[Binge-Read/Full-Length Novel] "Love Songs for You 2"

This is an article that compiles the full-length novel "Love Songs for You 2" (16 episodes in total) so you can read it all the way through (some parts in the middle have been cut and reordered. Other than that, there have been overall revisions).
The theme is "encouraging people to awaken". It is a very satisfying story. Recommended for those who have doubts about current society, those who feel that living is difficult, and those who are dissatisfied with society. Please give it a read🥰

<<Synopsis (738 characters)>>

First half (approx. 42,000 characters):

1. <Reika>

--So, what do you think? Let me hear your thoughts, Reika.
I read the sign language, the new means of communication for Takumi, who had lost his voice, and crossed my arms, troubled for a moment.

During the long holiday, the first street live concert by the new Southern Cross ended in great success. I had no complaints about that; in fact, I even felt proud. But the problem was what happened after.

I was called to the music agency, and I braced myself, certain they would tell me, "It's time you went back to being a solo artist." However, what came out of the president's mouth was an unexpected proposal for a "major debut for Southern Cross." It seems the president had seen a video of our street live concert through others and thought we would "sell" based on our ability to attract a crowd.

If this invitation had come when I was in my twenties, how great that would have been. Back then, I was the only one scouted, which caused the band to break up. The members held a grudge against me for a long time, but it is ironic that now, thirty-some years later, I am getting the offer for a "major debut" that I had wanted back then.

If this were just a story about reuniting, I would have jumped at it with joy. But we gathered because of Takumi's illness, and we are here having overcome his loss of voice. We have rediscovered the joy of expressing our own music, and just as we are about to set off as the new Southern Cross, being asked "Why don't you make a major debut?" only leaves me confused.

Everyone agrees that if we want to sell our name, we should accept it. However, our current goal is limited to expressing our inner thoughts. Stepping into the major world also means willingly accepting the creation of music that is far from one's own will. I couldn't imagine Takumi and Tomo-kun, who have been active in the indie scene because they hated that, nodding in agreement. No, I myself have reached the same conclusion as them now. Ever since I debuted as a professional, I have made many songs just as the agency told me to, but when I listen to them again, I can see that they don't contain "my thoughts" at all. It is clear that it is meaningless to return to the major world without being satisfied with my own work music.

If you ask why I need to worry, it's because I can imagine what will happen if I refuse this invitation. Simply put, "bullying" will begin. We probably won't be able to appear in major music events, and there is a fear that bad rumors will be spread. If that happens, our activities will be restricted, and "world domination" will be a dream within a dream.

"The power of the media is that powerful and terrifying..."
When I summarized my thoughts and explained them to the two, both Tomo-kun and Takumi sighed as if dumbfounded and looked at each other.

"We aren't the kind of people to be afraid of that now."

--That's right. The one who probably needs to make up their mind is Reika. If you intend to keep working with us in the indie world, I want you to kick the offer away. Just like when you decided to do street live concerts, turning down work that came through the agency.

"............"

"The indie scene has its own way of doing things, and we have things that can't be bought with money. We will never bow to the pressure of the music industry."
Takumi also nodded at Tomo-kun's words.

--When all is said and done, many artists say their debut song was the best. ...Yes, everyone has their soul in it at first. But as they sell, their soul is drained out. We don't want to become like that, and I don't want you to walk that path anymore, Reika. ...I mean, if you trust us, there's nothing to be afraid of, right?

I feel relieved seeing their powerful words and the intensity in their eyes.
"I'm so glad I'm with you two after all... If you can say it that clearly, I can turn them down just as cleanly."

In any case, I had thought that once the street performance was over, I would need to have a discussion with the agency. They offered good terms, but since we intend to achieve 'world domination' together, confronting existing organizations is inevitable. Even if it goes against industry norms.

I say this while looking at their faces in turn.
"I'm quitting the agency. I feel bad for the president, but receiving this offer made me realize I have the talent to make a major debut, and I actually felt a positive response during the street performance. If I'm going to quit, now is the time."

Takumi and Tomo-kun widened their eyes, but immediately grinned at each other.

2. <Takumi>

Her expression, filled with resolve, was impressive. Even without saying it out loud, she must have had options prepared for how to act if this day ever came, long before now. Rejecting the 'kindness' of the agency that had taken care of her for years and declaring that she would go indie is by no means easy. However, Reika has a proven track record. We do too. I know that as long as there are people there, and as long as there is a singing voice and a guitar, we can do anything. This confidence isn't something that can be broken easily. Especially in my case, having returned from the brink of death.

I thought I had done everything I wanted to do. I shouldn't have had any regrets even if I died. But that was my own personal story, and it wasn't until the moment of my death that I realized I hadn't responded to the feelings of the two people who wanted to create a new world with me. It was honestly painful to have to give up my voice as the price for my survival, but when I saw their smiles, I felt it wasn't such a bad trade.

That was also when I learned the meaning of living. I never would have realized in my whole life that this life, which seems so small, could be useful for making someone happy, if I hadn't been on the verge of death. I haven't told them properly yet, but I believe this realization is what I should be broadcasting to the world.

I nudge Tomoatsu and move my hands slightly.
--I have a favor to ask... There's a song I want you to sing in my place.

"In Takumi's place?"

--Yeah. Your powerful voice fits the image better than Reika's beautiful voice. ...You'll take responsibility for keeping me alive, won't you?

"If you put it that way, I can't refuse... Okay. I'll do anything if it's a request from our leader. So, what kind of song is it?"

When asked, I hand over the lyrics and the sheet music and immediately start playing the guitar. I play rhythmically while singing in my heart. Reika watches with a smile as Tomoatsu sways his body while humming along.

"It's a really good song. You're right, for those lyrics, your voice is definitely better than mine, Tomo-kun. Hey, play it one more time. I'll play along this time."
Reika didn't even wait for our reply, grabbed her guitar, and started matching the sound.

Tomoatsu sings the same song two or three times to our accompaniment. It's a beautiful voice that I fall in love with more every time I hear it. During the Wing era, I was the main vocalist due to the nature of the songs, but starting with 'Old & New World,' whenever Tomoatsu's singing began, everyone would shift into a posture of listening to a 'cry of the soul.' While envying Tomoatsu's talent, I could literally only sing until my throat was hoarse.

As I was thinking about that, I heard Tomoatsu mutter.
"You still wanted to sing, didn't you... The lyrics are packed with your desire to sing."

I certainly put my feelings into it. But it was just my own way of expressing what I think about in this life that has entered extra time. Now that I'm used to a life where I've completely lost my voice, the feeling of wanting to sing with my own voice has faded quite a bit. I convey the reason through sign language.

--Nah. Since it's properly expressed through your voice, I have no regrets. Now, your voice is the same as mine. We are one in body and soul. Isn't that right?

"I see... If that is atonement for keeping you alive at the cost of your voice, then I must continue to be your 'voice actor' until you die. Well, that's fine. If I sing while feeling your thoughts, I will naturally sing like you. ...Ah, ah. If that's the case, should I ruin my throat a little more?"

—I wouldn't recommend that. You could really hurt your throat.

"I'm joking. I've seen you lose your voice, and unlike you, taking care of my throat is a hobby of mine."

I reflexively nudged him at those words, but knowing I was entirely responsible for how things turned out, I decided to channel my rising anger toward myself into my guitar.

3. <Tomonori>

In my long musical life, I have never felt this peaceful. The sound born from a stable heart is gentle and beautiful, making our life together as a trio even richer.

Perhaps because there is so little stimulation, I haven't felt the passion to create new music lately. Then, Takumi handed me a song that could be taken as a "challenge" to the current world, and I suddenly felt exhilarated. That's right. This life is a solid foundation necessary for taking a new step forward. With this "home for the heart" that we can always return to as a foothold, we must begin our "world conquest." That is our mission as musicians.

"Takumi. Can I add a little more to the lyrics at the end and sing it? If we're going to do it, let's make it even more radical."

—Oh, you're getting into it, aren't you? Of course, keep changing it however makes it easier for you to sing.

Takumi replied happily in sign language. When I added the lyrics I had thought of to the end and sang it, he expressed his joy with exaggerated applause.

—That's awesome. I guess someone who has been lamenting this world for thirty years is different. Yeah, let's go with that.

"Then, I'll add the lyrics. ...By the way, it seems the title hasn't been decided yet?"

—About that. I'm a bit stuck... I was thinking of something like "Scream" or "Burn Your Soul."

"That doesn't quite feel right... How about something simple like 'Compass'? Written as a compass."

Following Rei-chan's suggestion, I added the title along with the lyrics. When I looked at the whole thing, I felt like this was the only choice. Takumi seemed to feel the same way.

—I was thinking of a punchy title, but that works.

"Yeah. I think this is good too."

"Hey, hey. If that's the case, why don't we record it right away?"

"Okay."
We replied and started to move.

In this house where the three of us live, there is a music studio that we renovated when we moved in. Although it was second-hand, a significant amount of money was needed for the purchase and renovation of the house, but most of it was funded by Rei-chan. In the hands of someone who has been active in the major world, a house in a local city seems like a cheap purchase. However, if she is finally going to "graduate" from her agency, we will need to keep in mind that we might have to dip into our savings or perform at local events to cover our living expenses, just like when we were living together in Takumi's room.

Even so, we dare to choose to work as an indie band. It's enough to have our fun daily life as a trio. As long as the three of us are together, we can manage most things, and I am convinced that our voices will reach people even without relying on flashy advertisements.

*

Our recording equipment is well-stocked. This is also a gift of Rei-chan's financial power and professional eye for quality. We can't do elaborate arrangements, but as an acoustic guitar band, we intend to win on that basis anyway. As proof, we own enough guitars to be able to choose the right one for each song.

I feel satisfied watching Takumi choose a guitar perfectly suited for our new song, "Compass," without hesitation. Rei-chan also selects a guitar that will bring out the sound of the one Takumi chose, and slings it over her shoulder.

I take a drink of water from a two-mouth plastic bottle to clear my throat. Rei-chan prepares the equipment, and after her signal, the recording begins with Takumi's performance.

#

I'm a singer who lost my voice, but still a lingering musician. I have my guitar, so I'll use this to convey my thoughts.

Until I clear this cloudy world with my songs and guitar, we will keep on singing.

Even if everyone says to follow the crowd, we will never do it. Following the compass of our hearts, we will walk our own path.

Those who realize that others' words have no value will start to awaken. The voice of the "true self," a world in motion, listen to the ramblings of a nameless man.

##

I'm a singer who lost my voice, but still a lingering musician. I have my friends, so we'll use this to convey our thoughts together.

Until I clear this rotten world with my songs and guitar, we will keep on singing.

Even if they say "Do your best, you can do it," we have our limits and can't do it. Before your heart breaks, throw away common sense.

Those who realize that his words are full of lies will start to awaken. A voice from the soul, a world without lies, listen to the ramblings of us nameless citizens.

The compass you were handed, is it the real thing? What lies in the direction the needle points? Hope, or is it... d-e-s-p-a-i-r? If you don't like it, let's tell them! The ramblings! The nonsense! The truth! Come on!

#

This moment, where the three of us are perfectly in sync in breath and spirit, is irresistible. And I soak in the joy of being able to sing the lyrics written by Takumi, who returned from the brink of death. This is the cry of the soul. A challenge letter to society. Even if people who hear it dismiss it as "dangerous thinking," we will sing it again and again, anywhere. As long as we have our voices as instruments, and these guitars in our hands.

"Tom-kun, you're so full of life. It's decided that Tom-kun will be the main vocalist for Southern Cross!" Rei-chan said excitedly after we finished the first recording. "The president of the agency I belong to will be so frustrated."

"With this, I can settle a grudge thirty years in the making. No matter how much money they offer, I will keep saying no."

Turning down an offer that looks like a huge opportunity from the outside just to feel satisfied... I say this myself, but it sounds like a line from a light novel protagonist, which is laughable. In reality, I don't care if the other party is frustrated or not. What we, having aged, seek is no longer money or fame. It is to encourage people's awakening through the cries of our souls. It is to increase the number of people who stand up.

"I won't let sacred music be |defiled| any further. I won't let it be exploited."
As she declared this, Rei-chan lowered her eyes and sighed softly.

"...Takumi's lyrics and Tomo-kun's words... Once I knew the passionate feelings of you two, I started wanting to rewrite the songs I've written so far. Oh... all of this and that..."

"Rei-chan..."

"At this age, all the works from my younger days feel poorly made. Don't you think? Oh, it's too embarrassing to leave them as they are...! Alright! Once I finish recording 'Compass', I'll start working on them right away!"

The appearance of Rei-chan saying such things is still from her "younger days," so the gap makes me want to laugh again. But I like the Rei-chan who has shed her old skin. Takumi also moves his hands happily.

—Then, if we can arrange Reika's younger works nicely, let's perform them on the street along with "Compass." If the reaction is good, we can sing them at a live house.

"That's right! Then, shall we play 'Compass' one more time!"

We, who were shown a wonderful smile by her, returned it with full smiles. A peaceful daily life. However, I think somewhere in my heart that these days might be the last of their kind. For us who have decided to fight with our songs and guitars, trials beyond our imagination are likely waiting. Even so, we will stand up to bring back the smiles of the people who heard our songs. Even if smiles were to disappear from us...

4. <Reika>

"I won't know what happens after this, okay...?"

It didn't even take a week for the last words I exchanged with the president to become reality. First, my contract was terminated by the vocal trainer I had been visiting regularly. Even when I asked for the reason, they just said "I'm sorry" and wouldn't tell me anything in detail. I tried contacting another coach, but the reaction was the same. It was then that I realized the agency I had left was trying to exclude me.

However, my companions don't seem to care much, as if they think it's "within expectations." For them, who have been independent from the start, relying on themselves is normal. Their way of thinking is fundamentally different from mine, as I have belonged to and followed an organization. I think I understand it in my head. But I just can't settle down.

As I was leaning against the sofa in the living room, looking up at the ceiling, Takumi peered into my face.
—Shall I guess what you're thinking?

Takumi said that in sign language and sat down next to me.

—You're anxious because you won't be able to do music activities as you wish, but you're confused because we are so carefree. ...Am I wrong?

"...You're right."

—Don't worry. As long as we're alive, we'll always find a way out. Trust us.

"...Even so, I can't stay as composed as you guys."

"That's probably because you're a major label artist, Rei-chan."
Tomo-kun joined in.
"Between Takumi's recovery, moving here, and our street performances, we've been so busy lately that we haven't had time to socialize, but we have plenty of indie friends. We're also close with the staff at the live houses. That's why Takumi and I can be so confident."

Hearing Tomo-kun's words, Takumi nodded with a smile, as if to say, "That's exactly it!"

"Friends... huh."

Thinking back, I had always fought alone. Everyone in the industry was a rival. Even if I made a friend, they were usually too kind to endure the harshness of the industry and would leave, and before I knew it, there was no one left I could trust.

I had been able to keep going thanks to the fans who supported me and the "God" who watched over me from the shadows, but now that I had graduated from being "Singer-Songwriter Reika," the words and songs from God no longer came down to me. Since the bullying from the major label world had started just as I was feeling lonely from not hearing that familiar voice, it was impossible not to feel anxious.

When I looked down, Tomo-kun crouched down and looked me straight in the face.
"Rei-chan, you're the diva we've recognized, aren't you? There's no way the people who have been interacting with us since the Wing era wouldn't accept you. It's okay. Everyone is truly good-natured. You don't need to be afraid of anything."

Looking at the sparkle in his eyes, it was clear he was telling the truth.

"…I wonder if they'll really accept me. Someone like me who used to be on a major label."

—I'll make them accept you.
Takumi also moved his hands with a look full of confidence.

"…I understand. If you say that much, then let me meet them. I want to greet them properly."

"Of course. Or rather, I've been waiting for the day you'd say that. Right, Takumi?"
Takumi nodded vigorously, then took my arm and stood up.

—Let's go, right now.

"Wait, right now...?"

—You know what they say, strike while the iron is hot, right?

"…………"

"There's no time to worry, Rei-chan. Life is finite, after all."

Hearing Tomo-kun's words, I met Takumi's eyes. Perhaps because I was looking at him with anxiety, Takumi shook his head as if to say, "Don't look at me with those eyes," and held me.

I can hear the heartbeat from Takumi's chest. Thump, thump, thump... As I felt it beating rhythmically, Tomo-kun said.

"…It's true that the time we can spend together has been extended. But this time won't last forever. …If Takumi could speak, he would surely say that, and I think so too."

"That's true... Being able to feel Takumi's body temperature isn't something to be taken for granted, is it?"
As if to say, "That's right," his arms held me tightly.
"Thank you, Takumi. Tomo-kun. Please teach me all about the indie world."

"Okay."
Tomo-kun answered happily and handed me and Takumi our guitars.

--As expected of Tomoatsu. You, who have perfectly put my feelings into words, are now my soulmate.

"Hmph... Your thoughts are simple, after all. Your patterns of speech are easy to guess."
Tomo-kun, having read Takumi's sign language, replied as such and looked away, but both I and Takumi know that he just can't honestly express his happiness.

Takumi sighed as if exasperated, but he hugged Tomo-kun's shoulder more happily than he did with me, and headed toward the entrance.

5. <Takumi>

Evening. We visited the live house while they were preparing to open. As soon as we entered, a voice called out, "Ah!"

"Takumi-san, Tomo-san... right? It's been a while! Did you come to see today's live show?"
It was Eugene, a bandman who works part-time here. He's a cute guy we met about five years ago who looks up to us like older brothers.

"Today, I wanted to introduce Rei-chan, who debuted in the majors, to our indie friends and the staff here."
When Tomoatsu explained the reason for our visit, Eugene jumped up and did a victory pose.

"Then, you can introduce me too, right! I'm so glad I'm working today! I've always wanted to talk to Reika-san someday! ...My name is Eugene. I play electric guitar in a band called Black Box. I fell in love at first sight after seeing Wing's live show seven years ago, and I convinced my bandmates that we absolutely had to play here... After that, a lot happened, but ever since our dream of playing on the same bill came true, we've been getting along great."

"So your name is Eugene-kun. I'm Rei..."

"Ah! You don't even have to introduce yourself...! I know Reika-san very well. After all, you two were the people the two of them were always... viewing as rivals. I never thought you'd be performing together with Reika-san under your old band name... All the band friends who gathered at the year-end live show were surprised. I wanted to hear about that that day, but someone saw Tomo-san leaving the shop looking unwell, so we were all worried. And then we stopped seeing you around..."

"Ah... That was my bad... Thanks to everyone, as you can see, I've returned rejuvenated."
Tomoatsu grinned and put his arm around my shoulder.
"Takumi lost his voice, but other than that, he's super energetic."

"What!! Takumi-san, you lost your voice!! Is it an illness or something? I loved your raspy voice, so that's a shame... Could that be why you haven't shown your face here for a while?"

"Well, I suppose that's about right..."

"I see..."
Eugene sighed, looking truly disappointed. It's painful for me too that I can't live up to expectations, but if I hadn't traded my voice, I would have died, and if that had happened, I wouldn't have been able to meet anyone, let alone speak, so it couldn't be helped.

--Don't worry. Even if I can't sing, Tomoatsu will sing for me, and I'll make everyone happy with my guitar playing instead.

When I spoke in sign language, Tomoatsu read it and conveyed it to Eugene. He muttered, "So you really can't speak..." but then said, "Well then, since you're here, please book the next live show too. I'll go call the owner," and started heading toward the back of the shop.

"That won't be necessary."
I don't know how long he had been there, but the owner was standing right nearby without needing to be called.

"Ah, owner. Southern Cross is here..."

"Eugene. How long are you going to keep talking? Get back to preparing for opening."

"Eek...! Understood..."
Intimidated by the stern look, Eugene hunched his shoulders and scurried back to work.

"Now then..."
The owner turned back to us and brushed back his long bangs. That gesture was a precursor to bad news. Both Tomoatsu and I braced ourselves.

"Let me be blunt. Unfortunately, I must ask you to refrain from coming to Southern Cross from now on. You know why, right? Honestly, it pains me. But I am the owner of this place. I have no choice but to do this to protect the other bands. Please understand."

"............!"

We looked at each other. To think we would be told we were "banned" by the owner... It was easy to imagine why this had happened, but honestly, it felt like, "You've got to be kidding me!" As if to speak for me, Tomoatsu flared up.

"Huh?! Why? Are you trying to exclude us, who have been singing here since the very beginning?! I thought you were on our side all this time...!!"

"That's why I said it pains me. Of course, personally, I intend to remain on your side, and I still have the desire to support you in the future. It's just that I can't let you sing here."

"Is that... an instruction from the music agency I used to belong to?"
To Reika's question, the owner only muttered, "I'll leave that to your imagination."

"...I'm disappointed. I believed that the owner, if no one else, would fight against the majors no matter what happened."

"That was back when I was young. Now that this place has become a venue where so many band members come and go, the shop is many times more important than the ambitions of a single band."

We, who formed our band at the same time this live house was founded, are the same age as the owner. Because we have known each other for so long, he was one of the people I trusted most. To be told by that owner that we were banned from the live house... This pain in my chest and the feelings akin to anger and hatred were the same as what I felt when I was betrayed by Reika.

Tomoatsu continued to glare at him and said,
"...Are you abandoning us?"

"I will do what I can to help you survive. In exchange, do not set foot in here. ...At least until the heat dies down."

"Ugh... Hey, Takumi, why don't you say something too...?"

--You've already said everything I wanted to say... And besides... my anger wouldn't even be one-tenth conveyed through sign language...

Even if I could, I would want to argue back. But I didn't feel like I could express these emotions well in sign language.

Yes, we are furious. But what about Reika? She probably feels responsible for how things turned out. As proof, Reika has been looking down ever since.

--It's not your fault. It's okay. When we were young, things like this were an everyday occurrence. But we always managed to get by somehow. So, I'm sure we'll manage this time too.

"...I'm sorry."
Perhaps because we were unreliable, Reika apologized quietly.

"I'll allow you to say your final goodbyes. But leave before we open."
After saying that, the owner whispered something to a man nearby and left.

6. <Tomotoku>

We left the shop immediately, as we were in no mood for final farewells.

“Sorry, Rei-chan...”
I apologized for failing to achieve our original goal. Of course, there was no way Rei-chan would care about such a thing, but I made the first move because I didn't want her to feel responsible.
“I feel so restless, I want to go sing somewhere right now...”

“Yeah... I want to sing, too.”

—Well then, I'll play when we get back home. To be honest, I wanted to play right away, but there are too many police officers patrolling in the city...

“Man, what a troublesome world it’s become...”

Back when we were students, we could freely play and sing on the streets, but lately, you can't perform in public without getting a permit. It’s not that strict in the countryside, but in the city, police officers wander around every night, calling out to young people hanging out. It would be fine if it helped prevent crime, but from a musician's perspective, I feel that with each passing year, our "freedom of expression" is being stripped away, and life is becoming harder to live.

People keep a lid on their rising thoughts and emotions, which only makes the frustration build up, yet there are those who don't understand that. Including me, the vast majority of this country is now on the verge of eruption. If our frustrations were to erupt all at once, I doubt anyone could stop it.

Our mission is to draw these frustrated people to our side and, together, say "NO" to the people who steal our freedom. To do that, we must stop being obedient livestock, think for ourselves about how to make this a country that is easier to live in, and take action.

Just doing as you're told is certainly easy. But the price you pay is having your free speech taken away, being incited to compete, being driven by the clock, and being made sick in both mind and body. Is there happiness in that? My answer is "NO."

(I saved a man who was on the verge of death with a song. I'll prove that there's nothing we can't do...!)

I glanced sideways at a police officer calling out to some young people squatting and chatting in front of the station.
“...Tch. We aren't even allowed to speak freely outside? This world is rotten.”

—Hey, hey, the you from a little while ago is starting to show, isn't he? I understand how you feel, but don't you dare spit on anything, okay?

Perhaps because I said it with such bitterness, Takumi physically blocked my path.
“No way. My weapons are my song and my guitar, right? ♪ Spit on this boring life, end this boring world...”

Instead of actually spitting, I sang the chorus of "Old & New World" at a volume loud enough for the police officer to hear.

7. <Reika>

Although the restlessness of that day cleared up by singing, the reality that our performance locations were restricted remained unchanged, and I didn't wake up feeling good the next morning.

“With you making that face right in front of me, I can't even get my food down...”
The brunch I had prepared in a daze, just going through the motions, must not have tasted good. Tomo-kun said it as if he were sighing.

I understand that you want to dwell on what happened yesterday. But you have to shift your mindset.

That's right. Just because the live house we favor went under doesn't mean all other methods are dead. We'll have to scramble, but we'll definitely find collaborators. Besides, we aren't connected by money, so we should be strong in times like these... or so I hope!

Takumi, seemingly more concerned with his hunger, calmly tosses ham and eggs into his mouth while watching my dejected face.

No connections, no real track record, no fame... We two have worked our way up from nothing to here, haven't we? Don't you think that now, with connections, friends, and a decent amount of skill and fame, we can definitely make it work?

His confident demeanor was reliable.
If you say it with that look on your face, I feel like we can make it work. ...You looked like a ghost when you asked me to reform the band about a year ago, but now you're like a completely different person.

Well, that's because now I believe in the power of song more than anyone... especially the power created by our shared feelings. Having returned from the brink of death, I'm invincible.

Tomo-kun, listening next to us, also nodded vigorously.

*

No matter how difficult the situation, we just keep singing. Because songs will never betray us... That was how the two of us thought. Now that I think about it, it's all common sense. Yet, I had forgotten even such a basic thing.

You had to sell your soul to stay active in the major scene for a long time, right? Now, you should just think of this as a recovery period for that sold soul and take it easy to recharge.

I receive words of sympathy from Takumi, who, before the band formed, would likely have even despised me for the way I earned money back then. I feel like crying at the kindness of a man who has gained a heart broad enough to forgive everything.

To live up to his feelings, I have no choice but to sing with all my heart. Regardless of whether it's major or indie, I must become the bridge so that the day will come when everyone can sing their voices and feelings from the soul...

Thank you, Takumi. Thanks to you, I can see the world I should be aiming for. I will sing to make this a world where everyone who loves music can sing freely, without any constraints. I will assert this openly and squarely in public.

That's the spirit. Reika, you have the power to begin with. There's nothing you can't do.

Yeah. That's exactly why I was jealous of you, in a way...

Tomo-kun, who had continued to resent me until Takumi actually collapsed, now acknowledges my abilities as well.
Well then, if that's the case, let's get started in earnest.
Tomo-kun, who had been relaxing after his meal, stood up from his chair.I'll go submit the road usage permit as a change of pace. It'll be fine. There are definitely people who will appreciate our songs and performances.

8. <Takumi>

We've come to the front of the station to perform a street live. Since I got the road usage permit during the day, we can play without reservation today.

The three of us sing and play as usual. Just as we thought, even though the lockout from the major industry has begun, the reactions of the people passing by are no different than before. People who stop to listen, people who pass by indifferently, people who listen enough to call out "You suck!"... Everyone is just as they always are.

*

It had been about an hour since I started playing. A man of about thirty wearing a fedora walked straight toward me without hesitation and stopped right in front of me. He took off his hat and bowed.

“I knew you’d be singing here. That saved me the trouble of searching.”
It was Shota, a music producer. I’d known him for ten years, and I’d sought his advice for almost every live event we’d held.

“Why are you here?”
To Tomoatsu’s question, Shota replied with a smile, “Well, to help the three of you, of course.”

—By any chance, did you receive a message from the owner back then? You were whispering to the owner after we finished talking, weren’t you? I didn’t miss that, you know?
Tomoatsu, who read my sign language, voiced the question for me.

“Good guess. As it happens, I heard the details from the owner just before the Southern Cross people arrived, and I was just thinking about how to produce you.”

“You were summoned beforehand...?”

“The owner seems troubled by the pressure from that certain music agency. But he believes that you all can surely overcome this situation... That’s why I think he acted that way on the surface while asking for my help behind the scenes.”

(Come to think of it, the owner did say he would "do everything in his power." And "until things cool down," too...)

Without knowing that, we had let our anger show. I feel sorry about it now, but the owner probably isn’t looking for an apology from us. I can imagine him chasing us away again, saying, "If you have time to apologize, use that time to show your indie spirit!"

—So... since you came to ask, you must have come up with a good idea, right?

When I asked in sign language and Tomoatsu interpreted, Shota said, “Yes, that’s it!” while wagging his index finger.

“I’ve been watching you since you arrived, and Takumi-niisan, you can’t speak anymore, so you use sign language, right? I don’t know of any other sign-language-using musicians, at least not personally. But that’s actually a good thing. You’re guaranteed to get attention! Let’s turn your weakness into a strength.”

My eyes went wide, literally. Tomoatsu and Reika looked at each other.

—Wait, I don’t understand... My hearing is fine, so I can play the guitar. But not being able to vocalize is pretty fatal for a musician.

I conveyed this through Tomoatsu. But Shota wouldn’t hear of it, saying, “That’s exactly why it’s good.”

“We’ll make a music video. Reika-neesan or Tomoatsu-niisan will sing. And Takumi-niisan, you’ll use sign language to go along with it...”

“That’s certainly a new approach.”
Reika nodded, looking interested.

“I’ve been a producer for about fifteen years, and there are passionate music fans who were born hard of hearing or became hearing impaired. To those people, Takumi-niisan, you’d be a shining star. By showing off sign language in a cool way in a music video, I think we can deliver a new form of music not only to the hearing impaired but to the general public as well. I know your guitar skills are amazing, Takumi-niisan, but won’t you take me up on this?”

(A music video...)

I muttered to myself in my heart and crossed my arms. I had made a few when I was younger, though they were low-budget. But since none of them were worth the effort, I hadn’t made any since.

As I make a sour face, Reika speaks as if she has read my mind.

“Nowadays, internet streaming is the mainstream for music videos. Since it's become possible to create high-quality content on a lower budget than before, I've seen young, unknown newcomers rise up in the blink of an eye right before my eyes. But I also think the reason those kids succeed is simply because they've mastered digital tools. In other words, depending on how we produce it, we have plenty of chances too.”

