The next day
School SEKAI
1
Miku
Nice.
They're all in sync today!
2
Luka
Yes, and handling the difficult parts without any issues. However...
3
Luka
It seems like something's on all of their minds...
4
Saki
Phew...
Miku, Luka, how was that just now?
5
Luka
Oh, um...
That was very good.
6
Saki
Yay!
Luka praised us!
7
Ichika
Practicing solo seems to have really paid off.
8
Honami
I think so too.
9
Luka
(Something's definitely bothering them.
They just don't seem like their usual selves...)
10
Len
Hey, quit being so clingy!
11
Rin
Aww, don't say that!
12
Saki
Huh? Len, Rin, what's going on?
13
MEIKO
Another fight?
What did we tell you about...?
14
Rin
We're not fighting!
I was just asking Len to practice with me, but he keeps turning me down!
15
Len
Didn't I already tell you that I want to practice on my own today? And you just keep following me around...
16
Rin
Because I really want to practice with you, Len! Being apart is just way too sad!
17
Ichika
Oh...
18
Luka
...?
19
Len
Being apart? What are you talking about? But fine... Just this once, okay...?
20
Rin
Really?!
Thank you so much Len-Len☆
21
Len
Geez, and you came up with a weird nickname for me...?
22
Rin
Weird? You don't think it's cute?
23
MEIKO
Hehe. Those two really do get along, don't they?
24
Ichika
Yeah, they really do.
25
Ichika
...
26
Luka
Did something happen to all of you?
27
Ichika
Huh?
28
Luka
It seemed like something was on all of your minds the entire time you were playing just now...
29
Ichika
Oh, about that...
30
Ichika
We're a little worried about a couple of people who've been coming to see our shows...
31
MEIKO
As in audience members?
32
Honami
Yes.
They're our very first fans, but they seem to be struggling with some issues at home...
33
Shiho
At the same time, we probably shouldn't be nosing around in another family's business...
34
Saki
But we can't help but worry...
I mean, they're our very first fans, and...
35
Yota
Never see her... Again...
36
Saki
Never getting to see someone you care about so much ever again sounds so awful...
37
Ichika
I agree...
38
Luka
I see.
39
Luka
But you can't help but worry about them regardless of whether or not you can do anything about it, right?
40
Ichika
Huh?
41
Luka
At the same time, it's also understandable that you'd feel this way after dwelling on something like this for so long.
42
Luka
Still, I think it's okay to worry if it's genuinely bothering you all that much.
43
Shiho
Yeah, especially since it'll start affecting the way we play if this continues...
44
Ichika
True.
Thank you, Luka.
45
Luka
You're welcome.
And... Can you tell us more about what happened?
46
Ichika
So, after our show the other day...
47
Miku
That really happened...?
48
Saki
Isn't there any way we can help them...?
49
Shiho
One can only hope...
50
Honami
But the brother said he won't be returning, so there's no guarantee that his sister will come back to see us again...
51
KAITO
Which means you won't get a chance to hear more from them...
52
Rin
That's terrible! You finally have some fans but they have to go through this awful mess!
53
Miku
You're right about it being a tough situation...
54
Ichika
Yeah...
55
Saki
But the sister still wants to come to see us play again, right...?
56
Shiho
I think so.
He even asked us to speak to her if she does show up.
57
MEIKO
It might be good to have a plan for when that happens.
58
Honami
A plan...?
But what...?
59
Shiho
How about being ready to play for her in case she does show up...?
60
Shiho
From the sound of it, she really likes seeing us play.
61
Ichika
I agree...
62
Saki
Yeah...!
Let's make our next show a really good one!
After practice
Scramble Crossing
63
Ichika
...
64
Saki
I still believe the bridge can sound better! What do you think, Shiho?
65
Shiho
Having a more subdued sound gives the last chorus more impact. If anything, we have something to gain by having less.
66
Honami
I agree that it's a bit monotonous as it is, but we can work on that tomorrow...!
67
Ichika
...
68
Ichika
(Thank goodness.
They seem much better after getting back to practicing...)
69
Ichika
(I need to do my best for our next show too!)
70
Ichika
(But...
The brother must be feeling awful right now...)
71
Ichika
(Seeing those two reminds me of what happened back then.)
72
Ichika
(You want to be there with someone but can't.)
73
Ichika
(I have to think that's what they're both feeling right now...)
74
Saki
Huh...?
75
Honami
What's wrong, Saki?
76
Saki
Um, girls...
That person over there. Could it be...?
77
Ichika
The sister?
78
Shiho
She's sitting all by herself.
You think something happened...?
79
Honami
What if she's here to pass the time because she feels so uncomfortable at home...?
80
Saki
Yeah...!
Wait, is she gonna be okay by herself?
81
Ichika
Oh no...!
82
Woman A
Excuse me!
Are you free to talk right now?
83
Woman B
We're doing a quick survey and were hoping that you'd be willing to answer a few questions.
84
Hanano
Oh, um... I don't think I should...
85
Woman A
It won't take any time at all.
Just ten minutes or so!
86
Honami
Isn't that...?
87
Woman A
I know. It's getting late, so how about we move to that cafe?
88
Woman B
Some of our friends are over there already. We usually study and watch movies together...
89
Hanano
I... Um...
90
Honami
They're being so forceful...
91
Shiho
Yeah, is it just me or does it look like they're trying to rope her into something?
92
Woman A
Alright, let's go!
It's just this way!
93
Hanano
W-Wait...! Please, let go of me...!
94
Ichika
...!
95
Saki
Huh?! Ichi?!
96
Ichika
Excuse me!
97
Woman A
Huh?
98
Ichika
She's here to meet us...
Can I ask who you are?
99
Hanano
L-Leo/need...?!
No way...!
100
Ichika
If you have some business with her, I'll stay and listen. What exactly were you asking of her...?
101
Woman A
Oh, you were waiting for your friends...
102
Woman B
That's too bad...
Feel free to drop in if you get a chance.
103
Ichika
*Sigh*
Thank goodness they didn't push back...
104
Hanano
E-Excuse me...!
You're Hoshino, right...? From Leo/need...?
105
Ichika
Y-Yes!
Um...
106
Ichika
(What do I do now...?
I jumped in without really thinking...)
107
Ichika
(I even went as far as saying, “She's here to meet us.” She's probably petrified now...)
108
Hanano
Um... Th-Thank you so much for saving me from them! Also...
109
Hanano
I'm sorry about what happened the other day...!
110
Ichika
Huh...?