It's the day of the festival. And the day of my first performance in front of an audience.

  I woke up with lots of butterflies in my stomach.

  Some of them are excitement butterflies. I'm very excited to see my parents. They’re going to come to the py and afterwards we’re going to enjoy the festival together. I miss them so much.

  Some of them are nervous butterflies. I’m very nervous about the py.

  I'm feeling far more confident after the st two rehearsals and Hanako's praise st night, but even though I'm confident, I can't help but feel some anxiety. Chiyo told me she's nervous too, and that made me feel a little better.

  Luckily, right now I have something to distract me from all those butterflies. Akane, Chiyo and I are going to the band’s festival concert.

  Chiyo and I are walking out on the quad and it’s amazing seeing it transformed. There are dozens of food and game booths, since every css and club has to do something for the festival. And there are many more people on campus than usual, including student family members and people who live in the town at the bottom of the hill.

  “D-do you think all these people will be at the py?”

  Chiyo ughs, “Doubt it. Not everyone wants to go to a py, you know?”

  I nod.

  “But I think we'll have a really good audience. We were better at advertising this year than st year, and they will announce the py over the loudspeaker ter too, which will probably get a few people to come.”

  “Th-that's good.”

  “Are you nervous there will be too many people?”

  I shake my head, “I'll be nervous no matter how small the audience is. I don't think it's worse if there are more.”

  Chiyo and I are on the way to my css’s booth to pick up Akane. As css rep, she is in charge of our booth. She’s already been working for a couple of hours, but she’s taking a break for the concert. And another one ter for the py.

  When we get to the booth, we see that there are a few people in line. Akane is working the cash register and Madoka and another of my cssmates, a boy named Aoi, are grilling yakitori.

  Akane sees us and smiles and waves. We wave back. After about 10 minutes, the line is gone, so Chiyo and I approach the booth.

  A tired Akane sighs and takes off her apron, “I'm gd that rush is over. I was worried I wouldn't make it to the concert.” She looks at Madoka, “Is it still cool if I cut out for 30 minutes or so?”

  Madoka walks up to Akane with a smile and a nod “We got a lot grilled that we can keep warm. So I can work the register if need be. And reinforcements are coming soon. So, take your time.”

  Akane gives her a thankful nod, “Thanks.”

  …

  We were running a little bit te. So, when we got to the outdoor stage where the concert is, it was hard to find three seats together, but we found some just as the music teacher is announcing the program. We take a seat right when the music starts.

  I don't know very much about music. But I like the sound of what they are pying. It sounds…peaceful and elegant, whatever it is.

  I try and find Saki, but before I do, I see her friend Chisato. She's the only one pying piano, so it is easy to spot her. I hadn't realized she was in band too. She is pying with a confident smile on her face and seems to be enjoying herself.

  I go back to looking through the band for Saki, and I find her sitting next to a couple of other violin pyers. As I'm watching her and enjoying the sound of the band's music, suddenly she is the only one pying.

  She must be really good if she has a solo.

  I recognize the music. It's what I heard her pying both other times I heard her py. I cross my fingers and watch her intently, remembering that those two performances didn't end the way she wanted them to.

  While I don't know for sure what it's supposed to sound like, I think I know Saki well enough now that I'd be able to tell from her face if she made a mistake. She finishes her solo and the rest of the band joins her. I breathe a sigh of relief and once I rex I notice my entire body was tense.

  Akane is looking at me with a raised eyebrow. She mouths the words, “Was it good?” And holds up a tentative thumbs up. I smile and return her thumbs up and she looks simirly relieved.

  I hadn't thought about the fact that music without words is probably more difficult for her to enjoy. She told me one time that she can hear rhythm and words but not notes. With this performance, she only has a rhythm that she can hear. It's really sweet of her to come support Saki despite that.

  When the concert finishes, Akane has to run off to her booth. Chiyo and I don’t have a ton of time ourselves before we have to report backstage, but we wait for the crowd to thin out and wave Saki down when she steps off the stage.

  She smiles and comes up to us, “Hey you two! Thanks for coming.”

  I nod, “O-of course. It was really good. Akane was here too, but she had to run back to her booth.”

