Finally, I have a deluxe chocolate banana parfait.

Oh, that's mine.
Thank you.

That parfait's huge, Ichika.
Look at all the layers of banana slices and chocolate.

Yeah, it's big, but I feel like I can finish the whole thing right now.

Anyway, now that we all have what we ordered, it's time to start digging in! Let's eat!

Let's eat.

Mmm... So good...!

*Sigh*
This is just what my tired brain was craving.

We did end up having a fairly lengthy discussion regarding our staging.

Yeah! And this is the ideal reward for all our hard work♪

We still have a few things left to decide, but I'm glad that we were able to agree on an overall plan for our performance.

Me too. But none of it will matter if we can't actually perform like we planned.

So, we'll need to push ourselves even harder than usual until the show.

Still, Ichika, I feel like you have the hardest job out of all of us...

Huh?

Yeah... We're having you and Shiho play back-to-back solos on your guitar and bass now. And with the new arrangement, you even have to change how you sing.

Let us know if you ever need our help with anything, okay?!

Saki...

She's right. We'll need to strike a good balance when we do our solos, so we should work on them together.

I can also help you keep time while you practice, so please let me know if you'd like me to help.

Thanks, everyone...
That really means a lot.

(They're right about me having a lot on my plate...)

(As the opening act, we have to warm up an audience who came to see Free Cluster perform, not us.)

(And to do that...)

(I have to put on a powerful performance like her, and really strike at the heart through my singing.)

(A performance that allows us to move their hearts and unite the whole arena with our music. I have to—)

Is something wrong, Ichi?

Oh, I was just thinking, I guess. I was remembering that performance we saw from Ms. Naruse on that video site.

Ms. Naruse?

Yeah. She knows how to work her audience, and her singing voice just seems to naturally resonate with your heart.

She does everything at such a high level.
From playing her guitar to singing, she's just a great performer overall.

Yeah...
That's why she's able to put on such compelling performances.

Free Cluster's an incredible band, and we're going to open for them. That means we have to put on the best show possible, right?

And to do that...
I want to get as close as I can to what Ms. Naruse does as she sings and plays her guitar.

That's going to involve a lot of work, but I plan on doing every single thing I can to get even a step closer.

So that we're able to put on amazing shows like her and her band.

Ichika...

I agree...
Let's give it all we've got, and get as close as we can.

Yeah...!
Let's grow a ton and put on a performance that really moves the crowd's hearts!

And to make that happen...

We need to recharge our batteries!
So, Ichi, here! You can have one of my strawberries!

Oh, are you sure? Thanks.

Then, you can have some of my apple sherbet.

I'll give you some of my pudding.

Huh? Wait, you're making too big a pile! It's going to collapse...!

Hurry! You gotta eat everything now!