Love, Eroge, Music & Other Craziness

by Geek Girl Naruru

Namikaze Naruto is a normal fifteen-year-old high school student. He has a distant relationship with his sister Naruko, who always treats him rudely. One Day in Spring, he encounters a foreign girl playing a piano on one of his travels to a junkyard and helps her in many ways as he discover that her name is Weiss Schnee.

43. Sports Day, Springteen, & Running

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Just as I mentioned before, we have a large music hall in our school that is capable of holding more than a thousand people at once. The size of the music hall is huge. We even have bands from our town borrowing the venue for their concerts. It has become a facility which our school is proud of. However, Kagurazaka Senpai said this as she sat down on the last row of seats while looking downwards with her hands crossed before her chest, "This won't do. This venue is not suitable."

"Why?" Shimura-kun and I asked at the same time. Shimura-kun is one of the second-year committee members of the school's festival who followed us here.

"Because we're a rock band!" Chiaki answered before Kagurazaka Senpai could by sticking her head out from behind.

"Think about the scene back at the chorus contest. The audience will not be able to stand up and enjoy themselves, can they?"

I faced the stage and scanned through the the audience's seats that are slanted like a bowl. It's just as she had said. Should the people in the audience engross themselves to the beats of the rock by shaking their heads about, a slight carelessness may result in the unfortunate accident of the viewer falling over, resulting in injuries or even death.

"Well, since most of the stage lightings are located in the sports hall, I think it's much better to hold our performance there."

The summer had passed, and we were getting close to our school's festival. There's still this music hall available other than the sports hall, so there is need not worry about the lack of venues for both the musical performances and the stage performances. Well, that is if Senpai and Chiaki do not make any unreasonable requests.

"Umm… but the sports hall is already taken up by the performances of the Drama Club and the class performances. Moreover, the Karate Club has forced themselves into the schedule just yesterday as they wanted to do some martial arts performances, so the schedule for that venue is full. Can't we just have all the musical performances perform here?"

Shimura-kun had on him a timid look as he observed the expression of Senpai, and he did all that while speaking to her in a polite manner. He was probably stuck with the task of following us around until everything is over because he knew the Folks Music Club will definitely create some sort of problem.

Sorry, Shimura-kun. I apologized in my heart by slapping my palms together.

"To put it more explicitly, the stage is the furnace of our passion, so that's something out of my control. The audience will definitely jump about in their excitement, and they may even rush up to the front of the stage! It will be a problem for the committee should anyone get hurt, isn't that so?"

Shimura-kun could only answer with an unintelligible "Ah, u-uhh…" as Kagurazaka Senpai pressed on. From the way she spoke, instead of it being the situation where we were making a request to the committee member, it's more like forcing him to take measures against an unavoidable disaster. Senpai is as cunning as ever.

"I-I'll discuss it with the rest of the committee."

Shimura-kun ended up running away from us. As I looked at his back, I prayed that he will be luckier in the future.

"Oh right, I'll be going to the student council's office for a while," Said Senpai with her arms crossed before her chest.

"What for?"

"Obviously to check on the clubs that will be using the sports hall. From now on, we'll have to be on the lookout on where we can cut into the queue."

The hair of Senpai swayed about like the tail-feathers of a cuckoo as she ran away. I gave a sigh as I watched her disappear. She may look like someone who does things sloppily, but she will get serious if she is hatching a ploy or something. I wonder how she will be like when she steps into the society in the future.

"Things will get busy!"

Chiaki was enjoying it. There was no time for me to catch my breath after school these days. Though the chorus contest had concluded only recently, we still have the sports day coming up next, followed by the school's festival. The days at our high school will be surrounded by all sorts of activities nonstop until November.

Chiaki and I walked towards the music preparation room which is located at the other end of the corridor. Weiss was revising the pieces that will be used during the school's festival. It was all because of Kagurazaka Senpai's willful words.

"I do not wish to perform the same item twice on stage. We've gathered ourselves a group of interesting people, and that makes me want to try dabbling in classical music."

However, someone who was walking towards us from the other side stopped us from moving ahead by stretching out both of her arms. The person's actually the music teacher who wears the shortest skirt, Shizuka Hiratsuka.

"It's best… to leave Weiss alone for now."

"Something happened?"

"Mmm."

Hiratsuka Sensei jerked her thumb towards the door of the preparation room. Looks like there was no need for her to explain any further. Sounds of piano were coming out from the room endlessly. The three of us stood at the middle of the corridor for a long time as we listened to the music that swirled around our ears after it had passed through the wooden door. The gentle stampedes of the passage sounded just like the footsteps amid the crowd.

"… I've heard this piece of music somewhere." Chiaki mumbled.

"It's Limoges."

It's the twelfth movement of Pictures at an Exhibition composed by Modest Mussorgsky. This is a piano suite consisting of diverse contents which were inspired by the paintings of a deceased friend.

Rimsky-Korsakov brought about a renaissance of the piece which stimulated the the imagination of musicians around the world, and that gave birth to all sorts of transcriptions for the orchestra pieces. I never quite liked this music since the original version sounded very crude, and I had never once bought it. however, my opinion of the piece changed when I heard the sounds of the piano coming from the other side of the door.

But Weiss should not have recorded this piece before. I walked next to the wooden door unknowingly and pressed my forehead against it to listen attentively to the sounds from inside. The tempo of the tune from the room was much slower compared to the Limoges typically played by the other pianists.

A slightly depressing atmosphere was mixed into the light and skillful tune.

It feels as if I could see my destination before me after walking up the path in the marketplace. The rapid steps were suddenly interrupted by a thick and heavy chord. I was shocked motionless in front of the dark entrance.

That was the thirteenth movement — Catacombæ.

The sounds of my heartbeats and breathing were reverberating in the cold air. The sense of emptiness brought about by the weakening sounds of the piano. That was just unbelievable. I could not believe it even after hearing it with my own ears. Weiss was playing the piano, and she did not get any single one of the notes wrong.

Weiss's hand have really…

Before long, the rays of the sunset were faintly penetrating through the lingering smell of mildew, bones, death and dust. It's the Promenade, the fourteenth movement. Just then, the music from the piano suddenly stopped. I pulled my face away from the door in shock. Next, I could hear the tapping of footsteps. The door was then opened hard by someone.

Weiss's face turned red the moment her eyes came into contact with mine. She said furiously, "S-Stop listening while standing there!"

"Eh, oh, sorry… so that means we can go in and listen?"

"… N-No!"

So we can't go in and we can't stay outside? What do you want us to do then? Weiss slammed the door shut after she stepped back into the room, and this time around we could hear the sounds of her locking it up.

Eh? Hey!

"Why are you locking yourself up in the room?" I knocked on the door immediately.

"Let us in! I need to get all sorts of musical scores from there!"

"You can't!"

Why? Is there a need for her to be that angry just because her playing the piano was heard by someone? Just as I was about to yell at the door, someone suddenly pulled me on the back of my collar.

"Guee!" I let out a strange noise unknowingly.

"You are not to cause a ruckus here. Just leave her alone for now."

With that said, Hiratsuka Sensei began walking towards the stairs while dragging me along. My limbs were thrashing about wildly since I was about to asphyxiate. Chiaki stared bitterly at the door of the preparation room for a while before following in our steps.

"Actually, Weiss has been practicing on the piano in the preparatory room for a few days already. It's the same for just now. It looked like she was set ablaze after looking at the various scores. Before I knew it, she was already playing the piano without even noticing my existence next to her."

Hiratsuka Sensei said that in a low voice at the corner of the stairs. Chiaki and I exchanged looks with each other.

"Have her illness… really recovered? Is that true?" Asked Chiaki.

"You two have heard about it already?" I nodded my head slightly.

What a perfect performance it was! I have always thought I will never get to hear Weiss's piano ever again. I was surprised when I heard the news from Asto, but the impact was much greater when I listened to her performance earlier.

"So it is something caused by her psychological issues… I guess? That's the reason why I feel it is still too early to be happy about the recovery of her fingers. In any case, it looks like the girl is planning to return to the embrace of the piano once more. However, Maestro Jacques will probably kick up a fuss out of happiness if she is to practice at home, so that's the reason why she is doing it at school."

That's because there are still some knots between her and Jacques. Moreover, Weiss is a really stubborn girl. Then again, I never thought she will recover to such a state.

"Since this is quite a pickle, please do not disturb her for now."

"When did Weiss start practicing on the piano?"

"Hmm? During summer, I think?"

So she really did start practicing on the piano after her reunion with Asto, huh? Everything makes sense if that was the cause. Even the doctors said we could only wait — and Asto's the one we're waiting for.

Before walking down the stairs, Hiratsuka Sensei instructed us sternly that we are not to get close to the preparatory room as long as the sounds of piano are coming from the inside. She left Chiaki and I at the corners. I slumped against the stairs.

"Weiss… that's just great." Chiaki murmured as she looked up the stairs. We could no longer hear the music from above us.

"Are you not happy about it, Naruto? Weiss can play the piano again, you know?"

"No, I am happy. But even though I am happy…"

"Speak your mind. Come on?" Chiaki grabbed me by my collar and rattled me about. I revealed my true feelings.

"It feels frustrating. Even I find myself to be a huge idiot."

"What do you mean?"

Today's a day where I was pulled about by the scruff of my neck… when Chiaki questioned me further, I told her everything in my heart. Like how Weiss had changed because of her reunion with Asto, and yet I could do nothing.

When I was done saying that, Chiaki released me and stared in the direction of the window.

"… Is that so?"

Her restless voice landed at her feet.

"So Naruto is feeling frustrated because he could not do anything for Weiss?"

"Mmm… yeah."

What's wrong with Chiaki? Chiaki's back looked very small. It was as though she will cry the moment I touch her hands.

"That's right — it feels painful precisely because the person is right next to us."

It seemed like Chiaki was mumbling to herself. I thought about it for a while, and just when I was about to say something to her back, she quickly turned her head around.

"Well then, what would you have done back then?"

The usual determined gaze had returned to Chiaki's eyes once more. She then greeted my stomach with a solid punch, which landed squarely with a thud. Ouch! I staggered a few steps back as I pressed my hands against my stomach.

"… I would have went back home and listened to London Calling beneath my blanket."

"You idiot. Listen to it yourself."

This time round, she rewarded my head with a slap. What do you want me to do then?

"Do I even have to say it? Practice."

The term 'rhythm section' is originally a jazz terminology, and it refers to the piano, bass and drums. These instruments need not perform solo; instead, they only have to ensure that the tempo of the song goes on without a hitch. For our band, that encompasses me and Chiaki.

The general opinion is that the quality of a band is not determined by the striking vocalists or the guitarists, but the standards of the rhythm section. The most notable examples will be bands like Green Day.

And then, the door opened to reveal a small slit, and a pair of blue eyes were peeking into the room timidly.

"Weiss, what are you doing?"

"W-Well…"

Chiaki grabbed Weiss's hands and pulled her into the room.

"… S-Sorry… for just now."

"Mmm, I'll spare you this time since you're honest."

Why is Chiaki putting on a stuck-up look?

"Someone was still engrossed with her piano even though we have something important going on in the band. The camaraderie of the band was wrecked by Weiss in an instant."

"I was not engrossed in it!" Weiss tried her hardest to lie.

"Well then, I will entrust Weiss with a task related to our band."

"… Which is?"

"Sit on Naruto's back while he doing push-ups."

"Why?"

"What's with that!?"

"Because you can practice on your guitar even when you're sitting on Naruto's back! I have to drum, you know."

"That's not the point. why am I doing push-ups here?"

"Because you lack physical strength! Naruto's drained at the end of that live performance, no? Weiss will always rush ahead of us when we play as a band, so we will have to bark up."

"Now that you've mentioned it…"

"You should at least train till you can lift the guitar amplifiers with a single hand."

"How can I possibly lift that up?"

"I can."

Whoa! She actually showed it to me. Put that down, it's really dangerous. With her eyes narrowed into a line, Chiaki thrust her drum stick to my throat.

"Alright, Naruto do thirty clean push-ups while going along to the beats of my drum."

That's Insane! But I dropped onto the floor without second thoughts. Having suffered from the same dominating air of that sports-oriented girl, Weiss did just as Chiaki instructed and sat down gingerly on my back.

"Min! On! Fight! Min! On! Fight!"

Chiaki began drumming in beats of four as she did some sort of strange cheer. What's with this? Is she a school bully? Moreover, Weiss's pressing me down on my back with her weight.

Wait? It's not as heavy as I thought. Or rather, she is inconceivably light. Is her body that slender? Come to think of it, did I not climb up the hills together with Weiss while carrying our luggage? Push-ups are nothing compared to that.

The beats of the drum suddenly came to a stop.

"I'm so pissed! Why is Naruto doing those push-ups with an indifferent expression on your face!?"

It's because you asked me to!

"You looked so painful when usualy it was me who was sitting on you. Ah, darn. What's your weight, Weiss?"

"Eh, umm…"

I could not catch her muffled answer.

"Unforgivable! I'll be sitting on you as well!"

"Why!? Don't, I'll die!"

"It will be fine, so stop moving!"

"W-We are falling!"

I was breathless from the combined weight of the two girls, and the door just so happened to open at a time like this. Kagurazaka Senpai's eyes opened wide when she saw the plight that I was in.

"H-Help me…" Upon hearing the pitiful plea from me, a sinister smile appeared immediately on Senpai's face.

"Where should I sit? On your head?"

"No, wait, don't do that!"

Why are things turning out like this!?

(◕ω◕✿)

I did not catch any glimpse of Naruko when I reached home. Her shoes were not in the shoe cabinet when I took a look inside. She probably went out with her friends. I took out my bass after I was done changing in my bedroom on the second floor. The words said by Chiaki during the day was still echoing in my mind.

"So Naruto is feeling frustrated because he could not do anything for Weiss?"

Weiss, Kagurazaka Senpai, Kakashi-san, and Deidara whom we performed with together on the same stage last month — and more than anyone else, there's Asto. After coming into contact with quite a few outstanding musicians and listening to their music with my very own ears, I was always left with a complicated feeling within me. I understood how immature I am, and that was mixed in together with a sense of helplessness.

