Hotaru Shiomi and Houka Izumi

We had a lovely practice today as well♡

Yes. With Comet Rising ahead of us, I need to work even harder.

Oh my...?

W-Whoa...!

How unusual. It is rare for the train to be so crowded at this hour. Come a little closer, Hotaru-san.

Y-Yes...! Do you think some event just got out...?

That may well be so. There are several large venues around here, after all.

Ugh... It cannot be helped, but it is rather cramped...

The train will be swaying shortly...

Hotaru-san... Perhaps you should hold on to a strap or something.

Ah, you are right...! Thank you.

Hmm... There! I managed to reach it.

Still... It is a bit of a stretch at your height, Hotaru-san.

Eek!? Ah...

Hehe. Are you all right? I just managed to make it in time.

Thank you so much...! Oh, I am sorry. You had to catch me.

Not at all. Please do not give it a thought.

The train will likely keep swaying, so you are welcome to hold on to me instead.

B-But...

Please, do not worry. I am only doing what I wish to.

I would be far more distressed if you were hurt, Hotaru-san.

...

Besides, I have a fairly strong core, you know? I am the drummer, after all.

A-All right... Then... if you don't mind...

Hehe. By all means.

!

There. Just as I said, was it not?

Thank you... Please let me lean on you until we reach the station.

With pleasure♡

(You may rely on me whenever you like, and as much as you like.)

(If, by some terrible chance, those beautiful fingers of yours were injured, Hotaru-san...)

(If they could no longer make that music, I would not know what would become of me♡)

Phew... That should do it. Thank you for helping with the cleaning.

Not at all. Keeping a place we use clean is only natural.

Still... There was much more stuff here than I expected. It really surprised me.

The second floor is our little relaxation space, after all. Everyone keeps quite a few personal things there.

Are those stacks of music magazines Natsume-san's? And the travel magazines beside them belong to...?

Those are Mahoro-san's. She often looks through the photos of delicious food at all the sightseeing spots.

I see... Oh? Are these movie DVDs...?

Ah, Nagi-san brought those in.

We can watch movies here too?

Yes. We have not used it recently, but I believe there is a player beneath the television.

We used to watch them together quite often.

I see... So that is how it was.

Do you enjoy movies, Hotaru-san?

I have not really watched very many...

Oh my. Are they simply not to your taste?

No, it is not that. I just hardly ever go to the movie theater.

Sometimes my family watches whatever is on television on weekend nights...

I see. What kinds of films do you usually watch?

Um... I remember watching family-friendly animated movies and fantasy films from overseas.

How lovely. Those are classic genres with so many wonderful films.

Do you like movies, Houka-san?

I do, though I only go to the theater from time to time.

What kinds of movies do you watch?

Zombie movies♪

Z-Zombies...!?

Zombie movies are horror movies, right...? So you like scary films?

No, not exactly. I like zombie movies, but I am not especially fond of zombies themselves.

Then, um...?

People who are attacked by zombies. I find the moments when their true nature comes to light rather fascinating... That's it♪

I-I see...?

Everyone carries desires within them. But in everyday life, we bind ourselves with one reason or another...

Then, when people like that are placed between life and death by a zombie attack, their true selves emerge.

Some flee before anyone else, some turn on their companions, and some mercilessly wipe out the zombies...

They all look so very happy♪

Um... I suppose that is one way to enjoy them...?

Hehe. If you would like, I can bring you one of my recommendations sometime.

A-A recommendation...?

Being able to share something you love with another person. I am sure that is a very happy thing indeed♪

Oh...! I understand.

I want to know the things you love too, Houka-san!

My. This promises to be quite delightful♪

Phew... Thank you very much.

Oh, man, that was wonderful! I cannot believe we got to hear piano like that out on the street!

Your piano was amazing today too! I might have to come by here again.

♡

Oh, Houka-san...?

Oh my. You found me.

Um, practice is cancelled today, is it not...?

Yes. I simply came here on my own, so please do not worry.

Then, did you come to hear me play?

I did. I had seen you in videos before, but I wanted to hear you play in person after all.

I am sorry for coming without asking you beforehand.

No, it is completely fine!

Um... What did you think? Of my playing, I mean.

Hehe. It was magnificent♡

The light from the glass windows pouring over you as you played, Hotaru-san... Together with the sound of the piano, it was almost divine...

It made me feel, once again, that you are a goddess who has come to save me♡

U-um...?

A compliment from me, filled with love.

Oh...! Thank you very much!

I may end up becoming a regular here.

Do you always play here, Hotaru-san?

Yes. It is easy for me to get here from home.

And... this is where I met Kanata-san, too.

That is true...

Looking back, I am filled with regret over what a terrible loss it was.

...?

I had heard that she played the street piano, and I had heard about you as well, Hotaru-san...

But I never heard Kanata-san play when it truly mattered.

Oh...

Perhaps I had convinced myself that hearing her so often in the band was enough...

How foolish of me. How arrogant.

...

(Kanata-san's playing was truly incredible. Such wonderful music, beyond anything I could ever reach.)

(The music Houka-san... the music everyone loved so dearly.)

I-I'll do my best!

...?

Making music exactly like Kanata-san's... That may be difficult for me.

But with my own music, I will make everyone happy. I promise!

Yes. I am looking forward to it with all my heart♡