LITTLE BUSTERS: GOODBYE (REFRAIN) ☑

[periko]

Rin: .........
I am standing.
All I can tell is that I am standing in an unfamiliar place.
It is really quiet here.
I can hear no sound at all.
I can barely see what is around me, either.
I am standing alone in such a place.
Rin: Riki...?
... He was supposed to be holding my hand.
I don't really get what's going on.
I'm a little bit puzzled.
Still, I take a careful look around and take a step forward.
... I find a notebook on a table.
I feel like I've seen it before.
And it gives me a feel ing nostalgia.
... I pick up the book and open it.
Just like a picture, it has writing and cute pictures drawn on its pages.
It's a story of a boy, a girl and eight dwarves.
Each of the eight dwarves has their own troubles.
The girl makes friends with them all.
The boy helps each of them get over their problems.
Every time he succeeds in helping one out...
... they leave the forest, one after another.
Rin: .........!!

[Flashback]

Komari: I'm not done with this yet...
Rin: Then, show me when you're done.
Rin: ... I like the story a lot.
Komari: Yeah, I'll show you when I'm done.

[End flashback]

... I forgot about it.
I forgot about something important.
A small piece of paper drops out from between the pages of the notebook.
... It is Komari-chan's copy of the picture of us taken at the river bank.
She is really sticking to me.
She and I were friends.
Why would I forget about all that?
Why wouldn't I notice that none them are around?
Rin: .........
They're not around.
How come that is the only thing I know
even though so many sad things have happened?

[Flashback]

Rin: What are you reading?
Mio: This is a tanka collection.
Rin: Is that fun?
Mio: Fun... I don't think that is the right word to describe it.
Mio: Let's see. For instance...

Mio: How do you feel about this piece?
Rin: I don't really know.
Mio: ... I see.
Rin: I don't really know, but it feels somewhat beautiful.
Mio: ... That's just like you, Natsume-san.
Rin: Is that bad...?
Mio: No...
Mio: I'd say it's a very good thing.

[ End flashback]

Rin: Mio!!
... She's not here.

[Flashback]

Haruka: Rin-chan, Rin-chaaan!
Rin: Shaddup!
Haruka: Uu, what hurtful words to say first thing when seeing someone!?
Rin: Haruka, you're so noisy.
Haruka: Of course I am. That's my identity.

Haruka: And that just now was so cute!
Rin: .........
Haruka: Hmm?
Rin: You really are noisy.
Haruka: Ehh, I think being noisy is more fun.
Haruka: If you do something fun with fun, you'll get much more fun out of it!
Rin: ... I don't really get it.
Haruka: So let's smiiile.
Rin: Hahoheee!!
Haruka: Ahahaha! Your cheeks are stretching.

[End flashback]

Rin: Haruka!!
... She's not here.

[Flashback]

Rin: Kurugaya, I don't get the point of what you're doing.
Kurugaya: Oh? I find it most fun.
Kurugaya: Well, since you're here, you should try speaking into the mic.
Rin: I don't wanna, you dummy!
Kurugaya: Hoh, you dare disobey and lip off Onee-san like that, Rin-kun?
Rin: Uuu... Okay, I'll do it, so stop poking my cheeks...
Kurugaya: Good, here's the script to read.
Rin: Ah, ahem it is very sunny today and...
Kurugaya: You don't have to read that part.

Kurugaya: ... You actually did it well.
Rin: I did?
Kurugaya: Umu... what you lack is aggressiveness.
Rin: Aggressiveness?
Kurugaya: You can do a lot more things than you think yourself able, ergo you should live always facing forward.

[End flashback]

Rin: Kurugaya...!!
... She's not here.

[Flashback]

Rin: I didn't know that you did calligraphy.
Kud: Yes, it makes me very relaxed. If you're interested, why don't you try it?
Rin: I'll pass. I'll just watch you do it.
Kud: Okay...
Rin: Watching is more fun for me.
Kud: I've got it! Please enjoy watching!