Should this continue, I will just become someone who happens to be in the band by chance. I will even drag the band down. Deidara had once said this straight out, "You should quit the band". My reply to that was nothing more than just a farce. What should I do? What step should I take next? I have no idea at all. It was until I met Asto that I finally saw it.

I understood the question which I have to answer. Am I able to become Weiss's greatest pillar of support? Not just to the guitarist Weiss, but also to the pianist Weiss - can I continue to stay by her side by taking on the role of the heart who pumps her blood and life? The timbre of Weiss's piano is bright and clear, and its tempo is forceful and dynamic. Some of the conductors who performed with her before had commented that her piano is 'as forceful as the river that corrodes the fjords continuously'.

The reason for the harsh criticisms of Weiss's playing is because there are very few orchestras capable of accepting the force of her playing. And so Weiss's fingers were frozen, and the sounds of her piano had disappeared before she could locate her true place of belonging.

I used to think that she will not be returning back to the embrace of the piano. That was not the case however. Perhaps Weiss was just searching for that place. Someone who can be next to or close to her while support her playing — a place that exists forever. Do I… have the right to be there? Perhaps Asto is the only person who can reach that place for now. But how much further do I have to walk before I can reach that place as well?

I switched on the stereo and inserted the CD. My fingers were searching for the simple overlapping bass lines accompanying along with Weiss's solo of Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. Weiss's piano led the orchestra methodically as she changed the tempo of the variation rapidly. I gradually lost hold of the sounds of my bass. I could not keep up with her pace at all.

In my mind was the image of Weiss sitting before the piano as she appeared on feketerigó's stage. Before the raised wings that were giving off a black luster, I could see the drums that were giving off a faint glow, as well as Chiaki's brown colored hair. When I turned my head, I saw the back of Kagurazaka Senpai standing there, grabbing onto the microphone on its stand tightly as she faced the passionate audience. It began with the piano chorale that was rising from silence, followed by the careful integration of the drums via fill-ins. Next is the inclusion of the overlapping clean tones of the guitar, and finally the coarse vocals of Senpai which can seep into the deepest areas of the body.

But where do I stand? How should I go about carving my rhythm on the stage? I had no idea. That place is just too far, too high and too dazzling for me. Rachmaninoff's piece had ended, and the stereo at the head of my bed was no longer playing. I was pulled back to reality, back into my room. I realized that I was deep in thought while sitting on my bed with my bass in my arms.

What should I do? That was replied to with Chiaki's voice in my head, "Do I even have to say it? Practice". She's right. I really want to plug my bass into the amplifiers and practice at the loudest volume possible! There's a limit to the time I can spend in the school's practice room, and I'll be distracted by Senpai and Weiss's timbres anyway. My family's not at home today, but it's not like I can use the speakers in the living room either, since I'll be disturbing the neighbors if I do that.

If so I checked the time on the clock. It's still not eight, so I should be able to make it. After packing the bass into its casing, I jumped onto the bike and left my house. The southern entrance of the sizable train station is about twenty minutes away from my house by bicycle. The building where Hatake's Musical Instrument Store is in is located a few steps away from the overhead bridge, at the boundary between the shopping street and the residential area.

It's Senpai's working place, and I've been under their care for numerous occasions. There are three studios on the third story, though they are rather small and cramped. However, since Senpai holds the weaknesses of the store owner Kakashi (though she calls it the privileges of the employees), Kakashi said the members of feketerigó can use the studios for free as long as they are not occupied. I do pity him, but as a poor student, I am grateful for the privilege as well.

"Eh? Naruto?"

When I walked into the store where even the walking space are filled with guitars, Kakashi-san revealed his face from behind his favorite ero book. Looks like he is manning the store by himself.

"Did you guys agree to meet up beforehand? She went up already," Said Kakashi-san while pointing towards the ceiling.

"… Eh? Are you referring to… Senpai?"

"Nope. Chi-chan."

Upon opening the ridiculously heavy soundproof door, I was greeted by a series of intense drumming at the corridor. However, the beats stopped all of the sudden.

"… Naruto?"

Chiaki was sitting between the drums with her forehead glistering in sweat. She froze with her mouth opened wide when she saw me. Though that applies to me as well. Why is Chiaki here? Were all that practicing we had earlier still not enough for her?

"Hey? What's going on here?"

Chiaki walked towards my direction. Her face was giving off a radiant glow. She was only wearing a T-shirt and short pants even though it was already september. It was very much like what she wore during our summer training camp though. Then again, it is indeed hot and stuffy in the studio.

"Eh? Are you actually here to practice?" She asked when she saw my bass casing.

"Yeah… I want to practice with the amplifiers on."

"You'll have to end the practice if there are any customers here," With that said, Kakashi-san pushed me into the studio and closed the door. The smell of tobacco from the walls was mixed with the sweet scent of sweat. For some reason, Chiaki was happily setting up the bass' amplifiers for me.

"What a coincidence. I am very surprised. I was feeling very uneasy due to the lack of practice today. Did Naruto come here because you find the amount of push-ups lacking as well?"

"Nope, I have had enough of push ups. Also, am I bothering you here?"

"Not at all, because we are the rhythm section. It will be better for us to play together."

But if possible, I hope to practice on my bass alone…

"Oh well, let's start! Just treat me as a metronome and play your bass!"

After starting on our practice, I realized it's just like what Chiaki said — the bass and drums are no enemies. Just like the sounds of heartbeats and footsteps, the instruments resonate with each other in order to move forward. The quavers, semiquavers and triplets — Chiaki was supporting my stiff wobbles with her steady steps. What an inconceivable feeling.

Come to think of it, this may be my first time playing together with Chiaki alone. There would always be the sound of Kagurazaka Senpai's guitar (which is like the scattering rays of the sun) or that of Weiss's guitar (akin to the crystallization of the cold air in the night bathed in the moon's light) mixed in between us.

It's mind-boggling. Compared to when Chiaki was drumming alone by herself, the sounds the drums made were much brighter than before — I could clearly hear each and every beat from her. Each time I pumped blood into my bass via my fingers, I will be reciprocated by the comfortable sound of a footstep. I could almost grasp the glimmer of the two hi-hat cymbals with my hands.

"… Wait, Chiaki. Let's rest for a while."

We had been practicing nonstop for god knows how long. Thanks to my sore wrists, it took me much difficulty to pull my fingers away from the strings in order to request Chiaki to stop. Drops of sweat were trickling down from my hair.

"Weiss can still continue playing, you know?"

The red-faced Chiaki said that provocatively as she swerved her knees and shoulders happily.

"Nope, sorry. I can't do that."

I took a gulp of bottled water. I finally can kind of understand the reason for Weiss to play together with Chiaki nonstop, as if she was bitten by a tarantula or something. Because the 'legs' will move on their own. There is no way we can stop.

With a smile on her face, Chiaki stood up from her chair to snatch away the bottled water from my hands before chugging it down. Water seeped out from the sides of her mouth and flowed to her collars along her neck.

"Phew!" After the sigh, Chiaki took off her hair clip and shook her head. Some of her hair were stuck to her wet lips. I quickly diverted my gaze for some strange reason.

"It has been a while since I had so much fun with drumming."

"… Aren't you having fun all the time?"

"Hmm?" Chiaki gave me a puzzled look as she stretched her wrists while holding onto the drum sticks.

"That's not the case. I am actually very nervous whenever Senpai or Weiss is around."

I looked at Chiaki's face in shock.

"Those two girls… it's not nice to be saying this, but they are practically monsters. I'll feel very uneasy whenever I am drumming behind them. There will be times where I think to myself, can I really sit here?"

I slowly sat myself down on a round chair with uneven legs and stared blankly at Chiaki's face. It looked like her gaze was on a place far away. So she does experience such feelings… as well, huh?

"I know, Senpai invited me into the band without any having expectations of me as a drummer, but there is nothing I can do about that. I just hope she can say this to me, that 'we cannot do without you'."

There was nothing else I could say. Chiaki was around Senpai much earlier than I have, and she was deeply attracted by Senpai's tone. However, she too knows she lacks the abilities to respond to Senpai's timbre. And she is following closely by Senpai's side precisely because she knows that. That's just like the way I am now. However, she did not turn her eyes away; neither did she run away from anything. She did not remain stagnant due to her sense of helplessness. She was not defeated by it. And that's how impressive Chiaki is.

"… Chiaki is already our indispensable drummer." I tried to say it to her truthfully.

A brief look of loneliness flashed in Chiaki's eyes. She then smiled shyly and said, "Thanks. I hope that there will be a day when Senpai says that to me as well."

"Senpai must have felt so all along, yeah? You're already very impressive, Chiaki. To think that you can make it till now just because of your love for Senpai —"

Chiaki suddenly stretched out her hands and pressed the tip of her drum stick against my collarbone.

"W-What?"

"Naruto, you've just said something really rude."

"Eh, why?"

"I do not only like Senpai. I am not so simple as to bind myself tightly to the band just for that reason alone."

"S-Sorry."

Yeah… her relationship with Weiss has improved as well. She did like hard rock all this while, and she never backs down whenever we have some disagreements on the arrangements of the songs.

"… But my biggest misfortune is probably the fact that the person who I love is in the band together with me right from the beginning."

Chiaki suddenly leaned weakly against the wall and murmured, "I am very satisfied with the way things are right now. Even if there are no improvements in our relationship… but isn't it great for us to be together like this for now? And I have no idea what I should do. Moreover, our relationship may become irreparable if I am to force our relationship to the next step, and we will never be able to revert to the way things were. If that is the case, then I might as well keep things the way they are…"

I have no idea why, but I can more or less understand her feelings. If we are talking about Senpai, it is impossible for things to end well regardless of what they do, since they are both girls.

No, Senpai will probably think that things will work out by themselves or something. I really can't tell if she is serious about the things she says. But at the very least, they can be together at the same place for now.

But that will not do. Things will go nowhere if she is content with the status quo. There will be a day when Senpai finally dumps her, and by then Chiaki will never be able to catch up with Senpai again.

It's the same for me as well. I am by Weiss's side, and at a much closer distance than Asto is. But that status quo is only something that happened by chance. Just then, Chiaki began drumming me on my shoulders, forehead and chest with her sticks.

Owowow! I lifted my arms in an attempt to shield myself, but that ended up with them being rapped by her mercilessly as well.

"H-Hold on, Chiaki, it really hurts! Why are you hitting me? What's wrong?"

"Nothing! Hey, rest time's over, so let's get going! We'll never catch up to them if all we do is rest."

Chiaki roared at me all of the sudden. She then tossed the bottled water towards me and returned to her seat between the drums. What the hell's with that?

"Didn't Senpai say this already? We'll be performing multiple suites during the school's festival! There will be no time for both of us to rest, so we have to practice more on the variations that we can use during the buffer."

"Right."

When she returned back from the student council's office, Senpai told us that she had managed to obtain permission to use the sports hall. However, that means they will have to reschedule the timetable all over again, so we do not know how much time we will be allocated. Because of that, Senpai suggested that in order for us to fully utilize the limited amount of time given to us, we should work on pieces that take up a longer duration. While the vocals and guitar solos would be separated by different phases, there would be no time for the rhythm section to pause and rest. There is a high possibility that we will be depended on to maintain the heated atmosphere of the performance.

"There is no charm in Naruto's bass at all!"

"You right…"

I do kind of realize it as well. However, that is one of the most truthful and harshest criticism that I've received from others. I see, so it lacks any charm…

"You know, you are over-coordinating yourself to me. It may be safer for you to play along to the bass drums, but you will never get to be in the spotlight like that. You are to add in a phrase whenever I pause. Understand?"

"… Got it."

"Let's start from the intro!"

After twirling around Chiaki's right palm once, the stick landed straight on the floor tom. I squeezed in a series of low notes from behind the beats which sounded like they were digging against the ground. The cramped stage was once again engulfed by the passionate heartbeats. So when people say that one will 'forget the time', they do really mean that.

With that, we continued playing despite being drenched with sweat. We did not even have time to catch our breaths. When I regained my senses, I could hear someone singing. I was wondering to myself where have I heard that voice before, and then I realized the singer was none other than me. The bass and drum forms the 'shape' of a band, of which we can use to expand on our imagination of all the notes.

I could not bring myself not to sing. We did not even notice the lighting up of the red light which signaled the end of our time. It was only when the store manager came in gingerly to stop us by switching off the power supply that we realized we were exhausted — we slumped onto the floor in exhaustion. I could still faintly feel the vibration of the strings on my fingers. That feels just great.

From the next day onward, Chiaki and I decided to head to Hatake's Musical Instrument Store everyday after school. Since Senpai cycles to and from school, and Weiss lives in the opposite direction as us, we are the only ones to take the train home.

(◕ω◕✿)

"Let's practice in secret and surprise them!" Chiaki said that to me excitedly.

However…

"You and young man have been frequenting the studio lately."

"Eh? W-What do you mean?"

Chiaki feigned ignorance when she was questioned by Senpai. Then again, Senpai's an employee there, so it's natural for her to know that.

"Then again, to think that both of you were hiding it from Comrade Schnee and me. That's very cold of you two."

"Because we were planning to surprise the hell out of you two during the actual performance after we have undergone a series of intensive training in secret!"

"Whatever. I shall make use of the time to deepen the friendship between Comrade Schnee and I."

"E-Eh?" Weiss, who was strumming her guitar in the corner of the room while sneaking peeks at us, suddenly jumped up in shock. Her hair rose upwards for an instant.

"You guys probably don't know this, but Comrade Schnee recently came to me crying. As she hugged me, she complained about how young man has been ignoring her. I have no choice but to console her."

Eh? Me?

"Stupid Kyouko! I did not do that!" Weiss stood up with her face flushed red. "Quit staring at me! Don't believe a single word of Kyouko."

Senpai ended the topic frivolously by hugging Weiss tightly and tapping her gently on her shoulders. She then turned to face me and said, "I am glad to see that everyone's fired up."

But something happened that poured cold water over us.

It was after school on a Friday. Since the sports day is coming close, Chiaki and Weiss were required to join in the practice for our fight against the other classes, so they will only be coming for club activities later. Since I had nothing to do on my hands, I decided to take a trip to the music preparation room to find some classical music scores that we can use for the performance.

