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Weekend

Live House - Floor

Hotaru(Th-This is a live house...!)

Hotaru(I made it... I finally made it here!)

Hotaru(Ugh, Mom, I'm sorry...)

Hotaru...

Hotaru(But...)

Hotaru(Since I was told I couldn't come until high school, I thought it was going to be some kind of dangerous place...)

Hotaru(But it’s actually pretty clean, and there are lots of students here too...)

Hotaru(It's not that scary... Far from it, in fact...)

Hotaru(It kind of feels like I've grown up a little, and my heart won't stop racing...!)

Hotaru、???Hwah! Kyah!

HotaruI-I'm sorry! I wasn't watching where I was going...

???No, no, I should be the one apologizing. Are you all right?

HotaruYes, I'm fine.

???I'm glad to hear that. It would be dreadful if I'd caused any harm to someone as lovely as you.

HotaruUm... what...?

???Could this be your first time at a live house?

HotaruHuh...!?

???Hehe. So I was right♪ You were looking around with such wonder in your eyes.

Hotaru(I-I guess it was really obvious... How embarrassing...)

???But I understand how you feel. There is something "special" about live houses, after all.

HotaruHuh?

???A dim, cramped box, packed to the brim with people...

???Every last person here came chasing music, driven by their own desires.

???When you think about it that way... it's kind of thrilling, isn't it? ♪

HotaruU-Um... what...?

???Enjoy your first live, all right? Well then.

Hotaru...

Hotaru(Looks like there are all kinds of people here...)

Hotaru(Right, Kanata-san!)

Hotaru(But... I don't see any sign of her...)

Hotaru(I wonder if there's a dressing room here, like the concert hall...)

Hotaru(But once the show starts, she'll definitely come out on stage...!)

Hotaru(Will she notice me? I bet she'll be surprised.)

HotaruHehe...

Hotaru(I can't wait.)

Performer AGood evening~!

Hotaru!

Performer AWe're up first, and we're gonna get this place fired up... so let's go!

Hotaru(I-It's starting...!)

Hotaru(Kanata-san... isn't there. This must be a different band from millsage.)

Hotaru(Huh? There aren't any seats... Is everyone going to watch standing up like this?)

Hotaru(Wow... This is nothing like a competition.)

Performer AGet those hands up~!

Hotaru!

Hotaru(This is... what Kanata-san was talking about!)

Hotaru(Wow, wow! They really do say it...!)

HotaruHehe...

Hotaru(She was right... This might actually be fun!)

Performer BThank you! The final band is up next. Let's hear it for them!

Hotaru(It was over before I knew it...)

Hotaru(So this is what a live feels like...!)

Hotaru(The sound is so much louder than a concert. And the stage is so close to the audience.)

Hotaru(The music... hits my whole body... like a wall of sound.)

HotaruThat's amazing...

Hotaru(I wonder what Kanata-san's live will be like...)

Hotaru(I've heard her sing and play the piano up close so many times...)

Hotaru(I wonder what kind of music she'll play to make everyone happy...)

Audience AThe last band is millsage, right?

Hotaru!

Hotaru(Finally... I finally get to see her.)

Audience BOh, that's the one, right? The tragedy band.

Audience AYeah. I'm honestly surprised they're still going.

Audience ABut lately? They've been pretty underwhelming.

Hotaru...?

Hotaru(Tragedy...?)

???Good evening, we're millsage!

HotaruAh...!

Hotaru(They're here...!)

Hotaru!?

Hotaru(Mahoro-san...?! The girl I met the other day? She's in the band...!)

Hotaru(And that mysterious girl from earlier is here too...!)

HotaruHuh...?

Hotaru(The performance already started, but...)

Hotaru(Kanata-san hasn't come out.)

Hotaru(But I'm sure this is Kanata-san's song...)

Hotaru(And Mahoro-san is the one singing... not Kanata-san...)

Hotaru(I can hear the piano... but there isn't one anywhere onstage...)

