Sigh...

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

Honami? Are you okay?

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

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

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

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

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

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

(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...)

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

Huh?

I LOOOVE it when you smile, Honami!

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

Emu...

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

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

So your class couldn't decide about the recital?

No...

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

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

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...

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

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

Huh? Hm... I dunno?

That would just make both sides unhappy.

Really? You think so?

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

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

Yeah...

...

Nngh!
Hona, your face is all droopy!

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

Hehe. Thank you, Saki...

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

Oh, Hona...

Hey, Honami...

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

Huh?

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

Um, I...

Whoa, hang on a minute, Shiho!

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

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

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

You're right...

Anyway, we should head over to practice.

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

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

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

Okay. Let's pack up and go home.

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

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

Is everything okay, Honami?

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

Honami...

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

...

Sigh...

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

Knock knock!
Mind if I interrupt for a bit?

Oh, MEIKO.

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

Huh? Oh, I'm sorry...

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

Haha. You have nothing to apologize for.

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

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

But I'm always like this...

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

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

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

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

Huh?

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

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

MEIKO...

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?

Huh?

Thank you, MEIKO...