Everyone had already gathered at the practice room after I returned there with a bundle of sloppily picked music scores. It seemed that Chiaki and Weiss had rushed down to our place straight after from their practice — they were still wearing the blue and yellowish-green cheerleading outfit. However, the atmosphere in the room was incredibly heavy. It was as though the colors of their costume were dulled due to that.

Just what is happening here?

"It seems like we are allocated only twenty minutes for our performance…" Said Chiaki in a distressed mood.

"W-What?"

"I am talking about the amount of time we can use the sports hall for during the school's festival. They said that the schedule is filled up by performances by the Drama Club and Karate Club, so they can only spare us a maximum of twenty minutes."

"Twen…" I was at a loss for words.

It would be okay if we can perform four to five songs within twenty minutes. However, fifty minutes went by in a flash when we were performing live back in summer. There is no way Chiaki and I can showoff the results of our special training should we be allocated such a short amount of time. No one was done with the preparation of their instruments, perhaps because of how depressed everyone was from the bad news.

"There's nothing much we can do within only twenty minutes. It would be over when we are just done with heating up the atmosphere."

"… Kyouko, is there nothing we can do?"

Weiss looked at Kagurazaka Senpai, who was hugging one of her knees as she sat on the long table in the room. There was no response from Senpai, however. Nothing was said; all she did was to press her forehead against her knee.

"Kyouko?"

"Mmm? Ah, nothing. Sorry. I was just… thinking about something."

Senpai must have suffered a huge blow from the the way the committee members dealt with this. However, knowing Senpai, she should be thinking of a way to break the deadlock…

"My eyes are drawn by their cheerleading outfit. What do you think, young man? Let's wear that when we get on stage."

"Please be more serious about this!" I slammed my fist into the wall without even thinking.

Senpai said unhappily, "I am thinking about it seriously. I think they should be here soon."

"Who are you referring to?"

"Our enemies."

When the school bell rang at five (a nominal indication of the end of school), the door of our practice room was suddenly rapped hard by someone. We were practicing on our ensemble, so the room was filled with the sound of rock. We would not have realized there was someone knocking on the door if I was not leaning against it. And so I raised my hand to stop our playing. That is my responsibility as part of the rhythm section. The music will come to a stop very quickly should the sounds of either the bass or drums be missing.

"… Someone's here?" Asked Senpai as she wiped her sweat.

I nodded my head and opened the door.

"Hello, sorry for interrupting."

The first person who stepped into the room was the student council president, Haruno Yukinoshita. Yukinoshita Senpai was Kagurazaka Senpai classmate, she's a beautiful girl with shoulder-length black hair and blue eyes, I've seen her a few times when I visit Kagurazaka Senpai class. Another two to four people came in after her, and the room of Folk Music Club was cramped as a result.

"Well then, Kyouko. As per our agreement, I have brought them here. You can discuss your things over there."

And with that, Yukionoshita Senpai waved her hand irresponsibly. The scary thing was, two of the people behind her consisted of stocky guys in their karate gear. There was also two… girls(?) dressed in kinagashi with a pair of daisho hanging around their waists. I had no idea what was going on around here. Weiss hid herself behind me in fear.

"What, why are we discussing at a place like this?" One of the girls in the vagabond garb asked unhappily.

"Didn't I explain it already?" Yukinoshita Senpai answered in a irritatingly relaxed tone.

"Because the timing for the classes' performances are untouchable! There's the masquerade contest, after which we have to split up the two hours between the Drama Club, Karate Club and Folk Music Club. Negotiate among yourselves should you have any problem with the allocation decided by us."

Oh, those two samurai are from the Drama Club — so they came here in their costumes. I was shocked by their appearances earlier on…

"See ya, Kyouko." Yukinoshita Senpai waved her hand gently and walked out of the practice room after she pushed the samurai and the karate duo aside. Meaning to say, the student council and the committee members have shoved the problematic scheduling away from themselves. How could they be so irresponsible?

"The Folk Music Club should perform at the music hall!" Said one of the tall black-belt irritatingly as he sat on the bass amplifiers.

"That will solve everything. Things are so complicated because of you guys cutting in from behind."

"It's the Karate Club who cut into the queue in the first place…" One of the Drama Club members said that softly, and she was greeted with a fierce stare from the orange-belt. It felt like he shot a glance at me as well.

Kagurazaka Senpai pushed me aside and stood herself before the black-belt. "Will the Karate Club be responsible for any injuries that may happen during our performance?"

"What does that have to do with us? We've already decided to perform more than a hundred variations of moves, followed by a talk given by a master. If the Folk Music Club must join in the fray, then you guys will have to end your performance in ten minutes."

"Hold on, don't decide that by yourselves. We are already done choosing our script!" The vagabond interrupted.

"The Folk Music Club and Drama Club will have to finish everything in forty minutes! And even with that, we are still running very tight on time for our preparation!"

"What? You've got to be kidding me!"

"You should have told us earlier that you want to use the sports hall! We have been preparing for this since last year!"

"Why don't you guys perform at the music hall as well? They can fit in more audiences there."

"The stage is not designed for plays! Stop talking if you know nothing! Also, why don't you guys perform at the combative sports center instead?"

"Where the hell are we going to get our audiences from!?"

"It's not like anyone will be interested anyway."

"What did you just say!? Are you asking for a fight?"

Why the hell are you people quarreling in our practice room!? I have no chance of interrupting them, so I scanned around the room once to see if there is anyone who could save us. Just then, I saw Kagurazaka Senpai beside me lick her round her lips once. Oh god, this person here is actually enjoying the atmosphere.

Just as Senpai was about to join the battle, the cymbals behind us gave a sudden clash. I reacted a second slower than the karate guy and the vagabond who were about to brawl it out. We turned our head backwards in shock.

"Stop stirring up a ruckus in our practice room! Now is not the time for us to be quarreling. We should at least know how much time each club needs!" Chiaki stood up furiously behind the drums.

The members from Drama Club finally sat themselves down after being pointed at by Chiaki's drum stick.

"We definitely need eighty minutes. However, that is just the performance. We'll require ten minutes for the preparation of the large props." Chiaki then directed her sight on to the black-belt. "We need forty minutes for our performance."

There is really no time to spare even after we've excluded the Folk Music Club. And we did not even factor in the time needed for preparation and packing-up.

"How much time does the Folk Music Club want?" The Drama Club member asked exasperatedly as she crossed her arms before her chest.

"There will never be enough, even if we multiple forever by itself. But conservatively speaking, we need at least an hour." Kagurazaka Senpai made yet another provocative line of hers. The two Karate Club members put on a haughty expression and grunted.

"That is definitely unacceptable. Darn, one of you two should just give up already."

"It's the sports hall we are talking about here, so the cultural clubs should scram already!"

"What? I don't understand a single word of what you've said!"

Another round of meaningless squabble. I stole another glance at the profile of Senpai. Her face was filled with energy. My intuition told me ah, it's about time for her to say it.

"How about this then…"

Even though she did not yell, her voice was penetrating. Everyone that was quarreling stopped and looked at her silently.

Senpai then said, "Let's decide via a competition."

Club activities can generally be split into two genres: sports and arts. To take them a step further, there are people who differentiate the personality of others via those two genres as well. However, the most disputed thing about this is the categorization of the Drama Club and the music clubs. Obviously, the two belong to the arts group rather than sports group. However, thanks to their club activities, their members are required to undergo physical training that was comparable to that of sports clubs. It was not something to be underestimated. It was not surprising for the Karate Club to do this, but the Drama Club too had accepted Senpai's proposal as well. In a sense, it was something to be expected.

"Let's settle it all on the sports day. It just so happens that there is a very appropriate event known as the inter-club relay race. Based on the results, the higher-ranked clubs can take away a relative amount of time from the lower-ranked ones. Simple?"

Oi, hold on…

"You guys are from the arts clubs, right? The relay-race will be held separately for the arts and the sports clubs, won't it?" The Karate Club member shrugged questioningly.

"Don't you worry. Comrade Aihara is a sports committee member." Senpai patted Chiaki, who was standing at her side.

"We are very flexible at things like this. The other clubs will complain should the Karate Club participates in the race of the arts clubs. No one will say anything if the Drama Club and us are to participate in the race of the sports clubs."

"You guys may be fine with that, but do not decide on behalf of the Drama Club."

"We are OK with that as well." The vagabond lady said that calmly.

Black-belt, orange-belt and I were all surprised by her statement.

"You people are underestimating the training of the Drama Club! A karate match lasts for only about three minutes or so, am I right? Each of our performance on stage is a battle which lasts for an hour!"

That was quite the provocation from her, and enough for everyone to reach a consensus. After those guys left, Weiss, who had been hiding behind me all these while, tugged Senpai by her sleeves.

"How many people do we need for the relay-race?"

"Exactly four. Because it is a 1600m relay-race!"

"… I-I'm participating as well?"

Weiss has been watching from the sides during our physical education lessons. She was obviously taken by surprise.

"Comrade Schnee is the reason why they had accepted my suggestion that quickly." Senpai patted Weiss's head lovingly as well.

"But I… will be pulling everyone down."

"Didn't I always say this? The battle was already over before it has even started." Senpai placed her hands on Chiaki and Weiss's shoulders before looking in my direction with a slight smile on her face.

"Don't worry. They've already lost the moment they agreed to the competition."

(◕ω◕✿)

After bidding Senpai goodbye on our way home, the three of us made our way towards the train station.

I asked Chiaki, "You jog in the morning, right?"

"Eh? Yeah, about five kilometers. But I used to do ten."

You're a monster! I thought to myself. I then followed up with, "How early do you start?"

"Six-thirty… Wait, why? Is Naruto joining in too? Really?"

"Mmm. I may not be able to complete the full course together with you, but I'll try my best to wake up early."

"Whoa! It will be Naruto's fault if it rains tomorrow!"

"Shut up. Whatever you say."

Just then, Weiss tugged on my sleeve from the other side.

"… Is it because of the relay-race?"

"That's one of the reasons."

More importantly, it will be shameful if Weiss and I are to suffer from breathing difficulties while we are on the stage. But that is just too embarrassing for me to say it out loud.

Weiss stared at the bass's casing that was hanging from my back and mumbled with an almost inaudible voice, "Together… with Chiaki…"

And the day ended like that.

I was surprised I actually managed to wake up early on the Monday of the following week. Six-thirty in the morning. I went to school together with Chiaki for our morning practice. We ran to the staff room to pick up the key of the practice room in order to place our instruments in it before we run. However, the key was not in the key box.

Eh? Chiaki and I then witnessed something unbelievable in the practice room.

"Morning…"

Weiss was stretching herself shyly behind the drums. That was the first time I had seen her in her sports attire. Though it was strange for me to be saying this since I had already seen her in her swimwear, but her legs are really slender to the point where it's worrying.

"W-What's going on here?"

"I am joining the run."

E-Eh?

"Because I can't lose!" Weiss stood up with her face flushed red.

She was looking at Chiaki when she said that. Indeed, this was a fight which we cannot lose. Our performance time would be reduced to naught if we lose. I never expected Weiss to be that motivated though.

"I wonder if you can keep up with us?" Chiaki moved her face close to Weiss's as she said that teasingly.

"… I'll do my best."

As we began our run, Chiaki went into her devil-coach mode yet again — perhaps because her hot-blooded sporty personality was boiling. Those eyes of hers looked really scary when she was encouraging the panting Weiss loudly. Also, that "Min-on! Fight!" cheer of yours is really embarrassing, so can you please stop shouting that already? It's still in the early morning for now, but we're within the school's vicinity and there are people walking around us!

Before long, Weiss was close to the limit from her fatigue. She was left so far behind to the point where she could not even see Chiaki's back. If you are wondering why I knew, it was because I was left far behind as well. Embarrassing, I know.

"You can… g-go on ahead, I'll be… alright after… a rest…" Weiss said that choppily as she squatted down by the roadside. Her back heaved up and down intensely each time she took a breath. I was quite worried when I saw that.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm… fine."

"How about I piggyback you while I run?"

"You idiot, that will be pointless, wouldn't it?"

"Not at all. I mean, Weiss is really light, so I am thinking — will it be better for my training if I am to piggyback you while I run?"

However, I quickly decided against it after projecting the image in my mind. That's just too embarrassing. Weiss finally got herself up by grabbing onto my arm tightly.

"Are you serious? Why are you willing to do even that? Is it because you have seen how hardworking Chiaki is?"

"Not just that."

I allowed Weiss to lean against my back before I resumed my steps. She was so light, it was worrying.

"Chiaki said she will be satisfied as long as she can be in the same band together with the person whom she loves. But that will not do."

It may be easier to maintain the status quo. However, I wish to turn the room into a place filled with passion and pulsation; a place that can support the music played by Weiss. But it will be embarrassing to voice out my thoughts, so all I did is to walk silently as I carried Weiss on my back.

"… Did Chiaki really say those things to you?" Came the voice of Weiss next to my ear.

"Mmm. But she was probably referring to Senpai."

"Idiot."

Weiss's weight disappeared off my back all of the sudden. She left my side.

"Hey, start running! Chiaki will be further and further ahead of us if you do not hurry."

And with that, she began sprinting. That back of hers with her snow colored hair fluttering in the air became smaller and smaller. What was going on here? What was up with her? I followed in her tracks.

Obviously, Weiss was breathless before long, thus allowing me to catch up from behind. This time, she pressed her palms against the asphalt and panted, "Don't worry about me, go! You have to catch up to Chiaki!"

In the end, Weiss was harshly scolded by Chiaki, who actually led us by a lap. Not only so, she was made to run despite her wobbly steps. I guess no one would ever know which club we are from just by looking at the commotion.

After our lessons, Kagurazaka Senpai abandoned all intentions of a band practice and began discussing our battle plan happily.

"I've already decided on the running order. The first runner will be Comrade Aihara — that's because it's the leg where the chances of contact between the runners will be at its highest. Putting the Drama Club aside, the Karate Club may pull something on us. It will be even better if we can retaliate by making them fall without any body contact, such as using moves like the 'phantom throw'."

"Senpai, judo is not magic, so there are no such moves."

