Over Rad Squad!! - 6: RAD BLAST

The day of the event

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

Sound Effect: Play

Musicians

Whoa!
What's with this crowd...?!

Musicians

The advance tickets sold out the second they went on sale. The ones that were being sold today are supposedly gone too now, but I guess these people are desperate enough to try their luck.

Musicians

I mean, I get how they feel.
If I weren't able to get a ticket, then I'd at least try to listen from outside.

Musicians

Yeah...
And there's a huge crowd gathered around the entrance to COL already.

Musicians

I can't wait to see how this event turns out...

Ken

Listen

(There's plenty of people, and they're all excited... As expected... No, this exceeds my expectations.)

Sound Effect: Play

Ken

Listen

Hey, you made it just in time...

Taiga

Listen

At the cost of some work.
You really need to give me a year in advance if you're going to invite me to something like this.

Ken

Listen

Yeah, I know the life of a superstar's a busy one.

Taiga

Listen

I've been getting offers left, right and center, you know. My friends asked what was wrong with me.

Taiga

Listen

Saying I must be crazy to put an event with a name as uninventive as “RAD BLAST” above those opportunities.

Ken

Listen

Good name, right?
They came up with it.

Ken

Listen

It's supposed to symbolize them blasting this neighborhood's legend out of the way and propelling themselves towards the world beyond that.

Taiga

Listen

I see.

Taiga

Listen

They've got guts.
We'll see if they deliver the goods.

Ken

Listen

Oh, I believe they will.

Taiga

Listen

Actually, what are you doing out here?

Ken

Listen

Hm?

Taiga

Listen

You brought them this far, didn't you?
I thought the head coach would be giving his team a big pep talk backstage before sending them out.

Ken

Listen

This isn't my event.
It's theirs. The next generation's.

Ken

Listen

Which means this old man needs to take a step back.

Ken

Listen

(But...)

Ken

Listen

(There is one thing that I still need to say.)

Ken

Listen

Also, nothing I could say would be as effective as what you did. That's been their biggest source of motivation.

Ken

Listen

You made them taste bitter defeat that night.

Taiga

Listen

I wasn't trying to motivate them.
I was just putting them in their place.

Taiga

Listen

That being said... They've come this far, so I need to how strong they are.

Taiga

Listen

How strong their resolve is.

COL

Backstage

Sound Effect: Play

Kohane

Listen

(Wow...)

Kohane

Listen

(This atmosphere... The event hasn't even started yet, but everything feels completely different from our usual events.)

Kohane

Listen

(People wanting to witness the moment we surpass RAD WEEKEND. People wanting us to make Nagi's wish come true.)

Kohane

Listen

(Even from up here, I can feel this powerful mix of emotions.)

Listen

(This is so strange...)

Listen

(I was looking up towards the stage that time, but now I get to see things from Aunt Nagi's perspective.)

Listen

(I finally made it this far.)

Toya

Listen

(Not even the most prestigious contest I ever entered into made me feel this nervous.)

Toya

Listen

(We only have one chance.)

Toya

Listen

(We have to succeed.)

Akito

Listen

...

Akito

Listen

Hey, you guys. Wanna form a huddle?

Kotaro

Listen

Huh? A huddle?

Akito

Listen

Yeah, it'll be a good way to psych ourselves up before we go out there.

Listen

I agree.
So, let's pump ourselves up one last time!

Kohane

Listen

O-Okay...!

Sound Effect: Play

Akito

Listen

Alright... That's everybody's hands in.

Akito

Listen

I'll start us off.

Kohane

Listen

...?
Start us off? What do you mean...?

Akito

Listen

I've been betting everything I have on this day!

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

Akito

Listen

I hated how I could never get serious and fully commit to anything I was doing.

Akito

Listen

Then, RAD WEEKEND came along.
I'd found something I could devote my life to.

Akito

Listen

Once we surpass it, I can finally be proud of myself.

Akito

Listen

Everything I've done has been for this day...!

Akito

Listen

So, no matter what, we're going to surpass that night...!

Kohane

Listen

(Shinonome...)

Toya

Listen

I want to see it.

Kohane

Listen

...!

Toya

Listen

After coming to this neighborhood, I found a partner, met new friends and was introduced to a new genre of music.

Toya

Listen

The time we've spent together has allowed me to accept myself for who I am. I was able to come to terms with my past and bring it into the present.

Toya

Listen

I wouldn't have been able to overcome the obstacles that I faced along the way without all of you. I was able to keep moving forward as a result.

