A week has passed since Erina-san's confession, and final exams are over.
For the roughly one week until the closing ceremony, the ball games tournament was held today—the day after the exams (probably to give the teachers time to grade the tests). After this, we’ll have morning classes only, like on Saturdays, during which the exam results will be returned.
As for the exams, based on self-grading, all members of the study session group (though we only did it once) managed to avoid failing marks.
No major incidents occurred during the ball games tournament either.
By the way, Ichikawa and Sako played tennis, Azuma and I played table tennis, and Hazama and Erina-san played soccer.
Since no one participated in sports like volleyball or basketball where you might jam a finger, everyone seems to have a certain level of awareness and responsibility.
Well, since the sports were decided before we were confirmed for Rock On, it was just a coincidence for Sako and me. (Pun intended for ball games.)
Actually, my sport was decided for me in the class LINE group that I’m not a part of. Come to think of it, I still haven't joined the class LINE... I wonder if Erina-san would let me in if I asked her.
“Alright, shall we get started?”
After the ball games tournament, we came to the Rock Club studio.
“Yay!”
A single, lukewarm round of applause echoed.
We had a gallery today.
“Yuri, sorry for bringing you here when you’re busy.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. It’s a self-practice day for the Instrumental Music Club anyway.”
Azuma was in the studio to supervise the lyrics.
We had only exchanged messages regarding the lyrics. Therefore, even though Azuma wrote the lyrics while listening to the song, there was a possibility that the phrasing in Azuma’s head differed from how Ichikawa was actually singing.
So, we decided to have her come to a practice session to see if the phrasing felt natural.
“Let us know if anything feels different from what you imagined.”
“Yes! Please leave it to me!”
Azuma’s eyes were sparkling.
Honestly, she probably doesn't care about supervising the lyrics; she just wants to watch amane sing the words she wrote.
“Alright. One, two, three, four...”
At my count, the song began.
Once we finished playing, Azuma’s face lit up with joy.
“Yes, yes, it’s wonderful! amane-sama, did you create that last part yourself?”
“I guess... so? Instead of saying I created it, it felt more like it just came out... and also, that way of calling me...”
“As expected, a genius speaks differently...!”
“Please stop with the genius thing—”
Long time no see, Believer-mode Azuma-neesan.
I mean, seriously, don't just praise that part. I’m the one making the music too.
“Also, Konuma.”
“Oh?”
Oh? Is she going to praise my song too?
“Your drums... they’ve changed, haven't they?”
“Really?”
Wait, we’re talking about the drums?
I hadn't changed anything in particular.
“I’ve been practicing, so maybe I got a bit better.”
The last time was our first ensemble together, after all.
“No, in terms of skill... you might have actually gotten worse.”
“Huh? Why would I get worse?”
I asked back, confused.
“I don't know why... but,”
“But?”
“In terms of whether it's good or bad, it’s much better! Seriously!”
“Excuse me?”
Azuma gave a small round of applause.
“I mean, your drums before were like a machine. They were incredibly accurate, but stiff and not very interesting. It wasn't much different from playing back programmed drums.”
“I see...”
Wow, I’m getting dissed out of nowhere...
“But today was completely different. The timing was all over the place, but wow, it felt like music! The drums were actually singing the lyrics. I like this version way more.”
“O-Oh. Thanks.”
D-D-Don't just say you 'like' it so suddenly.
My heart was busy going from a sudden drop to a sudden surge.
“Anyway, as the one in charge of lyrics, there are absolutely no problems!”
Saying that, Azuma made an 'OK' sign with her fingers.
“Thank goodness!”
Ichikawa raised her arms in relief. I was relieved too.
I clearly heard Sako mumble, “I’m not being praised at all...” but I decided to stay silent.
“By the way,”
Sako spoke up.
“Hmm?”
“Ichikawa-san, why did you become unable to write songs or lyrics?”
Again, she asked a question without an upward inflection at the end.
“Oh, did I not tell you?”
Ichikawa replied, looking a bit surprised.
“No, I haven't heard. I wasn't sure if it was okay to ask.”
“Ah, I see. Well, where should I start...”
Ichikawa put her hand to her lips in a thinking pose.
“Ichikawa, are you okay?”
Ichikawa tilted her head and looked at me without saying anything.
“I mean, isn't it painful to talk about that?”
“It might be, but... I think it's better for Sako-san to know since we’re playing together.”
Ichikawa nodded softly, as if strengthening her resolve.
“...I see. Then at least let me explain.”
“...Thank you, Konuma-kun.”
I turned back to Sako.
“Ichikawa... apparently her voice stopped coming out when she tried to sing her own songs.”
“...Why?”
Sako asked, her face showing a fraction of a millimeter of suspicion.
“That’s...”
“She saw various nasty things on Twitter.”
When I hesitated, Azuma cut in from the side.
Sako’s expression grew visibly stern.
“...Like what?”
Should I let those words come out of Ichikawa’s mouth?
When I looked at Ichikawa, she said,
“It’s okay, Konuma-kun.”
With that, Ichikawa quietly and slowly opened her mouth.
“‘There’s no way someone like this is a genius.’ ‘She’s just a YUI rip-off.’”
Ichikawa smiled painfully and recited the tweets she had told me about before, one by one.
“The one that hurt the most was...”
My heart ached.
And then, the person who spoke the next tweet was...
“‘I wish a song like this had never been born into this world.’”
It wasn't Ichikawa; it was Sako.
“Eh...?” “Huh...?”
While Azuma and I stood there dazed, Sako began to tremble uncontrollably.
“No way... it was all me...”
With unfocused eyes, she looked toward Ichikawa.
“Sako-hasu...?”
“The things about Takuto, and about Ichikawa-san... about amane...”
“Don't tell me...”
Sako softly nodded her shaking head.
“Ichikawa-san, I’m sorry. The one who posted that tweet... was me...”