Phew...

Nice work today, Aoyagi.
I'm sure you're tired. How are you feeling...?

Good. I feel much better after taking that nap in the green room before we came back.

However, the thing I've been working on has been taking up quite a bit of my time. I'm still only about thirty percent finished...

That's pretty good, all things considered.
I'm still trying to figure out how to do it...

Me too. I've been practicing...but I really don't know if what I'm doing is okay.

At the same time, I guess there's no easy answer... I'm hoping to figure things out while taking it one step at a time.

Right!

Oh, also... Don't you guys all have to start heading home soon?

You're right.
I'll go get Akito, and—

No, wait...
He's practicing with Ken starting today.

I still can't believe they made that arrangement while we were sleeping.

Still...
That explains why Dad's been singing lately.

What?

Recently, while we're at school, he's apparently been singing. My guess is that he's trying to sort of get back his old groove...

His old groove...?
I'd love to hear him sing sometime.

Sure, try asking him!

He's seriously an amazing singer!

Again, thank you for agreeing to do this...

Proactive as ever.
I honestly wasn't expecting you to ask to start practicing together today.

I felt that the sooner the better.
I apologize if I'm asking too much of you...

No, that's alright.

Now, Akito, remember what I told you when we were at Rodin...?

I do.
I need to relax...and sing from my heart more, right?

Right.
Of course, trying to relax doesn't mean you get to start cutting corners. You still have to sing with everything you have.

Got it...

Anyway, how we're going to practice is fairly simple. We'll take turns singing.

Okay...!

Alright.
Hit me with your best shot.

(I'm used to being around Ken...
But now, facing him like this, he seems larger than life.)

(Even so, I'm not about to back down.)

(He personally agreed to work with me.
I need to make the most of this opportunity...!)

Let's do this!

♪————!!

(Yes...!
My voice sounds better than it did during today's event.)

(But I can still do better...!)

♪——————!

Huff... Huff...

Not bad.
But you're still tense...

Sorry...

Don't apologize.
We're here for that very reason.

Alright, now it's my turn.

Get ready.

♪——————————————!!

(Whoa...)

♪————!! ————!! ————!!

(In the old days, my jaw would've hit the floor and that would've been it.)

(But things are different now...
I can sing now, so I know what to look for.)

(Ken doesn't sing with the sort of overwhelming power that Taiga does.)

(He's cool and calm.
His breath control is incredible.)

(It must've taken so much effort to learn how to do this.)

(I'm guessing he practiced like there was no tomorrow day after day until he got ahold of this ability. At least, that's what it feels like...)

(And the proof of that is...)

(This intense excitement welling up inside of me.)

(He's cool as ice, but giving off this blistering hot energy...!
Just like...)

He really is something else...

Alright, that's it for me.

Akito.
What crossed your mind when you were watching me just now?

Huh...?

I'm guessing a lot of things.
Like what you saw all those years ago.

I bet you look at me and see that night. RAD WEEKEND.

Just think about that and nothing else, and sing.
Throw everything you have at it.

At RAD WEEKEND...?

(Calm down...
Just do as Ken says... Don't think about anything else.)

(First, digest his words.
Relax, sing from your heart.
Throw everything you have at RAD WEEKEND.)

♪————!!

*Cough*
*Hack*

Let's stop here for today.
You seem to be at your limit.

For now, go home, rest and get ready for tomorrow...

O-Okay...

(Grr... No.
I just don't get it.)

(Nothing's changing no matter how much I sing... And Ken's expression hasn't changed once.)

(What am I supposed to do...?!)