The sudden invitation to perform at a live show threw the entire band into a strange silence.
Some were deep in thought, some were filled with anticipation, and one was even so nervous that her whole body was trembling slightly—
"...Takamatsu-san?"
Tetsuya couldn't help but look at Tomori with some confusion.
"Are you alright? Are you feeling unwell?"
"N-No, I'm not!"
Tomori quickly shook her head.
"It's just... I remembered something from before..."
"..."
Hearing these words, Soyo and Taki subconsciously exchanged a glance.
As people who were there, they of course knew exactly what Tomori was thinking of. Soyo was the first to speak.
"Tomori, the things Sakiko said back then... were just harsh words to make us give up. The band didn't break up because of you. In fact, our performance at that live was a huge success. So, you don't need to feel any psychological pressure about it."
Soyo said in a very gentle tone.
"Besides, you're much more mature now than you were a year ago. Even if you stand on stage again, I'm sure it will be fine."
"That's right, Tomori! You don't need to take her words to heart at all!"
Taki quickly added.
"And anyway, it's not like we've agreed to perform yet, right? So..."
"...We're doing it."
Raana, who had just finished the last bite of her matcha parfait, suddenly looked up.
"Live. We're doing it."
"Hey, you... Are you even listening to what anyone is saying?"
Taki couldn't help but put her hands on her hips as she faced Raana.
"We still have problems we haven't overcome yet!"
"...We can't?"
Raana ignored Taki's scolding and fixed her gaze directly on Tomori.
"Live. We can't do it?"
"Well... it's a little..."
"Why?"
"..."
Faced with Raana's persistent questioning, Tomori was at a loss, unsure how to explain the series of complex reasons.
Seeing Tomori's hesitation, Raana didn't say anything more. She just stood up from her seat and picked up her guitar, looking as if she was about to leave—
"Hold it right there."
As Raana passed by Tetsuya, he subconsciously reached out for the back of her neck.
And miraculously, the moment he lightly gripped the back of her collar, Raana actually stopped in her tracks—
"...?"
Raana turned her head with a puzzled look, seemingly wondering why Tetsuya wasn't letting her leave.
"We're not done talking. You're not allowed to go."
"? Didn't you say you can't do it?"
"Setting aside the fact that we're still in the problem-solving stage, even if we really can't participate in this live, we should still be discussing a plan so we can participate next time, shouldn't we?"
As Tetsuya spoke, he let go of her collar and reached out to gently smooth the wrinkles he had made.
"Come back and sit for a bit. I'll buy you another matcha parfait."
"Two."
"You'll get a stomachache, so no."
"Oh..."
To the utter amazement of the others, Raana obediently returned to her seat under Tetsuya's command.
"Eh, no way..."
Anon blurted out subconsciously.
"He made Raana listen to him that easily..."
"..."
Meanwhile, after listening to their entire exchange, Soyo nodded thoughtfully, as if she had understood something.
With Raana back in her seat, Tomori finally gathered the resolve to speak.
"Um, actually, I... it's not that I don't... want to do the live. I'm just afraid that my immaturity will hold everyone back again..."
"What do you mean, 'again'? Didn't we just say that your performance at that live was great, Tomori!"
Taki said.
"I've never once felt like Tomori held us back!"
"But! I don't think being in a state where... I don't even remember what happened on stage after I get off can be called a real success."
Tomori shook her head, her tone surprisingly serious.
"For me, songs and music... are an expression of emotion. If I don't even know who I'm trying to convey it to, and I'm just shouting for myself, I don't think... that kind of vocalist... can be considered a qualified one."
"That's not true!"
Hearing Tomori's reply, Taki couldn't stop herself from standing up from her seat.
"Tomori is already amazing! Both your lyrics and your voice are more than enough to let everyone feel your emotions and thoughts! And... the song Sakiko wrote was also brilliant, brilliant enough to perfectly bring all of that out..."
As she spoke, her voice and tone suddenly began to weaken.
"That's why I said just now that I can't compose the first song... Compared to a year ago, Tomori has grown so much, but I still can't reach the level Sakiko was at back then! The one holding us back from the start wasn't Tomori, it was me... So..."
