Time: during episode 3...kind of an alternate scene if you will

Characters: Otonashi, Iwasawa, Girldemo

Otonashi found himself at the vending machines yet again. It seemed like his whole existence here revolved around buying more Key Coffee rather than fighting against the angel-like student body president. He probably went through five cans a day, maybe more on the stressful days when Yuri executes her unusually cruel penalty games. Today alone he had gone through four cans to use for target practice, and just now he had spilled most of his drink on the floor while talking and grappling with the eccentric Yui. It was a bit embarrassing, really. This was his second time at the vending machines within the last ten minutes.

He straightened as he retrieved his drink and flipped the tab to open the can. Amidst the sound of the popping tab, Otonashi heard a soft voice drifting through the air from somewhere in the distance, accompanied by a smooth guitar riff and fierce drums. He looked up at the school building to his right, idly wondering where exactly the music is coming from. He took a sip of his coffee, enjoying the cold but rich taste that filled his mouth.

I wonder if I can disappear from buying this drink so much, he thought to himself as he started walking. Imagine the look on Yuri's face when she realizes Angel obliterated me for enjoying this coffee like a regular student.

He snapped out of his thoughts to see that he had walked into the school building and was in the process of climbing upstairs.

"Wait…when did I…?"

He blinked. The hallways were completely deserted. Given that Yuri forbids them from attending classes, he wasn't sure if school was in session or not. But he noticed that the music he heard earlier was much closer now. He climbed the rest of the way up to the second floor, internally debating whether it was the coffee or the music that had unconsciously led him here. Every classroom looked the same, every door identical to the next.

Otonashi stepped out to the balcony that ran along the outside of the classrooms. Down below by the steps, he saw dozens of NPCs milling around and even more running around on the field. There was a couple more talking to a teacher inside a mostly empty classroom he passed, and he guessed that school was indeed over. The music was loud and clear now, and when he peered into the next classroom, Otonashi found its source.

He had never seen Girldemo perform; sure he heard some their songs before, but it was always far off in the cafeteria, constantly interrupted by gunfire and shouting. Watching up close, he saw why this girl band was so popular within these simple-minded NPCs.

The drummer and the bassist—girls Otonashi was not yet introduced to—looked too cute and innocent to be playing in a rock band. The lead guitarist, also unknown to him, played her instrument with a sly smile, fingers moving around the strings with expert precision. And the vocalist with the rhythm guitar, Iwasawa, led the group with a passion that could light up the sky. They all swayed with the music, getting into the beat as the song winded down. The purple-haired drummer, despite her Yui-like cuteness, rocked the drums with blazing spirit.

Otonashi watched as they finished up the song, leaning against the wall so none of them could see him standing outside the window. It wasn't that he wanted to spy on them; he just wanted to hear another song. Even with the last few seconds he heard, he was entranced. But he was afraid that if he said hello, his presence would disrupt their musical flow.

The next words sent his shoulders sagging.

"So how about some lunch?" someone suggested.

"Phew, yeah! We've been practicing and writing since the meeting, haven't we?" said a much brighter voice.

Otonashi heard the sound of instruments being put down. He slid down the wall and sat on the floor, a little disappointed that he missed their practice. Yuri probably wouldn't let him off the outside guard duty to listen in on the concerts they used as a diversion, but it seemed like a shame to miss hearing such a talented group perform.

"Iwasawa? Are you coming?" A different voice drifted from the window, this one much more gentle than the others.

"You guys go ahead. I'll meet you there," a cool voice replied, and Otonashi recognized it as Iwasawa's.

The excited chatter and laughter left the classroom and receded down the hallway until there was complete silence. Otonashi sat in his spot beneath the windows, sipping his coffee and wondering if he should also be preparing for the big operation everyone was pumped about. Just when he was about to get up and go practice his shooting some more, he heard a near-inaudible strum of a guitar chord. The sound was much richer than the distorted screech of an electrical guitar, and Otonashi slowly stood to peer into the window.

