TL: OMG, I forgot to update. Very sorry guys!
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The next day, 4:00 p.m.
The bond woven by notes and emotion wrapped itself around the heart. Music's roaring surge and the lively voice of a girl filled the streets of Shimokitazawa. As the final booming chord of the guitar faded, the graceful melody reached its perfect conclusion.
The girls, their foreheads lightly dusted with sweat, beamed with joy. It felt as though even the heaviest gloom had been instantly scattered.
Leaning against a stone pillar, Haru watched the group of girls begin to pack up their makeshift street stage. From this VIP spot, he had a clear view of them.
In the center stood the red-haired vocalist, who excitedly waved in his direction. Without even bothering to pack up her guitar or effects board, she dashed over eagerly.
"So, how was it, Haru? How did I do up there?"
Kita's face lit up with anticipation as she leaned in close, tipping up her head with a radiant, cheerful smile. She stood on her toes, eyes sparkling with excitement.
Haru blinked, a strange thought stirring in his mind. After a moment of deliberation, he spoke with casual ease.
"Ikuyo, this time… you sang somewhere else."
"Huh?! I didn't do well?!"
Kita blinked rapidly, her pale hands opening in helpless confusion. Her pretty face carried a hint of hurt and disappointment, and her lost expression brought a small curve to Haru's lips.
Then, suddenly shifting to a serious face, he furrowed his brow and said in a low voice, "This time… it accidentally hit me right in the heart."
"…"
Kita Ikuyo blinked again, then gave a small nod as if she finally understood.
Crap. He'd spent ages coming up with that corny line, and it barely landed?
Seeing her just stand there, looking dazed, Haru glanced down and started to wonder if his delivery had fallen flat.
Had he been hanging around his buddy Yahata Umiri too long and caught her deadpan humor virus?
"…Hey, Ikuyo, at least throw in a reaction or something!"
The awkward silence between the two became unbearable. From behind, Nijika, her face flushed, could no longer suppress the urge to intervene. She leaned in and finally broke the tension, snapping Ikuyo out of her daze.
Ikuyo scratched her cheek, her face slightly pink, giving an awkward laugh.
"I-I'm just supposed to blurt something out?"
How was she even supposed to respond to that?
"Well obviously! That line just now was so… spicy! You can't just drop something like that on a girl out of nowhere…"
"Then how about I only say that kind of thing to you, Nijika?"
"…!"
Nijika's eyes widened as her face turned bright red, panic flashing clearly in her expression.
But Haru simply pointed behind her, looking innocent. Sensing something was off, Nijika turned around only to lock eyes with Ryo, who was covering her mouth.
Ryo tried to act like it had nothing to do with her, but as Nijika's blushing face stared her down, she couldn't hold back her laughter.
"Ryo!"
Still holding her drumsticks, Nijika's embarrassment turned into a mix of shame and irritation. She immediately charged after the mischievous guitarist, leaving Kita Ikuyo standing alone, still blushing, her lips pressed shut.
Her reaction made Haru feel a little uneasy.
Who would've thought someone as bubbly as Ikuyo could be so shy? She was blushing just from a line that barely qualified as a joke. As Haru prepared to say something to ease the tension, the redhead softly cleared her throat.
Nijika-senpai's off chasing Ryo. Bocchi still hasn't recovered from the street performance?
Kita Ikuyo clenched her small fists and glanced around, cautiously scanning the surroundings. Confirming the coast was clear, she shuffled two steps closer to Haru and murmured in his ear:
"I was actually thinking just now… if I sang really badly, maybe I'd ask you to punish me?"
Haru inhaled sharply. The calm expression on his face wavered slightly.
Of course he wasn't going to ask what kind of punishment she meant.
They hadn't even officially started dating yet, and Kita was already saying stuff like this. If they actually began going out, what on earth would she say then?
Beneath her sunshine-girl exterior, Kita Ikuyo could be so intense that even Ryo had once muttered, "Extreme."
"How about this punishment, ten days where I don't talk to you?"
"Nooo! Anything but that!"
Honestly, it had to be said that pouting and crocodile tears must be some innate instinct girls were born with.
Ikuyo, who'd just been shy and blushing, suddenly looked panicked. She grabbed onto Haru's sleeve, her whole face scrunched up in a pitiful plea. Her bright yellow-green eyes shimmered with moisture, as if tears were about to spill any second.
Damn. That almost worked too well.
"I'm joking. Besides, I never planned on punishing you in the first place."
