Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

So much has happened at Seishou since Daiba Nana and her friends had first walked through the doors as new students nearly three years ago. Much more than could ever have been captured by all the photos and videos Nana had made certain to take and record whenever possible.

She'd thought she'd immortalized a lot of memories back when they'd finished their second year together, after Hikari had joined them and added one more smile to those photos.

But now, nearly halfway through their third year together, Nana is finding herself presented with a wonderful challenge - she's constantly running out of phone storage and scrap books for all of her photos.

Because, not only has she filled those pages with photos of her own friends and classmates here at Seishou, but also with memories of their friends at the other schools as well. Friends, Nana knows, not she nor any of her classmates ever would've gotten to meet and laugh and live with had she gone through with her wish.

She still dreams about it sometimes.

When she closes her eyes at night, now and then she will find herself on that stage, drenched through with a garish yellow light, a single decrepit tree standing unmoving at the center. She'll still see the shadow of a creature, still hear a deep and haunting voice.

But ever since she and her friends had become third-years, the revues have been few and far between, and she's seen and heard more of Elle than the giraffe.

And with each new day that comes with each sunrise, Nana finds herself more and more thankful for what had happened, for Hikari's victory in their revue, for her sacrifice, and for Karen's selfless actions to save her and absolve all of them from that sin.

Though moving forward and heading toward an uncertain future had been perhaps the most terrifying concept to Nana, now in the present moment she always finds herself thankful for the gentle feelings her friends had given her.

Even as third-years, their school days continue just as they had last year, to the point where it almost feels like time is looping and repeating itself anyway.

Every morning, Nana still wakes up to a room so similar to her room last year that she sometimes forgot she isn't in the same spot anymore. Of course, Junna is still with her. Their beds are arranged exactly as they had been last year, though Junna had convinced her to move around the rest of the furniture again for a slight change of pace.

Nana had happily agreed to the small alterations; she wanted things to be similar to how they'd used to be, but she also wanted to be able to differentiate one year from the next. All of her scrap books and photo albums reside on a shelf adjacent to her bed, and the bulletin board above her work desk is covered with her favorites. She still gazes fondly at them every morning as she waits for Junna, though more often than not it's Junna who is waiting for her and urging her to get ready.

Just like last year, they put on the same uniforms, though perhaps a size larger, and make the morning walk to school together with their friends.

Maya and Claudine are typically the ones they end up with the most, as Futaba often brings a still-half-asleep Kaoruko to school on her bike, and Mahiru is often still running late trying to drag Hikari and Karen out on time.

But every now and then, the nine of them manage to meet up and make the walk together, which are always Nana's favorite mornings.

To her it seems that, for everything that's stayed the same since last year, some other slight change has occurred.

Karen still makes frequent wrong turns during choreography practices, or sings out-of-tune in some numbers. But she's also improved her stamina and her tone fluctuation a very noticeable amount.

Hikari still remains a bit taciturn when dealing with her other classmates, but is gradually becoming a bit more organized with her school work and dorm room keeping.

Mahiru still excels at her baton, but has also started to step outside her comfort zone by trying new things as well.

Futaba still has some of the best vocal techniques in the class, but she has also started landing more central roles more often.

Kaoruko is still the best at traditional dance, but she has dared to expand her horizons and dabble in other kinds as well.

Maya continues to maintain her position at the head of the class in terms of theatre, but she has recently started to overcome some struggles in her art classes.

Claudine has continued to impress her teachers, friends, and underclassmen alike with her exceptional skills, and she has gradually distanced herself from the harmful mindset of constantly comparing herself to others to highlight her own shortcomings.

And Junna had naturally been promoted to Student Council President, so this year she has a lot more responsibilities to juggle than she had as Class Representative. And she has been using her free time to steadily improve her swimming whenever possible.

All of these changes, and more, have been occurring as time has progressed into their third year at Seishou.

It would seem that the changes Nana had initially been afraid of had turned out to be all good things. She still wonders how, if at all, she herself has changed since then; since the point last year where she would consistently interrupt the flow of time and force it all to repeat.

Has she improved anything since then? Her cooking, perhaps? Her directing or script-writing? Her relationships with her friends?

She likes to think that's the case. She likes to believe that trusting her friends and allowing their futures to continue onward had made her a stronger and better person.

She tries not to think about repeating it all over again.

Their performance of Starlight at the end of last year had been their most successful rendition yet, and perhaps even the most successful performance Seishou had ever put on. The new Starlight they had performed together had been just like their new individual stories; generally similar, with just a few smaller tweaks of improvement overall.

Nana has loved every second of it. The time she had once been so adamant about fighting has now become her greatest ally.

Halfway through their third year now, they have put on so many spectacular performances they never would have gotten the chance to experience otherwise.

Every day, no matter how mundane it may feel, is a new surprise, a new step forward.

Every day, Nana feels as though her world is a little closer to perfection - to the way things should be.

This morning starts out like any other as the sound of her alarm starts rousing her. Rolling over, she stretches out her arms with a satisfied moan as she opens her eyes to the sunlight already streaming in through the window.

"Morning, Nana."

She looks up and finds Junna already sitting up in bed, just putting on her glasses and gathering her hair to begin brushing it. Nana sits up with a grin and gives a shake to her own ruffled bedhead.

"Good morning, Junna-chan!"

Junna reaches for her planner from her nightstand and begins leafing through it, humming to herself.

"Let's see, for today… Ah, I have a meeting this morning. And then at lunchtime I promised I'd talk to some of the first-years. And then-"

"Junna-chan~" Nana sings. "Don't start stressing out first thing in the morning, okay?"

Junna pouts good-naturedly.

"I'm not stressing out. In fact, I think you should be a little more mindful, Nana. Don't you have to join Class B for a directing workshop this afternoon?"

"Ah, you're right! As expected of Junna-chan! You know my schedule better than I do!"

"Right?" Junna smirks. "What would you do without me?"

"I don't even wanna think about it!" Nana chuckles. She gets up from her bed and pulls the covers up, then makes her way over to Junna. Placing a hand on the planner, she gently pushes it down into her roommate's lap and leans down to kiss her.

That's another thing that has changed since they'd become third-years.

Not only had Nana and Junna started dating, but so had Futaba and Kaoruko, and though they didn't openly admit it to most, the same was true of Claudine and Maya. As for Karen, Hikari, and Mahiru, there was also something between the three of them, though with how dense the former two could sometimes be, Mahiru wasn't rushing anything.

As Nana kisses her now, she can feel Junna relax just a little bit. A moment later, Nana eases back to find her roommate blushing slightly as she fumbles to readjust her glasses.

"Geez, Nana…" she mumbles. "Now my thoughts are all jumbled…"

"Heehee, sorry~"

With a sigh, Junna closes her planner and gets out of bed.

"Well now that we're both up, let's get ready. We've got a lot to do today."

"Yes, ma'am!" Nana gives a salute and scurries over to pick up her uniform, pausing for a brief moment to admire her wall of photos. As she scans each one of them, she can recall each memory as though it has just occurred yesterday; last year's Starlight Festival, Christmastime, the hot pot they'd had a few months back, Mahiru in her lead role of Cinderella, Maya, Hikari and Futaba as Edward and his brides, Karen and Claudine as Holmes and Watson, Kaoruko's birthday party, Junna's award ceremony when she was made President-

"Nana!"

With a small jolt, Nana pulls herself out of her reverie. She turns back to find Junna already dressed and waiting for her.

"Are you coming?"

Nana beams and skips over.

"Yeeess~!"

And so she leaves the photos of the past behind once again this morning as she sets out on another day living in the present, heading toward the future.

A/N: Re-reading this first chapter now... it almost seems it could be a little reflective oneshot and just end here... But no no, I've got lots more in-store, so stay tuned.

Please leave comments or kudos!

Chapter Text

Chapter 2. Shatter

"Ahhhh! I'm so hungrrryyy!"

"Geez, Karen-chan…"

"Lunch was only two hours ago, Bakaren."

"But stiiiiiill!"

Everyone laughs as the group of nine starts making the walk back to the dorms from school. Maya and Claudine lead the pack, with Futaba and Kaoruko close behind, while Karen is slouched and trudging at the middle of the group with Hikari and Mahiru on either side and Junna poking at her back to push her forward. Nana saunters comfortably at the back, both hands folded behind her as she hums, observing everyone together.

"Actually," Futaba says. "I think I agree with Karen for once. Practice was kinda brutal today."

"I'll say!" Kaoruko whines, throwing her arms across her roommate's shoulders. "My feet are killing me! Futaba-han, I need a massage."

"Yeah, yeah."

"She won't admit it," Claudine says from the front. "But I can assure you Tendo Maya can't wait to sink her teeth into the first food she sees in the kitchen."

Maya blinks in surprise, then looks sideways.

"Perhaps I am feeling… a bit peckish…"

"A bit, she says. I can hear your stomach growling from here."

"I'm actually pretty hungry too," Junna admits. "I only got to eat half my lunch because of my meetings."

"Now everyone talking about eating is making me kinda hungry," Mahiru says.

"Me too," Hikari agrees.

Nana has stayed quiet until now, but she recognizes exactly when to take her cue.

"Don't worry, everyone!" she calls out. "Once we get back I'll whip up some of my homemade specialties: Banana's Banana-Nut Muffins!"

A chorus of delighted cheers rises up from the sidewalk.

"Yaaay!"

"I can't wait!"

"Banana, you're the best!"

So they all quicken their pace back Starlight Hall for their after-school snack time.

Nana heads straight for the kitchen and gets her ingredients ready. Mahiru joins her to help while the others get started on the evening's assignments. Junna assists Karen with some of their math work, while Futaba quizzes Hikari and Kaoruko for their upcoming history test, and Claudine and Maya try out some sketching prompts for art class.

Nana thanks Mahiru for her help preparing the nuts and bananas for the mixture, then slides two trays of muffins into the oven to bake before joining the others.

Once the timer goes off, Karen jumps up like a puppy in her eagerness, and everyone laughs as Junna pulls her back down into her seat.

Nana retrieves the muffins and brings them over, setting the tray down on he table to let her friends choose. Karen sniffles with relief as she picks up her muffin.

"Banana… you're a life-saver…"

"It's my pleasure! Eat up, Karen-chan!"

"I will!"

But before she can start eating, Karen throws her arms around Nana in a big hug.

And something about the gesture must inspire everyone else as well, because as Mahiru takes her muffin she hugs Nana as well.

"Thank you, Banana! They smell delicious!"

"I'm glad!"

Hikari only manages to dip her head in appreciation, clutching her muffin with both hands with a mumble.

"Thank you."

But it's still more than enough for Nana, who smiles and pats her head.

"You're welcome, Hikari-chan!"

Both Futaba and Kaoruko come up together to hug Nana at the same time.

"Nana! You're the best!"

"Thank you once again for sustaining us in our time of need, Banana-han!"

Nana wraps an arm around each of them and squeezes them close.

"It's my pleasure, you two!"

As Maya selects her muffin from the tray, she presents Nana with a genuine smile, one that had become much brighter since they'd entered their third year.

"Thank you very much, Daiba-san. I always look forward to your cooking."

"As do I," Claudine agrees. "If you ever find the time between acting and directing, I say you should open up a bakery on the side."

"Geez, you two are making me blush!"

At last Nana sits down beside her girlfriend. Junna has just finished laying a napkin out across her lap so she can take the first bite of her muffin.

"Mm… Nana, this might be your best batch yet. And that's saying something."

"You think so?" Nana reaches for one of the remaining muffins. "I put a pinch of cinnamon into the batter this time."

"Oh! Now that you mention it, I think I can taste that."

"Then I'm glad it was a success!"

Nana watches them all bite into their muffins and start enjoying themselves, the schoolwork and scripts and books temporarily put aside for the time being as they chat casually.

Only once she's satisfied that everyone else has relaxed does Nana take her first bite. The fluffiness of the muffin coupled with the squishiness of the banana bits mixes perfectly with the crunch of tiny nut pieces, and underneath it all is a subtle, sweet tang of cinnamon. She hums happily and leans in against Junna's side, resting her head on her shoulder for a moment.

Nana closes her eyes and lets it all sink in. She's certain she'll always associate the taste and scent of banana-nut muffins with her friends for the rest of her life.

She feels Junna slip a hand around her back to support her in case she dozes off from the feelings of bliss. And she feels she just might, just because of how peaceful it all is, listening to the sounds of everyone's laughter here together…

But then, there's another voice.

"Kagura."

Everyone quiets down and stops talking. Nana opens her eyes and sits up.

They all look to the threshold where Ms. Sakuragi has appeared. She dips her head briefly.

"Sorry to interrupt. But I need Kagura for a moment. Don't worry. It's nothing troubling."

Mahiru and Karen visibly relax at that news, though Hikari is just confused. She puts down her half-eaten muffin and gets up from the couch to follow Ms. Sakuragi out into the hallway. Once they've disappeared, everyone else passes puzzled glances around the room.

"Wonder what that's about."

"Dunno."

"Ohhh… I hope Hikari-chan didn't fail another of her history quizzes…"

"That does seem rather likely…"

"Hopefully not!"

"Sensei said it wasn't anything bad, so let's just wait."

Everyone nods agreement and continues eating their snack. Nana takes another nibble as well, though she can't keep her eyes off the doorway until she feels a nudge in her side.

"Nana?" She blinks and refocuses her attention on Junna, who is giving her a concerned look now. "I'm sure it's nothing. Kagura-san will tell us all about it if she wants to."

Nana smiles, leaning forward to bump her nose with Junna's.

"Yeah. You're right."

"If she's failed another quiz, I'll tutor her myself."

"Right! And I'll help, too!"

The eight of them eat and chat amongst themselves for a few moments, though Nana is more focused on stealing glances at the hallway than she is on finishing her food or talking.