Kud: I'm done! I just wrote "wa!"
Rin: Kud, you like that character?
Kud: Yes, "wa" means Japan. I love this country in which I and everyone live.
Kud: Plus, the character means "to calm." It makes me feel relaxed and at ease. A very nice character.
Kud: To put it simply, you feel calm when you're with something you love!
Rin: ... I'm calm when I'm with you, Kud.
Kud: Yes, I also feel very calm when I'm with you, Rin-san!

[End flashback]

Rin: Kud...!
... Nobody's here...
Everybody's gone.
They were all supposed to be here.
Rin: Haah... haah...
It's beginning to dawn on me
that I won't be able to find any of them anywhere.
... They are no longer anywhere to be found.
I run up the stairs.
... On the path leading up to the rooftop.
Rin: .........
There are piles of desks, chairs and other junk in front of the window leading out to the rooftop.
There was nothing like this here before.
I must get past them...

[Flashback]

Komari: This is my number one favorite place.
Rin: .........
Komari: But you're not allowed up here.
Komari: So it's a secret that we're here.
Rin: ... A secret.
Komari: Yeah, a secret.
Rin: Then, are we the only ones who know about this?
Komari: No, Riki-kun has been up here before, too.
Komari: ... But you are the first one that I invited here.
Rin: Why did you invite me?
Komari: Fue? ... Hmmm...

[End flashback]

... I push aside the items in my way.
Rin: ... Uu...
I believed that I would never have any friends.
I believed that I was fine as long as I had Riki, Kyousuke, Masato, and Kengo.
... But,
I was stupid.

[Flashback]

Komari: ... I guess it's because you're my best friend.
Komari: Because you and I are friends.
Rin: ... Friends.
Komari: Yeah!
Rin: I don't really get it...
Rin: I've never had a girl friend...
Komari: ... But I'm sure you understand now.
Rin: .........?
Komari: Because you have a lot of friends now.

[End flashback]

I've got a lot of friends.
I never realized.
Having a lot of friends is fun, I never realized that.
I know I'm going to lose them soon enough.
... Having friends is fun, losing them is sad, I knew nothing about it at all.
Rin: Uu...
Fighting back the tears, I keep removing the junk.
Rin: Haah, haah...
... And I'm done.
I climb outside through the window.
Sunset greets me.
From this high place, I have a good view of the sun setting in the distance.
Rin: .........
The city below is painted in flaming scarlet.
So is this rooftop.
And I'm sure that the color is dyeing me as well.
It reminds me of something.
When we were kids, a setting sun signified the time of parting.
Everybody went home before it got dark.
No matter how much fun we were having, when we saw the sunset sky we'd end our games.
I wonder, how did I feel about it back then?
I don't want to know anymore... I don't even want to remember the fact it actually made me feel something.
But I must recognize that the name of that feeling was loneliness.
Why does the sun have to set?
If we had a blue sky all day long, I wouldn't have to feel this way...
I'm sure that's how I felt.
Rin: .........
Below me, a long shadow stretches. My shadow.
After following the shadow with my eyes, at the end of it... I find Komari-chan.