Kita immediately returned to normal, flashing that dazzling, radiant smile that made Haru wonder if those teary eyes had just been a hallucination. The way she could switch expressions, no teleportation jutsu could compete with that speed.
"But… I'd still be open to other kinds of punishment!"
The red-haired girl lowered her head, her every word dripping with heavy implication. Her well-kept fingers pinched tightly at the hem of her skirt. After being subjected to one innuendo after another, Haru felt a strange restlessness welling up inside him. Still, he simply lifted a hand and gently pressed a chop-like motion against her forehead.
"Let's not talk about that. Ikuyo, are you free this weekend?"
"Eh? I am, I am. Do you need help with something, Haru?"
The redhead blinked in confusion. Just as she wondered about his question, Haru stared at her adorable face with a look that said, "Are you really this dense?"
Then, he reached out and tousled her soft hair, speaking with a slightly exasperated tone. "So you really forgot, huh?"
Kita Ikuyo, who hadn't even been thinking along those lines, blinked blankly. The moment she realized what he meant, her ears flushed a deep crimson. She scratched her cheek and responded with a slightly stiff tone.
"I... I mean, I don't mind. If Haru wants to..."
Haru: What?
I meant a date. What exactly did you think I was asking about?
"Didn't we agree last time that we'd reschedule our date? That's why I'm asking if you're free this Saturday."
"No problem! I've got plenty of time!"
Ikuyo nodded rapidly like a pecking chick, then gave a small, excited smile.
Last time, their date had been cut short because of Miss Anon, but all in all, things had gone well. Haru had saved the words he wanted to say for their next outing.
They both knew what this upcoming date meant. But for now, they chose not to say it out loud.
With the time set, Haru finally let out a small sigh of relief.
In truth, he'd also promised to go to the aquarium with Anon, and afterward, had invited his close friend Umiri on a date too. Back-to-back plans had packed his schedule tight.
At this point, he really was becoming a master of time management.
Not far away, Gotoh Hitori peeked out from beneath her long bangs, quietly watching Haru and the beaming Kita Ikuyo.
Ever since that "dream," she'd been full of confidence. But seeing this, she couldn't help but feel a surge of unease. Lately, she hadn't spent much time with Haru at all.
"No... it's fine..."
She was the girl who had bested that Togawa Sakiko, after all.
Even if she stayed just as passive as in the dream, there had to be a way. Haru surely liked her, very, very much. But dreams that claimed to predict the future were only ever temporary. In reality, things were already happening beyond her control.
Bocchi wasn't even sure anymore... if Haru would still confess to her.
"Wait, why do I have to just sit around and wait for him to confess?!"
Even the guitar hero adored by her husband had to stand tall and properly express her feelings. That's what she should do, make up her mind and tell him herself.
After all, with how things were going lately, girls seemed to be flocking to Haru left and right. If she kept losing herself in a dream, she might be forgotten and left to die alone in some corner.
That settled it. She had to be proactive.
But how?
Lately, her mom and Futari had also been asking about Haru. But he was so busy now, she hadn't had a single good opportunity to ask him out. Even saying she wanted to "make a move" was meaningless if she didn't know how.
Wait a second.
A sudden realization lit up Gotoh Hitori's face as she raised her head.
She pulled out her phone and opened a group chat labeled "Cucumber Greenhouse." So far, the chat only had three members: Tomori, Mutsumi, and herself. If she reached out to Takamatsu Tomori, the current girlfriend...
Maybe she could find a way!
...
With Haru's help, the group quickly packed up the instruments and the band's promotional signboards.
Their time doing these "training" street performances had shown surprising results. The more they performed in front of strangers, the more their stage fright melted away. With time, stepping onto a stage would feel as natural as breathing.
The effect was especially dramatic for Gotoh Hitori, who had once feared crowds and eye contact.
Back during the culture festival, she'd started to raise her head while playing. Now, she could meet her bandmates' gazes during performances, helping them sync up far more naturally.
But it still wasn't enough.
After witnessing MyGO's flawless performance, the girls were starting to feel a rising sense of urgency. That drive had led to even more focused training, and they were determined to showcase the results in Shimokitazawa's streets.
This was what people called "healthy competition."
It sparked passion and determination, forcing both sides to grow, to break their limits, to challenge each other. Rivals clashed, exchanged blows, and grew stronger with every encounter.
"Well then, let's wrap up today's performance and practice here. Don't forget about tomorrow's street show, okay?"
With that gentle reminder from their "captain," Nijika, the day's performance came to an end. The members who lived farther away began preparing to head home.
Kita Ikuyo, guitar on her back, clapped her hands lightly and beamed with a sun-bright smile.
