That day, the Sky was Far Away - 3: I Chose Solitude

Two years ago

Miyamasuzaka Girls Academy JHS - Classroom

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Shiho's Classmates

Alright, let's have lunch!

Shiho's Classmates

Okay!
Oh, wait... Should we invite Hinomori?

Shiho's Classmates

No, don't bother.
You never know when she's gonna snap.

Shiho's Classmates

True. I remember telling her a little joke about some other girls this one time and she told me not to talk about them behind their backs.

Shiho's Classmates

Yeah, totally.
You're talking about Mochizuki and Hoshino, right...?

Shiho

Listen

...

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Shiho's Classmates

Wh-What is it...?

Shiho

Listen

I wouldn't have lunch with any of you even if you asked...

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Shiho's Classmates

What was that?! Who does she think she is...?!

Shiho's Classmates

Ugh! I know, right?!

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Shiho

Listen

(Just being in that classroom makes my nerves fray...)

Shiho

Listen

(People who don't conform are considered outsiders and tossed aside...)

Shiho

Listen

(I know I can handle those kinds of situations better, but it's just...)

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Shiho's Classmate A

What's the name of that girl who always comes to talk to Hinomori? Hoshino or something? How's she able to put up with Hinomori like that?

Shiho's Classmate B

No idea. However, I heard that they've known each other since they were little... They're alike in a way, you know?

Shiho's Classmate A

Oh, I think I know what you're talking about. They're both pretty blunt and don't care about what happens around them.

Shiho's Classmate B

And they think they're so cool too.
It's like they believe they're too good for any of us...

Shiho

Listen

(No, I can't just ignore them...
They have no right talking about Ichika or anyone else like that...)

Honami's Voice

Listen

You want my advice...?

Shiho

Listen

(Honami...?!)

Junior

Yes...
There's something that I've been meaning to ask you, Mochizuki. Are you free right now?

Honami

Listen

Yes, I am.
Why don't we have lunch together down by the courtyard while we talk?

Junior

Th-Thank you so much...!

Shiho

Listen

(Another girl from the brass band's asking her for advice. I guess it makes sense. Honami's nice and really reliable...)

Shiho

Listen

...

Honami

Listen

Alright, let's... Huh?
Shiho?

Shiho

Listen

(B-Busted...)

Honami

Listen

Ichika told me that you've been acting strange lately. Did something happen? You can always ask me if there's anything that's bothering you...

Shiho

Listen

...

Shiho

Listen

Leave me alone...

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Honami

Listen

What...?

Shiho

Listen

There's something I need to do...
Bye...

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Honami

Listen

Shiho!
Wait...

Shiho

Listen

*Sigh*

Shiho

Listen

(Honami seemed completely stunned...)

Shiho

Listen

(But this is how things need to be...
This way, Honami and Ichika won't have to...)

Ichika

Listen

There she is! Shiho!

Shiho

Listen

I-Ichika...?!

Ichika

Listen

Why did you tell me to leave you alone the other day?

Ichika

Listen

You haven't been reading my messages either. Have you been talking to Saki at all?

Shiho

Listen

(Saki...)

Shiho

Listen

...

Shiho

Listen

You know exactly what I meant by what I said...

Shiho

Listen

I don't have time to hang out with you or anyone else anymore.

Ichika

Listen

What are you talking about...?
Can't you just explain what's going on?

Shiho

Listen

There's nothing to explain, so quit following me.

Shiho

Listen

If you do keep doing this, we'll never talk again...

Ichika

Listen

Sh-Shiho...!

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Miyamasuzaka Girls Academy JHS - Rooftop

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Shiho

Listen

(This is fine...
This is how things need to be...)

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Shiho

Listen

(Ichika and Honami are both incredibly nice people. So nice that they don't care how cold I am towards them...)

Shiho

Listen

(But that's also why I don't want to cause them any trouble...)

Shiho

Listen

(I don't want either of them to suffer because of what I do.)

Shiho

Listen

(Because Saki...)

Shiho

Listen

(She'll be fine as long as she has them.)

Shiho

Listen

(Saki will smile as long as those two are smiling alongside her...)

Shiho

Listen

That's what matters most...

Shiho

Listen

(I should be practicing playing my bass instead...)

Shiho

Listen

(The more time I have to myself, the more time I can spend practicing and playing.)

Shiho

Listen

(I have to practice as much as humanly possible if I really am going to become a professional bassist...)

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The next day - Lunch break

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Shiho

Listen

Phew...

Shiho

Listen

(It feels so muggy on the rooftop now.)

Shiho

Listen

(I wish I could practice in an open classroom, but that's not gonna happen anytime soon.)

Shiho

Listen

(I guess I'll just have to move to the shade.)

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Shiho

Listen

(Here should work.)

Shiho

Listen

(Okay, one more time.
This song's pretty hard, but I should be able to play it if I take it one step at a time.)

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Shiho

Listen

(Good...
Just keep it up through the end and...)

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???

Listen

Is someone playing an instrument...?

Next Chapter: Meeting Through Music