Part 1

Lunch break
Kamiyama High School - Rooftop

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1

Akito

Listen

Hey, Toya.
It's rare of you to ask if we can have lunch up here.
2

Toya

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Ah, I apologize for springing that on you so suddenly, but I was looking for a place where we could talk privately.
3

Akito

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Talk privately...?
4

Akito

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About An?
5

Toya

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How did you know? I hadn't said anything yet.
6

Akito

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It makes sense given the timing.
You just learned about what was going on with her yesterday.
7

Toya

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Right. She told me about what she's been feeling, but I was hoping to hear your take on this situation.
8

Toya

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At the same time...
9

Toya

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I'm kicking myself for not noticing what she was going through. I mean, we've been spending so much time together.
10

Akito

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Don't beat yourself up.
I only found out because I noticed she was acting a little funny.
11

Akito

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Not to mention, even when she's at the point of breaking, she always bounces back once one of us says something to her.
12

Akito

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So, there was no way for us to know about this. There's no reason for you to be blaming yourself.
13

Toya

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I see...
14

Toya

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But in that sense, you've sort of been helping keep her and the rest of this team afloat, Akito.
15

Akito

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...?
What do you mean?
16

Toya

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It seems like you've been the one facilitating Shiraishi's bounce-backs, Akito. You're always asking how she's doing during events and our usual practices.
17

Toya

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Which is why I believe that you've been a massive pillar of support for her and the rest of our team.
18

Akito

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I mean, we're friends, so I feel like it's normal for me to ask how she's doing if I see something's up.
19

Akito

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But you're giving me more credit than I deserve. She always finds a way to pick herself back up.
20

Akito

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If she says, “I'm okay. I can do this,” then I'm going to believe her.
21

Toya

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Yes, and I'd expect nothing less from you.
22

Toya

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However, I felt something when I talked to all of you for my song...
23

Toya

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The idea of a “partner” has a special place in Shiraishi's heart.
24

Akito

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Yeah.
25

Akito

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She needs a partner in order to chase after her dream and make it come true.
26

Akito

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Like Ken and his team.
Partners you can always count on.
27

Toya

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Right...
28

Toya

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Does that mean you also spent a period of time searching for a good partner like Shiraishi did?
29

Akito

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Yeah, kinda.
30

Akito

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But I wouldn't really call it a massive search. All I did was try talking to whoever I thought would be good.
31

Akito

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That's how I ended up going around to all sorts of different events and stuff.
32

Akito

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Fortunately, I didn't have to spend much time looking. I ended up meeting you relatively fast.
33

Toya

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I see. I'm glad to hear that.
34

Toya

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And yet...
35

Toya

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Without knowing any of that, I tried to distance myself from you...
36

Toya

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I honestly had no idea that you valued me so much...
37

Toya

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For that, you have my deepest apologies...
38

Akito

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Toya...
39

Akito

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That's all ancient history.
40

Akito

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I don't care about that anymore.
Also, it works both ways, right?
41

Akito

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Remember that time when...?

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42

Akito

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Fine then, leave!

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43

Akito

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And never show your face around here again!
44

Akito

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I totally lost my cool and lashed out at you.
45

Akito

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That's sort of why I took what you said at face value.
46

Akito

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Even though I knew that you weren't the type of person to walk all over someone's dream.
47

Toya

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Akito...
48

Akito

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I mentioned this a while back, but it took everything I had to keep up with you.
49

Akito

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Which is why I didn't have the mental space to notice if there was anything going on with you.
50

Akito

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As your partner, I feel bad about not making that connection.
51

Akito

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But we're standing here right now because we managed to get through all that.
52

Akito

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And I eventually learned about what was really bothering you.
53

Toya

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Right...
Thank you, Akito.
54

Akito

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(I'm not making the same mistake again...)
55

Akito

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(I'm never losing sight of what my partner or teammates are feeling again.)
56

Akito

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If An's ever in a tight spot and runs out of options, then we're going to be there to help her.
57

Akito

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We have to believe in our teammates and keep doing what we can.
58

Toya

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Yes...!