Four days had passed since that impromptu street concert.
And during those four days, Aragaki Miyahito kept a low profile.
Just when he thought the storm he had caused was finally dying down...
"Hhh... There's absolutely no sign of it letting up..."
Glancing at the still-heated comment section, Miyahito slumped weakly onto the table.
He really couldn't wrap his head around it.
Sure, the J-pop scene in this world had evolved very differently from his past life, but there were still plenty of great producers and amazing songs out there.
Besides, the music industry wasn't lacking in singers more famous and popular than him.
Miyahito completely didn't understand how a spontaneous desire to enjoy a short concert...
...had spiraled into such a massive incident.
"The Most Mysterious Online Singer, Miyani, Makes a Surprise Appearance at Ikebukuro Station Plaza!"
Picking up his phone again and staring at the entertainment news headlines shared by countless media outlets, Miyahito let out another long sigh, his eyes utterly hopeless.
Sigh...
"Still feeling so down, Miyahito?"
Hearing that voice, Miyahito greeted Shirogane Miyuki, who was standing nearby in a waiter's uniform, with a hint of annoyance.
"Miyuki-senpai."
"Here. Your mint soda."
Seeing Miyahito in a state of "what's the point of living," Miyuki didn't make a big deal out of it.
After all, two days ago, he'd already heard all about the Ikebukuro Station Plaza incident from his sister.
Having gotten to know Miyahito's personality to a certain extent, he naturally understood why Miyahito was so gloomy.
Placing the mint soda from his tray in front of him, Miyuki smiled at the boy who looked like he'd turned into a white statue.
"If Kei saw you like this, she'd definitely be really worried."
Sigh.....
After sighing for the third time, Miyahito forced himself to straighten his slouched back and sit up properly.
Raising his hands, he gently patted his own cheeks and silently cheered himself on.
"You can do it! You can do it! You can do it!"
Having regained his energy, Miyahito opened his laptop, created a blank new document, and began to think.
Noticing this, Miyuki, who was about to return to the counter to check on his duties, asked curiously.
"Miyahito, what are you working on?"
"Ah, this." Frowning, Miyahito explained with a hint of frustration, "I'm trying to figure out what kind of new song to write."
"Already writing a new song?"
Slightly taken aback by the answer, Miyuki fell silent for a moment.
If he remembered correctly...
The junior sitting across from him, who had just graduated middle school and hadn't officially started high school yet, had just released his personal album four days ago.
Not a single with one to three tracks, or an EP with five to eight.
But a complete personal music album containing exactly 24 tracks, including instrumental works.
Moreover, every song on this album was written, composed, and sung (solo or duet) entirely by Miyahito himself.
In other words, the entire content of the album Miyahito released four days ago was handled completely by him alone.
Of course, this achievement wasn't something Miyahito accomplished in a short time alone.
However, even though this was the result of over two years of preparation and hard work, now that it was released...
Shouldn't he be taking a break?
Responding to that, Miyahito, who was pondering lyrics in his head, answered vaguely.
"Yeah. While I still remember it, I'd better write down as much as I can."
"Otherwise, if I forget later..."
(...I'll never get another chance to let everyone experience the charm of my past life.)
He didn't voice that last somewhat confusing and chuunibyou-sounding sentence out loud.
Because midway through, remembering an important detail, Miyahito quickly raised his hands, his fingers flying across the keyboard.
Seeing Miyahito enter work mode, and realizing he would disturb the creative process, Miyuki stayed quiet.
With careful, minimal movements, he moved the mint soda away from the working Miyahito.
'Do your best, Miyahito.'
In his heart, Miyuki silently cheered him on, gazing at him with full support and approval.
Then, he quietly left the booth.
Leaving Aragaki Miyahito alone in a quiet corner of the family restaurant on a late afternoon, completely immersed in creating the music he loved.
...
Apartment Room 302.
"Tell me, what if."
"I could throw it all away."
"Would living with a smile become easier?"
As the earphones connected to her phone continued to play Psychological Illusion from Miyani's album, Utaha slowly lowered her raised hand.
She couldn't resist turning again to watch the song's music video playing on her phone.
It was painful, yet she couldn't bring herself to look away.
The MV's content was simple: it told the story of a robot girl and a human boy, from their meeting, spending time together, and eventually falling in love.
Yet, as Utaha watched the robot girl in the music video realize her unexplainable confusion and inability to understand her own feelings every time she saw the boy's gentle smile...
Watching the girl who could feel the boy's affection but didn't know how to respond...
Watching that girl, feeling cold for the first time in the middle of a heavy rainstorm, cry while screaming as if shouting, "Enough! Destroy me! I don't understand your feelings, I don't deserve your gentleness, because I'm just a robot."
Watching that girl struggle to leave in the end, only to find herself unable to break free from the boy's gentle embrace.
Utaha rubbed her slightly stinging eyes.
"Liar....."
A voice mixed with playful annoyance and affection escaped her slightly parted lips.
"Didn't you say, 'I hope my music can bring happiness to all listeners'?"
"Liar. A huge liar."
Even as she said it, after her emotions somewhat subsided...
Utaha finally switched back from Gunjou, whose intro was almost over, to Psychological Illusion.
"But still."
Listening to the intro of Psychological Illusion play again, recalling the Miyani she had seen that day, the corners of Utaha's mouth unconsciously lifted.
"It must be tough being a guy, Miyani, to be able to sing such incredible female vocals."
"And he's highly skilled at it too. No wonder no one knew Miyani's gender at first."
Thinking this, Utaha smiled faintly, moved her mouse, opened Twitter in her browser, and skillfully navigated to the official Sakuragawa Talent Agency account.
The first thing she saw was the pinned announcement.
"Thank you all for your love and support for Miyani. We would like to reiterate that all female vocal parts in Miyani's songs are performed by Miyani himself and Yukihime. No third-party singers were involved in the production. Thank you once again for your support. We will continue to create better music together with Miyani."
The announcement was fairly simple. It could be summarized in one sentence.
"Aside from Miyani's exclusive vocalist, Yukihime, no other female singers participated."
Hmm... Simply put, except for that young girl's voice, all other vocals, male and female, were Miyani's.
That was completely absurd.
Listening to the female vocals of Psychological Illusion through her earphones, and unconsciously picturing Miyani on stage that day, Utaha couldn't help but let out a small laugh.
Laughing a bit excessively, she clutched her stomach and stood up from her computer chair.
Then, she dropped herself face-up onto her futon mattress.
Hugging the blanket with both arms, she rolled around on the bed, laughing for quite a while.
Lying on her back on her messy bed, staring at the ceiling, Utaha's thoughts drifted uncontrollably.
What if someday I find out Miyani's true identity?
Do you think... I should learn his female vocal parts and sing a few songs right in front of him?
Yeah, that could work.
After all, when it came to singing, Utaha could at least hold her own.
He'd definitely think her voice was pretty good, right?
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