Present Day

! Raitin! Welcome home!!

Raito-san…! Thank goodness. You’re looking much better.

Everyone’s here… Were you waiting for me?

How’s Nayuki?

He’s mostly recovered, but when I said I’d keep him company until discharge, he told me I was annoying him and to go home.

Aha! Though if he’s spitting fire again, that must mean he’s feeling better. What a relief…

My sincerest apologies for making everyone worry…

It’s not your responsibility to apologize, Raito-san. That criminal is the one at fault.

…

Kinari, Chihiro, Tao… I want to apologize again. I’m terribly sorry…!!

!

W-what are you apologizing for?

For suddenly saying I was going to withdraw from Ev3ns before the live show. I understand now how foolish I was acting.

Ah… That’s right. There was so much going on with Nayuki that it slipped my mind these past few days.

Ah…! Don’t quit on us, Raitin!

I’m not going to quit… Although I’m a disgrace of a leader. All I’ve done is create such a hassle for everyone.

Can you share what changed your mind?

Where do I even begin… Originally, the reason I thought to quit that day was because I felt like I didn’t have the qualities necessary to be an idol.

I couldn’t even return words of affirmation to my fans…. It felt like my internal anxiety over being incapable of love was going to be exposed at every turn.

…

It was nothing more than my feeble attempt at running away. For as long as I can recall, I’ve always lived trying to avoid truly facing others openly and honestly…

I know it’s a warped way to live. I separated myself from others, from those who would be able to live out a proper lifespan.

When I almost lost Nayuki… I realized death isn’t a battle that I alone face. I think all these years, I’ve harbored disdain for everyone around me…

Raito-san…

Haha, I’m pitiful. Nayuki gave me quite the verbal lashing. I’m the one who chose the name Ev3ns, and yet I didn’t view all of us as equals.

To be frank, I have many flaws. I don’t know whether or not you can all accept me again, but if you’re willing to give me the chance, I’d like to make amends.

I want to get to know and understand each of you better as individuals. This time without an invisible wall of separation…

Raitin…

It’s normal to struggle with understanding people’s feelings. I can’t begin to imagine how afraid you must be of dying.

You opened up to us about the death prophecy, but I didn’t have anything to say…

No, death comes to each of us equally. I simply didn’t realize that until I almost lost Nayuki.

I don’t think there are many people who live their lives with the thought of death in mind. I think that’s fairly normal.

Yeah. Regarding my death… I’d appreciate it if you didn’t worry about it, and continued on like always.

Of course, if anything happens, I’ll likely rely on all of you.

I’ll be there to help when you need it.

Ch-Chii, too!

I’ll do what I can as well…

Thank you…

……

Starting today, I want to live as someone who plans for their future.

If there’s a future beyond tomorrow, the day after, and something after that, then…

I want to live cherishing each day without regret. The past is not something to be discarded, but something to be accumulated piece by piece… Yes, that’s the framework by which I want to live.

It’s not just you… I haven’t been living seriously, either.

Going forward, I want to feel like I’m truly alive each and every day…

I want to live my life in a way that makes the most of what’s in front of me right now.

Me, too! I realize there were a lot of things I did wrong and I want to change.

I want Raitin to know the real me, too… When I see the sunset, I want to feel pumped and shout, “This is Ev3ns’s time!!”

I don’t want to give in to feelings like sadness or loneliness anymore. Even if it’s just a little bit each day, I want to be able to say I’m truly living in the way I choose…

I want to give myself a gold star…

……

I’m having novel experiences not found in the original by means of the live performances, and am beginning to feel unique emotions little by little.

From now on, I’d like to find my own way of living and singing as a member of Ev3ns.

Everyone…

So does this mean that if it feels like you’re creating some weird distance again, it’s okay to call it out?

…! Y-yes! Please do!

I need to apologize to you personally, Tao.

That’s resolved now, so no need to worry. But next time, I’m going to tell you to not ignore me.

Whazzup? Oh, that! Chii will make sure to tell you too!

“Pay attention to Chii, Raitin!” Some kind of callout like that?

Yeah. I’d be happy if you could help. Being selfish has become a bad habit of mine…

The opposite goes, too! If you need help, just say so. Chii will make sure to ask for help from someone when in a pinch, too!

Mutual aid? That’s very important. We all seem to get along well.

‘Coz we’re all equals, Ev3ns!

Thank you for accepting me as I am…

No problem. No matter what, this unit can’t get going without you here.

No cap! It wouldn’t be Ev3ns without Raitin. Doesn’t it kind of feel like we’re a legit unit for realsies right now?

I think so. It feels like we’re able to be honest with each other.

Still, we have one more member. Is Kuguri… not here?

Kugurinu hasn’t come back to the dorm since Nayu–ki’s incident. It’s worrying…

I see… I’ll try looking around for him.

It might be best to be careful around Kuguri…

Huh? Whaddya mean?

The streaming incident before our performance. Strangely, Raito’s statement about leaving Ev3ns was broadcasted when at that time, you had already properly ended the video.

…! R-really!?

Uh… Then how did the stream restart…?

Kuguri. He was likely the one who resumed the broadcast. Furthermore, he behaved in a way that was attempting to antagonize Raito. It seemed like he was intending to manipulate the situation.

……

But I was the one who got huffy with Kugurinu and stepped in to back up Raitin…

No, it’s not your fault, Chihiro. The cause was my weakness.

Although I don’t have definitive proof, it’s possible that Kuguri was behind the attack that day.

…That extreme? I guess it’s possible Kugurinu would go that far…

Um…

There’s something that’s been bothering me about that day…

I’m home. Sorry for worrying you.

Thank goodness…! Is the wound better now? Are you able to eat? Can you talk okay?

Nayuki-kun… I was so worried…

As you can see, I’m fine… That aside, I’ve been talking normally since I walked in the door.

I brought him here very carefully, Mom. He’s eating properly, and he’s talking, too.

Hey.

Uuuuuuuuu, how many millions of years has it been since you’ve both come home together? It’s no good, my tears won’t stop…

Haah……

Admittedly, it has been quite a long time for me. Dad, Mom, I’ll try to come home as often as possible from now on.

Raito! You’ve grown so much…! Please sit and relax, both of you! I’ll prepare your favorites, ramen and salted plums!

Honey, bring out the special one, that special one we saved!

(They’re still as soft on their kids as always…)

Hm…?  A piano… Has there always been one like this in the living room?

Oh, have you forgotten? Remember how you once invited a boy over who was skilled at piano? We bought it specially for that time.

You were so cute back then playing piano duets. Nayuki-kun would watch with big wide eyes, it was adorable!

……

Piano duet…?

That’s right… That day…