Lisa glanced at Shiko. Nijika had already found an opportunity to tell them about her situation and discuss how to cure her.
"We tried explaining the situation to the other her, but the moment she hears the name 'Marina,' her personality immediately switches." Nijika had been troubled at the time. "Although this lets us awaken her when necessary, we really have no idea how to cure her."
Feeling Lisa's gaze, Shiko quietly met her eyes, then immediately looked away.
Seeing this, Lisa picked up a plate of cookies and placed it in front of her. "Have a taste. I made them myself."
"Ah, thank you." Shiko picked up a cookie and put it in her mouth. It tasted almost the same as the ones at CiRCLE, but Shiko felt no sadness. A warm current surged from her mouth through her entire body, dispelling all negative emotions.
Seeing Shiko's surprise, Lisa smiled. "This is my ability." She raised her hand and brushed it over an empty plate. The plate was instantly piled high with cookies again.
"My ability is called Goddess's Hearth. It can produce cookies with various effects. Right now, I can make healing plain cookies, relaxing matcha cookies, and buff-type cat-head, rabbit-head, dog-head, and fox-head cookies. The one you ate was the second kind."
Kita picked up a small cat-shaped cookie and took a bite. Sensing something, she opened her panel. "My [Physique] points went up by one!"
"Ah, that one was a buff-type cookie. It can buff every attribute except [Radiance], up to a maximum increase of twenty points. Of course, it's time-limited."
With Lisa leading the way, the others began displaying their abilities as well.
Yukina's ability was called Frenzied Blooming Violet Flame Roses. It wrapped her in steel-hard blue-violet roses and vines, mainly increasing [Physique], followed by [Reflex] and [Intelligence]. She was the only melee fighter among the ten.
Sayo conjured a guitar. As she played, rain began falling over the area, though naturally it did not wet anyone or the food. "Sudden Autumn Rain Umbrella Layers." She simply stated the name of her ability. Seeing this, Ichiri and Ryo also displayed their guitar and bass.
"All your guitarists and bassists can conjure instruments..." Lisa looked somewhat dejected. They were all string instruments, yet she seemed to be the only one who could not conjure hers.
"Actually, I can't either." Kita consoled her.
Next came Rinko. She stood up and moved back, leaving a large empty space. A pipe organ rose behind her. She bowed elegantly, sat down, and began playing a solemn hymn. As the melody continued, she opened her mouth and sang in a nervous but firm voice. It seemed to be Latin. With her singing, everyone saw the attributes they had focused on strengthening gain a boost on their panels. The melody shifted and became imposing, and Shiko felt a weight press down on her shoulders.
"Ringing Bloom... After I... obtained this ability... I somehow... learned to play the pipe organ..." Her voice, however, was extremely bashful, unlike the solemn sound of the organ.
"Ako knows black magic." Ako looked slightly more spirited, but did not give an introduction like "Archdemon Ako." She covered her left eye, and the light around them was immediately swallowed, leaving nothing but darkness.
Ako lowered her hand, and the surroundings returned to normal. She grabbed another fruit, crushed it in her hand, and tossed it into the air. The rain Sayo had summoned immediately filled with the fragrance of fruit. She proudly looked toward Kessoku Band. "Ako's Primordial Abyss Sorcery is capable of far more than this! It also requires extensive research. Kessoku Band, you should all stay obediently behind Ako!"
That evening, after everyone had familiarized themselves with their abilities, Nijika and Yukina exchanged information. The other Shiko also appeared occasionally, and everyone in Roselia was still somewhat unaccustomed to it. Later, everyone disbanded in unspoken agreement. They still needed time to digest their emotions.
The next day, just as dawn broke, Yukina had already come outside. She saw Shiko performing the final checks on the equipment.
"Wu-san? You're here alone?" Yukina walked toward Shiko. She remembered that Shiko had to be accompanied by someone.
Shiko shook her head and pointed to the side. Lisa emerged from the corner. She had been scheduled to take the final watch. Before her, all the night shifts had been handled by members of Kessoku Band—even Ryo had stood watch for a little while.
"Good morning, Yukina. How did you sleep last night?" Lisa asked while yawning.
"I can't say it was good. How are things?"
"Several monsters approached during the last little while. I was just about to call someone, but fortunately Shiko showed up in time and finished them off in a few swishes." Lisa smiled at Shiko.
Wu-san got up this early? Yukina looked at Shiko, who was still inspecting the equipment. This was no longer the original hot-air balloon. The balloon Shiko had made had never been particularly safe. Before, it had only needed to carry five people and their luggage, which had been manageable, but Shiko could not be sure whether it could bear the weight of ten people. Besides, there was now a great river. They could choose to travel by water instead, and as for the dangers in the water, Ichiri could monitor them at any time.
However, Shiko had no experience building boats. Thus, she imitated the chained ships of the Three Kingdoms and nailed several simple dugout canoes together. Calling it a boat was generous; it was more like a huge wooden raft.
