Several dozen minutes later
Neighborhood

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

1

Kawanishi

Here we are.
This is the place I told you about.
2

Minori

Listen

Our fourth stop...
3

Minori

Listen

It's supposed to be special in some way...
But it looks completely normal.
4

Airi

Listen

Yeah, but it's kinda cute...
The roof and paint job have this retro feel.
5

Haruka

Listen

It does seem nice. The station's a little far, but this greenery more than makes up for it.
6

Shizuku

Listen

And it was flat most of the way here.
7

Airi

Listen

But we can't let our guard down just yet. It might look nice on the outside, but we still don't know what's on the inside...
8

Minori

Listen

R-Right...!
It could be like the second one where we had a doorknob literally come off when we turned it...!
9

Kawanishi

Well, shall we go inside?

Sound Effect: Play

10

Minori

Listen

Huh?!
The front door opens to a flight of stairs?!
11

Kawanishi

Yes, the landlady lives on the first floor, so we'll be going up these.
12

Minori

Listen

Oh, I see...!
13

Shizuku

Listen

It must be an over-under duplex.
I know someone who lives in a similar house.
14

Airi

Listen

And the area around the entrance looks pretty tidy. I'm starting to get a good feeling about this one...!
15

Minori

Listen

Yeah, I'm also really excited!
Let's go inside!

Sound Effect: Play

16

Haruka

Listen

Wait, it's not safe to push like that.

Sound Effect: Play

17

Minori

Listen

Wow...
18

Minori

Listen

There's so much light...!
It's nice and clean too...

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

19

Kawanishi

This room faces south, so it's nice and warm. The other rooms have large windows as well, so there should be more than enough sunlight to go around.
20

Haruka

Listen

Yes, I see.
How is it in terms of soundproofing...?
21

Airi

Listen

It'd also be nice to see how big the other rooms are and how they're all arranged.
22

Kawanishi

Then, please feel free to have a look around. Oh, the room that's down the stairs up ahead may work as a practice studio...
23

Minori

Listen

Really?!
Then, I'm gonna go take a look!

Sound Effect: Play

24

Haruka

Listen

Minori, wait...
25

Airi

Listen

Geez, she's way too excited.
26

Airi

Listen

But I'm sure we all have things that we wanna look at, so let's split up and meet back up in a minute.
27

Shizuku

Listen

Okay.
Practice Studio
28

Minori

Listen

So this is where we'd practice...
29

Minori

Listen

(It's a little smaller than the ones in the other houses...)
30

Minori

Listen

(But something feels different about this place...)
31

Minori

Listen

The floor's all scratched up...
Does that mean...

Sound Effect: Play

32

Miku

Listen

<The previous tenants also practiced here?>
33

Minori

Listen

Miku...!
34

Miku

Listen

<Hehe. I decided to pop in since it seemed like you were the only person here.>

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

35

Miku

Listen

<This place seems really nice...
It's well-worn, but also well-maintained.>
36

Minori

Listen

Yeah...
It has this warmth to it for some reason.
37

Minori

Listen

I think you're right, Miku.
The previous tenants must've also practiced here.
38

Miku

Listen

<I had a feeling...
These scratches remind me of the ones on our stages.>
39

Minori

Listen

Yeah, it's like I can see each step of their dance.
40

Minori

Listen

Oh, I'm starting to notice all these really tiny scratches. They must've practiced here a lot...
41

Miku

Listen

<Probably.
But I have a feeling it wasn't just the previous tenants...>
42

Minori

Listen

Huh?
43

Miku

Listen

<I think all the tenants who ever lived here left their various marks on this house.>

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

44

Miku

Listen

<Look closely.
Some scratches look much older than the others.>
45

Minori

Listen

Oh, you're right...!
46

Miku

Listen

<They came to live here and left evidence of their hard work.>
47

Minori

Listen

Their hard work...
48

Miku

Listen

<In that sense, this place...>
49

Miku

Listen

<I think it's full of everyone's hopes and dreams.>
50

Minori

Listen

Yeah... I knew there was a reason why this place felt so different from the others.
51

Minori

Listen

I really like this feeling, and this room.
52

Miku

Listen

<Yes...>
53

Miku

Listen

<It's such a wonderful place.>
Several dozen minutes later

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

54

Kawanishi

Now that you've all had a chance to look around, can I ask you for your thoughts...?
55

