“Hohaaaaaaaaa.”
As soon as we escaped the multipurpose room, my legs felt like they were about to give out, and I leaned against the hallway wall.
No, no, no, no, that was terrifying! I tried to act cool, but I was scared! What was I thinking with that ‘Sorry for interrupting’ line?!
While I was crying on the inside—though not shedding actual tears—Ichikawa-san stood beside me with a pensive look on her face.
“That person, she knew...”
“Huh?”
What is she talking about?
“That person knew you, right?”
Ichikawa-san turned toward me and repeated herself.
“I mean, knew what?”
“About you, Konuma-kun!”
“...Sigh.”
A sigh escaped my lips despite myself.
I wondered what she was going to say, but is she really that surprised that there’s someone who knows me?
In contrast to my exasperated face, Ichikawa-san’s eyes were sparkling as if she had made the discovery of the century. I mean, why...?
“Konuma-kun, are you an acquaintance of hers?”
“...It doesn’t really matter, does it? Besides, you knew who I was too, Ichikawa.”
“I’m in the same class as you, Konuma-kun. But that person wasn’t from Class 6, was she?”
She pointed a finger sharply at me. That’s not exactly high-level deduction, Ichikawa-san...
“Were you in the same class in your first year or something?”
“No, that’s not it...”
“Then, why, why?”
Ichikawa-san leaned forward, bringing her face close to mine.
“Why do you even care so much about something like that...?”
She had an atmosphere about her that felt like she might burst out with ‘I’m curious!’ at any moment.
“Because I’m curious about the relationship between two people who seem to have no connection at all.”
Ichikawa-san edged closer and closer.
“Hey, tell me why.”
Glancing at those wide, beaming eyes, I sighed again.
...Well, it’s not exactly something I need to hide.
“...We went to the same elementary and middle school.”
I finally confessed.
“Eh, really? So, those local schools?”
“Yeah.”
“Heh— then you’re childhood friends!”
Ichikawa-san clapped her hands together.
“I wouldn’t really call us childhood friends... it’s not like that...”
“But you definitely look like you belong to different groups!”
She said that without paying any mind to my mumbled explanation.
“...I guess so.”
“I guess so.”
Then, for some reason, Ichikawa-san suddenly started repeating after me.
“What are you doing...?”
I looked at Ichikawa-san with a furrowed brow.
“Is that your catchphrase?”
“Ha? What is?”
“‘I guess so.’ You said it yesterday too.”
“You remember that well. Do you have a good memory?”
“I guess so~”
Repeating her imitation, Ichikawa-san laughed with an ‘ehehe’.
That innocent smile somehow drained all the bitterness out of me.
“More importantly, did the mixer look like it would work?”
“Oh, right.”
I had almost forgotten our original purpose.
I looked at the photo I took earlier on my smartphone and searched for the mixer’s model number.
“What is this? It’s a model from twenty years ago...”
“Eh, really? Is it a vintage piece?”
Ichikawa-san peered at my smartphone screen with excitement. She’s close...
“No, it’s just old...”
“Whoa, is that right?”
I met Ichikawa-san’s gaze as she looked up at me and gave a slight nod.
“That said, the functions aren’t that different from modern ones, so I think it’ll work.”
“Really!?”
She raised her voice happily.
“Well, if it’s just an acoustic guitar and vocals...”
“That’s enough for me!”
Since Ichikawa-san was smiling so broadly, I felt like she might be misunderstanding something, so I spoke up.
“No, I mean, I think it can be done, but I’m not doing the PA work, okay?”
“...?”
Ichikawa-san tilted her head. There it was again—the ‘What is this guy talking about’ face.
“No, look, if I’m only doing PA work when it’s your turn, it wouldn’t make any sense, right?”
“Hmm, well, I guess so?”
Ichikawa-san placed her index finger on her lip and looked up, thinking.
But it seems she understood this time.
Given how she had boldly proposed a school date earlier, I was worried that our fundamental ways of thinking or concepts didn’t align, but it seems we aren’t that far apart.
“In that case, how about you do it for everyone?”
“Huh...?”
I take it back. What is she talking about?
“You should just join the Rock Club! As a PA.”
“Join the Rock Club as a PA? No, no, that’s definitely weird, joining the Rock Club without playing an instrument.”
“Then, since you don’t have to tell them you’re composing, why don’t you just play an instrument?”
“Ah? Do you really think I’m the type who can form a band with someone?”
I ended up speaking harshly. And for a pathetic reason at that. (Pathetic.)
Then.
Ichikawa-san’s round eyes glowed red, and she grinned like a small white animal, reaching out her hand toward me.
“Form a band with me and join the Rock Club!”
“Hae!?”
I have no idea what’s going on anymore...