  Saki sighs, “Tell me about it. I'm about to go back to my booth, too. But it's kinda fun, we are doing the fishing game.” She smiles, “I'll be coming to the py ter, though. Chisato is covering for me.”

  Chiyo says, “Great! I hope we perform as well as you just did.”

  Saki scoffs, “I'm sure you will. I'm still amazed by the little part I saw at our photoshoot!”

  …

  I just finished changing into my costume. I leave Chiyo behind in the changing room and when I step out I see Daiki leaning against the wall. He smiles when he sees me.

  “How are you feeling?”

  “N-nervous but…a normal amount I think.”Daiki nods, “Yeah, I'm nervous too and all I do is flip some switches.”

  I ugh and poke his arm, “That’s not all you do. You're the director. And you designed all the lights and sound. And you made almost the whole set!”

  He smiles, “That's true. But that work is all done now. For this performance, I seriously just flip switches.”

  “I…guess that's true. Some of it has to be timed just right though!”

  He ughs, “I appreciate you trying to tell me I'm working just as hard you guys today, but it just isn’t true.”

  Ken and Chiyo come out of their changing rooms at almost the same time and bump into each other, prompting an awkward ugh out of each of them. With flushed cheeks, Chiyo wraps her arm around his and they walk up to us.

  Daiki checks his watch and says, “20 minutes until curtain.”

  Chiyo and Ken nod confidently, but there is definitely some anxiety on their faces too.

  Daiki smiles and says, “I was just telling Nagisa that all I have to do tonight is flip some switches. You three have the harder job tonight for sure.”

  He smiles a little wider, “But I know we're all going to do great.”…

  So far, everything has gone really well. And from what I can tell we have a rge audience. There has been ughter at the funny parts and silence and even a little sniffling during the sad parts.

  The py is almost over. I'm standing just off stage watching the scene when Ken’s character confesses to Chiyo. But I’m only half-listening as I mentally prepare for my st scene.

  It's kind of funny watching this when I know that Chiyo is pnning to confess to Ken ter.

  I hear my cue. My final scene is next. It is also the most important for the entire py because it resolves everything. I take a deep breath as the lights go out and Ken walks off the stage.

  I CAN do this.

  Dorayaki.

  The lights come back on just as Chiyo has gotten into her futon. I walk out of the shadows and kneel next to her. She has her back turned to me.

  I pyfully say, “So…I was right about the anpan after all, wasn't I? He confessed to ya today, didn't he?”

  Chiyo sighs and rolls over in her futon to look at me with knitted eyebrows, “Ya come here outta the blue and go on and on and won’t shut up about a stupid anpan. How am I supposed to think straight?”

  I click my tongue at her and say, “Ya can't think straight because ya fancy that fellow. It's love at first sight, for the both of ya, and it won't be long before ya won't have eyes for anybody else. Hard as a rock on the outside but drippin' with sweetness on the inside. Your heart is just one big anpan!”

  Chiyo groans and covers her eyes, “Ugh! You watch me tomorrow, mother! Watch me tell Mr. Kinoshita in no uncertain terms never to speak to me again! Maybe then you'll leave me alone!”

  I sigh dejectedly, “There's no harm in fancyin' the fellow, dear. You're keen on him an' he's keen on you. Get yerselves together an’ live happily ever after.”

  She sits up and yells at me, startling me, “I can't ever be happy, so just stop talking, mother!”

  I study her for a moment and then say, “Ya silly little thing. What do ya mean ya can't be happy?”

  “You…know why, mother. You were there.”

  The lights turn off for a moment. With them off, Chiyo gets out of the futon and I y down on the tatami. She kneels next to me and holds my hand.

  The lights comes back up, now with an orange tint to them. Daiki did something to make them flicker, too.

  I say, “I saw it full on, two suns of bzing fire.”

  Chiyo sniffles, “Mama…”

  I continue, "It was…a great ball of fire, blindingly white at the center with a weird kinda yellow and red outline.” I look at Chiyo, “What happened then?”

  She bows her head, “I was…shielded from the heat coming from the fireball by our stone ntern.”

  I ugh softly, “Oh, that big stone ntern! It cost us an arm and a leg, but it was sure worth every penny.”

