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Episode 19: After the Session

The Garage

HoukaI am... deeply sorry.

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

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

Mahoro...

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

HotaruNagi-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...)

HoukaI failed to consider matters carefully enough...

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

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

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

HotaruHuh...?

MahoroWell... she did apologize. I forgive her.

Hotaru、Houka!

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

MahoroBut 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.)

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

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

MahoroBut 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.)

HoukaYes, thank you very much♪

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

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

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

HotaruI could never blame either of you.

HoukaMy...

Nagi...

NatsumeHah. 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.)

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

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

NagiAh... 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...)

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

NagiI know that already...

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

MahoroAhaha... Yeah. I'm okay.

HotaruAh...

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

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

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

Houka!!

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

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

Hotaru...?

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

HotaruW-What...?

NatsumeUh... She's kind of terrifying.

HoukaHeehee...

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