Artemis/Band Story/Chapter 8

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**Overcoming Fear** is the eighth chapter of Artemis's First Band Story.

## Synopsis

Fuyu's words caused Ayaka to break down, what would Ayaka's next step will be..?

## Transcripts

[Streets, After School]

(Ayaka continues running back home while crying)

**Ayaka** : (I'm sorry.....Bestisia.....)

\*BUMP\*

**Ayaka** : Ow....ow...huh?

**Blond Girl** : Ow...ow....Hmm?

**Ayaka** : Ah, I'm sorry! I should have paid...attention to where I'm walking...

**Blond Girl** : Hmm.....?

**Ayaka** : W-what's wrong?

**Blond Girl** : Why are you crying?

**Ayaka** : H-huh? (casually wipes tears) N-No, I'm not! It must have been your imagination.

**Blond Girl** : Your eyes.....they're swollen, though....

**Ayaka** : L-like I said, it's okay! I have to go home, now! I'm sorry for crashing into you!!

**Blond Girl** : H-Hey....!

(Ayaka runs away, then two girls appear)

**Girl With A Ponytail** : What's wrong, Izayoi?

**Izayoi Okumura** : Ah, nothing. I just bumped into someone just now.

**Girl in Large Spectacles** : A-are you okay? Do you sustain any injuries?

**Izayoi** : It's okay, Sayaka-chan. I'm perfectly fine!

**Sayaka Tanimura** : Do you know who bumped into you, then?

**Izayoi** : It was a girl wearing the same uniform as ours. She has long grey hair.

**Sayaka** : Oh! Then, that's probably Ayaka Saito-chan from Class 2-C!

**Izayoi** : Oh.....I wonder why was she crying....

**Sayaka** : Eh?! She was crying....?!

**Girl in Ponytail** : Was she being bullied?! Let's find the perpetrator real quick!

**Izayoi** : Calm down, Fumino-chan. She's probably crying because of other reasons.

**Fumino Shirokage** : .....If you say so.

[Ayaka's Home, Afternoon]

**Ayaka** : ...I'm home.

**Ayaka's Father** : Oh, you're home. Welcome home. Is everything okay at school?

**Ayaka** : It's no different like any other day.

**Ayaka's Father** : Oh right, there's a package sent from Kyushu that just came today.

**Ayaka** : ....!!

(Ayaka rushes to take the package and she goes to her room)

**Ayaka** : From Kyushu....? But....but how-

(Ayaka slowly opens the package carefully)

**Ayaka** : There seems to be a lot of stuff inside....

(She opens the cardboard box to find.......five letters and a pair of old drumsticks)

**Ayaka** : The drumsticks I used to own....and several letters...?

(She starts to look at the description of each letters, and she sorts it out by order)

**Ayaka** : .....

(She opens the first letter)

**First Letter** : Good day, Ayaka. You know, ever since you moved from Kyushu, we've never actually found a way to contact you properly. So, we asked our parents and their connections to find you and your parents, so that our letters could reach you! We prepared these five letters so that you could think of it as us! Even if we're back in Kyushu, we will always support you for whatever you're doing!

**Ayaka** : Everyone......\*sobs\*

**First Letter** : On the other four letters, are items that are most important to us and we're entrusting them to you because we know that you will never, ever forget about us! Now, Ayaka, please open the letter from a clockwise direction! - Kijinuma, Tanizaki, Keita and Sora

(Ayaka puts down the first letter and opens the second letter)

**Ayaka** : .....There's something inside the second one.

(Ayaka takes out a small scarecrow doll)

**Ayaka** : This doll.......it's Kijinuma's....!

(Ayaka reads the second letter)

**Second** **Letter** : Do you still remember the time where we would constantly fight over this doll? Not going to lie now, but those times were one of the best times of my life, Ayaka. Someday, I promise you, I'll come back for that doll......and you, too. - Kijinuma Moriyama

**Ayaka** : Moriyama-kun........I'll keep this doll forever, I promise!

(Ayaka's Father and Mother looks at Ayaka, with Ayaka's complete attention onto the things her friends sent her.)

