EpsilonΦ Band Story - Chapter 2, Episode 1

<
Band Story

>

Chapter 2: Episode 1

Haruka's Frustration
The members start practicing the new song. When Haruka becomes frustrated with the rhythm, Shu makes a suggestion.

 ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

— Practice Studio —

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Alright, do you all have a general idea of how the new song goes? If so, let’s start with a run-through.

 Kanata:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Shu-kun, what’s with this melody!? It’s so wacky! Like, I’m gonna need more than two arms for this!

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎I’m glad ya like it~

 Tadaomi:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Was that a compliment?

 Kanata:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Of course! A song with this kinda technique in it is sure to make my skill as a bassist shine!

 ‎‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Hey, Aniki! Your guitar solo is super cool too!

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Shut up ... just shut up and play.

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Good grief ... we're starting. 3, 4—

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎... Hey! Stop!!

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎... What's wrong?

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Drums and bass! Don’t you realize that you’re out of sync?

 Kanata:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Sorry, sorry! I wasn’t listening to the drums ‘cause I’m still trying to get used to these accents!

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎You’re not just out of sync, you’re completely off! You better not have done that on purpose ...

 Kanata:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎You’re amazing, Aniki! How’d you know?

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎You bastard ... !!

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎That's enough ... I’ll be more careful next time. Let’s get on with practice.

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Tch ...

 Kanata:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Hehe. Sorry.

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎*(... !? He ... again ... !)*

 Kanata:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Haha𝅘𝅥𝅮

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎*(I can’t concentrate ... his playing’s distracting me, damn it!)*

 ‎‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Agh ... !?

 ‎‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎My bad ... just now, I ...

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Haruka ... let's take a break ...

 Kanata:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Sorry, Aniki! Did you get caught up in my rhythm ... ?

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎... !! Caught up in your rhythm ... ? Don’t fuck with me—what the hell, this whole time you’ve been ...

 ‎‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎I can’t hear myself at all ... stop getting in my way!

 Kanata:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎That’s not my fault! This is the composition Shu-kun came up with.

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Haruka, ‘xcuse my bluntness. But I reckon Kanata’s bass is overwhelmin’ yer guitar ‘cause his playin’s just naturally more powerful.

 ‎‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎In fact, I’d rather you be a bit more aggressive.

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎What ... ?

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Kanata might seem like he’s just goin’ with the flow, but he’s listenin’ to everyone else’s notes, changin’ his stresses, and makin’ other small adjustments.

 ‎‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎He’s doin’ fine as is—you should just focus on fixin’ up yer guitar.

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎... To hell with this!!

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎To elaborate—even if it’s true that Kanata’s a lil’ overzealous, it’s also true that yer playin’s pretty dull.

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎What ... !?

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Y’all need to work on guitar-bass unity more before the solo live. If yer playin’ doesn’t entertain the audience, the show won’t be a success.

 ‎‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎If we continue practice like this, it’ll just turn into a mess. So—how about you two go and ... do some street performin’ together sometime?

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎You're kidding ... why—with him ... !!

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Yer current guitar playin’ ain’t adequate. I’d be better off without it.

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎That’s—!!

 ‎‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎*(Damn it ... I can’t say anything without it coming off as an excuse. It’d be so pathetic to say that it’s all Kanata’s fault now ... )*

 Kanata:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Y-you know ... ! Actually, I did get a bit carried away!

 ‎‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎‘Cause like, it’s been a while since we’ve done a live show, and it’s also been a while since we’ve practiced together like this, so I just got a little excited ...

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎...

 Kanata:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎But if I’m performing on the streets with Aniki, I think I’ll be able to play properly! So please ... let’s give it a try!

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎... Tch.

 ‎‎‎‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎... Do it by this weekend.

 Kanata:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Haha! You too!