“As expected! Someone from a major label is different!”
Happy that his point got across, Shota’s eyes sparkled.
“Just as Reika-san says, the plan is to first create a Southern Cross music streaming channel. We’ll stream the music video I just mentioned there. Ah... I can already imagine it going viral in my head...!”

“I understand what you’re trying to say. However, the reason we’ve focused our activities on live performances is because we’ve been that committed to the real thing. I’d like you to understand that.”

Hearing Tomoatsu’s words, I also start to think. During the Wing era, we poured our feelings into live performances. Our fans wanted that, so it worked out fine. But now, the goal is different. We need to deliver our music to people whose faces we can’t see, and for that, an attitude of actively taking on new challenges will become an essential requirement.

Shota continues to lay out his argument.
“Of course, we’ll do live shows too. However, only after we’ve gained fans whose faces we can’t see. Doing it at the very end is the most effective way. Even you, Tomoatsu-niisan, would rather fill an arena-class venue than a small shop, right?”

“...I wonder.”

“I get it. I’ve sung in venues with thousands of people. Once you stand on one, you’ll understand—that feeling is addictive.”

Standing on a big stage. It’s a dream every musician envisions at least once. Of course, our goal isn’t for the band to become famous, but to convey our feelings through music and achieve the world domination Tomoatsu talks about. But if as many people as possible gather in one place, we can spread our message all at once. If I were the producer, I’d surely think the same as Shota. But as an indie musician, it didn’t quite resonate with me. Probably not with Tomoatsu either.

—There’s a point you can’t agree with... isn’t that why you won’t nod?

When I convey this to Tomoatsu, who is crossing his arms with a stern look, he nods while keeping that same expression.

“Yeah... I understand that we can’t move forward without adopting new things. And that that’s your job. But if that means losing the fans we’ve had until now, I can’t accept it, no matter how good your ideas are. Currently, there are many fans from the Wing and Reika eras—people who have been supporting us for a long time.”

“In that case, I have an idea. I think they should be here soon...”

“Sorry I’m late!”

9. <Tomoatsu>

The one who came running from the station was Eugene, a bandman I met when I visited the live house yesterday. Seeing him join us, Shota’s shoulders slumped.

“So, the persuasion failed after all...”

“That’s why I told you it wouldn’t work suddenly! Geez, I jumped on the train because I was going to be late, but if I had kept trying to persuade them, I wouldn’t have made it here today!”
Hearing the exchange between the two, I pictured the face of the person he couldn’t persuade.

Black Box is a young band consisting of the vocalist girl Sena, the keyboardist boy Rion, and the electric guitarist Eugene. The three are siblings; Eugene is the eldest, and Sena and Rion are twins. There is about a four-year age gap, but for some reason, only Eugene is infatuated with the music and lifestyle of us middle-aged guys, so he is treated like an old man by his younger siblings. I heard later that when they did a joint gig once a few years ago, it was a collaboration Eugene had forced them into. Since then, the three have been on bad terms, and I hear that other than occasionally performing at live houses, they hardly do any real-world activities.

"If you want to persuade them that badly, Shota, you should do it yourself. That would definitely be faster."
Eugene said, sounding a little angry.

"What on earth are you trying to get Black Box to do for us...?"

At my question, Takumi and Rei-chan nodded in agreement. After looking around at us as if to build suspense, Shota replied, "I want them to guide us on making a music video and selling merchandise."

—Of all people, you want to ask those two who don't think highly of us...? Is that really okay?

"Wait, what are you talking about?"
I briefly explained the past situation to Rei-chan, who didn't know the details. Like Takumi, she wore an anxious expression, but ignoring us, Shota spoke with great confidence.

"No matter how good a plan we have, people with ties to the major label world probably won't cooperate with us. That means we have no choice but to look among amateurs. That's where I set my sights on Black Box. They rarely perform in public, but they distribute music videos they've created themselves online, and those have gained popularity among young people. Also, their original merchandise is well-received, so if we follow their lead and sell Southern Cross merchandise, we can capture the hearts of our long-time fan base. It's truly killing two birds with one stone!"

"They're the only ones doing well, and I'm left out in the cold. So why am I the one who has to do the persuading..."

"Weren't you going to help Takumi-niisan and Tomoatsu-niisan this time?"

"............"

"Help them with what?"
When Rei-chan asked, Eugene began to tell the story of the past, bit by bit, though he looked troubled.

"It was those two who saved me when I was lost in life. Back then, I was a high school student with no desire to go on to higher education, but I also didn't have the confidence to live by music alone... That's when I saw the two of them, Wing, perform live. The vocal power that made me forget their age, the refined guitar sound, and the lyrics that resonated with my soul... I was moved by all of it and decided to pursue the path of music, which led me to where I am now. My parents opposed it, but my younger twin sister and brother said they would do it with me, so I waited for them to graduate high school and formed Black Box. And up until then, it was fine, but..."

"Our relationship deteriorated after we played a show together, right?"

Eugene hung his head, looking frustrated.
"...They judge based on age, so they don't listen to your music properly. That's all it is. If they listened properly, they'd know it's good music..."

"I'm happy that you buy our music. But everyone has their own tastes. Just because you're siblings doesn't mean you'll necessarily like the same artists, does it?"

"...I don't think so. At the very least, Wing's music shook my soul. It shook the soul of someone who wasn't even a fan. That's why I want to aim for that. I want our music to do the same. Music videos with choreography that everyone wants to imitate are fine, I guess? But the more fans we get, the more it feels like something is wrong..."

He, who changed his life after listening to music from my Wing days, was saying that he wanted to make that kind of music himself. While I felt proud, I honestly wasn't confident that I could say with my head held high that I had made good music. After all, I was much more cynical back in my Wing days than I am now.

In front of me, as I was thinking about that, Shota raised an objection.
"To sell yourselves, you have to attract attention no matter what. In that sense, I think Black Box is doing it right, don't you? In fact, middle and high school students are all imitating the dance for 'Shake!'. That's an amazing thing, isn't it?"

"We're musicians, not dancers. Do you understand? What I'm aiming for is music that touches your heart even when you listen with your eyes closed. Because I believe that's what the real thing is."

Takumi, who seemed moved by the young man's brilliant rebuttal, applauded. Then he moved his hands excitedly.

—Yes, that's it! You've perfectly put into words the vague feeling I've had inside! If we get attention, there's no doubt that people who are interested will listen to our music. But... but I'm a musician through and through, so even if that's how we can sell ourselves... To put it bluntly, my honest opinion is that I don't want to stand out by using methods like the major label world does.

"……Alright, alright."
Shota threw up his hands.

"You guys are as difficult as ever, aren't you? But I have my professional pride, too. I absolutely will not compromise on making a music video. How about this instead: we make it in a way that allows you to focus entirely on the singing and playing?"

"Specifically?"

"Something like a solo stage, I suppose. No unnecessary frills at all. Since there's little visual information, you can enjoy it with your ears."

"I see."
This time, the moment I heard the idea, an image floated into my mind. No, perhaps it would be more accurate to say I could hear the music.

Shota continued.
"To make your guitar playing and your sister's singing shine to the maximum, let's go without any arrangement. But that would be too plain on its own, so I'd like to include making-of footage of you communicating in sign language. That way, it will convey that Takumi-niisan has lost his voice, and it should also bring out that Southern Cross feel."

"You really want to include sign language, don't you……"

"It's important to have a unique identity, after all."

"……What do you think of that idea, Takumi?"
When I asked him, there was a pause of a few seconds before he replied that he thought it wasn't bad. When I relayed that, Shota nodded with satisfaction.

"Once we get the go-ahead from Southern Cross, all that's left is to persuade Rion and Sena……"
The look he gave Eugene was as if to say, 'You're the older brother, so do something about it.'

The cause of their discord was indirectly our fault. I wanted to do something for them.

"……Why don't you come over to my place once?"
"……Why don't the three of you come to our house?"
—Why don't you three come over to hang out.

Similar words tumbled out of our mouths at the same time. We looked at each other in surprise.

"Well, look at that. Everyone thinks the same thing."

"Hehe. I'm happy our opinions match."

—Exactly. So, Eugene. Just once is fine. Why don't the three of you come to my home studio? You can even sing while you're there if you want.

When I translated Takumi's sign language, Eugene's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Huh? You have a studio at home?! That's amazing! ……Actually, I've been having trouble because it's always hard to secure a place to sing and play. It costs quite a bit of money, you know……"

"Then it's settled……. You decide the date and time. It doesn't matter to us whenever it is. If you can invite your younger siblings, please contact me here."
I gave him my phone number.

"Are you really sure? I'll definitely bring them. Thank you so much!"

"Geez, even Eugene, who couldn't be persuaded at all when I said it……. You guys really do have 'something' special, don't you?"
Seeing that things were likely to progress, Shota muttered to no one in particular.

10. <Reika>

The contact from the black box came sooner than expected. On an evening when our schedules aligned, they each visited my home with their respective instruments on their backs.

We exchanged brief introductions at the entrance. The oldest brother was Eugene, whom I had met the other day. Below him were the twins, Sena and Rion. In contrast to Eugene, who was nervous but energetic, the twins took off their shoes looking uncomfortable.

First, I showed them into the living room. I honestly don't know what young people like, so I prepared the cold tea I usually drink and some snacks.

"Can you drink herbal tea? It's a bit of an acquired taste, but it's good for the throat."

"Oh! Then I'll have some. ...Whoa, a grown-up taste. But it definitely seems good for the throat. You two should try it too."

The twins, who had been frozen while sitting on the sofa, took their brother's advice after he "tested" it and cautiously put their lips to the glasses.

"...Hey, big brother. Are these people really the old guys we collaborated with back then? They don't look like our age at all. Is there a possibility they're just lookalikes, or the children of those old guys?"
Sena said, casting a suspicious glance.

"I thought, 'Huh?' at first too, but they can talk about things we have in common, so there's no mistake that it's them. I'm sure you'll believe it once you hear them play."

"Then let's hear it right away. We'll only be convinced that it's them once we see them play in the studio."
Rion must have been thinking the same thing as Sena. He stood up from the sofa, looking restless while glaring at us.

"Understood. The studio is this way."
I beckoned them and walked ahead. They followed in silence.

It was just a few meters from the living room. At first glance, it looked no different from any other room, but once you opened the door, it was a soundproof music studio. When I urged them to enter, their eyes suddenly lit up and they exclaimed, "Wow...!"

"This is no different from the music studio we usually go to! It's amazing that you have something like this in your house!"

"I mean, are you really going to let us use this now?! For free?! I can't believe it!"

"See? Wasn't it the right choice to take my brother's invitation?"
Hearing Eugene's words, the two snapped back to reality and straightened their backs.

"...I want the same song as that time. Crazy Love. You can still play it, right?"
Rion said, as if to cover up his embarrassment. Tomo-kun and Takumi looked at each other.

"Crazy Love, huh.... I haven't played electric guitar in a long time, but well, I'll give it a try. Also, I'll be the one singing. Takumi lost his voice, you see..."
As he said this, Tomo-kun signaled with his eyes, and Takumi nodded immediately.

"Then I'll join the audience too. Let's listen together."

I offered them the chairs placed at the edge of the studio and stood beside them. It took a little time to adjust the electric guitar that hadn't been used in a while, but the two smiled at each other as if savoring the nostalgia and enjoying the atmosphere of the place, and played the first note.

#

Crazy, crazy
I'm chasing after you right now
I want to dive into the sea of space
Crazy, crazy
Who is that reflected in the mirror?
I'm dancing in such a frenzy
I've lost sight of my true self
Ah, it's all your fault

##

Crazy, crazy
Drawn into your eyes
I can't resist this feeling
Crazy, crazy
The secret hidden deep in my heart
I'm afraid it's going to be exposed
Ah, it's all your fault

###

Crazy, crazy
I want to run with you
Let's go anywhere
Crazy, crazy
The boundary between dreams and reality
I feel like I'm going to cross it
Ah, it's all your fault

It's all your fault...

#

I first heard this song about a year ago. It was when I asked them, having said they wanted to form a band again, to show me their skills so I could see how well they could sing and play. Back then, Takumi was the main vocalist, and I felt that the raspy voice from his cigarette-worn throat fit the atmosphere of this song well, but Tomo-kun's clear voice matched the image of the song in its own way too. Personally, I would have liked them to sing with a bit more resentment like they used to, but since what I want to show the young people now is the guitar technique, I'll have to ask them to listen to my selfishness another time.

“...That’s definitely the guitar sound from back then.”
“...I mean, haven't you guys gotten better than before?”
“Yeah...”

The twins, having finished listening, whispered their impressions to each other.

“Can you acknowledge us as the two from Wing who played against you back then?”

“............”
However, at Tomo-kun's question, the two fell silent.

“Hey, Sena, Rio. Answer the question properly. Isn't that rude?”
Eugene-kun urged them to speak like an older brother, but the two remained looking down. Seeing them like that, Tomo-kun let out a small sigh.

“Anything is fine, you can say whatever you're thinking. We want to hear your honest opinions. Being older or younger doesn't matter to musicians. ...To tell you the truth, there was a time when I couldn't talk to Rei-chan properly either. But after honestly telling her I was jealous and living together, we were finally able to talk like we do now. ...Hasn't Eugene told you? About our relationship with Rei-chan.”

“...I heard a little bit on the way here. That you hadn't been in contact for thirty years but are now in the same band. I thought, 'Does that really happen?', but I see. You're together now because you were able to clash with your true feelings and understand each other.”

“Yeah.”

“Then, let me hear it.”
As soon as he said that, Rion-kun stepped out in front of Tomo-kun.
“...Hey. Why did you act so superior back then? It was seriously hard to deal with. My brother kept pestering me, saying, 'These guys are amazing, so let's just collaborate once,' so I did it reluctantly, but honestly, I wanted to crawl into a hole. ...There's no way we could compete. With someone who has been playing guitar for thirty years. Back then, I seriously thought you were trying to crush us, you know?”

“That's right. You were more popular than other bands, too. Rather than thinking we wanted to be like you someday, the frustration was stronger...”
Perhaps because she knew they would listen, Sena-chan also started to pour out her feelings.
“It was such a horrible feeling. I was so nervous that my singing voice cracked, and the audience laughed at us... You old guys probably don't understand how we felt.”
We listened patiently to the younger siblings' endless complaints.

11. <Takumi>

After that, the two of them continued to vent for about ten minutes. To think that they were actually feeling that way on that exciting stage... Their singing and performance shouldn't have been inferior to anyone else's, so why did they feel so inadequate? The more I heard, the more questions I had.

—Hey, can I ask you one thing? What kind of music is Black Box aiming for? The reason things didn't go well back then might be because we didn't understand that. Conversely, I think if we figure that out, we can make up. ...Ah, let's ask one by one. It's possible that each of you has a different idea, after all.

When I conveyed my thoughts through Tomoatsu, the three of them looked at each other, and then answered in the order of Rion, Sena, and Eugene.

"I want to captivate the audience with my performance. ...In short, I want to stand out with my keyboard playing, and I was frustrated because I couldn't do that last time. Get it?"

I nodded repeatedly, and then Sena spoke up. "I'm the same as Rion. I just want to enchant everyone with my singing. I want them to pay attention to me, you know? But back then, you guys took all the spotlight. I was really frustrated! But with the web posts we're doing now, I don't have to feel that way, and I can deliver something perfect to a lot of people at once. Watching the view count go up and up is a real thrill. Once you get a taste of it, you can't stop, right?"

"Hey, hey, that just makes you an attention seeker. Don't you have any pride as musicians? Don't you have any feelings you want to express? I do. I've tasted frustration, wanted to cry, wanted to die... I want to deliver songs that make people with those feelings feel a little better, make them think they want to live a little longer, make them want to try their best."

"Then let me ask you, brother, does that make money?"

"............"
Seeing Eugene not answer, Rion laughed through his nose.

"If you know the answer, you should stop spouting pretty words and face reality. Let's make dance music together. That way we can earn a lot, and you can quit the part-time jobs you're doing now. You can focus on music."

"............"

Eugene is serious, straightforward, and a romanticist. In contrast, his siblings are realists. They understand and practice ways to stand out and sell. I can empathize with both ways of thinking, and I think there would be no problem if Eugene and the twins worked separately, but right now they are in a band called Black Box. It is surely a problem that the members have different goals. Is there any way to unite their hearts? And what can we do to understand each other... I pondered while moving my hands.

—I'm sorry that we pushed ourselves to the front, pushing aside you who wanted to stand out. But we were also sharp-edged back then. It was inevitable that our pride and desire to stand out would clash. I admit that there was no small amount of feeling that we wouldn't lose to someone younger. But now, I don't have those feelings at all. Regarding this matter, we are in the position of requesting, so we intend to follow your demands and methods. However, to do that, you first have to unify the musicality of Black Box. Or rather, I think that is an issue you must face immediately in order to continue your music.

I conveyed my thoughts all at once in sign language. I felt that Tomoatsu's thoughts were added somewhat when he interpreted, but our thoughts were almost identical, so it wasn't a big problem.

"...Are you sure? Even if you compromise? Even if it's for promotion, your music might become trendy dance music, you know? Your image might be damaged, you know?"
Eugene, who heard our thoughts, expressed his dissatisfaction. I shook my head and moved my hands again.

"It won't become dance music. It's okay. It'll work out... That's so like Takumi."
Tomoatsu laughed while interpreting my sign language, and continued by saying this.
"I've figured out what Takumi is thinking. After all, your brain is simple..."

—What's that supposed to mean? Then guess it.
My thoughts weren't organized, but I replied like that out of frustration.

"Is it okay if I announce it? Aren't you planning to suggest that they stay here tonight? Well, I don't mind."

I thought it was a good idea. Just as the three of us were able to close the distance between our hearts while living together, if we could talk honestly for one night, the discord between the siblings and the lingering hard feelings with us would likely be largely resolved.

However, even though my brain is simple, Tomoatsu, who put my thoughts into words at a stage where I hadn't even verbalized them yet, was beyond impressive—I even felt a sense of fear. Is it because we are starting to synchronize since he started taking on the role of my "voice"? In fact, he is always paying attention to my movements, but if that's the case, I'd better not think about anything too strange.

“How about it? If the three of you are okay with it, you can use this place as much as you like tonight. You can play, sing, and talk until you're satisfied.”

“As much as we like?!”
“Does that mean we can stay all night?!”
The twins were the first to react to Tomoatsu's interpretation.

“However, the condition is that you accept us. I don't feel good about having people here who don't want to be.”

After he added that, the twins looked at each other and then nodded as if they had resigned themselves to it.

“We acknowledge that you guys are the two from back then. So... please... let us practice here to our heart's content tonight.”

“Please...!”
Seeing the twins bow their heads, Eugene also bowed alongside them.

“Okay. In that case, we need to get ready right away. I'm going out to buy some supplies!”
Reika's voice sounded more lively than usual as she said that.

12. <Tomoatsu>

Even after Rei-chan returned from shopping, there was no sign of the three of them coming out of the studio. It was past nine o'clock at night.

“They must really like it. Well, I don't mind if they don't come out at all. If it deepens their bond... Anyway, I'm hungry. Let's eat first.”

Takumi, losing his patience, was about to reach for the food in front of him. Immediately after, the studio door opened, and the three of them appeared in the living room.

“Good timing! A few seconds later and Takumi would have eaten it all. Let's have dinner. We've been waiting for you.”
Saying that, Rei-chan ran over holding three cans of beer.
“Before that... let's have a toast first. Can you drink?”

“Wait, beer on an empty stomach? Reika-san, that's a cruel joke.”

“Don't be such a softie. Since we're letting you use the studio, you have to follow our house rules.”

“...This person is a witch.”
Naturally, he couldn't refuse, so Eugene reluctantly accepted the beer can offered to him. I quietly gave him some advice while he was trembling.

“...Well, you'll be fine if you just take the first sip, so don't push yourself. Rei-chan's stomach is bottomless, so if you try to keep up with her seriously, you'll die.”

“I knew it... Okay, I'll do as Tomo-san says.”

“Hey, you two! What are you whispering about? Let's get started!”

As we were whispering, Rei-chan gave the order. Takumi was also dumbfounded by her enthusiasm, as if she had already had a drink.

“Reika is in top form today... At this rate, it looks like we'll be kept busy until morning.”

"After all, you're the first indie friends I've ever made, right? Of course I'm happy about that! Now, does everyone have their beer? Then, in the spirit of friendship... cheers!"

＊

Tonight's snacks were rice balls, yakitori, fried tofu, sautéed shimeji mushrooms with garlic, lightly pickled cucumbers, and beer. It was much more luxurious than usual.

—So, what do you think? How was it using our home studio?

After the toast and having eaten a bit, Takumi asked. As I interpreted for them, the three of them looked at each other, and Eugene started speaking first.

"Man, honestly. 'Amazing' is the only word for it. It's impressive that a private home has this much equipment. ...Since we're drinking, I'll ask: was this funded by Reika-san?"

"Well... you know, I'm single, so it felt like I was just using money that was sitting around. Though, I don't think I'll be getting big payouts like I used to, so I plan to save up from now on. I did quit the agency, after all..."

"So it really is profitable to be in a music agency? We want to go major too!" Rion sat down next to Rei-chan while holding his beer can. "Hey, tell us about the major leagues. I'm super interested!"

"Fine. But be prepared, because I'm going to tell you the unvarnished truth."

Rei-chan said that, and then shared the various trials she faced after her debut—working for days without sleep to handle a schedule packed down to the minute, traveling all over the country for promotional events, and feeling frustrated when a magazine interview about the band's breakup had a fake story added to it.

I had heard about the major music world for the first time, something I had intentionally avoided asking about until now. The reality was far from the image of being pampered and having a good time.

"Did I disappoint you? But this is the reality. That said, it's a world where your status and income are guaranteed as long as you have ambition and patience, so if you're confident in that, it's worth aiming for."

"Whoa, but if you had so many trials, why were you able to keep at it for decades? I'm curious about that!"

Sena leaned forward as if to say she wanted to hear more.

"Hmm. For one thing, I felt a sense of guilt toward the two of them. I had decided to enter the major world alone, so there was no way I could be forgiven for saying, 'It was too hard, so I'm back.' So, especially when I was young, I just kept running with my mind blank. Another reason was that there was someone I wanted to hear my songs. I was able to keep going thanks to that person. But the other day, the moment I realized that role had ended, I lost my drive... If I hadn't reunited the band at that time, I would have been at a loss. Fortunately, saved by them, I started moving again with a new goal: to become a bridge between the major and indie worlds."

Perhaps because they were confronted with the gap between dreams and reality, the three of them fell silent. Takumi began to move his hands to break the heavy atmosphere, so I interpreted.

"…Well, Reika says that, but we felt the same way when we were your age. You're not wrong about anything, and every musician dreams of going major. In our case, because Reika was scouted away, we had a falling out and walked separate paths for decades, but I also think we can be together now precisely because we know each of our worlds. You guys are still young; if you have a chance at a major debut, I think it's fine to jump in. If it doesn't suit you, you can just come back here without hesitation. ...That's what Takumi is saying."

"That's so cool... Takumi-san's words are really deep." Eugene said, reaching for an unopened beer can. "Actually, the three of us were talking about it earlier. What are we aiming for? What are we missing? What is the biggest challenge we should tackle right now?"

I nodded and urged him to continue.

"It's true that music videos with choreography stand out, and I'd be happy if we got popular. I admit that. But...! After seeing and hearing the two of you sing and play earlier, I thought about it. Rather than hitting it big and having a short career, I want to be involved in music for a long time. When I talked about that, these two agreed. And so, ultimately..."

He takes a sip of beer there, pauses, and then continues his story.

"We came to the conclusion that we should start by polishing our musical and vocal skills. After all, we are musicians, and the reason we were jealous of you and Takumi was because our own skills were immature. To be more specific, the reason we added choreography to the song in the music video was to cover that up..."

"Yeah."

"Actually... I feel bad saying this, but when you let us borrow the studio, I saw a lot of things. That's when I realized how much you all have been practicing, and I felt despair for ourselves... Of course, we couldn't compete with you, since we're only able to practice for about an hour a day in a cheap apartment room while working part-time, always trying not to be a bother. But I really want to do something about this situation. So... if it wouldn't be a nuisance, we would be so happy if we could practice here for a while... Would that be okay?"

――That sounds great!
"Oh, that sounds great!"
"I don't mind."

As the three of us nodded, he said, "Thank goodness...!" and leaned back on the sofa.
"Of course, we will compensate you appropriately. We'll do anything we can for you."

"Ah. That reminds me, I have a good idea regarding the music video."
Perhaps because his tension had eased, Leon sat between Takumi and me, spread his arms, and put them around our shoulders.

"When I thought about how to recreate the image that Shota, the producer I heard about through my brother, is pushing for—making it look like a solo stage—I thought the background color should definitely be black. But just having the three of us standing there against a black background is boring visually. That's when I thought of filming under a starry sky. It would require some ingenuity in how we film it, but I have a camera for shooting the night sky, and I have editing skills, so I think I can make it work. What do you think?"

"In that case, wouldn't it be better to film at the mountain where our parents live?"

"Oh, as expected of my twin sister. That's exactly what I was thinking."

"Your parents' mountain...?"
As Rei-chan tilted her head, Eugene immediately added.

"Ah... Our parents' home is on a mountain in O-town, down from K-city. It's an inconvenient place with nothing there, but in exchange, the sky is beautiful. It's so beautiful that amateur astronomers sometimes come carrying their cameras during meteor showers."

"Oh, that sounds lovely. But wouldn't it be a nuisance near your parents' home?"

"That's fine. There are no other houses in the area, and we've always practiced guitar and singing there, so I don't think there would be any problem with filming a music video... The three of us playing and singing with a starry sky in the background, huh... Man, that's definitely going to be cool. This is just my imagination, but if that gets out into the world, it will probably surpass Black Box. We'll probably get collaboration requests, too. Then you'll surely be busy, right?"

"Hey, hey! If you become famous overnight and get scouted by a major company, what will you do? That's a possibility, right?"

I couldn't help but laugh at Sena's remark, not even imagining that we had already received such offers and turned them down immediately. No, by common sense, she is right. It's us who are twisted. While apologizing to Sena, who was pouting because she was laughed at, I told her about the matter in question and then expressed my own thoughts.

"No matter how many times we are invited by them, the answer is the same: NO. To deliver our music, we will continue to do it only with our own people, even if we know it's a thorny path. We have done so until now, and we will continue to do so."

"Whoa! It's amazing that you can say that with a straight face... If you say it that clearly, I actually respect you. Man, at first I thought you were just annoying old guys, but you're interesting when you actually talk. I like you. Since this is an opportunity, can I call you by your names like my brother does?"

"Oh, me too, me too!"
The twins raised their hands in unison.

"Of course, that's fine. Say, how about we have a session after this? This time, with you guys leading."

“Oh, that sounds good. I’m in the mood for electric today. Let’s do it together.”
Takumi, who agreed with my suggestion, put his arm around Eugene’s shoulder.

“That sounds great! Let’s do it, let’s do it.”
The two of them stumbled toward the studio.

“Hehe. It’s going to be a long night. Come on, let’s go too!”
Rei-chan started walking while holding her beer, so I hurriedly took it away from her.

“Drinking is prohibited inside the studio. If you want to drink, you can’t come in.”

“...Fine, I get it. But let me finish what’s left. It won’t taste good if it goes flat.”

The young men, seeing her snatch back the can I had taken and chug it down, all muttered in unison, “...What a heavy drinker.”

13. <Reika>

Having met Black Box for the first time today, I also heard their music for the first time. Their performance skills, which had been the cause of the trouble, were not lacking in the slightest; in fact, they had a youthful energy that I found quite likable. They performed their most popular song, “Shake!”, complete with choreography, and even gave me a lesson. As I danced, the alcohol helped me get into the spirit and have fun. Since my own singing style usually involved very little performance, I wasn’t very familiar with it, but I realized that the dance music genre had its merits too. And all of that was entirely thanks to them.

◇◇◇

Having truly bonded through the power of alcohol and dance, we later traveled to the mountains where their family homes were located to film footage for a music video.

Having become completely accustomed to the brightness of the city, I was surprised by the number of stars floating in the sky I looked up at. At the same time, it made me nostalgic, remembering how many stars would twinkle like this late at night near my own family home in the countryside, not so far from here.

When I was moved by the sight, the young ones found it strange.
“Rei-sama, you’re staring at the sky so intently. Are stars really that rare to you?”

“No. I was just captivated by the beauty of the stars.”

“Wow, that’s poetic, Reika-san. As expected of someone with such a long career as a singer.”

“And the way you look up at the night sky while saying that is so picturesque! This is going to make for some great footage.”
Lion said this as he made a frame with his hands and peered at me through it.

Today, we were scheduled to shoot the music video for “LOVE LETTER”. I had chosen my outfit to match the image of the song. I was excited, too. But after seeing this starry sky, I was no longer in the mood to sing “LOVE LETTER”. No, let me be clear. My creative urge was bubbling up and wouldn’t stop.

“Sorry, could we postpone the shoot?”

“Eeeeh?!”
The three members of Black Box raised their hands in exaggerated shock at the same time.

“Why, why, why?! What didn’t you like?! Did we say something wrong?!”

That's not it, Sena. Right now, an image for a new song is about to come down to me. And looking at this sky, I want to include the word 'star' in the song, too. In other words, I want to use a new song for the music video.

That's certainly a great idea.
Tomo-kun's voice and Takumi's sign language said the same thing.

—I also have a feeling like I'm about to have an inspiration. If Reika wants to write a song, it seems best to skip the shoot today and devote the time to songwriting.

Yeah, I think so too. ...I'm sorry, even though you prepared the filming equipment, but knowing Rei-chan, I'm sure she'll come up with something absolutely wonderful. If you want it as soon as possible, of course we'll help write it too. ...What do you think?

