As per usual, Aya’s implementation went beyond Kai’s wildest expectations. Their strategy for dealing with Eru came together immediately, but they didn’t have much time to make it happen. More precisely, they did have time, but the longer they focused on this project, the more they’d feel the impact on their Summit application.
The result of their tight schedule was...
“’Scuse me!”
“Excuse me! ♪”
“E-Excuse me.”
...The three girls made their way to Kai’s home.
“Whoa, this place gives off the same vibes as you, senpai,” Aya said, marveling at Kai’s room. “There’s nothing extra around here.”
“Wha—hey!” he exclaimed. “Stop digging around my room! There’s nothing here for you to find...!”
“Kai-kun?” For whatever reason, Aina was back to her cutesy persona. He figured that she simply chose how to act depending on her mood that day. She went on to ask, “Should I clean your room again? It’s not like I’ll have anything to work on at first. ♪”
“...‘Again’?” Nanaka questioned.
“Yup, ♪” sang Aina. “When I came here a few days ago, I cleaned up and made him lunch. Hmm? Nanaka-chan, have you never come here before?”
“Huh? Um, I’ve been here before,” Nanaka said defensively. “A-And I’ve even... taken a bath here.”
“...I see. Kai-kun!!! I worked up a little sweat because of how hot it was outside, so can I borrow your shower to start things off?” Aina asked.
“No,” he responded bluntly. “How about we start by working...?”
Their current task wasn’t something that they could split up to work on. In order for Aya to make progress, she needed to wait on Nanaka, and Nanaka herself had to make adjustments to her retouching as they went along. That also meant the voice lines they included were subject to change as the project progressed.
Initially, they intended to finish everything with one all-nighter at Kai’s. However, with minimal progress, everyone went home to grab a change of clothes and they ended up working for three days straight.
Near the beginning, Aya and Aina had goofed around a good amount, but they quickly fell in line to focus on their assigned parts. Everyone was tired, but also energetic. In their bodies and minds, there was a burning flame that was hotter than the summer sun outside, and there was no sign of it cooling down. It only burned brighter the closer they got to completion.
Over the three-day period, the girls (sans Aya, who couldn’t cook) were kind enough to take turns making meals. Around dinnertime on the last day, Aina and Aya were heroically discussing the project’s finishing touches despite being high off of their own sleep deprivation.
“I! Told! You!” Aina shouted, “The way this line was delivered doesn’t match the character’s expression!”
“Are you gonna retake it again?!” Aya groaned, “This is more than enough for that Kuro-baby!”
“How many times do I have to say it has to be perfect because it’s for her?!”
Kai made the decision to leave their spat behind and help Nanaka buy groceries for dinner. He couldn’t cook, but the least he could do was carry the bags for her. The setting sun was still remarkably fiery, and the lukewarm summer breeze carried the cries of cicadas to them as they stepped outside.
“Hey,” Nanaka said to get Kai’s attention as they walked along. He turned to see her blurry outline dyed a deep red in the evening light. “This is all so exhausting... but isn’t it kind of fun?”
“...Yeah, it is,” he admitted.
“A part of me feels like we’re not supposed to be this noisy,” she observed.
“I’m... well—” Kai said, grasping for the right words. “—Used to it, thanks to my sister.”
“Haha... I guess you’re right,” Nanaka agreed as the pair stopped to wait for a crosswalk signal.
Even without closing his eyes, Kai’s head was filled with the boisterous uproar—and it echoed louder in his mind than the cicadas that had been chirping only a moment ago. To begin with, creating a game was fun. It was an ordeal when two opinions collided, but even then, it was more common than not to look back fondly on such serious debates. Hot, loud, and fun: these were the words that were supposed to describe his time here.
Kai turned up to the midsummer sky to see the mantle of night beginning to fall, with little stars blinking into existence. Evening and night blurred together across an indistinct border to paint the faraway heavens, completely filling Kai’s view. And yet, he couldn’t help but feel as though something was missing...
“But...” Nanaka murmured, “It’s a little bit lonely.”
“Lonely?” he echoed.
With a small nod, she said, “It’s a little lonely... since Eru’s not here.”
“That’s...” Ah, I see. “...Yeah,” he said. “I was just thinking the same thing.”