"Thanks for your hard work." Yukina saw the design plans Shiko had repeatedly revised in her hands and could imagine how arduous all her experiments had been.
"Mm... mm. Thank you." Shiko glanced at the two of them, her expression tense. She stuffed the plans into her pocket and hurried away as if fleeing.
Lisa stared at her departing back in surprise. "Yukina, do you think you might be a little too terrifying for her?"
"..." Yukina silently watched Shiko's back without saying anything.
The previous night, Shiko had prepared clothes for Roselia. They were outfits like Kessoku Band's: solid black, white, and gray. She had also prepared breakfast that day. She had taken everyone's preferences into account so thoroughly that the members of Roselia could not help wondering how she knew them so well. Some of the food needed to be cooked. Before Ako could do anything, Kita had already prepared a campfire, and Nijika handled the cooking. As a result, before all of Roselia had even gotten up, everyone in Kessoku Band had prepared everything—though some of them were still asleep too.
"This is delicious, Nijika." Lisa, who had originally been responsible for cooking, praised Nijika's work as well.
"That's good. Thanks for the compliment." Nijika wiped away her sweat before picking up her own bowl. It was not a wooden bowl made by Roselia, but one Shiko had made.
After eating, just as Lisa was about to collect the bowls and dispose of the leftovers, Kita had already burned all the food scraps clean. Shiko snapped her fingers, and the bowls and utensils she had just conjured vanished as well. Everything was cleaned up.
"Kessoku Band has been a tremendous help." The members of Roselia sighed as their workload was greatly reduced.
"Just as we discussed before: one day on the water, then stop the boat and explore the surroundings, then continue along the water. We'll repeat that cycle." Yukina naturally became the center of the new group. She led everyone to the dock. The moment Sayo saw Shiko's boat, she frowned. "Can this really be used?"
"I tested it. There's no problem," Shiko replied. Sayo nevertheless conducted her own test before finally relaxing and letting everyone board one by one.
Inside the dugout canoes, Yukina sat at the front as navigator, with Nijika behind her. Ryo sat alone in a rear corner. Ichiri, Shiko, and Kita sat at the very back. The others sat in the middle, with Lisa closest to Kessoku Band, followed by Sayo. Rinko was surrounded by several people, with Ako beside her.
As Ichiri played, waves churned across the river and pushed the raft forward. Monsters occasionally approached through the water, but they were frozen to the riverbed before they could even surface. After that day, Ichiri's ability had changed. She could now control freezing almost as though she were controlling the current.
"Gotou-san's guitar technique is incredible," Sayo said, turning around.
"Ah, really? Hehe..." Ichiri could not resist the praise.
"She practices for about six hours every day." Kita sounded as proud as if she were praising herself.
"Hm? Then she really is hardworking." Sayo had always felt a familiar quality in this guitar playing. After thinking carefully, she suddenly remembered something. "Gotou-san, could you be Guitar Hero?"
"Guitar Hero?" Ako thought the title sounded a little embarrassing.
"She has a huge following on video websites and often covers popular songs. Her skill is at a professional level," Sayo explained. "Now that I think about it, the guitar really does sound the same."
"To be praised by Sayo-san, she really must be amazing." Ako looked behind her.
"Hehe... hehe..."
"?" Ako felt that there was a strange nervousness in Ichiri's guitar playing.
She felt that Ichiri really resembled Rinko, completely unlike the Kita beside her.
Kita was chatting with Shiko.
"I thought you'd get along with them quickly." Shiko was somewhat puzzled about why Kita had not gone to sit with the larger group.
"Ahaha... I find it strange too..." Kita looked awkward. "Whenever I talk to the Roselia members, my chest tightens and I can't speak clearly... What is this? Social pressure? Does this happen to you too, Wu-san?"
Looking at Kita's forced smile, Shiko fell silent. It was hard to imagine that even Kita could suffer from social pressure. If it were her other self, she would probably shout, That's out of character!
Still, she could understand it.
Miss Marina's sacrifice and Miss Niiki's sacrifice had ultimately happened because Kessoku Band had not been strong enough. One could say they had died because of Kessoku Band. Facing Roselia, who had also been deeply connected to them, it was only natural that even someone as sunny as Kita would feel guilty.
For Shiko, who knew Roselia and Marina exceptionally well, this was even more true.
Did the others feel the same way? Surely they did. Since morning, Kessoku Band had taken care of most of the work.
Then what should she do? Shiko looked toward the Roselia members talking, Ryo sitting in the corner and admiring the scenery, Nijika and Yukina discussing something at the front, Ichiri absorbed in her guitar beside her, and Kita, who had unconsciously curled into a ball.
This kind of thinking was fine at first, but what would happen if it continued?
She could even imagine a day when Kessoku Band became Roselia's subordinates mentally, waiting for the other group to pick up their chopsticks before eating.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and stood up.
"Wu-san?" Kita raised her head, unsure what she intended to do.
Shiko stepped over row after row of iron bars and sat down beside Roselia.
"Eh, Shiko?" Ichiri looked over.