When Tomo-kun apologized politely, Eugene let out a small sigh.
...Understood. We have no right to refuse that proposal when you let us use the studio almost every day. Besides, for a musician, intuition is everything. Please feel free to create while the image is still fresh. ...Though, I'd like to set a time limit since I want to catch the last train.

Of course, I'll have it in some kind of shape by then.

As expected, thank you. ...Ah.
Eugene said that much, glanced at the twins, and took their arms.
While you're at it, we'll go pay a visit to our parents' house. Actually, it's been a while since we've been back. Come on, let's go.

Eh!
The twins raised their voices, but their resistance was in vain, and they were dragged away by Eugene. Being the older brother, he must have been considerate of us. I was grateful for his thoughtfulness.

After the three of them were out of sight, I looked up at the sky again, and Takumi asked me.
—You said you'd put it into shape, but you don't really intend to write the lyrics and music right this second, do you?

Yeah, that's just the mood I'm in right now.... Hey, why don't you two join me...
I invited the two of them to my sides and lay down on the grass.

The only things blocking the view were the branches of the trees that had grown vigorously. Even without squinting, countless stars were twinkling in the deep blue sky.

It's nostalgic. When I was a child, I used to go outside and look at the night sky whenever I accompanied my younger brother who practiced baseball night after night. Yet, at some point, I stopped looking at the heavens and only looked ahead... only at the rivals who were ahead of me...

My nights are also filled with memories. Both the fun times and the unpleasant ones. ...Coincidentally, happy memories and the starry sky are a set, and at other times, I only remember the emotions of that moment.

The unpleasant memories are about me, aren't they?
I meant it half as a joke, but it seems I hit the mark.

Well, it's only because we've reconciled now that I can say it with a smile...
He said that and gave a truly small smile.

While I and Tomo-kun were talking while lying down, Takumi was quietly staring at the heavens alone. When using sign language, the other person must be right in front of you. In a state where he couldn't show his hand or mouth movements, he had no choice but to remain silent even if he wanted to join the conversation.

Feeling uneasy, I gently took his hand. Then, Takumi turned my palm over and began to write letters on it with his finger. In my heart, I read the letters on my palm.

(T-h-a-n-k-y-o-u. F-o-r-n-o-w, I-w-i-l-l-q-u-i-e-t-l-y-l-i-s-t-e-n-t-o-t-h-e-t-w-o-o-f-y-o-u-t-a-l-k...)

He understands. In times like these, sign language is useless. But he also knows that there are countless ways left to communicate...

At that moment, the image of the song and fragments of the lyrics came down to me.

I jumped up in a hurry and immediately started taking notes. I caught in the corner of my eye that the two of them were surprised by that and sat up as well.

"...Did you tell him something?"
Tomokun asked Takumi, but since I was facing the paper, I couldn't tell what kind of reply Takumi had given. However, judging by Tomokun's reaction, he must have told him something joking and different from the truth. As proof, Tomokun snorted and sat down back-to-back with me.

"...I can say it now, under this starry sky. My honest feelings right now."

I feel his warm body temperature through our backs. When I sit up a little and lean back, he leans back against me too.

"...I was wallowing in a bit of superiority. Takumi has the handicap of not being able to speak, but I can. I can sing, too. In other words, I thought I could convey my feelings to Rei-chan with my own voice. But that way of thinking was wrong. I've realized just now that I rely too much on my voice. It's frustrating, but Takumi will probably evolve even more from here on out. Even if he can't speak or sing, he will brilliantly give shape to his inner feelings."

--Tomoku. That's not true.

Takumi, who had been listening silently, came over to our side and sat down.

--Don't put yourself down like that. I'm the one who's envious... Look, I actually want to speak too. I want to sing. Even if it were a raspy voice, I'd want to tell Reika I love her. But since I can't, I'm trying to find a way to express my invisible feelings, aren't I? It's selfish of you to call that 'evolution.' But you should be able to 'evolve' too. Because you have a good voice. Instead of complaining like this, try sublimating those feelings through song. Really, until your throat goes hoarse. Right? You can do it, can't you?

"Hmph... Sing, until my throat is hoarse, until I can't make a sound, huh..."

"Wait, that. I can use that in the lyrics!"
As I wrote down Tomokun's words, it triggered words to overflow in my mind once again. From the side, Takumi was staring intently at the letters in the notebook I was scribbling in. He watched for a while, but then, as soon as he stood up, he hurriedly took out his guitar and began to play a melody.

It was as if it were the twinkling of the stars. Tomokun and I sang along as we filled in the lyrics.

"Ah... It reminds me of when the three of us used to write songs like this under the night sky. Those days when we were filled with hope, even while holding onto painful feelings..."

I gently wrote down Tomokun's muttered words in my notebook.

14. <Takumi>

Ever since I started aspiring to be a musician, the night has been my friend. Whether on the street or in a live house, I sing at night. I remember the night sky being exceptionally beautiful after I had sung to my heart's content. Tonight's sky reminded me of that time.

I understand Tomoku's pent-up feelings well because they were my feelings too. People tend to envy what they don't have. Even though they truly have their own one-of-a-kind treasure, perhaps because their eyes are turned toward others, they can't easily notice it. That's just how things are.

However, at the very least, by losing the great treasure that was my voice, I turned my eyes inward to search for the assets I did possess. It's a strategy of making the most of what I have instead of being trapped by what I've lost. In the midst of that, I impulsively wrote hiragana on Reika's palm, and I think it got across well. This is a big harvest for me.

I am reminded once again that I'm glad I've been an indie musician with these guys, who made me want to live even after losing my voice. I surely couldn't have had an experience like this alone.

*

When the three members of Black Box returned, they had, as promised, managed to create the skeleton of a new song. They breathed a sigh of relief, saying, "We're finally free from our parents' long-winded talk," and smiled even more satisfied when they heard about our progress.

Then let's shoot next time. Actually, Shota called me a little while ago and said that even if it's just a rough cut, we need to submit a music video in a week.

(A week from now...)

Shota probably contacted us with that deadline assuming the shoot would take place tonight, as per the schedule he was given. But we were the ones who messed up the plans.

Based on past experience, it's hard to imagine Shota changing the schedule just because of our excuses. He must have been told to take care of us on short notice while juggling several other jobs. The likely outcome is that he'll tell us to find someone else if we can't do as we're told.

Can we do it? I told him we'd be using the new song for the music video, but he just said, 'Fine, but it's still due in a week.' Shota-san's jokes are pretty harsh, aren't they?

Seeing Eugene's troubled expression as he spoke, I could imagine he had pushed pretty hard for us.

Thank you for stepping in, Eugene. A week is very short, but I'll do it. I'll show him the pride of an indie artist.

When I conveyed this in sign language and Tomoatsu interpreted, they all wore complicated expressions.

...Are you really sure about this?
I mean, I wonder if our editing will be done in time...
Yeah, that's the real problem, isn't it?

We were the ones who were being selfish, after all. Now that it's come to this, we'll finish it even if we have to pull an all-nighter. You're prepared for that, right, Rei-chan? You're not going to tell me that staying up late is bad for your skin, are you?

Of course. I'm the one who caused this in the first place. I don't mind sacrificing sleep for my friends at all.

...There you have it. Alright, if that's decided, let's strike while the iron is hot. Let's call it a night here, and we'll continue working on the song at home. Don't worry, once we get into the groove, we'll finish it in no time.

When Tomoatsu said this forcefully, the three young ones seemed encouraged and their expressions softened.

Then, trusting your word, we'll head back to our rooms for today. But... please let us know as soon as possible, okay? I don't want to get yelled at by Shota-san...

Seeing Eugene's earnest figure with his hands pressed together in front of his face, I became determined to finish the new song within a day or two, no matter what!

◇◇◇

We jumped on the train immediately after that, and as soon as we got home, we shut ourselves in the studio. With the energy we'd been saving since moving here, we poured it all out at once, spending the whole night working on the song without even feeling sleepy.

After a short nap and a light meal, we listened to the finished song with clear heads. By the time we had made a few adjustments and reached a version that satisfied everyone, the sun was already sinking in the west.

It took exactly one day from the initial spark to completion. I had managed to finish 'Sunrise,' which I wrote when I was consumed by illness and prepared for death, at an impossible speed, but it really makes me realize again that when a deadline is looming, people can exert their maximum potential.

＊

"Ah... It's such a wonderful song. How good would it feel to sing this under the starry sky I saw last night?"
Tomonori hummed the lyrics, looking in high spirits. However, Reika, seeing this, looked dissatisfied for some reason.

"Oh, I really like it too. I'm going to sing this. No, let me sing it."

It seems both of them had been working on the song under the assumption that they would be the one to sing it. Well, this wasn't the first time this had happened, so I decided to watch and wait for a while.

"Wait, but the lyrics are written in a man's tone, aren't they? Surely, I should be the one to..."

"What are you talking about? If you say that, then 'Awakening' is written in a completely masculine tone, isn't it? I can sing powerful songs too."

"No, I should have been the one to sing that too, but I let you have it because you said you wanted to sing it, right?"

"Let me have it? Who do you think you are, acting so high and mighty...!"

The two glared at each other, foreheads touching. I understood that their arguments clashed because both were serious, and usually, I would just think, 'Do whatever you want,' but right now, every second counted. Feeling a quiet sense of irritation, I couldn't watch any longer and stood up.

--Stop the fighting! If you're going to argue, I'll sing it! That should be fine, right!

"Eh...?"
The fighting stopped, as expected. But it seemed their thinking had also come to a halt. Afterward, the two of them gave a bitter smile, as if to say, 'What are you talking about?'

"Singing... In the first place, aren't I singing in your place because you lost your voice?"

"That's right. I know you have feelings you want to convey to Takumi, too. But as long as you can't speak, that's impossible..."

--I have sign language...!
I performed an over-the-top gesture right in front of them.
--This sign language is my 'voice'!
My hands had moved unconsciously. The two were surprised again and nodded quietly.

15. <Tomonori>

I never imagined that Takumi, who had lost his voice, would object and say, 'I will sing.' One could take it as a joke that wasn't funny, thrown out to stop our argument. However, as we discussed last night, when Takumi tries to convey his feelings through methods other than 'a voice produced by vibrating the throat,' there is a power to it that truly cannot be expressed in words. At the very least, I was struck speechless by that intensity.

The feelings we want to convey with the song 'Vow of the Starry Sky' that we just finished. Looking over the lyrics, it might indeed be more persuasive if Takumi expressed them through sign language rather than me or Rei-chan. I don't know how much will come across through the video. But I thought it was worth a try.

"I understand. If you're going that far, let's try rolling the camera. Once with me and Rei-chan singing, and once without. How about we show those to the three in the black box and let them decide which one to film, Rei-chan?"

"Fine. ...We don't have time to be arguing. Let's start right away."
She let out a small sigh, moved closer to Takumi, and whispered, 'Thank you, thanks to you, I've come to my senses.'

*

I turned on the studio camera and microphone, and we recorded in the order of Rei-chan, myself, and then Takumi.
First up was Rei-chan. True to her claim that she was the most suitable to sing it, her singing voice shook not only the studio but my very heart as well. I felt my resolve wavering, wondering if I really couldn't beat her, but I had my own pride. Standing before the microphone, I focused all my nerves and sang while picturing the starry sky I had seen last night.

#

Even though there are as many of us as there are stars,
does my prayer for peace not reach you?
Conflict, insults, and taking from one another...
Why don't we put an end to an era like this?

There must be a world we can see beyond the tears,
but I want to keep smiling,
because it's a future I'll live with you.

Under the night sky after the rain, we
won't just lament that things don't change,
we'll sing, until our throats are dry, until we have no voice left.

##

Before I knew it, I felt somehow stifled,
and I can't remain an honest person.
Self-denial, cooped up, all alone,
Wind, please come and take me away soon.

Under the night sky where stars twinkle, we
won't just wish to change,
we'll shout, until our throats are dry, until we have no voice left.

Under the night sky where stars fall, we
will remember the reason we were born here.
Turning our eyes to the distant stars,
to the miracle words carved into our souls... those words...

#

"Alright, last is Takumi. We'll focus on playing the guitar. Show us your sign language to your heart's content in front of the camera."
After I finished singing, I held the microphone and moved, leaving the space in front of the camera wide open.

—Tomonori, I'm counting on you for the main melody. Keep the key the same. I'll move my hands to match it.

"Okay."
When I replied, Takumi, looking slightly nervous, stood in front of the camera. After taking a deep breath, he gave a signal with his eyes. Rei-chan and I synchronized our breathing and began to play.

Although I said I would focus on playing, the moment Takumi's sign language began, my eyes were captivated. It was as if I were watching a solo performance. Even for someone who doesn't know sign language, I'm sure they would be able to receive his feelings just by looking at his expressions and hand movements. While watching his sign language with such thoughts, I felt as if I could hear Takumi's "lost voice," and I gasped. I tightened my focus as my hands almost stopped playing, but it was certainly no auditory hallucination; my eardrums had truly caught Takumi's voice and trembled.

Even after we finished playing, Rei-chan and I didn't go to stop the camera right away. No, we couldn't move because we were so moved. Seeing this, Takumi went to stop the recording himself.

—What's wrong? Was it that good? My sign language.

"Good doesn't even cover it... Right?"
"Yes. I was so moved... Because Takumi's voice reached these ears of mine."
"I see, so you heard it too, Rei-chan..."
"Then, did you hear it too, Tomo-kun?"
"Yeah... I definitely heard it. That nostalgic voice."
In front of Rei-chan, who even had tears welling up in her eyes, the person himself, seemingly unaware, just shrugged his shoulders.

—I didn't intend to make a sound, though. Well, it's true that I did it a bit dramatically. Anyway, I'm glad my feelings got across.

At this point, I found myself thinking that a sign language music video, like Shota had mentioned, might actually be a possibility. In the strange state of mind peculiar to sleep deprivation, I immediately called Eugene and instructed him to come to the studio right away. Eugene came to my house with his younger siblings in tow, saying, "I might get fired if I keep taking time off from my part-time job..."

"As expected of you. I can't believe you actually made it in a single day."

"No, no, the issue is the quality of the song. Our time is limited, so let's check the video quickly. If it's not good enough, we'll have to ask them to remake it."

In contrast to Eugene, who was full of praise, Leon tried to keep the discussion strictly professional. As instructed, I played the video we had just recorded.

Eugene closed his eyes to listen to Rei-chan's and my singing, while Sena and Leon stared at the screen to check the new song. The three of them watched the screen while listening to the final video we recorded, which focused on Takumi's sign language, but the moment the video ended, they all let out a sigh.

"Takumi-niisama, you're good! That was wonderful!"
"Yeah, I think Takumi-niisan's version is better too."
"You two think so too? Actually, I thought the same thing."

Just as we were moved, they also championed the "song" performed through Takumi's sign language. With their opinions in agreement, Eugene summarized the situation.

"Your singing was wonderful, of course, but there was an emotion in Takumi-san's sign language that is hard to express in words. This is something new. It also fits the image of the night sky. Let's definitely incorporate it."

"If the three of you have reached that conclusion, let's move in that direction immediately. Our remaining time is limited."

"Indeed. Fortunately, it looks like the weather will be nice tonight as well."

◇◇◇

The filming was completed without a hitch. And thanks to their hard work, the music video was finished by the deadline, and we were even able to get Shota's seal of approval.

"I knew you would send me a video with sign language."

On the phone, Shota said this before sharing his thoughts. His tone was as if he had anticipated this future all along. At first, I thought that as a capable producer, he was able to predict our likely actions, but then the face of the live house owner crossed my mind, and I was startled. If the owner, who knows our personalities inside and out, had predicted this result, he might have advised Shota. In any case, there is no doubt that we are dancing to his (or their) tune.

No one knows if there is a correct answer ahead. But even so, for now, we have no choice but to try everything.

Shota continued.

"While you were working on the song, I also had Black Box set up a web channel for distributing the music video. We plan to post the video this weekend night, and after that, I'm thinking of uploading Southern Cross songs once a week. So, please hand over the audio files to them. They should be able to finish them up nicely."

"Understood."

"Well, there's nothing to worry about. ...Titled: The Counterattack of the Voiceless Musicians and Their Merry Friends. The beginning of Part Two."

Shota's unwavering confidence could be felt in the way he spoke, almost like a stage narrator.

16. <Reika>

Everyone involved was satisfied with how the music video turned out. We were confident that it would hold up even without being signed to a music agency or having major backing. That was how much confidence we had in it.

"I'm promoting it to everyone who comes in and out of the live house! It's a work we're proud of, too. Ah, I can't wait for the release tomorrow."
Eugene, who had come to our home studio, spoke happily without showing a hint of fatigue even after his part-time job.
"As for the music we're planning to stream after that, it looks like Sena and Rio are working hard on the video right now. I saw a little bit of it before my shift, and it looks like it's going to turn out pretty cool, so please look forward to it!"

Even though they were supporting us, I could tell from the way he spoke that he was enjoying the video production. After seeing off Eugene, who went to join the younger siblings already practicing in the studio, I fought off my sleepiness and went into the room across the hall to prepare the futons for them.

I can't thank them enough for using the time that should have been for their own music production for our sake. It's painful that I can only offer them this, as a place to sleep and a meal could never be an equivalent exchange. Now that it's come to this, I feel even more strongly that I must get as many people as possible to watch the music video.

I finished making their beds and preparing for my own sleep, then quietly headed to the bedroom. But the two who should have been asleep were still awake. It was past one in the morning.

"You should have been asleep."

"No, I just couldn't fall asleep..."

"Is it about the music video?"

"Yeah. After all, it's our first attempt. Of course I'd be nervous."
Takumi nodded firmly at Tomo-kun's statement.

—I'm the same way. Until now, I could see reactions right in front of me, and there was a sense of security in seeing the faces of people who thought our songs and performances were good and bought the CDs on the spot. But this time is different. People who don't know us at all will be watching. That is both exciting and scary.

"I see... Fans whose faces you can't see might feel a bit distant for the two of you who have prioritized reality. But this is the era we live in. The ways of supporting have become diverse, and the moment we decided to accept Shota-san's request, it was inevitable that we would incorporate the trends of the times. I understand your worry and nervousness, but let's stand tall and watch over that moment."

"Rei-chan, you're fearless... No, maybe we're just the cowardly ones..."

"I was scared of doing anything at first, too. But it was a world where you couldn't afford to say things like that. As I did everything, the feeling of being scared faded away. ...Well, let's go to sleep now. You'll probably be even less able to sleep tomorrow!"

I said that and turned off the lights.

If that is a work into which you have poured your all, then be proud of it, for the results will naturally follow—that was the catchphrase of the president of my music agency. I ended up leaving the agency when I started my band activities, but I think that advice was correct. While I cannot condone bullying in the indie scene, I believe the problem lies in the way the industry is structured rather than the president himself being a bad person, so with this attempt, I intend to change the structure of the music industry.

◇◇◇

A very simple music video consisting only of footage of me and Tomo-kun playing acoustic guitar against a starry sky, and Takumi "singing" in sign language. I have no complaints about this itself, and in fact, I think it's well-shot, but there is a high possibility that viewers with discerning eyes will find it lacking. So, I received a proposal from Shota-san, who thinks about what is "trendy." That was the insertion of opening music.

A strategy to attract viewers through their ears first by adding Takumi's improvised music to a ten-second countdown screen. The footage during the countdown is, of course, Takumi performing a solo. Sena and Rion edited this so coolly that even the person himself praised it.

The release time finally arrived, and I first played the video as a viewer, then watched the growth in the number of viewers. Perhaps due to the effect of Eugene's promotion, the number of views kept rising, and comments were posted one after another.

About thirty minutes after the release, the three members of Black Box, who had once left, came to our house with the producer, Shota-san.

"How are the view counts?"
Shota-san peered at the screen from behind us as we watched on the living room laptop, observed for a moment, and then crossed his arms.
"Hmm, the growth is slower than I anticipated... I suppose even with high quality, our lack of name recognition has become our undoing..."

"But I worked hard to promote it, didn't I?"
When Eugene voiced his dissatisfaction, Shota-san shook his head.

"Only to the people who frequent live houses, though. But I didn't want to stand out for the wrong reasons by promoting it too openly... Alright, let's move on to the next strategy."
Saying that, Shota-san placed his hands on the shoulders of the three members of Black Box.
"Copy this and stream a video. If you do that, it will definitely go viral."

"Huh?!"

17. <Takumi>

It wasn't just the three young ones who were surprised by Shota's proposal. We were also taken aback and exchanged glances.

(Just how many moves ahead is this guy thinking...?)

Had he been thinking this far ahead when he produced us before? Shota added a killer line to the bewildered trio.

"Just think about it for a second. What if the video I just proposed goes viral? It goes without saying that Southern Cross will be recognized, but it's inevitable that you, the ones who made the video, will also be re-evaluated. Once that happens, the view counts for your past videos will grow on their own, and the chances of getting scouted by a major label will increase significantly."

"I'll do it...!"
Rion was the first to be persuaded.

"So simple."

"You say that, Sena, but I think this is a chance for us too. If we stand out, we get attention. If we get attention, we make money. Especially if it leads to a major debut..."

"Yeah, yeah, that's your dream, Rion. If that's the case, I'll help too. What about you, big brother?"

"I..."
I made eye contact with the hesitant Eugene.

—Then, how about this? The twins will perform. Eugene will play. However, Eugene will play with the intention of putting every bit of his guitar skill into it. This way, we can both do what we want while completing a single work, and we can also benefit from it.

I conveyed this through Tomoatsu. Eugene nodded, saying, "Maybe I could do that..." but continued with, "But."

"I want to ask you, Shota-san, why are you so insistent on having choreography? I'd understand if these twins were saying it. But when it comes from you, Shota-san, I don't get it..."

Shota laughed through his nose and began to explain his theory.

"If you don't understand, I'll teach you. What I am trying to achieve is to bring everyone together. Gestures are a tool for that. Since ancient times, people have used gestures to amplify their feelings, whether at festivals or when praying to gods. Yes, they have the power to unite people across language barriers. What do you think happens when that is combined with excellent music? Eugene. Pursuing guitar performance and vocal technique is, of course, wonderful. But you shouldn't underestimate the dance music the twins are doing. You all need to cooperate more than ever before. If a fusion of excellence is realized, you will inevitably reach greater heights, whether you wish for it or not. You might even be able to change the world."

Those words might have been directed at Eugene. But they struck a chord in my heart as well.

(Transcending the language barrier... Is that what this is about...)

18. <Tomonori>

What Shota said was exactly what I felt when producing the music video for "Vow of the Starry Sky." The lyrics certainly convey our feelings. But this time, we have to transform the thoughts put into those lyrics into a different form and deliver them to more people. I felt like I was being taught that only after we do that can we truly change the world.

If it were just us, we would have acted without any plan, just thinking "it'll work out somehow," and by now, we surely would have been in despair. However, thanks to the live house owner, who knows our personalities inside and out, taking the initiative, we have reached a point where we can spread our worldview to the world more than ever before.

(I owe you one, Owner. I will definitely give shape to the feelings you've entrusted to us...!)

Once I realized that expectations were placed on us, confidence welled up within me. We cannot achieve world domination if we are afraid of doing new things. If that's the case, then I'll jump on this talented producer's idea and do everything we can.

"Eugene. I'm asking you, too. To have young people know of our existence, we definitely need the support of people your age. ...Since Eugene is in love with our music, I am convinced that you can create a video work that resonates with the hearts of young people while still retaining our atmosphere."

"That's right, Tomo-kun. Exactly!"
Perhaps it was because I, who had been getting cold feet last night, said something like that. Rei-chan clapped her hands in delight.

"...I understand. I'm a musician in my own right, too. I'll think of this as a trial to evolve and try my best to make it work!"

"Thank you. ...Look, now that we've been talking about this, hasn't the video's view count gone up?"

When I noticed, it had been viewed nearly twice as much as before, and there were quite a number of comments as well. Most of them were positive remarks, such as "I don't know sign language, but for some reason, I was moved," "I want to show this to my deaf friend," and "I want you to express other songs in sign language, too." There was also a comment that said, "It's as if this person is singing."

—Those who get it, get it. I'm genuinely happy.
As Takumi conveyed that in sign language, he rubbed under his nose.
—Hey, look at this. It says the person who edited this video has great taste. We're being praised, aren't we?

When I looked closely, there were mentions not only of our performance but also of the editing techniques here and there.
"Good, good. From next time on, let's make it public that you guys are the ones doing the editing. If we add reproduction videos and collaboration videos on top of that, there's no doubt that Southern Cross's recognition will skyrocket."

"Collaboration videos?!"

"Yeah. Of course, Southern Cross will appear as guests on Black Box's channel. Southern Cross has a longer history as a musician, but you're newcomers in the internet world, after all."
Shota laughed happily all by himself.

◇◇◇

From then on, as we proceeded with Shota's plan, our fame increased day by day, and by the time a month had passed, we had even reached number one on the trending music chart. Perhaps because of that effect, even when we were busking, many people would react when we started playing "Vow of the Starry Sky." I could tell that our recognition was clearly increasing.

That said, it was still the younger generation that was favorable, and many of the people in our generation or older continued to pass by with annoyed looks on their faces. Even though I want the generation with closed minds to hear it, my feelings don't reach them just by going through the internet or singing here...

Wouldn't it be better to take a different approach? Just as I was thinking that, Shota happened to wander by, so I thought it was a good opportunity and honestly asked him about my thoughts.

I feel like we're not appealing at all to people who don't get their information from the internet, but is that okay? Are you sure we should keep doing things this way?

It's fine. Everything is going according to plan so far.
Even when I threw the question at him, Shota kept a relaxed expression.
It's the same as how Wing had a certain level of recognition in the indie scene, but it was nowhere near Reika, who is active in the major scene. Since we are operating in what is, in a sense, the closed world of the internet, it's no wonder that people who aren't there don't know about us.

...So you're saying the influence of television is still strong after all?

That might be the case for now. But there's no need to be pessimistic. We're just getting started.

You're awfully relaxed.

Well, even if this plan ends in failure, I won't take much damage. I have tons of other work, after all.

Tch... Is that your real intention?

...I'm joking. Please don't make such a scary face.

However, I couldn't read from his expression just how much of that was a joke. When I glared at him further, Shota soothed me by saying, "Now, now..." and continued.

I've considered every possibility in my head. I'm just saying that things are proceeding as expected, which is why I'm relaxed. However, there is a sufficient risk that we could enter a bad pattern from a fork in the road ahead. I'll be honest and tell you at least that much.

I have a bad feeling about this...
Rei-chan said quietly, and Shota nodded silently.

I think what Reika-neesan is thinking and what I'm thinking are probably the same. In my mind, it's the worst-case scenario. If this actually happens, it'll be quite troublesome... though I do have a solution prepared, of course.

W-wait, what? What do you mean by the worst-case scenario...?

Takumi moved his hands while looking back and forth between Rei-chan and Shota. Just as he was about to interpret, there was a figure running toward us from the station. It was Eugene and Sena. They waved to greet us as usual, but something was wrong.

What's wrong with you two? You're in such a rush. ...Wait, just the two of you today? Where's Rion?
To Rei-chan's question, Eugene replied, gasping for air.

...That guy, he betrayed us. He signed a major contract... all by himself...

What!?

Middle part (approx. 36,700 characters):

19. <Reika>

Tomo-kun and I cried out, and Takumi's eyes went wide. Only Shota-san, while saying, "So the bad scenario has been triggered. This is a real pain..." with his mouth, didn't seem surprised. As I had heard earlier, this was likely an event he had anticipated.

Well, the possibility had crossed my mind too. But I had thought, surely not, so hearing that news come out of the blue left me shaken.

Betraying your bandmates to sign a major contract alone... My heart aches at a story that feels like a reenactment of my younger self. And seeing Eugene and Sena so terribly furious makes it even more painful. Because Takumi and Tomo-kun, thirty-some years ago, must have exploded with anger at me in exactly the same way.

"He kept talking about money, money, but I can't believe he actually let himself be lured by cash to go solo! It's just insane! Don't you all think so too!?"

"And he didn't even give us any details, just said, 'I'm going to go chase my dream,' and left us like that?! Ugh, I can't believe it!! We were working as a trio!! I feel so abandoned!! This is the worst!!"

—I get it, I get it. I understand your feelings all too well. Because we went through the exact same thing...

Tomo-kun conveys Takumi's sign language with deep emotion.

That might have been comforting words for the siblings. But to me, it sounded like nothing but sarcasm. Of course, I think both Takumi and Tomo-kun have settled their feelings from back then by now. However, it is a fact that they had that experience, and if they tried to remember it, they could surely recall the anger and hatred of that time in an instant. After all, it was only recently that they let go of those emotions they had carried for nearly half their lives.

As proof of that, Tomo-kun tells the two, whose eyes are narrowed in fury, "There is no need to bottle up your feelings of anger. If you want to be angry, then be as angry as you want. It will become fuel for your music making. ...The songs we wrote when Wing first formed were especially like that. Looking back on it now, I can clearly see how truly furious we were."
"When you hear a story like that, it just makes you want to shred on your electric guitar and scream!"

"Then, you should do just that. For now, come over to my place."

Tomo-kun, who looks calm, nevertheless seemed to be trying to stay composed by taking deep breaths over and over. Surely, various emotions and thoughts must be swirling in his head.
"...Let's all work out a plan. Shota, you'll come with us, right? I mean, now that it's come to this, and since you have a plan to avoid the worst-case scenario, I'd be in trouble if you didn't let us hear it."

"Of course, that's the plan. ...Sigh, another all-nighter, huh."
Shota-san let out a deep sigh, then took a cigarette from his chest pocket and started smoking.

—Hey, don't smoke so much just because you're frustrated. You'll end up like me, you know?

Takumi, who has become a complete non-smoker, warned him. But Shota-san didn't listen; instead, he inhaled the smoke as if it were delicious and exhaled a long cloud.

"Don't worry. I'm not a singer, so I can still work even if I lose my voice. Probably..."

＊

We arrive at my house after a twenty-minute walk from the station. Once inside, I first show the two young ones to the studio.

"Feel free to play and sing to your heart's content. We'll be in the living room."

