AMBiTiON/Story/Ch. 11

## Chapter 11 - Stormy-Not-Stormy

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Not much had changed since their last Friday rehearsal - Chihiro was still confused as ever, Aki and Izumi still tried to mediate the situation, and Sorae still inched away from Moriuchi-san when she saw her today. Nothing Chihiro or Aki said sated Sorae's paranoia. And Moriuchi-san hadn't said a word to any of them, possibly only to Izumi when the two were at Haneoka. Not like Chihiro would know.

And yet, they all decided to return to rehearsal this time. In Chihiro's case, it was because of hope that the situation might become better. But perhaps it would become worse.

At least a couple of good things came out. Sorae seemed to be fine when she chatted with anyone but Moriuchi-san, and…

"Oh, right! Guys," Izumi grinned as she recalled something. "I forgot to say, Kiyomi finally agreed to teach me how to play drums~!"

"Wait, really? Nice!" Aki responded cheerfully.

Things progressed as normal. Chihiro, Izumi, and Sorae set up their mic, drums, and bass respectively. Aki also found an unused keyboard case in her house recently, and since it was practically new, she could bring her own keyboard from home now. Chihiro thought Moriuchi-san would be waiting for a guitar to play around with at this point, but in her words: "I would prefer to just watch this time. I can do more research on my own for now." Wouldn't kill that dictionary to contract her words a little, would it? Whatever. Fine by Chihiro that they'd save up.

As per usual, the four played Twinkle Twinkle Little Stars, which became their "default practice song"... As if they could even play anything else. She supposed they did mess around with random stuff like Aki's keyboard sounds or the rate of Izumi hitting the drum. Once, they tried to keep the melody in major but converting Aki's chords into minor, whatever that meant in music-ology, but all that was more like taping feathers to a human and expecting her to fly.

Meanwhile, the stoic Moriuchi-san stood by the bench, wearing an emotionless face as always. Unlike last time however, she seemed to be looking over homework while standing there. Chihiro could only wonder why Moriuchi-san was even with them if she was just going to study or something. Good call on her part that she didn't rent a guitar, Chihiro supposed.

"... How I wonder what you are." Chihiro sighed as the song ended. Even with everything that happened, she still felt nervous singing in front of her bandmates.

Since they didn't know how to play anything, and it was really strange playing the same basic practice song back to back more than once, usually the girls spent a few minutes chatting in person, instead of having to text all the time. Sorae unplugged her bass from the amp so that she didn't trip over and approached Izumi.

"Uhm, Izumi-chan…" Sorae said, looking exhausted.

"Yeah?"

"Do you get a lot of homework? L-Like, since you're in second-year like me?"

"Hmm~," Izumi held her chin in thought. "When I do, I just do it…?"

Sorae looked puzzled. "E-Eh~? I don't get it… I got an essay to hand in after the weekend, and I still have Math homework and English homework and History…"

Curious, Chihiro joined in. "Y-You're not making being a second-year sound very appealing," she joked, "maybe I'll stay a first-year after all."

"I-It isn't appealing!" Sorae clutched her bass, desperately trying to get the point across. "It's all homework and homework and college and jobs and homework…"

Aki came over and chimed in as well. "I guess you gotta work hard so you can get a good job when you graduate." Chihiro, listening, couldn't help but expect Smart Kid Aki to say it like it was as simple as sleeping.

"But I don't wanna grow up!" Sorae whined. "I don't get why everything has to be all stress and responsibility. I just wanna do whatever I want and be happy."

'Now that's a surefire way to starve and die,' Chihiro thought, but she could see the sentiment behind the messy-haired girl's rant. "I mean, if you had to, what DO you want to be when you grow up?" Chihiro quiered.

Everyone collectively went quiet for a moment, thinking about the age-old question.

"I-I guess since I like to draw… I could be some kinda artist?" Sorae began. "But if I turn my hobby into my job, it might make me sad to do it… I'd rather sit home and draw whenever I want, instead of being forced to. Don't people say happiness is the most important thing, anyways? Why am I not allowed to be carefree and just live my best, I-I dunno, most simple life?"

The three beside Sorae nodded contemplatively. "Honestly, even though I'm a second-year too, I don't really know." Izumi tilted her head in thought. "I'll go with the flow and follow wherever life gets me or something~!"

"Same," Chihiro agreed.

Aki didn't give a response, only holding a distant, almost regretful expression.

"A-Anyways," Sorae tried to wrap up, about to head back to where she left her amp cord on the floor like a dead snake, "I guess I just don't like being stressed, or responsibilities, or something… But maybe it's good to talk about it? I--"

"Stop there, Ishizawa-senpai."

The four girls, suddenly frozen, stiffly turned to look at the dead-eyed Moriuchi-san as she slowly, menacingly, approached Sorae with heavy steps. The girl with strawberry-pink hair flashed Aki an immensely scared look, before Moriuchi-san spoke.

"... Would you mind repeating what you said, please?"

"W-Wha-- Um… I don't, I don't like responsibilities? A-And stressful stuff? Or do you mean--"

"And why would you say that is?" Moriuchi-san stared Sorae down with a harsh gaze.

