(My song's finally starting to turn out the way I imagined. I should be able to finish it today at this rate...)

(And writing everything out like this has helped me quite a bit. I'm definitely having an easier time expressing myself.)

(The things I learned from Soma are all paying dividends.)

(Soma's probably working on his own song right now, so I need to keep at it as well.)

Oh, it's already gotten this late...
But I only have some minor adjustments left to make before it's finished.

I'll check it over again just to make sure.

(Yes, this is good.)

(Hm? That last phrase...)

(It sounds like what I imagined...
And yet, it seems like I can still do more.)

(But what would I change?)

(I've made plenty of adjustments to the beat already, as well as the bridges. They should be as good as they're going to get.)

(What else do I need to add to complete this song...?)

Ah...

The sounds around me...
Music and day-to-day life...

Come to think of it, I've been surrounded by music since I was born.

Dad's performances for one.
But I also grew up listening to my older brothers practicing the piano and violin...

And I began singing on Vivid Street after stepping away from classical music...

I met Akito, Ken and learned about Akito's dream...

After that, I met Shiraishi, Azusawa, Miku and the others. Then, we became a team...

Music has been in my life for as long as I can remember, and I've been able to meet so many wonderful people because of it.

It's a part of me.
It's never not going to be.

This may not quite suit my personality, but this sort of approach may work in this case...

I'll start here first.

(This place may help me find the sound that my song is missing.)

(I hear the voices of the children as they play in the park, and street musicians singing somewhere in the distance...)

(I don't usually notice these things during practice, but this place is full of different sounds.)

So, let's get to sampling them.

Okay, I've found quite a few nice sounds after just a short walk around...

Some strangely interesting ones too. When I walked around on the dirt and concrete, or when I bought something to drink from the vending machine...

Also...

The sounds from Vivid Street were more full of energy because of all the cars, the people, the street musicians, the singing, the performances...

Those were definitely all unique to Vivid Street.

Anyway, the next spot will be my last...

Welcome!

Hm? Is it just you here, Shiraishi...?

My dad should be back soon.
He went out to buy some coffee beans.

Ah, I see.

If you want your usual coffee, you'll probably want to wait until he returns.

Yes, I'll be patient.

(I also need to ask for permission to sample sounds from inside the cafe.)

...

By the way, Toya, did something good happen to you?

Hm? Yes, I suppose so...
Was I making that sort of face?

Yeah, kinda.

Hehe. You've changed so much, Toya.
Until just recently, I really couldn't tell what you were thinking most of the time.

You say that, Shiraishi, but I believe you deserve more credit for noticing that.

Maybe, but I was able to notice because you began expressing yourself more with your face.

Plus, we're teammates, so I want to share in those feelings with you more. I'll be happy when you're happy, and try to cheer you up or cry with you when you're feelings sad.

I'd like that as well...

(I wonder what everyone's going to say when they hear my completed song.)

...

(I want us to all feel happy, so I'll need to keep doing my best to make that happen.)