Chapter Eleven: May 11 (Sun.)

I groaned as I rolled over to hit my alarm; even though I was looking forward to seeing the Chorus Club perform, getting up in the morning was still a pain in the butt.

As I went through my morning routine I thought about the upcoming performance and wondered how Nishina was doing. Was she nervous? After all, she had taken on the challenge of learning a new song in a foreign language…did she feel ready?

I thought back to when I first met her, the look of surprise and panic when Kotomi had busted into her clubroom after hearing her playing the violin. I smiled as I remembered meeting Sugisaka and Harada, the other members of the club.

My movements slowed as I remembered Sugisaka telling me about Nishina's situation with her parents, and my own efforts to help her out by finding that neat-sounding if odd American song; I could still remember the look of amazement on her face as she listened to the song that Kotomi and I had found. And, finally, the look of determination that I saw on her face just before I was kicked out of the club room.

Nishina had taken her singing seriously and I, as well as her parents, would be seeing the fruits of her labor.

I really hoped that all of her hard work would pay off.


As I passed through the gates to the school, I looked around at the few stands that had been set up. I had seen them partly set up the day before, of course, but it wasn't the same as seeing them finished and staffed. Since the regular classes had their displays set up in their classrooms, all of the outdoor stands probably belonged to one club or another.

I figured that Nishina's performance would be in the gym, so I headed that way to see if there were any signs to tell me when her performance was. Sure enough, I found a handwritten signboard out front with a list. It didn't take me long to find the Chorus Club's slot: 1:30 P-

"Tomoya-kun!" I heard a happy voice exclaim, and Kotomi joined me next to the board a few seconds later. "Good morning!"

"Morning," I greeted as I looked up from the board.

Her smile faded as she looked at the board, and I followed her eyes back to the board, where my finger still pointed to the Chorus Club's performance time; I quickly pulled my hand away as I straightened up.

"You…are here to see Nishina-chan's performance, are you not?" she said, her eyes narrowing just noticeably.

"I'm…here to see the Chorus Club perform," I said carefully; her focus on Nishina had me a little worried. "They've been working really hard on the song you and I found for them, and I'm looking forward to hearing it."

"I…The Theater Club has been working hard as well." She took a step closer, almost into my personal space. "Would…Would you come watch my performance?"

"S-Sure," I stammered, nearly backing into the signboard. "Wh-when is it?"

She clasped her hands in front of her chest as she gazed intently into my eyes. "At 12:30 PM."

I quickly turned back to the signboard and looked for the Theater Club's timeslot, more to get away from the intensity in Kotomi's eyes than anything. In spite of my nerves I managed to find the correct time; 12:30, just like she had told me. "S-Sure, I'll be there," I said, turning back to her and putting a little more distance between us. "Your performance times are so close together that it might make it tough for us to watch the Chorus Club's song together."

"That is true!" she exclaimed, her eyes widening before changing to a look of determination. "Then I will have to make arrangements to minimize my changing time. If I could set things up properly beforehand, that could facilitate a more rapid change in attire…"

"Sounds good," I interrupted, not wanting to get lost in the words. "You…do what you have to, and I'll…see you later?"

She nodded once, determined look still in place, then hurried off into the gym to do…whatever she had just been talking about. Having gotten the information that I wanted from the board, I headed toward the stands to see what they had to offer.

I was headed toward the Machine Club stand and the enormous…gizmo that they had out front when I felt a gentle tug on my shirt. "Okazaki-senpai…?"

I was surprised to find that the Chorus Club president was the culprit. "Hey Nishina, good to see you! I haven't seen you in a couple of chapters!"

"Huh?"

"Never mind," I said, waving a dismissive hand. "You ready for today?"

She released my shirt to clasp her hands to her chest. "I'm really nervous."

"I don't blame you," I said. "Trying to learn a new song in a foreign language in just a few days? I could never do that."

"I-I'm sure you could," she said, blushing. "Okazaki-senpai? I was hoping that…hoping…"

"Are you okay?" I asked. "I mean, other than being nervous?"

She stepped forward and took hold of the front of my shirt with both hands in a gentle grip like the one she had used to get my attention. "Would you be willing to…sit in the front row when I sing?"

So she needed morale support, huh? "I'll…do my best, but I can't promise anything." A smile crept onto my face. "I've really been looking forward to hearing your new song."

Her blush deepened and spread. "It…makes me very happy to hear you say that, Okazaki-senpai."

I reached out and laid a hand on top of her head. "You'll do great, Nishina," I told her. "I believe in you. You'll do great and your parents will be proud."

"You…You really think so?" she asked, looking up at me with wide eyes.

"Yeah," I said, ruffling her silky smooth hair a little. "Just don't think about being afraid and you'll do great."

As she thanked me before running off to get ready, I decided then and there that not only would I try to sit in the front row, but I would sit in the front row and in the center; I really wanted to be there for her.


I hurried into the gym as the group before the Theater Club finished their act. I pushed my way through the oncoming crowd to the front row and, hopefully, the center seat.

