Chapter 194 – Resolve

By the time the snow finally began to ease, December 6th had arrived.

Even though some things had been said, the knot in Nijika’s heart still hadn’t been untangled.

Just last night, after muttering “don’t worry about it,” she hung up the phone on her own.

Right now, Nijika’s mood was heavy.

Maybe… she was trying to avoid him, shutting herself off from any more conversation.

And as for Aoki?

After hearing Nijika’s sobs last night, he too wasn’t sure how to face her anymore.

What words could he use to convince her to stop tormenting herself with needless pain?

What reason could he give her to not dwell on things that only made her sadder?

Aoki had no clear answers.
But either way—

They would have to see each other again.

And Kei had no intention of letting Kessoku Band fall apart.

So—
Whether it was conflict, misunderstanding, or some other tangled emotion… Kei knew that, in the end, he would have to be the one to find a way through it.

Running away might spare him a little heartache, but it would never solve anything.

————————————————————————

Early December.

Today was the day they’d scheduled the livestream recording with KL Productions.

He had already agreed with the girls of Kessoku Band to meet at the studio KL had prepared.

The appointed time was four in the afternoon, so Kei left home a little after three-thirty.

The train rocked gently as he stared out the window, mind drifting through the mess of recent events.

Once again, he reminded himself:

‘These are things you can’t avoid.’

He always tried to comfort himself with those words.

But sometimes… sometimes other feelings stirred in him.

He had never been the kind of person to believe in “dreams,” those hazy, intangible things.

And yet, if such things really existed—then, as a realist who believed firmly in effort first, reward later, Kei knew he would work toward them with everything he had.

But… did he truly have a dream of his own? Something he would dedicate himself to wholeheartedly, something he wanted to achieve no matter what?

Leaving Tottori behind, reaching for a better life.

Getting into Tokyo University, securing better opportunities.

Becoming a public servant, never having to worry about hunger again.

Those were goals, yes.

But never dreams.

So then—why?

He had the system at his back.

He had countless better paths he could’ve taken.

He wasn’t supposed to be someone who cared about sentiment.

By all logic, he should’ve been selfish, pragmatic, cold.

So why… even now… hadn’t he abandoned this path of music he wasn’t supposed to love?

The scenery outside blurred past the train window.

A few nameless birds perched on nearby power lines.

Far in the distance, Tokyo Tower rose into the sky, unchanged and unshaken.

Kei’s thoughts wandered endlessly, until the sudden lurch of the train stopping snapped him back.

He stood, ready to leave—

But before he could take a step, two young women, no older than twenty-five, edged cautiously toward him.

Even with his mask on, there were always fans sharp-eyed enough to recognize him.

The two girls blinked at him for a moment, and then their faces lit up with shock.

“Y-you’re really Suki-sensei?! Hello! We’re your fans! Um—could we please have your autograph?”

Aoki froze for half a second, then quickly collected himself and nodded.

“Sure.”

The girls eagerly pulled a pen from their bags and asked him to sign their earphones and phone cases.

When he finished, they bowed deeply, overflowing with gratitude.

Aoki shook his head slightly, brushing it off, and added a quiet:

“Thank you for always supporting me.”

And then—

He thought that would be the end of it.

But one of the girls hesitated, lips parting like she had something more to say.

Her uncertainty lasted only a few seconds before she pressed on, voice careful, almost timid:

“Um… Suki-sensei…” She looked straight at him, gathering courage.

“Lately online… there’s been a lot of talk about you. It seems like it’s affecting you a lot…”

“Hm?” Aoki tilted his head, a little puzzled.

He almost brushed it off, but there were still more than twenty minutes until the scheduled meet-up, so after a pause, he answered simply:

“I’m fine.”

“R-really? But… being an independent musician must be so hard. There are so many rumors spreading online about you… and about Kessoku Band.”

Her eyes sharpened with conviction.

“They say you should’ve chosen better bandmates for someone of your level… But I don’t think that’s fair.”

She clenched her fists, gaze unwavering.

“Suki-sensei, you must have had your reasons for choosing Kessoku Band. And besides—the girls have been improving so much.

I’ve been following you for a long time… I’ve seen how much the band has changed from the beginning to now. The difference is huge.”

“I believe… that effort should never be betrayed!”

The young woman’s eyes locked on Aoki as she spoke.

Her words caught him off guard.

Aoki stayed silent for a moment, wanting to nod and thank her sincerely for saying that.

But before he could, she drew in a deep breath and spoke again, this time with firm determination:

“O-of course, Suki-sensei—no matter what you decide in the end, I’ll always support you!”

“And—and also!”

“The people who deliberately attack you are just awful. Please, please don’t let them bring you down. You have to fight back! You absolutely will win!”

“If it’s you—I just know you can do it!”

“I’ve always believed it. Those rumors and lies will never be enough to defeat you!”

Her voice grew brighter, and then—

“Do your best sensei—!” she cheered, the syllables strange yet oddly familiar.

For a moment, Aoki was silent.

Then, after a few quiet seconds, he gave a small nod.

Looking at her with a rare, solemn expression, he answered, “…Yeah. Thank you.”

Sixteen minutes remained until the scheduled time.

As Aoki walked toward KL’s studio, his thoughts suddenly became sharper, clearer.

The truth was—he had always known his real feelings. They had never once been unclear.

He had simply let all the noise around him cloud his vision.

He didn’t need a dream.

He could be lost, uncertain, even doubtful.

But the reason he had chosen this path of music, the reason he had never once abandoned it, had always been just one thing:

When he first joined Kessoku Band, maybe he was only thinking about the money.
But after that… his goal had never wavered.

From the very beginning, there was only one thing he wanted to achieve—

“To make sure that the dreams the members of Kessoku Band carry in their hearts… will one day come true.”

When had that feeling first been born?

Aoki thought back—and at once, one vivid scene lit up in his memory.

A streetlight glowing softly.

A vending machine humming quietly.

And a girl’s eyes shining brilliantly in the night.

After handing him an orange-flavored juice, her voice rang clear and certain:

“I want to carry on senpai’s dream, and play in a band with everyone.”

That was it.

So no matter what—whether it was capital, rumors, or pressure from above.

Now, standing before the recording studio, Kei drew in a deep breath.

Just as that fan had said—

He had to win. He had to lead Kessoku Band onto the highest stage.

He understood what each of them wanted:

Ryo wanted to play music brimming with individuality.

Bocchi wanted the courage to stand before everyone without fear.

Kita wanted to stay with him, and to stay with the band forever.

And Nijika—

Nijika wanted to become the world’s number one drummer.

She wanted to answer her sister’s voice.

She wanted their starlight to shine on far more places.

So—

So there was no more room for hesitation, for overthinking, for gloom.

From here on, he would move forward without doubt.

He would do everything he could to understand Nijika’s feelings.

He would not run away again.

And if it came down to it—rumors, broken contracts, coordinated suppression, open war—if they forced him into that corner, then he would not hesitate for even a second.

No matter what the world said—music itself would give everyone the answer.

If that was the case—

Then let the war begin.