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It's said that Kyoko Kagurazaka had been in three different bands before she even reached the age of sixteen.
The first band was formed with her fellow club members when she was in the first year of junior high school. The bassist was a guy who planned to play through a song by strumming on a single string, while the drummer could not even multitask to have his hands move unsynchronized from his feet.
To solve that, Kyouko Kagurazaka made a ingenious arrangement by asking the girl who was supposed to be the lead singer to help out with the snare drums on the side. However, that girl complained that she could not sing if she did that. As such, Kyouko took over and became the lead singer instead — she even practiced hard on the three songs chosen from Green Day.
However, on the day before the school's anniversary, that girl said she wanted to sing as well, and accused Kyouko of being sly. She ended up not coming for the rehearsal. The bassist and the drummer of the band sided with the girl and blamed Kyouko as well. On the actual day of the performance, Kyouko Kagurazaka went up on stage by herself with her guitar, and began her solo act with Desperado by the Eagles. Even though her performance was very well received, the band was dissolved on the very same day.
The second band was formed during the summer while she was in her second year of junior high school. It was a disco ensemble that consist of all girls. The reason Kyouko joined the band was because they had put up a recruiting poster at the livehouse she frequents. The band advertised itself with the phrase 'The Micheal Jackson of Gospel Rock', and she was attracted by the weird but interesting concept that was written. So even though she was slightly concerned about the age difference between herself and the rest of the band members, she still applied to join them. Surprisingly, she was extremely popular with the rest of the members, and they immediately decided to hold a live performance.
However, during one of the celebration parties, it was revealed that Kyouko Kagurazaka frequented the houses of the various members to spend the night over, and they had even bathed and slept together. With that, the gathering turned into a messy fight, where even the fans were involved in it as well. The only person who escaped from all that was the person in question, who happened to be in a sober state back then. The band was dismissed on the very next day as well.
The third band was formed when she was just promoted to her third year in junior high school. She was invited to join the band by the owner of the music store that she frequents. The rest of the three members were all guys, and the average age of the band members was very high — one of them was already married. However, since the band performed mostly British hard rock, which she happenened to be obsessed about at that time, she agreed to join immediately. However, that band was dissolved after three months too.
"… And that means Folk Music Club is your fourth?"
"Wait, hold on a second. Don't just skip the important part and be done with it."
The me who was sitting opposite of Senpai then quickly asked.
"Why did the third band dissolve?"
As I had raised my voice unknowingly, everyone at the McDonalds — which includes Chiaki who was sitting next to me, as well as Weiss who was diagonally in front — stared at me.
"Hmm? I can't tell you about the third band. Oh right, you know about that Hatake's Musical Instrument Store, don't you? The place where I'm working at now. Kakashi-san is one of the three members of the band, and the incident concerns his reputation."
I couldn't help but feel a chill running through my body. I then thought of the impossibly expensive guitar of Senpai's. According to Chiaki, Senpai managed to get it by finding out the weakness of the owner and threatening him with it. That can't be related to the dissolving of the third band, right?
"I am more concerned about the second band."
Chiaki bit onto the straw of her cola, and said furiously.
"Senpai, you've laid your hands on way too many girls already!"
"Mmm, I am reflecting on that too. Well, I didn't do my homework properly back then, so I never thought that having a lesbian relationship with girls would result in me infringing on the Immorality Act as well."
That has nothing to do with the Immorality Act, right!? Man, this person… why does her conversations always go in that direction?
Since the third years have exams today, we were unable to hold practice. As such, on our way back home, the four of us stopped by McDonalds together. Even though Senpai said she would be talking about the live performance, the things we chatted about were all unrelated to that, and they were all full of rubbish. That's quite worrying for the members of the newly formed band.
"Anyway, in order to allow the band to steadily make its way towards success, I've decided on three things. First, if I am to be in another band, then I must definitely start one myself."
And with that, Senpai took a look at all of us. This is the first time she started to gather the four members of the band from scratch. Since Senpai's an idealist, I don't think it's a good thing for her to join someone else's band either.
"Secondly, the male-to-female ratio of the band. The first was 2:2, the second had four girls, while the third was 3:1 — and they all failed. I myself am a girl, so the only remaining option left is to form a band with three girls and a guy."
"… So the reason you invited me into the band is because of a retarded reason like that?"
After hearing me say that with a dumbfounded expression, Senpai cocked her eyebrows.
"That's not a retarded reason, and that's not the only reason either. I said so before, right?"
Well, she's not wrong. This person seems to be serious at just about everything, but is there any relationship between the male-to-female ratio of the band and its survival?
"Lastly, the final person to join the band will have to come up with the name of the band."
Senpai took a look at Weiss next to her. Till then, Weiss had been staring at the dry fries while keeping silent this whole time. But when she heard Senpai say that, she lifted her head up in shock.
"… M-Me?"
"Yes."
Senpai grabbed onto the hand of Weiss with her own two hands.
"W-Why?"
Weiss was confused, and I was too. Why must Weiss be the one who comes up with the name? Senpai took the box of fries.
"This is me…"
Senpai drew out a stalk of fries and placed it on the tray.
"Followed by Comrade Aihrara…"
She looked at Chiaki briefly, then picked out another fries and placed it side by side with the first.
"Next is young man…"
She drew out the third, slightly shorter strand of fries.
"And finally Comrade Schnee."
Senpai then chose the longest fries out of the lot. After arranging the first three fries for a brief while, she used the last fries as a string to tie up the three fries together with a knot.
"See, we have gathered together because of Comrade Schnee. We can form our band because of you joining us. Therefore, if we are to come up with a name, it should be written by this person here."
Senpai placed the bundle of tied fries before Weiss. She then pointed to the three fries plus the long one, and said.
