The next day
Rehearsal Studio

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1

Ichika's Song

♪————
2

Miku

Listen

<*Nod*
This really is a wonderful song...>
3

Miku

Listen

<All that's left is to hear what the others have to say after they listen to it today.>
4

Ichika

Listen

R-Right...
5

Miku

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<Are you nervous, Ichika?>
6

Ichika

Listen

O-Of course I am.
This is the first actual song I've written.
7

Ichika

Listen

Also, Saki always writes these amazing songs for us, so I'm worried that it's going to pale in comparison...
8

Miku

Listen

<I don't think you have anything to worry about. Music isn't about comparing yourself to others.>
9

Miku

Listen

<Listening to your song, Ichika, I got a clear sense of what sort of message you were trying to send. So, I think it's fine the way it is...>
10

Ichika

Listen

Miku...
11

Ichika

Listen

Thank goodness. I'm so glad I asked you to join me today, Miku. It's like the first time I showed everyone my lyrics. I'm so nervous...
12

Saki's Voice

Listen

Whoa! It's already this late?!
Sorry for making you help me with that stuff!
13

Ichika

Listen

Oh...
14

Miku

Listen

<Sounds like they're here.
Good luck, Ichika...>

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15

Saki

Listen

Ichi! Sorry for being so late!
The teacher asked me to do some stuff and...!

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16

Ichika

Listen

H-Hello, everyone.
17

Shiho

Listen

Hm?
Miku's here too?
18

Miku

Listen

<We were having a little chat.>
19

Saki

Listen

You were? About what?
20

Ichika

Listen

Oh... U-Uhh...
21

Ichika

Listen

S-So... There's something I need to ask all of you...
22

Honami

Listen

*Gasp*
Does this mean...?
23

Saki

Listen

Huh?! What's going on?!
Oh, is this about the new pancake place that just opened up near school?! I've been thinking we should check it out, too!
24

Shiho

Listen

I seriously doubt it, Saki, so please be quiet for a bit.
25

Ichika

Listen

H-Haha... The thing is... Um...
26

Ichika

Listen

I wrote my own song, and I want you all to listen to it.
27

Shiho

Listen

Your own song...?
28

Shiho

Listen

You wrote one, Ichika?
29

Ichika

Listen

Yeah...
30

Saki

Listen

What?!
Ichi, you wrote a song?!
31

Saki

Listen

That's so awesome!
I had no idea that you were working on one! I really wanna hear it!
32

Honami

Listen

I see. It's finally done...
I'm so happy for you, Ichika!
33

Saki

Listen

Wait, Hona, you knew...?
34

Honami

Listen

Oh, um... Yes...
I happened to walk in on Ichika working on it...
35

Saki

Listen

What?!
Why didn't you tell us?!
36

Ichika

Listen

Please don't blame her.
I wanted to have you all listen to it when it was complete, so I asked her to keep it a secret until then.
37

Miku

Listen

<Hehe...>
38

Saki

Listen

Wait a sec... That giggle...
Miku, you knew too, didn't you?
39

Miku

Listen

<Yes, I did. However, I only heard about it yesterday.>
40

Saki

Listen

No fair! No fair!
Lemme listen to it!
41

Shiho

Listen

I'd like to hear your song as well, Ichika.
42

Ichika

Listen

O-Of course. That's why I brought it up. I am a little nervous... But I want to hear your honest opinions.
43

Ichika

Listen

So... I'll play it now.
44

Saki

Listen

Oh wow...
45

Saki

Listen

This song's super duper amazingly good! How do I put it...?

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46

Saki

Listen

It's so you, Ichi!
There's so much warmth... And so much kindness in the lyrics. It's like you're saying you'll be there when I really need you.
47

Shiho

Listen

Yeah, it's like I'm being wrapped in a warm blanket... And I really like how it captures you so well, Ichika.
48

Ichika

Listen

Thanks, you two...!
49

Miku

Listen

<I didn't realize that's how you saw her, Shiho.>
50

Shiho

Listen

H-Hey, I was just trying to give my impression, that's all.
51

Honami

Listen

Miku's voice is also really beautiful.
It goes so well with the song... Actually, Ichika, this Miku kind of reminds me of you.
52

Ichika

Listen

Wait, Miku...reminds you of me...?
53

Honami

Listen

Yes, it's like...
Your feelings and her feelings have become one, you know?
54

Honami

Listen

Just through Miku's voice, you make it clear that you care about her very much.
55

Ichika

Listen

R-Right...
56

Ichika

Listen

Thank you...
57

Saki

Listen

Hey, but you sorta just made this for fun, right, Ichi...?
58

Saki

Listen

I was thinking I kinda wanna play it as Leo/need.
How would you feel about that?
59

Ichika

Listen

...!
60

Honami

Listen

I'd like to play it as well.
I was really wondering how it'd sound if we did.
61

Shiho

Listen

You had that in mind when you wrote it, didn't you Ichika? I mean, it uses the same instruments we do, and your message... It all feels like Leo/need.
62

Ichika

Listen

Yes, Shiho. That's right...
63

Saki

Listen

That means...!
64

Ichika

Listen

If you're all okay with it...
I'd like for us to play this song as Leo/need.
65

Saki

Listen

Of course we're okay with it!
I mean, Ichi, it's your debut as a songwriter♪
66

Honami

Listen

Oh, I have a suggestion regarding that...
67

Honami

Listen

For this song, why don't we have a video of us playing it and a separate one using this Miku version?
68

Honami

Listen

The way she sings it is so beautiful that I feel like it'd be a waste to not include her somehow.
69

Ichika

Listen

So, two videos...?
One of us performing and another of Miku singing?
70

Saki

Listen

I think that'd be great!
I personally really love Miku videos. I watch them all the time!
71

Shiho

Listen

Yeah, also...
72

Shiho

Listen

Plenty of other people like Miku, so we may be able to reach more people by making a video with her in it.
73

Ichika

Listen

Miku's voice is going to help my song reach all those people...?

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74

Miku

Listen

I also want lots and lots of people in your world to hear the song you and her created, Ichika...
75

Miku

Listen

This song, your thoughts, your feelings, this melody... The people who need it most are going to be so touched by them all.
76

Ichika

Listen

(Miku...)
77

Ichika

Listen

Right...
78

Ichika

Listen

I want it to reach as many people as possible too.
79

Ichika

Listen

Our song... With Miku!
A few days later
Scramble Crossing

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80

???

*Sigh*
I come all the way out to a live house when I'm supposed to have the day off, and... Another swing and a miss.
81

???

To be fair, it's not exactly easy to find a diamond in the rough. In terms of that...

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82

???

That show was something else.

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83

???

But there's no information out there about that band. I figured that high school kids would be posting videos and stuff online, but...
84

???

When I checked after the show, they didn't even seem to have any channels set up... Hm?
85

???

Wait, this is...!
86

???

Four subscribers... So, the four of them? Did they just set up this channel?
87

???

Hey, they even posted a Miku song...
88

???

Leo/need...
Seems I'll need to keep an eye on them.