"Is that right?"
Chihaya Anon turned to Takamatsu Tomori, seeking her opinion.
Shiina Taki also looked over, curious.
She could understand what Kamigawa Saku had said about the difference in emotion.
After all, she'd only been able to compose her song by resonating deeply with Tomori's lyrics.
That must be what "putting emotion into it" meant.
"Mm-hmm."
After thinking it over, Tomori nodded slightly.
Compared to the first track, Taki's composition clearly resonated more with her own feelings.
It must have been the emotional difference.
Seeing her agreement with Saku's explanation, Taki's face lit up.
Even if the others felt the first track was better, as long as Tomori preferred hers, that was enough.
After all, Tomori was the lyricist.
Just as Saku had said.
With this realization, Taki looked over at him with gratitude. "Thank you."
Not only had he helped her overcome her composing struggles, but he'd also believed she could create something even better than that flawless track, giving her the confidence to try.
Without him, she might have given up long ago, never making it to this point.
But words weren't her strength.
All she could do was offer another simple thank you.
"I told you, dreams are the opposite of reality," Saku replied with a grin.
"Yeah."
Taki nodded in agreement.
For her past self, that dream had been a nightmare.
But now, she was no longer bothered by it.
After all, a dream was just a dream—it wasn't reality.
"So, can you finally tell us what's going on? Like, who made the first track?"
Soyo Nagasaki, eyeing the pair as if they were playing a guessing game, looked at them sharply.
"Yeah, who made that first song?" Anon asked, clearly eager to know.
The track was so good it could be a hit.
If their band performed it, it might even propel them to the top of the music scene.
And as the band's main center, she'd get a shot at being an idol on par with Mitsuha Mikami.
"That first track was composed by a friend of mine," Saku continued with the story.
"Oh, in that case…"
Anon's eyes sparkled at this, but Saku cut her off before she could finish.
"But our band can't perform that track."
"Why not?"
Disappointed by the turn, Anon instinctively asked.
"Because it's not our band's song. Even if it was based on Tomori's lyrics, it still doesn't belong to us."
Facing her questioning look, Saku explained with a small lie.
"When I asked that friend to help with the composition, it was only to provide Taki with a reference."
"You all know how conflicted she was, right? She'd finished composing but was still planning to rewrite it."
"That's why we ended up with this track."
"I think using it as a performance piece wouldn't be appropriate. It would also overlook the effort Taki put into her own version."
"Besides, Tomori and I both think Taki's composition is better."
"So, it'd be best to pass on performing that first track."
As he finished, the practice room fell into silence.
"…"
Taki looked at Saku, her gaze complicated.
The explanation he'd given now was different from what he'd told her before.
He'd said it had been a casual chat with a friend about composition, and that this friend had spontaneously created Ichishizuku Sora as a side project.
At the time, she hadn't given it much thought, as her mind was elsewhere.
But in retrospect, that explanation didn't really add up; it had too many holes.
The idea of his friend doing this on a whim? Maybe.
Helping with the composition? Fine. It wasn't impossible that his friend would lend a hand.
But why also arrange the entire song?
That seemed like too much of a stretch.
Compared to that, the reasoning he'd just given everyone now was perfectly logical.
Asking a friend for a composition and arrangement to provide her with guidance—that all made sense.
So why had he lied to her on Friday?
Taki quickly found the answer.
It was simple: back then, she'd already given up on composing and was spiraling into self-doubt.
If he had said something like, "I went out of my way to ask a friend to make you a reference track, so you have to pull yourself together," it would've felt like emotional manipulation.
She wouldn't have appreciated it; it might've even backfired.
So, that was why he'd told her an easily debunked lie.
Most importantly, the timeline fit.
After she'd declared she would start over and stayed home, missing school, Saku would have had the time to ask someone for help.
Especially that line.
Taki recalled the first thing Saku had said to her that Friday in her room.
"I'm here to help you."
That was it.
Because from his perspective, he couldn't have known what she was thinking or that she'd already given up on composing until she told him.
So, in his mind, the reason she'd missed school was simply that she couldn't finish the song.
That meant when he'd said he'd come to help, he meant he'd brought a friend's track as a reference.
It was only when he discovered she'd already abandoned composing that he'd had to change his approach.
Now that everything was settled and her composition had triumphed, Saku had shared the truth.
It was obvious he'd put a lot of thought into her feelings.
So he'd been planning to help me all along…
Remembering their conversation in her room and everything he'd just said, Taki felt a faint ripple in her heart.
Realizing the full extent of his consideration, she turned her gaze slightly to the side, feeling flustered.
To be honest, she didn't quite know how to respond to kindness.
So, maybe it was best to just stop thinking about it.
Trying to distract herself, she found herself thinking about the outing she'd planned with Saku.
No, no, not an outing.
It was supposed to be a day out with Tomori and him—three people, not two.
The point was to get to know Tomori better.
So, when would that day finally come?
For some reason, Taki felt an inexplicable urgency.
"Saku, you really prefer Rikki's version?"
Chihaya Anon, oblivious to Taki's slight change in expression, was still focused on Saku's critique.
