Chapter Six: Shiko's Summer Vacation / Chapter Seven: A Poem to Wish Upon the Stars

Shiko crouched down and faced Ryo. "What should we do?"

Confidence wasn't something that could be built just by saying so. Not to mention, neither of them could claim they had built up any confidence themselves.

When Sayo returned to the group, she saw Yukina fastening her vines around a gigantic monster fish.

"What are you doing?"

"While Kessoku Band thinks, we need to keep moving," Yukina replied.

"So Ako summoned a demon from hell, and had Yukina-san put shackles on it..." Ako looked like she had already recovered her energy. "Put shackles on it, and then..."

"Enslave it," Rinko reminded her from the side.

"That's right! Enslave it! Roselia will enslave the demon and make it submit to Yukina-san's supreme pressure!"

"Ha." Sayo shook her head. "You really are taking it easy."

She looked toward the few people at the back of the raft, who were still frowning worriedly. "I hope they can do it."

"They can." Yukina successfully controlled the monster fish, and it began dragging the raft forward. "Just as Roselia overcame one difficult situation after another. Until then, let's focus on doing our own part."

"Ah." Lisa saw Shiko and Ryo walking toward them. "They're here."

Yukina didn't answer. She continued staring ahead, seemingly very focused.

"Yukina~"

Yukina sighed. As soon as she released the vines, the monster fish Ako had struggled to catch darted back into the deep water. She walked toward Shiko and Ryo. "I know. I'll apologize properly."

"If you're going to apologize, then give us some advice too." After hearing Yukina's apology, there was no trace of anger on Ryo's face.

Yukina took out a letter. It was the one Miss Marina had originally left for Roselia.

"Have you two read this letter?"

Shiko and Ryo both shook their heads. Out of respect, they had never opened the letters left for Roselia and Poppin'Party.

"Then please take a look."

When the two returned, Nijika turned to them delightedly. "Ryo, Little Shiko, you came at just the right time. I think I understand what we're missing."

Shiko also showed them the letter.

To Roselia:

I'm Marina. I'm sorry I couldn't reunite with you in this world. But I've brought you some new companions.

Aside from the words addressed to Roselia, the letter introduced Kessoku Band. It was filled with Miss Marina's admiration and pride for Kessoku Band. As they read those words, they felt as though they could hear Miss Marina praising their efforts and tenacity from an observer's perspective—even though they themselves didn't feel worthy of such praise.

"Kessoku Band is a band that makes me proud. I believe they can become stars!" That was the final line about Kessoku Band.

Even without anyone powering it, the raft continued moving. Waves rolled in from upstream, carrying the raft along with the current. Countless memories were reflected in the waves. From within those memories, Kessoku Band saw themselves.

A light gradually began to bloom in everyone's eyes.

"Do you remember?" Nijika said. "We said we would become stars, then send the news up to the heavens!"

"Miss Marina is proud of us, so we have to become the kind of people who make her proud!" Kita clenched her fists.

"We can't... stop here. Because Kessoku Band is more than just us!" Ichiri rarely showed a smile, but one appeared on her face now.

"Come on, let's form a circle." Nijika held out her hand.

Kita, Ichiri, Ryo, and Shiko placed their hands on top of hers one after another.

"Let's come up with a slogan for Kessoku Band! Little Shiko, did the other us have a slogan?"

Shiko thought for a moment. "I don't think so."

"Then let's make one up now!"

"Three!" Miss Marina's figure appeared behind Nijika.

"Two!" Miss Niiki's figure appeared beside Miss Marina.

"One!" Kessoku Band stood on the stage of CiRCLE!

"Let's become stars—!"

Shiko hadn't laughed like that in a long time. No matter what, Kessoku Band had made it through another crisis—all thanks to Yukina. That's what she thought. She turned around, and everyone from Roselia had gathered there as well. A rare smile rested on Yukina's face.

"So, set out with pride in your hearts, Kessoku Band."

Chapter Six: Shiko's Summer Vacation

After summer vacation began, Kessoku Band encountered Roselia while camping outdoors!

Roselia had come there for a training camp. To prepare for the Future World Fes, they needed a great deal of time to practice.

Although their purposes were different, the two bands hit it off and joined together. They went rafting, camped, trained, and stargazed together. The relationship between the two groups also drew a little closer with each passing day.