"Next will be Comrade Schnee. You should try your best to be as cute as you can be so that those from the Karate Club will not lay their hands on you. That should allow us to maintain the lead. Then young man is up next… Mmm, all you need to do is to run. The last runner will be me. Our lead will probably be gone when race gets to that stage, but since I do not have to worry about my back, that also means it will be easier for me to catch up from behind."

Hey, that's a totally crazy plan! How can she be that optimistic? It was like she did not even consider the possibility of us losing. I was speechless as usual.

"Also, we have already decided on the details of the competition."

Senpai spread out a copy of a pledge letter in front of us, and on it was a incredibly exaggerated content: {The Drama Club (henceforth referred to as "Party A"), Karate Club (henceforth referred to as "Party B") and Folk Music Research Club (henceforth referred to as "Party C") shall abide to the following conditions—} and etc. It was filled with lots of technical terms, complete with the stamps from the student council committee and the school's festival committee at the very end.

"Why the formalities…"

"We can't be sloppy about this. It would be problematic if we are to argue on the legitimacy of the terms and conditions. I have left the original copy with the student council. Just as written in the agreement, the winner can take away ten minutes of the performing time for every difference in the rankings. For example, if we come in fourth and the Drama Club sixth, our time will increase by twenty minutes, while theirs will be reduced by the same amount. We have also agreed that the other conditions will remain as per what is determined initially, and nothing is to be changed."

"H-Hold on. As per what is determined initially? How much time are we allocated?"

"Hmm? It's written very clearly in here as well, yeah? According to the timetable planned by the school's festival committee, the Drama Club will begin their performance from 3pm for an hour; next, we will take over at 4pm and perform until 4.20pm. Lastly, the Karate Club will start from 4.20pm all the way till 5pm."

"We'll be out of the running if we're ranked lower than the two clubs…"

"There's no need for you to dwell on what may happen if we lose. We have nothing to lose right from the start."

With that said, Senpai gave me a hard slap on my back.

"To be honest, we're in the most disadvantageous position for the current allocation. The Drama Club starts first, so they can begin with their preparations during the masquerade contest. Since a play cannot be interrupted halfway, they should be very confident of eating up our twenty minutes. The Karate Club is the last, meaning to say there will be no complaints regardless of how long they extend their performance. However, as we are a band, it will be easier for them to negotiate on the length of our performance. They will definitely ask us to perform our songs within the restricted amount of time."

"That's just mean," Chiaki smashed the cymbals as she said that.

"So you see? It's impossible for us to lose. We can only win. Isn't that so?"

But Kagurazaka Senpai did not explain any further. From the following day onward, Senpai would always be late for the band. She was also frequently seen around the teachers and school's festival committee members at places like the staff room, student council room and audiovisual room. Perhaps she's hatching something in secret. We've decided to ignore that.

Chiaki, Weiss and I will gather at the practice room everyday at 6.30am before going on our morning run, after which will be the morning practice.

Why did Weiss wish to join in the run as well? Probably because she wants to catch up to a certain someone? As for me, my answer is crystal clear. I want to catch up to Weiss. Because I wish to stand on a stage that is unaffected by time and allow Weiss to listen to my music. I want her to know that a dependable rhythm section that is worthy of her trust will be by her side always, pulsating endlessly.

And that is my reason for running.

(◕ω◕✿)

As I welcomed the cold autumn breeze that brushed against my face as I ran, a tune flowed in my mind. The stretch of road was filled with heroes who had their dreams broken. They gambled their everything into the final reckless dash — though everyone was planning to escape tonight, there was not a single place to hide.

May we try our best to live on with those sorrows in our hearts…

Multiple gunshots rang through out the school's sports grounds that was bathed under the glaring sun. The sun which was high in the air was beginning its descent into the western horizon. Beneath it were five sports committee members redrawing the white lines of the tracks. I could almost smell the odors of their sweat that had seeped its way into the soil.

Thirteenth September, sports day.

The afternoon marks the end of an intense cheerleading competition. What's coming up next is a war of attrition. You heard it right. A war of attrition.

"Is there anyone who can take over the people for the four-hundred meters race? Four people were injured during the cavalry battle."

"We still have the long distance race after this, so not us!"

"Stop with those excuses and get going! You can run as long as you've got two legs on you!"

Shinka Nibutani, the lady boss of Class 2B, handed down those orders coldly. No one dared to oppose her.

"Boss, we're lacking in manpower for defense for the boutaoshi event!"

"Head to the infirmary and bring back those people who are suffering from only minor injuries!"

That's quite inconsiderate and forceful of her. I remember Senpai saying that this was the same for the school's sports day for each and every year. The cavalry battle and boutaoshi will be held twice, once in the morning and once in the afternoon (female and male contests), so it was a death march where we will definitely end up with casualties.

What the hell were the sports committee thinking? The fuzzy speakers were broadcasting an announcement, requesting the participants of the inter-club relay race to assemble. I gingerly sneaked out of the allocated area of Class 2B.

Kagurazaka Senpai, Chiaki and Weiss were already waiting at the southern corner of the participants area; both Chiaki and Weiss had changed out of their cheerleading outfits. The three of them were not wearing their sports attire, but the feketerigó T-shirt made by Chiaki earlier on. That's right. Senpai was already carrying out her plans in secret, just like how it has always been.

And then came a roar from the speakers, "I am Karin Uzumaki from the student council —" "and I am Sasuke Uchiha from the soccer team. We are your live commentators who will be analyzing the events for today."

Why do we have live commentary and analysis for a high school's sports day? Who is your target audience? The sports committee members were already getting carried away with the commentary by the afternoon.

"Sasuke-kun, what's coming up next is the inter-club relay race. First up is the race between the sports clubs. However, it seems like two of the participating clubs are not really sports related."

"That's right, Karin-san. Well, since the Drama Club will be performing a drama which involves sword-fighting scenes, they can be considered to be a relative of the Kendo Club. As for the Folk Music Club, I am not really sure, but I think the musicians will slam their guitars at people during the rock performances, so you can think it as a sort of martial arts. Ahahaha."

Please do not say whatever comes to your mind, Sasuke.

"And new rules will be incorporated into the inter-club relay races from this year onward: the clubs will have to wear their respective attires during the race."

That's the secret weapon of Kagurazaka Senpai. I looked at the participants who were gradually gathering at the participants area; in particular, I was looking for the members from the Drama Club and Karate Club.

Obviously, the Karate Club members were wearing their karate-gi. Barefooted.

It was even worse for the Drama Club. Since they've no set attire, they have to follow the rules set by the sports committee — which is to wear the attires that they will be wearing for the performance. That means the kinagashi as well as the daisho hanging by their waists.

Honestly speaking, both parties are wearing attires that were not exactly suitable for running. Whoa, one of the Karate Club members was staring fiercely in our direction. They must be pretty pissed. Standing in line next to us, the samurai lady from the Drama Club shot a glance at Kagurazaka Senpai while muttering clearly, "How very despicable of you. You sure know how to create trouble for us." Senpai feigned an air of innocence.

The sports committee members were around when Senpai suggested that idea, and within them are those from the Karate Club as well. They objected against it vehemently. However, sports day can be considered as a festival of sorts, and since it has no effect on the standings of scores of the inter-class competition, priority is given to the idea which can heat up the atmosphere. Just to add on, the other clubs that were participating in this event were sport clubs like Soccer, Baseball and Track and Field — needless to say, they will be unaffected by the proposed idea, so they agreed to it readily.

Senpai knew that would happen.

"But the second runner of Folk Music is her. You know, our sheltered princess who had never once attended any of the physical education lessons."

Sasuke Please stop talking about things that would bring down our morale even before the race has begun! Then again, it was true that Weiss is the obstacle that will totally eliminate all the advantages that Senpai had forcefully obtained for us. The Karate Club and Drama Club will probably send their fastest runners, but we only have four people in our club.

Weiss had her snow colored hair tied up into a ponytail and was standing before me with her back facing me. She then turned her head around. Her blue eyes were filled with sincere determination.

"I will definitely pass the baton to you." Said Weiss as she stared at me.

"I will definitely pass it to you."

I nodded my head. I was slightly overwhelmed by her determination. That's right. Now's not the time to be complaining. The only thing left to do is to run.

"And. Here. Comes. The. PARTICIPAAAAAANTS!"

Karin and Sasuke screamed as they commented on what was happening. For some reason, we ran onto the track in eight rows of fours despite the lack of background music. My nasal cavity was burnt by the smell of dust and lime. Cheerleading banners fluttered before our eyes, while the wind carried the sound of the cheers.

The 1600m relay-race was split into four laps, and it was held on the unbelievably huge 400m running track in our school. It was a harsh race which will last around five minutes. All the runners had gathered in front of the VIP seats. As the first runner positioned themselves while the starter carried the pistol onto the pitch, I turned around and asked Senpai, "… Why didn't you tell us about your ploy earlier?"

'Competitors will have to wear their respective attires' - the announcement from the sports committee would be passed down only to the president of the club, who was Senpai. We only came to know about it yesterday.

Senpai answered me with a faint smile, "I was looking at the three of you running and sweating every morning from the rooftops. The scene was so incredibly dazzling that I could not bring myself to inform you people about my petty tricks."

So you do come to school every morning? Then how about you attend your lessons?

"Moreover, it is not like it is an incredibly huge ploy or something. When starting gun fires, we can obtain victory only by relying on our heart and our legs."

"You mean we've nothing else once the race starts?" I asked weakly. I mean, I am worried. I could sense Weiss's gaze from behind me, glancing past my shoulders.

"Yeah, we no longer have any direct strategies. All that's left are things like this."

With that said, Senpai showed me the item in her hand secretly. It's a MD with the label [Offenbach Heaven and Hell. It's a very well known piece by itself, though there are some who will recognize it as the jingle used in the commercial of the pastry chain Bunmeido. In any case, it's a well-known operetta that is incorporated into the standard tracks to be used in the sports day… wait, what is it doing here? Won't they be using it during the events?

"Yeah, so I secretly swapped this with the rock music which we like."

Just as I lifted my head to look at Senpai in surprise, the starting gun fired at the exact same time with the fill of the drums. I turned my head around in shock. What I saw was the starting line being torn apart by winds of various colors as they dashed away. I stared at Chiaki's tiny body as the group of shoving runners approached the very first corner.

What was played through the speakers was the pure and flawless strumming of a guitar which could bring one to tears, followed by the glamorous sound of the piano that came into the fray together with a series of low drumming, which sounded like the gradually increasing rumblings of the ground. A certain microphone picked up the conversation between the sports committee who were at the seats reserved for them.

"… Eh?"

"Were we supposed to play this song?"

Next came the hoarse singing which sounded like it was intended to crush that conversation into pieces.

It was Bruce Springsteen.

— Born to Run

My body gave a subconscious tremble. How? This song has been playing on and on in my mind for the past two weeks whenever I was doing the morning run.

"It has to be this song. Am I right?" Mumbled Senpai from behind me. I turned around on reflex and stared at her face. Can she see through everything? Or, would that be the song which appears in our mind whenever we want to want to express our feelings as we run? I guess the latter should be closer to the truth.

I looked into the cloudless sky. The deep belief in the powers of rock-and-roll was sprinting within me, causing my blood to burn.

I searched for Chiaki as I scanned the track, and I found her when the leading runner reached the first corner. The third runner with a small white frame, with her pink headband fluttering in the winds. My fists were clenched subconsciously. A group of runners was following Chiaki closely behind, and among them was a runner in karate-gi.

Where was the Drama Club? I could not see any of those attention-grabbing attires. How could this be? Where on earth — the first and second runner were neck to neck with each other, and I was shocked by what I saw. The second runner was the girl from Drama Club who spoke to us with a threatening tone. I did not locate her earlier because I was searching the back. So that was not just all talk, she was really something.

Karin was shouting excitedly, "Drama Club! Drama Club's second and following closely behind!"

An earth-ripping roar erupted from around us. The leading runner from the Football team took a fall — seemed like his leg was hooked by the sword hanging from the Drama Club runner's waist or something. A chill ran down my spine as I looked at the fall which stirred up a cloud of dust. There was the possibility that the runners at the back may get themselves entangled in this mess.

Someone slipped through the chaotic crowd without hesitation and burst her way to the front.

"Chiaki!" Weiss shouted.

That was indeed Chiaki, who was sprinting forward in a straight line while ignoring the footsteps of the guys who were closing in on her. It was as though Bruce Springsteen's powerful voice had given her a push from behind — I could almost see those splattering sweat drops of hers.

The blue attires of the Track and Field team finally overlapped with Chiaki's small silhouette in the third corner. Weiss stood up and turned her head around to look at me with a gaze, from which I sensed how she was overwhelmed with pressure. We had never expected Chiaki to approach the ending point neck to neck with the hot favorites.

"I'll be waiting for you!" I squeezed out that line with all my might.

"Do not care about those behind you! Also, there is no need for you to worry about those in front of you! It's okay even if you are overtaken by others! All you need to do is to run towards me!"

"I-I get it!" The blushing Weiss shook her ponytail and began sprinting on the track.

A cheer rang yet again. I lifted my body to look at the forth corner. The leading two runners came into contact with each other by their elbows. The lighter Chiaki was almost pushed out of the inner lane. The upper body of the Track and Field member took a huge wobble as well.

Chiaki was the one with the faster recovery rate. However, the strength of the Track and Field team was indeed something, especially when it came to sprinting in a straight path. They had gained a lead of a few meters by the time Chiaki had passed the baton to the second runner. An amber-colored wind streaked past my sight — Weiss's hair was fluttering in the air due to her speed.

"… Sorry for not getting the lead."

The panting and sweating Chiaki wobbled towards us and collapsed in Senpai's bosom.

"No, you've done incredibly well. That was way beyond my expectations." Senpai hugged Chiaki tightly.

I wanted to say some words of consolation to Chiaki, who bit her lips bitterly. However, I could not say anything at all. I turned my head and saw her silver-white hair fluttering gently with the wind along the edge of the track as it reflected the rays of the sun. I slammed my fist against my knees when I saw Weiss being overtaken by the runners one by one. There was no need to be flustered!