"Yes," he confirmed without hesitation.
"Is it because of the difference in emotion?" Anon pressed.
"That's right."
Saku nodded.
To individuals, the quality of music is subjective.
No matter how popular a song might be, there would always be someone who disliked it.
Even though the study-mode version of Ichishizuku Sora was technically perfect, it was no exception.
"So, could I listen to both songs again?" Anon asked with interest. "I want to understand what you mean by this difference in emotion."
"I'll upload both to our band chat. Feel free to listen, but don't share them outside the group."
With that, Saku turned to the other composer for permission.
"Taki, is that okay?"
"Sure."
Taki agreed casually.
Since it was going to be the band's next practice song, there was no issue with posting it in the chat.
"Just make sure not to share my friend's track. Don't send it to anyone else."
After a final reminder, Saku uploaded the two tracks.
Initially, he'd planned to keep the study-mode version of Ichishizuku Sora to himself, but since everyone here had already heard it, he saw no harm in sharing it with them.
As long as it stayed within the group.
"Got it!"
Anon answered cheerfully.
Once he'd posted the tracks in the group, Raana stopped her playing, set down her guitar, and walked over to Saku.
"I want the first one."
With that, she held out her phone.
"Got it."
Taking her phone, Saku helped the tech-challenged Raana download the study-mode version of Ichishizuku Sora and showed her how to play it.
Shifting her gaze from him, Soyo discreetly studied Taki, whose expression had been slightly off since earlier.
Something was up. Way up.
Ordinarily, Taki wouldn't act like this.
Was it just her imagination, or did Taki seem almost… flustered?
Could it be from the thrill of winning against Saku's friend's song?
Or was it… could it be because of Saku?
The moment the thought crossed her mind, Soyo spoke up.
"So, our band's next track will be Ichishizuku Sora, composed by Tomori and Rikki?"
Honestly, she didn't mind which song the band performed.
She was only asking to confirm one thing.
"That's right."
Saku glanced at Taki, then answered.
"Everyone's fine with that?"
"No complaints."
Tomori was the first to respond.
"I just listened to it again, and Rikki's song really is great," Anon agreed.
Raana didn't respond, too absorbed in figuring out her phone.
"Then I'll leave the arrangement up to you, Rikki."
As she said this, Soyo observed Taki's reaction closely.
"Of course."
Taki agreed without hesitation.
He was right, after all.
Dreams really were the opposite of reality.
Now all that was left was the arrangement, and she wouldn't let her guard down.
Naturally, she'd keep her promise to Saku and start attending classes next week.
No skipping for arrangement work.
Wait, what?
Watching as Taki's unusual behavior faded, Soyo felt surprised.
So, was her odd demeanor really just excitement from defeating Saku's friend's song?
Actually, that was a plausible explanation.
After all, Taki was "interested" in Tomori. Composing for her lyrics was indeed thrilling for her.
But the more Soyo thought about it, the more the idea that Taki had been flustered because of Saku seemed far-fetched.
The two of them barely knew each other until recently—how could their relationship suddenly leap forward like that?
It was unrealistic.
Especially considering that it was Taki they were talking about.
Convinced she'd figured things out, Soyo felt a wave of relief.
It was just her overthinking.
"Well, about today's practice…"
Turning her attention back to the band, Soyo asked about the day's rehearsal plan.
"Let's keep working on Spring's Shadow. Once I finish arranging Ichishizuku Sora, we'll switch to that," Taki replied.
"Sounds good."
No one had any objections.
---
By afternoon, practice had ended, and everyone went their separate ways.
After declining Soyo Nagasaki's offer to head home together, saying he was going to explore some shops, Kamigawa Saku left RiNG on his own.
Been to all these places already.
After wandering a while along a random path, Saku noticed the shops lining the street all looked familiar, so he decided to pass them by.
Just as he was about to continue down the road, he spotted a girl emerging from a nearby karaoke bar—a girl who looked oddly familiar.
Long red hair, a trendy outfit, and a big guitar case strapped to her back.
"Are you Kita?"
Saku approached her quickly, unable to stop himself from asking.
Hearing her name in a familiar voice, Kita Ikuyo turned and saw him.
"Oh, good afternoon, Saku-senpai!"
She greeted him with a smile, though her voice sounded a bit hoarse.
"It really is you, Kita!"
Saku glanced around the karaoke bar entrance and, seeing no one else come out, looked at her in surprise.
"What's the matter, Saku-senpai?" Kita tilted her head in confusion. "Why do you seem so unsure of who I am?"
Saku explained, "It's nothing… I just can't believe you'd come to a karaoke place alone."
---
T/N: I saw a little ship comic with Soyo and Taki I think the tag is SYTK? but ittt was so cuteee, taki called soyo out to meet before practice asking if soyo likes her, then soyo is like shouldnt you be saying i like you instead? uhhguahguhau it's so cute frick just because of that im gonna do a few more chapters rn (MAKING DRAFTS NOT POSTING THEM)
heyyy was too late to ask someone to do end of chapter notes this week but I already have someone lined up for next week, also new translation! 'You Will Regret This Ichinose!' check it out or something :)