Uika arrived in Tokyo.
Her parents readily agreed to her visit, reassured by the Togawa family's support. Safety wasn't something they needed to worry about.
Though she'd already seen plenty of city sights on television, nothing prepared her for how overwhelming Tokyo truly felt in person—a towering beast forged from concrete and steel.
The air in Tokyo lacked the salty freshness of her island. Stars were invisible in the night sky, hidden behind the glow of endless lights. People rushed along the streets, always hurrying, always busy with something unknown.
But luckily, Sakiko was there beside her. Rather than feeling overwhelmed by a city that seemed impossibly huge for a child who had never left her island before, Uika found herself enjoying everything immensely.
Aside from the usual tourist activities, Sakiko also took Uika to watch some student band performances at a live house—the early beginnings of the girls' band era were just taking shape.
Truthfully, the bands' skills varied greatly; even the strongest ones weren't especially impressive. But beneath dazzling stage lights, with electrifying cheers from the audience and amplified music reverberating throughout the room, just one infectious rhythm was enough to spark excitement in everyone present.
"I really envy them…"
The live house was incredibly noisy, yet Uika was certain she'd heard Sakiko softly utter those words beside her. When she turned to confirm, Sakiko said nothing further.
Did Sakiko, the refined young lady, envy these student bands?
Yet strangely enough, despite their vastly different statuses, Uika felt she understood exactly how Sakiko felt.
As Uika stared at that mesmerizing stage, she realized that although she'd once assumed she would follow in the footsteps of other islanders, working as a fisherman or something similar, now she had new ideas.
"Sakiko, there's something I'd like to ask of you."
…
Sakiko helped Uika find a skilled guitar instructor, provided many books on music theory, and even offered to buy her an electric guitar. Although Uika insisted she didn't need anything expensive, Sakiko still insisted and bought a guitar with a price tag so shocking it left Uika momentarily speechless.
These things might have seemed trivial to someone like Sakiko, but Uika was deeply grateful. Driven by this gratitude—and an intuitive certainty about the path she'd chosen—Uika worked tirelessly, quickly revealing her remarkable talent.
Sakiko delighted in seeing her friend progress so rapidly. When she learned that Uika also wanted to try composing, Sakiko, despite her own tightly-packed schedule, would willingly give up her scarce free time to rent rehearsal rooms at the live house. Together, they'd experiment with writing music, performing each rough new section, laughing at their immature creations and constantly revising them. In the end, they never managed to complete a single full song, yet they were still perfectly happy.
"Maybe we could form a band together someday, Uika!"
Sakiko's smile bloomed brightly, radiant as moonlight.
Uika remembered that smile.
…
But now Uika hesitated.
Back in Tokyo, her young, impulsive heart had made up its mind instantly. Yet returning to her hometown, feeling her parents' warm embrace as they eagerly asked about her Tokyo experience, doubts slowly crept into her thoughts.
Going to Tokyo, developing her musical skills, and eventually forming a band with Sakiko… Was this really something feasible? After all, she was only a sixth-grader making ambitious plans for the distant future.
But island children, exposed to their parents' work from a young age—even without directly participating—often developed an early awareness of practical issues like careers and livelihoods.
Uika was no exception. Although initially impulsive, she hadn't completely lost sight of reality. She began to feel deeply conflicted.
Could she truly survive in that massive city on music alone? She hadn't forgotten that her recent carefree visit was made possible only because of Sakiko's protection—Tokyo, that monstrous city of steel, hadn't yet shown her its sharp teeth.
If she really formed a band with Sakiko, perhaps she'd again rely on the Togawa family's support… But Uika couldn't bear that thought. If her skills weren't sufficient, she'd immediately leave the band, refusing any further assistance from Sakiko. She'd even take on part-time jobs to repay every bit of help she'd received.
That was her first concern—the uncertainty of the future.
Moreover, this choice meant leaving the island she loved. If she ever returned, it would be either in glory—successful and proud, bringing fame and fortune back to her parents—or in defeat, ashamed and miserable, crawling home after failure.
Facing these uncertainties, Uika still hadn't told her parents about her "reckless" decision.
Ultimately, she chose to set the matter aside for now. She continued smiling as she recounted amusing experiences in Tokyo, never mentioning her change of heart. Privately, she kept recalling her newfound musical knowledge, quietly practicing finger movements in midair.
She needed a sign.
…
Another year passed, and summer came again.
Soon, Uika would enter middle school. Within the year, she'd grown considerably taller, and her thoughts became increasingly subtle and complex.
Yet she still hadn't resolved this important life decision.
Uika planned to ask Sakiko directly when they met again, to hear her friend's opinion about the viability of pursuing music in Tokyo. Her parents knew little about city life or music, so they couldn't offer helpful advice.
Thus, Uika intended to clearly understand all the pros and cons before finally discussing her plans seriously with her family.
But this year, Sakiko didn't come.
However, the island's resort had gained popularity, attracting other tourists eager to enjoy the local scenery. Islanders even prepared a special beach area for visitors.
One weekend, after spending some time practicing composition in her notebook, Uika decided to unwind by the sea.
She wandered toward the tourists' beach, chosen for its smooth sand, gentle waves, and pleasant landscape. But there were simply too many people around, mostly strangers. Glancing about, Uika decided to find a quieter spot behind some rocks at the beach's far end.
Yet as she stepped around the rocks, she realized someone was already there.
A slender girl sat quietly, dressed not in a swimsuit but in a thin protective sun jacket and knee-length waterproof shorts. She was seated in shallow water behind the rocks, tiny waves gently rising to cover her ankles before slipping away, leaving trails of foam upon pale skin.
Hearing movement, the girl turned her head. The glaring sunlight prevented Uika from clearly seeing the girl's eyes; all she could notice clearly were her pale, colorless lips, entirely devoid of expression.
A quiet, expressionless girl who seems to enjoy being alone.
Uika silently formed an impression of this unexpected encounter.
It seemed rude to just leave now, so she attempted a friendly greeting, despite sensing the other girl preferred solitude.
"Hello…? My name is Misumi Uika."
The girl remained silent, unmoving, maintaining her posture as she stared back at Uika.
This awkward silence persisted for several long seconds. Just as Uika considered simply turning away, the girl finally spoke.
Her voice, judged on its own merits, was undoubtedly beautiful—a touch cool, like morning dew chilled by early autumn air.
Yet, when she spoke, her tone remained utterly flat, devoid of warmth or feeling—like droplets of dew frozen into sharp-edged ice crystals.
"Hello,"
Kikukawa Kyo replied quietly.
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