"I think your lyrics, with that youthful yet pure simplicity, are really good. Keeping your own personality in songwriting is truly valuable. Compared to that, the other set feels a bit boring."
Gotoh Hitori was genuinely moved. This was the first time someone had praised her lyrics to her face. "You're such a good person."
But then she thought again.
"But don't you think those gloomy, dark lyrics won't appeal to anyone? And these are supposed to be sung by Kita-san!"
Yamada Ryo: "Having her sing them is perfect. Letting a life winner sing lyrics like that? Wouldn't that be way more interesting!"
Gotoh Hitori [That actually makes sense.]
"Yeah, thank you."
Gotoh Hitori, affirmed by someone else, had stars in her eyes. Full of excitement, she grabbed Saiki's hand and shook it up and down.
"I did it, I did it!"
Gotoh Hitori was in tears.
[I get it, I get it. Don't make that face like you've been through endless hardships and finally reached the finish line. You've only just taken the first step.]
"Oh, right."
[Want to take it up a notch? While Ijichi-senpai and the others haven't gone far yet, why not take it to them and let them see?]
Saiki picked up the notebook and handed it to Gotoh, his voice carrying a tempting tone.
"Yeah, okay!"
Gotoh Hitori successfully grabbed the notebook and ran out the door without looking back.
(See? People are like this. Once someone who's been suppressed for so long, especially someone like Gotoh, gets praise and affirmation, they release everything and go into an excited state. No matter what you say, most of the time their brain heats up and they just run off to do it.)
(But later on, that personality of hers might kick in again. When she sees the two of them, she'll probably clam up, heh.)
Yamada Ryo saw Saiki's mysterious smile but naturally had no idea what he was thinking.
Noticing the relationship between Saiki and Gotoh, and having already guessed from earlier, she cleared her throat and couldn't help asking.
"Saiki!"
[What?]
"Bocchi-chan wrote two songs. That was your suggestion, right?"
Saiki glanced at Yamada Ryo, a little surprised.
(How is she so sure?)
Seeing that Saiki didn't speak, Yamada Ryo became even more certain in her heart.
"Heh."
Yamada Ryo lowered her head, her mind recalling her own past. With the tone of someone who had stories to tell, she began.
"I probably haven't told you my story before. Want to hear it?"
Yamada Ryo looked ready to share her old band story with the person in front of her and see what kind of response she'd get.
[No thanks.]
"Back then I…"
[I said no thanks.]
Yamada Ryo frowned slightly, a flash of dissatisfaction in her eyes.
She rarely felt like telling a story, but the other person didn't want to hear it and kept interrupting, making her feel quite displeased.
"Why not?"
(Why not what? What's so interesting about it? Isn't it just the story of the band you used to be in? I already knew everything through telepathy the first time we met, and besides…)
Saiki checked the time and gave a reasonable answer.
[The show I want to watch is about to start. I need to head home quick.]
"Oh, I see!"
Yamada Ryo also stood up, grabbed her bag, and prepared to leave. The two walked to the counter. Just as Saiki opened his wallet, Yamada Ryo headed straight for the door.
[Did you already pay earlier?]
"Nope!"
Yamada Ryo saw Saiki asking her and put on the look of someone freeloading.
"When a guy invites a girl out on a date, isn't the guy supposed to pay?"
[That depends on the situation. Most of the time, yeah, but you're the one who invited me, right? And this isn't a date anyway! Didn't we just go over this?]
"But this month I can only eat grass. Even if it counts, I'm barely hanging on ( ' - ' * )"
[Why would you be eating grass?!]
Yamada Ryo said pitifully: "Plus this place is new, and I haven't tried the food yet. I wanted to give it a taste!"
[Fine, I get it. You don't have to say more.]
"Thanks. I'll pay you back next month."
[No need.]
Saiki had no intention of making a girl so broke she could only eat grass repay him for one meal.
"You're such a good person!"
[Why… do I suddenly feel annoyed?]
…
Morning.
Saiki was leisurely watching TV while eating breakfast.
"Saiki-kun, um, eat faster or you'll be late. Today's the first day of school, you know."
Shiina Mahiru, already dressed in her uniform and ready, couldn't help reminding him from the side. Watching Saiki stay so calm no matter what, she really envied him. Did he think he could just fly to school later?
[Relax, relax. No need to worry. I'll fly there later.]
"Fine then. See you at school."
[Yeah, take care.]
Shiina Mahiru glanced at Saiki and left. After all, their commuting times overlapped.
Only after seeing Shiina Mahiru leave did Saiki slowly turn off the TV, finish his meal in a few bites, then leisurely yet quickly change clothes.
[Yare yare, the start of school came so fast? But this summer vacation really felt long. I'm actually a little reluctant to see it end. So many things happened in the middle, way too many… and there are still so many events I haven't even talked about…]
Saiki recalled the nearly two months of summer vacation in his mind. The time he spent at home was less than half. The rest was all spent outside.
[Mm~ Whatever. Back to my usual peaceful life!]
Saiki opened the apartment door and left.
Walking along the familiar road, even though summer vacation had ended, the weather hadn't fully escaped the heat yet. It was in a half-cool, half-hot state. After all, the weather changed unpredictably.
One day you might wear short sleeves, and the next you'd need a jacket.
"…"
On the way.
"Sato, long time no see."
"Yeah, summer vacation went by so fast. Blink and it's gone. I still haven't had enough fun."
"Right? Looking back now, it feels like going to the beach at the start of vacation was just yesterday, and there's still so much we didn't do!"
"Long time no see."
"Good morning."
"…"
They all reached the main road leading to school, the path with the most students, the place where you ran into the most classmates before entering the school gate.
[Mm, nice, nice. This campus vibe, the noisy chatter of students, really gives me that back-to-school feeling.]
"!!"
Saiki suddenly sensed something and ducked behind a sign at the corner.
(Yare yare, why am I hiding? Was that a subconscious reaction?)
"Summer vacation really flew by. Yuuji, I still haven't adjusted yet!"
Yoshii Akihisa and his group came swaying over.