(Hotaru)

A happy ending.

(Hotaru)

A happy ending with no tears, no sorrow, and smiles blooming on every face.

Hotaru's Mother

And so, everyone lived happily ever after.

Hotaru's Mother

The end.

Young Hotaru

...!

Young Hotaru

Again, again! Read it again, please!

Hotaru's Mother

Again~? Haha. You never get tired of this story, do you, Hotaru?

Young Hotaru

Nope! Because everyone is happy!

Hotaru's Mother

Oh, right. There's a concert based on this story coming up. Want to go see it?

Young Hotaru

! Yeah!

(Hotaru)

Ever since I was little, I loved seeing people smile.

Hotaru's Mother

How was the concert?

Young Hotaru

It was fun! The singing and the piano were amazing! Everyone... Everyone was smiling!

Hotaru's Mother

Hehe. I'm glad.

Young Hotaru

I wanna...

Hotaru's Mother

?

Young Hotaru

I wanna... try singing and playing the piano, too!

(Hotaru)

That must have been the magic of music.

Young Hotaru

La~ la-la~...♪

Young Hotaru

A-And that's it.

Hotaru's Mother

That was wonderful, Hotaru! You've gotten so good at the piano! Your singing was lovely too!

Young Hotaru

!

(Hotaru)

Seeing people smile as they listened...

Hotaru's Mother

Mommy wants to hear more~ Can I ask for another song?

Young Hotaru

Yeah! Hehe.

(Hotaru)

made my heart feel warm too.

(Hotaru)

When I made music with a happy heart...

Young Hotaru

La, la...♪

Young Hotaru

(Huh...? Why is everything...)

Young Hotaru

(so sparkly...?)

Young Hotaru

(Wow, amazing...! It's so pretty!)

(Hotaru)

...the whole world seemed to shine in rainbow colors.

Young Hotaru

A competition?

Hotaru's Mother

Yes. Your teacher said you should give it a try.

Hotaru-chan, you play so, so much better than most kids your age.

A competition is different from a recital, so it might feel a little overwhelming at first... though I think more people should get to hear you play, Hotaru-chan.

Hotaru's Mother

What do you think, Hotaru?

Young Hotaru

I want to try!

Young Hotaru

If I play well, everyone will smile, right?

(Hotaru)

And that was my happiness too.

Next is the middle elementary grades division. The Gold Prize goes to... Hotaru Shiomi-san.

Young Hotaru

!

Hotaru's Mother

This is amazing, Hotaru! You won Gold!

Young Hotaru

Gold Prize...

Hotaru's Mother

That means your performance touched everyone!

Young Hotaru

...! I did it...!

(Hotaru)

I believed those rainbow colors were proof that my music had made someone happy.

(Hotaru)

It was the light I felt whenever I gave a really good performance.

(Hotaru)

It felt like God Himself was praising me, so I believed they had to be something wonderful.

(Hotaru)

But...

Why is Hotaru-chan always the one who wins gold?! I'm trying just as hard!!

Young Hotaru

Huh...?

The teachers said it too. They said Hotaru-chan's on a whole different level. That you're a genius.

Then go take an advanced course or something. Piano isn't fun with you here, Hotaru-chan!

Young Hotaru

...!

Yeah, exactly. Everyone who quit said the same thing. They said it was because of you, Hotaru-chan!

Wait, Hotaru-chan... You seriously didn't know? Yikes.

Young Hotaru

...

(Hotaru)

My music, and that rainbow light...

(Hotaru)

...seemed like something bad, something that hurt people.

"The Angel of the Music World..." Such a shame. She used to win gold all the time, and now look how low she ranks.

It's not unusual, is it? A child prodigy grows up and becomes perfectly ordinary.

(Hotaru)

But even then, I couldn't quit music.

(Hotaru)

So...

(Hotaru)

Don't look. Don't look. Just keep playing...

Hotaru's Mother

Hotaru, are you really sure you're done with competitions?

Young Hotaru

Yeah... I still enjoy just playing the piano.

Hotaru's Mother

Do you? Well, if you're happy, that's what matters... I'm just happy I still get to hear you play, Hotaru.

Young Hotaru

...

Hotaru's Mother

Oh, that's right. I brought home some information on Geijutsu. It looks like their middle school has a music department too.

Hotaru's Mother

They offer all kinds of courses, but for you, Hotaru... The piano, I suppose. You've loved the piano ever since you were tiny.

Young Hotaru

Yeah... I guess so.

(Hotaru)

That wasn't a lie.

(Hotaru)

But little by little, I no longer knew how to face music.

Hello, Shiomi-san!

Hotaru

H-Hello!

This is the first time we've had seats next to each other. We didn't get to talk much in first year, so I'm glad.

So, the whole class is doing a little get-together after this. You should come too, Shiomi-san!

Hotaru

Huh...? Is that really okay?

Of course! The teacher even said we could use the music room! We're gonna introduce ourselves with a little ensemble—

Hotaru

!

Hotaru

Oh... I-I'm sorry! I just remembered I have something to do today...!

Hotaru

Um, so... please excuse me!

Shiomi-san, wait...

