Iori
[sfx: thunk of a deer scare, crickets]Ah, so you're coming to me today, are you? Hm. Well, ain't that unusual? Whenever I'm thinking about something, everyone around me's usually sitting around and waiting for the right moment to say something, it seems. So to tell the truth, it's kind of a relief to see you coming here today.
[sighs]
Once you get one thing done, the next thing you've gotta do raises its head and makes itself known.
I wonder, once everything's done and settled, if the old man'll be watching from the other side.
The moon's sure bright tonight, ain't it? Dunno what it is, but nights like this make me think about a whole lot of things.
There's no reason to rush. And just rushing won't change everything that easily. I know that in my head, but there's times that my feet start moving before the rest of me gets the memo.
[laughs]
But you ain't like that. You're smart like that. You just follow me without asking any questions.
Just like the moon. It just shines down on us without saying a word.
Guess that's all you need on a night like this.
[sfx: Luna meowing, purring]
You think so, too?
Yeah. Keep watching from over where you are, old man.
Allen
[sfx: footsteps]Ah. Is it alright if I sit next to you? I just want to take a little time to think.
The other day, I overheard some guys at university talking about a phantom live concert... they were saying things about how phantometal is dangerous, or how the era of phantom lives is over, stuff like that...
Of course, I don't think for a single second that our music is bad. But, when I see people who were got so excited about BAE's music start to drift away all of a sudden... I'll be honest, it made me feel kind of uneasy. I wonder if the music that we believed in and that we worked so hard to build up was really reaching everyone...
... hey, you don't... think we're mistaken or anything, right? No, I know! You want to say that's really pathetic, right? ... just seeing that look of disbelief just blew all my worries away. ... it's fine. It'll all work out, somehow. I've got the best friends I could ask for, after all.
... "It's a complete waste of time to worry about things like that"...? Aha, well, you're still as harsh as ever, huh? But... thanks. I feel way better now.
To tell the truth, I'm still a little nervous about the vibes in the atmosphere, but I guess what people who aren't in it say doesn't really matter. The only way to prove that BAE's music is the best is through our sound and our sound alone.
[sfx: standing up]
Thanks for hearing me out, Hajun.
[sfx: footsteps]
Kantaro
Thank you for coming today, Stellas~! I was suuuper happy to get so many comments~! A lot has hapened, and it's been a while... but, I'm totally fine! I can handle any adversity that gets thrown my way, so keep on supporting us, 'kay~? Alright, that's it for today! Bye VISTY~![sfx: leaning back]
Ah, the stream's over now... [sfx: shifting] ... I know, I know. You don't have to give me that look. I said all that on stream, but honestly, I'm not "totally fine" at all. It's... kinda scary. ... it's pretty embarrassing, huh? I want to really be a perfect idol in front of everyone, but then...
[sfx: clicking]
I saw the comments... stuff about Phantometal, and some kind of harmful substance, and... well, there were some that were even worse than that... they're just saying whatever without understanding what they're talking about.
... y'know, every time I finish up a live stream, I end up checking the comments and the replies on social media. Even if I get tons of likes and comments, I still doubt whether they actually really like me. Even when everyone says just not to look at them, I can't stop. ... but, it's really is true that when I see comments during the livestream, like, "I've been waiting to see you" and "I love you, Kantaro!", it feels like they're saving me. Hearing such kind things makes me realize that I don't want to end things with having been defeated by people saying such horrible things. I absolutely refuse to let my value be dragged down and just leave things the way they are.
... [sighs] Aoi, you're the only one I can show this super embarassing side of myself... ... ah, but please, keep all of this I'm talking about now a secret from Shogo and Toma, okay?
... [sighs] ... alright. I'm just gonna make up for all of my weakness on stage. I'll prove for sure that my smile's worth a million likes!
... thanks. For always listening to me. I can smile with all my heart because you hear me out, Aoi.
Kanata
[sfx: Kanata waking up]... nn. Ah. S'morning? ... huh? Were you already awake? Don't just curl up into a ball like that. Come here. Are you not feeling well? ... I don't know what to do when you say 'it's nothing' with that face.
... I know what you're thinking. It's about something that happened recently, isn't it? And you kept quiet about it because you didn't want me to worry about it. Am I wrong?
[sfx: shifting]
See? I'm not doing that this time.
I don't really care what people are saying about us right now. Whatever some guys whose face we've never even seen say about us on the other side of a screen isn't gonna affect us. But...
The audience at our last show was smaller than before. Tch. It's always so active whenever things are going well, but the second the clouds start to look like rain, everyone scatters. I know that's just how it is, but still.
[sighs]
Well, what-the-fuck-ever. Hey, Nayuta. No matter what happens, I'm going to protect you. It doesn't matter if there's a hundred people in the audience or one. All I want is to stand on stage with you. So don't worry about it, okay? ... mm. [yawns] I'm still kinda tired; why don't we go back to sleep for a bit? Here. [pulling up the sheets] Lie down. If you stay like that you won't be able to sleep.
Kei
[sfx: clock ticking, typing; Kei pauses typing, sighs, and continues typing; a knock on the door]--! Come in.
[sfx: door opening]
Mm. Yes, I'm fine. I just got a little bit caught up in what I was doing. ... ah... I didn't realize that much time had passed. Thank you for letting me know.
... when I concentrate, I do tend to stop being aware of my surroundings. That is a bad habit of mine, isn't it? There's just been a sound that's been playing inside my head for some time now. It's so clear and fragile that it feels like it might break if I were to touch it. A sound like thin, delicate glass. I still can't quite grasp it. But I feel that if I can make it manifest, this next song... would surely reach far and wide.
I've often found myself wondering whether our music is a curse or a gift. But I'm no longer unsure of it. 1Nm8's music is something that belongs to us. I won't let that person, nor any other, deny it to me. I understand exactly what kind of person they are. But even so... ... that's why I absolutely do not want to lose this time, Itsuki.
Don't worry. No matter what happens, I'll protect both you and Rokuta.
Thank you. I feel like after talking with you, I've gotten a little bit closer to the sound that I heard before. Just a little bit more. I'll rest once I capture this sound.
Goodnight.
[sfx: door closing]