"I mean, even for a weekend, this is way too early!"
Six o'clock Sunday morning, and Yoshiiro Chiose had already summoned Shiina Taki to her apartment.
"Too early? I was being considerate, you know — I didn't call until five."
"..."
Hopeless. There was no getting through to her. Classic neon-girl bronze-tier thinking.
Shinaa Taki rolled her eyes at Yoshiiro Chiose, but the expression was immediately swallowed by a yawn that wiped away every other thought in her head.
"I want to sleep."
"No you don't."
"Why not?"
"Because I want to watch movies with little Taki right now."
"..."
"We watch movies all morning, and I'll treat you to a proper meal afterward. Deal?"
"I don't want a proper meal. I want a proper sleep."
"But I want to watch movies."
"..."
Taki wrestled down the urge to bolt straight home and cast a helpless glance at the petite little white-haired, red-eyed girl beside her.
The girl was, incredibly, doing aegyo on purpose — blinking at her over and over with full, shameless intent.
Don't do that… This is exactly the type of person Shiina Taki is most completely defenceless against.
"Fine. But at noon I want ramen."
"Sure thing."
Yoshiiro Chiose turned to study Taki's slightly weary face and couldn't help reaching out to give her cheek a little pat. "Let's get started then."
...
Two hours later.
"Chiose, what did you think of that one?"
"Seven out of ten. Personally, I'm not a fan of love that's brief and imperfect."
"What about love that lasts a lifetime?"
"No idea. It feels heavy somehow — but I suppose it's still a lot better than wasting your time on something fleeting."
...
Ten o'clock in the morning.
"What about this one, Taki?"
"Five points, maybe. With a protagonist like that for a friend, who needs enemies?"
"Five? That's too generous. I don't even want to give it a score."
"Why not?"
"Because it reminded me of some very unpleasant memories."
...
Just before noon.
"This one is absolute garbage."
"It really is. This is the worst, most appalling film I have seen all year! Why would anyone enjoy a Human Centipede where people's backsides are connected to their mouths?"
"Maybe because the earlier entries in the franchise built up a large enough fanbase to carry it. Human Centipede 2076 really is quite… ahead of its time."
"Which makes it even more frightening. I looked it up — thankfully the box office wasn't very good."
...
"Mmm, that's good."
Movies watched. Out the door. Ramen shop found. Orders placed. Food eaten.
Chiose and Taki talked a great deal — mostly discussing the plots of the films they'd watched that morning.
"While we're eating, try summarising each film we've watched since yesterday in exactly five sentences."
"Hah?" Taki, mid-slurp of ramen broth, set down her chopsticks and nearly choked. "Don't look at me like that — I'm training your command of language."
Chiose ate with considerably more grace than Taki did. She set down the napkin she'd been dabbing at her lips with, and passed one across to Taki while she was at it.
"Writing good lyrics takes a delicate inner world and a powerful command of language. I believe there's no shortage of things little Taki wants to say — but to write something truly good, you need both. Have you had enough to eat? If not, I can order you a plate of takoyaki."
Chiose finished, then added the afterthought a beat too late: "Small fry."
"..."
Don't call me small fry!
"Fine, fine, I get it… By the way — how's your arranging?"
"Me? Still learning, but my fundamentals are definitely solid. Please have faith in the magnificent me."
"The way you talk… I can't believe I'm actually getting used to it."
Taki took the napkin but didn't use it — she just turned it over and over between her fingers absentmindedly.
She'd been noticing lately that Chiose's way of speaking was getting… cuter. Like coaxing. Even the barbs had started to feel soft and fluffy, utterly harmless.
What was wrong with her? Had she come down with some kind of mental illness too?
"Once you can sum up a film in a single sentence, next I want you to break a story into its four movements — setup, development, turn, resolution — and explain each one to me."
"When we get back to my place later, I'll be expecting to hear it." Chiose gathered her things, not forgetting to tack on one last note.
"We're going back to yours again this afternoon?"
"Of course. From now on, barring anything unexpected, whenever I call you, just come straight over — here's a spare key. I hate the sound of knocking, so just let yourself in."
"You…" Taki stared at this girl, who seemed to possess absolutely zero sense of self-preservation. "Aren't you worried I might actually be a kidnapper or a robber and steal everything in your apartment?"
"If you stole everything in my apartment, would it give you inspiration for songwriting?"
"What?" Taki's voice took on a note of bewildered suspicion — though, honestly, it sounded exactly like something Chiose would say.
"I'm saying — if you think clearing out my entire apartment would help you surpass your sister, please, be my guest. I have no objections."
"..."
"Why are you so determined to make me surpass her?"
Do you two have a grudge or something.
"I already told you — it was love at first sight. Stop asking pointless questions and start thinking about how to do those summaries."
Chiose suddenly leaned in close to Taki and pressed one finger gently to her soft lips.
"Little Taki has been a bit too chatty today."
"O-okay… I got it."
Always going on about love at first sight! It's too much!
Taki had been on the verge of bristling — but the moment the sweet, intoxicating scent of wild lilies drifted over from Chiose, all that tension melted right out of her.
Fine. If she wanted to tease, let her tease. Taki was used to it by now.
...
"In the end, the protagonist let go of all her troubles and found the strength to start over. That's where the story closes."
On the walk home, Taki delivered her summary with genuine effort.
But when she tilted her head to look at Chiose, that impish face was completely unreadable.
"Huh? Did I do it wrong?"
"Hmm…" Chiose made a contemplative sound. "Ahh…"
"Don't just make noises — it leaves me completely hanging."
"Little Taki really is a little small fry, huu huu — though I can't say it's beyond my expectations. Oh well, oh well. That's about the level you'd expect from someone just starting out. I'll let you off the hook this time."
"What does that mean?! Are you saying I'm no good?!"
"Not at all, not at all — what you said was pretty decent. It's just a matter of what 'pretty decent' actually amounts to. You can work that one out yourself."
"I…"
"Never mind that for now — let's stop at the convenience store, grab some things, then go home and read and watch more films."
Chiose walked a few paces ahead, then suddenly turned back with a smile:
"From now on, little Taki — no more falling asleep after school. The moment the bell rings, come wait for me at the school gate. We'll go to my place, watch three films, and spend the rest of the time reading."
"What about studying?"
"During school hours, when you're not thinking about lyrics, actually pay attention in class. Your free time after school has already been commandeered by me."
"We don't have much time left — third year is almost here. We're going to make a real splash at the school music festival at the end of second year. Your sister is sure to come and watch, little Taki."
「!!!」
This person — how does she enjoy monologuing so much.
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