Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

That night, the restaurant glowed with life — laughter, clinking plates, and soft chatter. Kessoku Band just played their first live show at STARRY, it all paid off. They'd actually done it.

Seika, proud but pretending not to be, treated the band to dinner. Pa joined them. Even Kikuri showed up, somehow managing to stay upright.

After Hitori had her usual panic about needing a job to survive, and Nijika stepped outside for some fresh air, the group’s conversation drifted to other topics.

"By the way, Ikuyo," Ryou spoke up, eyes drifting lazily to the girl beside her. 

Kita flinched, the glass of ice tea in her hand shook slightly, ice clinking against the sides. Her heart skipped, then raced, Ryou almost never called her by her first name like that.

"You played pretty well today for only having done this for three months," Ryou added.

"Huh? Who's Ikuyo again?" Kikuri tilted her head.

Kita froze. She glanced around the table — all eyes were on her now. Her grip on the glass tightened, lips trembling. "Eh—! D-Dunno!" she blurted out too fast. "W-Who'd even have a crummy old name like that?!"

"It's your name, isn't it?!" 

"Oh? It's Kita's name?" Kikuri mumbled, swaying slightly.

"That face is contagious, huh?" Pa blinked.

"I hid it for so long!" Kita cried dramatically. "I hate my name so much!"

"How come? It's cute." Seika raised an eyebrow.

"You wouldn't understand, since you have a beautiful name that means 'songs of the stars'!" she shot back. "But mine sounded like a bad pun! Kita — Ikuyo! (I'm here — Let's go!) Are you serious?!" she laughed. Loudly. A bit too much.

"I think we broke her..."

Kita lay on the floor, curled up with her arms wrapped around her legs. Her gaze stared blankly ahead, defeated. "My full name is Kita Kita," she muttered.

Ryou chuckled softly, covering her mouth with her hand. "Watching you withdraw into your shell is kind of fun," she said as she looked down at Kita.

"You're sadistic," Seika commented flatly.

Soon, dinner wrapped up. Laughter lingered in the air, the table full of empty plates and half-finished drinks. Everyone looked full — especially when someone else handling the bill.

Outside the restaurant, the group began to part ways, throwing casual goodbyes. Nijika left with Seika and Pa, all three dragging a half-conscious Kikuri toward the station. Hitori walked off quietly on her own.

Ryou lingered by Kita's side for a moment. "Want me to walk you home? We're heading the same direction, right?" she turned to Kita.

Kita shook her head with a small smile. "Hey, I'm fine! I think I'll take the long way — thought I'd clear my head a little, y'know?" 

Ryou blinked, but nodded slightly. "Alright alright, don't get lost, Kita — night."

"Goodnight!"

And just like that, Kita was alone. 

Her footsteps echoed faintly down the street, the city still shined with life — people laughing outside convenience stores, distant chatter from late-night diners, neon signs humming quietly in the air.

Kita walked alone, her guitar bag strapped to her back. She stared down the pavement below, fingers tightening around the straps without realizing it. 

The voices still rang in her ears. 

"That face is contagious, huh?" 

"By the way, Ikuyo," 

"I think we broke her..." 

She smiled again, but it faded quickly as she sighed. Don't worry, Kita, it's just a joke... Why are you overthinking it again? Stop it.

She kept walking, it wasn't like she minded being teased. She could take a joke. And besides, it was funny… right? But even as she told herself that, her chest felt tight. Not from the joke. Not from them. Just... something else. Something old. 

When was the last time someone said something nice about what I do in the band...?

Do I even do anything?

Kita's brows furrowed. A small frown tugged at her lips. A breeze passed, brushing her bangs softly to the side. "Ah — no no no no!" she shook her head frantically. "You're overthinking things again," she told herself aloud.

"Don't ruin a good day with weird thoughts, Kita," her fingers loosened and tightened again on the bag straps. "You're part of the band. Everyone likes you."

At home, Kita lay quietly on her bed, still wearing the same clothes from earlier. She hadn't bothered to change. Her guitar stood neatly on its stand. "Ugh... so tired," she mumbled, rolling onto her back and staring at the ceiling. "Never knew performing in front of a crowd was that exhausting..."

She let her arm draped over her eyes, blocking the light from her ceiling lamp. The cheers, the stage lights — it all replayed in flashes. 

She rolled herself over again, burying her face into the pillow. "Shut up, brain," she said, her voice was muffled.

Buzz! a notification — from Kessoku Band.

Kita reached for her phone, fumbling slightly before turning it on. The bright screen made her squint, and she quickly dimmed the brightness.

[4 New Messages — Kessoku Band]

She tapped it open with her thumb.

[8:43 PM] Nijika: "That was awesome today! Everyone did great! Let's keep this up for the next onee!!"

[8:46 PM] Hitori: "Y-Yeah! G-Great performance today!!!!"

[8:47 PM] Nijika: "Bocchi, you're fumbling with the keyboard again, aren't you?"

[8:47 PM] Ryou: "Don't forget to rest everyone."

Kita stared at the messages, thumbs hovering over the keyboard.

She tapped the text box, paused, then deleted a few typed words. Before she could try again, a new message popped up:

[8:49 PM] Nijika: "I know we're supposed to enjoy the last of our summer break, but would y'all like to practice every once in a while? How's that sounds?"

[8:49 PM] Hitori: "Sure! I-I'm looking forward for it!!"

[8:50 PM] Ryou: "Sounds good."

Kita's screen dimmed again from inactivity. She hadn't typed a word yet. She set her phone on her nightstand. 

Silence filled the room again. Only the hum of the fan spinning above. She turned her head slightly, eyes resting on her guitar.

"… Hmm... maybe I should get better first," she whispered, half-laughing, half-sighing. Then, slowly, she sat up.

A notebook sat on the bedside table — the one she used to carry everywhere but hadn't opened in weeks. Kita reached for it and flipped it open to a random page near the middle.

"A turning point, someday in my notebook

the words I wrote all sank somewhere — maybe the sea?

I don't know where I'm going."

She didn't remember when she wrote it. Maybe on the train. Maybe after a practice. Maybe after a night where she couldn't sleep. The words weren’t final — they didn't even rhyme.

A few days later, the band had promised to gather again at STARRY for a practice session. Inside the live house, the place was mostly empty. Nijika and Ryou were already there, waiting at one of the tables. 

Nijika had just gotten both of them some water as she returned to her seat. Ryou was slumped over the table, soft snores escaping her as her cheek pressed against her folded arms, her hair fell over her eyes.

She sipped her drink before resting her arm on the table and poking Ryou’s head lightly. "C'mon, wake up already. We're practicing soon."

Ryou didn't move.

Nijika poked her again. "Ryou..."

Still nothing. Just more peaceful snoozing.

Then, the door creaked open — soft footsteps echoed down the stairs.

"Huh?" Nijika turned her head.

It was Kita, guitar bag on her back, dressed neatly as always. She wore a warm smile and raised her hand in greeting. "Ah — hi there, Nijika!" 

"Oh, it's Kita — you're here!" Nijika beamed. "Bocchi's still not here, but we're waiting anyway."

Kita giggled. "I see, I see," she set her guitar down leaning against the table as she sat across from them, glancing at Ryou's sleeping figure. "Eh — she's out cold?"

"Yep," Nijika sighed, still poking her gently. "I think she was up all night again."

Kita smiled softly, resting her arms on the table. Her eyes lingered on Ryou for a second longer than she meant to — there was something peaceful about seeing her like this. Calm. At ease. Not thinking about anything. Must be nice.

"... She really does sleep like a cat," Kita said, voice quiet.

Nijika snorted. "She'd probably take that as a compliment..."

Then — another sound from upstairs  —  a rapid footsteps tumbling down the stairs. 

"AHH!— I'm late, I'm late, I'm late!" 

Their heads turned as Hitori burst in, gasping for air, cheeks flushing red and panicked, hands on her knees.

"Hitori?" 

"Wha...?" 

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I fell asleep while tuning my guitar — and then I woke up at 1 and thought it was 2 and then I—..." she trailed off, breath catching in her throat as she looked around.

Everyone was seated at the table. Calm. Cups of water. Ryou was still sleeping. The silence was painfully awkward.

"... Huh?" Hitori blinked.

Nijika sipped her water. "Bocchi, why are you panicking?"

"Didn't we agree to practice at 1...?"

"I said we're meeting at 1," Nijika replied, raising a finger. "Probably start practicing at 1:30."

"Oh..."

A silence followed. 

Hitori sank to her knees. "I ran all the way for nothing..."

"You all talk too much," Ryou's sleepy voice came. She sat up slowly, her hair slightly messy, and looked at the group with half-lidded eyes.

Kita let out a soft laugh, holding a hand to her mouth. "Well, now that we're all here... should we start?"

Everyone was finally here.

The practice began shortly after. Everyone plugged in, tuning their instruments. The soft buzz of the amplifiers filled the quiet rehearsal room.

Kita took her spot behind the mic stand, guitar in her hand. Her fingers hovered just above the strings as she glanced at the others. ... Why am I nervous? I haven't felt like this in forever...!

Nijika tapped her drumsticks together. "One — one, two, three!"

The beat kicked in.

Hitori led with a solo, her hands moving fast across the fret. She looked nervous, but also confident. An opening to "Never Forget" a song they didn't get the chance to play during their first show.

Then it was Kita's turn.

She strummed her guitar and leaned toward the mic, voice clear and bright.

"Just blame it all on the weather

This uneasiness, this exhaustion

The sun is rising, pretending not to notice!"

Ryou's bass came in right after — deep, smooth, and effortless. Nijika’s drumming alongside it. 

The band pressed forward. Kita kept singing, but something felt off. Her timing wasn't wrong — not exactly. Her fingers tensed, just slightly, resulting a few strums rang out with a sharp, uneven tone.

Still, they pushed through the song — closed with Hitori's solo.

Nijika lifted her arms into the air, grinning. "Hey! Nice, that was great, guys!"

"I messed up a bit at the start…" Hitori murmured, glancing at her hands.

"Hey, no one noticed!" Nijika said brightly. "You sounded awesome."

Ryou didn't say anything at first, her gaze was fixed on Kita. "Your notes were slipping," she said. "You okay?"

"Eh—?!" Kita blinked, startled. "Ah— yeah! I'm fine. I just… didn't warm up enough, maybe!"

Ryou nodded. "Just try to listen closer next time."

