Fuutarou/Miku:"Ah!"
Fuutarou and Miku were about to enter the same building that housed the agency that ichika was a part of.
Fuutarou:"Miku, I assume you're here for the same reason I am."
Miku:"Of course, I have to try to get Ichika back!"
…
Miku and Fuutarou were looking for Director Oda's room.
Miku:"I'm happy you felt the same, I don't know if she would have listened to me alone."
Fuutarou:"I couldn't believe that your dad would just tell me like that after everything we've gone through. Like hell I'll take it lying down."
Miku smiled.
Miku:"You fought back, huh?"
Fuutarou:"I talked right back to him. Seeing as he didn't fire me right then and there, maybe he wants her to come back as well, somewhere inside that soulless body."
Miku:"I'm sure he understands the good you've given us."
Fuutarou:"...Where are the others?"
Miku:"...Itsuki and Yotsuba agree with her decision, and despite my attempts, Nino is simply ignoring the problem."
Fuutarou:"Damn, so we're the minority. Hopefully my plan works."
Miku:"What's your plan?"
Fuutarou takes out an envelope.
Fuutarou:"I haven't spent the money I've received from my part time job in hopes to buy Raiha something great. But...I'll have to make her wait just a little more."
Miku:"Haha, you too, huh?"
Fuutarou:"What?"
Miku takes out an envelope as well.
Miku:"I didn't really know what to do with this, so I thought I'd use it as a last resort. I didn't want to use dad's money in this situation, it wouldn't feel genuine. I'm more surprised you had that idea as well, Fuutarou."
Fuutarou turns away.
Fuutarou:"...I'm just...mad a fifth of my paycheck might disappear, that's all."
Miku:"Sure, let's go with that for now."
Fuutarou:"H-Hey!"
Fuutarou noticed Miku was shaking. Miku was still anxious on how to confront Ichika.
Fuutarou:"Do you know why...Ichika chose to quit school?"
Miku:"She tried giving us a reason being her acting career, but...I don't believe she really meant what she said. How about you, Fuutarou…? Why are you trying to stop Ichika?"
Fuutarou:"...I want you girls to graduate together."
Miku:"Is that all?"
Fuutarou looks back at Miku, who had stopped walking. He began to scratch his head.
…
Oda Talent Productions
Fuutarou and Miku sat on a sofa in front of Director Oda and Ichika. Miku was looking down while Fuutarou tried putting on a confident smile.
Fuutarou:"Yo, how's Kiku doing?"
Ichika:"Fuutarou-kun…"
Oda:"Fufufu...I'm happy you've finally decided to join my production company! Despite your poor showing last time, we can make something work with enough training."
Fuutarou:"Nope. That's not why I'm here. You know, don't you? This is about Ichika…I want you to reconsider having Ichika drop out of school."
Oda:"You're asking for the impossible. She has become someone much greater than you can imagine. With her popularity, it would be far too difficult to continue going to school like normal. Not to mention, this is something she decided, I will respect it…"
Oda looked towards a sulking Ichika. With a sigh, he turned back to Fuutarou.
Fuutarou:"Dang, that sure well, I'll give up."
Oda:"Eh-?"
Fuutarou:"Now let's turn this into a matter of business."
Oda:"What are you going on about?"
Fuutarou:"I'm making an independent artsy fartsy film."
Ichika:"!?"
Fuutarou:"The premise revolves around a student and a private tutor. It's a simple shoot. To really get into character. There's a part in the script they'll continue to study in front of a camera for three hours. I'll be the director and I shall play the role of the tutor. I propose the idea that the famous Nakano Ichika take part in my project."
Miku takes out the two envelopes.
Miku:"W-We'll fund the whole project!"
Oda:"Really...You guys are…"
Ichika:"...Fuutarou-kun...Why are you going this far…"
Fuutarou:"...I'm gonna be blunt, I'm pissed...When I originally quit tutoring, it was you guys that brought me back. But now, you're the one that's trying to quit. The five of you graduating together with massive smiles on your faces, I won't settle for less! That's all there is to it."
…
Miku:"That's only half right."
Fuutarou:"!?"
Miku:"He's trying to thank you."
Fuutarou:"O-Oi, Miku!"
Miku:"We could only rehire Fuutarou thanks to your work. So he wanted to thank you."
Fuutarou:"I-I told you not to say that!"
Ichika can only look on as Fuutarou pulls on Miku's cheek in embarrassment.
Ichika:"Fuutarou-kun...Please tell me...What is the point of studying and going to school at this point?"
Fuutarou stops, he tries to cover his face as he continues.
