Little Dissonance

Okay, I’d like for everyone to start narrowing down the concept you want for your next song…

So if anyone has any ideas, let me know.

Nanaki-kun here actually created your first song. That one had more of a cool vibe to it, so is there anything you’d like to try for your second song?

In accordance with the meaning of the Ev3ns name, I’d like for everyone to decide together.

According to my current data, I believe that a song that highlights our strengths as a group would be most suitable.

We’re gonna perform it at our hospitality show, right? The other teams all do hospitality shows too, so…maybe we should do something that sets us apart from them.

I agree. The song should really scream “Evening Team”.

So a more intense and cool vibe? I could try working off of that for now.

You’re very reliable, Nanaki.

I really wanna make it great, since you’re gonna be singing it, Kugu-nii.

Let’s move onto the lyrics.

Umm… I want the Evening Team to write them, if that’s okay. That’d be a great selling point for the song, and the Noon Team did the same thing.

We should come up with some keywords first. Is there a certain image we want our new song to have?

Hmm… I can’t think of anything…

Sunset. Love. Big love.

(“Big love”… I guess Kinari-kun picked up Chihiro-kun’s vocab…)

……

Chihiro, are you alright? You’re spacing out.

I thought you were looking forward to writing lyrics.

True, you’re not yourself today. Are you feeling sick?

…Huh? No, I’m okay. I was just thinking about stuff.

Um, so, lyrics! I wanna do something totes exciting!

We’re all counting on you.

…Stop going along with whatever Chii says all the time.

…Huh?!

So, like, since we’re all criminals, maybe we can do something with a “We’re gonna crawl our way to the top” kinda vibe!

(Hm? Did something happen between Chihiro-kun and Tao-kun just now? Or did I just imagine that?)

I think it would be a good idea to have your song concept match your tour concept. My team did the same thing.

That makes sense… I’m actually having a hard time coming up with the tour concept.

You’re quite useless for a king. How much longer is it going to take you?

It’s important, so I want to take my time thinking about it.

But you realize that we can’t finish our song if you don’t have a tour concept, yes? Don’t you always say that your life motto is to make swift decisions? Or did you lie about that too?

Kuguri-san, Raito-san is very diligent, so it’ll take him some time.

Diligent, is he? I wonder how long he’ll stay that way.

…What do you mean by that?

I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you.

You’re already thinking about how all of this will end. We’re all nothing but collateral damage to the selfish desires of a hypocrite like you.

*sigh…* Fine, I’ll try and come up with our tour concept as fast as I can. Does that sound good?

Chief, I think we’ve run out of things to discuss for now. Let’s end the meeting here.

S-Sure thing… If anyone comes up with good ideas for the concept, just let me know.

(Things were weird between Chihiro-kun and Tao-kun today…)

Taotao, don’t forget to buy that thing.

I know, I know.

Ugh, you don’t have to say it twice!

(Hmm… Maybe it’s not all that serious.)

I’m sorry that we didn’t make any progress with the lyrics, Nanaki-kun.

Huh? Ah, it’s fine…

Nanaki-kun? Your face is all red…

…I-I’m okay. I’ll start working on the instrumental for now.

By the way… I notice this when we’re at the dorms too, but Kugu-nii always acts so weird towards Raito-san.

Yeah… I’m sorry that I couldn’t get it under control.

It’s alright, things happen. It’s just…I’ve never seen Kugu-nii like that before, so it was kinda surprising.

You two are related, right?

(Maybe they’re related in the same way my family’s related to the Kaminas?)

We both come from a family of musicians, so we met each other a lot when we were both younger… I really grew to love his piano playing.

If only that didn’t happen to him…

What happened?

Kugu-nii was a prodigy, but he lost both of his arms in a tragedy overseas.

(I knew that Kuguri-san was an amputee, but…I didn’t know he lost them in an accident.)

I heard that he couldn’t play as well anymore with his prosthetics. I’m not sure what happened after that, but he wound up running away from home…and he became estranged from his family.

(Kuguri-san’s been through so much…)

I’d give anything to hear him play the piano again.

His playing sounds like a delicate glass box filled with all of the most beautiful things in the world.

That’s what we know of the situation so far.

Hmm, so that’s what he said? Very interesting.

Kitakata Raito, of all people…

Well, good night for now, lány. Do tell me more when you get the chance…

*sigh*

Eavesdropping is very naughty of you, plüss.

You noticed me.

Why, yes, because your body feels connected to my arms. Didn’t you mention that before?

…I see you are looking into Kitakata Raito.

And what of it?

…Perhaps I am lacking sufficient data, but I do not understand. Why are you so fixated on Raito?

I don’t like his type, and I never have. He engorges himself on false niceties, yet he pretends to be unaffected when he is made to drink poison.

(I suspect he has a deeper reason than that. However…my body scan of him shows no abnormalities. He is not lying.)

(I am still lacking sufficient data on human emotions. I am unable to parse Kuguri’s thought process in my current state.)

(Even if I collect more data, the probability that I will be able to understand him is…likely infinitesimally small.)

Plüss, you have premium seating for this performance. You will soon be able to register the concept of human frailty into your database.

……

When his inane life is stained with despair…I wonder just how many people’s dreams will be crushed.