But Shiko always felt that something was off about Roselia's condition.

How should she put it? Whenever everyone was together, Roselia seemed perfectly normal. But Shiko noticed that they sometimes looked dispirited when they were alone. Yukina would often stare blankly toward a television tower, Ako would inexplicably begin sighing, and Sayo often sat outside alone whenever it rained...

Come to think of it, everyone in Kessoku Band had also been acting a little strangely before, but none of them was willing to say what had happened... They were better now, but being kept in the dark really didn't feel good...

How could she make everyone smile? Shiko was still thinking about that today. Today, they decided to camp on a flat stretch of land. Continuous hills stood across the river, while this side was a sedimentary plain with a small beach. The sand was fine and soft. Perhaps because the place was so remote, there were no other tourists.

The wind blowing from the river in the afternoon was very pleasant. Shiko enjoyed the moment immensely.

But at night, because of the changing temperature difference between the land and water, the moist river breeze would turn into a dry land breeze. Before they went to sleep, when the temperature difference between the land and water wasn't that great, the wind wouldn't be so strong either. So this was the only time it was comfortable.

How annoying! That damn geography knowledge had ruined her mood! Come to think of it, she had never been the kind of person who was all happy lucky smile yeah! every day! How was she supposed to make everyone smile—aaaaah! Irritated, Shiko kicked a handful of sand into the river. Some of the fine grains flew up and were carried backward by the river wind. Shiko's gaze followed them and landed on Ryo, who was sitting on a rock and writing and drawing in a notebook.

"What are you doing?" She walked over and tilted her head toward Ryo's notebook. Noticing that a shadow had fallen across the notebook, Ryo lifted her face.

"A new song?" Shiko saw that Ryo's notebook was covered in all kinds of markings.

Ryo glanced at Shiko before answering. "Yes. It came from some inspiration I got a while ago."

"Hm?" Shiko read the melody Ryo had written and hummed it softly. Another cool breeze blew past, sending Shiko's long hair drifting and casting shifting shadows across the notebook.

"What a pleasant breeze—oh, you're here." Nijika walked over to them.

"Yeah. A breeze this pleasant is better enjoyed alone." Ryo closed the notebook and looked unhappily at the newcomer. The place was so small that three people felt like too many.

Nijika's smile froze. "I see. I interrupted you, then. Little Shiko, let's go—"

Shiko obediently left, though she felt inexplicably annoyed.

Before leaving, she waved her hand. "Then enjoy the breeze here. After all, according to the principles of land and sea breezes, the river wind will weaken from the temperature difference in a little while. Haha!"

Watching Shiko walk away, Ryo tilted her head in confusion. Land and sea breezes? Temperature differences? Her brain, which scored zero on every test, wasn't capable of understanding those terms.

Shiko walked ahead of Nijika in high spirits. The sound of waves striking the shore reached her ears, and she softly hummed the melody Ryo had just composed to their rhythm.

"Little Shiko has been really happy lately," Nijika remarked casually. Shiko's relaxed mood easily spread to others, allowing them to briefly set aside the confusion before them.

Hearing Nijika, Shiko stopped and looked up at the drifting clouds. "Well, I find it strange too. I wasn't like this at all before."

The clouds shifted, stirring something in her heart, and Shiko suddenly felt a little uneasy.

"Actually..." Shiko's voice suddenly dropped. "When I first met you, part of the way I interacted with you was an act."

At her words, Nijika turned around. Her expression showed no surprise. "Yeah, I could tell to some extent. The Little Shiko I met back then was completely different from the Little Shiko I knew at first. Even if someone changed, it wouldn't happen that quickly."

Shiko turned her head and looked at Nijika's eyes, at her lips as they moved.

"But it's different now, right?" Nijika's expression was as warm as sunlight. "I believe the Little Shiko you are now has truly changed."

Shiko gazed into Nijika's eyes. In response to Nijika's trust, she gave a natural smile. "Yeah. I've changed."

"Then what changed you?" Nijika walked up to Shiko and looked at her. "Was it Kessoku Band?"

"Kessoku Band?" Shiko lifted her head and rubbed her chin. "Of course. I am different from usual when I'm with Kessoku Band, but that shouldn't be all."

Summer sunlight reflected in her eyes. "I think another reason is that it's summer vacation now."

