School Festival Live
“Alright! Next up, we have the band ‘Small Love’! Just from the name, you can already tell they’re covering Mongol800—what a solid choice! This four-girl band has been playing together since middle school, and now they’re first-years in high school! Cute, right? …Or at least, that’s how it was supposed to be. But guess what? Their guitarist got injured, and at the last minute, a guy stepped in as a substitute! Are you kidding me? That’s way too lucky! Hey, you—first-year boy over there! Oda Shuhei, was it? I’m never gonna forget your name!”
The lively third-year announcer’s playful introduction had the entire audience laughing. With that, ‘Small Love’—and I—stepped onto the stage in the gymnasium.
Of course, even Nitta-san, who had injured her hand, was with us.
There was no way we’d leave her out.
‘Small Love’ wouldn’t be complete without all four of them together.
Besides, for the chorus, Hasumin and Nitta-san were supposed to sing in harmony. Even if she couldn’t play the guitar, Nitta-san was still an irreplaceable part of the performance.
Meanwhile, I wasn’t an official member, so I positioned myself at the far end of the back row, keeping a low profile.
(This is Hasumin and the others’ show. I’m just here to support them.)
After exchanging a quick round of eye contact to confirm we were all ready, Hasumin nodded. Then, with a crisp tap of drumsticks, the performance began.
The song was Chiisana Koi no Uta by Mongol800—a school festival staple.
Even though it was an old song from way before we were born, it remained a legendary anthem that high schoolers still sang at festivals to this day.
The moment the upbeat, fast-paced rhythm kicked in, Hasumin’s voice rang out—strong and unwavering—delivering the lyrics with raw emotion.
“Whoa, the vocalist is amazing!”
“And she’s super cute!”
“She’s a first-year, right? What class is she in?”
“First-year, Class 5—Hasumi Kana. She’s already famous for being cute. How do you not know this?”
“I think I just fell for her!”
“Wait, but the whole band is seriously good!”
The audience quickly caught on to how skilled they were, and their cheers grew louder with every note.
(She’s incredible. Her voice is even more powerful and passionate than when I heard it in practice. It’s the kind of voice that grabs you and won’t let go.)
And because Hasumin and the others had been playing together since middle school, their timing and chemistry were perfectly in sync.
Which meant all I had to do was match their energy and blend in.
As the song built up to the chorus, Nitta-san’s voice joined in, harmonizing with Hasumin’s. The energy in the gym spiked even higher.
Cheers erupted for Hasumin and the others, but every now and then, my ears caught whispers from the audience—directed at me.
“That guitarist in the back… isn’t he insanely good?”
“Yeah, no kidding. He’s seriously skilled!”
“Honestly, he’s at a pro level.”
“Wait, who is that guy? I don’t remember any first-year like that.”
“The announcer said his name earlier—he’s Oda, from Class 5.”
“Oda… Oh! Isn’t he the one who completely schooled Date, the basketball team’s regular, during P.E. basketball? I heard he’s crazy athletic!”
“Oh yeah, I heard about that too! And apparently, he’s never even played basketball before!”
“What the hell!? So now he’s a musical prodigy too? What is he, some kind of Superman!?”
“Rumor has it he was keeping a low profile on purpose during the first semester, pretending to be some quiet, unassuming guy. But in the second semester, he suddenly dropped the act. Apparently, he’s fluent in English, like a native speaker!”
“Wait, why would anyone even do that?”
“Haha, don’t ask me. I don’t get it either.”
“Nah, man, I heard he got sent off to work on a tuna fishing boat over summer break, and that’s what changed him!”
“Yeah! I heard that too! He used to be super shy, but it was so brutal out there that he came back with nerves of steel!”
“Pfft, well, I heard he joined a French mercenary unit and fought in the Middle East!”
“Okay, now that’s just ridiculous! We’re in high school, dude!”
“Are you even listening to yourself!?”
(…Huh. At some point, all sorts of ridiculous rumors about me started spreading.)
But honestly, compared to the truth, the tuna boat story was almost tame. In reality, I had spent five years fighting as a hero in another world.
And if we’re talking comparisons… that French mercenary story might actually be the closest.
Before I knew it, the song had reached its climax.
Hasumin’s voice soared, her sweat-drenched skin glistening under the stage lights as she belted out the final lines with everything she had.
The very instant the last note faded, a thunderous roar of cheers and applause erupted, filling the gym.
Gasping for breath but beaming with exhilaration, Hasumin bowed deeply. In sync, the rest of us followed suit, lowering our heads together.
Then, wiping the sweat from her forehead, Hasumin turned back to us with a radiant smile and—
“Yeah!!”
—threw up a victory sign with both hands.
Bathed in the spotlight at center stage, her beaming face radiated pure joy.
In that moment, I recalled a story Riena once told me—of Athena, the goddess who guided and inspired people with courage and hope.
(She’s beautiful… like a real goddess.)
And so, just like that, ‘Small Love’—and I—delivered an unforgettable, perfect performance at the school festival.