"You have to be the one to name the band. With that, you won't be able to leave. As long as you don't leave, the remaining three people will never break apart and be separated."
Senpai continued to look straight into Weiss's eyes. Weiss bit on her lips and lowered her head in order to shift her gaze away.
"… But I…"
"You can come up with whatever name you wish. Just use the words that you like."
"I'll be very troubled should you say that."
"Why?"
"Because… I only joined because I followed Ruto along."
Chiaki looked at me solemnly, but I could only fix my sight on Weiss's pink lips. What's going on here? Why is Weiss that afraid?
"Therefore, I can't be deciding something as important as this."
"It's precisely because it is something very important that I want Comrade Schnee to decide."
Senpai pulled her face right next to Weiss's, and said gently.
"I'm not asking you to decide on a name right now. However, I have to rent the place for our live performance, plus work on the posters and the tickets. So if possible, give me your answer after tomorrow."
"What did you just say about Live Performance?"
"It's the live performance of our band! The date was just decided not too long ago. We're going to perform with two other bands next week, so we need to name ourband right now, comrade Sch —"
"— No, I dot't want to do it!"
Just when Senpai was about to speak, Weiss pushed her chair away loudly and stood up.
"Weiss? Wai-"
Ignoring my calls, Weiss heaved her guitar casing onto her shoulders, then made her way past the tables and disappeared down the stairs in an instant. That left me — who was halfway into standing up — with no choice but to sit back down in my chair.
What the hell, why did things suddenly turn out like this? Did someone say something that made her unhappy?
"… Well well. This girl is really sensitive." Senpai murmured. She removed her hair-clip and let loose her long silky black hair, before heaving a sigh.
"I had no intention of repremanding her, but it seems like she noticed anyway."
Wha-What's this? Did Senpai say something wrong just now? I have no clue of what's going on.
"Naruto, what are you doing here at a time like this?"
Chiaki's fist was about to fly straight into my face.
"Go chase after her! What are you dazing here for?"
"Why Me?"
"Just go and chase after her already, idiot! Geez, you're dense!"
Chiaki kicked me hard on my thigh. I immediately got up and quickly made my way towards the stairs.
I caught up to Weiss at the entrance of the train station. Amidst the crowd that were walking downstairs towards the platform, I saw a head with snow colored hair as well as what looked like the shape of a guitar case. I hurriedly pulled out my season ticket and squeezed through the gates.
"Weiss!"
She was at the bottom of the flight of stairs, making her way past the benches. Weiss turned her head around. There seemed to be tears at the corner of her eyes.
"… Don't follow me."
"Why are you angry?"
"I am not angry."
The people around us were all looking at me, and that made me pretty uncomfortable. Moreover, there were my schoolmates among them as well.
"… Then what's the reason for you to act like that?"
My voice was drowned by the announcement that alerted us of the incoming train. I continued chasing Weiss, and went into the carriage without hesitation.
"… You should be taking the train in the other direction, right?"
"Eh? Well, you're not wrong…"
Come to think of it, my bag and bass are still there at McDonald. What to do? Do I have to make a trip back? Will the two of them wait for my return? The train left the platform. Weiss sat at the empty seat at the edge, and placed her guitar on her knees, so as not to let anyone see her face. I stood right by her side and leaned myself next to the door.
"Why did you follow me?"
"No idea. I suddenly had the urge to take the train to a place where I have not been to before, and take a stroll there."
"Idiot."
And with that, Weiss said nothing more. In order to ease the tense atmosphere, I began to tell lots of lame jokes — to be honest, I think it will be better if I get around to fixing that bad habit of mine as soon as possible.
Just as the train was making one of its many stops at some station, Weiss suddenly stood up. I was almost left behind on the train as she only made her dash out of the carriage right after the bell rang, which was to alert people that the train was about to leave.
It was a small remote station with hardly any passengers dropping off the train. There was almost no shelter at the platform, and the strong rays of the sun from the west were shining hard onto the asphalt. I could see messy patches of small farmlands on the other side of the fence, a road paved by gravel, as well as sparsely scattered houses.
"Weiss, is your house nearby?"
Weiss carried her guitar on her shoulders with her back facing me. She then turned her head and said.
"… I just suddenly feel like dropping off at an unknown station."
And after murmuring that, she then began to make her way towards the wicket. Come to think of it, she's actually a repeat offender when it comes to running away from home, right? Is this how she usually carry out her disappearing acts? I could begin to understand the reason why Jacques is overprotective towards her daughter already.
Since I had to get a replacement ticket, I almost lost sight of Weiss, who ran out of the wicket quickly. I finally caught up to her at the gravel road, which was situated between two corn fields. However, I could not bring myself to yell out her name, and so I did what I'm used to doing — walking quietly behind her at about a distance of five meters away.
We walked on for quite some time before Weiss finally stopped in her tracks. She was standing in the middle of a bridge that spans across a nearly dried stream. The reason was due to a lonely, rusty-sounding electronic tune that came from faraway. It was a broadcast played at various public places at five o'clock to remind children that it is time for them to head home. It's a melody that is played via the speakers at a few specific places in town. Seems like the tune is the same for all the cities in Japan. It's the second movement of Dvořák's New World Symphony.
The same melody came from a speaker that was even further away. It gently blended in together with the initial melody which had already started to ring sometime ago, and that formed a series of blurry canon.
Weiss grabbed onto the railing at the side of the bridge, and allowed her sight to wander all around in the air, so as to explore the melody around us. She mumbled as I caught up to her.
"… Why must Japan broadcast such a lonely tune everyday during the evening? I had traveled all around Japan due to my concerts, but I kept hearing the same tune everywhere I go."
