「Saisho no hitoshizuku ni kao ageta kyou no boku o.」 (I lifted my face to the first drop of rain today.)
...
「Sotto nigekonde ita.」 (I had been quietly hiding away.)
...
「(Asufaruto someteiku afuredashita sukōru)」 ((The squall that overflowed, dyeing the asphalt.))
...
In the recording studio of Houbun Animation, this newly formed band was passionately performing the song "Hitoshizuku." The feeling was surprisingly... not bad!
Tomori may have a dark history of being unable to sing during her first live show, forcing Miss Soyo to do her real job—performing a comedy routine to save the day.
But perhaps because it was in a recording studio and not an official live performance, she surprisingly, or perhaps expectedly, did not drop the ball. In fact, she delivered a performance that was unexpectedly above her usual level.
...But could she please not stare at him the entire time she's singing?
He didn't even dare to move.
The genius guitarist, Raana the cat, performed as usual. Soyo and Taki were also able to keep up, just as he had expected. Only Anon was surprising; for a short time, she even seemed to be on par with Raana.
Of course, this "surprise" was "to be expected" from Kamijo Mutsumi's point of view.
Although the MyGO!!!!! anime hadn't even aired yet, the "system" had generously provided him with a start-up fund, like a new player gift package.
It wasn't much, but it was enough to redeem the "Beginner Anon Sticker" that was on Ano-chan's forehead.
It was a pretty useless item, granting the user less than thirty percent of Chihaya Anon's theoretical peak guitar skill for fifteen minutes.
But if used by the person herself, the effect reached fifty percent, and the duration lasted for an astonishing three hours—a twelve-fold increase. This made him suspect that these sticker-type items were specifically designed for the girls themselves.
In any case, it temporarily solved Ano-chan's problem, preventing her from being kicked out of the band she herself had formed on the very first day and becoming the heroine of a "quitting the band" storyline.
Of course, this was only for today. After this, she would have to rely on her own hard work.
As for the overall performance quality of the future MyGO!!!!! band, it was just barely passable, but it was their first time.
But it doesn't matter. I will intervene.
Of course, that was a matter for later. For now, he had to enjoy the band's first performance. The employees behind him were so happy they were on the verge of tears.
Is this a company benefit?
With benefits like this, they would even pay to come to work!
"Kamijo-kun."
Just as everyone was enjoying MyGO!!!!!'s first battle, Great God Saki approached, killing the mood.
"If there's nothing else for me, I'll be taking my leave."
The girl's polite tone could not hide the wavering and pain in her eyes.
Tomori and the others had moved on from the past and had a new band. She should be congratulating them, be happy for them.
So why did her chest feel so heavy?
Ultimately, all of this had come too quickly, too suddenly, leaving her no time to even pretend to be strong and offer her blessings.
"Don't go yet. I still need you."
Kamijo Mutsumi glanced at her, seeming to see through to her current state of mind.
But... this is only just the beginning!
As if thinking of something amusing, a slight smile touched the corners of the boy's lips.
"..."
Rejected, Great God Saki could only purse her lips, standing beside him as if she were in prison.
...
「Dakara, dakara.」 (Therefore, therefore.)
As the song "Shiori" ended, the girls' performance also came to a close.
"It's over..."
Both songs were miraculously completed in a single take. The price was that the girls were almost completely burned out in less than ten minutes. As the drummer, Taki-chan's forehead was covered in sweat.
"It wasn't as hard as I imagined..."
Even though it was just a recording and not a proper live show, it gave her a sense of excitement and thrill that was no less than CRYCHIC's first and last live performance.
At this moment, Taki could probably understand Soyo's feelings.
"Tomori, you were amazing this time..."
Taki-chan almost instinctively wanted to share her feelings with her beloved Tomori, but when she looked up, she saw the girl of her dreams in the arms of another man.
"Mutsumi, this time... did I disappoint you?"
The girl's eyes were filled with a heart-wrenching worry, as if she were afraid of a repeat of CRYCHIC's disbandment.
"That was wonderful! It was simply divine!"
Kamijo Mutsumi would naturally not discourage the adorable Tomori.
"Isn't that a bit of an exaggeration...?" Anon commented from the side, still feeling the strange effects of the sticker.
Raana had an expression of pure, post-performance bliss. Only Taki sat in her spot, feeling like an outsider to a yuri romance.
Her heart was full of her, but her eyes were only for him.
Pain. So much pain!
"...You all performed these two songs very well. Now for the last one."
After comforting Tomori, he announced the girls' final task for the day.
"I believe most of you are very familiar with this one... It's 'Haruhikage'."
"Haruhikage..."
Hearing him say the familiar song title, the expressions on the faces of all the girls, except for Raana and Anon, changed dramatically.
"Um... why 'Haruhikage'?"
The one who spoke up was, of course, our Miss Soyo Nagasaki. The smile on her face looked a bit forced.
'Haruhikage'?
That was a song that shouldn't even be touched.
"Weren't the last two songs great? We could switch to another song, right?"
"Haruhikage" belonged to CRYCHIC. She didn't want it to be performed by another band.
Especially... Soyo discreetly glanced at Sakiko. ...in front of her.
"It has to be this song. It can't be changed."
Kamijo Mutsumi naturally wouldn't back down.
"I think we can change it."
"I don't want what you think, I want what I think!"
"Besides, I think Miss Soyo also wishes to perform this song..."
"...It seems your feeling isn't very accurate, Kamijo-kun~"
Soyo seemed to recall how this jerk had hit her with his ultimate move at point-blank range when they first met, and the smile on her face became even more "amiable."
Her, want to perform 'Haruhikage'? That was as ridiculous as the idea that her future husband would be the scumbag standing right in front of her!
"This song needs to be performed by the original members of CRYCHIC..."
"Haruhikage is a super great song! Kamijo-kun, you have such good taste!"
Soyo instantly threw her previous thoughts out the window.
"..."
I was wondering why fewer and fewer people are studying the intangible cultural heritage of "face-changing." Turns out you stole all the essence!
And then, the pressure shifted to Sakiko.
"..."
She had never thought that she would perform the song "Haruhikage" again, especially not with Tomori and the others.
"Sakiko..."
Mutsumi Wakaba, standing beside her, had a worried look on her face.
"I never thought we would have the chance to perform together again. Fate is truly a strange thing."
It had to be said, Great God Saki was Great God Saki. Her ability as a working adult to handle such situations was far beyond what these high school girls were capable of.
The moment all the girls looked at her, she had already perfectly managed her facial expression.
"Tomori. Just this once. I hope we can work well together."
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