Title: During the First Snowfall
Characters: Mafuyu, Ichika, Miku (Desolate Sekai version), Kanade (flashback)
Part 1
Miyamasuzaka
Mafuyu
(…It's a lot later than I'd expected.)
(But there's no cram school today and I don't have any homework that looks difficult, so once I get home I should be able to start working…)
Footsteps
Ichika
Um, excuse me, Asahina!
Mafuyu
-Are you on your way home as well, Hoshino?
Ichika
Yes. I could see you ahead of me, so I, uh…
Mafuyu
Hehe! So you ran up to me? Shall we walk part of the way home together, then?
Ichika
…! Okay!
Footsteps
Ichika
Ah, right! Regarding the class rep committee meeting we were in earlier…
I actually wanted to apologise. We first-years ended up needing you to help us out because of how slow we were. Thanks to that, you couldn't even afford the time to go for Archery Club practice…
Mafuyu
There's no need to worry. I did it because I wanted to ensure that the work we were tasked with as a fellow class representative myself is finished, too.
And… To be honest, I saw some seniors helping their juniors out like that last year. That's why I thought of doing the same this year.
Ichika
Asahina…
(Asahina really is amazing. The fact that she's smart, athletic, and also so kind-hearted on top of that…)
Mafuyu
Oh, right. Were you okay with staying back for so long, Hoshino? You had band practice today, didn't you?
Ichika
Ah, yes. But I've already informed the rest that I might not be able to turn up today, so it's alright.
Mafuyu
I see, that's a relief.
Speaking of which… Have you always been interested in music and bands, Hoshino?
Ichika
Um… I might have had more exposure to music than the average person since both my parents have always loved music and my father owns instruments like the guitar.
But what really got me hooked to music to most was actually Hatsune Miku.
Mafuyu
Huh… Miku?
Ichika
Yeah! Miku sings lots of songs in all sorts of styles depending on the songwriter, right?
She can sing cutely, coolly, and sometimes a little scarily.
Mafuyu
Hehe, that's certainly true.
Ichika
So at first, I was amazed by Miku and that was it, but then…
Lots of things happened while I was in middle school and there was a time when I felt really glum back then.
I didn't know what I wanted to do or what I wanted to become at all…
Mafuyu
Hmm…
Ichika
But Miku's songs were a pillar of support for me even then.
Her songs, which take in the songwriter's feelings and express what they want to convey, helped me…
So I thought, "if only I could clearly communicate…the feelings I wanted my childhood friends whom I cherish to know, just like Miku"…
Mafuyu
So that's how it was…
Wishing to express the feelings you want to convey like Miku… Were you able to communicate those feelings to them in the end?
Ichika
Yeah! I did feel really conflicted and hesitant, but I did it, somehow…
Mafuyu
That's great. It means that you're one step closer to your beloved Miku, then.
Ichika
Ah… That's…
Mafuyu
…Am I mistaken?
Ichika
So, uh… When I was writing the lyrics to my original songs, I pondered over lots of stuff…
And I realised in the end that I probably just wanted to be myself and be true to my own feelings all along…
Mafuyu
…Your own feelings?
Ichika
Yeah…
I want to convey the thoughts and feelings I want to express boldly without hesitating, feeling ashamed of them, or lying about them…
Mafuyu
Hehe, that's so lovely.
Ichika
Wha-? I-Is it really?
But all I've figured out now is my aim… As for what exactly I should do and all that, I'm still not entirely sure…
The fact that I could come this far is really all thanks to Miku and the rest.
Mafuyu
……
Ichika
Without Miku and everyone else, I wouldn't be in a band, and I probably wouldn't be the person I am now either…
Flashback to Desolate Sekai's Miku
Mafuyu
Miku…
Scramble Crossing
Ichika
Ah, I'll be heading that way.
Um… I'm sorry for suddenly making the conversation all about Miku just now.
Mafuyu
Don't be, it was fun listening to all you had to say.
Ah… Could I ask one last question before you go, though?
Ichika
Of course. What is it?
Mafuyu
What is Miku to you, Hoshino?
Ichika
What Miku is to me? Well…
I really feel that…she's someone who has lots of freedom, and can become anything.
Mafuyu
Freedom…
Ichika
Ah, and also…
She's our band's senior and benefactor!
Mafuyu
Hehe, I see.
Thank you for your answer, Hoshino. Do be careful on your way home.
Ichika
I will! Please excuse me, then.
Ichika leaves
Mafuyu
……
Her band's senior and benefactor, huh…
…I wonder… What she is to me?
Part 2
The Desolate Sekai
Mafuyu
……
(Miku is… Ah…)
Miku
Mafuyu… You're slightly earlier than usual…today.
Mafuyu
Yeah…
Miku
……?
…Is…something wrong? Are you hurting again?
Mafuyu
No, it's not that.
……
Ichika
She's our band's senior and benefactor!
Mafuyu
(To me, Miku is…)
Miku
……?
…Mafuyu. Will you…sit here?
Mafuyu
…Sure.
*Mafuyu sits down*
Mafuyu
…Can I stay like this and think for a bit?
Miku
Yeah…
Mafuyu
……
(Miku to me is…)
(I feel something at least, but as to what exactly that is, I don't know…)
(It's like I'm trying to pull in a thread that I can't grasp…)
(What should I do…so that I can understand?)
Mafuyu
(Ah…)
Kanade
I wanted Mafuyu to smile just like us from that time.
Mafuyu
(If I could put it to words like that time Kanade made me recall…)
…Miku.
Miku
…Yes?
Mafuyu
I was wondering…if you could sing for me…
Miku
Sure. What kind of song would you like?
Mafuyu
There might be…a lot, but…
I want to listen to the songs I made with Kanade and the rest, in the order they were made.
Miku
I understand. …May I sing now?
Mafuyu
Yes, please.
Miku
♪—— ♪————
♪———— ♪——～～～～
Mafuyu
……
Mafuyu
…Thank you, Miku.
Miku
You're welcome…
…Were you able…to think about the stuff you wanted to think about?
Mafuyu
…I was able to, but I couldn't find my answer.
Miku
I see…
Mafuyu
It's not your fault, Miku.
Miku
Ah…
Miku smiles
Mafuyu
(Whenever I'm writing lyrics, I end up knowing which parts were off after Miku sings for me.)
Miku
……
…Mafuyu. May I…sing again?
Mafuyu
Ah… Yeah, sure. But…
Miku
But…?
Mafuyu
I want to just listen this time, without thinking.
Miku
That's okay. I…sing for you, Mafuyu. So I'm okay as long as I can do that.
♪—— ♪————
♪———— ♪——～～～～
Mafuyu
(For me…)
…Thanks, Miku.