I tilted my head. That's strange.
"This song is actually played during the funerals in America and other countries," she said as she stared at the stream.
Is that so? It's probably a cultural difference, I guess?
"Well, this tune is later rewritten into The Road Home and Sunset at the Distant Mountain, because it gives people the feeling that it is evening and time to return home… for us Japanese anyway."
"Really?" With that, Weiss closed her eyes and tilted her ears to listen to the rumbling tune being as it was sucked into the air.
There's probably not many people who know that this tune is written by Dvořák. I don't think there're many who know that this piece of music is actually a substitute for a letter to be mailed back to his motherland Czech from the new world America, filled with the deep longings of his homeland.
"… Why?"
Just as the sound around us had changed back to those of the cries of cicadas and the rumbles of a faraway train, Weiss asked me softly.
"Why… did you invite me into the band?"
"… Eh?"
"Forget it. It's nothing."
Weiss removed the guitar from her shoulders, and leaned it against the railing.
"I've only joined that club because I lost my bet with you. It's all your fault."
"It's all my fault…?"
"Kyouko probably thinks that way as well… in any case, this is something that everyone knows."
Kagurazaka Senpai… thinks of it as what? So?
"Therefore, I have absolutely no reason to be in that room."
"Nothing of th… " Is that really not the case…? I swallowed my words halfway.
If we are to look at things by the results, then it may seems like she's forced to join the club by Senpai and I. Though we are all trying hard not to think about it, Senpai had actually sort of noticed it, and so…
"It's precisely because it is something very important, that I want Comrade Schnee to decide."
So that's why she said something like that?
"Is the band… not fun?" I tried asking her gently.
"I don't know."
What do you mean you don't know!? I should be the one saying that!
"But I feel really happy when the four of us are playing together."
"Isn't it great if you're happy?"
"It's not."
Why? I originally wanted to know the reason, but I could not bring myself to ask. Weiss stepped on the railings and stuck out her head to look at the stream. For a moment, I thought she might actually jump down.
"Is it really okay for me to stay in the band? I don't really know anymore."
"It's not the problem of whether it's okay or not, isn't it?"
I really had no idea what Weiss was trying to say.
"I asked you to join because I want to start a band together with you."
"I-It's you!"
Weiss raised her head to look at me. Her face was a little red, and it seemed like it was not just due to the setting sun alone.
"It's all because you say things like that!"
With tears in the corner of her eyes and her body trembling slightly, she gave me a push. I retreated a step back. What? Why is Weiss angry?
Weiss carried her guitar on her back and walked by me, towards the direction where we came. I hurriedly chased after her, but I could not walk along her side-by- side, nor could I call out to her from behind. And because of that, for a short while, I did not realize Weiss was trying to make her way back to the station. Also, it took me a long time before I remembered that her sense of direction was as bad as Roronoa Zoro in One Piece.
Weiss stood in the middle of the lush green fields and turned her head around to look at me with a helpless expression — by then, the sun had nearly disappeared down the horizon.
"It can't be that you…"
"I-I am not lost! It must be in this direction!"
Seeing how Weiss was walking in the totally opposite direction, I pulled her back while trying to endure the urge to sigh. I then began to walk towards the gravel path. If there's someone next to you when you are encountering any sort of problem, you should tell that person honestly. That might be something that looks simple, but it is hard to carry out in reality. However, it is one of the most fundamental things in life.
The sky was dark by the time we made our way to the station. There were much more passengers being dropped off by the train as well. The two of us barely talked, and considering the situation which we were in back then, it was impossible for me to follow Weiss all the way back to her home. I could only send her off via my sight while standing on the platform. I then took out my cellphone.
"What happened to Weiss?"
"Ah… mmm, she just went back home."
I had no idea why, but my heart felt much more relieved when Chiaki's voice sounded as usual — and thus my very silly reply.
"No, that's not what I am talking about… what exactly did you chase after her for then?"
"Sorry, I don't really know either. Ah, right, where are you right now? My stuff is still at McDonalds."
"I've already helped you take them back home."
"Ah, sorry for troubling you."
"I'll bring these to you. Till later."
Just then, the train that was heading in the upwards direction entered the platform. Chiaki hung up without even waiting for my reply. Chiaki's house is just a five minute walk away from my house. However, the five minutes refers to the case if we were to walk along the normal path from her house to mine; should we consider the direct path between us, it would probably take no more than two minutes.
The so called 'direct path' refers to a path that consists of one passing by the restricted area beneath high-voltage wires, squeezing through a tight alley which probably only a cat can get through, then entering straight into the courtyard of my house, before finally scaling up the beech next to the walls of my house, and thus ending up right outside my window. It's a path that only Chiaki will take.
(◕ω◕✿)
After much difficulty, I finally managed to head home. And after confirming that Naruko's out of the house, I immediately ran up to my room on the second floor. I took Emerson, Lake & Palmer's Trilogy album and placed it into the CD player. I then proceeded to relax myself on my bed after pressing the play button. However, I could hear the sounds of the windows being knocked on, before the song was even in its fugue.
"I'm coming in?"
I had opened the windows so as to allow ventilation, so Chiaki jumped straight into my room through the windows before I had even gave her my answer. She had already changed into a T-shirt and denim shorts. After placing my bag and guitar case next to the window, she unreservedly sat herself on my bed. It was just as though she was in her own home.
"Why did you still choose to come through the window with all that stuff on you?"
It should be tiring to climb the tree, right?
"You should start by thanking me first, right?"
She elbowed me in my back. That hurts.
"Sorry. Thanks."
"Is your annoying sister not around today? I would have come by the main door should I have known that earlier."
"Yeah, she should probably be out shopping at Shibuya with her friends or something."
