The brilliant glow of this sky, does it carry right into your heart?
The melody you heard in your dream, it plays like the silence
Even if your hands are still far from that dream,
Come now and remember that kindly voice,
Someone was there singing for you, the happiness they sang about
Sound of the sky, echo on high, break through that overwhelming sadness
Everything that shines in your eyes
Is part of the real world
Even your tears can't leave you here to stay forever
In this light pouring down onto you, play tomorrow's song
Everyone carries a secret in their heart.
Someone once said:
"Revealing a hidden secret is like opening a door that should always remain closed."
However, that unopened door often fascinates people to the point where they feel like they must wrench it open.
That was probably how it happened.
2nd Lt. Filicia Heideman removed the incident from the official records...
because she said that it would be bad if it were recorded in the historical accounts.
However, I will say this:
There's no guarantee that someone after us won't make the same mistakes as we did.
I believe we should keep this deplorable incident on the records...
as a lesson for those young, innocent lambs who will follow us after we're gone.
It happened yesterday when Yumina, a nun in the Church of Seize, came for a visit.
I'm so happy!
And I was just about to make salad too!
It looks like a luxurious lunch!
Oh, so we're also having those?
Well, because everyone was so cheerful,
we decided to pick these up for lunch.
Since we have a lot, would you care to join us, Yumina-chan?
Oh, you don't min—
Did that scare you?
It's called flambé.
What is it?
This is... wine, right?
It's Calvados, an apple brandy.
Please forgive us, Oh Infinite Gods!
This is wrong, we can't do this.
Drinking alcohol is a vice. We're not old enough!
The Church tells us that we're not supposed to drink until we're 20!
We'll get in trouble if word gets out that we're making this here!
That's right, either to Yumina-chan,
or, of course, to Kana-chan.
Wh-What's up, Kanata?
It's time for lunch, Rio-senpai!
R-Right.
I still have some stuff that I need to clean up.
So go on ahead without me, Kanata!
Understood?!
Yes ma'am!
The food was great!
What? She saw you?!
Forgive me.
I understand. I'll think of something...
Senpai!
Wh-What is it, Kanata?
That door isn't supposed to be opened, right?
Y-Yeah, that's right. That door isn't supposed to be open.
Right, Kureha?
Huh? Oh-uh, right!
But the door was opened.
Strange, right?
Ow!
What are you all talking about?
A little while ago, Rio-senpai—
Say, Yumina-chan! Please try some of this tea?
I want to get your opinion.
Sure.
Thank you.
This is delicious!
Really? I tried a slightly different brewing method.
Would everyone care to try?
It's quite good. It even smells good.
But there's something about it...
This is delicious!
There's plenty more, so drink all you want.
More.
Okay.
So, on the other side of that door...
Senpai, you're really acting weird!
O-Oh, really?
Um, Kanata-san?
Am I to assume that Rio-san is hiding something?
Yeah.
Secrets aren't a good thing to have! They're especially bad among friends!
I'm... not really...
Is that really the truth?!
They say this is the land of the Infinite Gods.
So, are you willing to take that risk and swear that's the truth?
Please!
If there's something that's bothering you, I want to be with you and support you!
Please let me share it with you!
Okay, I have a proposal!
Let's have a mock combat session for our afternoon drill!
If you win, Kana-chan, we'll tell you everything!
Really?!
Are you serious?
Of course!
I do want to tell Kanata someday, but if Yumina hears about it...
If The Church finds out, then what will we do?
Just leave it to me.
So, everyone,
would you like some more?
Hey!
Why are you here?!
I owed Kanata-san a favor.
This isn't a game!
I know!
I place my faith in the 8 million Gods.
Besides, I always wanted to try out these uniforms, so there's that reason too...
Wait, so the Gods aren't infinite?
It looks good on you, Yumina-san!
Thank you very much!
Noel-chan, you'll also help out Kana-chan.
Make no mistake, I won't go easy on you.
Got it?
Bring it on.
Okay, here are the rules.
We will be using these squirt guns.
We'll use the dye used in the dousing festival, so you'll know when you're hit.
When that happens, you're out.
Everything clear?
Roger!
Yes ma'am!
Since we're the ones who'll unlock the door, you must defeat us if you want to see what's inside.
Now then, let's fight!
Let's go! Don't be slow!
Yes ma'am!
You take command, Rio.
Understood and acknowledged!
"Acknowledged"?
We'll go around and cut in from the dorms!
Right!
Wait, you two.
There's a little something I whipped up just for an occasion like this!
What's that?
Here's my report!
The enemy has taken up position at the storehouse!
Good job.
So they've barricaded themselves in a place where there's no escape route?
Are they preparing for a final stand?
What's your plan, Rio?
Everyone, prepare your weapons and ammunition!
We're going on the offensive.
Kureha.
You're in charge of the ammo.
The job's not easy, so I'm counting on you.
It's an honor!
Attack!
It might be a sacrilege to play war, but I'm still excited.
When I was a kid, I did stuff like this a lot.
Is that so?
Huh?
When I was little, my peddler father used to take me everywhere with him.
My mother passed away before I was old enough to remember her.
I traveled with my father across the country — from Binnenland to the towns bordering Roma.
Wow, how wonderful!
However, because I lived an itinerant lifestyle, I didn't make a lot of friends.
That's why I'm having so much fun, now!
I'm sure the Gods will forgive you.
Of course!
Our Infinite Gods are merciful, unlike the god of Roma.
Yumina-san...