"Gotcha!"

They moved on.

The next song was "If I Could Be a Constellation" — the one they were still working together. The opening riff and chorus were finished, but the rest was still work-in-progress.

"Starting from the intro?” Nijika asked,

"Y-Yeah," Hitori replied softly.

Kita stared down at her guitar. I can do this. She told herself. I just have to focus! Just remember the notes, Kita.

But she couldn't shake the way Ryou looked at her. She never comments unless she's sure — and that made it worse.

"One — one, two, three!"

The tapping drumsticks signaled their start.

Kita took a breath, then began the opening riff — the others followed: Nijika's drums, Hitori's guitar, Ryou's bass.

The opening was smooth. Kita leaned toward the mic, voice steady.

"Just a bit before 6 o'clock

The first star can be seen right there

Stepping on shadows surrendering myself to the night on the way home"

Her fingers moved carefully across the neck of her guitar, eyes fixed on her frets.

"No matter how you look

That one and only star

Shining brightly from hundreds of millions of light years away"

As she sang, her eyes drifted — first to Ryou. She looked focused, hands moved effortlessly across the strings. Then to Hitori. She looked different now, her hands didn't shake as much as the first time.

"Must be nice, to be loved by everyone

'No such thing, I've always been alone'

If I could be a constellation with you

In the starry night sky, that's my only wish"

They’re all shining. W hen did they get so far ahead?

By the time practice was finished, the room had mostly quieted. Ryou wandered off to grab some drinks from the vending machine upstairs, leaving Kita, Hitori, and Nijika gathered around the table.

Hitori sat with her arms folded on the table, cheek pressed to her sleeve. Kita mimicked her, her chin cupped in her hand, fingers idly tapping against her cheek. While Nijika, was hunched over her phone, eyes focusing as she scrolled through something. After a moment, she sat up straighter.

"Hey, uh," Nijika said suddenly, breaking the silence. "We've been playing the same songs a lot lately. Do you think we should start working on a new one?"

"Eh—?! A new song?" Kita blinked, glancing up from the table.

"I mean, we've got 'Guitar, Loneliness and Blue Planet', 'Never Forget', and 'That Band', and we're still working on 'Constellation'... But we'll probably need more songs if we want to perform live again, right?"

"I guess you're right..." Kita replied, eyes flicking toward Hitori, who looked like she'd just been caught doing something illegal.

"Bocchi—?" Nijika spoke.

"I-I could!" Hitori suddenly yelped. "I could... maybe write something again…!"

"Wha...?"

"Hitori?"

"T-That's great, Bocchi!" Nijika grinned, then turned to Kita. "How about you, Kita? I feel like you’ve got a good sense for lyrics too, right?"

Kita caught her breath and looked away quickly. "Um—! Me? N-No, I haven't really… tried writing lyrics before," she said. "... Not seriously, anyway."

"Ahh... really?" Nijika tilted her head. “Well, maybe you should! I mean, Bocchi and I could help if you want!"

"O-Of course! I'll think about it!" Kita laughed. "Uh, b-but maybe we should focus on Constellation first? We're still working on the bridge, right?"

Nijika blinked, finger to her chin. "Ohh, yeah — true. One thing at a time, huh?"

There was a pause, then Hitori quietly spoke up. "Um... Kita... your ideas for Constellation last time were really good… I think with that, we could finish it soon while creating something new..."

Kita stared at her. "Huh? That? That was just a random thought," she said with a smile, waving it off. "Nothing big."

"I still think it helped shape the chorus," Nijika added warmly.

Kita laughed again. "You guys are too nice."

Then, the door creaked open. Ryou returned with a small plastic bag and a half-empty drink in one hand. "I brought drinks," she muttered as she walked over to them.

Nijika clapped her hands. "Yay! The almighty bassist has returned!"

"Water for the drummer, peach tea for the idol, and—" Ryou stopped, narrowing her eyes mid-sentence. "Bocchi. I forgot yours."

Hitori blinked, shaking her hands. "N-No! I'm fine! R-Really! I don't mind—!"

"You can have my second one," Ryou placed a bottled honey tea in front of her.

"T-Thanks...!"

"Second one...?" Nijika raised an eyebrow, watching as Ryou sat down beside Kita.

Ryou nodded. "And my third one's right here," she reached back into the plastic bag and pulled out another bottled tea.

Kita stared. "... You really need two— no. Three drinks...?"

"I'm thirsty," Ryou said flatly.

"Thirsty?" Nijika repeated.

"Thirsty."

Just before nightfall, the band decided to finish their practice and head home. Nijika stayed behind a little longer to help clean up with Seika. While Hitori already walked out quietly on her own.

Ryou, tossing her empty bottle into the trash, then turned to Kita. "Want me to walk with you?"

Kita shook her head with a small smile. "I'm good! I think I'll take the long way again — get some air, you know?"

Ryou looked at her for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. Don't get lost."

"See you, Ryou..."

The sun had begun to dip behind the buildings, casting shadows down the streets, street lamps blinked brightly one by one. Kita walked alone, her guitar bag pressing against her back. She hummed softly — the chorus of If I Could Be a Constellation.

But halfway through, her voice faltered. Wait, was that even the right tone? She asked herself, taking a deep breath and exhaling softly. 

She rubbed her arm as she kept walking.

"You're good at lyrics, right?"

"U-Um... Kita... your ideas for Constellation last time were really good..."

"Just try to listen closer next time."

Kita smiled at the memory, but it disappeared a second later. "They're... just being nice, right?" she said to no one, her voice barely audible. They were trying to include her. She knew that. Everyone was being nice. 

Then why did it feel like none of it stuck?

"You're good at lyrics, right?" Nijika's voice echoed again. Maybe I should try writing? Or maybe I should just practice more...? Or should I just keep following their lead— 

"Stop thinking, stop thinking, stop thinking, stop thinking—..." she groaned under her breath, squeezing her eyes shut. "Ugh..."

A breeze brushed her bangs to the side. The sky above was turning from orange to deep blue. Kita looked up. I'm not mad at them. She thought. I'm just... Not sure why I feel like I'm not really there. 

Am I really a part of Kessoku Band?

Am I?

The afternoon sun passed through the windows of the mall food court, casting stripes of light across the tables. The air buzzed with soft chatter, clinking trays, and background music.

Kita sat at a table with three classmates, a mostly-finished tray of takoyaki between them and cold drinks.

"Do you remember that time we went to the video store?" one of the girls said, twirling a straw between her fingers. "Kana rented that weird movie — I forgot the name."

"The one with that... creepy hallway scene?" the second girl asked.

"Yeah!" Kita perked up, crossing her arms with a grin. "I think I remember it. The ending really got me! Like— what?!"

"Right?!" the first girl laughed. "How could the main character do that?!"

Then, one of them turned toward Kita. "By the way, Kita, you've kinda disappeared lately. Where've you been?"

Kita blinked — just for a moment — then laughed it off. "Eh? I got recruited by a top-secret organization. Can't say too much — national security and all."

"Oh really? C'mon, do tell!" one of them leaned in.

"Maybe I'm secretly famous," Kita added, giggling as she sipped her drink. 

"If you're dropping an album, you're giving me a signed copy," the girl teased.

"Oh, absolutely!"

"You're so lucky, Kita," another girl sighed. "You're always so cheerful... I wish I had your energy."

"Haha... yeah," Kita rubbed the back of her neck. "Guess that's my job, huh?" 

Just then, her phone buzzed.

[3 New Messages — Kessoku Band]

[2:32 PM] Nijika: "Hey hey hey! Sorry to interrupt the summer again, but — got an idea for the bridge in Constellation! Want to practice at Friday?"

[2:34 PM] Hitori: "O-Of course!"

[2:34 PM] Ryou: "How do you even stutter in text?"

Kita smiled at the messages. Her thumbs hovered over the keyboard, paused. Then, she typed.

[2:35 PM] Kita: "That's just Hitori's superpower, I suppose?"

[2:35 PM] Ryou: "Should we invent a new keyboard just for Bocchi?"

[2:35 PM] Hitori: "S-Sorry! I'll fix it!"

[2:35 PM] Ryou: "... It was a joke."

[2:36 PM] Hitori: "I-I apologize!"

[2:36 PM] Ryou: "You did it again..."

[2:37 PM] Hitori: "Sorry."

[2:39 PM] Nijika: "Friday, meeting at 1?"

[2:40 PM] Kita: "I'll be there!"

[2:41 PM] Ryou: "Same."

[2:41 PM] Hitori: "O-Okay. I meant! Okay."

She looked up again — the others were still talking about movies. Something funny. Laughter bubbled up around the table like it always did.

"Hey, how about a movie marathon next week? Before school starts again?!" one of the girls suggested, eyes lighting up.

"Totally!"

"If I have time! Of course!" Kita replied with a bright grin, her voice naturally rising to match theirs.

They all smiled back, and the conversation rolled on.

It was fun. It always was. So why did I feel so far away this... time?

Chapter Text

Next Friday, the band gathered at STARRY again, grouped around one of the tables. A notebook sat open in the center, filled with scribbled lyrics, messy tabs, and doodles in the margins. One had a circle around it.

"Bridge idea: Nijika + Hitori!"

"After a long journey, we ended up meeting

Because it’s karma, we’ll meet again and again

In peacefulness"

Beside it were some drum tabs and chord notes.

"As you can see," Nijika said, tapping the page with her pen. "I think we should go with this one. It fits the song’s energy, y'know?"

Kita leaned over to look closer, quietly humming the lyrics under her breath. "Hmm... it does sound nice," she said. "But... maybe the third line feels a bit off? Just slightly? Like... the tone doesn’t match the buildup?"

"That's exactly what we've been stuck on," Nijika admitted with a small sigh. "We're trying to smooth it out, but, something's not clicking..."

"If we’re still going with the whole... destined-to-meet theme," Hitori spoke up, nervously tapping her fingers against the edge table, "W-What if it was something like... 'Maybe we were always meant to meet, no matter what'...? F-For the second line, I mean..."

Nijika blinked. "Ooh, that could work, Bocchi."

Ryou, who had been sitting quietly beside Nijika, reached for the notebook. She flipped some pages back, reading back the chorus and verses.

A minute later, Ryou lowered the notebook down. "I've got something."

"What?" Nijika glanced at her.

"What is it, Ryou?"

