Hotaru

...

Hotaru

(Nagi-san and the others told me not to worry, but...)

Hotaru

(I still feel like I might have hurt Natsume-san...)

Hey, isn't that a Minase uniform?

Is she staring daggers over here?

I think she's looking for someone.

Hotaru

...?

Hotaru

(Something seems to be going on over there...)

Natsume

There you are, kid!!

Hotaru

!?

Hotaru

N-Natsume-san? What are you doing here...?

Natsume

What do you think? I'm here to pick up where we left off yesterday.

Hotaru

Where we left off...?

Natsume

What? You think you've already won? Hah. How cute.

Natsume

I told you, yesterday was just the opening round. A test run, nothing more than a warm-up.

Natsume

That was nowhere near my real level!

Natsume

Come on, we're going to the garage. Move it!

Natsume

Sure, you play pretty well for someone younger, I guess. But don't get cocky.

Natsume

I brought a phrase way harder than yesterday's!

Hotaru

You're... going to do another session with me?

Natsume

Huh? Obviously.

Hotaru

(Natsume-san... She's going to have another session with me...!)

Natsume

Why are you grinning like that...? Creepy.

Hotaru

Ah, I'm sorry! I was just so happy...!

Natsume

Happy? Sounds like you're pretty relaxed. Today's gonna be nothing like yesterday!

Hotaru

Yes! Thank you for doing this with me again today!

Natsume

So... why are you here?

Mahoro

Well... I figured this was probably where things were headed...

Natsume

What's that supposed to mean?

Mahoro

Uh, well... Right, a witness! You'll need someone to confirm it when you win, won't you, Natsume-chan?

Natsume

Fine... whatever. Just sit there and watch.

Mahoro

Hotaru-chan...

Hotaru

?

Mahoro

I don't think Natsume-chan is going to accept you that easily...

Mahoro

But if it's you, Hotaru-chan, I think you'll be okay. You've got this.

Hotaru

Y-yes!

Natsume

Hey, you two! What are you whispering about?

Mahoro

Hmm? Nothing?

Natsume

Hmph... Fine. Advise her all you want. There's no way she can beat me when I'm serious.

Natsume

Better start thinking up your excuse for losing right now!

Natsume

...!

Hotaru

How was that...? Did I... do it well?

Natsume

Today was just...! My fingers weren't cooperating, that's all!

Natsume

That's all it was!!

Hotaru

What...!? Um, Natsume-san...!

Mahoro

I think that means, "See you tomorrow."

Hotaru

Umm...

Mahoro

Ahaha. Don't look so crushed.

Mahoro

It's funny. The moment you sit at a piano, Hotaru-chan, you turn into this amazing pianist.

Mahoro

See you tomorrow. Show Natsume-chan and me that amazing playing of yours again.

Hotaru

! Y-yes! See you tomorrow!

Natsume

Today, I’m not holding back! Got it!?

Hotaru

Yes! I'm all ready too!

Mahoro

Good luck, you two~

Natsume

...!

Hotaru

How was that...?

Mahoro

Natsume-chan, maybe it's time to...

Natsume

My stomach!

Hotaru

!?

Natsume

My stomach was hurting! So this one doesn't count!!

Mahoro

Hmm, I see. Then I guess there's no helping it.

Mahoro

Hotaru-chan, looks like she wants another round.

Hotaru

P-please!

Natsume

Ugh, fine! Let's do this already!

Natsume

(Why... Why can't I win?!)

Natsume

(Why can she match everything I do? Why can she arrange every single thing I throw at her?!)

Natsume

(This is driving me crazy... driving me crazy...!)

Natsume

(This is... This is just like...!)

Phew...!

Mahoro

Ummm...

Mahoro

Does that mean... Kanata won?

Natsume

...!

Nagi

After acting so confident, too...

Mahoro

Nagi-chan! Sugarcoat it a little!

Natsume

...

Natsume-chan's crying again~

She's always behind in class and dead last when we race.

So lame~!

Natsume

(I haven't... changed at all.)

Natsume

(Even after finally finding my place with guitar, I'm still just as lame.)

