The Day Subaru Oozora Searches for the Brightest Star
Everyone in Hololive, let's become astronauts! When Subaru Oozora suddenly announces this, a strangely hilarious 'Best Item Arrangement' tournament begins. Its a contest where you can supposedly receive a star from the universe. But Subaru is actually hiding a deeply sad secret. Without knowing it, everyone's small acts of kindness end up hurting Subaru... Yet she keeps acting cheerful. But when the biggest crisis arrives, Subaru realizes she isn't alone! It's a comfy daily life story that will
The Day Subaru Oozora Searches for the Brightest Star - Behind the Smile, and Two Visitors
The evening light slanted through the large windows of Komorebi Hall.
The colorful balloons scattered across the floor were dyed orange.
How many hours had she been here since morning?
Oozora Subaru crouched in front of her own exhibition area.
A duck-shaped coin bank and a star-shaped music box. Just two items, a tiny display.
Next to Noel-senpai's enormous celestial model, it looked even smaller.
"…Alright."
She stood up.
She put on a smile.
Lifting the corners of her mouth, narrowing her eyes.
Even without a mirror, this would do.
The perfect smile she'd practiced for years.
Just then, a voice came from the hall entrance.
"Excuse me. Is Noel-san here?"
She knew it just from the voice.
Calm, direct, and just a little stiff.
It was Fubuki-senpai.
Subaru looked up.
Standing at the entrance was a woman with short platinum-silver hair.
Her side locks, like fox ears, looked golden where the sunset shone through them.
Her sharp blue eyes coolly surveyed the hall.
A white shirt and black pants. The simple outfit perfectly reflected her no-nonsense presence.
"Fubuki-senpai!"
Subaru waved her hand broadly.
She consciously raised the pitch of her voice by a notch.
"Welcome! What brings you here so suddenly?"
Fubuki looked at Subaru.
Those blue eyes narrowed for just an instant.
"Noel-san called me. She said she needed new participants to liven up the finals."
"Oh, I see! Is Furea-senpai coming too?"
"Yes, Shiranui-san as well. She should be here soon…"
Before Fubuki could finish, the patter of slippers came from behind her.
"Fubuki-chaaan, don't leave me behind."
Shiranui Furea approached at a light jog, her long, pinkish-beige hair swaying.
Her large ribbon bounced with each step, and her big, cherry-blossom-colored eyes were slightly teary.
"Furea-senpai! It's been a while!"
At Subaru's voice, Furea's face lit up.
"Wah, Subaru-chan! It's been so long! Have you been well?"
Furea rushed over to Subaru and squeezed her hands tightly in both of hers.
Her hands were warm and soft.
"Yes, I've been great! You're as cute as ever, Furea-senpai!"
Subaru said it with a smile.
Her voice got just a little louder.
Behind her, Fubuki watched the exchange.
Fubuki said nothing.
She just observed Subaru's face intently with those blue eyes.
"Alright, everyone's here!"
From the back of the hall, Shirogane Noel appeared, clapping her hands.
Her long silver hair swayed gently with every step.
"Fubuki-san, Furea-san, thank you for coming. Now then, let's immediately begin our strategy meeting for the finals—"
"Noel-san, please wait a moment."
Fubuki cut Noel off.
Her voice was far more serious than usual.
Fubuki took a step closer to Subaru.
"Subaru-san. Something's been bothering me for a while now—how long have you been wearing that smile?"
The air in the hall suddenly went still.
Subaru's smile stiffened slightly.
"…Huh? What do you mean?"
"Exactly what I said. You've been smiling all day today. Ever since this morning. And with a louder voice than necessary. You're not your usual self."
Fubuki's blue eyes stared straight at Subaru.
A sharp, fox-like gaze that offered no escape.
Subaru's chest tightened.
(She's seen right through me.)
But her mouth moved on its own.
"What are you talking about, Fubuki-senpai! I'm the same as always! If anything, the tournament's just so fun today that I'm a little extra excited!"
So her voice wouldn't tremble.
So her smile wouldn't break.
"Is that 'fun' real?"