"Thank you very much. Then, we'll take you up on that offer..."

The two, who seemed to have regained their composure, bowed politely and entered the studio, but immediately let out loud shouts. The volume was enough to leak through the soundproof door. It seems they have quite a lot of pent-up frustration.

"Well, they probably won't be coming out for a while..."
Tomo-kun and Takumi sat side-by-side on the living room sofa after seeing the two off. Perhaps feeling relaxed, they finally began to speak.

“You haven't said a word since a while ago, Reika, but what do you think about this situation? Won't you let us hear your opinion?”

“Ah, I was thinking of asking that too. I put it off because I was desperate to calm them down earlier, but there's no way Rei-chan hasn't been thinking about anything. After all...”

“...Because they're just like we were when we were young, right?” The two of them nodded with indescribable expressions as I said that, as if stealing the words from Tomo-kun.

“I have so many thoughts that my chest has been aching since a while ago... But, if you'll let me speak honestly...” I paused to gauge their reactions. They both nodded silently, so I continued. “This is just a guess based on my own experience, but I don't think Lion acted for money. I think he simply accepted the offer out of a longing for the major leagues and a desire to test his skills.”

“...In other words, you're saying Lion is completely innocent?”

“No... According to what they said, Lion probably decided without even consulting them. I think he did something foolish regarding that, too. I say that with a sense of self-reflection... But don't you think it's strange? I've told them from the beginning about the circumstances of our breakup, so would he really do the same thing? Especially if the band is doing well. I want to believe there was some kind of plan behind his actions.”

“Hmm... I understand your desire to protect Lion, Reika-san. I truly wish that were the case myself. But for now, let's discuss a story that takes us from the worst-case scenario where Lion betrayed us to a major turnaround. That is the most constructive approach.”

“I suppose so...” Shota-san, who was here for work, stated calmly. I suppose he meant that emotional arguments were unnecessary here. In that sense, it could be said that it was wise to lead the two young ones to the studio.

Shota-san said, “Well then...” and began to speak. “First, let me share my thoughts. I have prepared three options for the worst-case scenario... that is, the choices we have after things have turned out this way. The first is to cut off the traitor. The second is to persuade them and bring them back. The third is to recruit different collaborators.”

“Hmph... So two of those are strategies to cut off the black box. How cold-blooded.”

“You say that, but Tomoatsu-san and the others did the same thing, didn't you? You should know that it's unavoidable if you want to succeed in this world.”

“Back then, we were still...”

“Young, you mean? It's the same whether you're young or old. You use what you can use. If there's a good opportunity, you grab it without letting it slip away. You can't truly blossom unless you do that. I hate to say it, but that is the difference between Wing and Reika.”

“...You bastard, say that one more time!!” Tomo-kun, who had snapped, lunged at Shota-san.

—Certainly, there's a way to say things, no matter what. That just made me angry too. Takumi also began to show his irritation.

(At this rate, even our relationship will turn sour. We finally managed to regain our old bond, and now we're going to be back to square one...)

A sense of crisis made my thoughts spin at full speed. Come to think of it, Shota-san mentioned earlier that the second plan was to persuade them and bring them back...

“Tomo-kun, calm down. I have an idea.” I pulled Tomo-kun away as he was closing in on Shota-san and sat him down on the sofa.

“...What is it? What's your idea?”

He was still excited and directed his irritation at me as well. I looked into his eyes and declared, “I will persuade Lion. This is something only I, who was in the major leagues, can do.”

20. <Takumi>

Hearing Reika's words, I was surprised, but I also thought it was a brilliant idea. Talking it out might deepen the rift, but it would allow us to understand each other's thoughts. Considering that we deepened our own rift and spent decades at odds because we didn't do that back then, regardless of the outcome, listening to Rion's thoughts is the right thing to do.

—Tomochika. Let's calm down for a moment.
I made him sit back down after he stood up from the sofa upon hearing Reika's words.

"Hmph... I'll return those words right back to you."
It was a blunt reply, but judging by the way he leaned back into the sofa, he seemed at least prepared to listen. Seeing that, Shota sighed as if exasperated.

"I'm amazed you've made it this far with that personality. Oops, another slip of the tongue... Please forget I said that. Anyway, back to the topic, Reika-neesan, you're going to go with the persuasion plan... Is that right?"

"Yes. Among Shota-san's proposals, it's the only one where everyone could be saved if it succeeds. If there are no other ideas, I have no choice but to bet on that one."

"But it's the plan that will involve the most hardship."

"I'm well aware of that."

Just then, the two young ones appeared from the studio. Perhaps they had let off enough steam, as they looked calmer than before. However, the moment they made eye contact with us, their expressions changed as if they were about to start complaining again. Perhaps thinking that before another emotional argument could begin, Reika asked a question immediately.

"Sorry to be blunt, but do you know where Rion signed his major contract? I'm thinking of going to persuade Rion in the near future."

"Persuade?! I don't think that's possible!"
As expected, Sena still had seeds of anger left and argued fiercely. Eugene, on the other hand, showed a mature response.

"If I recall... I believe it was the agency Reika-san used to belong to."

"I see... I suspected as much from their methods, but it's perfect timing since I had a lot I wanted to say about their bullying of indie artists. Thanks for telling me."

—Hey. You say it's something only you can do, but you don't mean you're going to go there alone, do you?

When I asked out of concern, as expected, she replied, "I do, why?"

—"I do, why?" my foot. If you're going, I'm going too. I have things I want to say to them as well.

"No... It wouldn't mean anything unless I talk to Rion one-on-one."

—But...!

"Indeed... If we were to go as the three of us, or even including the siblings, I feel like we would just face more resistance. Like, 'Did you come to drag me back by force?'"

"Exactly."
Reika nodded at Tomochika's statement.

"Takumi is worried. He's worried that Rei might be swayed to the other side again."

--Hey...! I would never do such a thing...!

"Well, well... Let's not fight here."
Shota stepped in at the perfect moment just as the mood was turning sour again. He continued,
"However, before we adopt one of the proposals, let's hear what Black Box has to say. Do you want the traitor, Rion, to come back? That is the most important point."

The two of them looked at each other. Their expressions seemed to say they had a mountain of things they wanted to say. After a while, Eugene opened his heavy mouth.

"To be honest, I haven't sorted out my feelings yet. It really happened only a few hours ago... But... I can see the future if we fall out like this, so for my part, if that future can be avoided, I want to avoid it."

His eyes looked back and forth between me and Tomoatsu.

--Well said, Eugene. That's right. If they make the same decision we did... unfortunately, there is no bright future waiting for them. Even if they become musicians who don't have to worry about their next meal, their hearts will never be fulfilled...

"What about you, Sena?"
Shota asked.

"To tell you the truth, I don't have the confidence to spend my time without Rion by my side. After all, we've been together ever since we were born. Of course, it would be best if he came back. That's on the condition that we're all on the same page, of course."

"To summarize, both of you from Black Box also want Rion to come back, right?"
The two nodded.

"Okay. Then we'll have Reika-neesan sit at the negotiating table... Let's discuss the next scenario. Our next move will change depending on whether Rion's attitude is friendly or not."

And so, the discussion continued until late at night.

21. <Tomoatsu>

In the end, the three visitors ended up staying the night at my house. By the time the discussion ended, everyone was so exhausted that they didn't have the energy to go home.

I myself am terribly tired. I want to go to sleep right now. Yet, as I lay in bed, I start thinking about the meaning of the same events from decades ago repeating themselves right before my eyes.

Back when we were young. Just as I thought life couldn't get any better, Takumi and I were abandoned by heaven and pushed off a cliff. I even resented the gods of heaven, asking why they wouldn't let us continue living our best lives as they were. However, now that I have passed many years and learned to forgive, I have a different impression when I look back on it.

Happy days are truly sweet. Because of that, they are tempting and make people lazy and arrogant. Even if the person themselves isn't aware of it, if heaven judges them to be getting carried away, they will be taught a lesson. I think that's probably what it is now. Of course, since it's in the past, it can be interpreted in any way, but there is no doubt that the fact that we could only think from our own perspectives when we were young led to the breakup.

Once I was taught my lesson, I intended to let go of all the negative thoughts and regrets I had been holding onto when Takumi returned. Even so, there are still times when I think, "If only I could do it over..." Is it too far-fetched to think that the newly emerged crisis of Black Box's split is the manifestation of that thought? However, it makes more sense to me to think of it that way. When we overcome this crisis with them, the wounded "us from back then" will be completely healed, and we will finally be able to head toward the heights. I even think that.

I toss and turn, facing the bed where Takumi is sleeping. He seems to be awake, and our eyes meet. Takumi sits up and beckons me as if he wants to say something, so I sit up and sit down next to him.

"You're thinking about the old days, aren't you?"

Takumi moved only his mouth slowly, without using his hands. Having read his lip movements for half a year, and around the clock at that, I had become able to understand what he was saying for the most part even without sign language, provided the environment was calm. In fact, it even felt as if he were speaking by vibrating his vocal cords, just like in the old days.

I glanced at the other bed to confirm that Rei-chan was asleep before speaking in a low voice.

"Yeah, I was thinking about the past."

"I thought so. Well, considering Rion's actions, I can understand why you'd think about it whether you want to or not."

"...What about you, Takumi?"

"I was just turning over the future course of events in my mind. We did agree to leave it to Reika, but I'm still uneasy about letting her go and storm her old nest alone. I mean, this is an organization that deliberately tries to block the path of someone trying to start a new life, right? There's no way talking it out will work. You suspect that too, don't you?"

"That's true... I can only pray that things go as discussed, but we are an indie band with no power or money. If the other side flaunts those things, we won't stand a chance. Still, we have to stand up to them."

"Even to achieve world domination?" I nodded slightly at the question.

"They've probably read our moves too. And they'll likely underestimate us, thinking we can't do anything significant. ...Hey, Takumi." I whispered in his ear after calling his name. "Why don't we prepare one move that no one, not even them, could predict? A trump card that even Shota wouldn't think of."

Up until now, we hadn't thought of anything. The live house owner had even seen through our personalities and assigned Shota to us. However, it wasn't fun to be thought of that way forever.

"Sounds good, I'm in on that proposal." Takumi grinned. "Oh, by the way, I had one thing in mind. Actually..."

Having read Takumi's lip movements, I was satisfied that he had the same idea as me.

"As expected of Takumi. I was thinking of saying the same thing."

"What is it? Then that makes things easier. ...The day of execution should be the day Reika goes to storm the office."

"Yeah... Let's move around in the dirt and show them our grit."

Takumi nodded vigorously. Now is the time to demonstrate the power of our connections. We will prove that we can deliver our singing voices even without belonging to a large organization.

The moment I decided that we would take action ourselves, I felt relieved, and suddenly, sleepiness washed over me. "Thank you, Takumi. You really are an indispensable partner to me."

"The feeling is mutual. Come on, let's sleep now. Good night..."

"Good night..." I crawled back into bed. This time, I fell asleep in less than a minute.

22. <Reika>

There was no guarantee that the president would listen to what I had to say seriously. In fact, there was a possibility she would refuse to see me at all. However, three days after I contacted her, she made time for the three of us to meet, including Rion.

"Long time no see, Reika. Seems like you're doing well even as an indie artist, aren't you?"

While I waited in the reception room I was shown into, the president appeared with Rion, dressed in a bright red suit and bright red heels—an outfit that made it hard to believe she was seven years older than me. She then deliberately blew cigarette smoke in my direction.

"Yes, thanks to the cooperation of Rion and the others, Southern Cross's popularity has been rising. ...Though, you were the one who poached Rion from us."

"You make it sound like I poached him just to get in your way. Well, you're free to think whatever you want, but he was happy to accept my offer. That is the truth."

"Is that really... the truth?"
I looked at Rion's face. He tucked his chin and glared at me sharply.

"It was the same for you, wasn't it, Reika-neesan? Your dream was to make a major debut. I finally got an offer, so I took it. There's nothing strange about that, is there?"

"I didn't say it was strange. I just have questions. I want to know why you are trying to follow the same path we did."

"Just because I took the same action as you, Reika-neesan, doesn't mean it will end with the same result."

"Eugene and Sena were angry too. Just like Takumi and Tomo-kun when they were younger. It's hard to think it won't end up the same..."

"Then what of it! Just go home already!"

"......"

"Reika. It's useless to say anything. His resolve is firm."
Perhaps realizing that my voice wasn't reaching him, the president smirked.

"...I won't give up. I will definitely bring him back. I promised my bandmates."

"A promise...? That's laughable. Do you really think that will fill your stomach? It seems you've returned to your friends and become completely poisoned by them. If you've forgotten, I'll teach you again. Listen carefully. In the business world, results are everything. The one who earns the most wins. It doesn't matter to us what happens to the rivals we outcompete. Sentiment is unnecessary."

"...So, as long as we musicians bring in the money, nothing else matters... Is that your philosophy?"

"That's right. You just need to follow the manufactured trends and do as you're told. Don't you think that's fine since you get paid for it? Musicians don't need to think about anything extra; they just need to smile in front of the camera. If you do that, you'll earn money easily, and we'll get paid too. The fans will be happy. Everyone can be happy. Isn't that enough?"

"...When did the sparkle in your eyes disappear? When I first met you, President, you were still talking about your dreams."

The president scoffed and slowly shook her head.

"…Dreams alone aren't enough. You can only make a living in music once drama and money are added to the mix. Reika, you understand that, don't you? You know that the story of becoming a professional singer even if it meant betraying your friends and loved ones is what established 'Reika's' character. That's why you know you were able to maintain that status for so long. Rion is the same. He debuts with the mission of entertaining people with dance music and making them smile. That's why it's meaningful. Do you understand? The audience just wants the musicians who please them—their 'oshi'—to be there. They don't care what kind of feelings those musicians held in their hearts when they debuted. That's why we, the people at the music agency, design musicians to meet those needs. That's how everything works out."

"…But that makes the musicians unhappy."

"Why? Even though they can earn a lot of money? Are you saying the singer-songwriter Reika was unhappy?"

"I didn't think I was unhappy at the time. But once I realized that my true self had been killed off, I could no longer accept the common sense of the music industry. The common sense of the industry is the absurdity of the world. President, can't you find a way to work that is more considerate of the musicians? If you can promise me that, I will give up on trying to persuade Rion. I don't want to be the one to take away his dream of being active in the major leagues either."

"It's you who doesn't understand, Reika. …I can't turn back now. I've made too many connections. This world is made of money. Once you can no longer pay the media, the company has no choice but to go bankrupt. That's how the system works. And because the existence of musicians who speak out against that system is an eyesore, we crush them all, no matter how small they are."

"…Is that really how you feel, President? I can't believe that. Please, talk about dreams again, like you used to."

"…What is required of me as president is management ability. I threw away my own emotions a long time ago. So it's useless to appeal to my emotions."

"Then, let me ask you. If you didn't win him over by talking about dreams, how much did you actually give Rion? How much are you ordering him to earn?"

"Oh my. I haven't given him any money yet. I offered him one million including living expenses, and another million as a transaction fee, hoping for the best, but he said that wasn't enough. He says he's in trouble if I don't give him more since he's restricting the activities of Southern Cross and Black Box, which are bound to grow. He's young but selfish, which is a headache. Though, he is worth the effort of persuading."

From what was just said, I realized that Rion hadn't agreed to this just because he wanted to fulfill his dream of a major debut.

"President. I didn't want you to talk about that in front of my sister..."

"But it doesn't matter, because there's nothing Reika can do even if I tell her, right?"

"That may be true, but..."

"You just need to keep quiet about this matter. Because all I want from you is your looks and your dance skills."

"…………"

"…President. Do you really think Rion will do as you say after hearing words like that?"

"He will. As long as I'm holding you all hostage."

I never expected her to openly reveal her hand like that. She seems very confident that she can win him over. In other words, she's looking down on us...

I look into Rion's eyes once more. Unlike the president's, his eyes were powerful and full of fighting spirit.

(I'm sorry, Rion…. It's all because we're so useless….)

From our perspective, it is Rion who is being held hostage. Even if it is to protect her position, the current president's methods are not legitimate. She only favors those who are obedient and do as they are told, while eliminating anyone who bites back. Perhaps she no longer even cares whether someone has real talent or not.

The president still wears a relaxed smile even as she looks at Rion, who is brimming with fighting spirit.

"I understand your desire to protect Southern Cross and Black Box, Rion. But as I said before, I can't just say yes so easily. ...I know. Why don't you debut with your twin sister instead? Wouldn't that ease your worries a little?"

Without showing surprise at the president's new proposal, Rion asks quietly.
...Why is my brother being left out?

"I saw the video of the three of you chatting on the web. Your brother is a very pure child, isn't he? I can tell just by looking into his eyes. That's why it's a no. Such a simple-minded young man doesn't suit me."

...I will ask Sena.

"Hey, Rion...!"
I feel a sense of panic as if the light has vanished from his eyes. Remembering our prior discussion, I immediately play my next card.

"President. Please give us time to talk, just the two of us. There is something I absolutely must confirm. Five minutes is fine. Please."

"Do you really think that's allowed, considering you quit for your own convenience? Besides, you should be grateful that I even made the time for you to meet like this."

Without even looking at me, the president exhales cigarette smoke toward the ceiling. Shota-san had anticipated every possible situation and offered suggestions, but in this current situation where we cannot even get to a discussion, there are very few moves left to make.

(There is only one last move left... I have to bet everything on this...)
"That's enough, isn't it? Give up and go home."

The president throws open the door to the reception room. However, I do not leave; instead, I stand in front of Rion and declare my "last move."

"According to the president, the amount offered to restrict our activities was one million, right? And you think that's not enough, Rion. That's right, we aren't the type of people to quit our activities for a mere million. Now that I know you feel that way, I will earn more than that, no matter how difficult the situation. I will make people turn their heads. I will use every means at my disposal to gain a level of fame that rivals major musicians. So, Rion. Don't sacrifice yourself for our sake. You can become famous without being on a major label. You can even stand on a big stage. Let's make your dream come true, all of us together."

I held out my right hand. I don't expect him to take it right now. But this hand represents everything I feel, everything we feel. I just had to convey that there are people here waiting for Rion.

Rion's right hand moved. But that hand brushed mine away.

...Tell Sena. If she has any intention of debuting together, tell her to contact me. ...So, sister, please go home now.

...I understand. I'll leave for today. But keep in mind that next time I come, Sena will be with me. And of course, it will be to bring you back.

...Go home.
He points toward the other side of the open door. His face looks as if he wants to say he doesn't want to talk about anything else. To me, it looked like he was wavering.

23. <Takumi>

Having left Reika to handle persuading Rion, we were planning something. The day arrived sooner than expected, but since we had already envisioned it in our own minds, there was no need for intense discussion.

As usual, we grabbed our guitars and wandered out of the house, heading toward a nearby coffee shop. We had met the owner a while back through a friend of Reika's. Although it was primarily a coffee shop, we heard it could also be used for banquets or as a meeting room. According to the owner, the same acquaintance always brought them "trouble," but seeing as they accepted it while complaining, they must have a generous heart. We headed there with the hope that they might listen to our story with that same open mind.

I skipped breakfast, so I was starving. It was Reika's fault for leaving the house so early. It was that awkward time of day that was neither morning nor afternoon. When we opened the shop door, as expected, there was hardly anyone there. That was convenient for us, as we had business with the owner.

“Welcome. ...Wait, are there two of you today?”
The moment the owner saw us, they looked as if they were seeing an unusual pair of customers.

“Yeah, that’s fine, isn't it?”

Tomoki replied as if he were already a regular. I wanted to respond too, but since I couldn't use my voice, I left the negotiations to Tomoki. I planned to use sign language if absolutely necessary, but for now, I didn't think I would have a turn.

“O-of course! Meguchi, take their order.”

“Yes. Please, take any seat. I'll bring you some water now.”

A cute shop assistant smiled at us as we sat at the counter. Tomoki, who ordered two morning sets of coffee and sandwiches from her when she brought the water, immediately took the opportunity to make our request to the owner.

“Actually, we came here to ask for a favor.”

“Huh? A favor?”

“Yeah. It might sound like a sudden, crazy idea, but we want you to play our music here. Eventually, we're thinking of holding a live performance here, too. If possible, while streaming it on the web.”

“Hmm. A live stream, you say?”

“Yes, that. I’ve played here before, so what do you think?”

“Well, I don't mind, but... why all of a sudden, here?”
Naturally, the conversation would go that way. Tomoki, as if he had expected that question to be thrown at him, began to explain his theory.

“To put it simply, this is our resistance against having our places to perform taken away. It’s to show that money and power aren't everything, and that our passion is stronger.”

“Oh, I get it! You mean the ‘power of song’ you mentioned in that video the other day, right?”
The girl clapped her hands in response.
“I saw it. The collaboration video between Southern Cross and Black Box. It was a really great video that let us know what you all are thinking about on a daily basis.”

That collaboration video was a popular hit that reached 100,000 views in a single day. Hearing that the girl in front of us had seen it, Tomoki looked happy.

“Young people are quick to understand. Yes, we want to change the world with the power of song. We want to use this place as a foothold for that.”

“That sounds great, it’s wonderful! My husband and I listened to the song, and Tomoki, your voice was just as wonderful as Reika's. I think I might even fall for you.”

Oh? You're young, but you already have a partner?

Not only that, Meg-chi is a mother of one. You can't tell, can you?
The owner chimed in, and the girl shyly smiled.

I'm happy when young people become fans. But the generation I really want to reach is the owner's. So, what do you think? It's fine to play baseball games, but how about playing our music in the shop?
He pointed at the TV, which no one was watching.

Hmm... Setting a day for it might be possible, but we've basically decided to play baseball games during the season. After all, I'm a former ballplayer, and besides...

Please, I'm begging you...!

Tomoatsu pleaded, but the owner just groaned and fell silent. The conversation paused, and during that time, the morning set we ordered was served. As I was stuffing my cheeks with a sandwich, the owner finally began to speak again.

I'd like to ask you both, what's the point of playing your music here? If you just want people to know your songs, frankly, web streaming would be fine, wouldn't it? Or singing on the street?

No. The goal is to have people listen who wouldn't be reached by the usual methods. Do you understand what that means?

In other words, you want to make people listen who don't go out of their way to look for information.

Yeah.

In that case...
The owner paused there.
I just thought of something good, would you like to hear it?

Of course.

Playing music in the shop isn't bad, but if you end up doing a live show later, this place is way too small. If the goal is to gather people and convey your feelings, I think it would be better to hold a live show in a wider space, like a baseball stadium.

A stadium...?

Rihito-san, that's brilliant! You're going to ask Mizusawa-san, right?

As expected of Meg-chi. Exactly right.

Mizusawa... Could it be Rei-chan's younger brother?

That's right. Actually, Mizusawa-senpai runs a youth baseball club, so he has connections to stadiums. He's also close with former pro baseball player Nagae-senpai, so we wouldn't have any trouble securing a large space.

Hearing that proposal, even I couldn't just stay silent.

Tomoatsu. I never thought about renting a stadium, but isn't that a good idea? Rather than just having our music played, that kind of live performance suits us better.

"Yeah, that would certainly be much easier to do."
Tomoatsu nodded as well.

"If the live performance is at the stadium, I think we can broadcast it on our TV here. Then the customers here can listen to it too. We just need to connect the TV to the internet, right? That's easier for us anyway."

"Can you get in touch with Rei-chan's younger brother right away?"

"Yes, of course. Actually, he's a regular here too. Won't he be coming in soon? Speak of the devil..."

As they were talking, the shop door opened and two men walked in.
"Wow, this is convenient. Nagae-senpai is here too!"

"...It seems you were talking about us."

"Yes, we were. But it's a good topic. These two here have a special request for you."

"Two...?"
The man with glasses, addressed as Nagae, looked at us.

"Ah, from Southern Cross... Reika-san isn't with you today?"
I'm acquainted with him, but judging by his comment, it seems he thinks the three of us always act together.

"...Are we not welcome in this shop unless Rei-chan is included?"

--I guess so... We really need to make a name for ourselves more...

"Sorry about that, my partner is saying unnecessary things..."

As we were grumbling, the other man—Reika's younger brother—offered an apology. Despite his muscular build, which suggested he trained regularly, he bowed apologetically before us.

"Um. So, what is this request you have for us? Since you both came, does this mean it's something you don't want my sister to hear?"

"You're sharp."

"I knew it... I had a bad feeling about this..."

Reika's brother made an openly reluctant face. Given the power dynamic between the siblings, this was a natural reaction, but it would be troublesome to be rejected before we even asked for anything.

--Please. Help us, somehow. We absolutely need your help as her brother.

After having Tomoatsu interpret my sign language, I bowed deeply with my hands on the floor. Tomoatsu also bowed his head low beside me.

"Whoa... Please, stop with the dogeza... I mean, are you really in that much of a pinch...? Don't tell me, is it another breakup...?"

"That's not it. ...Ah, do you have some time? It's fine if we eat while we talk. If you don't mind, would you listen to how things got to this point?"

"Understood. I'm listening."
When Tomoatsu offered to explain the situation, Nagae-kun read the room and responded.

24. <Tomoatsu>

I gave a rough account of the events from the time Rei-chan left the office up to the present day. Her younger brother, Yohei-kun, showed visible anger, but Nagae-kun, who wore glasses, had been a professional baseball player and took our story calmly, saying, "That sounds like a very plausible story."

"I only had talent for baseball, so as one of the strategies to survive in the baseball world, I became the face of sponsor companies and appeared in commercials just as I was told. But men who spoke up about those kinds of jobs were disliked. They were called uncooperative. No matter how well you performed in games, if you couldn't do the job exactly as the company wanted, you'd be sidelined even in your main profession. ...I suppose the music industry is the same."

"Geez, what a joyless story..."

"The 'dream' they talk about is different from what we think. For them, the dream is to keep earning money. It's never about being able to work in that profession or working for a long time."

"That's even less of a dream!"

"That's reality."

"How can you say that so calmly?"

"Well, it's been a long time since I retired, and I've decided it doesn't matter what a man who has left baseball says. Lately, I've even become resigned to it. I thought, why not use the track record I've built up? Well, I worked hard too, so it shouldn't be a crime to get a reward. ...Anyway, back to the subject."

Nagae-kun took a breath and continued,
"If it's the municipal stadium, I think I can make it happen with just one word from me. Of course, it's also possible because Yohei has been taking care of me on a daily basis."

"However, it's currently occupied by the high school baseball qualifiers. If we pushed, we might be able to secure a reserve day, but setting up and cleaning up a concert venue during the middle of the qualifiers wouldn't be realistic. Considering the preparation and securing personnel, I think after autumn is appropriate."

"I see... By the way, what is the capacity of the municipal stadium you're thinking of?"

"If I recall, it was about ten thousand. The cost varies depending on the day of the week and the time."

"Ten thousand..."
Ever since I heard the word 'stadium,' I figured I'd be singing in front of thousands of people, but wow, ten thousand...

--I've never performed in front of that many people, have I?

"Yeah..."
It seems Takumi is just as intimidated by the number as I am.

In Shota's plan, the concert was supposed to be after the number of invisible fans increased. It was supposed to be the very last thing. Currently, with the help of Black Box, the number of fans online has increased rapidly. I think we could gather a decent number of people now. Even so, I don't have the confidence to say we could fill a venue that holds ten thousand, and it's even more questionable if we could attract people who don't access the internet.

--Ah, if only Shota were here, he'd come up with a good plan.

However, no matter how much Takumi grumbled, Shota did not appear. Since we were planning to do something outside the original plan on our own today, we had no choice but to rack our brains and solve the problems ourselves.

Perhaps seeing us hesitating, the owners offered a few suggestions.

"Well, how about this? As we discussed earlier, we will play Southern Cross's songs here until autumn. In addition, we will promote the live concert date in various ways. Well, it will be a human-wave tactic, but since there is a precedent for this working, I think we can manage it, don't you think?"

"A precedent...?"

"Ah, actually, most of the members of the clubs that Nagae and I run were gathered by going around on foot. It was a classic method of handing out flyers directly by hand, but it surprisingly worked well. If you want to gather people of our generation, this face-to-face method might be suitable." Yohei-kun added as an explanation.

—Handing out flyers, huh. That brings back memories. Takumi moved his hands and mouth so only I could understand. I nodded, remembering the early days of forming Wing. When we were just starting out, we were truly unknown, so we would copy handwritten flyers and invite people to our live shows. Even on days when we weren't performing, we would sometimes play our songs acoustically in front of the live house to promote ourselves.

"I see. Returning to our roots might be an option." After muttering that, I remembered that I had decided to do this attempt in a "down-to-earth" way.

"Then, let's distribute flyers at our gymnastics club as well. I'll try handing them out, focusing on those who have joined with their grandchildren."

Following Nagae-kun's words, Yohei-kun nodded and added his own thoughts.

"Why don't you go directly to the club and perform live? That way, they can get a sense of Southern Cross's music, and it might be easier for the elderly to accept."

"Ah, that's a good idea. I'll go anywhere if you invite me. I mean, that's how we lived when we were young, so we're used to it. Right?"

—Yeah. I can't use my voice, but instead, I'll play with the feeling that I'll play every single song we have.

"Great, let's go with that." Yohei-kun sighed with relief. "But, setting you two aside, what do you think my sister will think? Will she agree with us?"

I immediately looked at the clock in the store. I wondered if she had arrived at the office and was negotiating by now. I want to believe it's going well, but honestly, I don't think she can talk Rion into it. I can't say for sure, but from what I've seen, that girl seems to have high pride like me, so I don't think she will easily change an opinion once she has decided on it.

"Whether she agrees or not will depend on the results of the negotiation, but in the unlikely event that the negotiation breaks down, our producer has declared that this time she will cut off the traitor. If that happens, internal division will be unavoidable. What we are trying to do is also a strategy to avoid that. ...We are keenly aware of our own lack of power. But there is something we really want to achieve. For that, the cooperation of many people is essential. ...I want to achieve it with everyone. I want to see the same scenery with everyone. I will do anything for that. Even if I know it's out of my field, if there is someone who will help, I intend to beg them. Just like I am doing with you guys."

