"In the first term of her third year of middle school, she announced her resurrection with the stunning 'Haruhikage.' That was the new beginning of Crychic's story."
That, too, seemed like ancient history from the past half year now.
Time passed. Time slowly, slowly passed.
Deep in the night, the Noshiro residence.
Taki Shiina had been living at Chiose's house for a long time now.
Apart from the occasional weekend or school week when she went home to check in, Taki spent all twenty-four hours of her day tied as tightly to Chiose as she possibly could.
The two of them really did seem to have become a single [whole].
Chiose Noshiro sat upright at her desk, biting the cap of her pen and thinking about how to continue.
After all, what she was writing now was less a diary than a final letter.
Once her story in this Simulation world was brought to a close, the world wouldn't simply stop turning.
Time would keep flowing, and the diary, the hearing aid, the crows, the food… even this house would all become final letters, one after another, recording the life of a pitiable girl called [Chiose Noshiro].
And…
Chiose turned her head and looked at Taki Shiina, drowsing on the bed.
Just as Chiose had said, time did pass quickly.
They were facing the challenge of entrance exams now, and before long they would report to high school. These were the last few weeks before spring break ended.
The black-haired girl who belonged to her had filled out a great deal since before. She'd grown up better, and her musical skill, her store of knowledge and her social manners had all improved by leaps and bounds.
Chiose had taught Taki all of it bit by bit, through days and nights spent side by side.
After all, she was someone who had lived over thirty years in total.
At last, Chiose figured out how to begin.
The tip of the black pen scratched quickly across the paper, and nothing but that rustling filled the room.
[A month after that show, the frequent performances began.]
[Band battles, guest spots, band battles. Crychic's trajectory suddenly became impossible to predict.]
[From Shimokitazawa to Akabane, our band's shadow fell across many live houses. Crychic succeeded.]
[I still remember that stormy night, when we battled a band whose members had basically all dropped out and weren't going to college. The fierce performance still sets my heart racing when I think back on it.]
[This is the feeling I wanted, the wonderful experience of composing a magnificent chapter of life… Thank you so much, Taki, for letting me join the band and helping me burn.]
[I hope there will be many more shows in the future.]
That was enough.
Chiose Noshiro, who had gradually matured and was growing closer to how she looked in the real world, put away the diary. She drank the last of the hot milk in her cup and went back to the bed.
"Mmh? Sweetheart, still not going to sleep?"
Taki was half asleep, and her breathing was quite loud.
Before taking off her hearing aid, Chiose gave Taki's forehead a gentle little peck.
"I'm about to. I just took my cold medicine."
"Hurry, come into my arms… It's warm in my arms."
Taki Shiina barely managed to open one eye, then lifted the blanket to welcome Chiose's grand arrival.
"I'm not running away. Don't be so impatient, silly."
Big silly Taki!
Ever since the rainy night she'd chased after Sakiko Togawa, and the next day used that trait on herself, Chiose Noshiro had been plagued by one minor illness after another.
She fell ill every two or three days. Then again, that probably had something to do with her frail constitution, her intense daily practice and her frequent stage performances.
"Chiose… rest up these next few days, okay? There aren't any shows this month either… We have to get ready for school to start…"
Taki Shiina and Chiose Noshiro had both chosen Haneoka. Taki said it was where their friendship began, and that it would be even better if they could finish high school there.
Just think: simply going to school, every inch of ground they walked would stir up Taki's memories… Hehe, Chiose Noshiro couldn't have asked for more.
"All right, cough, sigh. I really can't stay up late these days."
The hearing aid came off. She wiped it, tidied it, and put it away. Then the bedroom light went out all at once, and another day passed just like that.
"Taki, I like you most. Good night."
"Good night. I like you most too."
With Chiose's hearing aid off, these goodnight wishes were heard by Taki alone, and that let Taki loosen up completely.
Only at times like this did Taki dare say the things she never dared say otherwise:
"Little Chiose… do you think best friends can get married?"
"I really want to be with you for the rest of my life."
…
"Heh heh… marriage, a wedding… so lively, but… so hot…"
Taki Shiina spent her days daydreaming about a wonderful future.
She dreamed of Little Chiose. They'd made a home and built careers, and they…
"Taki, Taki…"
"Mm… hmm?"
Taki Shiina's eyebrows twitched a few times.
A very clear voice seemed to be calling out in her dream, and it was Little Chiose's voice.
Could a dream really be this vivid?
"Taki… wake up, quick… Taki…"
Only when she felt someone gently patting her cheek did Taki Shiina realize it wasn't a dream.
"Mmh? Little Chiose?"
Dazed and groggy, Taki switched on the bedside lamp.
She found Chiose squirming around in her arms, her little face unusually red.
[What's wrong? Are you feeling sick?]
"Mm! I want…"
[You want what?]
"I want… to throw up…"
"Huh?"
Taki leaped out of bed at once, put the hearing aid on Chiose, and helped her toward the bathroom.
But Chiose Noshiro never made it to the sink. She was already covering her mouth, struggling to keep it in.
She showed signs of giving out when she was still several steps from the sink.
Soon she started vomiting, and it didn't stop after one go.
Taki rubbed Chiose's back, her heart aching. She could only watch helplessly as Chiose retched for a dozen seconds or more before finally catching her breath.
"What's going on! Why is it so bad! I'll call an ambulance… Little Chiose, you…"
"Don't, I'm fine, it's not that serious…"
After rinsing her mouth, Chiose leaned weakly against Taki.
"Let's… go back and rest a bit. If it's really not better by morning, we can go to the hospital then. It's so late now, and a taxi costs so much…"
"Quit saying stupid things… Come with me to see a doctor, now!"
Taki swept Chiose into her arms and tore downstairs like the wind, then waited a long time downstairs before she finally got a car.
[Little Chiose, do you still feel sick? I brought some water. Want a sip first?]
"I… I told you, I'm just exhausted and my body's tense. Throwing up is normal. It's not like it's the first time…"
[Idiot! All the more reason to take it seriously! Stop talking. Let's just go and get you checked.]
Seeing her darling so weak and drained made Taki's heart ache even more.
[After the doctor, I'll take you to get breakfast, okay? How about rice balls?]
"Urp. Don't mention food, don't… Taki, you're not allowed to bring up food anymore. The second you do, my stomach turns…"
"Huh?"
Arrival, registration, seeing the doctor.
Taki Shiina stayed by Chiose's side the whole time.
She had a faint, uneasy feeling.
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