Chapter Text
"Starting a new venture with you all is exciting. I already have a lot of ideas for the band."
Raiko Horikawa is the name of the percussionist who recently joined our ensemble. She speaks in a voice that's deep, confident, resounding, like a drum itself. With one hand on her hip, she uses the other to tap a wooden drumstick lightly against her thigh as she walks beside me on the road to the Human Village.
"Oh, yeah? Go ahead and run 'em by me! After all, I'm the manager for the Prismrivers."
Even hovering several inches above the ground, I barely meet Raiko's eyes. Despite our height difference, I can still carry the same level of confidence in my voice. Of course, I'm Lyrica Prismriver, an experienced professional. She may be talented, but she's also the new recruit here.
She tilts her head in consideration, letting the loose purple tie rock across her chest.
"Since when? I thought Lunasa was your leader."
"That's how we sell it. The responsible elder sister image is good for publicity."
"Huh. Earlier, she told me she was the one who planned out the schedule for the upcoming event. I also noticed her giving most of the cues in your last concert."
My instinct is to get defensive, but her straightforward tone doesn't seem to be picking a fight. So all I can do is answer straightforwardly back.
"Sure, Sis handles those sorts of details. But as the manager, I'm in charge of getting the gigs."
"Oh, is that so?"
"Why do you think I'm out here with you on promotion duty?"
I wave the stack of flyers in my hand. Printed on the top sheet is a flattering photograph of our four members atop a decorated stage. Just like in the photograph, Raiko flashes a bright white grin.
"Makes sense. Then let's talk business, manager. For example, about our band name…"
Well, we don't get very far in the discussion.
A few moments later, we spot a pair of girls from the village, dark-haired and modestly dressed, coming up on us from the opposite direction. They seem carefree, joking and chattering amongst themselves.
"Ooh. Here's our chance~" As they draw nearer, I clear my throat to begin a rehearsed spiel.
But Raiko steps forward, with her assertive figure, and manages to get in the first word.
"Hey, ladies. Do you mind if I ask you a question?"
"Um? Sure…" The chattering of the girls immediately grows hushed, and they blink in surprise at being addressed by someone with such a strong presence.
"What's your favorite instrument?"
While she speaks, out of habit, Raiko is twirling her drumstick casually between her fingers. At this point, my keyboard and I may as well be a blur in the background.
"D-Drums," one of the girls stammers out quick.
"Definitely, we love drums!" adds the second.
Raiko's smile in response looks genuinely pleased.
"Really? Me, too." She takes the opportunity to brandish one of our flyers. "As fate would have it, I'll be playing the drums with my band at the Stage of the Sun next week. I'd love it if you girls could make it."
"Oh, wow…"
"We'll totally be there!"
"Great. I want the sound to carry all the way to your soul," Raiko says with a meaningful glint in her eye. "Although I like all kinds of drums, my favorite beat will be the pounding of your heart."
The girls bring their hands to their mouths, but they can't manage to stifle their giddy giggles before turning around to scurry back down the road. I'm pretty bewildered, myself, at just how smoothly that went.
"Gee… Your power is no joke. You can make anyone follow your rhythm."
"Ah." Raiko's brow furrows in disappointment. "Don't make it sound like I'm manipulating anyone."
Placing both fists sturdily on her hips, she leans in close to my face.
"I just think it's good to be able to share my passion with others. Don't you agree?"
I feel the rhythm of my own body give a jolt. The energy she radiates is much warmer than my ghostly aura. Being too close to her gives me a hot sensation in my cheeks...
Dragging my keyboard along, I drift a safe distance backwards.
"R-Right. That's what music is about. Glad to have someone on board who gets it!"
***
A familiar hand, almost translucent in its paleness, waves up and down in front of my face.
"Helloooo? …Lyrica's been kinda distracted lately, don't you think?"
"Rather than distracted, I believe she's focusing too hard. Perhaps a sense of perfectionism is finally kicking in."
It's not my style to space out like this. But lately, my mind's been wandering a lot… reminding me of a certain incident a few years ago.
It was the year when the flowers were blooming out of control. And there was an annoying person who scolded me for… What was it? Being too unclear of myself. The rudest critic I've ever gotten.
"Ohhh. Maybe it has to do with our new member. A rival appeared to spark Lyrica's motivation!"
"Why would our own member be a rival...?"
At the time, that person predicted that a new cycle was about to start. I guess she was right about that. I've definitely changed since then, in all the ways that matter and none that don't. I've learned new techniques, gathered new sounds, and the quality of my songwriting is up tenfold!
