* * *
It was back when I was in my first year of middle school.
I had two "geniuses" that I looked up to.
One was amane-san.
The other was someone named Yamatsu Rui-san.
amane-san is, as you know, Konuma-sempai, the name President Amane used during her singer-songwriter era.
Since I was already a resident of the internet back then, I encountered amane-san’s "Watashi no Uta" on YouTube while I was doing my internet patrols. It wasn't really a music video, more like a video where the sound played over a jacket photo.
I still remember the shock I felt then! I thought, "There are people who can make such wonderful songs, and she’s only one year older than me!"...
I bought the CD, and while I was listening to it on repeat, I searched for amane-san’s lyrics and profile. That’s when I stumbled upon a certain blog.
The name of that blog was "Atashi no Uta." It probably showed up in the search results because it was so similar to amane-san’s song title.
The way they wrote it as "Lyrics" but made you read it as "Uta" really struck a chord with my seventh-grade self. Looking back, it feels a bit like chunibyo though!
Even though I call it a blog, "Atashi no Uta" didn't have any diary-like entries at all; it was a site where things that looked like original lyrics were posted.
The administrator—or rather, the author—of that blog was Yamatsu Rui-san. I don't think it was her real name; it was probably a handle name or a pen name.
I became captivated by the poems Rui-san posted, usually about three a day.
I love amane-san’s lyrics because they speak of philosophy, but Rui-san’s words focused on the small, everyday emotions we usually overlook. The empathy they evoked was incredible!
Just reading them felt like music was playing. Even though I was only reading text, I was moved every day, thinking, "This really is a song.”
It was about half a year later.
You probably know this too, Konuma-sempai, but amane-san announced a hiatus.
To the public, it seemed sudden, but I had actually sensed the warning signs.
As I’ve said many times—and I’m sorry to repeat myself—internet patrolling is my hobby...
Until the hiatus, amane-san had a Twitter account—though it didn't have an official mark—and she used to tweet every now and then.
But a little before the hiatus announcement, those updates stopped abruptly.
Wondering why, I searched on Twitter.
I found several tweets from a little while back that spoke horribly of amane-san.
I’ll never forget them. "There’s no way someone like this is a genius," "She’s a YUI ripoff," "This kind of song should never have been born into this world"...
Ah, even talking about it now makes me furious!
If the people who tweeted those things were here, I’d execute them on the spot! I can’t forgive them!
...Well, there’s no point in telling you this, Sempai. It’s not like you know who posted those tweets.
Anyway, I don't know the truth, but I suspect those horrible tweets were the reason for amane-san’s hiatus.
Oh, of course, I won’t ask President Amane about it! I would never do something so foolish as to make her remember that. I don’t think I’ll ever ask her as long as I live.
Around the time I was grieving and angry over amane-san’s hiatus and the assumed reasons for it, something bad happened with Yamatsu-san’s blog, "Atashi no Uta," as well.
Until then, the blog had basically updated every day with about three lyrics depicting a longing for daily life or positive things with skillful expression. But that day, only one piece was uploaded, and it was just a short sentence.
That sentence was:
"Words as sharp as icicles made my brain freeze like real ice. I'm afraid to write."
I don’t think you’d understand, Konuma-sempai, but for Rui-san, these words were impossible.
For a moment, I even wondered if someone else had written them.
If you read them every day, you’d know, but Rui-san was very conscious of the fact that "lyrics are not sentences." For example, she never once used a period at the end of a line.
Considering her usual lyrics, the work from that day was nothing more than a "sentence."
Postings resumed the next day, but from then on, Rui-san’s work became somewhat reserved. It felt like she was hiding from something, or like she was afraid of being found by someone.
They were still wonderful, but the sparkle... it felt like it had diminished slightly.
I was indignant once again.
I was sure there was someone who had stabbed Rui-san with those "words as sharp as icicles," and I felt I could never forgive them.
Because there are people who mock what others have created with thoughtless words, the geniuses I love are unable to fully demonstrate their abilities!
Some might say it’s the creator’s fault for losing to such words, but I cannot forgive the fact that it makes it harder for the works I love to be born.
I believe we should live in a world where talented people can express their talent!
* * *
"I see..."
I was stunned by Taira-chan’s story.
For now, I was just glad Sako wasn't here...
"That’s why I can’t forgive President Azuma. If she had said Stella couldn't participate in the ensemble on the final day, I would have stormed in! ...Well, I’m a coward, so I couldn’t actually do that..."
Taira-chan laughed sheepishly with an "ehehe."
"And, and! I respect you very, very much, Konuma-sempai! The reason amane-san was able to do music again is surely thanks to you, right?"
"No, it wasn't just me..."
As I hesitated, she continued.
"Ah, of course Hasu-sempai too! I want to become someone who can use their talent like you two."
Taira-chan’s innocent smile was so radiant that I felt like I was being purified.
Sako-chan, what should I do...?