Chapter Thirteen: "Ensemble" Rui "Clothes" / Chapter Fourteen: BLACK SHOUT

"Boom—" Ako made a drumming gesture beside them. "Bang—!"

"Within Roselia... I'm the first one... scheduled for night watch... Before then... I can keep practicing..." Rinko said.

Nijika's shift ended right before Rinko's. It looked like they really would practice until Rinko began her night watch.

Shiko looked toward the distant direction where candlelight flickered. "This is Roselia's charm."

"True, but some people never take part in band practice." Shiko turned around. Nijika was swaying her triangular cowlick and pouting at her in feigned anger.

Shiko felt a little ashamed. "...Sorry."

Nijika didn't pursue the topic. She only patted Shiko on the shoulder. "Well, we still have to rely on you for preparing this stage. We have work to do for the upcoming joint live. Let's do our best together, Little Shiko—and Little Shiko." She walked past Shiko toward Roselia.

It was time to change shifts.

Chapter Thirteen: "Ensemble" Rui "Clothes"

As long as it didn't rain, the sunlight here was still brutally scorching. A sunshade had been set up over the raft, and the river breeze, carrying cool moisture, successfully brought everyone back to life.

"Thank you—" Everyone thanked Shiko, the greatest contributor.

"Before you thank me..." Shiko lifted the hem of her soaked clothes. "Explain what happened first."

Shiko saw that everyone's clothes were more or less covered in large patches of water. They didn't look like sweat, either. She released the fabric, and the soaked cloth immediately clung to her skin. At least it was cool.

"Before you woke up, we kept spraying water to cool down." Yukina sat upright at the front of the raft, her expression solemn.

She was the wettest of them all. It was easy to imagine what kind of water fight they had been having.

"Go change your clothes. It wouldn't be good if you caught a cold." Shiko put down the light-green water gun styled after Miki Nomiya's and opened the box containing the clothes.

Inside were neatly arranged T-shirts and denim shorts in solid black, white, and gray.

"Ugh..." Kita looked inside the box with disgust. "What a wardrobe utterly devoid of dreams."

By now, all the clothes they wore in daily life were directly manifested by Shiko. Because she was a shut-in, the clothes she designed basically couldn't have anything fresh or novel about them.

Shiko rubbed her chin, shook both hands, and produced another white T-shirt. She shook them again, and a riverside landscape appeared on the shirt. It was perfectly reproduced. She displayed the freshly made design to Kita. "How is it?"

Kita stared at her with dead eyes. "Are you serious?"

Was it ugly? Shiko looked at it again in confusion. It was colorful and refreshing, and certainly better than the previous solid colors, right?

When she raised her head, however, she found everyone looking at her awkwardly.

Rinko in particular seemed to have a thousand things to say, but couldn't get a single word out. Nijika was the same, and Ichiri too... Ichiri, you can forget it.

While lamenting Ichiri's fashion sense, Shiko awkwardly shifted her gaze away from the fabric clinging tightly to the other girl's skin.

Shiko tossed the clothes in her hand away. In midair, they transformed into scraps of paper shaped like rainbow-colored butterflies and flew into the sky.

"That trick is pretty, at least..." Kita's eyes sparkled as her gaze followed the fluttering butterflies upward.

"Right!" Nijika suddenly remembered something. "Since we're holding a joint live, we need to design a set of stage outfits first!"

Only then did the members of Kessoku Band remember that although the band had been established for so long, they still didn't have an actual set of stage outfits. They had always gone onstage wearing Shiko's standardized solid-color clothes. Compared with the gorgeous, elegant, or distinctive stage outfits in the CDs, Kessoku Band looked absurdly shabby.

"Then..." Shiko raised her hand. Nijika immediately held up her own hand to stop her. "Little Shiko is forbidden from taking part in the design this time."

Unable to do anything else, Shiko leaned close to Nijika's ear and said, "Actually, I was going to say that I remember what your stage outfits looked like in the other world line."

Nijika's eyes lit up. "Really?"

So Shiko pulled out a pure-black T-shirt with the white Kessoku Band logo.

"Pass."

"This was designed by the other you herself."

Nijika pressed a hand to her forehead. "But we wear this style of clothes every day now... Sorry, but the thought of wearing the same thing onstage makes me feel a little..."

Shiko's eyes held a hint of pleading. "I'll work hard on designing everyday clothes from now on. But please, at least let us use this one for the stage outfits."

"Sorry..." Nijika did her best not to let her expression show.

"Please, what do I have to do to make you accept this design? I'll do anything I can..." Shiko put on a broken expression and grabbed Nijika's hand.

"Is there really any need to make this so heavy...!" Nijika dodged Shiko's face as it kept moving closer, laughing and crying at once. Ryo finally came to her rescue—she slapped a hand onto Shiko's shoulder with a look of disgust.

"You only ever think about yourself." She casually picked up Shiko's joke. "Let this genius of the secondhand clothing store field teach you what real styling is—" Ryo pulled over a sheet of white paper and began drawing rapidly.

