Miyamasuzaka
Shiho
No matter how many times I listen to Saki's song, I never get tired of it.
Shiho
It does such a great job of drawing you into its world and conveying Saki's thoughts and feelings.
Shiho
With this song...
Saku
I know. How about that other band?
They're called... I forgot their name, but they mentioned that they want to debut with a big label...
They're called... I forgot their name, but they mentioned that they want to debut with a big label...
Saku
You should be able to see them perform if you really wish. Their music has that cute, mainstream pop sound you're after and they even look the part. A band made up of high school girls through and through.
Saku
Honestly, you'll probably have better luck with them than us.
Saku
Oh, now I remember.
They're called Leo/need.
They're called Leo/need.
Shiho
We're not just trying to go pro...
Shiho
With this song... The song that Saki wrote... We're gonna show everyone that our goal is to play music that moves people's hearts.
Shiho
(We have one month until our next show...)
Shiho
(We need to get this song perfect by then.)
Shiho
We're gonna have to practice harder than ever before, and figure out how to actually go about that...
The next day
School SEKAI
Saki
Alright, we finally get to start practicing for our next show!
Saki
I'm ready for whatever! Bring it on!
I'm gonna blow everyone away by playing outta this world!
I'm gonna blow everyone away by playing outta this world!
Rin
Haha. You sound so stoked, Sakki.
Saki
That's because our newest song is my absolutely, unequivocally, categorically the best thing I've ever written!
Saki
And it's only become better after working on the arrangement for it with everyone!
Shiho
To be fair, it's become a more technically challenging song than what we're used to playing.
Honami
After all, Shiho, you did do everything you could to make it so this song clearly conveys Saki's thoughts and feelings.
Luka
Hehe. I'm looking forward to seeing how the audience reacts when they hear this song.
Len
Also, how are the lyrics coming along?
You're writing them, right, Ichika?
You're writing them, right, Ichika?
Saki
Oh, I was gonna ask the same thing!
How's it going, Ichi...?
How's it going, Ichi...?
Ichika
I finished writing them yesterday and was hoping to hear you guys' opinions.
Ichika
But it did take me a little while to write them since I wanted to cover everything that you were trying to convey in your song...
Ichika
Okay, this might work.
I'll type these lyrics in and...
I'll type these lyrics in and...
Miku
——♪ ——♪
Ichika
No, this still isn't right...
Ichika
It becomes so obvious when I get Miku to sing using my lyrics. They just aren't getting Saki's thoughts and feelings across...
Ichika
(Saki wrote, “It hurts,” and “I hate this so much,” in her songwriting notebook. She even had, “I don't want tomorrow to come”...)
Ichika
(All these things that I can't imagine her saying. And they were scrawled with so much pain that you could feel it just from looking.)
Ichika
She was carrying all this pain and all these memories that I didn't know about...
Ichika
But she said the message I sent helped her get through that, even though my original intention was to chat for a bit...
Ichika
No, these lyrics won't do...
Ichika
(All I did was just wrote down Saki's words and arranged them to the melody of the song.)
Ichika
(Which means there's no point in me writing these lyrics...)
Ichika
I have to use my own words.
I need to take her feelings from this song and tell everyone what's really going on...!
I need to take her feelings from this song and tell everyone what's really going on...!
Ichika
It wasn't easy, but I managed to finish them, and I really like how they turned out.
Saki
I had no idea...
Miku
But you must've written some great lyrics if you put so much thought into them.
Shiho
Mind showing us what you wrote...?
Ichika
Sure. It's always a little nerve-wracking showing others my lyrics, but...
Ichika
Here they are...
Ichika
Wh-What do you think...?
Honami
Oh wow...
You used very straightforward language like you usually do, Ichika, but I feel my chest tightening with each passing word...
You used very straightforward language like you usually do, Ichika, but I feel my chest tightening with each passing word...
Shiho
So much pain and loneliness...
But you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. There's also this sort of warmth that's pushing you along.
But you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. There's also this sort of warmth that's pushing you along.
Saki
They're incredible, Ichi...
Saki
A lot of words and thoughts came to mind as I wrote my song, but I couldn't string them together very well.
Saki
The lyrics you wrote make so much sense. It's like you knew exactly what I was thinking.
Ichika
Really?
Saki
Yeah. Not only that, your lyrics helped turn my song into our song. Leo/need's song.
Saki
So... I'm really, really glad that you were the one who wrote the lyrics for us again this time, Ichi!
Ichika
Saki...
