Everyone Has Talent. If Only We Could Realize It - Volume 1 Chapter 2.3

Episode 2: Two Talents

*

Afternoon classes were “Vocal Basics.”

The vocal lesson studio on the third floor of the school building was packed with about 40 students from the musicians’ department.

The floor, polished and reflecting the light, was smooth and shiny. One wall was completely covered with mirrors (apparently called joint mirrors). There were all kinds of equipment necessary for lessons, from microphones to keyboards to sound equipment…

However, it seemed that today, none of these would be used. Instead, a plain whiteboard was the only tool for the day.

Students sat on the floor in various poses, listening to the male instructor’s (who, for some reason, had an afro) class.

By the way, it seems to be a rule at Ryōran High School that teachers don’t comment on students’ attitudes during class. Whether they were listening attentively or not at all, the afro teacher didn’t seem to mind.

Honestly, it was a relief. Because I wasn’t really in the mood to take classes.

Even now, I was slacking off, leaning lazily against the railing in front of the mirror in the corner of the room, browsing on my smartphone.

From the few words that occasionally caught my ear, it seemed to be a lecture-based class explaining the mechanics of vocalization. I had guessed there wouldn’t be any serious vocal lessons on the first day, but it was more tedious than I had imagined.

The whiteboard was filled with a detailed explanation of how the upper half of the human body, including the movement of the lungs, throat, airways, and skeleton, related to vocalization.

It might be important, but for someone with a decent foundation, the lecture could be nothing short of boring… Sure enough, Shika was fast asleep next to me.

And it wasn’t just Shika.

Shibuya Erio, among most students, had a distant look on their faces.

“Is it okay if I sit next to you?”

“Huh?”

Before I knew it, someone had approached me from beside.

Turning around, I saw a redhead.

A conspicuously standout guy I had seen in class on the first day.

A sleazy-looking playboy who had been spouting cheesy lines to girls—Komae Noaki was leaning against the mirror next to me.

“You’re already sitting next to me before getting permission…”

“Ahaha☆ It’s not like you’d say no anyway, so it’s all good, right?”

“Uh, yeah…”

This guy seemed to have a high sense of self-assurance.

In his sixteen years of life, it looked like he had never once been rejected by anyone. With a confident smile, Komae grinned.

“It’s rare, isn’t it? Siblings enrolling together. Especially you, you went as far as repeating a year to get into Ryōran. That’s some determination.”

“Ah, well, that’s not it. I’m more like Shiika’s manager, got in as a special case. I said that during introductions, remember?”

“Oh, during introductions, I thought you were mumbling something, so that’s what you said?”

“…”

My failure during self-introductions was confirmed.

I had taken a Schrödinger’s cat approach to mental self-defense, hoping that what wasn’t observed wouldn’t hurt me, but I was hit with an unexpected blow. I wanted to die.

“…kill me.”

“No way, it’d be a scandal.”

Is that the issue?

“Anyway, I wanted to confirm something. Is it okay?”

“…What?”

“If I wanted to hit on Shika-chan, do I need the manager’s permission?”

“…What?”

I was dead serious.

Ignoring whether I was about to curse him out, Komae continued at his own pace.

“Shika-chan isn’t an amateur, right?”

“…Huh.”

That unexpected remark piqued my interest.

“Why do you think so?”

“I saw yesterday’s stream. Sure, the talk and appearance weren’t polished at all, and I didn’t see anything particularly shining.”

“Thanks for being so blunt.”

“But the singing ability alone was at a professional level. It was disproportionately good.”

“You seem quite confident in your judgment.”

I deliberately provoked him.

I didn’t like being evaluated from a high-and-mighty position, and now that we had been smacked down by reality in terms of view counts, any praise sounded hollow.

“You’re so prickly. I even gave a like to your stream, as a fan, you should appreciate it?”

“A like… wait, is that true?”

“Yeah. Look, proof.”