The Track and Field team built a sizable lead — about half a lap difference compared to the last runner. Just then, the dull white silhouette of the karate-gi closed in on Weiss. I was shocked — that guy reached his hand towards Weiss's hair.

I stood up on reflex. Goddamn it, what was he trying to do!? Weiss strayed off towards the outer lanes of the track, and that made the Karate Club member missed his grasp. My mind was filled with my prayers. Please come back to us safe and sound, no matter what happens! The runners were approaching the third corner as Weiss was overtaken by the third person.

"Where do you think you're supposed to be, young man? Get onto the track now!"

I was shocked motionless by Senpai's sudden voice. Oh right, what am I doing? I was the next runner.

"You are a guy, so the Karate Club will probably not go easy on you. Be careful." She hammered my back, "You don't have to think of anything. We'll win as long as you pass the baton to me."

And with that, she pushed me onto the track. Quite a few of those different colored batons flashed by me as the runners were passing the baton to their next runner. The Baseball Team, the Drama Club, followed by the Kendo Club. Next was the Karate Club.

Just then, I noticed the third runner of Drama Club exchange looks with his counterpart from the Karate Club, who was right next to him. They nodded their heads together.

What was with that? They should be bitter enemies, no? However, the two of them disappeared from my sight after having received their batons. I caught sight of Weiss in the fourth corner. Her headband was missing, and her hair was all messed up because of rushing wind. However, she was still running towards me.

I moved a few steps back in the relay zone so as to get myself acquainted to the rhythm of her steps. I then began accelerating. Weiss was getting closer and closer, and our distance had gradually shrunk by an arm's distance with each of her passing steps. I was already in the air the moment I felt the icy touch on my fingers along with hearing the sounds of the saxophone solo of Born to Run.

White lines were flowing past my feet at an unbelievable pace. I reached the corner in an instant, and it felt like the centrifugal force pulled me away from the track. The oncoming wind flew into my nose and seared the deepest parts of my brain.

I saw the back of the karate-gi. It was that orange-belt guy. The distance between us had shortened to within an arm's length. He saw me when he turned his head around, and on his face was a twisted expression. Must be painful to run barefooted — his running style looked very unnatural. I will have to at least get close to the Drama Club after overtaking him. That was the position I was aiming for before I passed the baton to Senpai.

I could no longer hear the sound of my footsteps by the time I reached the second corner. All I heard was the intense thumping of my heart, the wind that howled past me as well as the sound of the guitar played by Springsteen.

The back of the dirty karate-gi was getting closer and closer. His running was off and his upper body was trembling. I was certain he would leave the inner lane if his center of gravity was shifted outwards during the bend. And so I will have to conserve my energy until that happens.

The wind blew a small grain of rock onto my face. As I refocused my attention, I saw a narrow gap appearing in the inner lane. The Karate Club member was veering towards the outer lanes.

It was only when I slipped into the gap that I realized it was all a trap. By then, it was already too late.

That orange-belt bastard lifted his elbow. He stretched out his leg to knock it against my calf. My vision wobbled and my body took half a turn. The sounds of my heartbeats, the wind and the guitar were all engulfed by a scrapping noise. My right cheek was assaulted by an unbelievable burning sensation, followed by the feelings of pain and dampness. My right hand grabbed hard onto the baton subconsciously in order not to let go of it.

The orange-belt and I was tangled up into a mess as we rolled away from the tracks and towards the audiences seats. Next came a series of shrieks. My consciousness was slowly getting hazy. I swallowed the pungent metallic taste into my stomach. Just as I was about to lift my head up, I could feel the back of my head coming into contact with something.

That orange-belt bastard was actually laying on my back. Get off! Get off of me!

"Hey, are you alright? You're bleeding!"

"Medic!"

I could hear a few voices with my ears, but I ignored all of them. Don't touch me, the relay race is still ongoing. However, the orange-belt bastard grabbed onto my wrist tightly just as I was about to push myself off the ground.

"… Y-You!"

Are you really that desperate to stop me with those despicable means of yours? Are you dumb!? All I could do is to look at the Drama Club runner getting further and further away from me. But I was unable to make any sound with someone lying on my body, so the only thing I could do was to crawl on the ground while dragging him along with me. I have to get myself back onto the track even if I can only inch closer a centimeter at a time. My legs were losing strength, and I could not push away the weight on my back. I could not stand up.

"Get off!" I roared furiously.

"It will end up with the both of us losing, so get off!"

That orange-belt bastard replied by increasing the strength of his grip around my wrist. That fucking bastard!

Suddenly…

"NARUTO WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! STAND UP! DON'T LOSE!"

"K-Karin…" I heard the voice of Karin from the speakers.

My mind cleared all of the sudden. I realized something. That's the motive of the Karate Club all along — to perish together with Folk Music Club. As we only have twenty minutes of performance time, we'll lose all of it as long as we are last and the Drama Club gets anything higher than sixth. With that, they can kick us out of the sports complex. All that was left after that was to work on the details and pass the remaining unused time to the Karate Club. So they had formed an alliance in secret and planned all of this.

Goddamnit, to think… to think that we've actually lost to these people.

However, I could not shake away the orange-belt bastard who clung onto my back like a zombie. All I could do was to grit my teeth and slither forward like a slug. Faraway from us, the Drama Club team was passing the baton to their last runner.

"NARUTO! IT'S NOT TOO LATE, SO STAND UP! DON'T LOSE!" Karin's voice pierced its way deep into my consciousness.

I lifted my heavy head to accept the voice which grabbed me and touched my heart. That's right, I am still carrying Chiaki, Weiss and Senpai on my shoulders. I have to continue running. This despicable person is nothing compared to the weight of the responsibility on me. Thanks Karin.

"GO! GO! NARUTO!" Karin's cheers just so happen to overlap with Bruce Springsteen's scream.

I mustered all my strength to lift up my shoulders and pushed myself off the ground. There was a jolt of pain as the wind blew against my face. For a brief moment, I could feel the singing voice descending onto my eyelids.

::::::

— Someday girl I don't know when we're gonna get to that place

Where we really wanna go, and we'll walk in the sun…

But till then, tramps like us - Baby we're born to run.

We're born to run.

::::::

I kicked my feet against the sand, shifted my body weight forward and began to sprint wildly. All those time, I never let go of the baton in my hand. Though I could feel something tumbling off my back, it did not matter to me anymore.

At the end of the corner was a few white lines extending away from my feet, and I could see the silhouette with black hair standing near the converging point of these lines. Blood and sweat were flowing into my eyes, but I still did my best to keep them opened.

I lifted the baton and stretched out my arm to pass it to her. I could sense a resounding feeling passing through my hands. In the next instant, a crazy strength pulled the baton away from my grip. My knees collapsed onto the ground amid a cloud of dust. I could faintly see the two braids fluttering in the air like the tail-feathers of a wild beast as it flapped its wings and flew away from me.

(◕ω◕✿)

I was sent to the infirmary right after that, so I did not know the details. From the commentary and the photos, it's obvious that the whole incident had stirred up quite a ruckus.

Shinka Nibutani, the female boss of Class 2B, was someone who lacked any sense of compassion. I was forced to leave the infirmary bed to participate in the final boutaoshi event held in the afternoon. Moreover, I was given the most difficult task of supporting the beam. It was a miracle that I managed to stand on my feet during the ending ceremony.

The school gave us the next day off so that we could rest. And since my body was aching all over, I spent the whole day in bed. It was only until Tuesday that my body had recovered enough for me to barely play my bass.

When I stepped into school, the scene of the guys in our class all covered up in band-aids, medicinal plaster and bandages was incredibly eye-catching. They were probably all drilled hard by the Tyrant Shinka Nibutani.

I don't know if it was worth the sacrifices, but I heard our class, obtained first. Second went to the Class 3A, where Kagurazaka Senpai belongs to. The upper brass of our class were all pleased by the result, since it could be considered as revenge for the chorus contest. As for me, I spent the rest of the day in a weakened state.

As for Weiss, she was very concerned about the graze on my cheek.

"Are you feeling better? Karin said you had a fever."

"Ah, yeah. Ouch! It hurts. Don't touch my injury for now."

Karin came down to my house yesterday to take care of me.

"Naruto worked really hard!" Chiaki hammered my shoulder happily. Stop. That really hurts.

"… Umm, I do not really know the details of the result, so what exactly happened to the competition? How much performance time do we have?"

Despite the speed of Senpai, we did not manage to cut down on the distance between us and the Drama Club, resulting in them reaching the finishing line first. However, Chiaki and Weiss remained silent after exchanging a look between themselves. So what exactly had happened?

"Ask Kyouko." Weiss replied coldly. "I guess Kyouko must be dying to explain it all herself."

"Yeah. Senpai will be disappointed if we tell you everything."

I could only wait for the school to end as I wondered what on earth had happened.

With the sports day done, our school begun to focus on the school's festival. Everywhere, including the corridors and the courtyard, was filled with the sounds of nailing and sawing of planks. The smell of paint lingered in the air.

The three of us met Kagurazaka Senpai at the door when we made our way to the practice room together. Before I could even say anything, Senpai was already grabbing me tightly by my right hand and caressing the injury on my face as she looked at me with her slightly teary eyes… Eh? Umm, what's going on here?

"I still cannot forget the moment when I received the baton from you. What a numbing sensation that was. You've actually suffered so many injuries for my sake."

"No, I did not do it especially for Senpai… ow, Weiss, that hurts! Stop pinching me! And you stop too, Chiaki!"

Weiss was pinching me on my injured cheek, with Chiaki was joining in by prodding on it as well. I protected my face by squatting down in the middle of the girls and shielding it with my arms.

"What are you girls doing? Please, stop doing such things to me. I am injured, you know?"

Weiss wore an unhappy expression on her face, while Chiaki stuck out her tongue towards me with a "Bleh". As for Senpai, she opened the door with a laugh and pushed us all into the room.

"Did I mention this? We are ranked sixth for the relay race." Said Senpai nonchalantly as she took out her Les Paul guitar from its casing. I guess Karate Club should be last, but shouldn't that make us seventh? Did I overtake someone? After that fall?

"Well… who's seventh? It was impossible for that to be the Drama Club, isn't it?"

"Seventh's Kendo Club. I have to praise them for their tenacity. Drama Club was fifth."

Ah, I see. Going by Senpai's ploy, Kendo Club will definitely be overtaken by us, since they have to run in their protective gear. I only knew later that their last runner dropped the baton by accident. Can't blame them, since they were all wearing kote as well.

Meaning to say, we can shave away twenty minutes from Karate Club, but will have ten minutes taken away from us by the Drama Club. So that leaves us with an addition of ten minutes.

"This victory is obtained with the help of everyone, and not just me alone."

Kagurazaka Senpai opened her arms wide and pulled Weiss and Chiaki's head to her side before planting a kiss on their cheeks. It's only at times like this when Weiss will put on a bashful expression without offering any resistance. No, wait a second. Why was she so happy? Her smile was suggesting that we've actually obtained a huge and comprehensive victory.

"Well… even so, we can only perform for thirty minutes, no?"

"No no no."

After connecting her guitar to the amplifiers, Senpai turned around and did a 'V' sign at me.

"It's two hours."

"What?!"

What did she just say?

"You see, since Karate Club is last, their performance time will be reduced to zero. Meaning to say, their time will be shared between the Drama Club and us. Oh right, you all should take another look at the pledge letter. Here."

Senpai showed us the photocopied document and pointed at a certain line.

'We agree that the other conditions will remain as per what was determined initially, and nothing is to be changed'

"… So what does that line have to do with this?"

"You still don't get it? The other conditions cannot be changed. Meaning to say, the Drama Club can use the time which they take away from the Karate Club only after our performance was over."

"Ah…"

My jaws dropped in surprise. What sort of sophistry is that? W-Will the Drama Club really agree to that?

"That's why I made this pledge letter and got Haruno to witness the whole thing. The Drama Club did complain a lot though. The additional time was useless if they could not use it continuously. And since we are smack in between them, there was not too much difference for us even if we are to proceed with the initial schedule. I made not a single concession to them."

"Umm… so how did things go? It can't be that the Drama Club accepted this just as it is, right?"

"No way. Actually, I had already booked the audiovisual room at three in the afternoon for the Drama Club. Not many people know they have a complete set of lighting equipment over there. Actually, I did think of that as a backup plan in case we failed, but I did not tell you people about it so as not to dent your enthusiasm. That place is not as spacious as the sports complex though."

I recalled about how I saw Senpai at many different places. So she was actually taking care of stuff like this?

No, hold on…

"But… I-I mean, their ranking was higher than ours, no? Wouldn't they say things like 'Why don't the Folk Music Club use the audiovisual room instead'?"

What sorcery did she use for them to make such a concession?

"Mmm, they did say that to me. However, they shut up immediately when I mumbled about how they teamed up with the Karate Club to interfere with your race. Rather than my sophistry, that incident was what actually allowed us to deal the decisive blow."

So she knew all along…? That's quite sharp-eyed of her.

"That was why those injuries are your badge of honor. I am very proud of it."

Senpai gently caressed my cheek once more, and the sensation caused me to shiver. What a scary person she was. Everyone's modus operandi was well within her grasp. Thank god I was standing on the same side as she was.

I finally understood Senpai's plan. We only have to beat at least one of the clubs and get them kicked out of the sports complex. Should the amount of time taken be decided by the difference between our rankings against the winner, it is highly possible for the club which came in last to have all of their time taken away from them. With that, Senpai will be able to use the trap she set in the pledge letter to negotiate with the other party. She will probably request for even more time in exchange for changing the schedule of our performances. Then again, Senpai probably did not expect the result to be like this despite how cunning she was. Folk Music Club has obtained a total victory without losing anything.

… Meaning to say… eh? A resounding victory? That means our performance time will be…

"With that, we are the only ones left standing on the piece of scorched earth. And that means —" Senpai did another 'V' sign. " — We have two whole hours."

"Two…" It took me a long time to process whatever Senpai had said. "…Two hours? Nonstop?"

"Of course. Just like what we had planned initially. I mean, we are still young."

"No, no way, that's impossible. It's not like we are a band on drugs! Two hours!?"