"For the last line, I've got something," Ryou added. "What if we changed 'peacefulness' to something more poetic?  Like… 'a world beyond the clouds'?"

"A world beyond the clouds…" Kita echoed under her breath.

Ryou nodded slightly. "It's the same idea."

Nijika leaned in, tapping the pen against her chin. "I guess we could go that way," she said, then handed the pen to Ryou. "Here, write it down."

Ryou scribbled something quickly onto the notebook. "Bocchi, what was your line for the second one again?"

"U-Um… 'M-Maybe we were destined to meet no matter what'?" Hitori mumbled, shrinking a little in her seat.

Ryou didn't even flinch. "Right," she finished writing and set the notebook back down in the middle of the table.

"Constellation, Bridge Rephrased"

"After a long journey, we ended up meeting

M-Maybe we were destined to meet no matter what

In a world beyond the clouds"

Kita leaned forward to read it, then raised an eyebrow. "... Did you really need to include the stutter, Ryou?"

Ryou glanced up at her, deadpan. "But — that's what Bocchi said."

They both looked over at Hitori.

Hitori was staring at her hands, still tapping her fingers against the table in an awkward rhythm — her cheeks slightly red. She didn't say anything.

With the new bridge freshly written, the band returned to the rehearsal room to practice. Guitar straps readjusted, amps buzzing softly. 

"From the intro or verse?" Nijika asked.

"Intro," Ryou said.

Kita nodded. "And let's try that new bridge we just wrote!" she stood by her mic stand, guitar in hand. She inhaled slowly. Calm down. Just breathe — you got this, Kita.

"One — one, two, three!" Nijika counted them in, tapping the drumsticks together.

The intro kicked in — drums, rhythm guitar, and bass. The opening riff came in clean. 

"Just a bit before 6 o'clock

The first star can be seen right there

Stepping on shadows surrendering myself to the night on the way home"

It wasn't bad — it was fine. Kita's fingers hit the right chords, her voice rang out. She was too focused, too tense. Her strumming lagged slightly behind her voice, and it was a beat off. 

Kita didn't meet anyone's eyes when she sang. Not even during the lines they wrote together. Still, they played through the song. The second verse, then the chorus. Finally, the bridge.

"After a long journey, we ended up meeting

Maybe we were destined to meet, no matter what

In a world beyond the clouds"

When the song ended — closed with Kita's outro — silence settled in the room again. Everyone paused.

"Hey, that sounded nice!" Nijika said. She wiped some sweat from her brow, catching her breath.

"I t-think it flows better now," Hitori mumbled.

Kita glanced down, adjusting her guitar strap. "I... I missed a few spots. Sorry."

Ryou’s voice was quiet but steady. "Your second chord in the 2nd verse — you're sliding too early."

Kita winced slightly. "I know. I felt it..." 

A short silence lingered before Nijika clapped her hands lightly. "Then... Want to give it another go? Maybe we could fix our mistakes?"

"Sure," Ryou said.

"O-Okay!" Hitori added quickly.

Kita nodded, forcing a small smile. "S-Sounds good!"

Nijika raised her sticks again. "One — one, two, three!"

The opening rang out — familiar now, more focused. 

"Just a bit before 6 o'clock

The first star can be seen right there

Stepping on shadows surrendering myself to the night on the way home"

Kita's hands moved, but her thoughts raced. Don't miss it. You've missed it before. Be precise. Don't mess it up. The 2nd verse — she stepped forward, voice into the mic.

"Just a bit before 8 o'clock

The night sky is now filled with stars

Shining from millions of light years away, it might still not be there"

Kita's fingers hesitated for a split second — that one particular chord. Just a little late this time.

Still, they made it through. The song ended, fading out with Kita's final guitar note.

"Well... What do you guys think?" Nijika said with a grin.

"It's good," Ryou commented, casually brushing her bangs aside.

"I think it's better..." Hitori added.

Kita didn't respond. Her eyes stayed fixed on her guitar, fingers lightly brushing the strings. Like she was trying to figure out what went wrong.

The quiet stretched a few seconds longer.

Then Nijika stood up suddenly, grabbing her phone. "Ah! I gotta run upstairs for a bit! Seika said she needs me — I'll be back in 15, okay?" she waved as she hurried off. The door closed behind her with a soft click.

"Mm."

That left the three of them.

Silence returned. A minute passed. Then two.

Hitori suddenly stood up too, standing awkwardly. "U-Um... I'll be right back! I need to go to the bathroom!" she hurried out the door, leaving only Ryou and Kita behind.

"Mm," Ryou hummed.

Kita now sat alone on the stool, her guitar resting against her leg. She hadn't moved since the last chord. Her head was slightly lowered, bangs covering her eyes. Still not meeting anyone's gaze.

Ryou was fiddling idly with her bass, testing a few notes. Then she stopped, glanced sideways, and asked softly. "You okay?"

"... I'm okay! Just— um... frustrated, I suppose," Kita looked up for a moment, but as soon as she saw Ryou watching, her eyes dropped again. "... Sorry."

Ryou unplugged her bass and leaned it carefully against the amp. She grabbed a nearby stool and pulled it beside Kita's.

"Let's go over it," she said simply.

Kita blinked frantically. "H-Huh—?" She glanced sideways, cheeks slightly flushed, and waved her hand. "N-No, it’s okay! It's something I should figure out myself!"

"Play it just once," Ryou said, her eyes fixed calmly on Kita’s fingers.

Kita hesitated, then bit her bottom lip. She repositioned her hand and strummed the second verse of Constellation again — but her fingers trembled slightly. The note came out flat.

"Hmm... again," Ryou said gently.

Kita tried once more. Still off.

Ryou tilted her head. "Can you hand me your guitar?"

"Eh?"

"Just for a sec."

Kita hesitated, but still handed it over. Their fingers brushed — warm and brief. Ryou adjusted the strap and rested the neck on her knee. She reached for the notebook on the table, flipping to the page with the 2nd verse guitar tabs. She set it on her thigh, reading the notes.

Then, she played through the second verse — precise and effortless. This time, it sounded exactly right.

Kita watched in silence. She makes it look so easy... no hesitations, no slip-ups. Why can't I do that? The way Ryou's fingers moved, the way she seemed completely in tune — It made her feel a mix of awe and something else she couldn't quite name. Maybe admiration. Maybe something else.

Ryou glanced at Kita. "It's not your rhythm, and the notes aren't wrong either. It's your grip," she paused. "You're overthinking it. Try relaxing your fingers a bit."

She held the guitar out. "Here."

Kita took her guitar back, steadying it in her lap.

Ryou leaned closer, gently guiding Kita's hand back to the neck. Her fingers adjusted Kita's grip, light but precise. "Try it again."

"O-Okay," she murmured, her heart pounding a little too loud. She strummed softly, trying to relax her hand as she shifted between chords. The notes still shaky — but closer.

"That's okay. Again?"

Kita nodded and tried once more. A little cleaner this time.

"You're thinking too much," Ryou said. "When you do that, your hands freeze. Just play."

Kita stared at her lap, then gave a small nod. "It's hard, though. You guys… you make it look so easy," she played the section again, slower this time. "Y-Yeah… I think I can feel it flowing better," she murmured.

They kept going — side by side, the room quiet except for the strums. 

Then, without thinking, Kita played something different — a short melody. It had a similar tone to the 2nd verse of Constellation, but it was slightly off-track.

Ryou's fingers stilled. "...What was that?"

"Ah—! I-It's nothing! Just... me messing around...!" Kita's voice rose with panic.

"Play that again."

Kita blinked. "Seriously?"

Ryou didn’t answer. She just waited — watching.

So Kita played it again. Still uncertain, but there was something there.

Ryou tilted her head, listening.

"That's actually... really good," she said quietly.

Kita looked up — eyes wide. "Wait, really? No way. I wasn't even trying...?"

"You might've just written something."

"I-I was just messing around!—"

"You should mess around more," Ryou replied, half-smiling.

Kita gave a small laugh, her fingers brushing the strings. "... Still feels weird. Me, writing a song..."

"You can," Ryou leaned back slightly, her hands resting on her lap. "It takes time. You need to be patient — you think I started out like this?"

"You did."

"I didn't.

Kita glanced sideways. "You're lying."

They sat in silence for a bit.

Kita looked down at her hands — faint red marks from the strings still traced across her fingers. She let out a soft breath, breaking the quiet. "... Still, I thought I was improving. But lately, I keep messing up."

Ryou didn't answer right away. She watched her for a moment, eyes calm. "You are improving. But…" she paused. "I think your mind's somewhere else."

Kita's shoulders tensed. Her eyes widened slightly. "... I'm sorry—"

"Stop apologizing,” Ryou cut in gently. "You didn't do anything wrong. Why would you?"

Kita's lips parted, but no words came. A tear slipped quietly down her cheek. She kept her head low, voice small.

"I always feel like I have to try harder. Like… I'm behind. And if I'm not giving everything I have, I'll drag everyone down."

Ryou didn't push. She just sat with her, letting the moment breathe. Then, she spoke again. "... Hey — want to hang out tomorrow?"

"H-Hang out?"

"Yeah."

"... Just us?"

"Mhm, I want to visit the zoo."

Kita looked up slowly. "The zoo?"

"I just want to feed goats," Ryou shrugged.

Kita gave a soft laugh through her sniffle. "Seriously?"

"But also…" Ryou added, quieter this time. "I think we could use a day without thinking about chords and lyrics."

"You don't have to."

"N-No— I want to!" Kita said quickly. "I mean… yeah. I-I'd really like that!"

"... Okay, it's settled," Ryou smiled softly.

Just then, the door creaked open — Nijika came back in with a bag of drinks. "I'm back! Miss me?"

Kita sat straighter on her stool, clutching her guitar. "Welcome back, Nijika!"

Ryou was already back at her bass, like nothing happened.

"Where's Bocchi?" Nijika asked as she sat down on the empty stool, setting the plastic bag down with a soft thud.

"Went to the bathroom," Ryou replied, glancing toward the door. "Still hasn't come back," she peeked into the bag. "I want honey tea."

Nijika rolled her eyes, but tossed a bottle her way. "Knew you'd say that," she pulled out another one — a peach tea — and handed it toward Kita. "Here you go!"

"Thanks!" Kita caught it with both hands, smiling softly.

The door creaked open again. Hitori peeked her head inside — cheeks pink, flustered. "Ah—! S-Sorry... I took too long, didn’t I...?"

