Light Up the Fire - 3: Hitting A Wall

Vivid Street

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Young Local Musicians

Hey, that sounded like Taiga singing just now!

Young Local Musicians

Yeah, that booming voice...!
Wait, that's where he's singing?

Young Local Musicians

And what are Vivid BAD SQUAD, Tono and everyone doing here...?

Young Local Musicians

This feels like...
No, they're not really gonna...

Young Local Musicians

Are they battling against Taiga?!
I mean, even with those numbers, they don't stand a chance!

Young Local Musicians

No, I think they can win!
I mean, they're serious about surpassing RAD WEEKEND!

Taiga

Listen

*Sigh*
I was just warming up. Looks like everyone here knows when something's up.

Taiga

Listen

Anyway, our stage is set.

Taiga

Listen

So, let's get started.

Kotaro

Listen

H-How are we supposed to beat him...?!

Tatsuya

Listen

...

Arata

Listen

(This is bad...
He only sang for a little bit, but we all feel overwhelmed.)

Arata

Listen

(Including myself...)

Akito

Listen

We just have to fight...

Toya

Listen

Akito...!

Akito

Listen

What he said about Nagi, the neighborhood, everything... None of it makes sense. I still have no idea what he's thinking. Even so...

Akito

Listen

I know this...!

Akito

Listen

We can't run from this battle...
If we do, there's no way we'll ever be able to surpass RAD WEEKEND!

Arata

Listen

Yes, I completely agree...

Listen

...

Taiga

Listen

Hey, how much more time do you need to come up with a plan...?

Taiga

Listen

We can't make this crowd wait forever, so I'm just gonna pick someone...

Taiga

Listen

Let's start with... You guys, EVER.

Tatsuya

Listen

...!

Arata

Listen

Looks like he's not even gonna give us a second to breathe...

Toya

Listen

Do you all feel ready...?

Tatsuya

Listen

Honestly, I don't think so...
This is probably the most scared of a battle we've ever been...

Tatsuya

Listen

But Shinonome's right...
We can't run! We have to fight!

Tatsuya

Listen

Alright, you guys!
Let's do this!!!

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EVER Members A & B

Yeah!

Tatsuya

Listen

W-We're going to give it everything we've got. Our determination's gotten us this far...

Taiga

Listen

Your determination...

Taiga

Listen

Well, you get points for spirit.
Anyway, let's begin.

Taiga

Listen

The rules are simple. The side that gets the crowd going the most wins. With this many people, we should get a clear victor.

Taiga

Listen

So, you guys start us off. Take as much time as you want.

Tatsuya

Listen

What...?!
You're gonna regret talking down to us!

EVER

♪————!!

Young Local Musicians

Hey, EVER's up first!
Man, they're so much better than most of the other teams out there!

Young Local Musicians

Yeah!
Show him what you've got!

EVER

♪————!!

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Tatsuya

Listen

Huff... Huff...

Taiga

Listen

Yeah, I expected as much...

Taiga

Listen

Now, it's my turn.

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Listen

...!

Kohane

Listen

(...!
Th-This is the real Taiga...?!)

Akito

Listen

(This is nothing like what we saw when he battled against Tono that time...!)

Toya

Listen

(So much power...!
In a split second, he swept everyone up in a torrent.)

Arata

Listen

I'm getting fed up with this.

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Tatsuya

Listen

(You've gotta be kidding me...
He just crushed us like a bug...)

Tatsuya

Listen

(We never stood a chance...)

Taiga

Listen

Alright, that should be enough.
Next, you.

Kotaro

Listen

Eep...!

Kotaro

Listen

I-I'm not running either...!
I'm gonna surpass RAD WEEKEND!

Kotaro

Listen

I'm not scared! I don't have time to be scared...!

Taiga

Listen

Haha. I like your bravery.
Anyway, enough talk. Show me what you've got.

Kotaro

Listen

...!

Kotaro

♪~~~~!

Listen

...!

Young Local Musicians

Yikes...! Who is that guy?! He's horrible!

Young Local Musicians

Isn't that Mita?
I thought he had more skill than that...

Toya

Listen

This is bad...!
Taiga has him so overwhelmed that he can't sing like he normally does...!

Akito

Listen

Mita, relax...!
Go at your own pace!

Taiga

Listen

Being good also means being strong mentally. Don't ever forget that.

Kotaro

Listen

...!