When she finally spots movement, Nana straightens up and watches Hikari re-enter the room. The others look to her curiously as well. Karen and Mahiru quickly make space between them on the couch so Hikari can sit back down again.

"Well?" Karen asks. "Hikari-chan, what did Sensei want?"

"Is everything all right?" Mahiru frets.

Hikari nods, but she doesn't speak right away. Her silence has everyone else getting a bit anxious, but eventually she finds the words.

"Everything's fine," she says. "Actually… apparently, I'm being scouted."

Something cracks.

Nana can't discern right away what it is, or where it comes from, but she hears the small, faint noise of something beginning to shatter.

Just like that.

"Scouted...?" Mahiru says. "What do you mean?"

"By a troupe?" Junna blurts out.

Hikari nods.

"A group from England. They looked into my records from the Royal Academy of Theatrical Arts, and my parents sent them all kinds of information. They want to scout me and have me join their group."

A stunned silence weighs down on the room.

But Nana hears it again - the sound of the crack extending.

"You're being scouted…" Maya says at last. "My, Kagura-san, that is quite the honor."

"Tres bien!" Claudine agrees. "And by a foreign group, no less."

"That's amazing, Hikari-chan!" Karen throws her arms around her friend, and from there just about everyone else begins offering words of congratulations as well.

"Not surprised," Futaba says. "Hikari's always been incredible."

"Not just anyone can get into the Royal Academy, after all," Junna says.

"But will you accept?" Kaoruko wonders. "You haven't said yet, Kagura-han."

Everyone quiets down as they wait for her reply.

Hikari nods once.

"Yeah. I think I'm going to."

Crack.

Once more, the room fills with excited voices.

"Wow! That's amazing, Hikari-chan!"

"Congratulations!"

"That's insane!"

"Hikari-chaaan! I'm so proud!" Karen throws herself at Hikari again and wails. "But doesn't this mean…?"

Hikari pats Karen on the back and eases her off.

"Yeah. It won't be until after I graduate here, but I'll be going back to England."

"Ah-"

"Of course you will…"

The response now is becoming a little tighter, and the smiles are a bit more forced. How are they supposed to react? Most of them can't tell if they're seriously happy for Hikari, or if it's just fake.

Because deep down, wouldn't it make them a little jealous…? After all, she's being scouted before anyone else. What makes her so special…?

With a gasp, Nana gives herself a shake. When she refocuses herself, nothing has changed. The same stifling situation is still pushing down on her from all sides. She can't tell if the others are feeling these things, or if it's just herself.

No. It can't be her. Because right now she can't feel anything at all…

Hikari-chan… is leaving…?

She realizes now what that sound was.

It was the sound of her perfect world beginning to break.

She'd been a fool to think it wouldn't.

Just because her third year had been fun until now didn't mean it would continue forever. She didn't have her repeat performances anymore.

Of course after a certain point she would actually have to face reality; the reality that graduation was inevitable, and now fast-approaching.

She can't fathom how she'd never anticipated this before. She'd been so used to years and years of repeating the terms that she'd subconsciously believed the school days would continue endlessly in this year as well, at least for several dozen cycles.

But this…

This was too quick.

This was only her first time as a third-year student, and it was her only time as one. She didn't get to do it again this time. From the moment it had started, it was already ending.

"Ah."

The sound of Claudine's voice now snaps Nana back into this terrible, stagnant moment. Everyone else turns to her as well. Claudine clears her throat.

"Well, I suppose now is as good a time as any to tell you all. But I plan to return to France after graduation to study theatre there. So I'll be leaving as well."

There's another surge of cheers and congratulatory words, but most of them are wobbly and choked. Maya reaches out to rest a hand over Claudine's in her lap.

"And I was thinking of accompanying her. So I will most likely be taking my leave from Japan as well."

As the others smile and wish them both well, Nana hears a second crack cut across her mind.

And then Futaba speaks up.

"Actually… Kaoruko's folks bought a new property recently."

"Indeed," Kaoruko agrees. "Futaba-han and I were planning to move to that district down in Hokkaido, come graduation. So we'll be leaving too."

Again, the cheers.

And again, something else breaks.

Mahiru has something to say as well.

"I… I think I'll be returning to my hometown. There's a lot of work to be done at home… I'm not even sure if I'll be able to continue with theatre as a career, but I'm going to do my best."

Nana doesn't want to hear anymore. She can't bear it. She can't say a word.

It's happening. Her worst nightmare is coming true. All at once, she's reminded of why she'd made her wish in the first place. This reality is just too painful, too sad, too lonely…

But perhaps the worst of it all is when Junna lets out a long sigh beside her.

Nana's heart seizes. An inaudible whisper tumbles from her lips.

"No…"

Not my Junna-chan...

But her plea goes unheard.

"As for me," Junna says. "I'm not going back home after graduation. I've actually already made plans to go abroad. I'm looking to go to America-"

Finally, Nana's world begins to collapse. The cracks branch out and start to chip away at it, taking the picture-perfect image of her dream and skewing it. Pieces crumble and begin to fall away, until the result is a hideous wreckage.

Nana gets to her feet all at once, tearing herself from Junna's embrace and letting her muffin crumple to the floor. Everyone gasps and looks up to her, and Junna reaches for her hand.

"Nana-?"

But Nana yanks herself out of range before she can touch her.

"I… I have somewhere I need to be-"

"Nana, I was going to tell you-"

But she doesn't listen to any more. She can't. She won't.

Nana makes a dash for the hallway and runs out, ignoring Junna's cry of her name.

She refuses. She rejects this kind of future. If they're all going to be torn apart anyway, then she'd been right from the start.

She needs to turn back time. She needs to repeat this year forever.

Even if it means being the twisted director keeping all of her actresses trapped. So long as they're together, nothing else should matter.

And there's only one place she can go to, and one creature she can talk to, in order to make that happen.

As she runs, she can taste an arid, prickling sensation on the back of her throat as the sweetness of cinnamon goes sour.

Chapter Text

Chapter 3. Deal With The Devil

The school building is empty, so hollow that the sounds of Nana's frantic footsteps echo down the barren hallways as she runs. Her chest pounds, tightens, and constricts as if about to cave in on itself at any moment.

The last revue was months ago. She doesn't even know if the giraffe is still here, if his stage is still operating. But she has to try.

I won't let this happen. I won't let us be torn apart…

If they'd all stayed in Japan after graduation, perhaps she could have lived with that. But to hear of so many of them going away overseas, to places where Nana wouldn't be able to see them for possibly years on end… Simple calls and texts wouldn't suffice. She needs them all to stay together. She doesn't know how she'll survive otherwise.

So she runs through the stark gray hallways until she reaches the stairs, but doesn't slow down for a second before jumping into them and racing down two at a time.

None of them will be leaving until after graduation, but she can't afford to waste another second in a world where the future that awaits her from this day forward is riddled with sadness and anxiety about their eventual departure. She won't be able to enjoy her school days or performances from this point forward now that that knowledge is lodged in the back of her head, sinking its thorny vines in like poison.

This can't happen. She won't let it.

Her shoes slam against the final step as she makes a jump to the lower-level hallway, then sprints toward a familiar spot.

The windows beside her are blank. They don't show the world outside nor her own reflection. She glances once just to check. She doesn't look again.

She runs, fragments of her gasping voice and echoes of her heartbeat raining down over her until her destination is in-sight. The light at the end of her tunnel is red. It flickers at the top of the elevator, beckoning her, as if it had been expecting to see her again.

She skids to a halt and nearly slams right into it, throwing her hands out and not even feeling the dull pain as they smash against the cold metal. She doesn't even have the breath to speak yet, but she still forces it out anyway.

"Giraffe-!"

And had it been any of the others, that light wouldn't have been on. The elevator would have appeared as just a wall. They would've had to pry it open with a crowbar until their fingers bled. But for her-

For Daiba Nana-

Almost instantly upon her arrival, the doors clatter open slowly, cordially. She doesn't have the time to be worried about how ready they were for her. She just hurries on and takes one last glance at the emptiness behind her before the doors slam shut.

The elevator clatters and screeches on its way down, bringing her to a place lower than the lowest level - a place that, by all rights, shouldn't exist.

When it drops her off, she takes that first step out and finds herself in the highest rows of a cold, dark theater. Only the stage is lit, its curtains billowing in an unseen breeze, stirring up dust and sand.

But she doesn't head toward the stage. She isn't here to fight this time, and her clothes have not turned into those of a girl about to perform a ReLIVE or a revue.

She keeps her school uniform, for the theatre already knows her intentions. Now it's just a matter of if it will accept them.

She walks only a few steps through the rows of seats at the higher balcony, gazing down at the stage. The spotlight is slowly shifting colors, but she can't discern exactly what it is yet.

When she comes to a halt, all of her emotions have reeled themselves in. The panic and terror and distress somehow become calmer, quieter. It's like how a criminal who has fought and struggled against death row finally accepts their fate.

Nana stops, and she doesn't even need to turn her head to know he is there. His presence is as unnoticeable as ever, in spite of his massive size. Even when he is lying down, the giraffe's head still towers far above her, his long eyelashes gazing solemnly down onto a stage with no performance on it.

Nana draws in a deep breath and waits. Eventually, he turns to acknowledge her.

"My, my. I haven't summoned you, and yet here you are, Daiba Nana-san. I understand."

Nana balls her fists at the ends of her skirt.

"You do, right? You know why I'm here? What I need to do-?"

The desperation seeps into her tone, and yet he remains as unaffected as ever by her plight. Though to say he is uninterested is exactly wrong.

"Changes are happening, yes? Or at least, they are trying to." He cranes his neck just a little and looks down on her. "I have known you for far too many years to count. I know you better than anyone else. And as such, I know exactly why you are here."

"Then please-!" Her voice echoes around the theater, her tone cracking just a little, like the image of her world had cracked- "Please… I need it… I need my repeat performance back somehow. Even if it isn't our first year of Starlight together, then let us relive the second year. That year was even more fun in the end anyway! I-I'm sure everyone would be fine with repeating it, even if they'd never know…"

She does something utterly foolish then. She looks up at him hopefully. He blinks.

"Daiba Nana-san. You speak as though you can make this happen once again." He turns away from her now, and when his gaze leaves her, so too does her hope. He glances back to the stage where, though nothing is happening, it's still as though he can witness something there. The lighting continues to change, and now it's clear that it's becoming yellow. He continues. "You ask this of me… and yet, what right do you have?"

"Eh…?" Nana feels her heart drop, weighed down by so much despair it very well might drown her. "Wh-What do you mean…?"

"It is as I've said." He doesn't look at her, but rather continues staring at the empty stage, reliving events that had occurred there long before. "You have no right to come here asking such things when you are no longer Top Star. It became very clear to me that Kagura Hikari-san bested you, and then both she and Aijou Karen-san went on to show me a spectacular performance, the likes of which I have never known before, or since…"

He trails off, closing his eyes as if to relive the memories of it, of the performance he witnessed while Nana and all the others were at school, preparing supper for Karen and Hikari's return. She knows nothing of what occurred on that stage, and she probably never will.

After a moment, the giraffe pulls himself from his reverie.

"You no longer hold the title of Top Star. You relinquished your hold on time, and you rescinded your ideal repeat performance once already. Why should I allow you to have them again?"

Nana's throat goes dry, as if hot sand has been forced down it, burning her stomach.

"But-!" She rakes her brain for an excuse, and can think of only one. "I won Top Star so many times beforehand! With all of those repeat performances, I won every other time except the last! I've won hundreds, maybe even thousands of times! Doesn't that count for anything-?"

He seems to ponder for a moment, keeping his eyes on the stage that is gradually becoming saturated with yellow. But still he doesn't blink.

"Are you expecting me to provide special treatment for you?"

"Didn't you do it for Hikari-chan and Karen-chan?" She clenches her fists tighter, a daring challenge in her eyes.

But she knows him. Just as he knows her better than anyone, the same is true for her knowing him. She knows he needs something out of this. She knows he needs to be satisfied too if he's going to consider allowing this.

She thinks of the friends she's going to lose if this doesn't work, mustering up her love for them, reminding herself how much she cares about them, enough to go to such lengths as this. Telling herself she loves them is what gives her the ability to use them here and now.

"You said it yourself…" Now, her voice is much calmer - like his. "Karen-chan and Hikari-chan showed you an amazing performance last year, right? One more spectacular than anything you've ever seen before. So why not let it repeat? Let me have my repeat performance back. Only this time, it'll be of our second year, which will include Karen-chan and Hikari-chan's stage that you loved so much."

She smirks when she notices his reaction. His tail swishes, his ear flicks, and his eyelashes tremble. Slowly, he finally turns his head back to her.

"Oh? You do make an interesting point. I understand."

Nana's smile grows. She knows him. Just as he can easily withdraw himself to pull the wool over the other party's eyes, she can do the same.

But if she can be cunning enough to use her own friends as bargaining chips in order to trick the devil himself, then what does that make her…? She can't dare to consider that.

"Right?" she says pleasantly. "Imagine getting to see that incredible performance over and over again! For the rest of eternity! Wouldn't it be incredible?"

The giraffe lifts his head to the ceiling.

"Indeed... Even if it cannot be as resplendent as the first time, surely even seeing such a performance over and over again will still prove to be more entertaining than this. Than staring at a vacant stage, remembering. I very much would like to see it again with my own eyes. I understand..."

Nana feels something tingle up her spine, something equal parts triumphant and foreboding. But the excitement is too great for her to not latch onto.

She can do this. She can have her repeat performance again.

Even if it means losing Hikari to the world of the stage for six months.

Even if it means Karen and Mahiru and all the others will have to suffer without her, and worry about her for so long.

Even if it means they'll all have to live through those horrible feelings of loss and helplessness again.

It will all be worth it.

Because in the end, it will always turn out like it had the first time.

It was always have a happy ending, and the nine of them will be able to perform the 100th Starlight Festival together.