"Wow... I thought only baseball players were passionate, but musicians are just as passionate, aren't they? Oh, don't get me wrong. This is a compliment, okay?" Hearing my words, the owner came out from behind the counter and held out his hand.

"I might not look like it, but I don't hate that kind of thing. I myself have been saved by the words of a certain senior who was clumsy, straightforward, and passionate. If your strong feelings reach them, I'm sure you can save people like I was in the past. So, please let me help you, even if it's just a little bit. ...It's really just a little bit, though."

"No, we are the ones asking. Thank you for saying you'll help. I will definitely live up to your expectations."

I shook his hand back. He placed his other hand on top and nodded strongly. Immediately after, my smartphone rang. It was from Shota. With a bad feeling, I pressed the call button.

"I received a report from Reika-san. It seems the negotiation ended in failure. Therefore, please come to the live house 'Great World' as soon as possible. I will tell you the next strategy."

...Understood. I'll rush over with Takumi.

"I'll be waiting."

I hung up the phone and relayed what I had heard to Takumi, who immediately took out his wallet and began preparing to leave the shop.

"Sorry, I've been called in by the producer. Let's discuss the details of what we were just talking about another time."

...It didn't sound like good news, but are you going to be okay?

"It's within the expected range. I'll definitely return here with good news. See you later. Thanks for the meal."

After paying the bill and leaving the shop, we headed toward the station at a brisk pace. Shota's voice on the phone had sounded truly calm. He had likely anticipated that this was a high possibility. We were heading down a path close to the worst-case scenario we had discussed beforehand, but I felt no anxiety at all. Because...

—With this, our plan seems like it might actually work...
I grinned back at Takumi's words.

"Yeah. We've successfully gained a collaborator, too. Even if some problem arises, we can just put our heads together and figure it out each time."

I no longer lament that everything goes wrong like I used to. Having saved Takumi, who was on the verge of death, with the power of song and the power of prayer, I know that thoughts create reality.

"Now, the counterattack of the voiceless musicians and the cynics. The third act begins."

25. <Reika>

The live house "Great World" was the place Takumi and the others had brought me to before. It was also where I met Eugene from Black Box. He had arrived in front of the shop before me, and as soon as we made eye contact, he glared at me. He must have been angry because I hadn't been able to persuade him.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't bring him back..."

"Oh, no... It's not that I'm angry at you, Reika-san..."
When I apologized to Eugene, who was crouching down, he softened his expression as if coming back to his senses.
"I'm furious at him for not changing his mind even after hearing your words, Reika-san."

"About that..."
Before I could explain the situation Leon was in, Takumi and the others joined us.

—Good work on the negotiation. It's a shame it didn't go well on the first try... Well, it was as expected, though.

Takumi conveyed this to me, but he didn't look as disappointed as he sounded. Tomo-kun's expression was also calm. When Shota-san contacted us for the assembly, had he perhaps shared some secret plan he hadn't told me about?

"I wonder if Sena will be here soon, too..."

"Ah, he said he can't come because he's at his part-time job. Well, you wouldn't feel good after receiving bad news, right? Tell them it's impossible to skip work to join a discussion! That's what he said..."
Eugene answered my question, coughing as he smoked a cigarette.

"You look like you're smoking that unpleasantly... You don't usually smoke, so what's up today?"

"I can't deal with things unless I smoke... Tomo-san, how about one for a change?"

"No... I'll pass. I don't want to end up like that..."
Tomo-kun, who had been offered a cigarette, pointed at Takumi.

"Well, I guess that's true..."
Perhaps finding it convincing, Eugene took one more puff, muttered "Man, this tastes bad..." and stubbed it out.

Just then, the shop door opened and Shota-san poked his head in.
"It's time. I have permission from the owner to hold the discussion inside. Please come in."

*

The shop was dimly lit outside of business hours. Once everyone was inside, the door was locked from the inside, and we were led to the reception room at the back of the shop. There, a man with striking long bangs dyed blue-ash-gray sat on a sofa with his legs crossed.

"I've brought them."

"...Good grief. Shota could have just told them himself, so why do I, the owner, have to tell these guys directly?"

"As I mentioned earlier, you and the former Wing members are old acquaintances. It's easier for them to accept it if you tell them yourself."

"Even so, it's a hassle... Well, can't be helped..."
The owner grumbled, but still instructed us to sit in the few available chairs, saying, "Don't just stand there, everyone sit down."

"...Takumi. Tomoatsu. Your success has reached my ears. It seems you're able to get plenty of people to listen to your songs even without singing here. I'm impressed by that. And Eugene, thank you for helping these two hopeless guys. I want you to keep supporting them."

Everyone present was surprised, as we had expected him to voice complaints. Tomo-kun even stood up from his chair.

"...Owner. I'm sorry for lashing out at you back then. Thanks to you sending Shota, we managed to make it this far. Your words that day were true. Thank you... very much..."

Seeing Tomo-kun bow his head, Takumi and I did the same. The owner, however, just snorted "Hmph..." and immediately got to the point.

"...Now. That's not what I wanted to talk about today. I heard from Shota that Rion was poached from Black Box. I've never liked that old hag's methods, then or now. I reluctantly banned you from the shop to protect it, but I can't stand being pushed around any longer. I think it's time we fought back."

"Fought back...?"

"Takumi, Tomoatsu."
The owner called their names and leaned in toward them.

"Sing in front of the shop. Just like in the old days. You might have been ignored back then. But now, you're at a level where you're guaranteed to draw a crowd if you sing. If a crowd gathers, even indifferent people will listen. And if you can get them interested, you can expect it to spread by word of mouth."

"Owner..."

"If they want to throw money around, then we should talk about dreams. ...Even that woman had grand dreams when she was young. If we speak with true sincerity, she might just remember them."

"Those dreams are..."
As I muttered that, the owner brushed back his long bangs and looked up at the ceiling.

"...Ever since she started her business, her dream was supposed to be to produce the world's greatest singer."

A dream the president had in the past, one I had never even heard of...
"Why do you know something like that...?"

"Don't ask boorish questions. There are things in this world that are better left unknown. ...That's enough, Shota. I'll leave the rest to you."
The owner said that, stood up, and left the room.

"...And so, that is the next strategy."
Shota-san took over from the owner.
"Since we failed to persuade Rion, it's a waste to spend any more time on that. The idea is that we should do what we can right now, on our own terms."

"Does that mean singing in front of the shop?"

"Yes. Do you have any complaints?"

"I have no objections to that."

--The one with the objections is Rion. None of us have abandoned him. ...Right?

"Yeah. We don't want to abandon Rion."
However, even after hearing the two of them object, Shota-san didn't back down.

"Why are you so fixated on him? I don't think Reika-neesan's negotiation skills were lacking. If that's the case, then he must have decided to go major with a strong will. Isn't that the logical conclusion?"

"Wait, Shota-san. That's a misunderstanding."

"Huh?"

"Everyone, please listen. Actually, Rion is..."

I hurriedly told them the truth before any more misunderstandings could arise. Everyone listened to my story in silence until the end, their eyes wide with surprise.

"No way... Then he lied to us...?"

"Yes. A kind lie, at that."

"Are you serious...? Man, we have to tell Sena about this quickly."
After hearing the story, Eugene held his head in his hands. It wasn't just him. Takumi and Tomo-kun were also looking down with complicated expressions.

Amidst all this, only Shota was wearing a faint smile. He looked like he had just thought of something wicked.

“What are you plotting?”
When I asked, he chuckled and said,

“I just found it funny, thinking that it might already be too late for what we were just talking about.”

“Too late...? What do you mean, Shota?”
Eugene pressed him.

“I was just thinking that if Rion has been telling Sena—who has been with him since birth—about his thoughts and his current situation while we’ve been doing this, then Sena will likely lean toward Rion. After all, twins think alike, no matter what.”

“......! Then what are we supposed to do...!?”

“Now, now, let’s stay calm.”

Shota, as if to tease us since we were eager to hear more, snatched a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from Eugene’s chest pocket, lit one slowly, and began to smoke elegantly.

“Hey...! That’s the cigarette I bought with my last bit of money...!”

“Don’t make such a fuss over one cigarette. If the plan I’m about to tell you succeeds, you’ll be able to buy dozens, not just one.”

“W-what do you mean...?”

He exhaled a cloud of smoke. Once the smoke that filled the room began to clear, he finally revealed his plan.

“I am honestly exasperated by your obsession with Rion. However, it is a waste of time for our opinions to remain parallel and never move forward. I will concede this time. I’m bringing out a plan I had saved as a reward for after we brought him back. I told my sister she could use it as a bargaining chip, but this is the only way left to catch Rion’s interest. That is, to prepare a stage just for him. In other words, the only option is to provide him with a keyboard solo piece and win him over to our side.”

26. <Takumi>

I never expected such a proposal to come from Shota, who had asserted that he would cut Rion off if the negotiations failed. I thought he was a man who wouldn’t change his mind even if it killed him, but it seems our persistence paid off. However, as if to say he wasn’t one hundred percent convinced, he continued, “However.”

“The condition for this plan to succeed is to prepare a piano piece. And it has to be a piece that makes Rion want to play it. Is there anyone here who can play the piano?”
No one raised their hand.

“If there’s anyone, it would be Sena, but it would be difficult to ask him under the current circumstances...”
Eugene crossed his arms and groaned.

“Well, I suppose so.”
Shota wore a fearless smile, as if he had predicted this would happen even while making the proposal.

It’s frustrating. That things don’t go the way I want. Are we, in the end, just lowly musicians who can only listen to the demands of large organizations and the wealthy...?

“Geez... I said I’d leave it to you, but I didn’t say you could toy with him.”
As I bit my lip, the owner who had left the room returned. Shota flinched.

"If you left it to me, why did you come back? More importantly, how much of our conversation did you hear?"

"You idiot. Your voices were so loud that I could hear everything clearly from anywhere in the shop. ...By the way, you said you needed someone who can play the piano, right? Well, I'm right here."

"...You mean, the owner yourself?"

"That's right. Believe it or not, I have a track record of winning prizes in several competitions when I was young. I can compose, too. I have my own repertoire. I can provide the music. ...How about it? Will you drop the plan to cut Leon now? Surely someone as sharp as you didn't fail to anticipate this outcome?"

"...I didn't expect the owner to step up, but I had already considered a scenario where we could get the cooperation of a skilled pianist, so it's not a problem. ...Good grief, cutting Leon is the quickest way, but you all are so stubborn."

"Hmph... I rely on you, but I just can't accept the way you emotionlessly cut off your allies."

"...Well, well."
Shota said, as if to appease the owner, and dropped his cigarette, which had become short before he could even smoke it, into the ashtray.

"If we can complete this scenario, we'll get some pretty good results, and because it's difficult, the rewards will be great, so I don't think it's a loss to try. However, there is one more problem we must clear to proceed in this direction. That is whether or not we can prepare a stage for Leon."

"I see..."
The owner muttered and put his hand to his chin.
"Just like here, even if we try to rent a venue somewhere, they'll put pressure on us, right? Is that what you mean?"

"That is exactly right."

"In that case..."
--If that's the case...

Tomoatsu and I moved at the same time. We locked eyes and nodded at each other.

"...We have a lead on a venue."

27. <Tomoatsu>

Immediately after, Shota looked exasperated. It was the look of someone thinking, 'What could you two possibly do?' Logically speaking, if it were just the two of us, his assumption would be correct. But we are no longer Wing. It would be a mistake to underestimate the connections of Southern Cross, the three-piece band that includes Rei-chan.

"You say you have a lead, but I'm assuming a venue on the scale of a thousand people. I don't mean to look down on you, but I find it hard to believe that the two of you could secure such a place..."

"What if I told you it's not just a thousand, but a place that can hold ten thousand?"

"T-ten thousand...? That's ridiculous... Where is that place...?"

"...A baseball stadium."

"............!!"
Shota lost his voice for a while, his eyes blinking in surprise. But Rei-chan seemed to get it, and she started jumping around us.

「もしかして庸平に頼んだの？　ねえ、そうなんでしょう？」

「正確には、喫茶ワライバのオーナー経由で、だけどね。まぁ、詳細はあとで話すよ」

「やっぱり！　やるじゃないの、二人とも！　そっか、さっきから落ち着いてた理由はこれだったのね？」

「ま、待って下さい……！」

　ショータは珍しく動揺している。「仮にいまおっしゃった野球場がおさえられたとして、一万人も集められるんですか……？　さすがにそれは無理でしょう……？」

「無理かどうかはやってみないと分からないじゃないですか。オレが手伝えば……客引きのために店の前で『シェイク！』を踊れば多分、かなりの人を集められる。背に腹はかえられません。兄さんたちのためなら、やります」

「よく言った、ユージン。ならばしばらくの間、ユージンにはサザンクロスの面倒を見る仕事をしてもらおう。もちろん、バイト代は出す」

「ヤッホー！　オーナー、最高っす！」

　盛り上がる僕らの横でショータだけがふくれ面をしていた。
「……どうしたらそんな妄想が実現できると思えるんですか？　うまくいく保証だってないのになぜ……？」

「ここをどこだと思ってる？」　オーナーがショータの肩に手を置く。「ここは夢を語れる場所。インディーズバンドが集う『グレートワールド』だぜ？　デカい夢を、妄想を語って何が悪い？」

　にやりと笑うオーナーが頼もしく、また格好良く映った。それを見て、さすがにショータも笑った。

「ははっ……。こりゃあ参ったなぁ……。インディーズバンドのプロデューサーとして十五年やってきたけど、いまだに夢を語る人間が、それもこんなに身近にいたとはなぁ……」

「ショータは忘れてるだけで本当は知ってたはずだ。インディーズがメジャーに挑戦しようとするときの情熱を。あいつらに負けるかと立ち向かっていく様を」

「ええ、知っていましたとも……。ですがいつの間にか、最短で効率よく人氣が出る人材の輩出を目指すようになってしまった。どうやら自分は、それで稼げることにちょっとばかり天狗になっていたようです」

「それに氣づけたならまだ取り返せるはずだ。……改めて問う。協力してくれるか？」

「……ユージンの言うとおり、やってもいないのに出来ないと決めつけるべきではありませんよね。一万人収容の球場を一杯にする。夢があっていいじゃありませんか。やりましょう……！」

　ショータはオーナーとがっちり握手を交わした。

「それでは新しい作戦に移りましょう。オーナーにはピアノ楽曲の提供をお願いします。それと、兄さんたちには会場の件で繋がっている人と自分とを会わせてもらいたいですね。野球場を提案してくるってことはどうせ、野球のことしか知らない人なんでしょう？　きちんとこちらの状況や思惑をプロデューサーの自分から話しておく必要があります」

「確かに野球馬鹿だけどねぇ……。あたしからもお礼が言いたいから、面談の日程調整はあたしがするわ」

「お願いします。それから最後に……」　ショータは言ってユージンを見た。「セナがバイトから戻ったら自分に連絡するよう伝えてくれないか。このシナリオで走ると決めたからにはセナにも協力してもらわなきゃならない。こちらがリオンを取り戻す手立てはそれしかないんだから」

"...If that's the case, it might be better to have Shota-san come to our room. I have a feeling we shouldn't give him any room to escape."

"...I'm busy too, you know?"

"...Please, you have to!"
As Eugene pressed his hands together in a plea, Shota held out his right hand.

"In that case, one more cigarette. And then, buy me a cocktail the next time you come here. If you do that, I might adjust my other work to meet Sena."

"............! F-fine, I got it."
Eugene reluctantly handed over a cigarette. Shota lit it with a satisfied look and began to smoke.

"...It really is interesting, working with you brothers. It's rewarding precisely because things don't go as planned. To tell you the truth, people who just do exactly what I say often end up being a one-time production because they can't move without instructions. That kind of work is boring, after all. It's a bit of a hassle, but I find a greater sense of accomplishment when we clash opinions like this, and sometimes even have surprises... I'm realizing that all over again now. That's why..."

Shota took a puff of his cigarette and held out his right hand to us.

"If we're going to do this, let's have the best finale. Under my production, I'll make this so-called world conquest of yours a reality."

Takumi, Rei-chan, and I all took his hand at the same time. Eugene, who had looked dissatisfied when he first arrived, also placed his hand on top of ours and nodded with a look full of determination.

28. <Reika>

The date of the live concert was set for the holiday when we declared the reunion of Southern Cross a year ago, by some strange coincidence. All of this was thanks to my younger brothers handling the negotiations so well. I have nothing but words of gratitude.

We were specially allowed into the stadium to get a feel for its size. As Shota-san looked around the spectator seats, he voiced his anxiety, saying, "I wonder if we can gather this many people?" but beside him, I imagined myself standing in the middle of the stadium and singing. I always do this kind of mental training before standing on stage. Until now, I had always been alone, but this time there are three of us. There is nothing more reassuring than that.

In my mind, we are all beaming with smiles. Just imagining being watched by an audience filling every direction and becoming one with them makes me excited.

"It'll be fine, Shota-san. Takumi and the others are out there promoting us today. If our recognition increases, we can definitely fill this place. That's what I believe. ...That's the image you were ultimately aiming for, isn't it, Shota-san?"

"...It is true that I said my goal was to hold a live concert at an arena-class venue, but to stand on that stage in just a few months... That is indeed unexpected."

Hearing Shota-san's remark, my brother shook his finger, saying, "Tsk, tsk."
"One run behind. Two outs in the bottom of the ninth. A runner on base, and the ninth batter is at the plate. Life is interesting because miracles can happen, like that guy hitting a home run for a walk-off win in a situation where everyone thinks the game is over."

"...Please don't treat music and baseball as the same thing."

"No, no, they're the same. Right, Kotaro?"

"Well, I won't deny that such interesting games exist, but I think it's not a miracle, but the batter's strong desire that produces the result of a home run. So, if Reika-san strongly wishes to fill this place and takes action to make it happen, I think it will come true."

Shota-san seemed convinced by the statement, which was typical of a former professional baseball player yet based on real experience. He nodded and continued the conversation.

“The strategy for attracting an audience is already in motion, so let’s put that aside for now. Even if we secure a venue, there’s still a problem. We don’t have enough hands for preparation. I have prospects for the production staff—cameramen, sound engineers, lighting technicians, and so on—but we are overwhelmingly short on personnel for stage setup, ticket sales, and management.”

“Then you don’t need to worry about that. We can gather people. Of course, it depends on what kind of help is needed, but if I round up guys from the former baseball team, they should be useful enough.”

“You mean, from your high school days…?”

Yohei nodded. “That won’t be enough on its own, so I’ll ask for cooperation from former members of the corporate baseball team I worked at for years. ...For some reason, a lot of them are fans of Reika. Many wanted to meet her once they found out I was her younger brother, so I think they’d be happy to help if I just get her to sign some autographs.”

“I’d feel bad just giving them autographs. If I can count on their cooperation, I’ll pay for their tickets out of my own pocket and give them to them.”

“Oh, that would definitely get them to help. We should be able to secure a few dozen people. I’ll get in touch with them soon.”

“Thank you, Yohei.”

“...Who would have thought that my sister’s past achievements would shine in a way like this.” Shota-san seemed to find the situation amusing.

“Now that we have a prospect for personnel, I’d like to move forward with the concert structure. For this concert, I want to create something that satisfies both old and new fans.”

When I proposed this, Shota-san said with a meaningful smile, “That’s the ‘cherishing old fans while attracting new ones’ approach that Tomoatsu-niisan was talking about, right? I have an idea for that. It’s a bit of a risky story, though.”

“At this point, nothing you say will surprise me. Let me hear it.”

“Then lend me your ear.” Shota-san smirked and whispered, “...Please sing the songs from your Reika era. If you do that, you can please the long-time fans we were just talking about.”

“Sing my old songs... If that’s a risk, then does that mean...” The president’s face flashed through my mind and then vanished. Shota-san said, “As you suspected,” and continued.

“I haven’t seen the contract, but the songs Reika created likely still belong to the agency. If you, having left the agency, sing them, they will naturally point that out. Even if it is the original artist singing them.”

“...You want me to sing them even though I know how they’ll react?”

“You want to be a bridge between the majors and the indies, don’t you? If so, you have to be prepared to cross a dangerous bridge. I don’t think you can win back Rion with a half-hearted attitude. ...Can you do it?”

He crossed his arms and stared at me as if testing me.

Even if my activity space is restricted, it is still possible to do music on a small scale within those bounds. There is also the path of accepting the inconvenience, following those with power, and knowing that at least my life won’t be taken. If asked why I would rebel despite that, there is only one reason: I want to walk my own life on my own two feet. I don’t want to live my life just drifting along.

Looking back, I was a robot who simply performed the tasks given to me while being embraced by a great power. I continued to play the role of the “singer-songwriter Reika” designed by the agency, and while I was able to occasionally include songs that were gifts from God on my CD albums, those were few, and most were promotional tracks. There was almost none of my own will in that.

The days of working with my friends again are fun, reminding me of the old days. I think the two of them probably feel the same way. However, if there are things I want to accomplish in the life I have left, I cannot afford to take it easy forever. Just as it was for Takumi, I never know when I might fall ill or be on the verge of death.

"Singing is easy. But I'm worried about the other side interrupting the live performance by me singing. If you have a countermeasure, could you let me hear it? You already have it in your head, don't you?"

I held my resolve in my heart and asked back.

"Of course."
He nodded happily and began to speak.

"Even though it's a local stadium, it's a live concert where we've rented out a facility that can hold 10,000 people for the day. We've announced it, so there's no way they won't make a move. Naturally, we have to consider the possibility of them scouting... or in the worst case, interfering. Especially if you sing songs from your Reika era. But we have strong allies. With the eyes of the 10,000 fans gathered at the venue and the tens of thousands of viewers watching the live stream on the web, how much can they really do? If a situation were to arise where the live performance was interrupted, the fans wouldn't stay silent."

"I see. So we're playing the numbers game here."

"Yes... Even so, there is a fear that they might abuse their power, but at the very least, I don't think the live performance will end in failure. However, as I said before, the prerequisite is that we fill this place with fans."

"I'll make sure to pack it out. And I will definitely become the bridge between the majors and the indies and make Rion turn his head."

"You're confident, aren't you? Very well, then one more thing. Since we've gone to the trouble of renting it for the whole day, we shouldn't let that go to waste. I'm thinking of going with a two-part structure, what do you think?"

"For example, splitting it into morning and afternoon?"

"Yes. If we make the first half Southern Cross-focused and the second half Reika and Wing-focused, it will be a live performance that both old and new fans can enjoy. If I'm being greedy, it would be better if there were no overlapping songs. That way, some fans might buy tickets for the whole day, and even if the audience changes between the first and second halves, the total number of attendees should increase by a certain percentage."

"Southern Cross doesn't have that many songs, though..."

"Then add a few more, even now. If they're unreleased songs, the fans will surely bite."

"...You're asking for the impossible. Well, fine. I'll think about it."

Experience has taught me that audiences enjoy it even if I play songs that are close to improvisation during a live show. Sometimes songs about everyday life are better received. Since the three of us can stand on stage this time, we can connect with talk, or even incorporate Takumi's sign language.

"Changing the image between day and night sounds good too. Oh, I'm already looking forward to it."

I was always nervous before a solo live show, but this time, despite the large-scale venue, I don't feel that way. That just goes to show how much the two of them have become my emotional support. I probably can't go back to being alone anymore.

(Please, let our feelings reach many people...)

29. <Takumi>

It was over thirty years ago that we played on the street in front of the shop. We were poor musicians barely scraping by, but we were so desperate to stand on that shop's stage that we took on every job we could find—bars, party venues, shopping district events—to save up money. The fact that we could keep moving without rest was undoubtedly fueled by resentment and anger. The breakup was a terrible event, but I think now that it might have been inevitable in terms of increasing our guitar skills and experience as a duo.

Today, Reika is absent as she is coordinating the live performance schedule with Shota, but Yujin and Sena have come in her place. Sena had called Rion herself to hear his true feelings, and based on that, she chose to help Rion from our side.

"However, the reason I came today is to verify how serious you brothers are. If I don't feel any passion, I won't cooperate. Depending on the situation, I might even side with Rion. I'll say that much first."

I don't know what kind of conversation took place between the twins. But it seems that if we approach this with half-hearted resolve, Sena intends to give up on us. I can tell Sena's resolve not just from her words, but also from the way she crosses her arms and keeps a bit of distance.

"Sena. Don't provoke the guys like that. This is a new attempt for us, too. I told you we'd do this with the intention of growing together, didn't I?"
Sena snaps back even harder at Yujin's words.

"That's one thing, but this is a crossroads in life for me. Whether I continue to live with Rion from here on out, or part ways... It's no exaggeration to say that which way it goes depends on you brothers' skills. You wouldn't understand, big brother, the feelings of twins."

"......"
Sena's feelings for Rion were packed into those words.

—I don't understand the feelings of twins, but I intend to respond to Sena's feelings to the best of my ability. It's okay, we can do this, I'm sure of it.

When Tomoatsu translated for her, Sena softened her expression just a little.

"...Honestly, it's astonishing. Your guys' positivity. Well, let's see what you can do."

＊

One hour before the live house opened. We began our performance while bathed in the setting sun. It is difficult to capture people's ears in a city like Tokyo. Most people wear earphones and are locked in their own worlds. Even in front of a live house, people's interests are not in the real world, but in the worlds they are interested in...

—I'll make you listen, whether you like it or not, our guitars and our songs...!

The only songs passersby likely know are "Starry Sky Vow" and Black Box's "Shake!". But there's no point in just repeating those over and over. We will perform one by one from the songs we have created and sung so far.

"Oh, you guys are doing something interesting!"

"Let us join in too!"

After a while, fellow indie musicians who were likely performing today called out to us. That's right, even if passersby don't know them, our long-time friends know our songs.

"I heard from the owner. You're going to stand up against the majors, right? If that's the case, we'll help you out!"

"It's cold of you to let the young ones help but not call us, who have been with you for so long."
Saying that, they started playing in the background on their own, even though we hadn't asked.

Since we have performed live on the same day many times in the past, indie friends are the kind of people who know which song it is once the intro starts and can play along. As if to say they know at least the chorus, they are singing along with Tomoatsu. Before I knew it, people had gathered as if it were a small event venue.

"...Well, well, you guys managed to gather a crowd on your own. We can't let you show us up. Big brother, it's our turn now!"

Sena said this, exchanged a look with Eugene, and began playing their signature song, "Shake!"

Since the crowd had already gathered thanks to the impromptu participation of their indie friends, the passersby, who were able to hear and see a live performance of the popular song "Shake!"—complete with choreography—naturally broke into applause.

--Let's ride this momentum and do "Starry Sky Vow".
I conveyed this through sign language.

"Okay. But you sing it in sign language without playing. I'll handle the music."

--Understood. But you sing too, Chihiro. I want to get the lyrics across to the people passing by.

"Got it. Then I'll sing without holding back."
We began to sing "Starry Sky Vow," cutting through the applause that wouldn't stop.

30. <Chihiro>

I sang the lyrics of "Starry Sky Vow" with my voice, while Takumi sang in sign language. It was a fresh experience because I had never expressed myself like this before. It seemed the audience felt the same way, as they watched our "performance" with an attitude completely different from when we played "Shake!". As we reached the chorus, Sena began to harmonize with an ad-lib, and Eugene showed off the sign language he had learned while filming the recreation video. It was no exaggeration to say that this place had become a live stage. Everyone held their breath, watching over us.

As soon as we finished singing, cheers erupted, and people began throwing tips one after another, even though we hadn't asked for them.

"Thank you. We usually form a band called Southern Cross with Reika, a former singer-songwriter. We're planning to hold a live show after autumn. Please come and listen if you'd like. We appreciate your continued support!"

I took this moment, while everyone was paying attention, to introduce ourselves and announce our live show. Some people realized who we were and said, "Ah, I knew it!" while others became interested, saying, "Huh, I'll keep an eye on them." The reactions were varied, but I think a good number of people remembered our faces and names.

I told our friends inside the store that we were performing live, and then we took a break.

"Thanks, that was a big help. They said they'll come watch your live show later."
Since Takumi used sign language, I relayed this to our friends who were going to perform on stage next.

"Count on us. See you later."
Our friends headed to the dressing room, happy that they had gotten a good warm-up.

--That felt good. Reika isn't here today, but Sena covered for her.
When I interpreted Takumi's thoughts, Sena gave a small smile.

"...It's not like I was trying to take Rei-sama's place. You guys were having so much fun that I just naturally started harmonizing. ...Yeah, it was really fun. I'll come by to support you again on days I don't have a part-time job. If I keep singing in front of this many people, I think I'll gain some confidence too."

"...Does that mean you'll join our operation to rescue Rion?"

"...Yeah. After doing this together just now, I know for sure that we can do it if it's with you guys."
Sena's eyes were intense as she looked at us.
"...Rion is really struggling because she wants to play the keyboard. That's why, regarding what Shota-san said only I could do—if we carry out the plan where I play the piano piece written by the owner, Rion will definitely come back. I believe that."

I heard that after the strategy meeting, Shota asked Sena to play a piano piece for Rion, saying, "I've prepared this piano piece." It seems Shota's idea is that having his twin, Sena, play it will be able to stir his emotions.

"...And what was Rion's reaction?"

"He said he'd listen if he felt like it, but my twin intuition tells me he'll definitely listen. If a musician knew an original song was prepared just for them, wouldn't they want to hear it at least once? And if they liked it, wouldn't they want to play it themselves?"

"Rion is a show-off, after all..."
As Eugene said this with deep feeling, the owner appeared from inside the shop. He must have heard about us from our friends and came to check on the situation.

"Thanks for the promotion. Thanks to you, we're busier than usual."

"That's good to hear. ...By the way, Owner, is that composition coming along well?"

"I'm composing in between my main work, so it's not like you professionals. But I promise I'll make something good."

"Shota had the idea that Sena should play it for Rion once, but..."

