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Episode 19: One Week After the Session

Residential Street

Mahoro*Yawn*...

NagiAha. Sleepy?

MahoroAhaha... Yeah. I guess practice wore me out.

NagiWell, Natsume-senpai was pretty tough on us today, too.

MahoroMaybe. You know, we finally have our next live lined up, so she's all fired up.

NagiShe's plenty fired up even normally.

MahoroCome on, Natsume-chan will get mad at you again. She'll say you're setting a bad example for Hotaru.

NagiTrue...

Nagi(It's been about a week since that session.)

Nagi(Mahoro should have been hurt, but before I knew it, she was smiling like she always did.)

MahoroOh, I just remembered! We need to put in the order for Hotaru-chan's costume!

NagiOh, right. Hotaru's finally getting a costume.

MahoroOf course she is. She's officially a member now. I need to talk to Houka-chan about it tomorrow~

NagiBy the way, we'll be wearing ours too, right? Has it been about six months?

MahoroYeah... I think the school festival last year was the last time.

NagiOh...

MahoroBut... it'd be a shame to leave them tucked away forever, right? They're such cute costumes.

MahoroWait, come to think of it, I haven't worn mine once since then...? Uh-oh... Do you think it'll still fit me?

NagiWell, I guess that depends on what Mahoro's been eating for the past six months.

MahoroI-I'm gonna believe it'll be fine...!

NagiAha. Good luck.

MahoroYou know... We've been through a lot, but...

MahoroI think this is where we make a fresh start.

MahoroHotaru-chan joined us, and the band's back. And now we have a new goal too: Comet Rising.

NagiA goal... huh.

NagiHey, Mahoro. Why did you decide to enter Comet Rising again?

MahoroHuh?

NagiIs it really for yourself...?

Nagi(Aren't you still carrying something with you?)

MahoroAhaha... I can't say it's 100 percent for me.

NagiI thought so...

MahoroBut you don't have to worry.

MahoroYou said it yourself, Nagi-chan. All we can do is just face it and keep going.

MahoroIt won't go away... I'm sure it never will, not for as long as I live.

MahoroWe'll carry our feelings for Kanata with us for all our lives.

Nagi...

MahoroBut just as much... the part of me that refuses to give up won't go away either.

MahoroSo this time, I want to aim for it for myself, too!

Nagi...!

Nagi(—Aren't you afraid?)

Nagi(No... That's not it. I'm the only one still worried about that.)

NagiI'm sure it won't be easy.

MahoroAhaha... Yeah.

MahoroBut if it were easy, it wouldn't mean anything.

MahoroFor someone like me, who has nothing, to get hold of anything, I have to struggle harder and sacrifice more than anyone else.

MahoroAnd even so, I can't help wanting to keep moving forward.

NagiI see...

Nagi(You're so strong, Mahoro.)

Nagi(While I keep turning away from challenges and hard work...)

Nagi(Mahoro is still trying to move forward, even if she has to crawl her way there.)

Nagi(I can't do that... I can't put myself on the line like that.)

Nagi(And yet...)

MahoroHuh... I was sleepy a minute ago, but now I'm getting hungry...

Nagi(I don't want to be left all alone.)

Nagi(I'm terrified of being the only one standing still.)

MahoroOoh! Mom just texted me! Wait, we're having minced meat cutlets tonight!? Yay!

Nagi(That's why...)

MahoroHey, Nagi-chan, why are you zoning out? Let's go home~!

MahoroHurry up, or I'm gonna leave you behind~!

NagiAha...

NagiYeah, I'm coming.