Debut performance

Saturday, five in the evening, in the Light Music Club room.

"Evening, Takahashi." Yamada leaned against the doorway and raised a hand in greeting.

"Evening, Watanabe." Takahashi Ren replied, then turned to Ishikawa Saku beside him. "Evening, Ishikawa."

As sparing with words as ever, Ishikawa Saku nodded without speaking.

"Huh, are Kato and Kobayashi not here yet?" Takahashi Ren looked around.

"They went ahead to get the venue ready. Didn't you check the group chat?"

Takahashi Ren paused. "Not yet."

After checking the message, he picked up his keyboard bag and asked, "Shall we go together?"

"You go ahead. I need to help Ishikawa bring the drum kit over."

"Then I'll help too."

"No need." Yamada waved a hand and said solemnly, "As your senior, how could I make a junior help?"

He did not insist. "All right, I'll head over first. See you there."

Takahashi Ren arrived at the Dreamsound Box restaurant. A sign stood by the entrance, bearing the words "Light Music Club performance, Saturday at six p.m." It looked as though publicity had started several days earlier.

He pushed the door open and entered. Lights flickered inside, intertwined blue and purple beams drifting slowly through the air. A small stage had been set up straight ahead. Though not lavish, it already had the atmosphere of a performance.

Takahashi Ren stepped onto the stage and joined Kato Rin and Kobayashi Wakaba.

Several tables in front of the stage were already occupied by customers chatting quietly, with someone occasionally glancing up at the stage.

After the three exchanged brief greetings, Takahashi Ren began checking the equipment.

As time passed, students trickled into the restaurant. Before long, every seat in the audience was taken.

Soon, Watanabe and Ishikawa arrived too.

Everyone made their final preparations, quietly awaiting the moment.

Only Kobayashi Wakaba still hugged her guitar tightly, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Takahashi Ren noticed. Though a little worried, he knew she could only rely on herself now.

Everything was ready.

Kato Rin stepped up to the microphone, cleared her throat, and delivered her opening remarks.

When she finished, Kato Rin nodded to the other Light Music Club members.

The performance officially began.

Takahashi Ren played a crystalline string of opening notes, like raindrops falling onto a lake, sending ripples through the silence.

As the third note fell, the bass slipped in soundlessly-low and lingering. No one noticed when it had begun, but their heartbeats were already following it.

Kobayashi kept her eyes on the fretboard, her fingertips gently moving into an arpeggio.

Kato Rin held her guitar, strumming chords with her right hand. Only when the drums joined softly did she slowly lift her head and breathe her first breath into the microphone.

It was not the kind of opening song that fired people up, but it slowly drew everyone into a quiet, focused space.

After the first chorus came a guitar solo interlude.

Kobayashi's fingertips landed steadily on the strings, without any mistakes from stage fright.

The first song ended smoothly.

Then came the second, and the third.

The intensity of the music rose section by section.

The fervent atmosphere washed over them, mingling and boiling within the space.

The Light Music Club members were swept up in that heat too, casting everything else aside. At that moment, there was nothing in their eyes but music.

Takahashi Ren felt the keys vibrating beneath his fingertips, his heart threatening to leap out of his chest.

Takahashi Ren had never imagined that one day he would lose himself in music like this. He could say this was the most passionate moment of his life.

Was this the joy my brother talked about?

"Thank you all so much for today. Seeing you enjoy the music made all our efforts worthwhile. Please keep supporting the Light Music Club. Thank you!"

Before she had finished speaking, thunderous applause swept through the room.

The moment Kato Rin stepped off the stage, enthusiastic students surrounded her.

Some offered carefully wrapped snack bouquets, some gave her hand-drawn postcards, and others excitedly expressed how much they had loved the performance.

Kato Rin accepted them one by one, a gentle smile never leaving her lips as she sincerely thanked each person.

Takahashi Ren managed to squeeze out of the crowd and let out a long breath.

I never imagined Kato was this popular.

"Takahashi, over here!"

Toba Shigeru's voice reached him. He looked toward it and saw Ishida beside him too, waving.

"Takahashi, that was amazing!" Toba Shigeru patted his shoulder excitedly.

"Yeah, I don't know much about music, but that felt really great." Ishida looked impressed.

Takahashi Ren shook his head. "It wasn't just my work. But I'm glad you liked it."

"Have you two eaten?"

"We have," Ishida answered.

"Sorry, I can't spend time with you tonight. There's still club stuff to take care of." Takahashi Ren sounded slightly apologetic. "Next time we eat together, it's on me."

"No need."

"Exactly. Don't be so formal with us," Toba Shigeru agreed.

"All right. We'll talk about it next time."

After seeing Toba Shigeru and Ishida off, he turned and walked toward Ai Morishita, who was waiting alone in a corner.

"So, what's your verdict, Judge Morishita?"

"Not bad. Still nowhere near me, though."

"Oh? When will I get to hear you?"

"Forget it." Ai Morishita's tone carried a trace of condescending pity. "How could a mortal comprehend the music of a god?"

"If you can't play, just say so. What's all this about gods?" Takahashi Ren said mercilessly.

"Bye-bye." Ai Morishita ignored his provocation and left without looking back.

Takahashi Ren could not be bothered to argue with her either.

"Takahashi, time to go," Yamada called from the entrance.

"Coming," Takahashi Ren answered, but he could not see Kato Rin anywhere.

"Where's Kato?" Kobayashi Wakaba had noticed too and asked quietly.

"She can't get away yet. People are still crowding around her for autographs and photos," Yamada explained.

"Most of the audience came for her," Ishikawa said, in a rare moment of speech.

"We'll go return the instruments first. Kobayashi, wait here for a bit."

With that, Takahashi Ren headed toward the club room with Yamada and Ishikawa.

"Thanks for all your hard work. Cheers!" Kato Rin raised her glass high.

"Cheers!" everyone answered together, their glasses meeting with clear clinks.

They chatted as they ate, their cheerful voices and laughter filling the private room.

"Ishikawa, say a few words too." Yamada gently nudged Ishikawa, who had kept his head down eating beside him, with his elbow.

Ishikawa waved a hand and stood. "I'm going to the restroom."

"This guy runs off whenever the conversation turns to him." Watanabe sounded a little helpless.

Kobayashi asked curiously, "Kato, what kind of person is Ishikawa?"

"Him?" Kato Rin smiled. "He's usually pretty introverted. But the moment he picks up his drumsticks, he's like a different person, bursting with passion."

There really are people like that. Not good with words, speaking only through music, Takahashi Ren thought.

Time slipped by unnoticed.

Though the Light Music Club members were a little tired, every one of them wore a contented smile as they said their goodbyes in the night.