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The Next Day

After School

Tokyo Metropolitan Geijutsu School of Fine Arts - School Gate

Hotaru...

Hotaru(Nagi-san and the others told me not to worry, but...)

Hotaru(I still feel like I might have hurt Natsume-san...)

Student AHey, isn't that a Minase uniform?

Student BIs she staring daggers over here?

Student CI think she's looking for someone.

Hotaru...?

Hotaru(Something seems to be going on over there...)

NatsumeThere you are, kid!!

Hotaru!?

HotaruN-Natsume-san? What are you doing here...?

NatsumeWhat do you think? I'm here to pick up where we left off yesterday.

HotaruWhere we left off...?

NatsumeWhat? You think you've already won? Hah. How cute.

NatsumeI told you, yesterday was just the opening round. A test run, nothing more than a warm-up.

NatsumeThat was nowhere near my real level!

NatsumeCome on, we're going to the garage. Move it!

NatsumeSure, you play pretty well for someone younger, I guess. But don't get cocky.

NatsumeI brought a phrase way harder than yesterday's!

HotaruYou're... going to do another session with me?

NatsumeHuh? Obviously.

Hotaru(Natsume-san... She's going to have another session with me...!)

NatsumeWhy are you grinning like that...? Creepy.

HotaruAh, I'm sorry! I was just so happy...!

NatsumeHappy? Sounds like you're pretty relaxed. Today's gonna be nothing like yesterday!

HotaruYes! Thank you for doing this with me again today!

The Garage

NatsumeSo... why are you here?

MahoroWell... I figured this was probably where things were headed...

NatsumeWhat's that supposed to mean?

MahoroUh, well... Right, a witness! You'll need someone to confirm it when you win, won't you, Natsume-chan?

NatsumeFine... whatever. Just sit there and watch.

MahoroHotaru-chan...

Hotaru?

MahoroI don't think Natsume-chan is going to accept you that easily...

MahoroBut if it's you, Hotaru-chan, I think you'll be okay. You've got this.

HotaruY-yes!

NatsumeHey, you two! What are you whispering about?

MahoroHmm? Nothing?

NatsumeHmph... Fine. Advise her all you want. There's no way she can beat me when I'm serious.

NatsumeBetter start thinking up your excuse for losing right now!

10 Minutes Later

Natsume...!

HotaruHow was that...? Did I... do it well?

NatsumeToday was just...! My fingers weren't cooperating, that's all!

NatsumeThat's all it was!!

HotaruWhat...!? Um, Natsume-san...!

MahoroI think that means, "See you tomorrow."

HotaruUmm...

MahoroAhaha. Don't look so crushed.

MahoroIt's funny. The moment you sit at a piano, Hotaru-chan, you turn into this amazing pianist.

MahoroSee you tomorrow. Show Natsume-chan and me that amazing playing of yours again.

Hotaru! Y-yes! See you tomorrow!

The Next Day

NatsumeToday, I’m not holding back! Got it!?

HotaruYes! I'm all ready too!

MahoroGood luck, you two~

30 Minutes Later

Natsume...!

HotaruHow was that...?

MahoroNatsume-chan, maybe it's time to...

NatsumeMy stomach!

Hotaru!?

NatsumeMy stomach was hurting! So this one doesn't count!!

MahoroHmm, I see. Then I guess there's no helping it.

MahoroHotaru-chan, looks like she wants another round.

HotaruP-please!

NatsumeUgh, fine! Let's do this already!

Natsume(Why... Why can't I win?!)

Natsume(Why can she match everything I do? Why can she arrange every single thing I throw at her?!)

Natsume(This is driving me crazy... driving me crazy...!)

Natsume(This is... This is just like...!)

Two Years Ago

The Day Natsume First Came to the Garage

KanataPhew...!

MahoroUmmm...

MahoroDoes that mean... Kanata won?

Natsume...!

NagiAfter acting so confident, too...

MahoroNagi-chan! Sugarcoat it a little!

Natsume...

Classmate ANatsume-chan's crying again~

Classmate BShe's always behind in class and dead last when we race.