(Hotaru)

What if I saw those rainbow colors again?

(Hotaru)

What if that hurt someone again?

(Hotaru)

Just thinking about it made me anxious. Scared.

Hotaru

*Pant*...!

Hotaru

*Pant*...

(Hotaru)

Everyone else was facing the music so earnestly, and all I could do was run away. I felt ashamed.

(Hotaru)

Before I knew it, I was keeping my distance not only from competitions, but from people too.

Hotaru

...

Hotaru

I really wanted to go.

Hotaru

...?

Hotaru

(What's that...? People are gathering.)

Hotaru

(Piano... and singing?)

Hotaru

(Right... There was a street piano here, I think.)

Hey, hey, heeey~!

You all just gonna stand there spacing out? Come on, my audience! Give me something to work with!

What do you have hands and feet for? What do you have a heart for?

To make it beat!

Hotaru

(Wh-What is with her...!?)

Hotaru

(Is she... working the crowd?)

Hear something good? Throw your hands up! Come on, vibe with me!

Hotaru

(! She's incredible...)

Hotaru

(Wait, is that how you're supposed to play a street piano...?)

—♪

Hotaru

(But... what is this?)

Hotaru

(The more I listen to her music... the more I...)

All right, hands up already! Or clap your hands! Mine are busy, so I need you all!

Ahaha! What is this? She's ridiculous!

Should we try it? It looks fun!

Hotaru

...!

Mommy, I wanna do it too!

Sure. Let's do what she's doing!

Hotaru

(Everyone's actually joining in...!)

Yeah, that's it! You guys are the best!

Hotaru

(She's smiling... and so is everyone listening...!)

Hm? Hey, you! Yeah, you, the one staring off into space!

Hotaru

...?

Yeah, you. You! The one giving off sad little puppy vibes!

Hotaru

Huh...? M-Me!?

Listen, I seriously hate seeing someone look bored when I'm playing my music!

I'm delicate, okay!

Hotaru

I-I'm sorry!?

Come here, come here! Sit next to me!

Hotaru

Huh...? But next to you...

Just do it! Come on, sit!

Hotaru

O-Okay...

Hands out! Put them on the keys! And then—

Play however you want!

Hotaru

Whaaaat!?

Hotaru

I-I can't do that...! I don't even know the song you're playing...!

Huh... So you didn't say you can't play.

Hotaru

Ah...

I knew it! You smell like someone who can play. Now that I know, play already! Play!

Hotaru

But... my playing isn't...

Haah? What are you talking about?

Music's something you can do however you want. Obviously.

Hotaru

!

Here, copy the phrase I play! Then I'll go wild on top of it!

Hotaru

Ugh...

Hotaru

(I don't think anything I say will get me out of this...)

Hotaru

(If I'm only copying her, maybe... it'll be okay?)

You can do it, miss!

Relax, you got this~

All right, here we go!

Hotaru

Y-Yes!

Hotaru

...!

Hotaru

(How long has it been...)

Hotaru

(Since I faced the piano like this?)

Oh... Whoa!? Wait, you're actually pretty good!

Hehe. Not bad at all!

Wooow! That girl is amazing!!

This is so fun~~! More, more! Ahaha!

Hotaru

(Since I’ve seen people smile as they listened?)

All right, you take the melody too! Special privilege, just for you!

Hotaru

(Huh...?)

Hotaru

(I'm not afraid to touch the keys anymore...)

Hotaru

*Pant*...

Geez. You really played piano with that face right to the very end.

Hotaru

Huh...?

You didn't notice? You looked like you had a stomachache the whole time.

Hotaru

Oh... My stomach is fine.

Listen. I want every single person who hears my music to be happy.

Hotaru

...!

I dunno what you're carrying around, but...

you're the only one here making that face, you know?

Come on, look.

That was so fun! Thank you both!

One more song, please!

Mommy, I wanna play the piano, too!

Hehe, thank you, thank you! You're all gonna have sweet dreams tonight!

Hotaru

(Everyone is smiling...)

Hotaru

(Even though this is so different from the music I know...!)

Hotaru

This is amazing...

Hotaru

(I want to play music like this too...)

Hotaru

(Music that can make everyone happy... the way hers does.)

Hotaru

(Music that exists for someone else...!)

Hotaru

*Sniff*...

Huh? What?! Hey, why are you crying?!

Hotaru

Huh...? Wait...

Whoa, whoa, hold up! This makes it look like I made you cry! D-Do you want me to play something?

Do you know Nikopan-chan? That baby goat anime? I'll play the OP for you!

Nikopan-chan's great, right? She's got a pretty sharp tongue, like, "Guess I gotta dance!" and—

Hotaru

Hehe...

Hey, you laughed!

Hotaru

Sorry... I was just a little surprised.

Hotaru

Um... may I ask your name?

Me? I'm Kanata. Kanata Sawami.

(Hotaru)

—It was the spring of my second year in middle school.

(Hotaru)

Into my heavy, suffocating world...

Hotaru

Kanata-san...

Hotaru

Would you teach me music?

(Hotaru)

A dazzling light came pouring in.