Saki's Room

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1

Saki

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But what kind of song would resonate the most with the crowd at that live house...?
2

Saki

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Hmm...
Everyone there seemed totally different from what we're used to...
3

Saki

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(And Shiho said how they were all really calm before the show started instead of being all amped up or excited.)
4

Saki

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What if I tried a quick search on PicShare? Maybe that'll give me a clue as to what they're like...
5

Saki

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Let's see... I'll try typing the name of that live house into the search bar...

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6

Saki

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Hey, I got a ton of hits!
7

Saki

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And everyone's posted comments on their profile page about the shows they've seen and songs they've heard.
8

Comment

<I felt really lonely for a few months after moving to Tokyo since I didn't know anybody here, but this venue helped cheer me. All the bands here that play music that really hits home with me.>
9

Comment

<I was so bored spending another day home alone, but I felt much better after seeing a show here.>
10

Saki

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Wait, they're all sort of saying the same thing. Is this a place for people to go if they're feeling lonely...?
11

Saki

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If that's the case, it's no wonder my song didn't really work for them...
12

Saki

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I mean, if I was feeling down and out, I wouldn't want someone blasting something that's upbeat and really in my face.
13

Saki

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So, I should try writing something that someone in their shoes would want to hear...?
14

Saki

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How should I reach out to them?
By saying, “You're not alone”...?
Or getting a better understanding of their loneliness...
15

Saki

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Hmm...
Understanding their loneliness...
16

Saki

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That reminds me of when...

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17

Saki

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Yeah, we engaged with their situation when we wrote that song for them.
18

Saki

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Them having to part ways was sad, but we wanted them to know that they'd be smiling again down the road.

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19

Saki

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I mean, that's what we genuinely believed. It was our way of showing them our support. We wanted to let them know that we'd be there watching over them...
20

Saki

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Oh...
21

Saki

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That's the only song that Saku seemed sort of okay with...
22

Saki

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What if that wasn't because we wrote it for someone specific...
23

Saki

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What if it's because we really made an effort to understand their loneliness...?
24

Saki

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That might be it...
Saku's songs also had the same feel.
25

Saki

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Like when you're all alone on a cold day but feel this warmth after holding hands with someone...
26

Saki

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Yeah. That must be why everyone was so moved by Saku's songs...
27

Saki

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Which means...
I should try to write a song that says, “I know you're lonely”...!
28

Saki

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Okay, I think I have a clear picture now! Let's give it a try!
29

Saki

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The song we wrote for Hanano and her brother was about their loneliness after having to go their separate ways...
30

Saki

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So, I'll try expressing that in a different way this time. I can try exploring what it's like when someone's all alone...
31

Saki

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All alone...

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32

Nurse

Don't worry, Saki.
I'll be right by your side tomorrow.
33

Junior High School Saki

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Okay...
34

Junior High School Saki

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(Another test tomorrow...)
35

Junior High School Saki

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(I have to do a few every month... But I really wish they'd stop since it always hurts...)
36

Junior High School Student A

Haha!
The teacher was so funny that time!
37

Junior High School Saki

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Oh...
38

Junior High School Saki

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(It's the kids from the school nearby...)
39

Junior High School Student A

Also, I can't wait for the school trip.
We should try sneaking out at night or something!
40

Junior High School Student B

But we'll get in big trouble if the teachers catch us.
41

Junior High School Student C

We won't get caught as long as we're quiet. We can grab some ice cream and hang out together!
42

Junior High School Saki

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They look my age...
43

Junior High School Saki

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The school trip.
I wish I could go... With Ichi and everyone...
44

Junior High School Saki

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(When's the last time I actually got to hang out with them...?)
45

Junior High School Saki

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(I wanna chat more and go on trips with them...)
46

Junior High School Student A

Let's have lots of fun and create a lot of memories together!
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Junior High School Student B & C

Yeah!
48

Junior High School Saki

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No fair...
They look like they're having so much fun...
49

Saki

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Yeah... Things weren't easy then...
50

Saki

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As much as I wanted to be with everyone else, I couldn't...
51

Saki

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Alright, I'll try to reach out to them by expressing how I felt back then...!
52

Saki

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So, here we go!

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53

Saki

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The first verse can be about feeling lonely... I can try giving the chorus an uplifting sound, and the third verse will be like...

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54

Saki

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...

