♪——! ♪——!

So this is Mita's new song.
I've been thinking for a while now that he produces some pretty good stuff.

Yeah, it totally feels like Kotaro, you know? And it's really easy listening because he isn't trying to do anything too complicated.

I agree. Mita's song provides a nice contrast to EVER's more straight-up rock sound.

He seems to have taken a pop approach with his sound selection, and he's done a good job of nailing everything down. Plus...

Hey, everyone, we're just getting started!

He appears to have used less sound in some parts to make way for these gaps. His goal must be to use these parts to get the listener more excited.

Yes, he's placed the audience at the forefront. It's like he trying to reach out to them through his music...

(I have a feeling that Mita had no trouble with the theme we decided.)

(After all, he's very good at interacting with the audience. He wants the listener to hear a certain thing and react a certain way...)

(As much as I want my song to move someone's heart, I never once thought about who I'm trying to reach.)

(Come to think of it, Azusawa said something similar.)

(Then, where does that place me?)

(What is my sound about?
Who am I writing this song for?)

Okay, I'll go next.

♪——! ♪——!

You never cease to amaze.
It's powerful and very striking, but the finer details are also worth noting.

How did you put your new song together so quickly?

Yeah, after saying that it was coming along “okay” just the other day. It sounded essentially complete.

Yeah, it probably doesn't need much work. Meanwhile, Mita, myself and my team still have a lot left to do.

We're in the same boat...
Not only that, Arata's track is really good.

You've captured what's trending right now, but it also naturally meshes well with your own style.

And it's a simple sound with no complicated bells or whistles attached. You made this with a clear goal in mind, and you did it in a clever way...

We gotta keep doing what we can for our demo.

...is how practice went yesterday.
The others' new songs seem to be coming along well.

Yeah, and you guys don't have much time left until your next event.

And you're here helping me.
Even though it's crunch time for you guys right now. I kinda feel bad.

No, please don't feel bad. I'm the one who initially asked you to do this.

To tell you the truth, having you help me like this has been pretty huge.

The ideas I've been coming up with have been really fine and detailed, which meant that I needed to figure out a way to express them...

And you inputted all the right sounds before I even said anything.

Yes, well... That may be because I'm getting more used to how you undergo this process, Soma.

This is more than good intuition.
You totally have a talent for this.

I couldn't have asked for a better assistant. If it were just me working on this, Aoyagi, I probably wouldn't even be halfway done.

I'm glad that I could be of so much help. It's also been a wonderful learning experience for me.

Really? It doesn't feel like I've been doing much teaching... But it'd be really great if this song ends up being as good as what the others are making.

I bet they all came up with some really good ones. Am I right?

Yes, Tono's song felt especially powerful. He managed to capture such an aggressive sound.

Whoa, he wrote that kind of song?!
Vivid BAD SQUAD's not gonna let him hog all the glory, right?

About that... I want to do the song Akito and Shiraishi are writing justice by putting on the best performance I can.

It's scary because you can't let your guard down. I felt the same way when we formed our team.

You did?

Yeah, since Arata was always the better performer. He definitely stood out more than me.

But I didn't want him to hog the spotlight, so I always did my best to make myself heard after he got the crowd's attention.

Even though I knew that Arata was out of this world, I also wanted to shine.

Then, he said he really liked the suggestions I made for this one track I talked to him about.

He told me, “I like this, Soma. I want to try singing it.”

That was when I realized how my tracks were and are still meant for Arata. Whenever he feels motivated to sing something, he always puts on a mind-blowing performance.

Even now, you see Tono as the invaluable partner you can't be without.

...

No, that's not true.

I'm not Arata's partner anymore.

Huh...?

What do you mean by that...?

Because this body of mine is keeping me from singing or standing on the same stage as him.

I'm even making this song for Arata to sing. Unlike in the past, I can't perform it while standing next to him.

...

(Is that really true...?)

(Based on what I've heard, this song didn't give me that impression...)

(No...
I may be jumping to the wrong conclusion...)

I...

I heard otherwise... This song told me that you still want to perform alongside Tono.

I felt this desire to keep chasing after the person in front of you. To go wherever you can together and keep pushing each other to higher ground. That's what I took away from your song...

How...?

Because I...

(Now I understand...)

(Soma's wishing for the same thing.
That explains why this song resonated with me so much...)

I too have a partner that I can't be without. That may be why I was able to arrive at this conclusion.

...

I see...