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Kessoku Band’s been on stage for 10 years; amidst a move into a new apartment, Nijika takes a look back.
“Nijika, honey, are you ready? It’s almost time~~!”
Kita’s voice rang throughout the apartment. It wasn’t as bright and cutesy as it used to be, but she was still brimming with energy, still kind and full of compassion. “Just a sec! I actually found something neato!”
Nijika’s tired but giddy voice called out in response, as she took out a dusted photo album, blowing the biggest particles away, and opening it to reveal one of their first ever photos as a band, the mural jump. It was impossible not to smile at it, thinking back to when things were oh so much simpler.
“Okay~ take your time, don’t want you to overexert yourself with that passenger on board.”
“Oi, oi, just because I have some extra weight, doesn’t mean I suddenly don’t have the power to kick ya butt! I’m still the drummer, even if I’m on a hiatus, y’know!!”
She quickly flipped through some of the pages, each one evoking a memory. Geez, they’ve really been at this for a while, haven’t they? Mikakunin Riot… That really set the course for them, didn’t it; The band that was never quite it, never getting the highest podium. Ah, here’s the closer of their second tour, all the fans chanting “Encore, encore!” in unison, they wished for many more nights like that. So many hardships, and such wonderful highs, but they made it through it all together; at this point, she couldn’t imagine a life without her bandmates. Sure, they never had their massive breakout, but they were popular enough to make a living, and live together. If it wasn’t for future proofing, even this move wouldn’t be necessary, but it was about time they all started living together as the one family they were.
Kita leaned out from behind the door, squatting down near Nijika and giving her a quick peck on the cheek.
“What did you even find, love?” She softly asked, her eyes falling on the faded photographs, and a small smile bloomed on her face. They flipped through some of the pages, sighing nostalgically.
“That was so long ago, wasn’t it? God, we were so young, haha.”
“Yeah… Oh, look! This one’s from right after our first concert. It’s when Ryou found out your first name and teased you about it! Sheesh, that expression, it’s absolutely priceless, haha!”
Kita dramatically covered her face, looking away before pouting and grumbling a reply.
“Don’t remind me, and you know the worst part? She still does it! She STILL does it! She’s so mean, God, I hate herrr!”
“Alrighty, alrighty, and yet you still swoon over her every other day, missy lovesick.”
“Hey! As if you don’t spoil her rotten! You don’t get to use that on me!”
The two of them burst out laughing for a moment, the sound a light, familiar rhythm, holding each other’s gaze, the joyous whimsy giving way to a soft affection. Nijika thought of all the moments that led them to this: the late-night practices, the creative crises, countless hours balancing university and band activity. Her fingers gently brushed over another photo of all of them, and she thought to herself, ‘It’s all been worth it.’
Kita reached out and put her hand over Nijika’s, the thumb gently stroking the other’s hand.
“We’ve been through a lot together, huh. I’m glad we stuck with each other through thick and thin.”
Kita murmured softly, a quiet, certain truth in her voice. Nijika looked from the picture to Kita, her eyes filled with understanding. It wasn’t just Ryou, or just Kita. It was all of them, a messy, chaotic, but beautiful family that built a life on a dream, stubbornness and love.
“You know, we all miss you on the stage. Akubi’s doing great as a stand-in, but the most die-hard fans are missing your MC~”
“We really gotta thank her for that, and all of SIDEROS really, they’ve been such great friends. But… Oi, don’t just say that as if you haven’t put us through this twice already! Yer lucky we weren’t in the middle of touring so we didn’t have to pay any cancellation fees."
“I— well, you know—”
Kita blurted out, flustered, but before it could get worse, Nijika quickly cut her off, gently caressing the back of her head.
“C’mon now, I’m only joking. You know I love Umeko and Yuki, they’re just so darn cute! And they got that from their mooom~. Speaking of—!”
Nijika cooed, flipping to one of the later pages, showing a picture of Kita tightly holding in her arms a bundle with a tiny head poking out. Nijika pretended to ruffle the hair of the child in the photo, giggling sheepishly.
“Ya know, with those two rascals, I feel more like their auntie, but…”
She set the photo album down on a nearby box before looking down and wrapping her arms around her abdomen.
“...Obviously I’m happy and excited to see how I’ll do as a mom mom, but part of me is scared I’ll mess up somehow. I’m still amazed how you and Ryou managed to handle things.”
“Hey now.”
Kita set her hand on Nijika’s shoulder, a gentle way to reassure her that things will be alright. She leaned in, her voice low and steady, soft and patient.
“You’re going to be a great mom. Hitori too. I think you’ll really show us up. You’ve been the band mom for what, eleven years? You're already so kind and patient, and you've always taken care of us, been our pillar, you’re just awesome. When Ryou and I started, we had no idea what we were doing.”
She knew her words couldn't fully erase Nijika's fears, but she hoped her simple act of being there would be enough, and after a moment, Kita gently squeezed Nijika's shoulder once more; a small, knowing gesture.
“We just figured it out as we went. It's the same thing here. It's new and it's scary, but you'll be amazing. And we’ll all help you through it.”
Nijika looked up and met Kita’s eyes, feeling tears well up in her own, quickly wiping the few that had already gathered. “Gosh, you always know the right thing to say to cheer me up. I love you so much, Kita.”
“Love you too, dear.”
She leaned in and gave Nijika another peck on the cheek, getting up on her feet.
“Now—”
Suddenly a sharp, almost annoyed voice rang out from deep inside the apartment.
“Are ya love birds done packin’? The movin’ truck’s here, get your asses in gear!”
Seika peeked into the room, just as Kita was standing up. She might’ve aged gracefully, only getting a few wrinkles on her face, and her graying hair appearing more like deliberately dyed streaks than random signs of her age, but she was becoming more and more listless, losing a lot of her edge.
With Nijika moving out to live with the rest, she would finally enjoy more peace and quiet, a nice break from running Starry day to day. Kessoku Band might’ve not taken the nation by storm, but Nijika’s dream of making Starry a very successful and known place was fulfilled, and they all did it together, her and her group of heroes.
“Yep! Just let me—”
Kita offered Nijika her hand to help her get up, and once both were up on their feet, she bounced on her heels, dusted off her hands with a little flourish, before picking the thought back up.
“Alright, I’ll get those last few boxes; I know you’re our strong, capable drummer-slash-band-leader, but I know better than anyone not to underestimate the little guy you’ve got with you. So you just grab that album and get to the truck. We got to go through it with the girls!”
“Yeppers, absolutely. I’m sure they’ll love it.”
Still a bit teary-eyed, Nijika went ahead to leave the house. The future might be scary and uncertain, but somehow, having someone shining as bright as Kita by her side made all of those worries melt away. She was ready to face the future.