The next day
Miyamasuzaka Girls Academy - Class 1-C

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1

Saki

Listen

Zzz...
C here, then E...
2

Shiho's Classmate

It's such a pain going back and forth between our classroom and the AV room. Can't we just do everything in one place...?
3

Teacher

You, no talking in the corridor! Other students are still in class!
4

Shiho

Listen

(Hm? Saki...?
Is she asleep at her desk...?)
5

Shiho

Listen

(Saki never falls asleep during class. She's usually too focused on what the teacher's saying for that to happen...)
6

Shiho

Listen

...

Sound Effect: Play

7

Shiho

Listen

Then how about we use Saki's work as a basis next time to think about what kind of music we want to play as a band...?
8

Ichika

Listen

Okay. Let's sleep on it and see what we all come up with.
9

Saki

Listen

Yeah...!
And I'll keep doing my best to come up with something that really hits home!
10

Shiho

Listen

(Saki...)
After school

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11

Saki

Listen

Alright, let's make the most of today! Let's go, Ichi!
12

Ichika

Listen

Oh, sorry. The teacher asked me to handle some committee business. Would you mind going ahead without me...?
13

Saki

Listen

Yeah, sure!
I'll see you later then!
14

Saki

Listen

Hey, Shiho!
Since Ichi's gonna be busy with committee stuff for a while, let's go and...
15

Shiho

Listen

Before that, Saki, can we talk?
16

Saki

Listen

Talk? About what?
Is something wrong?
17

Shiho

Listen

About coming up with an original song...
18

Saki

Listen

Oh, I came up with even more ideas for today!
19

Saki

Listen

I'm still not sure if any of it really suits us as a band, but I tried changing the way I write these.
20

Saki

Listen

But then it became harder to string notes and chords together, you know? Songwriting's so tough...
21

Shiho

Listen

Saki...
22

Shiho

Listen

Thanks for doing all this for us.
23

Shiho

Listen

But again, you don't have to rush or anything.
24

Saki

Listen

Huh?
25

Honami

Listen

Oh, did Saki and Shiho decide to wait for me...?
26

Honami

Listen

But something doesn't seem right... Did something happen...?
27

Shiho

Listen

I really appreciate how much effort you've been putting in lately.

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28

Shiho

Listen

However, nobody's telling us to come up with an original song right this second either.
29

Saki

Listen

But...
30

Shiho

Listen

I'm certain that things won't go the way we expect at first...
31

Shiho

Listen

And trying too hard at this stage might end up being more stressful than you can handle.
32

Shiho

Listen

So let's try taking it more slowly, okay?
33

Saki

Listen

Shiho...
34

Saki

Listen

Okay...
Maybe I did get myself a little too worked up like you say.
35

Saki

Listen

I guess I convinced myself that we have to start getting our own songs out if we really do want to go pro...
36

Shiho

Listen

I see. In that case...
37

Saki

Listen

But there's a reason that I've been trying so hard lately...
38

Saki

Listen

I want to figure out what I'm capable of.
39

Shiho

Listen

What you're capable of?
40

Saki

Listen

Ever since Ichi started doing street performances, she's gotten way better at singing and playing her guitar, right?
41

Saki

Listen

Hona got over some of her fears by actually facing them, and now she seems a lot more confident in herself...
42

Saki

Listen

But what about me? That's what I asked myself...
43

Shiho

Listen

You're already doing plenty, Saki. You're the one who's always there to cheer us up and push us in the right direction...
44

Saki

Listen

Hehe. Thanks, Shiho.
45

Saki

Listen

That makes me happy, but I still want to contribute to our music somehow. I want to be able to do more for us.
46

Saki

Listen

So please, let me keep doing this for a little while longer! I promise to be super careful about not overworking myself too!
47

Shiho

Listen

Saki...
48

Honami

Listen

...
49

Ichika

Listen

Honami? What are you doing standing around here?
50

Honami

Listen

Oh! Ichika!
51

Saki

Listen

Huh? Hona! Ichi!
Are you done with committee stuff, Ichi?
52

Ichika

Listen

Yes, but I didn't realize you were still here. I finished doing what my teacher asked me to do, so we can head to practice now.
53

Shiho

Listen

...
54

Ichika

Listen

Shiho? Is something wrong?
You seem concerned...
55

Shiho

Listen

No, it's nothing...
Let's go.