And they'll get to move into their third year together, experience so much more together than they ever had before.

And it will always stop here, today, before Hikari and the others announce they have to leave.

Nana will make sure they never get to such a sad part ever again.

She's done this before. Thousands of times, perhaps. She knows how this works. She knows exactly what she will have to do and when.

And she will do it. Each time, without fail.

Because she loves them so much. She won't let them drift apart.

While the others have their memories reset each time, Nana will retain hers, as will the giraffe.

They lock eyes, and come to a mutual agreement for this horribly selfish twist in the rules.

No, Nana tells herself. I'm not just doing this for myself. I'm doing it for everyone's sake.

Even though Junna and Karen and everyone had told her they need to move on, to let time bring them forward to new stages…

Nana just can't accept that. Not when they're all going to be forced to stand on separate stages all across the world.

This is for everyone's own good. For their happiness.

By now, the entire stage has been smothered in that garish, sickly yellow, and it begins to leak out into the audience.

"So?" Nana's voice echoes quietly now. "Do we have a deal?"

The giraffe looks back to the stage for a moment, watching it drown.

"Indeed, if I am to go through with this, I will be providing you with special treatment. But you do understand the risks, do you not?"

"Risks?" She shakes her head. "The only risk I won't accept is the risk of everyone being torn apart, and that only exists in the future. And if I get my repeat performances back, that can never happen. To me, anything is better than us getting taken away from each other."

The giraffe dips his head.

"Indeed. However, needless to say that this will be a bit of an… unconventional approach. With special treatment being given, I must warn you that it is possible for abnormalities to occur."

Nana tilts her head.

"What kind of abnormalities?"

He ponders again for a moment.

"Slight changes," he says. "Minor adjustments. Every day may not be exactly as it was the first time."

Nana relaxes.

"That's all right then. I've dealt with those before, but it always turns out the same in the end. I don't mind."

The giraffe nods.

"Very well, then. Now that we have agreed upon our terms, as our last order of business, I need only the payment."

"Payment?"

"Unlike before," he elaborates. "When you would do battle with other Stage Girls, your fight for radiance and the loser's loss of said radiance would serve as the fuel for the Top Star's wish to come true. But this time, things are very different. We have no revues anymore, and no means of sacrificing radiance to pay the price. And so I must ask you, Daiba Nana-san, just how will you pay for this wish of yours?"

"How will I pay…?" she murmurs. "Isn't that obvious?"

The giraffe tilts his head. Nana smiles.

"Our futures," she says. "Mine, and everyone else's futures will never come, right? So that can be the price we pay to keep reliving the past. If it's a repeat performance, we won't need our futures anyway."

"Indeed you speak the truth." The giraffe lifts his head high once again. "Then, Daiba Nana-san, given these unique circumstances, I acknowledge your wish, and your payment for it."

All at once, the bright yellow light floods the entire theater, and both occupants in it. Nana smiles up at him.

"Thank you, Giraffe!"

He says nothing in response to that, but does speak one more time.

"I trust I will be seeing you again very soon, Daiba Nana-san. In this future of a past you shall soon bring upon us. I understand."

Nana closes her eyes and opens her arms, reveling in the light of her special new wish.

We'll never become like Claire and Flora in the old script. We'll never be separated. We'll always be together. All of us. This is the new ending we wrote together.

With a blinding flash, the light expands and swallows her whole.

Chapter Text

Chapter 4. Second Chance

It's everything Nana ever dreamed it would be.

This new wish of hers is miraculous to say the very least.

Even though it means they all have to live through the uncertainty of those revues again in their second year, even though it means Hikari vanishes for six whole months and the others are forced to spend half a year in sorrow and agony… It always ends just as it should.

Karen goes to find Hikari every time, and the rest of them do their part to help her get there.

The giraffe gets to witness how they rewrite the tragedy of the Top Star, and the necessary sacrifice to the tower and the stage. While he is provided his entertainment in getting to experience not only that, but all of their revues again, Nana is rewarded with her happy ending.

And always, right before the day when it's announced Hikari will be scouted, she reverses things back to their second year. Just as she'd done before, many, many times.

She knows exactly how this works, and exactly what to expect.

Although, the giraffe had been telling the truth about minor abnormalities occurring every now and then. It's never anything major though, and as far as Nana is concerned, she doesn't care so long as the eventual ending is the same.

A few changes in the journey ultimately won't hinder the destination.

With this new wish, which is simply a refined rendition of her old wish, Nana lives out her very best days.

Even when Hikari vanishes, she never worries, because she knows Karen will always retrieve her, and the nine of them will have supper together that night.

The changes are few and far between. No matter how minuscule they may be, Nana makes note of them every time of course, because she knows this story by heart, well enough to notice even when Kaoruko wears a different outfit than she should one day, or when Maya eats one muffin for dessert instead of two, or when Mahiru twirls her baton one time extra.

In any case, they are never major things.

Every time, in every performance they put on, it is always the same people cast in the same roles. Nana still has the same photos on her desk and bulletin board each time, and all of the relationships progress between the girls just as they had the first time.

After getting to experience and live through the days many times, Nana has come to decide upon her favorite dates, and she always looks forward to those days with bubbling anticipation.

Luckily for her, today is one of her favorite days.

She's waited weeks and weeks for it, and she finally gets to live through it again today.

Presently, she's gathered with her friends and fellow third-year classmates in the dance studio for practice. Of course, Maya and Claudine have been dancing together nonstop all afternoon, even after classes have ended, and Nana and the others are content to sit back and watch them. Nana sighs as she takes a sip from her water bottle, subtly reaching out with her free hand to touch Junna's.

"Those two are as marvelous as ever, right Junna-chan?"

"I'll say. But we won't lose to them, right Nana?"

"Of course!"

A little ways into the locker room, Kaoruko is hunched over on one of the benches while Futaba gives her a shoulder massage. Kaoruko sighs and whimpers happily all the while.

"Waah, Futaba-haaaan~"

"Quit makin' weird noises," she sighs, blushing.

Kaoruko looks back at her with a pout.

"Fine. Then perhaps I can express my gratitude in some other way?"

"Yeah? Like what?"

To answer, Kaoruko reaches her arms up around Futaba's neck and pulls her down into a sudden kiss. Futaba paws her away.

"O-Oy, Kaoruko! What if the kouhai saw us?"

"Then so be it!"

"Sheesh…" But in spite of her grumbles, Futaba grins as she sits down beside Kaoruko and puts an arm around her. Kaoruko snuggles up into her side and closes her eyes contentedly.

Nana smiles, squeezing Junna's hand a little tighter.

On her other side, Karen and Hikari are sitting on the floor with their backs against the wall, leaning against each other. Mahiru comes over to bring them both water bottles and towels.

"Geez, you two… Even though you sleep in so much you still get sleepy here…"

"We can't help it, Mahiru-chan!"

"We worked hard."

Mahiru smiles.

"Yes, you did. Good job, Karen-chan, Hikari-chan."

"Come join us, Mahiru-chan!"

"There's plenty of room."

"Eh-?"

Karen and Hikari both reach up to take one of her hands and pull Mahiru down in between them. They make space for her, then happily slide in to rest their heads on her shoulders. Mahiru blushes as she wraps an arm around each of them.

"Geez… What am I gonna do with you two…?"

Nana giggles and turns back to Junna. She must've also noticed her friends' rather romantic actions, because even the Student Council President is blushing now. Nana gives her hand another encouraging squeeze, and Junna glances around first to make sure no underclassmen are present before she subtly threads her fingers through Nana's. Nana chuckles.

"Junna-chan, you're still so shy, even though we-"

"Th-This is different!" Junna hisses. "We can't do stuff so blatantly out in the open."

"Aww, why not? Kissing is so nice!"

"Nana!"

Nana takes a moment to giggle again, but she looks back up to Maya and Claudine when she hears a telltale sound. There's a scuff of a shoe slipping on the waxed wood, and after a brief shriek from Claudine the two of them are tumbling down to the floor together. Maya reacts quickly enough to turn them slightly so they both land on their sides to share the blow of the impact, instead of having her crush Claudine completely.

Mahiru gasps, but before anyone can even ask if they're all right, the fallen couple does all the talking.

"Mechante! You did that on purpose, didn't you?"

"Why ever would I do such a thing?"

"So you could end up like this with me on the floor, of course."

Claudine pushes herself up and supports Maya with her, smoothing out her partner's hair before her own.

"In any case, are you all right?"

"I am," Maya smiles. "What about you, Saijou-san?"

"Fine. I'm just amazed that our top student can be such an oaf. And yet you still look so graceful about it…"

"My, thank you for the compliment."

"It really wasn't…"

Nana and the others relax and watch as the two help each other up to their feet. And of course, Maya can't let the little fiasco conclude without pressing a kiss to her partner's temple. Claudine blushes and swats her away, but ends up holding Maya's hand anyway.

Nana uses them as an excuse to her own girlfriend.

"See~?" she says, leaning into Junna. "Kuro-chan and Maya-chan do it out here, and so do Kaoruko-chan and Futaba-chan!"

Junna flicks her eyes away, but ultimately back to her again.

"But Nana-"

"Pleeeeease, Junna-chan?" Nana clasps both of her hands around Junna's now and puts on a puppy-dog face. Junna grimaces, blushes, and then relents.

"Fine. But just a quick one."

"Yay!" Nana closes her eyes and waits patiently. She can feel Junna giving her hands a light squeeze as she leans forward to gently press her lips to Nana's cheek. Nana squeals and taps her shoes excitedly.

"Nana!" Junna scolds her. "Don't make a fuss! Like I said, we do this all the-"

"I know!" Nana chuckles. "But I can almost never get you to do it in public!"

"Nana-"

"Okay, my turn!"

"Wh-What?"

But before Junna can do anything, Nana throws both arms around her and kisses her full on the lips. As opposed to Junna's much more tactful display of affection, all seven of their friends notice Nana's exuberant hug, and they all turn to smile.

"Jun-Jun, Banana! You're so cute!"

"Quite the perfect pair."

"Though, a bit scandalous, wouldn't you say?" Kaoruko leers. "The Student Council President of all people doing such a thing~"

"Oy," Futaba says. "With the amount of work she does around here, she should get to kiss her girlfriend whenever the hell she wants."

Nana's heart backflips with glee. She just loves getting called Junna's girlfriend so much.

Today is, by far, one of her favorite days of the timeline.

Junna adjusts her glasses in an effort to conceal her blush.

"All right." She goes to clap her hands to call for attention, but realizes she's still holding onto Nana's, so she just clears her throat instead. "That's enough for today."

"Yes, ma'am!"

Nana happily continues holding her hand all the way to the locker room, until they have to let go to change.

And the evening continues like most others, with the nine of them heading to the showers together before supper.

And that night, as Nana and Junna return to their dorm room, another one of those abnormalities occurs.

Nana is just finishing up her last assignment of the night, which was editing a script she'd acquired from Class B. She closes the packet and sits back in her chair with a sigh of accomplishment, letting her eyes wander to the photos on her wall. In just a few more weeks she'll rewind time to refill that bulletin board all over again.

After stretching a bit and getting up from her chair, she turns to find Junna sitting up in her bed with various books and papers on her knees. Though her hair is down and she's in her pajamas, she's still hard at work looking serious.

Nana invites herself over, humming as she takes a seat on the edge of the mattress.

"Junna-chan~?"

Junna looks up with a bit of a start, then smiles.

"Ah, sorry. I'll be done soon." She apologizes by giving Nana a kiss on the cheek. Nana giggles.

"You don't have to apologize!"

"You looked like a lost puppy. Don't worry, I'm not abandoning you for my work."

"I'm glad! Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Hmm… actually…"

So Nana cuddles up beside her in Junna's bed and helps with some of the paperwork, which they finish in record time. When it's all finally put aside, Junna lets out a long sigh.

"Thanks, Nana."

"Don't mention it."

Nana carefully removes Junna's glasses for her, folds them up, and puts them on the night stand before turning off the lamp. Junna rubs her eyes as if the light had been bothering them all day. Nana inches a little closer and wraps an arm around her shoulders, playing through her roommate's loose long hair.

"We're a team, Junna-chan. Don't forget that. I'll do whatever I can to help you, okay? So just ask me any time!"

Junna nods, resting her head on Nana's shoulder.

"I will. Thanks, Nana."

Nana smiles and presses a few kisses onto the top of her head. She lingers for a little while in her bed, but is prepared to return to her own like always.

But this time, when she tries to ease away, Junna reaches out to stop her. Surprised, Nana pauses.

"Junna-chan?"

Junna wraps her arms around Nana's stomach defiantly, keeping her face buried in her shoulder.

"It's kinda cold tonight," she mumbles. "Don't you think…?"

And Nana is filled with a rush of delight.

"Yeah! Kinda!"

The first time they share a bed typically doesn't happen for about another week or so. But Nana certainly isn't going to complain if it happens a bit sooner this time around. It will only add that much more to make today one of her most favorite days ever.

Nana hugs her girlfriend in return with jubilance and softly tackles Junna down onto the mattress.

"H-Hey! Nana!"

"Junna-chan, I'm so happy!"

Junna sighs, but it's a happy sigh. Probably her happiest ever.

"All right. Let's just get some sleep, okay?"

To conserve space, she lets Nana rest on top of her and pulls the blankets up over her back.

Nana is thrilled, gazing down at Junna with vibrant eyes. Everyone else in the school, save for their closest friends, has only ever really seen Junna in her uniform, in the daytime, with her glasses on.

But no one else - not even the others - gets to see her, be with her, or touch her like this.

Nana cards through Junna's thick loose hair for a while, twirling it around her fingers as she trails kisses up her neck and across her face, planting them beneath her eyes and on her nose where her glasses usually interfere.

