Iwano-senpai lightly hit my back. “Relax, Haibara. Based on what you told me, you’re being a good upperclassman.”
I wonder how many times he’s repeated his life. I’m supposed to be the older one mentally, but I don’t feel like it.
“All that’s left is to believe in her.”
You know, I suddenly feel at ease.
“If you give her instructions every step of the way, you’ll end up overprotective.”
“You’re right...” I’ve done everything I can. It’s an upperclassman’s duty to believe in his underclassman.
✦ ✦ ✦
A week passed after that; it was currently lunch break.
I was on an empty staircase landing.
“I understand what you’re saying...” said Sakata-kun, a first-year of the light music club, “but why’d you call me over here?”
“Because I’m worriiiiiied!” I bellowed, full of woe. I had been so overwrought with anxiety that I’d summoned Sakata-kun again. Logically, I understand what Iwano-senpai said. Believing in Yamano is an important duty. But this has nothing to do with that... The current situation is weighing on my mind too heavily!
Sakata-kun sighed. “Looks like she’s got a good upperclassman too.”
Now that I’d disclosed everything to him, an exasperated smile spread across his face. “Y’know,” he told me, “I really looked up to you. I watched the school festival video before I enrolled, and I thought you were super cool. You made me want to try picking up the guitar. That’s why I joined the light music club.”
“This is what I’m actually like. I’m sorry...” I’ve disappointed another underclassman.
“Eh, it’s true that you’re different from what I expected, but...” An amused smile spread across his face before he continued to speak. “But I don’t dislike it.”
I don’t really get it, but I guess I didn’t disappoint him?
“Anyway, I think she’ll be fine.” Sakata-kun took a few steps down from the staircase landing and peeked into the first-year hallway. “Perfect,” he muttered and pointed down the hall.
I followed him down and peered into the hallway. There was a group of girls gathered in front of the class 1-3 room, one of whom was Yamano.
“Looks like she made amends with Matsui-san,” I remarked.
Yamano was smiling in the ring of people.
“I told you before that she was kinda out of place, but she’s been awfully attentive to what everyone in class says these days. Everyone is pretty fond of her now.”
I watched the scene unfold before me as I listened to Sakata-kun speak. Paying attention to her classmates was the assignment I gave her. “Thank god.” At least I can have peace of mind now. Her friend troubles should be solved. All that’s left is for her to find that hot boyfriend she said she wanted. Well, you know, baby steps. It’s only been a month since she started high school. I let out a relieved sigh.
“You know... Looking closely, Yamano’s pretty cute, huh?” Sakata-kun murmured quietly.
My eyes darted to him. There was a certain tenderness in his gaze as he watched Yamano. On top of that, he was handsome.
“I-I won’t hand our Yamano over to you, got it?!” I exclaimed.
“H-Huh?! Haibara-senpai, who are you to say that?!”
I’m just her upperclassman.
✦ ✦ ✦
We didn’t have band practice today, meaning I was scheduled to work. I rarely ever had a day for myself, but I felt fulfilled. I was walking in the direction of the station to Café Mares, when...
“Um, senpai!” Yamano ran up to me. It sounded like she’d been searching for me.
“Yamano, what’s up?” I asked.
“Listen to this! I made up with her!” She beamed at me wholeheartedly and told me how she’d reconciled with Matsui-san.
“Glad to hear it,” I replied. Looks like she’s rejoined Matsui-san’s group... Well, I already knew that because I was watching from down the hallway with Sakata-kun. She’d probably get creeped out if I told her that, though, so I’m going to pretend like I had no idea.
“I finally realized something... I was looking down on everyone else,” Yamano said quietly.
Surprised, I glanced at her, and our gazes locked. She peered back at me with clear eyes.
“And I finally understand that you were nudging me towards seeing that.”
Well look at that! Yamano’s really matured.
“That’s why I put in the work to face each person one by one. Including Matsui-san.”
In my first round, I never figured out this flaw of mine during my entire three years of high school. She’s doing way better than me.
“And when I did, I naturally bridged the gap. After I apologized for going too far, Matsui-san apologized back. She said she had been insensitive given that I’m part of the light music club. I didn’t think that was true...but I was happy that she was being considerate of my feelings.”
Even now, my regrets from my first round are vividly etched into my mind. But if my experiences can be of some use to Yamano, then all that failure was worth it. “Good for you. I can rest easy now.”
Yamano looked around like she wanted to say something.
“Did something else happen?” I asked.
“Um, I tried writing some lyrics...” She showed me her smartphone screen with a slightly abashed expression.
I took her phone out of her hands, and we walked together. Her notes had “Stray Luminous” written at the top in English letters.
“Stray...luminous?” I sounded out the words uncertainly.
“Apparently, it means an outcast that shines,” she responded.
The lyrics plainly spelled out Yamano’s desire to change. On top of that, she had straight up written about how I’d been there to support her when she was going through a hard time in life, how grateful she was for me, how she wanted to become like me, and how much she admired me. Furthermore, she had written that she was able to change little by little, thanks to me.
No matter how I tried to interpret it, this was a love song. I could feel my face heat up. Yamano walked alongside me without saying a word. She was facing the road, but her ears were red.
In the end, all I could muster up was “Th-This is pretty good?”
“R-Really?! Thank you very much!” She laughed loudly, trying to hide her embarrassment.
“Your feelings, um... They come across loud and clear!”
“D-Did you get it?”
“Yeah, more or less...”
“I-I see...”
We both fell silent.
This is awkward. I didn’t know Yamano felt so intensely about me! And I didn’t expect I’d learn about it through the lyrics of our new song!
“Th-Then I’ll report to Serika-senpai that I’ve finished writing the lyrics!”
Are you sure you want to submit these as is? The question floated to mind, but Yamano’s face told me it was too late for her to turn back now. Besides, this truly was something she wanted to convey. Above all, as the lyricist of “To the Star,” I had no right to object.
“C-Cool, you have work now, right?! See you tomorrow!” Yamano, unable to bear the awkward mood any longer, ran off with her face still bright scarlet.
“Y-Yeah...” How the heck am I supposed to react after you showed me lyrics like that? You know, all of a sudden, I think I understand how Hikari felt.