Hotaru

...

Hotaru

W-Wait, please. Um... what?

Hotaru

No... I can't believe this...

Hotaru

But... Kanata-san was so full of life. Whenever I saw her, she always seemed so happy...!

Nagi・Houka

...

Mahoro

Yeah... We felt the same way.

Mahoro

Kanata had a condition she was born with. She'd been in and out of the hospital since she was little.

Mahoro

But after we formed the band... Once we started high school, she said she'd be okay...

Mahoro

Things were going well with the band, too...

Hotaru

...!

Oh, that's the one, right? The tragedy band.

Hotaru

(Tragedy...)

Hotaru

(So that's why Mahoro-san was singing instead of Kanata-san...)

Hotaru

(Why it sounded so sad...)

Hotaru

(All of it...)

Hotaru

No...

Hotaru

(She said... she'd see me again...!)

Hotaru

(She helped me so much... so, so much...!)

Hotaru

(And I still...!)

Hotaru

(I never even... got to say thank you...!)

Hotaru

...

Mahoro

I'm sorry... I should have told you when we first met.

Mahoro

I'm really sorry this is how you had to find out...

Hotaru

No...

Hotaru

I was the one who got my hopes up... You didn't do anything wrong, Mahoro-san. Really...

Mahoro

...

Hotaru

So... so...!

Hotaru

Ngh...

Hotaru

Ugh... waaaaaah...!

Hotaru

*Sniff*... I-I'm sorry... for breaking down like this.

Mahoro

No, it's okay. Here, tissues. Use these.

Hotaru

Thank you... *Sniff*...

Nagi・Houka・Mahoro

...

Nagi

We've heard a lot about you. From Kanata.

Houka

Yes. She spoke very highly of your piano playing.

Mahoro

She would get all smug and say, "Hotaru makes seriously amazing music. She is my prized apprentice."

Hotaru

Kanata-san...

Hotaru

Kanata-san... Kanata-san told me so much about everyone in millsage, too.

Hotaru

She said all of you were the best... that all of you were her treasure.

Mahoro

...!

Hotaru

So that's why... you're still going, right?

Hotaru

Even after Kanata-san... left us. You are still here, as a band...

Nagi・Houka・Mahoro

...

Nagi

Mahoro. Should I say it?

Mahoro

No... I will. I'll explain it myself, all the way through.

Mahoro

I owe you the truth, Hotaru-chan. You were Kanata's apprentice, after all.

Hotaru

Mahoro-san...?

Mahoro

Hotaru-chan, will you hear me out?

Mahoro

About us, and Kanata... about everything millsage has been through. And about where we go from here.

(Mahoro)

Ever since we were little, it had always been the three of us: Kanata, Nagi-chan, and me.

(Mahoro)

Kanata, always charging headfirst into everything with everything she had.

(Mahoro)

Me, getting swept along in her wake and trying to keep up. Nagi-chan, somehow always going along with us in the end.

(Mahoro)

I used to think... we were the ultimate trio of childhood friends.

(Mahoro)

Most of the time, Kanata was so energetic, over-the-top, and foul-mouthed that you'd never believe she was sick...

(Mahoro)

But sometimes, she'd be in the hospital for long stretches.

(Mahoro)

In our third year of middle school, she was in the hospital for a really long time... I was so worried back then...

Mahoro

I wonder if Kanata's still not getting any better... And today was supposed to be the start of a new school year...

Nagi

She's been in the hospital for a while this time, hasn’t she? We haven't even heard from her since we visited last week...

Definitely. Took forever, didn’t it?

Mahoro

Yeah... Huh?

Yo.

Mahoro

K-Kanata!?

Hehe. Surprise!

Nagi

You scared me... Finally getting out of the hospital?

Yep! Kanata Sawami is fully, totally back!

Just when you thought I was done for, I go and flip the script! Pretty hype entrance, right?

Mahoro

...!

Whoa!? H-Hey, what the heck, Mahoro!?