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55

Saki

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Hm...?
56

Saki

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I thought I had a clear idea as to what to do... But at this rate, the finished product might not be very good...
57

Saki

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It feels... Superficial?
Why is that?
58

Saki

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I'll keep trying a little more...!
The next day
Rehearsal Studio

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59

Saki

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(*Sigh*
I came up with a bunch of ideas, but none of them really made me go, “Eureka!”)
60

Honami

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Is everything okay, Saki...?
You seem awfully tired. Did you not get enough sleep last night...?
61

Saki

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Huh? Y-Yeah!
I'm totally fine, Hona!

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62

Ichika

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Sorry! Thanks for waiting!
63

Saki

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Hey, Ichi!
Hope your class rep meeting went okay♪
64

Shiho

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Alright, now that we're all here, let's do our debrief for yesterday's show.
65

Honami

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Okay!
66

Shiho

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As I mentioned yesterday, we need to work on both our music and how we perform on stage.
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Shiho

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Which is why I'd like for us to focus on both heading into our next show.
68

Saki

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Right...
I thought a lot about what to do in terms of our music...
69

Saki

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If we want to reach the people at that live house, I think we need to come up with a song that really shows that we understand why they're feeling lonely...
70

Ichika

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Understanding why they feel lonely...
71

Shiho

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I get what you're trying to say, but what exactly led you to this...?
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Saki

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So, I tried remembering what everyone there looked like and even did a quick search on PicShare. Based on the results I saw, I discovered that a lot of people who go there are ones who feel pretty lonely.
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Saki

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And I asked myself, “What kind of song would hit home with them?” That's how I arrived at really trying to understand what they're feeling.
74

Ichika

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I see...
You started with getting a feel for their mood.
75

Shiho

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Yeah, Saki might be right.
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Shiho

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The reason they all liked anemone so much may've been because of that.
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Saki

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You think so too, Shiho?!
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Saki

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That's why I wanna try writing a song that has the same sort of effect!
79

Saki

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But I'm having trouble actually doing that...
80

Ichika

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Hehe. To be fair, Saki, you don't usually write somber songs.
81

Saki

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Hehe. That's because writing bright and cheerful songs makes me feel really happy!
82

Honami

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But the song you wrote for Hanano and her brother sort of had a somber tone, so I'm sure you'll figure this out.
83

Saki

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...!
Thanks, Hona!
84

Saki

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I also thought a lot about how or why we were able to write that song for Hanano and her brother.
85

Saki

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This is just my hunch...
But I think it's because their situation reminded me of what I went through way back when and wanted to show them my support somehow.
86

Honami

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What you went through way back when?
87

Saki

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Yeah...
When I couldn't see any of you and felt really lonely...
88

Saki

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I wanted to cheer past me up by saying, “It's gonna be okay!”
89

Ichika

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Saki...
90

Shiho

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...
91

Saki

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H-Huh?
What's wrong?
92

Shiho

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I'm sorry...
For not visiting you more back then.
93

Honami

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It must've been so hard being all alone...
94

Saki

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(Oh no...!)
95

Saki

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Th-That's okay because you're all here now! We're in a band together and I couldn't be happier!

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96

Ichika

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That may be true, but...
97

Saki

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You don't need to apologize!
I'm okay now, really!
98

Honami

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Okay...
99

Shiho

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If you say so...
100

Saki

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Hey, turn those frowns upside down!
101

Saki

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Again, I'm totally fine because you're all literally right here with me! We can chat whenever and I can hug you all like this!

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102

Honami

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Hehe. You're so warm, Saki.
103

Shiho

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Y-You're squeezing too tight.
104

Saki

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Hehe!
You too, Ichi! C'mere!

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105

Saki

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(They're all smiling again. Thank goodness...)
106

Saki

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(And I'm so glad that we're able to be together like this...)
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Saki

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Oh no!
108

Honami

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Wh-What's wrong?
109

Saki

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“It's okay because we're together now”...
110

Saki

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What if I tried working something like that into my song?!
111

Shiho

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Oh, I see...
112

Ichika

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Yeah, I like it.
It's very you, Saki.
113

Honami

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I agree, and I have a feeling that we'll put on a much better performance if we know we're doing it for your past self.
114

Saki

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Yeah...!
I should be able to write a really good song now...!
115

Saki

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Thanks for talking things out with me! I'm gonna start working on it right away after I get home!
116

Shiho

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Talking things out?
To be honest, you did most of the talking just now.
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Ichika

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But I'm glad we could help.
118

Honami

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Hehe. We're very much looking forward to hearing your new song, Saki!
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Saki

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*Nod*
Thanks, everyone!
Next Chapter: Dissonant Feelings