Oh, this is a great angle!
I'll try taking your photo like this.

Of course. Just promise to capture my good side, okay?

Y-Yes, I promise!

(Hehe. I think I got in some really good shots...)

Hm? Kohane? What are you doing here?

Oh, it's you! Hello!

I was working on my singing by going around and taking photos of the city.

You're working on your singing? By taking photos? Oh, this must be another one of Taiga's weird training methods...

Th-They're not weird...
Just a little different.

So, how did it turn out?
Did you get my good side?

Yes, here! Please take a look.

Wow...! You're good!
Would you mind giving me a copy? I'd like to send one to my grandchildren...

Of course!
I'll bring some by your store later.

Thank you very much. I really appreciate it.

But I feel like you have it kinda rough sometimes. I've seen you walking around speaking only foreign languages and copying animal noises before. You know you're allowed to complain to him, right?

Haha...
Actually, I think there's a purpose behind all those things.

I feel like they've given me the chance to think about how I express myself and use my imagination when singing...

Really? So, he's not just messing with you? Maybe I should be helping you too...

Oh, are you sure?
I thought you were about to go somewhere...

No, my boyfriend just said that he's gonna be running late, so I have some time on my hands now. Ask me anything! Want me to strike some poses for you?

Thank you very much! Then...

Hey, how's it going?

Oh, Taiga!
Can you take a look at this photo? I thought it turned out really well.

Hm? Let's see...

Yeah, you captured her smile really well. Especially considering how she has an infamous scowl.

Hehe. Thank you very much!

For each photo, I asked the people in them to help me, and they all agreed after I mentioned that I was practicing with you, Taiga.

I was watching you from afar, but you seem to have been making a lot of friends around here.

Yes, I am. And it's because you've been nice enough to take me to all these different places.

I was actually a little scared of Vivid Street not too long ago...

But I feel really comfortable here after singing with An and the others, and walking around with you.

Everyone here's so warm, friendly and really welcoming... It's really nice.

So, you like it here...?

Huh? Um...

Yes...
I like things here very much!

I see.

Then, as long as you do, this place should reciprocate that feeling.

And when it does...

I thought I heard a familiar voice just now. Hello there, Taiga.

You came out to see me...?
Glad to see that you're still doing well.

Hmph. Don't write me off just yet.
I'm not croaking until I see you...er...WALKER stand on top of the world.

(WALKER...? Oh, that's his stage name...)

Haha. You listen to me too?

Don't forget that I've been watching you since you were just a kid. It's only natural for me to want to see you become a fully-fledged artist.

So, Taiga, good luck over there.

(She really cares about him.
She's even known him since he was really young...)

(I can't even begin to imagine what Taiga was like when he was little...)

(But...)

(I can tell that he really grew up here...)

Now then. Sorry for getting sidetracked, but we'll have to call our practice here.

Okay. Thank you!

I need to go practice for our event now, so if you'll excuse me!

Wait before you go...
We're finished practicing for today, but there's something I need to tell you.

Huh? Um... Tell me?

I was just recently asked to do a US tour... And I plan to accept their offer.

What?! A US tour?! That's incredible...! Congratulations, Taiga!

(Things just got really big all of a sudden... He really must be an amazing singer... And he's teaching me...)

(Wait, but...
If he accepts this offer to go on tour and goes over to the US...)

So, I don't have much time left to practice with you and teach you things...

Yes, I see...

B-But...!
Again, congratulations!

Thanks. So, as a little assessment, why don't you sing for me right now?

What...?
You want to hear me sing...?!

Yeah. Anything you like. And it doesn't have to be long since your voice probably isn't warmed up.

Okay. Then...

♪————~~

Um... How did I do...?

Yeah, that told me more than enough.

You've improved a lot since the last time I heard you sing.

*Gasp*
Really?!

I can see why that geezer at Crawl Green likes you so much. He's definitely got a good eye.

Singing's a complicated thing.
Just being good isn't enough to get through to others.

Which is why I wasn't teaching you to become a better singer technically. You need to possess certain more intrinsic qualities to accomplish that. Qualities that we have.

Intrinsic qualities...?

You've done well up to this point.
And you seem to have sort of realized why I had you do all those things.

No, I still don't have the full picture...
However, this has given me a chance to rethink how I should practice.

For example, I've become better at imagining what a song is supposed to be about and how to express what's in my mind...

And by struggling to speak in a foreign language, I've figured out how to stop relying on lyrics and put emotion into my voice itself.

Yeah, that's right.
Everything you just mentioned is essential to singing.

Skills aren't actually what's “most important” when it comes to singing well or producing good music.

If you keep improving your understanding of how to get a clear image in your head and actually express that by singing, the sky's going to be the limit for you.

That along with everything else will help you figure out what's “most important”. There's more to singing than just singing.

That reminds me of what you told me the other day...

Hey, you have a good memory.

I remember because I really had no idea back then what walking around the city had to do with singing...

Really? But it seems like you're friends with everyone around here now...

Which means your next event should be a good chance...

Alright, I'm going to give you one last assignment. Let's call it...your final.

My final...?

Okay.
What would you like me to do?

Perform by yourself during your next event.

What...?!

B-By myself...?! Alone...?!

Yeah, that's right... But I'm not telling you to leave your team or stop singing with An and the others.

Oh, okay... Thank goodness...
But... How am I supposed to do that...?

Well, for example...
Remember what Nagi did for RAD WEEKEND? You could be the opening act.

The opening act...

M-Me...?

Yeah. How you go about that is up to you, but I think you'll be able to face the audience better by performing alone since you'll have them all to yourself.

Also, even though I know you have some experience flying solo, performing by yourself for your own event is something else.

You'll find out what I mean when you take the stage.

But this isn't the time or place to decide whether you do it. If you are interested, you should ask your teammates about this...

O-Okay. Thank you very much.

Me...? Performing solo during our event...?

Is it really okay for me to...?

(Singing first means...
I'm the one setting the pace for our event. Like Nagi did for RAD WEEKEND...)

(But An and Tono had to work really hard to book the venue for our event. Not only that...)

(It's going to be an important event for Shinonome...)

(Knowing all that, if I mess up...)

But...

(This may be my only chance to have Taiga see me sing...)

(If this really is it, then I might... No, I'll definitely regret it if I let this chance slip.)

I want to give it a try...