🎸 LAST SOLO — 8 [Serialized Music Novel]

Episode 8: To Naoki's Family—Forgiveness and Atonement

Four days until the finals.

The four members of HOLLOW SCREAM were heading to Naoki's family home.

Using "Naoki's sound" via AI.
Performing "his unfinished song" at the finals.

They wanted to properly convey this
to Naoki's family.

It wasn't something to hide.

But there was no guarantee they would get permission.

◆ 1. The Entrance of Naoki's House

"…Let's go."

Yuma's voice was trembling.

When they pressed the intercom,
Naoki's mother, Yukiko Nakazawa, came out.

Her shoulders were a little thin.

But her eyes were strong.

As soon as she saw Yuma's face,
Yukiko smiled gently.

"...Yuma-kun.
Everyone... you came."

When they were shown into the room,
a photo of Naoki was displayed.

Naoki smiling while holding his guitar at a live show.

Next to it was a photo taken with the members.

Ryo's eyes turned red.

◆ 2. The Will to Confess

For a while, idle conversation continued.
However, there was only one main point they wanted to convey.

Yuma could not bear it any longer and placed his hands on his knees.

...Um, Yukiko-san. About Naoki's... 'sound'...

Yukiko looked at them with gentle eyes.

Yes.

Mio slowly searched for the right words.

We want to perform Naoki-kun's unfinished song at the finals. And... we want to have an AI learn from the guitar recordings Naoki left behind, reconstruct his timing and phrasing... and have him stand on stage with us.

She had said it.

A heavy silence fell.

Only the sound of the clock's second hand ticking quietly.

◆ 3. A Mother's Tears

Yukiko stared at the photo of Naoki.

Her hands were trembling.

...So that's what you were thinking about.

Yuri couldn't help but speak up.

...It might be selfish of us. But... we don't want Naoki-kun's sound to fade away...

Ryo also bit his lip.

It's not just an AI imitation. We want to show everyone—and show Naoki—what lies 'beyond' his sound. That's what we believe.

Yukiko gently wiped the corners of her eyes.

...You know, Naoki said something a week before he... before that day.

The four of them gasped.

'"I don't want to be left behind by everyone in the band yet," he said.'

The tears that were about to spill from Yuma's eyes fell.

'...Naoki...'

Yukiko smiled gently as tears streamed down her face.

'You see, Naoki,'
making music and songs with you all,
was the happiest thing in the world for him.'

A few seconds of silence—

'So.'
Please keep it going.'

The four of them could not hold back their tears.

'Take Naoki's sound...'
within yourselves,
and carry it into the future.'

◆ 4. Father's Words

From the back room,
Naoki's quiet father, Tsuyoshi, appeared.

He was a man who usually didn't show much emotion.

But for the first time in a while, he faced the members.

'...Naoki, you know.'
He always said he had no confidence.'

Yuma looked up.

'He probably put on a brave face in front of you all... but'
he practiced with his guitar every night.
As if clinging to his dream.'

His father cast his gaze down at the photo of Naoki.

'So... '
in place of my son who couldn't live on,
I want you all to carry Naoki's dream for him.'

His father clenched his fists,

“I’m counting on you... Naoki’s friends.”

All the members looked at Naoki’s father.
And after a few seconds of silence,

“Actually, after Naoki was gone,
I thought about not going to the venue.”

Saying this, Naoki’s father, Tsuyoshi, looked at his wife, Yukiko.

Yukiko, sensing what her husband Tsuyoshi was going to say next, nodded silently.

“...Yeah... but after hearing your intentions,
we’ve decided to go to the venue too. Please let Naoki stand on that stage, too!”

The moment he heard those words,
Yuma cried out loud.

Ryo, Mio, and Yuri were also crying.

◆ 5. The four who were “forgiven” become stronger

On the way home,
Yuri said while wiping away the traces of her tears.

“...Naoki-kun’s parents are strong...”

Mio laughed while sniffling.

“Yeah....
Even though they are the ones who are hurting the most.
Let’s have them listen to Naoki’s sound...”

Ryo looked up at the sky.

“That’s right... Naoki’s sound isn’t dead yet.
It’s alive...
Let’s get his parents, who were Naoki’s mentors, to acknowledge us.
Naoki was also... desperately... doing his best.
Naoki II is also doing his best right now... well, AI doesn’t really have ‘desperate.’ But right now, I acknowledge him,
Naoki II.
He’s doing his best, too.”

Ryo looked up at the sky and held back his tears.

Yuma muttered as he walked.

“That ‘desperation’...
is something we have to inherit.”

And finally, he said,

“Let’s take Naoki...
to the stage of the finals.”

Everyone nodded.

To be continued...

Next time

Episode 9: "The Final Rehearsal—When AI Surpasses 'Naoki's Shadow'"

The AI is still "incomplete."
However, a "miraculous" moment arrives just before the performance.

Naoki's song
takes on a life of its own within the AI.

☆〜☆〜☆〜☆〜☆〜☆〜☆〜☆〜☆〜☆〜☆
SUNO AI MUSIC
[Missing Piece]
Lyrics, Composition, Arrangement: Echo.EXE

[Verse 1]
No one could move
the time that had stood still
Beyond the smiling photograph
I felt like I could still hear you calling

I should have been able to become stronger
by embracing even my weaknesses
What I realized after losing you
is screaming deep inside my chest

[Pre-Chorus]
"I don't want to be left behind"
The echo of that day
still pushes me forward—

[Chorus]
Missing piece
Still incomplete
Even if I draw the future with missing notes
because your voice
is here with me
I can keep walking
even while crying

Missing piece
It's okay if it can't be filled
because even the pain is my companion now
We will show you
the continuation of your dream

[Verse 2]
Even if it's a wrong choice
I want to believe it will reach you
No matter what tomorrow comes
I will keep playing without running away

Letting it resonate along with my tears
loving even the trembling notes
I want to choose the days we connected
not the days we lost

[Pre-Chorus]
The phrase you left behind
is still ringing in my heart
An unstoppable heartbeat

[Chorus]
Missing piece
Even if it's still not enough
I don't mind if the notes remain incomplete
If you are here
even this pain
will turn into a song
I will cross over the night

Missing piece
Because it can't be filled
we are still searching for you
We will play the endless continuation
together

[Bridge]
Smiling and saying "Go"
a voice pushing my back
It reaches me, it's reaching me
Naoki—

[Final Chorus – Key UP]
Missing piece
It's okay to remain incomplete
While holding the pain of your absence
I will make the continuation of your dream
resonate
I will connect the future
with these hands

Missing piece
Always—by your side

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

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

#MelodicSpeedMetal
#NeoclassicalMetal
#GuitarSolo
#HighToneVocals
#OriginalSong
#SUNO
#SUNOAI
#AIMusic
#AIandCreation
#Lyrics
#Creation
#Music
#Rock
#Sad
#Loss
#ChatGPT