Some Time Ago...
A girl and a crossroads.

"Is that what you really want to do?" Sawako Yamanaka said to the girl with the long twin-tails.

Azusa Nakano looked at Sawako, and back down at her career survey. On it was written one word:

"Musician"

"Yeah," she replied, handing the paper back to Sawako.

"Are you sure," Sawako said, adjusting her glasses. "I mean, I know you were having trouble deciding what college to go to ... but I figured since you're such a hard worker, you'd have picked something sensible for sure!"

"Sensei," Azusa replied. "I've thought about this really hard. I ... don't think I can work hard at anything but music! I'm not sure college is right for me."

"You could go to Japan Women's University like Yui-chan and the others," Sawako said, just as Azusa shook her head violently.

"I-I can't," Azusa replied. "I just can't, Sensei. I mean, I spent most of this year chasing after them, and neglected my own Music Club in the process. And now that I've had time to get to know Sumire-chan and Nao-chan ... I don't know if I'm ready to be a part of Houkago Tea Time again."

"You don't know if they're still," Sawako said, as Azusa raised her hand.

"I do know," she replied. "I talk to Yui-senpai a lot, and she keeps me filled in. They're part of a college music club now, and ... I don't know if I want to be part of that."

Sawako sighed, leaning back in her chair.

"That would be your best bet at being in music, Azusa-chan," she said. "Being in a college music club while working diligently to major in something that would keep you from being a NEET."

Azusa stared at Sawako. This was the same woman who complained when Ui wasn't bringing sweets, or Sumire wasn't making tea.

"I'm a woman of hidden depths," Sawako said, winking at Azusa. "Your expression told me all I need to know. You know I love being the 'cool' teacher, but ... y'know, there are times I've got to be serious. And so I'm telling you to put some more thought into this," she said, patting Azusa's survey with one hand.

"But I have, Sensei," Azusa replied. "It's not like when Yui-senpai put that down! I've thought about this a lot, and ... I keep thinking I need to take some time to do this my way."

Sawako shook her head and opened up the filing cabinet next to her. She flipped through the papers, and pulled out a sheet, handing it to Azusa. Azusa frowned as she found herself looking at Ui's survey.

"This is Ui's," she said. "Should I be seeing this?"

"Don't pretend you haven't," Sawako replied. "Don't take this the wrong way, Azusa-chan, but I've got to be totally honest with you here. If Ui put down what you just put down ... I'd probably let her do it.

"She and Yui ... they both have something special. Something that transcends technical knowledge. If Yui were even half as willing to apply herself as Ui is, I'd have let her get away with putting down 'musician' as a career goal."

Azusa frowned as she listened to Sawako, narrowing her eyes the longer her advisor talked.

"What are you saying, Sensei?"

"I'm saying Ui's a musical genius, Azusa-chan," Sawako replied. "Maybe even better than Yui. But look at her career survey. She wants to major in business, and she's worked hard to get accepted into her top-recommended school."

"Hey," Azusa said, feeling her cheeks burn. "I'm good at guitar too! I taught Yui-senpai, and I've taught Ui and Jun a thing or two!"

"But you've been playing since you were a little girl, right?" Sawako interrupted. "Your parents are both jazz musicians, right?"

Azusa's jaw snapped shut, and she stared at Sawako.

"My point is that you've gotten where you are through a lot of diligent, hard, work. But music's more than that, Azusa-chan. There's gotta be that something special ... there has to be soul, otherwise it's just notes and noises."

Azusa stared at Sawako, the words slowly sinking in.

Soul … did Sawako-sensei just say I don't have soul?

"So I admire that you're such a hard worker, but you really should consider finding something you can apply that to," Sawako went on, oblivious to Azusa's thoughts.

Suddenly, Azusa found herself with her career survey being thrust into her hands.

"So, rejected," Sawako said. "Please put some more thought into this, Azusa-chan."

"C-can you believe it? Sawako-sensei said I … I have no soul," Azusa said, wiping the tears from her eyes. Ui sat across the table from her. They were alone in the clubroom. Sumire and Nao had cleaning duty and Jun … well, Jun told them she wasn't going to make it today.

"Azusa-chan," Ui said, putting her hand on Azusa's shoulder.

"What the hell does she know," Azusa went on. "S-she just comes here every day and drinks t-tea and eats c-cake."

"Now, now, Azusa-chan, you really should give her more credit. She's been helpful to us … when the time was right," Ui replied, rubbing Azusa's shoulder.

