Yui: It's summer!
Ritsu: It's the sea!
They screamed at the top of their lungs as they were running towards the waters.
Mio: Hey! Don't go too crazy!
Akiri: If you play too much, you'll be too tired to practice!
Yui and Ritsu just ignored them and proceeded to play as hard as they could. Both Mio and Akiri just let out a sigh.
Mio: They're not listening...
Akiri, along with Mio and Mugi then went to set up an umbrella on the ground, as well as putting some cloth sheets next to it.
Akiri: Alright. I'm going in. I haven't swam in a long time
He said as he took his shirt off.
Mio: Okay. Let's-
She was shocked when she saw Akiri bare chested, only wearing his shorts and her face immediately turned red.
Akiri: Hmm? Mio, you okay?
He saw that she is still frozen.
Akiri: Hellooo? Earth to Mio, are you there?
He then snaps his fingers in front of her face, breaking her out of her trance.
Mio: H-huh?
Akiri: You okay? You look like you have a fever or something
He places the back of his hand on Mio's forehead, which made her even more flustered.
Mio: N-no! I-I'm fine!
Akiri: Okay, if you say so. If you're feeling sick, just let me know
He said to her before heading off to the waters.
Mio: O-okay...
(Timeskip)
Yui: It's already been two weeks since we drifted off to this deserted island...
Yui speaks slowly as she is dragging a raft with a rope.
Ritsu: I didn't know how things would turn out this way, but...
Yui: But this is fun in its own way
They kept walking for a while until Ritsu spotted a washed up seaweed.
Ritsu: Oh. Found a big one
She then picked it up.
Ritsu: Thank goodness... Now we can survive...
Mio: What kind of setting are you making up?
They turned around to see Akiri and Mio standing there. Yui and Ritsu's eyes widened when they saw Mio's chest.
Akiri: What's making you two so shocked?
Ritsu: M-Mio...
Ritsu immediately throws a beach ball right at her face.
The two of them quickly ran off.
Akiri: Hey! What was that for?!
Mio: Ouch...
Akiri: You okay, Mio? That looked like it hurts
Mio: Yeah. I'm fine
She replied before looking back at the beach view.
Mio: Beautiful view, huh?
Akiri: Yeah
She pulled out a camera and started to take pictures.
After that, they enjoyed their time, playing around on the beach.
Yui was buried in the sand with her head poking out and the others drew around her.
Mugi made a giant sandcastle without even realizing it.
Akiri told the girls about how he don't like sand, because it's coarse, rough, irritating, and it gets everywhere.
Mio had fun walking around some rocks before realizing that they were covered with barnacles, which made run away from it and squats down while covering her ears.
Mio: I'm not scared. I'm not scared. I'm not scared. I'm not scared
Unknown to her, Ritsu was sneaking up behind her and she whispered something into her ear.
Ritsu: You visit your doctor, and find barnacles convering the back of your knees
Mio: Aaaaahhh!
Akiri: Ritsu!
Ritsu: What?
(Timeskip)
The five of them played around on the beach until sunset. They are currently sitting on the ground, taking a break after a long day.
Yui: I think I've accidentally swallowed sea water!
Ritsu: We're finally here! The land of gold: Japan!
Akiri: What in the world are you two talking about...?
Mio: We're not done playing yet!
Mio said while carrying a huge watermelon.
Ritsu: Where did you get that?
Mio: Since we came here, we should play all we can, or what's the point of-
Akiri: Hey, Mio? Aren't you forgetting something...?
Mio: Hmm? What do you-
Her eyes widened as she remembered the reason why they all went there in the first place.
Mio: Ah! Practice!
Ritsu: You forgot?
Mio: You were the one who wants us to go out, Ritsu
Ritsu: And yet, who was the one having the most fun?
Mio: Hmph...
Akiri: I guess time really does flies when you're having fun
(Timeskip)
After cleaning themselves up, they went and had dinner together.
Currently, they are gathered in the studio, setting up their instruments, except for Yui and Ritsu who was lying down on the floor, exhausted from playing at the beach.
Ritsu: I'm so tired...
