Trouble Arises (2)
When I went to the nurse’s office with Hasumin, we found Nitta-san with her right index finger secured in a splint. Two female band members, who had arrived just moments before us after receiving the news, were also there.
“Mei, how’s your finger? The live show—well, I guess I don’t even need to ask, since it’s in a splint.”
“Sorry, the injury itself isn’t too bad. The pain should go away in three or four days, but right now, I can’t bend my finger at all, so playing guitar today is…”
“I see.”
“I’m sorry, everyone. We practiced so much over summer break, and now, because of me, we can’t perform…”
Saying that, Nitta-san bowed deeply.
Her long hair, tied at the back, slid forward with her movement.
“Mei, come on, this isn’t something you need to apologize for, right?”
“Yeah, it was just an accident. There was nothing you could have done.”
“There’s always next year’s school festival. Let’s make it happen then!”
Hasumin and the other two girls surrounded Nitta-san and hugged her.
“Everyone… thank you…”
Instead of being blamed, Nitta-san was met with warm smiles and embraces, her face soon overflowing with happy tears.
(Ah, I’m so jealous. This is what youth is all about.)
Watching the deep bond between these four, who had been bandmates since middle school, I couldn’t help but feel envious.
Ever since I became aware of my own personality around fifth grade, I had always been an introvert, even through middle school. I never had friendships this deep.
One of the classic introvert truths: Youth is nothing but a shade of gray.
You spell “youth” but read it as “gray.”
(But this year, I really got involved with my class’s event, and I even went around the festival with Hasumin. Thinking about it, I guess I’m actually in the middle of my own youthful experience right now.)
Tomoya, dressed in his robot cosplay, had said, “This is the most fun I’ve ever had at a cultural festival!” and was absolutely thrilled.
And honestly, I felt the same way.
As I was lost in thought, the four girls had already started chatting again, their mood noticeably lighter.
“Next year, we’ll show off two years’ worth of practice! A two-year comeback live show sounds pretty awesome, doesn’t it?”
“Oh, Hasumin, that’s a great idea! Ten points for you!”
“For real, though! Guess it makes sense, considering you’re out here having a school festival date with a guy.”
“Wait, no! Shuhei-kun and I aren’t like that!”
“Oh really? But didn’t you say something during practice the other day, Hasumin?”
“Yeah, yeah!”
“Wait, what did she say?”
Feeling like the conversation was somehow about me, I decided to butt in.
“It’s our secret! Shuhei-kun, this doesn’t concern you!”
Hasumin snapped at me for some reason.
“O-oh, my bad.”
“Whoa, did you see that, dear?”
“Oh, I sure did! The ever-calm, gentle Hasumin just got flustered and tried to dodge the topic!”
“And she called him Shuhei-kun!”
“Kyaa~ So romantic~”
“It’s not romantic at all!”
“Hasumin’s blushing! So cute~”
“I want to call a boy by his given name too~”
“Enough already! This conversation is over! I’m going to tell the event staff we’re withdrawing. Let’s go, Shuhei-kun!”
As if trying to escape, Hasumin hurried out of the infirmary.
“About that…”
I quickly called out to stop her.
“What is it?”
She turned back with a puzzled look on her face.
“I have a suggestion—well, more like an idea, if you’re open to it.”
“What is it?”
“Actually, I can play guitar. So I was thinking… maybe I could fill in for Nitta-san?”