Ko's Tempo Is Fine

The club room. Ko is sitting with his bass, listening to something. Riku and Taiga come in.

Riku “Ko. You're zoned out again.”

Taiga “What are you listening to?”

Ko takes out his earphones and switches to the speaker. Donna Lee starts playing.

Riku “…Is that a bass?”

Ko “Bass.”

Riku “No way.”

Ko “Fretless.”

Taiga “…It sounds like a saxophone.”

Ko “Right? It was originally a saxophone tune. He's playing it on bass.”

Riku “What are his fingers even doing at that speed?”

Ko “I have no idea. If I try to think about it, my hands stop.”

Ko tries to play the opening notes of Donna Lee on his own bass. Slow. Halting.

Riku “Oh—”

He stops almost immediately.

Ko “…Four bars is my limit.”

Taiga “But the tone was nice.”

Ko “I'm not fast enough.”

Riku “That's fine. Ko's tempo.”

Ko “Donna Lee at Ko's tempo is basically a different song.”

Taiga “Different song is fine, isn't it?”

Ko plays the opening notes one more time, slowly. A little smoother than before.

Riku “Oh, that got a bit further.”

Ko “…Five bars.”