Houka

I am... deeply sorry.

Hotaru

Um, Houka-san...! Please look up...!

Natsume

What are you talking about? This is her penance, after all.

Mahoro

...

Nagi

Me too... I need to apologize to Hotaru... I'm sorry.

Hotaru

Nagi-san, too...! Um, I'm fine, really...!

Houka

...

Houka

(I never imagined it would come to this.)

Houka

(I did invite Hotaru-san to the band because I saw such promise in her talent...)

Houka

(Hotaru-san had forged bonds with everyone far deeper than I had anticipated.)

Houka

(Had I pressed the matter, there was every chance that someone other than Hotaru-san would have left the band...)

Houka

(—And in the worst case, Hotaru-san might have left with them.)

Houka

(That is why I had meant to proceed with the utmost care, making sure we could reach an agreement that everyone accepted—but...)

Houka

I failed to consider matters carefully enough...

Houka

Things did work out in the end, but that was only through everyone's efforts.

Houka

Thank you. And please accept my apologies for the trouble I have caused.

Natsume

So, that's what she has to say. What about you two? Hotaru, Mahoro?

Hotaru

Huh...?

Mahoro

Well... she did apologize. I forgive her.

Hotaru・Houka

!

Mahoro

But... This made one thing crystal clear: Houka-chan never took me seriously...

Mahoro

But just you wait. One day, I'll prove you wrong!

Houka

...

Houka

(Mahoro-san...)

Houka

(The girl who had once been overwhelmed by the blaze of Hotaru-san's talent.)

Natsume

I can't tell if you just hate losing or what...

Mahoro

Oh, really? Well, I mean... It's true that I didn't do very well.

Mahoro

But that doesn't mean I should stop trying. Not ever.

Houka

(She should be one of the people in the background, just like me. So how can she...)

Houka

(No... Just as others cannot understand my happiness, Mahoro-san must have a happiness of her own.)

Houka

(What a curious person she is.)

Houka

Yes, thank you very much♪

Natsume

Seriously? You're thanking us...? Whatever. What about you, Hotaru?

Hotaru

Um... I understand that Houka-san and Nagi-san wanted to apologize to me.

Hotaru

But... I'm no different. I caused trouble for everyone too, so...!

Hotaru

I could never blame either of you.

Houka

My...

Nagi

...

Natsume

Hah. You're still such a softie. If it were me, I'd have punched each of them once.

Houka

(Natsume-san...)

Houka

(I see her a little differently after all this.)

Houka

(That jagged, rough-edged passion inside her— fierce enough to wound anything that came too close...)

Houka

(It must be bound up with Natsume-san's wish. She, too, is searching for some kind of salvation... some kind of happiness.)

Houka

(And she can be so unexpectedly composed... She is far more interesting than I had thought.)

Nagi

Why is Natsume-senpai the one in charge, anyway...?

Natsume

Because I'm the only one who can stay neutral.

Nagi

Ah... Yeah, I guess so...

Houka

(Nagi-san...)

Houka

(Is she trying to shield Mahoro-san... or, perhaps, herself?)

Houka

(It seems to be both, and I cannot help but be intrigued.)

Houka

(How very endearing she is...)

Houka

Nagi-san. Let us strive to atone together, shall we?

Nagi

I know that already...

Natsume

So, are we calling this settled? If you two have anything else to say, say it now.

Mahoro

Ahaha... Yeah. I'm okay.

Hotaru

Ah...

Houka

Hotaru-san... Please, do not hold back. You may say whatever you wish.

Hotaru

Um... Well... Houka-san has helped me so much...

Hotaru

If it had turned out that Houka-san was lying to me... I would have been so, so sad...

Houka

!!

Houka

Of course... I was on the verge of betraying the trust you had placed in me, Hotaru-san...!

Houka

I understand... Please rest easy, Hotaru-san.

Hotaru

...?

Houka

From now on, I will hide nothing from you. I shall tell you everything... and show you everything♡

Hotaru

W-What...?

Natsume

Uh... She's kind of terrifying.

Houka

Heehee...

Houka

(I must never let you slip away from me again♡)