Every morning, Yang always arrives at class when she's about to be late. It's not because she oversleeps or she has poor time management though, but rather she will continue to practice on her drums in our club room even after the preparatory bell has rung. She came from a sports club, so that's probably why she loves to practice in the morning.
However, Yang was really late this morning. Which is quite rare of her. I didn't see her earlier when I went to the club room to leave my bass there. Even after the bell for classes had rung and the teacher had stepped into the classroom, I still didn't see her.
"Morning!"
When Yang opened the door (located diagonally right at my back) and entered the classroom in a strangely energetic way, we were already ten minutes into the first period. Our young and timid English teacher even dropped the chalk on the floor in shock. Yang leisurely made her way between Weiss' desk and mine, then sat down at her own seat. Aside from her bag, she was carrying a huge plastic bag that had a handle on it.
"Sensei, am I considered late? Or was I already marked absent?"
Our English teacher took a look at the clock, then coughed twice and said softly. "I'll count you as late this time, but don't enter the classroom so brazenly next time."
"Right. I'm sorry." She took out the textbook from her bag. At the same time, she turned her head over and stuck out her tongue shyly. "I shouldn't have stayed up late last night."
"What are you carrying?"
"Hmm? Oh, I'll tell you later."
Right after classes were over, Yang opened up the plastic bag which she brought to class, and pulled out something from within. "Tada!" She proudly showed it to Weiss and I.
Weiss was stunned with her mouth wide open. I guess my expression was probably the same as hers.
It was a white T-shirt—at the chest area, was a cute image that was designed with the colors of psychedelic purple and orange. "Weiss & LOLLYPOPS" That's actually what was written on it.
"This is…?" I finally managed to get the line out of my throat after much difficulty.
"What's this? The T-shirt of our band, of course! It's really cute, right? I'm thinking, if Weiss hasn't decided on a name for our band yet, then we'll just use this name."
Yang said that proudly. I reaffirmed the strange name yet again with an unbelievable feeling, then shot a glance at Weiss—her face was pale white.
"Well, it just so happens that Haruto was listening to EL when I went to his house yesterday. And thus an idea came to me—why don't we also name our band after the EL ."
"W-why's my name in there?"
"Because Weiss' our band leader. See, it's just like Hajime Hana & The Crazy Cats."
Exactly how old are you? Is it because you frequently drink with your uncle and relatives? There are times where Yang speaks just like an old geezer… no, she actually sounds older than them.
"Leader? M-me? Why?"
"Eh? Didn't you hear it from Ruby?" Yang said as she spread the T-shirt out on the table. "Ruby said that the Folk Music Club is a revolutionary army, right?"
"Come to think of it, she did…?" My memories began floating towards the distant past as I murmured. Hyuuga Ruby is a self-proclaimed revolutionist. As for us, who she gathered, it seems like we are her comrades in her revolution.
"She said that I am the army commander, Haruto's the treasurer, and Weiss's the chairman."
"I never heard about that before," somehow, Weiss was close to tears.
"Hey… Shouldn't the band leader be Ruby?" I interrupted.
"Ruby's the Chief Secretary. Which means… that even though the person who holds the most power is the great leader, but that's just on paper. In actual fact, the one who is in control of everything is the Chief Secretary. This is the so called 'Troika' system."
"Is that so?"
"You're referring to the Soviets?"
"I see."
"I learned something new today."
Our classmates around us were all nodding their heads emotionally. Somehow, I was no longer affected by all of their antics.
"Therefore, I inserted Weiss' name into the name of the band."
"… I don't want that."
"Why don't you come up with a name yourself then?"
Weiss grabbed the table tightly and refused to let go.
"Yang, I want that T-shirt."
"Ah, me too. Medium size."
"Alright Lee, Kiba, I'll just charge you guys three thousand five hundred yen a piece."
"That's costly!"
"It's just you cutting out a template and spraying paint over it, right?"
"It's the basics for a band to earn cash through some merchandise."
Just as Yang was displaying her knack for business while being surrounded by our classmates, Weiss's face was getting paler and paler. I was wondering if I should speak with her, but I had no idea what I should say to her.
There was a sudden loud bang. Weiss suddenly pushed her chair backwards, and that caused everyone around her to turn their heads around in shock. She made a dash out of the classroom, as though she was trying to run away from the stares of everyone. I was about to give chase, but Yang was a step faster than me.
"Wait!"
