Evening Star

p3
>"Kousaka Honoka's little sister."
>That's what I'm called.

>I saw Honoka-chan on TV yesterday.
>It's amazing how she debuted right after graduation.
>She's touring right now, right?
>I wish I had a big sister like Honoka-chan~
>You must be proud to be Honoka-chan's little sister.

>It feels like my own name
>has all but disappeared.

>Yukiho!

p4
>Sorry for interrupting you.
>Let's go home and continue work on our outfits!
>Hera

>Ah, next week is the qualifier finals, isn't it?
>Yeah! Be sure to come, everyone~
>Well then, bye bye!

>We're now third years in high school.

>Ah, it's snowing.

p5
>I wonder if it'll snow on the day of the contest too.

>...
>It did snow when Onee-chan did it.

>But it would suck if it did snow.
>...Is this one of those superstition things?

>How should I finish off the frills here?
>Ah, for that...

p6
>Let's see...

>When Alisa graduates, she'll be returning to Russia.

>We only have a few months left together.

>...Alisa.
>...Let's clear the Love Live qualifiers
>and win the championship.

p7
>Okay!

>"Winning Love Live with Alisa will be my greatest memory."
>Granting that wish with my own effort is my biggest dream.

>Oh, did Alisa-chan go home already?
>I was gonna ask if she wanted to take some manjuu home.
>Mom.

>Look at this outfi-
>Oh, I've got a text from your sister.

>Look at this.
>She can't show this face to her fans.

p8
>Ahaha.
>I guess so.

>Onee-chan made her debut right after graduation.

>She saved the school from abolition, just like she promised.
>Onee-chan, who debuted without a hitch,
>became one of Otonokizaka's legends.

>If I was Onee-chan
>maybe I could stop Arisa from leaving.

>Just kidding...
>I decided that I would simply like her.

p9
>It's not something I'm able to do.

>For the sake of fulfilling my dream,
>all I can do right now is put in the effort.

>...Let's go over the moves one more time.

>And then...
>That's cute!

p10
>Nico-san!
>I'm participating as an on-the-scene member today.
>Don't show me an embarrassing performance, okay!
>That's Nico-chan, who debuted recently!
>The real one!?

>Huh? Isn't that Yazawa Nico-chan?
>Eh~ Amazing. Who's she talking to?

>Ah, it's Honoka-chan's little sister.

>Eh? That?

p11
>I saw Honoka-chan on TV the other day.
>They don't really look alike.
>They say she's the favorite for the championship.
>Well, that's because she's Honoka-chan's sister.

>Hey,
>are you okay?
>You nervous?

>No.
>It's nothing.

>!

>It'll be okay, Yukiho!
>We practise a lot for today!

p12
>You're right!

p13
>Ah.

>She got first place
>even though she fell on her face.
>Must be the power of her sister's name~

p14
>Hey, let's celebrate.
>Somewhere other than a family restaurant for once.

>...Sorry.

>Please don't worry about it.
>Let's do our best in the real thing.

>Sorry.

>...I

>I think
>we won because of your effort, Yukiho!

p15
>What do you mean, my effort?

>Yukiho!

>Oh, well done.
>Sorry I couldn't come see it.

>I heard you passed!
>...And fell over?

>Don't worry. Even your sister...
>Sorry. I'm exhausted for today.

>...I'm gonna sleep after taking a shower.
>No need for dinner tonight.

p16
>I remember back during Onee-chan's birthday
>we brought out a cake for her.

>Certainly, I hate just getting a decorated manjuu too,
>but I knew that Dad would be troubled if I said anything.

>But eventually,
>no matter how small or how big,

p17
>Onee-chan would grant her dreams with her own power.

>And yet because I'm Onee-chan's little sister,

>the one dream that I have
>can't be granted with my own power.

>I worked so hard...
>without knowing such a thing.

p18
>It was all pointless.

>Forget it.

>>Alisa
>>See you tomorrow!
>>Alisa, sorry about today. I got a little worked up.
>>We'll talk about the real deal as planned starting next week.

>This is for the best.

>Mom!
>You really are eating!
>Eh!?

p19
>About our next outfit.
>Since the last one was simple, how about flowers or something?

>...

>Are you listening, Yukiho?
>Ah, sorry.

>The outfits!
>How about a flower motif?

>...Yeah, that sounds find.
>Just do what you think is best, Arisa.

>What's with that attitude!?
>You're being weird, Yukiho!
>Eh?
>Are you struggling with the lyrics or something?

p20
>I-I'm not struggling at all.
>Here.
>Wah<3

>It's a work-in-progress, though.
>Yay, that's my girl!

>Since it's the last time, I wanna do something flashy.
>...Yukiho.

>These lyrics.
>Did you really write these, Yukiho?

