"Listening to the footsteps of my racing heart, I walk step by step toward you."
"Gently soothing the restless stirring in my chest, I look up at the starry sky and you."
"Nee, listen to me."
"The moon is beautiful tonight, isn't it..."
As the final lyrics faded, the music lingering in the air gradually settled into silence.
When the recording booth returned to quiet, Miyahito, standing before the microphone, slowly opened his eyes and let out a quiet sigh.
As expected, I'm just an ordinary person who can't create anything special after all.
His downcast gaze reflected his slightly rough arms. Miyahito didn't speak. Didn't move.
Just stood there like a statue.
At this moment, the band members accompanying him in the booth noticed his unusual state.
These young musicians, each only a few years older than high schooler Miyahito, exchanged glances.
Then, the oldest among them, the band leader and guitarist, was about to step forward and ask what was wrong when—
"Thank you all for your help, senpai."
Pushing aside the fleeting disappointment, Miyahito turned around, a gentle smile back on his face, and bowed slightly to the seniors who had accompanied him.
"It's nothing, no need to be so polite, Miyani-sensei." Seeing him act as if nothing had happened, the band leader smiled and waved his hand. "It's already an honor to perform Miyani-sensei's new song."
"You're exaggerating, Hanahata-senpai."
"No, it's not an exaggeration at all. After all, this is Miyani-sensei's first time collaborating with a live band. It's our honor."
"..."
Although Miyahito knew they weren't just saying polite words, but genuinely thrilled to collaborate with him on a new track, for some reason, he just felt tired.
Just then.
"Thanks for your hard work, everyone." Pushing open the studio door, Nakamura Maki naturally took the reins from Miyahito, smiling as she exchanged pleasantries with the band members.
"Thank you for the performance. Please take a short rest; I've already arranged a lounge for you."
As she spoke, Maki waved someone over from behind. A woman with fluffy short hair, wearing a well-tailored women's blazer, walked in.
"Hello everyone, I'm Ishimoto Miki. I'll be assisting you with everything from here on out."
Afterward, the band members chatted and laughed as they followed their temporary assistant, Ishimoto, out of the room.
Having sorted out the logistics, Maki let out a sigh of relief and turned to look at Miyahito, who still seemed slightly downcast.
However, she quickly realized he was in no mood to talk right now.
Cradling a guitar, his fingertips lightly plucked the strings.
"Hmm... hm hm hm..." Accompanied by the crisp guitar notes, Miyahito closed his eyes slightly, quietly humming a melody.
Seeing this, Maki didn't interrupt. Instead, just as she always did, she gently smoothed her skirt, sat on the floor a short distance away from him, mirroring his seated posture, and waited quietly.
A short while later.
Miyahito slowly opened his eyes. At the same time,
"Did inspiration strike?"
"Yeah." Carefully placing the guitar back in its spot, Miyahito stood up and brushed invisible dust off his pants. "The lyrics aren't working, and the melody doesn't fit either."
Hearing his assessment of his own new song, Maki nodded.
It matched the conclusion she and sound engineer Ishida had just reached outside the booth.
Is Love's Metronome a good song? Yes.
But it's incredibly ordinary. To exaggerate, if 'Miyani' wasn't written on the credits, releasing it now wouldn't even cause a ripple.
"So, what's the plan for later?" Following Miyahito out of the studio and into the adjoining lounge, Maki smoothly poured him a glass of perfectly warm water and slipped a meticulously wrapped throat lozenge into his hand. "Are we continuing to record?"
"Yeah." Leaning his head back against the sofa, Miyahito nodded. "Oh, and no need to trouble the band seniors to keep rehearsing."
"Ishida-san already recorded the instrumental backing, right? I'll just use that later."
"That's enough?" Maki frowned slightly. "No live band accompaniment?"
"Yeah, it's fine."
Sitting back up, Miyahito took a sip of the warm water. He glanced at the calm surface, then looked up and smiled at Maki.
"I want to figure out exactly what's still lacking in Love's Metronome."
...
Shinobu Publishing, Editorial Department.
"Good work, Utaha-chan."
Smiling at her author, who unconsciously let out a yawn, Machida Sonoko stretched her arms in a somewhat unladylike manner.
Utaha shot her editor a flat look, then complained expressionlessly, "So, what exactly did I come here for today? Kosaka didn't show up. Why am I even here?"
"Ahaha, well... that..." Machida laughed awkwardly, trying to brush it off, but suddenly felt a sharp gaze fixed on her.
She quickly backtracked. "Akane-nee messaged saying she'd come today... I honestly don't know what's going on either, and I..."
('This is my first time seeing Akane act so unprofessionally too.)
Finishing the thought internally, Machida cautiously glanced at Utaha's expression.
Sensing the editor's careful gaze, and already understanding Akane's true motive, Utaha let out a tired sigh.
Obviously. Why did Akane, who promised to show up today, suddenly bail? No need to guess. It's revenge.
Revenge for being blatantly mocked to her face yesterday by her little brother Aragaki Miyahito, and his girlfriend, Kasumigaoka Utaha.
'What is this, a childish tantrum?'
Not wanting to comment on Akane's joke-like revenge scheme, Utaha pulled out her phone to check the time.
Hmm... 11:12 AM.
Miyahito's agency isn't far from Shinobu, right?
How about I go pick him up from work this time?
Making up her mind, Utaha's lips curved slightly. She put her phone away and stood up from her chair.
Casually grabbing her small handbag, she naturally walked toward the conference room door.
"Utaha? Where are you going?"
Seeing Utaha actually leaving without waiting for her boyfriend, Machida's mind raced with questions. "Not waiting for your man to pick you up anymore?"
"Pfft, watch your language, Editor Machida." Blushing slightly, Utaha glanced back and chided the editor for her crude wording.
But from Machida's completely unfazed expression, it was clear the mild scolding meant nothing.
"I'm going to pick my boyfriend up from work."
Watching Machida's expression instantly shift at those words, Utaha couldn't help but add a teasing remark with a bad-grin.
"He's always the one picking me up. Sometimes, I should fulfill my girlfriend duties too, right?"
"Don't you agree, my dear Editor Machida~~?"