Yui: the floor is so cool and feels good. When you close your eyes, doesn't it feel like you're floating with the waves?
Ritsu: It does...
Yui: Good night everyone
Ritsu: Night
Mio: Let's get started. Wake up, both of you
Both Yui and Ritsu refused to get up.
Mio: Mugi, stand back
Mio said as she puts down a massive amplifier right next to the slacking bandmates. She turned the volume up to eleven and played some notes on her bass.
Yui + Ritsu: Ugh...
The two of them had no choice but to get up.
Ritsu: Do we have to do this tonight?
Mio: We came here to practice!
Ritsu: Yeah, we did, but...
Mio: By the way, Ritsu, have you gained weight?
Akiri saw Mio winking at him and he smirked as he got the message.
Akiri: Oh yeah, I noticed it as well. Especially around your waist
Mio: Is it because you haven't been playing the drums lately?
Panicking, Ritsu quickly started playing her drums. They then saw Yui putting her guitar back on the guitar stand.
Yui: I can't hold the guitar anymore... It's so heavy
Mio: That's why I told you to pick a lighter one
Yui: Whose idea was it to buy this guitar?
Mio: It was you!
Akiri: I'll get you a chair, you can play while sitting
He went to the corner and grabbed a folding chair. When he went back, he saw that Yui and Ritsu were back laying on the ground.
Akiri: ...-_-...
Yui: It's getting hot...
The two of them started rolling to the side.
Mio: You'll get dirty, rolling on the floor like that
Yui: Ah... it's cool again
Mio: What are we going to do at the school festival if we keep slacking off?
Ritsu: Like I said, I want to do a maid cafe
Yui: No! Haunted house!
Ritsu: Yui, you don't get it
She said as she got up.
Ritsu: Look at Mio
Akiri: Huh?
Mio: W-why, so suddenly?
Ritsu: It's rare to see anyone who is as pretty as Mio in a maid costume
Mio: Eh?!
Ritsu: Imagine it! Black stockings! Pure white apron! And a maid headband!
Everyone, including Akiri imagined Mio looking cute in a maid costume, making Mio blush as she imagined it as well.
Akiri: (thoughts) C-cute...
Yui: You're right! So cute!
Mio then hits Ritsu hard on her head.
(Timeskip)
(Akiri POV)
We are currently sitting outside in front of a campfire while eating a slice of watermelon.
Mio: We're really going to practice when we're done with this, okay?
Ritsu: I know, I know
Akiri: That's what you said the last time
We then saw Yui walking up in front of them, holding her guitar
Akiri: Yui?
Yui: Ready, set!
Fireworks lit up behind her as she played her guitar, making it look like she was playing in a concert.
The fireworks went on for a while before running out.
Yui: Huh? We're done already?
Ritsu: Sorry. That's all the fireworks we could afford
Mugi: We'll do it again someday
Ritsu: Yeah. We'll be big at Budokan someday!
Mio then pulled out her red tape player and started playing the same song we heard this morning.
(Play the solo at 2:02 - 2:14)
Mio: If we want to play at Budokan, we should be able to play like this first
Ritsu: That's pretty good
Yui: Huh? But this song...
After listening for a while, the song finally ends. But then, something else was played.
???: I've been waiting for you to arrive... Now die!!
We all covered our ears as an overly loud and scary voice was heard.
Mugi: The tape changed to side B?
We looked back towards Mio and saw that she was squatting down while covering her ears.
Mio: I can't hear it. I can't hear it. I can't hear it. I can't hear it
I looked to my side and saw Ritsu smirking.
Akiri: Ritsu, please don't...
Ritsu: Barnacles. All over the back of your knees
Mio: No!
She sat on the ground, shaking and hugging her knees. She looks genuinely scared. I then went beside her and knelt down.
Akiri: There, there
I pat her head trying to calm her down.
Akiri: You went too far, Ritsu
Ritsu: My bad, Mio. I'm sorry
Yui: Mio-chan, everything's okay, don't be scared
Mugi: That voice was just the tape player. There's no ghosts
Akiri: Yeah. And your knees are fine, there are no barnacles. Ritsu was just being Ritsu again
Mio: R-really?