At first Junna lets her do as she pleases as Nana giggles and has her way. But eventually Junna can't do nothing any longer, so she reciprocates by kissing Nana back whenever she gets the chance.

Nana feels a trill of joy every time Junna touches her, whether she's kissing her full on the lips or simply threading her fingers through her hair.

Nana does her best not to get too carried away, because this is only the first night they're doing this, at least from Junna's perspective. It's just so soft and warm, so it's a little difficult for Nana to prevent herself from smothering her in affection right away.

Thankfully, Junna makes it clear that she's just as happy about this as she is.

They must snuggle up and kiss and hug one another for close to an hour that night before Nana can sense her roommate getting dreary. She's more than content with this; today is now officially her favorite day of the cycle, and she hopes the same thing will happen next time around, and the time after that. But for now, she withdraws with a smile.

"Miss President, you've been working so hard lately."

"Ugh, don't call me that when we're here, Nana."

"Sorry, sorry~" Nana leans down and nuzzles her neck. "Get some rest, Junna-chan. Good work today, as always."

Junna folds her arms comfortably around Nana's back.

"Thanks, Nana."

"You're very welcome~ Good night, Junna-chan."

Nana kisses her on the lips softly one more time before settling down over her, hugging her to keep her as warm as possible. Junna holds onto her as well, running her hands up and down Nana's back until she falls asleep.

Nana has never been happier before in her life, and she knows none of her friends have either.

Somehow, this feels almost familiar in some ways. Perhaps if she keeps on repeating the cycle, more and more minor alterations will happen, and they'll all get to fall in love sooner and stay in it for long before she resets things.

Eventually, this entire year cycle could just be the nine of them happily in love enjoying their school days together.

Just thinking about it makes her heart throb. She closes her eyes and sighs against Junna's collar, and she only says this now because she knows her girlfriend is asleep.

"I love you, Junna-chan."

She has for some time now, and not just in this timeline, but ever since their second year in the original.

Now, she just gets to keep loving Junna over and over again without end.

She almost can't wait until the next few weeks are done, just so she'll be able to start it all over again.

Chapter Text

Chapter 5. One Minute

That morning, Nana sleeps in by one minute.

She knows, because she's gone through these days enough times to remember which time she wakes up on each morning exactly.

Because of the slight change that had happened last night with Junna, Nana sleeps in an extra minute, because she's just so comfortable lying there together with her girlfriend.

But of course, the dutiful Student Council President can't stand to be even a minute late for classes. When she realizes the time, she lets out a tired grunt as she slowly starts pushing herself up with Nana slouched on top of her.

"Hey, Nana…"

"Mmnnn just five more minutes~"

"Who are you, Karen?"

"Eheehee~"

Slowly, Nana pushes herself up and off of Junna, who smoothes a hand back through her bedhead and reaches for her glasses. Nana stretches out her arms a bit before leaning in to peck her nose.

"Did you sleep well, Junna-chan? Were you nice and warm?"

Junna blushes and looks down.

"Yeah."

"I'm glad!"

Nana hugs her, and Junna sighs, figuring she can accept it first thing in the morning.

"All right now, come on. We don't wanna be even later than this."

"Right!"

And the morning continues as per usual, if not one minute behind. But considering that had happened because Nana had been warmly snuggled up with her girlfriend last night, she doesn't mind it one bit.

She's extra gleeful this morning as she takes Junna's hand and walks with her down the hallway to join the others for breakfast.

When everyone is ready, they all head outside together.

Though it's a beautiful day, Kaoruko is complaining of a sore back, so Futaba agrees to give her a ride on the bike. They mount up and put on their helmets, but don't drive off right away. Instead, Futaba goes at a very leisurely pace, riding alongside the other seven in the bike lane as their friends stick to the sidewalk. The idle morning chatter rises up as always.

"Sooo~?" Nana says. "What's on the to-do list today, Prez?"

"Lots," Junna replies. "I've got a couple meetings after school and one during lunch, but they should be quick."

"That's our Junna," Claudine says proudly. "Always hard at work for us."

"But of course," Maya smiles. "She was the natural pick for Student Council President, after all. Saijou-san? Would you care to join me after school for additional practice today as well?"

"I suppose so."

"Enjoy that," Kaoruko says smugly from the bike. "Futaba-han and I've got a date today~"

"What?!"

"A date?"

"Like what?"

"Geez," Futaba sighs from up front. "It's not really a date, she's just callin' it that. We're pickin' up some stuff for her folks, that's all."

"Oh come now, Futaba-han. Can't you humor me just this once?"

"Still, that sounds nice," Mahiru smiles. "Actually, after school today, Karen-chan, Hikari-chan and I are going to see a movie!"

"That's right!" Karen blurts. "I'm so excited!"

"Just don't lose your ticket this time, Bakaren."

"I won't! I swear!"

Though Nana had decided that yesterday was her favorite of the cycle, today might actually be a contender as well. While all the others have plans together, she knows that she'll be helping out the girls from Class B while waiting for Junna to finish her meetings today, and then they'll get to walk back home together and cook their favorite foods for supper.

It might become tough for her to decide on a favorite day, but that's far from a problem.

As they continue on their way to school, Nana keeps to her usual spot at the back of the group, watching everyone else with Junna at her side. Futaba is driving slowly beside them, laughing with Claudine about something at the front of the group, while Maya adds in now and then. At one point she reaches out to smooth a leaf from her partner's hair, and Claudine thanks her with a very swift kiss.

Kaoruko yawns beneath her helmet and snuggles her face into Futaba's back, slouching up against her to nap. When they reach the next crosswalk, Karen pulls ahead of Hikari and Mahiru to jump only across the white lines and not touch the grey cement at all.

"Quick! The road is lava!"

"Geez, Karen-chan…"

"Don't trip."

"I woooon't!"

Nana smiles as she watches over them all, reaching for Junna's hand in the process. It truly is incredible, how her wish had become this wonderful.

But she'd slept in that morning by one minute.

And somehow, someway, one minute was all it took.

Because of that, they'd all left Starlight Hall together a minute later.

Which puts them at a red light instead of a green one.

Nana barely hears it, but there's a crash.

Tires screech, horns blare.

The bus careens off the road and slams directly into Futaba's bike.

A chorus of shrieks is drowned out by the terrible smashing of metal as the bike goes flying with both occupants still on it. It crashes right into their group of friends on the sidewalk.

In the moment, Nana can do nothing but watch it happen.

Later, she'd find out the details.

That Futaba was killed instantly when the bus had hit her, and Karen also had never experienced a second of pain as the bike had been flung directly at her and snapped her neck on impact.

Claudine had suffered, though.

She and Maya had been thrown across the road and crushed against a parked car, where Claudine had bled out in agony for nearly ten minutes, all the while calling out for Maya who never woken. By the time the medical personnel had arrived, it had been too late.

Maya had been knocked unconscious, and even after they'd taken her to the hospital, she'd simply never opened her eyes again. Her parents had made the decision to turn off her life support only a few days later.

Kaoruko, who had been ultimately pinned beneath the bike, trapped and sobbing beside Futaba's broken body, had been permanently paralyzed from the waist down. Her parents had come to collect her and take her home, and she had officially withdrawn from Seishou without even getting to attend the funerals.

Distraught beyond comprehension at their loss, Hikari and Mahiru had both left to return home shortly afterward.

Hikari returned to England on the same plane where Claudine's casket was flown back to France for her parents to collect.

Mahiru was inconsolable for weeks even after she got back to her family, and she fell into a terrible depression.

Seishou itself closed for a full week as memorials were planned.

Junna, as Student Council President, was a part of all of the arrangements for the four girls who had passed away.

And all the while, Nana just kept waiting for it to end.

For herself to wake up from the nightmare.

For it all to rewind right then and there...

But the days kept arriving, each more terrible than the one before.

The school was filled with a sickening silence day in and day out. The flowers and the banners only served to make the terrible reality all the more painful.

Nana kept waiting. Waiting for it to stop. For it to just go back so she could fix it.

But she still had weeks before the next rewind. If she could just hold out until then, in this aching, nauseating numbness…

She pushed through, crying herself to sleep every night as Junna toiled over more memorials, more flowers, more ceremonies.

They cried alone, even when they were together.

Nana just needed to wait. Just wait a little longer-

She was so caught up in the impossible tragedy, and how she might mend it, that she let it consume her.

She didn't think to go to Junna.

She didn't think to comfort her.

She just needed to wait and then fix it all herself.

And so on the nights when Junna was out having meetings with school officials until midnight, Nana screamed into her pillow until her voice died.

After the funerals, the memorials, and all the final farewell ceremonies, it became too much.

Day in and day out, Junna heard and saw nothing but the deaths of her friends.

She prepared everything, gave all the speeches, and did nothing but relive it again and again.

It was just too much.

Three days after the final ceremony, Hoshimi Junna killed herself.

The four funerals were shortly followed by a fifth.

Nana did nothing. She couldn't have. Not to save Karen, Futaba, Claudine, or Maya.

But she could have done something to help Junna, and she hadn't.

As her roommate, her partner, and her girlfriend, Nana should have been able to do something to prevent her death. Junna's blood was on her hands more deeply than the others' was.

She couldn't wait any longer. She had to fix it. She had to.

The morning of, Nana doesn't even attend her own girlfriend's funeral.

She tears away from the crowd of mourners at the last minute and runs like a shadow through the rain, her black clothes soaking through in seconds.

She races all the way across town, across the very same crosswalk that is now overflowing with flowers and crosses and mementos.

She races all the way back to Starlight Hall, where she crashes through her door and collapses onto Junna's cold, pristine bed.

And she sobs like no one ever could before, or has since. She beats her fists against the mattress and screams, kicks the blankets and throws herself against the wall.

But even then, she can't feel the pain.

She grows still and sinks into the pillow, which still retains Junna's lingering scent.

It hadn't felt real.

Not even when she'd watched the bus collide with Futaba and Kaoruko with her own two eyes.

Not even when she'd watched Karen's limp body be tossed across the sidewalk as the rest of them had screamed.

Not even when she'd heard Claudine's sobs for help, and watched hers and Maya's blood flowing through the streets.

But now it's real, and she knows it.

Junna is gone, and so are the others.

Hikari won't ever return to Japan after this.

Mahiru won't be able to come back to Seishou now that everyone she's ever known and loved is gone.

And Kaoruko can't continue in her career as a dancer anymore, as she'll be confined to a wheelchair for life.

All because Nana had let herself get comfortable. Here, in this very same bed.

She curls her fingers gently around the blankets and pillow now, imagining Junna is there beside her, smiling, kissing her.

All because she'd rewound time again, even though her friends had told her she didn't need to.

All because she'd slept in one minute.

One minute had been all it had taken.

And one minute had taken everything from her.

It was all over.

They had gone from nine to four.

Now, all that was left of the radiant group of promising performers were two distraught students who had lost their best friend - the source of their light - and fled back home, a paralyzed dancer who would never be able to do anything for herself but cry ever again-

-and a foolish, wretched girl who had tried to play god one too many times.

Chapter Text

Chapter 6. Price

An ugly yellow light flickers at the edge of the darkness suffocating her vision. Nana feels a surge of nausea as she recognizes the stage below it and the curtains on either side, all stained with the same sickening color.

She can't tell if this is a dream, though at this point it can't be anything but a nightmare, even if she's still awake.

The world she'd wished for and brought upon is now nothing more than a living hell either way.

She's standing at the far edge of that stage, and a resounding ache throughout her body tells her it's very possible she had run here herself in a maddening desperation not long before. She can vaguely remember the bite of cold air clogging her throat already choked with sobs, and scratches on her palms and hands tell her she'd fallen several times in the process.

But she can't remember anything that had transpired within the past few hours. She doesn't even know how long she's been here for. Her mind feels as empty as her soul.

Only one thought remains. The fact that half of the people she loved most in the world were dead, and the rest had left with no intentions to return.

She's alone.

In the worst way imaginable, Daiba Nana is horribly and wretchedly alone.

And it's all her own fault.

She blinks, staggers, shoes thudding against the stage underneath her. The blazing buzz of the yellow spotlight rings in her ears. Wet spots have dripped into the wood below her, and she can feel more tears slipping out lifelessly down her cheeks. They burn, but it doesn't hurt. Nothing hurts as much as she knows it should.

She's gone numb. To everything.

She can't even tell if she really exists anymore. She can't feel as much of herself or her senses, and it's as though she is watching someone else on this stage.

She bows her head again, as though its weight is too great for her neck to handle. She watches more tears drop down and turn the light wood dark, and doesn't even feel them as they stream down her face and neck. She blinks, and more come.

And more. And more. Before much longer, they start to look red-

She snaps her head up, casting her gaze around the stage where she had stood so many times with the others. She can still picture them as if they were all really there. She'd memorized every lapel, every accessory, every ruffle in their skirts and tie on their boots, the shape of Karen's hair pin and the tiara of Hikari's stars, the exact shade of green of Mahiru's skirt, the shape of Futaba's halberd and the slice of Kaoruko's naginata, the curl of Claudine's hair and the flutter of Maya's ribbon, the precise sharpness with which Junna drew her arrows, the spark in her eyes-

A scream erupts from Nana's throat as her hands fly up to clutch at her head, nails digging into her scalp, as if to claw away the memories.

No. I can't forget them. No matter how painful it might be, I can't-

She'd lived those revues too many times to count. She remembers each and every one, how each of her friends had moved and sang and danced. They were a part of her, whether she wanted it or not, even if the pain of remembering would be her doom.

Slowly, she withdraws her shaking hands from her hair. Thin lines of blood are cradled beneath each nail at the cuticle. Her stomach heaves, and a burning seizes her chest.

Even such a small amount of blood reminds her of the accident.

That same red had dribbled quietly from Karen's lips while her eyes had stared blankly.

It had seeped through Futaba's uniform and pooled on the bike where Kaoruko had been pinned beneath.

