Rising Star

“Thank you everyone, for being with me this whole time!” I tried to be as excited as possible for the fans watching my last online concert. “I’m glad I haven’t fainted yet this time. I guess all that rest helped a lot, don’t you think?”

“And water,” Winter chimed in. She was sitting in the same room, watching.

“And not worrying too much,” Autumn added.

“Can you two shut up? It’s her concert, don’t distract her. She already has that weird romantic thing that she hasn’t moved on from.” Summer gave me a thumbs up as they huddled in the corner of the room while I was giving my concert. The viewers couldn’t hear or see them, but I was happy that they were all there, and I was sure that Mr. Hiroaki, Aoi, and my mom were watching somewhere. Those were all the people I needed, even if I had a way smaller online audience than we expected.

“This last song is something I've been trying to write since I joined the Four Seasons. It's been awful! It just never sounded right!” I was truly embarrassed by how it took me more than a year to write that one song, but I tried to make that experience amusing for my fans. “After a year, I think I finally found the words, and I hope you will enjoy them, too.”

Autumn and Mr. Hiroaki had set a stage in the stars for me, and designed some wings for Spring, so it would seem like I was flying in space. The look was completed with petals flying around me, dancing around as I moved. I really appreciated their efforts as I prepared myself to sing my very last song.

The song starts with a cute keyboard instrument, and it builds up into an orchestra near the end. I was very nervous, because the song is very ambitious. If I don’t do my best, my voice might be drowned by the instruments. I had to try my hardest to match the music.

I was a once a young girl

that would sing into the park.

I'd smile and I’d shout and

I'd try to bring smiles but…

Nobody would hear me.

Nobody would listen.

Do the kids at that park I grew up in still remember me?

I would scream

and cry

from the depths of my heart.

Does the girl at that station remember me?

But soon I learned,

it just was not enough.

Then I found my friends,

This is for all of you.

I met someone else who struggled,

Aoi, I know you're just scared in the end. Did I show you that we both could’ve overcome this, together?

then one with the gentle smile,

Autumn, did you realize how much your warmth helped me?

another, with her strange words,

Winter, did you see how you helped me be less afraid?

and last of all,

the star that led me into tomorrow.

Summer, will you remember how happy I was to soar with you?

I twirled as the song entered an instrumental part, catching my breath, and getting ready for the hardest part of the song. The visuals were incredibly beautiful, and I almost lost myself dancing in them. The feelings I had for everyone gave me all the energy I needed for the grand finale.

But then, I kept on struggling,

Mr. Hiroaki, are you proud of the stars you put together?

until one day I grew my own wings.

Mom you were right, I can never forget my songs...

I was a rising star,

not bound

to the earth but

the skies above,

soaring through,

until- my song reaches you.

“Thank you, so much! For being here, for following me this far! I hope that everyone could smile, at least for a little bit. Even a tiny bit is fine, it can always grow from there!” I bowed, trying to hide my face, and then ran away from the room, audibly crying.

Did I manage to make others happy with my music?