Several heads leaned over. Ryo happened to finish her final stroke at that moment. She grandly wiped her forehead. "Easy."

The five stage outfits were already drawn on the white paper. Unlike Shiko's identical outfits for all five, Ryo's designs were all different, yet possessed a strange sense of unity. They looked more like fashionable runway outfits than stage costumes, while reflecting each girl's individual personality. They combined trendiness and individuality, and there was nothing to criticize.

Meanwhile, Roselia was also troubled over their stage outfits.

"Should we... design a new... set of outfits... for this performance?" Rinko had long since been unable to tolerate the everyday clothes Shiko made. As Roselia's designated outfit maker, her fingers were itching, and she desperately needed to make something that fit Roselia's aesthetic—or at least a normal aesthetic.

"Okay!" Ako raised her fist high. She had wanted to wear the cool clothes designed by Rinrin again for a long time! Shiko-san was cool in every way except fashion, which was beyond criticism!

"Don't we still have the stage outfits from before last time in the box?" Yukina said.

They had only worn those clothes a few times since crossing over. Although their conditions were limited, they had still been preserved very well and could be used after a little tidying up.

"But... compared to before... Roselia... has already changed... so..." Rinko insisted. "We should have different stage outfits..."

Yukina's expression shifted slightly.

"Changed...?" Yukina fell into her memories. "I remember that you also made new stage outfits for the brand-new us back then." She was referring to the time Roselia rose again after failing in their performance at SWEET MUSIC SHOWER.

Rinko recalled that experience and smiled as well. "Yes... Although our changes... aren't as great as they were back then... we can still... try something new..."

"Sure. Then let's make new outfits." Yukina agreed.

"We'll need Wu-san's help for the necessary materials..." Rinko stood up, but when she saw how lively things were on Shiko's side, she awkwardly sat back down. After that side quieted down, Shiko crouched dejectedly in one corner. Only then did Rinko cautiously approach her and produce a list of materials.

"Hm? What kind of feathers? What kind of trim? What sort of purple is this? Lace? What pattern?" Unfortunately, Shiko's knowledge of clothing was practically nonexistent.

In the end, Rinko could only make a few minor alterations to the original stage outfits.

"Although I don't think that's what happened..." Nijika crouched beside Shiko and tapped her cheek. "Little Shiko wouldn't deliberately pretend she couldn't make the raw materials, forcing Senpai Rinko to use the original outfits, would she?"

"Although that does sound like something I'd do, I wouldn't." Shiko said, "I'm only particular about Kessoku Band's stage outfits because they always wore this set in the original work. In Bang Dream, each band's stage outfits naturally change somewhat depending on the occasion. I'm not so narrow-minded that I can't accept that."

"The other you accepted Kessoku Band's new stage outfits without hesitation," Nijika said.

Shiko turned her head away. "She's always been like that... Anyway, she's the one going onstage, not me."

"You've got some nerve..."

At sunset, Yukina was helping Rinko organize the outfits.

"Thank you... Yukina-san..."

"It's nothing." Yukina picked up the scissors. "I just want to do my best to make a little change."

Chapter Fourteen: BLACK SHOUT

Kessoku Band sat inside the cramped tent. Suddenly, a beam of light shone in.

"Ah, Little Shiko's here." Nijika looked up. Shiko had just lifted the curtain and walked in.

She had just finished learning from Roselia. Because of her abilities and schedule, she had been assigned the task of creating the stage for this joint live. To achieve better stage effects, she had asked Roselia, who had performed in many lives, for advice. Her little notebook was already crammed with notes—much more diligently written than the notes she had taken while attending Shuka. She had practically adopted the attitude she'd had toward studying in her previous life. Although she couldn't construct a stage identical to one in the real world here, Shiko would definitely give it her all.

"All right—now that everyone's here, I announce that the meeting to decide the joint live set list begins now—" Nijika raised her fist high.

"Oh—" Four replies followed, each with a different tone.

"This time, each group gets time for three songs." Nijika tapped the notebook absently with her pencil.

"How many songs do we have again?" Shiko counted on her fingers. "Guitar and Loneliness and the Blue Planet, Before Waking Up or That Band, Light of Aether, Yesterday Once More, The First Day of Setting Sail... Six songs. No, five, if we count properly."

"Let's leave out Light of Aether, okay?" Nijika figured they probably wouldn't play that song again until they had completed their revenge. "Yesterday Once More too."

"Why?" Shiko asked in confusion, but didn't press the issue. "Then we're left with exactly three songs. We only need to arrange the order."

"As for the order, BLACK SHOUT, Rain of Conviction, and DESIRE. Is that fine?" In another tent, Roselia had also decided on their set list.

"BLACK SHOUT is the song we didn't get to perform at the last live. The other two are new songs we wrote recently. I don't see any problems," Sayo said.