"Since she not around let's have a drink! You should have some whiskey in your fridge, right? Go get some snacks, and oh ya! Wine too."
"I am not gonna drink! What on earth are you thinking?"
I changed my position of lying, and fixed my eyes on the ceiling. Just then, Chiaki slowly walked over. She stuck her head out from above me, and stared into my face.
"Naruto, you should start learning how to drink too! Weiss doesn't look like she can drink at all. It will be too lonely if Senpai and I are the only ones to drink during the celebration parties."
"It's because I'm still underage… wait, this means that Senpai drinks too?"
I sat up unknowingly.
"Mmm. There's no one who can match me in drinking ever since Jiji died. It's the first time I met someone who's better than me."
I gave a helpless sigh. Didn't the law say that we can only drink after we're twenty?
"I don't know why, but somehow, it feels like it's fate that I was able to meet Senpai."
"Yeah, and she's the reason that you began drumming too… it's really impressive of you to get your drumming skills to the level at now, purely with that impure motive in mind."
"What's wrong with the motive being impure? The most important thing is to be happy. If only Weiss can think the same."
"… Eh?"
As Chiaki brought up Weiss all of the sudden, I kept staring into her face.
"You two didn't talk about that?"
"Hmm…?"
It seems like we did, and yet it seems like we didn't. Indeed, Weiss was agonizing over the reason for her to stay in the band, and if it was fine for her to be in there.
"That means that Weiss stayed in the band due to some other impure motives, which caused her to agonize over things? It should be that. Moreover, she's the types who will dwell on even the tiniest details. Unlike me."
"What do you mean by an 'impure motive'? It's impure because of how she lost a bet with me?"
It may be impure — but is Weiss really troubled about that? I should be the one who's at-ill-ease by that instead, no? However, all Chiaki did was stare at my face for quite a while with her mouth half-opened. After a short while, she placed her forehead against her bent knees, and sighed.
"I know that you're dense and stupid, but I never expect it to be that bad."
All I could do was forcefully swallow my words back into my stomach. I could not retort against that at all, because it was exactly as Chiaki had said. I am really sorry about that! The problem is, how can you expect me to know anything when Weiss didn't say anything about it at all!?
"Well I guess. I mean, he doesn't realize it even over a period of more than ten years, so how can it be possible for him to realize something that's only few months old?"
"Eh? Sorry, what are you saying?"
Chiaki stuck out her tongue at me and brushed me off. Please, I am really at a loss here! Just as I was still unsure of what was going on, Chiaki stood up and straightened the creases on her shorts with her fingers.
"Alright, I'm going to leave the dense idiot alone and head home now. I'll come up with something myself."
"What do you mean by coming up with something?"
"You will feel troubled should Weiss continue to distance herself from the band, right?
I nodded my head stiffly.
"Mmm. I will be very troubled too. I don't like an uncontested victory, and neither do I like losing without a fight."
After saying a bunch of things that I was totally clueless about, Chiaki made her way out of my room through the window. Coincidentally, the fugue part played by Keith Emerson just so happened to end exactly at that moment as well, and the tune was about to head into part two of The Endless Enigma.
(◕ω◕✿)
Every morning, Chiaki always arrives to class when she's about to be late. It's not because she oversleeps or she has poor time management though, but rather she will continue to practice on her drums in our club room even after the preparatory bell has rung. She came from a sports club, so that's probably why she loves to practice in the morning.
However, Chiaki was really late this morning. Which is quite rare of her. I didn't see her earlier when I went to the club room to leave my bass there. Even after the bell for classes had rung and the teacher had stepped into the classroom, I still didn't see her.
"Morning!"
When Chiaki opened the door (located diagonally right at my back) and entered the classroom in a strangely energetic way, we were already ten minutes into the first period. Our young and timid English teacher even dropped the chalk on the floor in shock. Chiaki leisurely made her way between Weiss's desk and mine, then sat down at her own seat. Aside from her bag, she was carrying a huge plastic bag that had a handle on it.
"Sensei, am I considered late? Or was I already marked absent?"
Our English teacher took a look at the clock, then coughed twice and said softly.
"I'll count you as late this time, but don't enter the classroom so brazenly next time."
"Right. I'm sorry."
She took out the textbook from her bag. At the same time, she turned her head over and stuck out her tongue shyly.
"I shouldn't have stayed up late last night."
"What are you carrying?"
"Hmm? Oh, I'll tell you later."
Right after classes were over, Chiaki opened up the plastic bag which she brought to class, and pulled out something from within. "Tada!" She proudly showed it to Weiss and I.
Weiss was stunned with her mouth wide open. I guess my expression was probably the same as hers.
It was a white T-shirt — at the chest area, was a cute image that was designed with the colors of psychedelic purple and orange. Weiss & LOLLYPOPS That's actually what was written on it.
"This is…?"
I finally managed to get the line out of my throat after much difficulty.
"What's this? The T-shirt of our band, of course! It's really cute, right? I'm thinking, if Weiss hasn't decided on a name for our band yet, then we'll just use this name."
Chiaki said that proudly. I reaffirmed the strange name yet again with an unbelievable feeling, then shot a glance at Weiss — her face was pale white.
"Well, it just so happens that Naruto was listening to EL&P when I went to his house yesterday. And thus an idea came to me — why don't we also name our band E&LP."
"W-Why's my name in there?"
"Because Weiss's our band leader. See, it's just like Hajime Hana & The Crazy Cats."
Exactly how old are you? Is it because you frequently drink with your uncles and relatives? There are times where Chiaki speaks just like an old geezer… no, she actually sounds older than them.
"Leader? M-Me? Why?"