  I look at Chiyo again and give her a soft smile, “Then, ya came to me and ya tried to cover me by yin’ on top of me. An’ over and over again you put out the fmes that came off me. I was grateful, but I knew that we'd both die if ya just kept on doin’ that, so I said to you, ‘Get outta here, Mitsue!’ You said, ‘No, I won't!’ and stayed, and we just repeated that over and over again, ‘Get out!’ ‘No, I won't!’

  Chiyo shakes her head with a grim smile, “Then you said, ‘Okay, let's py rock paper scissors. I'm gonna put out rock, so you don't have a prayer of winnin'.’

  I nod and say, "Ready or not, here I go!"

  We both hold out a fist.

  “I see through you, mother.”

  I shout, "Here I go!"

  We both hold out our fists again.

  “You're not gonna get away with it, mother!”

  "And let's go!"

  We both hold out fists again.

  “I've been on to ya since I was a little girl, mother.”

  I scoff and say, "Ready, let's go!"

  We both hold out fists again.

  I sigh in frustration and hold back my tears, “Why won't ya put out paper, eh?! Can't you see that I want ya to win an’ get outta here? Now stop bein’ such a bad girl. Show a little respect for yer mother, will ya!”

  I start gasping for breath, as the heat and pain becomes too much.

  “Do as yer…mother…says for this one st time, I'm beggin' ya, Mitsue. If ya…don't run away right now…”

  The lights go down and Chiyo and I return to our original positions. Her in the futon, and me kneeling next to her.

  The lights come back up and Chiyo tearfully says, “I…left you there. But I should have died beside you.”

  I raise my voice, “What on earth makes ya say such a thing!?”

  She bows her head without looking at me, “I don't deserve to live.”

  I pound on the floor with my fist and grit my teeth, raising my voice even higher, “Don't you EVER say a thing like that!”

  She sits up on her knees on the futon and reaches out to me, “Listen to me, mother!”

  I scoff and shake my head, “I'm not gonna listen to a word of this.”

  Chiyo crosses her arms and doubles over with her hands around her abdomen, tears streaming down her face.

  She’s so good that it makes my job a lot easier, because I can’t see my friend looking like this without having an emotional reaction myself.

  “All of my friends are gone! Etsuko died while standing in a fire-prevention reservoir. Kaori was just walkin’ along, her tongue swollen outta her mouth like she was chewin’ on a huge eggpnt. Fumiko had gotten married just after graduation...and she died with her baby at her breast. The baby, too, went to the other world soon after, pressing its little face to her breasts, without even an inklin’ of what this world is like.”

  She pauses and sobs for a moment, her shoulders shaking violently. Then she looks up at me, tears still streaming down her face.

  “A-and Michiko, my friend at the telephone exchange. Two of her coworkers were too scared to move, so she put her arms around ‘em and told ‘em to be brave 'cause she wouldn't leave ‘em. She protected ‘em until she died, too, right there. And there's you, too, mother…” She pauses to sob a few more times before continuing, “To die in Hiroshima was the natural thing to do. To survive here is unnatural. That's why my bein’ alive now is wrong. I…I shouldn't be here.”

  There are tears on my face now too. I make a move to try and comfort her with a hug, before being disappointed that I'm only a ghost, so I can’t. So, I do my best to comfort her with a smile and my voice, “Well I can tell ya, we dead people don't see it that way. I'm perfectly at peace with what happened to me, sweetie. So…just try an’ find happiness, will ya?”

  She shakes her head without hesitation, “I don’t deserve to be happy! I don't even deserve to be alive. But I don't have the courage to die either. So I'm just goin’ to live a quiet life and, when I get the chance, leave life just as quietly. Alone.”

  I start to get desperate so I strain my voice, “Listen to me, will ya! Have you forgotten my st words!?”

  The lights go down again, and we switch pces again with me on my back and Chiyo kneeling next to me and holding my hand. The lights come back on with the orange tint.

  Chiyo looks devastated as I look up at her and say, “Please…Mitsue…Live. Live your life for the both of us. Promise me.”

  She nods, sniffles and says, “I-I will…” Then she stands up and backs away from me, before turning and running off the stage.

