Our Starry Sky Leading to the Future - 4: Stronger

CD Shop

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1

Honami

(Let's see... The CD Shiho recommended should be...)

2

Honami

(Oh, here it is!
Thank goodness I found it.)

3

Honami

(She said it should help me because their drummer's very good. I'll try listening to it while I practice, starting today.)

4

Honami

Huh...?

5

Honami

(These are our CDs...!
And they're on display in a prime location...!)

6

Honami

Hehe. I'll tell the others about this later...

7

???

Hey, did you listen to that song?

8

???

Yeah, it was so good!
Got any others that you recommend?

9

???

Yeah, wanna check out my playlist later?

10

???

Cool!
Thanks!

11

Honami

...!

12

Honami

(Those voices. They sounded like...)

13

Honami's Former Classmate C

But I haven't been listening to much music lately because I'm spending so much time studying...

14

Honami

(It is them...!)

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15

Honami's Classmate C

You act chummy with just about anyone.
Whose side are you on?

16

Honami

...

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17

Honami

(Oh...
I couldn't help but hide from them...)

18

Honami's Former Classmate A

Oh!

19

Honami's Former Classmate A

Hey, have you two heard of this band? They're called Leo/need! I just discovered them recently and they're pretty good!

20

Honami

...!

21

Honami's Former Classmate B

Yeah, I've heard of them!
Also, isn't Honami in this band?

22

Honami's Former Classmate A

What?! She is?!

23

Honami's Former Classmate A

She's in a band...?
And she's gone pro?

24

Honami

(They're talking about Leo/need.)

25

Honami

(What do I do...?)

26

Honami

(I'm afraid that they're going to say some really mean things about me again...)

27

Honami's Former Classmate B

I'm curious as to what this song's like. I might give it a listen.

28

Honami's Former Classmate B

Still, it's hard to believe that Honami's in a band. I didn't think she was the type.

29

Honami

...

30

Honami's Former Classmate C

I mean, does that matter? She's clearly doing her best.

31

Honami's Former Classmate C

Also, I've already had a chance to listen to this song. I thought it was pretty good.

32

Honami

Huh...?

33

Honami's Former Classmate A

Yeah, true.
It is a good song.

34

Honami's Former Classmate B

Do you know who else is in Leo/need besides Honami?

35

Honami's Former Classmate C

Pretty sure they're all Honami's childhood friends. Like Hoshino and...

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36

Honami

...

School SEKAI

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37

Honami

(I...)

38

Honami

(I... In that moment...)

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39

Honami

(What do I do...?)

40

Honami

(I'm afraid that they're going to say some really mean things about me again...)

41

Honami

...!

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42

Honami

Huff... Huff...

43

Honami

(This is bad...
My mind keeps jumping back to that moment.)

44

Honami

(I know I can't keep going on like this...)

45

MEIKO

You seem more motivated than usual today.

46

Honami

MEIKO...!

47

Honami

I'm sorry for not noticing you sooner...

48

MEIKO

That's okay.
More importantly...

49

MEIKO

Did something happen to you?

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50

Honami

Huh? H-How did you know...?

51

MEIKO

The way you were drumming sounded a little different.

52

Honami

The way I was drumming...?

53

MEIKO

Yes.
It seemed like you were trying very hard to sound energized, but you thrashed around quite a bit...

54

Honami

That's...

55

MEIKO

I'll be happy to listen.
I am a senior you look up to, after all.

56

Honami

Hehe...
Thank you very much.

57

Honami

The thing is...

58

Honami

I was at the CD shop earlier and just happened to see my old classmates from junior high school.

59

MEIKO

From junior high school?
Wasn't that when...?

60

Honami

Yes...
I don't have too many fond memories from back then...

61

Honami

And I ended up hiding from them.

62

MEIKO

You hid?

63

Honami

Yes, behind some shelves...

64

Honami

Then, they saw our CDs and I overheard them talking about us...

65

Honami

I became so worried that they would say some more awful things about me.

66

Honami

But that wasn't what happened at all...

67

MEIKO

Go on...

68

Honami

Then, I...

69

Honami

I felt so weak.

70

MEIKO

Weak...?

71

Honami

I ran and hid because I didn't want to hear them talking about me behind my back again...

72

Honami

Even though it was partially my fault that we ended up arguing with each other.

73

Honami

I immediately jumped to the conclusion that they were going to say mean things about me. Even when I found out that wasn't the case, I wasn't able to go over and talk to them...

74

MEIKO

...

75

Honami

Now that we're professional musicians, I know that we'll be faced with various challenges moving forward.

76

Honami

We may need to be even more courageous than when we stood up to Mr. Shindo.

77

Honami

As the leader of this band, it's my duty to learn how to pull us in the right direction.

78

Honami

Which is why I want to become stronger...

79

MEIKO

I see...

80

MEIKO

I understand why you felt that you were weak in that moment, Honami...

81

MEIKO

But I believe that you've become such a strong girl.

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82

Honami

Huh...?

83

MEIKO

When we first met, Honami, you had so much on your mind and were very indecisive, remember?

84

Honami

Oh...
Yes, I remember.

85

MEIKO

I know it's hard for you to get a good sense of this...

86

MEIKO

But you've gradually been getting stronger. You're much more decisive now, and have the courage to speak your mind.

87

MEIKO

So, I think you should just keep doing your best and not get too anxious.

88

Honami

MEIKO...

89

Honami

Thank you very much.
I feel a little bit better now.

90

MEIKO

Hehe. I'm glad I could help a little.

91

MEIKO

Oh, that's right...
This seems like a nice place to stop and get a change of scenery. Would you like to join me?

92

Honami

Huh? A change of scenery?

93

MEIKO

Yes!
A rather interesting place just appeared in SEKAI...

Next Chapter: Us Back Then