Rekindle the Flame - 6: A Song to Shake the Heart

The next day - Early morning

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1

Akito

Huff... Huff...

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2

KAITO

You began dreaming of surpassing RAD WEEKEND after just happening to come across it.

3

KAITO

So, you might find something else that rekindles the flame inside of you.

4

Akito

(The world...)

5

Akito

(To be honest, I still don't have a good idea of what the world out there looks like.)

6

Akito

(But if there is something that can make me feel that way again, then...)

7

???

♪————...

8

Akito

Hm...?

9

???

♪————————

10

Akito

Is somebody singing...?

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Akito

(I think it's coming from the park we always use...)

12

Akito

(But it doesn't sound like Toya or the others...)

13

Akito

(And these voices...)

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14

Akito

Oh...

15

Akito

(Who are they...?
I don't recognize them.)

16

???

♪————————!

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17

Akito

...!

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Akito

(What the...?!
He's doing that without even breaking a sweat...)

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???

♪——————————!!

20

Akito

(It's like every note and lyric is piercing my chest...!)

21

???

“Man, there really is nothing better than singing first thing in the morning!”

22

???

“I get that, but keep it down... We need to make sure we don't wake up the neighborhood...”

23

Akito

(They're speaking English... I don't know what they're saying. Are they talking about singing...?)

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???

“Sorry, but I really felt like singing after taking a stroll through Vivid Street.”

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???

“Wait... Huh?!”

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Akito

(H-Huh? They just saw me and froze...)

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???

H-Hey, you!

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Akito

...?!
They can speak Japanese? Pretty well too...

29

???

Aren't you from Vivid BAD SQUAD?!

30

Akito

Huh?

31

???

I knew it!
You sang at RAD BLAST, right?!

32

???

Wow, this is so cool! I didn't actually think we'd run into you today! Now I'm really glad we decided to make this our last stop since we're scheduled to fly home today!

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33

???

Oh, also... Can we shake hands?

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Akito

S-Sure...

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???

Hey, where are your manners? You should at least introduce yourself first...

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???

Oh right, sorry!
I'm just so excited is all...

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???

Honestly...
Sorry if he startled you in any way.

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Cedric

But my name is Cedric. This is my little brother, Slade.

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Slade

Actually, we're twins! But I'm a few minutes younger, which makes me technically the little brother!

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Slade

Anyway, what's your name?!

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Akito

Akito Shinonome from Vivid BAD SQUAD...

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Slade

Your name's Akito?! Nice to meet you!

43

Akito

(Who are these guys? Do they usually sing somewhere else? But they seem way too good to be just—)

44

Cedric

We flew all the way from the US to see RAD BLAST.

45

Akito

From the states...?

46

Akito

(They came all this way...?
Why? Do they know Taiga or something...?)

47

Slade

It was such a long flight. Like fourteen hours...
But I'm really glad that we decided to come see it!

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Slade

It was such an intense event!
The audience and performers all came together, and there was this absolutely incredible atmosphere...!

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Slade

Especially when Vivid BAD SQUAD performed!
You guys totally sent shivers down my spine...!

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Cedric

Yeah, it'd been so long since someone's singing made us feel that way.

51

Akito

I see...

52

Slade

And we really felt like singing after hearing you guys' performance.

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Slade

So, on top of sightseeing, we decided to enter into events at live houses where you guys performed!

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Slade

And we had so much fun! The audience really brought the energy every time! Right, Ceddy?!

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Cedric

Yeah.

56

Akito

...!
Wait a second...

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57

Musicians

So, the other day, these mysterious twin brothers showed up out of nowhere.

58

An

They're all places we performed at while training, aren't they?

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Akito

They were talking about you two...?

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Slade

Huh? Who's they?

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Akito

Everyone's been talking about you guys.

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Akito

Rumors have been flying around about these mysterious twins who appear out of nowhere, put on a ridiculously good performance, then vanish into thin air.

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63

Slade

What?!
People are talking about us?!

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Cedric

We had no idea...

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Slade

“How cool is that?!
Mysterious twins who show up, sing and vanish...! We're like superheroes!”

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Cedric

“Or really suspicious people...
I know we were short on time, but I feel like we should've at least greeted and thanked everyone properly.”

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Cedric

“By the way, you got so worked up you switched to English.”

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Slade

“Oh, you're right!”

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Akito

(Seriously, who are these guys...?)

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Akito

(More to the point, how did they know which live houses we performed at...?)

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Slade

So, Akito...
I wanna ask you for a small favor.

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Slade

Can you battle with me?

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Akito

Huh?

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Cedric

Wait, Slade, you shouldn't ask him to do that. It's early in the morning, and you literally just met him...

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Cedric

Also, if we don't get going soon, we're going to miss our plane.

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Slade

Yeah, I know.
This is a really sudden request, and we don't really have much time.

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Slade

But... I wanna battle against you.

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Slade

I've been wanting to do this ever since I watched you guys blow the roof off the place at RAD BLAST!

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Slade

And us meeting can't be just a mere coincidence! Please...! As a parting souvenir!

80

Akito

...

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81

Slade

♪————————!

82

Akito

Alright, I accept your challenge...

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Slade

Really?! Thanks so much!

84

Cedric

Are you sure about this?
You don't have to do this.

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Akito

I don't mind.
This should be better training than just warming up on my own.

86

Akito

(And the way he sang...)

87

Slade

Alright! Then, let's start getting ready!
I'm sure you still need to warm up, Akito!

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Slade

Oh, also... This is a serious battle, so no holding back!

89

Akito

You got it.

Next Chapter: This Drive