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1

???

Listen

What's wrong, kid?
2

Junior High School Akito

Listen

Huh? You're from RADder... What are you...?
3

Ken

Listen

Here, drink this.
Mind if I sit next to you?
4

Junior High School Akito

Listen

Uh, okay...

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5

Ken

Listen

You've been singing a lot around here lately, right? I've seen a few of your performances.

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6

Junior High School Akito

Listen

You've seen me perform, KEN...?
7

Ken

Listen

I have. And it's hard not to notice you since I can hear you from two streets over.
8

Junior High School Akito

Listen

Oh...
9

Ken

Listen

You also sing like you mean it, so your performances usually end up being memorable.
10

Ken

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So, I felt kind of concerned when I saw you sitting all by yourself with a look on your face like the world just ended.
11

Junior High School Akito

Listen

(I'm happy, but also feel so stupid...
This really isn't how I wanted to meet my hero.)
12

Junior High School Akito

Listen

...
13

Ken

Listen

I don't know what happened, but it's always good to talk to someone when you feel stuck.
14

Ken

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Be it songs or worries, it's sometimes just best to spit it out.
15

Junior High School Akito

Listen

...
16

Junior High School Akito

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(How can I...?
Me? Crying on someone's shoulder...?)
17

Junior High School Akito

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(But I might be able to learn something from him. I mean, he's such an amazing singer...)
18

Junior High School Akito

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(If he tells me to quit music like all the others... Then, I...)
19

Junior High School Akito

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(No! Even if he does, I'll...!)
20

Junior High School Akito

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I performed in an event at Crawl Green earlier today...

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21

Ken

Listen

Now it makes sense.
You decided to perform there and they sorta ate you alive.
22

Ken

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So, do you regret what happened?
The look on your face says there's more to it than just that...
23

Junior High School Akito

Listen

Yes, getting made fun of and performing so badly is so frustrating...
24

Junior High School Akito

Listen

But what bothers me the most is how I dragged that place's name through the mud. I can't forgive myself for doing that...
25

Ken

Listen

You can't forgive yourself, huh...?
26

Junior High School Akito

Listen

I was convinced that I could come back from any failures by working harder than anyone else.
27

Junior High School Akito

Listen

But this is the result of all that...
28

Ken

Listen

So, what's your next move...?
29

Junior High School Akito

Listen

...
30

Junior High School Akito

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I don't wanna give up...
31

Junior High School Akito

Listen

I don't wanna quit, but...
32

Junior High School Akito

Listen

I-I'm having trouble believing in myself now...
33

Junior High School Akito

Listen

A part of me is always telling me that I'm going to hit my ceiling...
34

Ken

Listen

I see...
So you can't forgive yourself for getting shaken the way you did.
35

Ken

Listen

Well, if you believe what that voice is telling you, sooner or later, you will reach your limit.
36

Junior High School Akito

Listen

Right...
37

Ken

Listen

Fortunately, the solution's pretty simple. You just need to break through that ceiling.
38

Ken

Listen

It's easy for your mind to fall into the trap of believing there's no more use in trying. That there's no light at the end of the tunnel.

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39

Ken

Listen

So, whenever you feel that way, don't listen to your mind. Listen to your heart. Follow it. Go after what gets your blood pumping.
40

Ken

Listen

Your body will tell you the answer. It'll tell you what you actually want to do.
41

Junior High School Akito

Listen

My body...?
42

Ken

Listen

That's right. If you feel down and like everything's falling apart, but your body still wants to sing...
43

Ken

Listen

That means you shouldn't quit and singing is the only way you'll break through your ceiling.
44

Junior High School Akito

Listen

...
45

Ken

Listen

You didn't quit today, right?
So, good job for making it through.
46

Junior High School Akito

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...!
47

Ken

Listen

However, you might want to not perform in events for a while. I have a feeling that your throat's desperate for a break since you've been practicing so much.
48

Ken

Listen

If you want to keep singing, you need to take a breather every so often. Anyway, see you around.

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49

Junior High School Akito

Listen

Th-Thank you very much...!
50

Junior High School Akito

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I-I'm gonna keep singing...
51

Kotaro

Listen

That all really happened...?