Kotaro

Listen

Ah... Ah...

Listen

Kotaro...

Taiga

Listen

Your singing was so bad I couldn't help shutting you up.

Taiga

Listen

Well, you left me no choice.
After all, we shouldn't make these people here have to suffer through more of that.

Listen

...

Arata

Listen

I suppose this means I'm next...

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Young Local Musicians

Hey, it's Tono!

Young Local Musicians

Wait, didn't he battle against Taiga before? I remember him losing pretty badly, so I guess this is...

Taiga

Listen

Hey, Arata.
Looks like you finally have a chance for a rematch with me.

Arata

Listen

Yes, it seems that way...

Arata

Listen

To be honest, I was hoping to win against you on an actual stage.

Arata

Listen

But I'm not letting this opportunity go. Not after learning the true reason RAD WEEKEND was so unnaturally intense.

Taiga

Listen

*Sigh*
No fun, as usual. You've always got that cocky look on your face.

Arata

Listen

Not today. I still can't quite process the truth about Nagi.

Arata

Listen

Now that I know, I can't just go around half-heartedly saying that I'm going to surpass that night.

Arata

Listen

But I will surpass it.
And now I say that knowing what it means.

Taiga

Listen

...

Arata

Listen

You said that it's not possible, Taiga.
However, I am not about to waver.

Arata

Listen

I'm carrying Soma's hopes and dreams. And I'm going to make them come true...!

Arata

Listen

So, I am prepared! And I am going to win!

Toya

Listen

Tono...

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Arata

♪——————!!

Akito

Listen

(...!!!
Tono sounds incredible...!)

Toya

Listen

(He has even more power than during our last event! And he doesn't seem bothered by Taiga at all...!)

Toya

Listen

(But...)

Taiga

Listen

Is that all you've got, Arata?

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Arata

Listen

...!

Kohane

Listen

*Gasp*
No...!

Arata

Listen

(He wasn't giving it his all?!)

Arata

Listen

(I've been doing everything I can to get better after losing to him that time. And yet...)

Arata

Listen

(It's still not enough...!
All my efforts have gone to waste...!)

Arata

♪——————!!

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Young Local Musicians

H-How's Taiga doing this...?!

Young Local Musicians

This is so awesome...!
I've never heard anyone sing like this before!

Young Local Musicians

Taiga! Taiga! Taiga!

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Arata

Listen

Huff... Huff... Huff... Huff...

101

Arata

Listen

Argh...
Why...? Why can't I get any closer...?!

102

Listen

(Arata...)

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Taiga

Listen

Arata, do you truly believe what you said earlier?

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Arata

Listen

What?

105

Taiga

Listen

Are you really carrying Soma's hopes and dreams for him?

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Arata

Listen

O-Of course I am!
I'm doing everything I can for him!

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Taiga

Listen

I also lost a dear friend and sister when Nagi passed away. So I sort of understand how you feel.

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Taiga

Listen

I could kick and scream all I wanted, but she was never coming back. I've felt that loss...

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Arata

Listen

...

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Taiga

Listen

And you're a better performer than just about everyone around here. No, I'd be hard-pressed to find another person as talented as you anywhere.

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Taiga

Listen

But you're still singing with your eyes closed. You're not seeing this place, this audience.

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Arata

Listen

What...?

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Taiga

Listen

So, Arata, let me ask you this. Who are you really singing for?

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Taiga

Listen

You're not trying to make Soma's dreams come true. You can't face the pain of having lost him, so you're just clinging to his dreams.

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Taiga

Listen

Am I wrong...?

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Arata

Listen

...!

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Arata

Listen

No... You're wrong!

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Arata

Listen

I'm chasing this dream for Soma...!

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Taiga

Listen

...
I've been down that path before.

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Taiga

Listen

So, I'll ask you again.
Arata, aren't you just singing for your own sake?

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Arata

Listen

No! I... I...!!!

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Arata

Listen

I-I'm...

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Taiga

Listen

...

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Taiga

Listen

I told you all to take a closer look at this city before, but that requires you taking a hard look at yourself first...

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Taiga

Listen

Actually, you first need to ask if you actually want to surpass that night without Soma.

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Arata

Listen

...

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Taiga

Listen

Anyway...

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Taiga

Listen

Last but not least.

129

Listen

Why are you doing this, Uncle Taiga...?

130

Listen

First, you drop a bombshell on us that Aunt Nagi's gone, and then you start sucker punching us...!

