Rise and Strive

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

1

Hiiragi

Listen

I had a feeling it was you, Kiritani.
2

Haruka

Listen

Mr. Hiiragi... What are you doing here?
3

Hiiragi

Listen

I just got out of a meeting.
I was just about to head back to the office.
You?
4

Haruka

Listen

I...
5

Haruka

Listen

I also had a meeting...
For a show that my group is going to appear in.
6

Hiiragi

Listen

I see.
7

Haruka

Listen

Yes...
8

Haruka

Listen

(I wasn't expecting to run into him here...)
9

Haruka

Listen

(Calm down. Don't let your emotions get the best of you.)
10

Haruka

Listen

(Any conversation can be interpreted a thousand different ways. Including the one I overheard just now...)

Sound Effect: Play

11

TV Station Staff Member's Voice

Listen

There's also that scary rumor about Mr. Hiiragi. I hope it's not true, but it's probably best not to rock the boat.
12

Haruka

Listen

(I need to corroborate what I just heard.)
13

Haruka

Listen

Would you mind if I asked you a quick question, Mr. Hiiragi?
14

Hiiragi

Listen

No, I don't mind...
But you seem to be taking an awfully formal tone for some reason.
15

Haruka

Listen

Yes, the thing is... I know this isn't something I should ask someone directly.
16

Haruka

Listen

Withholding information is understandable...
But I can't see you outright lying to me, Mr. Hiiragi. At least, that's what I'd like to believe.
17

Hiiragi

Listen

What is it that you wish to ask?
18

Haruka

Listen

I just overheard some of the staff talking about a certain rumor surrounding you, Mr. Hiiragi...
19

Hiiragi

Listen

A rumor?
20

Haruka

Listen

Yes. I don't know the details...
But they said they didn't want to “rock the boat” by not choosing ReLight for their shows. That was the gist of it...
21

Haruka

Listen

Do you happen to know what they were talking about?
22

Hiiragi

Listen

I see...
I do agree that you shouldn't ask people that sort of question.
23

Haruka

Listen

I know I'm stepping out of bounds here.
But if I did misunderstand...
24

Hiiragi

Listen

No, I know what they're talking about.
25

Haruka

Listen

...!
26

Hiiragi

Listen

That being said, all I've been doing is telling people that I want to work with people who believe in ReLight's potential.
27

Hiiragi

Listen

Nothing more, nothing less.
28

Haruka

Listen

In ReLight's potential...?
29

Hiiragi

Listen

Since Idol Lovers, ReLight has gained a lot of traction.
30

Hiiragi

Listen

Now is our chance to go even higher.
Which is why I am adamant about working with those who genuinely believe in their potential.
31

Haruka

Listen

“I won't work with anyone who believes otherwise.”
32

Haruka

Listen

So, a few people interpreted it that way, which turned into a rumor?
33

Hiiragi

Listen

That seems plausible.
34

Haruka

Listen

...
35

Haruka

Listen

(I still don't entirely know what his full intentions were... But at the very least, I don't think he's lying about any of this.)
36

Haruka

Listen

(All the people I spoke with...
They were probably acting strange because they'd gotten wind of that rumor.)
37

Haruka

Listen

(But...)

Sound Effect: Play

38

Nakano's Voice

Listen

I still do believe that MORE MORE JUMP! is a great group with a lot of growth potential...
39

Nakano's Voice

Listen

However, if we're thinking about long-term stability, then ReLight is the correct way to go.
40

Haruka

Listen

(That wasn't the sole cause of us not receiving any offers...)
41

Haruka

Listen

(ReLight was just that much better than us...)

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

42

Haruka

Listen

(Which is why we weren't chosen.)
43

Hiiragi

Listen

Are we done here?
44

Haruka

Listen

Yes...
I have my answer.
45

Haruka

Listen

And I know what my group needs to do next.
46

Hiiragi

Listen

What your group needs to do next?
47

Haruka

Listen

We need to become better than ever.
48

Haruka

Listen

We need to become idols that can spread hope to others more than anyone else.
49

Hiiragi

Listen

Idols that can spread hope to others more than anyone else...
50

Hiiragi

Listen

Tell me, Kiritani. What is your idea of an idol that can spread hope to others?
51

Haruka

Listen

Huh? Well...
52

Haruka

Listen

I think that's someone who can cheer people up and brighten up their—
53

Hiiragi

Listen

That's not enough.
54

Haruka

Listen

It isn't...?
55

Hiiragi

Listen

An idol is a light.
56

Hiiragi

Listen

A light that can never go out.
A bright beacon of hope that has a duty to stay illuminated for the sake of their fans.
57

Hiiragi

Listen

At no point can they go out and leave everybody wandering around in the dark.
58

Hiiragi

Listen

Even if it does go out and manages to glow once more...
There's no guarantee that it will keep shining forever.
59

Haruka

Listen

...

Sound Effect: Play

60

Haruka

Listen

(He's right...)
61

Haruka

Listen

(I... That time... I gave up...)
62

Haruka

Listen

(I made my fans so sad...)
63

Haruka

Listen

But... Even so...!
64

Haruka

Listen

...
65

Hiiragi

Listen

I genuinely believe that ReLight will never go out.
As idols, they will spread more hope to others than anyone else.
66

Haruka

Listen

Oh...
67

Haruka

Listen

(A light that never goes out...)
68

Hiiragi

Listen

Our groups have the same goal in mind...
So, we'll likely be seeing quite a lot of each other in the future.
69

Hiiragi

Listen

I won't discount your group's work ethic and determination.
70

Hiiragi

Listen

But know this.
We refuse to let you take the lead.

Sound Effect: Play

Sound Effect: Play

71

Hiiragi

Listen

Even if it does go out and manages to glow once more...
There's no guarantee that it will keep shining forever.
72

Haruka

Listen

...
73

Haruka

Listen

(I was totally lost for words...)
74

Haruka

Listen

(Mr. Hiiragi's absolutely right.)
75

Haruka

Listen

(I burned out as an idol once, and now I...)
76

Haruka

Listen

I...
Next Chapter: Regrets & the Future