Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16817330662545387095/episodes/16817330669250826913
………….
At night, I woke up to a strange noise. I looked around, feeling strange as the edges of the ceiling and walls were illuminated by white light.
Senpai, who was supposed to be sleeping on the futon next to me, is not there. As expected, Senpai was sitting at a low table in the corner of the room. The light was from Senpai’s smartphone.
“Senpai, what are you doing?”
“Did I wake you up?”
Senpai looked back and lowered her eyebrows apologetically.
There was something mysterious and breathtakingly beautiful about Senpai sitting quietly in the darkness.
“Senpai, you can’t sleep?”
“No, I just woke up. I tried to sleep again, but a good word came up, so I write it down so that I don’t forget it.”
“Did something come up again? Perfect timing.”
From daytime onwards, Senpai has been spinning phrases at a tremendous pace.
Even I rarely come up with lyrics in good condition so far, I was surprised.
I want her to rest because she’s tired, but it would be rude to stop her.
I poured hot water from the provided pot and offered it to Senpai.
“What kind of lyrics did you come up with this time?”
“It’s not so coherent that it can be called lyrics, but… I thought that the distance to the horizon that we talked about during the day was similar.”
“To what?”
Senpai pauses in her words, and her expression shows sadness.
“The distance between me and my sister.”
“With Fumino san?”
“Yes. For me, her presence is to big……”
Senpai put down her pen and stopped writing lyrics.
She opened the curtains and looked out the window. The evening rain clouds disappeared before I knew it, and a perfectly round full moon appeared in the night sky.
Her older sister, Fumino san, is a very good person. It seems that she was quite talented since she was a student, and is currently teaching at Atago All Girls’ Academy, a prestigious school in Hokusei City.
Such an older sister is the idol for Senpai and a symbol of their inferiority complex.
“In the old days I was chasing my sister. I wanted to keep up with her in both sports and study. but i realized that i couldn’t catch up, and I stopped. I really wanted to go to Atago High school, but I chose another high school because I thought that if I passed, I would be able to compare to my sister, who was a teacher there.”
A goal that she believed she would reach someday.
However, as she grew up, she knew that the distance would not shrink and she gave up.
I see, the two certainly overlap.
“But I chose National University, even though I had to give it a try. I’m sure it was because I felt inferior to my older sister.”
Senpai took the entrance exam for the national Hokusei University while still in highschool, but was unsuccessful. That year, she tried again, and her wish came true.
“You gave up once, so why are you chasing after Fumino san again?”
“Why……I wonder. It’s because…..I felt like the people around me had expectations. My parents and my sister respected my will, but I doubt they wanted me to aim high. In the end, it may not have been my will to grit my teeth and endure it. I have a weak will…no, I have no will.”
Senpai’s tone is self-mocking. As if she despises her own life, which has continued to drift away.
“The reason I teach Ari chan is because of that sense of inferiority.”
That’s wrong.
It’s true that senpai mistakenly thought that by letting Ari san pass, she would be able to surpass Fumino san.
But later on, she renewed her resolve.
“The reason you cooperated with Ari san was because you wanted to support her, right?”
“Of course, it’s not a lie !”
I felt her passion. I sensed that she had a strong intention not to be misunderstood.
“But my motive is impure. Acting like I was using her as a stepping stone…..”
“Senpai, you don’t have to despise yourself so much. Not everyone acts only with good motives. I started playing guitar because I want to be popular.”
“Is that so !?”
That’s true. When I was invited by Nobuhiko, I could refuse, but I agreed because it seems like I could be popular.
“And I don’t think Senpai is weak-willed. I always thought you were rather a strong person.”
“Strong…..?”
Senpai was quietly surprised that her self-evaluation was exactly the opposite of what she had expected.
“Yes. Whether you held back a year or being a tutor, Senpai did not throw away on the way to the end. Your first steps were influenced by someone else, but it was definitely your will that kept you going. That’s amazing.”
I continued further.
“Everyone’s motivation for starting is ambiguous, and it is not certain whether they have the will or not. But in order to continue, you need the will. In that respect, Senpai has the strength to accomplish anything with determination. It’s a strength. I respect that kind of Senpai.”
