Two years ago
Miyamasuzaka Girls Academy JHS - Classroom
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Shiho's Classmates

Alright, let's have lunch!

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Shiho's Classmates

Okay!

Oh, wait... Should we invite Hinomori?

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Shiho's Classmates

No, don't bother.

You never know when she's gonna snap.

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Shiho's Classmates

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

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Shiho's Classmates

Yeah, totally.

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

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Shiho

...

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Shiho's Classmates

Wh-What is it...?

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Shiho

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

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Shiho's Classmates

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

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Shiho's Classmates

Ugh! I know, right?!

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Shiho

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

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Shiho

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

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Shiho

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

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Shiho's Classmate A

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

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Shiho's Classmate B

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

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Shiho's Classmate A

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

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Shiho's Classmate B

And they think they're so cool too.

It's like they believe they're too good for any of us...

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Shiho

(No, I can't just ignore them...

They have no right talking about Ichika or anyone else like that...)

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Honami's Voice

You want my advice...?

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Shiho

(Honami...?!)

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Junior

Yes...

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

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Honami

Yes, I am.

Why don't we have lunch together down by the courtyard while we talk?

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Junior

Th-Thank you so much...!

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Shiho

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

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Shiho

...

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Honami

Alright, let's... Huh?

Shiho?

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Shiho

(B-Busted...)

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Honami

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

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Shiho

...

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Shiho

Leave me alone...

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Honami

What...?

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Shiho

There's something I need to do...

Bye...

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Honami

Shiho!

Wait...

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Shiho

*Sigh*

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Shiho

(Honami seemed completely stunned...)

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Shiho

(But this is how things need to be...

This way, Honami and Ichika won't have to...)

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Ichika

There she is! Shiho!

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Shiho

I-Ichika...?!

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Ichika

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

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Ichika

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

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Shiho

(Saki...)

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Shiho

...

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Shiho

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

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Shiho

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

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Ichika

What are you talking about...?

Can't you just explain what's going on?

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Shiho

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

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Shiho

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

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Ichika

Sh-Shiho...!

Miyamasuzaka Girls Academy JHS - Rooftop
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Shiho

(This is fine...

This is how things need to be...)

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Shiho

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

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Shiho

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

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Shiho

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

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Shiho

(Because Saki...)

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Shiho

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

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Shiho

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

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Shiho

That's what matters most...

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Shiho

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

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Shiho

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

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Shiho

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

The next day - Lunch break
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Shiho

Phew...

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Shiho

(It feels so muggy on the rooftop now.)

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Shiho

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

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Shiho

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

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Shiho

(Here should work.)

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Shiho

(Okay, one more time.

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

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Shiho

(Good...

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

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???

Is someone playing an instrument...?

Next Chapter: Meeting Through Music