Eternal Love [BanG Dream X Female!Reader]

Chapter 3

In the group, I spotted Sayo first, standing to the side as she conversed with a shorter, seemingly younger girl.

Seeing someone I recognized caused me to call out her name without thinking. "Hikawa-senpai?"

All eyes turned to me and suddenly I felt hesitant about approaching them. But what's done is done, it's not like I can suddenly dash away after calling her name.

I did my best to smile as naturally as possible and walked in quick, even steps toward the group of girls. Waving my hand at Sayo, I greeted her cheerfully. "I thought I'd recognized you. What're you doing here?"

In opposition to my (hopefully) friendlier approach, Sayo stared at me coolly and only uttered my name. "...(L/N)-san."

"Oh, it's (L/N)-san!" As I turned to the sound of my name, I recognized Kasumi and Tae standing a few feet away, smiling happily at me. I returned their smile with one of my own and greeted the other unknown girls as well with a nod of acknowledgement.

"Another underclassman?" a brunette near Sayo asked. The said girl gave off an easy-going, motherly vibe - definitely better than the cold reception from some of the others.

I bowed respectfully toward her and smiled again. "Nice to meet you, I'm (L/N) (Y/N)," I stuck out my hand, which she shook. Is she the leader of the group? She sure seems like leader material to me.

"I'm Imai Lisa," the brunette said. She gestured at the other four as she introduced them, stopping at the last. "You've already met Sayo. That's Ako over there and Rinko standing next to her. And this is..."

This silver-haired girl was definitely 50% of the cold reception I got.

"...Minato Yukina," she stated calmly while her hair swished to the side due to some unknown force. Oh, about that comment from before? Never mind. Yukina definitely seems to be more leader-like than Lisa. No offense intended, but it's true.

"Nice to meet you. So what were you talking about before I came?" I inquired, completely not curious about what they we're talking about. I'm definitely not that kind of person who tries to find out what's going on in other people's lives, alright?

"Umm..." Kasumi desperately tried to get the conversation back on track but when she was unable to, Tae stepped in.

"Please listen to us."

"No."

Yukina and Sayo immediately voiced their opinions in unison. Yukina narrowed her eyes as she looked at them and Sayo had a tight expression. Woah, they definitely seems a little worked up. Music's important to them, I guess. Well, it's not like I can't relate. 

"Huh? Why?!" The shortest girl(was her name Ako or Rinko again?) interjected in a childishly angry manner, to which Sayo began a lecture.

Meanwhile, I tapped Kasumi's shoulder and looked at her with upturned, pleading eyes, a skill I learnt from anime to get others to do what you want(though there's a 30% chance of failing).

"Hey, Toyama-san, Hanazono-san, can I listen too?" I asked, maybe going as far as pleading them. Of course I really wanted  to hear them play, but there was something else I was going for. After all, isn't it way easier to convince someone if you're in a similar situation?

"Of course," Tae responded.

"Thank you~ Oh, right!" I beamed at them, then turned to Roselia. They temporarily stopped their conversation(*cough* debate *cough*) to look at me. 

'All right, there's a lot of things I'd like to say to you.' No, that sounds way too bossy.

'Can I ask you for a request?' What if they say no?

'My little demons, this power sealed in my left hand orders you to-' Wait, no. How'd that even get into my head?

Let's see, what did my middle school's English teacher say before? Umm...ah, yeah. 'When nothing else works, just try to express your own feelings in the best, most genuine way you can', was it? Alright then...!

"I don't know any of you well at all, but I think you should at least listen to them," I advised them, trying to sound as genuine as possible.

Yukina shook her head with a firm 'no'. "We're professiona-"

Yeah, stop right there. I don't want to hear any of that stuff. I mean, sure I respect your ideas and professionalism, Yukina, but how to say this...music doesn't center on being pro or not.

"Professionals? Right, something like that does exist, doesn't it?" I interrupted her. Now that I think about it, wasn't I in her shoes before? What did she say again?

"But you know, there are so many different styles of music, so many different ways of expressing yourself through it, how do you know if you truly are professionals, and the best of the best girls band?" I inquired.

Yep, those were pretty much my true feelings, and I definitely didn't steal that from someone else. I mean, it's a great quote, it's not like someone won't come up with it too, right?

Everyone stayed silent, pondering about it. I don't know what was up with me that time, but fortunately I took it as a signal to continue my mini-speech.

"The answer? You don't. You don't compare people in music. It's up to the individual how they want to enjoy it. And besides, sometimes even professionals can learn a thing or two from amateurs."

The girls were clearly stunned when I finished. Did I say too much? It probably sounded like I was convincing them to go against their ideals, right? They won't come to dislike me, right?

"B-But then again, it's not like I have the credentials to speak. Feel free to ignore what I just said," I stuttered nervously, reverting from the educator version of me back to my normal self(I guess).

Yukina thought and contemplated and muttered under her breath, then finally nodded decisively. "We'll listen."

"Minato-san?!"

"Yukina?"

The other members of the band voiced their surprise at Yukina, who had changed her mind so quickly.

On the other hand, the corners of her lips curved into a small smile as Yukina followed Kasumi and Tae into CiRCLE. When the others didn't follow, frozen by shock, she turned to look at them and gestured for them to follow.

"Perhaps there is something in their music to help us grow," she explained to the other girls.

"In that case, we shall gladly pass...hrmm...umm..." Ako seemed lost for words and in a panic, looked at Rinko.

The raven-haired girl mumbled something and Ako's eyes lit up. "Th-That's right! We shall gladly judge the music in your souls!" she exclaimed.

Oh, a chuunibyou? How cute. I stifled a giggle as I watched the two friends converse with each other, though it was mainly Ako speaking and Rinko listening.

Though I do have to admit, they quickly disappeared from my mind when I saw the girl(or maybe woman would describe her better) in front of me.

"(Y/N)? What are you doing here?"

"That's my line, Marina-sensei..."