Hey, girls! What's up☆

Hello, Rin.

Oh, you guys gotta hear this!
Today, we went over to the record company to talk with Mr. Shindo!

With Mr. Shindo? What did you all discuss?

We'd love to hear all about it.

Okay. So, it started with a discussion surrounding how we'll be marketed for our debut...

What you want your music to be about...?

Yeah. We were told the company needs to know that in order to come up with a marketing strategy for Leo/need.

I see...
I definitely understand their reasoning.

But that's kind of a tough question to ask yourselves after coming this far...

It is...

I couldn't come up with even a half-decent response when Mr. Shindo asked me.

Me neither...
I didn't feel comfortable saying anything in that moment...

Shiho, Honami...

Sorry for causing you two so much trouble.

No, um... I just happened to get a chance to think about that not too long ago is all.

Yeah, same! Plus, Mr. Shindo said you should take your time to think it through. There's no need to rush at all!

Thanks, Saki.

I'll try giving it some thought when I get home.

Me too...
It may take me some time, but I promise to come up with a satisfactory answer for when we next meet with Mr. Shindo.

Okay!
We'll be looking forward to what you come up with!

But if either of you get stuck, we'll be more than happy to listen or talk.

Oh, I wanna help too!
I'll do whatever I can to get you through this!

Thank you all very much.

So, what else did you talk about today?

Oh, so...
About the other things we need to do before we debut...

Shii, the bath's ready.

You can go first. I'm sure you're all sweaty after practice.

Are you sure? Then, if you insist.

*Nod*

(My aspirations for my music, huh...?)

(I get what Ichika and Saki want to do.
Because that time...)

(Getting to be there for the Yoshizakis and support people through our music was pretty great.)

(But if someone were to ask if doing more of that is my top goal... Then, no, not really...)

(I mean, the reason I started playing the bass is because...)

(That feeling's never changed...
The music I heard that day... I still remember everything they played note for note.)

(Which is why... Being asked to come up with another goal is so...)

(All this thinking is making me tired.)

(I should do something else.
Maybe watch a video or something and...)

Oh, wait...
They released their new song?

Wow. I didn't realize.

(They're as good as ever...)

(My heart's dancing the way it always does when I listen to them. I can feel all this excitement welling up inside, and now I wanna play something...)

<Shih!>

Rin...?

What brings you here so late?

<So, I was wondering how you were doing after we talked earlier! I know you said you wanted to think this over on your own, but I couldn't wait around.>

<Oh, I'm really sorry if I'm interrupting!>

That's okay. I was actually just starting to feel tired after thinking so hard.

<Okay. What a relief☆>

<Wait, huh? Were you watching a video just now?>

Yeah, the band I like just uploaded the music video for their new song.

Oh, we got to hear a couple of their songs before! This is the band you really look up to, right, Shih?

Yeah. I decided to start playing the bass because their show had such a huge effect on me. They're why I want to move people's hearts through the music we play.

<I see...>

<Hey, Shih! I wanna hear all about what happened back then☆>

Huh?

<They're the reason you started playing the bass, right?>

<So, maybe what you felt in the past will help you find the answer you need for your music's future!>

Yeah, you might be right...

<Genius, right?!
Plus, I really wanna know more about what you were like when you were little!>

What does that have to do with anything?

Anyway, where should I start...?

My dad's a professional musician.
When I was little, he took me around to see all sorts of shows being put on by different bands...

Then one time, I got to see that band.