"I know," Azusa said, taking a deep breath, and wiping her nose. "I know. It's just … how could she say something like that?"

Ui smiled.

"Well, for what it's worth, I don't agree with her. You have a lot of spirit, Azusa-chan. Which is why Onee-chan and I like you so much."

"But that's not the same thing as soul!"

"Again, I don't agree with her," Ui replied. "You said that Sawako-sensei said that Onee-chan and I have something that … what was it … transcends technical knowledge?"

"Y-yeah."

"Well, I don't know if that's true. If only you knew how many hours Onee-chan put into practicing on Gitah … I've lost count of the nights I'd come in to find her having fallen asleep with him."

"What about you?"

Ui smiled. "What about me? It's bad enough that Okuda-san … I'm sorry, I mean Nao, calls me a 'robot.' I just pick up on things really fast, that's all. But, I'm not sure that's the same thing as the 'soul' Sawako-sensei doesn't think you have."

Azusa made an unhappy noise. Ui took her hands, squeezing hard, forcing Azusa to look up.

"A demonstration, I think, is in order," she said, smiling. "Sumire and Nao won't be here for a while, so I think we can do this."

"What are you thinking, Ui?"

"You'll see," Ui replied, standing up. "Why don't you get your guitar and plug in. I'll do the same thing."

Azusa stared at Ui, but Ui was already turning away, and bounding over to her guitar case. She extracted her Surf Green Stratocaster, looked up at Azusa, and smiled.

With that, Azusa stood up, going to fetch her own Mustang. There were clicks and twangs, as both girls got set up. Finally, they stood, facing each other with their guitars at the ready.

"What now Ui?"

Ui smiled.

"Play something," she replied. "And I'll follow you."

"Y-you mean, like, one of our songs?"

"Nuh-uh," Ui said, shaking her head. "Something that you know, that the rest of us don't."

Azusa looked at her.

"Seriously?"

"Mhm," Ui replied. "It can be anything you like. Anything at all."

"Okay," Azusa said. She looked down at her guitar, and then up at Ui. She then nodded once. Her fingers drifted over the tone knob of her Mustang, and then she launched into the first chords of The Allman Brothers' In Memory of Elizabeth Reed.

Ui quickly echoed her, chord for chord and note for note. Azusa furrowed her brow, changing it up to Kenny Burrell's Chitlins con Carne, and Ui obediently followed along, her notes echoing Azusa's exactly, up and down through the octaves and progressions.

Azusa's fingers wandered into B.B. King's Blues Boys Tune, and she was in her zone. Her bends wailed, and her slides glistened, expressing the anger and frustration she felt at Sawako's words. As usual, Ui was right behind her … almost like the output of a delay pedal. Yet, there was something different about her notes … especially when it came to B.B. King's trademark bends and slides.

Both girls stared at each other, playing the blues. Azusa called and Ui responded … as precisely as the robot Nao Okuda occasionally accused her of being.

With that, the last few notes faded away. They were both breathing hard, even sweating. It'd been a very long guitar duel. Ui wiped her brow, and smiled at Azusa.

"That was," Azusa started to say.

"You were very good," Ui said. "Very, very good."

Azusa looked down. "But you kept up with me … you kept up with me the whole way."

"Now I wouldn't say that," Ui replied, shaking her head.

"But you matched me almost exactly," Azusa said. "It was really uncanny."

"And that's my point," Ui replied. "Like I said, I pick up on stuff really quickly … but … how to explain this … it's like, it's just a skill. I just do it. Yet, I know music is more than that. Yes, I followed you, but it's not like I could compose anything you just played." Ui's eyes suddenly locked on Azusa's. "I don't have the feel for it."

"B-but you helped Yui-senpai write all those song lyrics!"

Ui smiled.

"That was a long time ago. I'm surprised you remembered," she replied. "I just cleaned them up. The ideas were all hers. And … if I remember, you guys rejected all the ones I helped her with."

Azusa blushed. That was true, what Ui said about the lyrics. But how could she say she didn't have a feel for music? Didn't she just follow Azusa from jazz/blues rock, to blues/jazz, and to pure blues?

And then it hit her. Ui followed her exactly … it was like playing with a delay pedal. Even when it came to the bends. Azusa remembered what she felt as she played them … but Ui copied them perfectly, though she had no idea what Azusa was thinking, or feeling at the time. She'd just heard the sound, and then regurgitated it with her guitar.

Just like a delay pedal. Just like a robot.

