76 A Bad Dream

The classroom door swung open, and a good-looking guy entered, his hand extended toward me. "Kouhai! I heard you're good at guitar! Do you want to join us in our band?"

Caught off guard, I glanced up from my phone, confusion etching my features.

Who is this person? I wondered.

Before I could respond, another voice chimed in. "Senpai! Why are you barging into the room?" A short male followed him into the classroom.

"Ahh~ Koishi-kun is here! I thought I told you to stay in the clubroom?" He turned to him, a mischievous smile on his face.

"What the!? Look, can't we just invite him into our clubroom instead?" Koishi protested.

"Ahahaha~ Then what's the point of inviting him when we can't go to his classroom?"

He fell silent, realizing the flaw in his suggestion. "Oh... You're right!"

The two of them turned to me and took the lead. 

"Let me introduce myself! I am the bass guitarist, Kenji Satori. This is the lead vocalist, Koishi Ishimoto!"

"We're currently looking for a guitarist, but it seems no one knows how to..." Koishi explained, and then his eyes lit up as he turned to me. "Will you give it a try?! I heard from your classmates that you play guitar on the rooftop!"

E-Eh?! I was taken aback. How did my classmates find out about that? I made sure the rooftop door was locked... Also why are you acting like a girl!? Are you trying to turn my life into BL!?

With a mix of surprise and curiosity, I found myself at the center of an unexpected invitation to join a band. The expressions on Kenji and Koishi's faces were a blend of hope and eagerness, awaiting my response.

I hesitated for a moment, glancing between Kenji and Koishi. The idea of joining a band hadn't crossed my mind, but their enthusiasm was contagious.

The anticipation in the air was palpable as Koishi pleaded with his wide, hopeful eyes. "Well, senpai, will you join us? We really need a guitarist!"

Urgk... That smiling face is not fair...

I sighed, a small smile forming on my face. "Alright, I'll give it a try. But, don't expect too much. I'm not a professional or anything."

Kenji pumped his fist in the air, and Koishi cheered.

"Then! After class! I want you to head to the music club! okay?" Koishi said.

I nodded, "I think I know the way there."

"Alrighty~ Let's go, Senpai!" Koishi tried to pull Kenji out of the classroom.

"Alright, Let's depart onwards back to the clubroom!!" He said, leaving the classroom with laughter.

"Stop that, you're embarrassing!" Koishi blushed, feeling a bit flustered.

And so, the two left the classroom, leaving me alone with the curious gazes of my classmates.

As the bell rang, signaling the end of the class, Kenji and Koishi ushered me toward the music club room. Koishi couldn't hide his enthusiasm, while Kenji wore a confident grin.

Upon entering the clubroom, the door swung open to reveal a space filled with musical instruments and an atmosphere charged with creative energy.

"Welcome to the club, senpai!" Koishi greeted, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

Just then, I noticed a guy sitting in front of the drum set, wearing a headset and holding drumsticks.

"Oh? Looks like Kuro-chan is training hard~" Kenji remarked, slowly walking towards him.

"Don't call me that." The drummer glared at Kenji but then noticed me. "Who are you?"

"Ah! I-I'm Nakasone Kyo, I'm in the 6th grade."

"Grade 6th? So you're my senpai, huh..."

Huh? Senpai? Looking at him right now, I'm certain he's in the 6th grade, just like me.

The confusion lingered as I tried to make sense of this unexpected hierarchy in the music club.

"Senpai, this is Kuro Kurouzu. He's our drummer, and also, the self-proclaimed 'Dark Beat Master,'" Koishi introduced, looking amused.

Kuro raised an eyebrow. "Dark Beat Master? Who came up with that ridiculous title?"

Kenji chuckled, "You did, remember? You said it in your sleep during band practice."

Kuro's face turned a shade of red as he remembered.

Kuro's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. "W-what about it! It's cool, isn't it, Senpai!?"

"Y-Yeah... It's great... I guess," I replied, slightly taken aback by his excitement.

Kenji clapped his hands, trying to regain our attention. "Alright, everyone, it seems the band is complete! Let us all introduce ourselves again! My name is Kenji Satori, I'm the bassist."

"My name is Koishi Ishimoto! I am the lead vocalist!"

"K-Kuro Kurouzu, I-I'm the drummer."

"My name is Nakasone Kyo, I'll be the guitarist."

"Well then, everyone! Let's get practicing!"

