Chapter 9 I'm Still Here
Saki's POV

After we had lunch, Airi and Ena went to the bathrooms while Ichika and I waited for them outside.

"How are you feeling, Saki", she asked.

"I'm feeling much better after eating", I replied.

"I wasn't talking about how you were feeling physically", Ichika revealed. "I noticed that you've seemed kind of down ever since we were at the trampoline dome. Saki, are you okay?"

After being asked his, I sighed before revealing what was upsetting me.

"When we were jumping together at the Trampoline Dome, it reminded me of when we used to go there with Hona-Chan and Shiho-Chan."

"Oh", Ichika said, now understanding what was upsetting me.

"When I got out of the hospital, I was hoping that we could all pick up right where we left off", I revealed. "And, I was really hoping that we would all get to be in a band together like we tried to back then. But…it's seems like Hona-Chan and Shiho-Chan are busy with their own things now, huh?"

"Yeah", Ichika agreed sadly.

"Ichi-Chan", I started. "Please don't tell Airi-Senpai and Ena-Senpai about this. I don't wanna ruin the mood."

"Okay", Ichika said. "I won't tell them."

"Thanks, Ichi-Chan", I said.

Then, Airi and Ena walked up to us.

"All done", the former said.

"What should we do now", Ena asked.

"Apparently, there's this new group that performs shows at the Wonder Stage", I revealed. "They have a show that's starting soon, so let's go check them out!"

…

We were now all sitting down at the Wonder Stage. After waiting for a bit, the show began, and four girls walked onto the stage.

"Ichi-Chan, Isn't that Kiritani-San", I asked.

'It is", Ichika replied.

"You know Kiritani Haruka", Airi asked.

"She's in the same class as Saki and I", Ichika revealed.

"How do you know her, Airi", Ena asked.

"She was part of a nationally-acclaimed idol group", Airi revealed. "But not too long ago, the group disbanded and she retired from being an idol. So, I guess this is what she's doing now?"

"Asahina-Senpai is in the show too", Ichika added. "The one with the purple hair."

"You know her, Ichi-Chan", I asked.

"We're both class representatives, so we sometimes meet up together for that", Ichika revealed.

"I kinda know her too", Airi revealed. "She's in the archery club with a friend of mine."

"Huh? It's a small world, isn't it", Ena asked. "Anyway, let's quiet down and watch the show."

…

The show had reached its climax, and it was an emotional at that.

It turned out that Mafuyu's character was actually the villain all along! And yet, Emu's character still wanted to help her.

"Don't worry, Mafuyu-Chan", she started. "Everything is going to be…"

"Enough", Mafuyu suddenly yelled. "Everything is going to be okay? Don't lie to me!"

"I'm not lying", Emu stated. "I mean it! Everything will be okay!"

"How", Mafuyu asked angrily. "I've tried everything I could think of to feel something, anything! But nothing works! I'm tired! I just…I just want to disappear!"

When Mafuyu said this…I could feel tears forming in my eyes.

When I was in the hospital, so many people told me that just keep hanging in there and that everything was going to be okay. I never told anyone this, but there were times where I didn't believe them. There where times when…I thought it would be better if I just…

"Don't say that, Mafuyu! Don't say that you want to disappear!"

After saying this, Emu ran up to Mafuyu and held her hands tightly in her own.

"I know that things can get hard, and that you may feel that it may be better to just disappear. But…Mafuyu-Chan, you're still here, aren't you? That alone is a reason to smile!"

After Emu said this, Mafuyu looked at her in shock.

"Me still being here…is a reason to smile", she asked. "Is that truly enough?"

"It doesn't matter how big or small it is", Emu stated. "If you have any reason at all to smile, then that is enough to keep going! To not disappear!"

With this, I couldn't keep my emotions in anymore…and tears started falling from my eyes.

"Saki, are you okay? You're crying!"

After being asked this, I wiped away my tears…and gave Ichika a big smile.

"Don't worry", I reassured. "I'm okay."

…

The show had ended, and we were walking through the park.

"What did you guys all think of the show", Ichika asked.

"I'm usually not into these type of cheesy stories with 'everything will be okay' messages", Ena revealed. "But, I actually liked this one."

"I like it too", Airi said. "And…I'm glad for Kiritani. I guess she's a lot like me, actually."

"What do you mean, Airi-Senpai", I asked.

"We both quit being idols. But…we both managed to find other ways to spread hope to others."

Hearing Airi say this made me happy.

"Anyway, Ena started. "It's gonna get dark soon, so maybe we should call it a day?"

"Not yet", I said. "There's one more thing we need to do!"

"Which is", Ichika asked.

"Go to the gift shop!"

…

We were now looking through the gift shop.

"Guys", I called out. "Look at these cute Phenny keychains!"

"They are really cute", Airi agreed.

"Why don't we all get one", Ena suggested.

"Good idea, Ena-Senpai", I said. "Then we can all be matching!"

With that, we all grabbed a keychain.

As we held them up, a memory of buying matching keychains with my friends flashed through my mind.

I was about to get sad again, but then…I remembered Emu's words from the show.

"You're still here, aren't you? That alone is a reason to smile!"

When I remembered these words, a newfound resolve came to me.

I'm not going to spend my time being sad about the things I cannot change. I'm still here, so I am going to smile. And I am going to live my life to the fullest!