"Eh? Didn't you hear it from Senpai?"
Chiaki said as she spread the T-shirt out on the table.
"Senpai said that the Folk Music Club is a revolutionary army, right?"
"Come to think of it, she did…?"
My memories began floating towards the distant past as I murmured. Kagurazaka Senpai is a self-proclaimed revolutionist. As for us, who she gathered, it seems like we are her comrades in her revolution.
"She said that I am the army commander, Naruto's the treasurer, and Weiss's the The chairman."
"I never heard about that before," somehow, Weiss was close to tears.
"Hey… Shouldn't the band leader be Senpai?" I interrupted.
"Senpai's the Chief Secretary. Which means… that even though the person who holds the most power is the great leader, but that's just on paper. In actual fact, the one who is in control of everything is the Chief Secretary. This is the so called 'Troika' system."
"Is that so?"
"You're referring to the Soviets?"
"I see."
"I learned something new today."
Our classmates around us were all nodding their heads emotionally. Somehow, I was no longer affected by all of their antics.
"Therefore, I inserted Weiss's name into the name of the band."
"… I don't want that."
"Why don't you come up with a name yourself then?"
Weiss grabbed the table tightly and refused to let go.
"Aihara-san, I want that T-shirt."
"Ah, me too. LL size."
"Alright Uchiha-kun, Isshiki-kun, I'll just charge you guys three thousand five hundred yen a piece."
"That's costly!"
"It's just you cutting out a template and spraying paint over it, right?"
"It's the basics for a band to earn cash through some merchandise."
Just as Chiaki was displaying her knack for business while being surrounded by our classmates, Weiss's face was getting paler and paler. I was wondering if I should speak with her, but I had no idea what I should say to her.
There was a sudden loud bang. Weiss suddenly pushed her chair backwards, and that caused everyone around her to turn their heads around in shock. She made a dash out of the classroom, as though she was trying to run away from the stares of everyone. I was about to give chase, but Chiaki was a step faster than me.
"Wait!"
Chiaki gave a shout outside of the classroom. I followed suit and ran out as well. Chiaki was grabbing onto Weiss's hand, while Weiss was trying her hardest to shake loose from her grip. Shit, this scene's a mess. Just as I was about to intervene — "Weiss! Look at me, and listen!" Chiaki spoke.
Weiss suddenly stopped moving. She then leaned herself stiffly against the walls of the corridor, and turned her body slightly towards Chiaki, with her head held low the entire time. And I just looked on like a moron —- there's nothing that I could do to get close, nor was there anything I could say.
"Listen. Half of the reason I'm staying in the Folk Music Club is because of Senpai."
Chiaki held onto Weiss's hands as she continued.
"As for the other half, it's the same reason as you, Weiss. You should understand, right?"
Weiss lifted her head up in surprise. I could only see Chiaki's back, but somehow, it felt like she was giving off a gentle smile.
"There's nothing wrong with that!"
"I, I…"
Weiss's face went red, and she didn't complete what she was about to say. It was due to the fact that the bell that signaled the start of the second period had rung. Weiss left the classroom hurriedly after school, and she was nowhere in sight during band practice. I then realized that she didn't actually bring her guitar today.
"I guess I'll go look around for her. Her shoes are still in the shoe cabinet."
Just as I was about to walk out of the practice room, Senpai grabbed my shoulders from behind.
"There's no point in doing that. Comrade Aihara has already done what is supposed to be done, so all that's left are problems that Comrade Schnee will have to deal with herself."
I glanced at Chiaki. She was sitting in the middle of the drum set, and staring at the hand-made T-shirt that was spread out on her knees. The things that she should have done, The things Chiaki said in the morning, I sat myself on the floor. I had no idea what was going on at all. The reason to be in the band? What does that mean?
"Did… I go overboard this time?" Chiaki mumbled.
"We can leave that for the historians of the future to decide. For now…"
Senpai took out a piece of paper that was folded in half from her pocket, and opened it up.
"Today's the last day… for the registration of the live performance."
Forget about the name of the band — the part where we are supposed to fill in the name of the band members were blank as well. I felt a sudden chill in me. If Weiss quit the band just like that. What should we do then?
Chiaki lifted the T-shirt and said, "Can't we just fill this name in for now?"
Senpai put on one of her rare bitter expressions and said, "Mmm… you know, I am actually glad that Comrade Aihara's not the last member to join the band."
"Senpai's horrible!"
That was the only instance where I actually agreed readily with what Senpai said.
"Isn't that a really suitable name for a cute and loli-loli band like us?"
"You can use that name after I leave…"
"How about having Naruto dressed up as a girl too?"
"Over my dead body!"
Senpai plugged the guitar into the amplifiers, and used the noise generated to interrupt the silly conversation we were having.
"I'll come up with something to make them wait till tomorrow noon. Let us all wait for Comrade Schnee here tomorrow morning! Then I'll skip my lessons and send the application form to the livehouse where we'll be performing tomorrow night."
Senpai then turned her head to look at me.
"It's just a name that we are using for our application. Even if we do not make it in time, it will mean nothing. If there is really nothing that we can do this time, there's always a next. Don't put those expressions on your face."
"Well, you aren't wrong…"
What exactly is the expression on my face right now?
"Well, it's pointless for us to continue talking about it any further. Let's begin our practice!" Senpai stood up as she said that.
Somehow, I had zero motivation to pick up my bass. Right here, right now, the three minimum elements required to start a rock band are here — a guitarist, a bassist and a drummer. If we were to create our music based on our current form, We can start-up the band, albeit barely, even if Weiss isn't around.
Senpai stared at my face for a while. She then said, "I guess we'll start with some covers. You should know how to play Hotel California, right?"
