That day, the Sky was Far Away - 6: A Wish Hidden at Twilight

One week later

Miyamasuzaka Girls Academy JHS - Classroom

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Light Music Club Member A

No, I did it again!
I'm so sorry!

Light Music Club Member B

Haha. That part's so hard too.
Oh, that reminds me. I found this great shop the other day...

Shiho

Listen

...

Shiho

Listen

I'm gonna go get something to drink...

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Shiho

Listen

(We're not getting anything done.
All they do is talk and talk and talk...)

Shiho

Listen

(Do they really think we're gonna be ready in time for the School Festival...?)

Shiho

Listen

Oh, I forgot to bring my wallet.
I'll just go back and...

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Shiho

Listen

Hm...?

Light Music Club Member C

As good as Hinomori is, she's a pain to deal with, don't you think...?

Light Music Club Member A

Yeah, she takes everything way too seriously, like a teacher coaching one of the sports clubs.

Light Music Club Member B

To her credit, she wants to go pro, but the rest of us just want to have fun playing at the School Festival.

Light Music Club Member C

Haha. I guess opposites don't really attract, huh?

Light Music Club Member A

Anyway, the School Festival's coming up, so let's just make sure we're decent enough for that.

Light Music Club Member B

Yeah...

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Shiho

Listen

Was that your plan this whole time...?

Light Music Club Member A

Huh...?!

Shiho

Listen

I was under the impression that you all at least had some desire to play “decent”...

Shiho

Listen

But that's not really the case, is it...?

Light Music Club Member B

No, um... My tongue just slipped and...

Light Music Club Member C

C-Can't you see that we're trying really hard? We might not be taking this as seriously as you, Hinomori, but...

Shiho

Listen

Whether or not you're taking this seriously isn't the issue here! At the very least, you're supposed to work on fixing your mistakes...!

Shiho

Listen

Otherwise, there's no way we'll ever be able to put on a good performance!

Light Music Club Member A

Who made you queen...?
You might be good, but that doesn't give you the right to berate us like that.

Shiho

Light Music Club Member B

H-Hold on, that was a little uncalled for, don't you think?

Light Music Club Member A

No, we're the ones who invited her to play with us, and she thanks us by ordering us around like this? Honestly, who does she think she is?

Light Music Club Member C

Sure, but...

Shiho

Listen

...

Shiho

Listen

I had no problem with you wanting to get in your last hurrah, but I'd like it if we could actually get things done during practice.

Light Music Club Members B & C

...

Light Music Club Member A

Ugh...
We shouldn't have invited you...

Light Music Club Member A

Yeah, we're done talking...

Shiho

Listen

...!

Light Music Club Member A

All we really wanted was someone to play bass for us, not someone who's going to cause us this much trouble.

Light Music Club Member B

Y-Yeah...

Light Music Club Member C

I agree...
I mean, Hinomori, this can't be easy for you either...

Shiho

Listen

(Why does it always have to end this way...?)

Shiho

Listen

(My day-to-day life's one thing, but a part of me held out hope that it wouldn't have to be like that when it came to music...)

Shiho

Listen

Understood...

Shiho

Listen

Thanks.
It was fun while it lasted.

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Miyamasuzaka Girls Academy JHS - Rooftop

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Miu

Listen

Huh...?
Long time no see, Hinomori.

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Miu

Listen

The School Festival's coming up too.
Is your band gonna be ready in time?

Shiho

Listen

I quit...

Miu

Listen

What?

Shiho

Listen

Actually, no...
They kicked me out.

Miu

Listen

They kicked you out? Why...?

Shiho

Listen

Our goals in terms of music were too different and we could never get on the same page...

Shiho

Listen

To be fair, I'm not sure I'd be able to get along with anyone else...

Shiho

Listen

I guess it just means that I'm not cut out for playing in a band...

Miu

Listen

...

???

Listen

Honami!

Shiho

Listen

Oh...

Honami

Listen

Did you have a committee meeting today, Ichika?

