holistar

Location: Vocal room

Aira: ♪~♪~♪

(......Hmm~? Something still feels off. I really thought I was in tune, but... )

(I feel like it just doesn’t sound as good as it did when everyone sang together earlier today?)

(I’m gonna listen to the sample recording again.)

~♪ ~♪

……Yeah. I didn’t make a mistake. So what’s going on?

Argh, I don’t get it! I just want someone, anyone, who knows what they’re doing to stay by my side and coach me! 

(But… hiring a vocal coach costs money. And being the underachievers that we are, ALKALOID doesn’t have the funds for that.)

(I mean, what am I thinking? It would be crazy to use our precious money to get over my personal worries about something feeling off...)

(Hnn~...... I feel all mopey about this, but I guess that’s life. I suppose I’ll try and ask Tattsun-senpai for help tomorrow.)

(I really wanted to get the hang of this song before our next lesson, though.)

(I mean, Hiro-kun's a total beginner and I already have experience. It’d be so embarrassing if I learned things more slowly than he does.)

(It’s so annoying... I want to train in secret and get good so I can act like his idol senpai.)

Mmhm, I gotta do my best. Just a little more practice and— 

Uwah?!

Mayoi: ......(shiver)

Aira: Pyaaa?! There’s something here! Is it a ghost?!

Mayoi: Eek?! N-n-no, I’m not a ghost! It’s me, Aira-san! Me, me! I’m sorry for surprising you! I’m sorry for being aliveeee!

Aira: Ah, Mayo-san! You scared me. Why were you crouching in the shadows?

Mayoi: Eh...? You want to know why? Um, because I like hiding in corners…?!

Aira: Huh? When did you get in here, anyway? And how did you get in? I swear I locked the door!

Mayoi: Fu, fufufu♪ This building has secret entrances and exits everywhere. Plus, I have the master key to almost every room! 

I can infiltrate anywhere, anytime…... Fufufufu~♪

Aira: What’s wrong with this building?! So doesn’t that mean that we have no privacy or anything?

Mayoi: Aah, it’s not the building’s fault, I’m the bad one! I’m the one who harbors a repulsive desire to creep around everywhere and peep on people!

Aira: Hn~ It doesn’t feel good to be peeped on. Like, at least say something when you enter a room.

You really scared me, I thought my heart was gonna stop.

Mayoi: Uuu, I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I made you uncomfortable, didn’t I?

I truly intended to leave with you none the wiser, but you were surprisingly perceptive and discovered m—

—I-I mean, I was worried about you, Aira-san! I wanted to offer some advice, but I was uncertain if that would be too meddlesome, and while worrying about all of that I missed my chance to escape!

Aira: ...Um, you were worried about me?

Mayoi: Y-Yes! Isn’t that natural? What a twist of fate that we became unitmates! I tempt troubled youths and lead them astray…...

Ah, no… I teach them! Teaching is my specialty!

I’m more or less always coaching them from the shadows, so I’m thought of as one of the many mysteries of this building!

B-But it’s really because I’m just too chicken to meet anyone face to face!

Aira: Ahaha. Come to think of it, I’ve heard a rumor like that before.

Mayo-san secretly helped young idols who stayed late to practice alone by sending them letters filled with advice, right?

Mayoi: Yes! Though I ended up a failure myself, and I’m treated as an “underachiever.”

So it feels a bit like I shouldn’t have the nerve to act all high and mighty and give others advice!

But! I can’t just leave them alone. I should have known I can’t be satisfied with just watching!

From a close enough distance that I can smell the sweaty bodies of troubled youths, I want to cling to them like a shadow and tutor them very attentively…… fufufufufu♪

Aira: …...Yeah. That’s a little nasty, but I guess I get what you’re saying. As long as we’re alive, we’ll always be searching out human connection, after all.

Fufu. So, Mayo-san... since you’re here, how about you give me some pointers?

If I was a prodigy, this wouldn't be a problem for me...... but since I’m not, I'm totally stuck on the most basic things.

…...In the end, I just don’t have any talent, do I?

Mayoi: That face! Please make it againnnn!

Disappointed in yourself and yet waiting for someone to say, “That’s not true,” looking almost like you’re wanting to be spoiled—

Oww!

Aira: …...

Mayoi: I-I’m sorry! I’m sorry I’m nasty! I’m apologizing, so please don’t throw equipment at meeeeee!

Aira: …...I’m actually worried over here, so can you not make fun of me?

Mayoi: Yes, I know! I’m just a filthy rotten pervert who delights in making fun of others’ misfortune! Go on and insult me!

Aira: I seriously don’t have time for this. Mayo-san, I’m genuinely in need of help here.

I’m trying to practice singing, but it just doesn’t sound as good as when I sang together with ALKALOID earlier today…… Why’s that?

Mayoi: Ah, I know the reason! Aira-san, please sing your part on my count! Are you ready? Un, deux, trois♪

♪ ~♪ ~♪

~......♪ (lifting his fingers to the beat)

Aira: ~......♪

…...Huh? What happened, I nailed it just now?

Mayoi: You did♪ ALKALOID’s songs are composed in such a way that everyone’s individual parts come together and increase the overall charm.

It’s an ensemble! The sounds of each person link together, overlap, and make us shine more brightly!

That being so! Singing it alone can’t showcase the true potential of the song!

It’s possible for one person to sing everyone’s parts from beginning to end— but that one person alone can’t bring out the song’s true power!

Aira: Huh, so that’s it……

I thought that maybe it was my own fault that I wasn’t able to get it right. But it wasn’t meant to be sung by one person in the first place anyway, huh?

Mayoi: Yes! I’ve always been watching over you and listening to you sing, so I know there’s absolutely nothing wrong with you!

Please be more confident! Although, your disheartened face is very cute too……☆

Aira: …...Thanks. Anyway, you should have just told me that from the start! Why were you just watching? I wasted so much time worrying about that.

Mayoi: I’m sorry! But to me, the figure of such a distressed youth is the ultimate treat….. I mean, it’s not a treat! Not at all!

Umm, anyway, this sort of thing is meaningless unless you realize it yourself.

This time I was right, but I didn’t know if my intuition had hit the mark or not…...

I felt uneasy about approaching you arrogantly with a, “Let me show you how it’s done!”

Aira: Nn~ But you’ve gotta stop hesitating so much. Next time just give me your advice, Mayo-san.

Your advice may or may not be correct, but it doesn’t do any good to just silently watch, right?

Actually, since we’re unitmates now, I want us to support each other.

Well…… Compared to everyone else I have the least talent, so I think that it’ll just end up with me getting spoiled by the senpai.

That’s okay, right? Mayo-san, you like getting to spoil people, don’t you? ♪

Mayoi: Y-Yess! I love it! Act even more spoiled! Cling to me and whine, “Sensei~” !

Aira: No way~♪