(Talking about this is reminding me of everything that happened leading up to my departure from ASRUN...)

(No matter how hard I tried...
No matter what I did... Nothing worked...)

...!

The pain I felt that time was unbearable...
The world even started turning gray...

I... I had no idea...

But I'm so glad for you...
You managed to stand back up and become an idol again, Kiritani...

Thank you.

I was lucky... Incredibly lucky...
I'm able to stand on stage again because of Minori and the others.

But I also know all too well that not everyone can come back from something like that.

...

But if I can take away one thing from that...

It's how your feelings can't be extinguished so easily.

My feelings...?

Yes.
In my case, it's my love of being an idol and spreading hope to as many people as possible.

I gave up once and tried to erase that from my mind, but it didn't go away...

My guess is that everyone carries these sorts of feelings, including you, Hasegawa.

Despite all the terrible things that people have said and all that you've gone through, you still want to keep creating music.

Isn't that because you wish to spread hope to everyone more than anything else...?

*Gasp*

...

It's easy to think that everything would be so much better if these feelings just went away...

Am I right in saying that...?

But each person has to face up to their feelings in their own way...

Some may suffer while dwelling on what's bothering them. Others may find ways to weather the storm while slowly chipping away at their issues.

...

How did you face your problems, Kiritani...?

I...

I had everyone in MORE MORE JUMP! help me deal with that.

They taught me that I didn't have to carry all this weight on my own.

Which is why...

I want to be there for you, Hasegawa, just as MORE MORE JUMP! was there for me.

What...?

Ultimately, how you deal with this is going to be up to you... But that doesn't mean you have to suffer all alone.

Please ask for help if you ever think you need it. I promise to do everything in my power when you do.

Everything in your power...?

Yes. For example...

It's tickle time...!

Eep! H-Haruka...!
Hahahaha...!

Hehe. I'm doing everything in my power to make you smile.

Anyway, jokes aside...
I want to help you get through whatever's bothering you, Hasegawa.

So again... Please ask for help if you think you need it.

Haruka...

Thank you so much...
You really are an incredible idol, Kiritani...

I'm not saying this as an idol...

Huh?

Sure, we only met just recently and talked mostly about work. Even until just now, we were discussing our new song.

But we aren't just coworkers or anything like that...

Because your music, Hasegawa...
Your songs make us smile, Riho.

As a fan of your music, Riho, I want to take this opportunity to give back to you.

Haruka...

Thank you...
Thank you so much...

I-I'll give it another try...

Good.
I'll be waiting.

Haruka!!

Oh, Minori...

Great job.
I didn't catch that entire conversation, but Hasegawa seemed really happy at the end there.

Were you able to tell her how you feel, Haruka?

Yes...
I told her everything I could.

Then, all that's left for us to do is give her time and wait.

Yeah...!

Today, let's discuss what we'll be doing for our next show.

Okay!
We need to start by finding a venue and estimating how many people we'll have like last time, right?

Right! It's also gonna be all about singing, so we'll need to think of a good set list to go along with it.

I agree. It might be wise to try to get the crowd going with some covers or other songs just in case our original doesn't pan out.

True...

How do you think Hasegawa's doing right now...?

...

I hope she's feeling at least a little better...

Me too...
We haven't heard from her since... Huh?

Hasegawa?!

What?

Hasegawa sent us an email!
I-I'm gonna open it!

What did she say?!

Um...

...

Wait, there's more!
<Lastly, that song's finally complete so I'll be sending it over.>

<You were all there for me when I needed help, so please accept this as a small token of my appreciation. I hope you all enjoy it.>

...is what she wrote!

Oh, I can't wait to hear what it's like.

Alright, Minori, lay it on us!

Coming right up!
Play!

...!
It tugs at your heartstrings even more now!

It's as if our individual desires to spread hope to others all came together, including Hasegawa's!

Yeah! It's all thanks to you, Haruka! I knew you would...

I'm so glad...

Haruka...

*Sob*
Haruka...!
*Cry*

Geez...
You just can't help it, can you?

B-But...!
I'm really happy that Hasegawa's all better now...

And Haruka just showed that she's the best idol ever because she's willing to go through all this trouble for her fans...!

Yes, I agree with you there.

Anyway, now that we have our new song, it's full steam ahead towards our next show!

Right.
Let's make sure to give our best!

Yeah!
Yes!

Oh, everyone from MORE MORE JUMP! replied.

<Thank you for this amazing song!>

Hehe...
I'll have to make my next one just as good!

*Gasp*

<Thanks to you, Haruka, I already have an idea for my next song. I hope I get a chance to make another song for you!>

(I made so many people sad when I had to leave ASRUN...)

(Even now, that pain still lingers...)

(But now I know that I can use what I experienced to spread and inspire hope in others.)

(Joy isn't the only thing that has that power. Everything does, including the less-than-enjoyable things in life...)

(And I'm going to keep spreading as much hope as I can!!)