The group fell into a soft chuckle, Ryou leaned back against the amp, quietly sipping her drink. Nijika grinned, ruffling Hitori's hair as she passed her. Hitori yelped but didn't run away. And for once, Kita's chest felt a little lighter.

This felt right. She was here, and they were here. And maybe that was enough.

The next day, around 10 AM, at the zoo entrance.

Ryou and Kita stood side by side in the short line at the ticket booth. The zoo wasn't too crowded — just a handful of families, small groups, and couples wandering through the morning light.

Ryou wore a plain black shirt, the sleeves rolled just below her elbows. One hand was tucked loosely into her cargo pants pocket, the other adjusting the strap of a small shoulder bag. Her usual calm expression never really shifted.

Beside her. Kita wore a cream blouse tucked into a pleated skirt, her crossbody bag resting against her hip. She glanced around, admiring the scenery with a faint smile. "I haven't been here in forever," she said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I used to come when I was little. The turtles were my favorite. I wonder if they’ve added anything new.”

"Turtles are fine," Ryou replied. "But I'm here for the goats."

Kita blinked. "You weren't joking about that?"

"No."

Kita gave a small laugh. "You really do like weirdly specific things..."

"They're reliable and cool," Ryou said. "They'll eat anything."

"... Can't argue with that."

The line moved forward.

When they reached the booth, Kita instinctively reached for her bag, but Ryou stepped forward first, casually raising two fingers. "Tickets for two."

"Two tickets," the worker echoed, tearing them off. Ryou paid without blinking.

Kita opened her mouth. "Wha— hey, I was gonna—!"

"Too slow," Ryou said flatly, already taking the tickets and handing her one of the tickets without looking.

Kita took the ticket reluctantly. "I-I mean — thanks a lot! But— I brought my money just for this—!"

"Feeding goats costs half of the ticket price," Ryou said, her expression unreadable. "You can pay me back that way."

"... Are you serious...?"

"Huh? Do I look like I'm joking?" she glanced at her.

"You look like you'd sell your bass just to feed and pet goats."

"Goats are cool."

They stepped through the gates together, Kita slowed her pace just a little as they entered, eyes looking around. A big map board stood nearby, covered in colorful drawings of animals, walking paths, and snack stands. 

She stepped closer, tilting her head. "It's so much more detailed than I remember."

Ryou stopped beside her. "You want to follow the map?"

Kita studied the map closely. "Hmm..." she murmured, squinting at the paths and cartoon animal icons. "This map's kind of confusing... but the closest enclosure looks like—" she leaned in slightly. "—an ostrich?" she turned to Ryou. "Want to go there first?"

Ryou gave a small nod. "Sure. Let's see what a giant bird has to say."

When they arrived, a few ostriches were already being fed by other visitors, while others wandered lazily around the enclosure. The two stopped behind the fence.

"Ostrich..." Ryou mumbled.

"Ostrich," Kita echoed, amused, as she pulled out her phone and aimed the camera. "Ooh — the lighting's good," she snapped a picture. One of the birds turned its head, slowly stepping toward them. "Look, it's staring at you!"

Ryou didn't move. She stood perfectly still, returning the bird's gaze like it was a challenge.

Kita blinked, brow raised. "... Are you guys having a moment?" she lifted her phone again, capturing the scene as Ryou and the giant bird locked eyes.

Finally, the ostrich blinked first, turning away and walking off toward the other side of the fence.

"I won," Ryou said, carrying some pride in her voice.

The two continued down the path, passing a few bird enclosures before arriving at the small mammals area. It was quieter here —  a pool filled with koi fish swimming. Rabbits hopped around, nibbling carrots from the hands of visitors. A fox was curled up asleep in the corner, tail wrapped around its nose.

Ryou and Kita stopped in front of the capybara enclosure. Most of them were lying on the grass, eyes half-shut, completely still — like their minds were empty of any worry.

"They're so cute!!" Kita said, quickly lifting her phone. She snapped picture after picture from different angles. "Oh—this one's sitting! He's like, meditating or something!"

Ryou stood with her arms crossed, her expression unreadable as she watched one capybara blink slowly. "Capybara..." she muttered.

Kita looked down at her phone again, then glanced back at the chill creatures."... Must be nice," she murmured, voice softer. "All they do is lie around and soak in the sun. Kinda chill, isn't it?"

Then Ryou added. "I want to live like that — kinda chill."

"You can't play bass if you were a capybara, Ryou."

"I take my words back."

"But— I think you're already living like that," Kita giggled.

Next, they arrived at the amphibians. Ryou finally pulled out her phone, quietly snapping a picture of a crocodile. It lay perfectly still by the water, eyes half-lidded — like it could be asleep or watching. Neither of them could tell.

"This crocodile is cool," Ryou murmured.

They moved along slowly until they reached a large glass enclosure — turtles. Some were swimming lazily through the water. One had retreated into its shell and stayed still. Another dragged itself across the sand, slowly but surely. A few small lizards wandered nearby.

Kita's smile returned — soft, nostalgic. "Turtles!!" she leaned closer against the glass, watching intently. "They were my favorite when I was a kid. I don't really know why."

Beside her, Ryou stopped walking. She glanced at the turtles, then at Kita. "... Do you still like them?"

Kita didn't reply right away. Her smile lingered, just a little. "... I do, actually. I still think they're cute," she raised her phone, and snapped a photo of the turtle nibbling the leaf. Click!

"I think I'm making this my wallpaper later," she chuckled, turning the screen toward Ryou. "Look. It's cute, isn't it?"

Ryou looked at the picture, a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "... It's cute. Turtles are... nice."

They arrived at the goat enclosure at last — a small crowd of visitors stood near the wooden fence, watching the goats. A few wandered lazily across the grass, others staring blankly into the distance. 

The moment Ryou spotted them, her face lit up. "Goats!" she said with excitement, eyes sharper than usual. She turned to Kita and pointed across the fence, where a small booth offered cups of feed. "Let's go."

"... You really weren't joking about this, huh?"

"No," Ryou replied, calm as ever. "You can pay me back for the earlier ticket here!"

Kita sighed, a little smile tugging at her lips. "Okay, okay,"

Behind the small wooden counter stood a cheerful middle-aged vendor in a zoo vest. "Here to feed the goats? They're extra hungry!" she asked with a grin, gesturing to the goats behind them.

"Yes, please," Kita nodded, already digging into her bag. "Two cups."

"I want two cups," Ryou added, holding up two fingers with her usual unreadable face.

"Really? That’s some serious goat business!" the vendor raised an eyebrow. "And the miss beside you?"

"Do you really need two?" Kita asked, glancing at Ryou.

Ryou nodded again, giving a lazy thumbs-up.

“So that'll be three cups?” the vendor clarified.

"Yes, it'll be three cups," Kita said, placing the bills on the counter.

"Comin' right up!" he grinned, grabbing three paper cups. He scooped in bits of chopped apples, carrots, and leafy greens. "These guys will love you. Don't hold back — they remember faces."

"Seriously?"

The vendor leaned in, whispering at them. "One time I forgot to feed them and they all gave me a silent treatment."

"Silent treatment...? From goats?" Kita echoed.

"That's right!"

Ryou took her two cups. "That's fair."

Kita shot her a look. "Wait— you're siding with the goats?"

"I would've give a silent treatment too."

Kita laughed, following her back toward the fence. She looked down at her cup. "Fruit and veggies?"

"Told you — they'll eat anything," Ryou replied.

Back at the fence, some goats approached them. Kita stood behind the wooden fence, picking a small sized carrot and held her hand out. "Hi, hi— Okay... gentle."

One goat nibbled at her hand a little too fast and she yelped. "H-Hey! I said gentle—!" she pulled her hand back slightly.

Meanwhile, Ryou was casually picking bits of food from her cup and tossing them into the goats' mouths. One goat nudged her hand gently. "Patience, I'll feed all of you," she said softly, without flinching.

"They really do remember faces," Kita muttered, giggling as a second goat bumped into her side.

"One already likes you."

"Or it wants my fingers," Kita laughed.

"They do bite sometimes," Ryou added without changing tone.

Kita froze. “W-What?!”

"I'm joking."

"... You really have to stop doing that," she sighed.

By now, Ryou had finished her first cup of goat feed, while Kita hadn’t even gotten through half of hers.

A goat walked up to Kita, calm and patient. She smiled, offering it an apple slice. It gently took the treat from her hand, munched, then let her pet its nose. Another one came over, and she fed it too. "I think I kinda like doing this..." she murmured.

Ryou, meanwhile, had somehow attracted a small crowd of goats. Like she'd some strange aura that summoned them. "Here," she said, tossing the last apple slice to one of them. "This is the last one."

She stepped over beside Kita, looking down at her empty hands. "I ran out. I still want to feed them."

"You can take some of mine," Kita offered, lifting her cup slightly.

"Thanks," Ryou said, picking out a leaf and holding it out. A goat walked over and accepted it.

Ryou stared at the goat for a moment. "It looks like Bocchi," she said suddenly.

"The goat?"

'"Yeah. It looks… silly."

She laughed. "Hitori is kind of silly. I know what you mean."

Kita watched as Ryou fed another goat from her cup, calm as ever. 

Without really thinking, Kita lifted her phone and snapped a quick photo. Just one. She glanced at the screen — Ryou's face, her hair falling a little over her eyes. She looked calm, content, almost peaceful, framed by curious goats and warm light.

I wish I could freeze this moment. I wish I could be this calm, too.

"... Did you just take a picture of me?" Ryou asked, not looking away from the goat.

Kita froze. "Ah— S-Sorry! I d-didn't mean to—! I just thought it looked nice— I mean, you looked— I-I, the goats! The goats looked cute—" she stuttered.

Ryou glanced at her, then just said. "Let me see it."

"E-Eh?!"

Kita showed her the screen, heart thudding a little too hard. Please like it. Even just a little.

Ryou stared at it for a moment, then gave a quiet nod. "It's nice."

Kita's cheeks warmed. "Yeah... I think so too."

They stood there for a little while longer, shoulder to shoulder, with only the gentle sounds of goats around them. Neither said anything else for a moment.

As the day turned to noon, Ryou and Kita found a table near the snack stands section. The zoo had grown noticeably busier — families passing by, and distant sounds of chatter.

Kita leaned back in her seat, sipping her drink. "I didn't think it'd be this crowded today."

