Accumulating Starlight, with You Once More — A3! Another Spring
When I came to, I was standing at an unfamiliar train station. An impossibly vivid stream of memories flooded my mind. Brilliant stages. The smiles of my friends. And the cruel vision of a future where the person most precious to me loses his life to illness.
This is the world just before the theater troupe MANKAI Company takes its very first step. Knowing what the future holds, I made a single, desperate resolution above all else: This time, I absolutely won't lose him.
My name is Sakuya Saku
Accumulating Starlight, with You Once More — A3! Another Spring - A cold gaze and a single candy.
His hands were shaking.
Morning light bathed the skyscrapers. Touto Bussan Headquarters. An eighteen-story glass building. Sakuya stood before it.
Itaru-san...[/whispers]
His voice trembled.
A candy rattled in his pocket. Strawberry flavor. The same kind Itaru gave him in the future.
—Itaru-san is here.
Sakuya knew. The memories from the future told him. Itaru Chigasaki. Twenty-six years old. Touto Bussan, Second Sales Division. Top sales performance among his peers. A perfect suit. A businessman more capable than anyone.
But.
—No.
The Itaru in Sakuya's memories always smiled. On stage, with his friends, shining like light itself. He showed his tired face too. Pushed himself too hard. But he'd say, "I'll be fine," and then—
—I won't let him die.
Sakuya clenched his teeth.
Absolutely. Absolutely, this time.
Before 8 AM.
The morning commute streamed into the building. Men and women in suits. Exhausted faces. Hurried footsteps. Sakuya stared at the flow.
His heart ached. Not pounding. Heavier. Like swallowing a stone.
Future memories and reality clashed inside his head.
The Itaru in his memories always shone. On stage, bathed in spotlight. Leading everyone as the Spring Troupe's leader.
But the Itaru he was about to meet—
Sakuya thought about the "regression memories."
He didn't know why he'd returned two years into the past. All he knew was that he had roughly two years of future knowledge. But these memories weren't all-powerful. The more Sakuya acted and changed the future, the more the memories and reality diverged.
That divergence attacked him as headaches.
—But I don't care.
Sakuya gripped the candy in his pocket.
—Even if my head splits open. If Itaru-san can live.
8 AM.
He came.
Sakuya's eyes locked onto a man.
A suit. Soft brown hair neatly styled. Narrow, sharp eyes. An intellectual impression. A face as refined as a model's. A convenience store bag in his hand. Energy drinks inside.
Itaru Chigasaki.
Much thinner than in Sakuya's memories. Hollow cheeks. Dark circles under his eyes. Pale skin. Faded lips. No smile. Just walking toward the building, utterly exhausted.
—No. I don't know this Itaru-san.
Sakuya's chest tightened.
The future Itaru shone brighter. Even tired, his eyes still sparkled. His passion for the stage kept him alive.
But now.
—It's like his soul has fallen out.
Sakuya knew. Itaru hadn't joined MANKAI Company yet. After standing on stage as a research student in his school days, he'd failed. Left theater behind.
—And soon, a man named Ryou Arata will try to destroy Itaru-san.
Sakuya ran.
His legs tangled. His breath hitched. His heart hammered.
Itaru-san![/excited]
A loud voice.
The commuting crowd all turned to look at Sakuya.
Itaru stopped too. Slowly turned around.
His eyes caught Sakuya.
Cold eyes.
...Who are you?[/cold]
A low voice. Clear wariness.
Sakuya stopped. Breathing hard. Heart aching. But he didn't look away.
U-um... I'm Sakuya Sakuma.[/gentle]
Don't know you. What do you want?[/cold]
Itaru stepped back. Keeping distance. A strange high schooler suddenly calling his name. Of course he'd be wary. Sakuya understood that. But—
I wanted to see you.[/serious]
Itaru's eyebrow twitched.
...What?[/cold]
I've been searching for you.[/serious]
How Itaru saved him in the future. How they fought together in the Spring Troupe. The days they laughed together. And in that hospital room—
He wanted to say it. Everything.
But he couldn't.
Talking about future memories would never be believed.
None of your business.[/cold]
Itaru turned his back.
