Riko #120: A Quiet Passion
Player
(The Aqours members said they were going to have a meeting to plan for the live show, so where is Riko?)
Player
(Huh? Is that a piano? Wait a sec…)
Uranohoshi Girls' High School Music Room
[Fade in/out.]
Player
(I knew it! Riko's in here playing the piano.)
Player
(That serene melody, the soft glow of the sunlight, the sound of the breeze in the distance, the way her hair follows her body movements as she plays…)
Player
Beautiful.
Chika
You can say that again.
Player
Eeek!
Riko
Aah!
Player
Chika!
Chika
Oops, I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you.
Riko
H-How long have you two been there? You could've said hello or something.
Player
I just got here a second ago. I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to spy on you.
Chika
Riko, you play the piano so beautifully, I was entranced.
Riko
Flattery will get you nowhere.
Chika
I'm not trying to butter you up! I'm serious, you were so amazing, you stopped me in my tracks.
Player
I thought it was incredible, too. You looked so beautiful playing the piano, I got spellbound just like Chika.
Riko
B-Beautiful? You're exaggerating. In fact, I'm pretty sure I was scowling because I wasn't happy with how that last rendition sounded.
| Option 1: “You weren't scowling at all.” |
|---|
| Player You weren't scowling at all. Wait, did you just say you didn't like how you sounded? Riko Yes. I don't know if I failed to capture the feel of the song or if my interpretation just wasn't right. My wrist movements were still a little jerky, too. |
| Option 2: “But you were playing so intently. You mean you're still working on it?” |
| Player But you were playing so intently. You mean you're still working on it? Riko Sort of. It's more like I noticed I still need to work on it while I was playing, I guess. I switched gears and started trying to find a style that better suits the song. |
Player
I see. I suppose the pianist can hear things the listener can't.
Chika
That's just Riko's process. She composes Aqours songs, plays them over and over, and refines them until they're flawless.
Chika
She starts right after school and doesn't stop until it's time to go home. Then she plays at home until late at night!
Riko
You've seen me?
Chika
Well, yeah. I live next door.
Chika
I feel bad. I can't play piano and I don't know the first thing about writing music. All I can really do is offer my support when you're having trouble with your songwriting.
Riko
Don't worry about it. Trial and error is an essential part of the creative process. I put in a lot of effort for Aqours, of course, but I do it for myself, too.
Riko
My biggest desire is for us to sing the best songs we can, together.
Player
So you do it for yourself, too. That makes sense. It's hard to muster up that much passion for something unless you truly want to do it from the bottom of your heart, right?
Chika
All the passion Riko puts into our songs is what makes them so rewarding to sing! Our next live's show's gonna be… Oh!
Player
Ah, that's right. The meeting is starting soon. I came here to get you, Riko.
Riko
What? Wh-Why didn't you tell me that first?!
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