A guide to survival in a heavy girl's world

"…………"

Chihaya Aine was speechless.

And Chihaya Tetsuya continued to add:

"Think about it, Aine. If you really just hastily formed a band out of a desire to be popular, then compared to those students who practiced diligently and even planned to make it their goal in the future, would your half-hearted attitude really allow you to achieve your goal? Back in junior high, you could still use your immaturity to hide many problems, but you're in high school now. Just relying on luck is definitely not enough."

"me……"

Chihaya Tetsuya's overly sharp words instantly pierced Chihaya Aine's heart, and even the weight of the guitar in her arms inexplicably increased a bit.

[Chihaya-san... you're just a beginner after all.]

[You play it so badly. Chihaya-san doesn't even know how to play guitar, right?]

【I guess I'd better forget about the band thing.】

In her mind, the image of failure began to become more concrete and three-dimensional, and all the failures she had experienced in England at that time came flooding back from the depths of her consciousness, making Chihaya Aine feel as if her heart had fallen into an icy cave.

The fear surged from the bottom of her heart like mud, and the combined effect of palpitations and tension made her breathing disordered.

She subconsciously wanted to put the guitar aside, trying to escape the pressure that she was all too familiar with.

However, before she could let go of her hand, Chihaya Tetsuya immediately placed his hand gently on the back of her hand.

"Aine, calm down and take a deep breath first."

It was not until she heard her brother's usual calm tone that the increasingly real fantasies in Chihaya Aine's mind gradually faded away.

"What I just said was just an assumption... You haven't actually started a band yet, and you haven't officially embraced failure, so it's okay."

"…………"

Feeling the touch on the back of her hand gradually turning from cold to warm, Chihaya Aine's originally disordered breathing began to gradually calm down.

"You're right... I almost made the same mistake again."

Chihaya Aine murmured with lingering fear:

"Yeah, I'm not a junior high student anymore, and Haneda isn't the kind of place where you can just get away with just being a beginner... What the hell was I thinking...?"

If her brother hadn't reminded her, if she had really only held on to the awareness she had in junior high school, then what would have been waiting for her would definitely have been a predictable failure.

"..."

On the other side, seeing that his sister seemed to have calmed down again, Chihaya Tetsu also let go of her hand and said again:

"So, let's return to our original topic... There's nothing wrong with wanting to be popular. The question is, how ambitious you are in achieving this goal."

Maybe it was because of the dream that he had not forgotten, but this word suddenly appeared in Chihaya Tetsuya's mind.

"Do you simply want to fit in at school? Or do you want to be as popular as you were in junior high? Or... are you planning to give up on this immature idea?"

"..."

After hearing the word "give up", Chihaya Aine subconsciously felt unhappy and resistant.

The failed experience of studying in the UK is still a nightmare that Chihaya Aine can't get rid of. Even though she has gradually accepted the reality under the guidance of Chihaya Tetsuya, it does not mean that she can accept the blow and humiliation brought by "giving up" again.

"I do not want."

Chihaya Aine subconsciously clenched her fists.

"I definitely don't want to go through that frustration again!"

"Very good. Next, tell us your ambition, Aine."

"I want to be the most popular guitarist in the school—"

As if to strengthen her resolve, Chihaya Aine once again hugged the guitar tightly in her arms.

“And the lead singer!”

"Well, that's right."

After hearing his sister's statement, Chihaya Tetsu also smiled.

"Well, pack up, we should go."

"Set off?"

Chihaya Aine was stunned after hearing this.

"Where to go?"

"shopping."

Chihaya Tetsuya said as he was the first to stand up from the sofa.

"Although I don't know anything about guitar or bands, I do know that a qualified guitarist must have something other than a guitar... And you just said you want to be a lead singer, right? Then you must buy a set of microphones for practicing..."

"Eh hey hey!? Wait, wait a minute!"

Chihaya Aine, whose mood had not yet fully changed, looked at Chihaya Tetsuya with a confused look on her face.

"Brother, those words you just said... weren't you trying to make me give up?"

"Of course not. I just want to make sure as much as possible that you don't have to go through the pain and regret you had before."

Chihaya Tetsuya said:

"Now that you have such clear ambitions, there is only one thing I have to do... and that is to support you unconditionally."

"..."

Staring blankly at Chihaya Tetsuya's indifferent yet matter-of-fact expression, Chihaya Aine suddenly felt an indescribable warmth in her heart.

That’s right, these words that are as sharp as a sewing needle and as sharp as a pair of tailor’s scissors are the way my brother expresses his love.

Not sentimental, but gentle enough. No worries, but also no reservations.

"Sigh, I feel like my XP is about to be distorted... Mom, compared to my brother, I'm probably the one who won't be able to get married in the future." (whispering)

"Hmm? Aine, what did you just say?"

