All the people who like me are other people’s girlfriends! ?

"Crychic is over."

How could this be... Weren't things so warm and cozy just a moment ago? Didn't we just clear up our misunderstandings? Why did it turn out like this?

Nagasaki Motoyo, who was standing face to face with Toyokawa Shoko, suddenly froze, her pupils dilating in surprise.

As if the starting line had been redrawn with the first snow, Toyokawa Shoko squinted her eyes—

Let's play that song one last time.

—She smiled with bright eyes.

*

The stage is so quiet...

Shoko Toyokawa looked up in a daze. A bright beam of light from the spotlight illuminated every speck of dust floating in the air. The space was incredibly vast, but the audience seats were completely empty, so quiet that it seemed as if only the breathing of the instruments could be heard.

The piano feels so unfamiliar...

Shoko Toyokawa silently walked step by step to the piano. She pulled out the piano bench and sat down. When her fingertips touched the smooth, cool keys, a sense of unfamiliarity and awkwardness spread from her fingertips to her heart, causing her hands to tremble slightly.

This tense silence imbued the upcoming performance with a solemnity. This was a symphony belonging only to the five of them… no, to all six, a tribute to bygone times, to dreams, and to…

Xiangzi let out a soft breath, his gaze habitually drifting to the audience, before suddenly freezing in shock.

She saw a pair of eyes.

At the very front, the only spectator—Kiyono—was gazing at her, watching them with a tenderness that only she could see.

But at that moment, a despicable thought suddenly arose in her mind:

She wanted Kiyono to only look at her! She hated the way Kiyono looked at other people!

Toyokawa Shoko was startled by her own inner thoughts and quickly shook her head.

Ok.

No problem.

Xiangzi closed his eyes, and countless fragmented images surged into his mind: everyone discussing a melody repeatedly in the rehearsal room, discussing their favorite boys during the night's training camp, excitedly seeking out Kiyono-kun to discuss Haruhi Kage, and hugging each other and laughing and crying after the performance... and Kiyono's gentle gaze.

Crychic carries their laughter, tears, arguments, and dreams.

This is the last time Crychic will perform together.

Hopefully, this song can convey the gratitude that could not be expressed to you, and let you witness the proof of our brief but incredibly passionate youth together.

Shoko Toyokawa wasn't the only one caught up in memories.

Nagasaki Motoyo lowered her eyes, her slightly trembling fingers gently stroking the bass strings, as if caressing a long-forgotten memory; Shiina Tatsuki gripped the drumsticks tightly, her knuckles turning slightly white; Takamatsu Akari took a deep breath and grasped the cold microphone stand in front of her; Wakaba Mutsumi picked up the guitar.

The same feelings flowed through their hearts.

Then... as if seeking courage and encouragement, they all looked at Kiyono in the audience and smiled.

……Um?

...Something feels off.

Shoko Toyokawa, who had just been immersed in sadness, noticed something and her face darkened.

Her finger finally fell.

The first note is like the melting snow of early spring.

Immediately afterwards, Takamatsu looked at Kiyono and began to sing, clear and with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor, like early cherry blossom petals swaying in the wind, gently yet with unparalleled clarity echoing in the open space.

悴んだ心ふるえるeyesawし

(His heart was filled with weariness, and his eyes trembled uncontrollably)

The world is the world

(I am all alone in this world)

三ることしか知らない春は

(In the ever-fading spring)

It's cold every year

(I only feel cold every year)

Kiyono listened quietly.

*

縁を knot んではほどきほどかれ

(The connections between people are always intermittent.)

Who is happy and sad?

(People in joy and sorrow)

爱を数えてゆく

(Counting down one love after another)

Kiyono tapped her fingers to the beat, as if she could see a group of girls playing innocently before her eyes again. Alas, it's a pity she won't see Teacher Daisho's delicious crying face...

*

Teru された世咲きKua る大奇な人

(An important person who shines proudly in this sunlit world)

Servant of the king

(Because of you, I shed tears)

あぁなんて日しいんだろう

(Ah, how dazzling!)

あぁなんて美しいんだろう...

(Ah, how beautiful!)

Xiangzi kept staring at him.

The lead singer reached out his hand forward, as if to touch that spring and the bright moon.

*

Yunjian をぬってきらりきらり

(Shining brightly through layers of clouds)

心満たしては overflowing

(My inner thoughts are overflowing)

いつしか栬をきらりきらり

(Her cheeks were also sparkling when she came to her senses.)

热く热く濡らしてゆく

(Hot tears wet my face)

君の手はどうしてこんなにも热かいの?

(Why are your hands so warm?)

Hey, please

(Hey, please)

どうかこのまま里さないでいて

(Please never let go again)

ずっとずっと里さないでいて

(Never, ever let go again)

The song is over.

The last note trembled and dissipated in the empty stadium, its lingering sound seemingly merging into the dust in the air and slowly drifting away.

Under the lights, all five people remained in their original positions.

This song, "Spring Shadows," begins with fate and ends with fate.

The only audience member in the audience was both the starting point and the end point of their musical performance.

Kiyono closed his eyes, silently savoring the moment.

After a long while, he opened his eyes and clapped vigorously.

"It sounds so good, it's heavenly! If I were a girl, I would definitely play in a band with you guys!"

then……

Then he couldn't speak.

He saw the Gravity Girls staring at him, their eyes slightly red and glistening with tears. It didn't seem like they were mourning the end of a band, but rather like some kind of twisted, large-scale emotional scene.

"This script isn't quite right," the boy thought.

Fortunately, Toyokawa Shoko stepped forward.

Let our past end here.

She wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, stood in front of everyone, and intentionally or unintentionally blocked their view of Qingye.

Is it really over...?

Nagasaki Motoyo was dragged back into the band's atmosphere and shivered. She opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, the girl didn't say anything.

She had no reason to try to win him back.

"From this moment on, we are no longer members of a band."

Toyokawa Shoko began to speak, her attitude very firm.

Su Shi crumpled her skirt in her fists, and the tears she had managed to hold back almost flowed again.

She understands everything.

But...but...she didn't want it to end like this! Kiyono-kun!

"but--"

Nagasaki Motoyo suddenly froze. She saw Shoko's warm smile and her words showed no sign of confusion.

she says:

"I've decided to form a new band, a truly commercial band that's committed to a career in music. I've also found other talented teammates... If you're ready for this, would you be willing to form a band with me again?"

Eh?

That is to say...

In that instant, the girls were overwhelmed with the immense joy of finding their precious treasure, but instead of looking at Xiangzi, they surrounded the boy beside him.

Yes.

In their eyes, Toyokawa Shoko was already a bad girl who didn't want to play in a band anymore, so there was only one person who could make her make that decision! That was Kiyono! So the person they should be grateful to was him!

"Kiyono-kun, you joined this new band too, right? Then I want to join too! I'll practice hard until I can perform in commercial shows, and we'll stay together forever!"

Nagasaki Motoyo's smile was tinged with tears.

"Yes, for a lifetime!"

The lead singer echoed this.

Toyokawa Shoko froze, watching her friends run past her one by one to surround her lover, and a twitch appeared on her lips.

"Please, please let go of Kiyono-kun Desuwa! He's just an investor, he didn't join Ave Mujica! Besides, he only invested in me!"

"Hey, Xiangzi is so mean."

"Xiang, you really only think about yourself."

Surrounded by a large group of girls, Kiyono couldn't move an inch. However, when he saw the smiles, excitement, innocence, and noise of the band girls, he gave up resisting and smiled as well.