Fireworks painted the night sky in brilliant colors as Miku stood watching them with her sisters. One of them was missing. The boy who had gone to look for her still hadn't returned.
Yet Miku's attention wasn't fully on the spectacle above. It wasn't that she wasn't enjoying the moment with her sisters—it was just… guilt lingered in her chest.
'Did I really do the right thing?' The question echoed in her mind again and again. Family came first, of course. She knew that. And yet, she had broken a promise.
The memory of his face—so full of anticipation and excitement when she had agreed—only made the weight in her heart grow heavier.
"I don't have a family. That's why I know how important they are."
His words suddenly resurfaced in her mind. The more she thought about it, the more she realized how much he seemed to know about her—never stating it outright, always careful, as if afraid to appear like a creep and make her uncomfortable.
No matter how little confidence Miku had in herself, she couldn't ignore those facts. Like that day he chose matcha soda for her. She could admit it—it was an unusual preference, maybe even a strange one. It wasn't something people casually offered unless they were certain the other party like it.
Yet she knew absolutely nothing about him. He almost never speaks about himself, and when he did, it was always vague.
'Would he tell me if I ask?' the thought crossed her mind.
Then another memory surfaced—his claim that they had never met before, yet he had been watching her from afar. What else could that mean if not stalking? The idea sent a chill down her spine. And yet, she had never once felt a strange presence following her. The area she lived in was heavily guarded as well. So how could he have done that?
The more she thought about it, the creepier it seemed. Until now, she had deliberately avoided digging into those questions, but the more she dwelled on him, the more they surfaced, one after another.
Perhaps he had lived in Kyoto too, attended a school close to hers. That could explain how he had first noticed her—how their paths had crossed without her ever realizing it.
"Miku, are you not feeling well?" Itsuki asked, concern evident as she noticed how distant Miku seemed.
Yotsuba, meanwhile, was focused entirely on Raiha, hugging her from behind as the two of them lost themselves in the vibrant colors filling the sky.
"She's probably thinking about that guy," Nino teased from the side, a slightly smug expression on her face. But when Miku didn't respond—only lowering her gaze as a faint blush spread across her cheeks—Nino froze.
"Seriously?!" she blurted out, incredulous. "Why are you acting lovestruck over that guy?" She crossed her arms, clearly displeased. "Don't tell me… are you actually in love with him?"
"L-Lovestruck?!" Miku's blush deepened as she protested, her voice rising in embarrassment. "What does that have to do with you anyway? And why are you so determined to antagonize him?"
Nino instinctively took a step back. Her tsundere nature refused to let her admit the truth—that she was genuinely worried, that the thought of Miku growing close to someone else behind her back stirred an uncomfortable jealousy. After all, she loved and cared deeply for Miku, just as she did for her other three sisters.
"T-That's…" Nino muttered, lowering her head as her hand clenched into a fist. "That's because that guy is extremely suspicious. I heard he was a delinquent."
"I know," Miku muttered calmly.
"Then—" Nino's face brightened, convinced she had finally gotten through to her.
However, Miku's next words shattered that assumption. "Even so, I've seen his willingness to change. I can't deny that he's doing it for me, and because of that… I'm willing to give him a chance."
Nino froze in disbelief. That smile—Miku was serious.
With a scoff, Nino folded her arms. "Hmph. You know nothing about boys. Don't come crying to me later."
"Just because you can't find a good guy doesn't mean every boy is bad," Miku replied bluntly.
Nino slowly let her arms drop. "W-What?" Her eyes widened. "You're really defending him now?" She clicked her tongue, nodding to herself with forced understanding. "I get it, I get it. You really like him, huh?"
Then she added, sarcasm dripping from her voice, "But let me tell you something—I'm pretty popular with guys, you know. Not like you, going out dressed in such lame clothes."
"I know you have lots of friends, yet you've never dated anyone before. And besides," Miku added quietly, "Ren said I look beautiful."
"You're really going to trust his opinion alone?" Nino shot back. "And you're making my personality sound awful."
The two of them stepped closer to each other, the air between them tightening with tension. Neither was willing to back down.
"Both of you, please calm down," Itsuki pleaded, her expression troubled as she tried to step between them.
Just then, a voice interrupted them.