The sense of change is even clearer with the new drummer around, who's sort of like a new chapter in the band's story.
But there's also something off about it. For the first time since that incident, I can feel an unclear feeling tugging at me…
"Hey! Earth to Lyrica!"
The brassy shriek of a trumpet flares directly in my ear, and I almost fall to the floor.
"Ow, geez! I was listening, you know! Just busy thinking."
Of course, it's impossible to be mad in the presence of Merlin's music. She sticks out her tongue with a goofy smile, and I smile back.
"We're about done for today," Lunasa announces. "Shall we all turn in?"
She surveys the room for agreement, and a single arm raises into the air from the percussion section.
"Actually, I'd like to ask Lyrica to stay behind with me."
"Wait, what?" My head jerks in Raiko's direction. Her request is news to me.
The charismatic drummer crosses her legs comfortably. "We were talking the other day and didn't get to finish. I still have some questions for the manager."
"Manager?" Lunasa raises an eyebrow over her droopy eyes.
"You two should go on back to your rooms." Before she can contradict me, I lead my sister off with a nudge on the shoulder. "We might end up practicing a little longer."
"All right," she responds in her exceptionally calm tone. "I know you aren't usually one for nitpicking. But I might suggest that your timing could have been a bit tighter on-"
"The second bridge, I know. I've got it!" She never falters with that responsible vibe, even though she's barely older than Merlin and me. I don't like being talked down to, but at least I can tell she cares.
"So you noticed. You are becoming a perfectionist after all." With a gentle nod, she spins toward the door, and the hazy shape of her violin trails behind her. "We'll see you later tonight then."
"Bye-bye, Sis!" Merlin sing-songs. The curls of her hair bounce as she skips off. "Love you♪"
From her lofty seat on the edge of her large drum, Raiko watches quietly until both of them leave the recital hall. Then she leans back against the old mansion wall, well-toned arms cushioning her head.
"You and your sisters are so close. It's charming."
"Well, being together this long, it's only natural."
"A tight-knit family affair, and yet you took the leap of faith on me. I appreciate it."
I consider taking credit with a you're welcome, but it doesn't seem too necessary.
"Say," she continues, "have you ever had a fourth member in your band before?"
"Oh. Uh, a long time ago."
"Yeah? What instrument did they play?"
"Well…"
I didn't expect to be talking about this all of a sudden. A flow of thoughts bubbles up in me, since they've been a while unspoken.
"...She was a vocalist. She had an amazing voice, clear and delicate like a windchime~"
"Sounds unique. I can almost imagine it."
"Whenever she'd sing a song I wrote, her lyrics really brought it to life! As a matter of fact, she was the one who got us all into music in the first place."
Raiko takes it all in, intrigued by my enthusiasm. "That sounds like a lot to live up to."
"No…" I keep the thoughts flowing. "It's not like we're aiming to be the same as before."
"Mm?"
"If she were still watching, she'd get bored of us repeating the same routine. These days, we're all about trying new things!"
"It's true that incredible things are born when the old meets the new."
"Exactly. That's why, it's not like our merger was just doing you a favor either."
Eyes closed, she lowers her head in understanding. "I was hoping you'd say that. We really are like-minded."
Raiko is surprisingly easy to talk to today. I'm feeling satisfied with our conversation. Maybe my weird uncertainty from before was just a fluke.
It's taken a lot of negotiating to get here with her, with someone who used to be a stranger... But as long as the music is good, it'll all be worth it in the end.
"Is that all you had to ask?"
"Not quite. There's something else that only you can answer."
Her eyes widen again, and she gives her drum a light kick with her heel as if to signal the change of pace.
"Before I came along, you used to handle the percussion, right?"
"Right. My keyboard's synthesizer is loaded with samples that I can arrange into patterns."
"That's what I thought. Even if we'll be shaking things up, I want to know the classic beat of this band."
"Oh♪"
She hops off of her drum and lands on steady feet. "Will you show me what you've got?"
"You're in for a treat. It's rare to hear my patterns unaccompanied!"
"I can wait if you need time to get prepared."
"Heh-heh. Actually, it's you who might need to prepare yourself."
Of course, I know the impact will be stronger if I don't give her a chance.
I make a grand, sweeping gesture in the air above my keyboard. With that, a flurry of noise spills out and fills the cavernous hall, rebounding off the high ceiling.
"…?" Caught off guard by the strange sounds emitting from the instrument, an uncharacteristic look of surprise flashes across Raiko's face.
