Chapter 17: Let’s sing a song!
As Ishigami and Onodera had their first song and had fun together, when they finished, it was the turn of the others to sing.
"Let's sing again later," Onodera said with a bright smile since she hadn't recovered from the previous fun of singing with him. Moreover, wasn't this guy's voice so good?
"What do you want to sing?" Ishigami asked.
"No, wait! I want you to sing a song for me!"
While Onodera felt it was good to sing together, she also wanted him to sing a song for her. When she thought of such a scene, she couldn't help but feel her body so hot.
"...my song isn't so cheap."
"Did you not remember who treated you yesterday?"
"Okay, okay." Ishigami sighed and said, "Think what you want me to sing; I will get a drink first."
"Okay~!"
As Ishigami said so, he took his glass and went out to get a drink. The guy who treated him was generous, and he told him that he could get anything he wanted, so he didn't hesitate.
Still, watching the type of drinks that existed at the all-you-can-drink bar, Ishigami wondered what he should choose.
"Have you chosen Ishigami?"
Ishigami turned and saw Kobachi. "Not yet. Do you want to get a soda, Osaragi-san?" He stood in front of the soda area, so he thought to move in case she wanted to get a soda.
"No, I am also thinking about what to get."
After Kobachi said those words, she put her glass next to his and stood by his side, looking at various drinks before her, leaning forward slightly, mimicking his actions close by his side.
"Oh?" Ishigami didn't say much and thought about what he would get.
"What will you get? Soda?"
"No, I am thinking of getting lemon tea."
While Ishigami said so, he put a lot of barley tea inside his lemon tea to dilute its taste after he tasted how sweet it was.
"You don't like it?"
"No, it's too sweet."
"You are not good with sweets?"
"I like it, but if it is too much, it isn't good." Ishigami then looked at Kobachi's choice strangely. "You are going to get an iced coffee? Without sugar?"
"Yeah, the bitter taste is strangely comforting." Kobachi watched his expression with a smile and asked, "Is it strange?"
"No, if you like it, then it's fine, isn't it?"
Kobachi smiled and said, "But it's my first time to know that you are good at singing, Ishigami."
"It seems I have a good talent in this area."
"...you are not holding back, are you?"
"How about you?"
"Well, I am not that good."
"How about Iino?"
"Do you think she can sing?"
"..." Ishigami.
"Then, how about you sing with other girls?"
"Do you think I am close other than with Iino?"
"...girls' friendship is complicated."
"You are not wrong with that."
Hearing Ishigami's words, Kobachi smiled.
Considering how beautiful Kobachi was, most girls would avoid her since they were afraid of being compared.
So why was Kobachi so close to Iino?
If there was a reason for that, it was because the two of them were alone, and they just happened to be together, so they wouldn't be alone, as being alone was lonely.
"Do you want to sing?"
While knowing all of that, Ishigami didn't say anything, and this was known as a tack.
At the same time, this part of him made Kobachi keep her smile.
"Hmm..." Kobachi thought for a while as she put her finger on her chin and said, "To be honest, I am not good at singing in front of many." Or rather, she wasn't comfortable standing in front of many now.
"But..."
"But?"
"Can I request a song from you?"
"...."
Ishigami looked at Kobachi, who acted like a cute girl, begging him to sing for her. "Can I say no?"
"I opened the library for you before."
"Okay, okay. What do you want me to sing?"
"Then... do you know this song?"
"I know that, but it isn't a song that is sung by a single person."
"You can bring others with you."
As they talked to each other, they arrived at their room, and very quickly, Onodera came to him and asked, "Ishigami, can you sing this song for me?"
"....." Kobachi.
Still, Ishigami looked strangely at the song chosen by Onodera.
"You don't know this song?"
When Onodera asked this question, she couldn't help but glance at Kobachi, who walked away, which made her sigh in relief.
"...I know."
"Then, there is no problem, right?"
Ishigami looked at the title of the song and wondered whether Onodera wanted him to confess indirectly through this song.
On the other hand, Kobachi returned to her seat and sat next to Iino as if nothing had happened. Still, before Iino asked anything, she asked, "Iino, are you going to sing?"
