When I came home after the club activities, I found an unfamiliar pair of shoes at the entrance. It seemed that Aika arrived already.
âIâm home.â
[[Welcome home.]]
Inside the living room, there was Rin in her sloppy loungewear, and Aika in her casual clothes. It had been years since the three of us had been together like this. It felt nostalgic.
âSorry to disturb you.â
âDonât mind it.â
After exchanging such warm greetings, I couldnât believe that she was my ex-girlfriend and childhood friend, and I headed to my room. I waited anxiously, wondering when I would be called, but it seemed that the two of them were chatting without minding me, so I picked up my guitar and went to practice my own songs.
I have been playing the guitar for as long as I can remember, except for the three years when Aika and I were together, two and a half years to be exact.
But right now is the most enjoyable time for me.
The melody that you can play to your heartâs content along with Ioriâs song. Itâs to the point that I can feel her even if sheâs not here.
âThatâs amazing, stupid big bro.â
Before I knew it, the two of them had come to my room. I didnât notice them at all. I was that focused.
âI think this is the first time Iâve heard Naruâs guitar playing so close.â
âAikaâŠ.â
Thatâs right, I didnât play the guitar when I was dating Aika.
âYou didnât play at all even if I suggested it.â
Itâs true that Aika was encouraging me to play guitar. But back then, I couldnât pick up the guitar.
I really couldnât do it back then.
I was brokenhearted. I had lost all confidence after encountering a genius.
âI knew it, is it because of Kubota senpaiâs influence?â
âYeah, I found Ioriâs video on SNS, and it made me want to play guitar for the first time in a long time.â
âIori sanâs singing is so freaking amazing, I can understand why you wanted to play the guitar, big bro.â
I can understand why you wanted to play the guitar.
âItâs kinda frustrating.â
What does that meanâŠ.
âEven though Iâve been asking you to play guitar for years, but just after hearing Kubota senpai singing, it brought back your sparkle, Naru.â
My sparkle?
âAikaâŠ..â
What are you trying to say.
âHey, Naru, do you remember that promise we made?â
What promise?
âThe one where you said youâd do me a favor.â
âAhâŠyeah, I remember.â
âwould you forgive me?â
âEh.â
âThatâs my wish.â
What do you mean forgive youâŠâŠ are you asking me to pretend that it never happened?
I had mixed emotions and I couldnât answer anything right away.