"Um… did I come at a bad time?" Ren asked, scratching the back of his head as he stood by the stairs, an awkward smile on his face. He hadn't heard the reason for the argument, leaving him visibly confused.
"Didn't you go home?" Nino asked, clicking her tongue. "What do you want now?"
Her irritation was obvious—after all, he was the reason she had ended up arguing with Miku in the first place.
"Actually, I bumped into Ichika on my way," Ren explained. "She asked me to pass along a message—she won't be able to join you guys."
"What? Why?" Itsuki asked immediately.
"She said she'll explain everything when she comes back," Ren replied, his tone firm.
"Tch." Nino clicked her tongue audibly.
They all knew Ichika was hiding something, yet none of them pressed her, choosing instead to wait patiently for the day she would finally come clean. What irritated Nino even more, however, was the growing feeling that as the days passed, her sisters were slowly drifting apart.
Meanwhile, Ren's gaze drifted past the others and settled on Miku. She was silently watching him, as if she wanted to say something but lacked the courage to speak. Every so often, she averted her eyes, only to glance back again.
He smiled gently and lifted a hand, gesturing for her to come closer.
"If you'll please hear me out," Ren said, finally drawing everyone's attention. The firework show was nearing its end, and Yotsuba had returned to the group with Raiha, both of them listening in.
"I know this isn't really my place to speak, as an outsider," he continued, choosing his words carefully. "But today, I got a glimpse of how important watching the fireworks together is for all of you. And since one of you is missing… it feels incomplete—"
"Get to the point," Nino cut in irritably. "I don't even know why I'm listening to him," she muttered under her breath.
Ren let out a small sigh, conceding. "How about we have a small firework celebration of our own later? One that includes Ichika too."
"That's a good idea," Miku said softly, immediately supporting him.
"I agree. Today isn't over yet," Itsuki added. It was a simple suggestion, yet unexpectedly beautiful.
"Yeah! More fireworks!" Yotsuba cheered, her excitement shared by Raiha beside her.
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"Believe in yourself. You absolutely got this."
Ichika recalled Ren's parting words. She didn't know why she had shared her secret with him first—only that, in that moment, trusting him had felt natural.
"Ichika-san, you're next."
The voice snapped her out of her thoughts. It was her turn.
She stepped into the room where the judges sat patiently, their eyes fixed on her as they awaited her performance. She couldn't deny it—she was nervous. This audition was crucial, the first true step toward her acting career. That was why she had practiced relentlessly, pouring everything she had into it.
"Believe in yourself. You absolutely got this."
His words surfaced again. Ichika let out a breath she hadn't even realized she was holding. An uncontrollably sweet smile curved her lips.
'Why does he believe in me more than I believe in myself?' she wondered, almost amused. 'As if this role was made just for me.'
She chuckled inwardly. The tension melted away, replaced by a quiet, confident aura. Then she began.
Delivering a splendid performance—so much so that it nearly drew the judges to their feet.
-------
I sat on a bench outside the studio where Ichika was giving her audition. I had rushed here the moment I finished sharing my plan with the others—thankfully, they agreed. Right now, they should be busy preparing.
In the original story, Futarou played a huge role in Ichika's success at this audition. But I refused to believe she owed it all to him. Her talent as an actress was real. Paired with her devotion and relentless hard work, there was no way she wouldn't pass on her own merits alone—no outside influence needed.
After waiting a few more minutes, I saw her step out of the studio alongside her manager. She looked genuinely shocked when she noticed me sitting there. I simply gave her a casual wave, not even bothering to stand up—I am tired, okay? All that running had taken its toll.
She said something quietly to her manager, who nodded before heading off somewhere else. Then she walked over to me.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, curiosity clear in her voice. "And more importantly, how did you even know I was here?"
"If you planned to go to the audition after watching the fireworks, then the studio had to be nearby—and this is the closest one," I explained casually. In truth, I only remembered the studio's name from the anime.
"Were you a detective in your past life?" she laughed.
I chuckled as well, letting out a small sigh. "So… how did it went?"
She tapped a finger against her chin, pretending to think. "Let's just say it went well."
That smile told me everything. She did great.
I stood up and gently grabbed her wrist, finally answering her first question. "Come on. Your sisters are waiting—with a surprise for you."