Natsume

(Everyone's going to laugh at me again...)

That was soooo freakin' cool!!

Natsume

Huh...?

Whoa, whoa, a guitar can do stuff like that?! No fair! I wanna do that on piano too!

Natsume

Huh...?

Also, you're seriously amazing! I was playing all over the place and you still kept up!

You must've practiced like crazy!

Natsume

Uh... yeah...

Hey, Natsume. You really should join our band!

Then let's make some cool music together!

Natsume

(It stings to admit it, but she does remind me of Kanata.)

Natsume

(No matter how hard a phrase I throw at her, no matter how much I change its direction...)

Natsume

(She charges after it like it's the most fun thing in the world. A total music-obsessed idiot.)

Natsume

(Their personalities couldn't be more different, though...)

Natsume

(But with her... she might actually be able to play Kanata's part.)

Natsume

...

Hotaru

Natsume-san...

Natsume

(Ugh... I'm pathetic.)

Natsume

(If Kanata could see me now, she'd probably laugh.)

Natsume

(Sorry, Kanata...)

Natsume

(I failed to protect millsage...)

Natsume

*Sniff*...

Mahoro

Natsume-chan...

Natsume

I lost...

Hotaru

!

Natsume

Fine. Be the new pianist or whatever. Do what you want.

Hotaru

Natsume-san...!

Natsume

Then I'll leave instead. There, problem solved.

Hotaru

!?

Mahoro

Natsume-chan, wait! Hold on!

Natsume

No. I told you already. If this girl joins, then to me, that isn't millsage anymore.

Natsume

So this is where I...

Hotaru

No, you can't!

Natsume

!?

Hotaru

You can't do that! I want you here too, Natsume-san!

Hotaru

If you aren't here, it won't be millsage either...! I wouldn't be able to face Kanata-san!

Natsume

Huh...? I'm done. I can't deal with this anymore. I'm going home.

Hotaru

Ah...! Wait, please! Natsume-sa... oof?!

Mahoro

Hotaru-chan?! Are you okay?!

Hotaru

Uuu...

Mahoro

O-oh, that looked painful... You landed face-first...

Hotaru

We had so many sessions together...

Natsume

?

Hotaru

I've listened to you play so many times, Natsume-san. I've seen the way you look when you're playing, over and over...!

Hotaru

I could feel how much millsage means to you! All of it came through!!

Natsume

...!

Hotaru

Then you really can't leave!

Hotaru

If you leave too, Natsume-san... millsage really will be gone!

Hotaru

Kanata-san is right there in the music! As long as we keep the band going, we'll be together!

Natsume

(That's right...)

Natsume

(When I first met Kanata, it was like this too.)

Natsume

(She didn't care what I had to say. She just grabbed my hand and dragged me along...)

Hotaru

I'll... I'll work even harder...!

Hotaru

I know I can never be Kanata-san... but I'll work hard enough to play her part!

Natsume

W-wait, what?! Why are you crying?! Hey, quit it! Don't grab my sleeve!

Hotaru

Ngh... Natsume-saaaan... Please don't go...

Natsume

Hey! I said let go!

Mahoro

Wow... She's got serious guts...

Houka

My, my. What have we here?

Nagi

Natsume-senpai... did you make a junior high girl cry...?

Natsume

Why are you all here?!

Mahoro

I called them over.

Natsume

Mahorooo!!

Hotaru

*Sniff*... Natsume-saaaan...

Natsume

Ngh... This girl...!

Mahoro

Natsume-chan... I'm asking too. Could you try staying with us for just a little longer?

Mahoro

Can you hold off on making your decision, just a little longer?

Natsume

What am I supposed to do... when you say stuff like that...?!

Hotaru

Please...!

Natsume

Ugh... fine...! I get it, okay?!

Hotaru

!

Natsume

But, I'm putting my answer on hold too!

Hotaru

...?

Natsume

All you've passed today is the first round! I'm gonna keep testing what you're made of from here on out!

Natsume

So you'd better be ready... Hotaru!

Hotaru

! Yes!