(Homeroom ended earlier than I expected...)

(What should I do until our meetup time...?)

(Should I really turn to them for help...?)

(Oh, right...!)

Hello...!

Oh, Kohane. Welcome!

Tell me about your event.
How did it go?

That's exactly what I came here for...
Yesterday was a disaster because of me.

Huh?

We may've had a chance of winning if I only managed to sing properly...

I see...

Everyone's hard work was all wasted because of me...

I really want to improve and stay in the group, but I just don't know what I should be doing.

Kohane...

But I already talked about this with a friend earlier and she gave me some advice.

She said I should ask those with more experience for pointers. That I can learn a lot from them.

Hehe. That's very thoughtful of your friend.

Yes...! Which is why I thought that maybe I should ask you...

My, I'm flattered.

But didn't your friend mean that you should ask the other members of your team?

You're in this together, so I'm sure they'll hear you out. And look at that! One of them has just arrived...

One of them...?

Azusawa...?

Hm, Aoyagi...?
It's rare to see you here alone.

Oh, I like to get here early to enjoy a cup of coffee before we start practice.

In that case, I'll go and make you one. In the meantime, maybe you could help Kohane with something that's been on her mind?

What would that be?

Hehe. She'll tell you herself.

Uh, well...

I really don't want something like yesterday to happen again, so... Could you please tell me how I should be practicing?

I see...

Aoyagi... How did you practice to get to this point?

Practice, huh...

It wasn't so much practice as performing in public that helped me.

Oh, really?

Yes.

What do you think is the biggest difference between complete novices and seasoned veterans...?

Isn't it how much time they've spent practicing?

That's one factor too, but I think it's the number of times they've performed in front of an audience.

The number of times they've performed...?

Yes. Good technique and innate talent can mask having practiced less to some degree.

But it all becomes clear when someone doesn't have that many actual performances under their belt.

Before Akito and I teamed up, I used to join other groups at their gigs or even sing with them when they were practicing in public.

I wanted to gain experience singing in front of people any way I could, knowing that it would help me with my own gigs in time.

Oh, I see...

But I'm not sure if I can do that...

Whether or not you want to try this way is up to you, Azusawa...

Y-Yeah...

(I get anxious just from the thought of singing with people I don't know but...)

I really want to sing with An... With Vivid BAD SQUAD! So I'll do all I can!

Sounds like you've made up your mind...

Yes...!

Alright, here's your coffee.

Thank you.

By the way, Shiraishi seemed really down yesterday over the way she's been treating you until now...

Huh?

I think you two should talk to her, clear things up and maybe make her feel a little better.

Oh, I didn't know...
Thank you. I'll be sure to do that!

Thank you for pointing me in the right direction, Aoyagi. And sorry about yesterday... And bothering you today with my questions...

You asked me because our group really matters to you and you want to improve, right?

Which is why I don't mind helping you out. You're my teammate.

I also want the four of us to stay together. Akito thinks so too.

Thank you...!

(I have to catch up to the others as soon as possible... No, not just catch up. I need to be more ambitious...)

Hehe. It's good to see you in high spirits again.

Would you like some more tea?

Yes, please!