They didn't board the ship that day. The entire day was spent confirming the venue, constructing the stage, and ensuring safety.

The instant night fell, the performance began.

The joint live had only ten participants, who were both audience and performers.

"Whoa, we're opening..." Shiko shrank back and hugged herself—not because the night was cold.

"There are only two bands, so we're either opening or closing." Nijika waved to the others. "Come on, come on, circle up!"

Five palms were stacked one atop another.

"Let's become stars!" they shouted the slogan they had decided on long ago.

In front of the stage, Roselia had already found the best spot.

"We should normally be in the dressing room at a time like this," Lisa said. "How strange~"

"After all, we're here to learn from each other." Yukina observed the stage. "Now that I look closely, this stage resembles CiRCLE's underground stage."

"Mm... Wu-san... must have worked hard..." Rinko's voice was very soft.

When the lights came on, the members of Kessoku Band were already standing beside their instruments. They hadn't brought the high-powered spotlights from CiRCLE. Now, every light on the stage contained a golden jade slip—the talisman Shiko had created after replicating the starlight Nijika released at full power, which she had named the "Five Directions Pure Lands Complete Boundless Meritorious Radiance." Even back at CiRCLE, Shiko had been able to compress the starlight and release it in an instant. Now, she had diluted the power within each talisman again and again to extend its illumination time. With such efforts, keeping them running for at least half an hour was no problem. Brightness adjustment and rotation of the lamp heads were handled by small mechanisms inside them. Only a few buttons from the control device were exposed on the stage; most of it was hidden in the huge automatic control system behind the stage. Pressing a button automatically controlled the lighting throughout a song.

"Although... it's only lights..." Back then, Shiko had patted the several large iron boxes behind the stage, her eyes filled with the thought, I never want to touch anything mechanical again.

The result of Shiko squeezing every last bit of brainpower out of herself and pulling all-nighters for several days was—

"Suddenly the evening shower falls, ah, I don't even have an umbrella, damn"

The lights came on right on cue. The changes in brightness and adjustments in direction were flawless, swaying along with the rhythm. Although the effect was only slightly better than a school arts performance, having lights was better than having none.

"First song, Guitar and Loneliness and the Blue Planet!"

Shiko was also playing passionately onstage. "(Good job, Little Shiko.)" Nijika noticed that Shiko's performance surpassed every rehearsal she had ever given. Guitar and Loneliness and the Blue Planet originally had no guitar part; she had personally rearranged the score. Nijika's own performance was also better than usual.

This is good! Nijika maintained that feeling. Although there were only five people below the stage, they would conquer them with their music!

"Next is our final song!"

The song had been written only after they met Roselia: The First Day of Setting Sail. Although Ryo had composed it, the keyboard had a very strong presence as well.

The keyboard rang out first, followed by the other instruments joining one after another.

Although it was their first time performing it, everyone played very well. Nijika saw the members of Roselia below the stage unconsciously smiling, while Ako swayed lightly to the rhythm.

However, the keyboard suddenly stopped. Nijika looked at Shiko and found her wearing the same bewildered expression.

"(Did her personality switch at this point?)" Nijika immediately realized the reason. Oh no, oh no! This Shiko never practiced this song...

The keyboard began playing again. Shiko picked up the melody without the slightest hesitation, as though she had practiced it a thousand times. Not a single mistake. When the others looked at her questioningly, she merely replied with her eyes: Continue.

The song ended without incident. Shiko let out a breath and hurried away after the curtain call. The others all chased after her.

"Little Shiko—" Everyone gathered around Shiko beneath the stage. "If you'd practiced this song, you could've told us! You scared us to death."

Shiko stopped and turned back with her back hunched. "Uh... No matter what, I'm still a member of Kessoku Band. Isn't it normal for me to know how to play my own band's songs?"

"We really relied on you this time." Nijika smiled with her hands on her hips. "But from now on, you should still come to group practice obediently."

At that moment, Roselia walked over. Kita immediately went to greet them. "Minato-senpai~ How was our live?"

Yukina stopped. Her expression was even colder than usual. "Your performance was good." She said it blandly, then walked straight toward the stage. The other four silently followed her, leaving the members of Kessoku Band with puzzled expressions.

Before they could recover, Roselia had already stepped onto the stage.

Once onstage, Roselia's presence immediately became even more powerful than usual. Dressed in elegant and noble stage outfits, the five took their positions. They were like darkness that had existed since time immemorial—or blue roses blooming in a church in a frenzy. The girls who were usually dignified, timid, gentle, or chuunibyou were now united by an unshakable aura.

They released their—

BLACK SHOUT.

The five watched their performance in a daze. Only by seeing it directly could they understand the gulf between them.

"Dazzling..." Shiko had switched again at some point and was completely entranced. "There are so many people cheering here too..." There must have been a sea of people below the stage in her eyes.

"Did we receive this kind of support before too?" Kita asked.

Back then, Shiko had stood behind the keyboard and seen the sea of light—