I nodded. Senpai began strumming the quiet intro with her guitar. Earlier on when we first started the band, we frequently practiced with songs sung by The Eagles. Even now, the club members still did an impromptu play of their songs while waiting for everyone to gather. Therefore, my fingers already remembered the songs that we've played. Perhaps Senpai had already seen through what was in my mind?
It's said that while The Eagles were recording this song, there was actually a part in the intro where there was an overlap of 13 guitar sounds. Therefore, it is impossible for Senpai to do that alone. Regardless of the few overlapping improvisational parts or the solos, there would be no way Senpai could replicate all those things with just her hands alone.
I had almost forgotten to sing the chorus with Senpai. All I was doing was strumming the bass in a daze, as I immersed myself into the vocals of Senpai and experienced for myself the blankness beneath her voice. She… Weiss's not here.
(◕ω◕✿)
The practice ended really quick. While on my way to the staff room to return the keys of the practice room, I met Hiratsuka Sensei at the door.
"Oh, Naruto. Come here for a moment."
"Huh? Me?"
Hiratsuka Sensei's hair was tied up, and she was dressed in the white pleated blouse and tight miniskirt as usual. Though she may be dressed really formally, she is actually a really violent teacher, which you somehow just can't link to her role as a music teacher. I really do hope she won't drag me around by my ears in the future.
"Sensei, that's the girls' toilet over there!"
I tried my hardest to resist after realizing that I was going to be pulled into a really terrible place.
"Ah, that will not do."
Hiratsuka Sensei then pulled me to a turn at the staircase, where the fourth floor's further up from us — it's a corner of the music room where almost no students will pass by once the hours have reached this late in the day.
Hiratsuka Sensei forced me against the wall and pressed her heel into my foot. She then began her interrogation.
"Weiss came to the preparatory room just now."
"Eh…?"
I see. So she ran to the preparatory room huh? Hiratsuka Sensei used to be Jacques's student — Weiss's father - back when he was a lecturer in college. It seems like she was close to Weiss since way back.
"I have no idea why, but somehow she seems to be in a pretty depressed state. Did you two have quarrel or something?"
"Nope, nothing much happened… ah! Ouch! Don't shift your body weight onto your heels!"
"I did mention before that you should be prepared for your arms to be broken if you made Weiss cry, right?"
"Since when!" Though she did say she wouldn't let me off easily.
"What happened? Aren't the two of you getting along really well?"
"Do we look like we are on great terms with each other?"
Hiratsuka Sensei shrugged.
"So you're really unaware of it… all that girl talks about is you and the Folk Music Club."
"Eh? No, that's just…"
Things won't reach this state if we're on good terms with each other, right?
"She's still in the preparatory room, so go and look for her. Just say that it's me telling her to go home quickly."
"… Understood."
And with that, Hiratsuka Sensei walked downstairs.
We used to have music as a core in our school, so the whole of the fourth floor is housing equipment that are related to that. Straight to the left at the end of the stairs, was a door covered with red felt, just like those of a concert hall — that's the music hall that's rarely used. Located along the sides of the corridor that's extending outwards on the right, are storerooms that are used to store all sorts of musical instruments. At the end of the corridor is a metallic door, which belongs to the music room that is used during our typical music lessons.
There was a series of melody from an electric guitar that wasn't plugged in to an amplifier, and it came from diagonally-right in front of the music room — it is the door of the music preparatory room. Its timbre sounded beautifully delicate and gentle.
What song is that… it should be the part of the harpsichord that appears in Brandenburg Concerto No. 5? She actually managed to replicate the rich sounds of the arpeggio clearly with just a single guitar. As I listened carefully to Weiss playing the guitar, I recalled how weak Hotel California sounded when it was played by just the three of us earlier.
After the song was over, I could hear the sound of Weiss tuning her guitar. Despite that, I remained rooted outside the door without moving an inch. What to do? Weiss will probably be angry if I just open the door and walk in like that.
"… Weiss?"
In the end, I tried calling out her name softly. The sounds of her tuning suddenly stopped. Those words that I wanted to say but were frozen in my mouth had disappeared completely as well. Because Weiss hasn't said anything to me yet. And I have no idea what to say as well.
"Well, Senpai said that the registration for the live performance… will end tomorrow."
I pressed my palms against the wall, and said that out word by word.
"Since we have to fill in the names of the members of the band, as well as the name of the band itself… we may actually have to use the name that Chiaki came up with if we don't decide soon."
I noticed a slight change in Weiss's breaths when I mentioned Chiaki's name.
"So, well…"
I tried desperately to find a suitable word… right, I'll just start from that. I wanted to ask her about it anyway.
"About the live performance. Do you have any reason not to go?"
It felt like a long time had passed before I heard her answer.
"Actually… there's no special reason."
Weiss's murmurs came from behind the thin door. I was feeling slightly relieved upon being able to speak with Weiss, but then came her next line.
"However, there's no real reason for me to go either."
"What…!"
That's just too much! What's with that!?
"Then what did you join the band for?"
"I don't know," came Weiss's reply. "I really don't know."
She sounded just like a child who's lost. I squatted at the corridor and thought hard for a while.
"If you go, then perhaps you'll know."
I tried answering her with that. Even I myself felt it was quite a silly answer — it sounded like something that an elementary school kid would say. However, there's no withdrawing once I said it out loud.
"Since you're willing to join our club, we wish to participate together with you."
Not just for perform, but to play together.
"And so, well…"
I slowly heaved out the air that was jammed in my throat. There's nothing much left for me to say, right?
"So, I'll be waiting for you at the practice room tomorrow."
And with that, I waited breathlessly for a moment, but there was no reply from the inside.
Hah. I guess the only thing that I can do is wait.