"Yes!" I gasped as I fell into the hard-won 'front-and-center' seat, ignoring the amused looks of the people around me. "Made it."

There wasn't much to see with the curtains closed, but they opened a few minutes later to reveal Furukawa in some kind of dress that had several layers of blue and white and looked like it was from a temple.

"If you'd like…shall I take you…to the place where wishes come true?"

I smiled as I remember her reciting that line to me a long time ago…or was it recently? It seemed like ever since I got caught up in Kotomi's situation, and then Nishina's, time had gotten all out-of-whack.

The Theater Club's play was a short one, about a girl brought to a world where nobody lived except Furukawa's character. Together they tried to make friends out of the junk that littered the world, but only one came to life. It was strange, though; for some reason the play reminded me of a dream that I could barely remember, kinda like when a word is on the tip of the tongue but can't be remembered properly.

Kotomi's performance as the girl being brought to the desolate world was really good, and when the play was over I got to my feet with the rest of the audience and clapped as the members of the Theater Club bowed.

People started to leave, and I remembered that Kotomi wanted to sit with me for Nishina's performance; unfortunately I didn't have anything to put in either of the seats next to me, so I tried putting my hand on one of them and smiling apologetically at anyone who came to the front row.

Fortunately my plan worked, and Kotomi hurried in a few minutes later and plopped into the seat next to me. "Thank goodness!"

"Yeah, I was afraid that I'd have to give up the seat," I said. "Thanks for hurrying. Oh, and good job up there."

"Thank you…and thank you for holding the seat for me," she replied, still sounding a little out-of-breath.

"No problem."

She looked around us. "I was surprised to see you in the front row. I thought you would be more likely to sit at the side or in the back."

Hoo boy. "Well…the truth is…Nishina asked me to sit here. I think it's because she's nervous and wanted to see a friendly face. Since her friends will be up there with her…"

"Morale support?"

"Something like that."

She nodded once. "I believe I understand."

Relieved, I settled back in my seat. Kotomi also settled into her seat, though she also settled against my arm, her head resting against my shoulder.

A few minutes later the curtains parted again, revealing Nishina and the other members of the Chorus Club, including the two new girls. My gaze was immediately drawn to Nishina's face, and she smiled as she saw me, her smile faltering as she looked slightly to my right, where Kotomi snuggled against my arm. I waved my free hand to try to let her know that it was okay and her smile returned, though she still looked a little anxious.

All of the girls wore white dresses, though even I could tell that they weren't the same style. Still, to learn all that English for a song and be able to coordinate their outfits…I was impressed.

Nishina looked offstage to her left and nodded before returning her gaze to the audience. A few moments later a semi-familiar tune started, and the five girls began to sway to the music. It took them a moment to get themselves moving in the same direction but, as far as I could tell, they recovered nicely.

Their microphones went up to their mouths, and:

*"Look in my eyes
And tell me you love me
Tell me you love me
Or darling I'll be gone
Gone, gone, gone, gone…"*

I cringed as one of the backup singers' timing was off on the last part, but the audience didn't seem to mind as they…got to their feet and cheered? Fortunately the sound system was high enough that I could still hear the singers over the noise and, after nudging Kotomi's head off my shoulder, we got to our feet and applauded along with everyone else. Before long, I stopped clapping so I could hear Nishina better. She looked down at me and smiled as she started her solo.

*"You still got time
So make up your mind
What's it to be
Do you want me…"*

I felt a chill run through my body; it felt like she was singing her lines to me. It had to be my imagination, but I couldn't think of any reason why I'd imagine stuff like that.

*"I don't need much
I need a touch
Come and love me, please
Or, darling, set me free…"*

I could almost feel the rest of the world fading away as Nishina and I locked eyes, her long, blue hair swaying with her movements and framing her perfect face. I could still hear the cheers of everyone around me, but they seemed so far away, like they were on the other end of a phone call.

I didn't realize that the song had ended until I felt a soft touch to my shoulder, and blinked before looking over to see Kotomi watching me with a worried look. "Tomoya-kun, are you okay?"

"Yeah, sorry," I said as the crowd roared and the Chorus Club bowed. "I guess I was really into the song." My attention was then drawn to a man, a woman, and a boy about middle-school age, all approaching the stage, and I realized that they must have been Nishina's family. I looked back to the stage to see Nishina with her hands over her mouth and tears in her eyes as she saw them.

As the crowd started to leave the gym, she slowly made her way down the stairs at the end of the stage nearest the family and stood before them with her hands folded before her. I knew everything would be all right when the man and the woman both reached out and hugged her, with tears streaming down their faces as well.

As much as I wanted to go over and congratulate her, I didn't want to get in the way of their 'family moment', so I turned to follow Kotomi out of the gym. As I did, though, I saw her look my way out of the corner of my eye, so I gave her a smile and an awkward 'victory' sign before ducking out the door.

When I got outside, though, I couldn't help myself; I pumped my fist. "YES!"