Hotaru(And...)

Mahoro—♪

Hotaru(What is it about this song...?)

Hotaru(I know this song. It should be beautiful.)

Hotaru(But it sounds so, so sad.)

After the Show

Live House - Outside the Dressing Room

Hotaru...

Hotaru(Kanata-san never came out, not even at the end...)

Hotaru(Maybe she wasn't feeling well...?)

Hotaru(I wish I could have seen Kanata-san today, but...)

Hotaru(At least, if I could talk to Mahoro-san and ask her to tell Kanata-san I was here...)

???Hey, you there. This area is staff-only.

Hotaru!

HotaruOh, um...! I wanted to talk to Mahoro-san...

???Are you... one of Mahoro's problem fans? If so, I can't let you see her.

HotaruP-Problem...? I-I don't think so...!

???Okay, okay, everyone says that. Sorry, but her time outside of the live is private.

HotaruUm, well...

HotaruM-My name is Hotaru Shiomi...! If you could tell Mahoro-san, I think she'll know who I am...

???...!

???Sorry, can I hear your name again...?

HotaruHuh...? Hotaru Shiomi.

???...

Hotaru(Is my name... really that strange...?)

Hotaru!

???Houka... Heading home already?

HoukaYes. But before I go, the store manager would like to speak with me.

???I see. So... did you get in touch with Natsume-senpai?

HoukaNo... she left it unread again.

HoukaOh...? It's you from earlier.

HotaruH-Hello...

HoukaSo you're a fan of Nagi-san. Of course you are. Nagi-san does have a fan club at school, after all.

NagiThat's not it. She's here for Mahoro.

NagiThis is... Hotaru Shiomi-san.

Houka...!

Hotaru(She reacted the same way...)

NagiCan you stay a little longer?

HoukaI don't mind.

Hotaru(Does that mean... they don't suspect me anymore...?)

NagiMahoro, is now a good time? You have a visitor.

NagiHotaru Shiomi-san.

Mahoro's Voice...!

Mahoro's VoiceYeah, I'm coming.

Hotaru! Mahoro-san.

MahoroHello... Hotaru-chan.

MahoroYou really came...

Live House - Dressing Room

MahoroSorry. It's a little hectic after the live. And the corridor isn't the best place to talk, so...

HotaruI'm sorry... for showing up like this.

MahoroNo, don't be. I'm the one who should apologize. Sorry about the other day.

MahoroI was going to explain it all back then, but...

MahoroI must have caught you off guard with today's live too...

Hotaru...? No...

Hotaru(Explain...?)

HoukaMahoro-san, did you already know Shiomi-san?

MahoroI wouldn't say I know her that well... The other day, I saw Hotaru-chan playing the piano and went up to talk to her.

MahoroYou know that video that's been getting some buzz? The one with the girl playing the street piano.

MahoroThat girl is Hotaru-chan.

NagiOh...

MahoroShe was playing "everscape" in the video, so... I couldn't stop thinking about it.

Mahoro...

MahoroYou came today... to see Kanata, right?

HotaruY-Yes! I thought I'd be able to see her if I came to the live, but...

Nagi、Houka、Mahoro...

Hotaru...?

Hotaru(Why does the air feel so heavy...?)

Hotaru(Something deep in my chest feels unsettled...)

HotaruUm... did Kanata-san take the day off today? Maybe she caught a cold or something?

HotaruTh-Then that's totally okay. I'll come see another live sometime.

HotaruKanata-san has helped me so, so much... I wouldn't be who I am today without her.

HotaruBut then, at some point, I couldn't see her anymore. And I've been worried about her ever since...!

Mahoro...

HotaruMahoro-san...?

MahoroShe isn't here.

HotaruHuh...?

MahoroNot anywhere in this world.

MahoroKanata is already... gone.

HotaruHuh...? What do you mean, gone...?

MahoroShe passed away from an illness six months ago.