"I am looking forward to it!"

"How about we perform an opera?"

"I hate operas. I'll prefer a suite."

The three of you, listen to me!

"Right, in order to be able to take on two consecutive hours… Naruto, come here. Let's start with push-ups."

"That's right. And this time round, you'll have to train until you can do them while the three of us are sitting on your back."

"Stop joking with me! Also, are we really going to use up the two whole hours?"

Then came a series of tumbling sounds. Weiss placed bundles of scores that she was hugging in her chest onto the bass amplifiers between us. Seems like she borrowed all these scores from the music preparatory room.

"There are a whole bunch of scores that I want to play. Two hours are not enough."

The three girls began selecting the scores based on their preferences. For a while, I could only stare at the scene in a dumbfounded state. I took a glance at the calender on the wall. The school's festival will be here in a month's time.

.

.

.

---

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.

.

Extra: Dark Angel's Mistake

My name is Ayase Aragaki. I'm Naruko's best friend, classmate and her co-worker in modeling. Right now I'm talking on the phone in my room.

"Huh? Why can't you call that manager to the next event?"

I was talking to my classmate, Kuuko Yasaka. She was working at the same agency as me and she's asking something of me.

"Didn't I tell you that he got fired because they found out that he sexually harassed you?"

"I knew that already, but I don't mind~. To tell you the truth, he's better than my current manager. Can you think of something?"

It looks like Kuuko was quite pleased with the "fake manager" Naruto Namikaze, who is also Naruko's brother. That hentai! What has he done to Kuuko?

"What do you mean?"

"Like making him return to work?"

"I told you that is impossible!"

"Ha~ then just ask him to be my friend."

"Why…? Kuuko, why do you want to meet him so much?"

"That…! I don't…! It's not like I wants to meet him that badly… but…"

"But?"

"He is… Kuuko's fan. He's my first fan, so I should cherish him, right?"

"Your fan?"

"Yes. He said that Kuuko had the potential to be a model. I was very happy."

She laughed in embarrassment. You are so weak to praise, Kuuko.

"So I want to repay him. Just call him for me, please. I don't have any way to contact him, not even his name~."

I sighed.

"I understand… I will try."

"Really!? Thank you Ayase! I love you the most!"

"… Me too."

I hung up and let out another tired sigh… Kuuko was very happy, but I don't like about this. What this strange feeling?

I couldn't even ask him for help right now. For some reason I have been arguing with Naruto. Actually… I'm the one who broke off contact in the first place. I couldn't just ask him to come to Kuuko's event out of the blue.

Besides, I'm still angry at him! I don't want to talk to him! What should I do…?

I lied down on my bed. I couldn't think of any good ideas. Suddenly, beep, beep, beep, my phone started ringing. It is Karin Nee-san's number.

"How are you?"

"Ayase-chan? Good evening~~"

"Good evening."

For some reason, whenever I hear her voice I sit upright with my back straight. Her voice is very gentle, but I couldn't help but hold a great amount of respect for her.

"Is something wrong? Karin Nee-san rarely calls me."

"Um? Ayase-chan."

"Yes?"

"Didn't you say you had a quarrel with Naruto?"

" About that…" My voice dropped below freezing level. I closed my eyes for a few seconds, reopened them, and then I said in a serious tone, "Karin Nee-san… How should we dispose of him? That thieving cat."

"H-He is not a thieving cat!"

"Huh? Didn't you call me to form a plan to dispose of him?"

"Of course not! Ay… Ayase-chan, what kind of person do you think I am?"

"My goal as a woman?"

"… Since when did you make me your goal?" Karin Nee-san sighed.

"I think that I am being seriously misunderstood."

"Really?"

"Anyway, don't make such dangerous jokes, okay?"

She gently scolded me. Every time I heard her calm and gentle voice, my evil thoughts vanished.

"I'm sorry… so…"

"Ah, you want to know why I'm calling you, right?"

"Yes."

"Hm, calm down and listen, okay?"

"It looks like Naruto has broken up with his girlfriend."

"Huh? Is that true?"

After I ended my phone call with Karin Nee-san, I called Naruto… usually, he would pick up without hesitation, but not today.

He should be home right now, shouldn't he?

"… Really… could it be… he was taking a bath?"

I shook my head and purged my mind of weird thoughts. Finally, he picked up.

"Good evening."

"Good evening, Naruto-kun. Sorry to call you this late."

"No problem… so, what do you need?"

"Can't I call you unless I need something from you, Naruto-kun?"

"I didn't mean it like that… but weren't you angry at me?"

For some reason, today Naruto-kun seems colder than usual… ah… so… He really cared about what happened. My chest hurt a little.

Yes… until I heard what happened from Karin, I would have hesitated to make a normal call. Was that the reason for his half-hearted response? Normally, if Naruto heard my voice he would tease me and say "I was so happy to hear your voice" or "Ah, my Ayase!"… or something equally perverted.

"… Aren't you going to sexual harass me today?"

"I told you I will never do that again… didn't I?" Naruto said gently.

"After everything that has happened, I should be more serious from now on… that is what I have decided."

"… I see."

I coughed slightly and tried to speak in my best cordial tone.

"By the way, Naruto… I heard… that you broke up with your girlfriend?"

"You sound so happy."

"I… I'm not."

"You are clearly happy about it. Are you calling me today to make fun of me since I broke up with my girlfriend?"

"That was never my intention! How evil do you think I am!?" But it's very worrying if that's what you think.

I have to atone for Naruto's mistake. Because — Naruto's loss was all my fault. So, I began to comfort him!

"I really didn't mean it like that… Naruto-kun, there is something I want to ask you…"

"What is it?"

"… Naruto-kun, it was my fault that you broke up with your girlfriend, right?"

"Huh? Why?"

… Really… still trying to play dumb…

"The last time we met… I… I said some horrible things, like 'You're a liar!' and 'You said you wanted to marry me!' so… Naruto-kun must have been concerned about it… so, I thought that maybe you felt guilty because of that."

"Ah, well, no, it was nothing like that." He answered in a very normal tone. Really… he is such a liar…

"… You broke up with your girlfriend because of me, right?"

A long silence…

"… No, it's not like that."

"You are lying again."

"No, it's the truth."

"Really? The reason you broke up with your girlfriend is not related to me in any way?"

"Yes."

… I see.

A dark flame bursted into existence in my eyes. My hand gripped my cell phone tighter. It started to crank.

"A… Ayase?"

"Naruto-kun! There is some thing I need to ask you!"

"Ask me!? Why are you suddenly changing the topic!?"

"I don't care! Sunday, this week! Kuuko has a live performance! Please come and see!"

"What kind of savagely request is that?"

"Annoying! Are you going to listen to my request or not!?"

"You sounded like you are threatening me, not making a request! — ah, fine, I will go!"

I hung up and dropped my head.

"… Idiot."

How could it turn into this… I'm the idiot here…

That Sunday, I went together with Naruto-kun. The sky was clear. It was the perfect weather for a live performance. I maintained my cold silence and noticed Naruto was watching me awkwardly.

"I never thought I would wear these clothes again."

He was wearing a western style suit, his hair combed carefully. I looked away from him and raised a corner of my mouth.

"… I didn't think that you would come."

"Why?" Naruto made a questioning expression.

This man… did he really not understand? He acted like this is something he should do — followed a girl's vague request and wasted one of his weekends.

"When we were talking by phone, I was angry. I thought that back then, my request was very unreasonable."

"So you didn't think that I would come?"

"Yes."

"Of course I would come. This is a good chance after all."

"Hah?"

"I had thought hard about your criticism… yes, I wasn't honest with you. I had reflected about it."

"… What, what are you saying?"

Er? Er…er? If he kept up this momentum…

Naruto lowered his head in a commendable attitude.

"After I said 'I like you the most', 'Please marry me' and then go out with someone else, anyone would be angry."

Naruto! You really have…

" … I was only joking back then, sorry."

I want to kill you.

I felt a blood vessel on my temple was about to burst. But, I don't know what to do — because he really reflected on this… this apology. I could feel his sincere feelings behind it. I finally noticed the contradictions in my own thinking. Of course, I couldn't take all of this nonsense that Naruto said seriously.

'I like you' — 'Please marry me'… yes, all of those perverted things he had done to me… all of that was just a joke! I knew it already!

… Oh? So…why am I angry now?

"… Ayase?"

"Nothing! Nothing! Nothing at all! So, can we make up now?"

"Of course, if you agree."

How could he suddenly say something so serious…

"So… you will not do those perverted things to me anymore?"

"Absolutely not."

"Hm, really? So suspicious."

"What must I do to earn your trust?"

"… I don't know." I looked away, but secretly took a peak at Naruto and whispered, "I got it. Let's make up…"

"Really?"

Really… when you answered with such bright voice, I couldn't say 'no way'.

"Never do that again, got it?"

"Got it. Thank you, Ayase."

And then I made up with Naruto.

… Naruto said he will not sexually harass me again.

… He will not do that to me again.

Oh, oh, oh! I couldn't let my guard down! Maybe he just pretended to do that in order to make up with me. As soon as I make a mistake, he surely would do something perverted to me! That's certain!

"Hm…"

"Is something wrong? You look down."

"I'm not! Come on, let's go to where Kuuko is."

"Alright… I'm starting to feel nervous."

Zepp Tokyou is located inside the Tokyo Big Sight's live house, which can hold up to 2700 people. Today, there is a Madoka performance which Kuuko is participating in. I brought Naruto to the waiting room. There were already two cosplay girls inside when we got there. They were Kuuko and Rem.

First, I spoke with Kuuko, " … Kuuko, I brought the one you wanted to meet."

"Thank you Ayase! Long time no see, sexual harassment manager-san ."

From the sofa, Kuuko, in a Kyoko Sakura outfit, jumped up in excitement.

Bang She high-fived Naruto.

"Haha, you looked so happy Kuuko. Who are you calling sexual harassment manager?"

"Hehee, weren't you fired because they found out that you sexual harassed me?"

"Who told you that crazy story? Who?"

"Ayase."

"Ayase!" Naruto turned to me.

I quickly whispered to him, "Because I couldn't think of any excuses."

Still… some how it suited him, didn't it?

"I see. Forget it… long time no see, Rem-chan."

"Yes. Pleased to meet you."

Rem-chan, who cosplays as Sayaka, seemed scared.

"Ah… Rem-chan seems scared of Naruto?"

"Wasn't that because you made me look like a sex offender?"

Naruto stared at me fiercely. I ignored it.

"There is no need to be scared, okay? As long as I'm here, no one will lay a hand on you."

"Hey, I think that there is some better way to convince her."

"No… I am not… I'm not afraid of manager-san." Rem-chan replied in a smooth Japanese tone.

"Oh! In that case… then why?"

"It's nothing… I think that I misunderstood something…"

What is she saying? I sent a glare to Naruto, asking 'do you have any idea?', but he looked away. So suspicious.

"Ah… could it be that Naruto had laid his hand on Rem-chan too?"

"Who would do that?"

Yes, he wouldn't lay his hand on such a small girl — at least I hope so. If he dares to betray my trust this time, I will definitely burn him alive.

Naruto coughed a few time and changed the topic.

"Say, Kuuko."

"Yes?"

"Thank you for inviting me. Especially when you even had to get a ticket for me."

"Hehee, I told you already. You are Kuuko's first fan."

My red haired friend seemed embarrassed.

"After I form my fan club later, you will be the first member."

"This is my honor." Naruto smiled wryly.

"After you become a super idol, everyone will be jealous of me."

"Of course. How about we make a trade? Become Kuuko's servant for a day? Okay?"

"Haha, I will do my best."

They looked like a good pair of siblings. I couldn't help but recall when I first meet Naruto. I was really admiring this gentle Naruto. That was my first thought.

"By the way, tell me your name~."

"Didn't I tell you on our first meeting?"

"I forgot. This time I will remember."

"Then, I am —"

He made a thinking posture. When he was acting as a manager before, he was using an alias Arashi Uzumaki. I thought that he would continue using that….

"Call me Naruto."

But he used his real name… is that okay?

All I saw was Kuuko poke at her temple in thought.

"Naruto, huh? Got it."

"Then, please to meet you."

He must had a good impression with Kuuko, so he didn't lie to her…Really, he is too kind… there is no cure for him. What should I do if Naruko tells Kuuko her brother's name? Forget it, Kuuko is very stupid. She wouldn't pay attention anyway. But please be careful, Naruto.

What if Kuuko remembers something? Today Naruto didn't wear sunglasses, his face was left open. Hm, of course I will not remind him of that. But if Naruko carelessly told Kuuko that secret, I will silence her.

Still, there was something I didn't know. Why has Rem-chan been looking at Naruto since the beginning? Could it be that she likes Naruto? I think that is impossible.

To kill time, I asked, "Say — what are you going to do today?"

"Oh? You don't know? This is Madoka's ceremony."

Rem-chan was the one answered me. Both Kuuko and Naruto looked at me with a puzzled expression, like they wanted to say 'You…you couldn't'.

"Er? Ah?"

Why is everyone looking at me like that?

"Today is 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica Carnival, shortened as 'Madoka ceremony'. Kuuko answered.

"In short, today they will show the anime, the seiyuu will sing their character's song, and cosplayers like me will sing the theme song."

"Ah…" Because I wasn't interested in them, I didn't feel any excitement.

"But… really! Ayase-sama doesn't know anything…"

Rem-chan was angry. Naruto looked at me with a chilling gaze.

"Ayase… you, you made Rem-chan call you Ayase-sama?"

"Of, of course not! There is a reason for that."

"What kind of reason could force a little girl to call you — sama?"

"She saw me when I was punishing Kuuko"

"Ah…"

I wanted to stop that topic. What would he think of me now?

"Say — Rem-chan, what did you mean earlier?"

"Yah!"

I was asking a normal question, but Rem-chan let out a terrified scream. Kuuko's eyes widened in anger.

"Hey Ayase! Don't bully her!"

"I wasn't! I just asked her a normal question!"

"I'm not talking about your words, but the way you asked is scary. Even your eyes were scary."

I didn't mean to! You bullied me…I wanted to die… Ah… how could a child be scared of me that much? I'm a gentle girl. I don't get it.

