???
Saki
Wh-What is this place...?!
Rin
Whoa!
I didn't know this part of SEKAI existed!
I didn't know this part of SEKAI existed!
Luka
It looks like a station platform...
There's even a train stopped.
There's even a train stopped.
Saki
It's so spacious...
But how did no one notice until now?
But how did no one notice until now?
Saki
I thought we'd explored every inch of this SEKAI already.
Luka
...
This is just my guess...
This is just my guess...
Luka
But I don't think it was always here.
This area may've newly appeared.
This area may've newly appeared.
Saki
Huh? A new area...?
Is that possible?!
Is that possible?!
Luka
I can't say for sure since this is also completely new to me...
Luka
But do you remember how this SEKAI was born out of you and the others' feelings, Saki?
Saki
Oh, yes!
Our feelings coalesced and formed this SEKAI, right?
Our feelings coalesced and formed this SEKAI, right?
Luka
Along those lines...
Luka
This place may be some kind of reflection of all of your feelings.
Saki
Our feelings...
Luka
Yes.
But it's difficult to say what those feelings entail.
But it's difficult to say what those feelings entail.
Rin
Then, why don't we try exploring this place a little more?
Rin
If we take a closer look, we might be able to find the answer☆
Saki
Oh, great idea!
I also wanna see what this place has to offer!
I also wanna see what this place has to offer!
Luka
Hehe. Me too.
Then, let's take a quick look, shall we?
Then, let's take a quick look, shall we?
Rin
Alright, I'll go check out the platform on the other side since it also looks really big and spacious!
Luka
In that case, I'll try taking a look around the station. I'd like to get an idea of its overall scale.
Rin
Where do you wanna look, Sakki?!
Saki
Hmm... Then, I'll keep checking this area out!
Saki
I wanna take a closer look at this train and these posters and bulletins and stuff!
Rin
Okay♪
Then, let us know if you find anything!
Then, let us know if you find anything!
Luka
I'll see you two in a little bit.
Saki
See you!
Saki
Still, what's this station for...?
Saki
Oh, an electronic bulletin board!
It looks just like one you'd see on a real platform...
It looks just like one you'd see on a real platform...
Saki
Huh? Wait a second...
Saki
There's no destination...?
Is it broken or something?
Is it broken or something?
Saki
Come to think of it, where is this train headed?
Saki
Oh, there could be something written on the train!
Saki
Hmm...
There's nothing written here either.
There's nothing written here either.
Saki
(What if this train doesn't actually have a destination yet...?)
Saki
(The doors don't seem to open...
But the lights are on, so they should be working.)
But the lights are on, so they should be working.)
Saki
Hello? I'd like to board!
Saki
Huh...?
Saki
Hi, it's nice to meet you all! My name's Saki Tenma!
Saki
I've actually been a student here since junior high school, but I ended up in the hospital for a while.
Saki
Now I'm back to perfect health, and ready to have a great time!
Saki
My plan is to enjoy high school life to the fullest♪
Let's all be friends!
Let's all be friends!
Saki
Wh-What's going on?!
Was that me...?
Was that me...?
Saki
She just suddenly popped into my head and...
Saki
Bye bye, Ichi! See you later!
Ichika
Okay.
See you later, Saki.
See you later, Saki.
Saki
*Sigh*
Saki
I was so sure that the four of us would start hanging out together again like old times...
Saki
But I guess Ichi's right...
We're all busy high schoolers now, so things won't just go back to being the way they used to...
We're all busy high schoolers now, so things won't just go back to being the way they used to...
Saki
...
Saki
No, stop! I've gotta stay positive!
Saki
If I keep making the effort to go talk to them, then we might be able to start hanging out again!
Saki
So, I'll try again tomorrow!
Saki
(Hang on...
This is from when I got to start going to school again...)
This is from when I got to start going to school again...)
Saki
(Does that mean I'm seeing my memories from back then...?)
Saki
Oh...
Saki
Why are they both being like that?
Saki
It's like they're avoiding me.
Saki
(This is from...
Whenever I went over to talk to Shiho and Hona, they didn't really say anything to me.)
Whenever I went over to talk to Shiho and Hona, they didn't really say anything to me.)
Saki
(They weren't acting like their usual selves, which bothered me a lot...)
Saki
(And then...)
Saki
(I'm loving this! Everyone's parts are coming together in this song! Maybe we could start a band again, and things between us could be the way they used to be...)
