Stick to Your Faith - 4: The Right Choice

Miyamasuzaka

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Elementary School Shiho

Listen

...

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Classmate C's Voice

Right...
But she promised ages ago that she'd come. Shouldn't this party take priority?

Classmate A's Voice

Yeah...
But if it didn't sound like she was gonna budge...

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

(Maybe I should've gone instead...)

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

(But if I had, I wouldn't have finished my assignment...)

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Father

Shiho, is that you?

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

Oh, Dad...
Are you coming back from work?

Father

Yeah. I was just having a meeting with this band I've been looking after. They have a show coming up.

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Father

Are you on your way home from school, Shiho? It's pretty late...

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

I was busy doing calligraphy today.

Father

Calligraphy?

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

Yeah, we were assigned to draw characters for class. The due date was today, so I had to stay back and finish mine.

Father

I see...
So, did yours turn out the way you wanted?

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

Well...

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

What I turned in was probably the best one I've ever drawn...

Father

That's good.

Father

But you don't seem all that happy...

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

Huh...? I'm, uhh...

Father

It's okay. You can tell me what's wrong...

Father

I'm sure you'll feel a lot better after you get it off your chest.

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

Okay...

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

I was actually supposed to go to a classmate's birthday party today... But I decided not to go because I wanted to keep working on my calligraphy...

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

And my decision ended up hurting them.

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Father

...

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

I know I would've regretted turning in something I wasn't happy with.

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

But I also never meant to upset everyone...

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

Which is why I'm wondering if I should've gone to that party after all...

Father

I see. That's a tough pickle...

Father

Still, after deciding to stay back, you ended up producing your best piece of calligraphy today, right?

Father

I think you should be proud of that.

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

You think so...?

Father

Yes.
However, I also understand your predicament...

Father

Getting to do what you want is important, but so is understanding how others feel.

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

Yeah...

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

(Did I make the right decision?)

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

(Ideally, I would've been able to work faster and still make it to the birthday party, but...)

Father

...

Father

Shiho, why don't we go see another show together sometime?

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

A show?
Sure, but where'd that come from...?

Father

There's a group of ladies that I want you to meet.

Father

Hearing their music might give you a hint as to how you should make those kinds of decisions going forward.

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

A hint...?

Father

Yeah. So, how about it...?

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

Yeah...
Okay.

A few days later

Live House

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Elementary School Shiho

Listen

(I'm at a live house again...
But it's never not exciting to be at one.)

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

(It being kinda dark is a part of it... But there's more to it than just that...)

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

(The sounds you sometimes hear when they're tuning and testing the instruments. The way you can sorta barely see what's going on. All of that...)

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

(I dunno why, but it always gets me really excited...)

Father

Over here, Shiho.

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

Huh? Wait, we're going backstage...?
Am I allowed?

Father

Yeah, I already got permission.
It's okay as long as you don't get in the way of the staff...

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

Okay...

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Elementary School Shiho

Listen

(This is what it looks like backstage...?
I had no idea...)

???

Oh, Mr. Hinomori, you made it!

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

...!

Father

I thought this was my chance to say hi. You don't go on for a little while, right?

Girl Band Member A

Wow, thank you so much!
Sumire's gonna be so stoked!

Girl Band Member A

Huh? That girl...

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

Oh...

Girl Band Member A

Is she your daughter...?!

Father

Yeah, her name's Shiho.

Father

Shiho, this is the leader of Iolite.
They're the band I said I've been looking after, remember...?

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

Nice to meet you...

Iolite Member A

Whoa...! Y-Y-Y-Y-You're...

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

Me...?

Iolite Member A

You're soooo cute!

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Iolite Member A

Everyone, listen! Big news!
Mr. Hinomori brought over this really adorable girl to meet us! Apparently she's his daughter, Shiho!

Iolite Member B

Oh, hey, look at that.
How old are you, sweetie?

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

Um... I'm ten.

Iolite Member A

Ten?! Wow, you're so calm and collected though.

Iolite Member B

Come to think of it, Mr. Hinomori, she looks just like you. I dunno if it's her eyes, but she looks like she means business just like her daddy. I bet she'll grow up to have a really cool look.

Iolite Member C

You think so? But she's so soft and cuddly. Just feel her cheeks. She's gonna turn out such a cutie.

Iolite Member A

Either way, she's a gorgeous girl!
I can't get enough of her.

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

W-Wait...
Hey, quit it...!

???

Oh, geez. What are you guys up to now?

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

Huh?

???

Give her some space, will you?
Imagine having a bunch of strangers gang up on you like that. Wouldn't you feel terrified?

???

Sorry about that.
They don't mean you any harm...

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

No, I...

Sumire

Oh, I'm Sumire Kuno.
It's great to meet you. I'm the bassist for this band.

Next Chapter: Introductions