Toya

Listen

I was able to make it this far.

Toya

Listen

I want to see the impact the song I wrote has on this neighborhood. I want to see how far I can go.

Toya

Listen

Which is why I'm going to give this day absolutely everything I have.

Kohane

Listen

(Aoyagi...)

Kotaro

Listen

...!
I—I want to say goodbye to my weak, pathetic self!!

Kotaro

Listen

I wanna stop being someone that snickers at others and puts them down for having a dream. I wanna say goodbye to that guy!

Kotaro

Listen

I'm gonna give myself validation by surpassing the greatest event I ever saw!

Kohane

Listen

(Mita too...?)

Kohane

Listen

(I see.)

Tatsuya

Listen

I... For once, I'm going to sing for the sake of believing in myself.

Tatsuya

Listen

I don't care who ridicules me. I'm going to keep going after my dream. Somewhere along the way, I'd forgotten about that and started letting others tell me what to do.

Tatsuya

Listen

I don't care if anyone says that I can't win or what I'm doing is impossible. I'm going to keep trying. I'm going to surpass RAD WEEKEND! And I'm going to believe in myself!

EVER Member A

I...!

Kohane

Listen

(These...)

Kohane

Listen

(These are their egos.)

Kohane

Listen

(These are the things that they never want to give up on...)

Kohane

Listen

(Now I'm starting to understand.)

Kohane

Listen

(I couldn't find the right words for it that time... That feeling...)

Kohane

Listen

(My ego...)

Listen

I...

Listen

I admired RAD WEEKEND.
I admired Aunt Nagi so much.

Listen

I always dreamt of someday catching up to her, then running alongside her and eventually overtaking her.

Listen

I can't sing alongside her now.

Listen

But...

Listen

I can carry her dream forward.

Listen

I can go see the world beyond it. Go where she couldn't.

Listen

Once I surpass RAD WEEKEND. I'm sure of it.

Listen

So, I'm going to surpass it no matter what!

Kohane

Listen

I...!

Kohane

Listen

I want to go there!

Kohane

Listen

I want to see what lies beyond RAD WEEKEND after surpassing it!

Kohane

Listen

Because I'm sure that I'll get to experience that sensation again. The excitement I felt when I heard An sing for the very first time. Actually, no...

Kohane

Listen

I know there's something out there that's going to excite me even more!

Kohane

Listen

I want to go to that place!
I don't care if anyone tries to stop me! I'm going!

Kohane

Listen

With all of you!!

Listen

Let's make this night the best one of our lives!

Listen

Let's go out there and put on a performance like they've never seen before!

Listen

Let's surpass RAD WEEKEND!
And become a new legend!

Everyone

Listen

*Nod*
Yeah!
Yes!

Sound Effect: Play

Ken

Listen

Sounds like you're all pumped up.

100

Listen

...! Dad?!
I thought you were in the audience...

101

Ken

Listen

There's one last thing I need to tell your partner.

102

Kohane

Listen

...!
Are you talking about...?

103

Ken

Listen

Yes, your second task.

104

Ken

Listen

Kohane.
As discussed, you'll be doing your thing during the final song.

105

Ken

Listen

When you do...

106

Ken

*Whisper*

107

Ken

Listen

...and that's it.
That's all you have to do.

108

Ken

Listen

Do you think you'll be able to?

109

Kohane

Listen

Yes!!

Sound Effect: Play

110

Akito

Listen

The crowd's starting to get antsy.
I'm not sure they can wait much longer.

111

Tatsuya

Listen

I doubt we will, but we need to make sure that we don't get caught up in the heat of the moment.

112

Kotaro

Listen

Right!
Let's go out there and blow the roof off this place!

113

Toya

Listen

Alright, you two are kicking things off for us, Azusawa, Shiraishi.

114

Toya

Listen

Give them everything you've both got.

115

Listen

Oh, we will!
Let's do this, Kohane!

116

Kohane

Listen

Yeah, let's go!

Sound Effect: Play

117

Kohane

Listen

(The first act's job is to set the stage for the entire event. So... Failure is not an option.)

118

Kohane

Listen

(Just a second ago, the thought of not succeeding almost overwhelmed my mind...)

119

Kohane

Listen

(But I feel fine now.)

120

Kohane

Listen

(What the others said helped me realize what is it that I want to do.)

121

Kohane

Listen

(Also...)

