Chasing The Light: III

I was happy enough to get out of that room. Unlike backstage, the main area was a no-smoking area. It didn't smell clean, but I did feel as if the air was safe to breathe, at least. As more people entered, I became more and more aware of the fact that I did not have a wristband. It shouldn't matter, but I hope the staff had saw me come 'with the band'. I wouldn't be able to leave and come back inside, but that was not something I had been planning on.

The crowd was modest as we approached the start time. I would guess there were slightly more people than had been present at my last 'gig', but also the room was slightly bigger and so the feeling was pretty much the same. Once again, I felt pretty out of place. Most people were with groups, while the only person I 'knew' was going to be on the stage. The staff seemed friendly but busy, and there was no ticket-system here. I decided to buy a bottle of tea and slipped it into my bag.

The lights dimmed, and it was time. There was a low cheer, and some hoots and whistles as they walked onto the stage, illuminated by the stagelight. Alyx stood in the middle, but moved back when Ami approached the microphone.

"How we doing tonight?"

Ami's question prompted some energetic shouts.

"Good to know. Lotta unfamiliar faces in the crowd, so I guess its customary to do a little intro. We are MY AMERICANA and if you follow our Insta, I promise I'll remember to update it. I'll let Little Miss Cool take over now."

A slight cheer followed, as Ami moved off to the side and Alyx again was front and centre. She didn't say anything at all, she just started playing her guitar. She was looking down, focused.

Is she nervous?

The band all started playing, and they launched into their first song. It was very different to the song she had been playing that day. That was her 'just messing around'. Now she was serious. Her face was different to back then, too.

She looks angry.

No, angry isn't the right word for it. Intense?

Beautiful?

I shook my head. Her already pale skin appeared sheer white in the light. The only colour on her face was the red of her lips, the black of her eyeshadow, and the green of her eyes. The music matched the intensity of her appearance. It was fast, and it was angry. And then it was slow and gentle. She was singing things I had yet to experience, about love and pain and… Getting really drunk apparently. Her feelings were in her words. Or at least I assumed they were her words. Someone else could have written them. When I had watched Stacy's band play, I hadn't been sure if I liked it. It had been a powerful experience, with the music and the crowds and the—

I should have brought some earplugs.

I remembered Ayano's advice entirely too late. Alyx's band was just as loud as back then. I briefly worried about ear damage, but decided it would probably be fine. I was standing at the back of the room, as far away from the speakers as possible. There was a slight discomfort at first, but after the first song I got used to the volume. It was good. I had no doubts this time. I did like this. The music, the sound, the feeling in the venue. They way Alyx looked on stage.

The music, I like the music. That is it.

Around halfway through the allotted time, Alyx's expression changed. Her face softened, and she looked as if she had loosened up. During one particularly energetic song, Ami took to the centre and shared the microphone with her.

It looks like they are kissing.

That was what I thought. Their faces were close, their mouths hidden by the mic.

They aren't kissing. Obviously. They are still singing.

They were like this for a while. This was the first time I really looked at Ami. Like Alyx, she was having fun. I wondered about this. Were they close? Backstage, they didn't seem as if they were too fond of each other, but on stage they were in perfect sync. Mako, the bassist, seemed to be in his own world entirely, and I couldn't really see how the drummer looked. Perhaps she was shy. Ami had joked about nerves before, and being nestled at the very back of the stage behind your drum-kit is about the only way you could hide up there.

"Alright then, this next one is our last one so I want to see you move!"

This time Alyx had taken MC duties, though just very briefly before a deep bassline introduced the final song. This precipitated an appreciative cheer from some in the crowd. This was certainly more 'dancey' than before. Something I could imagine being played over the sound system at a store, or as an anime ending theme. The movement of the crowd in front of me did seem to sway and bounce. I closed my eyes and found myself also moving along, not quite dancing but doing something that was almost adjacent to dancing. I did not feel comfortable enough to join the crowd, but I felt as if I was with them, eyes closed and swaying, surrounded by the music. It was also getting rather late, so perhaps I was just experiencing a mild delirium from tiredness.