Fubuki's words pierced her like a finishing blow.
Subaru was at a loss for words.
(Stop.)
(Don't ask any more.)
But her mouth wouldn't stop.
"Of course it's real! You're the one who seems all stiff today, Fubuki-senpai! We're having a fun tournament, so please don't spoil it!"
She knew it herself.
She hadn't wanted to say it like that.
But right now, this was the only way she could protect herself.
Fubuki lowered her eyes slightly.
"…I see."
With just that, Fubuki stepped back.
A faint look of pain flickered across her face.
(Ah, I hurt her.)
A throbbing ache began to spread in Subaru's chest.
But she couldn't stop anymore.
"Alright, let's have that strategy meeting! Noel-senpai, what are we doing for the finals?"
Subaru deliberately spoke to Noel in a bright voice.
Noel had been watching their exchange with a complicated expression.
Her gray eyes were deep in thought.
"…Yes, let's do that, Subaru-san. We'll all decide the content of the finals together."
Just as Noel began to speak—
"Hey, Subaru-chan. What's this?"
Furea was pointing at Subaru's exhibition area.
In her hand was the star-shaped music box.
A small, golden music box.
On its lid was a star drawn by her grandmother.
"Ah, that's… one of my exhibits…"
Before Subaru could finish, Furea opened the lid.
—Twinkle, twinkle, little star.
The melody of the first star began to play softly through the hall.
That song her grandmother used to hum.
Furea gazed intently at the music box.
Her large, cherry-blossom eyes shimmered.
And then, she murmured quietly.
"It sounds sad."
Subaru's heart lurched.
"It's like the sound of your heart, Subaru-chan."
Furea's voice was as slow, sweet, and gentle as ever.
And yet.
Why.
"—What are you talking about!"
Subaru shouted.
A voice so loud it surprised even herself.
She snatched the music box from Furea's hands.
She slammed the lid shut, roughly.
The melody stopped mid-note.
"It's not sad at all! This is something my grandma—"
The words caught in her throat.
Grandma.
The moment she said the word, her vision suddenly began to blur.
"Subaru-chan…?"
Furea peered worriedly into Subaru's face.
"…I'm sorry. I'm going to the restroom for a bit."
With just that, Subaru ran.
Clutching the music box to her chest.
Desperately holding back the tears that threatened to spill.
She opened the door to the restroom in the corner of the hall.
Went inside, locked it.
—And then, the thread snapped.
"…Ugh."
She crouched down.
The tile floor was cold.
Tears fell, splattering onto the floor.
They wouldn't stop.
She couldn't stop them.
(Grandma.)
(Grandma, I—)
A voiceless voice trembled in the back of her throat.
The moment she heard that melody, it all came flooding back.
The twilight at Hinatazaka Central Park.
The bench where they sat side by side.
The warmth of her grandmother's wrinkled hand stroking Subaru's head.
"Subaru. When you find the first star, you chant your wish three times."
"And then it'll come true?"
"Well, who knows. But your grandma does it every day."
"What do you wish for?"
"That Subaru can spend every day smiling."
—It won't come true anymore.
Grandma passed away last winter.
Quietly, as if falling asleep.
Ever since then.
She'd thought she had to keep smiling.
That she couldn't let her grandmother's wish be in vain.
But it was painful.
She couldn't tell anyone.
"Subaru-chan is always so cheerful."
"It must be nice not having any worries."
No. That's not true.
"…Someone, help me."
She whispered it quietly.
A voice that wouldn't reach anyone.
Just then.
Knock, knock.
There was a knock at the door.
"Subaru-san. It's me. Noel."
Subaru looked up.
Her face was a mess of tears.
There was no way she could come out.
"You don't have to come out if you don't want to. But there's something I'd like you to hear."
Noel's voice was very gentle.
"What shall we do for the finals? We need to decide on the stage soon. Where do you want to compete, Subaru-san?"
Compete.
The stage for the competition.
Subaru wiped her tears.
She scrubbed at her face with her sleeve.
(The place where I watched the first star with Grandma—)
She stood up.
Took one deep breath.
She unlocked the door and opened it.