Yang gave a shout outside of the classroom. I followed suit and ran out as well. Yang was grabbing onto Weiss' hand, while Weiss was trying her hardest to shake loose from her grip. Shit, this scene's a mess. Just as I was about to intervene—
"Weiss! Look at me, and listen!" Yang spoke.
Weiss suddenly stopped moving. She then leaned herself stiffly against the walls of the corridor, and turned her body slightly towards Yang, with her head held low the entire time. And I just looked on like an idiot—there's nothing that I could do to get close, nor was there anything I could say.
"Listen. Half of the reason I'm staying in the Folk Music Club is because of Ruby." Yang held onto Weiss's hands as she continued. "As for the other half, it's the same reason as you, Weiss. You should understand, right?"
Weiss lifted her head up in surprise. I could only see Yang's back, but somehow, it felt like she was giving off a gentle smile.
"There's nothing wrong with that!"
"I, I…"
Weiss' face went red, and she didn't complete what she was about to say. It was due to the fact that the bell that signaled the start of the second period had rung. Weiss left the classroom hurriedly after school, and she was nowhere in sight during band practice. I then realized that she didn't actually bring her guitar today.
"I guess I'll go look around for her. Her shoes are still in the shoe cabinet."
Just as I was about to walk out of the practice room, Ruby grabbed my shoulders from behind.
"There's no point in doing that. Yang has already done what is supposed to be done, so all that's left are problems that Weiss will have to deal with herself."
I glanced at Yang. She was sitting in the middle of the drum set, and staring at the hand-made T-shirt that was spread out on her knees. The things that she should have done, The things Yang said in the morning, I sat myself on the floor. I had no idea what was going on at all. The reason to be in the band? What does that mean?
"Did… I go overboard this time?" Yang mumbled.
"We can leave that for the historians of the future to decide. For now…" Ruby took out a piece of paper that was folded in half from her pocket, and opened it up. "Today's the last day… for the registration of the live performance."
Forget about the name of the band—the part where we are supposed to fill in the name of the band members was blank as well. I felt a sudden chill in me. If Weiss quit the band just like that. What should we do then?
Yang lifted the T-shirt and said, "Can't we just fill this name in for now?"
Ruby put on one of her rare bitter expressions and said, "Mmm… you know, I am actually glad that you're not the last member to join the band, Yang."
"Ruby, that's horrible!"
That was the only instance where I actually agreed readily with what Ruby said.
"Isn't that a really suitable name for a cute and loli-loli band like us?"
"You can use that name after I leave… !"
"How about having Haruto dressed up as a girl too?"
"Over my dead body!"
Ruby plugged the guitar into the amplifiers, and used the noise generated to interrupt the silly conversation we were having.
"I'll come up with something to make them wait till tomorrow noon. Let us all wait for Weiss here tomorrow morning! Then I'll skip my lessons and send the application form to the livehouse where we'll be performing tomorrow night."
Ruby then turned her head to look at me.
"It's just a name that we are using for our application. Even if we do not make it in time, it will mean nothing. If there is really nothing that we can do this time, there's always a next. Don't put those expressions on your face."
"Well, you aren't wrong…"
What exactly is the expression on my face right now?
"Well, it's pointless for us to continue talking about it any further. Let's begin our practice!" Ruby stood up as she said that.
Somehow, I had zero motivation to pick up my bass. Right here, right now, the three minimum elements required to start a rock band are here—a guitarist, a bassist and a drummer. If we were to create our music based on our current form, We can start-up the band, albeit barely, even if Weiss isn't around.
Ruby stared at my face for a while. She then said, "I guess we'll start with some covers. You should know how to play Hotel California, right?"
I nodded. Ruby began strumming the quiet intro with her guitar. Earlier on when we first started the band, we frequently practiced with songs sung by The Eagles. Even now, the club members still did an impromptu play of their songs while waiting for everyone to gather. Therefore, my fingers already remembered the songs that we've played. Perhaps Ruby had already seen through what was in my mind?
It's said that while The Eagles were recording this song, there was actually a part in the intro where there was an overlap of 13 guitar sounds. Therefore, it is impossible for Ruby to do that alone. Regardless of the few overlapping improvisational parts or the solos, there would be no way Ruby could replicate all those things with just her hands alone.
I had almost forgotten to sing the chorus with Ruby. All I was doing was strumming the bass in a daze, as I immersed myself into the vocals of Ruby and experienced for myself the blankness beneath her voice. She… Weiss' not here.