“Hey, you need to project your voice more. You’re the vice leader, right? You’re so timid, why’d you even try out to be the vocalist? It’s frustrating.”
“Sorry…”
Other band members tried to soften the blow, but deep down, I knew she was right.
I couldn’t help feeling tense because she reminded me of someone who used to bully me.
But I had to push through it…
Kawada Sayuki’s first impression of Kohinatata Rin was probably the worst possible.
Still, I made up my mind to work hard and earn her approval someday.
Another time, on a different day──.
“Kohinatata-san, I could really feel your passion in your singing. Sorry I was so harsh the other day, asking why you wanted to be the vocalist.”
“No, I’m the one who should apologize for being so timid…”
“Do you… think I’m scary or something?”
“…”
“Ha, I knew it.”
“N-no, it’s not like that…”
“You don’t have to hide it. People say that to me all the time.”
“I-I’m sorry.”
“No, I get it. Honestly, I used to think it was weird that someone like you—so timid—would be aiming to be vice leader or vocalist. It didn’t suit you at all.”
“That’s a bit harsh…”
“Haha, sorry. But after watching how hard you’ve been working, my opinion changed. So, let’s keep doing our best, Rin-chan.”
“…Huh?”
…Rin-chan?
I was so surprised at how quickly the distance between us had closed that I let out a dumbfounded sound.
“What? Do you not like being called that?”
“N-no, it’s not that! But why…?”
The others said she was trying to make up for calling me scary by getting closer.
Ah, so that’s why… it all made sense.
I glanced at Sayuki’s face, seeing it turn bright red in embarrassment.
Her arms were crossed, and she looked away, which made her seem unexpectedly adorable. I felt a growing sense of warmth toward her.
…Kawada Sayuki. In some ways, she reminded me of Yuna-rin.
And from that moment on, any lingering fear I had of her completely vanished──.
“I get it. Let’s keep working together, Sayu-chi.”
“S-Sayu-chi!?”
“Yup. Sayu-chi.”
And so, we grew closer and kept practicing for the live show, eventually forming the bond we have now.
By my side, I had the friends who supported me.
Watching from above were Sara and Yuna… and, well, I’ll include Akasaki-kun in that group, just this once… Yeah, just this once.
No matter what, I had all these people holding me up.
There was nothing for the current me to be afraid of.
Cheers began to rise from both the audience below and the walkway above.
As we entered the final, climactic part of the performance, the excitement surged to a fever pitch.
[~♪]
So, I put my all into responding with my brightest smile and gave the best performance I could.
My skirt swayed softly, sweat scattered, and a radiant grin lit up my face.
At that very moment, as the spotlight shone brightly on me────.
I reached out, pointing and finishing with a playful wink.
(I’m not going to lose anymore────)
With that resolve burning in my eyes, I glanced toward those two───.
There they were, their faces frozen in a ridiculous expression.
At first, they were smug, thinking everything was going according to plan, but now, their eyes were wide with shock, unable to move.
(This wasn’t supposed to happen. This wasn’t supposed to happen…)
They must have been completely silenced by how well my performance had gone.
As if on cue, several audience members noticed the two of them and turned their gaze toward them.
“U-uh, n-no…”
“…!”
They couldn’t hide how awkward they felt, surrounded by students who had been cheering me on.
The two quietly slunk away in defeat.
They must have realized they couldn’t win against me, seeing my dazzling smile.
And so, the long yet short final stage of the Eika Festival came to a close.
“Haa… haa… haa…”
As the performance ended, Rin found herself panting heavily, trying to catch her breath.
The exhaustion seemed to have taken a serious toll on her body.
She wanted nothing more than to collapse on the spot, but the stage erupted into a roaring round of applause.
Even from the second-floor walkway, the sound of clapping echoed.
(…Akasaki-kun. I did it.)
Rin tried to flash a peace sign to Haruya, but his figure had already disappeared from the walkway.
However, she could still spot Sara and Yuna.
(Huh, did he run off to the bathroom at the most important moment? Honestly, you can’t call yourself my fan if you miss this part───)
At that moment, Rin thinks of a possibility.
She remembered what Haruya said when he came to her to persuade her.
“I’ll make sure those two are no longer a threat────”
If he meant that literally, then maybe… he’d gone after those two himself.
The thought raced through her mind.
Before she even realized it, she had jumped off the stage and dashed away.
“W-wait, Rin-chan!”
“Sorry, Sayu-chi! Gotta go pick some flowers~”
“…Ugh. Must be an emergency. Got it.”
Though it wasn’t actually an emergency, Rin had to confirm her suspicion and decided to chase after the pair.
(…It’s strange. Normally, I’d be frozen in fear at the thought of facing them, but the idea that Akasaki-kun might be heading that way makes me feel like I can do it. It’s so strange.)
Her heart was pounding, but she chalked it up to the adrenaline still coursing through her veins after the live performance.
Yes, that had to be it. With that in mind, Rin set off to track down the two.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
Meanwhile, as the festival came to a final, rousing close, the first-year committee’s event wrapped up.
After telling Sara and Yuna that he was heading to the bathroom, Haruya slipped away from the walkway.
But in truth, he wasn’t going toward the bathroom at all.
Instead, he was headed for the pair who had tried to leave in defeat, as if they were empty shells.
He couldn’t let them escape that easily.
Watching someone they had tried to bring down shine even brighter than themselves and then letting them walk away in defeat—he couldn’t allow that.
If they were left to stew, there was no guarantee they wouldn’t hold a grudge and come back for revenge later.
He had to make sure they would never target Rin again. He needed to break their spirits.
There was no way he’d let them get away now.
That said, Haruya knew his usual shy, bespectacled self wouldn’t be enough to intimidate them.
He needed to show a different side of himself if he was going to get through to them.
Haruya brushed his hair back and removed his glasses.
Then,
he rushed toward the two of them.
“…How did Kohinatata manage to shine so brightly on stage? Our whole plan’s been ruined.”
“Looks like we’re going home with loss…”
“No, not yet. What a joke… spreading that girl’s past—”
“The ones joking around are you guys!”
Haruya’s voice was deep and threatening as he finished his sentence.
He was relieved he caught them before they could escape.
Startled by the sudden angry voice, the two girls flinched and turned around.
“W-What do you want?”
“Me? I’m just someone who was moved by that live performance. But you two… you were mocking that amazing performance, weren’t you? With your thumbs pointing down.”
“T-That’s…”
They were at a loss for words.
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