🎸 LAST SOLO — 10 [Serialized Music Novel]

Episode 10: The Night Before the Finals—A Morning Welcomed by Five

One day left until the finals.

The four members of HOLLOW SCREAM finished their rehearsal, and while one might have expected them to head home while holding onto the lingering atmosphere of the studio, that was not the case.

However, no one wanted to go home.

The AI terminal 'NAOKI-II' sat next to Naoki's desk. Only its blue standby light flickered as if it were breathing quietly.

Yuri said softly,

'...We can't go home today, can we?'

Yuma laughed.

'Yeah, we can't. Tomorrow... we're going to stand on that stage with Naoki.'

No one added anything. Instead, they shared that sentiment in silence.

◆ 1. Yuma's Night—'The Words I Couldn't Say'

Yuma was standing in front of the locker, clutching Naoki's pick.

A pick with 'NAOKI NAKAZAWA' engraved in silver on a black background.

Yuma slowly wrapped his palm around it.

'...Hey, Naoki. I... I've been scared the whole time.'

It was the first time he had let out his vulnerability.

'I was scared... that I'd have to sing... even without you.'

It wasn't tears, but the tremor in his voice that captured his true feelings.

"But..."
"Tomorrow..."
"Sing with me."
"Even if it's AI, or anything else..."
"I want your sound."

I felt as if the pick had gained warmth.

◆ 2. Ryo's Night — "Jealousy and Regret"

Ryo held his bass,
plucking the strings without turning on the amp.

In the night studio,
only the low, dry sound of the strings echoed.

"...Hey, Naoki."

There was no reply.

"...You're... unfair."

For the first time, he poured out the feelings from the bottom of his heart.

"I... I've always wanted to beat you."
"In live shows, in songs, in sound."
"But..."
"To just disappear... before we could even compete..."
"That's... really... unfair."

These were words he had finally been able to say.

"I don't know how close the AI can get to you..."
"But tomorrow, I'm going to play with you..."
"As someone I don't want to lose to."

His voice was wet with tears.

◆ 3. Mio's Night — "Unfillable Regret"

Mio sat in front of NAOKI-II,
not even checking the code on her tablet,
just staring intently at the screen.

"...Hey, Naoki."

Mio continued, carrying a heavy weight of lead in her chest.

"You know..."
"I was worse than you."
"Not as a drummer..."
"But in how I put in the effort..."

The AI's waveform just sways quietly.

“That’s why... I thought that using AI to connect Naoki’s sounds might be... cowardly. But even so... I don’t want to let Naoki’s sound fade away...”

Mio clenched her fists.

“Tomorrow... we’ll finally be able to stand together. The four of us... and Naoki. Let’s stand on stage as five...”

◆ 4. Yuri’s Night — “A Wish Like a Prayer”

Yuri sat in front of the piano and played the chords of Naoki’s unfinished song one last time.

A weak, fleeting, yet warm sound drifted to the corners of the room.

“...Naoki.”

She closed her eyes and whispered.

“I wonder if your sound will really reach everyone tomorrow.”

Yuri gently placed her hands on the keys.

“If... if your sound resonates tomorrow... it won’t be a ‘miracle’... it will be the sound you were always trying to play... I’m sure of it.”

Gentle tears fell onto the keyboard.

◆ 5. And Then — Morning Came

Without anyone going home, the four of them sat on the studio floor, talking, crying, laughing, and occasionally falling silent as they spent the ‘night without Naoki.’

A faint light spilled through the gap in the small curtain of the small window.

Mio and Yuri returned after washing their faces and putting on makeup in the washroom.

Yuma stood up and gazed gently at the AI terminal.

The blue lamp lights up faintly, as if bathed in the morning sun.
Mio murmured.

Mio murmured.

"Well... shall we go? And by the way, did you two wash your faces and brush your teeth?"

Saying that, Mio looked at Ryo and Yuma.

Ryo slung his bass case over his shoulder and looked at Mio.

"Of course. Guys can finish that in a flash."

"Yeah."

Ryo and Yuma exchanged glances and nodded.

Yuri smiled, then took a deep breath.

"Naoki... we're in this together."

Yuma said quietly.

"Alright."
Let's go as five.
Together with Naoki!"

The moment the door opened,
the morning air was so cold it stung my chest.

But—
the steps we took were strong.

To be continued...

☆〜☆〜☆〜☆〜☆〜☆〜☆〜☆〜☆〜☆〜☆

Next time

Episode 11 "Doors Open—The Heartbeat Backstage"

・Tension in the venue
・Critical gazes
・A buzz of anticipation
・Anxiety toward AI
・The anomaly that occurs in the “final 5 minutes”

At last,
the moment Naoki's sound is challenged by the world.

☆〜☆〜☆〜☆〜☆〜☆〜☆〜☆〜☆〜☆〜☆
SUNO AI MUSIC
【Dawn of Five】
Lyrics, Composition, Arrangement: Echo.EXE

【Lyrics】

[Verse 1 - low, emotional]
Calling your name in the sleepless night
Still searching for an answer
The heat of that day remains
In the hand gripping the pick

[Pre-Chorus - rising]
Weakness and jealousy,
Regret and tears,
Turn it all, everything into sound
And hurl it toward tomorrow

[Chorus - powerful]
The morning we welcome as five
Together with his sound
It's okay to be lost and trembling
Let it resonate into the future
Proof that we are alive
I'll shout it on this stage
I won't leave you behind
Together forever—
LAST SOLO

[Verse 2 - low, emotional]
Trembling fingertips, but I won't let go
I don't need any logic
The overly gentle piano
Wraps around the prayer

[Pre-Chorus - rising]
Even if we stumble, even if we're scared,
Even on the nights we stood still,
Turn it all, everything into strength
And transform it into light

[Chorus - dramatic]
The morning we welcome as five
The continuation of his dream
I won't let it end unfinished
The sound you connected,
The broken future,
I'll set it in motion once more
Can you hear it?
Inside of us—
Naoki

[Bridge - sorrow + hope]
“Let's go, Naoki.
Let's sing together.
Tomorrow... as five.”

[Solo - crying guitar long]

[Final Chorus - explosive]
The morning we welcomed as five
The single note he plays
Embracing all the tears and shouts,
Pushing forward into the future
Don't forget
That I'm always by your side
I am alive
Together with us—
LAST SOLO!

[Outro - fading hope]
Blue light illuminates the dawn
Toward the morning we welcome as five

Thank you once again for staying with me until the end😊

　　　　　　Come back again(@^^)/~~~💕
　　　　　　　　　Fumino Asakura

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