"By the way, we're performing at the showcase on the final day tomorrow, right?"
As soon as I entered the studio, I opened with a question to confirm something important.
"Yeah, that’s the plan. Heave-ho..."
Ichikawa answered nonchalantly.
"Um, Ichikawa, do you think you can finish the lyrics by then?"
"Hmm..."
While sitting on the floor, Ichikawa muttered, "It might be a bit difficult..."
"I thought so..."
"Hup, hup..."
As expected, it wasn't something she could do that quickly.
Well, since she said it was a competition to see who would be faster—her writing lyrics or me writing a song—if she finished now, I'd lose...
"Takuto, you haven't been able to write a song yet either, right?"
Sako asked considerately (probably).
"Yeah... Azuma probably won't finish her lyrics either..."
"Ngh, mmm..."
I wondered what the best course of action was.
"Nn, ah..."
Wait, actually!
""Wait, Ichikawa!"/"Ichikawa-san!""
"Hoe?"
Ichikawa, who (presumably) was leaning forward with her legs spread while wearing a loose T-shirt, looked up at us (I think).
"It's not 'Hoe?', I told you to stop doing that."
Sako warned her while imitating Ichikawa's voice.
That's right. I had completely forgotten about the stretches Ichikawa did while making those mysterious, muffled sounds. By the way, the reason my previous description was an assumption was that I wasn't looking at her...
"I mean, Ichikawa-san, you didn't do that yesterday..."
"Yesterday, unloading the gear was enough of a workout!"
Ichikawa laughed cheerfully while making a gesture as if showing off her biceps.
""Sigh...""
Sako and I sighed in unison, our hostility drained by her pure radiance.
"Well, whatever... Um, then are we going to do either 'Heijitsu' or 'Watashi no Uta'?"
Sako pushed her exasperation aside for now and moved the conversation forward. She's so diligent.
"Then, well..."
Ichikawa, who had stood up at some point, peered into my face.
"Konuma-kun, which one do you want to do?"
Her eyes seemed to be testing me.
"Well..."
But I had already been thinking about it.
"The song I want to do isn't either of those."
""Neither of those...?""
Rarely, Ichikawa and Sako spoke in harmony.
"You mean a new song?"
Sako questioned me (probably).
"No, that's not it."
"A cover?"
Ichikawa asked (this one for sure).
"Not that either."
"Then, what...?"
I hadn't intended to be dramatic, but their strangely synchronized teamwork made it feel like a big reveal. It’s kind of embarrassing...
"How about we do 'Boat'?"
""Ah..."!!"
Both of them cried out at the same time at my suggestion. They're really in sync today.
"Wait, Sako-san, you know that one?"
Ichikawa asked with a look of surprise, but...
"Huh? Know what?"
Sako looked away, feigning ignorance.
"I mean, 'Boat.' We're talking about it right now."
"I don't know it."
"Hmm?"
Ichikawa tilted her head with a smile playing on her lips. She looks so happy...
"What?"
"Fufu, Sako-san..."
Ichikawa spoke with a full-faced grin.
"You even listened to the coupling track for 'Watashi no Uta'?"
"...Shut up."
Well, that's how it was.
My suggestion was to perform 'Boat,' the B-side (coupling song) to amane's phantom single 'Watashi no Uta.'
By the way, I knew Sako had listened to 'Boat.'
Because the other day, when the three of us went to the music store in Kichijoji, she had guessed that Ichikawa's house was near Inokashira Park based on the lyrics of 'Boat.' I mean, how seriously do you have to listen to a song to be able to do that?
"Um, Konuma-kun, do you want to dedicate this song to someone?"
"Yeah... well, something like that."
"I see..."
After appearing to think for a moment, Ichikawa laughed.
"Then we have to work hard!"
"Wait, but since Sako-san 'doesn't know it,' I guess she can't play the bassline?"
Ichikawa peered into Sako's face with a smirk.
"I don't know it, but I can play it."
"Eh, how?"
Ichikawa tilted her head.
"Amane's songs are way too simple. I can play them even if I don't know them."
"No, no, what kind of logic is that..."
While they were going back and forth like that...
"Hellooo! Please lend me a guitar!"
The voice of a little devil came from the studio entrance.
"Oh, Erina-chan, welcome. Erina-san, do you play the guitar?"
Ichikawa tilted her head. She said 'welcome' as if it was her house.
"Nope, not for Erina, it's for Kenji! Apparently, he wants to learn how to play~"
"Seriously, tell him to come look for one himself..."
When I muttered that in exasperation, she replied,
"Well, Erina is the manager, after all."
"T-True..."
Erina-san can be surprisingly cool with her retorts...
"Erina-chan, there aren't any guitars in this room. You can rent them at the front desk in the central building."
Oh, the President is actually acting like a President.
"Is that so! Then let's go to the front desk, Takuto-kun!"
""Eh?""
Me?
"Um, Erina-chan, it's the front desk. You know where it is, right?"
"Yep, I know! Alright, I'm taking Takuto-kun with me!"
"Wait, is Konuma-kun necessary...?"
Leaving behind Ichikawa's bewildered voice, I was pulled out of the studio by the arm by Erina-san.
"...Do you have something to talk about?"
Well, since she went through such an obvious display to pull me away, that must be it.
I've started to understand Erina-san quite well.
"Eh? Nothing at all?"
...Wait, really?
I feel so embarrassed for acting like I knew everything just three lines ago!!
"Then why did you bring me along..."
"Well, somehow,"
Erina-san smiled gently and said,
"I just felt like being with you."
This is why this natural devil is so dangerous...
"I mean, you could have come with Hazama. Even if you were coming to our studio."
"Mmm, but you see,"
Erina-san lowered her eyebrows and laughed.
"Then Sakoshu and Kenji would meet, wouldn't they?"
"I see..."
That's right.
Even Erina-san, who always smiles as if nothing is wrong, must have feelings of 'bitterness.' Perhaps even more than the average person.
'Erina will do whatever it takes to become Kenji's special someone.'
Still, if Erina-san is making such a strong resolution...
"Erina-san, make sure to listen to our performance at the showcase tomorrow."
When I said that softly, she gave a mischievous grin and looked at me.
"Ehh~? What's this, a confession?"
"It's not a confession, but I want you to listen."
I looked straight into Erina-san's eyes and told her once more.
"Ah, yeah, okay..."
Erina-san looked a bit surprised, then lowered her head slightly and nodded.
Alright, all that's left is to perform well.
"Don't suddenly get all serious on me, geez..."