Dream !! 5
Haruhi stands in the gym of her school surrounded by students all wearing the summer uniforms. It's dark and they're all lined up, packed in, facing the stage. What's happening? she wonders and watches as a lone girl walks onto stage. She stands to the left of the microphone holding a shamisen.
It's Yuki.
In the silence of the gym, the twangy sound of the shamisen is almost surreal. Haruhi watches in awe as she strums the instrument with expert precision, the whole gym silent as she stands alone on stage, the spotlight on her the only illumination in the place.
A violent burst of music from the shamisen signals a light to turn on, and a drum kit is revealed. Haruhi can't tell who's playing it, but they look familiar. Another burst of sound, another light, and a person with an electric guitar.
But Haruhi's attention is still on Yuki, with her face as expressionless as always and it seems weird to see her up there. Why is she performing? Has she secretly been hiding a passion for old Japanese instruments? Somehow, Haruhi doubts it.
Finally, someone recognizable walks out on stage with an electric guitar strapped around his shoulders.
It's Asch.
It's only now that she notices that Yuki is, once again, dressed as a witch. Asch looks pretty normal despite the fact that he's wearing his usual clothes. No one seems to think it's weird, anyway. He walks up to the microphone and Haruhi's shocked when he begins to play.
Shocked.
After a few initial notes, Yuki joins back in, along with the other instruments. It sounds awesome! She notices the people around her light up with excitement, nodding their heads already. It's strange to hear these instruments together, but it definitely isn't bad.
With visible shock, Haruhi watches as Asch takes a deep breath. Asch, what are you planning on doing? Seriously, what? Then he starts to sing.
You had your wishes but you threw them away
It made you happy, yeah, for more than one day
But now you're lost and cannot figure a way
To get out of this lie that comforts you
She feels the words like a stab and feels more than a little chagrined. No one notices, and he keeps on singing.
And you know that I would lie to comfort you
Well, that doesn't sound like Asch at all. He's the type of person who'll be honest until it kills him! Is that something to admire or hate? She can't really decide, so she turns her attention back to the music.
You'll never change if you keep running away
I could say the same thing about you! she wants to yell out. But, really, who is she kidding? He's having all these painful dreams and all she can do is sit back and watch. She doesn't even have the courage to call him, ask him if every thing's alright and if maybe they were being silly?
I need a change
'Cause it's all gone wrong for me
Somebody else to lead me now
All gone wrong? Could any line to a song be truer! Asch seems to get one bad break after another, and she doesn't really help, and who the hell is this songwriter kidding!? Asch does not want someone to 'lead him'!
It's kind of nice to watch Asch sing it, though.
I want somebody else to lead me now
I said somebody else to lead me now
Yuki steps forward to do a solo without the vocals and she seems more alive than before. Maybe because it's strange to hear such... cool sounds coming out of that dinky old instrument? But the energy is rubbing off on her, it seems. For someone like Yuki, that little head bob is rocking out!
And then--
Asch. Are you trying to rap? Please tell me no. Please.
“You like the way the northern brothers / They make ya dance”? “Sound of sweet romance”? Do you know what you're 'singing'?! God Asch! This is the best! Her smile is huge as she watches.
White men, she thinks, should not rap. But this is only half-rapping, so she can forgive it. Besides, it's kind of cute. That and the crowd loves it.
But, wait, is that Saber and Peorth in the band...?
[Even in her sleep, she has a huge grin on her face. But, then, as she wakes up a little, she realizes something:
This is being broadcasted.
She grabs the Dreamberry and fumbles with it desperately.] Turn off, turn off, turn off!
[Here, have a glimpse of Haruhi in a flowery nightgown surrounded by rose petals.]