131

Listen

Seriously, why?!

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Taiga

Listen

Don't you get it, An?

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Taiga

Listen

From where I'm standing, your friends behind you certainly seem to.

134

Listen

What...?

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Akito

Listen

Sorry, An...

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136

Akito

Listen

But we've gotta do this. We have to...

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Toya

Listen

I agree...

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Toya

Listen

Because this is a bridge we have to cross sooner or later if we really are going to surpass RAD WEEKEND.

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Toya

Listen

I...want to know.
I want to see how far we are from surpassing RAD WEEKEND...

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Kohane

Listen

...

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Kohane

Listen

I...have to join them.

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Listen

Kohane...

143

Listen

I...

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144

Listen

I... I...

145

Kohane

Listen

An.
I'm going on ahead.

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Young Local Musicians

Huh? It's Vivid BAD SQUAD, but just three of them?

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Taiga

Listen

...

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Taiga

Listen

Are you three here to admit defeat...?

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Akito

Listen

Admit defeat? Not a chance.

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Akito

Listen

As for An... She'll come. I'm sure of it.

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Toya

Listen

So, let's do this...!

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Kohane

Listen

Yeah!

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Akito & Toya

♪————!! ————!!

154

Kohane

♪————! ————!!

155

Taiga

Listen

I guess that's the best you guys have got...

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Tatsuya

Listen

(Shinonome and Aoyagi don't sound like their usual selves. And Azusawa's voice...sounds weak.)

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Kotaro

Listen

(This is bad...
Not even they can...)

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Kohane

♪————!! ————!!

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Akito & Toya

♪————————!!

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Listen

(They're...)

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Listen

...

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(I don't know what's going on anymore...)

163

Listen

(Aunt Nagi's gone... I'm never gonna see her again... And everyone I know has been hiding that from me...)

164

Listen

(I feel sick... My head's spinning... I can't process any of this...)

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Listen

(And he expects me to sing?! In this state...?!)

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Listen

(But...)

167

Listen

(I don't want to just stand still...)

168

Listen

(They're putting up the best fight they can...)

169

Listen

(Against Uncle Taiga of all people...
They know they don't stand a chance, but they're not backing down.)

170

Listen

(All to know one thing...)

171

Listen

(To see if they can actually surpass RAD WEEKEND someday...)

172

Listen

(While I...)

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Kohane & Akito

♪————! ——————!

174

Listen

I...!

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An & Toya

♪————————!!

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Toya

Listen

(...!
Shiraishi...?!)

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Kohane

Listen

(An...!)

178

Listen

(You've gotta sing...)

179

Listen

(I know your head's a mess right now because you don't understand what's going on. So, just don't think.)

180

Listen

(Because all I know is how to sing!!!)

181

Listen

(This is so weird...)

182

Listen

(Everything I was feeling just now went away a little the second I started singing.)

183

Listen

(I can focus more than usual. I can hear everyone's voices so clearly. It's like when we performed at Crawl Green.)

184

♪————~~!!

185

Tatsuya

Listen

Shiraishi... She was so distraught a second ago, but she's singing like she normally does... No, maybe even better...

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Kotaro

Listen

H-How the...?!

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Akito

Listen

(Way to go, An.)

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Toya

Listen

(And we need to keep up.
We can't let her resolve go to waste!)

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Kohane

Listen

(An...!)

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Kohane

Listen

(Just hearing An singing next to me puts me at ease...)

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Kohane

Listen

(I feel like we can do anything right now.
I can sing better... I know I can!)

192

Kohane

♪——————~~~~!!

193

Listen

(Kohane just found another gear...!)

194

Listen

(That means I should also...!)

195

An & Kohane

♪——————!!

196

Listen

(Now with Akito!)

197

An & Akito

♪——————!!

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Toya

Listen

(...!
The way Shiraishi's singing! She's trying to lift us back up...!)

199

Listen

(Don't think! Sing with instinct! With intuition! No plan is gonna help us beat Uncle Taiga. It doesn't matter how much we try to think...!)

200

Listen

(So, just sing! Throw absolutely everything you have at him! Keep fighting! Don't give him an inch!)

201

Listen

(Everything I have...
Everything I've learned, seen, experienced...!!!)

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202

Nagi

Listen

Haha. It's always a pleasure to teach you since you're such a quick learner, An. Now, fist bump!

