“Summer vacation starts tomorrow, but I ask that you all behave with the moderation expected of high school students.”
Whether it was the principal, the vice-principal, or the head of student guidance—regardless, a teacher said something like that on the podium, and the closing ceremony came to an end.
At 그 moment, students who seemed to be members of the Rock Club began running out of the gym. I followed suit.
There was a reason for the rush.
If preparation took too long, the audience—the students—would end up going home.
However, there was a lot to do: setting up the stage, installing the sound system, and transporting drums and amplifiers.
We had to get all of this done in about an hour.
I was surprised when I first heard this from Ichikawa.
“Konuma-kun, go to the Multipurpose Room and handle the mixer setup, please.”
“Got it.”
As we left the gym, I received instructions from the new President, Ichikawa.
At Musashino International High School, which was surprisingly an academic school, many students retired from club activities in the latter half of their second year.
In the Rock Club, there were some third-years who stayed on because their university placements were already decided via recommendations, but the change of leadership usually happened during the Rock On festival in April.
Since most members were dual-banding, it seemed Ichikawa—who only belonged to the Rock Club—naturally became the new President.
This Rock On would be the first live show Ichikawa would oversee as President.
That was fine and all, but because of that...
When I arrived at the Multipurpose Room, the venue for Rock On, a large sheet of poster paper labeled "Time Table" was being posted at the entrance.
‘13:15–13:25 EUROPEAN MUAY-THAI GENERATION’
‘13:25–13:35 AndyHayashi’
‘13:35–13:45 ICHIGAKKI NO OWARI’
A list of silly band names and times followed, and at the very bottom, the name of the band playing the grand finale was carved.
‘14:55–15:00 amane’
“I’ve become amane...” I muttered to myself.
*
Amane: ‘Everyone, it’s a disaster!’
It was the night after the Ball Games Tournament when Ichikawa messaged the ‘Project amane-sama’ group on LINE.
Yuri: ‘What happened?’
Amane: ‘We had the meeting to decide the performance order for Rock On today, and we ended up as the headliners!’
Sako Hasu: ‘Eh?’
“Huh?”
Seeing the message on my smartphone in the living room, I accidentally spoke out loud.
(By the way, Sako is perfectly capable of using question marks in text.)
“Takkun, what’s wrong?”
Yuri: ‘That’s amazing! Congrats lol’
Sako Hasu: ‘Wait, we only have one song.’
Amane: ‘I’m sorry, since this is the first live show since I became President, it seems there’s a tradition like that...’
Yuri: ‘I see, I see.’
A tradition, seriously...?
You guys are in the Rock Club, aren’t you? You’re supposed to be anti-establishment. Don’t get bound by traditions. This is just going to make me nervous.
Amane: ‘And also, there’s something even more serious...’
Sako Hasu: ‘What?’
Amane: ‘We haven’t decided on a band name yet!’
Yuri: ‘Ah lol’
Sako Hasu: ‘That’s true.’
True indeed.
We had discussed what to do about it once before, but we had left it undecided.
Amane: ‘So, I’ve been thinking.’
Yuri: ‘Hmm?’
Sako Hasu: ‘Hmm?’
Then, Ichikawa said something outrageous.
Amane: ‘If everyone is okay with it, how about the name amane?’
“WHAT!?”
“Takkun, shut up!”
My voice came out so loud that Yuzu, who was watching TV, complained.
Yuri: ‘EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE’
Sako Hasu: ‘For real?’
I have to react too...
Takuto Konuma: ‘Why that?’
Amane: ‘Oh, it’s the rare character Konuma-kun lol’
No, this isn’t the time for that.
Amane: ‘Right now, we’re trying to hide that Konuma-kun is composing and Yuri is writing lyrics, intending to sing it as my song. But I felt like lying was a bit much.’
Huh...?
Yuri: ‘Yeah? And...?’
Amane: ‘If we make the band name amane, then saying "Lyrics and Music by amane" isn’t a lie, and it still looks like my song, right? Like the band does the writing and composing together.’
“Oh, I see...”
Sako Hasu: ‘Ichikawa-san, are you okay with that?’
Amane: ‘Of course!’
“No, even so...”
“Forget being loud, it’s seriously creepy that you’re talking to yourself...”
Yuri: ‘Wait, I’m not even a band member though lol’
That’s right.
Amane: ‘No, if we do this, I can make Yuri a member too as a hidden member! Like 326!’
“Three-two-six...?”
As I tilted my head in confusion, Yuzu offered a helping hand.
“...I’m not sure, but are you talking about Mitsuru?”
“Mitsuru?”
“He was in 19.”
“Nineteen? Ah, those people like Yuzu?”
“Yuzu and 19 are completely different!!”
Why is she getting mad? It’s confusing when you get angry about that.
Sako Hasu: ‘If Ichikawa-san is fine with it, then I am too.’
Yuri: ‘For real, I’ve become a member of amane lol’
Takuto Konuma: ‘Roger.’
For real, I’ve become a member of amane.
“Takkun, are you even listening? Yuzu and 19 are...”
*
By the way, after that, I got a private message saying, ‘Also, Konuma-kun isn’t a member of the Rock Club, so submit a club application tomorrow!’
Wait, when did Sako join...?
Anyway, through one thing or another, it seemed I had become the drummer of a band called amane.
