EpsilonΦ Band Story - Chapter 2, Episode 3

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Band Story

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Chapter 2: Episode 3

Unneeded
As soon as their street live is over, Haruka leaves abruptly. Kanata chases after Haruka and talks happily to him.

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— In Front Of The Station —

 Passerby:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎What? It’s over after just one song—?

 Kanata:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Sorry! We don’t have many songs!

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‏‏‎Oh, that’s right! Our band’s going to have a big concert in Tokyo, so come see us there!

 Passerby:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎I’ll be there! I’ll bring my friends too!

 Kanata:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Thank you! We've only been active in Kyoto so far, so we're totally unknown here—

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎...

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*\*Haruka walks away\**

 Kanata:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Huh? A-Aniki! Hold on a sec! I haven’t even turned off the amp yet ...!!

 Piano Teacher:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Haruka! Your little brother Kanata’s already playing the arabesque perfectly. Why don’t you two play in the next recital together?

 Middle Sch. Teacher:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Nijo, your little brother made the top ranks of this national mock exam as well. Make sure you don’t fall behind. Keep up the good work.

 Musical Inst. Store Clerk:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Hey, Haruka. I heard Kanata’s starting to play bass too. He seems pretty good for a beginner.

 Band Member:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎... Can’t you just get along with everyone? Even your brother’s been friendly with all the guys in the band recently.

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‏‏‎He can play the bass too, y’know ... at this rate, you’re ...

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎*(... I’m always ... the unneeded one.)*

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‏‏‎*(That’s the truth, isn’t it? If there’s someone with the same face as me, but has a better personality than me, and is better at playing music than me, there won’t be any complaints.)*

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‏‏‎*(All the complaints ... are directed at me.)*

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*\*Footsteps\**

 Kanata:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Aniki, wait up!

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Don’t follow me. We’re done here.

 Kanata:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Hey, what are you so angry about? That was so much fun! The audience loved us!

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎I didn’t ... have fun ... at all ...

 Kanata:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Well, there’s nothing I can really do about that ... oh! That’s right! I have something to tell you!

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‏‏‎The people watching us perform really liked Aniki’s song! ‘Do you sell CD’s?’—They asked if I had any CDs for sale!

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎...

 Kanata:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Let’s put that song on a CD and sell it by hand! We should totally do another concert together! Oh, and maybe even write a new song?

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Just how long do you intend ... to treat me like an idiot ...?

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‏‏‎What the hell do you mean ... *“Aniki’s song”* ...?

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‏‏‎How can you say such a thing when you just sang that song like it was *yours*! You’re fucking crazy ...!!

 Kanata:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Aniki ...

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‏‏‎Haha ... I like it ... that face.

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎What ...?

 Kanata:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Yeah, maybe Aniki is right—maybe I am crazy. Since I’m just so happy.

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‏‏‎Only Aniki. You’re the only one—the only one who makes such saddened, angry, and scared faces at me.

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‏‏‎You're completely different from those guys from earlier who approached me with those disgusting smiles just ‘cause I was being a little friendly.

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎What are you ...?

 Kanata:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Oh, but I guess they were a tiny bit useful.

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‏‏‎Aniki, what did you say earlier? ‘You don’t need extra elements in a live performance. Your technique should stand out the most.’

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‏‏‎But, y’know ... those guys were all really into my playing, weren’t they? They didn’t even notice when I was out of tune—they were just having fun the whole time.

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‏‏‎Yet again, huh?

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎W-what ...?

 Kanata:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎What wasn't needed was **you**.