Walk on and on

Street SEKAI
1
Miku
Now then...
I've finished watering this row, so that just leaves...
2
Miku
Oh, Toya, come on in.
Actually, that sounds a bit strange since we're outside.
3
Toya
Are you watering the flowers in these beds, Miku?
4
Miku
Yes, since I want them to keep growing.
5
Miku
Oh, that's right.
Kohane also arrived just now.
6
Toya
Azusawa's here?
7
Miku
Yes, we heard from her that Akito and An have finished making their demo.
8
Toya
Yes, that's right. Akito said, “Starting tomorrow, we'll be practicing with the demo and laying down vocals.”
9
Miku
I see. You must be very excited about that.
10
Toya
Yes, I am.
And I need to do my best to put on the best performance of their songs that I can.
11
Miku
*Nod*
Good luck.
12
Miku
Oh, that's it for here.
Thank you for the lovely chat, Toya.
13
Miku
Once more, come on in.
What would you like?
14
Kohane
A-Aoyagi!
15
Toya
Oh, Azusawa, what a coincidence.
16
KAITO
Hello, Toya!
It's been quite a while.
17
Toya
I apologize for not being able to visit lately. I've been busy and...
18
MEIKO
That's perfectly fine. We're just glad to see that you're well. Would you like your usual coffee?
19
Toya
Yes, please.
20
Rin
Oh, hey!
What if Toya helped too?
21
KAITO
Wait, Rin, shush!
22
Toya
Help with what...?
23
Rin
Huh? Because... I'm so sorry!
24
Toya
What's going on here...?
25
Kohane
Oh, um...
26
Kohane
But it would be really nice to have Aoyagi on board...
27
Kohane
So, we've been keeping it secret from the others that...
28
Kohane
I've recently been working on my own track.
29
Kohane
But I was having so much trouble on my own that I'm having KAITO and Rin help me as I go...
30
KAITO
And that's okay with us. Actually, we've mostly just been observing since you're such a hard worker.
31
Rin
Yeah, he's right! We know that you've been trying super duper hard!
32
Toya
I had no idea...
Still, Azusawa, what made you want to do this?
33
Kohane
You, An and Shinonome can all write your own music, right...? That means I'm the only one who doesn't know how.
34
Toya
But that's not your fault...
You're still relatively new to all this.
35
Kohane
I know, but I don't feel great about that...
36
Kohane
I know I'm being a little selfish by wanting to make my own track. I get that I should be focusing on putting on a good performance right now...
37
Toya
Am I asking for too much...?
38
Soma
No, I don't think so.
That's just how life is, right?
39
Toya
I see...
40
Toya
(Azusawa was going through the same thing.)
41
Toya
I don't see any problems with that...
42
Kohane
Huh...?
43
Toya
What's wrong with doing what you want to do? If I were in your position, Azusawa, I would've made the same decision.
44
Toya
So, what do you need me to do?
45
Kohane
Oh, um...! It's not completely done yet, but I was hoping that you'd listen to what I have and tell me what you think.
46
Kohane
I've been rewriting some of it and I think it might've turned out pretty well. At the same time, I may've possibly lost sight of what kind of song I originally wanted it to be.
47
Toya
Yes, I see...
48
Toya
Then, I'd like to give what you made a listen.
49
Kohane
Th-Thank you so much! I'll play it now...!
50
Toya
(Hm? This melody...)
51
Kohane
How was it...?
52
Toya
Well...
53
Toya
I'm also yet to create anything that I feel is satisfactory, so I don't think that I'm in a position to be criticizing...
54
Toya
But its quality leaves a lot to be desired. The beat seems a bit off, which is affecting its overall sound.
55
Kohane
Its overall sound...
56
Toya
If that happens, you're going to have a tough time achieving any sort of harmony, and what you originally imagined is going to fall apart.
57
Kohane
I see. That explains why I didn't feel too confident about it. The more I worked on it, the further and further I got from what I initially wanted...
58
Kohane
Songwriting's so hard...
59
Toya
But I don't think it's bad, since I believe that only you are capable of producing this song, Azusawa.
60
Toya
By the way, did you use a part of one of Shiraishi's songs for the chorus?
61
Kohane
Huh? Y-Yeah, you could tell...?
62
Toya
Yes, it sounded very much like the way Shiraishi puts together songs.
63
Toya
You seemed to have listened very closely to what she made and tried whatever you could to make sure her sound didn't go to waste.
64
Toya
Overall, Azusawa, it's very like you.
I think it's a good expression of your honesty and tactfulness.
65
Toya
It's easy to tell that you put quite a lot of thought into how things would sound moving into the chorus.
66
Toya
There's this sort of excitement. This nervousness and joy centered around creating your own music for the first time.
67
Kohane
That's incredible, Aoyagi.
This song's supposed to be based on what I felt when I heard An sing for the first time.
68
Kohane
Still, how did you figure all that out?
69
Toya
How? Well...
70
KAITO
Does your background in classical music have something to do with that?
71
Toya
Huh?
72
Miku
Oh, you mean the way he broke down her song just now?
73
Kohane
The way he broke down my song?
74
KAITO
Yes. Classical musicians place importance on playing a composer's music exactly the way they originally intended, no?
75
KAITO
They'll research their background and what kind of person they were before attempting to play their work. That requires good analytical skills.
76
KAITO
Based on what Toya did just now, I suspect he's very good at breaking down songs in such a manner.
77
Toya
Oh...
78
Toya's Father
No, again. Your rhythm is off. How many times do I have to tell you? This piece needs to be played slowly, while evoking strong emotions.
79
Toya's Father
You did it again. Why does this keep happening? You have a bad habit of rushing after you've realized what you've done. Can't you play it more gently?
80
Toya's Father
This is a practice piece that the composer was kind enough to write for our family. Happy was likely the last thing he felt as he wrote this... So, if you understand that, you should know how to play this song.
81
Toya's Father
Did you actually take a close look at the sheet music, Toya? You need to think more about what was going through the composer's mind. If you did, you would know how to play this piece already. You're done practicing. Go reread the sheet music again.
82
Toya
Yes, my dad was very strict with me when it came to teaching me how to play classical music properly...
83
Toya
In particular, he felt very strongly about understanding what was going on with the composer as they composed a song and reproduce that musically.
84
Toya
I also admired the way he could play... I don't know if I'm actually good at it, but I did my best to learn how to analyze sheet music.
85
Toya
I may've been able to understand Azusawa's song because she and I have been performing together for a while now.
86
Miku
That means you have the power to truly understand what a person's music is about, Toya.
87
KAITO
It goes perfectly with your kind personality.
88
Toya
...
89
Kohane
Thank you, Aoyagi.
90
Kohane
The thing is...
When I decided that I was going to make my own track, I wanted you guys to feel something special when you listened to it...
91
Kohane
That's why I chose to turn the moment I met An for the first time into a song.
92
Kohane
My goal was to express the incredible joy and excitement I've felt every single day since she introduced me to the world of music.
93
Kohane
But I'm still not very good at songwriting, and really worried that my song isn't doing its job...
94
Kohane
Which is why I was really happy when you said that you understood what feelings went into it, Aoyagi.
95
Toya
I see...
Then, Azusawa, I'm glad I could figure out what you were feeling.
96
Toya
It's nice to hear that everything I did back then is proving to be so useful now.
97
Toya
So, thank you as well.
98
Kohane
Huh? Y-You're welcome...?
99
Toya
(Still, Azusawa really impressed me.
She was clearly able to turn her feelings into a song.)
100
Toya
(I need to learn to do the same...)
Next Chapter: Filled With These Wishes