Saki
Shiho, Hona, Ichi... Let's get the band back together!
Saki
(We met up in SEKAI, and I told them about how we should get our band back together.)
Saki
(Looking back, I was so desperate...)
Saki
(I wanted us to be friends again...
I thought getting our band back together was my only hope.)
I thought getting our band back together was my only hope.)
Saki
(But...)
Saki
I see now what we should do.
Saki
We should give up on getting her to join the band.
Ichika
What?!
Saki
(That was really tough...)
Saki
(I wanted Hona to be there with us, but I knew that she'd end up suffering as a result...)
Saki
(I have to tell her tomorrow...)
Saki
(I have to let Hona know that she doesn't have to join our band.)
Saki
(I have to tell her, but...)
Saki
I really don't want to...
Saki
(If I tell her, I get the feeling this is how things are gonna be moving forward...)
Saki
(Just us. No Hona...
The four of us won't be friends again like we used to...)
The four of us won't be friends again like we used to...)
Saki
I don't want that...
Saki
I don't want to tell her...
Saki
(But...)
Saki
I have to...!
Saki
Because it's in her best interest.
Saki
It's okay.
Saki
I'm sure we'll get another chance to hang out again like we used to... Someday...
Saki
So, for now...
Saki
I have to say goodbye to her...
Saki
(That was so hard...)
Saki
(I mean, I really thought that we'd never see each other ever again.)
Saki
(We'd go our separate ways, graduate from high school, become adults and completely lose contact...)
Saki
(That scared me a lot...)
Saki
(But...)
Saki
It's okay, past me...
Saki
We all get back together in the end.
Saki
A lot of scary and not-so-nice things are gonna happen in the future...
Saki
But don't worry!
We managed to get through it all!
We managed to get through it all!
Rin's Voice
Sakki! Sakki!
Saki
Oh...!
Saki
H-Huh...? Am I...?
Rin
Th-Thank goodness!
Rin
We were so worried!
You didn't respond to anything we said! And then you started bawling your eyes out!
You didn't respond to anything we said! And then you started bawling your eyes out!
Luka
What happened?
Saki
Hehe. I'm okay...
Saki
I was just sort of dreaming for a bit.
Luka
Dreaming?
Saki
Yes. I don't know why, but I started seeing all these different things after touching this train...
Saki
Like what happened before we got our band back together, when we weren't talking to each other...
Saki
Being reminded of what happened back then made me tear up a little...
Luka
Saki...
Luka
You don't have to put on a brave face if it's too much.
Saki
No, I'm not pretending to smile or anything!
Saki
Yeah, being reminded of what happened was pretty tough...
Saki
But we're all back together now...
Saki
We've become pros and are moving forward together!
Saki
That makes me super happy... So, it's all okay!
Saki
I don't know how our career as pros is going to unfold...
Saki
But I know that the four of us will keep trying our best!
Luka
I'm sure you'll all do just fine as long as you stay together.
Rin
Yeah♪
Do your best, Sakki! We'll all be rooting for you!
Do your best, Sakki! We'll all be rooting for you!
Saki
Hehe. Thanks, Rin!
Rin
Still, what made you see that dream...?
Saki
I dunno...
It all happened so suddenly...
It all happened so suddenly...
Luka
What if SEKAI wanted you to see what you just did?
Saki
SEKAI?
Luka
Yes.
Your feelings may have affected it in such a way that it felt it needed to remind you of what happened.
Your feelings may have affected it in such a way that it felt it needed to remind you of what happened.
Saki
(If that's true, then...)
Saki
(Maybe it was giving me an opportunity to tell my past self that everything is going to be okay...)
Luka
Oh, Saki, that reminds me...
Don't you have to be home soon?
Don't you have to be home soon?
Rin
She's right!
Isn't it almost time for you to have dinner?
Isn't it almost time for you to have dinner?
Saki
No, you're right!
My mom's gonna be so worried!
My mom's gonna be so worried!
Saki
Then, I'll see you two later!
Rin
Okay! Let's go exploring again!
Saki
(I'm so glad I came here, since I got a chance to remember what happened back then...)
Saki
(We're probably gonna be faced with a lot more tough challenges in the future.)
Saki
(But I'm sure the four of us will figure out a way to keep moving forward!)
Saki
(I mean, just look at me! I'm standing here now after going through everything I did!)
Next Chapter: Stronger