So I just wipe these cups and put them back on the shelf, MEIKO?

Yes, please.
You're always such a great help, Miku.

Huh? This cup...

What's wrong?

There's a crack in it...
Everything will just spill out.

Oh dear, you're right.
That's unfortunate. I really liked that cup.

Yeah...

This is giving me a bad vibe for some reason...

♪————

Hey, check it out!
That guy's singing is awesome!

Yeah... He's really good.
Does he always sing here?

Huff...

(I should finish up. It's getting quite late.)

(But I've been doing well lately. More people have been stopping by to listen to my performances too.)

(I've improved a lot ever since we formed our group.)

(Thinking more positively probably helped as well...)

(Pursuing my dream with Akito...
I feel so much better after making that decision.)

(Now, all we have to do is keep moving forward.)

But still...

(No... Dwelling on him won't solve anything.)

(Dad...)

I'm back...

(The lights are still on?
That has to mean...)

You're home late...

Dad...

Just where exactly were you gallivanting around all this time?

I wasn't playing around...
I was singing in front of the station.

Exactly my point. Have you fallen so low that you no longer see what you are doing?

Ugh... I said I'm not playing around!
We're doing this to put on the ultimate event...

How long do you plan on using such childish excuses to run away from your responsibilities?

I'm not running away!

This is the path I've chosen!

Path? Just where will this path lead you in the end?

Remember, you were born to play classical music! Why can't you understand what I'm trying to do for you?

I am not a child anymore!
I can decide for myself what I want to do!

I'm never going back to classical music.
Street music is the only thing I'll be focusing on.

So stay out of my life from now on!

Toya!

...

There...

Now, I can finally... Move forward...

Okay, done with vocal warm-ups!
I'm ready to roll!

Same here.
You ready, Toya?

Ready.

But she's still not here.
What's with her?

You mean Azusawa?
She's usually here by now...

Hey, Kohane!
We just finished warming up and... Hm?

What's wrong? You look pretty down.

Did something happen?

Yes... Um, sort of...

You know that I've been taking part in battle events by myself to get used to being on stage, right?

Yeah! And the last one went really well too!
The crowd was super hyped up and everything.

But why are you mentioning that now?
Did some weirdo try to hit on you?!

Oh, no!
Nothing like that...!

It's just that one of my mom's friends saw me going into a live house the other day.

And last night, my mom and dad told me to stop visiting dangerous places like that...

Oh, okay... Right. I guess those places can seem pretty sketchy if you're not familiar with how they work...

Ugh... Why're these geezers always so pigheaded?

It's our life, they should just leave us alone.

Indeed...

B-But even I thought they were scary at first, so I do understand where they're coming from...

What should I do...?

Well, that's easy!

Huh?

Our next show as a group is a battle event, right?
Get your mom and dad to come watch us!

If they can see how much respect rival teams have for each other even during a battle event, they might see things differently!

A picture is worth a thousand words, right?
Have them see things for themselves!

(See things for themselves...
I hadn't thought of that, but...)

And if they're still not convinced, I can talk to them with you! Oh, and maybe invite them to my dad's shop.

Oh, right...! We can do that too!

Yeah, watching an event themselves and meeting all of you will convince them that everything's totally safe, I'm sure of it!

...

(Azusawa's parents seem like the understanding type.)

I wish I could say the same...

Huh? You say something?

No, it's nothing...

Since Kohane's dad may be coming to watch us, we've gotta practice harder and give it everything we've got!

Right!