The next day
School SEKAI

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1

Ichika

Listen

Okay, I'm staying behind to practice with Miku some more.
2

Miku

Listen

Great job, everyone!
3

Saki

Listen

Yeah!
Thanks, Ichi, Miku!
4

Honami

Listen

Don't work too hard, okay?
5

Shiho

Listen

See you at school.
6

Ichika

Listen

Right, see you.
7

Ichika

Listen

Sorry for making you stay, Miku.
8

Miku

Listen

No, don't worry about that. There's something you want to talk about, right?
9

Ichika

Listen

Yes...
10

Miku

Listen

Is something wrong? You can talk to me.
11

Ichika

Listen

...
12

Ichika

Listen

Um, Miku...
How can I become more confident?
13

Miku

Listen

More confident?
14

Ichika

Listen

Yes.
I've definitely gotten much better at singing lately thanks to all the help I've been getting.
15

Miku

Listen

Yes, you have improved quite a bit.
16

Ichika

Listen

Thank you.
But it still feels like I'm missing something...
17

Ichika

Listen

Someone else told me that it could be a matter of having confidence in myself, but I don't know how to feel more confident...
18

Ichika

Listen

Which is why I'm asking you, Miku...
19

Ichika

Listen

My mind is telling me to just keep practicing, but I feel like there's more to it than just that...
20

Miku

Listen

Yes, I see...
You've been doing very well in practice too, Ichika.
21

Miku

Listen

If you still feel like something is missing, it may help to actually sing in front of people.
22

Ichika

Listen

Like in public...?
23

Miku

Listen

Yes.
24

Miku

Listen

Some people practice their hearts out and even sound great, but can't quite produce the same results when it matters most.
25

Miku

Listen

By singing and playing in front of people, you'll naturally become more and more confident in your abilities.
26

Ichika

Listen

You may be right. We haven't actually played in front of anyone yet, have we...?
27

Ichika

Listen

But where or when can we do that...?
The School Festival is too far off and...
28

Miku

Listen

Then how about a street performance?
29

Ichika

Listen

Huh?
30

Miku

Listen

You're bound to receive a confidence boost by learning to sing in front of complete strangers, no?
31

Ichika

Listen

Right, there's usually someone performing on Main Street too...
32

Ichika

Listen

But can I do what they do...?
33

Miku

Listen

I'm sure you can.
34

Ichika

Listen

Miku...
35

Ichika

Listen

Okay. I'm a little nervous, but I'd like to give it a try...
36

Ichika

Listen

Thank you, Miku.
I'm glad I asked you.
37

Miku

Listen

Hehe. You're welcome.
I'll be rooting for you.
The next day
Main Street

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38

Ichika

Listen

Is this a good spot...?
39

Ichika

Listen

There's no one performing here today for a change...
40

Ichika

Listen

(I'm starting to get nervous. What should I do...?)
41

Ichika

Listen

(No, I'll be fine...
Just sing the way you do during practice and remember what Kusanagi taught you.)
42

Ichika

Listen

(Miku's cheering me on too.)
43

Ichika

Listen

(Okay, be brave...)
44

Ichika

Listen

...
45

Ichika

♪……、…………
46

Ichika

Listen

Huh?
47

Ichika

Listen

(W-Wait...
Something's wrong. One more time. Just breathe...)
48

Ichika

♪——……
49

Ichika

♪……
50

Ichika

Listen

(My voice... I can't sing...!)

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51

Ichika

Listen

(I'm usually much louder than this.
What's happening...?!)
52

Female High School Student

Wait, seriously? That's amazing...!
53

Male High School Student

Hahaha. And my teacher got so mad...
54

Ichika

Listen

...!
55

Ichika

Listen

(Right, they're all within earshot of my voice...)
56

Ichika

Listen

(But what if I start getting weird looks? What if they start laughing...?)
57

Ichika

♪…………
58

Ichika

Listen

(No, I almost feel too scared of playing my guitar too...)
59

Ichika

♪……
60

Ichika

Listen

(I need to get better. I need to keep singing...)
61

Ichika

Listen

(But...)
62

Ichika

♪…………
63

Woman A

Hey, remember that place we had lunch at the other day?
64

Woman B

Yeah, totally! That place was so good! We have to go again sometime!
65

Ichika

♪…………
66

Man

Ah, thank you so much for calling me back! Oh, yes! It's about that...!
67

Man

R-Really?! Thank you very much! I'm looking forward to doing more business with you!
68

Ichika

♪……
69

Ichika

Listen

(They're not even laughing, let alone listening...)
70

Ichika

Listen

(No one cares about my music...)
71

Ichika

Listen

...
72

Ichika

Listen

I should stop for today...
Next Chapter: Our Dream