Started walking. Toward the building.
Sakuya's chest wrenched tight. The Itaru in his memories was always kind. Smiled awkwardly, but still listened seriously to Sakuya.
But this Itaru—
—Of course.
Sakuya bit his lip.
—Itaru-san doesn't know me right now.
But he couldn't give up.
The candy![/excited]
A loud voice.
Itaru's feet stopped.
Sakuya pulled the candy from his pocket. Strawberry flavor. The brand sold at Sun Cross, the convenience store in front of Velvet Town Station.
You like these, right![/excited]
Itaru turned around.
His eyes widened slightly.
...How do you know that?[/surprised]
A low voice. Still wary. But beneath it, faint confusion surfaced.
Sakuya searched for words.
Something Itaru told him in the future. How he always bought them at the convenience store after work. Sucked on them between rehearsals. Strawberry was the most calming.
But he couldn't explain that to this Itaru.
You gave me one. Before.[/gentle]
Not a lie. In the future, he really did.
...I don't remember.[/cold]
Itaru's voice felt slightly softer.
I didn't at first either. But every time I suck on this candy, I remember. Someone helped me.[/gentle]
Sakuya stared into Itaru's eyes.
Big, brown eyes. Emotions surfaced easily. Now, desperation and a little sadness.
Itaru let out a small breath.
...You're a weird one.[/cold]
The coldness in his voice had thinned, just a little.
But he hadn't opened his heart yet.
Sorry, but I don't do theater anymore.[/cold]
Sakuya hadn't said anything, but Itaru said that.
—He knows.
Sakuya's chest ached.
—Itaru-san knows his own talent. He still wants to stand on stage. But he's scared.
Do you know MANKAI Company?[/serious]
Itaru's body stiffened, just slightly.
A theater troupe in Velvet Town. They're on hiatus now, but they're restarting soon. I'm planning to join.[/serious]
Sakuya stepped closer to Itaru.
Itaru-san, what about you! You'd definitely shine. More than anyone—[/excited]
Stop.[/cold]
A sharp voice.
Itaru's eyes went cold.
What do you know about me?[/cold]
It stabbed into his chest.
He knew. To this Itaru, Sakuya was just some unknown high schooler.
But—
Theater wasn't for me. That's all.[/cold]
Itaru spoke.
A self-deprecating tone.
It's not that I lacked talent. I thought I had it, actually. But I was wrong. All I could do was borrow others' talent and hide my own limits.[/cold]
No.
Sakuya screamed inside.
—No! Itaru-san shined brighter than anyone! On stage, alone, carrying everything, still smiling—
So leave me alone.[/cold]
Itaru said it flatly.
Then turned his back.
Started walking.
Sakuya couldn't move.
—But that's wrong.
His hands shook.
—That's wrong...!
Itaru's back vanished into the building entrance.
Sakuya stood there, frozen.
* * *
In front of the building, Sakuya waited.
The sun rose.
The sky shifted from blue to white.
The commuting crowd thinned. Silence fell.
Sakuya didn't sit on the bench. He stood and waited.
His legs hurt. Two hours already. But he couldn't sit. If he sat, he might give up.
He gripped the candy in his pocket again.
—I won't give up.
Sakuya told himself.
—Absolutely. No matter what.
Itaru was someone special to Sakuya.
In the future, when Sakuya first joined the Spring Troupe, he couldn't do anything. Couldn't memorize lines. Moved stiffly. Caused nothing but trouble. Thought about quitting so many times.
Itaru never laughed at him.
"I'll be fine."
Just those words. And he rehearsed with Sakuya every single day.
"You have a passion no one can match."
He told him that.
—And yet, I...
Sakuya bit his lip.
—In the future, I didn't notice until Itaru-san collapsed.
The hospital room flashed back.
White walls. Sterile machine sounds. Thinning arms. Smiling, but his eyes growing more hollow—
Sakuya shook his head.
—This time.
—This time, absolutely.
Noon.
Someone came out of the building entrance.
Itaru.
Still in his suit. Convenience store bag in hand.
Sakuya ran.
Itaru-san![/excited]
Itaru turned.
