I am currently on my way to the clubroom after getting a call from Mio. Apparently, she wanted to talk about something important. I have no idea what it is she wanted to talk about, but I could hear the determination in her voice.
A few minutes of walking later, I arrived in front of the clubroom door and I walked into the room to see the girls sitting at the desks.
Akiri: Hey girls
Yui: Hey, Akiri-kun!
Mugi: Welcome. We're having tea, would you like some as well?
Akiri: Some tea would be nice
I walked towards the desks and took a seat as Mugi placed a teacup in front of me.
Akiri: Thanks
Mugi: You're welcome
I took a sip of the hot tea.
Mio: Thanks for coming, Akiri
Akiri: Of course. It's really my pleasure. Mugi's tea makes the trip worth the effort
I said as I took another sip of my tea.
Akiri: So, what's this important thing that you want to talk about?
Mio: I've decided, that we're holding a training camp
Akiri: A training camp, huh?
Mio: Since the school festival is nearing, we're going to train to hold a live concert. So what do you think? We decided not to rush it, but we've been together for three months and we haven't played as a band yet
Akiri: I think it's a great idea
Mugi: A training camp. I've always dreamed about going on a trip with friends!
Yui: Really?
Ritsu: Then, should we go to the beach? Or-
Mio: Like I said, this is going to be a training camp for the band! Not a vacation!
Yui: But I wonder how much it'll cost
Ritsu: Yeah, wouldn't getting the money be tough
Mio: W-well.. M-Mugi?
Mugi: Yes?
Mio: Any vacation homes...?
Mugi: We have one. It's near the beach
Akiri: Well, that answers your question, Ritsu
Mio: Looks like we're going to the beach
Both Yui and Ritsu put their hands up in celebration.
Yui + Ritsu: Yes!
Mio: I told you, we're going there to train! We're not going to play around!
(Timeskip)
A couple of days later, it is time for the training camp and I am currently packing my stuff in a small travel bag.
Mom: You have everything you need?
My mom asked from in front of the door.
Akiri: Yeah. It's just for one night and two days, I shouldn't need to pack up too much
I only brought a couple of spare clothes and since we're going to the beach, I also brought my swimming trunks and a towel. Besides that, I also brought Blackie, which is already in the gig bag.
Akari: Have fun little bro! But not too much fun!
I heard my sister shout from downstairs.
Akiri: Again, what is that supposed to mean?!
Akari: Nothing!
(Timeskip)
After packing, I went straight towards the train station. As I arrived, I saw that Mio, Ritsu and Mugi were already there, carrying travel bags of their own. I saw that Mio has also brought her bass guitar.
Ritsu: Akiri! Over here!
Ritsu called me over and I went towards them.
Akiri: Morning, girls
Mio: Morning, Akiri
Akiri: Where's Yui?
Mio: She's not here yet
Akiri: I have a feeling that she overslept...
Ritsu: No way! We reminded her dozens of times to not be late!
Akiri: Yeah, but this is Yui we're talking about here
Mio: He's got a point. I'll call her
Mio: Yui?
She talked in the phone for a while before hanging up. She puts her phone back in her pocket as she lets out a sigh.
Ritsu: So, what did she say?
Mio: She just woke up not long before I called...
Akiri: Of course...
(Timeskip)
Yui: I'm sorry!
Ritsu: Even after being told so many times not to oversleep
We barely made it to the train with a few minutes to spare. The four girls sat on the seats that are facing each other while I sat alone at the seats across.
Yui: Sorry. I got too excited and couldn't sleep last night
Ritsu: What are you, a kid?
Mio: But it looks like you're not the only one
She points towards Mugi who was sleeping.
Yui: Mugi-chan... She did say this was her dream
Akiri: She must be just as excited as you then
Mugi: I want it in gel form, please...
I faintly heard her talking in her sleep.
Akiri: Is she sleep talking?
Yui: I wonder what she's dreaming about?
Ritsu: Hey, let's take a picture of her
Akiri: You'll wake her up. Let her have some rest
Ritsu: Don't worry, it's just a quick picture
Ritsu pulled out her camera and takes a picture, waking Mugi up.
Mugi: Hmm...?
Akiri: See?
Yui: Ritsu-chan, you woke her
Ritsu: Oops. Sorry, Mugi. Anyway, how far away is your vacation home?
