The next day
Miyamasuzaka Girls Academy - School Gate

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1

Shiho

Listen

...
2

Ichika

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Oh, Shiho...
3

Shiho

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Morning, Ichika.
4

Ichika

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Good morning.
5

Ichika

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Um... Can you come to practice today? We were thinking about trying out a new song...
6

Shiho

Listen

Sorry, I have to work again today...
7

Ichika

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Oh, okay...
8

Ichika

Listen

We'll keep practicing and make sure that we'll be ready for when you can make it.
9

Shiho

Listen

...
10

Ichika

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...
11

Ichika

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Um, Shiho...

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12

Shiho

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Let's go. We're gonna be late.
13

Ichika

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Oh, right...
Class 1-A

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14

Shiho

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...
15

Shiho

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(Ichika's been trying so hard lately too, and gotten so much better...)
16

Shiho

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(Everyone else too. They put up with everything I made them do...)
17

Shiho

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(But...)

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18

Shiho

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Again, I appreciate the thought, but that's just not enough...
19

Shiho

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You have to be willing to put everything on the line to become a pro.
20

Shiho

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Can you say for sure that you'd be able to do that?
21

Ichika

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Put everything on the line...?
22

Saki

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I...
23

Saki

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I, uh...
24

Saki

Listen

...
25

Shiho

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(I think I made Saki cry too...)
26

Shiho

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(If I let her finish, she might've actually said that she wants to go pro too...)
27

Shiho

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(But thoughts alone won't be enough. She'll absolutely end up regretting that decision...)

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28

Shiho

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...
29

Shiho

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(I don't want her to feel that way ever again...)
Live House
30

Shiho

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There doesn't seem to be anything special going on with today's show so...
31

Mio

Listen

Um, Hinomori...
32

Shiho

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Hm? You're...
33

Mio

Listen

Yes, my name is Mio. I'm the bassist for STANDOUT...
34

Mio

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I'd like to apologize about the other day. I feel terrible about making you play in my place like that...
35

Shiho

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I was a little startled, but at least everything ended up going smoothly.
36

Shiho

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More to the point, is there something going on between you and Iori...?
37

Mio

Listen

...

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38

Mio

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After it became clear that we'd be making our big debut, I became scared and started avoiding everyone...
39

Shiho

Listen

Scared?
40

Mio

Listen

Iori said that after we turn pro, we'll have to invest much more time and really commit to our music...
41

Shiho

Listen

...
42

Mio

Listen

For the longest time, I just wanted to have fun while playing in a band...
43

Mio

Listen

We all came up with songs together, played in shows and really seemed to be enjoying it...
44

Shiho

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I see...
45

Shiho

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(She's almost the same as Ichika.
Having fun with everyone...)
46

Mio

Listen

But...
47

Mio

Listen

Iori told me that having fun or just liking music won't be enough when we go pro.
48

Mio

Listen

She said that we'd have to put our music and fans first above anything else. She said that we'd be responsible for how they feel.
49

Shiho

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Okay...
50

Mio

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I just couldn't understand what she meant by that. Is there something wrong with just playing whatever music we like...?
51

Shiho

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...
52

Shiho

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This responsibility she's talking about may be about playing your best whenever you're on stage. At least, that's what I think...
53

Mio

Listen

Playing your best...?
54

Shiho

Listen

It doesn't matter if you don't feel well or become sick, your audience will be waiting for you.
55

Shiho

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There's also the staff that help make your shows happen. You'd be putting all their hard work to waste as well.
56

Mio

Listen

Oh...
57

Mio

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I... I didn't realize I was being so selfish...
58

Mio

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I was so scared that everything would change. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to play music with Iori and everyone else like we have been...
59

Shiho

Listen

...!

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60

Shiho

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(She really is the same. This is probably what'll end up happening to everyone else too...)
61

Shiho

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(Going from playing in a band for fun to playing professionally would be too big a leap of faith for most people...)
62

Mio

Listen

But...
63

Shiho

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Huh...?
64

Mio

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I still want to be in a band with them. I want to keep walking the same path as Iori...!
65

Mio

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I kept running away and ended up disappointing Iori but...
66

Shiho

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Oh...

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67

Shiho

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(I want to go pro and get better.)
68

Shiho

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(I want to play music that can really move people, like that band can.)
69

Shiho

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(But...)
70

Shiho

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I guess I do really like being in a band with them...

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71

Shiho

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(I see a part of me within her too...)
72

Shiho

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(The part that still wants to be in a band with my friends...)
73

Shiho

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I'd like to give this back to you...
74

Mio

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Huh? My sheet music...?
75

Shiho

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I'm sure you'll need these if you want to keep playing for STANDOUT.
76

Mio

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I... I'm so sorry. After she spent so much time recruiting you...
77

Shiho

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Please, don't worry about that.
It was never mine to keep anyway.
78

Shiho

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But I do agree with Iori about rethinking what you want to do moving forward.
79

Mio

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Right. About our responsibility as professionals...
80

Shiho

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Exactly. As long as you're willing to invest a little more time into your music, I think you'll be just fine.
81

Mio

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Oh...
82

Shiho

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If you don't think you can keep up with Iori or feel like you'll end up disappointing her even further, you may want to find something else to do.
83

Shiho

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But you came this far and even got a record deal. That mean's you're at least that good.
84

Mio

Listen

Hinomori...
85

Mio

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Thank you so much...
86

Shiho

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Break a leg.

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87

Shiho

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(I hope things turn out well...)
88

Shiho

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Now, it's my turn...
Next Chapter: My Response