She turns her head towards them.
Yui + Ritsu: Moe! Moe! Kyun!
(Timeskip)
Not long after that, we went back inside the studio.
Ritsu: Mio, I'm really sorry
Mio didn't say anything and sulkily looked away from Ritsu.
Mugi: Yui-chan, was that song really...
Yui: Yeah. Watch this
We all looked towards Yui as she got ready to play her guitar.
Yui: Let's see...
She then proceeded to surprise us by playing the exact song that we heard on the tape player.
Ritsu: No way...
Yui: There! How's that?
Mugi: Amazing
Akiri: For a beginner, that was not bad
Yui: But I still can't get that "myo~n" part right
Ritsu: "Myon~n"?
Akiri: It's called bending. I taught you that on our second lesson
Yui: Really?
I just sighed as I grabbed my guitar and put my fingers on the fretboard.
Akiri: You just fret the string, and then push up a half-step
I plucked a string and at the same time, pushed up on the string with my fretting hand, causing the note played to have a slightly higher pitch.
Yui: Woah!
She then played it exactly like I did and she suddenly started giggling.
Yui: It sounds funny!
(Timeskip)
After only a few minutes of practice, the girls decided to call it a night. Although, Mio wanted to practice all night long.
I was walking to the kitchen to have a quick snack when I saw the girls walking somewhere while carrying towels.
Akiri: Where are you girls going?
Ritsu: We're going to the open-air bath
Akiri: Alright. Have fun, girls
Yui: No peeking, Akiri-kun
Akiri: Don't worry, I'm not going to peek. I'm not that kind of guy
Ritsu: Just kidding. We know you're not a pervert
Ritsu said before walking off with the others while I make my way to the kitchen.
After my quick snack, I've decided to go back to the studio. When I got there, I saw something hidden away in the corner. I got curious and walked up to it.
It is a black rectangular box. By the looks and size of it, I assumed that it is a guitar case. It was a little faded, but the word "Fender" was written on it.
I unlocked the latches and opened the case.
Akiri: Whoa... No way...
My jaw was wide open. It's a vintage guitar. An Olympic White, Fender Stratocaster. It's in good condition as well. And not only that, it's a Pre-CBS.
Pre-CBS Stratocasters are considered by many to be the holy grail of electric guitars. They are guitars that were built by Fender prior to when Leo Fender sold his company Fender Musical Instruments, to CBS.
I never thought I would see one with my own eyes, let alone play it.
I excitedly plugged it into a Marshall tube amp, raised the volume and adjusted the EQ settings. I then slowly strum the strings of the guitar and enjoyed that signature Strat sound of the single tone pickups.
With a deep breath, I then started to play.
I realized that I had a big smile on my face the whole time I was playing.
I then kept playing the guitar for a while longer, until,
???: Akiri-kun?
Akiri: Ah!
I quickly turned my head towards the voice to see that it was Mugi and she was standing in front of the door.
Mugi: That guitar
Akiri: O-oh, hey Mugi. I found it in the corner there
Mugi: It belonged to a relative
Akiri: I'm sorry, I played it without your permission
Mugi: It's fine. No one was using it anyway
Akiri: I'll put it back
Although with slight hesitation, I unplugged the guitar and put it back in its case. As I did, I noticed that Mio and the others had walked in.
Mio: Akiri? What are you doing here?
Akiri: Nothing, just doing some late night practicing
Mio then looked at the wall clock to see that it was already midnight.
Mio: It's getting late
Akiri: Yeah. I think it's time to go to bed
(Timeskip)
We then got ready for bed and went to our separate bedrooms.
I am currently lying on a bed in one of the bedrooms when I heard Mugi opening the door.
Mugi: Akiri-kun, do you need anything else?
Akiri: Nah, I'm good. Thanks, Mugi
Mugi just nodded with a smile and walked away.
I then pulled my blanket over my body and got ready to sleep.
Akiri: (thoughts) Well, even though we've barely practiced, today was fun. Hope we can go on another trip like this summer time next year
I thought to myself before drifting off to sleep.