203

Listen

...!

204

Nagi

Listen

Hi there!
Having another morning practice, An?

205

Nagi

Listen

An, one more time!
I can't leave after that!

206

Listen

(No, stop...! Don't think about her...!)

207

Listen

(I'll freeze up if I do...
I have to forget about her...! About Aunt Nagi...!)

208

Listen

(I have to get her out of my head...!)

209

Nagi

Listen

I knew you'd be here...

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Listen

...!

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Kohane

Listen

(No, An's voice...!)

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Toya

Listen

(This is bad! Shiraishi's voice is starting to shake...!)

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Akito

Listen

(Fight through it, An!)

214

Taiga

Listen

Is that really all you got, An?

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Taiga

Listen

Is this all Nagi gave you?

216

Listen

...!

217

Listen

(Shut up...!)

218

Listen

(Aunt Nagi... She gave me...)

219

Listen

(She gave me music...
She's why I'm singing at all!!!)

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220

♪ ————————~~~~!!

221

Taiga

Listen

...!

222

Young Local Musicians

What the...?!

223

Young Local Musicians

W-Was that An's voice just now?

224

Toya

Listen

(Akito! Azusawa!
Now's our chance!!)

225

Kohane

Listen

(...!
Right!)

226

Akito

Listen

(Let's do this! We gotta see this through until the end...!!)

Sound Effect: Play

227

An & Kohane

Listen

Huff... Huff... Huff...

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Young Local Musicians

That was awesome!
Way to go, Vivid BAD SQUAD!

229

Young Local Musicians

Right at the end they pulled off their best performance ever!

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Young Local Musicians

Taiga was also completely off the hook earlier...! But maybe! Just maybe!

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Akito

Listen

Crap... I lost my voice...

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Toya

Listen

Me too...
Also, my head's spinning from concentrating so hard...

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Taiga

Listen

(Interesting...)

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Taiga

Listen

(So, this is what you were talking about, Nagi. The “next generation” or whatever...)

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Taiga

Listen

Credit where credit's due...
That wasn't bad.

236

Listen

...

237

Taiga

Listen

*Sigh*
Will you stop leering at me like that? Oh, you've lost your voice...

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Taiga

Listen

Honestly, you probably sounded better than I did that night.

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Akito

Listen

...!

240

Taiga

Listen

Which is why it's time for you all to see.

241

Taiga

Listen

I'm going to show you how RADder and our dreams ended that night.

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Listen

...!

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Toya

Listen

(Wait, Taiga sounds—)

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Taiga

Listen

(Nagi, Ken...)

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Taiga

Listen

(I'll sing a RADder song. Only today.)

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Taiga

Listen

(I'll show these kids what we were hoping to do. That's what you guys want me to do, right?)

247

Taiga

Listen

*Sigh*
This isn't like me at all.

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248

Taiga

♪————————————!!

249

Listen

...!

250

Akito

Listen

(No way...)

251

Toya

Listen

(What's going on? My body feels...)

252

Kohane

Listen

(Just listening to him is making all this fire well up inside of me...)

253

Kohane

Listen

This is terrifying...

254

Arata

Listen

Haha...

255

Arata

Listen

Is he even human...?

Sound Effect: Play

256

Taiga

Listen

Hm? What's wrong...?
You all look totally dumbfounded.

257

Taiga

Listen

The RAD WEEKEND you've all placed on a pedestal is just getting started.

258

Listen

...!
This isn't...over...

259

Listen

*Cough*
*Hack*

Sound Effect: Play

260

Kohane

Listen

An...!

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Young Local Musicians

I don't believe it...

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Young Local Musicians

They never stood a chance...

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Young Local Musicians

Yeah...

264

Young Local Musicians

Hey, let's get outta here...
I can't watch them take much more of this...

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Young Local Musicians

Yeah...
A part of me was hoping that they'd put up a better fight...

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Young Local Musicians

But no one's going to top that...

267

Young Local Musicians

No one. Not ever.

Sound Effect: Play

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Kotaro

Listen

Hey...!

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Kotaro

Listen

(No, wait...!
Don't leave, you guys...!)

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Kotaro

Listen

(Please don't leave...!)

271

Taiga

Listen

Now do you understand?
This is what you're all up against.

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Taiga

Listen

If you wanna keep trying to surpass us, be my guest.

Sound Effect: Play

Next Chapter: The End Of A Dream