Transcript
Saaya
That should be the last of the curry bread that needs to be bagged. Now I just...
Saaya
Ah, it's from O-Tae.
Saaya
"Bet you can't wait for today's concert. I know I can't."
Saaya
Fufu, she even posted a photo... This rock looks just like a rabbit.
Saaya
"Yeah. Really excited." ... There we go.
Saaya
All right... Dad~, could you bring the sandwiches over~?
Natsuki
... We're CHiSPA, and thanks for coming to our show today!
Kasumi
Ooh~! They were so cool, huh~?
Rimi
Mm-hmm, there was no hesitation in their music, and it really felt like the four of them played as one... It was definitely a nice performance.
Arisa
The crowd was really on fire too.
Saaya
Yeah. That sense of unity in the venue was pretty incredible~. I even worked up a huge sweat from the workout I got.
Tae
Hey, why don't we go to the dressing room to say hi?
Kasumi
Great idea! Let's go~!
Kasumi
Hi~!
Rimi
Wow, it's packed.
Arisa
Well, they did just finish performing, and everyone loved the band showdown. I'm not surprised other people are also here to say hi.
Saaya
Now, where's Natsu...? Ah, there she is. Hey~, Natsu~!
Natsuki
Ah, Saya! Guys!
Kasumi
That was a great show~! You were amazing~!
Tae
Nice singing and guitar playing there, Natsuki.
Natsuki
Really? Ahaha, you're making me kinda blush.
Saaya
Fufu, don't know if it was just me, but you seemed pretty nervous when you first showed up on stage, Natsu.
Natsuki
Ah, was it that obvious...? Still haven't been able to get over that initial anxiety~.
Rimi
By the way, when you were making announcements during the last emcee segment, you said something about hosting a music event...
Natsuki
Yeah, a bunch of us bands who play at this live house often are getting together. CHiSPA's headlining it.
Arisa
I can see why you were fired up then. Have to put on a good show to bring in a crowd.
Kasumi
So, do you have new songs and stuff?
Natsuki
Ah, yeah. You could say so...
Tae
I can't wait then. Your music sounds so different from ours. Makes it exciting to listen to.
Natsuki
... Hey, do you mind if I ask you what you thought of our last song?
Tae
Hm? It was nice.
Natsuki
Actually, I'm more wondering how you guys would've arranged it~.
Tae
Well~, I'd probably throw in a solo part after the second chorus. It'd give the song more speed and color.
Kasumi
If it were me, I'd include some background singing after the first verse! By Arisa!
Arisa
By me?! Well, our songs do have background vocals a lot...
Natsuki
Hmm~, guitar solo... and background vocals... Interesting...
Natsuki's Friend
Nice show, Natsuki~! Guess who's come to say hi~!
Saaya
Ah, we should probably go now.
Kasumi
Aw~, we've barely even started chatting~.
Arisa
Stop being so childish. We're not the only ones who want some time with them.
Arisa
And Kasumi... You haven't forgotten your promise, have you? About doing that home ec assignment after the show.
Kasumi
I-I remember, of course~. It's due this week, right? Ah, I know. How about we do some band practice in your basement first, and then I can work on it?
Arisa
Not happening! In the first place, I've got student council stuff, and Rimi has to go to cram school.
Rimi
I'm sorry, Kasumi-chan. There's a cram school routine exam coming up...
Kasumi
Oh well~... Okay...
Saaya
All right, Natsu. Good luck with hosting the music event.
Tae
We'll come see you again. Bye~!
Natsuki
Thanks so much for coming!
Natsuki
Ah, Saya... Got some time later?
Saaya
Sure. What is it?
Transcript
Saaya
Hmm~... What to do~...
Saaya
Huh? You want us to write a song for you guys?
Natsuki
Yeah.
Natsuki
We're working on a new one for the event, and we've been trying to get it to feel fresh, but...
Natsuki
Everything always ends up sounding just like all our other songs...
Saaya
I see... Well, having the same people doing the writing would do that, but it's also what gives CHiSPA its own special color.
Natsuki
That's why the idea came up that it'd be cool to maybe get you guys to write the song, but it looks like you're all busy, so no pressure or anything...
Saaya
All right... I'll see what everyone thinks.
Natsuki
You will?! Thanks a bunch!
Saaya
I know what I said, but... everyone is a little busy now... Hmm~...
