Chapter Text
Moca Aoba strummed her guitar, the last chord echoing in time with her heartbeat, and the cheers of a tiny but fervent audience reverberated in the dimly lighted live house. The band she'd been engaged to play with bowed to the crowd, their cheeks gleaming from the excitement of the performance.
Always the picture of casualness, Moca gave a two-finger salute and stepped backstage. Even after Afterglow broke up, she couldn't get rid of the excitement of performing. However, her role was now a job and had nothing to do with friendship or goals. The hired guitar freelancer, Moca Aoba. Because of her abilities, improvisational flair, and distinctive sound, bands from all over countries sought her out. She went wherever the music took her, a free soul drifting from melody to melody.
As she was packing up her equipment, a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts. “That was great, Moca-chan! How did you transition during the solo? So exciting!“
Moca turned her head, smirking, as she noticed Kokoro approaching her. Misaki Okusawa trailed closely after, looking every bit the hesitant babysitter she had always been.
“Oh, hey. Kokoro, Misaki. I didn't expect to see you here,“ Moca explained, slinging her instrument case over her shoulder. “What brings this strange pair to a place like this?“
Misaki's cheeks reddened as Kokoro wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “It's a date, Moca-chan! Isn't that exciting?“ Kokoro exclaimed, her voice brimming with unbridled happiness.
“It's not—“ Misaki moaned and gave up halfway. “We were just passing by, and Kokoro insisted we check it out.“
Moca raised an eyebrow, her smirk spreading. “Huh. Who would have imagined you'd become her eternal babysitter? Cute, though. You two look good together.“
“I—“ Misaki's argument was cut short when Kokoro pulled her closer and smiled.
“Right? I think so, too! Anyway, Moca-chan, you should come hang out with us anytime. Misaki prepares the greatest munchies!“
“Tempting,“ Moca remarked, chuckling. “I may take you up on it. But for now, I have another gig tomorrow. Busy life, you know?“
Following a few more lighthearted conversations, Moca bid them goodbye and went into the night. The city lights flashed above her, forming lengthy shadows as she walked back to her hotel. Kokoro and Misaki's chemistry was entertaining, but it also caused a terrible ache in her chest.
Seeing them so close, so carefree, reminded her of something she had lost. She stood for a while outside a local convenience store, drawn in by its cozy radiance. After finding a bench and grabbing a can of coffee and some melon bread, she sat down and gazed up at the starless sky. “Should’ve grabbed the chocolate one.“
Ran Mitake knelt at her family's flower store, painstakingly arranging a bouquet of daisies and carnations. Her hands moved with familiar ease, but her mind was someplace else. Her haven, where her heart could connect with others and her voice could soar, had been Afterglow. However, as dreams change, so do the routes.
Her days were now filled with the aroma of fresh flowers and the hum of calm conversation with clients and guests. It was serene and almost meditative. However, she would occasionally catch herself humming a familiar melody.
“Ran, are you finished with that flower?“ Her father called from the counter.
“Almost,“ Ran responded, wrapping a ribbon around the bouquet. A sweet smile appeared on her lips as she took a step back to appreciate her job. She had learned that the flowers had their language. Each arrangement told a tale and communicated feelings that words alone could not.
Shortly after Ran graduated from college, her father opened a flower store, which Ran essentially enjoyed. Her father wanted Ran to have at least a few experiences before Ran could inherit the family-run flower arrangement school that has a hundred-year-old history.
The fact that his daughter did as he requested surprised him, and he couldn't help but be proud of her for it. Though Ran constantly reassured him, he occasionally felt a little bad for forcing her to pursue this career route.
Ran didn't realize she enjoyed floral arrangements so much while she was in high school and during her rebellion phase (which is embarrassing for her to confess), but she now enjoys them as much as she did when she was playing music.
As she carried the bouquet to the front, her father gave her a knowing look. “You've been humming the song again. Are you missing it?
Ran paused, her eyes drawn to the instrument propped up in the shop's corner. She had brought it with her when she parted ways with Afterglow, but it hardly left its stand anymore.
“Maybe a little,“ she acknowledged.
Her father's expression relaxed. “Music and flowers aren't that different. Both bring people together, right?“
Ran nodded, but she didn't understand the significance of his remarks. Not yet.
She closed the shop that evening, staying at the counter and watering a wilting potted plant. Outside, the streetlights created a golden glow on the pavement, and a faint murmur of faraway voices hung in the air. She rested her fingers on the strings of her guitar, letting out a gentle whisper before shaking her head and exit the flower shop
Moca sat on the edge of her apartment bed, her guitar resting in her lap. Her fingers glided across the strings, creating a song that seemed both familiar and unfamiliar. She closed her eyes and let the music direct her thoughts. Her mind flew back to the faces of Tomoe, Himari, Tsugumi, and... Ran. Always Ran.
