The overly frank and arbitrary declaration plunged everyone present into a brief, shocked silence.
The first to recover was, naturally, the one who understood her best now—Nagasaki Soyo.
"And then what?" she asked.
"In order to achieve that goal... what will you do?"
"That's obvious! I'll keep focusing on raising our band's popularity and seize every opportunity to work with my brother, so I can increase my time with him!"
An incredibly radiant smile bloomed on Chihaya Anon's face.
"Just like my proposal this time! Whenever there's a suitable reason and opportunity, I'll do everything I can to link our band with my brother's brand!"
"...But, you couldn't figure out how to flesh out the specific details or decide on the music, could you?"
"That's right! So that's where I have to ask for your help!"
"Aren't you putting in a little too little effort for your own goal, then?" Soyo couldn't help but retort. "Can't you take on a bit more responsibility?"
"If I had the ability, I definitely would, but unfortunately, that's not the case," Anon said with the utmost seriousness.
"So, the detailed planning has to be done by you, Soyo, because you're more meticulous and have more experience than me."
"Eh..."
"The music, of course, has to be left to Taki and Rana, because you two are great at it!"
"Huh?"
"And Tomori, as the vocalist and lyricist everyone recognizes, your responsibility is also huge!"
"Ah... Yes!"
"And finally, me."
After assigning tasks to everyone, Anon first looked around at the group, then said in a crisp, clear voice:
"When I first wanted to start a band, it was just to become popular. But later on, I gradually came to understand my feelings for my brother, and I longed to be able to help him like everyone else, which is why I set the goal of a 'major debut' for the band. And now, that goal is about to be achieved. What I need to do next is, of course, continue to raise my own popularity and skill, until I can contribute to my brother's brand in a real sense."
"I don't have any particular feelings I need to express through songs, nor do I have any inner demons to overcome. Compared to all of you, who have different talents, the only things I have going for me are my 'willfulness' and 'proactiveness.' So all I can do from now on is keep proposing lots and lots of willful ideas and leave them for everyone to discuss! If you agree, we'll do it. If you don't, we'll move on to the next one! If we succeed in the end, it's everyone's credit. If we fail, then my proposal was too reckless! That is everything I can do!"
At this, she looked at Kaname Rana, who was staring at her with wide eyes.
"This is what I truly think. This is the entirety of the 'identity' I can show you. It might be a bit too uninteresting and shallow compared to yours, but these are my truest thoughts... Can you accept being partners with someone as uninteresting and willful as me, Rana?"
"...?"
Rana tilted her head and stared at Anon for a good while before speaking.
"I've never thought you were uninteresting, Anon."
"Eh?"
An expression of utter surprise appeared on Anon's face.
"But, when you rejected me before, you said a performance without an identity would be boring..."
"Because I hadn't heard all this back then."
Rana shook her head gently.
Although she had an incredible sense of music, as a middle schooler, her understanding of the world was still incomplete.
Due to her free-spirited, cat-like lifestyle and her scattered thought process, almost everyone had given up on trying to have a serious conversation with her. But that didn't mean she lacked the ability to understand.
Just now, when she had actually heard Anon's thoughts and determination, she instantly realized that this girl, who always seemed to act on impulse, actually had ample motivation and had thought things through.
"Empty-headed willfulness and serious willfulness... are two different things. Willfulness that's this serious is actually pretty interesting..."
With that, she glanced around before holding out her hand to Anon.
"Let me borrow your guitar."
"...Huh?! R-right now?"
"Mhm."
Rana nodded.
"I've thought of a song. I think we can use it."
"Use it where?"
"The street performance."
Rana said in an incredibly calm tone, expressing an opinion completely opposite to her previous one.
"In our current state, it'll work. So give me the guitar. The song will be gone in a little while."
"Huh?! W-wait, this is too sudden!"
Taki was also snapped out of her shock from Anon's stunning confession.
"Anon, go get the guitar! This girl's impromptu compositions are super high-quality. I didn't get to record the last one in time. This time I'm definitely going to write down the score! Soyo, lend me a pen and paper!"
"Ah, got it... I'll go get them!"
Soyo nodded and quickly ran into Tetsuya's room to borrow a pencil and some draft paper.
Anon also got her guitar from her room and handed it to Rana.
And just like that, with no one prepared, Rana suddenly began to play an impromptu piece. Taki began writing down the score with intense focus, and even Tomori, who hadn't said a word, was now inexplicably lost in thought...
"...Huh? W-what is going on?"
As the instigator of this whole scene, Anon watched it all unfold in a complete daze.
"Why did we suddenly start composing? Rana wasn't finished talking, was she? And I didn't even get to ask her what her next goal is..."
"What you're seeing right now is probably her goal."
Soyo, who had also been excluded from the creative work, said.
"To be with a group of serious and interesting people, create interesting works, and put on interesting performances."
With that, she also closed her eyes to listen to the melody Rana was playing.
"This piece she's playing now is likely a product of hearing your confession just now. Although she didn't answer your question directly, I think this is her way of acknowledging you."
"Eh... I don't get it at all..."
Anon rubbed the back of her head, completely mystified.
"Weren't the things I just said pretty terrible and selfish? Can that really be acknowledged?"
"For other bands, it might indeed be a bit too willful... But for us 'lost children,' a willful and strong guide is actually the best answer."
Looking at her bandmates, each of whom had entered their own creative state, a smile couldn't help but appear on Soyo's face.
"You probably are very well-suited to be this band's leader."
"Eh..."
Perhaps all five of them, as musicians and as teenage girls, had their shortcomings. But at this moment, at least, they were without a doubt a complete band.
"By the way, does this mean Rana has agreed to my street performance plan?"
"I think so. She did just say this song was for that day."
Which means—
"The August joint exhibition, [MyGO!!!!!]..."
"...confirmed to participate!"