122

Listen

Let's do this, Kohane!

123

Kohane

Listen

Yeah!

124

Kohane

Listen

(I have An here next to me!)

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

Sound Effect: Play

125

Kohane & An

♪——————————————————!!

126

Taiga

Listen

...

Sound Effect: Play

127

Kohane

Listen

(...!
There's so much excitement in the air!)

128

Kohane

Listen

(It's like we're already at the finale.
And it's so hot that I can't see the audience very well.)

129

Kohane

Listen

(But we need to raise the temperature...!)

130

Kohane

Listen

(We need to get them even more excited!!)

131

Kohane

♪————————————————————————!!

132

♪————!! ————!! ————!!

133

Kohane & An

♪——————————————————!!

134

Taiga

Listen

Hmm...

135

Akito

Listen

(Alright, they're off to a good start!)

136

Akito

Listen

(The battle they had the other day taught them the importance of pushing each other to get better.)

137

Akito

Listen

(Which means they now know how to stoke an ember into a blaze!)

138

Listen

(Higher, Kohane. Let's go even higher!)

139

Kohane

Listen

(Yeah!!)

140

Kohane & An

♪——————————————————!!

Sound Effect: Play

141

Audience

Th-This is awesome...!

142

Audience

I'm getting goosebumps.
Their singing's amazing...!

143

Taiga

Listen

Not bad...

Sound Effect: Play

144

Kohane

Listen

Huff... Huff... Huff...

145

Listen

Huff... Huff...!
Nice work, Kohane!

146

Kohane

Listen

You too, An!

147

Kohane

Listen

This is so exciting, isn't it?

148

Listen

Yeah, it is!

149

Kotaro

Listen

That was unbelievable, you two!

150

Akito

Listen

Nice work.
You really got the ball rolling.

151

Toya

Listen

Can you hear what they're saying in the audience?

152

Kohane

Listen

Huh...?

Sound Effect: Play

153

Audience

Whoa...!!
And that was just the first song...!!

154

Audience

How can things still get better?!
Wh-Where is this going...?!

155

Listen

Perfect!

156

Listen

We gotta take this energy and keep knocking their socks off!!

157

Kohane

Listen

Shinonome, Aoyagi!
You two are up next!

158

Akito

Listen

Right.
Let's go, Toya.

159

Akito

Listen

Hm...?

160

Akito

Listen

What are you smirking at, Toya?

161

Toya

Listen

I could be asking you the same thing, Akito.
Aren't you feeling nervous at all?

162

Akito

Listen

I left any nerves behind long ago. All I care about now is...

163

Akito

Listen

Surpassing that night. End of story.

164

Toya

Listen

Yes, I feel the same way.

165

Toya

Listen

Let's go out there and make our dream a reality, Akito.

Sound Effect: Play

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

166

Akito & Toya

♪——————————————————!!

167

Audience

...!!

168

Listen

Good, they kicked things up a gear...!

169

Tatsuya

Listen

Man...
The way they hold those long notes is incredible...!

170

Kotaro

Listen

Akito! Toya! You're both doing great!

171

Akito

Listen

(We let those two take the first spot...)

172

Akito

Listen

(But they aren't the only partners who get to push each other higher!)

173

Akito

♪——————————————!!

174

Toya

Listen

(We kept pushing each other all this time to get better and make sure of one thing.)

175

Toya

Listen

(That we become the partners that we each deserve!!)

176

Toya

♪——————————————!!

177

Kohane

Listen

...

178

Listen

Those two really are amazing.

179

Listen

I mean, my heart's pounding like crazy...!

180

Kohane

Listen

Mine too...!!

Sound Effect: Play

181

Listen

That was awesome, you two!
They're bouncing off the walls now!

182

Tatsuya

Listen

Alright, Mita!
You're up next!

183

Kohane

Listen

Make them go even crazier for us!

184

Kotaro

Listen

I will!
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I'm not about to mess it up!

185

Kotaro

Listen

Thanks, you guys...

186

Kohane

Listen

Huh?

187

Kotaro

Listen

I ran away, but you guys were willing to give me another chance to chase after this dream.

188

Kotaro

Listen

So, what kind of man would that make me if I didn't seize that chance?!

189

Akito

Listen

Right.
So, go show them what you've got!

Sound Effect: Play

190

Kotaro

Listen

Yo! Next up is the one and only Kotaro Mita! Lemme hear your voices!

