I have to keep trying...
They're all counting on me.

I have to write a song that resonates with that crowd. And absolutely have to make our next show a success...

So, here we go!

Alright, I'll stop here for my draft of the first verse and come back to it after working on the rest...

Hnng... My shoulders are getting all stiff from sitting in the same position for so long!

What?! I've already spent two hours working on this?! I guess time flies when you're really focused...

Hm?
Who is it?

I see you're hard at work, Saki.

Mom!

What's up?
Wait, are you carrying...?

Honami just stopped by and dropped off a midnight snack for you. I think she made it herself.

Really?!
And she came all this way to deliver it?

Yes.
She even said, “I wanted to help Saki somehow since she's trying her absolute best.”

Hehe. She really is a wonderful friend.

Hona...

B-But she left already, right?
You could've told me a little sooner...

I tried to get her to stay but she said that she didn't want to interrupt you as you worked.

I see...

I'll be rooting for you as well, so keep at it. I'll leave the snack Honami made right here.

Okay...
Thanks, Mom!

Hehe. You're such a nice person, Hona. I wonder what you made for me...

Oh wow...!
Sandwiches packed with lots of fruits!

She even wrote a little message for me.
“Thought you'd be craving something sweet while you're working, so I hope you enjoy these.”

Hehe. That's so sweet.
I'll take a pic and show these off to everyone! And I should message her later to thank her!

Now, Hona's given me a boost of energy, so let's get back to work!

Hmm...
Oh, it's already this late...

(It's about eighty percent done, but it still isn't exactly what I imagined...)

(I have to keep tweaking how it sounds. It needs to match how I felt back then...)

...

How about this phrase here...?
No, I can go down half a step and make it sound a little darker...

It's closer but still not what I'm looking for... There has to be a better chord...

What if I switched to a major key just for this part? As it stands, it just doesn't fit in right...

...

Huh...? It's already this late? I only wanted to sleep for thirty minutes but ended up sleeping for three hours...!

It's okay. Just stay calm...
Rushing isn't the answer.

I still have time, so I can keep trying different sounds...

Yeah, I'll be fine... Let's get back to work.

...

No, it still doesn't feel right...
I got stuck in the same spot yesterday. Something just seems off about it...

It needs to feel sadder...
No, it has to be about the despair that lies ahead, I think...? Like wanting everyone to just go away...

Hmm... I'm so close...
Just a little bit more and it's gonna be so good...!

Uh oh...

I felt a little light-headed just now...

Maybe I should stop for now...
Shiho and the others said that I shouldn't push myself too hard.

But I have to finish this...
I have to do it now... Or else, I probably won't be able to produce a good sound...

Huh?
It's so late. Who's sending me a message...?

What...?!
It's Shiho and Ichi!

Hehe. They sent me messages at the exact same time! Talk about a coincidence! Maybe it's fate...

Let's see... Shiho said...

<Are you still working, Saki?
I figured that you'd get stuck about now, so I decided to let you know that you're free to ask for help whenever.>

Haha. Shiho knows me so well.

<I just got an idea for this one part. I'll let you know if it doesn't work out. Thanks♪>

They're still up this late...
They must be really worried.

Especially Ichi...

Huh? A picture...?
Of what...?

<How's your song going?
Maybe you can open your window for a breath of fresh air. The stars looks really pretty tonight.>

<What do you see, Saki?
Can you see the same stars in the picture?>

Oh...

It's the same as that time...

Even when I got sick, they'd all make me feel better by sending me messages like this...

(For as long as I can remember, I hated how my body wouldn't do what I wanted it to...)

(However...)

(They kept my spirits up by saying, “You're not alone.”)

(They showed me that there's a fun future waiting for me up ahead.)

(Even when I started hating everything else, I held onto that...)

(The hope of really living life each and every day...)

That's what I felt...
I was someone who just wasn't able to live a normal life.

And that's what I have to convey.

“You're not alone.”
“There's a fun future ahead.”

That's how I'll understand their loneliness...

Yeah, I can do it...

I can make this song better... A lot better.

I can keep going...!!

<Saki...
She seems so focused.>

<And this melody...
It's kind of nice.>

<Yeah, I think she finally found what she was looking for.>

<I can't wait to hear the finished product.>

Huff... Huff...

I-It's finished...!
My song's done...!

Thank goodness...

I want everyone to hear it ASAP...

Wait, huh...?
It's already morning...?

Oh no!
Everyone's supposed to come over to talk about our next show...

Oh, that must be them...

I'm so glad I finished this in time...

This song...
I need them to hear it.

Hang on! I'll be right there!