I silently left the door. While making my way towards the stairs, I actually stopped in my tracks twice to turn around and look. It somehow feels like I could faintly hear the sound of Weiss playing her guitar. Dvořák's music… but that may just be the evening bell which came from faraway towns.
(◕ω◕✿)
Unfortunately I met Chiaki at the road on way to school the next morning, and was thus left with no option but to walk with her to school. It was 6:40 a.m. — normally, I would still be in bed at this hour.
"You didn't sleep well last night?"
Chiaki, who was walking next to me, suddenly came up close to me and stared at me.
"Hmm? Nah! I slept really soundly."
"Have you been coming up with names for the band?"
"Mmm… I guess."
"So you don't actually trust Weiss? I feel sad for her."
Aren't you the same as me? You even made a T-shirt. I originally wanted to retort with that, but upon changing my perspectives a little, I guess that was probably the best thing that Chiaki could come up with… right?
"I've come up with over ten more names since then."
"Aren't you the same as me too!"
Dammit, what a waste of energy of me trying to put her in a better light by thinking about things from a different perspective. Chiaki then took out a notebook and confidently showed me a long list of backup names for the band. I couldn't help but sigh when I saw that.
It was about seven plus when we reached school. We went to the staff room, and realized that we could not locate the keys for the practice room in the key box.
"Strange? Naruto, you returned the keys yesterday right?"
"Yeah…"
Chiaki and I exchanged looks for a brief moment. That means there's someone who reached the school earlier and has already made her way to the practice room.
There can only be two possibilities, Chiaki immediately turned around and ran, and she almost bumped into a teacher while making her way out of the door. However, she ignored the yells of the teacher, and scooted off from his sides. She then dashed her way through the corridors and towards the courtyard.
Chiaki pulled open the door of the practice room hard, and her shoulders slumped immediately. The me who was following closely behind took a glance into the room, and I exchanged looks with the person inside.
The person in the practice room was not Weiss, but Kagurazaka Senpai, no wait, she's Kagurazaka Senpai alright, but w-why is her blouse unbuttoned halfway? Her lingerie's showing from the inside, and she was in the process of removing her skirt.
"Whoa!"
Chiaki gave a shout. She shut the door after elbowing me who was behind her. Dammit, that hurts!
After a while, Senpai opened the door and stuck her head out from within.
"Sorry, I never thought you guys would be here that early. You two can come in now."
Chiaki stepped into the room really quickly. As for me, I couldn't help but feel a little intimidated about it — I mean, Senpai was changing in the room not too long ago, right?
Senpai had changed out of her uniform into a T-shirt with the photo of the Cuba revolutionist Che Guevara, as well as a patched denim miniskirt — an outfit that has anarchism written all over it.
"Why are you changing here?"
"Didn't I tell you yesterday? Today's the final day. I have to hand in the application form to the livehouse where we'll be performing later."
Oh, right! She did indeed say that before. So that means the reason Senpai wore her uniform to school is just so that she can enter the staff room to get the keys? What exactly is this girl going to school for?
"Speaking of which, I never thought the band members would be here this early. We are really united!" And with that, Senpai patted Chiaki's head.
"This can't be considered all the members, right?" Chiaki lifted her head and asked softly.
"Mmm, you're right." Senpai nodded her head, then proceeded to take out the application form from yesterday from her pocket. She then pulled out a desk from the corner of the room, and placed the opened form on it. There were already four names filled in the box for the members' names.
Chiaki Aihara (Drum). Weiss Schnee (Guitar). Kyouko Kagurazaka (Guitar, Vocal). Naruto Namikaze (Bass, Vocal).
Only the part for the name of the band was left blank. I didn't want to think too much about it, so I changed my focus onto some other place on the form… eh?
"Oh, what about the rental fees for the place?"
It's impossible for us to perform live for free, but I had totally forgotten about cash — related stuff. Though there's going to be another two bands who will be performing with us, the individual amount each of us have to pay should still be pretty costly. However, all Senpai did was show a faint smile.
"You don't have to worry about that. We are the guest performers, so we don't have to spend a single cent."
"Eh?" What's this? How is it possible for such good things to happen… ah, this person here must have done something yet again? I guess it'll be better if I don't pursue it any further. Feels really scary.
"Should Comrade Schnee not make it in time— right, why don't we just use the name Folk Music Research Club?" Senpai tapped the tip of the pen in the box for the band's name. Chiaki opposed immediately with, "Eww… that's not cute at all."
"Really? I quite like the name though."
"Then why don't we just use K-ON ? It's much easier to remember with just Three words."
"That sounds just like the name of a girly band. I can't accept that!"
"Then how about adding an exclamation mark at the back."
Chiaki took out her notebook once again and began reading out the names she came up with one by one; as for Senpai, she was there rejecting them one after another lovingly. I sat myself on the stool and leaned the bass against the wall, while listening to their conversation halfheartedly.
Back then, Weiss was waiting for me in here as well. The day that I suggested that we had our guitar showdown. Despite her not giving me any sort of reply, she still waited for me. Therefore, this time, all I can do is wait for her like this.
Thinking about it, it somehow felt like Weiss and I have always failed in trying to get our points across clearly. There are times where we can communicate, but there are times where we can't — and with the gradual accumulation of the miscommunication, it felt like there may be a day when they will all turn into an unsalvagable misunderstanding or something? If that is really the case, then shouldn't I try asking her properly? That's if Weiss is…
Senpai and Chiaki had actually left me alone when they noticed I was there silent and engrossed in my own thoughts. How long have those two went on with their conversations already? The chimes of the bell pulled my consciousness back into reality. I was shocked, and quickly directed my glance towards the clock in the room. It's the preparatory bell right before lessons — classes will be starting in five minutes. Both Chiaki and Senpai, who were chatting at the table, had turned their sights towards the clock as well.