  The lights go down. Chiyo comes back and we switch pces again.

  Then the lights come back up and I smile at her and say, “I was so relieved that I finally got ya to leave and so happy that you would survive. So, ya see, ya will go on livin’ because of me. An’ all the others.”

  She looks at me in confusion, “Because of…all of you?”

  “Yes. Go on livin’ so that the world will remember that tens of thousands of people have had to say goodbye like that and it's inhuman.”

  She gently says “Okay. I…I can do that. I’ll live. But I can't ever love. Or be happy. N-not without you, mother! N-not when all of you are gone. It wouldn't be right.”

  I smile softly at her, “Ya can love. In fact I happen to know ya do love this man. I know he’ll make ya happy. And ya should be happy. Me an’ all the others you loved want that for ya, sweetie. More than anythin’. An’ he loves you too. All ya have to do is accept him and be honest about how you’re feelin’.”

  Chiyo sits in silence for a moment and then nods. She reaches out to me, and our hands get as close as they can without actually touching. “Y-you’re right. I…think I can be happy with him. If that’s what you want. I would be lettin’ you and all the others down if I’m not, wouldn't I?”

  I give her a confident nod.

  “I-is there anythin’ else I can do for ya?”

  I think for a moment and then smile mischievously, “A grandchild...would be nice.”

  Chiyo and I look at each other in silence for several seconds, both of us teary-eyed. Then she wipes her tears and asks, “Will I see you again?”

  I smile, “Depends on you.”

  Chiyo smiles for the first time in the entire py, “I think…it will be a while. Thank you mother. I love you.”

  The lights go down and I walk off the stage, passing Ken as I do. When the lights are up again, Ken is standing where I was, and the two of them embrace each other.

  Then the lights go out, and the audience starts appuding. It's so much louder than I expected it to be.

  A smile forms on my face, as I get with the other two cast members and walk to the front of the stage. The lights come up and the three of us bow together.

  Now that I see the audience, I see that the auditorium is crowded. It isn’t entirely full, but there must be a hundred people.

  And all of them keep cpping. Many of them are standing and cheering. I think I can hear my father saying my name, but I can’t seem to find him in the crowd. Some boy I don’t recognize comes up to the edge of the stage and gives Chiyo a bouquet with a note in them. She takes them reluctantly.

  Probably a confession.

  I gesture for Daiki to come and join us on stage. He does so after I won't take no for an answer. I take his hand and then the four of us bow.

  Now that we’re all here I look out at the audience with a smile and let the appuse wash over me, I enjoy every minute of it. And I know my club mates do too.

  We did it. We performed our py. And people enjoyed it. We worked together towards a common goal and we did something wonderful. I’m so happy.

  …

  The four of us in the drama club are backstage. Chiyo and I are in one of the changing rooms getting out of our costumes. Surprisingly, we haven't said anything to one another so far. But we haven't stopped smiling since we left the stage.

  I finish changing first and as I wait I say, “You were really good tonight. I mean, you were good in rehearsal, b-but tonight was…even better.”

  She smiles as she finishes tying the bow on her uniform, “Thanks. You too. It’s the adrenaline I think. I think we all did…so well. It was our best performance yet. Perfect time, too.” She takes a deep breath, as she makes sure her uniform looks right in the mirror, “Now I have to do something else even more nerve-wracking.”

  “So, you're going to tell him tonight for sure?”

  She nods, “Yep. Just like I told you and Akane. No more excuses.” She smiles, “You know, tonight I realized that I’m kind of doing what Mitsue was in the py. Not letting myself be happy because of something bad that happened to me.”

  She hugs me, “And just like in the py, you helped me realize that was silly. So thank you.”

  I smile as I hug her back, “You’re welcome.”

  The two of us leave our changing room to find Daiki and Ken waiting for us. Both of them are smiling too. After congratuting one another, we head out into the lobby.

  When we all get there, I'm surprised to see many people are still in the lobby. They all appud us when we come out. I recognize many of the faces, including my parents and Mr. Suzuki, but I didn't expect this many people to still be here with the festival going on. I thought they would go outside to join the festivities.

  Before I have time to really look around the crowd, I’m suddenly wrapped up in a tight hug.