Fuutarou:"Well, uh...It's so we can enjoy our spring of youth. That's something you told me, isn't it?"
Ichika:"..."
Fuutarou:"When we went to that island...I had a lot of fun. To think I would enjoy something that up until recently, I believed was worthless. But, it's never too late to make amends. These things can only be done now, before we take our step into adulthood. That includes you. But that depends on your feelings. I won't accept any half-hearted responses. But, if you truly believe you can't find what you want at school, then hire me."
Fuutarou puts the envelopes forward before Oda takes them out of his hand.
Fuutarou:"!?"
Oda:"Might as well check...This is not nearly enough."
Fuutarou:"What!? That's multiple months of work from two people!"
Oda:"Please don't underestimate the price of our star actress."
Fuutarou stays quiet before slowly turning to Ichika.
Fuutarou:"I-Ichika, can I pay you in full later? I'll pay you back with my tutor money…"
…
Ichika:"Pfft. Ahahaha! How lame! Even though you were trying so hard to be cool, now you're all nervous."
Miku:"...We're not great at acting cool, are we?"
Fuutarou:"..."
Ichika went up to Fuutarou and Miku and hugged them.
Miku:"Ichika…"
Fuutarou:"You…"
Ichika:"I'm so happy you care so much, but I'm sorry."
Miku:"W-We'll find a way to get the money quicker!"
Fuutarou:"Y-Yeah, just give us a little bit of time."
Ichika:"It's not about the money."
Fuutarou:"Huh?"
Oda:"Here's your money. I checked just in case to humor you, but too many favors would need to be made for it to work. You see, Ichika-kun has already agreed to take part in a very important role for the next blockbuster, it will be a project that takes multiple months. At the earliest, she'll be done in November."
Miku:"What!? That means you were already a part of that even before you told us about leaving. Why?"
Ichika:"...Sorry, I guess I was in a rush."
Fuutarou develops a scowl.
Ichika:"Don't look at me like that."
Oda:"Well, if that's all, we'll have to politely ask you to leave."
…
Fuutarou and Miku are walking back out. Miku, seeing the defeat on Fuutarou's face, grabs his sleeve.
Miku:"Are you going to give up?"
Fuutarou:"...Are you?"
Miku shakes her head.
Miku:"I might be invading her privacy, but I can't just sit by while she does this. I'm not against...the idea of moving away for the sake of your dream, but the pain and uncertainty on her face...It doesn't feel right."
Fuutarou:"...You're right. Let's find another way."
Miku:"Yeah, let's bring her back together."
…
Ichika lays down on the sofa, exhausted.
Oda:"Ichika, are you sure about this?"
Ichika:"Not you too, manager."
Oda:"My first priority is to make sure that my workers are happy. If I can't manage that, I'm not only a failure as your manager but as a person."
Ichika:"..."
Oda:"Well, we'll proceed as normal for now. Just let me know if you change your mind and I'll take responsibility for everything."
Ichika simply covered her eyes.
…
…
It was dark. Itsuki was walking alone. She eventually stopped and looked up. She was back at the graveyard that housed their mother. She went to the check-in to get permission, and was surprised to see two familiar faces. Wearing the hairpin and two contacts, it was Yae and Sandy, the two workers from the shop in Umihotaru.
Itsuki:"It's you two!"
Sandy:"Oh, ho~w lovely, It's you again. Yae, take off your ear plugs please."
Sandy takes off one of her plugs, causing her to jolt back.
Yae:"My ears! I've told you not to do that."
Sandy:"Sorry, but we've got a visitor."
Itsuki:"It's a surprise to see you here, you weren't here last time."
Yae:"We've recently started working part time here. In fact, we just started our shifts like 10 minutes ago."
Sandy:"We take a lot of odd jobs, like when we worked at that shop. This is just another job."
Yae:"We're usually paid well enough, but we made a mistake for our friend's birthday and ended up ordering 130 expensive cakes."
Itsuki:"R-Really?"
Yae:"Yep, so now we have to make up for it. Here, we have one in the mini fridge. We're practically giving them away.
Itsuki:"I don't know if I should…But I'll take it, it wouldn't be good to reject such generosity.."
Yae:"So what brings you here?"
Itsuki:"I'm here to visit someone."
Yae:"Alright, just sign up here."
Sandy:"Itsuki-chan, huh? A great name."
Itsuki:"Thank you."
…
Itsuki:"I'm back, mom."
Itsuki began to pray.
Itsuki:"I wonder if I'll ever be like you."
As Itsuki was praying, she heard footsteps behind her. She saw that it was a familiar woman wearing a suit, it was Itsuki's cram school teacher, Shimoda.
End of Chapter 29
