One hour later
Crase Cafe
KAITO
Then, let's get started!
Kohane
Okay! Thank you for agreeing to help us again today!
Kohane
♪————! ————!!
KAITO
Yes, excellent start!
Try to keep that up!
Try to keep that up!
KAITO
(She sounds very motivated again today.)
KAITO
(She seems to have a clear image of how she wants her voice to be heard.)
Kohane
(We've made our decision!
This is our new starting point!)
This is our new starting point!)
Kohane
(Which means...)
Kohane
(I have to remember what I felt...
During our third event, and when we faced off against Taiga...!)
During our third event, and when we faced off against Taiga...!)
Kohane
♪————!!
Luka
Oh wow.
Looks like Kohane's bringing her A game!
Looks like Kohane's bringing her A game!
Luka
So, Akito, why don't we try to do the same?
Akito
Yes.
Let's do just that.
Let's do just that.
Luka
Okay! Here we go!
Toya
He's singing with a lot of power...
I need to do the same.
I need to do the same.
MEIKO
Hehe. I know how you feel. So, why don't we also get started?
MEIKO
Rin, Len!
Could you lend me a hand again?
Could you lend me a hand again?
Rin
Of course!
MEIKO
I want you to pay close attention to how these two sing. Think about where they expend energy or refrain and try to recreate that.
Toya
Okay, I'll do just that!
Thank you both for doing this.
Thank you both for doing this.
Len
Yeah, no problem!
Ready?!
Ready?!
Rin & Len
♪————!
Toya
♪————!
An & Miku
♪————! ————!!
An
There...
I fell behind you again, Miku...
I fell behind you again, Miku...
An
But I'm not done yet...!
Let's go one more time!
Let's go one more time!
Miku
Hehe. That's the spirit.
I'll go as many times as you want.
I'll go as many times as you want.
Kohane
(Everyone sounds really motivated...)
Kohane
(There's no point in thinking about that.
I have to focus on what I'm doing now... I need to do much more...!)
I have to focus on what I'm doing now... I need to do much more...!)
A few hours later
Kohane & An
Huff... Huff... Huff...
Akito & Toya
Huff... Huff...
Miku
Nice work, everyone.
But I'm starting to hear fatigue in your voices.
But I'm starting to hear fatigue in your voices.
KAITO
So am I. It's getting late, so why don't we call things here for now? We wouldn't want your families to worry.
Akito
Right...
An
Whoa, it is getting late...
I gotta get home!
I gotta get home!
Kohane
M-Me too...
Kohane
(But...)
Kohane
I want to keep practicing...
Miku
Kohane, you shouldn't push yourself so hard. Overdoing it is only going to backfire.
KAITO
She's right. Knowing when to take breaks is also important.
Kohane
Yes, you're both right...
Toya
Anyway, MEIKO, thank you very much for letting us borrow your cafe again.
MEIKO
Of course. It's always my pleasure.
Akito
We'll see you all again tomorrow.
Toya
Hm...?
An
Toya?
What's up?
What's up?
Toya
Oh, so...
Soma, Tono's partner... He just sent me a message...
Soma, Tono's partner... He just sent me a message...
The next day
Vivid Street
Kohane
What do you think Soma's like...?
Akito
Oh, that's right.
You two haven't met him yet.
You two haven't met him yet.
An
No, we never got a chance to go with Arata to the hospital since stuff kept coming up.
Toya
As for what Soma is like...
He's...
He's...
Toya
Friendly, easy to talk to...and clearly loves music very much.
Toya
I'm sure you two will also enjoy meeting him.
Kohane
Oh, that's good to hear...
Kohane
I was a little worried since we're coming along on such short notice. But I'm really excited now.
An
Me too.
Also...
Also...
An
I hope we can find out how Arata's doing. Soma might still be in contact with him.
Kohane
Right...
It'll be nice to sit down and talk with him.
It'll be nice to sit down and talk with him.
Young Local Musicians
Oh, hey.
Isn't that Vivid BAD SQUAD...?
Isn't that Vivid BAD SQUAD...?
Young Local Musicians
Didn't Taiga totally demolish them the other day?
Young Local Musicians
Yeah, everyone's been talking about that battle. Winning in style's one thing, but that was pretty mean of him...
Young Local Musicians
I really thought they had a chance against him. Guess this means no one's ever gonna surpass RAD WEEKEND.
Kohane
(Oh...)
An
No one's ever gonna surpass RAD WEEKEND, huh...?
An
Yeah, of course they'd think that...
I mean, there was just that big of a skill gap between us and Uncle Taiga...
I mean, there was just that big of a skill gap between us and Uncle Taiga...
Akito
Yeah...
Toya
In any case, let's go...
We don't have time for this right now.
We don't have time for this right now.
Kohane
Okay...
Young Local Musicians
I mean, this is sorta what they get for going around saying they're gonna surpass RAD WEEKEND.
Young Local Musicians
I know, right? Did they really think that they could become even more legendary than Taiga and his team?
Owner of Crawl Green
Hey.
Owner of Crawl Green
You kids get your kicks laughing at the people who try?
Young Local Musicians
Huh?
You talkin' to us, gramps?
You talkin' to us, gramps?
Young Local Musicians
Crap...!
That's the owner of Crawl Green!
That's the owner of Crawl Green!
Young Local Musicians
What?! We, uhh...!
W-We're sorry!!!
W-We're sorry!!!
Owner of Crawl Green
*Sigh*
Owner of COL
...
I'm guessing you heard from Ken?
I'm guessing you heard from Ken?
Owner of Crawl Green
Yeah, he said he told them everything.
Owner of Crawl Green
I guess this is it...
About time we all got our comeuppance, eh?
About time we all got our comeuppance, eh?
Owner of Crawl Green
Nagi's wishes were just part of it.
We put a whole lot on An's shoulders.
We put a whole lot on An's shoulders.
Owner of COL
We did...
Owner of Crawl Green
You know...
Owner of Crawl Green
I feel awful about what we did to her.
At the same time...
At the same time...
Owner of Crawl Green
If An has come to terms with Nagi's last wishes... I can't help but feel excited...
Owner of COL
...
Owner of COL
There isn't much us old folks can do for her and her friends. We should stand aside and let them walk down the path they've chosen...
Owner of Crawl Green
Yeah, I agree...
An
*Sigh*
No gawkers here. I think we're far enough away now.
No gawkers here. I think we're far enough away now.
Akito
I guess everyone really is talking about our battle against Taiga...
Kohane
Huh...?
Kohane
Oh...!
Isn't that...?
Isn't that...?
An
Kotaro...!
Next Chapter: Unexpected Reunion