Upon Deaf Ears Pt. 1

My eyes feel so heavy, my body is aching, and my head hurts. Did I sleep in a weird position? Or maybe it has something to do with the fact that I only got four hours last night.

Nonetheless, here I am, slaving away in the back storage garage, sweating my ass off when it's not even my job. I dropped the box in my hands on a cable trunk to wipe my forehead with a rag.

Alright. Almost done. I just have to finish loading the rest of these boxes over to the closed gate. Apparently, another studio that YE manages is in need of our equipment after theirs broke down.

I wonder why they don't just buy new ones. Sunayomi has probably been making them a ton of money. Then again, this is a business, and I happened to learn something a while back. The things that businesses do to... cut on spending money.

It may be the case. It may not be. Whatever. At the end of the day, I'm just a simple worker. I shouldn't worry about things like that when it doesn't affect me.

"Phew... All done," I said as I rolled over the last cable trunk needed. "I should really get Manager Na to pay me more for this... but, then again..."

I looked around to see that I was the only soul in this dimly lit garage.

"At least there's no one else around. Hm...? This song..."

Through my headphones, a sad, melodic tune was playing, followed by a mesmerizing voice that sounded almost angelic. I've had this song in my playlist for a while, and it actually took me a while to notice that this voice... belongs to none other than Yoshino Yoko.

It wasn't one of their new songs. It was a solo piece that Yoshino wrote before Sunayomi was formed. The lyrics and their meaning, the tone, and the way it sounds in general... I resonated deeply with it, and that's how it became one of my favorite songs.

"Hah... Looks like I've been a fan this whole time," I chuckled to myself.

I grabbed my bag and left the garage. I should stop by the break room for a drink. For the past three hours, I've been working nonstop without any water.

Better yet, I should just bring a water bottle next time. I never know what I'm gonna be doing for the day, so that might be the best solution.

Manager Na never fails to call me in for anything but what my job actually is, which is a contractual backstage crew runner. That means my job for the day could range anywhere between menial paperwork or physically taxing work that my body isn't built for.

I still do it, because why not? It's not like I have anything better to do.

When I finally made it to the break room, I pushed the door open. As much as I wanted to shut it right away, I couldn't, not because the door was stuck for anything. My body just... wouldn't move.

Two girls were sitting at a circular table. The moment I saw their heads, one light pink and one dark red, I knew exactly what kind of situation I was about to walk into.

"Huh... Just when I thought we finally had some peace," an annoyed voice remarked.

Instead of Suguha and Natsume, it was Mitsuki and Yoshino this time. They were both staring at me with distasteful looks.

"Don't mind me," I sighed as I walked in. "I'll be in and out."

I quickly made my way over to the counter to grab an energy drink. As soon as I picked one up, I tried to get out just as quickly.

"Yozora," Yoshino's cold voice struck my ears like an ice pick.

Just hearing that sent a chill up my spine. Of all people, she's the one who remembers my name. Her, Yoshino Yoko of Sunayomi, called out my name.

I mean, who could've guessed, right? Me. That's who. I knew this would happen. I literally called it.

Every time I name-drop myself, it always comes back to bite me, whether it's for trouble or a request. Either way, it's never pleasant.

"Yes?" I answered her.

"It's nice to see you again," she smiled. "How are you?"

She sounded genuine, but I knew all too well that her friendliness was a façade. As short as it was, I caught a glimpse of her true nature when she accused me of being a stalker. There's no way she would've forgotten it so easily.

"I'm doing well," I said. "And I hope you are as well."

Again, I tried to leave, but just like Suguha, Yoshino was strangely persistent.

"Is that all? Don't you have anything you want to say? Maybe a comment?"

"Not really," I replied.

"Or perhaps you want us to sign something for you?"

"Not at the moment."

Both of them had a sudden look of subtle shock. Is it that surprising to see someone who isn't bowing down and showering them with admiration?

"Really?" Mitsuki smirked. "There's rarely a time when someone doesn't want an autograph, and it's mainly because they don't know us. That's fair, but you... You know us. After all, you work for YE. Do you not like our music?"

"What?" I sighed. "That's not true at all. Even if it was, there's no reason for you to bother yourself with my opinions."

"Oh, come on."

Mitsuki rested her elbow on the table while leaning her head on her hand. At the same time, she squinted her eyes and shot me an alluring smile, which made me flinch.

"We're only where we are because of our fans. Don't you think we have to take their opinions into consideration?"

"What if I said that I wasn't your fan?" I muttered. "Would I finally be able to leave?"

"Hah. You're really playing hard into that role, aren't you?"

"Role...? What are you talking about?"

"Acting as if you have no interest in us at all. Yeah. As if. I've seen your type before. You make it seem like you don't care about us, but behind that mask, there's an agenda. It makes me wonder whether or not you working here is just a coincidence. Or better yet, the fact that I bumped into you, of all people, in that washroom."

Here we go again.

"The same could be said about anyone," I muttered. "Whether it was me or some other guy who walked into the men's washroom, by the way, it would've ended the same."

"Do you really think so?" Yoshino scoffed.

I felt my blood pressure rising, and I knew that I wouldn't be satisfied if I simply left after hearing that.

"Alright, then," I said as I slammed my energy drink onto the table. "I'll take the bait. Let's just get this over with. Whatever that needs to be said can be said right here and now."