(Hmm...
Even after looking at my poses and facial expressions, I still can't tell what I'm doing wrong...)

(I'm tense? What did she mean by that...? I thought I managed to shake off any nerves...)

(But if I somehow manage to be like that one bride I saw...!)

Argh...!
I just don't know anymore!

*Sigh*
Why'd Ms. Kawasaki have to choose me to play the bride...?

She wanted to take pictures of someone with this brilliant spark of life, so I feel like Shizuku would've been the better option...

But there's no point in me dwelling on that...

Alright, I'll try taking a video of myself on my phone! That might show me what I'm missing...!

(I know I can't make any huge changes in just one day, but I want things to end on a high note somehow...)

(I have to do what I can to produce the perfect shot!)

Hmm... An still hasn't returned.
I'm starting to get worried.

Also, you two looked really good when Ms. Kawasaki was taking pictures of you both just now. I wonder why she seems so dissatisfied...

About that...

Could it be...?

Airi, I'm going to go for a little bit to see An! There's something I need to check right now!

Hey, wait...! Shizuku...!

An should be...
Oh...!

No, this isn't right either...!
Does that mean the problem's my expressions and not the way I'm posing?

I thought presenting myself as being mature would make me seem like a real bride, but maybe I should be going for “wishing for my partner's happiness” instead...

(Hehe...
An certainly seems like the hard-working type who likes to take everything she does seriously.)

(I can tell why she and Haruka are such good friends.)

(And what I can do for her right now is...)

An, do you have a minute...?

Oh, Shizuku...!
Is our break over already?

No, we still have time.
So, I'd like to talk with you for a little bit.

Talk?

I think I understand why you seem a little tense right now.

R-Really?!
Please tell me, Shizuku!

Yes, of course.

Can you start by posing for me...? And smile like the photographer's here taking photos of you.

Okay!

(Wish for my partner's happiness...
Calm and gentle like a real bride...)

Ah, I knew it...

What?

An, what sort of expression were you trying to make just now?

Um... My image of a bride involves someone who's overjoyed about getting married but remains collected while having this air of maturity about her...

So I thought I have to be just like that person...

“You have to”...?

I really don't think there's any need to restrict yourself like that.

But I really don't think plain old me is all that suited to being a bride...

Try to remember why Ms. Kawasaki asked you to play the bride, An. What made her choose you?

Hmm... She mentioned some stuff about being photogenic and having presence...

Oh, she also said that I always have this “brilliant spark”...

And I felt just that when we chatted a little earlier, An.

Your eyes sparkled as you told me all about that incredible event you're trying to surpass.

I'm sure Ms. Kawasaki's goal was to capture that part of you, An. The you that's so full of hope.

What...?

Your image of a bride being mature, calm and collected is certainly a lovely thought.

But that's not who you are, An.
By acting like someone you're not, I believe you're preventing that spark of yours from coming to the surface.

Yes, there are those who excel at acting, but we want to see you just being yourself, An. There's no need to fill someone else's shoes.

Oh...

Now I get it...
I got all caught up in filling that bride's shoes even after Ms. Kawasaki said that she wanted to see me be me.

I'm so sorry...
I convinced myself somewhere along the way that I had “to be as real a bride as I can”.

There's no need to apologize. I'm sure everybody has a role model they look up to and work very hard towards emulating.

But you don't have to do that, An, because you already have such a wonderful gift.

That spark inside of you. The powerful will that's driving you towards making your dreams a reality.

Shizuku...

Hehe... Thank you so much!

Alright, I'm gonna stop trying to be “that bride” I placed on a pedestal and just be “An Shiraishi the bride”!

Wonderful! Let's both do our best!

Still, that's so amazing...!
You immediately figuring out what my problem was is like proof that you're a real model!

How did you know so quickly?

That may be because I also had to play a certain role...

Huh?

Back when I was still in Cheerful * Days, I really never had any confidence in myself.

It constantly felt like I was falling short because everyone had such high expectations of me.

That was when the producer started writing detailed scripts for me and asked me to simply read the lines I was given...

All in order to play the role of the “perfect Shizuku Hinomori”...

Which is why I had a feeling you were going through the same thing, An...

Shizuku...

Hehe. I'm sorry. I know it's not a very happy story.

But as painful as that time was for me, I'm glad that I'm able to put those experiences to good use...

There are just some things you can only learn after not having much confidence in yourself...

But you seem to be very comfortable with yourself now, Shizuku.

I do?

I've actually been watching the MORE MORE JUMP! streams from time to time and you always seem so full of energy, Shizuku!

You can't get those kinds of expressions just by acting.

You seem at ease with yourself...
And can keep making strides because you know exactly “who you want to be”!

Who I want to be...?

Yes...
It certainly feels like I've been on the right path.

There's still plenty that I'm not very good at, but I want to keep doing my best to be an idol who can spread hope to others...

Also, I want to become someone that those who I care deeply about and have been there for me can be proud of...

Someone who they can be proud of...?

That means we're the same!

What? You too, An?

Yes!
Me, Kohane, everyone on our team, the ones who take our thoughts and feeling seriously, and...

Everybody in town who's always there to support us. I want to become someone they can all be proud of!

No matter how hard they are, I have to keep taking on whatever challenges are thrown at me!

An...

Yes, let's both do our best!

Let's just be ourselves and do what we can to help Ms. Kawasaki capture the moment when “happiness brings everybody together”.

Oh, about that...

What if we both wished for each other “to be who we want to be”?

Huh?

By rooting for each other as we pursue our goals, I have a feeling that the moment when “happiness brings everybody together” will arise really naturally...

Oh, that's a wonderful idea...!
Let's try that, An!

I was wondering what she ran off to talk about all of a sudden...

But you've become such a good role model, Shizuku.