Part 1

After school

Miyamasuzaka Girls Academy - Courtyard

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1

Airi

(Us appearing on TV, huh...?)

2

Airi

(I told everyone that we should sleep on it before making a decision, so I should probably step back to reevaluate our situation...)

3

???

Airi, wait!

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4

Airi

Hm? Shizuku?
I thought you were going to archery club today.

5

Shizuku

I was, but I decided not to go because I wanted to use that time to think about us appearing on TV.

6

Airi

I see...

7

Shizuku

Would you mind if we talked for a bit on our way home, Airi?

8

Airi

Of course I wouldn't.
I mean, this problem involves all of us.

9

Shizuku

I really appreciate it!

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10

Shizuku

So, Airi, you're for us making this appearance, yes?

11

Airi

Yeah. Like I said when we were on the rooftop, I feel that the benefits far outweigh the costs.

12

Airi

Also, I think hashing out all the good and bad regarding the media is really important...

13

Airi

Haruka doesn't seem to have much experience with that, which may be why she's so apprehensive.

14

Shizuku

Right...

15

Shizuku

I'm actually a little worried about how they're going to introduce and present Minori...

16

Airi

Well, after putting on our solo show, I doubt they're gonna label her an “amateur” or anything like that...

17

Airi

Still, there really is a lot that we need to consider...

18

Shizuku

Yes, there is...

19

Airi

By the way, did you ever meet the old director for The Wide World of Laughs? He worked on a music variety show after that, so I'm pretty sure that you have, Shizuku...

20

Shizuku

I remember, but I don't understand what he has to do with our current situation...?

21

Airi

So, when I appeared on his show with QT, they really surprised us with the way they edited everything. Our agency couldn't believe it either.

22

Shizuku

What?

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23

Airi

We did a tongue twister game for one segment, and I didn't make any mistakes as they began throwing some curveballs at me.

24

Airi

Then, they challenged me with a tongue twister that even some announcers have trouble saying.

25

Airi

I was doing just fine until then, but I got so mixed up that it sounded like I was casting a spell for something.

26

Airi

At the same time, that's pretty common for TV, right? Someone boasts that a task is gonna be a piece of cake and they end up failing miserably.

27

Shizuku

Yes...
That seems fairly standard for variety shows.

28

Airi

Or so you'd think...

29

Airi

When I saw it on TV, they'd completely left out the part where I did well and only kept the part where I totally messed up.

30

Shizuku

Left out...? They cut all of it?

31

Airi

Yup. They even left in the talk portions that didn't have to do with the tongue twisters, so I've gotta think what they did was intentional.

32

Airi

At the time, neither our group nor our agency could figure out why they edited the show that way.

33

Airi

However, I learned something when we were asked to make another appearance.

34

Airi

The program was meant to be about challenges, but as it turns out, he wanted to feature people who made mistakes or just barely managed to succeed over the ones who didn't have any trouble.

35

Airi

In theory, that makes for a more fun and interesting program...

36

Airi

But it became clear that he wanted to shine the spotlight on those who were trying their very best.

37

Shizuku

Oh...

38

Shizuku

Now that you mention it, he always made sure to praise new members and tell them how good of a job they did.

39

Airi

Exactly. And he was someone who really paid attention to people who went the extra mile.

40

Airi

While some people may ask you to do crazy things, there are also those who pick up on what you want others to see.

41

Shizuku

Yes, that's true...

42

Airi

Oh, sorry...
I didn't mean to surprise you with this story.

43

Airi

My opinion is based on my own lived experience, Shizuku, so you have to come up with your own, okay?

44

Shizuku

Yes, I understand.

45

Shizuku

Actually, your story reminded me of when I appeared on this one program a long time ago.

46

Airi

Really? Go on.

47

Airi

After talking about this with you, Shizuku, I kinda want to go back and watch all our old shows.

48

Airi

It'd be nice to get back in the groove of all that.

49

Shizuku

I'd like to as well.
I hope we still have the recordings...

50

Shizuku

Oh, I particularly would like to see that tongue twister game you mentioned.

51

Airi

Sure, but...
Wait, you just want to see the part where I mess up, don't you?

52

Shizuku

Hehe. Oh, Airi.
You know me too well.

53

Airi

Hah, that's cute.
You're not gonna fool me so easily.