Summer vacation? Nijika's mouth opened slightly. So Little Shiko thought she was on summer vacation?

"Is summer vacation important to you?" she asked curiously.

Shiko continued walking forward. "No. Before, it was just an ordinary, slightly longer holiday."

"I used to be a shut-in. I had no friends and no one around me who shared my interests. I spent every day of summer vacation in my room." Shiko recalled her previous life and gave a bitter smile.

"It's not that being a shut-in in my room was unhappy—lots of anime, games, and novels left important marks in my heart. But when I think of those memories, I think of the works themselves, not summer vacation."

"I never had a summer vacation I could remember for the rest of my life."

Nijika listened quietly beside her.

"Nijika, there's a game called Summer Pockets that showed me a different kind of summer vacation." Shiko changed the subject. "A summer everyone spent on an island, surrounded by familiar and friendly companions. Every day was ordinary and interesting. There was no need to think about pressure or worries. It was like a summer that would never end."

The campsite had come into view. Some people were putting up tents, some had gone to gather wild vegetables and fruit, and others were starting a fire.

Shiko looked at the scene. "This is the first time I've spent summer vacation with friends."

"I think maybe I can have that kind of summer too, with all of you!" Shiko suddenly turned toward Nijika, seized her hand, and started running.

They ran into a tent. Several instruments were inside, including a keyboard that was already connected to a power source. The tent was empty.

Shiko stood behind the keyboard and raised her hands. A melody flowed from beneath her fingers.

It was the theme song from the game she loved. It was a quiet song carrying sorrow, and sorrow carrying nostalgia.

Everyone was gradually drawn over by the piano music. The knots in their hearts were slowly guided out by the melody. Shiko simply closed her eyes and immersed herself in the performance.

The song ended quickly. Shiko opened her eyes and saw everyone gathered around her. A few of them even had slightly moist eyes.

Shiko planted one hand on her hip and pointed at everyone with the other. "You're hiding something from me. Whatever it is, it's keeping you from smiling."

She curled her lips into a smile.

"But this is my summer vacation! I'm invincible during summer vacation!"

"To create the perfect summer vacation, I, Shiko Wu, guarantee to all of you here—"

Shiko pointed at Roselia, then at Kessoku Band. "Before summer vacation ends, I'll make you—" Her fingertip rose high, pointing toward the top of the tent.

"Smile again!"

Everyone was slightly stunned by the sudden declaration.

Shiko's eyes suddenly flashed, and she fell backward. Before the others could react, she had already landed in a pile of foam cushions.

"That was close..." Shiko stood up and dusted herself off. She saw everyone gathered around her.

"Why are you all staring at me?" She felt extremely uncomfortable under their gazes.

Sayo spoke strangely. "You suddenly said you'd make us smile again before summer vacation ended... Honestly, I thought I was looking at another familiar face."

"Huh? She said it like that?" Shiko looked at the others, and they all nodded.

The corners of Shiko's mouth began to twitch.

"...Haha."

"Hahahahahaha—" Shiko suddenly threw her head back and laughed.

"Little Shiko?" Nijika immediately waved her hand in front of Shiko's eyes. "Are you all right?"

"Hahahahaha..." Shiko kept laughing, even clutching her stomach. "Ha... ha... ha..."

She lifted her head. Her face still wore a twitching smile, but her eyes seemed filled with something. "All right, then. Let's do it."

"Do what?"

"I'll help her. I'll try making you smile too."

The afterglow of the setting sun fell across Shiko's face.

"Um..." Sayo raised her hand and carefully chose her words. "I don't know if you know a band called Hello, Happy World!"

"A huge fan."

"Then never mind."

Chapter Seven: A Poem to Wish Upon the Stars

The rain fell heavily. They had often encountered downpours these past few days. Everyone was huddled inside a small mountain cave. The cave wasn't deep. Its entrance was about two people high, while at the deepest point, there was only barely enough room to sit. Altogether, it was no larger than a classroom. Yet even this small cave had been divided into two rooms by Shiko, back when she was still normal, using soundproofing materials. One side was the living area, while the other served as a temporary recording studio and held their instruments. Today, Roselia was rehearsing together elsewhere as usual. Kessoku Band had just finished rehearsing and was now gathered idly at the cave entrance.