I'm so nervous. All four of them are looking at me. My chest is tight, and my tongue is stiff. I don't even know what to do with my hands and feet.
But I've already run away once. That escape turned me into a madwoman.
So this time, to avoid greater pain later, let me detonate the crisis in advance.
Shiko seriously asked the four bewildered girls a question. "Um... may I ask how Roselia views us?"
"Eh?" The question had come too suddenly.
Ichiri's guitar stopped as well. All that remained was the wind, the waves striking the raft, and the sounds of monsters moving in the distance.
"Even if you're asking how we view Kessoku Band... we haven't heard you perform live..." Lisa felt that something was wrong.
Sayo agreed. "That's right. Without seeing your live performance with my own eyes, I won't evaluate you as a band."
Rinko instinctively sensed the heavy atmosphere. She drew in her neck, said nothing, and tugged on Ako to signal her.
"No, I'm not talking about music." Shiko stubbornly continued. "I'm asking how you view us—the ones who fled from CiRCLE."
The air fell silent for a moment.
The question was too dangerous and too direct. No one knew how to answer.
"Fled?" Yukina had somehow come over.
"Do you think so too?" She folded her arms across her chest and looked sternly at Nijika, who had not turned around; at Ryo, who appeared to be admiring the scenery; and at Ichiri and Kita, who were silently watching from behind.
Finally, she looked at Shiko, who had raised her head toward her. Shiko's mouth parted slightly.
Yukina's expression did not change. She was as cold as ice.
"Unfortunately, a band like you cannot be called a band at all."
Become Stars!
Yukina's merciless words shocked everyone.
"Yukina?!" Lisa sprang to her feet.
"Minato-san, I don't think that was appropriate." Sayo frowned.
"Yukina-san..." Ako stared at her blankly.
"Is that so?" A cold voice came from the side.
Yukina turned around. It was Ryo, who had been sitting in the corner all along. She had already stood up and was meeting Yukina's gaze without retreating.
"You mean we don't even qualify as a band?" There was none of her usual carefree expression. Her face was cold, and her eyes burned with fury.
"Interpret it however you want." Yukina did not yield at all. Lisa tugged at her sleeve, but she ignored her.
"Kessoku Band"—a bass appeared in Ryo's hands—"isn't something you get to judge, Yukina Minato."
Just as the situation was about to spiral out of control, an iron ax struck the bars with a clang, sending sparks flying. Everyone looked over. Shiko held the ax handle, her voice hoarse. "Stop arguing... Calm down."
Taking advantage of the opening, both sides quickly separated Ryo and Yukina. Roselia moved to the front of the raft, while Kessoku Band returned to the back.
The raft had already stopped in the middle of the river and was now bobbing up and down with the waves.
"What does 'Kessoku Band isn't a band' mean?" Kita covered her chest gloomily. In her eyes, Kessoku Band completely fulfilled everything she expected from a band. Why had they been rejected like this?
"Kessoku Band is obviously a band." Ryo's anger had not yet faded.
"Okay, calm down, Ryo. Yukina-senpai probably didn't mean it that way." Nijika signaled toward Shiko for help.
"..." Shiko composed herself. "Yukina isn't very good with words, but she wouldn't..." She became tongue-tied, unable to find anything to defend Yukina with.
"Sayo-san is coming over," Ichiri reminded them.
Nijika and Shiko hurried to meet her.
Sayo still wore the same icy expression as Yukina.
"First, I want to apologize for Minato-san's statement." Her words were extremely direct. "Her remarks were somewhat rash. If they hurt you, we can compensate you."
"Second, I'll convey what Minato-san meant. Kessoku Band currently lacks the qualities necessary to be considered a band. However, those qualities cannot be given to you by Roselia. You must find them yourselves."
"That's all. I hope we can get along." Sayo returned.
She remembered what Yukina had just said: "Kessoku Band is belittling itself. What they lack is 'confidence.'"
Everyone had heard Sayo's words.
"...Everyone, cheer up. At least Yukina-senpai didn't mean that she looked down on Kessoku Band." After the silence, Nijika was the first to smooth things over.
"What is Kessoku Band lacking?" Kita pondered deeply. "Technique? I really don't have that... But they haven't heard me play either..."
Ichiri lowered her head and plucked at the strings of her guitar, but no sound came out, and the river water did not move. She was merely spacing out.
Shiko walked over to Ryo, who was fiddling with the river water at the edge of the raft.
"I didn't expect you to get this angry," Shiko said. In both her lifetimes, this was the first time she had seen Ryo truly furious. "Regardless, I don't want Kessoku Band and Roselia to fall out."
Ryo stood up. "I've always been like this." However, her tone already sounded much calmer.
Shiko said, "Actually, I can guess what Yukina meant by 'what Kessoku Band lacks.'"
Ryo looked at her expressionlessly. "I can probably guess too. I admit she's right."
"I see." Shiko smiled. "That's good."
"So," Ryo crouched down again, "what should we do?"
Before you continue