Tae
Ah, Saya.
Saaya
O-Tae? What're you doing at this hour?
Tae
I'm on my way to the station. I've got the urge to play the guitar. What about you? Did you get to have that talk with Natsuki?
Saaya
Yeah...
Tae
...? Are you okay? It looks like something's on your mind.
Saaya
Well~, you see...
Tae
Oh~! CHiSPA's song! That sounds so fun! Let's do it!
Saaya
I want to as well, but...
Saaya
I don't know about saying yes... Everyone's pretty busy...
Saaya
And with the show coming up fairly soon, it might be hard for everyone to make enough time to write a song...
Tae
Then we can write it!
Saaya
We? As in you and me?
Tae
Yup. I come up with the melody, you handle the lyrics. Everyone else can do the arranging.
Tae
That way, we should be able to finish by the end of the week!
Saaya
I suppose it could work for just one song, but...
Saaya
Me do the lyrics, huh...? I'm not sure I'd be able to~...
Tae
It'll be fine. You know CHiSPA the best, and I wanna try writing a melody to go with your lyrics!
Tae
Plus, it's not like we get the chance every day to do a song for another band. Let's give it a shot!
Saaya
True... All right, you've convinced me. Let's bring it up with everyone tomorrow.
Tae
Yay~! Now you're talking!
Saaya
... So there you have it. What do you think?
Kasumi
I'm all for it! We should totally do this!
Arisa
Writing a song for someone else, huh...? It'll be a first, and it looks interesting enough. Most importantly, it's CHiSPA asking us. We've got no reason to say no.
Rimi
I'm pretty interested in arranging a song by you and O-Tae-chan.
Tae
Did you hear that, Saya?
Saaya
Yeah. Thanks, guys... I'll let Natsu know we'll do it.
Kasumi
Oh~, I really can't wait to listen to what you guys come up with~!
Arisa
Hey, home ec assignment, remember? You get to work on it while you wait. You seriously better finish it.
Kasumi
I-I know~. Why do you think I have this apron during our lunch break?
Arisa
Lemme see that... Gah, you haven't made any progress! How can you pretty much still be sewing the same part I saw when I looked this morning?!
Kasumi
I-it's just been so much fun chatting with you guys~...
Arisa
... Fine. I've clearly gotta keep my eye on you until you turn that thing in. You and me both have work after school.
Kasumi
Seriously~?!
Tae
Hey, what do you think about this intro?
Rimi
Wait, you came up with the introduction already, O-Tae-chan?
Tae
Yeah! And here's the first verse that follows... Well?
Saaya
Hmm~. I like how it feels, but... I'm not sure CHiSPA's quite so rock 'n' roll...
Tae
Oh? Then how about something like this?
Arisa
I dunno~... Sounds pretty amazing, but it's not quite clicking somehow...
All
...
Saaya
... You know, the reason we're not getting the right feel might be because we don't really know the current CHiSPA.
Saaya
Even I only know the old them, so I'm actually not too sure I can write good lyrics that'll fit who they are now.
Arisa
Makes sense... We do see their shows a lot, but we might not know much about how they roll as a band or what's important to them.
Saaya
If only we could find out more about the things they've seen and how they think...
Tae
Let's go ask Natsuki then! We should be able to get some hints that'll help us write their song.
Saaya
Ah, good idea. I'll text her to see if we can meet after school today.
Kasumi
I wanna go too! It sounds like so much fun~!
Arisa
Kasumi~...
Kasumi
Er... I-I know, I know~...
Saaya
Okay, me and O-Tae will come up with a great song, so just sit tight!
Transcript
Natsuki
Ah, there you guys are. Hey~, over here.
Saaya
Natsu! Thanks for making time for us.
Natsuki
It's the least I can do. Thanks for agreeing to work on our song. Mayu and the others are really happy.
Tae
And I got to play the guitar a whole lot during lunch.
Saaya
So this is the studio you guys usually hang out at, huh?
Natsuki
Yeah. We always practice here after school because it's near Fumika and Mayu's school.
Saaya
The posters on the walls and the lighting are all different from CiRCLE. Even the sounds coming from the rooms are different. Everything feels so new.
Tae
All right, can we start asking you about CHiSPA?
Natsuki
Of course! Ask me anything!
Tae
So, what's important to you guys when you write songs?
Natsuki
Hmm~, I'd say being ourselves and keeping things simple.