"Haru, you're riding the train home with me and Bocchi again today, right?"
But Haru just shook his head and replied softly, "I won't be going with you two today. I'm planning to head back to STARRY with Nijika."
"Eh?"
Not only did Ikuyo blink in confusion, even Nijika herself gaped in surprise. Then, realizing what he said, her heartbeat suddenly began to race.
"Did you forget something there, Haru? If it's not urgent, I can bring it to you next time…"
Even Nijika didn't notice the slight tremble in her voice.
Seeing her reaction, Haru's eyes narrowed slightly. Without a pause, he nodded.
"I didn't forget anything. I just figured that you'd have to carry that drum kit back, right? It's heavy and awkward. So I thought I'd help."
"Wha—whaaat?! You really don't have to!"
She shook her head, her tone unmistakably flustered.
"I'm super strong, you know! I could carry Bocchi in her case if I had to!"
"Besides, STARRY's not even that far from here. I can totally take care of it. It's getting dark, so you should probably just head home."
Her face wore the gentlest, most graceful smile. But her crimson eyes flickered with a strange frustration.
What was she doing?
This was a rare chance for Nijika!
If she could just get a moment alone with Haru, she could ask about "Summer Flower." Then she might learn why the Haru in the dream and the Haru in reality seemed exactly the same, and what the connection between the dream and real world really was.
So why was she instinctively backing away?
A wave of emotion surged through her, sadness and a creeping fear bubbling up from within.
But with everyone still watching her every move, Nijika couldn't let a single crack show on her surface.
"..."
Her constant, polite refusals made Haru furrow his brows ever so slightly.
Ever since that MyGO performance where Haru noticed Nijika hiding something in her heart, he hadn't been able to pretend not to know. His offer to walk her back alone today was, in truth, a chance to find out what was really going on.
The golden-haired girl wiped the light sheen of sweat from her forehead and cast a glance toward Yamada Ryo. Her close friend immediately picked up on what Nijika was thinking, but simply smirked and teased,
"My bass needs surgery tonight. I was gonna help carry Nijika's drums back, but... oh no, guess Haru has to do it now."
"That bass has had surgery thirteen times already!"
The angel of Shimokitazawa lifted her head with a helpless look and shot a complicated gaze at her ever-stoic best friend.
At some point, Yamada Ryo's lips curled into a faint smile. She squinted slightly and gave a playful pump of her fist. As someone who'd known her for years, Nijika understood that it was Ryo's way of giving her silent support.
In the end, Nijika didn't refuse.
Haru walked steadily along the cement path, carrying the large drum. Beside him, the blonde girl in a pure white knit cardigan followed carefully.
Because of her height, she often had to take two steps to match his one. Noticing this, Haru slowed his pace without thinking.
The streets of Shimokitazawa were still bustling, but above them, the orange-red clouds were beginning to fade to pale gray.
An autumn breeze swept past and lifted Nijika's golden ponytail. Her hair glimmered like sunlight, leaving elegant arcs in the air.
How should she bring it up?
Holding the drum, Nijika hesitated. Ever since she saw that painting at the Youth Exhibition, she hadn't been able to forget it.
The style, the details of the technique... it was identical to the one from her dream. Something like that couldn't be just coincidence.
So... should she really ask?
How was she supposed to explain that she knew "Yuuka" was actually Haru?
"Nijika."
Her tangled thoughts were interrupted by his voice. She snapped out of it and replied brightly, "Mm? What is it, Haru?"
Haru spoke slowly. "I was just thinking... Kessoku Band keeps moving forward, right? Your fans are growing, too. At this rate, maybe you'll be playing at Budokan soon. STARRY might even get too packed to hold you guys."
"…Haru, you mean we, right?"
Puffing her cheeks just a bit, the little angel playfully corrected him. Even her small frame carried a gentle, maternal warmth that made her words sound kind, no matter the scolding.
Haru chuckled and shook his head.
"Sorry. You're right then we."
"But if we want to make that dream come true, to step onto a stage watched by ten thousand people… It'll take more than just training. I think that as friends, as a band sharing the same fate, everyone has to really trust each other."
He paused.
"If something goes wrong or someone hits a wall, we should all be working together to get through it."
That was something Sakiko had failed to do.
As that quiet thought passed through his mind, Haru turned to look at the golden-haired girl beside him. His dark eyes were calm, but focused, drawing Nijika's attention like a soft gravity. The earnest gaze sent a chill through her chest.
He knows. He definitely knows.
