Journal with Witch (違国日記)

So please, until I move on...

Band Club

Auditioning for vocals

Let's meet at our usual place.

Aw, shucks, don't stare. You're making me nervous.

It's an audition, you idiot.

He's funny.

This audition is a joke.

Okay, anyone else?

Asa-chan!

Cool. You're up, Takumi-san.

Without you, Makio-chan, I probably wouldn't have joined the band club.

I don't think so.

You made that decision yourself.

I think you would've arrived at that no matter who you were with.

I wonder what Mom and Dad would have said.

I'm not sure.

Maybe give it some thought.

So I imagine...

Good grief. What did you do to your hair?

Well, just do what you want to do.

What would they have said today?

I still have no clue.

I guess you... stood out.

I didn't know you liked to stand out.

It means you've put in the work.

Is standing out a good thing? Or is it a bad thing?

I dunno. I guess it feels wrong.

Like I'm just not the type.

What?! Your type?!

Who gives a crap about that?

I've carried a lot of regret about that.

I got so caught up in the labels that before I knew it,

I lost sight of what I actually wanted for myself.

I don't get any of it.

If anyone gives you a hard time for standing out...

Give them hell.

I don't get that bit either.

But as long as I'm alive, I might as well struggle.

I don't get what you're saying at all!

If I don't understand, I might as well...

I'm gonna sing!

Journal with Witch

Huh? Lunch?

Huh? Lunch?

I guess. With my mom.

I guess. With my mom

Wha?

So that's why she isn't here.

So that's why she isn't here

They seem to get along.

They seem to get along

Lol

Then wanna come over?

Then wanna come over?

Then wanna come over?

Sorry, I have plans.

Sorry, I have plans

Okay.

I'm bored.

Three-Year Journal

Wow, I've passed this place so many times.

Episode 12 Find

I never noticed it before.

It's so spacious and bright.

Isn't it?

It's a little on the loud side, but there are always open tables.

The Hamburg steak sounds good.

It is. It's pretty beefy.

Beer...

Aren't daytime beers the best?

It's such a guilty pleasure.

I think I'll have one.

Oh man, then I'm in too.

I wish we'd stopped here when we cleared out Asa's old place.

That must have been hard.

I guess.

How long did it take?

A week?

No, maybe a little longer.

I see.

Thinking back on it, I should've come by your place too to introduce myself.

It didn't occur to me at the time.

You didn't need to do that.

I was pretty shaken back then myself.

Had I seen your face, I might have burst out crying.

Because I resemble my sister?

Just your face.

"Just?"

It would've been like suddenly coming face-to-face with the departed.

Like a kind of vertigo.

I think it might've scared me at the time.

Yeah...

I've been experiencing less of that lately myself.

Although Asa might need more time.

Hello.

I just happened to be in the area for a meeting.

I see. And I just happened to be visiting someone in the hospital.

Then this was a series of coincidences.

Yeah. I'm glad I invited you here.

Indeed, this might've been our only chance.

Er, I don't mean to imply I'd rather not have come.

Don't worry. I know what you meant.

Who ordered the daily special?

Here.

You don't like sharing food?

Must make going out in groups hard.

Yes. Thankfully, my current office is fairly laid-back.

But I had a lot of trouble in college.

Ah, college, of course.

All those get-togethers.

I've always hated being pressured into drinking.

I hear you. They weren't my thing either.

I managed to brush it off, but that doesn't seem your style either.

Exactly!

I'd end up getting upset at people every time.

Eventually, no one invited me anymore.

Then I guess it worked out?

I'd say so.

I wasn't too happy about it back then.

But that sort of crowd has always passed me over.

In a sense, I consider myself lucky.

As a bookworm who can't read the room.

"That sort of crowd"?

People who align with male-centric rituals, I guess.

Those of you becoming second-years, remember you're upperclassmen now.

You're the bridge between the first-years and third-years.

Not just in games, but in everyday practice.

Hey, where's Yoshimura?

Beats me.

Make sure you're setting a good example. That's all!

Yes, sir!

That reminds me of an interaction I had with Asa-san.

During our meeting the other day,

she asked me how to become the person she wants to be.

The person she wants to be?

Ah, sweet adolescence.

So, what'd you tell her?

Well, actually...

I didn't know what she meant.

So I said, "I don't understand."

Jeez!

What? Was that bad?

I mean, it's funny, I guess.

Funny?

Who you want to be, huh?

How should I have answered, do you think?

Hmm...

Who you want to be...

Of course.

I should have stayed composed, just like that.

Always so cool and collected.

What? You mean me?

I'm not like that at all.

Oh, but you are.

I sure wish I were.

But if I honestly come off that way, it might be because...

You know, what you said...

I hopped off that bandwagon.

What I said?

Male-centric rituals.

Or something like that.

Once I decided not to take part,

everything suddenly started getting easier.

Who can do the scariest dare?

Who can objectify girls the most?

Who can gain the most while trying the least?

Even though I was being crushed by the pressure deep down,

I'd laugh it off.

That was the only crowd I knew.

So I clung for dear life to keep my standing.

And all the while, I had the potential to be anyone I wanted.

I didn't realize that game of chicken was no real measure of my value.

Quit crying! You're a man!