Sound Effect: Play

191

Kotaro

Listen

(Some are gonna get hyped for me...
But some won't. They're gonna think that I'm a nobody, and it's gonna kill the vibe...)

192

Kotaro

Listen

(But...!)

193

Kotaro

Listen

Who would've guessed in a million years that I'd be up here trying to surpass RAD WEEKEND?!

194

Kotaro

Listen

Watch closely, you guys! You guys aren't gonna know what hit you!

195

Kotaro

Listen

(They did everything they possibly could to create this atmosphere! And I'm not about to ruin their hard work!)

196

Kotaro

Listen

I'm the lone-wolf rapper who's spent all his time singing on Vivid Street! Getting you guys going is a piece of cake!

197

Kotaro

Listen

I still can't hear you!
Louder, you guys! Louder!

Sound Effect: Play

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

198

Kotaro

♪——! ——! ——! ——!!
♪————————!!

Sound Effect: Play

199

Audience

...!

200

Audience

Wh-Whoa, he's got incredible flow...!!

201

Kotaro

♪——! ——! ——! ——!!
♪——! ——! ——! ——!!

202

Kotaro

♪————!! ————!! ————!!

203

Audience

Seriously, when did he get so—

204

Audience

Who cares...?!
You're doing awesome, Kotaro!!!

Sound Effect: Play

205

Taiga

Listen

...

206

Tatsuya

Listen

Ready, everyone!
Hang on tight!

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

207

Tatsuya

♪————————————!!

Sound Effect: Play

208

Audience

This is incredible...!

209

Audience

They sound amazing! I'm being shaken to the core...!!

210

Taiga

Listen

(Even these guys found a way to get good.)

Sound Effect: Play

211

Taiga

Listen

They all feel the same way...

212

Taiga

Listen

(But this still isn't enough to—)

213

???

Listen

...

214

Taiga

Listen

(Hm...? That kid's in a wheelchair...
Maneuvering around in this crowd can't be easy...)

215

Taiga

Listen

Hey, kid, you okay? You look like you're not feeling well...

216

???

Listen

I'm okay, thank you.
This pain's manageable...

217

Taiga

Listen

...!
You're...

218

Listen

Nice...!
EVER's in good form too!

219

Toya

Listen

All that's left is for us to push the door fully open.

220

Kohane

Listen

...

221

Kohane

Listen

(This really is an incredible atmosphere...)

222

Kohane

Listen

(But we have to go further...)

223

Kohane

Listen

(Beyond RAD WEEKEND...
Beyond Nagi's dream...!)

224

Staff Member

Stop!
You're not allowed back there!

225

Listen

...?
What's going on? I thought I heard some shouting coming from over there...

226

Staff Member

Hello! I said you can't go in—
Wait, don't I know you from somewhere?

227

???

Listen

I'm sorry.
I know I'm asking the impossible.

228

???

Listen

But please let me go in. I beg you.

229

Akito

Listen

...!

230

Toya

Listen

That voice...

Sound Effect: Play

231

Kohane

Listen

*Gasp*
Tono...!

232

Akito

Listen

Tono...

233

Akito

Listen

What are you doing here?

234

Arata

Listen

Sorry, everyone.
I know I couldn't have picked a worse time to come back.

235

Arata

Listen

But I...

236

Arata

Listen

I was given this.

237

Toya

Listen

Wait, that CD...

238

Arata

Listen

Soma made it and sent it over to me.

239

Arata

Listen

He said, “Surpass that night using this.”

240

Toya

Listen

Soma...

241

Arata

Listen

He also sent me this note with it.

242

Arata

Listen

“I was so moved by the song Aoyagi wrote. If it genuinely moves you in the same way, then I want you to listen to this all the way to the end.”

243

Arata

Listen

I couldn't listen to it at first...
It didn't feel right of me to since I couldn't carry his dream anymore...

244

Arata

Listen

But I eventually decided that I had to at least listen to it. When I did, I finally realized...

245

Arata

Listen

That I... I want to keep carrying Soma's dream.

246

Arata

Listen

I don't care if I can or should.
That's what I want to do.

247

Arata

Listen

That's what sits at the core of my ego. I don't care how selfish I'm being.

248

Arata

Listen

I want to carry his dream.

249

Arata

Listen

His dream... His song...

250

Arata

Listen

I'm going to sing it...!!

251

Listen

...!!

252

Arata

Listen

I know this sounds ridiculous after running away and returning at the worst possible time...!!

253

Arata

Listen

But please...!
Let me sing this song...!