W-Wait! I know we're friends, bu—
Get down!
A miss, hmm?
But we spooked the enemy. It's now or never!
All right, let's light 'em up!
They're here, Noel-chan!
Roger!
We'll take them all out at once.
What the...
Wh... Wh...
What is that!
That's unfair!
I told you I wasn't going to go easy on you!
Now, witness the power of science!
Light 'em up!
Fall back!
We're redrawing our battle plans!
Hold it!
Don't let them get away!
Right!
Senpai, this isn't going well.
Noel just had to make that contraption!
I'll be a decoy while you two make a run for it!
Are you nuts?!
How am I supposed to live knowing I sacrificed a friend?! I won't—
Those words are plenty for me.
Filicia...
Uh... Umm...
Hello?
Farewell, my friends!
Stop, Filicia!
I won't let you.
I won't let you get them!
I will never let you get those girls!
Filicia!!
Rio...
Girls... Live on...
How dare they...
How dare they kill Filicia!
How dare they!
Impudent little...
Take this! You little... you little... maiden girl!
Grr, that little... what the heck?
Just die, you little...
What's all that about?
We're out.
Huh?!
Huh? There were still more things I... wanted... to make...
Noel-chan!
Y-Yumina-san!
How... exasperating...
And we've come... so far...
Hold on! I'll get a medic!
It's over.
I accept it.
No!
Kanata-san...
Win!
Make sure you win, okay?
Noel-chan...
Yumina-san...
I'll keep you both in my heart.
What is this place?
So you finally made it here?
Kanata!
I always wondered when this day would come.
Me too, Senpai.
But one last question, what is this place?
This is a distillery.
We make our money off the bootleg liquor we brew here.
So, for this...
You sacrificed Noel-chan and Yumina-san just to protect this secret?!
That's right.
However, you've also reaped the benefits of this place. Don't tell me you've forgotten.
Your wages that were paid in cash...
Meals fit for a queen!
All of it came from this distillery!
Yet, you still point your gun at me.
I do.
Umm...
Never mind...
Too bad, Kanata.
I really thought you'd make a good partner.
Me too, Rio-senpai!
You've gotten good, Kana... ta...
Senpai!
Rio-senpai!
But I'm glad it was you who... took me...
down...
Rio-senpai!
What's going on here?
So you did spike the tea with Calvados.
Yes. It was delicious, wasn't it?
So, because of that, we made complete fools out of ourselves.
I also got sort of caught up in all of it.
Alcohol is scary.
But it was a perfect plan, when you think about it.
Still, the fact that Yumina-chan was really susceptible to alcohol was a pleasant surprise.
But let's be clear, Kana-chan. This is our little secret.
Hmm?
If we get caught, we'll get in trouble.
Yes ma'am!
You're so over-obedient.
Well, now I know why you didn't want me to get entangled with this secret.
So, thank you very much!
Uh, yeah.
Now I really am part of this bastion!
Well thass jus' great!
Yumina-san?
Yew all left an' tooked a bath wifout me, dinn't cha?
I don' care! I'm not one uv yew folks anyhoo!
She drank all that by herself?!
Oh!
Yes, that's right!
Why don't we get you a drink too, Kana-chan?
This is just another rite of passage for a bastion maiden.
I understand!
How wonderful!
Um, Lieutenant, I have a bad feeling about this...
It'll be all right!
Come on, let's get going!
L-Lieutenant!
Now that I look back, I should have noticed it then.
The fact that 2nd Lt. Filicia Heideman, who usually messes around with people,
got overly carried away with that mock battle of hers.
Yes, that same 2nd Lt. Filicia Heideman strangely couldn't hold her liquor.
At the time, she quickly became blind stinking drunk.
Whoops!
This is fun, isn't it, Rio?
Then, the madness turned into something that I can't fully describe.
I've been pushing myself too hard!
But I'm a senpai! A superior officer!
I have to work hard, Nee-shama!
Okay, okay!
Are you serious, Senpai?
Filicia...
Arr we clear? Thur's eight million gods.
Thass a lot, but still...
Yew can't say they're yuseless!
As for me,
it seems I can drink and drink and never get drunk.
All right! I'm gonna sing!
Yay!
"The brilliance of the sky extends to your heart..."
Senpai!
Yay, Rio!
I was the only one who had to endure that tortuous insanity while completely sober.
Say, Kureha-chan...
Let's take one more bath together. Come on!
I must respectfully decline.
Come on, we need some skinship. Right girls?
Right!
Well then...
Banzai!
Then in the end, the girls suddenly took me and...
No, I can't say anything more than that.
The only good thing that came of that incident was that Sister Yumina didn't remember a thing.
So the bastion's secret is still safe.
It's hard for us who can never get drunk.
Especially if everyone around you is completely drunk and having a blast!
It's the worst!
So with this, I leave you gentle readers with these words they say came from an ancient sage:
Don't make merry with the drink.
Drink not whilst making merry.
If thou does drink the spirit, drink not in surfeit.
Suminoya Kureha.
Love and friendship - put these feelings together
And sing of how important they are
I was so happy that I cried
It hurt so bad that I laughed
But that all just goes to show that I'm alive
Let's just take it easy
Everybody singing!
Can you tell me who you're asking to the dance?
You're just my friend!
Love and friendship - even though they might waver
I know, you know, we'll be happy
I want us to echo on forever
Can you count my precious hours?
All the usual words can't even describe it.
Our harmony
Can you hear it? Our harmony