Shopping Mall
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Young Lady
Thank you all so much!
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Young Lady
And thanks for dancing with me, Haruka.
Young Lady
Hehe. That's great to hear!
Then, to cap things off...
Then, to cap things off...
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Haruka's Mother
Haruka!
Thank goodness! There you are!
Thank goodness! There you are!
Young Lady
Ah, perfect timing!
That means you get to watch me perform my last song with your mommy and daddy!
That means you get to watch me perform my last song with your mommy and daddy!
Young Lady
Hehe...
I'm glad to see that you've fallen in love with performing on stage, Haruka.
I'm glad to see that you've fallen in love with performing on stage, Haruka.
Young Lady
So, moving forward...
Keep singing and dancing, and don't ever lose that smile of yours.
Keep singing and dancing, and don't ever lose that smile of yours.
Young Lady
Yeah. So, when you're all grown up and have learned how to spread hope to others by performing on stage like you did just now...
Young Lady
I absolutely promise to be there to see you!
Haruka's Father
Come here, Haruka.
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Haruka's Father
We don't know what to say.
Thank you so much for looking after our daughter... And letting her perform on stage with you.
Thank you so much for looking after our daughter... And letting her perform on stage with you.
Haruka's Mother
We really appreciate what you did.
Haruka, what do we say to the nice lady...?
Haruka, what do we say to the nice lady...?
Manager
No, it was my pleasure.
This is actually a pretty normal occurrence.
This is actually a pretty normal occurrence.
Haruka's Father
Normal...?
Young Lady
♪————
Haruka's Mother
Huh?
Little Haruka
She's really amazing.
She can make so many people smile just by singing and dancing.
She can make so many people smile just by singing and dancing.
Young Lady
♪————
Haruka's Father
Haruka...
Haruka's Mother
Yes, she does seem like a wonderful person. I mean, she was able to put such a big smile on your face...
Little Haruka
She said that it's an idol's duty to spread hope to others and make them smile...
Little Haruka
I want to spread hope to others the way she does... I want to make lots and lots of people smile...
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Haruka's Mother
Haruka... You want to become an idol?
Haruka's Father
Yes, I think you can.
Haruka's Mother
Yes.
Because your smile, Haruka... It's the cutest in the world!
Because your smile, Haruka... It's the cutest in the world!
Haruka
Her smile glimmered as she sang and danced too. It's like she was lighting a fire inside my heart as she did...
Haruka
What I want to spread to everyone is the hope I felt that day. The belief that tomorrow will be a better day.
Sound Effect: Play
Haruka's Mother
Are you still up?
There's something I'd like to show you.
There's something I'd like to show you.
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Haruka's Mother
Hehe. This.
Your father just happened to spot it in the evening paper.
Your father just happened to spot it in the evening paper.
Haruka's Mother
Here, look.
It's a very brief article...
It's a very brief article...
Haruka's Mother
But isn't this that lady you like so much, Haruka...?
Haruka
“Although she's retired from being an idol and stepped away from the spotlight, she continues to spread hope to others...”
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Haruka
“Now, following her retirement, she's become a radio personality for a station in another part of the country. However, her activities are not confined to a cramped studio.”
Haruka
“Between retirement homes, kindergartens, hot springs and such, she uses her past experience as a star to stand on stages all over her region...”
Haruka
“And so, she continues to spread hope and inspire courage in others with her dazzling smile and beautiful voice.”
Haruka
But that's so great...
She hasn't changed... She's still spreading hope to lots and lots of people.
She hasn't changed... She's still spreading hope to lots and lots of people.
Haruka's Mother
Oh, look at this photo...
She's smiling alongside all these children. She hasn't changed one bit.
She's smiling alongside all these children. She hasn't changed one bit.
Haruka's Mother
Haruka?
Is something the matter?
Is something the matter?
Haruka
No, I finally found the answer I was looking for. I need to tell the others about this tomorrow.
Next Chapter: For The Ones Who Haven't Seen Yet