Classmate CSo lame~!

Natsume(I haven't... changed at all.)

Natsume(Even after finally finding my place with guitar, I'm still just as lame.)

Natsume(Everyone's going to laugh at me again...)

KanataThat was soooo freakin' cool!!

NatsumeHuh...?

KanataWhoa, whoa, a guitar can do stuff like that?! No fair! I wanna do that on piano too!

NatsumeHuh...?

KanataAlso, you're seriously amazing! I was playing all over the place and you still kept up!

KanataYou must've practiced like crazy!

NatsumeUh... yeah...

KanataHey, Natsume. You really should join our band!

KanataThen let's make some cool music together!

Natsume(It stings to admit it, but she does remind me of Kanata.)

Natsume(No matter how hard a phrase I throw at her, no matter how much I change its direction...)

Natsume(She charges after it like it's the most fun thing in the world. A total music-obsessed idiot.)

Natsume(Their personalities couldn't be more different, though...)

Natsume(But with her... she might actually be able to play Kanata's part.)

Natsume...

HotaruNatsume-san...

Natsume(Ugh... I'm pathetic.)

Natsume(If Kanata could see me now, she'd probably laugh.)

Natsume(Sorry, Kanata...)

Natsume(I failed to protect millsage...)

Natsume*Sniff*...

MahoroNatsume-chan...

NatsumeI lost...

Hotaru!

NatsumeFine. Be the new pianist or whatever. Do what you want.

HotaruNatsume-san...!

NatsumeThen I'll leave instead. There, problem solved.

Hotaru!?

MahoroNatsume-chan, wait! Hold on!

NatsumeNo. I told you already. If this girl joins, then to me, that isn't millsage anymore.

NatsumeSo this is where I...

HotaruNo, you can't!

Natsume!?

HotaruYou can't do that! I want you here too, Natsume-san!

HotaruIf you aren't here, it won't be millsage either...! I wouldn't be able to face Kanata-san!

NatsumeHuh...? I'm done. I can't deal with this anymore. I'm going home.

HotaruAh...! Wait, please! Natsume-sa... oof?!

MahoroHotaru-chan?! Are you okay?!

HotaruUuu...

MahoroO-oh, that looked painful... You landed face-first...

HotaruWe had so many sessions together...

Natsume?

HotaruI've listened to you play so many times, Natsume-san. I've seen the way you look when you're playing, over and over...!

HotaruI could feel how much millsage means to you! All of it came through!!

Natsume...!

HotaruThen you really can't leave!

HotaruIf you leave too, Natsume-san... millsage really will be gone!

HotaruKanata-san is right there in the music! As long as we keep the band going, we'll be together!

Natsume(That's right...)

Natsume(When I first met Kanata, it was like this too.)

Natsume(She didn't care what I had to say. She just grabbed my hand and dragged me along...)

HotaruI'll... I'll work even harder...!

HotaruI know I can never be Kanata-san... but I'll work hard enough to play her part!

NatsumeW-wait, what?! Why are you crying?! Hey, quit it! Don't grab my sleeve!

HotaruNgh... Natsume-saaaan... Please don't go...

NatsumeHey! I said let go!

MahoroWow... She's got serious guts...

HoukaMy, my. What have we here?

NagiNatsume-senpai... did you make a junior high girl cry...?

NatsumeWhy are you all here?!

MahoroI called them over.

NatsumeMahorooo!!

Hotaru*Sniff*... Natsume-saaaan...

NatsumeNgh... This girl...!

MahoroNatsume-chan... I'm asking too. Could you try staying with us for just a little longer?

MahoroCan you hold off on making your decision, just a little longer?

NatsumeWhat am I supposed to do... when you say stuff like that...?!

HotaruPlease...!

NatsumeUgh... fine...! I get it, okay?!

Hotaru!

NatsumeBut, I'm putting my answer on hold too!

Hotaru...?

NatsumeAll you've passed today is the first round! I'm gonna keep testing what you're made of from here on out!

NatsumeSo you'd better be ready... Hotaru!

Hotaru! Yes!