"The Initial Dream?"
The expected malicious insults didn't appear. Looking at the simple musical score named for the song in the text message, Miku hummed it softly and found it quite nice.
Beep beep...
A moment later, another text arrived. The number was the same as before, both unknown callers.
"What is it this time?"
Quietly opening the message, Miku saw lyrics.
["If pride hadn't been coldly struck down by the sea of reality, how would one understand the effort needed to reach distant places?"]
Humming the lyrics softly, matching them with the musical score, Miku found that this music, seemingly unremarkable at first, gained a soul with the addition of rhythm and lyrics. It strangely possessed a unique charm that filled her heart, which had been wounded and scarred.
After that, Miku abandoned the thought of suicide. With the help of that stranger, she reignited her faith in life. She concluded that the world, and everything in it, no longer mattered.
Two months later, having received help from the 'phantom' and gained the power of a Spirit, she even obtained her own Angel… Gabriel!
It was an Angel of song capable of stirring human emotions and amplifying their inner feelings!
'Beautiful World', 'Sakura', 'Probably', 'Our Adventure'... As one new song after another was released, Miku, using her real name and identity, completely embarked on her performing career.
"Darling, do you know? I was selected for a magazine cover again today."
"Darling, I'm trending number one right now."
"Darling, it's only because of your help that I've been able to persevere until now."
She had always been in contact with that unknown phone number. In Miku's eyes, the entire world had betrayed her. Fans, humans… they were all utterly untrustworthy.
During her most desperate moments, her most helpless times, when she most craved care, Miku hadn't received the slightest help from those people.
The only one who helped her endure, who accompanied her through it, was that one person...
["Miku, continue your singing. I will come find you after you finish your concert tour across Japan."]
Making a promise with Miku, though Miku didn't know if the person on the other end was male or female, old or young, ugly or beautiful, she felt it didn't matter.
In her eyes, only he, only that person, was her sole, trustworthy light.
Striving to complete her nationwide concert tour, determined to find him at the final stop, Miku knew Tengu City was the last performance.
Therefore...
"As long as I complete this final performance, I can meet you, Darling, right?"
Having made Ryuya's existence her sole spiritual pillar, holding the phone she used in the past, the girl prayed and called out with sincere devotion, like a pilgrim.
Inside her room, Yoshino was looking at the full-length mirror with a troubled expression.
"Ugh... Do I really have to wear this?"
Her plain white dress was perfectly smooth without a single wrinkle. Her long hair was neatly combed. She gently adjusted the wide-brimmed straw hat to a better position.
Although her clothes and hair were properly prepared, a feeling of unease flowed deep within her heart.
"Hey, hey, isn't Yoshino ready yet? It's almost time."
Watching Yoshino repeat various actions, the rabbit puppet Yoshinon on the girl's left hand voiced a question.
"S-sorry, Yoshinon. But don't I look a bit strange right now? Is it really okay?"
"It's totally fine! After all, Yoshino is so cute, and Ryuya really likes you, doesn't he?"
"N-no, that's not it..."
The reason for this formal attire was simply that she was going out with Ryuya tonight to attend a large concert.
Although there were quite a few others going along, Yoshino had still dressed up seriously, wanting to present a special image to her beloved.
"Yoshinon, am I really okay?"
Asking Yoshinon once more, Yoshino still felt somewhat unsure.
"Enough asking! Yoshino is the best! Don't lose confidence just because you're going out with Ryuya! Remember what you've done before!"
Yoshinon's firm voice made Yoshino recall past experiences.
Thinking for a moment, her face turned bright red as if remembering something specific. She tried to pull the large straw hat down hard, attempting to hide her small face.
"Silly, no hesitating! Charge ahead!"
Forcefully pulling Yoshino along, they rushed out. Arriving in the hall with Yoshinon's help, Yoshino saw Ryuya.
And seeing such a clumsy, shy Yoshino, Ryuya's response was quite simple.
"Very cute, Yoshi."
"Eh...?"
Although she had her own home, Kotori still had her own exclusive room at Ryuya's place.
Looking at the white ribbon and the black hair accessory on the table, she let out a sound of distress.
"Which one should I choose?"
As she wasn't wearing any hair accessory, Kotori's neat, smooth long hair cascaded down her back, creating an aura completely different from her usual self.
Just as Kotori was agonizing, the door suddenly opened.
"Kotori, it's almost time. Are you changed ye… Hmm?"
The girl who pushed the door open had an extremely beautiful face and long, deep blue hair like the sea.
Resembling Kotori, she was Kotori's older sister, Shiori.
"Shiori-nee, knock first!"
Seeing Shiori enter, Kotori reacted swiftly, immediately putting on the black hair accessory.
"Hmm... Okay, fine. But Kotori, what are you doing?"
"Um..."
Hearing Shiori's question, Kotori became evasive. But keeping secrets from her sister was pointless.
Shrugging her shoulders slightly and sighing, she explained that she was going out soon and still didn't know which hair accessory to wear.
"Which one? Is there a difference?"
"Of course there's a difference!"
Because her personality had two completely different modes: the white-haired-ribbon Kotori was the innocent, lively cute little sister, while the black-hair-accessory Kotori was the strong-willed, resolute tough little sister.
Due to the difference between these two personas, Kotori was agonizing.
After all, logically, right before going out, wearing white might seem like she was pretending to be obedient, while wearing black might seem like she was trying too hard. Hence the dilemma!
Hearing Kotori's explanation, Shiori smiled.
"What a silly Kotori."
Gently ruffling her sister's smooth hair, Shiori let out a light laugh. Under Kotori's puzzled gaze, her older sister offered her answer.
"Kotori, although I haven't interacted much with Ryuya-sensei, I believe he is a very mature, warm, and elegant person."
"He would absolutely never think less of you because of the color of your hair accessory."
Those involved are baffled, while onlookers see clearly. Hearing her sister's answer, Kotori showed an expression of agreement.
"You're right. Then I'll..."
Taking off the black hair accessory, looking at herself in the mirror, Kotori finally made a decision. And that was...