Ichi!

Oh, you girls...!

I can't believe you actually jumped in to save her. You really had us startled...

S-Sorry about that.
I wasn't really thinking...

L-Leo/need...?!
What are you all doing here...?

We just happened to see you here.
But Ichi bolted before the rest of us could do anything!

Yes, that was a big surprise...
Thank goodness you're both okay.

I had no idea...
U-Um... Thank you all very much for looking out for me!

Also, Hoshino...
I'm sorry about running into you the other day.

Oh...

You knew it was me?
Um... Your name's Hanano, right?

What? How do you know my name...?

We actually had a chance to talk to your brother after our show the other day. That was when he told us.

My brother...?

And... It isn't safe for you to be out here all alone since it's already getting dark.

Right...
But I... Um...

(She doesn't want to go home...)

Um... Did my brother tell you anything?

Huh? Oh...
Well, just a little bit.

So we sort of understand why you don't want to go home immediately.

I see...

So... What did he tell you?

What?

He messaged me earlier, but I haven't read it yet since he's probably worried sick and really angry at me...

No, he isn't mad!
He's just that worried about you!

Yeah.
It's clear that you mean the world to him, Hanano.

He even claimed that he's the one making you suffer because of what he said.

What...?

He... He really is a big dummy...

It's not his fault...
I've never blamed him for this... Not once...

Hanano...

I... I was able to learn about Leo/need because he was nice enough to take me to that live house.

When our parents had decided to get divorced, he thought a show at that live house would serve as a nice distraction for us...

After I told him that I thought your music's really amazing, he's gone out of his way to go with me every time...!

I see...

And about my family... Yota isn't the reason I can't get to know them better...

I'm scared... No, I'm terrified that we won't get to see each other if I start calling them “family”...!

Oh...

Here, use my handkerchief...

*Sob*
I'm sorry... I promise to give it back after washing it...

No, that's okay.
Just let it all out.

I know what he was trying to say...

He was just doing what he thought was best for me by asking to not meet him anymore...

I know that but... It hurts so much...

...

But... But...

I guess we don't get to be together forever just because we're siblings...

We have to go our separate ways at some point... And for us, that time might be now...

But...

(Hanano clearly understands what her brother said and is actually thinking about not seeing him...)

(That may be necessary based on their current situation... But...)

(Is this really what's best...?)

I'm sorry for bursting into tears like that... But I feel much better after telling all of you about what's going on with us.

Are you really gonna be okay...?

Yes.
I... From now on, I promise to go straight home. I'm causing Yota enough trouble as it is.

I'm sorry for causing you all so much trouble too. Again, thank you for what you did.

Oh...

My brother won't be coming anymore, but...
I'll be back to see more of your shows!

Now... If you'll excuse me...

W-Wait...!!

What?

Um...

Would you mind asking your brother to go see one last show with you...?

What? Ask my brother...?

Yes. We're doing another show in two weeks...! We'd really like it if you two could come together to see us one last time.

Thank you very much...
But why...?

Huh?
Why? Because...

We want to give you two a show as a present! Right, Ichi?!

Saki...!

That's right. We're so happy that you've become our fans that we want to give you a show as a small token of our appreciation if you really won't be able to come together to see us anymore...

After all, we were able to play so well because we knew you were there to hear us play.

Exactly. We promise to give you the best show we've ever done, so we hope you'll come see it.

Okay...
I can't guarantee that Yota will agree to meet me, but I'll try asking him...

*Gasp*
Thank you so much!

No, I should be the one thanking you.
Anyway, bye...

Thank you all so much...
I wasn't really sure what to say after inviting her to come see our show...

Hehe!
We knew what to say because we all feel the same way!

Yeah.
In the end, I just couldn't let this be.

*Nod*
Me too...

They mean so much to each other...
Having to part ways like this must be absolutely unbearable for them...

Yeah...

But we're gonna do what we can so they don't have to feel that way, right...?!

What we can...?

Um, I know we don't have much time...
But mind if I try writing a song...?

What?

I know one song probably won't do much...

But I want to do everything in my power to relieve them of their pain.

I'll need help writing the music for it since I'm still learning, but I promise to write some good lyrics for it...

I like it. This idea's very you, Ichika.
However, we're doing this right if we're actually going through with it.

R-Right!

Oh, Ichi!
Wanna try coming up with the music together? I really feel like helping those two get through this!

Okay...!
Thanks, Saki.

In that case, I'll try coming up with a schedule for us.

Thanks, all of you.

Let's make our next show a really good one...!