"No..." Iino wasn't confident to sing in front of everyone, and frankly, she didn't feel good in this festive mood, especially when she was unfamiliar with everyone. It was as if there was an invisible wall that separated her from the others. Though she had to say it was great to hear Ishigami's voice, she couldn't help but furrow her brows at how close he was to Onodera.
"Hey, Onodera, what kind of song did you make Ishigami sing?"
"Aren't you too desperate?"
"Shut up! I just want to hear, okay? There is no other meaning!"
Hearing those words, Iino and Kobachi looked at the screen curiously, watching the song title speechlessly.
"Kana Nishino - Suki..." 2x
Yet, at Onodera's request, Ishigami sang faithfully. This might be a woman's song, but it didn't matter to him, whose singing skill was a Level 3.
"I realized that I love you
I wonder if you'd laugh if I told you that
Obviously, I'm gazing at you
Because I really love your smile."
When Ishigami sang that song, he appeared so gentle, facing Onodera, who requested this song.
Fortunately, he didn't look at Onodera for so long, or else, some of them could only show a bitter smile.
Only Kobachi glanced at Iino speechlessly since Iino recorded Ishigami's voice directly on her smartphone, but in the end, she also did the same.
Nevertheless, after Onodera's request, Ishigami had fun with everyone and sang various songs with all of them, including "Choo Choo Train - Exile," with many boys dancing together, making the situation even more festive, and many girls directly recorded the video and put it into their Insta.
Even Iino and Kobachi, who didn't even sing, also had fun when everyone had fun.
Strange, they thought.
However, they knew if there was a reason why all of them could have fun, it was all due to Ishigami since this guy knew many songs and could sing them smoothly.
Then, while it was a bit of a shame, the end came, but it was still enough for them to sing a single song.
"There is only enough for one song..."
"Ishigami, you sing!"
"Yeah, yeah. Come sing again."
"It can be helped, but you guys sing with me!"
Ishigami then chose a song with which everyone was familiar.
"Are you guys familiar with this song?"
"OOHHHH!"
"Then, let's sing!"
As the melody started to sound, Ishigami led all of them to sing "Kan - Ai Wa Katsu."
"There's nothing to worry about; there will surely come a day
"When your love reaches someone
"No matter how hard it is, no matter how much you want to give up, don't ever stop believing."
Unlike a romance or a fun song that they sang before, this time, the song that they sang was about a song that helped people to feel spirit after they were down. This was a song that was made to make people feel alive again and not give up no matter what.
Even Kobachi and Iino, who didn't sing, started singing with everyone with unprecedented vigor.
"No matter how hard it is, no matter how much you want to give up,
"You've gotta believe that one day, love wins
"You've gotta believe that one day, love wins."
The conflict between all of them was nothing but a small thing compared to the universe.
Nevertheless, there was no doubt that Ishigami's popularity reached its peak at this moment.
On the other hand, Ishigami felt relaxed after he sang with all of his might without paying anything.
Still, when he walked out from the karaoke, excusing himself since he had something to do before he went to the nearby ice store, enjoyed the sweetness of vanilla ice cream, and then got ready to go to the gym, he saw a girl being harassed by someone.
"Please stop it."
"No, listen to me. Come with me. I will make sure that you are happy."
The girl appeared uncomfortable and wanted to dismiss the man's invitation, but the man appeared ignorant and even tried to hold her.
If the girl didn't avoid the man, then she would be caught, but when she turned, her eyes happened to meet Ishigami.
Ishigami took a deep breath and kicked away the man rudely and directly.
"Wh—"
The man was startled and quickly became angry. "Hey—" Only what greeted him was Ishigami, who held his smartphone and a loud shout that attracted many.
"There is a pervert here!"
As Ishigami shouted, everyone turned their attention to Ishigami before they looked toward the man, causing him to panic and run away quickly.
While the man wanted to remember Ishigami's face, Ishigami had already turned as he looked at the girl. "Let's go. My classmates are nearby."
"O-Okay."
The girl quickly followed him and entered the crowd, well hidden from the man.
---
Try to guess!