Planning Ahead

After a productive practice session, everyone eventually headed out of the studio. 

It was just Ako and Rinko who remained behind, tidying up their equipment and discussing their performance.

"You two," I called to get their attention.

Ako turned to me, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Oh, Senpai! How did it go? The song, I mean!"

I smiled, impressed by their progress. "It was fantastic."

Ako's grin widened. "Yeah! As expected of us!"

As we continued chatting about the practice, it was clear that Ako and I were doing most of the talking. Rinko, as usual, was the quieter member of the group.

Shirokane Rinko is very shy and was initially scared by the idea of performing in a live concert. She is also the band's costume designer and sews their outfits all by herself. 

Which is impressive.

but there was something on her mind, and it was apparent she wanted to share it.

Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she stammered, "U-um, if I could... p-possibly make a suggestion..."

Both Ako and I turned our attention to Rinko, "Of course, Shirokane-san."

Taking a deep breath, Rinko expressed her idea. "I w-was thinking that maybe... we should try t-to communicate more during practice. Share our thoughts on the song and our p-parts..."

Ako's eyes lit up with enthusiasm. "Oh, Rin-rin! You noticed that too!?"

"Well," I chimed in, "after seeing the chat debate about creating a new song, it seems like there's still some disagreement going on behind our backs. They're arguing about whether they should start from scratch or keep working on the new song."

In truth, I liked the song as it was. It was titled "Moon Rose," and its meaning intrigued me. It expressed the idea that the impossible could become possible, and its lyrics were imbued with a sense of hope and determination.

here was something peculiar about the song choice, something that made me wonder why they had settled on it.

This song was exceptional in every aspect, from its beats to the vocals, and from the bass to the guitar and keyboard notes. Yet, there was an enigmatic quality to "Moon Rose" that lingered in the back of my mind, making me question the group's decision.

But it seems like Imai-san hasn't given the letter to Yukina fact indicated that there might still be some lingering tension within the group. They weren't in the best of moods.

During this moment of contemplation, Rinko's gentle voice broke through my thoughts. She turned her concerned gaze toward me and asked, "U-Uhm... Nakasone-san? Something on your mind?"

I looked at her, slightly flustered by her attentiveness. "O-Oh! Nothing... Sorry."

Despite the troubling undercurrents in Roselia, I didn't want to burden Ako and Rinko with the intricacies of the situation.

  I couldn't help but wonder what role I should play in all of this. The desire to help, support, and be part of their world was evident. 

Yet, the more I became involved, the more complex it seemed to get.

Ensuring that everyone listens to each other's perspectives without interruption or judgment. Sometimes, misunderstandings can be resolved simply by truly hearing each other out

If the disagreement persists, consider involving a neutral third party which is me.

Perhaps I can keep some elements of the song that everyone agrees on while making necessary changes or improvements to address the dissatisfaction.

While lost in my thoughts, Ako and Rinko observed me intently, clearly curious about what I was considering.

"Everyone," I said, addressing Ako and Rinko.

"Yes, Nakasone-senpai?" Ako looked at me, curious.

"How about we take a break for now?" I suggested.

Taking a pause could give everyone a chance to reflect and cool off. Sometimes, stepping away and gaining fresh perspectives could lead to a more rational and collaborative decision after all.

"We could... do that but... how?" Rinko stammered, clearly uncertain about the process.

I flashed a confident smile. "Let me handle it."

Ako's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. "Oh, you're very confident, Senpai!"

"Really?"

"Yeah, yeah! That line was so cool too!" Ako put her hand to her face, mimicking my confident tone, "Let me handle it," she repeated, injecting a touch of her characteristic chuunibyo charm into the phrase.

I replied with a confident smile, "I will start tomorrow, so please leave everything to me."

Ako and Rinko exchanged smiles, and their faces lit up with a sense of relief and gratitude. They both nodded eagerly, showing their trust in me.

I then made my way out of the lounge and back to the reception desk. Marina was smirking at me.

"Nakasone-kun," she said, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Yes, Marina-san?"

Marina continued to smile mysteriously and said, "You're starting to look cool." Her tone held a hint of playful teasing.

I couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions, from surprise to a tinge of embarrassment. "Eh? What do you mean by that?" I asked, slightly taken aback.

Marina chuckled softly, adding a touch of warmth to her words. "Nothing~"