Ryou popped a fry into her mouth. "It's Saturday. It's summer. And people love animals — especially goats."

"Yeah, I know that!" Kita shot back. "Still... I guess I thought we'd have the whole zoo all to ourselves or something."

"That's not how zoos work," Ryou replied.

Kita slurped her drink in protest. "You could at least pretend to be surprised with me..."

"I'm surprised," Ryou said with zero emotion. "Wow. So many people. Who would've thought."

"You're impossible," Kita muttered under her breath. "... You always eat fries like that?" she suddenly asked.

Ryou looked at her. "Like what?"

"No ketchup. No dipping sauce. Just raw fries."

"They're not raw."

"You know what I mean."

"I like them simple."

Kita sighed. "Of course you do."

Ryou took another fry. "Want one?"

"I bought them."

"... So no?"

Kita laughed softly, bumping her shoulder lightly into Ryou's. "You're weird."

"You chose to hang out with me."

"Yeah..." Kita trailed off, smiling a little. "I did..."

After their snack break, the two wandered the zoo again, eventually arriving at the reptile house. The lighting inside was dim, cool, and a little quieter than the rest of the park. Ryou walked ahead, leading — while Kita followed a step behind, her arms loosly folded behind her back, eyes wandering from tank to tank.

"Look. Snakes," Ryou said, stopping in front of a glass enclosure. Inside, a slender snake slithered slowly across a branch.

Kita stepped beside her and nodded. "Snakes always look like they're thinking about something...!"

"Like... what?"

"I dunno — goats, probably?" Kita joked, it made Ryou chuckled quietly.

They continued walking. The quiet hum of the building, the distant chatter of other visitors — everything felt muffled inside the walls of glass and filtered lights.

Then, Kita stopped.

"Ryou… can I ask you something stupid?"

Ryou glanced past her shoulder. "Sure."

Kita fiddled with the strap of her bag, her voice dropping slightly. "Do you really think... I'm a part of Kessoku band?"

Ryou turned to fully face her. "What?"

"I mean, I know I'm there. I sing, I play. But—" Kita’s voice faltered, her eyes lowering to the floor. "Sometimes I feel like just… a decoration. The smiley face. The energetic one. While you, Hitori, and Nijika— you make music. You actually create something."

"All I've done is follow your lead. I haven't written anything. I haven't created anything. And I keep practicing, trying to get better, but it feels like I'm stuck. Like, I'm just spinning in place while the rest of you move forward," Kita gripped the strap of her bag a little tighter.

"I even ran away from the band once. Do you remember? I was so scared. And even now, sometimes I wonder... if I disappeared, would anything really change? Would anyone even notice?" 

Kita gave a shaky breath. "Like yesterday, with the bridge — you and Hitori came up with the new lyrics. You played the right chords in one try. And I... I just stood there. Tried to sing it right. That's what I do, right? Smile and catch up," her voice was barely a whisper now.

"Sometimes I think... you're all going to grow, write more songs, get better... and I'll still be here. The one dragging us down."

Kita's voice cracked on that last word.

"I know it sounds dramatic, but... I think about it a lot more than I want to admit—"

Ryou stepped in. She didn't say anything at first — just reached out, gently, and cupped Kita's cheeks with both hands, thumbs brushing lightly against her skin. Her touch was light, but it stopped Kita mid-sentence like nothing else mattered right there. Then, quietly. "Look at me."

"You're Kita Ikuyo. You're in the band. That's it."

"You sing like you mean it. When you're not with us, it feels off — the sound, the mood... everything," she paused. "You're the one who makes the band feel complete. That matters."

A shaky breath escaped Kita's throat. She reached up, holding gently onto Ryou's wrist. In the background, distant footsteps echoed through the building, but between them, it was quiet.

"I've been playing since I was a kid," Ryou said. "That doesn't make me more important. It just makes me older," she brushed a tear from under Kita's eye with her thumb.

"If anyone's dragging us down, it's not you."

"You're part of Kessoku Band. It's not complete without you. I don't want it without you."

Kita stayed quiet, breathing in slowly, as if trying to process the words one at a time, giving the faintest nod. "... Thank you," she whispered.

Ryou gave the faintest smile. Not smug. Not teasing. Just there — soft and genuine. Her hands slowly left Kita's cheeks, but her presence didn't.

Kita lingered in that moment, almost afraid to let it end. She swallowed, voice still soft. "You always know what to say..."

"I really don't," Ryou replied. "I just don't want to see you cry..."

Kita let out a small, breathy laugh, wiping her eyes quickly with the back of her hand. "O-Oh, really? I'm sorry...!"

"... Want to see the komodos next?" Ryou asked, as if nothing had happened.

Kita blinked at the sudden shift. "You really suck at transitions, you know that?"

"I'm not trying to be smooth," Ryou said, already turning toward the next hallway. "I just want to see the komodos."

Kita jogged slightly to catch up. "Alright, alright — lead the way!" she glanced sideways, the corners of her lips still curled upward. "... Thanks, Ryou..."

Ryou didn't answer at first. She just gave a small hum in response — low, steady. But then she added, quietly. "You don't have to thank me for caring."

And they walked on. Toward the komodos. Toward the rest of the day.

Maybe I really am part of the band. Maybe I really do matter. Maybe I'm not invisible. I just... needed someone to say it out loud.

Chapter Text

The third rehearsal came.

The amp buzzed as Hitori strummed the final note of If I Could Be a Constellation. The chords rang out cleanly this time — no awkward hesitations, no off-beat strums. Just a soft reverb filling the room before silence fell. It was the most solid run they'd had.

"Hey! That was awesome, guys!" Nijika beamed, twirling her drumsticks once before setting them down.

Ryou gave a small nod. "Mm."

Hitori looked back from her guitar, a blush creeping to her cheeks. "Yeah... I-I'm proud of us!" 

"Thanks, Bocchi!!" Nijika grinned.

Kita stood near the mic stand, catching her breath. A gentle smile played on her lips as she turned to the others.

"Also — Kita! Your voice was super clear today!" Nijika added.

"Huh? Eh, was it?" Kita laughed lightly, rubbing the back of her neck. "I guess so!"

"That's our fourth song finished! Yayy!" Nijika announced, throwing both hands in the air.

"You made it sound like we just dropped an album..." Kita said, smiling sheepishly.

"Well, it does feel like one!" Nijika said proudly. "If I Could Be a Con-ste-lla-tion finally come together!" she leaned forward, eyes bright. "So… what next? We're gonna chill, or maybe start something new?"

There was a pause.

"... Actually, about that," Ryou began. "Remember how you mentioned writing a new song?"

"Oh — yeah, but we didn’t have anything yet, right?"

"We might," Ryou added, eyes flicking toward Kita.

"Huh?" Nijika turned to follow her gaze, confused.

Kita froze, still holding her guitar. "Eh?! Me?" she blinked and pointed to herself. "What did I do?"

"Last night's texting," Ryou said casually. "You mentioned you were writing something."

"W-Wait— that?" Kita looked flustered. "You just asked if I'd been working on anything, so I sent a few lines! They're just half-formed lyrics... not even finished or anything—"

"She's being modest," Ryou cut in. "They were good. Honest."

Kita stared. "Ryou..."

"Wait wait, you wrote a song, Kita?!" Nijika clapped her hands excitedly. Hitori tilted her head too, watching quietly.

"N-No, it's not a song yet! It's barely anything," Kita fumbled. "Just some words in a notebook. I wasn't even planning to show anyone—"

"That’s still amazing!" Nijika clapped her hands excitedly. "Come on, let us see!"

"No, no, no, it's—"

"Kita," Ryou said gently.

Kita let out a soft sigh of defeat. She set her guitar aside, then reached into her bag. She pulled out a notebook — the one with tabs and Kessoku lyrics folded into the pages. With a nervous hand, she set it gently on the amp. "Okay... Just... don't laugh, okay?"

Nijika stepped closer, and Hitori followed silently. Kita flipped to the middle, pausing before revealing the page.

There it was.

"A turning point, someday in my notebook

the words I wrote all sank somewhere — maybe the sea?

I don't know where I'm going.

Worn-out white chalk

It felt steadily 

It's like a stardust

I was mesmerized"

Nobody said anything at first.

Then, Nijika smiled. "... Hey, this is amazing."

Kita's eyes darted up in disbelief.

"It sounds like... something we'd play," Hitori murmured. "I-It feels like… you're singing something really personal, Kita..."

Kita looked toward Hitori. Her lips parted, but no words came out. "I..."

"Told you," Ryou added from her spot near the amp.

"Hehe... something we'd play, huh?" Nijika repeated, arms crossed, thinking.

She tapped a finger against her cheek. "You know... I've been looking at these lyrics and thinking — it'd be weird to turn this into a rocky, energetic song, right? What if we tried something different?”

"Different?" Ryou asked.

"Yeah! Like... slow, melodic? Soft guitars, gentle drums. Something that just... flows."

"I think I can do that," Hitori nodded.

"M-Maybe me too..." Kita said quietly.

"Hey, no stress!" Nijika grinned. "If it doesn’t work, we can always find another approach, right?"

"Mm." Ryou agreed.

"True..." Hitori smiled.

"Then!" Nijika clapped her hands. "Thanks to Kita… I think we just found our fifth song!"

Kita blinked. Her breath caught for a second. She never expected this. She thought they’d maybe say, "Oh, that's nice," and move on. But instead — They liked it. They wanted to play it. Together.

She blinked hard, then gave a shaky little laugh, the beginnings of a smile tugging at her lips.

Did... they really mean that?

"Alright! Ryou, help us with the instrumental!" Nijika said suddenly.

"Wha... We're working on it now?" Ryou asked, raising a brow.

"Then when will we work on it? Constellation is already done anyway!" Nijika grinned.

"... Yeah!" Kita said, her voice steadier this time. A smile tugged at her lips — genuine, bright. "Let's work on it!"

A few weeks passed, and school had started again. Kessoku Band — Ryou, Nijika, Kita, and Hitori — was now gathered at Kita and Hitori's school festival. It was bustling with crowds, food stands, and the constant hum of chatter.

A lot had happened in the past weeks. Kita had accidentally signed Kessoku Band up to perform at the school festival — their performance was set for tomorrow. The fifth song was finished, and they were proud of it. Really proud.

Nijika suddenly stopped in her tracks, pointing at the bulletin board "Hey, look! There's us!" she beamed. "Kessoku Band, performing tomorrow at 1:30 PM."