  “You were soooo good! That was the best py ever! I should have brought flowers. You deserve them way more than Chiyo.”

  I ugh, “Th-thank you, Akane.”

  When she releases me from the hug I notice that she's with Misha and Shizune.

  Misha has a big smile for me as she signs and speaks at the same time, “It really was good! Shicchan even cried!”

  Shizune gres at Misha and starts signing, “Shicchan says she…only had a tear or two, that's not the same as crying!” Then she turns to me and continues signing and this time Akane transtes, “It really was very good. I was a little nervous having this be part of the festival, but now I'm very gd we did!”

  I smile, “Thank you. I'm gd you both enjoyed it.”

  Shizune nods and Misha says, “We're off to check on some other festival stuff. See you ter!”

  After those two head out, I'm able to get my bearings a little. I see Daiki talking to his parents and Ken and Chiyo talking to an older man. Probably the director of the acting troupe.

  Then, I locate my parents. My dad looks like he wants to dash over here, but my mom has his arm tightly looped with hers and is patting him on the hand. It's like she’s trying to calm down a young child and telling him to wait his turn. I’m thankful she is, because it would have been embarrassing if he ran over here with his usual level of excitement.

  With a smile I turn to Akane and say, “Want to meet my parents?”

  She nods with a big smile on her face.

  As I start to walk across the lobby to see them, Akane says, “Hold on.” And goes off somewhere. I stop and watch her to see where she's going. Then I see a familiar tall blond girl on the other side of the lobby. She’s using her cane to feel around, but looks very uncertain.

  Akane says something to her and Lilly takes her arm and they return to me.

  “H-hi Lilly. Thank you for coming.”

  Lilly says, “I’m happy I did. You were wonderful, Nagisa. Your voice was so different that for a moment I was very confused! My apologies for not coming to congratute you sooner, but with all the people in here I wasn't sure I would find you. I’m gd Akane saw me, I was about to give up.”

  “I-I’m gd you enjoyed it.”

  She nods and smiles, “I’d like to talk to you more about it some time. But for now, I should probably retreat.”

  I smile, “Okay. I’ll come see you at lunch soon.”

  She nods, “I’d like that.”

  Then Akane leads Lilly to the exit before rejoining me, and we walk towards my parents.

  Once we’re close enough, my dad breaks free from my mom and wraps me in a hug much like Akane did. He sounds surprisingly calm and serious when he says, “You were absolutely incredible.” He let's me go and then my mom hugs me too and says, “I’m so happy for you.”

  I smile at her, “I-I’m happy too. It was fun and…really amazing.” I gesture towards Akane, “I want you both to meet Akane, she’s my best friend I’ve told you about.”

  Akane suddenly gets very stiff and bows her head, “I-it's very nice to meet you both, Mr. and Mrs. Furukawa.”

  My dad responds, “IT'S VERY NICE TO MEET YOU TOO!”

  Well, at least she knows she doesn't need to be so formal now.

  Akane flinches as my dad yells in her face, but she somehow manages to keep smiling.

  “Dad…you don’t have to do that. Just talk normally.”

  “But I thought you said-”

  Akane steps in and taps on her ear piece, “I'm deaf, but when I have these on I'm…basically not.”

  My dad narrows his eyes and nods, “Ohhhh.”

  My mom smiles at Akane, “Would you like to come with us to the festival? I’d like to get to know my daughter’s best friend a little.”

  Akane nods eagerly.

  “You don't have to work the booth some more?”

  Akane shakes her head, “Madoka said she’d cover for me, surprisingly enough. She…even said I should spend time with you at the festival. Seemed a little weird, but who am I to argue?”

  “Oh, that's great!”

  Just as the four of us are leaving the performing arts center, I hear, “Hey Nagisa, wait!”

  Akane and my parents stop and so do I. I turn around to see Chiyo and Ken with the older man that I saw earlier.

  Chiyo smiles, “This is…Mr. Fujita. From the acting troupe in Tokyo. He wanted to meet you.”

  He nods, “Hello Ms. Furukawa. I really enjoyed your performance tonight. I was absolutely captivated. I was shocked when these two told me it was your first py.”