Mahoro

I'm so glad... I'm so glad...!

Huh? Wait, are you crying!?

Nagi

This one's kind of on you, Kanata.

Mahoro

You were in the hospital longer than usual, and you told us not to visit! I thought... maybe...! I was worried about you!

C'mon... I said I was sorry...!

The doctor said after this hospital stay, I'm all good. Cured for real, y'know?

Mahoro・Nagi

What!?

Mahoro

Really?

For real. So don't be too mad, okay...?

Mahoro

~~~! Fine, you're forgiven!

Nagi

Haha. There you go.

I'm forgiven~!

Mahoro

Wait, if you're wearing your uniform, does that mean you're back at school too?

Yup! That means the ultimate trio is finally back together!

Nagi

Ah... This is going to get loud.

Come on, Nagi. You say that, but you're happy, right~?

Nagi

Let's leave it at that.

Man, you're bad at being honest~

Anyway, today, I've got something to tell you two!

Mahoro

Huh? Not the "I'm out of the hospital" announcement?

Nagi

A love confession, maybe?

Yes, I love you!

Nagi

Huh. I was right.

A band! Let's start one! The three of us!

Nagi・Mahoro

Huh...?

Mahoro

A b-b-b-band?! I don't know how to play any instruments!

Nagi

Same here.

Relax, I've played the piano before!

Mahoro

I know that! I'm saying I'm the one who's never done this before...

Come on, it'll be fine. Pleeease~?

We can do practice camps, play school festival lives, all that stuff! Let's make the whole world remember our music!

Mahoro

...!

Nagi

Mahoro... You're kidding, right? You're not seriously getting swayed by this, are you?

Mahoro

H-Huh~? N-No, no, nothing like that...

Nagi

Yeah, she's caving.

Mahoro

W-Well... It sounds kind of like one of those classic high school memories. And I actually really like that kind of thing...

Yes! Then Mahoro's in!

Mahoro

Yeah. I've got you and Nagi-chan with me, Kanata! I'm starting to feel like we can make this work.

Nagi

I never said I was in...

Mahoro

N-Nagi-chan...!

Nagi

*Sigh*... Fine. I'll do it, but I don't know much about bands.

Nagi

So even if you two come running to me for help like always, there won't be much I can do.

I know, I know~! Leave it to the great Kanata, the one who started this whole thing!

Nagi

This pattern has never once ended without a hitch...

Mahoro

I-I'll help too! Okay?

All right! Our ultimate band life starts now~!

Whoa! They actually brought the piano in! This place is awesome, like our own secret base!

Mahoro

But Nagi-chan, are you sure it's okay for us to use this garage?

Nagi

Yeah. My older sister used to practice basketball here... But nobody uses the place anymore.

Nice! Practice space problem solved!

Nagi

Happy to be of service.

Mahoro

Ahaha. So... that leaves one more problem we need to solve, right?

??? (Natsume)

What are you guys up to...?

So? Feel like joining our band now?

??? (Natsume)

Like hell I do! You dragged me all the way here by force!

I mean, come on~ You were just up on the roof playing guitar all by yourself~

So obviously I had to invite you!

Nagi

Kanata... You're skipping way too many steps.

??? (Natsume)

What is her deal?! No matter how many times I told her to let go, she wouldn't listen! I'm going home.

Mahoro

I-I'm so sorry! Kanata caused you a lot of trouble...

Mahoro

Um, your name is...

Natsume

Natsume Izawa...

Yep! Same age as me and Mahoro! Different class, though.

Mahoro

Now that you mention it... I think we might have crossed paths before...?

Natsume

Hmph. Unlike you mediocrities, I don't need to flock together with anyone.

Mahoro

M-Mediocrities...?

Nagi

Right... I remember now. You're that rumored senior who took over the roof and won't let anyone near.

Nagi

A girl in my class mentioned it.

Natsume

You're in middle school, right? What year?

Nagi

Huh? I'm a second-year.

Natsume