"B-Because, 'cause…"

Her face was cold with zero remorse. "I will answer for you this time. It's because you're naive and stupid. You know nothing but to waste your time. Going on about how you want to be happy, to lead a simple life." Moriuchi-san let herself move a step closer to poor Sorae. "It is hard for me to believe you're even a day older than me. At this rate, you may as well stay a child forever."

Izumi tried to intervene, "Moriuchi! She didn't ask! Leave Raa-kun alone~!" But the forest-haired girl ignored her completely.

"Be realistic, Ishizawa-senpai. The world doesn't revolve around 'what you want'."

Sorae, paralyzed in terror, was too afraid to even shed a tear. There was a tiny tremble on the girl's frozen body.

Aki watched on, mortified, but there was still no sign of anger from the purple-haired girl. "Moriuchi-san, w-what??" She whispered.

And Chihiro. The girl that was meant to be their band leader. Witnessing the ordeal, she could only hear her ears buzz with the heart-shaking silence, and feel unhelpful words choked in her throat. She couldn't even stop whatever this was from happening. Only watching from the sidelines, only asking how the conversation suddenly turned like this.

"And… A-And what do you think I should be doing?"

The three onlookers thought they couldn't be more surprised, but was proven wrong when the fearful Sorae suddenly retorted out of the blue.

Moriuchi-san didn't seem shocked by the reply. "I cannot speak for everyone, but personally I do my work and live on. I don't have a need for worthless things like 'trying to be happy'."

"S-So, you-- you mean… just doing your homework and nothing else…?"

"Yes, because I am taking responsibility for my own future. Unlike you."

She continued eyeing Sorae scornfully. Another silence followed. After what felt like an eternity, Sorae murmured with a shaky voice.

"S-So you're-- So you're not even… taking care of yourself? You're doing nothing but... waking up, working, sleeping, a-and repeat? Y-You're just doing whatever work school throws you like some machine… and not even bothering to do… or learn, anything else?" Sorae's eyes seemed to narrow in a mix of determination to prove herself, and determination not to bust down crying. "W-Would you call that responsible? Are you even trying? Aren't you… just as bad as me?"

As if something flashed by before her chestnut-brown gaze, Moriuchi-san's eyes widened ever so slightly, finally giving a reaction. She didn't answer Sorae's question.

Gathering enough courage and taking the chance, Sorae simply walked away from Moriuchi-san and to the bench by the studio door, where she left her bag and guitar case.

"Umm, guys," she looked at them, ignoring Moriuchi-san for obvious reasons. "C-Can I go early?"

Still petrified numb, Chihiro could do nothing but nod slowly.

Sorae took off her bass and packed it up, then got her bag from the bench. "Aki-chan, Chihiro-chan," The door scarcely opened, "s-see you on Monday..." Then, shutting the door behind her, Sorae hurried out of the room. Chihiro could just barely hear quick footsteps lead themselves out of the building.

The next to move was Moriuchi-san. The expressionless girl went and got her phone from her bag. She typed something before blandly announcing, "I'll be taking my leave now." She calmly exited the studio without another word.

The remaining three were quiet when Izumi audibly sighed. "Why! Why, why, why~?!" She groaned.

"W-Why what?" Chihiro managed to utter.

"Why does Moriuchi have to be like that? Why'd she even wanna join in the first place if she's just gonna pull crap like this?!" Izumi yelled, with Chihiro thankful that the room was soundproof.

The short girl continued. "Y'know, I think maybe I should give a sorry to you guys. I mean! I was the one that brought her here, and now she's done THIS," Looking troubled, Izumi crossed her arms and grumbled.

Aki said something after a long while. "No no no, I should say sorry. I know how I'm supposed to be some kinda mediator and all, and yet I did nothing when that happened. How does anyone think I'm a responsible person if I mess up something like this?"

"Seriously?" Chihiro nearly wanted to laugh. "I'm supposed to be the leader but I just watched it go down like there was a glass divider."

Everyone stood looking at each other for a second, interrupted by Izumi giving a bitter chuckle. "Ha, guess we're all taking part of the blame. Welp, not that there's much time left but," She paced near the door, "wanna leave early?"

Chihiro and Aki agreed. VERY good call that Moriuchi-san didn't rent a guitar, Chihiro supposed.

After bidding Aki a "see you" as she left for the train station, Chihiro's walk home with Izumi was unusually quiet.

"You think we should do something about Moriuchi?" Izumi spoke out of nowhere.

"Boy, that's not ominous." Chihiro muttered.

"Don't worry, I'm not kicking her out of the band, just killing her!" The short girl laughed. "Seriously though, we gotta do something - She's borderline bullying poor Raa-kun!"

Looking up at the sky, covered by a canopy of leaves, the weather was unfittingly warm despite the recent rain… and especially despite the event that just occurred. A blanket of white clouds in the distance teased oncoming rain, but it didn't seem to be arriving now. "But what? Moriuchi-san doesn't listen to any of us."

"... We'll cross that bridge when we get to it!"

The pair soon stopped talking as they walked home beside each other. Yet Chihiro had so much left to say, and so little at the same time.

When they reached the street corner where they seperate, Izumi forced a smile and waved Chihiro goodbye. Chihiro thought that something more than their exchange came to an unsatisfying close.

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