"Ohh!~" Koishi and Kuro cheered in unison. However, I realized something was wrong and raised my hand.

"What is it, Nakasone-kun?" Kenji asked.

"My guitar is in the house..."

A moment of awkward silence hung in the air.

"Huh? Really?" Koishi tilted her head in confusion. "Why didn't you bring it with you?"

"I didn't expect to join a band today," 

Kenji chuckled. "No worries, Nakasone-kun! We'll just head to your house and grab it. We've got to make sure our guitarist has his weapon of choice!"

Eh?! MY HOUSE?!

With that decision, everyone just went on with it as we all left the music club room and headed toward my house to retrieve my guitar. 

This is a stupid idea... we can just practice tomorrow after school.

Kenji was leading the way with confidence, while Koishi and Kuro engaged in conversation talking about anime. 

Reaching my doorstep, Kenji turned around with a grin. "Alright, Nakasone-kun! Lead the way to your guitar."

I hesitated for a moment before unlocking the door and stepping inside. The once-serene atmosphere of my home was about to be disrupted by the energy of the music club.

"Here we are," I said, heading to my room to fetch the guitar. 

The others followed, examining the surroundings with curiosity.

"Nice place you got here, Senpai!" Koishi chirped, glancing around.

"Thanks," I muttered, retrieving my guitar from its stand.

Kenji's eyes lit up as he examined my guitar. "Oh? That guitar... is that Teisco TG–64?"

I nodded, surprised by his recognition. "Yeah, it's pretty old, but it's what my old man left me."

"A vintage piece! Nice choice." 

Kenji complimented with a grin. "Alright then, let's head back to the club and make some music!"

As we walked back to school, Kenji couldn't contain his excitement. "I've been waiting for the day when we could finally start practicing together! This is going to be awesome!"

Koishi and Kuro joined in the enthusiasm, talking about potential songs and the vibe they wanted for the band.

Despite my initial reluctance, I found myself getting caught up in their passion.

I got infected, eh?

I took a moment to adjust the strap on my Teisco TG–64 guitar, feeling a mix of nerves and anticipation.

"Alright, everyone! Let's start practicing!" Kenji declared, taking his position with the bass guitar.

Koishi stood confidently near the microphone, and Kuro began to test the drum kit. I strummed a few chords on my guitar, getting a feel for the sound.

Kenji initiated the first notes, and slowly, the room filled with a harmonious blend of instruments. Koishi's vocals soared, and Kuro's drumming added a rhythmic pulse to the melody. I joined in with the guitar, finding my place in the ensemble.

The final notes of our impromptu performance lingered in the air, and as the music subsided, I decided to end it with a spontaneous guitar solo. The room fell into a surprised silence before erupting into exclamations.

"Dude... What was that just now!?" Kenji asked, still visibly astonished.

"Eh?!" I responded, caught off guard by their reactions.

"T-That you did just now... Is that called a solo? That was incredible!" Koishi exclaimed, his eyes wide with admiration.

I scratched my head, attempting to play it cool, "Well, you know, just felt like adding a little flair."

Kuro, still recovering from the shock, grinned, "Man, with that kind of skill, we're going to rock the school festival!"

School festival? Oh, right, that's a thing. I hadn't really thought about it.

Kenji patted me on the back, "Nakasone-kun, you're a great addition to the band. We're going to make a splash at the festival for sure!"

I chuckled nervously, "I appreciate the confidence. But, let's take it one step at a time."

As the days passed, our after-school practices intensified, each session bringing us closer to the highly anticipated school festival day.

"Kyo-kun! Let's do this!" Koishi's eyes gleamed with excitement as he gave me a spirited thumbs-up.

"Yeah!~" I responded, matching his enthusiasm.

The festival day arrived, and the school grounds buzzed with energy. Our band, now dubbed "Harmony Rhythms," gathered backstage, tuning our instruments and exchanging words of encouragement.

"Remember, everyone, this is our moment!" Kenji declared, pumping his fist in the air.

Kuro added, "Let's show them the power of Harmony Rhythms!"

"Ohh!" We all cheered.

As we prepared to hit the stage, the atmosphere was charged with a mix of nervousness and anticipation.

As the crowd cheered and the first chords of our performance resonated through the air, I was lost in the rhythm, the adrenaline pumping through my veins.

However, just when everything seemed to be going smoothly, an unexpected twist unfolded that threatened to disrupt our harmony.

