Afterglow/Band Story/Chapter 11

The Sun Will Rise
*Moca finds Ran looking at the sunset. What does Ran confide in Moca?*

 The Next Day
 School Path
**Tomoe**Mm, so bright...**Tomoe**(What a sunset. It reminds me of middle school, when the five of us would sit up on the roof watching it together.)**Tomoe**(... Even when we're apart like this, I'm still thinking of the others. I guess when you spend as much time together as we have...)**Tomoe**(I should probably apologize. To Himari, to Moca... and to Ran.)**Tomoe**Hey, Himari? The sunset looks beautiful right now. Take a look... Oh, you already were? Haha... just the same as me.**Tomoe**... I wonder if Ran and Moca are watching it too.

 Haneoka Girls' Academy - Roof
**Moca**(If I know Ran, she'll definitely be up here... ... And there she is.)**Moca**(But... what do I say? "What a nice sunset," or something? No~, that's so stupid~...)**Ran**... Moca?**Moca**...! Ahh~, you found me~. I applaud your keen senses, my dear~.**Ran**... What are you talking about? Come over here.**Moca**Okay, I will.**Moca**I haven't been up here in so long~.**Moca**All my middle school memories are of stuff that happened up here... We came almost every day after we formed the band~.**Moca**It really does have the best sunset view, huh. Hey Ran, do you remember that sunset after our middle school festival performance?**Ran**... Yeah.**Moca**That school festival was our debut show, huh~. I remember it perfectly.**Ran**It was so different to rehearsals. There was our sound, and then the sound of the crowd, all mixed in together... It was like the song had come alive...**Ran**I never imagined it would be like that... I know it sounds cheesy, but it made me realize that's what a real "live" show should be...**Moca**I think we all felt something after that show~. We all sat here crying together, watching the sun set. Hii-chan shouting "I'll never forget this moment!" and stuff.**Moca**... I guess we were all kids back then~.**Ran**Never forget this moment, huh... I never forgot it either. That show, that sunset... Even everyone's faces, all crying together.**Moca**You can go ahead and forget my crying face~.**Ran**Definitely not.**Moca**Didn't think so~.

**Ran**... I hope we can all watch the sunset again together some day...**Moca**... Ran.**Ran**... Do you think we will?**Moca**Yeah. I do.**Ran**......**Ran**I want to stay with this band. I don't want to give up.**Moca**......**Ran**Hearing Tomoe say all those things made me realize. I have been running away... from my dad, from flower arranging... even from the band.**Ran**... I didn't want to hear it, so I just ran away... I guess Tomoe really hit a nerve with me. She's sharp, I'll give her that.**Ran**I should apologize to her. To Himari and Tsugu, too. And... to my dad as well.**Moca**Yeah.**Ran**... It's so easy saying all of this in front of you, Moca. Why can't I say it to other people, too?**Moca**Maybe you don't think of me as a person~?**Ran**Haha, maybe you're right.**Moca**Wow~, now that's mean~.**Ran**I'm just kidding... Thanks, Moca. You know... for always being there.**Moca**Being there...**Ran**Moca?**Moca**Ahh~, I can't deal with your praise~. You'll make me blush.**Ran**... I'll make sure never to praise or even thank you again, then.**Moca**Now hold on a minute~. I feed on compliments, you know~.**Ran**I know, I know. Let's go and visit Tsugu tomorrow. I think I'd like to talk to her, too.**Moca**Yeah. Good idea~.**Ran**It's a date, then.**Moca**The sun looks so big tonight... Don't they say a big, orange sunset means clear skies the next day~?**Moca**I guess tomorrow's gonna be sunny then... I think it'll be a good day, Ran.**Ran**Yeah.