"Young man."
Senpai made a gesture at me. I stood up, and Senpai passed the pen into my hands.
"We have no other choice. You are the third person to join the band, so you decide."
"Eh…"
I stared straight into Senpai's face. Weiss didn't come, so I'm the one…
"But…"
"It's just a name, so don't think too deeply into it. Nothing will change because of it."
Is that really so? I thought to myself as I stared at the application form. It somehow feels like Weiss will no longer be coming here if she doesn't appear now? Should I sever the relationship between us right here…
I adjusted my grip of the pen… I had spent the whole night yesterday thinking about it, before finally deciding on something. Should the situation come to the point where I'm the one to come up with the name of the band, then I'll just name us Blackbird.
However, this name will lose all its meaning if Weiss will no longer come here. It will become a name that forces me to recognize the fact that we can no longer fly with our wings broken.
The tip of the pen came into contact with the paper. Just as I was about to write the first character "B" — Senpai lifted her head suddenly. She looked past my shoulders, towards the door of the practice room — and then she smiled.
I held my breath and turned my head around. The heavy door had opened, revealing a slit that allowed the cold air of Winter to gush into the room. Chiaki ran to the door and opened it quickly. Weiss, who was outside the door, was about to take a step back. Chiaki grabbed her by her wrists immediately, which caused her to flinch.
Next to me, Senpai said, "Morning, Comrade Schnee."
As for me… I could not speak a single word. The countless words were all stuck in my chest. In the end, I passed the pen to Weiss, who was pulled into the room by Chiaki. That was the only thing that I could do. Weiss stared at the pen for quite a while, before accepting it with her left hand. She stood at the door for a long time, despite me having left the table already.
Next, Weiss walked slowly towards the table. She wrote the letters in the blank space of the application form, without any hints of hesitation.
feketerigó
"How do you pronounce that?" Chiaki asked softly.
"Fe-ke-te-li-ko," Weiss mumbled. That's quite an intriguing pronunciation. What language is that?
"Does your mother speak with a Dutch or German accent?"
Weiss and I lifted our heads at the same time when we heard that sudden line from Senpai.
"… How do you know? Mama mentioned before that she was born in Holland."
"Because you don't usually pronounce the 'g' as 'k' in Hungarian. Nevertheless, it sounds much nicer this way."
Senpai took a good look at the name Weiss had written. The smile on her face looked as gentle as the white clouds that were floating in the sky in the early morning.
"You like this song?"
Weiss took a while before nodding in response to Senpai's question. Somehow, it felt like she had stolen a glance at me when she did that, and that cause my face to burn.
Which song is that? The pronunciation of feketerigó somehow makes me feel like I'll gently fly upwards into the sky in an instant.
"It's a really good name."
With that, Senpai folded the application form and stuffed it into her pocket. She then got close to Weiss quickly and pecked her lightly on her cheeks. Weiss's face went red in surprise, and she took a step backwards.
"Ah, right. Comrade Schnee, just pass those four thousand and five hundred yen that's in your pocket to the young man! I've delegated him to be in charge of all the finance-related matters."
Senpai said that just as she was about to step out of the classroom, and Weiss's face went red yet again. When the door was closed, Weiss took out a brown envelope from her chest pocket and stuffed it into my face.
"Hey!"
I managed to grab the envelope before it fell to the floor. There's a few pieces of the thousand yen notes and some five hundred yen coins inside.
"You don't have to give it to me now!"
Then again, it means that, right? It's that, right? I was not quite confident of that, so I peeked at Chiaki's face, who was beside me. Wow, her face was lit up from the happiness.
"Put it away quickly."
Weiss turned her head away as she said that. I placed the envelope into the pocket of the guitar case. It was only then that I realized that my heart was thumping wildly. I had no idea why, but I couldn't calm myself down. I can finally perform live together with Weiss! Everyone can go there together!
"Ruto."
Weiss suddenly turned her head around and called out my name when she was out of the door. My gaze went past Chiaki's shoulders and straight into her eyes.
"… Will I really know?"
When she was asking me that question, Weiss's eyes still looked as though they were the skies filled with dark clouds. I suddenly felt my chest tighten a fair bit.
"Know what?" Chiaki moved her face close to Weiss's to look at her.
Weiss shook her head, and so Chiaki turned her sight towards me instead.
"You should be able to find the answer… probably."
If felt like Weiss's slightly uneasy gaze were fixed on the tip of my nose. I couldn't help but lower my head and stare at my fingers. And then, I took a step forward.
"I promise you…" As I said that, I stretched my hand out towards Weiss, "That if you aren't able to get an answer, I will listen to everything you have to say."
It's a promise that I had made sometime ago.
Weiss's face was flushed red. After brushing my outstretched fist away with her hand, she turned around and ran towards the school building. Chiaki looked at me with no idea of what was going on, and then she followed suit behind Weiss. I turned my head back to look into the empty practice room.
The reason for Weiss to be here…
Somehow, I think that there's no one who can tell her the answer to that. She has to find it on her own. You see, I myself had no idea why I was hanging around here. However, I have no intention of hanging around with the rest of the members in the band forever while having any lingering doubts about it.
I turned my sight towards the empty desk. It somehow feels like the name that Weiss had written was carved onto the surface of the desk when Senpai was tracing out the name with her fingers.
feketerigó. A name that ties us all together.
The bell for classes finally rang. Shit, I'm gonna be late. I locked up the practice room, then made a dash towards my class. Somewhere among the cluster of trees in the courtyard, the cicadas began to sing.
.
.
.