Houka

...Hotaru-san.

Houka

(I thought if I came to the nearest station, there might be a chance...)

Houka

(But it seems she's not going to come out to see me after all.)

Houka

(She didn't reply to the message I sent last night, either.)

Houka

(This means... I guess she's grown to hate me.)

Houka

*Sigh*... I guess this is where it ends, then.

Houka

(Once again, I could not escape from this version of me.)

Houka-chan, you're amazing!

That's our Houka-chan!

Thanks to Izumi-san, there's nothing to worry about!

Houka

Ehehe, not at all. It's all thanks to everyone.

(Houka)

—Back then, I was full of myself.

(Houka)

I was simply reasonably capable and good at getting along with others.

(Houka)

Just through that, and by pure luck, I happened to end up at the center of my social circle, and I gradually began to wonder...

(Houka)

"What exactly is it about me that people value?"

(Houka)

I don't possess any exceptional talent, nor have I put in any blood, sweat, and tears.

(Houka)

So why was someone like me "at the center of the circle?"

(Houka)

...After that, a classmate invited me to join a band, but that question only grew louder with each passing day.

That vocalist is amazing!

Izumi-san! I've become your fan!

(Houka)

It was as if the whole world was lying to me.

(Houka)

As if, even though I was right there, no one was actually looking at me.

(Houka)

That was when I met her.

Nice to meet you! Uh, what was it again? Oh, right, the band name!

Ah, we are... Aqua Rapids!

—♪

Houka

...♡

(Houka)

She was the real deal. I was certain of it.

(Houka)

If I stayed by her side, I could just be a background character.

(Houka)

The light she radiates could burn to ash this fabricated version of me that everyone has built...!

(Houka)

That's how it was supposed to be. And yet—

Houka

(Just as I thought, my whole life... will end without anything ever coming true.)

??? (Natsume)

...Found you.

Houka

! ...Oh my.

Houka

Why, if it isn't Natsume-san♪

Natsume

...Even after everything that happened yesterday. I can't believe you're acting so perfectly normal.

Houka

I'm hurt you'd think that. I'm waiting around here because I want to apologize to Hotaru-san, isn't that obvious?

Natsume

I honestly can never tell what you're thinking... Whatever.

Natsume

Just answer one question for me.

Houka

?

Natsume

Do you have the will to keep going with millsage?

Houka

...Yes, of course.

Natsume

Right. Then let's go, right away.

Houka

? Go where?

Natsume

To go get her. Hotaru.

Houka

...Uh, well—

Natsume

Hah, so even you make a face like that! Now that's a rare sight.

Natsume

It's true you've pulled some absolutely insane stunts. The kind where you couldn't even complain if the other members ended up hating you for it.

Natsume

But, well, I couldn't care less about any of that. The only thing I have to protect is the music we made with Kanata.

Natsume

As long as that doesn't fade away and disappear, I say go ahead and fight or deceive each other all you want.

Houka

(I had thought she was someone who lived purely for the approval of others...)

Houka

(It seems she's surprisingly iron-nerved.)

Houka

...? You just said "Hotaru-san," but...

Houka

Don't we need to go get Mahoro-san and Nagi-san, too?

Natsume

Huh? Ah.

Natsume

As for them, I already sent someone to go get them ages ago.

Nagi

...

Mahoro

Nagi-chan...

Nagi

! Mahoro...!

Mahoro

...Could it be you've been waiting here this whole time?

Nagi

Yeah... I figured just barging into your place was a bit too much.

Mahoro

Even though I'd been ignoring all your messages?

Nagi

...But I figured you'd read them eventually, right?

Mahoro

...What's that supposed to mean?

Nagi

...Mahoro, I'm sorry.

Nagi

I... I hurt you.

Nagi

...I'm the worst, aren't I?

Mahoro

...You really are.

Nagi

...

Mahoro

But... I'm the worst, too.

Nagi

Huh...

Mahoro

About Houka-chan... surprisingly, I'm not all that angry at her.

Mahoro

I mean, sure, it was a shock... but it felt like, well, it makes sense that she'd think I was unreliable.

Nagi

...That's not...!

Nagi

...

Mahoro

The vocals, the bass, the lyrics... I thought I could do them, too. That I should be able to.

Mahoro

I just got it into my head that I had to do them all, ignored what you were saying, pushed myself too hard, and just spun my wheels...

Mahoro

And the result was that I self-destructed on stage at the live...

Mahoro

It's just... so uncool, isn't it?

Nagi

...No, you were working really hard, Mahoro.

Mahoro

...That's not what I mean.

Nagi

You were trying to hold everyone together, and you never gave up on the vocals or the lyrics—

Mahoro

I said, that's not what I mean!!

Nagi

...!?

Mahoro

I already get it... that I don't have talent or charisma or any of that! But...!

Nagi

...Mahoro—

Mahoro

Aaaaaaaah!!! It's so frustrating!!!!

Nagi

!?

Mahoro

I lost so completely to Hotaru-chan! She's in middle school, and I'm in high school!!

Mahoro

Everyone picked Hotaru-chan over me!!

Mahoro

I'm frustrated that I lost, and I'm frustrated that I was never recognized, but...!

Mahoro

Yesterday... when I heard Hotaru-chan sing, a part of me thought "It's okay now" and just... gave up and felt so much lighter...!

Mahoro

And the fact that I let myself accept defeat is what frustrates me more than anything!!

Nagi

...Mahoro...

Mahoro

Geez, why don't I have any talent!

Mahoro

Isn't it okay to admire someone!? Isn't it okay to dream!? I want to believe I'm the protagonist, too!!

Mahoro

Someone who sparkles, who draws everyone in and never lets them go... Something like that...! I, too...!