Midway through our second song, my guitar string snapped, producing an awkward twang that echoed through the festival grounds. I winced, realizing the mishap.

"Ack! What happened, Kyo-kun?" Koishi exclaimed, her voice almost drowned out by the music.

I struggled to maintain composure, hastily strumming the remaining strings. "My string snapped! I didn't expect this!"

Kenji shot me a disappointed look while Kuro tried to keep up with the drums despite the unexpected hiccup.

Is he mad at me?

The crowd's cheers turned into murmurs as the disruption became more apparent.

Koishi, determined not to let the show falter, grabbed the microphone. "Hey, everyone! Sorry for the technical difficulty. Give us a moment to fix it, and we'll be right back!"

As the band attempted to regroup on the backstage, Kenji gave me a stern look, "Hey! Nakasone! What was that all about?!"

The tension in the room escalated as Kenji's frustration reached its peak. I clenched my fists, feeling the weight of his words.

"B-But... I didn't know," I stammered, trying to defend myself.

Kenji gritted his teeth, his frustration evident in his tone. "Hey! Because of you, everything is now a mess!" He shot a disgruntled look at the guitar in my hands. "This old piece of junk... that's why..." He mumbled, the words dripping with dissatisfaction.

I couldn't let that slide. My hands tightened around the guitar.

"Hey... What did you say again?"

"This old piece of junk guitar won't cut it out!"

"Don't call this guitar 'junk,' you asshole!"

"Huh?! What did you say to me?!" Kenji's eyes widened, clearly taken aback by my response.

The atmosphere in the room became increasingly heated as the exchange of words 

Koishi and Kuro exchanged uneasy glances, realizing that the chemistry within the band was hanging by a thread.

I thought Kenji-senpai was good but the only thing he wants is fame... He doesn't care about music, not one bit... This is messed up... I won't let this slide anymore.

The door suddenly burst open, and the club advisor, who had been enjoying the festival, entered the room with a stern expression. "What's going on here? This is not the way a band should behave, especially during a performance."

Kenji and I shot each other one last glare before reluctantly falling silent. The advisor sighed, "Settle your differences and focus on improving. Bands face challenges, and how you overcome them defines your success. Now, pull yourselves together."

"No, Sensei... I don't think I will be joining this club anymore," I declared, my voice firm.

Kenji's eyes widened, shock and disbelief written all over his face. "What did you just say...?!"

"You heard me, Kenji-senpai. From now on, I'm leaving this club."

"H-Hey! You can't do that!" Kenji protested, desperation creeping into his tone.

"Yes, I can!" I paused, frustration building up. "I realized something was off. Suddenly inviting me into a club because of what? My talent? Don't give me that crap. If you want to be famous that much... WHY DON'T YOU USE YOUR OWN TALENT!?" I gestured emphatically, letting my pent-up feelings flow. "Ahh! That's right! You're talentless! You just learned how to play bass, right?"

Out of nowhere, Kuro slapped me, silencing the room. My eyes widened as I glared at him, the sting of the slap lingering.

"That's enough," Kuro said with an authoritative tone.

I stayed silent, the weight of the situation sinking in. With a heavy sigh, I packed my guitar back into its case and left through the backdoor.

...

...

That day... I never came back to the music club as my life returned back to its silence.

Nakasone-san? Hey, wake up. Hey~ 

I immediately sat up from the couch, eyes wide, scanning my surroundings. "Where... am I?"

Mashiro, giving me a concerned look, spoke softly, "You were having a bad dream... Are you okay?"

It was all a dream?

 I turned to Mashiro, who had an angelic look. 

Oh, goddess...

.I stared at her for a moment until a flush appeared on her cheeks.

"U-Uhm..."

"Wow... I didn't know angels were going to take me to heaven early," I murmured, a soft smile playing on my lips.

"Eh?!" Mashiro was bewildered by my banter. "D-don't die early!"

I smiled gently, "If that's what the angel wants, then I won't die early."

"EH?!!?" Mashiro's cheeks flushed, and she seemed flustered by my light banter. 

I continued to smile gently, "Thanks for waking me up, Mashiro. It was just a bad dream."

She nodded, relief evident in her eyes. "If you need anything, just let me know."

Hehehe... Nightmares aside... having an angel wake me up suddenly gave me a boost.

Ah, It seems that I was still on a clock...

I sighed.