In this special mode, each key is mapped to a sample. From the chaotic pool of sounds, I start picking out individual ones to play in short, evenly-spaced pulses, then amplifying one with another. The timbre of each is already so unusual, their combinations are even more mystifying.
"I've… never heard anything like that."
"That's my thing, you know." I cross my arms proudly. "They're called illusionary sounds. There's literally nothing in the world that can compare!"
The spirits of sounds that have nowhere else to exist are attracted to this keyboard. Sometimes I go out gathering them, and sometimes they come to me. The cry of an animal long extinct. The frequencies of forgotten technology. The echo of a broken windchime on a windless night.
"When their identities disappear, it's up to me to decide how to arrange them based purely on the mood."
"So, once again it's a remix of the old into new. The technique itself is unexpectedly modern. Like a spiritual deejay."
I don't know what her slang means, so I press her further. "Well then? What do you think?"
"Hmm. Your sounds manage to blend in seamlessly with the other instruments. So you don't stand out on stage…"
"Eh!?"
She isn't impressed at all?
"But as it turns out, from what I'm hearing now, you're not just one-third after all. You really are one of a kind." Her eyes narrow with a cool smile. "I like your style."
"Oh. I…" I'm usually a fast talker without slipping up, but I get tongue-tied for a second. "Ahem. Thanks."
Why was I so caught up in impressing her, anyway? I'm the senior here! I guess I just want to make sure she sees me that way.
"I think I get the vibe you're going for. It's somehow both daring and down-to-earth. I can get ideas from that."
"In that case, I've got plenty more to show you!"
I continue waving my hand like a conductor's wand in midair, calling forth illusionary sounds from my trusty tool. The magnified crackle of petals unfolding on a flower that blooms once in a lifetime. The vague twinkle of a fairy's light at the dawn of spring - or how you might imagine a twinkle to sound, even if it makes no noise at all.
Raiko listens intently, her expression changing with each one. But soon I notice her shift her gaze between my keyboard and me, and her mouth seems to curve into the slightest frown.
"Lyrica…"
"Yeah?"
"This poor thing never gets touched, huh?"
Pausing my performance for a moment, I look down at the keyboard. And I can only shrug. "Well, there's no need."
"You know, instruments need TLC just like people."
"How do you know that?"
She lets out a chuckle under her breath, reminding me of the answer. After all, she's a tsukumogami. The drum that she plays is actually... herself.
"I mean, it's kind of our aesthetic." Rubbing the back of my neck, I backpedal to explain. "Showing off how we can play from a distance."
I wiggle two fingers on my right hand, and two keys are indented. The sound rings out, alternating B and A-sharp.
"It's cool. But you can at least do it the old-fashioned way during practice."
"You're saying I should use my hands?"
"Trust me, you don't know what you're missing. Feeling the vibrations of something physical is a whole other dimension to the experience."
"Sure. It's not like I never-"
She inches up behind me before I know what's happening.
"Like this."
Reaching around my waist, her hand comes to rest upon my own, guiding it down toward the keyboard.
"…"
The old keys, even to my phantom body, feel strikingly cold. At the same time, the palm of her hand is warm.
It's not like I never do this. But it feels different today.
I have to admit, it is a really good feeling.
"Go on," she urges.
Her chin is almost on my shoulder. I'd ask her for some space, but… I guess this is okay for now.
I press firmly on a key. Its resistance isn't all that much, but it sure feels heavy compared to the air.
The delicate glass clicks downward, and the note shivers through me like electricity.
"Yeah... I feel it."
My music isn't a pure magic essence like my sisters'. Theirs strikes the listener's soul directly, stirring the emotions. Mine travels through the ears first.
But at times like this, it's obvious that all good music is the same. No matter the route, it ends up in the soul soon enough. That's what Raiko says she aims for, too, isn't it?
Just one note has already energized me this much. I move along into a few bars of an improvised bassline, guiding around Raiko's hand that's still resting above mine.
Bass is the lowest pitch on the audible spectrum. Of course, my illusionary sounds can go deeper than that. So when I play bass, I like riding the boundary where those notes come dangerously close to disappearing. That way, the listener can feel it even more clearly than they hear it.
Right now, the path of this music is also something I can feel. I can't quite put it into words, but I can put it into sound.
"Oh!" Suddenly, Raiko pulls away to retrieve her drumsticks. As soon as she's gone, I realize how close she'd been... "That was a really good hook just now. I want to try it."
