Chapter 25. A Moment of Weakness: Catching the Rhythm

Takeshi snorted, his gaze unwavering as he leaned back in his chair, clearly unbothered by the tension in the room.

He crossed his arms over his chest, his lips curling into a knowing smirk. "It seems like your 'best' can't quite keep up with our level, Ms. Midnight."

His words hung in the air like a challenge, biting and dismissive.

Ayaka's hands tightened around the paper she held, the edges crinkling in her grip.

The sting of his taunt burrowed deep, but she refused to let it show on her face. She knew it was just Takeshi—he always played the part of the arrogant, indifferent genius. But somehow, today, his words felt sharper than usual.

Akami, always the mediator, shot him a piercing look. Her voice was calm but carried an unmistakable edge. "Takeshi, enough. We're here to support each other, not turn this into a competition."

Her words were firm, and the authority in her tone left little room for argument. "We've barely started rehearsing, for heaven's sake."

Shota, ever the laid-back one, gave Ayaka an encouraging smile, trying to smooth over the tension.

His voice was soothing, as if he was offering a lifeline. "Ayaka, don't stress it. Just follow the rhythm. It's about the emotion you pour into it, not perfection." His words should have been comforting, but the doubt still gnawed at her insides.

Ayaka took a shaky breath, her heart racing in her chest. She glanced at the lyrics in her hand, the words blurring slightly as her nerves threatened to overwhelm her.

This was it, she had to prove herself, not just to them, but to herself. She wouldn't let Takeshi get to her—she couldn't.

She straightened her posture, forcing her body to relax despite the storm in her mind. "Fine..." she said, her voice steady but with an edge of determination. "Let's do this."

Takeshi's smirk deepened, and he gave a lazy shrug. "Alright. Don't say I didn't warn you."

His fingers brushed the strings of his guitar, the familiar melody of their song filling the room once again.

This time, he slowed it down, giving her room to find her pace, but it only made the silence around her more intense.

The chords rang out, gentle yet commanding. They were a steady, almost haunting rhythm, like a safety net beneath her shaky confidence.

Ayaka closed her eyes for a brief moment, letting the music pulse through her, letting it drown out the pressure. She let the tension in her chest melt away as she found her center.

Then, she began to sing. Her voice was quiet at first, uncertain, wavering slightly as she navigated the unfamiliar waters.

"To our dear heroes…"

She swallowed, feeling the words in her throat, fighting the emotions that threatened to choke her.

Her voice faltered, but she pressed on, ignoring the faint flicker of doubt that whispered at the back of her mind.

"You have fought so hard;

So hard, sometimes it leaves scars…"

By the time she reached the final line of the verse, something shifted. Her voice steadied, gaining strength with every word, every breath.

The lyrics weren't just words anymore—they were an outpouring of everything she felt, everything she needed to express.

"Every day, you face a war."

The room fell into a deep silence, but this time, it wasn't the usual awkward quiet. It was a hushed reverence, as though everyone in the room had stopped breathing, caught in the weight of her words.

For a moment, Ayaka wasn't sure what to do with the stillness, but then Akami's soft clap broke the spell, a warm smile spreading across her face. "See? That wasn't bad at all!" she said with genuine encouragement.

Shota gave her a nod, his usual laid-back attitude returning. "Yeah, Ayaka. You carried the emotion. That's what matters most."

Takeshi, however, leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, still looking as if he didn't quite care. But there was something in his eyes—something that softened, just slightly.

He broke the silence with a low chuckle, his voice laced with teasing but a hint of respect. "Well, you didn't completely ruin it. But you're still far from the level we need."

Akami immediately shot him a glare. "Takeshi, that's enough. Ayaka, don't let him get in your head. You did great."

Ayaka nodded faintly, unable to stop the nervous flutter in her stomach. She wasn't sure if she should feel proud or still unsure of herself.

She glanced down at the lyrics again, though the words didn't seem to make much sense to her anymore. The validation she'd received wasn't enough to wipe away the weight of her insecurity.

Shota stretched, breaking the tension in the room. "Let's take a five-minute break." he suggested, his voice light.

Everyone agreed, but Ayaka felt an odd disconnect as the others began to talk among themselves, their chatter light and easy. Takeshi's words still echoed in her mind, biting through her resolve.