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52

Akito

Listen

Yeah. And I decided to keep singing because of what Ken said.
53

Akito

Listen

That was when I made my decision. No matter what anyone says, I'm not quitting.
54

Akito

Listen

To be honest, every time I practice with Toya, An and Kohane... I'm reminded of how much work I still have left to do.
55

Akito

Listen

But I'm not gonna stop singing, no matter how tough things get...
Not until we surpass RAD WEEKEND.
56

Akito

Listen

I'm not turning back.
57

Kotaro

Listen

If you still have work to do, where does that leave me? Still... I get what you mean...
58

Kotaro

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Alright, let's run for a little longer! We're gonna sing after that, right?
59

Akito

Listen

Huh? You seem pretty energized all of a sudden.
60

Kotaro

Listen

I mean, who wouldn't be after hearing a story like that?! It totally just gave me a second wind!
61

Kotaro

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Especially since I wanna surpass RAD WEEKEND with you guys!
62

Akito

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Alright, fine.
Then, let's run.
63

Kotaro

Listen

Yeah!
64

Kotaro

Listen

Wait, huh...? What's everyone doing gathering up over there?
65

Akito

Listen

Hm? Oh, that's Punch Drink...
It's a new live house that just opened up. They might be doing an event or something.
66

Kotaro

Listen

Still, that's a ton of people... Who's performing? Oh, someone's walking out...

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67

Older Musician A

Thanks for coming to see us, everyone. It's nice to be back on Vivid Street after being away for so long.
68

Akito

Listen

(Wait, that's...)

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69

Older Musician A

If you're willing to say that much, then come perform at the event at Crawl Green next week.
70

Older Musician A

We're gonna wipe that from your memories by going all out with our first song! Get ready to make some noise!
71

Akito

Listen

(They're back...)

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72

Fan

Can I have your autograph?!
73

Older Musician A

Uh, sure. Just give me one second. I'll try to get to you all one at a time.
74

Older Musician A

Hey, why don't you guys come in a little closer... Hang on. Over there... Isn't that...?
75

Older Musician A

Hey, Shinonome! Long time no see! How you been? You're still singing, right?
76

Older Musician A

With a new team too.
We heard that you guys have been putting on your own events.
77

Akito

Listen

So what if we have...?
78

Kotaro

Listen

What...?!
Akito, the group from your story was Shepard...?!
79

Kotaro

Listen

I thought you guys left Vivid Street to sing elsewhere and sign with a major label! I didn't realize you were still doing shows around here...
80

Older Musician B

It's surprising to see you still singing after dragging Crawl Green's name through the mud the way you did.
81

Akito

Listen

Yeah, I know what I did was bad...
82

Akito

Listen

It was my fault for not having what it took to keep that crowd excited.
83

Akito

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But things are different now...
Be it Crawl Green or wherever, I know how to get a crowd going.
84

Older Musician A

Oh? Feeling all high and mighty after grouping up with Tono, are we...?
85

Older Musician A

Alright, Mr. Big Talk. Why don't you sing for us right here, right now?
86

Akito

Listen

Huh? For you guys...?
87

Older Musician A

This is your chance to make up for what you did.
88

Older Musician A

Or are you too scared?
89

Akito

Listen

What...?
90

Older Musician A

A few years have passed since then. You standing here means you kept at it until now, right?
91

Older Musician A

Still, you're no match for us...
And you don't want to sing because you know that.
92

Kotaro

Listen

Not true!
Akito's...!
93

Akito

Listen

Hey, it's fine...
94

Akito

Listen

Challenge accepted.
95

Luka

Listen

(Uh oh, this could be bad! What should I do...?!)
96

Luka

Listen

(Wait, I know!)
Toya's Room

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97

Toya

Listen

...
98

Toya

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It's already this late...
I'll continue tomorrow.
99

Toya

Listen

(I guess Akito must have finished training by now. He might be taking Luka to see the illuminations.)
100

Toya

Listen

(I'll try contacting him in a little bit...)
101

Toya

Listen

Hm...?

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102

Luka

Listen

<Toya, please! I need your help!>

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103

Toya

Listen

Luka? Did something happen?
104

Luka

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<Yes!
Akito's about to fight someone on the street!>
105

Toya

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Fight...?
106

Luka

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<Actually, more like battle them. By singing!>
107

Luka

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<But I became worried after seeing that he was outnumbered and noticing how unsettling it all felt. Not only that, he seems to have some history with those people...>
108

Toya

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History? Those people...?
109

Toya

Listen

Understood. I'll head over now.
110

Toya

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I should also ask Shiraishi to let Ken know about what's happening just in case...
111

Toya

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Luka, would you mind keeping an eye on Akito for me? We may not be able to get ahold of him as things are.
112

Luka

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<Okay! I'll try letting An know if things do get serious!>
113

Toya

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Thank you very much.

