Umm… Okay, do you have a song request? As long as it's something I can play.

You can play whatever you want. You don't even have to play a song.

What do you mean?

You can just hit a single key, or slam both your hands down on the keyboard! Or just hit whatever keys you feel like.

Of course, play something with a melody if you want. A real song, or just improvisation.

I just want to hear you play the piano freely.

Freely…

[Fade in/out.]

Whew.

That was amazing, Riko!

Y-You think so? I honestly just played whatever came to mind.

It felt so good, though, and now my heart feels clear. I can't believe I actually just let my hands play without thinking.

It was like back when I first started playing.

What you played wasn't a song, right?

Yeah. I tried to improvise, but it came out all garbled. Sorry.

Don't worry about it. It was relaxing, but proper, a little touch and go, and exciting.

Whoa, that's a lot of emotions for one song.

It felt like it was perfect for Aqours.

What…

You said yourself that the music you write isn't just for yourself. It felt like you were kind of sad when you said that.

You might have thought something only you enjoy wasn't good enough, but it's like you've been putting cutting yourself out of the picture.

I think it's important to know the members who sing your song and about the place everyone lives, but…

But you're part of Aqours, too. You live in Uchiura, too. I think you can put more of your own feelings into the music.

I… You might be right. I think that I was leaving myself out of all this.

I guess I just don't have that many memories here. I feel like an outsider.

That's why I wanted to understand this place and everyone in it so thoroughly. I thought I had to.

But even if you've only been here a short time, a hundred years couldn't dampen those feelings.

Yes. I'm a member of Aqours. My heart is with Uchiura.
…So that's what my teacher meant.

Thanks. I feel like a tremendous weight has come off my shoulders.

No problem. I hope I didn't come off as pretentious or anything. I'm glad you feel better, though.

I think I can finally write a satisfying song. I'm going to go right home and see what I come up with!