"Oh...?"
Hearing this, the owner stroked his beard.
"That gives me a good idea. It sounds like a wonderful song is going to be made. Look forward to it."
The owner went back into the shop, grinning to himself.

I could see the confidence on his face. However, even if the strategy to win Rion back with the owner's great song goes well, it would be too regrettable if we couldn't gather people at the venue due to our lack of skill or fame. To prepare a stage for Rion and to make the live concert a success, we ourselves must work even harder.

"...Alright, let's resume after a little more rest. We still have plenty of songs in our repertoire."
I spread out all the sheet music.

--Hey, hey, are you planning to sing all of those? Take it easy, will you?

Takumi snatched the sheet music from me, quickly chose five songs, and shoved them back at me. I tried to argue, but he pointed at his throat with a grimace and gestured "Leader's orders!" so I couldn't say anything more.

31. <Reika>

In addition to the live performances and singing in front of the live house, the strategy of having our songs played at the cafe "Waraiba" paid off, and I began to feel that we were gradually penetrating even the demographic that didn't know about Southern Cross.

The flyers posted inside the stadium are having an unexpected effect. At the suggestion of an old friend, Ko-chan, we posted posters in places where people visiting high school baseball games would see them, and ticket sales have visibly started to pick up. A full house might be difficult, but there's also a live stream, and above all, there is meaning in the three of us standing on a big stage and letting our voices ring out.

This is the perfect opportunity to show that our "power of song" is the real deal. To wake up not only the audience but everyone in the major music industry, this live concert must be a success.

The owner of the live house "Great World" told me: "Show those people in the major industry who only think of artists as tools for making money. I'm sick of being forced to listen to music that makes people stop thinking."

To live up to those expectations, we must polish our music every day and reach the day of the concert in the best possible condition.

32. <Takumi>

Even though autumn has officially begun, there is not a hint of the season in the air; on the contrary, the days continue to break records for the highest temperatures. Since the temperature doesn't drop below 30 degrees even after the sun goes down, I perform in front of the shop late at night. I know full well that choosing a time with more foot traffic would be better for promotion, but I would collapse if I tried that in this heat. It is necessary to conserve my energy and stamina so that I can give my best performance on the day.

As I was playing my favorite phrase, a band member I've known for a while came out the back door after finishing today's live show. Seeing me, he smiled and raised a hand.
"Oh, sis. I'm heading out first. Good work today."

"Good work. Good night."

"Whoa, she said good night to me! I'm going to sleep so well tonight!"
The band member greeted by Reika went home in high spirits.

--It's been half a month since I started singing here. I've really been accepted by the group.

Reika, who came from a major label, was worried about whether she could get along with indie musicians, but anyone would want to support her once they heard her desire to be a bridge between the major and indie scenes. Plus, most men are smitten once she lets her signature beautiful voice ring out. As for the women, they seem to have a good impression of Reika's straightforward personality, and she seems to have made a few younger sisters.

--Well then. Shall we pack up too?

Watching the backs of my companions as they left, I stood up to put away my guitar. Just then, someone came toward us, as if trading places with them.

"...Sena? What are you doing here at this hour?"
Reika called out and approached her.

"What do you mean, what am I doing... Haven't you heard from the owner?"

"No, nothing."
As the three of us tilted our heads in confusion, the live house sign turned off. Looking at the clock, it was earlier than the usual closing time. It seems the shop is closing for the day. Meanwhile, Eugene, who was working part-time, came out and started putting away the signboard that was out front.

"Good work today. ...Oh, Sena, you're here too. Good. In that case, everyone, please come inside. Everything is already prepared."

"So, what exactly is about to start?"

"What do you mean, what... Can't you tell now that the owner has called for Sena? It must mean the piano piece is finished, right?"
Eugene answered Tomoatsu's question.
"We'll get in trouble if we keep chatting out here. Hurry inside."

I hurriedly put my guitar in its case and entered the shop. I walked toward the stage, glancing sideways at the hall staff busy cleaning up the shop.

The owner was already sitting in front of the piano on stage. I held my breath at the sight of his graceful performance, which I couldn't have imagined from his usual stern face. When the owner noticed us, he stopped playing.

"Hey, you guys listen too. If you miss the last train, I'll arrange a taxi for you. Today is special."
He seemed to be in a very good mood. The owner beckoned with a smile and brought Sena up to the stage.

"Sit next to me."

"Next to you...? You mean, watch you play up close?"

"No. You're going to play with me."
Sena's eyes went wide.

"…A piano duet, you say?"

"That's right."

33. <Chihiro>

　A piano duet is when two people play on a single piano. The owner had said the other day that he had "come up with a good idea," but I never imagined it would be a duet.

"Here is the sheet music. You can play it if you look at it, right?"
　The owner pointed to it on the music stand, and Sena checked it.

"…Probably. I mean, why did you decide on a duet? It's true that I used to play with Rion a lot when we were kids, but I've never told anyone about that. Did you hear it from my brother, by any chance?"

"I haven't heard anything. I just got an image of the two of you playing it, so I composed it for that purpose. Anyway, let's play it through once. You're definitely going to love it."

"Okay. Should I take the left side of the keyboard?"

"Yes. It's designed so that Rion, who loves to show off, can stand out properly with your support, Sena. I'll handle the pedals today."

"Understood. Then, please lead the way."
　Immediately after Sena's signal, the owner placed his hands on the keyboard and began to play.

　The coolness of jazz, the stillness of classical music, and the brightness of pop flowed together like a grand story. Sena, who had been playing hesitantly at first, gradually seemed to get in sync with the owner, the misalignment of the notes decreased, and by the final crescendo, they were completely as one.

　I don't know the world of piano. Even so, from the moment their performance began, I had goosebumps and was experiencing a level of emotion that words cannot describe.

　The owner is an unknown pianist, but if anyone were to say he is inferior to a professional, that is absolutely not the case. After all, he is capable of creating such wonderful music and shaking my soul. If there is anyone who judges the quality of a musician based on whether or not they have a sponsor, I would like to tell them to stop right now. This applies not only to the piano, but also to the world of singing and guitar.

　Just as Rei-chan declares that she will become a bridge between major and indie, the owner must also be trying to eliminate the boundary between major and indie. Otherwise, he wouldn't have such high expectations for us and even provide us with songs.

　The two finished playing, and I sent them applause. A loud round of applause also echoed from the staff remaining in the hall.

"I never thought I'd be able to hear such a wonderful piano performance for free. I was moved. Thank you, Owner, Sena."

　When I conveyed my honest feelings, the owner smiled with satisfaction, and Sena waved her hands in front of her face, looking embarrassed.

"I didn't do much at all... I was moved because the owner's technique was so excellent. But..."
　Sena picked up the sheet music.
"Owner. If you don't mind, would you play this song with me at the Southern Cross live concert? I'll practice as hard as I can so I won't be embarrassed even if I play in front of 10,000 people."

"Hmm? Aren't you going to play it with Rion on that big stage?"

"I just played it with you, and I got major goosebumps. I want to play on that big stage with you first, Owner. My brother told me you've won prizes in competitions many times, right? Let's show everyone how cool you are, Owner, it's been a while!"

"…I never expected to receive a love call from Sena. What do you all think? If I play, I might end up stealing the show."

It was such a magnificent performance that I couldn't deny that possibility, but we weren't the type to panic over something like that.

"Even if that happens, we'll just steal the show back in the next performance. We have plenty of songs that can completely change the atmosphere."
The other two nodded at my statement.

"Well, if you all are fine with it, I'll play without reservation. …Now, I wonder what kind of impression Rion will have."

"Hey, how about this? Since we've decided the live show will be in two parts, let's have the two of you perform a duet in the first half, and then play with Rion in the second half."

"I was thinking the same thing."
Sena agreed with Rei-chan's suggestion.
"I'll tell Rion about today. Excitedly, of course. If I do that, she'll definitely watch the live stream, and once she realizes she can play such a wonderful song, I bet she'll say, 'Let's have Black Box hijack the Southern Cross live show and dazzle them with our performance!'"

—Isn't that also an option? Even though it's billed as our live show, it would be exciting to have Black Box as special guests, and I'd be happy to repay them for everything by performing together.

I nodded while interpreting Takumi's sign language.
"It's also possible that fans who find out about Black Box's appearance in the first half will buy same-day tickets for the second half and come to the venue. It has big benefits for us, too."

"Wait, seriously?! I was just joking! I mean, are you for real? I hate to say it, but we're more famous than you guys, you know?"

"I'd like to say our guitar skills are better... but after that last battle of the bands, I can't. Let's respect each other and create the best live show possible."

"Hmph... To think Tomoatsu would cooperate. You've grown up a little."
It was said as if a parent were happy about a child's growth, but from the perspective of the owner who supports us, we are like children. There was no need to object.

Here, Takumi cleared his throat and took the lead as the leader.
—Let's summarize the plan for now. In the two-part live show, we'll insert the duet between the owner and Sena, and the collaboration with Black Box, into the first half. Depending on the reaction there, we'll decide whether to increase Black Box's stage time in the second half, and if Rion joins, we'll stage it so she can stand out in the best way possible... If there are no objections, I'll tell Shota about this plan. He might come up with an even better idea.

When I interpreted, the owner said,
"I'll tell Shota myself. I want him to hear the piano piece, too."
he said.

My watch beeped, signaling that the date had changed. The last train to K City, which is outside the city, is in the 23:00 hour. If I miss that last train, I really have no way to get home. I sighed as I looked at my watch.

"It's a promise. Use this."
The owner took a piece of paper out of his inner pocket and handed it to me. It was a taxi voucher.

After thanking him and trying to leave the shop, Sena said to the owner,
"I'll come here every day starting tomorrow. I know you're busy, but could you accompany me in my practice?"

"Of course, that's the plan. But my instruction is strict."

"I don't mind."

"Good. In that case, I'll train you thoroughly until the live show, so quit your current part-time job and come here. Play the piano as the bar floor pianist while the shop is open, and I'll instruct you after closing; you should be much better than you are now. Let's perform in perfect harmony so that Rion will be jealous at the actual show."

"Y-yes! Thank you very much!"

"That's why you guys need to keep working hard too."
The owner threw those words at our backs as we left the shop.

—We can't lose either. From tomorrow, let's practice thoroughly in the home studio all day long. We'll show the owner what we're made of.

I shook hands firmly with Takumi, who was burning with fighting spirit.
"Of course. After all, we're the stars of this live show. I won't let anyone else steal the spotlight. Right, Rei-chan?"

"Yes. I will captivate ten thousand people with this voice."

"Whoa, all three of you are so motivated... Um, I don't want to be a burden, so could you let me join the practice too...?"

"Of course! Let's do it together!"

"That's a relief... Well then, see you tomorrow."
Eugene said with a look of relief and went home with Sena.

Second Half (approx. 39,500 characters):

34. <Reika>

"The agency has officially announced that Black Box has disbanded due to musical differences, and only Rion will be making a solo debut."

Although we were somewhat prepared for it, we couldn't believe our ears when we heard the report from Shota-san. It happened when we visited the live house for the first time in a week. It was after we had borrowed the stage specially before opening and held a rehearsal for the three of us.

In addition, a warning letter has reportedly been issued to Eugene and Sena, who still call themselves Black Box, demanding they cease activities immediately.

"If they wanted to say something, they should have said it to us, but to target Black Box..."

"Well, if you look at it the other way, the other side is trying to crush us because they think that if Southern Cross and Black Box team up, they can gather ten thousand people. On the internet, the majority of people expect the secret guest to be Black Box. I think they also aim to confuse ticket buyers by spreading such information."

The fact that a warning document naming Black Box was issued means that Rion probably hasn't received the transaction fee yet. If he had received it, that money should have been promptly delivered to our side as a fee for ceasing activities. This might be a far-fetched idea, but it seems like they are threatening us, saying that if Eugene and Sena don't stop their activities after receiving this document, Rion will become a slave under the name of a professional dance musician. It's as if they are asking if we are okay with that.

"Why does the president pull one person out of a band and make them oppose the other members? It was the same with me."

"They say that three heads are better than one. I think the agency is afraid of that. In contrast, a single young person is easier to control."

"......"
It's a good thing that our current abilities are highly regarded, but I felt depressed having the things that are likely happening behind the scenes explained so calmly.

A little over a month until the live show. This announcement is a significant blow, given that tickets are selling quite well. This is because we know that many fans are coming to the live show expecting Black Box to make a guest appearance. If the agency reports this extensively in the future, it is quite possible that fans who feel distrust will request cancellations.

However, while I was feeling negative, Shota-san had a relaxed expression on his face.

"You look like you don't think this event is the worst-case scenario."

"I would have preferred it not to come to this, but it's within the scope of what I anticipated. We've been taking measures in secret, so I'm not feeling any impatience at all."

"What kind of measures exactly...?"

"That's a secret."
He held his index finger up to his lips.

"Actually, there is one more piece of bad news."
The owner continued.

"I heard that they have suddenly decided to hold an agency-sponsored music festival at the arena adjacent to the municipal stadium on the same day as Southern Cross's live concert. They plan to announce new artists, including Rion, there."

"What do you mean 'suddenly'? There's no way the arena would be available on a holiday just like that."
Tomo-kun pressed him.

"Naturally, it's to ruin your live concert. It seems they used the power of money to move the previous event to a different day."

—"I heard," "it seems"... Who on earth did the owner hear this from?

When Tomo-kun interpreted Takumi's sign language, the owner replied, "From the organizer of the music festival himself."

"By organizer, you mean the president, right? So there really is some history between the president and you, owner...?"
He nodded slightly at my question.

"…He and I were in the piano department at the same music college. We were rivals who competed for grades. We once shared our dreams with each other, but only a handful of people can make it as pianists. What we chose after falling off the path of a pianist was producing musicians. At first, he was looking for musicians who shared dreams just like me, but I suppose he decided he couldn't succeed that way. He entered into a honeymoon relationship with major media and shifted his focus to releasing musicians who aligned with the media's intentions, which brings us to today. ...He certainly succeeded. He grew the agency and released many musicians into the world. But he sold his dreams as the price for that. That's why he can't forgive them, I suppose—he hates them. The musicians who talk about the dreams he gave up on. ...No, I think I'm the only one he truly can't forgive, but perhaps he's getting senile too. Otherwise, he wouldn't go that far just to crush one band's live concert."

"…Why are you in contact with the president?"

"Because I received a threatening message. I simply responded to it."

"A threat..."

"He said that Southern Cross, who sing anti-social songs, and their collaborator, Black Box, are nothing but a nuisance. If I continue to support them, he'll crush my shop next. If I don't want that, I should stop supporting them immediately and go back to playing at a small shop like I used to. ...Naturally, I rejected his demands."

"I admit we're anti-socialists, but it's offensive to hear our live shows here called a playhouse performance."

"That's just how much he fears the power of song. He knows that when a real singer sings with their heart, the audience's consciousness changes and they wake up from their brainwashing. That's why he's trying to crush your live concert, and ultimately, my shop."

Hearing the owner's reply to Tomo-kun, I recalled the time I met the president the other day.

No matter what I or Rion said, the president wouldn't listen at all. It was as if she were trying to prove that what she was doing was perfectly legitimate. However, I didn't miss the way her expression clouded over at times, as if she were lost in thought.

The owner said the president sold her dreams for success, but I think that's only been the case for the last few years. Since I debuted with songs that appeal to the emotions, like "Family," the president at that time must have still held dreams and hopes for the music industry and understood the value of singing about family love.

"If our songs truly have the power the president fears, then I will sing for her before anyone else. And I will surely save her. Because I just can't believe that the president has completely abandoned her dreams."

Takumi chuckled when he heard my plea.

—She's incredible... If there's someone dying or suffering from mental illness, she'll say with a straight face that she'll "save them with a song," even if they're an enemy. This is a true singer. ...I see. That's why the other side is feeling desperate about losing Reika, isn't it?

"I see. On the surface, she says she's excluding anti-social indie bands, but in reality, she's banning our activities because she believes in and fears the unscientific power—the power of song."

I don't know if the president rates my abilities that highly, but hearing the two of them talk made me strangely convinced.

"The owner said it too, didn't he? That you want me to save the president. I only have my songs. So, I will save her with my songs."

"I did say to make her change her current methods and way of thinking. Well, if you sing with all your heart, young lady, you might be able to cause some kind of change in that woman's heart. Let's hope for that. After all, you did pull this guy back from the banks of the Sanzu River when he was on the verge of death. Right, Takumi?"

—I keep telling you, I didn't see the Sanzu River!

Takumi protested, but Tomo-kun and I just laughed and didn't translate for him, so he sulked. Seeing that, Shota-san soothed him with a "there, there" and continued the conversation.

"Setting aside whether songs have power or not, I believe our top priority right now is to keep ticket holders who have taken the information at face value from leaving. One thing I'm considering is the production and distribution of web advertisements for the announcement and the redistribution of flyers. Since it's come to this, we have no choice but to officially announce that the secret guest is Black Box and pledge that the three of us will gather at the live venue."

"Wait, three of us?!"
We all opened our eyes wide in surprise.

—Is Shota certain that Rion will join us?

"No. Honestly, I don't know if he will really make it in time. But if we don't take a gamble this big, we won't be able to move the hearts of the foolish masses. ...Yes, the masses are more easily swayed by the loud voices of authority than we think."

"If the masses are foolish, then we will free them from this brainwashing with our small singing voices. We will expose the fact that the loud voices are nothing but lies."

"That's Tomoatsu-niisan for you. You talk big. But if you take one wrong step, you could be sued for obstruction of business. You need to be careful about what you say."

"Don't worry. I won't say anything that would make it impossible to hold the concert, and during the show, I intend to focus on hyping up the crowd in Takumi's place. This time, we have Black Box with us, and I'm aware that the stakes are high. I'll keep my mouth shut."

"I'm counting on you. ...Well then. Let's move on to the next strategy meeting once Eugene and Sena join us."
He said that as he took out a cigarette and lit it.

35. <Takumi>

As Shota's next strategy, he instructed the two in the black box not to engage in any conspicuous activities, including posting videos, until the day of the live concert, while for us, who have few original songs, he instructed us to write several new love songs. Tomoatsu looked unhappy at the term "love songs," but after being pointed out that "since the world we must build after awakening the people is a world of love, we should also have songs like 'Sunrise' ready," he reluctantly accepted.

I was surprised that Shota cited "Sunrise," which I wrote and composed just before I lost my voice, as an example of a song of love. Although it was included in the mini-album we pressed a little while ago, it is a rare song that we have never performed live in public.

(If only I could find my voice again...)

But that is a wish that will not be granted until this life ends. ...No, if I "sing" with all my heart using sign language, perhaps my former voice might reach them. Just as Tomoatsu and Reika "heard" my voice when I signed "Vow of the Starry Sky."

For this live concert, it is naturally decided that Tomoatsu and Reika will be the main singers, but wouldn't it be even more exciting if, once everyone's feelings have become one, we played "Sunrise" with my voice included and I performed it in sign language? If a major agency's music festival is being held on the same day, it might also be necessary to replace some songs with ones that can compete against it.

(It's a live concert after all, I'll show them my good side too...!)

Although Tomoatsu is singing for me now, there are songs among those I've written that only I can sing. I believe "Sunrise" is one of them.

I had been pondering this on the living room sofa, but I couldn't sit still and immediately sent an email to Shota. A few minutes later, he replied that he was working in front of the station near our house and would listen to me after that, so I agreed.

At that moment, Tomoatsu happened to come out of his room, so I beckoned him over.

--Perfect timing. I'm going to go consult with Shota about the songs for the live concert, won't you come with me?

"Ah, sorry. I'm heading out now. ...You can manage with writing, right? I need a change of pace too."

--Huh...? Then, I'll ask Reika.

"...Isn't Rei-chan busy too?"
Tomoatsu left the spot with few words.

*

In the end, having been turned down by Reika as well, I visited the cafe "Waraiba" alone to meet Shota. As promised, I was satisfied to confirm that our songs were playing from the speakers instead of the television.

"Oh, hey there. We're promoting it properly," the owner said as soon as he saw us. "Tickets are selling, too. But at this pace, I'm not sure if we'll be able to move ten thousand... If there's anything else I can help with, but we're just a cafe..."

"No, no, you're helping plenty. ...Well then. Shall we sit?"

I heard that Shota had visited this place once to check if it was a suitable cafe to play Southern Cross's songs. However, there was no way a cafe that keeps sports broadcasts on would have speakers with good sound quality, so he apparently insisted on having the highest-grade ones prepared. Thanks to that, the singing voices and guitar tones, which are no less impressive than our live performances, can be heard even in this small cafe in the back alley.

"So, you wanted to change the songs for the live concert, right?" Shota asked as soon as we sat down. I took out the notebook I had brought and showed him the memo I had written in advance. Shota took it and read it while tracing the letters with his finger.

"I see. So you want to include 'Sunrise' at the end. And you'll be 'singing' it using sign language?"

—That's right. But I truly believe that if the venue is united as one, my actual voice will reach them too.

When I wrote that in my writing pad, they looked surprised and said, "Wow!" "A miraculous recovery of your voice, brother! ...Since you're the one who called me here, I assume you're serious about that, right?"

I nodded firmly.
"Very well. I get excited when I hear such dreamy ideas. Then, let's cut this talk segment and insert 'Sunrise' after the owners' piano performance. ...It looks like you'll be taking the best part for yourself, brother."

I nodded again and wrote my thoughts in the pad.
—Sorry to everyone else, but after 'Vow of the Starry Sky,' I realized that I can 'sing' too. I'm going to 'let myself sing' at the live show as well. I'll tell you this: it's a technique that artists from major agencies can't pull off, you know?

"I also think it's a fitting song in terms of competition. Then, I'll reorganize it in this direction..."

Just as they started to say that, Shota's phone rang. He glanced at me once, said "Excuse me for a moment," stepped outside the shop, and started talking.

Feeling idle, I listened to the music playing in the shop. It was just as 'Awakening' started to play.

This was the first song the three of us created together. It's a song with deep meaning, as it was where we declared on the street that we would start in earnest as the new Southern Cross. It's quite ironic that the president of the agency Reika belonged to offered us a major debut after hearing 'Awakening,' but we intend to use this song to awaken people. And to 'sing' it at the end... it's 'Sunrise'... Just imagining it gives me chills.

By the time the song finished, Shota had returned. He didn't sit down and immediately started packing his belongings.

"I have my next job, so I'll take my leave for today. I'll contact you as soon as I've finalized the song order."

(Huh? H-hey...!)
I wanted to call out to stop him, but only a raspy breath came from my throat.

36. <Tomonori>

What should be built after the foolish masses awaken is a world filled with love. If you want to be a savior to the people, you must think about what comes after and prepare perfectly. Up until now, you have only written songs lamenting the world, but from now on, write love songs. That is for your own good...

I, who was told such things by Shota, held my head in my hands. It wasn't because I couldn't write love songs. It was because I was shown the difference between Shota, who thinks about the future, and myself, who has no talent other than lamenting the current situation as always.

I wrote what could be called a love letter, rather than a love song, about eight months ago. The love letter I wrote back then, when I still resented Rei-chan, was truly filled with love and hate, and it certainly couldn't be called a declaration of pure love (which is why I respect Rei-chan for turning it into a song called 'Love Letter'). Since then, after Takumi returned alive and we started living together in our current home, I have harbored feelings of love for her but have deliberately never spoken of them. It's partly because her official lover is Takumi, but honestly, I feel that having a peaceful life with the three of us is enough for me.

(A love song, huh... I wonder if I could weave better lyrics now...)

I remember telling the two of them once. I want to live in a world after the conquest is achieved, and that is why I sing. The world I imagine is one without the friction, conflict, and discrimination of today, and if you ask Shota, that is likely what he calls a "world filled with love."

Romantic love, heterosexual love, familial love, love for humanity... If we call all of this love, then the "world filled with love" we are aiming for would correspond to "love for humanity," wouldn't it?

(It makes me want to laugh... That I, who have hated this world to the core, would write a song with the theme of love for humanity...)

It was impossible; I didn't feel like I could write it alone.
(I should ask for help...)
I stood up from my chair, got ready, and left the room.

◇◇◇

"How long has it been since we went out just the two of us?"

"If I had to guess, it might go all the way back to before Takumi was revived."

"So, that's over half a year ago, huh? ...It's nice for a change not to have to interpret for Takumi."

Saying that, Rei-chan took my arm.

Since living as a trio has become the norm, we hadn't done this in a long time. I wondered what would happen when Takumi held us back, but he is handling the live concert meetings as the leader, and I am going on a date with Rei-chan to complete the tasks Shota gave me. It's fine to have a day like this once in a while.

A midsummer date. ...Though, we aren't young enough to go to the beach or the mountains, and it's so hot outside that we might melt, so we head to an aquarium in the city, one of the indoor date spots.

*

Since it was summer vacation, there were many customers with children inside the building. The air conditioning was likely on, but perhaps the reason it felt lukewarm was because the aisles were packed like sardines. On the other hand, the fish in the water were swimming around looking cool. Swimming leisurely as if mocking us, who were sweating while clinging to each other.

No, if I observe closely, I notice that the fish are swimming while barely avoiding bumping into each other. It looks just like people crossing a scramble intersection, barely avoiding the people passing by, and I rethink that maybe every world is the same.

"I wonder if the fish here are also living while struggling. Unlike the ocean, there's no worry about being eaten by natural predators or starving to death without finding food, but there is no freedom inside a managed tank. They are constantly monitored, and in some cases, they aren't even allowed to sleep because of the lights kept on until night. ...It might even be better in the ocean."

"Tomo-kun, you're a man who loves freedom, so I think it's natural for you to have that impression. Well, for me, having belonged to an organization for many years, those words hit a bit hard."

"Ah... I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that at all. Or rather, I'm the one who invited you on a date, so it's no good of me to be so gloomy."
Beside me as I reflected, Rei-chan shook her head.

"...If that's the case, let's leave the aquarium area and go to the observation room. You can see an open view. I'm sure Tomo-kun would prefer that, wouldn't he?"

"But then, Rei-chan won't be able to enjoy it."

"I'm fine. Come on, let's go?"
She gently pushed my back, and it didn't look like she was forcing herself. It makes me realize that no matter how young our appearances are, we are still mature adults.

"Thank you, Rei-chan."
I took her hand and gently squeezed it back.

*

There weren't as many people using the observation room as there were at the aquarium. Just having a wall of glass and a sense of openness releases one from the feeling of suffocation.

The skyscrapers of Tokyo spread out below us. Looking at the scenery filled with buildings as far as the eye could see, the conversation from earlier came back to me. I was about to get grumpy again, but Rei-chan spoke up before I could.

"Many of the people living in this city might ride the same train every day, follow the rules, and move according to a set schedule. But I think music is what can put those people at ease. For this live concert, I hope we can unite those people with the power of song."

"I just hope our songs can be the key to changing their consciousness."

"Of course, we only provide the catalyst. If they really want to change their lives, they have to move themselves. Just like I did when I quit the agency."

Her words were powerful.

"Why were you able to make such a bold decision, Rei-chan? Is it really because of Takumi's illness?"

"...Maybe it's because the way Takumi chose to end his life was just too cool. Even though he wanted to live without regrets, the fact that he reached out to me, someone he had resented for decades, is something you can't do if you're bound by common sense. If you keep thinking you'll do it when you feel like it, you might end up falling ill like Takumi. If that happens, you might not be able to do what you wanted to do anymore. I didn't want that either. That's why I decided to dedicate myself to the band."

"Yeah."

"It's scary to leave the environment you're used to and throw yourself into a new world. But if you have friends, you'll manage, and if you have plenty of open-minded people who can forgive you even if you fail, there's nothing to be afraid of."

"That's true... The world is always on edge because people decide who wins or loses, who is superior or inferior, and refuse to accept differences. Things get weird because people aim for control. If we trusted each other more and forgave each other, surely the world would..."

"Be filled with love and peace."
Her voice gently vibrated my eardrums.
"You say things like 'world domination,' but actually, you want peace more than anyone, don't you, Tomo-kun? I know. Because you're a kind person."

"Rei-chan..."

"Let's make it together, a love song. It's okay, the love letter you wrote for me, Tomo-kun, was so wonderful that I was able to turn it into lyrics. Put your honest feelings into words again. Then I'll turn them into lyrics."

"That's reassuring. Then, I'll write it while picturing you singing. I'll write it while imagining a future where I live with you, my love. ...Yes, the reason I wish to live in the world I've recreated is because you are there. I want you to stay by my side forever."
I stared into her eyes and kissed her lips gently.

"Of course. With Takumi too, naturally. You said it at the beginning of the year, didn't you, Tomo-kun? That we should imagine a future where Takumi's illness is completely cured, the three of us are rejuvenated, and Southern Cross becomes the number one band in Japan. To make that a reality, the three of us need to join forces."

"Yeah, I know. But to create a love song, I also need time alone with you, Rei-chan, without Takumi."

"Then... just for today?"
Perhaps feeling guilty toward Takumi, she leaned her forehead against mine, hesitating slightly. Just as I was about to kiss her again, Rei-chan lifted her face as if she had thought of something.

"Oh, let's contact Shota-san and have him insert the love song at the end of the live concert. If we sing it after everyone has awakened, I think the hearts of not only the audience but all the viewers will become one, and a world filled with love will be complete."

I couldn't kiss her, but I thought it was a good suggestion.

"Indeed, it's easy to change the songs we perform at the concert, and we have time. Shota also said to prepare a few new songs, so it should be perfectly possible to put our collaboration at the end. ...In that case, I'll get in touch with him."

I called Shota right away. Not knowing that Takumi was discussing something similar at that very moment...

37. <Reika>

As the day of the live concert approached, the promotion for the music festival held at the arena became excessive. The TV commercials were particularly eye-catching. It would be one thing if they just claimed, "Every attendee will receive one piece of merchandise from their favorite artist!" but I think it's going too far to display a warning saying, "Please be careful not to mistake this for the indie band live venue being held in the same area on the same day!"

However, I was the only one worried; Takumi and Tomo-kun were actually happy about it, saying things like, "Lucky us, they're doing the advertising for us."