Mahoro

I, too... wanted to be just like Kanata...

Nagi

...Kanata was special. She was an invincible hero.

Mahoro

...

Mahoro

Then, why...?

Mahoro

If she was invincible, if she was more of a protagonist than anyone else... Why did she have to die...?

Mahoro

Why, tell me why!? Why did Kanata have to die!?

Nagi

...I don't know...

Nagi

I don't know, okay...! Things like that...

Mahoro

Why did she leave us behind...!! Why!? Tell me!!

Nagi

I said I don't know!!

Mahoro

...

Nagi

I've thought it too, so many times... wishing it was all just a dream...!

Nagi

That Kanata would just pop out from around the corner, saying "It was all a lie..."

Nagi

So many times, so many times...!

Mahoro

Why... why? There should have been so much more to come.

Mahoro

We still had the cultural festivals for our second and third years of high school, and the school trip!

Mahoro

Deciding our paths, taking entrance exams! All of us going to the same university and continuing the band!

Mahoro

We were supposed to have that kind of future...!

Nagi

...Yeah.

Nagi

We really were.

Mahoro

What the hell...! Everything, every single thing, is so frustrating and makes me so mad...!

Mahoro

I miss you, Kanata...!

Mahoro

Laugh at me and call me an idiot...!

Mahoro

Uuuh... *sob*

Mahoro

Uwaaaaaaaah...!

Mahoro

*Sniffle*... *Hic*...

Mahoro

Nagi-chan, got any tissues...

Nagi

...I'm all out.

Mahoro

...Geez, come on.

Mahoro

*Sniffle*... Ahh~ It's been so long since I cried this much.

Nagi

...Now that you mention it. It's been a while since I've seen you make such a fuss, Mahoro.

Mahoro

Hey, saying I'm "making a fuss" is kind of mean, isn't it...?

Nagi

Well, I mean. When we were kids, you and Kanata used to argue a lot and both end up crying, didn't you?

Nagi

But after we started the band, even when we fought, it was like we'd become somewhat more like adults.

Mahoro

Well... we can't be kids forever, you know.

Nagi

Yeah... and that's why...

Nagi

It gets harder to say what you really feel, I guess.

Nagi

Even Natsume-senpai and Houka. We've been together a long time, but we might have never really talked honestly with each other.

Mahoro

...Maybe.

Nagi

...Mahoro. You haven't cried at all since Kanata passed away.

Nagi

Not even at the funeral.

Mahoro

...!

Nagi

If you're carrying something, I want you to tell me.

Nagi

I don't want you to have to shoulder it alone anymore.

Mahoro

...

Mahoro

You know... I got in the way of Kanata's dream.

Mahoro

Comet Rising. The Koshien of bands, only for teenagers.

Mahoro

At the afterparty, she told me she wanted to enter it.

Mahoro

But I... I'd never thought about that kind of future, you know.

Mahoro

I was having too much fun... and I was scared of things changing. So I ended up saying... let's do it later, not right now.

Mahoro

To Kanata, who knew better than anyone that she didn't have time.

Nagi

...

Mahoro

I keep thinking... if I hadn't said that, maybe we could have entered before Kanata died.

Mahoro

Or even if not... if I'd just given her a proper answer back then, and said "Let's do it..."

Mahoro

Then maybe Kanata's feelings could have been saved, even just a little...

Mahoro

When I thought that... I felt I had to make it come true for her.

Nagi

...So that's why you were pushing yourself so recklessly?

Mahoro

Yeah... But in the end, I guess I could never be Kanata after all.

Mahoro

Yesterday's live made me realize that, as much as I hated it.

Nagi

...

Mahoro

I'm a terrible person, aren't I? Dragging everyone down with my own guilt.

Nagi

...I wonder.

Nagi

What Kanata really thought... only Kanata knows that.

Mahoro

...That's true.

Mahoro

Ah, geez... What am I supposed to do now?

Mahoro

Having it shoved in my face that I have no talent... and not even being able to atone properly...

Mahoro

...What can I even do?

Nagi

...

Nagi

...You know. Wouldn't it be okay... if you just quit the band?

Mahoro

...Huh?

Nagi

I've said it before. I don't want to see you in pain, Mahoro. ...I think choosing that path is okay, too.

Mahoro

...I see.

Mahoro

...Yeah... I guess so...

Nagi

Yeah... we did once end up talking about doing that. ...And, you know, your feelings about Kanata...

Nagi

...The adults told us, didn't they? At the funeral— "Time will heal it."

Nagi

"Time will heal even your sadness..."

Mahoro・Nagi

...

Mahoro

...I don't want that.

Mahoro

Ah, geez, this feeling just keeps coming back again and again... But I hate it.

Mahoro

...I still don't want it to end. Not my feelings for Kanata... and not my story, either.

Mahoro

I can't take Kanata's place. I don't have talent like Hotaru-chan. I'll never be chosen as the protagonist.

Mahoro

I have nothing. I'm just an empty shell.

Mahoro

I get it now. It's so painfully clear. But if I step down now, it's over.

Mahoro

Even if it hurts, I can't step down.

Mahoro

I don't want to use having nothing as an excuse to end it...!

Nagi

...Aha. You really are stubborn.

Nagi

Fine, then. That's good enough.

Mahoro

...Huh?

Nagi

I said, that's good enough. We just have to face it... and keep on living.

Mahoro

Nagi-chan...

Nagi

Well, I don't really know, though.

Nagi

I mean, with the band in this state... who knows if we can even do it again.

Mahoro

True...

Nagi

Cold.

Mahoro

The sea breeze is way too cold.

Nagi

Right. It stings.

Mahoro

Let's go.