Nagasaki Soyo was the first to walk through the door, smiling as she set down her heavy Bass case and looked toward them.
Being adept at reading the room, she instantly caught the unexpectedly harmonious atmosphere among the three people inside the room.
When parting ways yesterday, because of the problem that Tomori couldn’t bring herself to sing, everyone had parted on bad terms.
After returning home, Soyo had worried endlessly about this, fearing that little Tomori would collapse from the pressure, and also fearing that the Band would start developing cracks because of it, causing this group—which had finally given her a sense of belonging—to vanish into thin air once again like the relationships she had experienced in the past…
However, the scene before her eyes completely dispelled all her worries.
Soyo’s gaze swept in turn over Takamatsu Tomori, who was growing nervous as practice was about to begin, and Taki, who had regained her composure but was no longer tense…
Finally, her eyes came to rest on Ayanokōji Kiyotaka, who was quietly walking toward the corner of the room, preparing to observe from a position that wouldn’t disturb everyone’s practice.
The corners of Nagasaki Soyo’s lips, painted with light lip glaze, curved up slightly.
If only Tomori and Taki-chan were here, there is definitely no way their relationship could have eased up this quickly, right?
This manager of theirs was really unexpectedly capable.
…
…
“Clearly I made friends just like everyone else.”
“Clearly I’m together with everyone, yet I feel as if I’m all alone.”
“Clearly I want to live just like everyone else.”
“I want so badly to become a human~”
As the final closing notes of the Bass fell, the rehearsal room fell into a brief silence.
Just moments ago, the girls, who had formed the Band not long ago, jointly completed a full soundcheck rehearsal from beginning to end without any interruptions in the middle.
Such an unexpectedly smooth result caused the expressions on the girls’ faces to gradually transform from initial trepidation and concentration into joy, and finally into complete focus and enjoyment.
For this Band, which yesterday still had a stiff atmosphere and faced the crisis of a falling out, for their first complete ensemble to achieve such a degree of resonance was simply too delightful.
“Tomori!
I knew you’d be fine, desuwa!”
Toyokawa Sakiko was the first to put down her keyboard, excitedly lunging forward and pulling Takamatsu Tomori, who was still standing dazed in front of the microphone, into a tight embrace.
The smile on her face was as brilliant as the irises blooming in spring.
“You sang wonderfully, Tomori!”
Soyo also crowded over, sparing no praise of her own.
As for Takamatsu Tomori herself, she seemed still immersed in a daze, unable to believe she had actually sung through the entire song completely in front of everyone. New chapters come out on novelping.com first.
It wasn’t until the praises ringing in her ears grew more and more numerous that she snapped out of it in a daze.
The moment she reacted, her gaze didn’t first look at Sakiko, who was holding her and gently rocking her, or the gently smiling Soyo.
Instead, she looked at Ayanokōji Kiyotaka, who was walking out from the corner.
“No…
This is all Ayanokoji-kun’s credit…” Takamatsu Tomori said softly, looking into Ayanokouji’s eyes.
Ayanokouji walked up to her and stopped.
“I was just sitting in the corner acting as an audience member.
Being able to sing through it is entirely the result of you gathering your courage and working hard, Takamatsu.”
Takamatsu Tomori shook her head vigorously.
She looked at Ayanokouji, a light of trust flickering in her eyes: “It’s because…
Ayanokoji-kun was sitting right there, that’s why I was able to finish singing.”
“Just now when I was singing, there were a few times…
I almost couldn’t make a sound out of fear, but as long as I saw Ayanokoji-kun looking at me…
and remembered the things you said to me yesterday, I felt very at ease.”
“I felt that…
I had to convey the lyrics to you.”
Hearing Takamatsu Tomori’s somewhat direct declaration of bonds, the surrounding girls immediately let out a burst of good-natured chuckles.
“Tomori-kun says so, Ayanokoji-kun.”
Toyokawa Sakiko smiled and stepped forward, patting Ayanokouji’s shoulder, her eyes filled with sincere approval:
“I noticed it long ago as well, Ayanokoji-kun has this magical affinity that can completely put people at ease!”
“Thanks to you, Tomori-kun was able to shake off her nervousness desuwa.
With this, our Band can finally announce its official start!”
Even Taki on the side looked at Ayanokouji, grumbling tsundere-style, “Consider your word kept this time, so just honestly accept everyone’s praise.”
Wakaba Mutsumi also locked eyes with Ayanokouji, but her calm gaze still left Ayanokouji unable to read any of her thoughts.
Meeting everyone’s approving and even grateful gazes, Ayanokōji Kiyotaka stopped “shrugging it off”. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
But when he spoke again, he poured a basin of “cold water”:
“Since Takamatsu has already overcome her psychological barrier as the lead vocalist, as the manager, I need to point out a few problems in your ensemble just now.”
“Shiina, during the ensemble just now, your Bass drum rhythm rushed half a beat as you entered the chorus, which forced Nagasaki’s Bass to speed up to chase your rhythm, ultimately making the sound wall in the middle section appear very muddy.”
“And Wakaba, wasn’t your guitar strumming a bit too restrained?
It was completely covered up by the keyboard’s tone…”
To prevent crushing the confidence Takamatsu Tomori had built up with such difficulty, Ayanokouji did not review any issues concerning the lead vocalist.
The angle from which he pointed out the problems was also basically flaws in the instrumental section’s coordination, rather than blaming anyone’s ability or proficiency.
Faced with Ayanokouji’s sudden professional mode and the pile of problems pointed out in his calm tone, the girls froze in place all at once.
Toyokawa Sakiko and Nagasaki Soyo exchanged a glance, and then, they both chuckled with a “pfft”.
“Ayanokoji-kun, for girls, at a touching moment like this when we’ve just accomplished an amazing breakthrough, we’d much rather hear thorough praise for each other!”
“Reviewing things like this can wait until after we celebrate a little, you know.”
Nagasaki Soyo also chuckled and teased playfully.
“Is that so?”
Hearing this, a serious look of contemplation appeared on Ayanokouji’s poker face.
“I thought that when everyone is showing their achievements and progress, as the Band’s manager, I should demonstrate the necessity of my existence as soon as possible…”
Watching him analyze things with such deadpan seriousness, the girls laughed even more happily.
“What on earth is this guy doing…”
Shiina Taki closed her eyes and massaged her temples, but the corners of her mouth couldn’t stop curving upward.
Even Wakaba Mutsumi, who had always been as quiet as a doll, and Takamatsu Tomori, who had been scared out of her wits just moments ago, both had a slight arc curving up at the corners of their mouths.
Of course, happiness aside, regarding the serious problems raised by Mr.
Manager, this group of girls—who valued Band activities without exception—once again showed a serious attitude.
They began gathering around Ayanokouji, earnestly analyzing and discussing the rhythm problems and the youthful awkwardness in coordination he had just pointed out, and began making targeted improvements.
At the same time, it was also to let Takamatsu Tomori continue getting used to the feeling of singing into a microphone.
Striking while the iron was hot, the few of them began practicing over and over again.