Mugi: Oh. Umm...
She turned to look outside the window, only to see that the view was blocked as the train had entered a tunnel.
Mugi: We're almost there
A few moments later, the train exited the tunnel and we saw the ocean water filled the view of the windows.
Akiri: Whoa...
Ritsu: That's so awesome!
Yui and Ritsu excitedly pressed their heads on the window.
Ritsu: Yui!
Yui nodded and they both grabbed hold of the window.
Yui + Ritsu: One, two, open!
They both opened it up and looked outside.
Yui: The smell of the ocean!
Ritsu: We're going to have so much fun!
Mio: I told you, we're not on vacation!
Akiri: Come on, Mio. Having a little fun wouldn't hurt
Mio: I-I guess...
(Timeskip)
After getting off the train, we followed Mugi towards where we would be staying. After a few minutes of walking, we stopped in front of a massive house.
Ritsu: It's huge!
Mugi: I actually wanted to get a bigger one, but I could only borrow the smallest
Akiri: Small?! This is bigger than my house!
Mugi went over and unlocked the door, revealing the spacious interior of the house.
Yui: It's so big!
Ritsu: This is amazing!
The two of them excitedly ran into the house.
Mio: What's this?
Mio notices a fruit basket on the coffee table decorated with flowers.
Mugi: Oh, I'm sorry! I told them they didn't need to do anything, but...
Akiri: It's okay. You don't have to apologize
We walked around the place for a while.
Ritsu: What's in here?!
She said as she opened one of the doors to reveal a large bedroom decorated with flower petals.
Yui: A princess bed!
Ritsu then went and opened the freezer and saw a single fresh cut of meat.
Akiri: That looks expensive...
Ritsu: Looks yummy!
Mugi: I'm sorry...
(Timeskip)
After touring the house, Mugi is currently leading me and Mio towards the studio, where we would be practicing for the rest of the day.
Mugi: I kept telling them that I wanted the place to look normal, but they didn't seem to understand
She apologizes to us for the third time.
Akiri: Again, it's totally fine, you don't need to apologize
Mugi: Really? Thanks, Akiri-kun
Mugi opened the door and we went inside the large studio.
I admit, when I first stepped in I was feeling a bit jealous. The studio is way bigger than the one at my home. It had all of the equipment a studio needed, and then some.
Mugi: I'm a bit worried since I haven't used them in a while
Akiri: This is nice
Mio: Don't worry. They look fine
She said as we both looked at a Marshall 100W tube amplifier head and 240W cabinet.
Akiri: Whoa... This is a tube amp head and cab combo... I've always wanted one of these
Mio: Huh? Where is Yui and Ritsu?
She asked as she looked around the room and noticed that Yui and Ritsu were missing.
Mugi: They disappeared on the way here
Akiri: I think I have an idea where they could've gone to...
Mio: Well, fine
She said as we saw her pulling out a red cassette tape player from her duffel bag.
Mugi: What's that?
Akiri: A tape player?
Mio: Yep
She answered before hitting the play button and we heard a metal song playing.
Mio: It's from a previous Light Music Club's live concert at the school festival
Akiri: Really?
Mio: I found it in the clubroom the other day
Mugi: They're good..
Akiri: Yeah...
Mio: They're much better than us... As I listened, I didn't want us to be worse...
We listened to the song for a while longer before Mio hit the pause button.
Akiri: So that's why you're so determined about this?
Mio: Yeah...
She answered with a sad expression.
Mugi: I don't think we'll be worse
Akiri: Mugi's right. As long as we work hard enough, we'll be just as good as them, if not better
I saw that she had a small smile.
Mio: Yeah, you're right. Thanks Mugi, Akiri-
The door suddenly slammed open and we saw Yui and Ritsu coming in, wearing their swimsuits.
Ritsu: Yeah! Let's play!
Yui: Oh yeah!
Mio: Already?! What about practice?!
Akiri: Yeah! And Yui, you should be continuing our lessons! You still have to catch up with what you forgot!
Yui: We'll be going ahead, so you three hurry up!
Both Yui and Ritsu ignore us and head to the beach anyway.
Mio: What was it you said? Hard work?
Akiri: Well... I guess you're going to need some determination as well...