--They probably want to say that they are the "real pros" and we are the "fakes," but I wonder if they're feeling so desperate that they have to say things like that?

"I think so too. They're spending money to say something that people wouldn't even know if they didn't mention it. ...Look, it's playing again."

--...Still, I'm getting tired of seeing it. Even for us, who make it a habit to watch music programs to check out trends, it's discouraging to have the festival promoted so frequently—to the point where I feel like the commercials are longer than the programs themselves.

When Takumi changed the channel, the one-week weather forecast was just starting. Seeing that gave me another headache.

"I hope a typhoon doesn't come."

The tropical depression in the southern sea is expected to turn into a typhoon within a few days. No matter how carefully we prepare, rain is the biggest nuisance for us since we're planning a live concert at an open-air stadium. We plan to go ahead even in the rain as long as public transportation isn't paralyzed, but considering the turnout, I'd still prefer it to be sunny.

"Well, if a typhoon comes, they'll be affected too. The conditions are the same. Don't worry too much about it."

--Hey, in that case, why don't we just pray for the best weather with the power of our songs? Even for an optimist, Takumi's suggestion was detached from reality. However, considering that he was on the verge of death and is now perfectly fine, maybe it's not impossible to manipulate the weather with the power of prayer.

"That's true. If our feelings reach out, I'm sure the weather will be nice. Let's believe in that."

◇◇◇

However, those exchanges were in vain as the typhoon formed, bringing wind and rain to the Pacific side of the region. Fortunately, the forecast says it won't rain here, but the strong winds are affecting public transportation. In fact, several lines sensitive to wind are already running at reduced speeds, and I've heard that a few of my younger brother's former colleagues, whom we asked for help, will be arriving late.

The first half of the live concert starts at noon, but I wonder how many fans will actually be able to make it given the difficult situation. Even before that, it's slightly doubtful whether our preparations will be finished in time. I've even heard reports that several people wearing vests that look like the other side's staff are standing at the station nearest to the stadium, even before the scheduled time, trying to guide people to their live concert. It's not a very good start.

When my brother's smartphone received an email from his former colleague saying, "It will take a little longer to arrive," I saw a group of people walking into the dugout. They looked to be in their late forties. The men, who looked every bit like musicians, raised their hands as soon as they spotted Takumi and Tomo-kun.

38. <Takumi>

They were bandmates who frequented the live house "Great World." Both Tomoatsu and I were wide-eyed at the sudden turn of events.

"I don't recall asking for any help..."

"We all talked about how the only way to see you guys' heroic performance up close was to come and help out. We were even hoping you might let us join in as backup musicians... but anyway, isn't it better to have more hands on deck?"

"Better? Well... with these strong winds, we haven't been able to get the number of people we planned for. Help is more than welcome."

"That's what I thought. When it comes to live concert prep, we're more used to it than any amateur. We'll start helping right away."

"That's a huge help. Thank you."

The ones who gathered were three bands we've had a long-standing relationship with. Their home bases were all around this area, I believe. So, they were able to rush over because they're locals. I'm truly grateful.

—...Come to think of it, I don't see Shota. Does anyone know where he is? He's the type who would usually come up with some secret plan for a situation like this.

As I watch them walk away, I ask in sign language, but both Tomoatsu and Reika shake their heads.

"Actually, he just sent a text saying he 'had something to take care of' and hasn't been heard from since. Knowing him, I'm sure he's acting with some plan in mind, but still..."

"If we wait for Shota-san, who isn't even here, our work will fall behind. We know what needs to be done, so let's have our band friends take the lead."

—I suppose you're right...

Convinced by their words, I gave up on looking for Shota and decided to watch over the stage setup.

*

It was that time of early autumn when the sun was still hot. The plan was to set up sunshade tents on the field, but that was canceled due to the risk of them being blown away by the wind. The band members, looking used to this, gave precise instructions, saying it was common for outdoor concerts. As a result, we ended up with an extremely simple stage that was barely more than a street performance setup.

—We went through the trouble of securing a large venue, but won't we be too inconspicuous like this? I'm sure the president over there would roll on the floor laughing if he saw this.
Glancing at my satisfied-looking friends, I complained to Tomoatsu, who understands sign language.

"It can't be helped. You have to think that it's better than not being able to hold it at all. Besides, we don't need to stand out. It's enough if the guitar sound and the singing voice reach the audience."

—That may be true, but...

Tomoatsu, who can let his singing voice ring out, is fine because he can do that. But I can't produce that voice. I don't regret losing my voice. However, since this is a live concert, I do wish I could have stood on a dazzling stage and 'sung' in sign language. We are, after all, going to project the footage captured by the camera onto a giant screen, but I wonder how much of my feelings will actually get across through a screen...

"It's okay, it will reach them. Your feelings will."
Tomoatsu said, as if he had heard my inner voice. Something like this had happened before, but I'm still not used to it, and I felt a sense of dread once again.

—...I haven't said anything yet, have I?

"I don't even need to say it, I know. After all... I can hear your voice perfectly well."
Tomoki smiles at me, surprised, and continues.

"To be precise, I feel like I can hear it. But, if I focus my consciousness, I am convinced that I can truly hear your voice, just like that time—when we recorded 'Vow of the Starry Sky.' To make that happen, this simple stage is probably better. ...I want to hear your voice one more time. That's why I intend to make this live concert a success, no matter what. Not to beat our rivals, but for our own sake."

—If you're expecting that much from me, I have no choice but to let you hear it. I intended to entrust my voice to you, but I suppose I'll take it back just for today.

"Yeah, I'll give it back anytime. ...Well, let's get ready too. It's almost time for the concert."

＊

The wind is still blowing strongly, and the raised national flag is flapping vigorously.

Before I knew it, there were only a few minutes left until the concert started. Looking at the sparsely populated audience seats from the dugout, I thought, "Is this it?" but it was probably the largest audience in our lives. Just imagining thousands of eyes looking at us makes me tremble with excitement.

While I was wrapped in a moderate sense of tension, Tomoki seemed to be overwhelmed by the atmosphere. Noticing this, Reika took his hand.

"If you're sweating this much, you won't be able to play properly, will you? ...Are you nervous?"

"...To be honest, my heart is pounding."

"Me too. But, we have to enjoy even this |tension<nervousness>."

"True. If the fans weren't here, I wouldn't have been able to experience this tension."
Tomoki took a deep breath and regained his composure.

"Rei-chan. Today, let's unite this venue with the song we made together. Just like when we saved Takumi's life that day."

"Yes. But this time, it's not just the two of us. Takumi is here too. Right, isn't that so?"
Reika knows that even if I can't speak, I can hear the conversation perfectly. When asked, I snorted.

—Before that, though, I'm going to make everyone here cry with my "Sunrise."

This is no joke; I am convinced that anyone who watches and listens to my "|Sign Language<Song>" will surely be moved to tears. By the way, it is decided that the first half will be "Sunrise," and the second half will be the song co-written by Reika and the others, which will decorate the finale and captivate the audience.

Then, Eugene and Sena, whom we asked to be the masters of ceremonies, came over and called out to us.
"Well, we'll head to the stage first. ...Please come right away when we call you, okay?"

"Geez! I'm going up there too, so don't be so stiff! Come on, let's go!"
Eugene, whose shoulders were massaged by Sena, muttered "Alright..." and dashed off with Sena toward the stage set up in the center of the field.

39. <Tomoki>

As soon as the two of them appeared, a huge cheer went up. Shouts of "Eugene! Sena!" rang out. Their popularity might even exceed ours. However, they seemed to understand that they were the guests today, keeping their responses to the cheers to a minimum and immediately beginning their duties as emcees.

"Sorry to keep you waiting! Everyone, thank you for coming to the Southern Cross live concert today! And to everyone watching via the web stream, thank you for tuning in in front of your cameras. We have a two-part program planned for today. It's going to be a long haul, but please stick with us until the end!"

"We've prepared plenty of moving songs, so you absolutely have to listen until the very end, okay? ...With that said, let's have them come out right away. The three members of Southern Cross, get on stage!"

Beckoned by Sena, we grabbed our guitars and rushed onto the stage.

The high-pitched cheers directed at us reached my ears. There were so many voices pushing us forward that I felt like even the empty seats were calling out. I couldn't see individual faces, but their eyes and ears were surely turned toward us. What we had to do was no different from any other live performance.

On stage, I quickly plugged my guitar into the amp, confirmed that sound was coming through, and then Rei-chan stood in front of the microphone.

"Let's get excited from the very start! First up is this song. 'My Life'!"

#

Passing through the cloudy sky, the road continues to tomorrow
Let's hide our secrets in the box of our hearts
To a new world, come on

Say goodbye to yesterday's shadows
I am the protagonist, moving forward with all my might

Let's paint our dreams, the best future
I am the one who creates my world
Because the world is made by the heart...

#

This was the first song Takumi wrote after Southern Cross reunited. Extremely refreshing and reminiscent of the younger Southern Cross, it was the perfect start to the concert.

Yes, we had spent the past year working toward realizing the best future, just like the one in these lyrics. And right now, I am truly in the world I had envisioned in my heart—no, even better than that...

Who could have imagined that a year after I played at a small live event while resenting Rei-chan, I would be standing on a stage like this? Takumi, whom I thought I had lost to death, is right beside me, and we are still strumming our guitars together like this. Things are happening right before my eyes that I couldn't explain if it weren't a dream... You never know how life will turn out.

Back then, I only thought about wanting it to end quickly while I played, but now I want it to last forever. Singing backing vocals enthusiastically, playing ad-libs... I am fully enjoying this very moment.

When Takumi faced death and said, "I could die happy if I could play backing music for Reika one more time," I feel like I finally understand that sentiment. Being able to play with these three is a moment of pure bliss for me as well.

*

The concert proceeded without a hitch, leaving only the piano piece by Sena and the Owner, and Takumi's "Sunrise." The original plan was to set up a grand piano, but at Sena's suggestion that "this might touch Rion's heart more," it was changed to the keyboard that Rion had left behind.

We stepped off the stage, and Sena and the Owner took our place. A murmur arose from the fans at the sight of the elderly man who had suddenly appeared, but the two of them sat quietly in their chairs without reacting. Once they were seated, Eugene, the emcee, introduced the song.

"What you are about to hear is 'Great World'. Sena will play this with all her heart for her younger brother, who is surely listening to this somewhere. Now, please..."

The two, prompted by the words, looked at each other and began to play the same piano simultaneously. The power was so intense that it gave me goosebumps after just a few seconds of listening. The noisy audience instantly shifted into listening mode, and only the two's performance resonated through the venue.

It was like a gentle breeze, like the murmuring of a river, and at times, like a storm. Sena's feelings for Rion were surely being carried on this strong wind to reach him.

Before I knew it, warm droplets were streaming down my cheeks. I realized that feelings can be conveyed even without lyrics. I closed my eyes and focused on feeling their emotions with my ears alone.

The four-minute performance ended in the blink of an eye. Everyone must have wanted to hear more, as an encore was naturally requested. The owner responded to it, playing an impromptu piece that perfectly matched the current atmosphere of the venue, and was met with applause once again. The owner's words, 'If I play, I'll steal the show,' came back to me. It was certainly true; the owner had monopolized the audience's attention.

—Damn it. The owner is truly something else. But, I'll be the one to steal the show at the very, very end...

Just as Takumi renewed his determination and was about to jump onto the stage, at that very moment...

A gust of wind blew, and immediately after, the image on the giant screen vanished. Gasps and screams were heard from the audience, and the area became chaotic. Dust swirled on the ground, and Eugene and Sena hurriedly began removing the keyboard.

...What just happened?
My head was in a whirl due to the sudden turn of events, but there was no doubt that an emergency had occurred.

It seems we should stop the live broadcast for now.

Yeah... I have to give instructions to the cameraman quickly.
When I agreed with Rei-chan's words and was about to rush to the stage, her younger brother's smartphone, which was in the dugout, rang. He answered the phone, nodded a few times, and then handed it to me.

It's from Shota-san.

Shota...!
I snatched the phone from him.
Hey, where are you wandering off to at a time like this?! Things are a mess here because the giant screen suddenly went out...

Things are even more disastrous here. All the electrical systems have gone down, and the arena is in total darkness. It seems a power outage has occurred in this entire area. We are investigating the details, but it's likely that a utility pole fell due to the strong winds, or the power lines were severed by flying debris.

A power outage...?! Then what will happen to the live concert?!
Shota chuckled, ignoring my panic.

...W-what's so funny?

The heavens seem to be on your side. Everything is now ready to execute the best scenario you envisioned.

Huh...?

I'm heading there now. ...The joint live concert of Southern Cross and Black Box, the real show starts now.

Huh...? What on earth does that mean...?
I asked, but the call had already been disconnected.

40. <Reika>

"Tsk..."
Tomo-kun clicked his tongue after hanging up the phone. I asked him timidly.

"You said there's a power outage now... What did Shota-san say?"

"He says he's at the arena right now. He said he's coming here, and that he has some kind of good idea. He also said... that this is where our real performance begins."

"The real performance begins in this situation...? What could he mean by that?"

"Who knows... But first, we have to do something about the current situation. We can't just sit around and wait until he gets here."

Tomo-kun was right. Although our anxiety had eased somewhat knowing that Shota-san was on his way with some clever plan, the audience must be filled with anxiety right now...

Just then, the owner, looking satisfied after finishing his piano piece, walked up to Takumi.
"Keep things going until Shota arrives. Continue the live performance."

--Wait, what?! Continue? Are you serious?!

Without waiting for Tomo-kun to translate, the owner continued, "You don't need your natural voice anyway, you can do it, right?"

Takumi stared back at the owner.
--...That's right. This is the perfect chance to show off my true power.

"But what about the guitar sound...?"
Even when Tomo-kun voiced his concern, the owner maintained a relaxed expression.

"Live performance will be fine. Even without going through the speakers, if you let it ride on this wind, it should reach the audience seats."

"...Okay, owner. I don't know what Shota is bringing, but I'll create a situation that will surprise him when he arrives."

--Hey, what about the cameras that are stopped right now?

"Switch to smartphones and keep filming. Show your heroic figure to as many people as possible."
Encouraged by the owner's strong support, Takumi moved his mouth to say 'Roger!' and gave a salute.

*

While being buffeted by the strong wind, we rushed out onto the field with the cameraman. The audience looked at us all at once, raised their voices, and welcomed us.

We stood on the stage. After a few seconds, the cheering stopped, and silence fell. All that could be heard was the sound of the wind. I took a deep breath and held the hands of the two of them.

"Let's deliver Takumi's voice to the hearts and ears of everyone here."

Even if the people here have never heard "Sunrise," if we put our hearts into it, it will surely touch many people's hearts just like that piano performance earlier...

Seeing the two of them nod, I took a step back. Takumi stepped forward as if to take my place. Receiving an okay sign from him, I carefully plucked the intro. As Tomo-kun sang along to it, Takumi also began to move his hands.

#

When life buds, the earth shines bright
When the morning sun rises, the birds sing
Let's reach out to the dawn sky
The hands dyed in orange are your warmth

I want to embrace your heart overflowing with light
I want to embrace this world overflowing with love
For the joy of meeting you in this life we have
Thank you...

#

From where we were, we could only see Takumi's back. Even so, the feelings he put into this song and his desire to convey them through sign language came through even from behind.

Before I knew it, Tomo-kun's singing voice could no longer be heard. And yet, I could still hear a singing voice in my ears... What is this...

(Takumi's... voice...!!)

41. <Takumi>

At first, I was moving my hands and mouth while being led by Tomoatsu's voice. Naturally, my throat didn't vibrate, and my voice didn't come out. However, around the time the first chorus ended, my consciousness became muddled, and I fell into the illusion that I was vibrating my throat. No, a voice was definitely coming out... I could clearly hear the vibration transmitted to my throat and my own voice through my eardrums...

#

As life is born with the sunrise, ah...
A new daily life begins again today
Let's reach out to the future sky
The path dyed in rainbow colors is a bridge of hope

Let's overcome both anxiety and sadness together
To a world where all living things smile
I'm not afraid, not if I'm with you
Holding hands and becoming one

I want to embrace your heart overflowing with light
I want to embrace this world overflowing with love
Let's overcome both anxiety and sadness together
To a world where all living things smile...

I was moved to tears myself by "Sunrise," which I sang for the first time in front of a large crowd, and with my own voice at that. Even after the song ended, not a single sound could be heard from the audience. After the quiet applause, silence returned once more.

Shota is still nowhere to be seen. Still feeling the joy of being able to use my voice, I decide that I want to sing that song I wrote myself as well.

"Tomoatsu, Reika. Next is 'Compass.' I want to sing it while I still have my voice."

"...Okay, partner."

"I'll play as many songs as you want if it means I can hear Takumi's voice."

Hearing that reply, I'm convinced. It's not an illusion. Both of them can truly hear my voice. Joy wells up inside me.

"One last song! Listen to my final song! 'Compass'!"
My voice carried and resonated better than I expected. Feeling more confident that I could do this, I began to sing.

#

I'm a singer who lost his voice,
a lingering musician.
But I have my guitar,
so I'll use it to convey my feelings.

Until I clear this cloudy world
with my song and guitar,
we will keep on singing.

Even if everyone else follows the crowd,
we will never turn that way.
Following the needle of our hearts' compass,
we will walk our own path.

Once you realize that others' words
have no value, you begin to wake up.
The voice of your 'true self,' a world beginning to move,
listen to the ramblings of a nameless man.

##

I'm a singer who lost his voice,
a lingering musician.
But I have my friends,
so we'll all convey our feelings together.

Until I clear this rotten world
with my song and guitar,
we will keep on singing.

Even if they say, 'Do your best, you can do it,'
we have our limits, we can't do it.
Before your heart breaks,
throw away common sense.

Once you realize that his words
are full of lies, you begin to wake up.
A voice from the soul, a world without lies,
listen to the ramblings of us nameless citizens.

The compass you were handed,
is it the real thing?
What lies in the direction the needle points?
Hope, or perhaps, de-spair?
If you don't like it, let's tell them!
The ramblings! The nonsense! The truth!
Come on!

#

This time, as soon as I finished singing, loud applause and cheers erupted. Calls for an encore rang out, but my throat, having used my voice for the first time in a while, was already sore and useless. I simply raised my hand to acknowledge the cheers and walked off stage.

"I am so excited right now...! I got to hear two of your songs!"

"I still have goosebumps. I'm still shaking... Oh, Takumi. It was truly wonderful. It's like I'm dreaming... But it's not a dream, is it? I definitely heard it, your voice...!"

(I'm happy too, I feel amazing...)

I tried to speak, continuing from before, but my throat could no longer tremble. I simply nodded, responding to the feelings of the two. That alone was enough to convey my situation to them.

“Thank you for the miracle...”
Reika said, shedding tears.

*

When I returned to the dugout, Shota was there. He welcomed us with applause.

“My, that was a wonderful singing voice. It reminded me of my brother in his prime, to the point where I almost cried.”

“You could just be honest and cry like Rei-chan, you know.”
Even hearing Tomoatsu’s sarcasm, Shota didn’t change his expression at all, merely shaking his head.

“No, no. I intend to save my tears for the end. The second half of the live performance is scheduled to have scenes even more moving than this.”

“Speaking of the second half of the live performance, why don’t you tell us about that ‘best-case scenario’ you were talking about on the phone earlier? We’ve been waiting for that.”
As Tomoatsu steered the conversation to the main topic, Shota smiled as if to keep us in suspense.

“Before that, let’s wrap up the first half of the live performance. We can talk after that.”

“Wrap it up, you say, but we can’t use the sound equipment we had planned...”

“That won’t be necessary. Isn’t that right, you former baseball club members?”

“Huh?”
When I turned around, led by Reika, the former baseball club members we had asked for help were standing there in their uniforms, having changed at some point.

“We helped with your stage setup. Let us show off a little bit of our cool side, too.”

“Huh?! Wait a minute, Yohei. Why are baseball players barging in here? This is our live performance...”

“That might be true for now, but this is originally a place to play baseball. So, we’re going to go out with a bang!”

As if brushing off Reika’s attempt to stop them, the men in uniforms scattered across the stadium. Expecting them to start batting, I was surprised when they began a performance of forward rolls and backflips. The audience was instantly captivated by their sharp movements that belied their age.

“Thank you all for today! For those of you watching the second half of the live performance, please wait a little longer until the show begins!”

Hearing those voices calling out as they ran across the field, the audience began to chat in relief and pack up their belongings.

“I see, having former baseball players, who are used to shouting, make the announcements. You thought of that, Shota. Did you plan this far from the beginning?”

“My plans have no loopholes. Now, you three as well, please follow them and go around for your final greetings. Once you return, let’s begin that talk.”

Shota laughed again and pushed us on our backs.

42. <Tomoku>

Although the unexpected event of a power outage occurred, we finished singing all the planned songs and completed the first half of the live show without any major confusion.

"Now, it's a promise. Let me hear your story."
I stood in front of Shota again. He finally urged us on, saying, "This way..."

The place he led us to was the dressing room. We entered and our eyes widened immediately.

"Rion...!"
Beside him were Eugene, Sena, and the owner as well.

"I had them meet the two of you first. I thought you siblings would have a lot to talk about."
I finally understood why the two who were supposed to be the emcees were missing during the finale, and why the former baseball team members had appeared in their place.

"...Were you able to reconcile? No, the fact that you're back here means that's what happened, right?"
After my remark, which was neither a question nor a monologue, Rion opened his heavy mouth.

"I'm sorry... Because I went off on my own without consulting anyone, I caused you all a lot of worry and trouble. ...I just wanted to take a peek at that world over there, but I never expected they would come to crush Southern Cross and Black Box... If I had just honestly accepted the money, maybe it wouldn't have become such a big deal, but my sister's and Sena's words kept sticking with me, and I've been agonizing over it until today..."

The president told me he would wait for my answer until the Southern Cross live show was over. But even while saying that, he intends to completely crush Southern Cross and Black Box behind the scenes. He knows that if I lose the place I'm returning to, I'll have no choice but to focus on professional work...

I felt frustrated. I was also disappointed in myself for not being able to stand up to the agency even after learning of the plan. The only thing I could do was ruminate on the piano piece that Sena let me hear just once... To play this, I had no choice but to sneak out of the arena and appear at the Southern Cross live show. Is such a thing actually possible...? Shota-san was the one who appeared before me while I was thinking about that. He instructed me to watch the live broadcast and brought me here at the moment the power went out, but honestly, I was taken aback by his movements, which were as if he could see the future... I'm starting to think this guy might actually be a time traveler."

Although Rion had been shrinking away at first, he ended his long story with words typical of a young person.

"Rion, thank you for coming back. Now we can finally have a live show with everyone together."

Rei-chan didn't blame him or comfort him; she simply rejoiced at his return. She knows the world on the other side. That is why she can understand his position and feelings in detail. However, Rion seemed dissatisfied with that response.

"...Why aren't you angry? Even though I caused you so much trouble."

"Oh, do you want to be scolded? ...Judging by that face, didn't you already get an earful from those two? If so, that's enough. I have nothing to say. More than that, let's think about making the upcoming live show a success."

"...I wasn't told I'd be treated so kindly."
He glared at Shota.

"I clearly told you that both your brother and sister were waiting for you to join them, didn't I? It's just that Rion didn't believe it."

"......"
Rion bit his lip, seemingly trying desperately to hold back his surging emotions, but eventually, he lifted his head as if he had made up his mind.

"...Sena. Owner. Let me hear that piano piece. I'll transcribe it by ear before the live show starts. Also, I have a request for Shota. ...I want you to let me perform 'Shake!' somewhere. I want to let them know that Black Box is still alive and well."

Everyone's eyes went wide, but they looked at each other and smiled.

"Of course, that's the plan. I'm thinking of the opening. If we start the live show by declaring that Black Box is all here, it's guaranteed to get everyone excited. And then, in the final act, we'll have the duet with Sena... Ah, I can already see the look of frustration on their faces."

"Wait. Are you planning to keep the duet for the final act as scheduled? The live show is long. If they take Rion back during that time..."

"That's exactly why we're doing 'Shake!'"

"Huh?"
Ignoring my surprise, Shota calmly explained the current situation and his plan.

"Right now, the arena is in total chaos. The staff, who were hastily hired with money, have absolutely no coordination, and since they haven't taken control of the backup power, the facility remains dark. The anxious audience members are leaving one after another. What do you think the audience watching the Southern Cross live stream will think in such a situation? People who have already heard Takumi's 'Sunrise' and 'Compass' are already flowing over here looking for same-day tickets. What will happen if we perform 'Shake!' in front of them..."

"...They will lose the trust of the other side, and we will be packed to capacity, making the live show a success."

"Yes."
His face was so full of confidence that I couldn't help but suspect he had intentionally caused this situation, but he denied it before I could ask.

"...I'll have you know, I didn't cause the power outage. ...Well, I did tinker with it a little, but only a little. And I'm certainly not a time traveler. I want to make sure there's no misunderstanding about that."

"It's all too perfect for that to be true..."

"If that's what you think, you should be grateful for your own good luck. ...Now, strike while the iron is hot. Sena and the Owner, go teach Rion the piano piece. The three members of Southern Cross, get plenty of rest while you can. As I said before, the real show starts from here."

With that, Shota took a cigarette from his chest pocket and began to smoke it with relish.

43. <Reika>

Shota's prophecy came true brilliantly. Arena spectators who heard rumors through social media that the three members of Black Box would be together, and people who saw Takumi singing on the web, began to flock to the stadium one after another. The remaining tickets sold like wildfire, and it was packed an hour before the second half of the live show began.

*

Evening came, and the surroundings grew darker and darker. Normally, we would turn on the night game lights, but with the power outage, we couldn't. Can we really hold an outdoor live concert at night in such a situation? In contrast to my anxiety, Shota-san was always calm and positive.

"Isn't this the perfect environment to sing 'Vow of the Starry Sky'? Let's change the setlist and sing it while the power is still out," he said, just like that.

"It's fine even if it's dark. As long as there's enough lighting to know where everyone is, that's enough. I've asked some helpers to go buy portable lanterns. I plan to place them around the stage. It's sure to be a magical live show."

The reason we can make changes immediately depending on the situation is because we are a small band consisting only of a guitar and vocals. This wouldn't be possible if it were a live performance requiring a large staff and elaborate stage equipment. Shota continues.

"Don't you have this, sister? The experience of feeling more excited on a typhoon day when you were a child? I do. And right now, I'm feeling that same kind of excitement."

"...In other words, you're saying I should enjoy even a crisis? Fine, if it's come to this, I'll enjoy it to the fullest."

After Shota's words, lanterns were placed on the stage. It was just about the time the sun was setting. Indeed, a fantastical atmosphere drifted only in that area. In the dim light, the keyboard was quietly set up, and preparations for the second half of the live performance were complete.

Since it was already full and to take advantage of the ongoing confusion on the arena side, the start time was moved up by thirty minutes. The three members of Black Box, who had been waiting for that moment, began chatting with nervous but happy expressions.

"I had fantasized about it, but I never thought the three of us would really be able to stand on such a big stage. I wonder if I'm dreaming..."

"This is reality, brother. I believed. That Rion would come back..."

"...It's crazy for you to believe in a traitor like me, Sena."

"What are you saying? Twins are connected even when they're apart. That's why I knew exactly how much anxiety you were feeling after Rion left."

"...Even so, dragging out the owner of 'Great World' is a foul."

"I told you many times, I didn't drag him out. The owner was genuinely worried about Rion. That's all it is."

"Well, well, that doesn't matter right now, does it? In one minute, we will stand on stage as Black Box, all three of us. Let's enjoy what we feel and what we see there."

Like a big brother, Eugene finally mediated between the two and put his arms around their shoulders.

"...Welcome back, Rion. I'm proud to be able to perform with your keyboard again. And Sena, let your best singing voice ring out. I'll back you up with the electric guitar."

When the two nodded firmly, it was just time. "Let's go!" The three ran onto the stage all at once.

*

The live stream started with the cameraman's signal. The stage was dim, and their faces could not be seen clearly. However, once the performance began, it became clear who was there. A roar of cheers went up, and the atmosphere was filled with a welcome for Black Box.

Unlike immediately after the blackout when Takumi sang, their live performance, for which they had managed to procure a wireless sound source, was not at a high volume, but the voices and the sounds of the instruments reached my ears clearly.

"Thanks for waiting! Today is Southern Cross's live show, but we, Black Box, are going to take the best part for the first song! You get it from the intro, right? That's right, we're singing 'Shake!' Let's dance, sing, and get excited together!"

With the intro of 'Shake!' played by Rion in the background, Sena made the announcement. As the venue got excited again, the song began.

#

Gathering stardust like sugar candy,
If I throw it into the sea, it sparkles, sparkles, sparkles.
A parent and child whale are out for a walk, what a surprise!!
The tide turned into a rainbow.

I want to see you, right now.
My heart is racing, I can't hold it back.
I'll fly away, riding on a shooting star.

Shake! Shake!
I'm in love and I want to become one with you.
mix the world!
The sky, the sea, everything I can see,
I wish it were all you!

##

Gathering clouds like cotton candy,
If I tie a string to them, they float, float, float.
A couple of seagulls are on a date, it's so cute!
They flew off side by side.

Do you want to see me? Right now?
If I jump into your heart,
Will you catch me? If you love me.

Shake! Shake!
I'm in love and I want to become one with you.
around the world!
Even to the edge of the universe, everything I can see,
everything is mine alone.

At this point, Sena quickly points the microphone at Rion. Riding the rap-style rhythm, he sings while showing off his dance moves.

☆☆

Shake, shake,
Everything mixing together,
Flying off to the far side of the sky,
Destroying everything.
But, in this world where everything is gone,
Can we even survive?
"Hey, answer me..."

☆☆

Shake! Shake!
I'm in love and I want to become one with you.
over the world!
If I have you, I don't need anything else.
So please, only look at me!

#

As the song ends, a loud round of applause is sent their way for the umpteenth time. Rion, having snatched the microphone from Sena, raises his voice to cut through the applause.