Taking a seat at her kit, she starts tapping out a steady beat to complement the piece I'd improvised. Hers is refreshingly more natural than my synthesized sound. The rich snap draws me in right away, making my own foot tap along.
"I've got the hang of it already!" she says. "Why don't you follow?"
"How did I end up following you again?"
But I grin and join in anyway. In the next moment, our two parts are locked in a solid rhythm.
♫
Even without the other instruments to complete it, the duet doesn't feel empty. It's full of straightforward intensity, the type that makes for a lively dance track.
"Faster!"
This is the only word that's exchanged. From then on, we're reading each other's silent signals to increase the tempo slightly with each measure. The faster it gets, it becomes almost like a game, challenging each other to keep up. But we're so perfectly in tune that there are no missteps.
My fingers should be getting tired, yet it's like they're moving on their own, actively recharged by every note. It must go on for several minutes until reaching a climax that can't possibly go any faster.
Finally, she ends the song on a dramatic crash of a cymbal. Amplified by my special sounds, it fades out with a mysterious whisper, like waves of an ocean that doesn't exist.
All my lingering tension is released in a deep sigh. I glance over at Raiko, and I can tell by the sweat glistening on her cheek that she put all her energy toward this number, even though it was just a rehearsal.
I catch myself staring. The way her messy bangs fall over her face is…
"Beautiful. What a beautiful harmony!" Her eyes are shining earnestly. "I won't forget this."
I blink and avert my gaze down to the keys, forgetting the word I'd been looking for. I must look pretty silly smiling so widely, but I enjoyed that spontaneous session more than I can explain.
"Yeah… The drum and bass always have to be in sync, or it's no good."
"Let's make sure to show off that synergy on stage. Right, partner?"
She extends one hand to shake. When I raise mine to accept, she connects with a resounding clap.
That note shivers through me, too.
***
That's right. Clearer than anything, the reason I play music these days is to feel my own freedom. I don't have to hold anything back!
That's the sort of attitude that overcomes me as we're wrapping up the final encore of our third live in just a couple of weeks.
The crowd is cheering. Lunasa takes a graceful bow, and Merlin is pumping her fist in celebration.
And then there's Raiko, at the front and center of the stage. The track we came up with that day went on to be our show-stopping finale. We'd practiced together several more times since the last, and it definitely seems to have paid off.
She brushes a wave of red hair behind her ear, catches my eye, and grins with satisfaction.
"Rai-ko! Rai-ko!"
Her attention is soon diverted by rhythmic shouts from the first row of the audience below. The loudest shouts in particular are coming from one otherwise modest-looking girl.
Raiko leans forward to see the source of the voice.
"Oh, it's you again♪ Glad you could make it."
Who?
The girl gasps and shakes the shoulder of her friend beside her. "She remembers me!"
"Of course. You've come to every concert since the time I invited you."
That's surprising. I wonder, does she remember every face in the crowd?
"I'm already your biggest fan!"
"Then that makes you my precious partner. I'll count on your support, again and again."
She points her drumstick directly at the girl with a deliberate wink of the eye.
"See you next time, babe."
"Kyaaaa...!"
Geez. In between the fanatic shrieks, I probably could have captured the illusionary sound of an arrow to the girl's heart.
…But I'm too distracted to do that, because this little exchange strikes a bad chord with me.
"Thanks again, everyone! This has been the Horismriver Ensemble!"
We make our exit, stage left, and it's all I can do to mask my annoyance until we're out of public sight.
Why…? Just when I thought I was over it, here comes that uncertainty again.
It doesn't make sense for me to be on this kind of emotional roller coaster. I can handle harmonizing my sisters' manic and depressive moods without a hitch. Somehow, Raiko's presence must be throwing off my balance.
Well, I said I wouldn't hold anything back. I step up to express my concerns.
"Hey, Raiko."
Backstage, it's just the four of us. The cheers outside are muffled and distant. Raiko is busy congratulating the other two on a job well done, when my voice causes her to spin around.
"Hm?"
"What was that out there?"
"The new band name? I thought we agreed on it in the end."
"Not that," I insist, although we didn't. "I mean the way you winked at that girl."
"Oh. You know, eye contact is a key part of making a connection with the audience."
"I don't think there's a need to get that connected. It's almost like you're… flirting with them or something."
"Well, I love our fans. So it just comes naturally."
This shouldn't matter. It's none of my business, but…
Wait, no! It is my business!
Deciding my argument, I shake my head and give a shrug with one hand, stiffly clenching the opposite fist to keep composed.
