A few days later
Miyamasuzaka Girls Academy - Class 2-D

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1

Airi

Listen

(We have math class after this...
But our meeting for that radio program is this afternoon. I should start getting ready.)
2

Airi

Listen

(It's been a while since I last left school during the middle of the day like this. It's just like old times...)
3

Airi

Listen

(Before I stopped being an idol, I was constantly going back and forth between school and work. I hardly had any time to hang out with my friends...)

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4

???

Hey, Airi, wanna hang out after school? I just heard about this shop that has these amazing cakes!
5

Airi

Listen

Oh, sorry, I can't today...
6

Airi

Listen

(Some not-so-happy memories are also popping into my head. But for now, where's Shizuku at...?)

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7

Airi

Listen

Shizuku! We gotta get going soon. You ready?
8

Shizuku

Listen

Oh, yes. I'm ready to go.
9

Airi

Listen

That's good to hear. It's just the two of us today, so we really gotta have our act together.
10

Airi

Listen

Especially since we'll need to be able to explain to Minori and Haruka about how our appearance is gonna go and stuff.
11

Shizuku

Listen

Don't worry, I plan on taking notes while we're there.
12

Airi

Listen

Hehe. You came prepared.
13

Shizuku

Listen

Still, it is a little sad that Minori and Haruka can't join us today. Until now, the four of us did just about everything together...
14

Airi

Listen

Yeah, I know how you feel.
15

Airi

Listen

But they promised to do what they can on their end, so we also gotta produce some good results...!
16

Shizuku

Listen

Yes, I agree!
After school

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17

Teacher

Thank you for bringing me the class log, Kiritani. And good work today. I'll see you tomorrow.
18

Haruka

Listen

Thank you. Now, if you'll excuse me.
19

Haruka

Listen

(*Sigh*
It's almost four. Airi and Shizuku should be returning from their meeting right about now.)
20

Haruka

Listen

(I wonder how it went.
I hope their staff is friendly.)
21

Haruka

Listen

(You never really know until you actually meet them, so maybe I should've also...)
22

Haruka

Listen

(No, stop...
I can't keep thinking that I should've gone with them.)
23

Haruka

Listen

(We left this up to them.
And I'm sure they'll ask all the right questions in our place.)
24

Haruka

Listen

(But...)
25

Haruka

Listen

(If I were still in the credit-based course like before, we may've been able to accept more offers...)

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26

Haruka

Listen

A message...?
From Minori?
27

Haruka

Listen

<I wanna hammer out the details for this idea. Can you help me?>
I see. She's been working on what Airi asked...
28

Haruka

Listen

(For the time being... I should do what I can to help her.)
Several dozen minutes later
Rooftop

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29

Haruka

Listen

Okay, this looks good...
30

Haruka

Listen

“What's In Our Bags?!”
I think it's gonna be really fun.
31

Minori

Listen

Really? Thank goodness!
To be honest, this idea just came from me wanting to see what's inside your guys' bags.
32

Haruka

Listen

Hehe. That ability to see things from a fan's perspective is one of your best qualities, Minori.
33

Minori

Listen

Y-You think so? Hehe...
But thanks for working on this with me, Haruka!
34

Haruka

Listen

You're welcome.
I'm glad this idea came together so quickly.
35

Minori

Listen

Me too! Next, we can...

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36

Minori

Listen

Oh...
37

Haruka

Listen

Hehe. You're hungry already?
38

Minori

Listen

Oh, hehe... Actually, I didn't eat lunch.
39

Minori

Listen

My plan was to come up with some ideas while I ate, but I ended up getting totally lost in thought.
40

Haruka

Listen

It's nice to see that you're working hard, but you also need to eat right. Physical fitness is one of your biggest assets as an idol, so always keep that in mind.
41

Minori

Listen

Yeah, I know...
But, well, I was getting really antsy...
42

Haruka

Listen

Antsy?
43

Minori

Listen

Yeah... I kept thinking about how Shizuku and Airi were working while we were in class...
44

Minori

Listen

Then, I started thinking that I can't just sit around... I have to do what I can in their place...
45

Haruka

Listen

Minori...
46

Minori

Listen

Oh, I do agree with what Airi said! There's still plenty for us to do while we're at school.
47

Minori

Listen

But...
48

Minori

Listen

I just can't help thinking about it...
49

Haruka

Listen

...
50

Minori

Listen

Haruka...
You were in the credit-based course before, right?
51

Minori

Listen

Can you tell me how classes and stuff work for that?
52

Haruka

Listen

Well, there are some key differences compared to the classes we take as regular students...
53

Haruka

Listen

The biggest one being that... You don't have to always attend.
54

Haruka

Listen

Naturally, in order to receive credit, you need to keep your attendance up and pass your tests.
55

Haruka

Listen

But you can more or less decide when or how much you show up. As such, it becomes easier to work in the afternoon during the week.
56

Minori

Listen

I see...
57

Haruka

Listen

I have to ask, Minori...
Are you thinking about switching to the credit-based course?
58

Minori

Listen

Huh?! Umm...
I'm still not even sure...
59

Minori

Listen

But seeing what Airi and Shizuku can do...
I want to do more to help them...
60

Haruka

Listen

Right...
61

Haruka

Listen

I know what you mean.
If I... If all of us were credit-based, not just Airi and Shizuku, we'd be able to do more as MORE MORE JUMP!
62

Minori

Listen

Y-Yeah, exactly...
63

Haruka

Listen

However, again, getting any schoolwork done will become just that much harder. Not only that...
64

Haruka

Listen

Switching to the credit-based course also means switching to a completely different lifestyle.
65

Minori

Listen

A different lifestyle...?
66

Haruka

Listen

Yeah. You won't be going to school every day like you do now. Which means spending less time with your friends...

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67

Haruka

Listen

It can't really be avoided, but it's one of the sad realities of this system...
68

Minori

Listen

Oh...
69

Minori

Listen

Wait, Haruka...
Is this coming from personal experience?
70

Haruka

Listen

Yeah. For the longest time, I wasn't able to participate in many school events because of work...
71

Haruka

Listen

As a result, I always felt this distance between myself and my classmates.
72

Haruka

Listen

Even if I did make a friend, I wouldn't see them very often... Most times, we'd just end up drifting apart.
73

Minori

Listen

I had no idea...
74

Haruka

Listen

Of course, I'm not saying that the same thing is going to happen to you, Minori. It's just one possibility that I thought you should be aware of.
75

Haruka

Listen

Sorry, I didn't mean to sound like I've seen it all before...
76

Minori

Listen

N-No, Haruka, there's no need for you to apologize!
77

Minori

Listen

Still... You're right.
It's clear that I need to give this more careful thought.
78

Minori

Listen

Thanks, Haruka!
79

Haruka

Listen

(Going credit-based...)
80

Haruka

Listen

(She still seemed a little unsure, but Minori's seriously considering it...)
81

Haruka

Listen

(As for what Minori should do, she sort of has to figure that out herself. But...)
82

Haruka

Listen

...
83

Haruka

Listen

(There's no question that I'd be able to do more as an idol if I went back to being credit-based...)
84

Haruka

Listen

(In that case...)
Next Chapter: Think Hard On It