Ugh, I'm so bored...

(I have absolutely nothing to do. What did I usually do before?)

(Soccer in the afternoon, watch soccer after I got home, practice juggling after dark and...)

(Wow, every day was really just all about soccer. But...)

(I just didn't do enough. I didn't practice enough, I didn't prepare enough and everything else in between...)

...

(Someone's calling?
Ena...?)

Hello?

<Akito, where are you right now?!>

Where? I'm at home...
Hang on, didn't you say you're going to the Summer Festival?

<I did, and I'm calling you from the fairgrounds. I'm so glad you picked up. I'm in a little trouble at the moment.>

What you mean by trouble?
I'm not gonna be your errand boy if that's what this is about.

<That's not why I'm calling you!
I got hurt, and I need you to come and get me!>

What...? You're hurt?

Hey, Akito! I'm over here!!

Geez, you really are hurt!
I brought your shoes but can you even walk right now?!

Yeah!
My wooden sandal didn't fit right and really made my feet hurt. I'm so glad you were home...

Wait, what...?!
You're not actually hurt?! I came all this way because your feet were sore?!

Don't call me for stuff like that! You know I rushed over because I was worried, right...?

What do you mean, Stuff like that? My feet really hurt, and I seriously can't walk, so I was legitimately in trouble!

Will you just shut up! Here, put on your shoes.

I should be the one telling you to shut up! But thanks for bringing these...

Hey, wait! You brought my sneakers?! These are totally gonna clash with my yukata!

Seriously? You're worried about that?

Yes, it matters! Don't you know how dumb I'll look if I wear sneakers with this thing?!

You were the one that said you needed something comfortable to walk in! Quit complaining!

I know, but...!
I didn't mean these! It's gonna be so embarrassing if someone I know sees me wearing these...

What?! Forget it, I'm leaving!
You're on your own!

A-Akito, wait...!

(Seriously, she just decides to go off on me after I came all this way to get her...?!)

Huh? Akito...?
I didn't know you were here!

It's you...!

Long time no see!
I was wondering what you were up to after that tournament.

So are you really gonna quit playing soccer, Akito? Everybody's saying that they want you to come back...

...

I promise to start practicing just as hard as you do! Please, come back so we can all...

Like I said before, that's not the issue.
I'm done playing soccer.

Bye.

But...

There's just no point...

It doesn't matter how much I try...

A-Akito...

Ena...
You finally decide to put your shoes on?

What choice did I have?! I won't be able to get home if I don't, but I look so stupid...

Relax, nobody's paying attention to what you're wearing.

What?! That's not what I'm talking about!

Anyway, that other boy... Isn't he the one from your soccer team?

Why do you care?

And I'm done playing soccer.
I'm not on that team anymore.

Oh...?

But you've had this cloud over your head lately.

What are you talking about?

You know exactly what I'm talking about. Right after you quit, you've been so mopey. It's honestly hard not to notice.

Shut up!
What do you know about how I...?!

What's going on?!
Where's this noise coming from...?

Oh, it's probably that concert. I saw a bunch of people moving towards that stage over there...

A concert? Like Summer Fest?

I dunno, but I think so.
Anyway, I'm not really interested, so I'm going home...

Akito, wait!
Wanna try checking it out since we're here?

Why?
Also, what about your foot...?

I'm in my sneakers now, so I'm fine!
C'mon, let's go!

Hey, wait...!
Quit pulling my arm!!

♪——! ——!!

Whoa, everyone's really into it!

Is this artist really popular or something? The whole crowd's going nuts...!

Yeah, they are...

(Live concerts, huh....?
I've never really been interested in music.)

(But... I think I like this.)

♪——!!

(Whoa, they're cheering even louder now...!!)

(They're making everything shake like crazy...! I never knew that a musician could make so many people go wild like this...)

This is awesome...

Alright, wanna head home?
That show was amazing...

Yeah...

(That was so incredible.
My heart's still pounding...!)

Man, that event was something else!

Yeah! But this has nothing on KEN and his crew!

They're just on a completely different level. Isn't he putting on a huge event or something next year?

Yeah, I heard that too!
I can't wait to see what happens!

(KEN...?
There's someone better than who I just saw...?)

Akito? Hey, you there?
Did that concert really get to you?

No! Quit asking!

I totally get how you feel.
The music, the crowd, everything... It was so much fun.

I said quit asking!

Hey, Akito...
Why don't you try doing something like that...?

Huh?

This was the first time in a while that I saw you actually having fun. Why not try taking a stab at this kind of music?

Try...?
You expect me to just dive in without really knowing if I can even succeed?

Who said anything about diving in?
Just have fun with it, you know?

But... What if I end up quitting that too? I'd look really stupid for even trying in the first place.

Akito...

You need to stop giving up before you've even given it a chance, alright?

Shut up...!
What do you know about me?!

What do I know? Well, nothing. How am I supposed to know how you feel?

Huh...?

Even if I said that I do know how you feel, you'd just snap back by saying that I don't, right?

Yeah, but...

You just need to quit obsessing over details. You're really athletic, so I'm sure there's a lot you're capable of, but you need to give things a try first.

You can think about taking it up seriously later on.

(Later on, huh...?)

Fine, if I feel like it...
I'll keep thinking about it...

Alright...

Now, let's go home.
Oh, wanna get some cheesecake at the convenience store on the way back? We can eat it when we get back.

Hmm... Okay...

(I can decide later...)

(And I can start by just listening to a few songs...)

(And I'm doing this now because she told me to just give it a try back then.)

(That concert taught me how incredible music is, then I saw RAD WEEKEND, and now I'm on this path...)

(I met Toya and even ended up forming Vivid BAD SQUAD...)

(If I didn't have that conversation with Ena back then, where would I be now?)

(And I'm guessing she's forgotten all about it now...)