Chapter 30 The Four of Us, Together
Ichika's POV

The next day at practice, Saki was playing her song while I sang along with the lyrics I had written the night before.

"So", I asked nervously when I was done. "What did you guys think?"

"Those lyrics were great, Ichika", Airi replied excitedly.

"You really think so", I asked.

"Yeah", Airi replied. "They sounded super catchy, and they go perfectly with Saki's song!"

"I agree", Ena said. "Good job, Ichika."

"We did it, Ichi-Chan", Saki said happily as she hugged me from behind. "We made a song!"

"We're not done yet, Saki", I pointed out. "This is just a rough draft. Now that we know that the direction we're going in works, we need to fine tune it into a proper song."

"Right", Saki said. "And speaking of fine-tuning; I think we should show our song to Shiho-Chan."

"Shiho-Chan", I asked.

"That's a good idea", Airi said. "Shiho has listened to a ton of professional musicians, so she'll know what a professional song should sound like."

"Exactly", Saki said, before looking at me. "What do you say, Ichi-Chan?"

"Actually", I started. "I was thinking of asking Shiho and Honami if they wanted to hang out on my birthday."

"Your birthday", Ena asked.

"Yes", I replied. "When I thought about what I wanted to do on my birthday, the thing I wanted the most was the four of us to spend time together."

"I want to spend my birthday together with Saki, Shiho and Honami", I replied.

"Ichi-Chan", Saki said.

"Well, if that's what you want Ichika, then maybe Ena and I will sit your birthday out", Airi suggested.

"Yeah", Ena agreed. "We'll let you enjoy your birthday with your friends."

"Thank you, Airi-Senpai, Ena-Senpai", I said. "Maybe we can do something else together celebrate as a band some other time?"

"Sure", AirI replied. "Sounds like a plan."

"Alright then, Ichi-Chan", Saki said. "Let's call Shiho and Honami and ask if they wanna spend your birthday with us!"

My birthday had arrived, and Saki and I were waiting by the scramble crossing. After being there for a bit, Saki and I spotted the people we were waiting for.

"There they are", she said, before she started waving to them. "Hona-Chan! Shiho-Chan! Over here!"

After they saw Saki waving, Shiho and Honami walked up to us. Once they reached us, Saki suddenly pulled them into a hug.

"We haven't seen you two much during Summer break", she pointed out. "I've missed you guys so much!"

"I've missed you too, Saki-Chan", Honami said.

"Can you let go of us", Shiho asked, before Saki did just that. "Anyway. Ichika, happy birthday."

"Happy birthday, Ichika-Chan", Honami said.

"Thank you, Honami and Shiho", I said. "And thank you for coming today: Especially you, Shiho. I'm sure that your schedule as an idol is pretty packed, huh?"

"It's fine", Shiho reassured me. "When I told Onee-Chan that you'd invited me to hang out on your birthday, she insisted that I go."

"Well then", Honami started. "Now that we're all here, what should we do first?"

"I was thinking we could get some food first", I suggested.

"Good idea, Ichi-Chan", Saki said. "Alright, everybody! Let's begin with Ichi-Chan's birthday celebrations!"

…

We were now all sitting in a diner.

"Aren't you going to take your hat off, Shiho-Chan", Honami asked her after we had sat down at our table.

"If I take it off, I may get recognized", Shiho revealed.

"You get recognized in public, Shiho-Chan", Saki asked excitedly.

"Sometimes", Shiho replied.

"That's so cool", Saki stated, "that means you have fans, Shiho-Chan!"

"Not really", Shiho stated. "Most of the time, when someone comes up to me, they'll ask 'Aren't Hinomori Shizuku's younger sister?'"

"That doesn't mean that you don't have fans, Shiho-Chan", Honami stated. "Whenever I watch Yume Yume Jump's livestreams, I'll see a few comments of people cheering you on and writing things such as 'Shiho is so cool!"

When Shiho heard this, her cheeks started turning pink.

"You watch our livestreams", she asked, now embarrassed.

"Minori-Chan and I watch them together with our online group", Honami replied, before turning to look at Saki and I. "I've also seen some of Youthful/Friends performances."

"That's right", I said. "I have spotted you at some of our performances."

"Yeah", Saki said. "But whenever we're done performing, and Ichi-Chan and I go looking for you, you're suddenly gone!"

"I'm sorry about that", Honami apologized. "I wanted to go up and talk to you whenever I saw you perform, but I always ended up losing my courage and backing out."

"Honami", I said sadly. "Why didn't you have the courage to speak to us?"

"Because…of what happened between us in middle school", Honami replied.

"Because of what happened between us in middle school", I asked in confusion.

"Yes", Honami replied. "I just suddenly stopped talking to you and Shiho-Chan without an explanation. After that, I wasn't sure if you would want to speak with me again."

"Honami", I said. Then, with a sudden urge of determination, I grabbed onto Honami's hands.

"Ichika-Chan", she said in shock.

"Honami, and you too Shiho", I started. "It doesn't matter what happens between us: I will always want the four of us to be together."

"Ichika", Shiho said in shock.

"Ichi-Chan's right", Saki added as she grabbed onto Shiho's hands. "Hona-Chan, Shiho-Chan, you two and Ichi-Chan are always going to be my bestests friends! And that's never going to change!"

"Ichika-Chan. Saki-Chan", Honami said as tears started forming in her eyes. Then, she wiped them away, and smiled at us. "I feel the same way! The three of you will always be precious to me!"

"And me as well", Shiho added, also with tears in her eyes. "I'm not sure how much time the four of us will get to spend with each other, but at this moment, we're together."

By this point, we all had tears in our eyes; and we were all smiling together.

…

After we finished our meal at the diner, we took Shiho and Honami to the place we usually rehearsed at so we could show them our song.

"So", I asked after they had listened to it. "What do you two think?"

"It definitely needs a lot of work", Shiho replied. "But, for the first song you two have ever made, it has a lot of potential."

"Really", Saki asked excitedly.

"I agree with Shiho-Chan", Honami replied. "Saki-Chan's song makes me feel like having fun, and Ichika-Chan's lyrics make me feel as she is trying to reach out to me with her words."

"Shiho, Honami", I said, touched by their words. "Hearing you two say that makes me so happy. Thank you so much!"

"I have an idea", Saki said suddenly. "Why don't we all play the song together?"

"All play the song together", Honami asked.

"Yeah", Saki replied. "We haven't played together since we were middle school. It'll be so much fun! What do you guys say?"

"That depends", Shiho started. "Will you two be able to keep up with me?"

"I'm…not sure", I replied. "But, I want to try keeping up with you, Shiho!"

"Me too", Saki added. "Trying to keep up with Shiho-Chan will be a great way to see how much we've improved!"

"Um…It's been a while since I've played the drums", Honami started. "But, I'll try my best too!"

"Okay then", Shiho said. "Then let's go for it."

With this, we all went to our instruments.

"Is everybody ready", Shiho asked.

"Keyboard ready", Saki replied enthusiastically.

"Drums ready", Honami replied.

"Guitar and vocals ready", I replied.

"Bass ready", Shiho said. "Honami, count us in."

"Right", Honami said, before clapping her drumsticks together. "One, two, three, four…"

And so, the four of us played together. It didn't actually sound that great, but that didn't matter to me, because I was playing with the three most important people to me. I couldn't have asked for a better birthday.