Burn My Soul - 1: Ever Since That Day

Vivid Street

Sound Effect: Play

Kotaro

Listen

*Sigh*

Kotaro's Friend

Mita? Hey, Mita!
You listening?

Kotaro

Listen

Huh? Sorry, I didn't mean to space out... What's up?

Kotaro's Friend

Our event. How many times are you gonna make us ask you? You wanna be in it...?

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Kotaro

Listen

Oh...

Kotaro's Friend

You haven't done a single one since that day, right...?

Kotaro's Friend

You're such a good singer, but you haven't been performing... It seems like a waste, you know?

Kotaro

Listen

No...

Kotaro

Listen

Sorry, I need more time...

Kotaro's Friend

Okay...

Kotaro

Listen

I'm really sorry...
I really appreciate you inviting me...

Kotaro's Friend

No, don't apologize!
Just let us know if things change, okay?
You'll always be welcome.

Kotaro's Friend

Anyway, we gotta start getting ready for it. Catch you later!

Kotaro

Listen

Okay, see you guys.

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Kotaro

Listen

...

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Kotaro

Listen

(It has been a while since that day...)

Kotaro

Listen

(I wonder what the others are doing...
I heard that Ken's closing his shop temporarily...)

Sound Effect: Play

Young Local Musicians

Hey, when do you think Weekend Garage is gonna open back up?

Kotaro

Listen

Oh...

Young Local Musicians

Yeah...
The curry there's so good. I wanna have it again.

Young Local Musicians

It can't stay closed forever.
I mean, everyone around here gathered there. Where do you think Ken's gone?

Young Local Musicians

Dunno...
And he's not the only one who's mysteriously disappeared.

Young Local Musicians

I haven't seen Vivid BAD SQUAD anywhere recently. What do you think they're up to right now?

Young Local Musicians

Wait, you haven't heard?
Apparently, Vivid BAD SQUAD broke up.

Kotaro

Listen

What?

Young Local Musicians

They quit singing after Taiga gave them that clobbering.

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Young Local Musicians

Whoa, no way!

Young Local Musicians

I mean, this is Taiga we're talking about here. No one's gonna come out in one piece after going toe-to-toe with that guy.

Young Local Musicians

Really?
I heard a rumor that they'd gone somewhere else.

Kotaro

Listen

(Vivid BAD SQUAD broke up...?)

Kotaro

Listen

No, that's not possible...

Kotaro

Listen

There's no way they'd quit so easily...!

Sound Effect: Play

Owner of Crawl Green

Mita? Is that you?

Kotaro

Listen

Huh?

Kotaro

Listen

Oh, sir...!
I-It's been a while!

Owner of Crawl Green

Yeah, long time no see.
Not since that event.

Kotaro

Listen

Yes, that's right!
Also, you remembered my name...?

Owner of Crawl Green

Of course I did.
The event you and your friends put on was really something.

Owner of Crawl Green

I heard about your battle against Taiga.
He didn't pull any punches, huh...?

Kotaro

Listen

No, he didn't...

Owner of Crawl Green

But you haven't upped and packed your bags. You're tougher than I thought.

Kotaro

Listen

Oh...

Kotaro

Listen

No... I-I'm really not.

Kotaro

Listen

Since that day, I haven't been hanging around here as much. I'm only here today because my friends basically forced me to. They said, “Quit beating yourself up and come join us.”

Owner of Crawl Green

I see...

Owner of Crawl Green

Regardless of the reason, I'm glad you've decided to come back.

Owner of Crawl Green

Especially considering how no one seems to have seen Arata, EVER or Vivid BAD SQUAD lately.

Kotaro

Listen

Oh...!
About that...!

Kotaro

Listen

I dunno if this is true...
But I just heard a rumor that Vivid BAD SQUAD broke up. Is that possible?

Owner of Crawl Green

No, I'm pretty sure they're still at it...

Kotaro

Listen

You are...?

Owner of Crawl Green

I don't know the details...

Kotaro

Listen

Huh...?

Owner of Crawl Green

A few months ago, I decided to head over to Ken's place with some old friends. Because... I wanted to talk to An.

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Owner of Crawl Green

I only got to speak to her for a little bit...
But that can wait for now.

Owner of Crawl Green

Based on what I saw, they're still singing and doing what they've always done.
However...

Owner of Crawl Green

They appear to have gone to another area.
It could be that they've decided to base themselves elsewhere...

Kotaro

Listen

Elsewhere...?

Kotaro

Listen

(Then, what about RAD WEEKEND...?)

Owner of Crawl Green

Mita, have you not been speaking with them...?

Kotaro

Listen

No, I...

Sound Effect: Play

Akito

Listen

Wait.
There's something we need to tell you.

Kotaro

Listen

I'm sorry...

Kotaro

Listen

...

Sound Effect: Play

Listen

Wait, Kotaro!

Kotaro

Listen

No...
Not since then...

Owner of Crawl Green

I see...

Owner of Crawl Green

Still, this town feels so empty now...
Like a venue after a crowd's left.

Owner of Crawl Green

I wish you'd all come back and stir things up again...

Kotaro

Listen

...

Kotaro

Listen

(He's right...
It hasn't been that long, but things have really changed around here.)

Kotaro

Listen

(There used to be more excitement.
Everyone was singing on the street and giving this place such a unique flavor.)

Kotaro

Listen

(But they're all gone now...)

Kotaro

Listen

(Where are they...?)

Kotaro

Listen

(Did they really give up on surpassing RAD WEEKEND and head somewhere else? No, that can't be right.)

Kotaro

Listen

(Because they were the ones telling me to do the opposite. To not give up...)

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Kotaro

Listen

(At the same time...)

Kotaro

Listen

(I wouldn't be surprised if they have given up...)

Kotaro

Listen

(Stop, there's no point in thinking about stuff like that..)

Kotaro

Listen

(It's none of my business now anyway.)

Kotaro

Listen

(I hung up my hat before them.
I ran without listening to what they had to say. I have no right to say anything.)

???

Listen

Ahh... Ahh...

Sound Effect: Play

Young Local Musicians

Huh...?
Hey, check it out.

Young Local Musicians

Someone's about to sing.

Owner of Crawl Green

Hm? Isn't that...?

Kotaro

Listen

Akito...?

Next Chapter: Strategizing