While Taki went to prepare, the remaining four started chatting.
“Amaya-san, what made you think of coming to RiNG today?” Soyo asked gently, her voice soft.
Actually, she wanted to ask about Tomori directly but worried about upsetting her, so she chose to probe Amaya Yuu first.
This question also made Tomori and Anon look at Amaya Yuu simultaneously.
If Soyo hadn’t brought it up, Anon would have forgotten to ask about this.
As for Tomori, she had been silently following along and never thought to ask for the reason.
“Because I want to hold a live show myself, so I came to familiarize myself with the environment,” Amaya Yuu answered truthfully.
“Eh?!” This answer made both Tomori and Anon show surprised expressions.
“Didn’t Amaya-kun say before that you don’t play in a band?” Anon tilted her head in confusion.
“I’m not starting a band; I just want to perform solo,” he explained.
“I’ve suddenly developed an interest in music recently.”
“Hosting a live show yourself…
It seems Amaya-san is quite capable.” Soyo felt their interaction was interesting and covered her mouth with a light smile.
“Well…
I’ll be capable in the future.” He also smiled embarrassedly.
“But right now, I haven’t even decided whether to start learning with an acoustic guitar or an electric guitar.”
“Eh?
Does that mean Amaya-san doesn’t know how to play an instrument yet?”
“For now, that’s the case.” Amaya Yuu admitted frankly.
“Coming to see the performance venue before even starting to learn, Amaya-san is truly an interesting person.” Nagasaki Soyo covered her lips with her hand and chuckled again.
“What about Anon and Tomori?
Since Amaya-san plans to perform solo…”
“Ah, our club activity is at the planetarium, but it’s not time yet, so we came here to take a look with Amaya,” Anon explained for Tomori.
“And why did Classmate Nagasaki come to RiNG?”
“Just call me Soyo,” she corrected softly, a subtle, imperceptible resistance to the mention of her surname flashing across her brow.
“I’m here to meet Taki.
”
At this moment, Anon noticed the Tsukinomori school emblem embroidered on Soyo’s bag and asked curiously: “Is Soyo a student at Tsukinomori?
That legendary school for rich young ladies!”
Soyo maintained an elegant smile and answered calmly: “Yes, it is.”
“Wow!
It really is that school where only the children of politicians or celebrities can attend!” Anon exclaimed.
“Anon, you’re exaggerating.” Soyo shook her head lightly.
“Although there are indeed classmates from prominent families, I only enrolled in middle school, and my family background is just average.”
“Also, also, do Tsukinomori students really say ‘Greetings’ when they meet?”
“I suppose so…” Soyo paused, appearing slightly awkward; saying that phrase outside of school always made her feel a bit uncomfortable.
So she added, “I was scared when I first heard it too, but the girls who have attended Tsukinomori since kindergarten all say it, so I just learned it naturally.”
“Greet…
ings?” Amaya Yuu keenly captured this familiar word.
Yesterday in the Wind Ensemble Club training room, Togawa Sakiko seemed to have said this word too, only stopping halfway through.
Soyo was clearly somewhat distracted, her mind entirely on Tomori, only half-heartedly handling Anon’s endless questions.
“Just now, Amaya-san was talking to me about the previous band…”
Tomori’s voice was very soft, yet it made the air at the entire table instantly solidify.
“Wh-what?” The smile on Soyo’s face became difficult to maintain, and she subconsciously covered the corner of her mouth with her hand.
“Why bring this up all of a sudden?”
“Because I feel like Soyo is also just like I was before…” Tomori looked at Soyo, her eyes clear and direct.
“Still living in the shadow of CRYCHIC’s dissolution.”
“Blame that person who quit without saying anything!” Taki placed her drink heavily on the table, the cup and saucer making a harsh clattering sound.
“Sakiko caused everyone to be unable to move on until now!”
“No!
She must have her own reasons!” Soyo was finally unable to remain calm, her voice trembling slightly.
“No one is at fault…”
“Then why did it end up like this?” Taki’s tone became increasingly sharp.
“Causing Tomori to…”
Amaya Yuu and Anon exchanged a look, suddenly feeling the atmosphere take a sharp turn for the worse.
“No!” Tomori suddenly raised her voice, her hands clenching involuntarily.
“Arguing about who is right and who is wrong now has no meaning…”
“CRYCHIC has already dissolved…” Her voice trembled slightly, but she tried hard to keep it clear.