"Flirting with the audience isn't part of the Prismriver brand. We don't want it to look like we care more about pandering than about our music!"
Raiko looks confused. "That's strange. I've heard you say that giving people an image they want to see is a good thing."
"Well, I changed my mind."
"Haha. What a fickle manager."
"The needs of a band can change over time."
"You said it last week!" Merlin chimes in.
"I remember it as well," Lunasa adds.
"That's not the point!"
Raiko breaks into an airy laugh that ends our squabble before it can start.
"…Aha. I get it."
"Get what?"
Even though I had my protest planned out, why do I feel like I've been caught in a crime?
She has the smuggest smile on her face as she moves in my direction.
"You don't need to worry about me spreading myself thin."
"I'm not-"
"There's plenty of passion to go around."
The color of my face starts to camouflage with my uniform as she approaches me a little too closely.
"What are you…!?"
Suddenly, I feel the tip of her drumstick against my chin. She applies just enough pressure to tilt my head toward hers. My feet involuntarily lift off the ground, floating along with my keyboard.
"This is the angle of a front-row seat. How is it?"
She winks her eye again, but this time straight at me.
"…Babe."
"…………!"
I open my mouth to answer, and an indescribable noise escapes my throat.
"Ooh!" Merlin squeals, clapping her hands from behind us. "Was that a new illusionary sound?"
"I've certainly never heard it before." Lunasa nods in approval too.
"That's our sister~ Always coming up with cool new stuff!"
"You were right, Merlin. It seems to be thanks to our new member after all."
"Well, well." Raiko draws her smug face even closer, so she's the only thing I can see. "I'm pleased to inspire you, Lyrica. I guess you're my true biggest fan."
What is going on!? My knees are quavering, even though there's no weight on them.
"This- This is the whole problem! See, you can't just go around acting like this with everybody!"
Her amused expression unfaltering, she studies me carefully for a moment before asserting her answer.
"If the manager says so… Maybe I'll narrow it down."
***
Rehearsing privately together was something I looked forward to before. But I can hardly stand to look at her this time.
I sit in the corner and pretend to be polishing my keyboard, intending to stall for as long as possible.
Patiently from across the room, she hums to herself. And she taps a drumstick against her thigh as usual. She seems completely unfazed, even though she's the one who made this difficult.
I'm annoyed. I'm annoyed!
I just want to…
Fwip.
"Ow. What was that?"
"What was what?"
Interrupted from her leisure, Raiko frowns and rubs her forehead. "I felt an odd sensation, like an invisible hand flicking my face."
"Well, this mansion is haunted after all. Can't guarantee the lack of ghosts."
"Ha. Good one."
She turns back away from me. I'm fiddling with my keyboard and looking conspicuously innocent. I let a few moments pass in silence.
And then, I strike again. Fwip.
"…Really. Are you doing something?"
"No." I know it's immature, but it's making me feel a little better at least. She definitely deserves it after how much she messed with me. "Seems like you need to check your tuning."
Doubtful eyes lingering for several seconds, Raiko finally turns around again.
It's pushing my luck, but I decide to pull the trick one more time. I aim, without looking, at the back of her neck.
"…"
No response.
When I glance to check, I flinch in surprise to find her directly behind me.
"Feeling mischievous today, are we?"
"Huh?" Oops.
"I thought I told you, instruments don't like being teased from afar like that."
Raiko's tall, sturdy body leans into me, backing me against the wall, leaving nowhere to escape. How does it always end up like this?
And how did I end up being the one scolded for teasing!?
"I don't know what you're talking about…"
"Are you sure? You seem to want to play me pretty badly."
"Way to flatter yourself!"
"I'm just saying. If you're going to touch me, you'd better do it directly."
Without hesitation, the drummer - no, the drum - reaches out and seizes my splayed hand by the wrist.
And she plants it squarely above the curve of her own chest.
"…?!?"
"Mm. Isn't that better?"
Deep and resonant, her heartbeat pounds against my fingertips. The rhythm is unmistakable.
"Listen there. You do have a musician's touch."
This type of powerful pounding can't be synthesized. She's getting a genuine thrill out of it.
Meanwhile, I'm so confused that my head is spinning like a record. At the very least, the source of my unclear feelings is clear.
"Why! Why are you acting this way?"
"Because…"
Warily, I hold my breath for her explanation.
Instead, she only laughs. Even her laughter has a captivating rhythm to it.
"Well, isn't the music the only answer you need?"
So cute. I can tell I'm going to have fun doing this dance with you♪
Don't miss a beat, all right?