Two hours later
Saki
Whew, I'm exhausted!
Can we take a break now?!
Can we take a break now?!
Shiho
Sure, but when we start back up, we're going right back to the part of the chorus you just messed up.
Saki
Urgh...! O-Okay...
*Sigh*
Learning to play a new song is always so hard...
*Sigh*
Learning to play a new song is always so hard...
MEIKO
Hehe. Why don't we make some of the tea Honami brought over? We still have some left.
Honami
Oh, I'll help with that!
Rin
Me too! Me too!
It'll be ready in no time if all three of us work together!
It'll be ready in no time if all three of us work together!
MEIKO
Thank you. Then, let's go!
Honami
Okay!
Miku
Still, your new song really is lovely.
What did you call it? “Blue Moments”...?
What did you call it? “Blue Moments”...?
Miku
Every time I hear it, you immediately pop into my mind, Ichika.
Ichika
Oh...
Ichika
Thanks, Miku...!
Shiho
That means it was worth working on it until the very last minute.
Ichika
I feel really bad about making Mr. Shindo wait for me like that. I knew what I wanted to do, but I just couldn't seem to find the right sounds for it.
Ichika
I still have a lot to learn...
Luka
I see.
Luka
But I agree with Miku.
I think this song turned out beautifully.
I think this song turned out beautifully.
KAITO
Me too.
KAITO
I know it must've been a struggle, but I think it's a nice expression of your feelings.
Ichika
Really? Thank goodness...!
I'm so glad that you're all saying this.
I'm so glad that you're all saying this.
Saki
Hehe. Especially since it's a song about our youth♪
Miku
Speaking of youth...
Wasn't that the theme of the music video you all shot the other day?
Wasn't that the theme of the music video you all shot the other day?
Saki
Yeah, that's right!
We shot it at a school, and the story behind it was so good!
We shot it at a school, and the story behind it was so good!
Saki
It actually just got uploaded too, so have a look!
Ichika
Huh? No, Saki, wait...!
Luka
I'm looking forward to seeing what it's like.
Saki
Hehe. We even got to do some acting this time around!
Saki
We worked really hard on it, so get ready to have your minds blown!
Luka
Oh? Then, does that mean we get to see a different side of you girls?
Miku
Hey, let me see.
Len
Yeah, I wanna watch it too.
Saki
Then, let's watch it together!
Come squeeze in, you guys!
Come squeeze in, you guys!
Ichika
P-Please, Saki...!
MEIKO
Thank you for waiting, everyone!
Rin
Huh? What are you guys doing?
Saki
Oh, you're back!
Saki
We were just about to watch our new music video!
Rin
Wait, your new music video?!
I wanna watch!
I wanna watch!
Ichika
Aah...
Miku
Is something wrong, Ichika? You're acting a little funny.
Honami
Haha...
I'm guessing she's a little embarrassed.
I'm guessing she's a little embarrassed.
Honami
Since she was basically the protagonist of this video's story.
KAITO
Really?
Ichika
Y-Yes... I told them that I probably wasn't the right person for the job, but they kept saying how things turn out better when the vocalist is in the spotlight...
MEIKO
So, what's the story about?
Ichika
Umm... It starts with me sitting in a classroom feeling bored. Then, Saki invites me to form a band...
Ichika
We go out into the corridor, run into Honami and Shiho, and invite them to join us. We go up to the rooftop to play together...
Len
Alright, based on what you've told us so far, it seems like a story that suits your band well.
Rin
What he said! There's no reason to be embarrassed!
Ichika
Y-Yeah, I know...
Saki
Alright, you guys! I'm gonna play it now!
Rin
Oh, it's showtime!
Ichika
Oh...
Rin
Wait, Ichi, is this you?!
You look really cool!
You look really cool!
Saki
That's because she is!
Len
Honestly, you seem like a totally different person. Maybe it's your expression?
Ichika
The director asked me to do a bit of face acting for this scene to give it a bigger impact...
Miku
Oh, I see.
KAITO
You seem really grown-up for some reason.
MEIKO
Hehe! I'm really enjoying this!
It's like we're getting to see a brand-new side of Ichika.
It's like we're getting to see a brand-new side of Ichika.
Ichika
Th-Thank you...
Ichika
But this is still really embarrassing...
Ichika
I mean, Saki, you kept grinning and looking my way while we shot this scene.
Saki
Huh? I did?
Shiho
Yeah, you did the same thing to me.
Do you know how hard it was for me to keep a straight face?
Do you know how hard it was for me to keep a straight face?
Saki
You too, Shiho?!
I was just trying to diffuse the tension a little!
I was just trying to diffuse the tension a little!
Ichika
Well, I guess it did help a little bit.
Honami
Hehe. This shoot was much more involved than our last one. It posed a few challenges, but we thankfully were able to get through it.
Shiho
Yeah. Setting our acting aside, the video did turn out pretty well in the end.
Ichika
I agree...
Ichika
Also, for the VIRTUAL SINGER music video, they got this illustrator I really like to do all the artwork. That made me so happy...
Saki
Their artwork was so gorgeous!
I was actually sorta stunned by how our song could be depicted in such an amazing way!
I was actually sorta stunned by how our song could be depicted in such an amazing way!
Miku
That's great.
So, how has it been received?
So, how has it been received?
Shiho
Pretty well... Actually, better than expected.
MEIKO
Oh, really?
Honami
Yes...! It currently has around five million views. At this rate, it might spike even more.
Rin
What?! Five million?!
That's amazing...!
That's amazing...!
Saki
It's unbelievable! I felt the same way with our last song, but I honestly never expected it to do this well!
Saki
This means we gotta start practicing giving autographs!
Shiho
You're getting way ahead of yourself now.
Ichika
Hehe...
Ichika
It is astonishing how many views its been getting, but it's also evidence of just that many people listening to our music. Which is wonderful news.
Honami
Some people might come see us at Jam Fest after listening to this song. So, we need to practice as much as we can for them.
Saki
Right! We gotta put on an amazing performance for them!
Shiho
Then, let's resume practice after we finish our tea.
Saki
Okay♪ I'm gonna look really cool while I play, just like we do in the music video!
Next Chapter: Festival Readiness