A world without you

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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!

Hotaru

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

???

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

Hotaru

Yes, 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.

Hotaru

Um... what...?

???

Could this be your first time at a live house?

Hotaru

Huh...!?

???

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.

Hotaru

Huh?

???

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? ♪

Hotaru

U-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.)

Hotaru

Hehe...

Hotaru

(I can't wait.)

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Performer A

Good evening~!

Hotaru

!

Performer A

We'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 A

Get those hands up~!

Illustration

Illustration

Hotaru

!

Hotaru

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

Hotaru

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

Hotaru

Hehe...

Hotaru

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

Performer B

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

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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.)

Hotaru

That'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 A

The last band is millsage, right?

Hotaru

!

Hotaru

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

Audience B

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

Audience A

Yeah. I'm honestly surprised they're still going.

Audience A

But lately? They've been pretty underwhelming.

Hotaru

...?

Hotaru

(Tragedy...?)

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???

Good evening, we're millsage!

Hotaru

Ah...!

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...!)

Hotaru

Huh...?

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.)

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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

!

Hotaru

Oh, 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.

Hotaru

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

???

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

Hotaru

Um, well...

Hotaru

M-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...?

Hotaru

Huh...? Hotaru Shiomi.

???

...

Hotaru

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

Hotaru

!

???

Houka... Heading home already?

Houka

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

???

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

Houka

No... she left it unread again.

Houka

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

Hotaru

H-Hello...

Houka

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

Nagi

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

Nagi

This is... Hotaru Shiomi-san.

Houka

...!

Hotaru

(She reacted the same way...)

Nagi

Can you stay a little longer?

Houka

I don't mind.

Hotaru

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

Nagi

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

Nagi

Hotaru Shiomi-san.

Mahoro's Voice

...!

Mahoro's Voice

Yeah, I'm coming.

Hotaru

! Mahoro-san.

Mahoro

Hello... Hotaru-chan.

Mahoro

You really came...

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Mahoro

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

Hotaru

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

Mahoro

No, don't be. I'm the one who should apologize. Sorry about the other day.

Mahoro

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

Mahoro

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

Hotaru

...? No...

Hotaru

(Explain...?)

Houka

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

Mahoro

I 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.

Mahoro

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

Mahoro

That girl is Hotaru-chan.

Nagi

Oh...

Mahoro

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

Mahoro

...

Mahoro

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

Hotaru

Y-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...)

Hotaru

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

Hotaru

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

Hotaru

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

Hotaru

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

Mahoro

...

Hotaru

Mahoro-san...?

Mahoro

She isn't here.

Hotaru

Huh...?

Mahoro

Not anywhere in this world.

Mahoro

Kanata is already... gone.

Hotaru

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

Mahoro

She passed away from an illness six months ago.