Thank you for your patience.
How does your foot feel?

Ah, much better.
It's been hurting considerably less since you treated it.

Oh, that's good to hear.

Then, why don't we start applying some gauze to those scrapes?

Still, there are quite a few.
What caused this exactly?

Oh, we were testing the ejection device that we'll be using during our show.

Ejection device?

Yup!
It's a device that lets the user jump up really high!

But a strong gust blew while Rui was testing it and...

Well, I ended up getting injured as a result.

I see...
I guess putting on a show is no simple matter.

Yes, they have their challenges.
Moving around large props is hard, physical work, and it becomes necessary to make adjustments to our various gadgets when the weather turns for the worse.

However...

They're super duper fun!!

Getting to do shows with everyone's the best! It's hard sometimes, but I wake up every day looking forward to working on them!

Especially the ones Rui comes up with! They're always, fun, exciting and super wonderhoy!

Ah, yes...

Being able to put on the shows that I want to has made me very happy.

The shows you want to...

(That feeling... It's back...)

Hm...?
Is something wrong, Asahina?

Huh? No, nothing's wrong.

But that's really wonderful.
It's like you and Kamishiro are pouring everything you have into what you truly want to do, Otori.

Nothing in my life makes me feel that way.

What?

Why do you say that?

Why...? Because...
It's true, I guess...?

Looking at the people around me...

It's just how I feel...

There's nothing that I actually want to do...

(Huh...?)

(Am I still smiling...?)

Asahina...

I'm inclined to believe otherwise...

What...?

This is just my hunch, but I got the sense that there is something that you want to do, Asahina.

...

Are you sure?
I really don't think so...

...

It could be that you just haven't realized it yet.

Huh...?

The truth is, when I was little, I also didn't know what I wanted to do or become.

Or rather, I knew what I wanted to do, but had no way of fully appreciating what I was saying...

...?

At first, I thought I'd be happy as long as I was able to make the shows I wanted. Even if I had to do it alone.

However, I realized later that I was really looking for others to do my shows with... Those who felt the same way as me.

...

I wasn't able to realize that because I'd given up on that hope. I'd convinced myself that no one else would want to work with me.

But I met the others, was asked how I truly felt and was able to identify my real beliefs.

Rui...

That was when it dawned on me...

Understanding how you truly feel is much more difficult than you would expect.

Which is why I thought you were going through the same dilemma, Asahina...

I...

I'm sorry...
I didn't mean to give you my life's story.

No, that's okay...

Thank you for treating me.
Our show should turn out just fine now.

Oh, that's good to hear...

But please refrain from doing anything too strenuous. That may cause the pain to come back.

Yes, I promise to be careful...
Oh, since we're on the subject...

Asahina, why don't you come see our show? Mizuki and the others will also be watching.

What...?

I guarantee that it's going to be like nothing you've ever seen before. Also, it's going to have something to do with what we discussed just now...

So, you may find it more relatable compared to other people.

But...

Asahina, I really hope you'll come and watch! It'll put such a big smile on my face!

And I promise to do everything I can to put one on yours!

...

If I have time...

Yay!
Thank you so much!

Hehe. I know we're asking quite a bit of you, but please stop by if you like.

Anyway, if you'll excuse us.
Again, thank you very much for treating me.

A show...

What do I want to do...?

Hey, let's check out the stage. It says they're amateurs, but I know they're really good!

(Oh, it's already this late...)

(I'm only supposed to work until 5:00 pm, so...)

...

Rui! Emu! Where are you?!
Say something!

What do we do...? What if something happened to them...?

Tsukasa! Kusanagi!

Akito! Have you seen Rui and Emu?!
They were supposed to be testing one of our devices but can't seem to find them...

Yes, about that...

What?! Rui got injured?!

He said he's at the first aid tent...
Shouldn't we go over and see how he's doing...?!

Yes, we shouldn't just be standing around! We should go to him at once and...

Please, try to calm down.

Kamishiro told me to tell you guys that he'll be here soon and there's no need to worry.

He also said that he should be able to play his part just fine.

But that could just be him acting tough...!

Kamishiro was making adjustments until the last minute to ensure that your show went well.

So, shouldn't you do him the honor of being patient and waiting for him?

...!

He's right...
We wouldn't be able to do much even if we were to go over to the first aid tent.

And Emu's with him, so let's just be patient and believe in them for now...

Okay...
I apologize for losing my cool there...

Alright, Nene!
Let's regroup and go over our show one last time!

Okay.

(Alright, they seem okay now...)

Anyway, I need to head back.
I'll be looking forward to seeing you guys' show.

Likewise! Also, Akito, before you go...!

Yes?

Thank you for helping Rui and taking him to the first aid tent!

And thank you for calming us down. That actually helped a lot.

You're welcome. To be fair, I really didn't do anything special. Anyway, later.

(I wonder where everybody is...)

(They were somewhere over there when Mizuki came to talk to me...)

Alright, here comes the last of our general participants! They're the new hitmakers of street music! Vivid BAD SQUAD!

Oh...

Hey, Mafuyu!

Oh...

Sorry I'm late...

That's okay.
I'm sure you're tired from volunteering.

I'm glad you made it in time! Li'l Bro and his team are about to take the stage!

Speaking of which, we only saw him perform with his partner during the Summer Festival. I wonder what they're like as a full unit.

...

This is it.
And the audience sounds really excited.

Let's match their energy and... No, we gotta bring even more!

I agree.

...

Akito? Is something the matter?

Y-Yeah...
I'm good to go.

(But...)

(He hasn't returned yet.
There isn't much time left...)

Hey, everyone!

Oh...
Rui! Emu!

Sorry we're late!

Are you all better now?!

Ah, you must've heard from Shinonome. Yes, I received some treatment and feel much better now.

But I'm not allowed to do anything too strenuous, so would you mind if I made some changes to how I'm supposed to move?

We've already thought about how to reduce your movement to a minimum.

(They made it back in time...)

Shinonome!

Thank you for what you did earlier.
I'll be looking forward to seeing your team's performance now.

Huh?

Akito, did something happen to you and Kamishiro?

Oh...

Yeah, a little...

Get ready, Kamishiro!
We're gonna blow the roof off this place!

Hehe. So you say...

Alright, you guys!
Get ready to give it everything you've got!

Yeah!
Yes!

Hey, we're Vivid BAD SQUAD!
How are you all doing?! Are you guys having fun?!

We're gonna put the pedal to the metal! So hang on tight!

♪——! ♪——!
♪————!!

I've never seen Kohane sing with her team before until now, but she's incredible... I can't believe how well she's projecting her voice...

Yeah, Toya seems like a totally different person too!

Th-This is so cool!!
Kohane!! An!!

So much power! The air's turning electric...! Akito's improved since the Summer Festival too!

Whoa!
They're mind-blowingly good!

This is incredible...

...

(We're just getting started!)

♪————————!!

They have the entire place eating out of their hands.

(Based on how they're performing, they must've practiced more than anyone else...)

Hehe...
They probably pushed themselves quite a bit to get to this point.

(Their singing's so loud...
My ears kind of hurt.)

(But...)