"This silly thing makes me excited. Just seeing our name on the board like that..." she let out a quiet laugh.

"Getting nervous now won't help anything," Ryou muttered from beside her.

We're really doing this... Our name is right there! "Ah, you're right!" Kita chimed in. "We should just focus on enjoying today's festival! Right, Hitori?"

"Ah— right..." Hitori replied, voice quiet. Honestly, she was hoping the group wouldn’t return to her class too soon — anything to delay going back to help her class with the café, not while wearing that. The maid uniform was cute — but also completely humiliating.

Still, the group continued wandering through the festival, visiting haunted classroom, buying crepes, shooting at prize targets. For a while, it felt like a real break — a pause before the final performance.

But eventually, they returned to Hitori's classroom.

A classmate guided them to a small table tucked near the window. Hitori stayed outside the door, quietly holding up a hand-drawn sign and offering fliers to passing visitors, dressed neatly in her uniform.

Inside, Kita sat across from Ryou, while Nijika took the seat beside her. They browsed the handwritten menu laid out before them. Kita, however, wasn't really reading. Her eyes wandered across the decorated room, before stopping on Hitori.

"She's really committed, huh..." she said softly, a small smile tugging at her lips. She's changed a lot... we all have, I think.

"All of them look cute," Nijika added, glancing around at the other students working in costume. 

"Bocchi! We're ready to order!"

Hitori finally stepped inside and approached their table, she held a small notepad close to her chest. "W-What would you like to order?"

"Hmm... lemme see," Nijika said, leaning over to peek at Ryou's menu. But then she looked up at Hitori, her smile widening just a little. "Though I have to say — that uniform suits you really well."

"R-Really?" Hitori blinked.

"It does! You actually look... kind of confident in it," Kita added honestly, glancing up at her. "It's kinda nice to see."

"I told you — she should try other things than just her tracksuit," Nijika grinned.

Hitori looked down, flustered, fingers fidgeting slightly. "I-It's a litte..."

Ryou finally looked up from the menu, studying Hitori quietly. Her eyes narrowed a little, not in judgment, but curiosity. "...There's something about it," she said slowly.

Hitori froze. "I-Is there something on me?"

Ryou tilted her head. "Selling ourselves with visuals is a valid marketing strategy. You're like... a diamond in disguise!"

"R-Ryou?!" Hitori blinked.

"A music video,' Ryou continued, unfazed. "Just imagine. Soft lighting. Maid uniform. Guitar solo."

"No! Don't turn her into a visual gimmick!" Nijika quickly cut in.

"I-I'm just here to take your orders," Hitori said quickly, straightening herself and gripping her notepad.

"Ah right, let's not forget that," Nijika giggled.

"... Can anyone pay for me?" Ryou asked.

"Seriously, Ryou?" Kita sighed.

The silliness continued even after their meal. A classmate asked if they wanted to help out serving the rest of the guests — even Ryou agreed. They tied on aprons, wiping tables, took up trays, pouring drinks. 

In the end, Hitori's class won the award for best one in the event.

"Awesome!" a classmate cheered. "All our omurice sold out!"

"We even got the top award!" another added excitedly.

"It's all thanks to Kita and her bandmates!"

"Hey, hey — it's nothing," Nijika waved it off with a smile. "We were happy to help!"

"That's right!" Kita added with a bright smile.

"We'll definitely watch your performance tomorrow!"

"I'm happy to hear that!" Kita replied, her eyes soft with gratitude.

"Now," Ryou cut in dryly, brushing off her blazer. "Let's talk about our payment."

"Huh?"

"Wha...?"

"Ryou?"

"E-Eh, Ryou?" Hitori blinked.

"Surely you didn't think we were doing this for free, right—" before she could finish, Nijika yanked Ryou by the back of her collar.

"Come here, you. We gotta practice," she said, dragging Ryou toward the door.

"Waah."

"Ah, wait!" Kita called after them. "Can we stop somewhere first?"

"Huh?" Nijika glanced back.

They took a small detour and ended up at the entrance of the gymnasium. The large doors were open, and at the far end stood the stage. A few students lingered, chatting, while janitors swept the floor and tidied things up.

Kita stepped forward, her gaze fixed on the wide stage.

"I wanted to see the place where we'll perform tomorrow..." she said, almost to herself.

"It's a nice gym," Nijika said, nodding.

"Looks like it can fit... maybe a thousand people?"

Kita drew in a soft breath. "I'm a little nervous about that," she admitted. "But... I think it's a hundred times better if more people are watching!"

"Yeah...!" Hitori murmured, stepping beside her. "Me too."

"There will be a lot of people," Nijika said. "We've got Kita's power on our side, after all!"

Kita chuckled, her cheeks a little red. Then she turned to the others. "Wanna take a step closer?"

"Of course," Nijika nodded without hesitation.

The four of them stepped forward until they stood just in front of the big stage — and for a moment, none of them spoke. Then Nijika broke the quiet, voice gentle but firm. "Tomorrow, we'll stand up there," she said. "As Kessoku Band. Together. All of us."

"We'll kill it," Kita said, her voice calm and confident.

It looks so big from here. But... I'm not scared like before. I'm excited.

"Damn right we will!" Nijika grinned and raised a fist into the air. The others smiled too, standing together before the stage — ready for tomorrow.

Ryou gave a small smile. "Let's give them something to remember."

They all headed to STARRY for their fifth rehearsal — their final one before tomorrow’s performance. The rehearsal room buzzed quietly with the low hum of amps being plugged in and strings being tuned. Everyone moved to their spots.

"To think a thousand people might be watching tomorrow... that's a lot," Nijika said, settling behind her drums. "Oh right, Bocchi," she added, "I've been meaning to ask — your guitar, it's second-hand, right?"

"Ah, yeah!" Hitori perked up. "It was my dad's when he was younger. He didn't really play it anymore after I was born, so he gave it to me. It's really old, but... I love it."

"Your family’s coming tomorrow, right?" Nijika asked, smiling.

"Yeah. They couldn't come to our first live because of the storm, but they’re really excited for this one. They even bought a camcorder just to record it..." Hitori laughed awkwardly.

"I can already picture it!" Nijika chuckled.

"Such... excitement," Ryou muttered, tapping a finger to her chin. "Cool. What about you, Kita?"

"Ah, my friends said they're really looking forward to it!" Kita beamed. "They've been texting me all day."

"Kita's aura really does work," Nijika grinned.

"Y-Yeah!" Hitori added with a shy nod.

"By the way, what should we say for our introduction?" Nijika asked.

"Introduce ourselves, say the song names... and greet the crowd?" Kita suggested.

"That sounds about right," Hitori nodded.

"There's nothing wrong with our usual opening," Nijika said, "but I was just thinking — maybe we can spice it up a bit! You know, get famous faster!"

"No band ever got big from their intro lines," Ryou replied flatly. "The audience just fake-laughs anyway. Still, once we're famous, your embarrassing intro might make a good 'fun fact' to laugh at later."

Nijika squinted and pointed accusingly. "Was that supposed to be encouragement or an insult?!"

"Please," Kita clapped her hands together. "No fighting. Let's make the most of this final practice."

"Ah— right, right, sorry!" Nijika scratched her head. "Okay then, what song are we starting with?"

"We've got three in our setlist, If I Could Be a Constellation, Never Forget, and our newest song," Ryou said. "Let’s start with Never Forget."

"Alright everyone, let's give it our all!" Nijika raised her drumsticks with a grin. She tapped them together in rhythm. 

"One— one, two, three!"

They went through the full setlist, ending with Kita's riff in If I Could Be a Constellation. The final chords faded out, leaving only the soft hum of the amp. No one spoke right away. Kita took a small breath just as Nijika broke the silence. 

"Yeah!! That was great, guys! Really great!" she beamed, giving a thumbs up.

"I agree!" Kita said, her voice a little breathless. "That was our best one yet!"

"I hope we’ll be able to entertain the crowd tomorrow...!" Hitori added.

"Of course we will!" Kita beamed.

"Speaking with confidence. I love that," Ryou said with a calm nod.

"Bocchi, we’re relying on you!" Nijika grinned, leaning forward from her drum kit.

"We all need to be confident," Kita added. "Everyone will probably be surprised by how much you can do!" she looked at Hitori warmly, then glanced around at the others.

"But it's..." Hitori started, her words faltering.

"Hey, don't be like that," Nijika said quickly. "Let’s give it everything we've got!"

"Yeah!" Hitori nodded, her voice steadier this time.

Another silence crept in — but not the awkward kind, not this time. It felt full, like something waiting to be said. Then Kita spoke. "You know... when I joined... I didn't think I mattered that much," she said softly. "Ah! I'm so sorry — that came out of nowhere!"

Nijika blinked, caught off guard. Then she smiled. 

Hitori hesitated for a second, then stepped forward, placing a hand gently on Kita’s shoulder. "D-Don’t say that," she said. "You do, Kita."

"What Bocchi said!" Nijika chimed in, waving her arms. "You matter to us. Really. The band wouldn't be like this if you weren't here. Like today!"

"R-Right!" Kita nodded, looking down at her guitar. Her fingers lightly brushed the strings before her eyes lifted again. Nijika was still at her drum set, Hitori beside her, both smiling with nothing but sincerity. Then her gaze shifted to Ryou, who was watching her quietly with a smile of her own.

Kita's cheeks flushed just a little. And then, she smiled back.

I want to keep seeing that smile. Again and again.

"I think I finally do..."

A stillness passed through them again. Then Nijika stood up. "Okay! That's all for today! Get enough rest and sleep, tomorrow's a big day for us!" she stepped away from her drumkit and made her way to the center of the room, meeting Kita and Hitori.

"Yeah!" Kita said, slinging her guitar strap off her shoulder.

"Understood," Ryou added as she unplugged her bass.

"Thanks for having us today!" Hitori said with a tiny smile.

Ryou and Kita stepped outside of STARRY first, while Hitori stayed back a little longer inside. The air was slightly windy, the sun halfway sunk behind the buildings, and the streetlights had already begun to flicker on.

As Kita reached the top of the stairs, she found Ryou waiting.

"Kita," Ryou said.

"Ah, Ryou... hi there!" Kita waved, stopping beside her. "What are you doing here?"

"Waiting for you," Ryou replied, glancing over.

"E-Eh? Me?!"

