It was a girl with long hair similar to mine, and her skirt was the length specified in the student handbook.

Holding the light brown guitar in his arms, his slender white fingers kept plucking the strings, and some beautiful sounds came from it.

I didn't bother her, nor did I tell her that it was my seat.

Keeping the door open, I sat on the stairs and unwrapped the plaid cloth wrapping the lunch box.

I enjoyed this lunch very happily, with the soothing sound of guitar in my ears. It seemed that even my mother's cooking, which I was already accustomed to, was a bit more delicious than usual.

When the sound of the piano stopped completely and footsteps came from behind, I looked back and saw that the girl playing the guitar had already reached the door.

She was a little careless. It was obviously the first time we met, but she looked at my bento with her eyes shining.

I had to ask her if she wanted to try a piece of fried chicken, and she nodded sharply.

After eating, she talked a lot. If my mother heard her, she would probably recognize her as her goddaughter's compliments.

Even though we already have two daughters at home.

This is my encounter with music.

…

From then on, I could meet her on the school rooftop every noon.

I did not continue to eat on the stairs, but sat somewhere far away from her.

I won't open the lunch box until the sound of the piano subsides.

She always eats the fried noodles bread sold in the school cafeteria. I have tried it a few times and it tastes really good, but if she eats the same food every day, she will always get tired of it.

So I always share my food with her, and as a thank you, she plays the music I like to listen to.

If she encounters a piece she doesn't know, she will play it to me again the next day, just like me who used to deliberately look up information in order to have a common topic with friends.

So, during lunch break one day.

As usual, I sat next to her and quietly listened to her music, when the melodious and continuous sound of the piano suddenly stopped.

I looked at her with some confusion.

But she suddenly said to me:

"Hey, do you like music?"

At this time, I just felt that music was a comforting thing, and it could indeed make me forget my worries for a short time, so I answered without thinking:

"Yeah, I like it."

…

From this day on, I, who was supposed to be the home club, now have my own club.

There are only two members, me and her.

I like to call her Xiaoxing.

Xiaoxing is the founder of the club, and besides me, there are also her friends as members.

They all know their own musical instruments, but I don't know anything.

Even so, no one looked at me strangely. They even looked at me in amazement and asked me if I had ever thrown away Mafuyu's desk.

I nodded.

They said I was so cool.

Well, I might be able to get along with them.

…

Guitar, bass, keyboard, drums.

The four of them are a band, and I am an audience member sitting in the audience watching their performance.

They didn't ask me to do anything, they just said that if I like music, I can sit there and listen to it all the time.

I thought of those four people in the past. Even though I knew they were different from those people in the past, I still couldn't help but be afraid, worried that I would become the extra one.

If the previous ending is repeated, then I think I would rather not meet them.

They were the brightest stars in my entire high school career. I was attracted by the light in them and pursued them endlessly.

So, I, Terashima Aimi, once again took my own steps in order to gain true friends.

From now on, I don’t want to just watch in the audience, and I don’t want to be the redundant one.

"I also...want to join the band."

So, I know nothing, I am useless.

became their lead singer.

…

At the beginning, it was not all smooth sailing. The problem was me. I never thought I would embark on the path of music.

But in order to stand by their side, I, who knew nothing, had to work harder.

I started running and exercising every morning, rain or shine, just to make my voice more stable and able to sing their dreams.

Their dream is to become nationally famous musicians.

Compared with them, I just want to stand beside them, so I can't call music a dream. This is blasphemy to them.

So every time they ask me what their beauty dream is.

I would smile and say to them: "Being in the best band with you."

They all smiled happily, hugged me and said thank you.

Actually, I am the one who wants to say thank you.

In fact, my real dream is not to "become the best band", but to "be with you".

Unfortunately, no matter which one it is, I haven't been able to achieve it.

At Christmas time, I received a message from Xiaoxing that there was no need to participate in club activities today. I thought to myself that it is natural for everyone to have their own arrangements for Christmas.

So, when I came home from school and walked in the door, I heard the sound of crackers, which startled me, and countless colorful confetti fell on my head.

The home is very warm.

The ribbon falling on my head is beautiful.

"Happy birthday!"

…

My singing skills are improving day by day, and they all praise me for my talent. I can only smile sheepishly.

They said I looked good when I smiled, and they would not pinch my face hard, but would hug me instead.

Well, I can't dislike it, not at all.

If this continues, I might like girls, maybe.

I started learning the guitar. Xiaoxing deliberately made a funny look, imitating the mysterious old man in the comic book, and said that she would teach me what she had learned throughout her life. We were all amused by her.

If there are two guitarists in a band, they will be able to play more lively music in the future. I hope our band can become better.

Just because of my guitar skills, I'm not good enough to be a guitarist, but it doesn't matter, they will wait for me until I become a strong enough guitarist and a more powerful vocalist.

I'm not afraid at all.

…

What color is youth?

grey?

green?

Or rose color?

I think using a color to describe it would be a bit lonely, at least that's what I felt in that narrow mobile classroom.

It is like the vast starry sky, a color that makes people unable to express themselves in words.

This is my band, my youth.

After entering the second grade, Xiaoxing and I were placed in the same class, which made me particularly happy.

Not only during lunch break and club time, I can talk to her all the time, and we have become a closer relationship than ever before.

Xiaoxing is my best friend.

The thing we talk about the most is music, which is Xiaoxing’s dream.

And my dream is to work with them to realize their dreams.

And this is a small step for this dream.
Chapter completed!