Ichika
It makes me happy to hear that.
And thank you for telling me about what happened back then...
And thank you for telling me about what happened back then...
Luka
Hehe.
Saki's masterpiece coupled with Ichika's beautiful lyrics means this song's become something quite special.
Saki's masterpiece coupled with Ichika's beautiful lyrics means this song's become something quite special.
Honami
Yes, it has.
I'm very much looking forward to playing it.
I'm very much looking forward to playing it.
Saki
Me too!
I can't wait to practice it and play it in front of people!
I can't wait to practice it and play it in front of people!
Ichika
Oh, about that...
Shiho
Before we start practicing, there's something I need to tell all of you...
Honami
Huh...?
Saki
Did something happen?
Shiho
So...
Saki
...
“A band made up of high school girls through and through.”
“A band made up of high school girls through and through.”
Honami
Is that how people see us...?
Honami
Yes, we've been telling others that we're trying to go pro, but that's not exactly the image we were going for...
Saki
But we can't really control what others think...
Saki
Our performances still need work, and our songs didn't resonate with that crowd during our last show...
Saki
No, it wasn't just the crowd...
Saku didn't really feel anything after hearing us play.
Saku didn't really feel anything after hearing us play.
Shiho
Saki...
Saki
So, I wanna show everyone what we're really made of at our next show.
Saki
It's like what Shiho told Saku...
I want our music to do the talking for us.
I want our music to do the talking for us.
Saki
I mean, we worked super duper hard on our latest song just for the crowd at that live house... And it turned out this well because we put a ton of thought into it.
Saki
So, I'm really confident about it!
I'm sure everyone at that live house...
I'm sure everyone at that live house...
Saki
Everyone who hears this song is gonna be blown away by it!
Honami
Saki...
Honami
I agree...
Honami
Saku said that we're “a band made up of high school girls through and through” because our music didn't strike a chord with her.
Honami
However, with Saki's new song...
I'm sure that audience, as well as Saku, will understand what Leo/need's all about.
I'm sure that audience, as well as Saku, will understand what Leo/need's all about.
Honami
So, I'm also going to do everything I can for our next show. I want to prove to everyone that we're not going pro just for fun...!
Shiho
...
Len
Sounds like you're all in agreement.
Rin
But Shih, you really put yourself out there by saying that you girls are gonna show everyone what this band's all about with your music!
Shiho
Yeah, but I don't regret saying that.
I couldn't stay silent while someone trashed Leo/need behind our backs.
I couldn't stay silent while someone trashed Leo/need behind our backs.
Ichika
Right. Also...
Ichika
If you didn't speak up, Shiho, I probably would've said something.
Saki
R-Really?!
MEIKO
Hehe. Atta girl.
I like your moxie.
I like your moxie.
Miku
Me too.
And we're behind you all the way until your next show...
And we're behind you all the way until your next show...
Shiho
Thanks, everyone.
Saki
Alright, that means we've really gotta practice...!
Ichika
This song has a different melody and tempo compared to what we usually play, so we may want to start by individually mastering how to play it.
Shiho
Yeah...
If I'm gonna be honest, at our current level, I'm not sure a month is gonna be enough for us to get it perfect.
If I'm gonna be honest, at our current level, I'm not sure a month is gonna be enough for us to get it perfect.
Shiho
So, I came up with practice schedules that should allow us to efficiently make that happen.
Honami
Wait, for all of us?
Shiho
Yeah, here.
I made copies for all of us, so if you don't mind taking a look.
I made copies for all of us, so if you don't mind taking a look.
Rin
Whoa! Way to go, Shih! You're always so reliable!
KAITO
Impressive...
This clearly details what each of you will need to do.
This clearly details what each of you will need to do.
Ichika
If we can get through this, we should be able to put on a perfect show.
Saki
Yeah, it does!
This looks really hard at first glance, but I think we'll do just fine as long as we try together!
This looks really hard at first glance, but I think we'll do just fine as long as we try together!
Honami
I agree...!
I'd like to give it a try as well!
I'd like to give it a try as well!
Ichika
Then, let's all do our best until our next show.
Saki & Honami
Yeah!
Shiho
(Again, a month probably isn't enough time for us to play this song in a way that really moves everyone in that crowd.)
Shiho
(But I'm not backing down.
Not after what we were told that time...)
Not after what we were told that time...)
Shiho
(I'm gonna do absolutely everything I can until the day of our show. I have to support everyone somehow...)
Next Chapter: In Order To Get Better