"We're going on stage today! I'm so nervous."
"R-Right, it feels like a dream."
"Mm."
In Ring's rehearsal room, the newly formed band Crychic — just a few weeks old — was bracing for their very first challenge:
Their debut!
Soyo stood at the door, her back to the others.
Bass in hand, heart full of things left unsaid — Nagasaki Soyo knew this was the most important day of her life. Proving she was the daughter Yoshiiro Chiose loved most? That was only the first step. What she truly wanted was to show her mother that she had grown.
The incident at school had left her humiliated. She had sworn to herself that this — this — would be how she made it right.
Mama would be proud of her. Proud of her, Nagasaki Soyo!
A shimmer passed through Soyo's eyes.
[I wonder — will both Mama and Mother actually come today? Hm… will they?]
"Hah? Wait, aren't we missing someone? Where'd Sakiko get to?"
The black-haired drummer behind her was making a racket, and Soyo couldn't think straight.
But… huh?
"Taki, what did you say — Sakiko isn't here?"
Soyo's brow furrowed. She had no idea why Sakiko Togawa hadn't shown up at the agreed time. Stage fright? Or maybe…
[Wait wait wait — she's not with Mama right now, is she? Oh no…]
Soyo shook her head vigorously, trying to fling the baseless thought out of her mind.
She pushed the door open and walked out.
"Soyo? Where are you going now?"
Still the black-haired drummer calling after her — but Soyo had no intention of turning around to explain herself.
"Keep practising. I'm going to look for Sakiko Togawa."
She'd better not actually be off cozying up with Mama. Even now, the memory of Sakiko that day — "Mama, Mama" spilling out of her mouth every other word — was enough to leave Nagasaki Soyo feeling thoroughly sour.
She walked with her head down — and walked straight into Sakiko Togawa, who came sprinting around the corner.
Thud — the sound of two foreheads colliding.
Soyo stumbled backward but caught her balance in time, and grabbed hold of Sakiko in the same motion.
"Sakiko? What's going on — why are you in such a rush?"
Something felt off.
"Nothing. Let's… go practice. We go on soon, don't we."
Sakiko Togawa kept her head bowed, as though unwilling to let Soyo see her expression.
"Fine. If you're here, let's go."
"Mm."
Soyo fell into step behind her. The confusion coiling in her chest had already eclipsed the nerves.
What was this.
A blessing in disguise?
This was absolutely not a blessing in disguise.
It was only once she stepped onto the stage that Soyo truly felt her heart hammering — as if it wanted to launch itself off the planet entirely.
The stage lights hadn't come up yet. In the darkness, Nagasaki Soyo could hear her own breathing, and everyone else's — heavy and slow.
[Mama came today for certain, right!]
She meant Yoshiiro Chiose. As for Ms. Nagasaki — she had been invited too, but the answer had been that she'd come "if she had time."
If she had time?
Would she actually have time? Soyo had her doubts.
"Next up — please welcome Crychic!"
Applause rose from the audience below.
A gesture of goodwill toward a new band, perhaps?
Soyo's head was filled entirely with the bass technique she had drilled over these past weeks. She had no room left to wonder why anyone would clap for a brand-new group like theirs.
The piece opened with Sakiko Togawa's introduction on keys.
Soyo knew that as long as Sakiko played steadily, the rest of them would follow without incident.
She might be the one leading this band — but Sakiko's opening was always a steadying force for everyone.
But —
The moment keyboardist Sakiko began to play, Soyo's head snapped up.
A sour, off note rang out.
Wait — Sakiko hit a wrong note? What — why? Why is this happening?
Her heartbeat lurched faster. This was beyond nerves now — her legs had gone weak beneath her.
Then the vocalist. The girl called Takamatsu Tomori opened her mouth.
Her voice was trembling. Visibly, unmistakably trembling.
Then came guitarist Wakaba Mutsumi, then Soyo herself on bass, then drummer Shiina Taki.
The stage lights finally blazed on, and the already-chaotic music grew even more tangled in the glare.
[What's happening? Why is Sakiko still hitting wrong notes?]
Soyo spun around — and saw that Sakiko Togawa's eyes had gone red.
The girl was even quietly… sobbing? What?!
She looked to her other bandmates.
Taki had gone into full panic mode, her hands and feet falling out of sync.
Mutsumi wasn't in any kind of shape either — withdrawn, subdued, like a shadow of herself.
And Tomori —
Takamatsu Tomori was singing with everything she had. Too much everything, too much force.
Soyo set her teeth and held her own part together without flinching.
Everyone else could fall apart — but not her. Not Nagasaki Soyo.
She could feel sweat blurring her vision, but there wasn't a single moment to spare to wipe it away.
Her hands never stopped. Soyo swept her gaze across the audience below —
[Did she come! Is she here… where's Chiose-mama? Hm? How come I can't see her…]
First row, second row, third row…
The further back Soyo looked, the colder her stomach ran. Yoshiiro Chiose was nowhere to be seen.
How could that be?!
Just as Soyo was about to give up —
"Hey! Go get 'em, little Soyo!"
Ms. Nagasaki had pushed through the crowd, waving a glow stick she'd bought at the venue.
Mama! It was Mama who came!
Soyo didn't dare look at the audience anymore. She stole one last glance at her bandmates.
[If you can't carry it — then I will!]
Some people might say bass doesn't matter — but bass was often what mattered most. Without it, half these songs would grind to a halt.
Soyo felt her playing reach its absolute peak in that moment. Her mind was filled entirely with the absent figure of Yoshiiro Chiose — the one who hadn't shown up, the one who had broken her promise —
I am your proudest child! How could you not come to see me!
"Soyo — incredible!"
Shiina Taki, watching Soyo and Tomori pour everything they had into it, found herself pulling it together as well.
Mutsumi found her rhythm too… though Sakiko remained a little distracted.
But their performance had come back together — and was even climbing toward something better!
When Nagasaki Soyo's fingers drew across the strings one final time, she felt something ease inside her, all the way down.
"That was brilliant!"
"Messy at the start, but honestly? Not bad at all!"
"The vocalist was unreal — she gave it everything."
She had done it. More or less.
She had brought her band through it. Together, they had made it.
When the applause broke out from the audience, the single thing Nagasaki Soyo wanted to do was turn her head.
She looked toward Sakiko Togawa. Sakiko had her head hanging low.
[I outshone you today, Sakiko.]
Did you see that? Sakiko Togawa!
Did you see it! Yoshiiro Chiose!
Now you know who Mama's proudest child really is!
It's me! Nagasaki Soyo!
Soyo walked toward Sakiko, unable to keep the victor's smile from her face.
"Sakiko — are you alright?"
That was how Nagasaki Soyo chose to open.
"Soyo! Chiose-nee — Chiose-nee, she's —"
It was as though Sakiko Togawa had finally found an outlet for all the pressure she'd been crushing down inside her. She lost all control of her voice:
"She's not going to make it!"
"What?"
Thud.
The thunderous crash of a bass hitting the floor.
____
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