"Today, μ's will participate too."

I couldn't believe that Naruto just answered in place of Rem-chan.

"μ's?"

"Yes, the duo singers who sings Madoka's newest opening. Rem-chan must be a fan of μ's, right?"

"Yes!" Rem-chan answered, her eyes sparkling.

"μ's is a group of high school girls who sang anime songs and submitted them to Nico nico! However no one has ever seen their face! But their combination is simply excellent!"

"High school girls?"

In an instant, I thought that was a setting for a novel, but then I remembered that Naruko is an example. Even I'm a model… really, everything is possible…

Rem-chan continued, "I was also participating as a member of Nico nico anime's dancing group. I was so excited when I saw μ's!"

Ha…so that's why Rem-chan wanted to meet μ's that much.

"You said that no one has ever seen their face… in other words, no one knows what they look like?"

"Yes! Both of them only used avatars instead."

"But what about today's activity?"

"That's right! Today is the first time μ's is doing a live performance!" Rem-chan showed me her most beautiful smile.

"Since the beginning, that girl only spoke about how she could finally meet μ's and stuff —" Kuuko said uninterested. She's probably jealous because one of her fans likes someone else. Kuuko seemed like to have a cute side too.

"That's meaningless. I'm better at singing than μ's."

"Don't get full of yourself!" Naruto interrupted.

"Kuu-chan! Don't say bad thing about μ's!"

"Oh…" Kuuko seemed regret of her words. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in." I opened the door. There were two girls outside. They looked like a close pair of sisters, both wearing white performance dresses.

"Please to meet you."

Both of them bowed.

"My name is Nico."

"I'm Maki."

"Please take care of me."

Both of them said in unison. It looked like they had practiced quite a lot. They were about my age, but their appearance was different from each others. Nico was a cheerful girl with long black hair tied in twin tail style, her eyes always filled with self-confidence, her smile seemed like it could transfer to others. On the other hand, Maki gave off a gentle feeling. Her long, wavy red hair is particular eye-catching.

"Are Kuu-chan and Rem-chan here?"

"Yes, please wait while I introduce you two."

"I…"

"We are fans of Kuu-chan."

Wow…so they were here to speak with Kuuko.

"What what? You are Kuuko's fans?"

Hearing her name, Kuuko immediately ran to the door.

"Yes."

"Your performance in the cosplay contest is so awesome!"

"We had become your fans since then!"

"Really? You really are Kuuko's fans?"

In short, Kuuko is captivated. The cosplay contest they were talking about must be the one that we ask help at Kuuko to participate in to get a present for Naruko. During that time, Kuuko both danced and sang Madoka's theme song and left a good impression upon the viewers.

Were these two among those otakus? There were so many people here, they could blend in easily.

"Heehee, don't just stand here. Come in come in. We still have lots of time — Naruto, make tea!"

"Of course."

Kuuko and Rem-chan brought them to the tea table. While Naruto made tea, Rem-chan unpacked her bag in panic. Why was she so nervous?

"P…p…please sit down!"

What is with her? She was such a mess.

"Thank you."

Nico and Maki sat down on the sofa.

"Hi."

In front of them, Kuuko was sitting in a posture that a girl definitely shouldn't. This scene looked like those two girls were kidnapped by gangsters and were about to be questioned by a godfather.

"Why are you sitting like that? Your underwear is all exposed!"

Naruto immediately reminded her. I must admit that there is no way I could interrupt someone as fast as him. But Kuuko was looking down on him, so the chance that she listened was slim. I should add my opinion too.

"Kuuko! Be aware of your image!"

"Yeah, yeah~."

Kuuko stood up unwillingly and clapped her hands together in a loud bang.

"Naruto! Chair!"

"Got it."

I don't know if Naruto had predicted this order, but he already had a chair in his hand and slipped it under Kuuko's butt.

"Good."

"It's nothing. All for my beloved Kuuko-sama (emotionless voice)."

"Oh, oh! Your devotion is worthy of my praise!"

The stupid Kuuko didn't realize that this was just empty praise. Then Naruto moved the table to Kuuko's side and placed snacks and tea on it. Seeing that, I couldn't help but say, "… Naruto-kun, you looked surprisingly suited to be a butler."

"I'm not happy to hear that!"

In the end, Naruto acted like a perfect butler for Kuuko… Even I don't want to admit it, but he looked cool. I finally understood what Kuuko meant when she kept telling him to 'keep up this work'.

Truly, he was more suited to be a butler than a manager.

"About…"

Nico spoke to Kuuko.

"During that live show, you were so amazing!"

"Really? I think it was normal thought."

Anyone could see that Kuuko was lying, she was very happy inside. Nico kept shaking her head.

"It's not!"

Even Maki added.

"During that live show, your song — Connect — was it true that you choose that by random?"

"Ah, that? Yup, I truly sharpen my sword on the battlefield."

"Amazing!"

"How could you do it?"

"Can you teach me your secret?"

"My secret? Hmm, that's because Kuuko is a genius. I'm just that good even without training at all~"

I merciless added, "However, your random song list only had one song, and you trained in dancing everyday."

"… Keep your mouth shut."

She still pretended to be a genius. Kuuko didn't want others to know about how hard she had tried. Still, almost anyone who had succeed in the world is a perspiration person. So, 'genius' and 'perspiration' is actually different.

Naruto smiled and tried to smooth things over.

"Still, your singing was amazing! You sounded like a pro!"

"Really? You mean I'm on a different level from μ's?"

"Ku… Kuuko-chan!"

Inside the sofa, Rem raised her objection. Hearing that, Kuuko turned her attention back to this poor girl.

"What's wrong Rem? You looked like you are about to cry."

Unlike her casual tone, Kuuko's eyes were serious.

"Because… because… because…"

Seeing on the verge of tears, Kuuko showed a confident smile.

"Haha~ are you getting nervous before the event? Don't worry, you are just like Kuuko's background, it's fine even if you make some mistakes."

"I… I didn't mean it that way."

"So why?"

"… Er…"

She hesitated. She clearly had something to say, but she couldn't put it into words — this is the feeling that I had felt recently. I was in a similar situation, so I understood her trouble. No matter how we asked, she wouldn't give us an answer.

Kuuko's lips curved.

"Are you getting angry because I speak badly about your favorite μ's? But, it's true that Kuuko is better, right?"

"No you are not!"

"Hah? How?"

… It began to sound like a kid's fight. I interrupted.

"Stop that, Kuuko. Because μ's is a professional band while you aren't, there is nothing to compare between you and them."

"You, what did you just say?"

"I just tell the truth."

"(Anger)…"

Seeing Kuuko gritting her teeth, both Nico and Maki suddenly decided to join in.

"Okay, okay, please calm down."

"About that…I think μ's was able to debut was because they had a good luck and found some fans who understood them."

"Yes, yes. If Kuu-chan had such good luck…"

"… That wasn't the case…"

The hard earned peace was one more shattered by Kuuko.

She spoke in an awkward but seriously tone, "They said 'luck' is a part of your strength, but even if you had a chance, it'd be meaningless unless you had the quality to pull it off. Without it, even if you could debut, no one would welcome your CD."

Still unwillingly, Kuuko admitted," Just like Ayase said, now, I couldn't win against them."

"What a stubborn girl." Naruto smiled wryly and shrugged.

"Noisy!" Saying that, Kuuko raised her hand to Nico and Maki.

"You two…don't look down on those μ's. One day I shall beat them!" She made her declaration.

Nico and Maki turned to each others "Right!" They replied in unison.

After that was a peaceful time. Maki played the listener part, hearing Kuuko's story while Nico spoke with Rem about her favorite anime, especially Madoka and other famous ones.

During that time, Naruto and I kept our distance and watched over them.

"Why does Rem-chan still look nervous?"

"I think she was better than before."

"But why? They only talked about their favorite anime?"

"Well, because those two are μ's."

"Eh?"

He said it so suddenly that I temporary doubted my own ears.

"What… did you just say?"

"I just noticed it right now. If I take into account of today's event, then Nico and Maki could only be μ's."

No wonder Rem-chan was acting strange.

"… Does Kuuko know?"

"Probably not."

"Still, she was badmouthing them earlier."

But thankfully they didn't seem to mind… I will have to discipline her later.

"Say… today Naruto seemed different from usual."

"Really?"

Naruto looked like he wasn't convinced, so I continued, "Oh… I think… I think that you seemed calmer than usual. Did something happen?"

"…Well… a lot of things have happened." Naruto smiled wryly.

Seemed like there was more than the story I heard from Karin. He is still kind and gentle, but his old flirting is gone.

"I see… hmmmmm"

"… Did I say something wrong?"

"No, it was nothing. Nothing at all." I hastily answered.

The truth is… since the beginning, I had (only to make sure he wouldn't sexual harass me again, I had no other intentions!) tried to get my face closer to him, or smiled with him, but there wasn't even the slightest effect.

Before, Naruto would surely feel very happy.

… I was truly happy because he wouldn't sexually harass me again…

… But somehow… I felt a little annoyed.

Of course, I didn't want him to do perverted thing to me! I only mean that he made it look like I'm not attractive at all.

Next to me, Naruto said, "… Calm? I'm not." He mocked himself.

At that time…

"Naruto~ More tea." Kuuko ordered in a boring but sweet tone.

Hearing that, Naruto looked up and replied, "Coming."

However, someone beat him to that task.

"Ah, I can make tea too."

Rem. She probably wanted to do something for her favorite idols. She quickly moved to the tea pot.

"Sorry, it was oblivious my job."

"It's fine." Saying that, Rem happily poured the tea.

I looked back to Kuuko.

My Mahou shoujo classmate was requested to make a live performance right now by μ's… Kuuko stood up and took the spear, grunting all the way.

"Don't you think that this time Kyoko looks like a villian? So I think that I should do something different in my live performance this time."

While everyone's attention was on Kuuko.

"Damn!"

Naruto suddenly did something strange. He drove his head into Maki's skirt!

"Kyaaahhhhhhh!"

A scream.

After that, I heard something fall onto the floor.

"That…that…"

I had no idea what is going on. During that chaos, the only thing I saw was Naruto sexually harass a girl in the most shameless manner.

"Don't — please don't push your head into my skirt!"

Maki was blushing madly, while Rem was clearly panicked.

"What are you doing?"

Kuuko threw her spear in anger and screamed at him.

"Na-Naruto! You really are a Hentai!"

"No I'm not! There is a reason for this…"

"Anyway, stay back!"

Nico kneed Naruto a few time in his face. Maki looked down blushing and held her skirt's hem.

"… Oh…"

"Ah! She is about to cry! Dammit~ Ayase-sama! Kill him!"

You don't need to remind me! I moved a few step forward, carefully measured the best distance then spun myself.

"Go to hell!" I unleashed a roundhouse kick on this sexual harassment bastard.

After that…

"That was my fault! I was about to spill the tea! He was only trying to prevent everyone from the hot tea… please forgive me!"

Thanks to Rem-chan's explanation, Naruto's sin was cleared.

"But, but… even that…"

"Please forgive him. Thanks to him, our dresses are not wet."

"Yes… I agree."

Nico and Maki forgave him.

… That was what happened while we weren't looking.

"So that is why."

I smiled naturally and looked to far distance.

"… I believed in Naruto-kun. Naruto-kun would not do something like that."

"You punished him despite his innocence, yet you still able to say that! You really are Ayase-sama!" Kuuko showed a stiff smile.

After getting hit by hot tea and having received a roundhouse kick from me, Naruto was lying motionless on the sofa. Next to him, Rem and Maki were trying to treat him. Nico slowly opened her eyes and said to Kuuko.

"It will start soon… we have to go back and prepare ourselves."

"I see. Then I should prepare myself too."

"Kuu-chan, thank you for today. After this event, we will come see you again."

"Do your best on the stage!"

In the end, without knowing that they were μ's, Kuuko still pretended to act tough.

Nico looked at the unconscious Naruto and smiled.

"You have a great manager."

"Heehee, are you jealous?" Kuuko showed a smug smile, revealed her two little fangs.

Maki walked to the side of Nico and said, "After manager-san wakes up, please tell him I'm sorry for the misunderstanding."

"I will tell him. Don't worry, he is a hentai, so he probably doesn't mind. Rem, can you show them the way out?"

"Okay."

After μ's left, Naruto woke up. He was still recovering on the sofa.

"… Are you alive, Naruto?"

"… Yeah…"

Maybe he was still dazed, his answer was weak.

"… Sorry, please let me rest for a bit more before we continue."

"How could you continue in that state? Just rest here."

Really… a strange place and strange habit… right then, beep beep beep. It was a message sound.

Hearing that, Naruto struggled to lift his head and took a look at this cell phone. He probably was reading the newest message. A few second later, Naruto — suddenly stood up from his sofa.

"It hurts…"

"Wait a second, Naruto!? What are you doing?"

"Something urgent came up."

"Urgent? But you still need rest. Didn't you come here to watch Kuuko's live performance?"

"Sorry, I have to go back right now."

It looked like trying to convince him is was waste of time. He fixed his suits and said, "I will come back later if possible."

He dashed out of the room, totally unlike someone who had just been knocked out.

Really… just what kind of urgent matter it is?

"… Be careful on your way, Naruto-kun!"

.

.

.

---

.

.

.

Extra: The Sister's Wedding Dress

Today I, Naruko Namikaze, wore special clothes and went to a hotel for a photo shoot.

This hotel was located inside a jungle, behind a slope.

This job was recommended to me by my manager, Misaki Fujima. After I'd failed in my studies abroad, I hesitated to return to modeling but in the end I accepted, because I felt like this could help me find my way forward again.

I couldn't deny the fact that the job interested me this time around, though.

… Even though it caused me to miss a concert I'd been looking forward to… according to the schedule we should have been finished by 2:00PM, but it took longer than expected.

It is now 6:00PM, the concert had already begun. After I finished my job and changed into my casual clothes — even if I went by car I wouldn't be able to make it there in time. Since I made my job my priority, I had no choice but to give up on the concert.

… I cannot go to the concert today.

"… Ah."

After I sent my message, I let out a depressed sigh.

"Tch, I was looking forward to it so much."