“During this time…
I have been running away.”
“Every time Anon or Soyo mentions the band, I subconsciously want to run away…”
“Whenever I think of the scene on the day Sakiko quit CRYCHIC, I get so scared that I tremble all over…”
She took a deep breath, her gaze passing over Soyo and Taki, finally landing on Amaya Yuu and Anon, who were encouraging her.
Her fingers were tightly clenched into fists, and her eyes gradually became firm: “But, just as Amaya-san told me, ‘Do not sigh for time that has passed!
On the road of life, the best way is to look forward and not look back.'”
“Since we are still standing here, since we can still meet…”
“I…
I want to try…
starting over!
With everyone…
forming a new band!” After finishing this sentence, she seemed to have exhausted all her courage, slightly lowering her head, yet unable to help but look up to see everyone’s reaction.
These words stunned everyone present.
Amaya Yuu looked at Tomori.
Although he didn’t know what happened before with CRYCHIC, for Tomori to be able to confess her inner thoughts was already a huge improvement for her.
A look of approval appeared in his eyes.
“Tomori…” Taki was the first to react.
Her eyes were filled with worry and heartache as she looked at Tomori, and she responded without hesitation, “Okay!
As long as it is Tomori’s wish, I will definitely join!”
A complex light flashed in Soyo’s eyes, and the frequency of her fingers fidgeting increased.
She was silent for a moment, then revealed a smile: “So that’s what you were thinking, Tomori…
I will join too.”
She counted on her fingers.
“I, little Tomori, and Taki missed out because CRYCHIC dissolved, but if we just drifted apart like that, it would be too regrettable.”
“This time we must communicate properly, and if we do that…
it will definitely be fine!”
“Tomori!
What about me?” Anon leaned forward impatiently, her eyes shining.
“Huh?
You?” Taki cast a questioning look.
“Anon too!” Tomori nodded vigorously, her gaze turning to Amaya Yuu.
“And Amaya-san…”
“Wait, count me out, right?” Amaya Yuu waved his hands quickly.
“A band full of girls, it would be too strange for me to join.”
But seeing Tomori’s eyes dim instantly and thinking about how Anon, with her guitar level, had volunteered, he felt he had no reason to refuse completely.
“However…” He had a flash of inspiration.
“I can be your manager!
How about acting as a “shadow member” who doesn’t go on stage?”
As soon as Amaya Yuu finished speaking, he immediately felt the system issue a task:
『Task: Our Bond』
『Task Content: Complete the band’s first live performance.』
『Task Time: Three months』
『Task Reward: Skill Upgrade Card * 1』
“Upgrade card?
Might as well give me points!
What use is this to me when I only have cooking as a skill?
Do I really have to develop in the direction of a chef?!”
But no matter how rich his inner monologue was, upon hearing Amaya Yuu’s words, Soyo let out a sigh of relief, and the movement of her stroking her nails slowed down.
“This time…
let’s be a band for a lifetime!” Tomori said word by word, her voice soft but exceptionally firm.
“I don’t want to separate like that again!”
“I swear, if it’s with Tomori, I’m willing to do it for a lifetime!” Taki immediately followed up, her eyes burning.
“I also swear.” Soyo looked at this scene before her, a gratified smile appearing at the corners of her lips.
“Wait!” Anon’s eyes widened, her brain unable to process it for a moment.
Forming a band suddenly was one thing, but how did it suddenly become “for a lifetime”!
“Wait, wait, wait, wait!
Do you know how long a lifetime is?
That’s a lifetime…”
“A lifetime, huh…” Amaya Yuu waved his hand, softly interrupting Anon.
“That’s a very, very long time.
Being off by a year, a month, a day, or even an hour doesn’t count as a lifetime.”
He paused, his tone becoming gentler.
“But if you think about it from another perspective, as long as you grasp every hour, every day, and every year properly and keep persisting, that is a lifetime.”
“So don’t rush to talk about a lifetime so far away; let’s do our best with every moment in front of us first!” As he spoke, he vigorously ruffled Tomori’s hair.
Tomori looked up at Amaya Yuu, her eyes shining: “Okay!”
“Don’t take advantage of Tomori, you guy!” Taki shouted and lunged at Amaya Yuu.
“Taki, that is really rude!” Soyo exclaimed.