Still, she felt like having Ui chasing her forced her to play … well, better than she felt she'd played in a long time.

"Thanks Ui," she said, smiling. "I think I understand the point you were trying to make."

"That's good," Ui replied, smiling brightly. "I'm always glad to help out a friend."

"Say, Ui," Azusa said, after a few moments. "You wouldn't want to go into music with me, would you? It's been a long time since anyone's ever made me play this well."

Ui laughed softly. "I'm sorry, Azusa-chan, but I can't. It's not really something I want to do, to be honest. I joined the Light Music Club because I wanted to help you out, but I can't see myself doing music for the rest of my life."

"I see," Azusa replied.

"You … could always join up with Onee-chan again."

Azusa shook her head.

"I don't really know if Yui-senpai and the others are a good fit for me," she said. "Ugh, why does this have to be so hard?"

"It's only as hard as you make it," Ui replied. "I think you should, at least, talk to Onee-chan, though. I mean, before going back to Sawako-sensei. Though … when you do, I'd be more than happy to go with you."

"Hey there, Azu-nyan!" Yui's voice crackled over the phone.

"Hi, Yui-senpai," Azusa replied.

"You should know that I got the DVD of you guys' performance," Yui said. "You guys rocked!"

"Really," Azusa replied, feeling her cheeks warm.

"Totally," Yui said. "I can't wait to show it to the others! Gotta get 'em pumped up somehow, because next year, we're gonna beat OnNaGumi!"

Azusa grunted. She remembered the picture Yui sent her. Of the cheerful-looking Ayame, the thoughtful-looking Sachi, and the punk-looking Akira.

"How is Azu-nyan?"

Azusa bit her lip.

"Well," she said. "I've got something I wanna talk to you about, Yui-senpai."

"Ooh!" Yui replied. "Azu-nyan wants to have a talk? Ehehe, I hope it's not about a boy … 'cause I can't help you with that. But if it's about cake…"

"It's not about any of that!" Azusa snapped, forcing herself to take a deep breath. "Where'd you even … nevermind! It's about music."

"Music!" Yui replied. "Azu-nyan's already a good musician, though … but I would be glad to teach her everything I know!"

"Yui-senpai, can you be serious for a minute? I mean it," Azusa said. "I really, really, want to know what you think about something."

"Oh," Yui replied, clearing her throat. "What would you like to know, Azu-nyan," she said, her voice suddenly softer.

"Well," Azusa said, feeling suddenly nervous. "Well, I kinda put 'musician' down as my choice on the career survey form … and Sawako-sensei told me to be serious."

"But Azu-nyan's always serious," Yui replied. "Musician … hmm … you don't wanna come here with us?"

"I," Azusa said, forcing herself to breathe. "I don't … I mean … I do … you guys have been great to me, but … so many things have changed, and I don't think I'd fit in with you guys anymore!"

Silence. Azusa held her breath, waiting for her senpai to say something.

"Yui-senpai?"

"Hehe, sorry Azu-nyan. I just got a text from Mio-chan."

"You…"

"Don't worry, I heard what you said," Yui replied. "So … what's different?"

"Well," Azusa said. "I've been the club president for a year, and I've gotten to know two wonderful underclassmen. Playing with them, and with Ui and Jun, is, like, so much different from playing with you guys. But … I dunno … I guess I don't know if either one is me. But I really want to find out."

"Well, Azu-nyan's gotta be Azu-nyan," Yui replied. "You wanna know a secret? Don't tell the others I told you this, but we kinda felt like you were putting up with us sometimes."

"That's not true, Yui-senpai! I … I love you guys!"

"Azu-nyan's not a good liar," Yui replied. "You're always so … fortissimo! And we're … ehehe … not so much."

"Yui-senpai," Azusa said softly, listening to Yui. This is deep, coming from you, Yui-senpai. But … I guess there's a reason why you and I still talk, isn't there?

"So what are you gonna do, Azu-nyan?"

Azusa smiled.

"I think I need some time to find myself … if that's okay with you, Yui-senpai."

Silence. Azusa held her breath, half worried about what Yui would say, and half wondering if she'd gotten distracted again.

"You gotta do what you gotta do, right," Yui said. Her voice seemed oddly muted. "Azu-nyan is Azu-nyan, and … and … I wouldn't have her any other way."

"Yui-senpai."

"No … no, no, no," Yui interrupted. "You'll always be my Azu-nyan, no matter what … but you're … I guess you're growing up now. You don't need to call me 'senpai' anymore. You can just call me Yui."

