What's wrong, kid?

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

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

Uh, okay...

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

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

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

Oh...

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

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.

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

...

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

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

...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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...

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

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

But this is the result of all that...

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

...

I don't wanna give up...

I don't wanna quit, but...

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

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

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

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

Right...

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

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.

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.

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

My body...?

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

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

...

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

...!

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.

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

Th-Thank you very much...!

I-I'm gonna keep singing...

That all really happened...?

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

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

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.

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

I'm not turning back.

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

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

Huh? You seem pretty energized all of a sudden.

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

Especially since I wanna surpass RAD WEEKEND with you guys!

Alright, fine.
Then, let's run.

Yeah!

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

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

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

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

(Wait, that's...)

(They're back...)

Can I have your autograph?!

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

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

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

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

So what if we have...?

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

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...

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

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

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

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

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

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

Huh? For you guys...?

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

Or are you too scared?

What...?

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

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

Not true!
Akito's...!

Hey, it's fine...

Challenge accepted.

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

(Wait, I know!)

...

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

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

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

Hm...?

<Toya, please! I need your help!>

Luka? Did something happen?

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

Fight...?

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

<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...>

History? Those people...?

Understood. I'll head over now.

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

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

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

Thank you very much.

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

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

Th-They're starting...!

♪————! ——, ——!

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

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

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

(But...)

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

♪——! ————!

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

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

...

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

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

Akito...

♪——————!!

What the...?!

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

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

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

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

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

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

♪——!! ————!!

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

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

Wait, what's going on?

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

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

♪——————!!

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

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

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

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

...

Holy...

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

Grr...!

(I won...?)

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

(I guess I really have grown...)

...

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

Yeah! His opponents are also really good!

Totally. They're definitely going places!

...!!!

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

(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...)

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

Haha...

(Geez, I'm so lame.)

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

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

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

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

(While...)

(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.)

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

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

I don't...

But... I can't stop here.

Wait, huh?
Hey, Akito, wait! Where are you going?!