"nothing!"

Chihaya Aine said as she put the guitar back into the guitar case.

"This Golden Week... I will do my best."

Whether for herself or for her brother.

Looking at the back that gave her infinite strength and warmth, Chihaya Aine was full of determination at this moment.

Chapter 20: The choice of "teacher" may be too hardcore

Thanks to her brother's generous donation, Chihaya Aine bought quite a lot of things in one go.

Needless to say, there are spare parts such as strings, straps, and picks, as well as actual hardware such as headphones, speakers, microphones, and effects pedals.

However, in reality, apart from the picks and microphone, the rest of the equipment was basically bought by Chihaya Tetsuya on his own initiative, following the store clerk's crazy salesmanship. Especially the effects pedal with English written all over it, Chihaya Aine didn't even notice when her brother signed it!

"Wow, is this true?..."

Looking at the seven-digit number on the bill and Chihaya Tetsuya who remained calm beside her, Chihaya Aine couldn't help but reveal an expression of doubt about life.

"Brother...how much is your current income?"

"Hmm? Are you talking about the salary or the price of my design?"

“…What does the price of the design mean?”

"Yes, for example, the design of the work clothes I gave to my assistant was bought by the Sanfeng Chamber of Commerce for three million."

Under Chihaya Aine's dumbfounded expression, Chihaya Tetsuya calmly stated an income that was completely inappropriate for his age:

"But because it was a buyout, the price was a bit higher... Hmm? What's that expression on your face?"

"My brother...has he become such an amazing designer?"

Chihaya Aine murmured with vacant eyes:

"Wow, this isn't good. If this continues, even my consumption habits will start to take on my brother's shape..."

"Not every design of mine can be sold at this price. I was just lucky that the Chamber of Commerce took a fancy to it that time."

Facing Chihaya Aine's shock, Chihaya Tetsuya shook his head and explained:

"The reason I act so calm is simply because I bought these things for you. As long as it's to support you, I won't feel bad no matter how much it costs."

"hiss………………"

Logically, this overwhelming love should have made Chihaya Aine happy. However, thinking of her own limited guitar skills and the unknown time it would take to form a band, she suddenly felt unprecedented pressure from the bills in Chihaya Tetsuya's hand...

"Hmm? That was a computer, right? By the way, Aine, do you need a new computer?"

"No need! That's it! Don't increase your investment any further!"

Faced with her brother's enthusiasm, Chihaya Aine refused tearfully:

"I don't want to buy anything now. I just want to go back and practice the piano as soon as possible..."

"You're really motivated."

"Who do you think is responsible for this..."

Come to think of it, she had previously been completely unaware of her true level, yet she had the audacity to ask her brother to accompany her to practice piano during the Golden Week holiday... Eh? Wait, doesn't that mean her brother will have to witness her utterly awful and embarrassing practice sessions for the next week?!

No, no, no!

"elder brother."

"kindness?"

Chihaya Tetsuya, who was suddenly called, stopped subconsciously.

“What’s wrong, Aine?”

"Regarding the condition you promised me, I want to change it. While I'm practicing the piano these few days... you absolutely, absolutely are not allowed to come near my room, and you are not allowed to eavesdrop! Do you understand?"

Chihaya Aine said with a serious face.

Faced with his sister's sudden 180-degree change, Chihaya Tetsu naturally showed an extremely confused expression.

"? But you asked me to practice piano with you throughout the holiday—"

"I've changed my mind! I absolutely cannot play it for you until I've achieved something!!!"

"Even if you say so, our rooms are opposite each other. It's probably unrealistic to not be able to hear anything."

"In that case, let's set a time every day!"

Chihaya Aine said:

"During the specified time period, you must wear headphones... or stay away from my room as much as possible!"

"But--"

"No buts! Brother, you just need to listen to me!"

“………………Okay, if you insist.”

Although he didn't understand why Aine suddenly changed her mind, since he had already made a promise, he had to follow through with it.

"So, what's the specific time?"

"Well, let me think about it."

Chihaya Aine tilted her head, thought for a moment, and then she said:

"Brother should still be sleeping in the morning, but I want to spend the afternoon with him... Is it really only at night..."

After pondering for a moment, Chihaya Aine finally snapped her fingers:

"I see. Why not just schedule it during my brother's usual working hours? This way I can spend plenty of time with him without disrupting his work schedule. Kill two birds with one stone!"

"Brother, what do you think?"

........................

"And then, things turned out like this."

So, Chihaya Tetsuya, who was "forced" back to the studio, relayed the general course of events to Director Hasegawa, who was trying to hold back his laughter.

"In order not to disturb my sister's piano practice, the studio is the only place I can go, so..."