Chapter 49: We Need an Original Song

Part One

Flowerfall Café, on the stage of its performance hall.

The booming drums fall silent, the room still humming with the song’s lingering echo.
In a beam of golden sunlight, dust particles that danced to the music settle back down.

Cola, drenched in sweat, gasps for air. Despite only three “audience” members below, her hands and feet tremble with nerves.
Liuli’s worse—like a fish out of water, mouth open, struggling to breathe.
Yuki Matsuhisa calmly stands, steps out from behind the drum set, and gives a slight bow.

“Not quite our practice-level best, but pretty good!” Mahong Byakuya nods excitedly, shouting to Natsuki Hoshimi below. “Manager! Did we pass?”

That’s right—to perform on this stage, you need to pass an audition. Even a warm-up band playing one song must meet a basic standard, or a shoddy performance will only annoy the audience.

Natsuki taps her chin with a pen, dragging out her words. “Hmm… what does Uncle Nishitani think?”

The middle-aged man who’s always around the café, helping wherever needed, meets her gaze. After a pause, he says, “Aside from the bassist being an obvious weak link, the rest is decent.”

“What about you, Sae-chan?”

“Me? I get to judge? Really?” Sae Inukai, tall and youthful like a teenager, points to herself in disbelief.

“Of course. Give your honest opinion.”

“So average! So boring! No personality! No different from a school band, and with less energy! A night gig band should have more flair—more mainstream appeal!”

“Hey, it’s not that bad,” Cola protests.

“And! That song’s bassline is demanding, and you clearly missed spots—the keyboard covered for you!”

“Ugh, I’m a beginner…”

“On stage, no one cares about your excuses!”

Getting schooled by the “ditz” annoys Cola. She’s about to argue when Natsuki cuts in. “Sae-chan may seem unreliable, but she’s right. On stage, no excuses matter. You’ve got to perform at a high level, no matter how long you’ve practiced.”

“Starting a band isn’t easy!”

“You don’t get to talk smack,” Cola rolls her eyes.

“No worries, we’ll keep at it! We’re just starting!” Byakuya cheers everyone on.

“You need to pick or tweak your songs. Your bassist’s a newbie, so play to strengths and hide weaknesses. Overall, you’re barely passable,” Nishitani says.

“Eh?! S-So we passed?” Liuli lifts her head, surprised.

“No, you can’t perform next week. You’re missing an original song—at least one.”

“Heh, yeah, you need a song that screams your band’s style,” Nishitani, with a few white hairs, nods with a smile.

“An original song right after forming?” Cola scratches her head. “I thought nailing covers was enough…”

“No way. Unless you have rights, you need originals or public-domain oldies,” Natsuki shakes her head. “Go write one and audition again.”

“So we failed?” Cola’s arms droop, deflated. “I practiced so hard for days… Total bust…”

“For a beginner with a few days’ practice, your progress is fast,” Natsuki finally offers a smile. “Keep it up.”

“No problem, no problem!” Byakuya slaps Cola’s shoulder. “We just need one original! I’ll handle the music!”

“What about lyrics?”

“How about you write them, little Cola?”

“Me? Nah, I’ve got no literary skills. Rhyming? No way.”

“They don’t have to rhyme!”

“Nope, no way… How about Prez?”

“Let Liuli write,” Yuki says, glancing at Liuli packing her keyboard. “Her essay won first in Maebashi’s writing contest.”

“Eh, Liuli, you’re that good at writing? Wanna do it?”

“Eh? N-No, no…”

“Oh! Liuli’s perfect! I’m excited—her lyrics will be so cool! Little Liuli, you’re on lyrics! Write them, and I’ll compose to match!”

“Ehh?! M-Me…”

“Liuli, please!”

In the end, Liuli can’t say no.

Part Two

It’s only 9 a.m.—barely “morning” for students on summer break.
The rain-washed streets gleam, the sky clear and cloudless.

Cola walks out with Liuli and Sae, breathing deeply in the sunlight. Liuli lets out a long sigh.
“Um, Inukai-sensei… was I really that bad?”