It had made streaks across the broken glass of the car Maya had been thrust against, and the road where her body had slumped.

It had leaked in the storm drains from where Claudine had lain crumpled and wailing.

And it had quivered in pools on the locker room floor when Nana had entered in search of her girlfriend, only to find her motionless, with red still spilling from her wrist.

Nana's stomach flips again, and this time she can really feel the sting of bile rising up her throat, choking out a groan.

"I… I-I have to-"

Her voice is scratched and broken from overuse in screams, but it still sounds so deafening on this deadly-silent stage.

"Giraffe…?"

It was a gamble if he would appear or not. At this point, she didn't even know if he was real, or if he ever had been. But when she next blinks a tall shadow is standing there at the center of the stage, waiting.

Nana takes a shuddering step toward him and nearly collapses from it, struggling to keep herself up. He stands there, unaffected as ever, pitying.

"A true shame."

Nana isn't sure if his voice brings her comfort in the fact that she is no longer alone here, or dread in the fact that this terrible stage is real after all. The giraffe continues staring, the light at his back shrouding him in shadow.

"Indeed, I was rather enjoying our bargain, Daiba Nana-san. As you said, it was simply breathtaking to observe that final revue. Even though it could never be quite the same as the first time, it was much more spectacular than starting at an empty audience. But now…"

He tapers off, letting the fact that the two actresses in question are now gone plow into Nana as that bus had plowed into her friends.

"Truly a tragedy," the giraffe says. "But that, too, is a vast genre of entertainment. I understand."

Nana only makes it a few more steps to him before her knees buckle. She falls into his shadow, shivering and sobbing, squeezing her fists so hard she can feel the cuts under her fingers expanding, opening wider, stinging with rawness.

"No-"

The voice that comes from her mouth doesn't even sound like hers anymore. She tries to lift her head, but the contrast of dark shadow and garish spotlight is blinding.

"It can't… it can't end like this… there has to be a way… there has to be something-"

"Does there, now?" he says calmly, almost softly, but she knows there is no empathy in it. "Haven't you done enough to alter this world and the lives of your friends, Daiba Nana-san? Why not let it all end here?"

"Because that's-!" She cuts off coughing, feeling the contents of her stomach jolting as high up as her throat. "That's-! That's not how it's supposed to be!"

"But isn't it?" he says. "After all, this is the new reality you asked for. The reality you created. It has as much right to exist as any other."

"I won't let it!" she screams. "This can't be our future! It can't be!"

"I did warn you," he says. "That anomalies might occur. Nonetheless, you accepted the terms." He pauses, then continues without mercy. "Daiba Nana-san, their blood is on your hands."

This time the bile surges up her throat, but when she gags to expel it, nothing comes. She coughs, violent tremors tearing through her as tears and spit and mucus drip in strings down her face, sinking into the wood of the stage. It lasts for some time, until she doesn't have the breath left for it.

"No…" she rasps. "It can't… this future can't happen… it can't even be a possibility…"

At the time she had made her wish again, she'd thought nothing could be worse than being separated from them by continents. But now she knows there is one thing worse. Only one.

"They're dead…" Her voice tumbles out in a meek whisper, solidifying the reality she'd been refusing - unable - to accept. "They're dead… because of my repeat performance… because of such a small thing like sleeping in a minute late… Karen-chan, Futaba-chan, Kuro-chan, Maya-chan… they're all-"

She bites her lip and tastes a tang of iron.

"Kaoruko-chan will never dance again… Hikari-chan and Mahiru-chan were so heartbroken they left… and Junna-chan couldn't bear it. She-"

She can't finish. Her voice breaks off into a caterwaul, riddled with grief and guilt and agony. It shatters the still air of the theater, blasts against every wall, every corner.

The giraffe merely looks on.

Nana doesn't know how long she cries for. In truth, it doesn't matter anymore, because time had stopped meaning anything to her the second that bus had veered off the road. She only stops when her voice has nothing left to scream and her eyes have no tears left to cry. Eventually, she lifts her head again, dizzy from the weight of it, vision blurred beyond repair.

"What…?" she croaks. "What can I do to turn it back…? To make it so none of this ever happened-?"

The giraffe doesn't budge.

"As I'm sure you're aware, a price must be paid."

"Then take it!" Nana blurts. "Anything! Take this world and this horrible future away and exchange it so we can all go back to the past- together!"

But still, he does not move.

"Perhaps that was enough the first time," he says. "After all, back then, things were not quite as complicated as they stand now. You paid the price of a future that would never be, to act as fuel to repeat the past and never advance into that future. But now you are saying you want to go back to that day, and to allow your original future to take hold once more?"

"Yes!" Nana cries. "Even if it means Hikari-chan gets scouted… even if it means Maya-chan and Kuro-chan are leaving for France… even if it means Kaoruko-chan and Futaba-chan are moving away…"

She chokes again, then continues in a whisper.

"Even if it means… Junna-chan will be studying abroad… Even if it means I lose her like that… Nothing… nothing could be worse than losing her like this…"

More tears surge up, but they never fall. Now they just burn at her eyes without giving her the small relief of their descent.

The giraffe waits until the echoes of her voice have faded.

"I understand your desires. However, as I have said, things have become much more complicated now. Simply exchanging the concept of a future that would never happen for the repetition of the past will no longer suffice. As we stand now, lives have been drastically altered - and lost. Payment to rewrite such a world will be much more costly than simply the intangible uncertainty of futures."

Nana whimpers, and for the first time in what must've been hours she can feel her pulse again, slamming with dread. What he's saying makes sense. Trying to use this failed world as fuel for a better one wouldn't work now that nine lives have been altered or lost forever. Changing such a tragedy would require more.

"Anything…" Nana begs him. "Take anything…"

She stops, freezing as a realization hits her. It was her own fault and her own wish that caused all this to happen. It was only fair that she pay something personally as the price.

"My voice," she says. "Take it. Even if it means I can never sing again, or laugh with my friends, or tell them I love them… If it means I can have them back, then you can have it."

For the first time now, the giraffe flicks an ear with mild interest.

"Now, that is something I can consider. The sacrifice of something so personal would certainly bring about a higher reward. But I am afraid taking your voice alone would not suffice in bringing back your friends. Perhaps it would spare one at best."

Nana sobs, pressing her palm over her mouth. It isn't good enough. She could save one of them… But it's not enough. She has to save all of them.

"Then my eyes!" she pleads. "Take my vision!"

Again, the giraffe flicks an ear.

"Perhaps that will spare another of them."

Nana's heart beats harder. She can do this. It's possible.

"My senses…" she breathes. "Take all of them. One for each of their lives-"

Here, the giraffe inclines his neck and lowers his head, until his face hovers only a few feet away from where she kneels crumpled.

"Now, now, Daiba Nana-san. This is quite the serious offer you are making. Do you understand?"

"Yes," she rasps. "I'll do it. If it means bringing them back-"

He says nothing for a long moment, his green eyes hollow except for a small spark of consideration.

"Five senses for five lives," he says. "In theory, it could be enough. However, those will cover only the price of the deaths. There still needs to be fuel enough to carry the weight of this world back in time. I will need more."

Nana's heart drops back into the hollowness of her stomach.

"What-?!" she cries. "I'll give you all of my senses, but- what else? I… I don't have anything left to give-!"

He lowers his head to be just inches from hers now.

"Are you certain of that, Daiba Nana-san?" he utters. "I can think of one thing you have left to offer."

She stares back at him, gripped with confusion and dismay. If she makes this wish, then she'll get them all back. But she won't have a sense of touch, or hearing, or sight, or smell, or taste - not even a voice. She will be completely helpless, useless, unable to experience anything. She will be void of her senses and her ability to do anything but believe they are with her and hope that they might love her as much as she loves them.

In truth, she will hardly be alive at all.

Her vision blurs again, and suddenly she understands.

She looks down to her hands, to the dried orange blood cracking beneath her fingernails. Her right index finger produces enough blood that a small droplet forms and drips down.

Unlike the tears which have already dissipated into the wood of the stage, the scarlet of the blood stains and remains.

Nana lifts her head again. She stares back at him, and sees the answer in his eyes.

She inhales, and it shakes so much it actually becomes steady.

The giraffe blinks.

"You understand."

If he could smile, she knows he would be.

"Yes…"

With an air of accomplishment, the giraffe lifts his head high once more.

"Then it will be for the better," he says. "It will be to your own benefit. After all, giving your senses as payment will mean you will barely be alive at all in this new world you'll be wishing for."

"Just… promise me they'll all be alive again," she whispers. "You have to swear it."

He lifts his head high, as close to the yellow spotlight as possible.

"Daiba Nana-san. You have my word that your friends shall all be alive and well once more, once you have paid this price."

Hearing those words gives her the only solace she's known for the past several weeks. She isn't scared anymore. She doesn't even tremble.

"All right." Nana lifts her face and gazes up at him with unwavering conviction. "Then I, Daiba Nana, student of the 99th cohort, offer my life to the stage."

A ripple of anticipation runs through the giraffe's body as he takes a step back, revealing a pair of familiar objects. Two swords stand crossed with their tips embedded at the center-stage marker.

"Then please," he says, stepping away. "Proceed with your payment, Diana Nana-san. It has been a pleasure."

With limbs that don't feel like her own, Nana pushes herself to her feet and begins to walk forward.

She isn't scared. She isn't even sad. Not after all the horrible things she's caused.

She knows they won't remember her. They won't even have known her at all. They won't be sad that she won't be there, because she'll never have existed at all.

It's for the better.

She knows it is. They'll all live better, happier lives if she never existed in the first place to interfere with them, if she never played her selfish games of rewinding time and toying with their futures and their lives.

They all need to live.

But she doesn't need to exist.

The sounds of her shoes making steps across the stage echo with the severity of what is to come.

Nana reaches Position Zero and stops, staring at the twin swords she once fought her own friends with. She'll never have existed to hurt them, or to mess with their lives. She'll never have kept them trapped in an endless loop of reruns like a bunch of lab rats for her own selfish desires.

They'll be better off without me.

Reaching out, she picks up one of the swords by the hilt, holding the blade gently in her opposite hand.

She'd fought all of her friends with this sword. She caused all of them great frustration and agony when she'd beat them every time, without fail, for the sake of making her wish again and again.

Remembering it now, she squeezes the blade, and a fresh line of red spills down from her palm. The stage below drinks it in hungrily, taking in the red as its own color.

Nana raises her face to the shadow of the giraffe in front of her. He watches and waits.

"You have my word," he says again. "Your friends will all return to how they once were. With the sacrifice of your life, they will be able to live their lives as intended."

She doesn't say anything back to him. She doesn't want her last words to be to him, though he may be the only one who ever hears them.

Nana tilts her head back, until the blazing spotlight burns her eyes. Her voice comes out, quiet but firm.

"Everyone… I'm… I'm so sorry…"

She turns the tip of the sword toward her own throat, backing her right hand with her left, keeping her grip steady.

"You'll be better off without me..."

She closes her eyes, feeling the sharp blade pressing against her neck. Each of their faces flash in her mind, with Junna's being the last. She inhales shakily.

"Everyone-"

She pushes softly, and red begins to flow.

"-I love you-"

The sword plunges into her without remorse.

The stage drinks her blood with silent greed, and her body slumps with a thud that echoes for a long time to come.

Chapter Text

Chapter 7. Nana

"Hoshimi-san! Could I get some help with this?"

Junna had been busy enough setting up the main banner for the 100th Starlight Festival with several other girls, but at the sound of Karen's voice, she sighs and heads over to her.

"Aijou-san? What exactly is it you're doing?"

Karen is presently trying to slap a piece of paper against the wall, but it keeps flopping.

"I'm trying to hang up the flyers like you told me to, but they aren't sticking!"

With a long sigh, Junna pushes her glasses up onto her nose.

"That's because you're trying to put them up backwards."

"Ehhh?" Karen pulls her hand away from the wall only to find the flyer is stuck to her hand instead. "Oh! Ahaha I guess that was the problem! Thanks, Hoshimi-san!"

"Geez, how did we end up casting such a scatterbrained Flora?"

"Eheehee~"

As Karen gets back to her job, Junna decides to continue walking the halls where the rest of the Festival decorations and promotions are currently being set up by the rest of her classmates to oversee things. As the second-year Class Representative, she has a lot to do with the Festival in only a few weeks' time, and just about every second someone seems to be calling for her.

She heads to the costume department where Kaoruko, Futaba, and Mahiru have been helping out with arranging the outfits by size and character roles, stopping in for a few minutes to help out a bit and chat.

Once she's finished there, Junna heads to the studio where she finds Claudine and Maya rehearsing their goddesses' lines with Hikari, who is their Claire. Junna observes and nods approvingly, offering her feedback and applauding their delivery of the lines.

Junna herself had been cast as one of the six goddesses sent to bar Claire and Flora's way from the Tower, with the main cast consisting of eight people.

They've all been working and training very hard for their big 100th Starlight Festival over the past few weeks in particular. With all of her other responsibilities to handle, Junna often didn't get back to her room till midnight some evenings, and then she would read over some of the scripts distributed by Class B until she fell asleep.

That was a minor matter, but it still bothered her from time to time. There was just something off about most of the scripts she seemed to receive for review. And the most frustrating part was that she couldn't ever place what it was.

When the other girls gave them to her, they always seemed to know that something was wrong with the writing, but weren't able to tell what it was exactly.

And though Junna would spend hours upon hours toiling over it, she could never place it either, and always handed the scripts back to them with a reassuring smile, in spite of her misgivings.

In truth, it drove her crazy though. There was just something off.

Sometimes, it was something like how the way the plot was written in sequence of events, and sometimes it felt as though a role was missing somehow, or that an additional one should be added. Sometimes the girls acting out certain roles didn't seem to suite them quite properly, as if they were only the understudies, but the true actress was absent.

