Vol 1 Chapter 2 (1/2)
After GW, the cla.s.sroom was overflowing with a listless atmosphere, like after coming out of the pool.
Opposite of the dull mood, today’s another sunny day in May outside the window.
(Really, I don’t have any luck with raffles……)
On the first seat change after becoming a 2nd year, I got the worst outcome of sitting beside Kagami Len.
The single biggest relief is that Chika was in the seat in front of me.
“……Chika, do you think you can show your face at the club activities today?”
Fifth period ending, I softly tapped Chika on the shoulder.
“Sorry, that might be tough. The preparations for the ball game…..”
“That’s not something to apologize for! It’s coming up next month, after all. Ah, tell me if I can help you with anything?”
“Aww, Rin~! Really, what a good girl you are…….”
“Oh!? H-hey Chika…….”
Chika kneeled on the chair and stretches her arms out to hug me.
“They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder, we’re fine, too, right?”
“That can’t possibly be–. Chika-chaaan, are you insinuating something about me?”
“Well, if it isn’t Len-kun. You were there?”
“I was, I was! I was part of the conversation, too! Hey, Rin-chan.”
I hurriedly turned my head away, and tightly grabbed onto Chika’s blazer.
“Len-kun, this is your answer.”
Chika jerking up her chin, Kagami Len-kun turned aroun.
I carelessly glanced at the group at the window, too, curiosity overcoming my fear.
(That’s……they really are glaring at me, huh……)
Even in the cla.s.s, the girls who stand out conspicuously are Kagami Len’s fans.
It seems that they’re holding up a strict prohibition on stealing a march on each other in the fanclub, I frequently got stuck with getting a ‘severe warning’. Some of them had boyfriends among them, but being a groupie was like having a different stomach for dessert or something.
“Hey, can’t you pay some more attention?”
Chika said in a hushed voice, suspiciously staring at the ringleader.
“That sure is an unreasonable request. Besides, it’s a fact that I like Rin? Don’t you think it’d be even weirder to be all sneaky and secretive about it?”
“Haa? You’re just simply pus.h.i.+ng your own feelings onto her. I’m saying that if you’re really thinking of Rin, you have to choose the time and place.”
I phrased it differently, but I kept complaining with something similar to what Chika said, too.
But the reply is always the same.
“If Rin’s looking at me without running away, it’s okay like that.”
Letting loose the familiar line with a smile, Kagami Len peeks at my face.
Like this, it’s meaningless even if he lowers the volume of his voice.
Sure enough, I heard a voice that seemed displeased coming from Haraoka-san and the others in the Prince Fan Club.
(Even if I resolutely ignore them, it ends up like this after all, huh….)
Kagami Len who won’t retreat at all, Chika who protests against him and me who’s at my wits’ end.
This triangle that you can’t see the end of continued until the homeroom teacher came to hold the SHR {Short Homeroom}.
Before he could talk to me, I ran out onto the hallway like I was running away.
On my way to the club room with hurried steps, the chime signalling a school broadcast sounded from the speakers.
“Year 2 Cla.s.s 1, Otosaki Rin. Please come to the Music Prep Room urgently.”
It seems that even over the machine, there’s no change in that imperative intensity.
The owner of that voice was the super Spartan music advisor famous who had taken the position since this spring, Meiko-sensei.
(I wonder why she called for me……?)
I have no idea, but for now I hurried to the specified spot.
When I timidly knocked on the door of the Music Prep Room, a cheerful voice replied from inside.
“Yes, come on in.”
“Excuse me. Um, I’m Otosaki Rin from Year 2 Cla.s.s 1…. Eh? Eeh!?”
As I’m about to ask what she wanted from me, I’m bewildered by the scene that I jumped into.
For some reason, Kagami-kun in his jersey was there with Meiko-sensei.
“We’ve been waiting for you, expected new club member!”
Standing up from the chair, I was welcomed by Meiko-sensei grinning ear to ear.
Since she was wearing heels, the level of her eyesight was about the same as Kagami-kun’s.
(Hm? With this flow… It can’t possibly be that the new club member = me!?)
I wonder what it could be. I can’t see the circ.u.mstances at all.
When I glimpsed at Kagami-kun, he was smiling just as happily as Sensei.
“The advisor’s signature is already on the club admission form, all that’s left is for Otosaki to sign it.”
“U-um! Admitted to where?”
“Isn’t it obvious? To the Light Music Club!”
“Well, I, I’m already in the Home Ec Club…..”
“At our school, it’s not prohibited to be in two at the same time, right?”
“That’s true. Hey, that’s not the point!”
Seeming like I’ll be forced to join the club at this rate, I raised my voice right away.
Just as I did so, there’s a sinister sparkle in Meiko-sensei’s eyes.
(What shall I do, maybe I ended up making her angry……?)
“Hey, Otosaki…….”
“Y-yes”
“You’ve been practicing the piano for a long time, isn’t that so? Then, you’ve dabbled in composing and arranging, right?”
My reaction was late to those unexpected words.
But when I still somehow managed to nod, she suddenly gripped both my shoulders.
“Making an effort with Kagami, compose a new song! As far as I can see, you’re the most suitable for it.”
“Th-that’s impossible! Even though I’m practicing the piano, it’s really only as a hobby…….”
“Since I became the advisor, we’re taking the MVP spot at this year’s cultural festival!”
“For that, we want Rin to help us.”
“…….If it’s Kagami-kun’s band, I think they’d be able to take the MVP spot as they are now. Rather, if someone like me were there, I would only be a hindrance anyways……”
“I want it to be Rin.”
He said it in a decisive, unwavering voice.
“I don’t wanna do it unless it’s with Rin. It’s hopeless, without Rin.”
I thought that something like that is breaking the rules.
It was him with a thoroughly serious expression before my eyes, not the usual playboy.
Gazing into his clear eyes as they give off a strong light, I can’t even avert my gaze from him.
“It’s the vocalist who’s the closest to being the MVP in our club saying that, but how about it?”
Meiko-sensei speaking to me, I turned my neck as if it was released from being tied down.
From my parched throat, my voice won’t come out at all.
“……I-I’m….that is……”
As I was bewildered, Meiko-sensei lightly tapped her heels and turned to face Kagami Len.
“Well then, Kagami! That’s all I wanted to discuss, so head over to the perimeter.”
“Go–t it. Rin, see ya later.”
Leaving behind a wink, Kagami-kun leaves the Music Prep Room.
As I try to follow after him, my name is called this time.
“Otosaki! Once you’ve filled in the admission form too, change into your jersey and go for a run.”
“Huh? Um, but, about joining, I’ve yet to……”
“Can’t hear you. What was it again?”
“……Respectfully, I have the privilege of signing.” {She uses very polite expressions here.}
About a week has pa.s.sed since I’ve been basically forced to join the Light Music Club.