>Eh?
>...Y-Yeah.
>These don't sound like your words.
>Alisa's really perceptive.

p21
>I just patched together these lyrics
>with positive buzzwords.

>Stuff that people want from school idols...
>Hope...
>Sun.
>Light.
>Friends.
>Bonds...

>What's inside doesn't matter.
>It's the shape that counts.

>I'm Kousaka Honoka's little sister, after all.

>Yukiho...
>Are you okay?

>...Sorry.
>Yukiho?
>I'm going home for today.

>Yukiho!

p22
>Yukiho...
>What's gotten into you...?

>>Honoka-san

>Honoka!
>Your phone's ringing.

p23
>Yeah, this is Honoka.

>I'm coming in.

>The Center's important too
>but are you gonna be prepared for the contest?

>Ahaha...Yeah.

>Yeah, right.
>I've been skipping practise for three days now.
>Ah, that's right. Listen to this.

>Your sister is coming home today.
>Even though her tour ended just yesterday.

p24
>Heeh...
>Onee-chan's...
>coming home...?

>The one person I don't want to see right now.

>I just remembered I've got plans with Arisa.
>Yukiho?
>No need for dinner!

>Alright, I'm heading...

>I'm home!

p25
>Honoka! You're home early.
>Traffic from the airport was light.

>Long time no see, Yukiho.

>...Yeah.

>So it's come to this in the end...
>How's it going?

>You passed the qualifiers, right?
>As expected of you and Alisa-chan!

p26
>As expected nothing...
>I'm no match for a big sister who's a pro idol.
>Ahaha.
>Flattery won't get you more souvenirs~

>So how are the lyrics for the Love Live final go-
>Hey.

>Why did you come home, Onee-chan?

>Hmm?
>Just wondering if you were practising properly
>for the big finale, Yukiho.

p27
>Nobody asked you.

>You never even thought
>that effort was meaningless.

>I don't need you to worry about...

>S-Sorry. I'm preparing for exams too
>so I'm a little irritated.

>I wonder what's for dinner?
>I'll go ask...
>You're skipping, aren't you?

p28
>There's no such thing as wasted effort.

>You won't be able to win like that, will you?

>You're just saying that because you're my sister!

p29
>You've always been like that, Onee-chan.
>Insensitive.
>Doing whatever you want.

>And yet everyone's all Honoka this and Honoka that...

>So long as I'm Kousaka Honoka's little sister,
>putting in any effort is pointless!

>Yukiho!

p30
>Y-
>Yukiho?

>Why aren't you wearing a coat!?

>...Honoka-san came home, right?
>Eh?
>How do you...?

>I'm the one who called her.

p31
>I see...

>So you thought I passed the qualifier's because of Onee-chan's power too, Alisa?

>Eh...?
>It's alright.

>Even if I fall over again, I'll still win.
>I'm Onee-chan's...
>Kousaka Honoka's little sister, after all.

>Yukiho...

p32
>YOU
>MORON!!

>!?
>Did you see this development from somewhere just now!?

>Hey!
>Alisa!
>That hurts!

>So that's what you thought, Yukiho.

p33
>We've put in so much effort up until now.
>We failed so many times.
>We fell over so many times.

>Every time we did, we practised some more.

>That's why back then...

p34
>you were
>standing up on stage, smiling and dancing, Yukiho.

p35
>I was
>in a trance.
>I don't remember it...
>at all...

>We passed
>because of you, Yukiho.

p36
>So please
>acknowledge your own efforts properly.

>...Hey, Alisa.
>I'll... rewrite the lyrics.

>I see!
>I haven't settled on the outfits either.

>Let's keep working hard!

>Together.

p37
>...I'm home.

>Huh? Why do you have my coat, Onee-chan...?
>Erm~

>Ah~ The place you hit me really hurts, Yukiho.
>It hurts for me, too.

>...Sorry for hitting you.

>...Hey, Onee-chan.

p38
>Are you someone who can confess without a moment's hesitation?
>!?

>... Not in the slightest...

>So even you have things you can't do.
>...Of course I do!

>But why?

>Day of the Love Live finals.
>Yukiho~
>Alisa-chan!

p39
>Those outfits really suit you!
>There's no way you won't win this!

>Of course!

>Hey, Alisa.
>Hm?

>...Actually, I'll tell you afterwards.

p40
>Thank you.
>>Yukiho~
>>Alisa
>Yukiho
>Do your best
>Yukiho's cute
>Fight on!
>Yukiho
>Alisa Fight~
>Yukiho
>Alisa
>Waaaa

>Yukiho.
>Let's do our best.

>Throughout the entire day
>they were calling our names.

p41
>Alisa... You're returning to Russia, right?
>Yeah...

>But I'll be back in Japan in the Summer.
>College starts in September, after all.

>Eh? What do you mean by that?
>Well, the entrance exams are in May...
>Not that!