Reckless Hearts, Restless Souls

The festival day had finally arrived. The day before, we had prepared all the necessary materials and arrangements in exchange for helping the school. This festival was the moment when our entire club finally came together. After all, most of the club members were seniors, and this was actually their last festival.

Unlike them, I was here in a different role, responsible for the overall organization and operation. Thanks to Lyra’s support, the whole team had become much more energetic and lively with the Lyola songs they could sing and play. Everyone was thrilled.

On the festival day, the school was in what could best be described as a state of "organized anarchy." Everywhere, clubs had set up their stands and activities, looking like fully prepared service stations for the attendees. The weather had started to cool down, but since it was still a sunny day, it was warm enough to walk around outside comfortably with just a light jacket. In fact, if I moved too much, I felt like I would start sweating—even though I was wearing short sleeves. My elders always used to say that it snowed around this time of year in the past. The current situation was quite disheartening. Oh well…

Our concert area was located roughly in the middle of the schoolyard, a covered space that had been specially set up for the festival. We had been working on preparing this space for a week. While trying not to neglect our studies as our exams approached, we also helped the club as much as possible. Believe me, it wasn’t easy. Wearing a white shirt and trousers while doing all this work was pure torture. And yet, I still found myself enjoying it.

People were sitting on the grass and socializing, having fun in front of club stands that offered various activities, playing games with balls, and much more…

In this beautiful moment, one could truly define what it meant to "experience youth." In a normally unsocial society like ours, people had suddenly found a chance to meet and interact with those around them. While there wasn’t much that could be done for those who preferred to stay distant, the ones who took a step forward and gathered their courage seemed genuinely happy.

The gentle breeze, the sun shining down on us, the sight of cheerful people enjoying the tasks they had voluntarily taken on—it was all so wonderful. It made you wish every day could be like this.

“Yuta! Aiko brought ice cream! Come get one before it melts!”

I had been lost in thought. Hearing Ray’s voice suddenly snapped me back to reality, and I turned around abruptly. The entire team had retreated to the shade behind the concert stand, sitting on the grass and eating ice cream. Meanwhile, I had been standing in the sun, lost in my thoughts, and had started sweating.

“What were you doing, staring off into the distance like that, Yuta?”

Ayame, the club president’s girlfriend, had her eyes on me. She looked both curious and amused.

“Nothing, just thinking about the festival.”

I grabbed a chocolate ice cream from the small table they had placed in the shade. Chocolate was good. For some reason, other flavors always reminded me of medicinal syrups.

“Hmm, is that so? Oh! By the way! There was a girl who helped you guys. Is she coming today?”

“Huh?”

It was an unexpected question. My eyes widened in surprise, and I probably had a startled expression on my face as I looked at Ayame. I hadn’t mentioned this to anyone except Ray. Had Ray told her? How was that the first thing she asked?!

I turned my gaze to Ray. He looked just as surprised as I was. He must have understood the "Did you tell her?" look in my eyes because he quickly waved his hands in denial, signaling "No, no!"

I couldn’t lie. She had said she wanted to come, and I had given her the estimated festival and performance times. Even though I had sent the message two days ago, she still hadn’t responded—whether yes or no. It was strange…

“I don’t know. I invited her, but she hasn’t replied yet,” I said in a neutral, indifferent tone.

“Ohhh, is that so?”

Ayame put her hand to her mouth, looking like she was scheming something sinister. She really knew how to get on people’s nerves.

“Well, considering how much she helped, it would’ve been rude not to invite her.”

“Uh-huh… sure…”

God, the way people older than me could act so casually and tease like this whenever a girl was mentioned was truly infuriating. But she soon turned back to talking with the club president, meaning I was finally off the hook. Phew…

“Alright, let’s get to work!”

Everyone was busy with different tasks. Meanwhile, Ray and I had been assigned to carry boxes. We were bringing promotional posters and other supplies from the club room in the school.

“Hey, Yuta.”

“Yes?”

“Is she coming today?”

He asked casually. But let me say this again—THIS WAS ANOTHER QUESTION THAT HAD CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD! AND IT WAS THE SECOND TIME!

I almost dropped the box but managed to catch it at the last second. Letting out a deep sigh, I answered:

“I don’t know.”

I lowered my head slightly. I really didn’t know if she was coming or not. And even if she did, I had no idea what we would do. Where would I take her? What activities would we join? No matter what, I had to keep my distance and stay formal.

After finishing up with the equipment setup, the concert would start in the afternoon. People were already arriving and taking seats at the front. A decent crowd had gathered.

“Alright, everyone, let’s do our best today! For some of us, this is our last festival, and for others, it’s the first. Let’s make the most of it and have a great time!”

Our club president—despite being a bit unpredictable and slightly psychotic—had a good heart. He was great at boosting morale and fostering team spirit. He was truly the perfect fit for the role of president.

“YES!”

Everyone raised their hands and brought them together in the center.

“3… 2… 1… MUSIC CLUB!”

After the cheer, everyone moved to their positions. Everything was set. Which meant…

I was no longer needed.

“I’m going to the audience area,” I said. My eyes kept flicking to my phone. Still no response, and we were about to start.

Not wanting to take up the best spots, I moved toward the back. I sat down in an area that wasn’t too crowded. The sun had started to take on a golden hue. The scent of grass and soil mixed with the voices of the people around me. I kept checking my phone at regular intervals. I didn’t know what I was waiting for or what I would do. “Is she on the way? Is she coming?” I was simply curious.

People were laughing, some sitting beside their loved ones, others spending time with their friends. My friends, right in front of me, were about to perform the songs that would allow these people to have a good time. While I was proud, I also felt a bit lonely.

“Hello, everyone! First of all, thank you for being here. As the Music Club…”

The final speech before the songs began.

I stretched out my legs and quietly watched the sunlit concert area when my phone chimed with a notification. I reached into my pocket.

“… And our first song will be ‘Pain and Tears’ by Lyola!”

A loud round of applause erupted.

I unlocked my phone. The message was from Lyra.

It was a soft rock song, melancholic yet powerful. They had been surprised when I suggested it as the opening song. I had tried to explain it to them simply:

I wanted it to be the first song,
Because to truly touch people’s souls,
You first had to reach their hearts and emotions.

But in the end, it seemed I was the one who had been touched the most.

The message was short and to the point:

“I’m sorry, I won’t be able to come.”