Noel stood before her.
Her silver hair sparkled in the hallway lights.
Her gray eyes looked straight at Subaru.
"Subaru-san…"
Noel gently reached out her hand.
"I want to have a contest to see the stars. At Soranokiterasu."
Subaru's voice was still trembling.
Her eyes were still red.
But strength was returning to them.
"A contest… to see the stars?"
"Yes. Who can find the first star the fastest—that kind of contest."
It was something she'd done countless times with her grandmother.
Searching for the first star to shine in the twilight sky.
"Found it!"
Grandma was always just a little slower than Subaru.
Thinking back now, it was probably on purpose.
"…That sounds wonderful. Let's do it."
Noel smiled warmly.
It was a very kind smile, but somehow tinged with sadness.
"Subaru-san. I've been waiting all this time. For you to say, in your own words, what you 'want to do'."
At Noel's words, Subaru's eyes welled up again.
But this time, they weren't tears of sadness.
"Noel-senpai… I…"
"Now, let's wash your face. Then, we'll go back to everyone."
Noel gently patted Subaru's shoulder and pointed towards the sink.
Subaru nodded and washed her face with cold water.
The redness in her eyes was still there.
But she felt much, much clearer than before.
When the two of them came out of the restroom, Fubuki and Furea were waiting in the hallway.
Fubuki was leaning against the wall, looking down.
Her face looked like she was about to cry.
"…Subaru-san. I'm sorry about earlier."
Fubuki's voice was hoarse.
"I cornered you. I should have found a different way to say it."
Fubuki couldn't lift her head.
Subaru had never seen her, always so composed, this distraught before.
"No, Fubuki-senpai. You were worried about me, weren't you."
Subaru approached Fubuki.
"I'm sorry. I said some awful things. The truth is, I was really happy. That you were really looking at me, Fubuki-senpai."
Fubuki raised her head.
Her blue eyes were blurred with tears.
"…Subaru."
"I can't tell you everything yet. But, little by little, I want to be able to talk about it properly."
Subaru showed her a smile.
This time, it wasn't the forced smile from before.
It was a little awkward and clumsy, but it was a real smile.
Just then, the sound of sniffling came from the corner.
"…Uuu. Furea made Subaru-chan cry."
Furea was huddled against the wall, crying.
Her pink hair drooped dejectedly.
Subaru hurried over to Furea.
"Furea-senpai! It's not your fault! If anything, you're the one who made me realize."
Furea looked up, her face a mess of tears.
"But… I said it sounded sad… Furea did it again… Saying exactly what I think is Furea's bad habit…"
"No. Because you said it, Furea-senpai, I was able to decide to stop running from my feelings."
Subaru took Furea's hands.
"The sound of the music box. I knew it too, honestly. It's been sad all along. Because it reminds me of my grandma. But I couldn't tell anyone. Because you said it—that it was 'the sound of my heart'—I was able to admit it too. That I'm sad."
Furea blinked.
Tears were still falling, but her expression brightened just a little.
"…Subaru-chan. Can Furea give you a big hug?"
"Huh?"
Before Subaru could answer, Furea had already embraced her.
A soft, flower-like scent surrounded her.
"Subaru-chan. When you're sad, it's okay to say you're sad. That's how Furea lives. When it's fun, it's fun. When it's sad, it's sad. That's what it means to be human."
In Furea's arms, a gentle warmth spread deep within Subaru's chest.
(…I see.)
(It's okay to live like that.)
Subaru cried once more.
But this time, they weren't just tears of sadness.
Watching the three of them, Noel smiled softly.
"…Heh heh. With this, we've finally reached the starting line."
Noel looked up at the sky outside the window.
The sunset was about to sink behind the buildings.
Soon, it would be time for the first star to shine in the sky.
"Now, let's get ready. The finals will be tonight, at Soranokiterasu—a contest to see the stars!"
At Noel's declaration, Fubuki raised her head.
The redness hadn't quite left her eyes, but strength had returned to those blue pupils.
"…Yeah, you're right. This time, I'll be on the side doing the searching, too."
Furea pulled a
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