< BURN MY SOUL | Story
Chapter 5: What You Need
必要なものは (? (edit))
必要なものは (? (edit))
Character appearances:
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A few weeks later
Akito
♪————!! ————!!
Ken
Akito, you're still tense!
Akito
♪——!! ——...!
Akito
♪...——!
Akito
(...How many hours has it been since we started practising...?)
Akito
(I've been singing so much that I'm lightheaded...)
Ken
...That's all for today. Looks like you're at your limit.
Akito
...Kh.
Akito
Got it...I understand...
Akito
(Damn it...this is so pathetic...)
Akito
(Ken-san's been mentoring me for a while, but even today, I wasn't able to...)
Ken
(...These shackles are proving to be a pain. I've tried all kinds of things, but...)
Ken
(But there's...no helping it. This is what's helped Akito grow so far, after all.)
Ken
... Hey, Akito.
Ken
——Why don't we go for a drive?
Akito
...Eh?
One hour later
Car approaching, turning off; car doors slamming
Ken
Let's take a break here. Akito, you want anything to drink?
Akito
Ah...sure.
Akito
(I came 'cause he invited me, but...)
Akito
(...It really was just a drive.)
Akito
(Is he going out of his way to cheer me up 'cause I haven't been able to focus?)
Vending machine dispensing
Ken
Here, cafe au lait. It's hot, so be careful.
Akito
Thank you very much.
Akito
(...It's been a while since I've been able to take it easy like this.)
Akito
(Recently, I've been waking up, practising, heading to school, going to a live house, then singing with Ken-san... 'Cause every day is like that, I feel like there hasn't been a lot of time for me to chill...)
Akito
(But...)
Akito
(Do I really have the time to be doing something like this?)
Akito
(If I used this time to practice more, I'm sure I'd...)
Ken
...
Ken
Sitting here like this reminds me of when we first met.
Akito
Eh?
Ken
You remember, right? When we first met on Vivid Street.
Akito
...Ah...
Flashback
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Ken
What's wrong, boy?
Akito
...Eh, you're from RADder...why are you...
Ken
——Here, drink this. Mind if I sit here?
End flashback
Akito
Ken-san, you remember that?
Ken
Yeah, 'course I do. That face of yours, trying not to cry.
Akito
No, you can forget that part...
Ken
——You've really changed a lot since then.
Ken
You've climbed pretty far by believing in your heart. That's pretty impressive.
Akito
...Thank you very much.
Ken
So? What're your thoughts, having run full-speed all the way to this point?
Akito
My thoughts...
Flashback
End flashback
Akito
...How do I put it...
Akito
There's so much...I don't think I could put it into words.
Ken
——That's the feeling I'm talking about.
Akito
Ow..! W-What was that for, Ken-san, flicking me on the forehead outta nowhere...!?
Ken
That's so you don't forget what you felt just now.
Ken
Next time, try putting that feeling behind your singing.
Akito
What d'you mean...?
Ken
Don't worry about it. You've already got everything you need.
Ken
All that's left is for you to realize it, and sing.
Akito
...
Ken
——Now, it's getting late. Let's head home.
Akito
Ah...
Akito
...Okay.
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Scramble Crossing
Car approaching, turning off; car doors slamming
Ken
You're really okay with me dropping you at the station?
Akito
Yeah, the trains are still running, so. Thank you for staying with me so late.
Ken
'Course. Be sure to rest properly. See ya.
Car driving off
Flashback
Ken
Don't worry about it. You've already got everything you need.
Ken
All that's left is for you to realize it, and sing.
End flashback
Akito
All that's left is for you to realize it...huh.
Akito
(It might be 'cause of the way Ken-san said it, but I feel like the answer's right in front of me.
Akito
(There's just one more step...if I can find that thing, then——)
Flashback
Kohane
...It's thanks to everyone.
Kohane
Miku-chan and the others, Shinonome-kun, Aoyagi-kun, and An-chan...
Kohane
I think because you were all here for me, the person I am now exists.
End flashback
Akito
(...That's right.)
Akito
(There's no point in thinking about it by myself.)
Akito
——Guess I'll head over there.
The next day
crase cafe
crase cafe
Luka
Oh! It's Akito-kun!
Len
Welcome! Are you practising today?
Akito
Well, yeah.
MEIKO
Good work. I'll go grab you a drink, so take a seat.
Akito
Ah...thank you very much.
Luka
I heard from MEIKO! Akito-kun, you and the others are going around to all sorts of live houses, aren't you?
Luka
Sounds nice~ I wish I could see all of the live houses in your world~
MEIKO
C'mon, I told you before, Luka. You'd get in everyone's way, so you're not allowed.
Luka
Fiiine.
Luka
So, what's it like doing your intense training at the live houses? You're singing with a ton of crazy people, right?
Akito
...Well, somethin' like that.
Akito
They're all people who are way better than us, so I'm desperately trying to dig in every time.
Akito
When school's over, we get in the car and hold a strategy meeting, sing at a live house, have a reflection meeting once we're home, and repeat that all over again...
Akito
Well, we're holding our own against them, but...
Akito
...Could I ask you guys for advice on something?
— Some time later —
Len
I didn't know you were doing practice like that with An's dad, Akito...!
Akito
Yeah. We've been doing it for a few weeks now.
Akito
But...to be honest, I'm not making much progress.
Akito
Even if I get what Ken-san's saying logically, I can't figure out what I'm supposed to do.
MEIKO
That's true. Just from the little bit you told us now, it sounds quite difficult...
MEIKO
To loosen up, sing how your heart tells you. Put your feelings into song.
MEIKO
It's easy to say it in words, but putting it into practice is——
Luka
Hmmm~ lemme think. Stuff like this is all about your feelings...
Luka
...Ah! I know!
Luka
Hey, Akito-kun. If you don't mind, why don't you sing for us right now?
Akito
Eh...right now?
Luka
Yeah! I just thought it'd be easier to give you advice if I heard your singing.
MEIKO
You've got a good point. We'd like to hear, too.
Akito
...I understand. Then, if it's alright with you, please listen.
Akito
(...Recently, I've been practising over there constantly, so it's been a while since I've sung here.)
Akito
(I'll ask Luka-san and the others——what they think about my current singing.)
Akito
(I might be able to figure out something with that...!)
Akito
(I'll put what I felt...into my voice...)
Akito
♪————!!
— Some time later —
Akito
...Whew. How was that?
MEIKO
It had a lot of intensity. How do I put it...it made my hair stand on end.
Len
Yeah...! I got chills! Akito, you've gotten way better!!
Akito
Yeah, well, I have been practising this whole time.
Akito
How was the rest of it? If there was anything you noticed, then——
Luka
Hmmm...
MEIKO
...Luka?
Luka
Your singing was really incredible, Akito...
Luka
But I think if it's you, Akito, you could put more "SPLOOOOOOSH" into it!!
Akito
S-Sploosh...?
MEIKO
I think I get what you're trying to say, but...if we're trying to give him advice, isn't that a little vague?
Luka
E-Ehhh!? You think so!?
Luka
But...isn't there more inside of Akito-kun?
Luka
Like that he's happy to practice with Ken-san, or that it makes him excited, or that he's nervous about fulfilling his expectations...
Luka
If he pours all that out with a sploosh, then I'm sure that could——
Len
Hmmm...?
Akito
...So that means that my feelings aren't in it properly...
Luka
That too, but...hmmm, how do I say it...ah.
Luka
——Hey, Akito-kun!
Luka
Why don't we take turns singing, like you do with Ken-san?
Akito
...Eh?