A surprised face.
...You're still here.[/surprised]
I waited.[/serious]
Sakuya stood before Itaru.
Breathless. Knees wobbling after two hours standing. Didn't matter.
I don't know anything about you.[/serious]
He said it straight.
What kind of person you are. What you like. What you hate. What you're afraid of. I don't know any of it.[/serious]
Itaru's eyes narrowed slightly.
But that's why I want to know! About you![/excited]
Sakuya took Itaru's left hand.
Startled, Itaru's hand trembled.
Sakuya pressed the candy into his palm.
Strawberry candy.
This is my favorite candy. I'm giving it to you.[/gentle]
Itaru stared at the candy in silence.
I'll be at MANKAI Company in Velvet Town. If you feel like it... come visit.[/gentle]
Sakuya smiled.
An awkward smile, showing a bit of his double tooth.
I'll be waiting. On stage.[/gentle]
Itaru said nothing.
But.
The corner of his mouth seemed to soften. Just a little.
...Your name?[/gentle]
Sakuya Sakuma![/excited]
Sakuya. Sakuma.[/gentle]
Itaru repeated Sakuya's name.
As if tasting it.
You're a weird one.[/gentle]
The same words as before. But a completely different tone.
Maybe we'll meet again.[/gentle]
Itaru turned his back, still gripping the candy.
This time, Sakuya didn't chase him.
His chest was full.
—Maybe we'll meet again.
Just those words made him want to cry.
* * *
The way home.
Sakuya sat on the platform at Velvet Town Station.
Evening. The sky dyed orange.
Sakuya put his hand in his pocket.
Counted the candies.
—Huh?
Counted again.
—One missing.
Two candies given to Itaru. One when he first offered it. Another pressed into his hand.
But three were gone.
—The math doesn't add up.
Sakuya searched his pocket again.
Nothing.
Definitely one missing.
In that instant.
Throb.
A sharp pain pierced his head.
Ngh...[/scared]
Sakuya clutched his head and hunched over on the bench.
His vision blurred. Nausea surged.
—This is.
A pain he knew.
Side effect of the regression memories. A violent headache when future memories and reality diverged.
Which meant—
—The future changed.
Sakuya lifted his head.
Tears welled from the pain. But his mouth smiled.
—It changed.
One candy missing. Something not in the future memories. Proof that Sakuya's actions had altered the future.
A small change.
But a definite step.
I did it...[/whispers]
Sakuya endured the pain and smiled.
—Nothing's over yet.
—This is just the start.
—I'll definitely save Itaru-san.
* * *
Same time.
Kagari District. A warehouse theater in the port area.
Rehearsal room in the basement.
Ryou Arata held a single envelope.
Pure white. Inside, an intricately printed invitation.
...Now the stage is set.[/cold]
A low, resonant voice.
Arata's black eyes glinted in the darkness. His slicked-back black hair fell in strands across his face.
Itaru Chigasaki. Your talent is genuine. But you yourself haven't realized it. No—you have realized it. That's precisely why you fear it.[/cold]
Arata slipped the invitation into the envelope.
Addressed to "Itaru Chigasaki."
You wish to burn yourself out completely. Then I shall prepare that stage for you. The finest stage, where you can shine until you turn to ash.[/cold]
A subordinate waiting behind him spoke.
"Arata-san, when should I send it?"
Right now. If I don't send it while his heart wavers most, it's meaningless.[/cold]
Arata stood.
His tall, lean frame stretched like a shadow.
The play Karma. A monodrama depicting a man consumed by karma, burning out until nothing remains. Starring Itaru Chigasaki. He will become my greatest masterpiece.[/cold]
Arata's fingers tapped an unconscious rhythm.
And that boy—Sakuya Sakuma, was it? He's interesting too. That pure will to protect Itaru. That will be the spice that drives Itaru deeper into despair.[/cold]
Arata smiled.
His eyes did not.
Shine until you die, Itaru Chigasaki. The sound of you breaking will complete my stage.[/cold]
The envelope was placed on the desk.
A quiet sound.
An invitation to ruin, now in motion.
Night was falling over Velvet Town.
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