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114

Toya

Listen

No response...
Her dad's place will be busy at this time, so she may have her hands full.
115

Toya

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Who else can I ask...?
Oh, Azusawa might be with her right now.

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116

Kotaro

Listen

Th-They're starting...!
117

Older Musicians

♪————! ——, ——!
118

Fan

This is so cool!
And talk about being lucky! We get to see them sing again right after their show♪

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119

Akito

Listen

(They were good back then, but they've gotten even better...)
120

Akito

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(I guess they kept on honing their craft while I worked my butt off.)
121

Akito

Listen

(But...)
122

Akito

Listen

(Oddly enough, I'm feeling more optimistic this time around.)
123

Older Musician A

♪——! ————!

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124

Older Musician A

Whew. Thanks, everyone!
Alright, Shinonome, you ready?

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125

Older Musician C

This guy said he's gonna knock us outta the park.
126

Akito

Listen

...
127

Fan

Wait, all by himself...?
I thought he was gonna sing with his friend.
128

Fan

I feel kinda bad for him.
But I guess you reap what you sow.
129

Kotaro

Listen

Akito...
130

Akito

♪——————!!
131

Older Musician A

What the...?!
132

Akito

Listen

(I've been doing everything I possibly could until now...)
133

Akito

Listen

(All so that we'll surpass RAD WEEKEND, together.)

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134
I don't care if you want to try stuff on your own, but we're surpassing RAD WEEKEND as a team, okay?
135
This isn't just your dream.
136

Kohane

Listen

Yeah!
Let's sing as a team, Shinonome!
137

Toya

Listen

Akito, you're the best partner I could ask for.
138

Akito

Listen

(They helped me every time I hit a wall.)
139

Akito

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(We decided to aim for the top, together.)
140

Akito

Listen

(They've helped me improve way faster compared to when I was by myself.)
141

Akito

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(Say goodbye to the old me, and say hello to...!)
142

Akito

♪——!! ————!!

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143

Fan

Whoa... He's really good...
144

Fan

Yeah, Shepard was amazing... But he's...
145

Older Musician C

Wait, what's going on?
146

Older Musician A

Where did he learn to sing like this...?!

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147

Akito

Listen

(They seem pretty warmed up, so let's kick it up a notch...)
148

Akito

♪——————!!

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149

Akito

Listen

(Back then, no matter how hard I tried, it felt like I couldn't get anywhere close to RAD WEEKEND. But now...)
150

Akito

Listen

(I'm going toe to toe with guys of their caliber.)
151

Akito

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(I've long since broken through that ceiling...!)
152

Akito

Listen

(And I'm gonna sing all the way through until the end...!)

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153

Akito

Listen

...
154

Kotaro

Listen

Holy...
155

Kotaro

Listen

There's no doubt about it, Akito! You're the winner!

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156

Older Musician A

Grr...!
157

Akito

Listen

(I won...?)
158

Akito

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(This never would've been possible back then.)
159

Akito

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(I guess I really have grown...)
160

Akito

Listen

...

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161

Audience

Akito?! Was that you just now?! No wonder all these people are here! Expect nothing less from the guy trying to top RAD WEEKEND!
162

Audience

Yeah! His opponents are also really good!
163

Audience

Totally. They're definitely going places!
164

Akito

Listen

...!!!

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165

Akito

Listen

(Huh...? What did I feel just now...?)
166

Akito

Listen

(I just redeemed myself a little after dragging a legendary live house's name through the mud... And showed how much I've grown by getting back at those guys...)
167

Akito

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(Am I feeling...relieved...?)
168

Akito

Listen

Haha...
169

Akito

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(Geez, I'm so lame.)
170

Akito

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(Why did I feel satisfied after that...? I'm trying to accomplish something bigger, aren't I?)
171

Akito

Listen

(For that... I have to aim higher than this! I have to get even better than I am now!)
172

Akito

Listen

(Toya, An and Kohane are miles ahead of me too! They would've put on a way better performance!)
173

Akito

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(And Tono... This would've been a cakewalk for him.)
174

Akito

Listen

(While...)

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175

Akito

Listen

(They sang in a way that set everyone's hearts on fire. They made that place erupt... I have to learn how to do that.)
176

Akito

Listen

(I can't be satisfied with just this...)
177

Older Musician A

What is it? If you got something to say, just say it...!
178

Akito

Listen

I don't...
179

Akito

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But... I can't stop here.

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180

Kotaro

Listen

Wait, huh?
Hey, Akito, wait! Where are you going?!
Next Chapter: Eyes Like Them