???
1
Airi
Wh-What is this place...?
2
???
Airi!
3
Airi
Huh...?
4
Len
Your timing couldn't have been better...!
I was about to go tell the others that a new area just appeared in SEKAI.
5
Airi
Len...!
6
Airi
I knew it. This place wasn't always here.
7
Airi
But why now all of a sudden...?
8
Len
I don't really know either.
But you've gotta remember that this SEKAI is a reflection of you and the others' feelings...
9
Len
Which means this area must've appeared as a result of something having changed.
10
Airi
With our feelings...?
11
Airi
But what's changed...?
I can't think of anything off the top of my head...
12
Len
I dunno either...
13
Len
So why don't we try exploring this place to see if we can learn more about it?
14
Len
There might be some clues scattered around as to why it appeared.
15
Airi
True...
16
Airi
Then, let's try going for a little walk.
17
Airi
We've been walking for a while now...
But it's like there's no end to this field of flowers.
18
Len
It's like there's no other side.
19
Airi
Regardless, this place is beautiful.
A lot of these flowers are still just buds, some are starting to bloom. And the air feels great.
20
Airi
As strange as this place is, I can't help but smile. I feel happy for some reason...
21
Len
Yeah... In that sense, it's like when we're watching you girls put on a show or make an appearance on TV.
22
Len
Oh, speaking of TV...
You were able to go to school for the whole day for the first time in a while, right?
23
Len
How was it?
Did you get to hear from your classmates about how your last appearance went?
24
Airi
Yeah, we weren't expecting to get such a huge response! It's probably our biggest yet, which had made us really happy.
25
Airi
Not only that, but I received a new offer while walking home from school!
26
Len
Wait, really?
What does it involve?
27
Airi
Appearing on a variety show with a bunch of comedians. It's apparently one of those programs where anything goes, but I'm excited since it'll be my first solo gig in a while...!
28
Len
Oh, that's awesome!
I'll be looking forward to seeing it since that sort of stuff is your forte.
29
Airi
Hehe. Thanks!
30
Airi
I know that idols aren't really supposed to fall into booby traps or jump into ponds, but I plan on doing everything I can...
31
Len
Is something wrong?
32
Airi
This flower... Look, it's glowing for some reason.
33
Len
Oh, you're right...
34
Len
But there are plenty of other ones that are blooming. Why only this one...?
35
Airi
I don't understand either.
But what if I touched it...?
36
Airi
Huh...?!
37
Len
...?!
The light from this flower's...
38
Len's Voice
A-Airi?!
39
Airi
Huh? Where am I...?
40
Airi
That's weird.
I was with Len just a second ago...
41
???
Th-Thank you for coming today, Happy Everyday!
42
Airi
Wait, that voice...
43
Airi
Whenever you feel down and out, come and see me! I'll help cheer you up and see how wonderful tomorrow is going to be!
44
Shy Girl
Okay!
Thanks, Happy Everyday!
45
Shy Girl
Oh, also...
46
Shy Girl
I really like you as an idol too! You're the best, Airi!
47
Airi
This is from...
When we went put on an event at that elementary school...
48
Airi
But what's that got to do with...?
49
Shizuku's Voice
I'm saying this because I've been looking up to you ever since we were still in training.
50
Airi
Shizuku...?
51
Shizuku
You're one of my favorite idols, Airi, as well as my role model...
52
Shizuku
You've been that ever since the day we met...
53
Airi
And this is from...
When we held that training camp.
54
Airi
Wh-What's going on here...?
55
Woman's Voice
Airi's so good at interacting with crowds!
56
Airi
Huh...?
57
Airi
And this is... The venue where we held our first fan event. But I don't recall hearing that comment...
58
Airi
Why am I seeing...?
59
Woman A
Her quips are always spot on, and she makes the best reactions. I guess this is when her experience as Happy Everyday comes in handy.
60
Woman B
Yeah, probably.
I mean, Airi is more of a variety show star than an idol!
61
Airi
(I still haven't jumped back into the deep end in terms of variety shows as a member of MORE MORE JUMP! yet...)
62
Airi
(But I guess that's still how most people typecast me.)
63
Airi
(Which sort of means that I should make the most of my talents and...)
64
Woman C
Wait, really?
I've always seen Airi as an idol.
65
Woman C
To be honest, I'm new and don't know what Airi was like when she was still with QT. But based on her behavior, it's clear that she just wants to cheer everybody up and make them smile...
66
Woman C
The way she interacts with people and reacts is proof of that. And that's...
67
Woman C
That's what I really love about her.
That's why I see her as a pure idol.
68
Airi
Oh...
69
Airi
I forgot...
70
Airi
(I was so happy when people said that they like me as both Happy Everyday and an idol...)
71
Airi
(Which is why...
I made the decision to accept both sides of who I am as an idol, and do my best...)
72
Airi
(But somewhere along the way, I must've convinced myself that I had to choose one or the other...)
73
Len
Oh...!
The light's starting to fade...
74
Len
Are you okay, Airi?
You were engulfed by that light and...
75
Airi
Oh...
76
Airi
Now I see...
You didn't see any of what just happened, did you, Len?
77
Len
What...?
78
Airi
It was so strange...
While I was in that light, it was like I was looking into someone's memories.
79
Airi
And I realized that I was needlessly drawing lines in the sand for myself...
80
Len
Lines?
81
Airi
Yeah. I spent so much time doing variety shows that I thought I had to keep appearing on them.
82
Airi
I'd make the most of my talents on those, while having Shizuku and the others take the spotlight as actual idols.
83
Len
Airi...
84
Airi
But I realized just now that I don't have to choose one or the other.
85
Airi
Because there are people out there who like seeing me do both of those things.
86
Airi
Either way, I'm still an idol.
87
Len
Yeah.
88
Len
It doesn't matter how you do it. As long as you're doing your best to spread hope to others, then you're still an idol, Airi.
89
Len
You're always doing your best as a singer, dancer and an enthusiastic guest on variety shows.
90
Len
That's why I admire you so much as an idol.
91
Airi
Oh...
92
Airi
(Come to think of it, Ayumi said...)
93
Ayumi
But what you just said about not being a pure idol...
94
Airi
(She might've been trying to tell me that I was getting the wrong idea.)
95
Airi
Thanks, Len.
I feel a lot better now after hearing what you just said. Also...
96
Airi
I'm kicking myself for jumping to such a foolish conclusion while knowing that plenty of people have been supporting me.
97
Len
But I feel like you're gonna become an even greater idol now after making that realization.
98
Airi
Hehe. Yes, I am!
99
Airi
It's not going to matter where I work.
I'm going to do my best for everyone out there.
100
Airi
As a singer, as a dancer and as a variety show star! I'm gonna keep evolving and become a super idol who can do it all!
101
Len
Hearing you say that puts such a big smile on my face, Airi.
102
Len
Good luck.
I'll be right here cheering you on!
103
Airi
Alright...
104
Airi
Thanks, Len!
Next Chapter: For the Stream