Ichika

Listen

Yeah.
How'd club activities go for you today, Honami?

Honami

Listen

Oh, the first years are coming along really nicely. They've been saying it's because I took the time to help them.

Ichika

Listen

They have? Good for you, Honami.

Honami

Listen

Yes, that's great and all...

Ichika

Listen

But you're still worried about Shiho.

Shiho

Listen

...

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Shiho

Listen

(There's no hope for me there either...)

Shiho

Listen

(My unwillingness to bend is just gonna lead to more conflict.)

Shiho

Listen

That's why...

Shiho

Listen

It's best for me to just be alone.

Miu

Listen

...

Miu

Listen

Hmm... Are you sure about that?

Shiho

Listen

What?

Miu

Listen

You always seem so lonely when you're by yourself, Hinomori.

Shiho

Listen

...! That's because...

Miu

Listen

It's written all over your face...
They're your friends, right...?

Shiho

Listen

...

Miu

Listen

The truth is, I really didn't know why I've been coming up here each day to play my guitar...

Miu

Listen

When I first met you up here, Hinomori, my goal was just to kill time...

Miu

Listen

Part of it was because you looked so cool playing your bass. It was like nothing else mattered to you.

Miu

Listen

You made me believe that I wouldn't have to feel the way I did if I started playing music...

Miu

Listen

And playing my guitar did just that.
It put me at ease even when you weren't here.

Miu

Listen

But I still find myself coming up here...

Miu

Listen

I guess that means I don't actually want to be alone...

Miu

Listen

You feel the same way, right, Hinomori?
You want someone by your side... You want your friends to be there with you.

Shiho

Listen

But...

Shiho

Listen

That's not possible...

Miu

Listen

Maybe...

Miu

Listen

But you're really gonna give up just like that...?

Shiho

Listen

What?

Miu

Listen

You're really just gonna toss that band and your friends aside...?

Shiho

Listen

I mean...

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Ichika

Listen

Shiho, did you see?
We get to be in the same class during our first year!

Honami

Listen

I'm so glad we're all together...!
Right, Shiho?

Saki

Listen

We're gonna have so much fun together, Shiho!

Shiho

Listen

It's just...

Miu

Listen

I believe that we both have to find a way to move forward. We have to work to get out of whatever “ruts” we're in right now...

Miu

Listen

Just as I started playing my guitar, you tried your hand at joining a band.

Miu

Listen

We have to keep making these changes one step at a time.

Shiho

Listen

...

Miu

Listen

With that in mind, I have to change schools again next month...

Shiho

Listen

What...?

Miu

Listen

It's okay. I'm used to it now.
Plus...

Miu

Listen

I can play music now.
So I'll be fine.

Shiho

Listen

...

Miu

Listen

I plan on trying a little more at my next school.

100

Miu

Listen

Things might go well, but they might not. Whenever I feel sad or dejected, I'll just play my guitar...

101

Miu

Listen

But I don't plan on giving up. I'm gonna keep trying...

102

Miu

Listen

So please, Hinomori...
Do the same.

103

Miu

Listen

I'll see you later...

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104

Shiho

Listen

Wait...

105

Shiho

Listen

...

106

Shiho

Listen

Wait!

107

Miu

Listen

Huh? What is it...?

108

Shiho

Listen

Thanks...

109

Miu

Listen

No...
I should be thanking you.

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110

Shiho

Listen

I want someone to be there...

111

Shiho

Listen

I want them to be there...

112

Shiho

Listen

(But that's impossible...)

113

Shiho

Listen

(Still...)

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114

Miu

Listen

But you're really gonna give up just like that...?

115

Shiho

Listen

...
I wish I could...

116

Shiho

Listen

(Time to play my bass...)

117

Shiho

Listen

(I can't go back now, and I have no way to move forward...)

118

Shiho

Listen

(This is all I can really do for the time being...)

Next Chapter: I Just Couldn't Give Up