If this were just any normal "problem," Nijika wouldn't hesitate. She'd tell him everything, because she trusted him.
But this time, the "problem" was about Haru himself. No matter how much her heart twisted, she couldn't bring herself to say it.
"You're right!"
Without missing a beat, Nijika pushed the tension away with a cheerful smile.
Still holding the drum, she quickened her pace and stepped in front of Haru. A flicker of laughter danced in her eyes as she bounced forward, the picture of bright energy.
"If I run into any trouble, I'll totally come bother you, okay?"
"But that goes both ways! If something's hard... you better come to me too! Don't go shouldering it all alone... or I'll seriously get mad!"
Her little white teeth peeked through as she gave him a playful warning. That sunshine smile of hers made Haru stop for a second.
For a moment, he thought he saw a memory. A glimpse of that future wife from his dream fragments. The warmth in his chest and the blood in his veins both started to burn.
The glow of twilight bathed Nijika's delicate, fair face in gold. Each golden strand shimmered like silk. Her vivid, shifting eyes were gentle as still water. That eternally kind and energetic smile sparkled like treasure.
Everything about her seemed too perfect to exist in the real world.
Lost for a moment, Haru snapped himself out of it with a cough.
"…Anything at all? I can rely on you?"
"Mm? Is there something you want to rely on me for now, Haru?"
The Shimokitazawa angel tilted her head with a puzzled look, hugging the drum to her small frame. She looked especially cute like that.
"These past few days have been exhausting. The workload keeps piling up."
"If only... some cute girl gave me a kiss right now, I think I'd recover in an instant."
Haru's tone was teasing, the words light and playful.
At that, Nijika's cheeks flushed. She blinked rapidly, the frequency increasing by the second.
But under pressure from her embarrassment, she puffed her cheeks and narrowed her eyes like a pouty cat.
"No way, dummy!"
"Knew it~"
Haru let out a theatrical sigh, pretending to be disappointed.
Of course, he hadn't expected her to actually do it. The teasing only made sense because the bond between them had already begun to change. If it hadn't, someone like Haru would never say something like that.
Judging by her reaction, her problem probably wasn't that serious after all.
There was no need for him to worry so much.
"Hurry up, let's get back to STARRY already!"
Nijika, her heart pounding, tucked her face behind the drum in her arms. Forcing herself to stay calm, she lifted her head and casually changed the subject.
"Speaking of which, didn't you buy a bunch of painting supplies last time? How's the art going lately?"
"I submitted a piece to a group exhibition recently. Turns out it ended up winning an award."
An award-winning piece?
Nijika's pupils shrank in an instant, but she kept her curious expression steady and responded in a gentle voice, "What?! That's amazing! So Haru, you're officially an artist now… I suddenly feel like there's this huge gap between us…"
In the dream, she had always been chasing after Haru too.
"Giving up already? Kessoku Band's supposed to perform nationwide, maybe even worldwide someday. That's way more impressive than a small-time painter like me, isn't it?"
Haru just smiled and waved it off, turning her praise into a way to encourage her instead.
"Geez… That's still a long way off!"
"Oh! By the way, what's your artist name? If I ever get the chance, I'd love to see your work!"
As soon as she said it, Nijika couldn't stop her eyes from locking onto him. Her heart thudded wildly, like a snare drum struck at full speed, the sound echoing in her ears with every beat.
Nervousness, anxiety, and a fragile hope all tangled together inside her like knotted threads.
But deep down, Nijika already knew the answer.
"It's Yuuka."
"Because I like flowers, I chose that name."
Haru looked off toward the distant clouds, a small smile forming at the edge of his lips.
The golden-haired girl walking beside him froze.
The moment she heard those words, all the fear in her heart melted away like a tide receding. In its place came a soft, strange relief from warm, weightless, almost dizzying. Even though she had prepared herself for this, the confirmation still struck her with real force.
"That's a beautiful name."
Of course she hadn't been wrong.
That painting like sunlight, warm and gentle, it really had been painted by Haru himself.
At this moment, the wild, almost absurd suspicion Nijika had carried in her heart was fully confirmed. Back at the celebration party, Haru had unconsciously revealed he was left-handed. The oil brushes he'd chosen at the art store were the exact same brand as the ones she'd given him in the dream.
And now, she had heard it from his own mouth: "Summer Flower" was his creation.
All those coincidences woven together had become something unavoidable, inevitable even.
What stood before her was no longer something she could explain away as mere chance.
"Haru, um…"
Nijika tried to speak.
She wanted to know, if the boy she liked, standing right in front of her, might also share the same memories.