"It's weird hearing you tell me I'm growing up … Yui," Azusa replied, just managing to leave off the honorific. For some reason, calling her Yui made her heart race.

"Ehehe it's funny not being called 'senpai' anymore," Yui said. "But, you're … you're totally gonna do something that's way harder than anything I'm doing! So," there was a long pause. "So I guess it's okay."

Azusa felt butterflies in her stomach. Somehow, talking to Yui made it seem like it would be all right to strike out on her own, regardless of whatever Sawako-sensei said. Still …

"Yui, are you all right?"

"I … I'm fine," Yui replied. "All my friends are totally growing up though … I guess maybe I should do some thinking too!"

"Please don't, Yui," Azusa said. "It's dangerous when you think."

Yui giggled, and whatever it was that weighed down her voice seemed to lift.

"You're so right, Azu-nyan! I should just be like you and Nodoka-chan … oh! Akira's here, Azu-nyan! I gotta run … I promised her we'd study together! We'll talk later!"

With that, the line went dead. Azusa dropped her phone onto her bed, staring at it. Briefly, she was puzzled, why had Yui mentioned Nodoka? But the thought fled, almost as quickly as it'd come. Azusa had a fight to prepare for, didn't she?

Azusa stared down at Sawako, as the teacher read her career survey form. She was alone, having decided that she didn't need Ui's help after all.

Sawako adjusted her glasses and looked up at Azusa.

"Azusa-chan … this is the same form you handed me yesterday."

"I know," Azusa replied. "I'm not changing my mind."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes! I've never been more sure, Sensei. This is something I want to do … I need to do," Azusa replied, balling her hands into fists.

Sawako smiled.

"And what if I told you 'no,' Azusa-chan?"

"It wouldn't matter," Azusa replied. "I'm going to do it … whether you like it or not!"

"Well, you certainly have spirit," Sawako said. "Azusa-chan, I want you to listen very carefully to what I'm about to tell you."

"I already told you…"

"I know what you told me," Sawako replied, narrowing her eyes, her voice instantly taking on that steely edge that commanded instant, terrified, compliance from the likes of Ritsu and Yui. "Now you'd better listen to what I'm going to tell you. Got it?"

Azusa felt like she'd shrunk half a meter in the space of a few seconds.

"Y-yes ma'am," she managed, staring down at the edge of Sawako's desk.

"Good," Sawako replied. "It's a cruel, heartless, thing you want to go into … this musicianship thing. People will always question your dedication, your taste, and your talent. You'll probably never make a living off it, even if you can find bandmates willing to stick with you while you're trying to get noticed.

"And if you do happen to make it, the work is no less thankless, and the pressure to succeed will be no more overwhelming. It would be too easy to try to find an escape in the 'rock and roll' lifestyle and burn out like Hendrix, Joplin, Morrison, or Cobain."

Azusa continued to stare at the edge of Sawako's desk, hearing her words sink in.

"So I'm going to warn you, one last time. You're a hard worker, and a quick study, Azusa. You should apply yourself to something that would allow you to make a good living, and a meaningful contribution to society. Let this musicianship thing go."

Azusa slowly looked up, and her eyes met with Sawako's.

"I understand," she replied.

"Do you?"

"I understand the risks," Azusa replied. "I've always understood them, sensei. My parents are both musicians. But … it's a challenge that I'm ready for, no matter what it takes."

Sawako gazed at Azusa from behind her glasses. Her gaze was intense, but Azusa returned the look with interest. She wasn't going to back down, not now, and not ever. Very slowly, Sawako smiled.

"You're braver than I thought, then," she said. "You're braver than I was, when I was your age."

Sawako picked up Azusa's career survey form, looked it over once, and then slipped it into a folder.

"Whether or not that's a good thing, well, all I can say is that's up to you now. As a teacher, Nakano-san, I can't wish you luck … but … Azusa-chan, I wish you well, all the same."

Author's Notes:
- I'm putting this out for several reasons. First, to show that I'm not dead. Second, to show that I am getting back to this story after what, I will admit, is too long an absence. Third, to mark the passing of B.B. King, arguably the greatest bluesman there ever was.
- This was the introductory chapter of a side-story that I was working on in parallel with Bandmates! that attempted to show how Azusa wound up where she was at the start of the main story.
- This chapter may also show the seed that was planted in Yui's mind as well ...
- Mio and the rest of the gang will return next chapter. See you then!