It had been days since Ayane brought friends home. Her parents were not when she returned with Rise and Naoto, so she made them wait in her room first while she brought snacks. Careful with her tray, she took cautious steps as to not step on the cats sleeping by the stairs.
Now before her room, she called out for either Rise or Naoto to open the door for her. With a click and a swing, the main star of the show appeared. She readily placed the tray of snacks on the small table while she looked for her instruments.
Rise and Naoto were comfortably sitting by the small desk. There were small pillows set up just for the three of them today. Looking around the room, the both of them were careful not to inspect too much.
Ayane's room was modest with a forest motif. The neatly kept brown walls and the green carpeted floors really sold them of deepwood clearings. Her furniture too were nature themed. From her green mattress on a brown bed to a lot of light-based decoration around the room and her study desk. It made her seemed more like a forest fairy.
"Found it!" Ayane said, as she pulled a large bag. "Please don't laugh when I mess up, alright?"
"I'm sure you'll play well," Naoto mused. Her hand was reaching for the lightly salted potato chips. "Afterall, Yu-senpai enjoyed hearing you play."
"Did he?" Ayane beamed. Her face made the room brighter from just smiling. "You're making me blush."
"Don't let your guard down, contestant. This judge over here is a professional scout." Rise played up her variety show persona as if she was a stone-cold judge. "One mistake and you're out, sister."
"I-I'll do my best!" Ayane fidgeted and almost dropped the instrument in her hand. "Whoopsie! That was a safe, right?"
And with that, Naoto nudged Rise for being kind of rude.
Rise held her hands together and bowed, saying it was all in good fun.
Ayane, after she laughed at their antics, began to perform.
It started out well. There was confidence in her playful tone. The piece she played was familiar to both of them. It was the piece that the Investigation Team played as a band in Junes.
She had heard them play together before. It was a shame that she could not fit in with them, but she wanted to be a part of them then. With feelings of longings and wantings, her passionate melody resonated and reverberated all over the room. It made Rise and Naoto tap their fingers on the desk, playing along with her rhythmic blues.
Rise couldn't help it. She thought Ayane was just the most adorable thing in the room. The battle hardened ice cold judge had her heart melted instantly, and began to cheer for Ayane.