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

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.

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.

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

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

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

Hey, you made it just in time...

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.

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

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

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

Good name, right?
They came up with it.

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

I see.

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

Oh, I believe they will.

Actually, what are you doing out here?

Hm?

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.

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

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

(But...)

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

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

You made them taste bitter defeat that night.

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

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

How strong their resolve is.

(Wow...)

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

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

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

(This is so strange...)

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

(I finally made it this far.)

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

(We only have one chance.)

(We have to succeed.)

...

Hey, you guys. Wanna form a huddle?

Huh? A huddle?

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

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

O-Okay...!

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

I'll start us off.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Shinonome...)

I want to see it.

...!

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

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.

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.

I was able to make it this far.

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

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

(Aoyagi...)

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

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

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

(Mita too...?)

(I see.)

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

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.

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!

I...!

(These...)

(These are their egos.)

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

(Now I'm starting to understand.)

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

(My ego...)

I...

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

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

I can't sing alongside her now.

But...

I can carry her dream forward.

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

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

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

I...!

I want to go there!

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

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...

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

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

With all of you!!

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

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

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

*Nod*
Yeah!
Yes!

Sounds like you're all pumped up.

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

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

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

Yes, your second task.

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

When you do...

*Whisper*

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

Do you think you'll be able to?

Yes!!

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

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

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

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

Give them everything you've both got.

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

Yeah, let's go!

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

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

(But I feel fine now.)

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

(Also...)

Let's do this, Kohane!

Yeah!

(I have An here next to me!)

♪——————————————————!!

...

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

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

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

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

♪————————————————————————!!

♪————!! ————!! ————!!

♪——————————————————!!

Hmm...

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

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

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

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

(Yeah!!)

♪——————————————————!!

Th-This is awesome...!

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

Not bad...

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

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

You too, An!

This is so exciting, isn't it?

Yeah, it is!

That was unbelievable, you two!

Nice work.
You really got the ball rolling.

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

Huh...?

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

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

Perfect!

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

Shinonome, Aoyagi!
You two are up next!

Right.
Let's go, Toya.

Hm...?

What are you smirking at, Toya?

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

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

Surpassing that night. End of story.

Yes, I feel the same way.

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

♪——————————————————!!

...!!

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

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

Akito! Toya! You're both doing great!

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

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

♪——————————————!!

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

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

♪——————————————!!

...

Those two really are amazing.

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

Mine too...!!

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

Alright, Mita!
You're up next!

Make them go even crazier for us!

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

Thanks, you guys...

Huh?

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

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

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

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

(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...)

(But...!)

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

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

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

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!

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

♪——! ——! ——! ——!!
♪————————!!

...!

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

♪——! ——! ——! ——!!
♪——! ——! ——! ——!!

♪————!! ————!! ————!!

Seriously, when did he get so—

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

...

Ready, everyone!
Hang on tight!

♪————————————!!

This is incredible...!

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

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

They all feel the same way...

(But this still isn't enough to—)

...

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

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

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

...!
You're...

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

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

...

(This really is an incredible atmosphere...)

(But we have to go further...)

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

Stop!
You're not allowed back there!

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

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

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

But please let me go in. I beg you.

...!

That voice...

*Gasp*
Tono...!

Tono...

What are you doing here?

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

But I...

I was given this.

Wait, that CD...

Soma made it and sent it over to me.

He said, “Surpass that night using this.”

Soma...

He also sent me this note with it.

“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.”

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

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

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

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

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

I want to carry his dream.

His dream... His song...

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

...!!

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

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

Tono...

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

...!!

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

Go, Arata.

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

Thank you all.

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

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

*Nod*
Thank you, Akito.

And thank you as well, Toya.

Huh...?

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

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

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

I see...

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

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

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

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

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

Hey, isn't that...?

...!
Arata!

T-Tono?!

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

...

(Oh...)

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

...

Do it, Arata!

Let's surpass RAD WEEKEND together!

Right!

♪————————————————————!!

...!!

Wow...!!

♪————————————————————!!

Arata! You can do it!!!

...

I'm right there with you, Arata!

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

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

Yeah...

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

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

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

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

This is our moment.

Right!

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

But that means we still haven't surpassed it.

Whether or not we do now depends entirely on us.

Right...

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

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

*Gulp*
*Sigh*

(We're going to surpass it.)

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

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

(Everything I'm feeling...)

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

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

Oh...

(My hands are shaking...)

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

<Kohane.>

...!