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Are you messing around here?
What am I even doing...?
Details 12:14
- Chapter
- Sidearm Upon the Water
- Duration
- 12:14
- Release
- Oct 17, 2026
- Characters
- Hotaru Shiomi , Natsume Izawa , Nagi Kotohira , Mahoro Hamasaki , and Houka Izumi
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After School
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...!
You haven't changed even a millimeter since last time.
You haven't been practicing, have you?
You haven't been practicing, have you?
Do you really think you can keep up with that half-assed attitude!?
(...So annoying.)
...Well, you said it yourself, Natsume-senpai.
That it's a harder phrase than usual.
That it's a harder phrase than usual.
So naturally, it takes time to perfect it, right?
Don't lie to me!
I can tell just by listening. What you're playing is completely different from
the sound of someone practicing to get better!
the sound of someone practicing to get better!
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N-Natsume-chan. Isn't that a little harsh...?
What? So you're saying we should spoil her
and it's okay if we lose at Comet?
and it's okay if we lose at Comet?
That's...
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...Um. Even so, I still think
we should talk it out a little more.
we should talk it out a little more.
Maybe the cause lies somewhere else...!
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That's true... However,
it's also true that the band's overall practice isn't progressing much.
it's also true that the band's overall practice isn't progressing much.
And the entry period will be over soon, too...
Exactly. We don't have time to wait around for her.
...
(It's impossible.)
(Effort, hope... I can't do either.)
Nagi
...?
I'll watch you, so practice right here, right now.
...Huh?
Of course. You're the only one who can't do it.
So we'll keep going until you can. That's all there is to it.
So we'll keep going until you can. That's all there is to it.
Come on, start with the intro riff. I'll turn on the metronome.
Huh...
Come on, hurry up.
You guys stay out of this.
You guys stay out of this.
...
...!
(I can't escape.)
(I can't fake it.)
That's it. Keep going.
...!
(I don't wanna do it... I don't wanna try hard.)
(I don't want to try hard and end up... disappointed in myself...!)
...What? See? You can do it if you try.
I told you to do that from the start. Come on, one more time.
I told you to do that from the start. Come on, one more time.
...Hey, Natsume-chan, isn't this enough?
No. If we don't make it perfect right here and now,
it'll end up holding the whole band back.
it'll end up holding the whole band back.
...Nagi-san...!
...
*Pant*... *Pant*...!
(No... no, no, no, no, no—)
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...!!
...
...? What's wrong? Hurry up and play.
...I can't play.
Sorry... I don't wanna play. Sorry...
Nagi-chan...?
Ah... your hands are shaking—
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...!
Sorry, everyone, let's take a break!
What!?
Oh my.
Nagi-chan, come with me.
Huh...?
Mahoro-san, I'll—
Sorry, Hotaru-chan.
Let me handle this.
Let me handle this.
Come on, Nagi-chan!
Ah... wait...!?
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...
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(I can't play... Of course I can't...!)
(Did everyone find out...? Did Mahoro...?)
(How am I supposed to face them and go back...?)
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...Are you okay?
!
Here, water... and a lollipop.
Sorry. The convenience store nearby only had pudding flavor...
You don't like sweet things, right?
You don't like sweet things, right?
...No, it's fine. Thanks.
(Mahoro helped me.)
(It kinda feels like we're back to the old days.)
...Sorry for suddenly dragging you out.
But I just couldn't leave you alone.
But I just couldn't leave you alone.
...Yeah.
I kinda figured out that you're carrying something, Nagi-chan...
and that you don't wanna talk about it.
and that you don't wanna talk about it.
You're probably suffering from something I can't understand, right?
...
(Ah.)
(I made Mahoro worry.)
(I didn't mean to make her look like that.)
(I'm the one who's supposed to protect Mahoro...!)
...Sorry... I'm sorry...!
...
...Nagi-chan. Is the band fun?
...Huh?
...Up until now, y'know. Whether it was when Kanata was here,
or after Hotaru-chan joined... I thought we all felt the same.
or after Hotaru-chan joined... I thought we all felt the same.
But... seeing you lately, Nagi-chan, I'm not so sure anymore.
...?
Me? I wanna do the band together with you, Nagi-chan.
But... if that makes you suffer, Nagi-chan...
making you look like you did earlier, I don't think that's right.
making you look like you did earlier, I don't think that's right.
So... maybe.
Just maybe, okay?
Just maybe, okay?
If it's too painful... you can leave the band, you know.
...Huh?
(Did she just... say I can leave?)
...Why?
(I feel the same as you, Mahoro, you know?)
(I wanna do it together, you know?)
(That... at least that isn't a lie, and yet.)
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...Of course, I don't mean right now.
It's just that it's an option.
It's just that it's an option.
Whether it's really better to do that, probably...
I think you should think about it more carefully.
I think you should think about it more carefully.
...
...For now, let's end today's practice here.
I'll try to convince Natsume-chan somehow.
I'll try to convince Natsume-chan somehow.
So... let's go home? Together.
...Sorry.
Just for a bit... let me be alone.
Just for a bit... let me be alone.
...I-I see. Yeah... okay.
If anything happens... contact me, okay? See you.
If anything happens... contact me, okay? See you.
...
...Aha.
What am I even doing...?
(I pretended not to see Mahoro's kindness...
and just flailed around on my own.)
and just flailed around on my own.)
(I didn't wanna change, so
I kept running away, and this is what I get.)
I kept running away, and this is what I get.)
(Even though there's no way I could run forever.)
...I'm such an idiot.
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...I have to make sure I don't get left behind, too.
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(Acting all confident like "it'll work out somehow.")
(Far from being left behind, I haven't moved a single step forward.
I'm the only one who's still standing still.)
I'm the only one who's still standing still.)
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(And Mahoro, who used to stand still
right next to me, just like me... isn't there anymore.)
right next to me, just like me... isn't there anymore.)
(Even after having her talent shoved in her face, even after realizing who she is,
she chose to take on the challenge.)
she chose to take on the challenge.)
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(Even without me, Mahoro can walk on her own.)
...!
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(No...!)
(I don't wanna be left behind.
I can't stand being the only one who's pathetic!)
I can't stand being the only one who's pathetic!)
(But... trying hard is scary...!)
(I'll definitely fail someday.
And then I'll know that's as far as I go!)
And then I'll know that's as far as I go!)
...I can't decide... I don't know...!
Ahh, geez...!
...Someone... choose for me...!
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Itsuki
I'm gonna skip a stone too, so watch.
We'll decide who wins by how many times it skips.
We'll decide who wins by how many times it skips.
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...!
(Quitting the band... trying hard...
I don't wanna do any of it...)
I don't wanna do any of it...)
...Then...!
(If it's even, I'll do it... if it's odd, I won't...)
You decide for me...!!
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One, two, three—
...!
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