"Yeah. Want to walk together?" she offered plainly.

She's so casual about it... why does that make my heart race? Kita stood still for a moment, then nodded. "...Yes, let's walk home together."

Ryou turned and started walking. Kita hurried up to join her, walking side by side in silence for a while. At a corner, Ryou stopped in front of a vending machine. 

"You're thirsty?" Kita asked playfully.

"Thirsty," Ryou said, scanning the drink options. Before choosing, she turned to Kita. "You want one?"

"You're really treating me?" Kita asked, a little surprised.

"I have money. I'm not that broke... I guess," Ryou pulled out a few bills. "Also, paying back for the goat feed at the zoo."

"Ah! You really don't have to, Ryou... But — don't mind if I do!" Kita giggled, pointing at a familiar bottle. "That peach tea there, please!"

"The one I got you?"

"Mhm."

After the drinks dropped, Ryou picked up her bottled honey tea and handed Kita hers. "Here you go."

"Thank you!" Kita said brightly. As they resumed walking, she opened her bottle and took a sip. "Ah— It's so refreshing after a long day."

While Ryou had already finished half her drink, making Kita blink in surprise. "Y-You're really thirsty, huh..."

"I have never lied in my life," Ryou said. "I should've gotten two."

"We can share mine," Kita offered.

"No, it's all yours."

They walked a bit further under the deepening sky before Ryou spoke again. "You played really great today," Ryou said.

"I wasn't scared this time..." Kita replied, her eyes drifting upward toward the sky. "Thank you for helping me find my voice again."

"I didn't help. You're the one who did it," Ryou said, giving her a light pat on the back.

"Eh, not really. You helped a lot. A lot — seriously. Helping me practice guitar. Being there when I was down. The zoo trip... I really loved that day. I felt at ease." Kita took another sip, then smiled to herself. "We should go again sometime."

"I still want to feed the goats."

"Of course. I'll buy all the goat feed you want."

"I'd like five," Ryou declared.

"All yours!"

They both smiled. The silence that followed was quiet and full, not empty. Eventually, they reached their neighborhood. 

"I'm really glad I’m in this band," Kita murmured, almost to herself.

"Me too," Ryou replied softly. "I’m glad you’re in it."

Kita let out a quiet chuckle and nudged Ryou with her elbow. They finally stopped in front of Kita’s house. "Thanks, Ryou... for walking me home."

"No problem. We should do this more often. It's kind of relaxing."

"Of course!"

Kita stepped through the gate, then looked back as she made her way toward the door. Ryou was still standing there, watching, making sure she got home safely. The wind brushed through her hair.

Kita grinned and raised a fist. "Let's give them a show!"

"Let's give them a show," Ryou echoed, lifting her fist halfway.

"See you tomorrow."

"See you."

As Kita disappeared inside, Ryou turned and continued her walk home, just a few streets away in the same complex. The day slowly faded into a quiet night.

The stars hadn't come out yet — but tomorrow, they would. We’re ready. 

The day had finally arrived — the second day of the school festival.

Kessoku Band waited backstage, all dressed in their matching signature shirts. The curtains were still drawn over the stage, but the sound of the crowd was already swelling just beyond them.

"Let's go, Bocchi!" Nijika said with energy.

"Ah— right!" Hitori replied, standing up straighter.

"Ah! Now I’m nervous!" Kita said, pressing her hands close to her chest.

"Kita, deep breaths. Slowly. We can do this!" Nijika reassured her from behind, hands on her hips. She turned to Hitori, who stood next to Kita. "You okay, Bocchi?"

"Yes!" Hitori answered firmly, brows drawn in focus.

Nijika smiled slightly. "Look at you... Half a year ago, you were playing quietly in a cardboard mango box. But look at you now..."

But even as she stood tall, Bocchi's heart was pounding loud in her chest, her focused expression beginning to flicker with worry.

"Hitori, deep breath!" Kita said gently, echoing Nijika's tone from earlier.

This is it. No more do-overs. If I mess up… no, I won’t mess up. I can’t mess this up.

Just then, a staff member called out. "Kessoku Band, you're on in one minute!"

"Okay!" Nijika responded, watching the staff walk away. She turned to the others. "Hey — hey! Wanna do that thing where we put our hands in and shout our name?"

Kita clasped her hands. "Yeah — good idea! Let’s do that!"

"It sounds cringe..." Ryou muttered.

"Everyone, hands in!" Nijika extended hers forward.

Hitori and Kita quickly placed theirs on top. Ryou hesitated, but Kita gently reached out and set Ryou’s hand on the stack herself.

"Okay!" Nijika grinned. "Let’s give it our all and have fun! One, two, three!"

"For Kessoku Band!" they all shouted in unison, throwing their hands up.

Behind the still-closed curtains, each of them took their place and prepped for what was ahead. Kita slung her guitar over her shoulder. Hitori double-checked her pedals. Ryou plucked her bass strings in a last-second tune-up. Nijika tapped her drums softly. 

"We're ready," she said.

A voice echoed from the speaker. "Now performing — Kessoku Band!"

The curtains began to open, slow and dramatic. The stage lights flickered on one by one. Spotlights locked onto the four of them.

Kita stood center stage. Hitori was on her left. Nijika sat ready at the drums behind them. Ryou stood steady on the right, her bass gleaming under the light.

For the first time, they looked out at the crowd. It was packed.

Their classmates from yesterday, curious students, returning fans from their first live show. Seika stood near the front with crossed arms. Hitori's family was there, her dad proudly holding a camcorder. Kita's friends waved from the middle rows.

Even Kikuri was there, standing unsteadily next to Seika, half-drunk and hyped. "Oi!" Kikuri called out, waving a bottle in one hand. "Do your best, Bocchi! You better shake the stage!"

She almost fell forward, but Seika grabbed her just in time.

"Oi, get sober!" Seika hissed, smacking Kikuri’s cheek repeatedly.

"I— I'm sorry... I'm drunk..."

The tiny commotion made a few people laugh — even the band caught it. Kita chuckled softly under her breath. Then she looked back at the audience, her eyes calm now.

She leaned in toward the mic. 

"So... Kessoku Band usually performs outside the school. But today, we hope we can make it unforgettable — for us, and for all of you!"

There was a small cheer from the crowd.

"If you'd like to see us again, come visit us at STARRY sometime!" Kita added with a smile. "Then — without further ado, we’ll perform our first song, Never Forget!"

Nijika lifted her drumsticks.

One, two — tap, tap, tap!

Let's do this!

The first chord of Never Forget rang out from Hitori’s guitar — quick, sharp, and more importantly, confident.

Kita raised her hands above her head, signaling the crowd to clap along. As soon as she did, waves of clapping echoed through the hall, syncing with the beat. Kita smiled wide, then brought her hands back down and joined in on rhythm guitar.

"Just blame it all on the weather

This uneasiness, this exhaustion

The sun is rising, pretending not to notice!"

Kita's voice rang out loud and clear — bright, unwavering. The band followed behind, and the crowd clapped along.

"The crowded train rattles and shakes

As a local express train passes by

I search for expression in clouds with no outline"

So far, everything was in sync. No missed notes, no stumbles. The band played as one, steady and sure. Then came the chorus.

"There’s no outline as a blue spring

It doesn’t suit me, but I still know

A one-off’s moment is filled with transience"

"There’s no such thing as fate or miracles

I guess it’s too good for me

Just take a step forward!"

Kita winked at the crowd as the chorus gave way to the instrumental interlude. Hitori held a steady rhythm, Nijika tapping out the song on drums.

Kita took the moment to lean into the mic. "Now let me introduce you to the band members!" she said with enthusiasm, voice soaring over the music.

"On drums — Nijika Ijichi!" she shouted, motioning behind her. Hitori pulled back slightly, letting Nijika step up with a little solo. "Woo!!"

"On guitar — Hitori Gotoh!" she turned to her left. Hitori pressed down on her pedalboard, unleashing a gritty, expressive tone. Her head was still low, bangs hiding her face — but her fingers shredded across the fretboard with precision. "Yayy!!"

"And on bass — Ryou Yamada!" Kita motioned right, where Ryou stood calm and composed. Her hands moved on her bass with ease. She looked at Kita briefly — a short glance.

"And finally — the vocalist and backup guitarist — me, Kita Ikuyo!" she grinned, returning her hand to her guitar and striking a vibrant chord.

The band moved back into the next verse without missing a beat.

"Not as stinky as adults, not as gifted as kids

I’m somewhere in the middle of my life

I feel like I’m being left behind by the wind

Desperately clinging on!"

"The dust that piled up on the windowsill

The smell of classroom — I’ll never forget it

Until I die, no matter how many times!"

The song neared its end. Hitori took the lead, launching into a final solo — expressive and full of feeling. Her fingers danced across the strings until the last note rang out loud and clear. 

A moment of stillness. Then — an eruption of applause.

The crowd clapped, cheered, some shouting their names.

"Thank you so much!" Kita said into the mic. "That was the first of the three songs we'll be performing today!"

"But before we continue to our next song," she added with a grin, "the leader and drummer of Kessoku Band, Nijika Ijichi, would like to say something to you all!"

Kita stepped back, and Nijika took over with a grin, her usual spark on full display.

"Hey everyone! Nice to meet you all! Are you guys having fun?!" The crowd cheered in response. "So! Our bassist, Ryou Yamada, told us our intro was really boring, and I was like, 'How dare you?!' But yeah, I still wanted to make a little announcement before we start!"

"By the way, we haven’t really announced where our next performance will be. So, if you’d like to see us again—our amazing vocalist, Kita Ikuyo, and our guitarist, Bocchi— I mean Hitori Gotoh, will be the ones to keep you posted!"

"We will!"

"Of course!" 

The crowd buzzed with excitement.

Nijika leaned back from the mic, taking her seat behind the drums. She glanced toward Kita. "Let's go on to the next song!"

"Alright!" Kita turned back to the audience, breath steady, heart full. "Our next song is... If I Could Be a Constellation!"

Nijika tapped out a soft rhythm with her drumsticks. 

One, two — tap, tap, tap!

Then — Kita's riff rang out across the venue, echoing through the air. The others joined in. Kita took a breath and began to sing.

"Just a bit before 6 o’clock

The first star can be seen right there

Stepping on shadows, surrendering myself to the night on the way home"

The crowd watched in a hush, as if the stars themselves were listening.

