Singing Among the Cherry Blossoms - 1: I Want to Get Better

Shibuya Park

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1

Ichika

Thank you for seeing me again, Kusanagi.

2

Nene

Sure, um... Thank you too, Hoshino.

3

Nene

Now, would you like to start with some warm-ups...?

4

Ichika

Okay. Lead the way...

5

Ichika

————!　————...

6

Ichika

I'm not sure how to say it, but this doesn't feel quite right...

7

Nene

Hmm... You might want to relax a little more.

8

Nene

And it may also help to sing more from your stomach to make sure your throat stays open.

9

Ichika

Okay, from my stomach...

10

Ichika

————♪　————♪

11

Nene

Yes, that's it.
You sound much better than before.

12

Ichika

I see, like this...

13

Ichika

Thank you, Kusanagi.
That helped quite a bit.

14

Ichika

But it still feels like I'm missing something...

15

Ichika

I'm singing with everything I have. I don't understand...

16

Nene

...

17

Nene

Maybe it's just a matter of confidence, Hoshino.

18

Ichika

Confidence...?

19

Nene

Yeah.
The first time I heard you sing, you seemed to sort of have doubts about your own abilities.

20

Nene

And even now, it seems like there's a small part of you somewhere that still feels that way.

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21

Ichika

Doubts about my abilities...
You may be right...

22

Nene

Don't worry. I was the same way, so I know how you feel...

23

Ichika

Huh? You were...?

24

Nene

Something I did a long time ago during a play I was in made me completely lose confidence in myself...

25

Nene

No matter how many times I tried to sing after that, it felt like there was something missing the same way you feel right now, Hoshino.

26

Ichika

I see...

27

Ichika

So how were you able to overcome that?

28

Nene

I...

29

Nene

I remembered why it was so fun to sing, and everything felt much better after that.

30

Ichika

Why it was so fun to sing...?

31

Nene

Yes. I'm still not even sure if I've fully returned to being my old self...

32

Nene

But that feeling of something being missing has vanished.

33

Ichika

I see...

34

Nene

However, I also don't think it's a good idea to dwell on it too much. That kind of obsession could end up making things worse.

35

Nene

Experiencing that moment when you feel like singing is fun will probably help you the most.

36

Ichika

Okay. I understand...
Thanks, Kusanagi.

37

Nene

Now, shall we start from the top?

38

Ichika

Yes, please!

Rehearsal Studio

39

Honami

Okay, here we go.
One, two, three, four...

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40

Ichika

————♪　————♪

41

Ichika

Phew...

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42

Saki

Ichi!
Your voice sounds amazing today!

43

Ichika

Huh? Does it...?

44

Honami

Yes, I can even tell through my drumming. I'm not sure how to put it into words, but it felt like we played so well because your voice sounded so light on its feet...

45

Ichika

Thank you. It's all thanks to Kusanagi.

46

Honami

Oh, that's right. You've been getting advice from her.

47

Ichika

I have, and she's been helping me practice even when it gets pretty late.

48

Saki

That's great!
Your hard work is really paying off too!

49

Saki

Right, Shiho?

50

Shiho

Yeah, I agree.
We did sound pretty good just now.

51

Ichika

Th-Thank you...!

52

Ichika

(All this praise is so encouraging.
I'm glad I asked Kusanagi for her help.)

53

Ichika

(But...)

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54

Shiho

And I want to touch someone's heart with my music, like they did with mine.

55

Shiho

That's why I have to get better...
I want to become a pro and reach more people.

56

Shiho

So that my music can really get them going too...

57

Ichika

(My singing is nowhere near that level yet...)

58

Ichika

(I want to get better and really learn how to perform with everyone else...)

59

Ichika

(But...)

60

Ichika

(How do I move up from here...?)

Next Chapter: A Lonely Street