The heavy rain poured down continuously, splattering on the railway tracks.
Fortunately, their spot was sheltered from the rain.
Waiting for the train was boring.
Everyone around fiddled with phones.
Soyo, feeling slightly better, noticed she was damp—hair, skirt, shoes, socks…
She frowned involuntarily.
She'd been caught in the rain; nothing could be done.
When would the rain stop, the train arrive, or she get home?
Hotaru picked up his bass, intending to play notes to pass time.
Seeing Hotaru with the bass, Soyo's expression flickered but she controlled herself.
She'd badmouthed Crychic; she didn't want to talk yet.
Wasn't he a keyboardist?
Why switch to bass?
Did he find the keyboard too hard, giving up for bass?
Not everyone's as talented as Sakiko.
But bass isn't easy.
If he asked for guidance and praised Crychic, she'd help.
As Soyo's thoughts wandered, Hotaru began to play.
Lacking ideas, he replayed the street show song from earlier.
Having played it once, Hotaru was skilled.
A low bass sound mixed with the rain's pitter-patter.
It had unique charm.
Hotaru stopped.
Seeing Soyo looking, remembering she was a bassist, he tilted his head, asked:
"How was it?"
"Rain's too heavy, can't hear," Soyo said indifferently, secretly thinking it was good.
His bass was new; he hadn't learned long, which was impressive.
"Is that so?"
"Yes," she lied.
Hotaru looked disappointed. Couldn't hear from this close?
But the rain was loud.
Not the bass's fault.
An idea struck.
Hotaru's eyes lit up, lips curving.
He thought of a song.
He recalled it.
His fingers and pick slid across the bass again.
To ensure Soyo heard, he played harder.
The bass melody sounded gently.
The familiar tune reached Soyo's ears.
Her eyelids twitched.
She asked emotionlessly:
"What are you playing?"
No questioning tone.
How could she not know!
This was "Haruhi Kage," Sakiko's composition for Crychic!
Hotaru played the bass part, Soyo's part, second most familiar to her.
The most familiar was Sakiko's keyboard.
Since practice stopped, she replayed their ensemble on her phone in her empty house.
Only then did she feel better.
"Haruhi Kage. Hear it this time?" Hotaru blinked, surprised.
"Who told you to play this?" Soyo glared, angry.
Aren't songs for playing?
Hotaru said innocently, "Can't I play what I want?"
"No!"
"Unreasonable. Didn't you post it on your account?" Hotaru retorted.
Soyo, taken aback, pulled out her phone to hide the song.
Seeing this, Hotaru asked, "What? Hiding or deleting it?"
"Soyo."
Not that far, right?
Hotaru sighed, smiled:
"If it were Tomori or Sakiko-san, they wouldn't be petty. They'd agree."
"You!"
Called petty, Soyo was angry, speechless.
Tomori and Sakiko might agree.
Hotaru was close with Tomori and Sakiko.
Sakiko smiled happily with him, not her.
"You shouldn't. I've downloaded it."
Hotaru shook his phone.
Soyo gave up, turned away in a huff.
"How was the playing?" Hotaru asked.
Curious about her evaluation as the original bassist.
"Ordinary."
"Huh?" Hotaru was displeased. "On purpose? The bass part isn't hard, so 'ordinary'?"
"Just ordinary." Soyo said, pleased by his reaction.
"Tsk!" Hotaru clicked his tongue. "You try?"
"Hmph, if you want, I will." Soyo, seeing his dismissive look, agreed.
She'd show true Haruhi Kage.
She took the bass.
Hotaru handed her a pick.
Soyo's expression softened, said:
"Don't need it."
She preferred fingers.
"Your fingernails look long," Hotaru pointed out.
Long nails hinder plucking.
Soyo was stunned, checked her right hand.
Her nails were long.
She hadn't cut them in ages.
Not practicing bass, she neglected them.
Hotaru, suspicious, asked:
"You haven't practiced in a while, have you?"
Soyo, exposed, flushed, retorted, "Not true!"
"Give... give it here."
Hotaru looked wistful, gave her the pick.
Soyo, holding the bass, pressed the neck, but felt off.
"This bass… seems off."
"What's off?"
"Not like mine."
"Different basses, normal."
"True."
"Hurry, play."
"Okay."
...
Soyo didn't start, said,
"Still not right."
"You haven't practiced in too long," Hotaru teased.
"Seems so."
Soyo grew disheartened.
She couldn't play bass anymore.
No practice; in an empty practice room, she had no mood.
Her eyes dimmed.
Hotaru stopped teasing, said:
"It's a left-handed bass! You didn't know?"
He adjusted how she held it.
"Eh?" Soyo looked down. "Left-handed?"
"Yes," Hotaru smiled.
"Not playing. Take it back." Soyo, muffled, pushed it back.
She wasn't left-handed; how could she play?
He tricked her.
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