Natsuki
We try not to do anything too fancy. Our audience also has a better time when we get to enjoy performing.
Natsuki
It's something we came to realize after spending so much time as a band. So, yeah. Our basic approach is keep it simple!
Tae
Interesting. That's an important band keyword. We shouldn't make the song's structure complicated then.
Tae
Next question. What do you guys usually do when you get together to celebrate after a concert?
Saaya
Um, what...?
Tae
This is super important. I always look forward to the bread you bring when we celebrate.
Tae
I've even come up with new phrases while thinking of how yummy they were.
Saaya
O-oh...
Natsuki
Ahaha. You might have a point about the importance of those celebrations. It's where we do end up talking about stuff like what we want to do as a band.
Natsuki
Now that I think about it, it's how we got the idea to go on a trip to practice during summer last year.
Saaya
Ah, you mentioned that one before! You stayed at a guesthouse by some mountains, right?
Natsuki
That's the one. We even took our instruments with us, not that they saw much use. We were playing in the river and doing tests of courage at night instead~.
Natsuki
After laying out our mattresses, we wouldn't sleep either because we'd be talking until the sun came up.
Saaya
Fufu, sounds familiar, doesn't it?
Tae
Yeah. Reminds me of when all of us went to look at the stars.
Natsuki
So, we didn't get much practice, but none of us minded since thinking about all the fun we had during the trip helped us come up with a song.
Natsuki
Hmm... You know, I'd actually say our personal experiences might also be important to us when it comes to writing music.
Tae
I see, I see. Personal experiences... then.
Saaya
(... Interesting. It looks like O-Tae's naturally managing to dig up hints we can use for the song...)
Saaya
(She might actually have a surprisingly good knack for getting people to talk...)
Tae
Does this all mean you guys don't fight, then?
Natsuki
Actually, we do. A lot. Sometimes, really minor things can make us skip practice, but we also make up easily before we know it.
Saaya
... Oh.
Natsuki
Yeah. But having been through so much is also why I want to keep taking good care of our band. We do go all the way back to middle school, after all.
Tae
Okay, what brings you the most joy about being in a band?
Natsuki
Hmm~, probably people in the audience saying how much they enjoyed a show we just put on.
Natsuki
Other than that... I'd have to say it's bringing in a lot of people for this live house.
Saaya
Really?
Natsuki
Yup, this place means a lot to us.
Natsuki
Back when we couldn't get anyone to come to our shows, the people here were there to cheer us up.
Natsuki
And the first time we got a decent crowd, the manager, who's usually the silent type, congratulated us for keeping at it and even baked us a cake.
Natsuki
So, this place... it's really important to us. You could say it's helped us grow.
Saaya
Ah... Looks like every live house has their own stories.
Natsuki
Think I've gone on long enough. Thanks for listening to me ramble.
Saaya
Anytime. I'm glad I got the chance to find out what CHiSPA's been through.
Saaya
All right, one last question. Is there anything, in particular, you want included in the lyrics?
Natsuki
Hmm~, honestly~, it'd be nice if you could just write what you want.
Saaya
Um, that's not giving me much to work with~.
Tae
Maybe you could talk about what you like instead then!
Natsuki
What I like? Uh, there's chocolate crepe, sodas... the smell of soap, and the sunshine when I wake up in the morning, I guess...
Saaya
Consider me even more unsure what to write now...
Natsuki
Ahaha. No need to overthink things. I suppose if I have to make a request... I'd maybe want something I've never felt. Like a brand new feeling.
Saaya
Could you explain a bit?
Natsuki
The feeling of opening a door you've never opened before... and sprinting forward to see what lies beyond... It'd be great if the song could give me that.
Saaya
A brand new feeling you've never had, huh...?
Transcript
Tae
Phew~, the night breeze sure feels nice.
Saaya
Spring evenings are so warm that they make me want to keep walking forever.
Tae
I love this time of the year. It feels so nice to play the guitar outside. Ah, wanna go do a street performance now?
Saaya
Uh~, now? I sort of want to go home and work on the song.
Tae
Okay. We did get a lot of info out of Natsuki, I guess.
Saaya
Definitely. I got to find out so many things I never knew... Makes me feel like I've gotten a glimpse of what Natsu's been through.
Tae
What our bands have seen may be different, but what we've felt might actually be pretty similar.