254

Toya

Listen

Tono...

255

Akito

Listen

You haven't lost your step or anything, right...?

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

256

Arata

Listen

...!!

257

Arata

Listen

I'm ready.
I ran from you guys, but I never gave up on my singing.

258

Listen

Go, Arata.

259

Listen

You know how to get them fired up even more, right?

260

Arata

Listen

Thank you all.

261

Tatsuya's Voice

Listen

Louder! I know you guys can do better than that!

262

Akito

Listen

EVER's almost finished.
Get ready. We'll go put on that track.

263

Arata

Listen

*Nod*
Thank you, Akito.

264

Arata

Listen

And thank you as well, Toya.

265

Toya

Listen

Huh...?

266

Arata

Listen

Soma said in his message how your song made the one he wrote possible.

267

Toya

Listen

No, my song was just meant to be a reflection of who we are as a team.

268

Toya

Listen

I think Soma was able to write his song because of how he felt about you.

269

Arata

Listen

I see...

270

Arata

Listen

Then, I'll sing with those feelings in mind.

271

Arata

Listen

I'm going to show them what Soma and I are all about.

Sound Effect: Play

272

Audience

EVER was off the hook...!
No other team can sing the way they do!

273

Audience

Yeah! And I'm getting drenched in sweat! It's so hot in here!

274

Audience

More importantly, Vivid BAD SQUAD's next, right?! What do you think they're gonna sing?

275

Audience

Hey, isn't that...?

Sound Effect: Play

276

Soma

Listen

...!
Arata!

Sound Effect: Play

277

Audience

T-Tono?!

278

Audience

It's Arata!
Wait, was he scheduled to perform?!

279

Arata

Listen

...

280

Arata

Listen

(Oh...)

281

Arata

Listen

(He is here...
But he must've only just managed to stand recently.)

282

Soma

Listen

...

283

Soma

Listen

Do it, Arata!

284

Soma

Listen

Let's surpass RAD WEEKEND together!

285

Arata

Listen

Right!

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

286

Arata

♪————————————————————!!

287

Kohane

Listen

...!!

288

Kohane

Listen

Wow...!!

289

Arata

♪————————————————————!!

290

Soma

Listen

Arata! You can do it!!!

291

Soma

Listen

...

292

Soma

Listen

I'm right there with you, Arata!

293

Soma

Listen

By your side... With my song...!

Sound Effect: Play

294

Audience

Whoa...
This feels like a dream...

295

Audience

Yeah...

296

Audience

I think we're witnessing history here...!

297

Listen

Way to go, Arata...
He just sent them flying even higher.

298

Toya

Listen

Yes, he did...
Or rather, they did. Together.

299

Akito

Listen

Yeah...
Still, I can't believe he made us wait until the last second.

300

Akito

Listen

This is our moment.

301

Kohane

Listen

Right!

302

Listen

The energy is the same as it was at RAD WEEKEND. I can feel it.

303

Listen

But that means we still haven't surpassed it.

304

Toya

Listen

Whether or not we do now depends entirely on us.

305

Kohane

Listen

Right...

306

Kohane

Listen

Sorry, everyone...
I'm going to get a quick drink of water.

307

Listen

Yeah.
I'll try to stay focused until we go on too.

Sound Effect: Play

308

Kohane

Listen

*Gulp*
*Sigh*

Sound Effect: Play

309

Kohane

Listen

(We're going to surpass it.)

Sound Effect: Play

310

Kohane

Listen

(No matter what, we're going to do it!)

311

Kohane

Listen

(And I'm going to complete that task...!!)

Sound Effect: Play

312

Ken

Listen

Kohane.
As discussed, you'll be doing your thing during the final song.

313

Ken

Listen

When you do...

314

Ken

Listen

You need to throw everything you're feeling in that moment into the song.

315

Ken

Listen

That's your second task... Your final one.

316

Kohane

Listen

(Everything I'm feeling...)

317

Kohane

Listen

(My thoughts, my ego, everything...!)

318

Kohane

Listen

(If I can't do that, then we'll...)

319

Kohane

Listen

Oh...

Sound Effect: Play

320

Kohane

Listen

(My hands are shaking...)

321

Kohane

Listen

(No, now's not the time...!
I have to go...! I have to go out there and—)

322

???

Listen

<Kohane.>

323

Kohane

Listen

...!

Sound Effect: Play

Next Chapter: Undoubtedly Ultimate