Whip Yourself into Shape! - 6: Our Bout Begins

An's Room

Sound Effect: Play

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

Listen

...

Sound Effect: Play

Toya

Listen

Yes, the thought of disappointing someone is scary.

Toya

Listen

But telling them the truth can lead to new doors opening.

Toya

Listen

At least, that's what I believe.

Listen

(Telling her the truth might help me figure out what to do about the way I've been feeling.)

Listen

(Actually, it probably won't be the end of all that. I honestly have no idea what's going to happen afterwards.)

Listen

(But if there's a chance of a positive outcome...)

Listen

...
*Sigh*

Listen

(Man, I'm such a lame person.)

Listen

(I'm down to my last card, but I'm too scared to play it...)

Listen

What would Aunt Nagi do in this situation...?

Listen

(What would she have done if she saw Dad or Uncle Taiga turning into superstars or something...?)

Sound Effect: Play

Nagi

——————

Listen

Oh...

Listen

Hehe.

Listen

That's definitely something she'd say.

Listen

“I'll just have to overtake both of you.”

Listen

And she wouldn't just talk things through. She'd battle it out...

Listen

Battle it out...

Listen

Yeah.
That is an option.

Listen

Alright, let's go with that.

Listen

So that I can finally become her real partner.

Kohane

Listen

You want me...to battle against you, An...?

Listen

I've been feeling so uncertain.

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

Listen

Of how quickly you've been growing.
Of how much your singing has improved.

Kohane

Listen

What...?

Listen

I'm scared that, someday, I won't be able to excite you anymore...

Listen

Also...

Listen

I didn't want you to know that I've been feeling this way, Kohane.

Listen

I was afraid that you'd feel disappointed after seeing how lame I really am...

Kohane

Listen

...!
No, I'd never...!

Listen

*Nod*
I know.

Listen

You'd never feel that way about me.
But...

Listen

I can't stop myself from feeling scared.

Kohane

Listen

An...

Listen

Anyway, I gave this a lot of thought.
About how to deal with this fear.

Listen

And then Aunt Nagi popped into my head.

Listen

She'd never have hid anything from her teammates.

Listen

She'd talk about everything about herself she thought was weak or pathetic, and she'd...

Listen

Try to go further.
That's what I realized.

Kohane

Listen

Go further...?

Listen

Yeah.

Listen

If you're afraid of seeing people get better than you, then you just gotta overtake them.

Listen

You gotta go higher and further.

Listen

So, I know what I need to do now.

Listen

I have to keep staying ahead of you, Kohane.

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

Kohane

Listen

...!!!

Listen

I need you to keep looking up to me. And to prove that I will...I want to battle you.

Kohane

Listen

Ahead of me...?

Listen

I'm sorry for asking you to do this.

Listen

But...

Listen

I need you to battle against me. Please.

Kohane

Listen

An...

Kohane

Listen

I'm sorry, An.

Listen

What...?

Kohane

Listen

The truth is, just now...

Kohane

Listen

I felt really happy for a moment.

Listen

Happy...?

Kohane

Listen

This is probably going to sound really weird, so sorry...

Kohane

Listen

But I'm happy to hear that you want to win against me so badly.

Kohane

Listen

So, An, I accept.

Listen

Thanks, Kohane.

Thirty minutes later

Weekend Garage

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

Akito

Listen

Well, we're here...
So much for not having practice today.

Kotaro

Listen

Yeah, but I was starting to get antsy at home. Practicing here help gets rid of all that.

Toya

Listen

Yes, I know how you feel.
But given that Shiraishi and Azusawa aren't here, they must be resting as per our original plan.

Kotaro

Listen

Yeah. We've been told to give our throats a break today, so let's just practice for a bit and then go—

Sound Effect: Play

Local Musicians

Hey!
Where's that thing happening?

Local Musicians

I think over there!

Sound Effect: Play

Akito

Listen

Hm...?
What's happening outside?

Toya

Listen

Is someone singing outside?

Kotaro

Listen

Hey, perfect!
Let's go watch for a bit!

Akito

Listen

Wait, we don't have time for... Hm?

Sound Effect: Play

Akito

Listen

That's...!

Toya

Listen

Hm? What's wrong, Akito?

Sound Effect: Play

Kotaro

Listen

Hey, wait!
Where are you going, Akito?!

Sound Effect: Play

Akito

Listen

Where'd he go?!
I could've sworn I just saw him walk past the cafe...

Akito

Listen

Hey...!

Akito

Listen

Okazaki! You guys!

Tatsuya

Listen

...!
Shinonome...

Sound Effect: Play

Toya

Listen

What are you all doing here?

EVER Member

Oh... We just happened to be in the neighborhood...

Tatsuya

Listen

We owe the guy from the record store a favor, and he asked us to help sort out the inventory.

Toya

Listen

I see...

Tatsuya

Listen

We just finished, and we're about to head out...

Tatsuya

Listen

But all these people are blocking the way because of those two... There's no way for me to get my motorcycle out.

Kotaro

Listen

Huh? Who are you guys talking about?

Tatsuya

Listen

Wait, you haven't heard...?

Tatsuya

Listen

Shiraishi and Azusawa.
They're apparently having a battle just down the street.

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

Kotaro

Listen

What?! Shiraishi and Azusawa...?!

Akito

Listen

Those two?! Why...?!

Toya

Listen

Oh...

Toya

Listen

She chose to battle against her...?

Toya

Listen

In order to overcome her fear of seeing her partner dash ahead?

Akito

Listen

...!

Tatsuya

Listen

Her fear...?

Kotaro

Listen

Huh? What are you guys talking about?

Akito

Listen

There has to be a reason behind them having a battle.

Akito

Listen

In any case, let's go!
What happens with them moving forward might hang on this battle.

Toya

Listen

Right!

100

Akito

Listen

Also, Okazaki, everyone...

101

Akito

Listen

If there's even a tiny part of you that still wants to perform with us, then please come see her resolve for yourself.

102

Tatsuya

Listen

What...?

103

Akito

Listen

Anyway, let's go!

Sound Effect: Play

104

Kotaro

Listen

Huh...?!
Hey, wait for me!!

Sound Effect: Play

105

Tatsuya

Listen

...

Next Chapter: What Partners Are