Today, after practice, I stayed in the studio for a little while longer.
After everyone had left, the studio felt very quiet.
The lights seemed softer than usual, and the sound of the room felt calm.
In the middle of that quiet space, Rei was standing alone in front of the DJ booth.
π Rei: "...I want to tighten the transition a little more."
She said it quietly while connecting one track to another again and again.
I didn't want to disturb her, so I listened from a short distance away.
But today...
Her sound felt just a little different from usual.
Rei's sound is usually like a city at night.
Cool, sharp, and a little distant.
But deep inside, there is always a strong light.
Today, however, her sound feltβ
just a little warmer.
Almost as if someone was smiling inside it.
π Shizuku: "Rei."
π Rei: "...You were there?"
π Shizuku: "Yes. I was listening for a little while."
π Rei: "I see."
Rei answered briefly, just like always.
But her hands did not stop moving.
π Shizuku: "Today's sound feels a little gentler."
π Rei: "...It's your imagination."
π Shizuku: "Hehe. Is it?"
π Rei: "Same as usual."
She said that and connected the tracks again.
But still...
I thought it sounded a little different.
Yesterday, Rei was teaching Hinata how to DJ.
She was calm, focused, and a little strict.
But when Hinata finally did it rightβ
Rei looked just a little bit happy.
Maybe that feeling was still lingering in her sound.
Then Hinata came rushing back into the studio with her usual bright energy.
𧑠Hinata: "Rei! Are we doing scratching today!?"
π Rei: "Not today."
𧑠Hinata: "Ehh!?"
π Rei: "The basics come first."
𧑠Hinata: "Then I'll do the basics!"
The moment Hinata's voice echoed through the studio, the air suddenly felt brighter.
Rei let out a small sigh.
But she did not look troubled.
π Rei: "...Then just a little."
𧑠Hinata: "Yay!"
I couldn't help smiling as I watched them.
π Shizuku: "Heheβͺ"
π©· Aine: "Somehow, this looks fun."
π©΅ Ruka: "Yeah. Rei kind of looks like a teacher."
π Rei: "Don't look."
𧑠Hinata: "Sensei! Can I press this one!?"
π Rei: "You still can't touch that."
𧑠Hinata: "Again!?"
Everyone's laughter began to overlap with the music in the studio.
Sound is mysterious.
Even when it is the same song, its expression changes depending on the feelings of the person playing it.
Today, Rei's sound felt as if it were leaning a little closer to someone.
I'm sure Rei would never admit it, though.
π Shizuku: "Rei."
π Rei: "What?"
π Shizuku: "I like today's sound."
π Rei: "...I see."
That was all Rei said before turning her eyes back to the equipment.
But...
I felt like the corners of her mouth softened just a little.
Rei's sound.
Hinata's cheerful voice.
Aine and Ruka's laughter.
All of those things mixed together in the studio.
And together, they became today's MixPalette color.
It felt like another gentle sound had been added to our days.
π Shizuku: "Hehe. I still think it sounds a little gentler today."
π Rei: "It's your imagination."
𧑠Hinata: "I like it!"
π©· Aine: "Me too!"
π©΅ Ruka: "Yep, Rei's embarrassed."
π Rei: "I'm not embarrassed."
The studio was lively again today.
To Be Continued...