Komae showed his smartphone screen. Indeed, there was a trace of a like on Shika’s stream on the One-Eight Live history.

I checked Shiika’s account on my side. The number of likes hadn’t increased from 3.

Wait a minute. So, the people who liked the stream are me, Akiha, and Komae, totaling three people?

The possibly genuine fan among the remaining one was also someone I knew. It’s over. Our life at Ryōran High School ends here. Farewell sushi, farewell blissful NEET life.

“Hey, come back to reality.”

“……Huh!? What?”

“Stay sharp, manager. This is no time to escape reality.”

“After all that talk about putting the finishing blow, now you’re giving a sermon. You’ve got some nerve.”

“Why are you so hostile? I’m more of an ally, but… well, whatever.”

Komae turned around to face the mirror.

Looking straight at his reflection, he adjusted the tips of his hair and said.

“Don’t underestimate fashion. If you want to make it in this school, ‘having a good face’ is the most important thing.”

“So, as long as you have a good face, that’s all that matters? Even in the Musicians’ Department, I’d hope singing ability would be valued.”

“There’s a minimum threshold to even get on the stage. And when I say ‘face,’ I don’t just mean it literally.”

“What do you mean?”

“Figure it out yourself.”

What’s with this guy?

He thinks it’s cool to drop mysterious lines and leave them hanging?

I glared at him with eyes full of protest, but Komae didn’t seem inclined to answer.

After finishing touching up his hair…

“Show me that it won’t end like this. —Say hi to Shika-chan for me.”

With that, he left the lesson studio.

…We’re still in the middle of class, though. He’s openly skipping class. Well, since it’s allowed by the school rules, there’s no reason to blame him for skipping.

Actually, we’re not in a position to talk either.

After school, in the classroom, I suddenly brought it up.

“Let’s transform, Shika.”

“…Like a magical girl?”

“No, not that. Not fantasy, something more realistic.”

Which means, let’s be fashionable, I emphasized.

“Fashion… sounds troublesome…”

“But we won’t get numbers staying as we are. We have to change! Right, Akiha!?”

“Wha, me!?”

Akiha, who was about to stand up and leave with her school bag, turned around with a start.

She probably sensed the hassle and tried to escape, but that wasn’t going to happen.

“Of course, Akiha. I need your help too.”

“Ah, don’t drag me into this, it’s so annoying.”

“Please! I’m begging! We need to know both our enemies and allies to be invincible in battle. You know all about Ryōran’s students, so help us spot a winning fashion!”

“Ugh, no way.”

“Don’t say that, we’re friends, right? I’ll do anything! Right?”

“Umm… you really mean anything?”

“I reserve the right to refuse unreasonable requests, obviously. Don’t disrespect the Japanese Constitution.”

“You have zero intention of listening to my wishes…”

“Being a composer means having a singer to collaborate with is advantageous in many ways. Shika’s popularity isn’t something unrelated to Akiha.”

“Ugh, ugh, ugh… You’re pretty sharp for Raku…to.”

“So, what’ll it be!?”

“Eep!”

I aggressively cornered Akiha against the wall. Thump! Hitting the wall, Akiha slumped down.

“I’ll… help…”

“Alright, negotiation successful! School might suck, but friends are the best!”

I struck a pose that might come out of an all-nighter, sleep-deprived brainstorming session—definitely a weird posture.

It was really great to have someone reliable.

Honestly, Shiika and I, being recluses, had no idea what to do about appearances. Although the ideal protagonist in shonen manga might gain abilities through hard work, unfortunately, I’m not such a noble person. Even if it means being scorned as lazy, if I can get good results without much effort, that’s the best approach for me.

“So, I’m not letting you escape.”

“Agh…”

I firmly grabbed Shika’s shoulder as she tried to sneak away behind me.

Realizing she couldn’t escape, Shika gave in and slumped.

Facing Shika and the defeated Akiha, I grinned widely.

“Let the fun after-school life begin.”