Volume 13 Chapter 257-2 Tsukimachi Ayana, It’s Not Just A High School Cultural Festival
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
She said that and walked back alone, along the same road they had shared until now.
Behind the screen, memories of their journey began to play.
Of course, it was all part of the play—meant to fit inside the short time limit of the school festival. But somehow, she made it feel complete. Every moment connected.
At first, her steps were slow. Then faster. Then she was running. And finally—tired, broken, almost falling apart—she kept moving. Her acting, showing Oto-san running back to save the sister, was so powerful it felt real.
Why? Why is someone this talented holding back?
She didn’t do anything wrong. What a waste. It’s beyond words.
Her performance was on the same level as mine—maybe even better. But even while I admired her, deep inside, I burned with frustration.
[4/4 End of the Journey]
They had reached their destination.
Oto-sanstepped into the old research lab. The room was dark. She moved carefully, like the day she first woke up.
Each time she touched something, a memory came alive on the screen behind her.
She touched a school bag—and on the screen, we saw an adult her holding a small child’s hand.
Ah… So that’s her mother—also played by Oto-san.
She played both the child and the mother like they were two separate people. Just that alone showed how skilled she really was.
Then, she touched a clock on a desk. The screen flashed again.
This time, it showed a man holding hands with a girl.
And on the man’s arm—yes—the same clock.
’Rinne.’
That was her name. We finally heard it.
The role Oto-san played all this time—Rinne.
Aqua gave her a soft, warm smile.
Kuh! Guhhhhh!
That smile—so full of love, like it wrapped around the whole theater. The person next to me gasped. I wanted to scream, too. But none of us made a sound.
Even the audience was acting. No one moved. No one broke the spell. This was something beautiful. We couldn’t ruin it.
’Pa…pa…’
Her voice trembled. Tears slowly rolled down her face. Like it was planned. Controlled.
She was remembering it now—who she was, who he was. But she still kept moving, still searching.
Her acting gave me chills. Every word, every tear, was perfect.
Whoever wrote this part, directed this part—was a genius.
’I found it. I found it… Papa.’
She pieced the memories back together. She had remembered everything.
And now, she held the cure—the medicine for the Yui-core sickness—in her hand.
She turned and began walking again. She had to get the cure back to the one waiting for it.
As she walked, the screen behind her showed an old lab machine turning on.
’Look. Right now, a big meteorite is about to crash into Earth!’
A man holding a mic shouted. He looked up at the sky.
A huge meteor filled the screen. Then—boom! Pieces broke off. They started falling.
In the air, torn newspaper pages fluttered down. I read them fast:
[All nations agree to fire every nuclear missile at the incoming meteor.]
[Evacuation to bunkers begins. Is there hope for survival?]
[Some people, carrying seeds, launch into space by shuttle.]
[Mars colony project speeds up.]
[Shirogane Aqua and BERYL vow to stay on Earth to sing until the end.]
[Final message from Prime Minister Habu: “Stay proud. Stay Japanese.”]
I couldn’t help but think: That’s so like Aqua.
Whoever wrote that headline nailed it. I think even the real Habu would agree.
’Rinne. The world is ending now.’
’No! No, Papa! It hurts! Let me go!’
Rinne, now a teenager, was dragged by Aqua—her father.
She screamed and fought back. But he pushed her into a machine.
’Listen, Rinne. I’m going to stop your time now.’
Gas hissed out. The screen showed the machine’s name: [COLD SLEEP]
’No! Papa, come with me!’
’I can’t. The solar panels on this ship can only power one person.’
Just for a second, the screen showed a photo.
In it, an adult Oto-san held a girl’s hand.
Ah. So her mother… is gone. They showed everything with just one picture.
’Listen. This ship is ready. One day, it’ll find a new planet. When it does, you’ll land. The machine will wake you up.’
’No! I don’t want that! I don’t want to be alone, Papa!’
So this wasn’t a lab after all. It was part of the ship.
Aqua had white in his hair now. He looked older. Tired.
He looked at Rinne and spoke gently.
’It’s okay. I set the machine so that when you wake up, you’ll forget. You won’t feel alone. Papa and Mama will still be with you. Always.’
’No! Papa, you idiot! I don’t want to forget! Not you! Not Mama!’
Now it was a showdown—an acting battle.
Aqua’s calm, heavy lines. Rinne’s desperate shouting. The emotion was real.
Even I felt torn. Jealous. Inspired. Angry. Proud.
I stared at the screen, just like everyone else in the crowd. We couldn’t look away.
’Papa, I don’t want to forget you…’
’I’m sorry, Rinne…’
Her eyes closed. She went still inside the machine.
Aqua stepped forward. Slowly, he leaned in. His forehead touched the cold glass. His eyes full of tears.