Her phone vibrated on the nightstand, breaking the spell. It was a message from another band management inquiring about her availability for the coming week. Moca sighed and laid the guitar aside, picking up her phone to answer the request.
The next morning, she got up early to catch the train to the next city. As the landscape blurred in front of her, she found herself absentmindedly sketching out a melody in the notebook she carried around. She found herself thinking about Afterglow once more, the old practice sessions and late-night conversations over snacks from the convenience store. She pondered whether Ran continued to hum their songs when she was by herself.
She arrived at her destination several hours later, greeted by the bustling noise of another unfamiliar city. This was her new rhythm, new places, new faces, and fleeting connections. However, as she exited the train and entered the packed station, she couldn't shake the feeling that someone or something was missing.
That evening, she performed again at a well-known bar. The crowd was rowdier than before, shouting and singing along with the music. Moca's fingers danced across the fretboard, matching the energy in the room, her body swaying to the beat. The rush of the music and the audience's applause took the place of the pain in her chest for those few hours.
She packed her things, received the payment, and went outside into the cool night air after the show was over and the cheers subsided.
As she walked through the quiet streets toward her hotel, she noticed a familiar figure. Under the gentle glow of a streetlamp, Lisa Imai sat by herself on a bench with her hands encircling a hot cup of coffee and her auburn hair tied loosely.
“Lisa?“ Moca called out, pausing for a moment before moving closer.
Lisa's face lit up in surprise as she looked up. “Moca? Wow, it's been forever!“
“Never thought you were in this kind of place, guess we’re both a wanderer now,“ Moca chuckled, “Mind if I join?“
“Of course, scoot over!“ Lisa scooted over to clear space on the bench. Moca took a seat and set her guitar case next to her.
“Why here alone? I thought Roselia had a tour or something.” Moca asked to start the conversation.
“We are, but this month is a break time for Roselia which means we can rest before the tour continues.” Explain Lisa as she offered Moca a can of coffee which Moca gratefully accepted, “You don’t want to see me that much huh, Moca-chan?”
“Mehh, don’t get me wrong, I thought you and the rest of Roselia went outside the country for vacation and stuff since you guys are all famous now.” Said Moca with her usual tone which made Lisa giggle at the answer.
“We planning to do so later after the tour ends, right now we just miss our hometown you know~,” Said Lisa giving Moca a pretty solid argument.
“Well I’m glad all the things you guys have been going on are good, send my greetings to them as well~” Expressed Moca.
Neither of them spoke for a moment. The quiet hum of the city filled the air as they sipped their drinks, each lost in their own thoughts. Lisa finally broke the silence.
"I've been keeping up with your online gigs. You are amazing, Moca. Really. Seeing that you are still pursuing music is inspiring."
Moca shrugged, her lips curling into a slight smile.
"Thanks. But it's not the same, you understand? Playing with strangers is not the same as being with Afterglow. Well, I miss the..." She trailed off, unable to find the appropriate words. "The connection. There was laughter. Cassier spent nights with all of us together."
"Do you ever think about what would have happened if we were still together? Afterglow, Roselia, CiRCLE Live House, all of it? Like, would things have been better?" Moca asked, leaning back and resting her head against the bench.
"Maybe. But life doesn't stop moving forward, right? We can cherish the past without getting stuck in it. That's what I've learned so far," Lisa said with a melancholy smile.
"Even so... I'm missing it. All of you are missed. Himari, Tsugu, Ran, and even Ran's lectures." Her voice faltered with emotion, but she gave a small laugh. "You know, sometimes it's hard."
Lisa reached out, putting a comforting hand on Moca's shoulder. "It's okay to miss it. It simply demonstrates how important it was to you. Who knows? Maybe our paths will cross again when you least expect it."
The city around them was a soft hum of life as the two sat in silence for a while longer.
“I miss her…” Out of nowhere Moca suddenly confessed that took Lisa off guard.
Lisa knows who the person Moca was referring to, it’s none other than Ran Mitake. Lisa knows how much her fellow friends love Ran because Moca always talks about Ran back then in the convenience store day. The way Moca looks at Ran is the same look she gives at Yukina, so Lisa just knows it.
Lisa placed her hand on Moca's shoulder, her eyes warm and reassuring. "You aren't alone, Moca. We've all stored those memories. Who says we can't create new ones, anyway? Perhaps we can get some Cassier meals and reminisce about the good old days the next time we're in the same city.
"Deal~" Moca replied, her smirk returning.
Lisa got up and stretched after laughing. "I keep my lips sealed. Moca, look after yourself. And keep rocking out there, okay?
"You too, Lisa." As they gave each other a final wave, Moca teasingly said, "Don't let those Roselia rehearsals sap all your energy."
Moca sat back on the bench with her guitar case next to her and a small smile on her lips as Lisa's figure vanished down the street. The bustle of the city seemed a bit less isolating now.
She felt lighter for the first time in a long time, as though the laughter and memories she had with Lisa had relieved her of an unseen burden.