Don't Let Doubts Hold You Back

Miyamasuzaka Girls Academy - Class 1-B

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Honami

Listen

Sigh...

Honami

Listen

(I need to decide what to do by homeroom next week, but...)

Emu

Listen

Honami? Are you okay?

Honami

Listen

Oh, Emu!
I'm fine, but it's just...

Honami

Listen

You'd prefer to go all out for the recital, right?

Emu

Listen

Yup! I want to practice lots together and put a smile on the face of everyone listening!!

Emu

Listen

But if everyone is busy, I guess a simpler song is better.

Emu

Listen

As much as I want us to give it our best, I don't want everyone to start fighting with each other.

Honami

Listen

Yes, you're right...
I definitely agree with you.

Honami

Listen

(This is such a heavy responsibility... But I agreed to do it, so I should think hard about what can be done to keep everyone happy...)

Emu

Listen

But I don't like seeing you look so stressed either...

Honami

Listen

Huh?

Emu

Listen

I LOOOVE it when you smile, Honami!

Emu

Listen

So I don't want you to seem so troubled like you did during homeroom...

Honami

Listen

Emu...

Emu

Listen

So let me know if there's anything I can do to help! Anything at all!

Honami

Listen

Hehe. Thanks, Emu...
I may just take you up on that offer.

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Ichika

Listen

So your class couldn't decide about the recital?

Honami

Listen

No...

Shiho

Listen

Opinions were split right down the middle, too...

Saki

Listen

That's such a tough spot to be in...
What are you gonna do?

Honami

Listen

I understand the feelings of both the people who want to do their best and those who don't have the time to practice much...

Saki

Listen

Then how about a song that's just a little difficult? Does that work?

Ichika

Listen

Um... So does that make it an easy or difficult song?

Saki

Listen

Huh? Hm... I dunno?

Shiho

Listen

That would just make both sides unhappy.

Saki

Listen

Really? You think so?

Ichika

Listen

And it's not fair to make you decide just because everyone else couldn't...

Ichika

Listen

Anyone would be torn after hearing what you heard today...

Honami

Listen

Yeah...

Shiho

Listen

...

Saki

Listen

Nngh!
Hona, your face is all droopy!

Saki

Listen

Don't do that! A gloomy face scares off good ideas! Why don't we all go get some apple pies together later?

Honami

Listen

Hehe. Thank you, Saki...

Honami

Listen

But I'll pass.
I'm not that hungry...

Saki

Listen

Oh, Hona...

Shiho

Listen

Hey, Honami...

Shiho

Listen

You're worried because you're afraid, right?

Honami

Listen

Huh?

Shiho

Listen

You're afraid of being disliked by the people on whichever side you don't pick, no?

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Honami

Listen

Um, I...

Saki

Listen

Whoa, hang on a minute, Shiho!

Shiho

Listen

I believe that deciding to do something means you're choosing to give up on something else at the same time.

Shiho

Listen

So you have to be ready to accept that people will dislike you for your decisions. That's normal.

Shiho

Listen

What I'm trying to say is... Just do what you think is right.

Honami

Listen

You're right...

Shiho

Listen

Anyway, we should head over to practice.

Honami

Listen

Yes, you're right...
Thanks for listening...

School SEKAI

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Saki

Listen

Phew... We sure practiced lots today...

Miku

Listen

Nicely done, everyone. It's getting pretty late, so we should probably stop here.

Ichika

Listen

Okay. Let's pack up and go home.

Honami

Listen

Oh, sorry... I'd like to practice a bit more before I leave.

Honami

Listen

I feel like I didn't do very well today...

Luka

Listen

Is everything okay, Honami?

Honami

Listen

Yes! Everything is fine. I'll be over in the classroom next door so I can concentrate better.

Shiho

Listen

Honami...

Shiho

Listen

Okay...
I'll see you tomorrow...

MEIKO

Listen

...

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Honami

Listen

Sigh...

Honami

Listen

This is terrible... I can't concentrate at all...

???

Listen

Knock knock!
Mind if I interrupt for a bit?

Sound Effect: Play

Honami

Listen

Oh, MEIKO.

MEIKO

Listen

Your drumming's not as sharp as it was before.
Is something bothering you?

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Honami

Listen

Huh? Oh, I'm sorry...

Honami

Listen

You were nice enough to help us with practice, but I guess I was a bit distracted.

MEIKO

Listen

Haha. You have nothing to apologize for.

MEIKO

Listen

But you do seem very troubled about something. I was a bit worried, that's all.

Honami

Listen

Troubled...
Yes, I suppose you could say that.

Honami

Listen

But I'm always like this...

Honami

Listen

Worried that someone won't like me...
I haven't changed at all...

Honami

Listen

No wonder Shiho is so fed up with me...

MEIKO

Listen

Well, I'm sure she just wanted you to focus on practice.

MEIKO

Listen

But to be honest, fretting over something isn't always a bad thing.

Honami

Listen

Huh?

MEIKO

Listen

You only fret over something if you're trying to make it better than it is now, right?

MEIKO

Listen

And anyone trying their best to move forward is doing something good in my eyes!

Honami

Listen

MEIKO...

MEIKO

Listen

Would you like to tell me what's going on? I might be late to the party, but I'm still kind of your senpai, right?

Honami

Listen

Huh?

Honami

Listen

Thank you, MEIKO...

Next Chapter: Kindness and Courage