"No matter how you look,

That one and only star

Shining brightly from hundreds of millions of light years away"

"Must be nice, to be loved by everyone.

‘No such thing. I’ve always been alone.’

If I could be a constellation with you,

In the starry night sky — that’s my only wish."

The lights on the stage cast a glow across her hair. Her eyes were fixed ahead. No missed notes. No waver in her hands. This was everything she had worked for.

"Just a bit before 8 o’clock

The night sky is now filled with stars

Shining from millions of light years away, it might still not be there"

Even the second verse, once shaky in rehearsal, flowed effortlessly now. Then, the chorus again.

"If I could be a constellation with you

If my dearest wish somehow reached someone

Would the night change, after I trace it with my lines?"

The song reached its instrumental break — but instead of the expected riff, Kita launched into a solo. Her brows furrowed as she focused on the fretboard. The band exchanged quick glances but kept going — stunned, but in sync.

Tell me, Ryou... are you proud of me?

As her solo drew to a close, Kita glanced to her left and gave Hitori a nod.

You too — show them, Hitori. Show all of them how cool you actually are!

Ryou and Nijika caught the signal and looped the rhythm — just as Hitori burst into her own solo. You're shining, Hitori. You always were. It wasn't planned, but the audience didn't know that. They screamed in surprise and excitement.

"Wahh!!"

"Whoa!!"

"After a long journey, we ended up meeting.

Maybe we were destined to meet, no matter what"

In a world beyond the clouds"

Then the band brought it back to the bridge — and into the final chorus.

"That’s why I want to be a constellation with you

Shining in myriads of colors!

The lines connecting us won’t be broken

No matter how you shine!"

The final riff rang out — Kita's guitar guiding them to the end. Nijika’s drums softened, Ryou's bass steadied, and Hitori's strums faded. 

The last note hit.

Cheers. Clapping. Whistles.

"Woohoo!!"

"You guys are so cool!!!"

"My daughter!" Hitori's dad sobbed happily.

Then, Nijika's voice rang out through the mic. "Um— okay, ideally we’d go to the next song right now, but — I just really wanna say, thank you so much for today!!!"

Cheers erupted around them.

"We hope we can become a band big enough for you to brag about seeing us here first!"

"Go, Kessoku Band!!"

"We're cheering for you!!"

As the cheers died down, Nijika took the lead again. "Our third song, and our final one — Flashbacker! This one's really special to us. We tried new things, experimented with sounds... and the lyrics, the whole idea, came mostly from Kita Ikuyo — our very own vocalist!"

"KITA!!"

"We love you all!"

"This band’s sick!"

Kita stood behind the mic, lips parted, eyes wide. She felt something sting behind her eyes — a tear, maybe. But she blinked it away and kept her focus steady.

Nijika glanced at her bandmates. "Would the others like to say something before we start?"

Ryou's mic gave off a soft whine as she gave it a test tap. "Uh... yeah. This song's different, you'll feel it. Also Nijika's speech was super lame, I'm just putting that out there."

"How dare you?!!"

Laughter bubbled up from the crowd and stage.

"What about Hitori?" Nijika turned to her gently. "Anything you wanna say?"

"Ah—!" Hitori flinched, startled, but took a small breath and stepped forward. She looked out across the crowd — Kikuri cheering with both arms up, Seika with her arms crossed but smiling, her dad — camcorder shaking in his hands and still sobbing. Like he was saying, "My daughter... She finally stood up!"

"I-I..." Hitori tried, then breathed in. "I-I hope this song... m-makes you feel something. U-Um— Uh— Because... m-making it made me feel like I wasn't alone anymore."

The stage went quiet for a beat. Even Ryou looked moved.

Then came Kita's turn. Her hands gripped the mic stand, they trembled slightly. "Uh... I—um... I just..." she took a sharp breath. “There's something I have to say or else I’ll regret it forever—”

She swallowed, voice still shaky but determined. "I really want to thank... all my friends. Everyone who's helped me get here. I probably wouldn't be standing here without you. And to my bandmates — Nijika, Hitori... Ryou. Thank you for letting me in, for sticking with me, for believing in me even when I didn't."

She smiled weakly. 

"You're all irreplaceable. I love you guys."

The applause came gently at first, like waves, then grew.

Nijika beamed, eyes glassy. Hitori mouthed a quiet "You did great, Kita," Ryou didn't say anything at first. She just gave Kita the calmest smile — like she always knew this moment would come.

Ryou raised a fist halfway. "Kita. Let's give them a show."

Kita nodded, turning toward the crowd. Her heart steadied.

One, two — tap, tap, tap!

The first guitar chord rang out softly — slow, almost melodic. Nijika's light drumming, steady and gentle. Hitori's rhythm guitar overlapped with Kita's melody, the sound quietly threaded together by Ryou's basslines.

Kita took a breath.

"A turning point, someday in my notebook

Those words I wrote 

I’m sure they turned into bubbles and disappeared

I don’t know where I'm going."

Her voice was calm, almost distant. Eyes closed, her heart pounded a little louder with every word.

"Worn-out white chalk

It faded steadily

It’s like stardust

I was mesmerized"

"Ah — one day I'll disappear from this world

I wonder if I’ll remain in someone’s memory

Just this snippet of a moment"

Their instruments fell silent for a breath, just long enough, before returning for the chorus.

"The shining morning, shining morning

Is too dazzling, too dazzling

Just that makes my heart fly

Your words never leave me, never leave me 

Flashbacker.

I still remember it"

A soft instrumental break followed, the stage lights dimming slightly. Kita leaned in toward the mic again.

" 'I can't seem to capture your true self

With this out-of-focus blur.' "

"You smiled with that lonely face"

She repeated the chorus, voice trembling slightly but staying true.

"Your words never leave me, never leave me 

Flashbacker.

I still remember it"

And then — silence. The music stopped. The lights dimmed completely. Only the stage lights on them now. 

Everyone held their breath. 

Kita placed both hands on the mic. She took a shaky breath — her voice trembled.

"The shining morning, shining morning

Is too dazzling, too dazzling

Somehow it feels like my heart is floating"

Her voice stood alone in the quiet.

Then — Hitori's guitar came in, filling the space again. Kita picked up her guitar, strumming gently as Nijika’s drums joined back in with a soft thud.

"The words you told me

I’ll hold them tight, hold them tight 

Flashbacker.

Even now, I want to remember everything..."

The final notes echoed into the air.

Kita hummed softly, eyes lowered. The stage lights slowly brightened. She strummed the last chord — and then, silence again.

Everything stopped.

Then the crowd erupted. Cheers, applauses — it was overwhelming. They did it. They actually did it.

Kita waved her arm, catching her breath as she leaned into the mic. "That was our last song! Thank you so much for listening! We really hope to see you again!"

"See you guys!!!" Nijika beamed, bouncing as she waved both hands.

The curtains began to close. "Bye-bye!! Kessoku Band, signing off!" she called out dramatically.

Backstage, Hitori all but collapsed onto a stool, eyes hollow from her earlier speech — something she didn't even expect she can do. Her whole body slumped.

"Bocchi!" Nijika rushed over. "You okay?!"

"N-No..." Hitori said, voice cracking as she stared into the void.

Kita sank onto a nearby stool, guitar still on her lap. The soft blue of it shimmered under the dressing room light. She ran a hand across its body.

Ryou sat down beside her, setting down her bass with a soft clunk. "You okay?" she asked, voice quiet.

"Yeah... I just—" Kita let out a breathless laugh. "I didn't think we'd actually pull it off," she turned to Ryou, eyes a little watery. "I know I've said it like, a million times already, but... thank you. For lending me the guitar. For teaching me. For not giving up on—"

Before she could finish, Ryou leaned over and hugged her. A quiet, simple motion.

Kita blinked, caught off guard — Ryou wasn't usually like this. But slowly, she closed her eyes and returned the hug, arms curling around Ryou's back.

“We did it,” Ryou said, barely above a whisper.

“Yeah... we did.”

A beat passed, then Nijika popped in behind them. "Don't forget about us!" she threw her arms around them both, practically knocking Ryou off-balance. "C'mon, team moment!"

"Oof—! Okay, okay!" Kita laughed.

"You're knocking me off."

Hitori hovered awkwardly nearby, then slowly stepped in and wrapped her arms around the group, resting her cheek against Nijika's shoulder.

"We did it."

This time, they all said it together.

Even if we go our separate ways someday... even if life moves on... please, let me keep this moment. Just this one.

Another morning rose. The sun peeked over the rooftops. The alarm rang. It was Tuesday.

You know, I used to think I didn’t matter in this band. Just a mascot. Someone who smiled onstage... then faded into the background once the music stopped.

Kita slipped on her shoes, slung her tote bag over her shoulder, and glanced at the guitar bag leaning against the wall. She smiled softly, picked it up, and swung it onto her back. "Mom, Dad! I’m heading out!" 

The door closed behind her with a quiet click.

But that wasn't really true. Not anymore. We all have our place in this world — our purpose. So, even when you feel like you're fading, even when you're at your lowest... You matter. You always have.

On the way to school, she spotted someone familiar.

"Ryou! Good morning!"

"Morning."

"Wanna walk for a bit?"

Ryou gave a small nod. "Sure."

They walked side-by-side under the morning light. Just two people, quiet but close. Eventually, they parted ways at the intersection — Ryou headed toward her own school. "Say hi to Nijika for me!" Kita waved. "See you at STARRY later!" 

"Mm," Ryou gave a thumbs-up.

Kita watched her go for a moment — then continued walking.

This small band of ours — we'll push forward together. Someday, we'll be famous. We'll play in huge venues, with crowds singing along. But until then, we'll keep going. One step at a time.

You've got your own path. I've got mine. But somehow... we're all walking it together.

Just before Kita reached her school gate, she spotted Hitori hesitating nearby, clutching her bag.

"Hitori!"

Hitori jumped slightly. "A-Ah—! Kita!"

Kita slowed down beside her. "Nijika said she wants us to practice today. Oh! She mentioned this title she heard — 'Seishun Complex'. Says it'd be sick to turn it into a song."

"Sure," Hitori nodded shyly. "I'd love to...!"

The show may be over. But the story isn't.

Kita turned to her with a grin, holding out her hand.

"Let's go, Hitori!"

For a moment, Hitori froze — but then she reached out and took Kita's hand.

Our story’s just beginning. 

We might still be small — but this is how everything starts.

THE END