“Konuma, hurry up!”
Hazama, who was preparing next to me, called out, snapping me back to reality.
“Sorry.”
I busily began adjusting the mixer.
After finishing the preparations without issue, Rock On began.
I stood in front of the mixer, adjusting the sound.
There were parts that were slightly different from the knobs I used for bedroom recording, but I fiddled with various controls, somehow managing to adjust it so the vocals could be heard.
Since the volume balance differed for every band, I adjusted the mixer for each one.
Feedback happened once, causing a small scream from the audience, but after that, I felt like I was doing surprisingly well.
Even to my own ears, I could tell there was a world of difference between this and the Rock On I had come to watch before.
“Konuma-kun, thank you! This is amazing!”
Ichikawa cheered beside me.
“Oh? Takuto-kun, you can do things like that?”
Even Erina-san, who was standing nearby, called out.
“Eh, ah, well, yeah.”
“Hmm, Takuto-kun, you are quite the otaku type after all.”
Hey, isn’t this the part where you say, ‘Takuto-kun, you’re so cool!’?
“In that case, make sure the Cherry Boys are vocal-centric, okay?”
I almost burst out laughing at the lame band name that hadn't been mentioned in a while, but I managed to hold it back.
“Because today, it’s absolutely no good if Kenji’s voice can’t be heard, okay?” she added before walking off toward the middle of the room.
What? What’s up with Erina-san?
Actually, I’ve been thinking this for a while, but is Erina-san the manager for the Cherry Boys or something?
“The unfortunate thing is that during our turn, Konuma-kun won’t be able to handle the sound...” Ichikawa said lamentably as she stayed near me.
“That’ll be fine.”
“Why?”
“I’ll adjust it with the drums.”
“Hmm?”
In short, the problem with the acoustics in this Multipurpose Room was that because live drums were being played in a relatively small space, the moment the drums were hit at full power, they would drown out the vocals, guitar, and bass.
Usually, everyone would turn up the volume knobs on their guitars and basses to compete with the drums, but for the vocals alone, the microphone would pick up the sounds of other instruments, meaning the volume couldn't be raised as much as the other instruments individually.
But the solution was simple.
I just had to not hit the drums at full power.
Since explaining that while the loud music was playing would be a hassle, I simply said, “Anyway, it’ll be fine.”
Then, Ichikawa sliiiiid her lips close to m-m-my ear and said,
“I’m counting on you.”
In the meantime, the band right before amane took the stage.
“Hey, we’re the Cherry Boys.”
Hazama’s voice came through the microphone.
Ah, that’s right.
‘Make sure Sako’s band is after ours. That way, she’ll have to watch no matter what,’ Hazama had said at the studio once.
Where is Sako...?
Thinking that, I looked around and saw her standing near the center of the floor where the stage was clearly visible.
Seeing how her arm was firmly gripped by Erina-san standing next to her, she was likely being held so she couldn't escape.
A little behind them, Azuma was watching the two of them.
“We only prepared one song for today, but I’m going to sing it with all my heart for someone important to me, so please listen.”
Hazama said that and readjusted his grip on the mic.
Could that one song be...?
“‘Cherry’ by Spitz.”
Too predictable!
While I was retorting in my head, the song began with the drum phrase.
Is it because they practiced this and only this many times?
It sounded several times better than when I heard them at the school festival.
Kenji sang the chorus with his eyes closed.
I don’t know how to put it, but...
‘Cherry’ is a really great song...
To people who have started bands, this song often holds a position as a beginner’s song, but listening to it again, it really is good...
The Cherry Boys, who could properly convey that emotion, might actually be an incredible band.
The me from back when I distinguished bands solely by whether they were skilled or not probably wouldn’t have understood that.
Eventually, Hazama finished singing the bridge and opened his eyes, looking toward Sako.
While the band played the instrumental break in the background...
Surprisingly, Hazama began to speak.
“I know your heart is set on someone other than me. But that won’t change how I feel. Hasu! I! Love! Youuuuuuuuuuuuu!”
Wait, what—eh, seriously!?
I could tell even in the dark that Sako’s face had turned beet red. It was as if you could almost hear the sound of the blush.
The audience began cheering like “Hyooh!” and “Kyaah!” (Is this okay!?)
Next to Sako, Erina-san was giggling. Her eyes seemed to flash as they reflected the stage lights.
Hazama glanced at me and gave a smirk, then coolly began singing the rest of the song.
“Whoa...”
Looking to my side, Ichikawa had her hands clasped in front of her mouth.
Even the Archangel Amanel seemed taken aback.
Yeah, I get it, that was definitely a bit embarrassing...
“How nice...”
Oh, you think it’s nice!?
“It’s super nice...”
Apparently, it was super nice.
“Hahaha,” I forced a wry smile while vividly feeling the greatness of the guy named Hazama.
‘I’m seriously betting everything on this Rock On, so there’s no way I’m not performing.’
He was betting on this.
It wasn’t musical at all, and it had nothing to do with theory.
It was a performance so straightforward and embarrassing that you could do nothing but blush.
But somewhere in my heart, I thought that this might actually be what music is.
Hazama sang until the end, and the Cherry Boys’ performance concluded.
“It’s finally time, Konuma-kun.”
“...Yeah.”
I left the mixer and slowly began walking toward the stage.
Finally, our live show was about to begin.