  I feel my face flush, “O-Oh. Um…thank you, sir.”

  I’ve gotten a lot of praise tonight. But I know for sure that this man isn't just my friend or my parents telling me I did a good job.

  My dad cps his hand on my shoulder, “It's in her blood! I used to be an actor.”

  Mr. Fujita nods, “I see. That certainly helps.”

  “Are you interested in her for your troupe?”

  “D-dad, that's not-”

  Mr. Fujita smiles, “As a matter of fact, I am.” He pulls out a business card and hands it to me, “I don't want to interrupt your family time at the festival, but give me a call sometime if you’re interested.”

  I nod, “O-oh. Um…okay. Th-thank you, sir.”

  He nods and then goes off with Ken and Chiyo. Chiyo shoots me a big smile and a thumbs up as they leave. I think it has more than one meaning.

  …

  We just finished eating some really good yakisoba at the fair. Once my dad is finished, he gets up from our table and runs over to the game booths and yells, “Nagisa! Come watch your dad win you a stuffed animal!”

  Akane ughs and whispers, “Does…your dad think he's on a date with you?”

  I sigh, “Kind of. We are very close and…sometimes he gets kind of needy like this. It’s…not as weird as it sounds.”

  Akane giggles, “If you say so.”

  My mom, who I didn't know could hear us ughs, and says, “It's a little weird. But I suppose we should humor him. He’s been such a good boy so far.”

  All three of us start giggling as we throw our trash away as my dad impatiently bounces up and down in front of one of the game booths.

  When we get closer I see that he’s settled in front of a booth where you throw balls at little figures. The more you knock down, the bigger stuffed animal you get. My dad is staring into the booth with a serious glint in his eye, “I'm going to get you that big stuffed cat. I promise. You deserve it after your py.”

  I notice Akane grinning and say, “Dad…why don't you try to win one for mom instead?”

  My dad frowns, “But I always win you something at fairs.”

  “I…I know but-”

  My mom chimes in, “Nagisa, I don’t mind. Don't you want that cat?”

  Akane looks like she's barely holding a ugh in as I feel embarrassed. But I sigh and say, “Yes.”

  This makes both of my parents smile, while Akane giggles at my embarrassment.

  I do kind of want him to win me one. Maybe I'm weird too. I hope Akane doesn't think I am, though.

  My thoughts must have been on my face. Akane nudges me, “Hey, it’s cute you guys are so close. You know cuteness makes me ugh sometimes - like with the dango song. I didn't mean to make you feel embarrassed.”

  “Th-thanks.”

  Akane, my mom and I watch as my dad loosens up his arm like he does before pying baseball. Then he dramatically sms a 100 yen coin on the booth counter. The poor student running the booth awkwardly takes the coin and gives my dad three balls.

  My mom cheers, “You can do it, Akio!”

  My dad confidently looks at the three of us, “I have three beautiful women watching and cheering me on. I can't let any of you down.”

  My mom and I are used to this kind of thing, but Akane isn't. She blushes and looks away from him, making me smile.

  My mom and I also aren't surprised when my dad knocks a figure over with all three of his throws. My mom and I cheer for him, but Akane sounds truly amazed when she says, “Whoaaa!”

  My dad hands me the stuffed cat and smirks at Akane, “Impressed?”

  Akane ughs, “Yeah, kind of. But I bet you can't do it again.”

  “Tch. I can, and I will. I'll win you a cat this time!”

  Sure enough, my dad goes through the same routine, handing Akane a cat this time. Akane smiles at him, “Thank you. But…now you have to do it for your wife.”

  He turns to my mom and points at her dramatically, “Sanae! It's your turn!”

  My mom cps and smiles at him, before my dad quickly wins another prize.

  …

  My dad has pyed just about every game at the fair and at this point, we have more prizes than we can carry. We each have our plush cat from the ball game, as well as costume jewelry bracelets, yo-yos, and a box of sparklers.

  However, there's still one game booth I want to visit.“What about this one, dad?”

  He scoffs, “The goldfish game? That's for babies.”

  Akane ughs, “And what, ring toss was really manly?”

  The two of them have been having silly banter all night. It's been fun to watch. I'm gd she gets my dad's weird sense of humor.