Sound Effect: Play

56

Honami

Listen

Oh...
Miyamasuzaka

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57

Ichika

Listen

Nice work today, everyone.
58

Saki

Listen

Yeah, that was good!
I'll see you tomorrow!
59

Honami

Listen

Okay, please get home safe.
60

Shiho

Listen

Bye.

Sound Effect: Play

61

Honami

Listen

Oh...
62

Shiho

Listen

...

Sound Effect: Play

63

Honami

Listen

Shiho!
64

Shiho

Listen

Honami...?!
65

Honami

Listen

Thank goodness. I wasn't sure I'd catch up to you. I was about to ask if you'd like to walk together, but you left so quickly...
66

Shiho

Listen

Together?
67

Honami

Listen

Yes. You have work after this, right? Would it be okay if I joined you until you get there?
68

Shiho

Listen

Uh, sure...
Scramble Crossing
69

Honami

Listen

Our show's just around the corner. In your opinion, Shiho, how are we coming along?
70

Shiho

Listen

Far from perfect, but good enough to perform in a show. You've all gotten much better too since we started practicing together more...
71

Honami

Listen

Thank you. I'm glad...
72

Honami

Listen

We all really appreciate the way you've been looking after what each of us is doing.
73

Shiho

Listen

Really, it's nothing...
74

Honami

Listen

That's not true. I mean, do you remember how just the other day you said my rimshots sounded a little weak?
75

Honami

Listen

I never would've noticed and been able to address it if you didn't tell me, Shiho.
76

Shiho

Listen

But all I did was speak my mind.
77

Shiho

Listen

It just bothered me a little how you're always able to create a good rhythm but seem to hold yourself back sometimes...
78

Honami

Listen

I'm more confident now than I used to be, but I guess I still have quite a bit of work to do.
79

Honami

Listen

Even then, Shiho, you're the reason I've been able to commit more and improve so much...
80

Honami

Listen

So thank you for everything.
81

Shiho

Listen

Again, really, it's nothing...
82

Honami

Listen

No, I'm sure Ichika and Saki will tell you the same thing. You've helped us all so much.
83

Shiho

Listen

I...
84

Honami

Listen

But I've been a little worried about Saki, lately. She's been working so hard...
85

Shiho

Listen

She's...
86

Shiho

Listen

She's doing that because of me...
87

Honami

Listen

Huh...?
88

Shiho

Listen

Creating an original song, practicing for our show, and trying to go pro... It's all making her do this...
89

Shiho

Listen

My dream's forcing Saki to push herself too hard...
90

Honami

Listen

...
91

Honami

Listen

No, that's not true either...
92

Shiho

Listen

What?
93

Honami

Listen

Saki isn't necessarily doing all this because she wants to become a professional musician.
94

Shiho

Listen

Huh...?
95

Honami

Listen

After that time you said that we wouldn't be able to stay together if we tried to go pro, we had a long discussion concerning that...

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96

Honami

Listen

About whether or not we'd be able to commit to that goal and to our music...
97

Honami

Listen

We each took a long look at ourselves, and we ultimately all decided to walk the same path as you, Shiho...
98

Honami

Listen

Saki too.
She decided that we're going to go pro together.
99

Shiho

Listen

...
100

Honami

Listen

So for now, let's just watch over and place our faith in her, okay?
101

Honami

Listen

It might look like she's pushing herself a little too hard right now, but I'm sure she also understands exactly how you feel...
102

Shiho

Listen

Honami...
103

Shiho

Listen

Okay, I will. Thanks...
Next Chapter: A Shining Guide