Chapter 83: (Future Timeline) The Song Card
The scene shifted back to the Live House. Despite Bocchi arriving at the venue in the nick of time, no miracle occurred—Kessoku Band still lost the competition.
But it wasn't disgraceful. After all, the band had only been formed for less than a year, while their opponent Komichi Kazue was a superstar who had dominated music streaming platforms for two years with tens of millions of followers.
It was like showing up to a boxing match. You're told your opponent is Mike Tyson, but when you arrive, it's actually Ultraman Taro standing in the ring.
Though they lost, the atmosphere didn't become heavy because of it.
On the contrary, Ijichi Nijika and Kita were still chattering excitedly about the overwhelming presence they'd felt on stage during the performance.
Even the usually composed Ryo was savoring the rhythm of their opponent's playing.
For them, being able to face off against that level of monster at their age was itself something worth bragging about for the rest of their lives.
Only one person was the exception.
A certain pink-haired figure was currently huddled in the darkest corner, like some kind of endangered cave-dwelling creature.
Arms wrapped around her knees, her entire being radiated an aura that screamed "I want to die," while she muttered to herself under her breath.
We lost... of course we lost...
Though really, Bocchi had predicted this outcome before the competition even started.
Because their opponent was Komichi Kazue.
That person who could make the entire venue erupt just by standing there smiling, without even needing to open her mouth—a national-level idol.
Compared to someone like that who seemed to glow from head to toe, a creature like herself who could only hide in dark corners growing mushrooms was as unremarkable as roadside weeds.
"Bocchi-chan! That solo just now was super cool!!"
Ijichi Nijika rushed over and grabbed her around the neck, her brilliant smile nearly blinding Ichiri's eyes.
"Even though we lost, we made Komichi Kazue take us seriously! Isn't that a glorious defeat?"
"And Kazue-san even complimented your guitar playing earlier! That's the highest praise possible!"
"I-Is that so..."
Ichiri weakly responded, feeling like her soul was about to float out of her mouth.
But in her heart she was thinking about something else—namely, how she was going to face her father later.
...
Backstage in the shadows, Komichi Kazue watched that group of energetic newcomers and showed a genuine smile.
How wonderful.
That pure passion, burning for music itself.
Then she turned her head to look at the figure who had been standing in the corner the whole time.
It was a girl wearing a light purple dress.
Her appearance was extremely beautiful, beautiful in an almost unreal way, like an elf drawn with the most perfect brushstrokes.
What drew the most attention was that time seemed to have stopped for her.
For as long as Kazue could remember, her sister had looked like this. Over ten years had passed, yet not even a single fine line had appeared at the corners of her eyes.
"Sister... has the person you've been waiting for... arrived?"
The girl didn't answer immediately. She closed her eyes, as if listening to some message carried on the wind.
A moment later, she opened her eyes. Complex streams of light flashed through those pupils.
"He's here."
At that moment in the main hall, Kazama Chiba followed Kerberos's guidance and teleported to the scene, though unfortunately the competition appeared to have already ended.
Before he could search for his target, Bocchi—hiding in the corner—spotted him first.
The pink-haired girl let out a short, strangled shriek like someone whose neck had been grabbed, then quickly buried her head in her knees. Her entire body curled into a perfect sphere, attempting to make herself disappear on a physical level.
Chiba didn't have time to deal with his daughter's persecution complex right now.
Because his attention had already been captured by someone else.
It was a girl wearing a light purple dress who walked over and gave Chiba a slight nod.
Chiba narrowed his eyes.
This aura...
"A Clow Card?"
And not one of those diluted Kazama Cards either. This was authentic power, sourced directly from Clow Reed's origin.
He raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping over the girl in a circle before finally landing on Komichi Kazue, who stood behind her watching him with a tense expression.
Is this fate? It really is her.
And Komichi Kazue clearly remembered Chiba as well. She smiled gently.
"Big brother, it's been so long. I'm so glad I can see you again."
"Mm."
Chiba responded ambiguously. Though he didn't know what to say, in this kind of situation, acting mysterious was always the right choice.
The girl in the purple dress slowly opened her mouth to speak.
"You've come, Clow Cardcaptor Kazama Chiba. I've been waiting for you for a very long time."
"You know me?"
Chiba asked curiously.
But the girl didn't answer. Instead, she said mysteriously:
"This isn't the place to talk. Please come with me."
...
The group then moved to the Live House's storage room.
Ichiri had secretly snuck in and was now hiding behind the door crack, peeking through.
After confirming no one else was around, Chiba cut straight to the point.
"Who exactly are you?"
The girl performed an elegant curtsy toward Chiba.
"This is our first meeting. First, allow me to introduce myself. I am The Song from the Clow Cards, one of the fifty-two cards created by Clow Reed."
"Though in your memory this may be our first encounter, for me, this has been over ten years of waiting."
"The Song card?"
Chiba leaned against the wall, looking her up and down.
"I see. No wonder that girl called Komichi Kazue sings so beautifully. Turns out you've been cheating for her from behind the scenes."
He didn't become polite just because she was courteous. Instead, he cut straight to the heart of the matter with surgical precision.
"But have we met before? The way you're talking makes it sound like we're very familiar."
"Moreover..." Kazama Chiba pointed to Komichi Kazue standing nearby looking completely bewildered. "This girl seems to have no idea about your true identity, does she?"
"That's correct, but it doesn't matter."
The Song card smiled faintly.
"Because for you, that is a future that hasn't happened yet. But for me, that is a past that has already occurred."
"A closed time loop?"
Chiba instantly grasped the key phrase, his brow furrowing slightly.
"Exactly."
The Song card looked tenderly at the girl beside her, her eyes full of affection.
"Please allow me to explain."
"According to the original trajectory, I should have been captured by you over ten years ago."
"However, at that time, as a wandering Clow Card, I happened to encounter young Kazue on the streets of Kamimizu City and was drawn to her singing voice."
"Because Kazue had just lost her parents then and was living on the streets, nearly starving to death. So I chose to take care of her in the role of an older sister, and I evaded your pursuit."
"But later, you still found me."
"I knew that if I was sealed by you, Kazue would have to face this cruel world alone. So I begged you for mercy."
The Song card continued.
"I said, 'Please let me stay and care for this child until she can live independently. When that day comes, I will willingly let you capture me.'"
"And you agreed. You said, 'As long as you don't cause harm, as long as you can keep your promise... I'll give you thirteen years.'"
"And thirteen years later—which is today—you told me I must come here to accept my final fate as a Clow Card."