, from there.
That was where the vocals were supposed to come in.
amane took another deep breath.
The sound of my own gulp felt like it echoed loudly.
In the next instant.
『Hey, only to myself』……
That was as far as her voice went.
A faint sound that was so raspy it couldn't even be called a voice barely came through the microphone.
She had been challenging herself, but after trying to sing just that one phrase, she stopped her performance, including the guitar.
「Ehehe, I guess it's no good after all……」
And then, she laughed with a look of regret.
「Ichikawa……!」
「Ichikawa-san……」
I didn't know what to say to what was happening in front of me.
「I thought maybe I could do it though……」
She bit her lower lip, holding something back.
Seeing Ichikawa's expression, I snapped out of it.
『I'm going to make sure to put things into words like this from now on.』
It's not that I didn't know what to say.
I took a deep breath. Like the preparation before someone starts to sing.
And then, I spoke.
「As if it would be that easy.」
Those were the words I said.
「「……?」」
Ichikawa and Sako both wore puzzled expressions.
No, the one most surprised by the words that came out of my mouth might have been me.
But since I already know that only honest words, only voices from the heart, can touch someone else's.
That's why I have no choice but to say it.
「……How many hours in the middle of last night do you think I spent making this song? And yet you go and make a song that goes even further so easily.」
「Konuma-kun……?」
「I'm…… incredibly frustrated.」
Damn it.
「And, I'm incredibly scared.」
「Why……?」
「I'm scared that if amane becomes able to write and sing her own songs again, someone like me won't be needed anymore.」
「Takuto……」
I clenched my fists tight and spat out the words.
Ichikawa stared straight at me.
She didn't deny it easily with something like, "That's not true."
Ichikawa is so honest, I thought, and let out a short laugh.
「……That's why.」
「Yeah.」
Ichikawa's eyes were no longer wavering.
「By the time that happens, I'll make sure I can write even better songs.」
「Yeah……」
「So,」
I wove together the most pathetic words possible.
「I want a little more time, so take it slow. Just slowly, become able to sing again.」
Looking at me as I gave a silly grin.
「……Okay.」
Ichikawa nodded with a serious face anyway.
「But,」
And, the most important part starts here.
「Let's definitely make sure you can sing again.」
「Yeah……!」
Ichikawa, amane, will definitely be okay.
That's exactly why I won't let myself be beaten.
I clenched my fists tight once more.