Iwasawa sat on top of a desk with her back partially to him, playing the introduction to the tune he had heard earlier today at the SSS meeting. He listened as she began to sing in a clear, melodic voice:

"Iradachi o doko ni butsukeru ka sagashiteru aida ni owaru hi
sora wa haiiro o shite sono saki wa nanimo mienai
joushiki butteru yatsu ga waratteru tsugi wa donna uso o iu?
sore de erareta mono daiji ni kazatteokeru no?
demo asu e to susumanakya naranai
dakara kou utau yo…"

Otonashi stood captivated as the lyrics washed over him. The melody got more intense as she moved to the chorus, and her voice filled with so much power and emotion that it sent chills down his back. He listened with rapt attention to the rest of the song, unable to peel himself away from the wall. When the song finished with an ending chord, he wanted it to keep going, almost like dreading the ending to a good story. He listened to the empty silence in the classroom, and with slow deliberation, shrugged himself off the wall and applauded softly.

Iwasawa turned with alarm at the sudden sound.

"Oh, it's you," she said with surprise. "How long have you been standing there?"

"Uh, since the others left for lunch," he confessed sheepishly. "I wanted to catch you guys practicing but everyone left and then you…" he trailed off.

She gave him a swift smile. "I see." The guitar made a hollow sound as she placed it carefully on its stand. "So you were the first to hear the new song, huh?"

"Yeah it was…a beautiful one," Otonashi complimented, rubbing the back of his neck. "I can see why all the regular students admire you guys. Even I was mesmerized. But…that was the song that Yuri made you trash, right?"

"Right," Iwasawa said. She doesn't sound upset about it, but her eyes were downcast.

"You're okay with that?" he asked, leaning against the windowsill. "I mean, isn't it in a musician's pride somewhere to stick with a song no matter what? I'm sure with lyrics that good you could—"

"I wish it were that easy," Iwasawa said, politely cutting him off. "But Yuri's the leader. I don't want to mess with her orders over a song that the diversion unit doesn't need."

Otonashi studied her expression. "But…don't you need it?" he asked tentatively.

Iwasawa paused while taking a sip of water. With the look she gives him, Otonashi thought she was going to scoff or brush him off. But instead, she did something that surprised him: she laughed.

"You're not too far off the mark there, Mr. Newbie," she said with a wide smile.

"It's Otonashi," he said glumly.

"I know." She slid open the door to the balcony and joined him outside. "But that name is too ironic for someone like me to accept**."

"You do have a point there," he chuckled. He crossed the balcony to lean over the railing, observing the NPCs go about their after school activities. Iwasawa sat down next to him on the floor, breathing out a deep sigh as her back hit the railing. They stayed in silence for a moment, Iwasawa occasionally sipping her water and Otonashi watching the activity on the field.

"You know, you should sing it anyway," he said suddenly, breaking the peace and quiet.

"Hmm?"

"That song. You should sing it anyway."

She looked at the ground and frowned. "You heard what Yuri said. You guys won't be able to wreak your usual havoc if we were performing some love song on stage."

"But it's not just some love song, it's more than that, isn't it?" he pressed. "It has a bit of you in it, know what I mean? It's like…your song."

"My song, huh?" she muttered with a thoughtful look.

"Yeah, it speaks in a different volume than a rock song. The lyrics…they just sound like it came from your soul. It really captures you."

"And what do you know about me?"

It wasn't a challenge. She said it plain and simple, as if she were asking how he knew the story of a book he's never opened. There was no accusation in her voice; she wanted to know what he knew about her. Nothing more.

Unfortunately he had no answer. He forced a laugh and scratched his chin. "I guess you got me there. I don't really have the right to judge others since I don't even know what kind of past I had."

"Oh that's right…you've lost your memories," she said, giving him a sideways glance.

"Pretty much."

"That's a blessing for you," she said with a smile.

He caught on those words and searched for the right question. "Are your memories also…uh…"

…as unbearable as our leader's? he wanted to ask.

"Did you hear about someone's memories?" she asked, filling in his unfinished inquiry.

"Yeah, Yuri's," he admitted.

"Yuri's, huh?" She shook her head in sympathy. "Hers are the worst. Mine aren't as bad as hers."

He turned to look at her "'Not as bad'?"

"It's nothing impressive," she chuckled, "I couldn't sing my beloved songs. That's all..."

**in case you didn't know, Otonashi literally translated means "no sound"

Oto - sound

Nashi - no/not/gone/etc.