"Takeshi, Akami." he called suddenly, his tone taking on a more serious edge. "I need to talk to both of you for a second."

Ayaka's gaze flickered over to the three of them as they moved to the corner of the room, their conversation private and intense.

It only deepened the isolation she felt. The air seemed thick, and she could practically feel the weight of the distance between them. She needed space—space to think, to breathe.

"I'm going to step out for a bit..." Ayaka murmured under her breath. She slipped out of the room quietly, her footsteps echoing down the hallway as she wandered aimlessly, unsure of where she was going.

Eventually, she stumbled upon an empty room. It was small, quiet, and bathed in a soft, golden light. She stepped inside, flicking on the lights and closing the door behind her with a soft click.

The silence wrapped around her like a cocoon, and for a moment, Ayaka simply stood there, letting the calm wash over her.

She walked over to the window, opening it to let the cool breeze rush in. It was a welcome relief against the warmth that had settled on her skin.

The wind swept through her hair, teasing it in soft tendrils. She closed her eyes, allowing the air to steady her racing thoughts.

Then, without thinking, she began to sing again, her voice quiet at first.

"To our dear heroes…"

She hesitated, shaking her head. The melody still didn't feel right. "No, it's too low," she muttered to herself.

She tried again.

"To our—" But she stopped, frustrated by the discord in her voice. "Again," she urged herself, her tone growing firmer.

"To our dear heroes…"

The words rang out in the empty room, but as soon as she finished, a voice interrupted her, deep and mocking.

"It's still out of tune."

Ayaka froze. The blood drained from her face, and her heart skipped a beat. Slowly, she turned to find Takeshi standing in the doorway, leaning against the frame with his arms crossed, his guitar slung over his shoulder.

"Why are you here?" Ayaka asked sharply, her voice a mixture of annoyance and surprise.

Takeshi pushed off from the doorframe, stepping into the room with a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. "I'm here to train you. Strictly." His voice was playful, but there was something deeper beneath the surface, something more serious.

Ayaka narrowed her eyes at him, her irritation bubbling to the surface. "I don't need your help."

But Takeshi wasn't backing down. He sat in front of her, strumming a few notes on his guitar, his movements smooth and practiced. "Again." he ordered, his voice softer now, but still carrying the weight of his expectations.

Ayaka hesitated for a moment, but then, with a deep breath, she complied. Her voice came out steadier this time.

"To our dear heroes; You have fought so hard…"

Takeshi interrupted, his fingers adjusting the strings of his guitar, a focused intensity in his eyes.

"Stop. Repeat it, but slow down the rhythm. It needs to match the melody."

She nodded, her jaw set in determination.

"To our dear heroes; You have fought so hard...

So hard, sometimes it leaves scars.

Every day, you face a war…"

Takeshi's strumming stopped, and he gave her a nod of approval, though it was small. "There you go..." he said quietly.

Ayaka blinked in surprise, unsure of what to make of the approval in his voice.

"This melody—it's not too hard for you to follow, right?" Takeshi asked, his voice a little softer than usual, though still carrying that edge of sharpness.

Ayaka thought for a moment before answering. "I guess so. It... fits my voice better than I thought."

Takeshi grinned, but it wasn't his usual smug smirk. There was something else there—concern, maybe, or respect? It was hard to tell.

"Good. I saw you struggling earlier. I don't want you holding the group back." His tone was teasing, but his eyes lingered on her, softer than before.

Ayaka smiled faintly, her voice light. "You do have kindness in your soul after all."

Takeshi's face turned red, and he quickly averted his gaze. "I-I'm not that bad, you know?"

Ayaka chuckled softly, but the warmth of the moment was quickly interrupted. "Alright, let's get back. We've wasted enough time."

Takeshi simply nodded, though there was a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

When they returned to the rehearsal room, Ayaka's steps faltered as her eyes locked onto a familiar figure. Her breath caught in her throat.

Standing near the doorway was none other than Akihiko, his back turned to them. The shock hit her like a wave, and she couldn't stop herself from calling out, her voice trembling with disbelief.

"A-Akihiko?"

The man turned slowly, his piercing blue eyes meeting hers. For a moment, time seemed to freeze. His lips curled into a small, knowing smile as if he had been waiting for this very moment.

"What are you doing here?"