"Everyone, sorry for making you worry! Black Box is still alive and well. We'll continue to perform as the three of us! So please keep supporting us!"

The venue was as if it were a Black Box concert. In fact, there must be many people who gathered just to see them. They might even outnumber our own fans, but that was something we had already anticipated.

"Let's keep this excitement going!"
Eugene, having received the microphone from Rion, called out to the venue. It's our turn to go out next. I brace myself.

44. <Takumi>

Black Box's "Shake!" was amazing. The way the excitement built up was incomparable to the first song in the first half. Is this the difference in popularity...? But I can't let myself get discouraged here. We have our pride, too. And we have the ambition of world domination.

I try to let out a voice several times, but my throat still doesn't seem like it will vibrate. As planned from the start, it seems best to leave the singing to Tomoatsu. I glance at the lively stage and send sign language to the two of them.

—Let's go, too. The second half will focus on Wing and Reika's songs. Let's give our long-time fans a good time!

Yeah. I'll go all out.

I will too. No matter what anyone says, it's a song I wrote myself. I'll sing it with all my heart.

—Alright! The second half of Southern Cross's live show starts now!
Eugene's electric guitar performance begins. We burn with motivation and leap onto the dimly lit stage.

Everyone who supported Wing and Reika, sorry to keep you waiting! From the second half, we're finally pulling out the old songs to sing!
Tomoatsu takes the microphone and greets the fans.
First, from Wing's signature songs: 'Crazy Love'!

Wing was a band that performed with electric guitars, not acoustic ones. Normally, I should switch guitars, but Eugene is here today. To fill the gap of Tomoatsu holding the mic and singing, Eugene's electric guitar reproduces a sound close to the original 'Crazy Love'.

Is it just my imagination, or does it sound like Tomoatsu is singing closer to my old voice than ever before...? No, not only that, even the sound of my acoustic guitar is starting to sound like an electric guitar...

The following 'Old & New World' is the same. Has my hearing gone wrong? Or is the special atmosphere of this place making it so...

Once we finish the two songs from the Wing era, I send sign language that only Tomoatsu can understand.
—That singing voice just now, did you consciously try to sound like my old voice?

I didn't intend to, but I also felt like it was a voice I couldn't recognize as my own. ...Is your voice close to returning, or are our brains just reminiscing about the past...? Well, that doesn't matter. ...Next is 'Vow of the Starry Sky', it's your turn. Create a miracle once more. I won't sing; I'll focus on playing.

—I don't know if I can live up to your expectations, but I'll 'sing' with all my heart...

At the moment the venue goes quiet, I send a signal with my eyes. When the two guitars start playing, a roar of excitement erupts as if they had been waiting for it.

I take a deep breath. I hum the lyrics while consciously trying to project my voice from the bottom of my gut.

#

Even though there are as many people as stars
Does the prayer for peace not reach them?
Conflict, insults, fighting over things...
Why don't we put an end to an era like this?

There must be a world we can see beyond the tears
But I want to keep smiling
Because it's a future I'll live with you

Under the night sky after the rain, we
Instead of lamenting that things won't change
We sing, until our throats are dry, until we have no voice left

...

#

I heard my own voice again. It isn't as clear as Tomoatsu's, nor as beautiful as Reika's. But... but I have lived with this raspy voice for decades, and I have called myself a musician using this voice as my weapon.

I never really liked this voice. How many times have I compared myself to others and wished I had a voice like theirs... But now that I have lost it, and now that I am speaking again, I think: my voice isn't so bad after all.

I feel it deep in my bones: I am a musician after all. I am so happy that I can sing. I am so proud that I can express myself through song.

##

Before I knew it, I felt a bit stifled,
I can't be an honest person anymore.
Self-denial, cooped up, all alone.
Wind, please come and take me away soon.

Under the night sky where the stars twinkle, we
don't wish to change,
we scream, straining our throats until we can't make a sound.

Under the night sky where the stars fall, we
remember the reason we were born here.
Turning our eyes to the distant stars,
the miracle words carved into our souls... those words...

#

Looking up, there were so many stars twinkling that I usually couldn't see because of the city lights. Occasionally, I could even see shooting stars. The sight reflected in my eyes turned into teardrops that traced down my cheeks, eventually dampening the earth.

I can't see the fans in the venue from here. But I can feel it. Everyone is looking up at the same sky as I am.

"We are one right now..."
I naturally took both of their hands.
"Thank you, everyone... Thank you..."

*

After that, when we performed Reika's "Family" and Black Box songs, the venue became even more excited. It even feels as if this dimly lit stage is bringing us and the audience together. The fans cannot rely on their vision. I feel that the realization that they have no choice but to sharpen their other senses and enjoy this live performance through the sound and the atmosphere of the venue is focusing the fans on the "here and now."

*

The live performance reached its final stage in the blink of an eye. Rion, who had been cramming the piano piece "Great World" into his head during the intervals while we, Southern Cross, were on stage, sits down in front of the keyboard with Sena.

I had heard the owner and Sena play a duet many times since practice, but how would the pair of Rion and Sena perform? We, too, listen to their performance as fans.

The sounds begin to ring out in perfect harmony, as if they had been practicing for months. Is this the skill of twins? When the owner played, images of natural scenery came to mind, but Rion's performance has a strength that inspires us, the listeners. It sounds as if he is declaring that he has returned here. Surely, he is fulfilling his word when he said he wanted to captivate the audience with the keyboard.

"Rion, that guy is playing like he's having the time of his life. Oh, even the moon has come to listen to his performance. Truly, this is the best stage."
The owner said this in a tone as if he were bragging about his own son.

A seventeen-day-old moon floats in the sky where only stars were visible until a moment ago. Its pale blue light shines down as if to illuminate Sena and Rion, making the two of them playing the duet stand out in a fantastical way.

"So this is what she really looks like..."
A voice suddenly came from behind. The person who appeared under the moonlight was...

"President...! Why are you here...!?"

Reika exclaimed in surprise while simultaneously blocking the female president's path. It was said that she looked far younger than her actual age and was even dubbed a "beautiful witch," but perhaps the moonlight revealed the truth, as the president's appearance looked as old as, or even older than, her actual age.

"Did you come to take Rion back? I will absolutely not let you do that!"
Reika vented her anger quietly. However, the president's eyes were fixed on the owner.

"...You were the one who provided this piece, weren't you?"

"Yeah, that's right."

"I thought so. I've never heard a piano piece that sounds like a mix of every genre before."

"Isn't that why it's good? It's perfect for a bunch of roughnecks like them to play, isn't it?"

"Maybe so..."
I had braced myself for an argument if we confronted her, but it seemed she had no such intention.

"...Could it be that you came to listen to Rion's piano, President?"
Reika asked with a puzzled look, but there was no reply. However, everyone realized that was the answer.

"...We don't have time to chat, everyone. It's finally the last song. Time to get ready."

Prompted by Shota, I was pulled back to reality. As I slung my guitar over my shoulder, Reika, who had been frowning until just a moment ago, stood before me with a dignified air.

"Takumi. The song I'm about to sing is for everyone, but it's also a song to help you find your voice again. So, please listen..."

—Of course. I'll listen to every single breath you take.
As I answered, Tomonori placed his hand on my shoulder.

"Everything feels divine today. I believe in a third miracle. ...If possible, I'll harmonize in the background for Rei-chan. On 'LOVE & PEACE,' the song we poured our hearts into."
When I nodded, the two of them nodded as well.

Rion and the others finished their piano piece, and a ripple of applause rose from the audience. As I headed toward the stage, Reika faced the president one more time.

"I will save you with my song, President. Please, watch over us until the very end."
The president just stared back at Reika without saying a word.

"Let's go, Rei-chan, Takumi. It's time."
Urged on by Tomonori, I stepped out onto the field.

45. <Tomonori>

Just as Shota had said, I couldn't help but feel that heaven was on our side. A stadium packed with ten thousand fans. We are standing right in the middle of it now...

Rei-chan grips the microphone.
...It's finally time for the last song. The song we're about to perform is 'LOVE & PEACE.' It's a brand-new song that Rei-chan and I wrote specifically for this concert. May love and peace come to everyone listening to this concert...

Receiving a signal from her eyes, I play the arpeggio. As the lyrics begin, Takumi plays the chords, and her beautiful voice resonates under the starry sky.

#

Imagination is what creates the world
From among the scattered puzzle pieces
Which one will you choose? As for me...

Creation if you can imagine it
Everyone is different, the pieces are colorful
You chose LOVE, LOVE, LOVE

Even if we fight, even if we're different,
That's fine, as long as we can accept each other

More than friends, more than lovers,
We are already family
If we sing this song, look,
The whole world can become one
PEACE, PEACE...

##

What shall we do? New World
Gathering everyone's dreams together
Have you chosen? As for me...

Creation if we join hands
They're all so wonderful I can't decide
Let's make them all come true, LOVE & PEACE

Even if we fight, even if we're different,
In the end, we can understand each other

More than friends, more than lovers,
We are already family
If we sing this song, look,
The new world will also be connected as one
PEACE, PEACE...

###

Even if we lose our voices
Even if we fall to illness
We will never give up
Until our lives reach their end

Overtaking the dark yesterday
Let's go see the shining tomorrow
If it's us, we can make it
Our hearts as one... ah...

#

After that date, I returned home and, with the two of us huddled together, we wove poetry. While it was a special moment, I always had a swirling feeling in my chest that this was the way the future was meant to be. For some reason, I could even feel the presence of Takumi, who wasn't in that room, right by my side. Words that connect the small world surrounding us to a much larger one. Rei-chan, right before my eyes, was now singing those words with her beautiful voice.

Yes, this world is truly beautiful. There is no need to fight. We are born from the love of a man and a woman, and eventually, we ourselves fall in love, create life, nurture it, and live our lives to the fullest. A world that should be able to exist on that alone. That is true peace. I believe that is how the world should be.

When a world like the one in this song is realized, I will probably stop singing. Everything I have sung until now was because I wanted to shout out the world I wanted to live in, my ideals. When the world is overflowing with love, it can be Rei-chan or Takumi who sings of the love that wells up...

The song ended. Quiet applause followed. An encore. Voices could be heard from here and there, asking to hear "LOVE & PEACE" once more.

“...What do you think?”
Rei-chan turned and asked.

—We should sing it one more time. Actually, I want to hear it again too.

Reading Takumi’s sign language, I nodded vigorously.
“I’m of the same opinion. I was so captivated by it just now. Let’s add an arrangement for the second time.”

“Understood. Then, let’s go with ‘LOVE & PEACE’.”
As Rei-chan turned back, Lion and Sena walked over from the dugout.

“You’re answering the encore, right? Won’t you let us join in the performance? We want to help make the final song even more exciting.”
As soon as Lion said that, he stood in front of the keyboard.

“It depends on the encore song, but I have most of the Southern Cross songs in my head, so I think I can do any of them. So, please! Let us play along!”
Sena also stood next to Lion, pressing her hands together in front of her face.

“Thank you, both of you. The encore song is ‘LOVE & PEACE’. ...Oh, that’s right. Let’s have Eugene come too. His electric guitar doesn’t fit this song, but my acoustic guitar is free. Tell him if he can play it, he’s welcome to use it.”

Following Rei-chan’s words, Lion immediately ran to pass on the message. Eugene, though bewildered, took the acoustic guitar and stepped onto the stage.

“I’m thrilled to be able to play Reika-san’s acoustic guitar. I don’t know if I can do it well, but I’ll do my best not to get in the way.”

“Okay. Then, this is truly the end... Let’s unite our hearts as one...”
The six of them formed a circle, joining together. Rei-chan gripped the microphone and said, looking out over the ten thousand audience members.

“Thank you, everyone. In response to your encore, we will sing ‘LOVE & PEACE’ once more. This time, the three from Black Box are with us too. Let’s share this special night together.”

Amidst the applause, this time it started with the sound of the piano. It had a different atmosphere from the original song. To complement the arrangement, the guitar was played with light strums.

Then, a familiar voice reached me from beside me. It was Takumi’s voice...

(Could it be that he can only speak when the power of the song is at work...?)

I was stunned by that realization. No, I was the one who said, “I believe in a third miracle,” but if it happens three times, it is no longer a miracle. The power of the song truly exists and can take effect any number of times. Takumi proved that to me.

As I stared at him, he cast a glance at me as if to say, “You said you’d harmonize with me, right?” I nodded, and timing it perfectly, I also raised my voice.

Overwhelmed by the power of the song, I couldn’t hold back the tears welling up. No, there was no need to stop them. This, this is the cry of the soul. My heart is sobbing...

Looking over, I saw that Takumi and Rei-chan were also in tears. With their own thoughts in their hearts, they must be savoring this ending.

Thank you, Southern Cross!
Thank you, Black Box!

Words of gratitude for us reached our ears from the audience. The voices grew louder and louder, and before I knew it, the entire venue was overflowing with expressions of thanks.

“Ah... This is it. This is the world I wished for. Our songs have healed people's hearts...”
Beside me, as I was overcome with emotion, Takumi and Rei-chan nodded.

“My heart feels warm, too. How should I put it... I feel like I’m truly alive. If I close my eyes, I feel like I could even touch the feelings of every single person here...”

“Takumi. I am so happy right now to be able to hear your feelings through your voice... I can intuitively feel that this won't last forever. That is exactly why I want to savor this very moment...”

“...It’s okay. You can always hear my voice. As long as we have the power of your songs, I’m sure of it.”
Takumi smiled faintly and put his arms around our shoulders.
“I love you, Reika. Always. And Tomoatsu. Let’s keep singing together. As long as I’m alive, I won’t let you say you’re going to stop singing, okay?”

“Eh...”
I was shaken, as he had guessed exactly what I was thinking. Takumi smiled triumphantly.

“World domination isn't over yet. Besides, if we’re going to live in the world we’ve conquered from now on, we have to write and sing songs of love. ‘LOVE & PEACE’ is a truly great song. Please write more and more like this. I’ll be the one singing next time.”

“...Understood. Then next time, I’ll make the world we create together the lyrics.”

“Yeah, I’m countin’ on...”
His voice suddenly cut off. He clutched his throat and used sign language to say that we could chat another time.

46. <Reika>

The concert ended after we responded to a few encores. The whole day felt like a dream. I couldn't help but feel that the power of our songs and our feelings had supported us with everything they had.

When we stepped off the stage, the president was standing there as if to welcome us. When our eyes met, she applauded.

“I heard it, Reika—the song of your soul.”
Her expression was completely different from the one we had seen just before we went on stage; she even seemed refreshed.

“I’ll honestly admit my defeat. ...The world you and the others are creating is a gentle place. It’s overflowing with love. Now I clearly understand why you returned to them, Reika. You are happy being able to sing by the side of the one you love.”

As she said that, she lowered her eyes.

“I knew from the beginning that your words had power, Reika. I also knew that when words and soul are in harmony, they have the power to awaken those who hear them... I respect you for successfully achieving that in this concert. Personally, that is... But as president, I am in a position where I must make an effort to sell the product known as an artist. I, who must realize the world envisioned by those in power—the rules of the industry—could not accept people like you... No matter how talented you are, those who ignore the rules of the industry will never appear on the main stage, or in the worst case, will be erased... This world—no, this country—is one where only the obedient can survive...”

“That’s exactly what we’re saying is suffocating.”
When Tomo-kun confronted her, the president glared back at him.

“I’ll tell you why it’s so hard to live in this country. It’s not because there is no freedom. It’s the ‘atmosphere’ emitted by the majority that makes us suffer. Yes, the true rulers are the invisible ‘atmosphere.’ Because those in power know this, they have controlled the consciousness of the majority and kept them from looking at them... But that won’t work anymore, will it? Not with this many people gathered here. Even I couldn't help but think that if it were you all, you could surely change that atmosphere.”

“President...”

"Reika, let your singing voice resonate even more. If you do, the atmosphere of this country will surely change. As long as people desire it, you should keep singing."

"I am happy that you appreciate my singing voice. But the reason I was able to sing with confidence today is thanks not only to my bandmates, but to everyone who cooperated with us. Fortunately, the weather was also on our side."

"I suppose so..."

The president said this, then played a single note on the keyboard that had been left on the stage.

"Whose doing was it, anyway? The one who rigged the giant screen in the arena to show what was happening here once the electricity was restored? At that moment, even the few fans who remained inside were glued to you. That was when I admitted defeat. I don't know how much you paid for the contract, but you hired an excellent spy."

"Huh?"
There was only one person capable of such a trick. When we turned our gaze toward him, Shota-san feigned ignorance, saying, "Whatever could you be talking about?" The president continued.

"I understood it after listening carefully to the lyrics of Southern Cross. It is a cry from your souls, and at the same time, it is the feelings of the audience; you are merely speaking on their behalf. That is why everyone wants to hear your songs. ...It was brilliant of you to bring 'LOVE & PEACE' to the finale. I felt in my own skin how everyone's hearts became one with that. I'm glad I could hear it up close. It was wonderful."

Shota-san grinned broadly, but he didn't go so far as to brag that it was his own production.

"...So, what will happen to Rion? Even if tens of thousands of fans now know that Black Box hasn't disbanded, do you still intend to insist that they belong to the agency?"

When I asked, the president shook her head.

"The scheme of the agency—no, to put it plainly, the scheme of the powerful—to control the audience by using newcomers, including Rion, has ended in failure. Of course, due to your desperate struggle. From now on, the truth will come to light one after another, and the artists who were forced into unfair contracts will be set free. Naturally, I expect to be dismissed, but now that I have witnessed your live performance, I have no lingering attachments or regrets. Right now, I am ashamed of myself for having been a puppet of the loud voices in my pursuit of profit. I did terrible things to you, and to Rion, of course. I am truly sorry."

"Wait a minute. Judging by the way you're talking now, does that mean that coming to crush us and poaching Rion wasn't your idea? You don't intend to make excuses at this late stage, do you...?"

"It's no wonder you can't believe me. But it's the truth."
The president interrupted Tomo-kun's words to say this.

"What you are seeing is merely the tip of the iceberg. As I touched upon earlier, this country heavily reflects the voices of those in power. While claiming it is for the sake of the future, they exploit money more than necessary, disseminate only convenient information, instill fear, brainwash, and try to turn you into obedient pets. They use major musicians and actors, trading their right to live in that world, to line their own pockets. Things became like this after the power shifted a few years ago. Now, the media industry is completely controlled. As long as there is no one with the spirit to change it from within, I have no choice but to entrust everything to rebels like you... That is the reality of this country."

"If you know that much, why didn't you take the lead and try to reform it from within yourself?"

"I told you before. I have too many connections in this industry. This live concert was also due to pressure from above. Even as president, I am a person at the bottom of the hierarchy; I had no choice but to do as I was told."

—Is that how you intend to make excuses? Even though you've been getting in our way this whole time.
When Tomo-kun interpreted Takumi's sign language, the president glared back at them.

"You cannot survive just by spouting platitudes. That is the way of this world, and no matter what you think, I am proud of the fact that I have lived until today while struggling in such a world in my own way. That said, if I limit it to the last few years, I have had pangs of conscience... Something was always bothering me, something felt murky... At that time, when Reika told me she wanted to work with her former bandmates, I felt betrayed before I could even be surprised. You, who had been a successful musician since you were young, were my ideal."

"Don't lump yourself in with Rei-chan, who gave up on her dream of becoming a musician."

"Of course, we are not the same. But it is true that I wondered if there might have been a different future if I hadn't given up on searching for a path to play the piano..."

"Well, why don't you play now?"
Rion said that. The president's eyes widened.

"Me, who abandoned my dreams long ago...?"

"Doesn't the fact that you were envious of your sister mean you never truly gave up on the dream of playing the piano? But today's live performance opened your eyes. Or rather, it reminded you, didn't it? If so, why don't you start dreaming again right now?"

"I agree with Rion's way of thinking."
The owner joined the conversation.
"I realized something while playing a duet with Sena here. The piano is always moving whenever you play it, and it can move those who listen as well. So, if you felt something during today's live show, I think you should try playing the piano for your own sake. You haven't played in years anyway, have you?"

"............"
Pointed toward the keyboard, the president sat in the chair timidly and began to move her fingers awkwardly. However, her movements gradually became smoother, and after a few minutes, she was playing as if she had regained her touch.

"...I composed this when I was young, yet I still remember it."

"That is because your body has not forgotten the time when it was chasing a dream. ...At least that was the case for me. It had been decades since I played seriously, but strangely enough, I was able to regain my touch."

"Dreams... I thought that at my age, such things were... but perhaps it is the elderly who should be talking about dreams. Watching you made me want to play the piano properly, too."

"...Isn't that fine? You've acted sensibly enough already, so from now on, you should just live your own life."

"That might not be bad either."
Hearing their conversation, I deeply felt that the two of them were once companions who talked about dreams just like us. The president then turned to us and said.

"Seeing you succeed in a live performance with just a guitar and vocals, I realized that flashy sound and production have nothing to do with attracting an audience. If the content is good, and the feelings are strong, you don't need anything extra... I was taught that becoming a successful person is what happiness is, and I have lived accordingly. In fact, I never had trouble with food, clothing, or shelter. But my heart was never satisfied, and I always harbored a vague anxiety about the future... Your music took away that anxiety of mine. For the past few years, I have had the artists under my agency sing songs to entertain people, but listening to it again, Reika's old songs are still the best."

"Oh, speaking of Reika's songs, aren't they owned by the agency...?"
Seeing me panic, the president laughed.

"Don't worry. Reika's songs belong to Reika. I will handle the paperwork to make sure that happens."

"Eh...?"

"Listening to your music helped me make up my mind. I am stepping down as president. I will take responsibility for this incident. And I will start a new business."

"Something new? What on earth...?"

"It's a secret. But it's related to music. Let's both do our best from here on out. Well, isn't it time to wrap things up? Let's clear the stage and head home."
The president's eyes were sparkling as she said that.

47. <Takumi>

Our live performances spread by word of mouth, and by the time autumn deepened, it had developed into a social issue. We were even mocked as a new type of religion. However, many of the people who said critical things were the types who made money by spreading lies and twisted information to the public. They were people with whom our words would never resonate from the start. But it is an undeniable fact that such people are the ones controlling this country, or rather, the world. Unless we change their way of thinking or eliminate their existence, true peace will likely never come.

That said, it wasn't all bad. Ironically, because we were picked up like that, our names became known even to people who hadn't seen or heard our live performances. That sparked interest, and many people became fans. We want to see and hear more of you on TV and music channels. By the time autumn was ending, those kinds of voices were being heard, but we had no intention of being active in existing media. We would continue with our usual stance... Just as we were renewing our resolve, an unexpected story came to us through Reika.

"The president... well, she's a former president now, but she contacted me to say she's ready to establish a new company. What kind of company do you think it is? She says she's launched a new type of company that sits between major and indie labels to act as a bridge. And she asked us if we'd like to be her first artist. What do you think?"

"Huh?! That's impossible! Rejected, absolutely rejected!"

Tomohisa said that before even hearing the details. But Reika must have intended to tell us from the start, so she tried to persuade him without being shaken.

"Listen calmly, Tomo-kun. She told me she would protect all the songs I wrote during my major label days within her own company. In other words, if we belong there, I can sing the songs of singer-songwriter Reika as Reika of Southern Cross without any restrictions. I think that's a big advantage for our future activities. Even though she quit after what happened, it seems there are quite a few people who sympathize with her way of thinking. She wants to join forces with those people and release music in a completely different way than before... By the way, she also reached out to Black Box, and I heard they are considering it positively."

"What...?! Are they interested?!"

"It seems so. Young people really do have flexible ways of thinking. Compared to that..."

............!
Being looked at with cold eyes, Tomohisa bit his lip.
...What do you think, Takumi? I want to hear your thoughts.
Unable to make a decision himself, he actually asked for my opinion.

—I think it's a good idea.
When I conveyed this in sign language, he snapped at me as expected.

"What part of it is good? Explain it to me properly."

—Hmm, one reason is that I think it will allow Reika to do what she wants. And the second reason is that to spread our music further, we need the power to reach people, so I think it's a viable option to team up with someone who is well-versed in that path.

"Even if we team up, the other party is someone who has messed us around from the past until now, you know?"

—I understand that you have trust issues with people. I also understand that you feel angry about what they did to us. But... if you could forgive Reika, let's forgive that person too. It seems they were in a position where they had to do things they didn't want to do.

"...I won't have it if belonging somewhere means we can't make our own music."

"About that, she told me we are free to do as we please... I can't provide proof that she isn't lying, but her tone when she told me this was clearly different from before. She's mellowed out, or perhaps she's moved on; she had a softer atmosphere. If you really can't shake your distrust, you should talk to her directly. She wants to meet you."

............
With his counterarguments rendered useless and being told to talk directly, Tomohisa fell silent.

48. <Tomohisa>

It is true that our ambition is only halfway there. The live performance was just a starting point, and the real world has only had a tiny bit of pus drained; the essence has not changed at all. For us to cut into that, we have to step further forward. Even I understand that much.

However, I cannot accept that the collaborator is someone who was our enemy until a few months ago. They might want to say they had a change of heart after listening to our songs, but that doesn't mean I can easily trust them.

"Hey, I'm coming with you, so let's at least hear what they have to say. You can decide after that, right? Look, Sena and Rion were the same—they had us pegged as jerks, but once we talked it out, they accepted us. Maybe if we sit down and talk, we can understand each other too, don't you think?"

Even Takumi was trying to persuade me. It was frustrating, but he was right. I was just judging that person based on my past experiences. To move forward, I had no choice but to update my memories.

"...Fine. But we only meet once. ...Oh, and let's have Black Box sit in too. I want to make a decision after hearing what they think as well."
Perhaps because I had finally said something positive, the two of them looked at each other and smiled.

◇◇◇

Autumn passed, and just as it started to feel like winter, we met. Of all the people gathered there, I was the only one with a sour look on my face. I visited the meeting place feeling uneasy.

It was the other party's office, which had already been completed. It was very small, but the staff, who I assumed were collaborators, were working busily. We were shown to the reception room. When we sat down, the "new president" appeared in her usual flashy attire.

"Thank you for coming all this way. I'm happy you said you wanted to talk. ...Oh my, don't make such a scary face. Let's have a pleasant chat while we eat some tea cakes."

As if they had heard those words, one of the staff members brought in tea and cakes piled in a basket.

"There's no poison in them, so please help yourself."
The new president said this and reached for them herself.

"So... you were the one saying you couldn't trust me, right? Being cautious is a good thing. This is the kind of world it is, so I think it's basic not to trust people easily. It's also questionable to just accept things easily by saying it's in the past and you'll let it slide, isn't it?"

Everyone was shaken by her unexpected words. The new president chuckled.

"I have a proposal for someone as cautious as you: how about we release a DVD of the other day's live concert through our company? If we can provide the footage for those who wanted to watch but couldn't make the time, or those who found out about it later and want to watch it now, I think we can share the excitement of that day with even more people. I have sales channels nationwide where my word carries weight. Things that are difficult for you alone become easy by joining us. I think there are great benefits for you as well. You can decide whether to work with us full-time after seeing how the DVD sells. Though, Black Box might start their activities and gain popularity before then."

"...Has Black Box already agreed to this? After everything that happened, why can you forgive them so easily?"

Following the new president's words, I threw the question at the three members of Black Box. They looked at each other and giggled.

"Actually, when we got this offer, the topic of piano came up, and we got really excited. The president's eyes were sparkling like a child's, and I thought, 'Oh, this person is actually this pure.' Well, it's the same as you guys. There's no such thing as a bad person who can talk about music all day long."

First, Rion explained the circumstances. Right after, Eugene continued, "I have one thing I want to say to Tomo-san."

"I think it's important to have your own standards, for sure. But I also think there are opportunities you miss by clinging to them. I realized that when I choreographed 'Shake!' and put it out into the world. Sometimes you can't succeed just by sticking to your own preferences, and sometimes incorporating your friends' opinions actually expands your opportunities..."

"Eugene..."

"This is just my own selfish proposal, but why don't we do this together? Why don't the six of us deliver our music and create an ideal world?"

"...The six of us?!"
I was shaken by the unexpected proposal.
"But then there would be too many guitarists. I don't think such a lopsided band would work..."

"I thought you'd say that. Then, what if I said I'd switch to drums? Actually, I did it a little bit back in high school, and if we're going to do this as a six-piece, I think that's a possibility. Well, practice would be essential, though..."

"Hey, hey, weren't you supposed to be mastering the electric guitar?"

"Well, that's true if the three of us from Black Box are going to keep going, but I'm not as attached to my instrument as you are to your acoustic guitar, Tomo-san. I just want to play music that touches the heart, and if I can do that, the instrument doesn't really matter to me."

"...You're way too flexible."

"Ah, I get told that a lot. But isn't that just how the eldest child is? Like, you fold first just to keep the harmony. I do a lot of things, so I'm a jack-of-all-trades, master of none. If you're aiming for world peace, isn't compromise necessary?"

Hearing those words, Eugene seemed much more mature than me, and I felt like a very young child for having my own mysterious attachments.

"...To think that I'd end up being persuaded by Eugene of all people. I give up, I'm completely defeated."

I took Eugene's outstretched hand.
"I understand. Let's do it together. ...Come to think of it, our lives have already passed the halfway point. We don't have time to worry and stand still, or throw tantrums..."

"It seems your mind is made up. I'll ask you one more time. Will you accept my offer?"
Asked by the new president, I nodded.

"I'll tell you this, it's not that I've opened my heart to you. I'm only borrowing your hand as a means to achieve what we want to accomplish."

"Of course, that's fine with me. But one day, you'll surely have a day where you thank me."

"I wonder about that..."
To my vague reply, the president held out her hand.

"Let's change the world for the better together. If we join forces, we will definitely make it happen."
As I gently shook her hand back, my companions placed their hands on top one after another.

"Thank you. I knew you'd understand, Tomo-kun."
Rei-chan smiled gently, and next to her, Takumi nodded with satisfaction. He draped his free arm over my shoulder and mouthed the words, 'Let your singing voice ring out across the world.'

—Part Two: End—