But Junna knew that was a ridiculous thought. Whoever got cast as a role initially always ended up playing it in the final performance. Understudies were rarely, if at all, needed.

And she never dared to say it out loud for fear of upsetting her classmates, but she even felt as though there was something off about the Starlight script.

And none of them ever said anything either, but Junna could see the flashes of reservation in their eyes sometimes, the faint frowns or contemplative looks that something felt lacking somewhere, somehow.

But the 100th Starlight Festival was upon them in just a few days' time. They couldn't make any drastic changes now.

Junna spends the remainder of the afternoon and most of her evening overseeing setup, signing papers, and an assortment of other things. Her closest friends wait until she is finished with all of her tasks before joining her for supper. They all laugh and joke and discuss things as per usual, things about classes or about their performances, and Junna laughs and chats along with them.

And she doesn't ever mention it, but even here - even with them - something feels… off.

And again, she just can't place what it is.

But she's seen it in her friends, too.

The way someone will be laughing and they'll turn to one side to smile, only to find there's no one there.

The way they'll all stumble back from a long day of training hungry and tired, almost as if they expect treats to be waiting for them in the kitchen.

The way they'll deliver lines in rehearsal as though they aren't right, as though they weren't written correctly.

During dance classes, Junna often pairs up with Hikari, being that Karen and Mahiru had gotten so used to being partners all year long before Hikari transferred in. But even then, Junna feels she doesn't match Hikari, and that Hikari doesn't match her. Of course it's nothing against Hikari personally, but Junna just feels she can't move properly with her - or with anyone, really - as her partner.

These odd feelings have always been here since the moment she'd stepped foot into Seishou at the beginning of her first year. But in recent weeks they have become amplified, and the oddities have definitely been affecting the others as well, though no one ever voices it outright.

Even tonight, as they're finishing up supper and standing from their seats, Junna lingers a moment at the table as though she were waiting for someone…

"Hoshimi-san?" Maya calls for her with a curious look. "Is something the matter?"

Junna blinks and turns her head to find she is the last one at the table, and there is no one else to wait for. She shakes her head.

"No, sorry. I'm coming."

She follows after her seven friends with an uneasy sort of smile.

They head back to Starlight Hall together, walking in the same order as they've always seemed to walk. Junna watches everyone from the back, not even fully realizing it when her eyes drift to the side every now and then, only to find empty space.

Once back at the dorms, the girls head to the showers together, which was something else she could never explain. The eight of them would always take the stalls in a row beside one another's.

But for some reason, there was always one stall left open at the very end of the row.

Junna always wondered why Hikari never claimed the stall for herself once she transferred, but she never had an actual reason to ask. And Hikari herself never seemed to question the shower she selected in a separate row, as if she knew it belonged to her, and the empty one was for someone else who never took it.

When they're finished showering tonight, Junna dries her hair like always, even though the others all have someone else to do theirs for them. Mahiru juggles Karen and Hikari, Futaba pampers Kaoruko, and Maya and Claudine take turns tending to one another.

But Junna has always been alone.

No one has ever felt the need to offer anything for her, and she has never felt the desire to ask.

Once everyone has finished up their routines for the evening, they wish each other goodnight and head off together in their respective pairs or groups down the hallway.

Karen, Hikari and Mahiru retreat to their room together, with Karen already dozing off as the other two help her through the doorway. Futaba also has a sleepy Kaoruko by the hand, gently chiding her to open her eyes until they get inside. And though Maya and Claudine have separate rooms, Junna catches them sharing a brief kiss before they part ways.

Junna murmurs one last goodnight before turning to her own single-person bedroom.

It's just like any other, consisting of her bed, desk, dresser, and a few book shelves, which are pact tightly with books and scripts. Junna walks to it now and pulls out the one she knows best of all; Starlight.

She brings it back to her desk, turns on the lamp and has a seat to read through it once again.

She's read this script a million times as a first-year alone, but she must've read it twice as many times in her second year. Every time, something feels off that she just can't place. And every time, she fails to figure it out.

Why are there only six goddess roles? There are seven deadly sins, right? Wouldn't seven goddesses work well? Seven is such a significant number in so many ways...

But there have always been six goddesses in Starlight, for as long as it has existed.

And besides, with six of them and two leads for Claire and Flora, it allowed Junna and her eight friends to take the major roles together, which made it all the more fun.

But still, it never felt quite right.

Similar to every other night for months, Junna stays up late trying to place it, but she comes out empty-handed. Around 1am, she turns off her lamp and closes her book with a sigh.

In the darkness, a faint ray of moonlight illuminates the few pictures pinned to the bulletin board beside her desk. They're all photos of Junna and her friends, many from last year, and some from this year as well since Hikari had transferred.

Junna always smiles to look at those photos; the eight of them in-costume after being cast for the 100th Starlight, Karen and Mahiru and Hikari sitting together eating snacks, Kaoruko and Futaba making funny faces, Maya and Claudine in the middle of a dance number, the time they'd all gone to see Aladdin, the time they'd had a sleepover in the lounge, Hikari's first performance at Seishou, Kaoruko's birthday party, Claudine's selfie from the Eiffel Tower over spring break…

There's also one of the eight of them in their Black Lion Knights and Sun Nation Army costumes. Junna had loved that play in particular due to the fight scenes. And oddly enough, even though none of them had had any more weapons prop training than any of the others, all eight of them had been extremely skilled during trainings those fight scenes.

The battles came naturally to all of them, as if they've been sparring one another for months on end, though that was of course not the case.

That was just another strange thing Junna had assumed the others had noticed as well, but no one had any reason to address.

That play, like all others, had been a success, and remembering sends a wave of nostalgia through her. Junna smiles.

But…

Something aches.

Every time she looks at those photos, something inside of her stirs and deflates.

Especially in their group photos, there always seems to be a bit of extra space longing to be filled.

She's always felt like this when looking at the photos. And tonight is no different.

Junna stares, trying to figure out what should be there, or what's making them feel incomplete. And just like every other night, she comes to no concrete conclusion.

With another sigh, she gets up from her desk and retreats to bed, removing her hair tie and her glasses. It's a bit of a chilly night, and she shudders as she slips in beneath the cold blankets.

It's nights like these when she envies her friends, as she knows Karen and Mahiru often vacant their beds to snuggle up together with Hikari on the floor, and she knows Kaoruko will sneak into Futaba's bed, and she knows Maya or Claudine will cave and tiptoe across the hallway to join the other for the night.

But Junna has no one. She never has.

And that's not to say she needs anyone or wants anyone, but there are times she believes it would be nice.

But tonight, just like every other, she closes her eyes, curls up alone, and dreams of a girl she doesn't recognize, and - come morning - never remembers.

She thought the odd feelings might dissipate once she became a third-year.

But even after the success of their 100th Starlight Festival, and even after the thrill of moving up the ranks in Seishou, that lingering tug in the back of Junna's mind never vanishes altogether. It's always there, like a slight ringing only she can hear every now and then, always reminding her about something she can't remember.

And even though photos keep getting added to the wall beside her desk, there is always an empty space that never seems to get filled.

She'd thought this feeling would subside eventually, but recently Junna has come to accept that she'll probably be living with it for the rest of her life.

That morning, she sits up and stretches in her bed, already reaching for her glasses and her planner before she's even opened her eyes fully. As the new Student Council President, she has a lot of things on her list, and she does her best to arrange them all on a timeline for today.

After a few minutes, she gets dressed and takes her school bag with her to the lounge to wait for her friends. Mahiru is doing her best to prepare breakfast for eight, but luckily Claudine and Maya offer their assistance. Hikari and Karen are busy on the couches cramming for a history quiz. Kaoruko is brushing her hair, complaining that Futaba had made them leave too early this morning. Junna looks over her planner once again, jotting down notes about meeting times.

Just like any other morning, they all eat and talk before heading out to school together. Being Kaoruko complains she's so tired, Futaba decides to take her bike today and drives along beside the walking girls at a slow pace.

As Junna runs through her mental list of things to do today, she half-listens to her friends' conversations up ahead.

"Saijou-san?" Maya says invitingly, holding softly to her girlfriend's hand. "Would you care to join me after school for additional practice today as well?"

Claudine avoids eye contact, but never lets go of her hand for a second.

"I suppose so."

"Enjoy that," Kaoruko says smugly from the back of the bike, slumped against her roommate's back. "Futaba-han and I've got a date today~"

"What?!"

"A date?"

"Like what?"

"Geez," Futaba sighs. "It's not really a date, she's just callin' it that. We're pickin' up some stuff for her folks, that's all."

"Oh come now, Futaba-han. Can't you humor me just this once?"

"Still, that sounds nice," Mahiru smiles. "Actually, after school today, Karen-chan, Hikari-chan and I are going to see a movie!"

"That's right!" Karen blurts. "I'm so excited!"

"Just don't lose your ticket this time, Bakaren."

"I won't! I swear!"

Junna feels her stomach swoop a little as a sense of deja vu sweeps over her. That's been happening a lot more recently as well, but this one is particularly strong.

The eight of them continue walking and chatting, Junna still mulling through her thoughts. She doesn't even hear Mahiru calling to her the first time.

"Juuunna-chan!"

"Eh? S-Sorry. What's that, Tsuyuzaki-san?"

Mahiru smiles kindly.

"I just asked if you have any plans for today."

"Oh. Well-"

Junna never gets the words out.

Suddenly, there's a loud blaring from the street beside them as several cars blast their horns. It's followed by a screech of tires, and out of nowhere a bus comes speeding off the road.

Futaba gives her bike some gas to get ahead of the bus, while Claudine and Maya shove each other forward. Shrieking, everyone grabs whomever they can and pushes or pulls them out of range.

The bus collides with a deafening, terrifying crash into a pole just a few feet behind them. There's a chorus of shouts and screams as smoke begins billowing from the broken vehicle and people begin hurrying off out the door.

There's so much chaos and commotion all at once that for a moment, Junna doesn't register any of it until her friends start crying out for each other.

"Is everyone all right?"

"K-Karen-chan!"

"I'm okay!"

"Thank goodness…"

"Saijou-san, you're not hurt are you?"

"I'm fine- What about you?"

"I am fine as well."

"Sheesh! If we'd left one minute sooner that thing would've hit us!"

"Futaba-han, please! Don't even make me think about it!"

By now there are police sirens approaching in the distance as cars pull over and people gather around the accident. There's no fire, and once everyone has been evacuated from the bus, no injuries are reported either.

Junna watches it all unfold as though it were a movie, something she wasn't a part of. Her friends are equally uneasy, staying back at a distance. All around the same time, some of them start shuddering.

"Ah-!"

Karen puts a hand to her head with a whimper. Right away, Hikari and Mahiru are stepping close to support her.

"Karen?"

"Wh-What's wrong?"

"I-I'm okay!" Karen says. "I just got a headache all of a sudden…"

Hikari and Mahiru exchange looks of unease, but ultimately it turns to relief. They pat Karen's back for her and hug her gently.

Likewise, Futaba holds her stomach with a moan.

"Jeez… the heck?"

Kaoruko removes her helmet now that they've come to a stop, and takes off Futaba's as well. She rubs her roommate's stomach for her gently to help soothe the ache. Futaba smiles back at her.

"Thanks. You all right, Kaoruko?"

"My legs have fallen asleep…" Kaoruko mutters. "They're all prickly… But I'm fine."

And up at the front of the group, Claudine has brought a hand to her chest, breathing heavily, and Maya is clutching at a sudden, unseen pain in her arm and side. But she ignores it for her partner's sake.

"Saijou-san," she says, easing Claudine a few more steps back. "Are you all right? Please try to breathe slowly."

Claudine swallows thickly, but after a moment the pain starts to subside.

"I'm fine… Tendo Maya, you're white as a sheet-"

"I am all right."

The two of them wrap their arms around each other and are quiet for a long moment.

Junna feels the strength wobble from her legs, and she considers herself lucky she doesn't collapse from the shock of relief right then and there. Everyone looks around to ensure the others are all right, and they ask her many times as well. But Junna can only nod in response, constantly looking to her side, as though there's someone else-

"I'm fine," she says thinly. "There are paramedics coming. Does anyone want to get checked out?"

They all shake their heads. But when they look to her, Junna finds the same sadness reflected in all of their eyes. And just like her, none of them can explain what it's about.

All of their hearts are aching, but it's less from the fear of what's almost just happened, and more from the knowledge that something is wrong here.

And the fact that they've avoided this disaster shouldn't feel wrong. They should all feel relieved and grateful and happy right now. But instead there is just an all-consuming sorrow.

By now, the crosswalk and road in front of them are being swarmed by police. Junna motions for her friends to move back so they can take a different path to school.

As the sounds of the commotion fade away behind them, a deep silence falls over their group. Collectively their pace slows, and they all hold more tightly to the people beside them.

"Futaba-han, are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah. How're your legs?"

"They're very awake now, much like the rest of me."

"Tendo Maya, is your arm still bothering you?"

"Not at all. How are your chest pains?"

"I'm all right."

"Karen-chan, do you still have a headache?"

"Nope! It's all better now!"

"Bakaren. Don't scare us like that."

"Sorry."

They all turn to ask about one another, checking just to make sure.

"Hoshimi-san?" Karen says, turning back to her. "What about you?"

"I'm… fine…" Junna says quietly. But then, she speaks without thinking, without even intending or meaning to. Her voice just comes out as she turns her face to the emptiness beside her. "What about you, Na-"

She stops.

'Nana.'

The others proceed a few more paces in front of her, but then pause.

"Hoshimi-san?"

Junna's jaw hangs open, and the word comes again.

"Nana…"

The others all freeze, as if the word has struck something deep within them. No one moves.

Junna tries to swallow, but it doesn't go down. She stares blankly at each of them, not even feeling herself blink. She says it again.

"Nana."

All of them wince in unison. If it was somehow possible for confusion and comprehension to take hold of a person at the same time, all eight of them feel it.

