Ringing Sounds at the Summer Festival - Ch.4

[nesoberis]

 Chapter 4. Words of the past

The past, Shinonome’s house - living room

Akito: Hah, I’m bored…

(I used to play soccer in the afternoon, then watch soccer games when I got home. At night, I’d be practicing lifting¹--) 

(Was everyday just about soccer? Even so I......)

Flashback 

Teammates: Those guys from East Musashiya are playing soccer in a special dormitory away from their family, right?

Teammates: I heard that they practice all the time after school. They said there wasn’t even a moment when they weren’t touching the ball 

They play soccer from day to night to become pros. They don’t even have a minute to have fun or relax, you know

---------

Akito: (That wasn't enough at all. I hadn't practiced enough, hadn't been prepared enough, hadn't done enough.--)

…….. 

(...a phone call? From Ena?)

Hello?

Ena: “Akito! Where are you right now?”

Akito: I’m at home........ Anyway, I thought you were going to a summer festival.

Ena: "Yep, I'm calling from the festival venue. I'm glad you're at him, Akito, since I’m actually in a bit of trouble.”

Akito: What do you mean you’re in trouble? I’m not gonna do errands for you if that’s what you want

Ena: “That’s not it! Actually, I got a bit injured. I need you to come help me!”

Akito: ...Hah? Injured?

Summer festival venue

Ena: Ah, Akito! Over here!

Akito: Oi, are you alright?! I brought the shoes like you asked for, but can you even walk!?

Ena: Yeah! The geta² I was wearing didn't fit so my feet started hurting. It's good that you were at home.

 

Akito: ...Hah?! So your “injury” was just a sore foot!?

Don’t just call me for nonsense like that! Dammit, I even came in a hurry…

Ena: Stop right there, what do you mean by nonsense!? I was in so much pain to the point where I couldn’t walk, you know!

Akito: Ha--, shut up. Here, I brought you these pairs of shoes so put them on already.

Ena: You’re the one who's been nagging at me! ...Well, I’m grateful that you brought these shoes for me
--hold on! You brought sports shoes! There's no way they'll go well with the yukata.

Akito: Hah? That’s none of my business

Ena: You should care about stuff like this! I’m not gonna wear some lame sports shoes! 

Akito: You’re the one who asked me to bring some pair of shoes! At least be a little grateful for them! 

Ena: Yes, but….! That didn’t mean you had to bring sports shoes, it would be embarrassing if anyone I knew saw me wearing these…

Akito: Hah!? If so then, you're on your own. I'm going home by myself.

Ena: Ah...Wait, Akito!

 

Akito: (Tch! I'll just go home by myself.)

Shouta: ......oh, Akito-kun? I didn't know you were going to be here!

Akito: ...you!

Shouta: Long time no see! I was wondering how you've been doing since the tournament ended.

...... Hey, Akito-kun, are you really going to quit soccer? Everyone says they want you to come back.

Akito: …….. 

Shouta: I do too-- I’m gonna practice hard from now on. That’s why, let’s all be together again-- 

Akito: I told you, that doesn't matter. I'm not playing soccer anymore.

See ya.

Shouta: Ah…

Akito: --There’s no point in it anymore

...I did all I could, I…

Ena: Ah, Akito

Akito: Ena...you changed your shoes

Ena: I had no choice! I wouldn’t be able to move otherwise, it’s still pretty lame though...

Akito: Nobody’s gonna look at you anyway

Ena: Hah!? That’s not the point!

Anyway, isn't the kid you were talking to from the soccer team?

Akito: That has nothing to do with you

Besides, I'm not playing soccer anymore. We're not on the same team or anything.

Ena: ...Hmm?

You've been looking down lately, haven't you?

Akito: No way

Ena: Yes way! It’s your choice if you wanna quit soccer. But if you keep on looking gloomy like that, it’ll affect others, you know?

Akito: Shut up! You wouldn’t even know how I feel anyway!

Ena: Uwah!? What’s that? There’s some really loud noises…?

Akito: It’s ...... Ah, it's probably a live performance. I just saw a bunch of people gathered at the outdoor stage.

Ena: Live performance, it’s really like a summer festival, huh?

Akito: I wouldn’t know, maybe you can check it out? Neitherway, I’m not interested, I’m gonna leave now.

Ena: Hey, Akito! Why don't we go see that live performance?

Akito: What are you saying? Didn’t you say before that you got a sore foot…

Ena: I already put on my sports shoes, so it’s alright now! Come on, let’s go!

Akito: Ah, oi…! Don’t pull my arm like that!

Festival’s stage

Musician: ♪——！　——！！

Ena: Woah! It’s super lively here!

The guy singing right now, isn’t he famous? It’s so heated here…!

Akito: --Yeah, it is 

(Live, huh ....... I've never really been into music.)

(But this feeling...I don’t particularly hate it)

Musician: ♪——！！

Akito: (Uwah, the cheers got way louder than before.....!)

(Amazing...So much cheers and excitement right in front of me! All by just one musician--)

...It’s really amazing…

Ena: Well then, let's go home. That was a great live!

Akito:...ah

(That was seriously amazing. My heart is still shaking with excitement…!)

Random spectator A: Uwah, that was a high level live!

Random spectator B: Yeah! But it's nowhere near KEN

Random spectator A: They’re different people, you know? Did you hear that KEN was gonna host an event next year?

Random spectator B: I heard about it! It’s gonna be so much fun!

Akito: (--KEN? So there’s someone even more amazing than the person from earlier…...)

Ena: Akito? What's wrong? Could it be that you got really impacted by the heat of the live earlier?

Akito: It’s not that!

Ena: Well, it was really crowded and exciting, so I understand how you feel.

Akito: I told you, it’s not like that

Ena: ...Hey, Akito. Why don’t you try something like that out?

Akito: Hah?

Ena: It's been a while since I saw you having fun like that. So if you have time, why don't you give that kind of music a try?

Akito: A try...No way , it's not that easy to start, I don't even know if I can do it for real.

Ena: What’s up with that attitude? You can just start out simple, you know?

Akito: No, ......it would be lame if I tried it only to quit.

Ena: Hey you...

You haven’t even tried it out yet, what are you even worrying about?

Akito: Shut up! You don’t know anything

Ena: “You don't know”....... What are you talking about? Of course I wouldn’t know Akito’s feeling

Akito: ..Hah?

Ena: Even if I told you that I understand how you feel, you'd probably find that annoying.

Akito: Well, that’s true…

Ena: Well, leaving the details aside. You're good at many things, aren't you? So, why don't you try out many different stuff?

And you can decide whether you're serious about it after you've tried it out

Akito: (Try it out, huh…)

--Well, if I feel like it. I'll think about it more

Ena: ...I see

Then, let's go home. Also, do you want to buy some cheesecake at the convenience store? We can eat it at home.

Akito: ...Hm, alright then

(Try it out first, then decide...)

(...... Let's just try listening to some music for now.)

Present time, Shinonome’s house - living room

Akito: (Because she said that, I got to encounter that street)

(I thought the music there was amazing, from there I participated in RAD WEEKEND and started singing for real......)

(I got to meet Touya, and now I’m in VIVID BAD SQUAD)

(If I hadn't gone to help Ena at that time, what would I even be doing now?)

(...though, I’m sure she forgot all about it anyway)

 
1. lifting in this context is about not about lifting weights, it's a move in soccer where you pick up the ball with just your leg by kicking it up.
2. Geta are a form of traditional Japanese footwear, it usually accompanies the yukata fit often worn in summer festivals.