"Taki..."
Tomori's expression also became complicated.
This was the first time she had ever heard Taki say something so vulnerable, the first time she had been exposed to her true feelings.
She really wanted to speak up, to say something comforting like "you're no worse than Sakiko," but... as someone who knew nothing about composition, what could she possibly say at a time like this to comfort Taki without offending her?
"If you don't even try, won't you never be able to surpass Togawa?"
Suddenly, Tetsuya's voice broke the heavy silence between the two.
"Even if you want to create a song 'on par with Togawa's,' if you don't actually create it, the difference in your skills will never be made clear, will it?"
"W-Well..."
Taki hesitated for a long moment after hearing this, before finally saying:
"But no matter what, it's definitely not now. At least, right now, I definitely can't win against Sakiko!"
"Then just keep writing until you think you've won against her. As for the works you're not satisfied with, can't you just throw them away?"
At this, Tetsuya shifted his gaze to the others and asked with a puzzled expression:
"Eh? Could it be... that composers, unlike designers, can't have scrapped drafts?"
"That's... well... not exactly..."
Faced with Tetsuya's question, Taki answered dazedly.
"If anything... my sister... the composers I know, they often scrap their work..."
"Mhm, then isn't that settled?"
Tetsuya spread his hands.
"If you really want to surpass Togawa, Shiina-san, then you might as well just try arranging from now on. You can throw away all the works you're not satisfied with and only keep the ones you approve of yourself. As for the live in ten days, it would be great if you make it in time, but if not, there's no need to force yourselves to participate."
"Having a sense of responsibility isn't a bad thing, but there's no need to push yourself so hard. At the end of the day, you're all just a bunch of high school students. There are no contracts, no restrictions forcing you to achieve a certain goal... Just move forward towards your ideal at your own pace."
At this, Tetsuya looked at Taki once more.
"What do you think, Shiina-san?"
"I..."
Taki's expression shifted several times before she finally said in a voice lacking all confidence:
"I can try... But, I can't guarantee when I'll be able to produce something decent..."
"Mhm, that's fine... And next is Takamatsu-san."
"Yes!"
Tomori responded like a student being called on by a teacher.
"What is it, Chihaya-san?"
"Lyrics are up to you, is that okay?"
"Eh? Ah, no problem! That was my job to begin with!"
"Anon, I haven't heard you practicing your guitar these past few days. From today on, increase your practice time again."
"Ehh..."
Anon instinctively drew out the sound, as if trying to use her cute act to soften Tetsuya's firm attitude.
However, Tetsuya didn't fall for it at all, and simply asked again in his usual calm tone:
"Did you hear me?"
"I heard you!"
Realizing her little tricks wouldn't work, Anon immediately stuck out her tongue.
"I'll go back to my Golden Week practice schedule!"
"Good. And Nagasaki-san, you'll be in charge of supervising Raana. If you don't know how to communicate with her, you can contact me anytime."
"...I know."
Soyo said, turning her face away.
"Besides, you already gave a very vivid example just now. I already know how to handle her."
"That's good. Lastly, Raana."
"Hm?"
"Clothes. Do you like them loose or fitted?"
"Loose."
"Got it. As long as you show up to practice on time, I'll have the parfaits and the clothes ready for you."
"Okay."
Raana nodded, then lazily draped herself over the table, no longer looking like she might bolt at any moment.
And just like that, Tetsuya quickly and decisively assigned tasks to everyone.
"The reason a band is a band is because everyone has to fulfill their own roles. You're not the only one with shortcomings, and you're certainly not the only one shouldering responsibility. However, what you perceive as your lack of ability is something only you can overcome."
"Of course, as an adult, I can't just order you around with words alone. How about this: within ten days, Togawa and I will personally complete the stage outfits for all five of you."
Under Taki's almost dumbfounded gaze, Tetsuya said:
"It won't hurt to try anyway. From now on, let's all give it our all, and try this together without any psychological pressure."
—10 days until the Live.