"Nana…"

"Daiba-san…"

"Banana…"

In that instant, memories flood their minds in torrents.

Freshly-baked muffins after a hard day's work.

Head pats of congratulations for a passed quiz.

Comforting hugs at late night-hours after seeking advice.

A cheerful voice singing across the stage.

A bubbling laughter drifting through the lounge.

A face to fill the photos.

A hand holding Junna's-

"Nana!" She shouts the name, and all at once the others jump as their minds snap back into place.

"Banana!"

"Nana!"

"Where is she?"

"What happened?!"

"She should be here!"

Everyone looks to Junna, their eyes wide with panic and loss and fear.

But they remember. They all do.

Junna feels her chest tighten and her heart shake.

Nana.

How could she have forgotten?

Or rather… how did they remember?

All of the evidence is clear. It isn't just that Nana had never attended Seishou or come into any of their lives. She doesn't exist at all. At least, not right now.

But she should. She has to.

Somewhere. Somehow.

Without another word, Junna tears off running. The rest turn to each other, then race after her. The roar of Futaba's bike follows them in their dash along the sidewalk, sprinting across the roads and cutting every corner until the school building is in sight.

The others stop only briefly on campus to catch their breath as Futaba and Kaoruko dismount the bike. But Junna continues running straight for the building.

"Hoshimi-san!" Karen blurts out. "Wh-Where are you going?"

Junna doesn't turn back as she yells her honest answer.

"I'm not sure!"

It's the truth. She doesn't know where she's heading. And yet she knows exactly where to go.

The others share more puzzled glances, but take off after her once again.

They follow her into the building, past startled classmates and chiding teachers, around the bend of several staircases leading down, down, onto the lowest level.

They run down the empty hallway where they've never been before; and yet it's a place they all know very well.

It all comes back to them now.

The revues they never had, the battles they never fought, the giraffe they never spoke to.

It had all happened in some distant time, in some world just beside this one.

It had happened, and yet it hadn't.

They run, and Junna leads them.

And as she sees the flicker of the tiny red light up ahead, Junna finally understands where it is they're going.

"We're going to get Nana back."

Chapter Text

Chapter 8. Reawakening

Junna stares at the closed elevator doors with narrowed eyes. Her heart is still pounding, aching for the friend she'd been made to live for so long without.

Behind her, her friends are in a panic that is somehow calm, stiff yet confident. They've been here before, even though this is the first time.

Junna tries to pry open the door, but it doesn't budge. She kicks it with a resounding echo.

"Hey! Let us in!"

Her voice reverberates down the empty hallway behind them. Nothing happens.

A murmur ripples through the girls.

"So all those fights," Kaoruko mumbles. "I dreamt about them every night. Futaba-han said she did, too."

"Yeah." Futaba nods, teeth grit. "I thought it was just weird dreams, till Kaoruko said she had 'em too."

"As did we," Maya says quietly. "Saijou-san and I confided in one another, but we never saw reason to tell anyone else about such strange dreams."

"We should have know," Claudine growls. "We should have remembered. Given the nature of that giraffe-"

"The giraffe!" Karen blurts. "That's right! Hikari-chan, did you ever meet him back in England?"

Hikari blinks, then closes her eyes for a moment.

"I… can't remember… Was it real or was it a dream…? I'm not sure… but I thought he said he would come to Japan next…"

"Those things," Mahiru whispers. "The revues-"

Suddenly, the elevator doors crack open, and everyone jumps.

"The revues," Junna repeats. "That's right... We had to fight each other, for the radiance-"

"That actually happened?!" Kaoruko shrieks. "It couldn't have!"

"This is so messed up," Futaba grunts. "How do we even know this isn't just the dream?"

"Because Daiba-san isn't here," Maya says quietly. "This must be reality. Because for some reason, she was erased from it." Here, Maya is overtaken by a sudden surge of nausea just to speak the word 'erased'. Claudine, too, feels a sharp pain in her chest, and instinctively takes Maya's hand tightly.

"But why?" Mahiru whimpers. "Why did Banana disappear? Where is she now?"

Junna turns back to the open elevator doors in front of them.

"There's only one way to find out."

She takes the first step forward. Karen follows, and the rest file on in turn. Once the doors have closed, the elevator creaks into a long and rumbling descent.

Darkness falls, and when they finally lurch to a stop, everyone clutches onto someone else for balance. There's a screech as the doors pull open.

Junna weaves her way to the front of the group and steps out in the darkened theater. She stops when she sees the stage, lit by only a very dim, pale spotlight. There's a figure lying beneath it.

As the rest of the girls step off, they don't breathe a word.

A giraffe is curled up at the center of the stage with his neck curled over his back, head resting against his haunches in slumber.

Junna is overcome with something - or a lot of things - and she knows it must be the same for the rest of them.

This stage. This audience. This theater. They've all been here many times before.

They've sung, danced, and acted. They've fought, cried, and lost. More times than they could count.

And they aren't the only ones.

There were shadows as well, strange creatures. And there were other girls.

But none had been here as often as they had. Repeated years, stuck fighting the same fights, because someone had willed it so. Someone who had been even more trapped than the rest of them.

They've been here. This place is engraved into their minds, bodies, and souls. Even with this being the very first time, they ache with nostalgia and memories.

Before any of them can take so much as another step, the giraffe stirs. He lifts his head slowly, as though he hasn't moved in a very long time, his neck and shoulders stiff. But once he raises his head high, his eyes settled directly on them. A deep, hauntingly-familiar voice calls out to them.

"My, my…"

It's a voice they've never heard before - and one they'll never forget.

"So you have remembered after all. I understand."

Junna doesn't take her eyes off of him, afraid he might vanish if she looks away. She starts off toward the stage without needing to look to check if the others are following. She knows they are. Like a silent army they march, weaponless, toward the stage, through the aisles of vacant seats where the shadows seem to cackle.

The giraffe watches them with unreadable eyes, but never tells them to stop.

Junna reaches the steps on the far side of the stage and leads the group up. They fan out in a line before him and regard him as they always have - wary, determined, scared.

Giraffes can't smile, but Junna could swear she sees it; whether it's kind or wicked, though, she can't be sure.

"Indeed, it's true. You have all returned to this place. I understand."

"Not all of us," Junna says, forcing her voice to be steady. "We're missing one."

The giraffe blinks.

"I'm not certain I follow. Eight Stage Girls are all there have ever been from Seishou Academy."

"Don't give me that," she snaps. "We know you were the last one to see her. You're the only one who knows what happened to her because you made a deal, didn't you?"

The giraffe shifts, but remains lying down.

"Perhaps, in some world, at some time. It is possible."

"It doesn't matter when or where anymore," Junna says. "What matters is now. We want her back."

He tilts his head only slightly.

"Of course. All Stage Girls want for something; fame, radiance, fortune, friendship, a never-ending time of innocence." He pauses, and even his memory recalls a girl with yellow hair for a moment. "You all want. But there is always a price."

"Then we'll pay it," Junna barks. "Name it and it's yours."

The giraffe closes his eyes. He doesn't speak for a long, agonizing moment. The girls stand their ground, but move closer together. At last, he speaks again.

"She said the very same thing to me, you know. That girl whom you are seeking."

"Her name-" Junna says. "Is Nana. Daiba Nana."

"Ah, yes," he sighs. "Daiba Nana-san… She truly gave a wonderful performance in her repeated time loops. Every battle was spectacular as she defeated each of you one by one…"

"Stop it!" Karen cries out, stomping loudly. "Don't talk about her like that! Banana only made that wish because she loves us! She was our precious friend!"

"That's right." Hikari speaks up next, holding the giraffe's gaze without blinking. "I interfered with her wishes. I ruined her repeat performances. But she still accepted me anyway. She still wanted to be my friend."

"And mine!" Mahiru wails. "Even though I was so weak and had no confidence… Banana was always there to cheer me up. She helped me with my cooking and taught me all kinds of things… I have no idea how we've survived this long without her…"

"Banana-han was always there," Kaoruko says. "Whenever we stayed out training too late, she'd text us or come and find us to bring us back to rest, and even massage our shoulders."

"And she'd always have food for us," Futaba adds. "Nana was never happier than when we were eatin' her snacks. She just wanted us all to be happy and healthy together! That's why she went and made that wish of hers!"

"She gave the best advice," Claudine says firmly. "Anytime I was feeling uneasy about a role or a line, Nana would go over things with me. And not only for theatre, but for any class. She was always willing to help anyone and everyone. We won't stand to let this world continue exiting without her a moment longer!"

"Daiba-san is essential," Maya concludes. "Not only to our lives and to the existence of Seishou, but to the rest of the world as well. Even you must realize that the world of theater must have lost a good deal of its vibrancy since she has gone."

When addressed, the giraffe cranes his neck in contemplation.

"It is true that things have been much quieter down here," he admits. "Being that Daiba Nana-san never existed, we did not hold any revues here. The stage never awakened, nor called to me to bring it participants."

"We weren't enough," Junna says. Clarity pushes through the fog in her mind as she continues. "We all knew something was missing… Without Nana, none of us gave our best performances. And it wasn't that we weren't trying our hardest or anything, we just… couldn't. Not without her. Not in a world where she didn't exist..."

Around her, her friends bow their heads solemnly. Junna does the same, noting an odd pattern painted into the wood underfoot.

"Without Nana, none of us had the same radiance we should've. We were all a little more tired, a little hungrier, a little less happy. And we never knew why. But today, that accident-" She snaps her head up, back to the giraffe. "What happened? Why did Nana disappear? What deal did she make with you?"

He holds her gaze, unbothered by the spotlight behind him, while Junna must struggle not to let her eyes water.

"I resent that look in your eyes," he says. "I was not the one to take her from you. She wished it herself. I merely provided the means for her to get what she wanted."

Junna draws in a shaking breath, trying to steady herself. Fists clutching at her skirt, she grips tight enough until she can feel her nails carving into her palms.

"What… did she want...? What did Nana wish for…?"

On either side of her, her friends wait with clipped breath, squeezing each other's hands.

The giraffe remains seated, unmoving, like a sculpture.

"She wished for many things," he says. "Mostly, she wished for the same thing. For time to repeat itself. Over and over…"

And though it had never happened, Junna remembers. All of them do. Even though Nana had never existed to make that wish, they had all lived through it somehow.

"And then what?" Junna asks. "Once her repeat performances ended... what did she wish for one year later?"

"The very same thing," he replies. "Once she discovered you would all be following diverging paths in your careers, Daiba Nana-san lamented ever letting the repeats end. She wished for them again, though I warned her of the dangers. Nonetheless, she accepted, paying with the price of your very own futures."

A chilled silence settles over the girls, like a layer of unseen snow. Mahiru stammers.

"She paid… with our futures…?"

All around her, the others begin to tremble.

"Banana…"

"What the hell… how could she-?"

"Because she loved us!" Junna cries. She's become fearful at their shock, afraid it might make them hesitant to do what they'd come here to do - to bring Nana back. "She did it for the same reasons as before. Because she wanted us all to stay together and be happy. Because she didn't want us to lose each other-"

"And yet, that is exactly what ended up happening, is it not?" the giraffe says calmly. "In spite of it all, now you all have lost her. No matter what she tried to do, someone was always lost where others could not follow."

Junna feels her throat starting to close up.

"Why…?"

From her right side, Hikari speaks up.

"Because I got scouted," she mumbles. "Because I was going to leave Japan."

"So were we…" Claudine says hollowly. "Tendo Maya and I… we were going to leave…"

"And us," Futaba croaks. "Kaoruko and I were gonna move-"

"I was going back home…" Mahiru whispers. "And Junna-chan-"

"I'm supposed to study abroad…" Junna speaks of the present, because all of the things they are mentioning now had just been decided and announced a few days prior. "So then… when this first happened… Nana must have stopped time there and had it rewind… so none of us would have to go…"

"So then…" Karen sniffles. "We… did this…? Because of the paths everyone chose… that's what caused Banana to disappear…?"

"In a way, yes," the giraffe said. "Though at that point in time, she remained with you. She repeated those days together with all of you, and I was given my dues as well. I was able to witness all of your revues from the very beginning. All the way up until the day that would end up being 'today.'"

"Today…?" Junna's stomach flips. Her mind buzzes with an awful static. She watches it happen differently than it had happened this morning. She understands just as he reveals it.

"You see…" he says. "There was an accident…"

Junna watches it again. Only this time the bus doesn't hit a pole.

It slams into Futaba's bike, which is thrown into their group of friends. Karen lies dead and twisted on the sidewalk. Futaba is crumpled at the edge of someone's driveway. Kaoruko lies pinned and sobbing, trapped beneath the bike. Maya breaks her neck after being slammed against a car. Claudine begs for help that doesn't come in time.

Junna watches them die right in front of her.

All around her now, her friends choke and stagger as they finally relive that reality. She hears their voices breaking with sobs.

"Hikari-chan… Mahiru-chan…" Karen mumbles. "I-"

"Karen-chan!" Mahiru screams and throws her arms around her before sinking to the floor. "K-Karen-chan! You-!"

"Karen…" Hikari shakes her head and her legs give out beneath her. She folds her arms around her roommates and breaks down. "Karen… Karen…"

Futaba clutches her stomach, her arms unable to catch Kaoruko who collapses against her chest.

"Futaba-han-!" Her voice shatters as violent sobs take hold of her. "You wouldn't wake up- You left me-"

"Kaoruko-" Futaba grits her teeth as the tears come. She locks her arms around Kaoruko's back and cries.

Claudine turns to Maya with eyes full of horror as tears begin streaming down her face.

"Tendo Maya… Ma Maya…" She can't even bear what she'd just seen flash through her mind. Claudine throws herself at her and sobs until she can barely breathe. Maya catches her just before they sink to the floor.

