Sunday ended, and the next week arrived.
By the way, I spent Sunday sleeping like a log. For someone in their growth spurt like me, the state of having practically only slept for two hours over the course of two days seemed to have really taken a toll on my body.
“Takkun, are you okay...?”
After returning home on Saturday, eating, and falling asleep, it was already Sunday evening by the time Yuzu woke me up and I slowly opened my eyes.
Man, I’m so depressed...
I walked to school thinking things like, “I’m sleepy because I slept too much,” like some kind of professional sleeper.
While I was letting out a stupid-looking yawn,
“Konuma!”
Someone slapped my shoulder with a thud, and I turned around.
I could tell who it was just by the strength of that slap.
“Oh, good morning, Azuma.”
“G-Good morning. Konuma, you actually gave a proper greeting...”
She seemed taken aback by the fact that I was the one to say good morning first.
Hehe, I’m growing up fast, Azuma-neesan.
“Seriously, thank you,”
I looked around and said in a small voice,
“For the lyrics.”
“You’re even being considerate now... Did something happen?”
Azuma frowned and tilted her head.
“Well, a lot of things, thanks to you.”
“Hmm?”
The round-faced normie tilted her head, then grinned mischievously.
“So, how was the plus 20% part?”
“Ah, that part.”
I smiled along with her and told her,
“Azuma-neesan, that was seriously stylish.”
Then,
“...Aaaah!”
Azuma let out a sound that was somewhere between a groan and a scream.
“What’s wrong?”
“There are so many things I want to talk to you about, it’s frustrating!”
“I guess so...”
She probably heard about Ichikawa’s singing from Sako via LINE or something. Since something that big happened.
“Hey, Konuma.”
“Hmm?”
“Want to take a detour?”
As Azuma said that, she pointed to the right side of the fork in the road where we usually turn left.
“Heh, I didn’t know this path existed.”
“You didn’t know? This detour?”
“Hoh...”
The path Azuma brought me to was a detour away from the usual school route.
Nobody uses a detour on their morning commute to school.
In other words, it seemed like the perfect place to have a secret conversation while heading toward school.
There was no way for me to know about such a path since I never had anyone to have secret conversations with.
However, the feeling reminded me of when I used to walk down unknown roads as an 'adventure' when I was in elementary school, and it was actually quite interesting.
“Konuma, aren’t your eyes sparkling a bit too much?”
“A-Ah, sorry...”
“No, I’m not saying you need to be sorry.”
Apparently, it wasn’t something to be sorry about. That’s good.
Azuma-neesan was looking at me with a sisterly smile. Stop that face, it’s kind of embarrassing...
“So, I heard a lot of stuff happened?”
“Yeah, it did...”
I explained everything that happened at the studio on Saturday.
The trigger was Azuma’s additional 20% of lyrics.
I told her how Ichikawa composed a melody for Azuma’s lyrics, and then how Ichikawa sang just a little bit of an amane song at the beginning.
“Aaaah, I really wish I could have been there... Just thinking about amane-sama putting a melody to my lyrics makes me feel like I’m going to ascend to heaven. Besides, you heard amane-sama’s live performance even if it was just one phrase? Konuma, how are you still alive right now?”
“Ah, well...”
I truly think it was a good thing Azuma didn't come.
She really would have ascended... and honestly, it wasn’t exactly what you’d call a 'good' live performance.
I even think that if someone as empathetic as Azuma had seen it, she might not have been able to stand it.
“...Well, I hope the time comes when we can hear it in full.”
I replied in a way that slightly dodged the subject.
“...True.”
...Well, Azuma probably understands that much too.
“So, Konuma.”
“Yeah?”
“Do you have a recording of the part amane-sama added to my lyrics?”
Azuma asked with expectant eyes.
“Actually, I don’t...”
That’s right, I regret that too...
“She only sang it once, so I couldn't record it.”
“Well, I guess it can’t be helped... Hey, what was it like?”
Azuma looked at me with a pleading expression.
“...What was what like?”
“Sing it.”
“No.”
That was an immediate response.
Why should I have to sing on the way to school first thing in the morning? I’m not that kind of cheerful character.
“Please! It’s the request of a lifetime! onuma-sama!”
“No, Azuma...”
onuma-sama? It doesn't feel bad, but you’re jumping to your trump card too quickly.
“...Is it no good?”
Azuma put her hands together and looked at me as if she were praying.
Unlike Ichikawa or Erina-san, her posture wasn't calculated at all. (Ichikawa is natural, though.)
It wasn't calculated, but that actually emphasized her seriousness. As a result, it felt like I had to respond as a comrade.
“...Ah, fine! Only once!”
I ruffled my own hair.
“Thank you very much! I will surely repay this debt!”
Azuma was overjoyed.
I cleared my throat and took a deep breath.
“'Pretending not to notice, I smiled once again. This one and only, ordinary and mundane daily life.'”
It wasn't like I barely remembered it.
Even though I only heard it once, that single phrase was clearly etched into my ears as I sang it.
After hearing it, Azuma stood dazed for a moment and then said,
“Wow, that’s an amazing song... By the way, who even benefits from Konuma being a good singer?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
I couldn't tell if she was praising me or insulting me.
I didn't really get it, but seeing Azuma laughing with a “Hehehe” made me think it was a good thing.
As I was walking while thinking about that...
“I’m telling you, Kenji. Sakosh and Takuto-kun don’t have anything going on like that!”
From off the path, I heard a familiar voice.