The end result was that Banshee's official debut was pushed back.
Within that time I'd be composing songs for a group that had already debuted.
Hysterical Kitten's Entertainment 1st group and only all-girl band, Helens. I listened to their music but there wasn't anything particularly wowing about it.
I heard before that the girls don't write their own songs or lyrics, it's normal for most bands to at least do one or the other or both.
Once again, I couldn't help but feel as if a bomb had been dumped on me. I think the higher-ups have really overestimated my abilities. But then again, a composer/songwriter was a composer/ songwriter, maybe I was being tested?
I didn't walk with Amara due to a difference in our schedules so my walk to the studio the following afternoon felt completely surreal until I got hit in the face by the main entrance door.
"Ah!" I stumbled back holding my forehead.
"Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry!" A brunette with a side ponytail quickly bowed. She was like a fly buzzing around me to get a look at my face. "Are you okay?"
"KAAAA.HA.HA.HA!" Her companion, a strawberry blonde with bangs that covered half her eyes cackled.
Who the heck does that? My mood only continued to sour.
I walked around her and opened the door.
Thankfully it was just my forehead, but seriously, is my face a magnet for all attacks?
I froze.
When I entered Little Pita stood there blinking blankly at me, probably witnessing that. He held up a hand.
"Yo." He greeted me casually but I sensed some awkwardness. That was embarrassing.
The fact he didn't even address it made me feel even more like a loser.
"...Good Morning Pita-san."
"Morning. So, a couple of days ago, I heard someone called the office that was very angry... did something happen?"
"It wasn't that serious. For that, I'm truly sorry it happened."
"Kagami-kun." Pita blinked at me, his expression blank.
"Yes?"
"Are you an idiot?"
"Huh?!"
"With this, that band will be on thin ice, they have no choice but to be on their best behavior around you. The party responsible has already been warned that if they do something like that again, their contract will be canceled..."
"Ahhhh!" I finally understood, still, it didn't feel good getting berated by a child.
It's a relief to hear that they were still within the company, listening to their music had motivated me even though the band was problematic I had hoped things just might work, if everything ended over a small spat... Though what feels even more surreal is why the company would go out of their way to make me comfortable. I mean, in bands they fight all the time and they break up, even within my old band, some fights were normal... maybe...this treatment is normal for pros? But I'm not... a pro...
I ran into Hanabusa-san in the hall.
". . .Good Morning."
"...Oi." His face darkened the moment he saw me.
"Y-yes?"
"What's with your Mom?"
"H-huh?"
He turned the other cheek. "...Forget it."
Couldn't be, the person she was yelling at was him?
I really wanted to ask but I held my tongue, I think the mood would be even more awkward if that happened. God, this is embarrassing!
Agawa was already inside before me. I didn't think anyone would be in the studio.
"Oh, Good Morning!" Agawa greeted me.
"M-morning!"
"We may be suspended for now but that doesn't mean you should slack off!"
"Huh? uh...right."
"I came to tell you that, also I have nothing better to do today. You revised the songs right? I came to listen to them."
"O-oh..."
"And also about Akemi... " He spoke as I fished out my laptop from my bag. His face was turned away he seemed to be talking as he stared at a wall.
It'd feel awkward if everyone but her keeps apologizing.
"Akemi...well, She gets like that around guys like you, I don't know why."
"Guys like me?" What was he trying to say?
He shrugged. "Don't ask me to define her type!"
My hands about to connect the wires to my laptop halted. My eyes widening as I turned to stare at him. "Her...type?"
"Don't tell her I said that."
My mouth just hung in the air. I thought back to Akemi pouring the Cola on Ken's guitar and to her scratching my face. It didn't seem like she was interested tho...well she stole my drink...but she didn't know then.
Was he speaking the truth? I felt disturbed. Confused. Disgusted.
"She pretends to act tough but when she doesn't get the reaction she expects she loses her shit."
I blinked a couple of times, as I tried to plug in the cable my hand kept missing the slot. "Sounds like she has issues..."
"I know you might not want to hear this but to keep the peace...try not to get mad at her."
"That's... a tall order..."
"I'm just saying."
I sigh. To begin with this all of this had been blown out of proportion thanks to my Mom. It's in her maternal instincts to look out for her child but...
I can't have her worrying about me every time I have an issue at work... The humiliation is too much to bear...
The door to the room opened. Hagihara appeared, I averted my gaze. I felt guilty recalling how Amara shoved him down further when he was bowing.
Agawa asked, "Hagi, you're here too?"
"You said you came to listen to the track first."
With both of them talking I opened the revised song.
Banshee.
When I first heard their songs, I could see why Pita's Grandfather decided to gamble on their potential.
That's why... I also felt stressed.
Banshee, as one would expect from an undead jinx, (the concept of their band) the band's music was hard-hitting, what was most surprising was Akemi's screamo voice. It sounded beautifully haunting like a dying siren and when she sang normally her voice was like an angel in an opera house.
Even with this bone-chilling sound, however, the original songs still felt slightly unbalanced though it was still good enough to stand out, Hysterical Kitten expected perfection... the adjustments I made filled the void, to me, but well... let's see what they thought.
Throughout it all Agawa and Hagihara were deathly silent, I almost became nervous.
"This...is the original audio right?" Agawa asked after it ended.
"Ah, yes." It didn't need much work just some repositioning and cutting, also I changed the guitar playing with my own since the originals were weak.
He retrieved his bass from its case and began to play the revised version from beginning to end.
"The new switch hits different." His face was deadly serious.
Huh? Like in a bad way?
Hagihara held his chin seeming to be in deep thought. "Mhm."
Suddenly he left. Agawa went to the corner and practiced a couple of more times before finally pulling out his phone and calling someone.
"Oi, get your ass over here." He hung up shortly after saying this.
The air was tense.
My watch buzzed. It was time to go meet the Helens.
"Ah...well I have to go somewhere for a while... how about I email you the file?"
"Huh?" Agawa seemed to have forgotten I was even there. "Ah, yeah sure."
I quickly sent it while he strummed away in the background.
"Could you send the other songs as well?"
"Sure. There. It's done."
"Kay."
"I'll be going now."
"S' ya."
I left feeling odd. In the end did they like it or not? I felt unsettled as I headed over to Helen's practice room.