🎶春日の響きと記憶の音 — Chapter 137

🌸✨ In this alternate universe, Mio and みお are twin sisters, set in a unified world where the virtual singers of Crypton Future Media, Team TWINDRILL, INTERNET Co., Ltd., and the characters of Project SEKAI: Colorful Stage! feat. Hatsune Miku coexist. 🌙🎶 💜💗💜💗💜 Story 💗💜💗💜💗 A Group Photo Frozen in the Afternoon Everyone continued walking around the school festival, eating the food they had bought and laughing together. Before they knew it, the afternoon sunlight had become a little softer. The stalls on the field were still lively, and laughter from students could still be heard from the hallways. Compared to the busiest moment earlier, however, the whole campus seemed to be wrapped in a warmer, almost evening-like atmosphere. Teto finished the last bite of her yakisoba and let out a satisfied sigh. “Ah—I'm full!” Rin also ate the last piece of takoyaki and happily raised her empty container. “School festival food really is the best!” Len glanced at her. “Weren’t you just saying you wanted to buy pancakes too?” Rin froze for a second. “T-That’s for another stomach!” MEIKO couldn’t help laughing. “Looks like Rin’s school festival can still go on for quite a while.” KAITO held his empty shaved ice cup and smiled. “But we’ve already walked around quite a lot.” Luka looked toward the school gate. “Since we’re already nearby, how about taking a group photo at the school gate?” Miku blinked. “The school gate?” みお also looked up at the gate decorated for the festival. “That place… seems perfect for a photo.” Mio smiled and nodded. “Yeah. We sang together, went through the haunted house together, and ate festival food together today… If we take a photo at the school gate, I think it’ll make a wonderful keepsake.” Teto immediately raised her hand. “I’m in! I want to take one!” Rin nodded along. “Me too! A school festival definitely needs a group photo!” Len sighed, but he did not object. “Just don’t move around in the middle of the photo.” Rin immediately looked at him. “I won’t!” MEIKO smiled and clapped her hands lightly. “Then it’s decided. Let’s all head to the school gate.” And so, the ten of them walked along the campus path toward the gate. The leaves beside the path swayed gently in the afternoon breeze, and the festival streamers and paper flowers hanging along the railings and walls looked especially vivid beneath the sunlight. Above the school gate hung a large handmade banner. **“Kamiyama High School Festival”** Balloons, paper stars, and colorful flags decorated the area around it. Many students and visitors were also taking photos there, their laughter rising and falling all around. Miku looked at the scene before her and smiled softly. “It really feels like a school festival.” みお nodded gently. “Yeah… so much happened today.” Mio stood beside her and said warmly: “They’re all wonderful memories.” Teto had already run ahead to the school gate and was waving excitedly at everyone. “Hurry, hurry! The lighting here is great!” Rin followed her with a bright smile. “I’m sure the photo will turn out really nice!” Len walked over slowly. Although he was still grumbling, his expression was relaxed. “You two really are energetic no matter what.” MEIKO and KAITO also walked up to the gate, looking at the lively and warmly decorated entrance. Luka lightly fixed her hair and smiled. “Being able to leave a photo here makes today feel even more complete.” Gakupo looked at the banner above the gate and spoke calmly. “This scene is certainly worth preserving.” Len couldn’t help saying: “You even sound formal before taking a photo.” Gakupo replied serenely: “Because it is worth recording, one should speak of it with care.” Rin laughed. “Alright, alright, everyone, let’s get ready for the picture!” Everyone naturally gathered in front of the school gate. Some were still holding unfinished sweets, some carried small festival bags, some moved a little closer to one another, and some laughed while reminding the person beside them to look at the camera. The unplanned feeling of it made it seem even more like a real school festival memory. みお looked at everyone a little shyly. “Is this really okay?” Mio smiled gently. “Of course. Everyone looks great just as they are.” Miku also moved a little closer to みお and smiled. “Yeah, this feels more natural.” After hearing that, the nervousness on みお’s face slowly disappeared, replaced by a soft smile. Just then, a student passing by saw them gathered at the school gate and walked over. “Um, would you like me to take the photo for you?” MEIKO smiled and handed over the camera. “Would you? Thank you.” “No problem!” The student took the camera and stepped back a few paces. “Everyone, look this way!” Teto immediately raised her hand high. “Ready!” Rin called out cheerfully: “School festival commemorative photo!” KAITO gently reminded them: “Just be careful not to block each other.” Luka smiled toward the camera. “I’m looking forward to seeing how the photo turns out.” Gakupo nodded softly. “This moment shall become eternal.” Len muttered under his breath: “There he goes again.” The student lifted the camera. “Okay—three, two, one!” Everyone looked toward the camera together. “Happy school festival!” Click. At the moment the shutter sounded, the afternoon sunlight fell perfectly over the school gate. In the photo, everyone was gathered beneath the banner that read “Kamiyama High School Festival.” Some wore bright, energetic smiles; others had gentle and relaxed expressions. Some still held the snacks they had bought earlier, while someone burst into laughter right before the photo was taken. Miku and みお were smiling too. It was not the smile they wore on stage, nor an expression they tried to show to an audience. It was the kind of smile that naturally appeared after spending an entire afternoon with friends. After the photo was taken, the student returned the camera to MEIKO. “It’s done! Everyone looks great.” MEIKO accepted the camera and thanked them with a smile. “Thank you.” Everyone immediately gathered around to look at the photo. Teto was the first to lean in. “Wow! It turned out great!” Rin also peeked over. “It really did! It totally feels like a school festival!” Len glanced at the photo, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. “At least no one closed their eyes this time.” Rin immediately turned toward him. “Were you looking at me just now?” Len looked away. “I didn’t say anything.” KAITO smiled. “Everyone is smiling nicely.” Luka nodded. “It’s a very warm photo.” Gakupo looked at the photo and spoke in his steady voice. “This picture, much like today’s memories, shines brightly and will not fade.” Miku looked at everyone in the photo and smiled softly. “Everyone really is together…” みお also gazed at the photo with gentle eyes. “Yeah. When I look at this photo, I’ll remember everything that happened today.” Mio said softly: “That’s the best thing about commemorative photos.” Teto placed her hands behind her head and looked back toward the campus with a grin. “So, where should we go next?” Rin immediately raised her hand. “The game stalls!” Len held his forehead. “You still have energy?” MEIKO laughed cheerfully. “Since the school festival isn’t over yet, let’s walk around a little more.” KAITO nodded as well. “We still have some time.” Luka smiled. “Then let’s make a few more memories today.” みお looked at Miku, then at Mio and everyone else. Then she smiled, both relieved and happy. “Yeah… I still want to walk around with everyone.” Miku nodded with a smile too. “Me too.” And so, after leaving a group photo at the school gate, the ten of them once again walked side by side into the lively school festival. That moment in the photo remained in the afternoon sunlight. And their footsteps continued forward, toward the next memory.