< BURN MY SOUL | Story
Chapter 4: Unchanging Heat
変わらない熱 (? (edit))
変わらない熱 (? (edit))
Character appearances:
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That night
WEEKEND GARAGE
WEEKEND GARAGE
Toya
...Phew.
Kohane
Aoyagi-kun, good job today. You seem pretty tired...are you alright?
Toya
Yes, they let me sleep in the dressing room before we headed back. As far as stamina goes, I'm alright.
Toya
But...managing my individual responsibility has taken up the majority of my time. I'd say I'm only about 30% of the way through mine.
An
That's pretty impressive, though. I'm still at the point where I'm only thinking about how I'm gonna do it...
Kohane
I've kept practising too, but... I've been wondering if that'll be enough moving forward.
Kohane
But these aren't things we'll find the answers to easily...so I think it's a good idea to keep moving forward, one step at a time, while we think on it.
An
Right!
An
Ah...but, it's about time for everyone to start heading home.
Toya
You're right. We should talk to Akito soon and——
Toya
...No, Akito is doing intensive training with Ken-san, starting today.
An
It really shocked me that they made a deal like that while we were sleeping.
An
But, it makes sense... I guess that's why Dad's been singing so much recently.
Kohane
Eh?
An
Recently, it seems like Dad's been singing even while we're at school. He's...probably trying to get back into it.
Kohane
Back into it... I hope he'll let me listen to him sometime.
An
Yeah! You should!
An
Dad's singing...it's seriously amazing!
— Some time later —
Cafe Live Space
Akito
...I'll be in your care today.
Ken
Jeez, you're as eager as ever. I didn't imagine you'd ask me to start training you immediately.
Akito
I just figured that sooner's better for something like this. Sorry if I'm imposing.
Ken
Nah, don't worry about it.
Ken
...Now then, Akito, do you remember what I told you at Rodin?
Akito
Yes. You said to loosen up and...sing however my heart told me, right?
Ken
That's right. Of course, loosening up doesn't mean you shouldn't give it your all. Make sure you sing with your whole chest.
Akito
...Got it.
Ken
And, moving forward, our training method will be pretty simple. We'll take turns singing. Sound good?
Akito
...Yep!
Ken
Right. In that case——come at me.
Akito
(...I'm used to seeing Ken-san, but facing him like this...he seems bigger than usual.)
Akito
(...But, I can't chicken out now.)
Akito
(Ken-san's going out of his way to mentor me. I have to take this lesson seriously...!)
Akito
Let's go!
Akito
♪——————!!
Akito
(Alright...! My voice feels good. I'm doing better than I was at today's event.)
Akito
(But...this isn't even close to good enough...!)
Akito
♪——————!
Akito
*pant*, *pant*...
Ken
Not bad. But...you're still too tense.
Akito
...Sorry.
Ken
No need to apologize. We're training to figure out what you can do about that.
Ken
Now——if that's all, it's my turn.
Ken
Let's go.
Ken
♪————————————!!
Akito
(...Amazing.)
Ken
♪————!! ————!! ————!!
Akito
(——In the past, all I would've been able to think about is how amazing he is.)
Akito
(But..it's different now. I understand, because I've been singing all this time.)
Akito
(Ken-san's singing isn't like the overwhelming power of Taiga-san's style.)
Akito
(He's shockingly calm. Even when he takes a breath, he doesn't leave any openings. It's unbelievable.)
Akito
(And I'm sure...this is strength he's gained through hard work.)
Akito
(Because every day, he practised like crazy, he gained this is the power by dragging himself through the dust...that's how it feels.)
Akito
(This unbelievable heat.)
Akito
(He's calm, but it's so hot I could burn myself...! It's almost like——)
Flashback
Akito
...He seriously is incredible.
Ken
That's a good start.
Ken
——Akito. Tell me what you're seeing in me as we face off.
Akito
Eh...
Ken
I'm sure you've got a lot on your mind. Sights you've seen in the past.
Ken
I'm sure that in me, you can see that night——RAD WEEKEND.
Ken
While you're facing that feeling, sing without thinking too hard. Put everything you have into it.
Akito
...Facing RAD WEEKEND...
Akito
(...Calm down. Like Ken-san said...don't think too hard about it.)
Akito
(I'll just accept it as it is. I'll loosen up, and do what my heart tells me to. So I can sing while facing RAD WEEKEND——)
Akito
♪————!!
— Some time later —
Akito
*pant*, *pant*, *pant*...*cough*, *pant*...
Ken
...Looks like we should call it here. You're reaching your limit.
Ken
Go rest up for tonight, and prepare for tomorrow.
Akito
...O...Okay...
Akito
(Shit...it's no good. I don't get it at all.)
Akito
(No matter how much I sing, nothing changes...and Ken-san's reactions aren't changing either.)
Akito
(What the hell am I supposed to do...!?)