A few days earlier
Hospital
Soma
Alright, this track's coming along nicely.
Soma
(It's become a lot better...
It sounds much more balanced. I think I've got a good grasp on that now.)
It sounds much more balanced. I think I've got a good grasp on that now.)
Soma
For today, I'll keep working on it for a little while longer and...
???
Soma, you there...?
Soma
...!
Soma
(Whoa, that was close!
He didn't see what I was working on, did he...?)
He didn't see what I was working on, did he...?)
Soma
Don't scare me like that, Arata! Couldn't you have called ahead or—
Arata
Sorry...
Arata
There's something I need to tell you.
Soma
You don't look so good...
Did something happen?
Did something happen?
Arata
...
Arata
Sorry...
I...
I...
Arata
I'm giving up on trying to surpass RAD WEEKEND...
Soma
Huh...?
What are you saying all of a sudden?
What are you saying all of a sudden?
Soma
Seriously, what happened...?
Arata
...
Arata
We battled against Taiga...
Arata
And he showed me just how hopeless I am. No matter how hard I try, I'll never be able to sing like him...
Soma
...
Arata
It's not just that...
That event...
That event...
Arata
RAD WEEKEND...
Nagi fell desperately ill, and it was meant to commemorate her life.
Nagi fell desperately ill, and it was meant to commemorate her life.
Soma
What...?
Her life...?
Her life...?
Soma
You're kidding, right...?
I thought she was overseas doing...
I thought she was overseas doing...
Arata
I couldn't believe it either at first.
Arata
But it's true...
Taiga said so himself.
Taiga said so himself.
Soma
(That night really was something else...)
Soma
(It was so electric that I didn't know what was going on at times. All I knew was that I was seeing something legendary...)
Soma
(But that makes a lot of sense...)
Soma
(Nagi was at the center of it all.
Everyone wanted to honor her life...)
Everyone wanted to honor her life...)
Soma
(Still...)
Soma
Arata...
I understand what you're saying.
I understand what you're saying.
Soma
Surpassing the event that Taiga and everyone put on to commemorate Nagi's life won't be easy.
Soma
But let me ask you this...
Soma
You're not the kind of person who gives up after hearing something like that. If people say it's impossible, you set out to prove them wrong...
Soma
You wanting to give up has to mean...
What else happened...?
What else happened...?
Arata
What else...?
Soma
Yeah.
Arata
Nothing. Nothing at all...
Arata
...
Arata
In any case, I'm done chasing after this dream.
Arata
I need to get away from this city for a while.
Arata
I need time to think about what I'm going to do with myself.
Soma
Arata, wait...!
Soma
Oh...
Soma
I...see...
Kohane
That really happened...?
Soma
Yeah...
Soma
I haven't heard back from him since.
Seriously, the nerve of that guy...
Seriously, the nerve of that guy...
Toya
Soma...
Soma
So, that's why I asked you all to meet with me today...
Soma
You guys know what happened to him, right?
Would you mind telling me...?
Would you mind telling me...?
An
But...
Taiga
So, Arata, let me ask you this. Who are you really singing for?
Taiga
You're not trying to make Soma's dreams come true. You can't face the pain of having lost him, so you're just clinging to his dreams.
Arata
I wasn't able to respond...
Arata
All I had to say was, “Taunt me all you want! I'll keep carrying his dreams!”
Kohane
(Tono wanted to carry Soma's dreams...)
Kohane
(But...
Are we in a position to talk to him about that...?)
Are we in a position to talk to him about that...?)
Toya
...
Soma
Okay...
So something did happen.
So something did happen.
Soma
My bad, I take back what I said!
Please forget that I even asked!
Please forget that I even asked!
Kohane
Wait, but...
Soma
I sort of already knew what I have to do. I need to ask Arata about this myself...
Soma
So, I'll stop badgering you guys about him.
Kohane
We're really sorry...
Soma
Don't be.
For today, I'm just glad that I got to see how you guys are doing!
For today, I'm just glad that I got to see how you guys are doing!
Toya
What?
Soma
He looked like the life had been drained out of him, so I was worried that you would be feeling the same way.
Soma
But I feel a lot better now after seeing your faces. You guys haven't given up, right?
Toya
Yes, that's right.
We still plan on surpassing RAD WEEKEND no matter what.
We still plan on surpassing RAD WEEKEND no matter what.
Soma
Yeah, you guys really are tough...
An
No, you give us too much credit.
We were just as shocked...
We were just as shocked...
An
But we found a reason to not give up...
Soma
A reason?
An
Yes.
It's a bit of a long story...
It's a bit of a long story...
Soma
The next generation...
That's what Nagi wanted...?
That's what Nagi wanted...?
An
Yes. Because she was willing to place her faith in us...
An
I want us to surpass RAD WEEKEND and see what it's like beyond their dream.
Soma
I see...
Soma
Thank you for telling me about yourselves and Nagi...
Soma
As sad as I am about Arata's decision, maybe this is the way things are meant to be...
Soma
He worked himself to the bone for me.
Soma
If this is what it takes to set him free...
Kohane
Oh...
Soma
Oh, sorry...
I didn't mean to get all sentimental.
I didn't mean to get all sentimental.
Soma
Good luck, you guys...
Toya
Thank you...
Kohane
Um... Thank you very much for telling us about what happened with Tono.
Soma
No, it was my pleasure.
Thank you for telling me about Nagi and RAD WEEKEND.
Thank you for telling me about Nagi and RAD WEEKEND.
Soma
Anyway, it's starting to get dark out.
Get home safe, okay?
Get home safe, okay?
Toya
We will. Now, if you'll excuse us.
Soma
...
Soma
They really are a tough bunch...
Soma
I didn't give Aoyagi a proper apology...
After he helped me make this...
After he helped me make this...
Soma
...
Soma
To think he's never gonna sing this song now...
Next Chapter: Will Things Be Okay?