"Saijou-san-" she whispers. "I felt no pain, but you… you felt all of it… you suffered until the very end…"

They all crumple around her, until Junna is the only one who remains. But even then, she begins to feel a terrible pain at her left wrist. Trembling, she glances down.

For an instant, there is a flash of darkness, and she sees red. But then the current reality settles back in.

It takes a long while for the eight of them to stop crying, to help each other back onto their feet. The giraffe hangs his head, and for once Junna can tell he is truly feeling regret.

"So you understand now, yes?"

"There was an accident…" Junna recites the words hollowly, as though it were part of a script. "And we-"

"I warned her of anomalies," he says. "She was convinced there was nothing worse than being separated by space. But when she realized she was wrong, she sought me out once more."

The others huddle together, tears still dripping, bodies still shaking, hearts still aching. Junna keeps her eyes on him. She has to know.

"Nana… What did she do…?"

The giraffe finally looks at her again.

"She brought you back, of course."

"But how-?" Junna nearly chokes.

This time when he answers his voice is almost sad, and he looks to the stage below.

"She paid her price."

Junna feels her insides constrict as she follows his gaze downward. The odd pattern she'd seen on the stage before becomes more apparent.

Now she realizes. It isn't rust nor paint.

"No…"

Junna staggers back. Her friends catch her, but she can't take her eyes off the dark brown spots that have been stained into the stage itself. Tears swell up, fogging her glasses, spilling heavily to join those dried splatters below.

"No… she couldn't have-"

"I am afraid she did," the giraffe affirms. "She did it for all of you. In order to bring back those who perished in the accident. In order to heal the wounds and bring you all back together."

"No-"

But in spite of Junna's pleas, he confirms it anyway.

"In order for this reality to exist, Daiba Nana sacrificed herself to the stage."

"No-!"

Junna screams, struggling against whoever is holding her until she sinks to the floor. She lands on her hands and knees, sobbing as she watches the tears drip, seeping over the stains of Nana's blood. She's only vaguely aware of the others crying out around her.

"No-"

"Banana-!"

"For us… she did it for us…"

"Indeed," the giraffe agrees. "And had things worked as she intended, none of you ever would have remembered her. Or would have been able to find this place again. You never would have known of this stage or of Daiba Nana-san's existence. And yet, it would appear there are anomalies in this reality as well. Because here you are calling out her name."

Eventually, Mahiru and Maya help Junna back to her feet. All around her, her friends are wiping tears away. But their eyes are all the same. Junna draws strength from each of them and wipes her face, adjusts her glasses, then faces him once again.

"What's the price?" she demands. "How can we bring Nana back without losing anyone else?"

The giraffe flicks an ear.

"Bring her back? It is not possible to bring back something that never existed in the first place. Instead, you must seek to bring this world back to a time and place where she did exist. But in order for that to succeed, the stage will require a hefty price."

Junna shudders, her gaze flashing back down over the stains.

"Blood… does it have to be blood-?"

He considers for a moment.

"It would be a safe bet in ensuring the outcome you want. You see, Daiba Nana-san was seeking to bring back five lost lives, and heal three others that were severely damaged. For that, her life was all that would suffice to pay. But with eight of you now, and only one life that needs sparing…"

"A revue!"

Everyone jolts and turns to Karen. She stands unwavering, her eyes scared, but bright.

"Why don't we all have a revue and show our radiance…? Isn't that what this stage wanted from the beginning...?"

The giraffe chuckles, just once.

"This, coming from the girl who was never invited to be a part of them in the first place. I understand."

"A revue…?" Mahiru says. "B-But we've never done one… at least not in this world…"

"But we have before," Hikari says. "In some other world, at some other time. Right?"

"I remember 'em all," Futaba agrees. "No way they were all just dreams."

"We're doing one of those battles?!" Kaoruko yelps. "Right now?!"

"Hold on," Claudine says. "I want Nana back as badly as the rest of you, but no one else should have to get hurt in the process."

"I do not think we need to worry about that, Saijou-san," Maya soothes her. "This stage that used to see us perform and soak in our radiance has not seen anything from us now. I believe we do not need to put on an actual fight. No one needs to get hurt."

"I would have to agree," the giraffe says. "Eight Stage Girls holding a revue here now after all this time… surely even a brief performance would awaken the powers of this stage."

Junna snorts, regarding him warily.

"Why are you being so cooperative? I don't remember that happening before."

The giraffe lifts his chin, as if in mild offense.

"Because you and I are working to achieve the same outcome," he says. "In this world where Daiba Nana-san does not exist, nor do any performances here. No plays, no recitals, no revues. In short, it would be in my best interest to see her alive and well again, too."

Junna almost scowls, but she holds it back. Though he isn't helping them because he loves Nana like they do, he is still on their side, and she doesn't want to jeopardize that.

"All right." Junna sweeps her gaze around to her friends and sees the same conviction in all of them. "So how will we do this?"

At this, the giraffe begins to move, bending his legs as though he hasn't moved in years, pushing himself up slowly.

"I believe," he says as he stands at his full height again. "These may be of some assistance."

Junna looks past him to the rest of the stage. There, lying neatly in order are a variety of weapons.

And though she's never used them here before in this time, Junna's eyes go directly to her bow and arrows. She senses the same trill of excitement in the others as they spot their own blades.

Together they advance across the stage. Junna goes to her bow and quiver, picking them up already knowing their weight and make exactly. Her friends ready their weapons and face one another. Though they've never done this before to their knowledge, their spirits are eager.

The giraffe eases back out of their range, tail swishing. He, too, has seen this sight many times before, and has been waiting a very long while to be able to see it again.

Junna takes an arrow between her fingers and checks to ensure her friends are set to begin.

"Everyone, are you ready?"

"Yeah!"

"Yes!"

"Let's do this!"

"For Banana!"

"Ca, commence!"

Junna feels a small smirk tugging at her lips as she turns to the giraffe again.

"So say we all."

He dips his head once before raising it high, letting his voice ring out.

"Now then, let the Revue of Reawakening begin!"

The girls leap forward at each another, moving as one. They dance, twirl, and jump, weaving around and through their allies in a display of grace and beauty. They move as they've never moved before, in ways their bodies and hearts seem to remember when their minds had forgotten.

They give it everything they've got. All of their most fluid dances, their most beautiful notes, their most powerful leaps and swings.

All of their flare. All of their passion. All of their radiance.

All of their love.

For Nana.

One by one, more spotlights begin joining the lone, pale yellow from all angles as the stage awakens from its long, cold slumber. Unseen gears begin to churn, and the stage begins to rumble with life. Throughout their fight, as each girl passes through the shadow of the giraffe, she emerges on the other side in revue attire, colorful and vibrant. Jackets flutter on their shoulders, but every attack on those is dodged with trained precision.

They sing, dance, and do battle. Not to steal. But to give.

To give life. To rebirth.

Each one of them shares a bit of her own radiance with the stage to revive it and its strange magics.

The giraffe looks on in silent delight, relishing the sight and sound of them.

Their power. Their passion. Their love for the stage and for one another causes something to move.

At last, the eight Stage Girls come to a halt, all in a circle, each with her weapon positioned at the button of the one beside her. They wait, disheveled but lively, inspired at this prospect of bringing things back to how they should be. All around them, the stage whirs with hidden movement.

Everyone looks to Junna. She meets each of their gazes, then gives a sharp nod.

All at once, they cut loose the button of the person beside them. All eight jackets fall to the floor at the same moment. The giraffe bellows.

"This concludes the Revue of Reawakening!"

The girls lower their weapons and turn to him. Junna speaks.

"With this... can we do it?"

He considers, closing his eyes to listen to the stage.

"Indeed, the offered radiance has been acknowledged and accepted. However, to ensure there are no other… unwanted anomalies this time around, I would suggest a bit extra, just to be certain. You understand?"

Junna nods. She wants this done right the first time with no strings attached. They can't afford to let it happen again. With this she turns back to her friends, holding out her left hand.

"Everyone, please…"

They understand. Copying her motion, they each lift a hand and hold their weapons in the other. They position the blades across their open palms and slice in unison.

Scarlet wells up and drips down each of their hands, splattering bright red puddles over the faded stains Nana had left before them.

With this, they've given enough; lifeblood and radiance, on top of the world they would be exchanging for a better one - one where they could all live, even if apart.

The giraffe turns his head and flicks an ear to the whispers of the stage.

"The stage acknowledges your desires. I understand."

"Wait," Junna says. The flow of blood is already slowing from her hand. She turns back to the others. "She... She has to forget all of this. Nana can't know about any of it. If she remembers what happened to us… it'll drive her crazy."

"I agree," Maya nods. "Even if we are all fine in the new world we create, Daiba-san will still be upset to remember what might've happened otherwise."

"It's better if she forgets," Kaoruko agrees. "After all, in the past she's the one who remembered everything about the repeated years. We can handle it this one time."

"We'll remember it so she doesn't have to," Hikari says.

They all look to him now, as if daring him to oppose. The giraffe dips his head.

"Very well. I understand your terms."

"Good," Junna says. "Then let's do this." She draws in a shaking breath, feeling herself tremble. But all around her, her friends step close, taking hold of her hands or her arms or her back. Junna finds the strength to finish. "Take us back to before any of this happened. To a time where Nana was here with us."

Just saying her name makes Junna tear up and soften all over again.

Nana. Her best friend. Her partner and roommate. And the flutter in her chest is telling her she was something more as well.

There's a rumbling beneath and all around them. Overhead, the multicolored spotlights rattle, the pale yellow surrounded by the vibrant blues and pinks and greens.

The girls reach out their still-healing hands and hold onto one another.

There's a collective sigh as they close their eyes and hold tight.

Chapter Text

Epilogue. Future

"Juuunna-chan!"

"Whoa! H-Hey!"

Nana all but flops down on top of her girlfriend even before Junna has sat up in bed that morning. Junna scrambles and gives an "oof!" as Nana's weight crushes her softly into the mattress. Grimacing, she grabs her into a hug.

"Why do I feel like Karen is rubbing off on you…?"

"Heehee~" Nana pushes herself up onto her elbows a little, beaming down at her. Junna can't be upset at her, not even first thing in the morning. She sighs, then pulls her down for a kiss.

"You're lucky you're cute."

"Guilty as charged!"

"Come on. We have to get up."

"Aww, okay."

Nana sits back and takes Junna by the hands, gently sitting her up. She plays through Junna's loose hair and giggles to herself for a moment before handing her her glasses.

"So, what's on the to-do list today, Prez?"

"Not too much," Junna reports. "Just the usual stuff."

"That's good! Do you wanna go see a movie after school?"

"A movie? Hm…" Junna tilts her head, feigning contemplation. Nana waits anxiously with her hands clutched together, like a hopeful puppy. Junna lets out a laugh and pokes her nose.

"Of course. I'd love to."

"Yay!"

Nana finally gets up off of her and jumps to her feet to stretch. She scurries to grab her uniform, pausing just for a moment to look fondly at the photos beside her desk, then heads into the bathroom.

Junna watches her until she's out of sight, then gets up as well. After making her bed and gathering her own clothes, she goes to stand in the same spot.

The photos are all there, all as they should be. Nine smiling girls are present throughout the various scenes and costumes captured in time. Junna smiles.

Just as they'd all wished for, time had gone back to a place before Nana had made her new wish or her sacrifice. Everything before that had still happened all the same; their first year, Hikari's transfer at the beginning of their second year, their revues. Even Nana's initial wish to repeat time had remained, as had Hikari's subsequent disappearance, and Karen's eventual retrieval of her.

They all remember those events just as they always had.

But what's a bit different now is their third year.

The day of the accident had come and gone, and nothing drastic had happened to affect any of them otherwise.

The only other major change was that Hikari never got scouted or given the offer to return to England.

Similarly, Claudine and Maya never made plans to go to France, nor did Kaoruko, Futaba, or Mahiru make plans to move after graduation. Even for Junna, things had happened a bit differently. Certain things never aligned certain ways, and so her plans to study abroad had been rescinded.

But in its place was something much, much more wonderful.

Weeks ago, Professor Sakuragi had called the nine of them to her office for a discussion. A traveling theatre trope had caught wind of the cast at Seishou who had put on the stellar 100th Starlight Festival performance.

And as such, all nine of them had been signed to the same group and would travel the world performing together after graduation.

It's still so exciting to think about.

Though the giraffe had said there should be no major alterations, it seemed to her that the evasion of their tragedy had brought about a miracle instead. It had been the world they'd wished for, and more.

Nana didn't remember anything of her second rewinding of time, nor the tragedy and the sacrifices that followed.

In exchange for her peace of mind, Junna and the others relive those things from time to time in nightmares and flashbacks. But with the pain spread out and shared between the eight of them, and with all the others able to understand and empathize those fears, they're all managing to live with it.

Junna has suffered a few nightmares since then, but Nana has been there for her every time to help her through it - even without knowing the reason for it - and the same is true for the rest of their friends.

Their relationships have blossomed, and the love and friendship that keeps them together far outweighs any fleeting nightmares of a time that tried - and failed - to tear them apart.

Junna is pulled from her thoughts by a tap on her shoulder and a kiss on her cheek.

"Junna-chan~ Bathroom's free."

"Right. Got it." She kisses Nana again before heading off to get changed.

Nana waits for her, humming happily as she sorts through the brand new photos she'd laid out on her desk the night before, photos from their most-recent sleepover together.

"Hmm, I might have to get a new scrap book…"

"Nana!"

"Oh!"

Nana twirls around as Junna calls for her, already dressed and ready to go. Junna offers her hand with a smile.

"Coming~!"

Nana skips up to her and accepts with a warm squeeze of her fingers.

"Come on," Junna says, stepping out the door. "We need to discuss what movie we're gonna see."

"Oh, you're right! Hmm, let's see…"

They hold hands tightly as they start down the hallway to where their friends are waiting.