“Sae, see? You were too harsh, and now Liuli’s doubting herself again.”

“I said your level was bad, not hers! Geez, how’s that my fault?”

“Hah? Not scared I’ll get mad?”

“No vampire’s that petty.”

“Vampires are super petty, okay?” Cola squints.

“Hmph! I trained running naked in my backyard—no more blackmail leverage for you!”

Cola’s lips twitch. “Training your shamelessness like that?”

“Embracing the wild feels great!”

“Hey, you awakening some weird kink?”

“Eh? Oh no, if I turn into that kind of person, Cola, you’re responsible!”

“Why me? I didn’t do anything!”

“You lured me into the abyss!”

“That counts as luring?!”

“Heyy! Why’re you walking so fast? Wait up!” Byakuya calls, jogging to catch up.

“You’re the only one who brought a stage outfit…”

“It’s more formal! Hehe, we did okay today. A few more tries, and we’ll be pros!”

“Share some of that optimism with Liuli—she’s always down on herself.”

“No worries, little Liuli! Ignore Aunt Inukai’s words!”

“Aunt?!” Sae freezes, petrified. “A-Aunt?! I’m only nineteen!”

“Eh, that young? Graduated college? Wait, nineteen—you’re underage drinking (Japan’s legal age is twenty)!”

“I did a two-year program at sixteen! Graduated at eighteen! And I’m turning twenty tomorrow!” Sae grabs Cola’s arm, shaking it. “Cola, do I look old?!”

“Nah, you look super young… I thought you were, like, twenty-five, being a teacher.”

“Why call me Aunt, why—!”

“Not me, blame Byakuya,” Cola sighs, glancing at her. “You aged Sae up.”

“Eh, she talks so old-school, I thought she was thirty…”

“T-Thirty?!”

“Apologize quick…”

“Sorry, big sis Inukai! But you’re wrong saying our band’s got no personality! Even with old songs, we’ve got flair!”

“S-So I should write unique lyrics?” Liuli asks softly.

“No, no, don’t overthink it. Just pour your heart out. If it’s your true feelings, it’s unique! If I thought Quantum Band was just another band, I wouldn’t have joined,” Byakuya says.

“Yeah, Quantum Band’s different,” Yuki adds, appearing behind them, carrying a paper bag.

“I-I don’t get what’s different…”

“It’s got a sharp, non-mainstream vibe. Super niche!”

“Niche… so not popular?”

“But even niche has an audience! If everyone chased mainstream, it’d be boring.”

“Agreed,” Yuki nods.

“No clue what you’re on about. I just sing,” Cola stretches. “No work tonight—any plans?”

“I-I want to try writing lyrics…”

“I’ve got a school meeting this afternoon. School’s starting soon,” Sae says.

“Oh, forgot you’re a teacher.”

“How rude, little Cola!”

“I just thought you seemed our age.”

“Ehe… keep the compliments coming…”

“Easy to please…” Cola mutters.

“I wanna visit Liuli’s place!”

“Eh? M-My place? It’s… kinda small…”

Liuli hesitates, unable to refuse outright.

“Let me come, pleease! Lyricists and composers need bonding for chemistry!” Byakuya, oblivious, clings to Liuli’s arm like an eager golden retriever.

“O-Okay… but it’s really small…”

“No biggie! Japanese houses are tiny—I’m used to it!”

“Feels like you just roasted all of Japan,” Cola smacks her lips, turning to the quiet Yuki. “Prez, heading home?”

“…There’s a motorcycle shop nearby. Wanna check it out.”

“Eh? You’re buying a motorcycle?”

“My place is far. It’d be convenient.”

“Minors can ride in Japan?”

“Yeah, got my moped license recently.”

“Motorcycles, huh… I wanna see.”

“Follow me.”

“Eh, Cola, y-you’re not coming home with me?”

“Go with Byakuya. I’m curious about bikes.”

“B-But…”

“Let’s go! I nabbed a taxi!”

“So fast!”

“That’s social terrorist speed…” Cola mutters.