Sand Sculpture of the Heart - Track 3

Chihiro, the recording for today’s practice is ready. You can review it now.

Kinyari, mega thankies for always handling the recording ♪

Hmmm, yep yep! Raitin, Kugurin, you guys are in perfect sync!

The choreo’s on point ♪ Your Dance Master Chii’s givin’ this a gold star!

Oh, is that so? Great going, Kuguri!

…That does it for practice today, doesn’t it? I’m leaving.

Oh, are you all done with practice? Perfect timing!

Chief, Nayuki-san. Do you have any updates for us?

Yes. The destination for the study trip has been decided. We managed to secure an ambassador job as well.

Since Ev3ns has become more well-known and popular, getting an opportunity was easier this time around.

Oh? Did you keep my destination preference in mind?

Of course. This time, Ev3ns have been invited to act as “Sand Dune Ambassadors” in Tottori.

Ambassadors… I sure hope we won’t end up doing odd jobs like we did in Beppu…

Don’t worry, Tao-kun. This time they’re the ones that requested you!

It’s sand dunes, so I believe it fulfills your request for a desolate place, Domeki-san.

Not bad. Since you’ve probably been working all day and night, picim, I suppose I’ll play along this time.

I appreciate your concern.

Along with the hospitality, they were also very insistent on their request for an evening live.

FR? That sounds awesome, I’m so down! What’re sand dunes even like, anyway?

The Tottori Sand Dunes are some of JPN’s major sand dunes. They’re coastal dunes that were formed by gusts of wind. It’s just as big and impressive as a real desert, and it’s definitely worth visiting.

Not only is the scenery really pretty… but you can also do things like ride camels and bikes with fat tires!

Haha, you’re amazing, Chief. Just what you’d expect from someone in your profession.

Your knowledge really is endless.

Ah, I’m sorry. I got carried away with the trivia… Anyway, it’s a super fun place! The food is delicious too!

Anyway, performing onstage is a must during your stay, so make sure not to slack off while practicing.

Yaaass, Chii and the boys are gonna make waves in Tottori!

Alrighty, guess I’m gonna stay behind for an extra practice sesh.

Oh, I think I’ll put in some extra practice hours too. There are some parts I’m still having trouble with…

What admirable boys you two are. I’m leaving.

I’ve been invited to an outing by some investment companies, so we can stop here today.

Hey, Nayuki, how about you come along and show your face every once in a while? They’d also like to see you after so long.

……

Shall we get going, Chief? We should discuss the details with Tottori’s tourism association.

R-Riiight…

Heeey, Nayuki?

(I’m caught between the Kitakata brothers again…)

Chihiro, Tao. May I participate with the two of you in the extended practice?

Oh, Kinyari, are you feeling pumped up too? Okie dokes! Let’s run it from the top~!

Whew~ …I’m beat. But I think our harmonizing is better than before, Kinari.

The harmony between our vocals has improved by approximately three percent since yesterday.

Y’know, Kinyari, isn’t your face lookin’ more lively lately? I caught you smilin’ a couple times today, too!

…Recently, Master gave me a new command. I am to change my actions and words based on my emotions.

Huh… And how are you gonna do that?

I am still in the process of searching for an answer. Currently, I’m reviewing my past records. I believe that actively gaining new experience is crucial as well.

That’s why you put yourself up as the main host, right? Kinyari, you’re waaay too cool!

…Do you think so? I feel as though I am still lagging behind.

Oh? How come?

(The AIs within Iwabuchi-sama’s computer had developed romantic feelings. I cannot yet understand such emotions.)

…With Ev3ns, your emotional expressions seem to be the most open. How did the two of you develop your emotions?

Emotions… Uhhh… I wonder if they’re like, part of our personalities?

……

…I guess for me, it’s probably my family.

……

Aha, my family’s situation was preeetty messy, honestly!

Lots of bad stuff happened, but there was also some good stuff along the way too….

I think that’s what made me who I am today.

…So, basically, your surroundings. I guess the same goes for me too, then.

My surroundings…

They do say that we’re products of our environment. I don’t think that’s all there is to it, though.

Kinyari, you grew up living alone with your dad, weren’t you? That’s gotta be what shaped who you are now, right?

……

…Well, putting the past aside, your family now would be us, Ev3ns, yeah? Isn’t that fine, too?

Whoa, Tao, that’s deep!

Ev3ns… a family?

Ahhh… There’s no deep meaning to it, but we live under the same roof, eat the same meals, and aim toward the same goal together… We’re the ones you’re closest to, right?

If emotions really do develop in a family-like environment, then I thought we’d be of help with that kinda thing.

I’m totally on board! That means Raitin’s gonna be papa, and Kugurin’s gonna be mama, right?

…I think Kuguri-san being the “mama” is a bit out there.

So we’re like five siblings then? Add Nayuuki and Chiefy, and we’ve got ourselves a seven-person family.

Chii loooves his big sis and his lil sisters, but he loves Ev3ns too, so this makes Chii super duper happy!

Haha.

Could you… keep all this a secret from Nayuki-san? He’ll hunt me for sport…

So, by that logic, does that make me the youngest?

Yep! You’re the youngest, so naturally, you have all of our love!

We’re practically always together, so every convo is like, always super fun. Of course, there’s some frustrating stuff happening here and there too, amirite?

Talking to you… feels very fun, Chihiro.

….!

OMG!? Did you catch that, Tao!?

I did, I did. You sure like Kinari, huh? That’s good.

And talking with you, Tao, gives me a sense of security.

…!

Really? Th-Thanks.

…There is a strong sense of psychological safety when I talk to everyone in Ev3ns, Master, and Manager.

Psychological… safety…? So, like, we’re easy to talk to?

Correct.

Haha, that’d make us a family, then. We should gather like this and share what we think from time to time. It might help you.

I’d appreciate that.

It’d be real nice if we could talk ‘bout this with Raitin and Kugurin too~ Welp, Kugurin probs won’t be too into this.

……

I intend to speak with them individually regarding their own methods of emotional development.

Yeah, I think that’s a good idea. It’s probably easier to develop your understanding of emotions when you’ve got a variety of values to take from.

(Environment, values, sensitivity…)

(If possible, I’d like to develop them all while Ev3ns is still here as a family…)