(I now know why we stopped receiving offers after Idol Lovers...)

(But...)

(What can I do...?)

(There's no way for me to change the past.)

(If I tell the others about this...)

<Haruka.>

Luka... Is something the matter?

<Sorry, I know this is sudden.
I just wanted to see how you were doing.>

Me...?

<Yes, because you haven't been over to SEKAI in quite some time...>

<You told us that you were going to investigate why you girls stopped receiving offers, remember? I was a little worried that you were burning the candle at both ends.>

I see...
Thank you for showing so much concern for me.

<Why the long face? Did something happen...?>

So, I found out why we stopped receiving offers... And I was just thinking about how I'm going to tell the others...

<Would you like to tell me what happened?>

Huh?

<Hehe. An idol can't just leave someone be when their beautiful smile's been turned upside down.>

<You might feel better after telling someone about what happened. What do you say...?>

Luka...

Thank you.
Then, if you don't mind listening for a bit...

<I see. And Mr. Hiiragi told you this himself...?>

*Nod*

Mr. Hiiragi said that idols are beacons of hope that have a duty to stay illuminated for the sake of their fans, and I haven't been able to get that out of my head.

<Haruka...>

And he's right.

When I retired from being an idol, I made so many of my fans incredibly sad...

No, “sad” probably doesn't even begin to describe how they felt.

I robbed everyone of their hope.

<...>

<Yes, he may be technically correct...>

<Because losing the thing they love most is the worst thing that can happen to a fan.>

...

<But the fact of the matter is that you gave quite a lot of people quite a lot of hope when you were still with ASRUN, no?>

When I was still with ASRUN...?

<Yes, and I personally know someone who did. She's been using the hope you gave her as the fuel which propels her forward.>

Are you talking about...?

<Hehe. I'm sure you know who I'm referring to, Haruka.>

<Yes, by deciding to leave the stage behind, you caused your fans quite a lot of pain...>

<But you did your absolute best for them until then, and it's clear now that you gave them hope.>

<Hope that tomorrow will be a better day. That's the truth.>

<So, Haruka, as long as there are people out there who you inspired, then you get to say that you spread hope to them...>

Luka...

But I...

<Also, I don't believe for a second that you're not allowed to be an idol just because you took a slight detour.>

<I mean...>

<I know that you and only you were able to deliver hope to certain people.>

Only I was...?

<Yes, just think about it.>

(She's right...)

(What I said to Hasegawa that time, I was able to say because I'd faltered once already.)

<Yes, you may've faltered, but you're back to spreading hope as an idol again.>

<So, I believe that you will become an idol that can keep spreading hope to others for a very long time.>

Luka...

Yeah... You're right.

Mr. Hiiragi said how there's no guarantee that an idol can stay lit after having burned out once.

He's right. I have no way of knowing what's going to happen. All I can really do is vow that it won't happen again.

<Haruka...>

I did reach my breaking point...
But in doing so, I also gained a lot and made some profound realizations.

I learned that some feelings don't change, and I got to form a group with my dear friends.

Because of everything that I experienced. All of it. I've been able to see things that I never would have otherwise...

After my fall from grace, I was fortunate enough to encounter people and things that have helped make me stronger.

So, the current me... Haruka Kiritani of MORE MORE JUMP!... I vow that she'll never fail as an idol again.

Obviously, I can't change the fact that I let a lot of my fans down in the past...

But that just means I have to do what I can to regain their confidence. So that they feel hope again.

So that we can become idols that can spread hope to more people than anyone else.

<That'd be lovely...>

Thank you for listening, Luka.

I still don't have a solid idea of what I need to do yet, but I'll start by asking Minori and the others...

<Yes, that seems like a good plan.>

<And we'll be right there rooting for you...
So, do your best.>