“Respect…..please. I-i’m embarrassed.
Senpai looked down and raised her voice. It’s dark and I can’t see clearly, but I’m sure her face is red.
“So, that’s all about my feelings. But finally. If you think that the distance between you and Fumino san will not shrink, how about putting that in the lyrics clearly? If you take the form of the feeling that you have now and sing it boldly, your perspective may change again. The will is not one color. Various intentions overlap and change over time, resulting in seven colors. Try to express that color with lyrics. I’m sure it will become a wonderful song.”
It is certainly a good thing to follow through on your initial intentions.
But it’s not bad to change your mind.
The important thing is to decide by your own will.
Whether you continue or stop, you will get nothing if you lack self-awareness.
However, Senpai continued to move forward based on her own will, and reached this point.
Even if you’re still halfway through your journey and haven’t achieved your ambition, it’s still worth making into a reality.
“Yes, I will definitely write the lyrics and show it.”
We talked quite a bit. It was already midnight and my sleepiness had reached its peak.
I decided to go to bed to prepare for tomorrow.
“Um, Kobayakawa kun. Before you go to sleep, can you say that thing again?”
“What about?”
“Um……that you…..r-r-respect me…….. I have never been told such a thing until now…..”
If it makes her so happy, it’s worth the price. Because she is expressing her true feelings in words.
“I respect you, Misumi senpai. Please do your best with the lyrics.”
“Haa〜. I will do my best……”
I can’t see her face in the darkness, but I’m sure she’s flushing.
It’s kind of like Ari san when I give her a compliment.
These two may be unexpectedly similar.
I fell asleep while thinking about such a thing.
＊
“Sir, did you enjoy yesterday?”
The next morning, the landlady who came to see me off when I checked out asked me with a smile. The owner next to her also has a warm smile on his face.
“Yeah.”
It’s not a social commentary. Although Mokusu Town did not have much to offer, it had a good environment and was the perfect town for food and art. Thanks to them, yesterday was a fulfilling day.
“That said. The two of you got along well last night…..”
“Eh, last night?”
“No, nothing ! please come again !”
What exactly happened last night? I had a massage and talked about the lyrics.
“Well, thank you very much.”
Finally, we said our thanks and left Minshuku Umino.
“(It was quite intense yesterday)”
“(Well, I even heard our room. I went to the front of the room secretly, but the pillow talk was perfect too)”
“(Don’t eavesdrop ! …..So, what was it like?)”
“(I don’t know the details of what was being said, but the atmosphere was sweet and the young lady fell in love with it. Even though he seems like a nice guy, he’s quite good at it.)”
“(Oh well, people don’t depend on how they look. As expected of a bandman)”
“(I envy being young. Mine is burnt out.)”
The couple went out to the front door and saw us off with a smile while having a good conversation.
It is a town with many good people after all.
After that, we took a temporary bus arranged by the railway company from Moji Station and returned to Hokusei City.
Unlike the trip, the microbus that runs along the coastal road was leisurely and took up more time. However, thanks to this, the scenery on the way back looked different, and I felt a little excited as I felt like I was about to embark on a new adventure.
But in reality, the adventure is over.
The bus stopped at the Hokusei Station.
“We’re finally back. The journey was good, but home is the most relaxing place.”
I stretch while basking in the sunshine and breathe in the local air full of my chest. Hmm, the nostalgic greenery and the smell of exhaust gas.
“Let’s part ways here. I’ll see you on campus.”
“Yeah, thank you for two days. It was a fulfilling journey. Please look at it again after I’ve written it up.”
This is the end of the adventure with Senpai. From tomorrow, the daily routine of repeating study and practice of the band will begin again.
Or so I thought.
“Kingo, Shino senpai. Hello.”
A woman’s voice called out to me and Senpai. Her voice was dignified and cool, but somehow tense, and I felt a chill run down my spine.
“R-Ryoko……”
There is a figure of Kanda Ryoko with a smile on her face for some reason.
Trouble is inevitable when on a journey.
Adventure is dangerous.
Even so, isn’t it too mean for god to prepare such a last boss?
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