Hmph. I'm a third-year. Do you get what that means?

Nagi

Uh... Sure.

Hey, why are you saying no to the band? You're good at guitar, so why not~?

Natsume

You're basically all beginners, aren't you? I'm not interested in hanging around with bad players.

I can play the piano, you know?

Natsume

Sure. Probably "Chopsticks" or something.

Hey now, that hurts~ I'm delicate, y'know?

If you're gonna talk like that, I'll grace you with a listen. My piano.

Though I dunno if a lonely roof guitarist like you will get how good it is~

Natsume

Bring it on. Since we're here, I'll do you the favor of playing along.

Oh yeah?

Natsume

I'm going to improvise a phrase. You listen, then come in wherever you want.

Natsume

I'll show you just how far out of your league I am.

Okay, okay, a jam session it is! Good thing I had them bring the upright piano in!

Mahoro

N-Nagi-chan, is this really okay...? Doesn't this feel kind of like a showdown now...?

Nagi

It'll turn out however it turns out. This is Kanata we're talking about.

Natsume

If by some miracle you manage to impress me, I might even consider joining your band.

Natsume

Still, it's not like a genius guitarist like me could ever lose to some amateur like you.

(Mahoro)

And after that jam-session showdown, there were four of us.

(Mahoro)

From there, we practiced and practiced, and our first live was a huge success.

(Mahoro)

Our first time playing at a live house, our first cheers, our first applause... Every bit of it made my heart race...

(Mahoro)

I felt light and floaty, like something was gently tickling my heart.

Ready...

Cheeeers!!

Mahoro

Phew... So good!

Nagi

Aha. You sound like an old man.

Mahoro

Come on! It's the after-party for our first live! And it was a huge success!

Natsume

I was playing, so of course it was a success.

Exactly! My eye for talent was spot-on even back then!

Natsume, your guitar was seriously cool!

Natsume

Yeah... whatever.

Mahoro

Hehe. Natsume-chan, you like being called cool, don't you?

Natsume

Of course I do. It means stylish and awesome, doesn't it?

Mahoro

R-Right...

Natsume

What? If you've got something to say, say it.

Mahoro

Natsume-chan! Cool! Cool down!

Natsume

That's not the cool I meant!

Mahoro

Eek!

Nagi

Okay, sorry, but let's call it there. Go easy on her, please.

Natsume

There it is, Mahoro's knight.

Nagi

Not just Mahoro, actually. And as for the knight thing, it's more like I have no choice...

Nagi! Look at this, a huge crab! It was walking right over there!

Nagi

Mm. This crab has a home too, so let's let it go.

Mahoro

Nagiii-chan... I spilled my juice...

Nagi

All right, all right. Will a handkerchief and some wet wipes do?

Nagi

So... what were we talking about again?

Natsume

Are you sure... you're younger than these people?

Nagi

Aha. I get that a lot.

Houka

Excuse me!

...?

Houka

I'm sorry to interrupt. My name is... Houka Izumi.

Mahoro

Oh... You're one of the girls from yesterday's band battle.

Houka

My, yes. To think you remembered someone like me...!

Natsume

What do you want?

Houka

I must confess... After yesterday's live show, I became a fan of yours, Kanata-san...♡

Nagi

Wow...

Mahoro

A-A-A-A fan?!

Natsume

Why Kanata and not me...!?

Ahahaha! Guess my charisma got to you!

Houka

Yes... And on that note, there is a favor I would very much like to ask of you...

Yeah, yeah, go ahead. Autograph, handshake, whatever you want.

Nagi

Getting cocky...

Houka

Would you please... allow me to join your band, Kanata-san?

Natsume・Mahoro

Huh...

Sure!

Natsume・Mahoro

Whaaaat!?

Nagi

She didn't even hesitate...

What? It's fine, isn't it? She seems pretty interesting!

Houka

Thank you so much...! I promise I'll do my very best♡

(Mahoro)

And that was how our band officially began as a five-piece.