< Walk on and on | Story
Toya's Room
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Flashback
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Toya
I also have an irreplaceable partner, the same way you do. Perhaps that's why I interpreted it that way.
Souma
...
Souma
——I see.
Souma
...Haha, you're so perceptive. I've been trying to hide it, so even if you noticed, you didn't need to say it out loud.
Toya
Oh...I'm sorry.
Souma
No——it's exactly as you said, Aoyagi-kun.
Souma
It's beyond high hopes for me right now, and there's no use even thinking about it, so it's kind of hard to admit.
Souma
But even then, I still...I still wanna be Arata's partner.
Toya
Souma-san...
Souma
That being said, it's impressive you figured that out, y'know?
Toya
...I suppose so.
Toya
...Perhaps it's because I've been working at your side for a good while now. I believe it may be that I've gotten to know you a little better, Souma-san.
Souma
Gotten to know me?
Toya
Yes. In classical music, I was taught that to properly understand the feelings of the composer, one must first understand the composer on a very deep level.
Toya
Thanks to that, I was able to realize that in your song, Souma-san, there are feelings directed towards your partner. And that I also have those same feelings myself...
Souma
...I get it. So you were able to find your own feelings too, huh, Aoyagi-kun.
Toya
Yes, thanks to you, Souma-san. ——What should I do next?
Souma
Nah, let's call it for today.
Toya
...Eh?
Souma
You don't need to help me out with track-making any more today.
Souma
Don't worry about me, okay? I know that I'm putting my feelings into the song properly now, so I can do the rest myself.
Toya
B-But...
Souma
And——don't you wanna try writing your own song, Aoyagi-kun?
Souma
You said it just now, didn't you? That you've got those same feelings.
Toya
Ah...
Souma
You were finally able to find them. You should write that song as soon as you can.
Souma
I bet you were thinking the same thing, weren't you Aoyagi-kun?
Toya
Souma-san...
Toya
You're...right. With these feelings I have right now——I want to write a song.
Souma
Yep. Looks like we're both able to move forward with that.
Souma
I'll be looking forward to hearing a song that you're satisfied with, Aoyagi-kun.
End flashback
Toya
(Wanting to stand by his partner's side again——that wish that came from the bottom of his heart must've been what drove his music so powerfully.)
Toya
And I, too, have the same wish as Souma-san.
Flashback
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Akito
♪——————!
End flashback
Toya
(I cannot thank Akito enough.)
Toya
(Akito found me when I had run away from classical music. When I was singing only so that I wouldn't lose sight of myself.)
Toya
(That day——)
Flashback
Akito
You're an interesting one. Hey, wanna sing together a while?
End flashback
Toya
(He called out to me to team up.)
Toya
(And he introduced me to a new dream, "to surpass RAD WEEKEND".)
Toya
(When we first met Azusawa, we had a small dispute, and it was difficult...)
Toya
(But, it became the catalyst for the four of us to team up.)
Flashback
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Toya
(And ever since then, I've been able to face my father and classical music again.)
Toya
(I was able to experience so many fun things that I never would have dreamed of as a child.)
Toya
...Can such a half-hearted person...truly stand at your side...?
Akito
You're not half-hearted at all. To me, you're the best partner, who only thinks of himself as half-assed.
End flashback
Toya
(Akito calls me the "best partner".)
Toya
Then, so I can continue being the best partner I can...
Toya
I want to continue standing by Akito's side for years to come.
Toya
(It's very encouraging to see Akito continue forging his path. But at the same time, I can't allow myself to be outdone.)
Toya
(If it was to catch up to him, I would spare no effort.)
Toya
(I want to be a pillar to him, so that we can lift each other up. I trust Akito more than anyone else in this world.)
Toya
(And now, it's not just Akito. Shiraishi and Azusawa are important to me in the same way.)
Toya
(...Everybody will continue moving forward. If I want to stand alongside them, I can't allow myself to stand still forever.)
Toya
(These are precious feelings to me. That's exactly why I want to convey it with equally precious music.)
Toya
For this part...I should lower the pitch, and give the melody more resonance.
Toya
I'll use a moderate bass, at a walking speed... I'd prefer a clearer tone for the instruments to sound clean. I'll continue adding movement.
The Next Day
Shibuya Park
Shibuya Park
An
♪——————! ——!
An
...Sorry! I'm gonna pause the demo for one sec!
Akito
Sure. What's up?
An
Hmmm, do you think we should raise the tempo a little bit? Right now we're building up tension, but I think we should go into this like——bang! Don't you think?
Akito
Ah, you're right. I was thinking about that part too, actually.
Kohane
Then, should we try it? I'm okay with it.
An
Yeah, please do! Is that okay, Toya?
Toya
Yes, that's fine with me.
Akito
Alright. Then let's start from the top again.
— Some time later —
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An
Hah, whew... Ahaha, we just kept singing, didn't we?
Kohane
But it felt like adding more of a punch to the chorus really livens it up with a sort of tingly feeling, and it felt really good to sing...!
An
It did for me too! But we're still singing to the demo, so I'm sure it'll feel even better once we actually have it down for real!
Toya
You did say you were almost finished with it.
Akito
Yeah. All that's left is some small adjustments. It'll be done by tomorrow.
An
They brought up writing a new song so suddenly that I didn't actually know what to do at the start, but it's surprisingly doable once you get down to it!
Toya
You're right. It's thanks to the two of you working so hard.
Toya
(...And next, it'll be my turn.)
