In the end, Tsuzuki Chihiro really did end up following her grandmother and little sister to the so-called cemetery.
Honestly, even Chihiro herself was a bit dumbfounded—she hadn’t expected her grandmother to actually agree.
After all, it wasn’t like her current relationship with Raana was anything particularly close.
At most, she had covered for a runaway girl’s unpaid bill and, over the span of two short days, occasionally scooped Raana up into her arms like a kitten when she got tired of playing guitar, gently stroking her head.
—Just like she used to.
And while she was happy to be able to take care of her sister again, the more she thought about it, the more something felt… off.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that Raana had already figured something out—she just wasn’t saying it out loud.
As the three of them made their way to the cemetery, Tsuzuki Chihiro found herself walking with Raana clinging to her arm, while their grandmother asked her a series of questions.
Nothing particularly difficult to answer—just things about school, hobbies, and the band.
Naturally, Chihiro took what she had learned about Soyo over the past few days and swapped in her own personal details as she responded.
She told them she attended Tsukinomori, played bass in the wind ensemble, and shared their band’s current goals—including how everyone had been feeling since Raana left.
It seemed like she was the one being questioned, but in reality, the conversation revolved around Raana.
Just like in her memories, her grandmother’s love for her granddaughter hadn’t changed at all.
“We’re here.”
After navigating through the cemetery’s slopes and pathways, the three of them finally arrived at a large tree.
It was a picturesque hillside, far from a chaotic burial ground. The tombstones, though closely arranged, were neatly aligned, giving the place a sense of quiet order.
And so, carrying a secret she couldn’t voice, Tsuzuki Chihiro followed them to the gravesite—her parents’ grave.
“…This is…”
As an “outsider,” Tsuzuki Chihiro knew she had to say something.
She couldn’t act like she already knew everything, but she also couldn’t seem completely indifferent to Raana’s circumstances.
She had to ask about things she herself wasn’t sure of—
As if she were truly a stranger.
“Ah, this is my son and daughter-in-law’s grave. They weren’t Raana’s parents, but Raana was always very close with their child. That child was exceptional from a young age—Raana saw them as her role model.”
“……”
“But a few years ago, something tragic happened. Their family of three got into an accident in England… and they never came back.”
Chihiro froze.
She was so stunned that she didn’t even notice Raana’s eyes growing red at her side.
Wait—
She didn’t mishear that, did she?
She… died?
“But her sister’s body was never found, so her name isn’t here. The police officially declared her deceased, and though we struggled to accept it at first… in the end, we had no choice but to face reality.”
“Actually, when I first saw you, Soyo, I almost thought Chihiro had come back. No wonder Raana is so attached to you.”
Tsuzuki Shifune had spoken all this to share “Soyo’s” supposed past—things she might not have known.
And she had deliberately slipped in that last remark, hoping it would make the girl realize the truth—
That Raana’s affection for her wasn’t just about her.
It was because she was unknowingly carrying the weight of someone who had already passed away—Tsuzuki Chihiro.
But when Shifune saw the girl’s widened pupils, the way disbelief flickered across her face as she struggled to keep her emotions in check—
She realized.
This child has figured it out.
However—
Chihiro’s next words nearly made her grandmother lose her footing.
“Grandma, actually… the Tsuzuki Chihiro you’re talking about… isn’t dead. She’s working as a maid at my house.”
“…What?”
—
Meanwhile, over at RiNG’s recording studio—
The air was thick with tension.
The reason?
Taki had, without consulting anyone, gone ahead and scheduled their next live performance with Soyo.
“There’s no way we can be ready in time!”
The first to protest was, of course, Anon.
After all, she was the only one who’d get this worked up about it.
“There are only four days left! Even if we count Sunday, that’s just five days.”
“None of us are prepared yet. Sure, we already have Sky Drop, but that song’s way too fast—”
“That just means you haven’t practiced enough.”
Perfect.
Soyo stifled a laugh at the exchange.
On one hand, she felt like an absolute sinner.
On the other, she couldn’t help but be excited watching Taki and Anon go at it.
“I have been practicing!”
What surprised Soyo, though, was that Anon wasn’t immediately lashing out.
Instead, she murmured, sounding more troubled than angry:
“But… having to learn a new song in such a short time and performing it live…”
“You’re mistaken. Not just one song—two.”
“……”
Here it comes.
From her spot on the sidelines, Nagasaki Soyo struggled to keep the corners of her lips from curling up.
She had to hold back—now wasn’t the time to laugh.
“Are you insane?!”
After a brief moment of stunned silence, Anon finally exploded.
“One song is already impossible! There’s no way we can get two done in time!”
“……”
Surprisingly, after getting scolded like that, Taki didn’t snap back.
Instead, she paused and turned toward Tomori.
“Tomori… I want to do a live.”
“…Huh?”
Not just Tomori—even Soyo was taken aback, staring at this Taki who suddenly seemed… different.
“When I first heard Tomori’s voice, it felt like she was singing for me.”
“The feelings I couldn’t put into words—she turned them into a song.”
…Wait a second.
Soyo recognized these words.
This was exactly what Taki had said to her in the last timeline.
Back then, she had pulled Soyo aside to tell her this as a response to Tomori’s self-doubt.
But in that timeline, Taki had never directly said it to Tomori.
“Tomori’s songs made me realize…”
“That someone like me—has the right to exist.”
“Taki…”
“That’s why I’m so happy we started this band again.”
“I know everyone must feel the same way.”
“But right now… we’re not even acting like a team.”
“What’s the point of this band if we keep drifting apart?”
“When we decided to start over, we promised to communicate with each other.”
“But now, all we’re doing is pulling away—”
Wait, what?
Soyo’s jaw nearly dropped.
Why did it feel like—
These were her lines?!
What the hell was going on?
Did someone else also get sent back in time?!
How was Taki suddenly not only voicing her true feelings to Tomori—
But also leading the whole band toward unity?!
T-This isn’t right!
“That’s why I want to do a live.”
“Ideally with two songs, but even one would be fine.”
“No matter what… we need a goal.”
“But Tomori already said she doesn’t want to do a live, didn’t she?”
…Wait a minute.
Soyo’s gaze shifted to Anon, who looked flustered.
Then, suddenly, her eyes lit up.
Oh, right… there’s still Anon!
Come on, Anon! You’re our last hope!
—
T/N: … I forgot what the song was called…
This is a fan translation of 素世同学，恭喜你被我优化了 by 杰克喵. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!
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