Even though I said that, I still started walking toward the photo room without hesitation. I had taken an opportunity during a quick break to send that message, but right now I had to return to my work.

Missing that concert upset me a lot, of course, but right now I couldn't let it affect my work, because this is something I chose to do on my own.

If I didn't finish it, there is no way I could face myself again.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

"Good — Naruko Namikaze-san, please come here."

"Please take care of me."

With these purely work related words of encouragement, I returned to the photo room.

"Thank you for your hard work."

Not long after that, my job was done.

I was chatting with some of my co-workers who were taking photos together with me now.

"Thank you for you hard work Naruko. Thanks to you we got a lot of nice pictures."

The photographer who had worked with me a few times before said that.

"Really? Eheehee."

"Yes, you are very cute. Ah, I wanted to wear that dress too…" One of the models, Sakura-chan, said with a perfunctory, courtesy smile.

"Still, your clothes aren't bad."

Really? We kept chatting in harmony.

"Did you have fun?"

Some of the other models joined the conversation and the scene became noisy. Sakura-chan, who looked up at the building which served as the scene for the photo shoot — a wedding hall, said, "A church at sunset, it's a very nice scene."

"Taking pictures at a church is nice."

"Right, right! Virgin road and the organ! My maiden heart was racing! I want to get married as soon as possible."

"Yes yes! Virgin road and the organ! My maiden heart was racing! I wanted to marry as soon as possible."

"Ahahaha!"

Everyone was laughing when one of the managers said, "How about we go to a party next?"

"Nice!"

"Do you want to come too, Naruko-san? Consider it a welcome back celebration for you!"

"Ah… I will pass. My house has a strict curfew…"

Actually, I was out well past my curfew. I planned to go to the concert at 6:00PM so I told my Dad that I'd be working late — but I still had to reconcile with Mom.

"It'll be fine!"

"Come with us!"

"Just give your house a call!"

"Ah…" What should I do? The concert had started. Even if I go now, I probably wouldn't make it. I put on a courtesy smile while hesitating, but then…

"Uwohhhhhhhhhhhh~"With a cry of anguish, a guy riding his bicycle climbed over the slope.

"Ahhhhhhhh~"

He was standing on the pedals and pushed down with all of his might, even at this distance I could tell he was in a hurry.

"… Looks like someone is coming this way." Sakura-chan whispered.

I felt like something was off, and as the bicycle drew closer… the ominous feeling only grew stronger.

"Gwohhhhhhhhhhh!~"

That idiot in a suit… could it be… while I was busy thinking, the bicycle made it to the top of the slope and stopped right in front of us.

"Ha… Ha… Ha…"

Climbing that huge slope clearly took a lot out of him, his shoulders dropped and he started trembling. I didn't know if he had fell along the way, but there was a bruise on his face and he was covered in branches, dirt and leaves. At first glance you could tell he is dirty.

"Ah!?"

"Who are you!?"

"What is going on!?"

The other models looked at him in surprise.

My heart almost jumped out of my throat, he looked like a mess but that wasn't the biggest surprise. The main reason was the strange design of the bicycle under him. The primary color was pink, it was adult sized but it had training wheels for a kid. The body of the bicycle was female style with a small basket in front and a place to sit on in the back, the bell had been replaced with a horn and both of the main wheels were covered with a picture of Madoka and Homura during their transformation sequence (in other words, nearly naked). It wouldn't be unusual if the police arrested him.

"Oh…"

Even though I like Madoka, this was too much for me. This was beyond otaku style, it was plain terrifying.

"Don't look at me…"

The models started to panic because a very weird person has appeared.

"Pervert!"

Sakura-chan and the other models started screaming and some workers and photography staff immediately tried apprehending him.

"Hey! What are you doing!?"

"That is my line! Who are you?"

… He is my Brother

How could I say that!? What is going on? That's right. The weirdo with the otaku Madoka bike was my brother.

"Is something wrong Naruko? You're sweating."

"I… I'm fine."

"Is this weird guy making you uncomfortable?"

No. He is my brother.

What should I do…? I want to pretend like I didn't see a thing… but it would be even worse if they arrested him… I looked over to him discreetly only to see him trying to explain himself.

"I told you already, haven't I? My sister is here! She's a model!"

"I wouldn't believe that kind of bold statement for even a second! Just one look at you tells me you are way too suspicious! I'm calling the guard!"

"Let me go! "

"Wait…!" I can't help but to reach out my hand.

This idiot! Idiot, idiot! What is he doing!? I quickly took a step forward and tried to speak, my face reddened.

"This man… is my…"

"Your?"

"… My brother."

"Hah!?"

Everyone aside from me had the same reaction.

"… Really?" I nodded.

The scene became silent again. It's not my fault, right? It's all his fault! I silently walked to Naruto's side in this awkward atmosphere.

"Anyway… so, please release him."

"Ah, right."

The staff member who was holding on to Naruto released him and Naruto let out a sigh of relief.

"… I'm saved."

"Listen, you!"

Just as I was about to discipline him, Naruto said, "Wait a second… Naruko… You…"

As soon as Naruto saw my clothes — he froze. His eyes widened, his jaw dropped — and then. After a few seconds, he blushed.

"… What's with those clothes?"

"They're my work clothes."

"Work clothes…"

"Anyway, come with me."

I couldn't speak to him in front of everyone so I took his hand and pulled him into a corner.

"Hey… stop pulling me."

Naruto looks like he is still dreaming.

"Hmm."

Well, I guess it is understandable that he was staring at me like a helpless idiot; right now I'm wearing a pure white wedding dress. My job today was to take photos at this wedding chapel, though I'm wearing a beautiful wedding dress, this kind of photo shoot was a "new type" — or so I heard, so this time we didn't have a groom.

… I never thought that he would see me like this!

I took a look around to confirm that we were at a safe distance from the others, and then I asked Naruto, "You… What are you doing here, what's with your clothes, and what the hell is with that otaku bicycle!?"

"Don't ask me so many questions at once. Ah, about that, huh?"

Naruto pointed to the otaku bicycle he was still holding.

"This… well, based on the current traffic conditions… I thought going by bicycle would be faster than a taxi."

"No, no. I'm not asking why you came here on a bicycle, I'm asking where you got such a crazy bicycle in the first place! How long have you had a hobby like that?"

"I wasn't fine with it; it hurt my pride to ride it as well! I borrowed it from my friend. It looks like he drew this illustrations himself."

"Wow the drawing is so amazing!"

"He called it the 'Shooting Star'."

Well, I guess that sort of dedication was expected from a god-like anime like Madoka.

"Even still, the wheels are kind of scary."

"Shooting Star"… leaving the societal embarrassment aside, was quite good looking. I wanted to get one for my room. There's no way I'd ride it outside, though. Is that what they call "high skill, low quality"?

All that aside, I must ask the most important question.

"So — why are you here?"

"What are you talking about?"

Naruto looked like he remembered something important and sighed.

"I came to pick you up!"

"Huh?"

"Haven't you been waiting to see this concert for a long time?"

I was speechless. I didn't know what to say. That's right. Originally, Naruto invited me to this concert.

"You like Madoka, right? I've got some tickets, do you want to go together…?" Is what he said.

"… You came here to pick me up?"

"Yes." Naruto glanced at his watch.

"So hurry up and get changed."

"Umm." For some reason I couldn't bring myself to look Naruto in the eyes.

"But, even if we leave now…"

"We can still make it. I'll try. Going by bicycle is faster than going by taxi."

Naruto said in a normal tone, and patted the back seat of the "Shooting Star".

"You… want me to sit there?"

"Yes. We will go all the way to the concert."

"Do you realize what you've just said?"

"Of course. Now hurry up and get changed."

He is serious. Is it possible that he's received so much trauma from society that he's become immune to its criticism?

"But… but… changing out of this dress will take a long time…"

While I was hesitant…

"… Then just go in that dress." Said a familiar voice with a hint of amusement.

"Who's that!?" I turned around and saw a woman coming this way. That is Misaki-san.

"I understand the situation. You don't have time to change out of the dress, right? Just go in the dress — it's fine even if it gets dirty. I will take care of your belongings."

"What are you saying!?"

I shoot her a look that says "Stop messing with me" but she has a serious look on her face. I'm done for. They both have serious problems with their heads.

"How can I sit on the back of a bicycle with this puffy dress-?"

"Leave it to me."

Ignoring my objections, Misaki walked up to me and took the helm of my dress by her hand - Riiippppp

"Wha! Wait, wait, wait!?"

"How about that? There's no problem now, right?"

She sounds totally calm. I had the feeling she was joking though since her lips were slightly curved.

"But… but that makes me feel even more embarrassed!"

"I don't think there is any problem from a designer's perspective."

"I didn't mean it like that…"

She just tore it off, but it didn't look ruined… the long part of the dress was torn off and it exposed the mini-skirt underneath. How should I put it… Right now, I feel like I'm a princess.

"I don't know what kind of concert it is, but if you go in wearing that it would be good publicity for us."

"That's got to be a lie!"

I couldn't conceal my anger toward Misaki-san behind a smile any longer. I've made up my mind. Actually, it's more like I've given up.

"Ahhh! I get it! Just you wait, I will definitely pay you back for this humiliation!"

"Ahahaha, be careful on the way~"

Dammit! Just you wait! I carved the anger toward Misaki-san deep in my heart and climbed up onto the back seat of the bicycle.

"Alright, hurry up and start moving!"

On the way down the slope the bicycle started building up speed.

"Hey… don't move around so much!"

"It's dangerous on the way down so hold on to me tightly!"

"Wha — huh? You want my breasts to touch your back!? You pervert! Siscon!"

I kept hitting Naruto's back.

"It's still better than falling down isn't it?"

"Hey, wha… what are you doing!?"

Don't make such sharp movements, I'll have no choice but to hold firmly on to you!

"You… I'll get you back after this!"

"Sure, sure. I came for your sake but you're so unreasonable."

"It's because you always try to do something perverted to your sister! You've been playing too many sister-based eroge!"

"You're the one who forced me to play them in the first place! Besides, this bicycle is too small, some intimate body contact is unavoidable and it's not perverted. We are siblings, so it's fine!"

"Recently you've been using the 'we are siblings' line so much that I think you're just using it as an excuse to sexually harass your sister."

"You're over-thinking things! You can't ever mention that to Ayase!"

While we were talking the bicycle kept along the road, there was a traffic jam so it seemed like we wouldn't have been able to make it in time. Indeed, a bicycle was the fastest choice.

… Still, every time we stop at a red light there's weird gazes coming from vehicles on the road.

It's understandable.

There was a guy covered in bruises wearing a suit with a beautiful girl wearing a wedding dress on a crazy bicycle. This scene was too unbelievable.

"… I'm so ashamed of myself I don't want to see anyone ever again."

"It's fine, you'll get used to it soon."

He is too optimistic. Now that I think about it, when he came back from Akihabara in the middle of the night — he had to endure this type of situation by himself. That made me feel like saying "I'm sorry".

"Who were you talking with just now?"

"Misaki-san, haven't you met her already?"

"Ah… she has changed so much that I failed to recognize her."

"She's only changed her hair style; you should get your eyes checked."

"By the way, you wanted to see µ's live performance, right?"

"Yes, it's the new opening for Madoka."

"I see."

"… can we make it in time?"

"Just leave it to me."

We kept talking along the way.

"… How long until we get there?"

"I'm not sure, we're about half way there — I will definitely get you there in time, don't worry."

Even as he was sweating and breathing hard, Naruto kept going at full speed. We kept moving without slowing down even a bit. That's not what I was asking, though. What I meant was: How long do I have to endure this embarrassment?

"Hey, what happened to you? Why is there a bruise on your face?"

"Really? I hadn't noticed."

"Hadn't noticed…"

How's that even possible, it must have hurt a lot. He must have fallen down on the way here… in order to get me to the concert on time he kept pushing his bicycle forward — I realized in embarrassment.

"… Disgusting. Just how much of a siscon are you?"

"You are annoying."

How many times have we had this exchange? I don't know what Naruto's expression looked like. I also didn't know what my expression looked like. The road kept going straight after one of the turns.

Naruto leaned forward to gather some momentum as we began to move faster. I held on to him tighter with my forehead pressed against his back to prevent myself from falling.

"…"

The brother was wearing a suit covered in sweat while the sister was wearing a torn wedding dress. They were both riding atop an extremely embarrassing bicycle. From an outsider's point of view, this had to be one very strange scene.

"Ah, so, this is how we ended up riding a bicycle together for the first time. We're probably unique in that we're the only siblings that have done this."

"Hahh… I don't want to think about it. I'm about to cry."

We teased each other and smiled wryly. He must be thinking the same thing I am. Even if it's completely unbelievable, even if we don't want to admit it — this just might be our style.

" … Here we are."

The bicycle stopped at the concert's front gate.

"Hurry up!"

"Right, right."

Naruto takes my hand.

We both run in together.

Sometimes a surprised gaze directed at me is enough to make me want to find a hole to hide in. I started hearing the song. The voice of two people — Looks like — we made it. We pass through the main gate and are immediately assaulted by the cheers.

Everyone here is so noisy that our words were drowned out. We could only hear each other by screaming face to face.

"It's too crowded!"

"That's right, but it seems Kuuko's live performance has already ended!"

"That's because you are too slow! I think a taxi would have been much faster!"

"Ah! You… how can you say that? You only wanted to see your favorite show, right!?"

"Annoying! Where are our seats?"

"Not here! This way!"

"So why are we even here!? Idiot!"

"Because the view from here is great!"

"We'll cause problems for others! Aargghh! I can't stand you!"

Even in this crowd we're quarreling. Really… our relationship is still the same. We always cause so much commotion but in the end there's no progress. Even without progress, the oath remained unchanged.

"Naruto."

"Yes?"

"… Thanks"

"What did you just say?" Asked Naruto with a wry smile on his face.

Ah, it seems like my words were drowned out by the crowd.

I could just repeat myself once more, but for me, using my words to express my feelings is a difficult challenge, not to mention that this wasn't something I could just repeat.

So at the very least.

"Hmph. It's nothing!"

I held his hand tightly. Hopefully I will never make the mistake of letting it go.

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