Turning Pain Into Drive

A few weeks later
Scramble Crossing

Sound Effect: Play

1

Friend A

Listen

Akito! Over here!
2

Akito

Listen

Hey.
3

Friend B

Listen

Whoa, you're really here?
When did you get back to Japan?
4

Akito

Listen

Just last night.
I couldn't sleep because there was so much turbulence during my flight.
5

Friend B

Listen

Haha. But you seem fine despite that.
I guess it's a testament to your stamina.
6

Akito

Listen

(He's really here...)
7

Friend A

Listen

Aoyagi also came back to Japan!
What country was it? Australia?
8

Toya

Listen

Austria. I'm currently living in Vienna.
9

Friend A

Listen

Yeah, there!
And Akito's over in the US. It's so amazing what you guys are doing.
10

Toya

Listen

You're also living abroad, Akito...?
11

Akito

Listen

Yeah...
12

Akito

Listen

I'm singing over in the States right now.
13

Toya

Listen

Really?
14

Toya

Listen

I had no idea you were still singing.
15

Akito

Listen

(Is he implying that I'm still chasing after a childish dream?)
16

Toya

Listen

I'm glad to hear that.
17

Akito

Listen

Huh...?
18

Friend B

Listen

Anyway, now that we're all here, let's head over to the diner, shall we?
19

Friend A

Listen

Yeah!

Sound Effect: Play

20

Akito

Listen

What was that...?
21

Akito

Listen

He's glad?
Diner

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22

Friend A

Listen

Still, I sort of can't believe that you're taking time off from school to be in America.
23

Friend A

Listen

Do you miss Japanese food at all?
24

Akito

Listen

Oh... No, I haven't been feeling all that homesick. I mean, they have Japanese food over there.
25

Akito

Listen

But more importantly...
26

Friend B

Listen

Really? You're living with your big brother right now, Aoyagi?
27

Toya

Listen

Yes.
28

Friend B

Listen

That's nice. I'd be so scared if I had to live abroad all by myself.
29

Toya

Listen

Yes, his support has been enormous.
30

Friend A

Listen

Hey, don't you wanna trade stories with Aoyagi about what it's like to live overseas...?
31

Akito

Listen

Huh? What's gotten into you all of a sudden?
32

Friend A

Listen

Well, I mean...
You guys used to be best buds before, right?
33

Akito

Listen

...
Not really.
34

Akito

Listen

Anyway, how have things been for you lately?
35

Friend A

Listen

Oh, you wanna know?
After a certain someone decided to leave, we've been having a ton of trouble finding people who are willing to lend the soccer team a hand.
36

Akito

Listen

That's your problem to solve.
37

Friend B

Listen

Speaking of which, Aoyagi, you used to play music pretty seriously.
38

Friend B

Listen

Does that mean you're going to a music school now?
39

Akito

Listen

...
40

Toya

Listen

No, I'm attending a normal school.
41

Toya

Listen

I've given up music.
42

Akito

Listen

(He quit playing music...?)

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

43

Friend B

Listen

What?! Really? But you're such an amazing singer!
44

Friend A

Listen

Yeah! You're giving it up for good? That seems like such a waste.
45

Toya

Listen

I appreciate you saying that, and I'm sorry to disappoint you, but... I've made my decision.
46

Friend B

Listen

Alright... But I guess that's only natural if you found something else you wanna do.
47

Akito

Listen

(Is that true?)

Sound Effect: Play

48

Toya

Listen

I can't keep going after this childish dream.
49

Toya

Listen

I'm glad to hear that.
50

Akito

Listen

(I've got no clue what he's thinking...)
51

Akito

Listen

(But...)
52

Friend A

Listen

Is something wrong, Akito?
53

Akito

Listen

...
It's nothing.
54

Friend A

Listen

Man, that was great!
It was so fun to hang out like this again!

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

55

Akito

Listen

Yeah. Oh, it's already this late?
56

Friend B

Listen

We really chatted up a storm, huh?
57

Friend A

Listen

We should do this again sometime!
We'll make sure to invite you two again, Akito, Aoyagi!
58

Toya

Listen

Thank you. I'll make an effort to attend if I'm free.
59

Akito

Listen

Sure, if I can make it.
60

Friend A

Listen

That's a promise! Anyway, see you guys!

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Sound Effect: Play

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61

Akito

Listen

...
62

Toya

Listen

...
63

Akito

Listen

(Oh, right. He's also this way.)
64

Akito

Listen

(This is probably it...)
65

Akito

Listen

(It's my last chance for us to talk.)
66

Akito

Listen

(He probably sees me as a complete stranger now, but...)
67

Akito

Listen

I've been gone for a while, so I'm gonna go for a stroll before I head home. Later.

Sound Effect: Play

68

Toya

Listen

Oh...
69

Toya

Listen

Akito, wait!
70

Akito

Listen

...!
71

Akito

Listen

What is it...?
72

Toya

Listen

Can we talk for a minute?
73

Toya

Listen

There's something I need to tell you.
Next Chapter: This Feeling Guides Me