[Confession from Billions of Light-Years Away]
This was the first time the title of the play was shown.
The screen changed—and Aqua appeared, adjusting the camera.
’Rinne. If you’re watching this video, then that means… you got all your memories back.’
He smiled—soft and kind. He was thinking of Rinne. She was on the other side of the lens.
’Are you mad? Or are you sad? I’m sorry. No matter how much I want to, I can’t hold you through this screen.’
His hair was messy and streaked with white. He wore a white lab coat, now wrinkled.
He looked old. Worn out. But all his heart was in this one message.
He had made the shuttle for one reason only: to keep his daughter alive.
That kind of love—parental love—was so strong it hurt to watch. It made me want to cry.
’I might be a terrible father. Even so, I want Rinne to live. Even if you hate me for it. Even if it hurts. Even if it’s lonely. I know—it’s selfish. But how could I give up? I had the power to save you. How could I not use it? Even with the world ending, people don’t stop wanting. Why are humans like this? I’m sorry, Rinne. This was my choice. I’m sorry… I love you.’
It hit me like a punch to the chest. A goodbye. A love letter from a father who had no more time.
I felt torn between Rinne’s pain and Aqua’s love.
If it hurt this much for me… I can’t imagine how Kanon-san must feel. She’s a real parent.
[5/4 New Journey]
Wait—5/4? Did the numbers go past the limit?
Beautiful images lit up the screen again.
A woman dressed like a sister stepped onto the stage, out of breath.
’Hah… hah…’
She had reached the top. She looked up.
But the one standing there wasn’t Lisa-chan. It was Oto-san.
Did we miss it? That feeling—the fear she was gone—tightened everyone’s hearts.
Then, from the side of the stage, another sister walked in.
’Wait. It’s… too soon.’
Alive! She was alive!
Oto-san turned toward the voice—Lisa-chan’s sister character—and faced the audience.
Then she smiled.
That smile—full of light and love—hit all of us like a wave. It was too much. We couldn’t breathe.
Ah… Rinne did it. She overcame everything.
And now, to honor her papa’s wish… no, to live out her own new life, she chose to keep going. On this faraway planet. So far from Earth.
For her parents. For herself.
The spotlight faded.
The credits rolled.
The crowd exploded with applause.
[Acting Coach: Kohina Yukari / Friendship Cooperation]
I knew it.
Totally called it.
Also… what is “friendship cooperation” supposed to mean!?
I can just imagine what the theater club had to go through. Yukari-senpai is no joke.
They should be proud. They really survived it.
Honestly… this wasn’t even cultural festival level. This was pro-level.
[Sound and Music: Nekoyama Toa]
Oh right—Toa-chan is in the theater club too.
He stayed off-stage this time. Worked behind the scenes.
[Filming, Video Editing, CG, Stage Props, Lighting—Everything: Yukishiro Emily / Friendship Cooperation]
Huh?
My eyes went wide.
Everything?
Kanon-san, beside me, held her head.
”She didn’t just help. She’s enjoying this festival way more than I am.”
I nodded.
Ah… so that’s why Kotono-san was mad. It was the late nights.
Still, Emily-san is incredible.
The visuals? Beautiful. Props? Pro-quality. CG? It looked like something from Hollywood.
She said she’s a jack-of-all-trades. But this is another level.
[Announcements: Morikawa Kaede / Friendship Cooperation]
Okay, yeah, that part didn’t hit as hard…
I felt the emotion start to fade a little. Was it just me?
The main cast stepped out for their curtain call.
[Starring / Rinne, Rinne’s Mother: Oto Rurika]
[Supporting / Rinne’s Father: Shirogane Aqua]
[Supporting / Sister: Washimiya Lisa]
[Supporting / Young Rinne: Sakuraba Shii / Friendship Cooperation]
Wait—Shii-chan? That was her? Yukari-senpai’s junior?
Her face was hidden so well I didn’t notice.
But hold on—who wrote this script?
Everyone was thinking it.
And then—
[Script, Direction, and Supervision: Shirogane Aqua]
WHATTTTTTTT!?
Kanon-san screamed inside my head.
Aqua? He did all that!?
He’s just as scary-good as Emily-san.
I was shocked. But also… really impressed.
When the last name faded, the lights came back on.
I looked up.
Everyone was on stage—except Emily-san, Yukari-senpai, and Shii-chan. The rest stood in a perfect line.
Then Lisa-chan—now the new president of the theater club—stepped forward.
”Thank you all for watching our play!”
They all bowed together.
I meant it when I said this was a good performance.
Sure, Aqua kind of stole the spotlight at the end.
But everyone smiled. Everyone clapped. Some with tears in their eyes.
It was that kind of play.
By the way, there are various theories about the relics, and it may or may not be discussed in the next bulletin chapter.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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