***

The band were cheered off, and after a few minutes they were all hanging around the venue area. Most people were beginning to leave, but a handful were drawn towards the band. It seemed as though these were mostly classmates and friends, and they were discussing their plans for the after party. Alyx checked her phone and stood up, picking up her guitar.

"Right, Kirika, let's go."

"Eh, you aren't coming with?"

Mako seemed a little confused. I thought she would have made her plans clear in advance, perhaps he had just forgotten.

"I told you, didn't I? I promised to drive her home."

"Ah, I thought you'd at least come for some food."

"Not hungry. Kirika, come on."

I stood up, feeling a little awkward as everyone looked at us.

"Ah, thanks for the show. You performed very well. Please enjoy your party!"

I didn't know what to say, so I just said anything that came to mind as I turned to follow Alyx and head out the door. Before we left, Ami bade us farewell.

"Have fun, you two."

Have fun?

Alyx grumbled something and walked off quickly, I almost had to run to match her pace. The pedestrianised streets were pretty crowded with people enjoying their Friday night, but we paid them no mind. Alyx's car was in a parking bay nearby. It was a small, red thing. A little bit old, but perfectly suitable for a student I guess. She slung the guitar onto the back seats, on which there was already another guitar case.

We both got into the car without a word and then she handed me her phone.

"Here, type in your address. I'll drop you off on your doorstep."

I dutifuly typed in my address as she started to drive, and I slotted the phone into it's cradle.

"Yamate?"

"Yes…"

She sounded surprised, but I didn't know why.

"That place is… Nice, I hear."

"I guess you could say that."

We sat in silence for a bit. Awkwardly.

What do I say? Is she making conversation.

Alyx looked as if she was a little confused by the layout of the streets, but she eventually found herself onto the highway.

Say something. This is your chance to talk to her.

Say what? Talk about what?

Mercifully, it was Alyx who spoke first.

"Did- Did you enjoy the gig?"

Did I enjoy the gig? Yes, I suppose I did. But if she asks for details… What about it did I like? I don't want to say something weird, or come across as insincere. She probably won't ask for details, but if she did I should just say…

"Yes. It was great. You looked great up there. Like you were having fun, I mean."

"Did you enjoy it more or less than the last show you went to?"

"More."

She chuckled at this response.

"Quick answer. I'll not tell Stacy about that, don't worry."

The silence returned. It was a peaceful night. Not many cars were on the road this late. The gentle hum of the engine mixed with the late hour was almost enough to send me to sleep. But no, I couldn't. I needed to talk. Questions, ask her questions.

"So… How do you know Stacy?"

"Oh, we take a lot of the same classes at university."

"I see. And are your bandmates also your classmates?"

"Mina goes to the same school as me, but she's taking a different course. Literature I think. Ami goes to a different school, same one as Makoto I think."

"So how'd you…"

"Through an advert. I wanted to join a band and Stacy told me to just post something online."

"Ah, okay. Might I ask about your school?"

"Sure."

"What is it you are studying?"

"Music."

Music?

"Just 'Music'?"

"Well, I can specialise later. I'll probably focus on sound engineering."

The rest of the journey passed with little more than small talk. I still wasn't sure how to talk to her. I had wanted to ask plenty more, but too many questions seemed to personal. Eventually I started to recognise the roads, even in the dark. Alyx too the wrong turn a couple of times, but we arrived outside my house at just past midnight.

I took out my purse and pulled out a few thousand yen.

"Woah, what are you doing?"

"Well, when I told my mother I would be receiving a lift home she pressed onto me the importance of paying my share. For fuel, and other things."

She pushed my hand away as I offered her the money.

"It's fine, okay. I would have driven back this way anyway. I don't need to accept money from high schoolers, I'm a big girl."

At her insistence, I put the money way.

"Alright, but… I feel as if I owe you. We shall see each other again, I hope?"

"You got my contact, don't you? I can buzz you when we've got our next gig."

I smiled as I took off my seatbelt.

"That sounds great! I'll see you… Soon?"

"Yeah, yeah. See you around."

She drove off into the night with a wave. I would see her again, and soon. I knew that much.