“But, I really think it's a great idea. For the last two or three days, I thought it was a pain to have to hide the fact that I know Konuma-kun, and besides, Konuma-kun is kind of scary.”
Our usual way home.
I was making it three days in a row heading home with amane-sama.
“No, but, I wonder if Konuma can really handle it?”
...Today, it wasn't just the two of us, though.
“I mean, Amane, you've worked with professional studio musicians until now, right? That's why you've been doing things alone even in the Rock Club, isn't it? Because the levels didn't match.”
That's right. Azuma was coming along with us.
When we passed each other while returning to the classroom from the Multipurpose Room, Ichikawa had invited her, saying, “Let’s go home together.”
“By the way, Azuma, is it okay for you to skip your club activities?”
After asking, I realized the question might sound like I was saying ‘You're in the way,’ which felt a bit petty. I didn't mean it that way at all, but...
“Wednesdays and Saturdays are self-practice days, so it's fine.”
Whether she sensed my internal excuse or not, Azuma answered nonchalantly.
“Then, why did you have a part-time job the day before yesterday, even though it was Monday?”
“That was seriously just a coincidence. Basically, I never skip club activities except on self-practice days, but I really, truly had to go in. There was a school presentation called Summer Con recently, and I had someone cover my shift for that, so it was like returning the favor.”
“Hmm.”
“...If you're not interested, don't ask me, okay?”
“Eh, that was just a normal acknowledgment...”
What, was there a problem with the way I said ‘hmm’...?
“Now, now, Yuri. Calm down.”
With troubled eyebrows, Ichikawa soothed Azuma.
“Anyway, in the first place, Konuma, can you even play any instruments?”
Azuma tilted her head.
“Yuri, there's probably no need to worry about that.”
“Eh? Really?”
Then, Ichikawa turned toward me.
“I mean, Konuma-kun, you did all the playing yourself for that ‘DEMO’ you let me hear the other day, right?”
“...Eh!?”
“Yeah, well, I did...”
When I answered, Azuma looked at me for the first time with eyes mixed with respect.
“Wait, isn't that amazing?”
I couldn't help but feel a bit proud, so I continued.
“I originally learned piano when I was little. After joining the Brass Band Club in middle school, I was in charge of percussion, especially the drums. Once I started composing music in the middle of middle school, I started doing multi-track recording by myself without ever forming a band. I’d play the bass over the drums I recorded, then the guitar on top of that... It’s what you call home recording. You can't do home recording with just drums, so I practiced guitar and bass for that purpose. That’s all there is to it.”
Hmph...
I made a gesture of flipping my hair back. ...Of course, only in my mind.
“...Uh, so in other words, you’re a loner who had no one to form a band with, so you had no choice but to do everything yourself, and that’s how you built up those skills?”
“Ngaaaa!?”
Hey, Azuma! That might be the truth, but you shouldn't say it! And don't realize it like that!
“Ehehe, now, now, you two.”
Ichikawa mediated once again.
“In any case, being able to do everything is really amazing! For me, I can only do vocals and hold down chords on an acoustic guitar.”
“amane-sama is fine because her skills in those are at a god-like level!”
Hey, her ending particle. It’s sounding like a Showa-era pop song.
“Well, but if we're going to do a live performance, we can't really be a band with just two people, practically speaking.”
I somewhat forcefully brought the conversation back on track.
Well, bands that perform as a duo aren't non-existent, but you could call that an irregular formation.
“Hmm, that's true. I'd like at least one more person...”
While saying that, Ichikawa and I stared intently at one person.
“A-At me...?”
Yes.
Right now, Azuma was walking with a bass strapped to her back.
Apparently, Azuma plays the bass in the Instrumental Music Club.
I’ve heard that the Instrumental Music Club’s practice is stoic, so she must be able to play reasonably well.
In terms of the flow of the conversation (and the flow of the story), it should be impossible for Yuri Azuma not to become a band member here.
It should have been impossible, but.
“Sorry, I can't!”
Azuma put her hands together and bowed her head.
“Ah, I see...”
So there is a pattern where we get rejected...
“Why? Are you busy after all?”
Without any hint of blaming her, Ichikawa asked a simple question, and Azuma raised her head, looking straight back at us.
“Even if I look like this, I'm betting my youth on the Instrumental Music Club!”
Those words coming from Azuma, who looks like a gal, were quite unexpected.
“In the Instrumental Music Club, the second-year students retire during the school festival in September. I feel like I have to pour all of my youth up to this point into that.”
“Heh...”
I somehow let out a sigh of admiration.
“That's why I can't join another club at the same time. ...Sorry.”
“I see...”
Ichikawa looked down. Is she depressed...?
While I was watching her worriedly, her shoulders gradually began to tremble. What is it, what happened?
“Ichikawa...?”
Then, she suddenly looked up and grabbed Azuma's hands.
“That's so passionate!!!!!!”
There stood Ichikawa, her eyes sparkling intensely.
“A-Amane-sama...?”
With amane-sama's face suddenly brought to close range, something inside Azuma seemed to be reaching its limit.
“Really, I think that kind of thing is so cool! Good luck! I’ll definitely go to your concert!”
Ichikawa shook her hands vigorously while still holding them.
“Hya, hyauuuun...”
Azuma's eyes are spinning... Is she okay?