Toya
——Speaking of which. Everyone, may I borrow a moment of your time?
Akito
You're getting all formal all of a sudden. What is it?
Toya
Well, it's not anything big...
Toya
...
Toya
(I get it now. Souma-san and Azusawa, they both felt like this.)
Toya
(I didn't realize that having them listen to it, wondering whather my feelings were put into it accurately and if they'll be properly conveyed, would be such an axious ordeal.)
Toya
It isn't for our next event or anything, but... I actually wrote a track as well.
An
Eh...?
Kohane
Aoyagi-kun...
Toya
...Perhaps I'm selfish, too.
Kohane
...Ehehe. I guess you are.
Toya
With that said, Akito, Shiraishi, Azusawa. Would you mind listening to it?
An
Of course we will! Let us hear!
Kohane
Yeah. I'd like to listen.
Akito
...
Toya
Akito...?
Akito
The reason I decided to team up with you was because you had that look on your face, like you do now... A determined look that says "I'm gonna do it".
Akito
I can't imagine that you'd have brought a half-assed song here.
Akito
That look on your face, it means I can expect good things, right? Let us hear it, Toya.
Toya
(How strange. When I think about how much Akito believes in me, all of my anxiety suddenly seems to have vanished.)
Toya
——Yes, thank you. Then, please listen.
Song plays
Kohane
(...Aoyagi-kun is so amazing.)
Kohane
(I can hear each individual instrument clearly, and when they overlap, it resonates in a way that feels really good. I bet this is what Aoyagi-kun meant by "cohesion".)
Kohane
(But it's not just that. As the song moves forward, something else mixes into that beautiful arrangment...)
An
(Some really intense strings just started playing. Even though it's powerful, it's not piercing or anything. It's kinda...like someone pushing at your back.)
An
(I wonder why...? My chest feels tight——and I wanna sing, right now!)
An
(Ahh——If only we were on stage right now!)
Song ends
Toya
...How was it?
An
I——
An
I've gotta sing to this track!!
Kohane
...It's amazing. Really amazing, Aoyagi-kun! I also felt like I wanted to sing to it right away!
Toya
Shiraishi, Azusawa...
Kohane
I don't know how to best put it into words...but it really made me feel like it was written for us!
An
I totally get it, Kohane. This track, it feels like it's trying to pull us forward onstage!
Toya
...Thanks, both of you.
Toya
Akito, what did you think?
Akito
What do you mean...of course it was the best! If it was this song, I could pull off any performance!
Akito
As soon as the intro started, I was able to picture exactly how I wanted to sing to it, and as it kept going, the back of my throat got so hot it was hard to breathe! I bet this is what it means to have your feelings drawn out of you.
Akito
You always grow when I'm not paying attention! Damn, I can't keep letting you outdo me like this...
An
Toya, was the reason you seemed so busy lately because you were writing this song?
Toya
Yes. That's true. Actually——
Toya
(...No, I'm supposed to keep Souma-san's composing a secret.)
Kohane
Is something wrong?
Toya
Ah, no...actually, in regards to composing, I was getting advice from a certain person. The reason I was able to write that track was thanks to that person.
Toya
But, it wasn't just them. I also owe it to Akito.
Akito
——Me?
Toya
Yes. While I was writing the song, I was thinking about everything that had happened until now.
Toya
The reason I am who I am today is all because Akito found me when I was running away from classical, and singing by myself.
Toya
Because even when I was worried that I didn't deserve to work alongisde him, he told me that I could "stay by his side".
Akito
...I guess that did happen.
Toya
Akito——if he hadn't said that, I might've drifted away from music entirely.
Toya
The reason that didn't happen was because Akito kept me tethered.
Toya
I've been able to realize just how fortunate I am to be able to sing by my partner's side.
Toya
I could make this track because I want to continue being his partner that can stand side by side with him for years to come.
Toya
Akito. You are the best partner I could ever ask for.
Akito
Jeez. That's my line.
An
Ohhh? Akito, you've got a pretty happy look on your face, don't you?
Akito
Shut the fuck up.
Toya
(Based on everyone's reactions, it seems I was able to put my feelings into the song.)
Toya
(I made them wait for quite a while, so I am glad I was able to properly convey my feelings to them.)
Akito
Anyways, we're definitely putting this song into the lineup at our next event. I'll let Touno and the others know later.
Toya
...Hm? Wait, Akito. You can't actually be planning on doing this song?
Akito
Yep. We'll need to polish it up, so we'll have to increase the amount of team practice we have.
Toya
But, we don't have any time left until our next event. I think it's reckless to try and put two new songs in at a time like this.
Akito
Nah, we've gotta do it.
An
Ahaha. We don't really mind being a little reckless. Riiight, Kohane?
Kohane
Yeah! It's okay if it's a bit difficult. I wanna sing to the song you wrote, Aoyagi-kun.
Akito
So that's how it's gonna be. You can't seriously expect us to do anything else when there's a track this good right in front of us.
Akito
Also——I'm gonna do a little more work on our track. I'll try not to change the distribution too much. ...Right now, I think I can make this a real heated track!
Toya
(...By all accounts, this seems like trouble——)
Flashback
Souma
Yeah. Back then, we both threw caution to the wind and did such unreasonable things. Looking back on it now, it's amazing that we managed to keep that up.
End flashback
Toya
(But perhaps on occassion, it's alright to throw caution to the wind and lift each other up like this.)
Akito
Let's make this the best event ever, Toya!
Toya
Yeah. I'm looking forward to it.