Komari: ... Rin-chan.
Rin: ... Komari-chan.
Komari-chan is there.
But I can't say anything.
She doesn't speak either.
... The sun is going down.
... The end is coming.
Rin: Ko-Komari... -chan...
I force my voice out, but it sounds feeble even to my ears.
Everybody else must already be gone.
... Komari-chan and I are probably the only ones left here.
Komari: ... I'm sorry, Rin-chan.
She opens her mouth.
No.
I know it's me that has to apologize.
Because I'd forgotten everything about them
... But I can't let any words out.
Komari: ... Maybe you already know everything.
Rin: .........
I vehemently shake my head.
... I don't know anything.
Komari: Yeah...
Komari: I'd like you to know something...
Komari: ... I'm sure that it's something you also need to know, Rin-chan.
But it must also be something I never want to know.
Komari: Everyone else isn't here anymore.
Komari: Perhaps, you can't find them anywhere.
Rin: .........
I remember what Kyousuke said.
The world where something happened.
... This is a fake world...
In the real world, everyone else is already gone...
This fake world is breaking...
Rin: Will you be gone too... Komari-chan?
Komari: ... Yeah...
Komari: Me too.
Komari: Actually, I was supposed to disappear even earlier.
Komari: I'm still here because I'm being selfish...
Under the light of the setting sun, she goes on.
Komari: So it's a bad thing that I'm here.
Rin: You mean...
Rin: I can't see you ever again, Komari-chan...?
As I ask,
her face forms into a troubled smile.
I know what it means when she does that.
The answer is yes.
Rin: No...

[Flashback]

Rin: Komari-chan, why are you wearing those stars?
Komari: Fue?
Komari: This is, you see, a wishing star.
Rin: A wishing star?
Komari: Yes.
Komari: Ever since long ago,
Komari: I've always been praying to the stars for my wish to come true.

[End flashback]

Rin: I don't want this...

[Flashback]

Rin: You have two wishes!?
Komari: Fue? Y-yes... now that you mention it, I do have two stars.
Komari: All right then, I'll use the other one for your wish.
Rin: But you're the one wearing the star.
Komari: It's okay if I pray for your wish for you.
Rin: Then you think of one, Komari-chan.
Komari: Fuee, m-me!?
Rin: If it's by you, anything is fine by me.
Komari: H-hmm... Okay, I'll think about it.

[End flashback]

... I even forgot about this.
Rin: I don't want this...!!
Rin: I wanna see everyone again!!
Rin: I want Kyousuke with me!! I want Masato and Kengo with me!!
Rin: Haruka, Mio, Kud, and Kurugaya too...!!
Rin: I don't want any of them to be gone!!
Rin: I hate it if they aren't all with me...
Rin: I hate it...
Rin: Komari-chan...
I can't stop myself.
... I just can't stop myself.
Komari: ... Rin-chan.
Komari: Rin-chan, you cry so easily...
Rin: It's you who cries easily... Komari-chan...
Komari: ... But see, I'm smiling.
Komari: There was someone who taught me
Komari: that even when something bad happens, we can still smile.
Komari: ... I think that's amazing.
Komari: ... So I'm trying to do it as well...

... Riki-kun.
I'm sure I'll be smiling until the very end.
I wonder if I was able to do something awesome...
I wonder if Rin-chan will one day be able to act more like me...
To act more honest... toward everyone else... just a little more...
It would be the best if only I could stay together with everyone forever.
But...
I can't, since...
This story is already over...

Komari: Rin-chan, I want you to become someone who can do that too.
Komari: So, I want us to...
Komari: ... part with a smile.

... The sun is setting.
It's time for the first star to appear in the sky.
It'll soon be time to say goodbye.

Komari: ... Here is my wish for you.
Komari: May Rin-chan always keep on smiling.

One of her stars.
I reach over to her hand that holds it.
Komari: .........
... I can no longer hear a thing.
Komari-chan, the rooftop, everything is becoming white, so white.
I must say something to her.
... I'm sorry.
I haven't apologized yet.
But...
The star drops down through her hand...
Just like a shooting star...
that tiny star...
falls onto the concrete ground
making one tiny, clear sound.

[Flashback]

Rin: ... Komari-chan.
Komari: Yes?
Rin: I like you, Komari-chan.
Rin: I like all my teammates.
Komari: Ehehe, I like you too, Rin-chan.
Komari: So we are friends forever.

[End flashback]

Sorry, Rin-chan.
I couldn't stay with you forever.
Since this is our last meeting, I have to say to you...
Goodbye.
... my beloved Rin-chan.