School SEKAI

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1

Shiho

Listen

Yeah, our song's coming along nicely...
2

Saki

Listen

That felt so good!
3

Honami

Listen

Yes, that was so exciting...!
4

Ichika

Listen

We're still not quite at your guys' level, Miku, but that did sound pretty good.
5

Shiho

Listen

Yeah. We're improving so fast probably because we have such a vested interest in it as well.
6

Saki

Listen

Especially considering how much editing went into it. As tough as that was, it was totally worth the effort.
7

Honami

Listen

Hehe. It's all thanks to Shiho's incredible attention to detail.
8

Shiho

Listen

I mean, it's sort of like Saki's baby, so I wanted to take good care of it.
9

Saki

Listen

Shiho...!
10

Shiho

Listen

Anyway, we should be ready to play this during our show as long as we keep it up.
11

Shiho

Listen

But that also leaves...
12

Ichika

Listen

Right, the lyrics. I'm so sorry...
I'll keep trying as much as I can.
13

Shiho

Listen

Don't worry, we still have time...
14

Honami

Listen

Is it giving you that much trouble, Ichika?
15

Ichika

Listen

Yes, it kind of is...
16

Saki

Listen

I hope it's not because of how I wrote our song. I'd feel awful if that's what's causing your writer's block...!
17

Ichika

Listen

No, it's nothing like that.

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18

Ichika

Listen

Your song sends a clear message that even if things aren't going great for us right now that it'll get better if we just keep trying.
19

Ichika

Listen

I want my lyrics to match what you're trying to convey.
20

Ichika

Listen

But...
21

Miku

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Um, Ichika?
How much have you actually written?
22

Ichika

Listen

Well...
I have a full outline, but I'm still not happy with what I've come up with.
23

Miku

Listen

Would you mind if we had a look?
24

Ichika

Listen

B-But...
25

MEIKO

Listen

Yes, I see.
It may be better to share the load instead of carrying this weight all on your own.
26

Saki

Listen

Yeah!
When I was writing that song, I got lots of advice from everyone else!
27

Saki

Listen

I really don't know anything about writing lyrics, so my advice might not be that great... But I want to help you, Ichi!
28

Ichika

Listen

Saki...
29

Honami

Listen

I'd like to help as well, Ichika.
30

Shiho

Listen

Me too.
31

Ichika

Listen

Okay, I understand...
32

Ichika

Listen

Um, here it is...
33

Shiho

Listen

Lost. So lost in total sadness,
but being with you is true happiness.
Someday, we'll find that rainbow...
34

Saki

Listen

Oh, you wrote this the other day!
35

Miku

Listen

Wow... I didn't know you could write anything like this, Ichika.
36

Honami

Listen

Hehe. They're very current.

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37

Shiho

Listen

It's hard to understand what you're trying to say, but I get what you're trying to do...
38

Ichika

Listen

I knew it...
That's the problem.
39

Ichika

Listen

It never felt quite right.
These lyrics just don't do Saki's song justice and I don't know how to express her message...
40

Shiho

Listen

How to express her message, huh...?
41

Miku

Listen

Oh, there's more on the previous page...
42

Saki

Listen

Yeah, look at that! Hm?
43

Ichika

Listen

Wait, that's...!
44

Saki

Listen

How lost I may be doesn't matter,
I know everything will be all right
as long as we're together...
45

Honami

Listen

Oh, that's so sweet...!
46

Miku

Listen

Yes, it captures the kindness in Ichika's heart so well.
47

Saki

Listen

I think I really like this one!
48

Ichika

Listen

N-No, we can't use that...!
49

Shiho

Listen

Why not?
50

Ichika

Listen

Because it's so direct...
It also makes it seem like I put far too much of my own feelings into these lyrics...
51

Shiho

Listen

Okay...?
What's wrong with that?
52

Shiho

Listen

You're the one writing these, so I don't see any problems with you doing that.
53

Ichika

Listen

Sure, that may be true but...
54

Saki

Listen

Yeah, I think I like these lyrics more, you know?
55

Honami

Listen

Me too. However, if you're still not satisfied with what you have, you may yet find a better way to express what you're trying to say.
56

Shiho

Listen

Yeah...
57

Ichika

Listen

Again, I'm so sorry...
I'll keep trying.
The next day
Miyamasuzaka Girls Academy - Courtyard

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58

Honami

Listen

...
59

Shiho

Listen

Oh, Honami?
60

Shiho

Listen

(Her eyes are completely locked in on her phone... What could she be doing?)
61

Shiho

Listen

Hi, Honami.
62

Honami

Listen

Eep! H-Hi, Shiho...!
63

Shiho

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Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you.
I was just wondering what you were doing.
64

Honami

Listen

Oh, this...?
I was just listening to a STANDOUT song.
65

Shiho

Listen

STANDOUT? Why?
66

Honami

Listen

Remember how we discussed Ichika's lyrics yesterday?
67

Honami

Listen

I was ready to help her by giving whatever advice I could, but in the end, I couldn't since I just don't know enough about writing lyrics...
68

Honami

Listen

But I still want to help Ichika. That's why I'm trying to learn as much as I can right now by listening to some music.
69

Shiho

Listen

I see...
70

Honami

Listen

However, it hasn't gotten any easier...
71

Honami

Listen

The lyrics Ichika first showed us were nice and all...
72

Honami

Listen

But I still like the ones where she just wore her heart on her sleeve much more...
73

Honami

Listen

Yet STANDOUT's lyrics are so modern and work with their music so well.

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74

Honami

Listen

It's so strange how similar lyrics can be presented so differently. I just can't seem to grasp how that happens...
75

Shiho

Listen

Because there's no right answer when it comes to music...
76

Shiho

Listen

Some people don't mince words while others can take a much more scenic route.
77

Shiho

Listen

The main problem is... What does Ichika want to say and how does she want to express that?
78

Shiho

Listen

But I have no experience writing lyrics, so I doubt that I'll be able to give her any good advice...
79

Shiho

Listen

That's the worst part...
80

Shiho

Listen

I couldn't help Saki at all either...
Songwriting's the cornerstone of any band, but I can't contribute to that in any way.
81

Honami

Listen

Shiho...
82

Honami

Listen

Isn't there anything we can do for her...?
Next Chapter: Unexpected Advice