Ash Returns to the Sky 9

Tsumugi: ......

Wataru: Aoba Tsumugi-kun, was it?

I must say, you are the greatest clown I’ve ever seen. I envy you, I really do. I can only say that you are Amazing ♪

Tsumugi: I... I really thought... that Eichi-kun would make everyone happy.

Wataru: Happiness is not something that can be forced upon others, or even given to them.

All that we can do is assist people in finding their own happiness.

Ah, there’s the buzzer—it’s time for the show. Shall we begin, then? This is the end of the dream you’ve been working toward, is it not?

Wataru: Come, don your mask and let us dance hand in hand!

Put reality aside and join the masquerade with your spirits high!

Rejoice in the rosy hues of life!

I would know not whether I should laugh or cry if the main character bears such an unhappy expression! Ahahahahaha... ☆

...Oh, the show has begun. fine’s intro song is playing.

Don’t just stand there; sing, dance! Spread love and surprises across the world!

Eichi: ......

Wataru: Oh? Is something wrong? Hellooo?

The higher-ranked unit is the first to perform, according to the Dream Fest rules you, yourself, established.

In the current state of Yumenosaki Academy, that would mean fine is up.

You all make the first attack; since we have only acted as individuals until now, that would put our unit ranking at the default value.

Eichi: ...If you want to talk rules, then the minimum number of people required to form a unit is two. Yet you are alone.

Even if we do nothing, you’ll still be disqualified for violating those rules... It’s counted as a no-show.

Wataru: Nonsense! It would be a shame for you to exit without being able to perform, especially with such an excellent stage prepared.

I’ve called in some temporary help, so there should be no problem~ ♪

Eichi: You can’t mean those Oddballs who have overstayed their welcome, could you? I see them in the audience; they stick out like a sore thumb.

...I’ve made a mistake. I should have banned temporary units.

Wataru: No, not at all. It would be cheating to pull the Oddballs together for a live. You wouldn’t stand a chance against us.

And if that happened, the script you worked so hard on would come to nothing ♪

It’s not very polite to say, but he’s only here to make up the numbers.

He is but a trifling prop so to avoid such an uninteresting turn of events as losing by default.

All that to say! Please, ascend to the stage, Hoku—Hockey Mask-kun!

Why do you dawdle so? It is the mysterious Hockey Mask-kun’s time to shine!

Eichi: Hockey Mask...? Is today Friday the thirteenth?^[1]

In any case, it would have been easier, or rather more comfortable, to have ended things without a battle.

But it seems that bloodshed is unavoidable. With all the blood we’ve already spilled, there is no place left unsoiled.

Nagisa-kun and Hiyori-kun seem to have finished their preparations, too...

We must fulfill our mission to the end, Tsumugi. Finally, the story has reached its moving finale.

Tsumugi: And what do we do afterwards...? What are we supposed to do then?

Eichi: I’d like to ask that, myself.

Eichi: ♪ ~ ♪ ~ ♪

(Ah, my voice is hoarse. And my body is heavy, too; I can’t move as freely as I’d like.)

(I’m not synchronizing with anyone else... even Tsumugi. We aren’t meshing at all.)

(How unsightly. We reached our limits a long time ago... but I kept pushing everyone too hard, overworking and exploiting them.)

(There are so many things to reflect on, yet all I can do now is dance according to the plan.)

(But after that...?)

(Oh, I’m dizzy. I was able to make it this far and reach this happy ending...)

(Because you were always there, casually supporting me.)

Tsumugi: ......

Eichi: (But now, you’re so far away. Tsumugi, please—don’t make that face.)

(Ah... it really was a curse, wasn’t it, Sakuma-senpai?)

(I walked all over the one person who might have become my true friend, and now he’s gone.)

Hey, Tsumugi... maybe I should have gone to karaoke with you that day.

Like normal high school students. Maybe I should have been satisfied with just that little bite of happiness.

Tsumugi: ...We’re in the middle of a live. Whispering is prohibited. You should know that, Eichi-kun.

Don’t worry... I’ll do my job properly.

Eichi: ......

Wataru: (What’s this? Dark clouds are rolling in... I thought there would be no spirit of competition if they weren’t fighting tooth and nail.)

(So I thought I would rustle their feathers a bit.)

(But to think they would be so riddled with cracks as to shatter on a single impact.)

(However cruel it sounds, the show must go on.)

(Because this is the only stage where I am able to perform with you all.)