"I just finished practicing with my band members. Why don't we chat together for a while?" I offered.
"Okay," she said, pointing her thumb at me.
***
Me and Yori, we both sat on the outside seats, which had been provided by the convenience store. The two of us chatted about many things and before we knew it, we had spent a lot of time together.
"So your band was recently formed?" Yori had been enthusiastic enough to keep asking me questions.
I nodded my head. "It was quite fun forming a band with my school friends. It also happens that my friends share the same interests. Our band was just formed, I honestly felt a little doubtful whether there would be anyone who would want to see an amateur band like us perform."
"Why worry? Just look at you having this kind of ability. There's bound to be a lot of people who enjoy your performances," Yori praised.
"I'm lucky enough to be able to listen to words of praise from a talented person like you," I said happily. In my eyes, Yori was also a talented person. For some reason my gut feeling told me that Yori had something to tell me.
"Hey jan ...." Yori was about to reply to my words. But her words were cut off. When she found someone standing in front of us, and looked at both of us as if we had done something bad.
"Yori what are you doing here?" The person seemed to like the company of the two of us.
"Ikari?" I scolded. Yori was silent, and from the look on her face she didn't like Ikari's presence either.
"Why are you with this asshole? Did you know that this asshole is our rival. He's the one who's going to fight us at the Sania Festival." Ikari tugged on Yori's shirt collar, then hurled harsh curse words at him.
Yori was still silent. She looked like she wasn't interested in Ikari's anger at all.
Seeing Ikari treat Yori so harshly. I couldn't stay silent as I quickly pulled Ikari away from Yori.
"You have a problem with me. But why are you being so rude to her?!" I said, holding my temper in check.
Ikari laughed mockingly. He pushed my body roughly. "This has nothing to do with you at all. Get out of the way!"
"Of course this will be a problem for me too. If you're rude to her, I won't stay silent either."
"Yori is a member of my band. How could I let her get close to you? You're my enemy," Ikari challenged.
Does this mean my hunch was right. That Yori seems to be hiding something that I don't know about. But I felt that, my closeness with Yori felt so genuine.
"You have no right! Besides, why are you two meeting like this?" Ikari then turned to Yori. "You can't get close to her. You have to remember what we're all about. Don't just because you get close to her, you destroy the future of our band." Ikari forbade Yori from getting close to me.
"Do you need to do this kind of thing? I think this has gone too far. You can't just boss me around," Yori protested. Although she had been silent, it was clear that the look on her face reflected her dislike for Ikari. Yori would definitely not be able to stand it if she continued to be pressured like this.
Ikari glared as he placed his index finger on Yori's forehead. "Is that brain of yours being used properly? You really don't care how our band's career will end." Ikari continued to pressure Yori and of course, his actions made Yori even more cornered.
This commotion was certainly not going to end just like that. Ikari is a person who is easily provoked by his emotions. I didn't want to make a scene in the middle of a public place like this. So I decided to end it unilaterally.
"Alright alright, Ikari you win this time. I'll give in to you. Stop pressuring your own colleagues. Sorry for the ruckus with you," I said before walking away. Leaving the two of them behind quickly.
What a troublemaker. I really couldn't figure it out. Would Ikari be able to maintain a good relationship with his friends, if he showed such rude behavior. I feel sorry for Yori.
***
"Are you satisfied?" Yori pushed Ikari's body away.
"What made you get close to that bastard?" Ikari seemed intent on continuing the argument.
Yori turned her face away from Ikari. She picked up her bag, then left Ikari busy, cursing at him. But instead of responding to the cursing. Yori decided not to listen to him and just left. She didn't want to keep getting involved with someone like Ikari.
***
"Fujisaki!" someone called out as soon as I almost reached my house.
I turned my head and found Yori's figure running towards me until finally, she approached me.
"Yori."
The red-haired teenage boy looked out of breath. He took a deep breath for a moment, before finally speaking to me.
"I apologize for the commotion earlier. Also, I'm sorry that we seem to be rivals in the Sania Festival," he said in a voice that sounded worried.
"That's okay. Why are you even apologizing, it's not your fault. Besides, even though we're competitors doesn't mean we're enemies. Do you think that when we become rivals, it means we're enemies?" I looked at Yori gently. I had no problem with her at all. It was Ikari who wanted to create trouble between us.
Yori's smile spread across her face. It seemed that her worries were starting to disappear. She looked much more relieved than before.
I returned the smile by inviting Yori to shake hands. "Yori... whatever happens is the result when we meet on stage later. I hope it won't destroy the friendship between us."
"Of course. I'll keep your word." Yori returned my handshake.
***
"Why isn't your brain working? How many times have you been wrong!" Ikari said in a loud voice. He kept criticizing Yori's guitar playing, which he considered inappropriate.
"Sorry," Yori said coldly. She didn't seem to care. Exhaustion was starting to build up inside her. Ikari kept pressuring him and only made his playing worse and worse.
"This all happened because you're friends with that bastard!" Ikari, who didn't accept it, became even more aggravated. He even came close to slamming his bass guitar, if only the other members didn't hold him back.
Yori just kept quiet. He didn't want to make things worse. He realized that the atmosphere of the rehearsal, the band this time was fairly chaotic. Even though it didn't feel like it was going to be long, they all had to perform as well as possible at the Sania Festival.
"Let's take a break first. You won't be able to take all your emotions out on me either." Yori picked up her guitar and walked out of the practice room.
Ikari kept yelling for her. But Yori simply ignored him.
***
Today's practice went pretty well. I feel that the others are starting to get along with each other well. Although the song I made was not completely finished. But considering that my band's playing is getting better, it makes me feel a little relieved.
Everything was starting to go in a better direction. Who would have thought that I, who was completely blind to everything that happened in my twin Fujisaki's life. was now adapting well. But even though I was happy, I couldn't help but think about how Yori was doing.