Our Starry Sky Leading to the Future - 8: What's Amazing About You

Scramble Crossing

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1

Ichika

(It got so late while I was in that instrument shop.)

2

Ichika

(I need to get home and practice.
Also, if I have time, I want to start working on a new Miku song...)

3

Ichika's Voice

<——♪ ——♪>

4

Ichika

(Oh, that's our song...)

5

Ichika

(It's being played on that billboard again.)

6

Ichika

(This still feels a little weird...
I mean, that's my voice being played here.)

7

Passerby A

Hey, it's that song...

8

Passerby B

Oh, I know this one!
It's that Miku song!

9

Passerby B

Wait a second. Miku isn't the one singing...

10

Passerby A

It's by a band called Leo/need, right?
That explains why they have their own version.

11

Passerby B

Oh, really?!
This band's version is also really good. I might give it a better listen later.

12

Ichika

(Oh, they're talking about us...
That's kind of nice.)

13

Ichika

(Still...)

14

???

<It's hard not to feel embarrassed hearing them talk about us like that, you know?>

15

Ichika

Huh?

Sound Effect: Play

16

Ichika

Oh, Miku!

17

Miku

<I came to chat.
Are you all done with practice?>

18

Ichika

Y-Yeah. But is something the matter?

19

Miku

<Yes, sort of... Huh?>

20

Miku

<Is something wrong, Ichika...?>

21

Ichika

Huh? What do you mean?

22

Miku

<You had this complicated expression on your face.>

23

Ichika

Oh, umm...

24

Ichika

It's nothing serious.
But...

Recording Studio

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25

Ichika

Phew...

26

Shindo's Voice

<Are you ready, Ms. Hoshino?
We'll start from the top if you are.>

27

Ichika

Y-Yes...! I'm ready!

28

Ichika

(They want the vocals recorded separately...
Plus, this is my first time singing in front of sound engineers. I'm getting really nervous.)

29

Ichika

(But this is our debut song...
It's going to be the first one that the masses hear.)

30

Ichika

(We need to make it as good as we can...!)

31

Ichika

————♪ ————♪

32

Ichika

...!

33

Ichika

(My voice is looping back through these headphones...)

34

Ichika

(What do I do?
I'm starting to get really lost.)

35

Ichika

I'm sorry.
Can we try that again?

36

Ichika

————♪ ————♪

37

Ichika

(It happened again. I'm having trouble singing the way I normally do...)

38

Ichika

(I need to really project my voice here, but...)

39

Shindo's Voice

<Is this a bit too different from what your band usually does?>

40

Ichika

Y-Yes...
I'm having trouble singing the way I normally do, and listening to my voice as I do this seems to be playing a role in that...

41

Shindo's Voice

<Right.
It's natural to feel uncomfortable since it's your first time doing this.>

42

Shindo's Voice

<But as far as I can tell, you are singing the way you usually do.>

43

Ichika

Huh? Really...?

44

Shindo's Voice

<Yes, really. I know you're nervous, but try to remain confident.>

45

Ichika

O-Okay...!

46

Ichika

*Sigh*

Sound Effect: Play

47

Shindo

Nice work, Ms. Hoshino.
What did you think of your first recording session?

48

Ichika

Oh...

49

Ichika

I had a lot of trouble singing the way I wanted...

50

Staff Member

Would you like to do some extra takes...?
No one else is scheduled to use this place, so we don't mind sticking around for a bit longer.

51

Ichika

Are you sure?
Then...

52

Shindo

No, let's stop at our scheduled time.

53

Ichika

Huh...?

54

Shindo

I understand why you wish to continue.
You're recording your debut song, so you want everyone to hear you at your best.

55

Shindo

But you've raised the bar very high for yourself because you're so motivated right now. Which probably means you're not going to like anything you record.

56

Ichika

B-But...

57

Shindo

It's extremely important to want to sing and sound a particular way.

58

Shindo

But you really are doing better than you realize, Ms. Hoshino.

59

Ichika

Mr. Shindo...

60

Shindo

So, let's do one more take and call things there.

61

Shindo

Regardless of what happens, that's it.

62

Shindo

Let me hear you sing, Ms. Hoshino.
Show me everything you've got right now.

63

Ichika

...!

64

Ichika

Understood...

65

Ichika

So, I sang with everything I had and was told that it was my best take...

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66

Ichika

But a part of me keeps wondering if I could have done better here and there.

67

Miku

<Ichika...>

68

Ichika

Still...

69

Ichika

This is what I'm capable of right now.

70

Ichika

I have to accept that.

71

Ichika

I mean, things didn't go as planned when Saki and I wrote that song. And the same goes for the recording session...

72

Ichika

I've been stumbling quite a lot as we take on new challenges...

73

Ichika

But in order for us to keep moving forward, I have to accept where I am and find ways to improve.

74

Miku

<You're so strong, Ichika...>

75

Ichika

Huh? No, I really don't think I said anything praiseworthy...

76

Miku

<I think it was.
Especially the part about accepting where you are right now. That isn't easy.>

77

Ichika

Y-You think so?

78

Miku

<I do.>

79

Miku

<You're not running away from your faults. You're trying to move forward by facing them head-on.>

80

Miku

<I believe your ability to do so is one of your best qualities, Ichika.>

81

Miku

<Because you're so strong, I'm certain that you'll be able to propel yourself even further forward.>

82

Miku

<Naturally, the others as well.>

83

Ichika

Miku...

84

Ichika

*Nod*
Thank you...

85

Miku

<Hehe. Actually...>

86

Miku

<Those sorts of feelings may be behind that new area appearing.>

87

Ichika

What new area?

88

Miku

<Come to SEKAI.
There's something I'd like to show you.>

Next Chapter: Beyond the Tracks