Haruka

Listen

Based on our expressions, I'm guessing we're all thinking the same thing...
56

Airi

Listen

Yeah, each room had just the things we've been looking for.
57

Minori

Listen

*Nod*
58

Minori

Listen

We'd love to rent this place if possible!
59

Kawanishi

I'm glad you all like it so much...
60

Kawanishi

However, as I mentioned earlier, this place comes with some strings attached.
61

Haruka

Listen

Yes, we've been meaning to ask you about that.
62

Shizuku

Listen

Nothing seemed particularly odd or unusual about this place. It's a quiet neighborhood, and I didn't notice any cemeteries nearby...
63

Kawanishi

Yes, what I said has nothing to do with the property itself. What's special about this place is...
64

Kawanishi

The application process.
65

Minori

Listen

Th-The application process...?!
66

Shizuku

Listen

But I was under the impression that we'd have to send in applications for any properties that we wished to rent...
67

Haruka

Listen

Yeah, our parents have all agreed to be our guarantors, so I didn't think we'd run into trouble here...
68

Haruka

Listen

Does that mean receiving approval for this property isn't easy?
69

Airi

Listen

I mean, on top of being high schoolers, we're still just getting on our feet as idols. We can't really deny the possibility of being turned away...
70

Kawanishi

Actually, the things you just mentioned won't necessarily factor into whether or not you get approved.
71

Minori

Listen

What?!
72

Haruka

Listen

Can you elaborate a little further?
73

Kawanishi

The application process for this property isn't what you'd call normal. That's what makes it special.
74

Kawanishi

Prospective tenants are approved based on...
75

Kawanishi

Whether or not they can make their dreams come true.
76

Minori

Listen

Our dreams...?
77

Kawanishi

After looking at those other properties, I'm sure you noticed that this one is incredibly affordable for what it has to offer.

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

78

Kawanishi

However, that's only because the landlady wishes to help those chasing their dreams.
79

Shizuku

Listen

She does...?
80

Haruka

Listen

I was wondering why this place was so reasonably priced. It seemed a little too good to be true.
81

Minori

Listen

W-Wait a second!
If the landlady wants tenants who are chasing a dream, then doesn't that make us the perfect applicants?!
82

Minori

Listen

Our goal is to spread hope to as many people as we can and we dream of doing a show at the Dome!
83

Kawanishi

Right. Based on what your line of work involves, you should be able to clear the first few hurdles...
84

Kawanishi

But the landlady doesn't want people who “want” to make their dreams come true. She wants people who “can” make their dreams come true.
85

Airi

Listen

People who can make their dreams come true...
86

Haruka

Listen

What does that mean?
Does she want a guarantee that we'll be able to make our dreams come true...?
87

Shizuku

Listen

But how is the landlady going to judge that...? No one can see into the future...
88

Kawanishi

Actually, I don't have a good understanding myself. It's a bit of a black box.
89

Kawanishi

Several tenants have applied through my agency in the past, but none have ever been approved...
90

Minori

Listen

I-It's that hard to get approved?!
91

Airi

Listen

This is starting to feel like an audition...
92

Kawanishi

Yes, that's why I refrained from bringing this property up at first. I was afraid of dashing your hopes...
93

Kawanishi

However, if you're all in favor of “auditioning” despite everything I just told you, then I'll send in an application right away.
94

Airi

Listen

This really isn't gonna be easy, huh?
95

Haruka

Listen

Yeah.
96

Haruka

Listen

But I think we should give it a go...
97

Shizuku

Listen

After all, it's a lovely house with everything we need...
98

Minori

Listen

Yeah, also...

Sound Effect: Play

99

Miku

Listen

<I think it's full of everyone's hopes and dreams.>
100

Minori

Listen

I want this to be our home base as idols moving forward...
101

Shizuku

Listen

Minori...
102

Haruka

Listen

Me too...
103

Haruka

Listen

So...
Would you mind sending in an application for us?
104

Kawanishi

Understood...
Please give me a minute while I let the landlady know that you're interested.
105

Minori

Listen

Thank you!
Next Chapter: An Unexpected Call