Saaya
It's probably 'cause there are feelings that everyone in a band ends up experiencing.
Saaya
Happiness, frustration... joy, sadness...
Tae
Uh-huh. And I think it also means the best approach to the song is going to be to include the feelings our band experiences have given us.
Tae
That should make it relatatble for CHiSPA.
Saaya
Yeah... I feel the same way.
Saaya
(What I've felt by being in Poppin'Party... I'll try using my own words to put those feelings just as they are into the song.)
Tae
By the way, CHiSPA sure loves that live house, huh?
Saaya
For sure. It's probably kind of like what CiRCLE is for us. A special place, you know?
Tae
Live houses and studios are so incredible. You get to be right there to witness the moment music is born and even share your joys and grow with all sorts of bands.
Saaya
Yeah. You know their drummer Sato-chan, right? Natsu mentioned before that they met her at a studio.
Tae
Studios help people meet and form connections... And supporting bands by doing those things is what makes working at one so fun for me.
Saaya
Supporting bands, huh...? That's kind of nice.
Saaya
Ah, it's Rimi-rin. She says she'll be able to help out a bit since cram school just ended... How about we head to my place now and-
Tae
Ah!
Saaya
Wh-what is it?
Tae
I just came up with a great phrase that I want you to hear! Oh, but I don't have my guitar. C'mon, let's go!
Saaya
Huh? W-wait!
Tae
... What do you think? Pretty good phrase, right?
Saaya
Yeah! It's like... the one yesterday was still you...
Saaya
And this might not make much sense... but what you just played on the guitar now was neither you nor Poppin'Party...
Tae
Really? Yay~.
Saaya
You know, you really surprised me when you suddenly ran off.
Tae
I know, but I started hearing that new phrase, and I was worried it would fly off if I didn't play it.
Tae
Don't worry though. I have it firmly in my grasp. Hm-hm-hmm~♪
Saaya
Fufu, your guitar's so lucky it gets to be played with such joy~.
Saaya
Hey, have you ever wanted to play a different instrument?
Tae
Nope. I knew the guitar was the one for me the moment we met.
Tae
Nothing rivals it. Just six strings are all it takes to express joy, sadness, and anything really.
Tae
It transcends language and lets you connect with people in the past and the future.
Saaya
What's this about the past and future...?
Tae
When I listen to music by guitarists from way back, I can tell what they're thinking. So maybe people in the future will know what I'm feeling when they hear my music.
Tae
That's how it lets you connect with people no matter what time they're from. The connections it can form are limitless.
Saaya
... I see. I get the feeling you'll be playing the guitar this way forever.
Tae
What? I stop when I get hungry.
Saaya
Uh, that's not how I meant it... Fufu, maybe playing the guitar is the same as breathing for you.
Tae
I think so. You don't see air, but it's always right there, so that makes it just like my guitar.
Rimi
Hi~.
Tae
Ah, Rimi!
Saaya
Hey, Rimi-rin. Thanks for coming at this hour.
Rimi
It's okay. I want to help. Here, I brought a little something for both of you.
Tae
Oh~, cheesecake. Is this from that cake place that just opened near the station?
Rimi
Mm-hmm. The one my mom got for me the other day was really good, so I went and bought some. Feel free to have a bite whenever you want. I'll put it on the table.
Rimi
... Hm? Is this what I think it is...?
Saaya
Yeah, it's our school pamphlet. We were going through it to remind us of the things we've been through as a band.
Tae
Brings back memories of when we worked on it, doesn't it?
Rimi
It really does. I remember you taking the photo on the cover, Saya-chan, and all of us waking up early to go to school.
Tae
This pamphlet's how we came up with that song, wasn't it? I guess this goes to show you that we also get our music from our experiences.
Saaya
We've been through so much together, so we have that many more songs as well. I wonder how many...
Rimi
Ah, before I forget. Saya-chan, O-Tae-chan. Here. Maybe this will help.
Saaya
...The Poppin'Party Composing Notebook?
Rimi
I put together the notes I've written down when writing our music.
Rimi
It's my way of trying to do what I can since I can't be with you as much as I'd like... I know it might not be that useful, but...
Saaya
No way, this'll be a huge help! Thanks so much!
Tae
Our song's gonna be even better now!
Rimi
Just let me know if you run into trouble, okay? I'll do whatever I can.
Tae & Saaya
Okay!
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