  My dad narrows his eyes at her, “It is manly, because I won prizes for my women. There's nothing manlier!”

  Akane snorts, “Please don't tell me you're including me as one of your women.”

  My dad grins, “Well, if you're not one of them, I'll take your prizes back.”

  Akane turns away from him and clutches them to her chest, “No! They're mine!”

  My mom smiles at her and cheerfully says, “Then no compining, dear!”

  I ugh at this whole exchange and say, “I don't really want you to py. But our friend is here, and I wanted to say hello.”

  Akane turns around and says, “Oh yeah! Saki.” She shoves her prizes into my dad’s arms and says, “Hold these for me.”

  I follow suit, leaving my dad looking stunned and a little sad.

  As we approach the booth, we see that there aren't many fish left. Just as I'm thinking Saki might have already left, I see her sitting in a chair behind the water tank. When she hears us she looks up with a fake looking smile, which turns into a real smile when she realizes it’s us.

  “Oh, hey! Here for some fish?”

  I shake my head, “We have too many prizes as it is. I just wanted to come say hello.”

  She nods, “Hey, your py was pretty amazing. I had super high expectations too, and I was still blown away.”

  Akane pats me on the head, “I know, right? And she was the star!”

  Saki ughs, “Yep, you were really amazing. I’m pretty sure half the auditorium was crying during that st scene.”

  I smile, “Th-thank you. I guess we both had a good day performing.”

  Saki smiles and nods, “I’m really gd our bodies didn't let us down today.”

  …

  After we talked to Saki, there was an announcement that the fireworks were going to start. My parents, Akane, and I had fun watching all the different colors and we lit some of the sparklers my dad won us.

  We just saw my parents off at the front gate. They are staying in a hotel at the bottom of the hill. They leave tomorrow, unfortunately. But we’re meeting them for breakfast at The Shanghai tomorrow morning before they leave.

  Akane and I are walking back to the dorms with our prizes in our arms. Even though she teased us all about it, she seems pretty happy my dad won her a plush too. And all of her other prizes.

  As she squeezes her stuffed cat to her chest with a smile she says, “I can see how you ended up so nice. They barely know me and made me feel like family.”

  I ugh, “My dad is pretty silly though. It's embarrassing.”

  Akane ughs, “That’s true. But it comes from a pce of love, I think. So it's okay. It certainly makes him fun to be around.”

  I nod and smile, “You’re right.”

  As Akane and I get to our hall, I see something I've never seen before. Someone is sitting down next to my door. I think I know who that someone is, but I hope I'm wrong. I look at Akane, who I can tell is thinking the same thing.

  When we get close enough, our fears are realized. Chiyo is sitting next to my door with her knees pulled to her chest and her arms wrapped around them.

  Akane manages to say something first, “Ch-Chiyo?”

  She looks up at us, and I flinch. Her face is tear-stained and she looks furious. She clenches her fists and stands up. Akane drops all of her prizes and gets between me and Chiyo with her arms outstretched. I don't understand why.

  Through gritted teeth Chiyo says, “H-he… rejected me and told me we can't be friends. So… thanks for ruining my life! Y-you’re such good friends!”

  Akane replies, “I-I'm sorry, Chiyo.”

  Chiyo takes a step closer to Akane and with a shaky voice she says, “Shut up! I don't want your pity! It's your fault! I bet you wanted it to happen like this, you…you bitch!”

  Just as she says the st word, she sps Akane so hard that she grunts in pain and part of her hearing equipment flies off and hits my door.

  Chiyo really put her body into it, so she loses her bance and falls towards Akane, who catches her and pulls her into a hug.

  Chiyo struggles to get free of her grip, “L-let me go!”

  But Akane doesn't listen. After struggling a little bit longer, Chiyo puts her arms around Akane and rests her head on her shoulder. She starts to sob. Just like she did earlier tonight, in the st scene of the py. Only this time it's real.

  All of it happened so fast that I haven't moved. Now that it's clear it is what she needs, I walk around and hug Chiyo from behind.

  This was such a great day.

  But now one of the worst possible things has happened. One of my best friends had her heart broken. And Akane and I made it happen.