(She continues to the third letter, and she takes out a free voucher to a ramen shop and she reads the letter)

**Third** **Letter** : Hey, Ayaka! Remember when all five of us are supposed to have ramen together? It's a bit sad that you have to move all of a sudden, but I kept your voucher for memories sake! I miss you, Ayaka....and all of us too....Therefore, we'll be waiting if you'll reply back to this message. - Tanizaki Ueyama

**Ayaka** : Tani-chan.....you never change.....

(Ayaka hugs the letter while crying)

**Ayaka's Parents** : ......

(She continues to the fourth letter, where she takes out a folded and broken white mask)

**Ayaka** : This is...!

(She quickly checks the contents of the fourth letter)

**Fourth Letter** : Hey, Ranger of the White Swan! Long time no see, huh? It's been a long while since I called you by that name, huh? Well, ever since you, our champion, moved away, it's just not the same game without you... But, putting that aside, Kyushu has been really improving lately. Someday, come back and find us! Otherwise, we'll go visit you instead! Fufufu....be ready, for the grace of the Black Knight will raze Kotō's peace! - Mega Twister Omega Dark Knight a.k.a. Keita Bakuren

**Ayaka** : Haha....Keita-kun....

(Ayaka closes the fourth letter and puts the mask away, and then she opens the final letter)

**Ayaka** : This...

(Ayaka takes out a group picture of five friends, with Ayaka in it)

**Ayaka** : Everyone......

(She then reads the final letter)

**Fifth Letter** : .....It's been a while, isn't it Ayaka? Everyone misses you..... I have some great news, though.... I'm fully recovered from my disease. My life is no longer threatened by anything, and I suppose it's thanks to everyone, and of course, your prayers.....Hey, remember that time when you said we should be a musical duo...? I want you to continue that path with somebody else, because even though I am completely healed, my hands would have to recover for a long time.... So, even if everyone isn't there to support you, I hope you'll carry on our torch and move forward, Ayaka... We love you.....And we miss you so much...... - Sora Takanoyama

**Ayaka** : Sora-chan......is fully healed....? Thank goodness......thank goodness.....

(Ayaka starts crying)

**Ayaka** : Everyone......I'm confused......W-what.....what should I do?

(At that moment, Ayaka's father and mother came in and hugged her)

**Ayaka** : Wha-?! Papa!? Mama?!

**Ayaka's Father** : Forgive us, Ayaka! We have been too focused on making ourselves a better family, that we forgot about your happiness!

**Ayaka's Mother** : Despite knowing your relationship with your friends back in Kyushu, we keep on forcing you to move away! We're very sorry for everything that we've done, Ayaka!

**Ayaka** : No......What are you two talking about....Stop.....Papa and Mama.....you're not guilty......I'm the one who-

**Ayaka** : ...!!

(flashback starts)

**Bestisia** : I was wondering if....you could join our band!

**Bestisia** : Good luck, Saito-san.

**Fuyu** : Do you think your friends would like it if they saw you in such a miserable state?

**Sora's Letter** : Hey, remember that time when you said we should be a musical duo...?

**Sora's Letter** : I want you to continue that path with somebody else.

**Fuyu** : You....

**Fuyu** : ....really ought to stop blaming yourself.

(flashback ends)

**Ayaka** : I.......

(Ayaka hugs her father and mother)

**Ayaka** : It's.....alright...now.....It's....okay.....

**Ayaka** : I forgive.....you both.....Papa.....Mama.....

(Ayaka stands up while holding the drumsticks her friends gave her)

**Ayaka** : I know what to do now....

**Ayaka's Father** **& Mother** : Eh?

**Ayaka** : It's okay now...

[Ayaka's Home, Nighttime]

**Ayaka** : ........

**Ayaka** : (It's silent......)

\*Bzzzzt\*

**Ayaka** : A text message?

**Text Message** : Saito-san...? I got hold of your contact number from our class's information. I was worried about you....I'm sorry about what happened this afternoon. You might not reply to this, but....have a good night.

**Ayaka** : Bestisia....

**Ayaka's Text Message** : I'm fine now, Bestisia. No worries.

**Ayaka** : .....

\*Bzzt\*

**Bestisia's Text Message** : Really?! Oh, Thank goodness!!

**Ayaka's Text Message** : Well, for tomorrow.....

**Bestisia's Text Message** : Yes?

**Ayaka's Text Message** : Tell Fuyu I'm coming.

**Bestisia's Text Message** : Yes, I will!

**Ayaka's Text Message** : and, Bestisia.....

**Bestisia's Text Message** : ?

**Ayaka's Text Message** : Thank you......so much.

**Bestisia's Text Message** : Anytime!

**Ayaka** : ......

**Ayaka** : I was so stupid......

**Ayaka** : That I didn't notice my future is already in my grasp.....

**Ayaka** : Thank you for bringing me to the right path, and for realising my mistakes....

**Ayaka** : Fuyu, Bestisia, and also.....

(Ayaka holds the five letters and her old drumsticks)

**Ayaka** : Everyone.....

(Ayaka looks up to the night sky)

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