Twenty years earlier
Vivid Street
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Locals
Y-You quit your agency?!
Locals
Why?!
You guys were so popular! That seems like a total waste!
You guys were so popular! That seems like a total waste!
Taiga
Popularity? That has nothing to do with our dream! We wanna become the best musicians in the world!
Taiga
I don't care how big those snobs' agency is. I'm not letting them walk all over us just because they agreed to have us on some TV show.
Nagi
Appearing on TV did have its benefits since it gave our songs more exposure. But we didn't set out to become on-air personalities.
Taiga
I mean, seriously.
They just kept going on and on about going on variety shows and appearing in these dumb romance movies. They even had the nerve to start trying to meddle with our songs.
They just kept going on and on about going on variety shows and appearing in these dumb romance movies. They even had the nerve to start trying to meddle with our songs.
Owner of Crawl Green
Hahaha. I did warn you that the way most people become famous nowadays wouldn't really be for you.
Owner of COL
But I do understand how someone would want a handsome guy like Ken to appear in a movie for them.
Ken
I was hoping we could stay since we owed that agency quite a bit... But we reached the final straw. We just couldn't let them encroach any further.
Locals
So, what are you guys gonna do now...?
Owner of COL
Good question. Ken's got a college degree. You on the other hand, Taiga... You didn't even finish high school. Do you have a plan moving forward?
Locals
Your own label?!
Nagi
That's right! We had a long discussion, and we decided to start our own label here while continuing to perform!
Owner of COL
Hah hah hah!
Talk about doing things the hard way!
Talk about doing things the hard way!
Owner of Crawl Green
As hard as it sounds...
It sounds like the right option for your team...
It sounds like the right option for your team...
Locals
Then, Nagi, Ken, Taiga, we'll be rooting for you guys! My wife and son are also huge fans!
Nagi
Haha!
Wait, your son only just learned to walk, didn't he? Won't we be bad influences on him?
Wait, your son only just learned to walk, didn't he? Won't we be bad influences on him?
Ken
Hey, we have our own problems to deal with right now. We don't have time to be thinking about other people's families...
Ken
We need to see if it's actually going to be possible for our label to even survive, and a whole list of other things to consider.
Nagi
Yes, we know. Which is why you get to handle all of that, Ken! I mean, you're just so much better at those things than we are.
A few years later
Yokohama
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Taiga
We were in Miyagi yesterday, Kanagawa today and we need to be in Osaka tomorrow by noon. Still, this is for the sake of our label. We have to keep going.
Taiga
You want me to drive? Fine.
But you're getting one between the eyes if you fall asleep.
But you're getting one between the eyes if you fall asleep.
Nagi
Wait, Taiga, you're not seriously driving next, are you?! Ken, can you please keep driving? He always gets really grumpy whenever anyone else falls asleep!
Ken
Look, I could really use a break now...
Also, we should all be able to stay awake as long as we keep talking like this.
Also, we should all be able to stay awake as long as we keep talking like this.
Nagi
This is why we should've hired a driver. Then, we could've all slept as much as we wanted.
Ken
That costs money, which we don't have right now. Don't forget that we're not signed to a big label anymore.
Taiga
Still, I can't believe how much of a toll this is taking on us. I feel like we could do a lot more when we were younger...
Nagi
We were so young back then.
All we did was sing! It'd be Friday night one second, then we were rushing to school in a panic on Monday the next! Those were the days.
All we did was sing! It'd be Friday night one second, then we were rushing to school in a panic on Monday the next! Those were the days.
Nagi
Oh, also!
Because of that, I remember all your fans being jealous of me since the three of us always came to school together, Ken!
Because of that, I remember all your fans being jealous of me since the three of us always came to school together, Ken!
Taiga
Here we go, acting cool again. You've been doing that for as long as I can remember.
Nagi
But now, you're married to a charming, pretty woman like Yuka. You really don't know what life has in store for you, huh?
Ken
Anyway, we don't have time for this right now. If we don't make it to Osaka today, we'll have to sleep in the car.
A few years later
Vivid Street
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Nagi
Wow, her hands and feet are so soft and adorably tiny! Seriously, Ken, your daughter's too beautiful!
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Nagi
I was thinking that we could stop doing shows for a while in order to focus on mixing and recording.
Taiga
Knowing you, Ken, we guessed that you'd wanna spend as much time as you can with An.
Taiga
We obviously need to keep expanding the label. Fortunately, we're sort of on our feet now...
Nagi
A lot of people have been downloading our tracks online! We've even been receiving offers from abroad from people saying that they want to use them.
Nagi
Since we've managed to catch a nice tailwind, we thought it'd be good to focus more on mixing our songs and stuff instead!
Taiga
We were planning on doing this eventually anyway, but this opportunity sort of just fell in our lap...
Taiga
So, for now, be with your wife and daughter. You'd rather hang out with your daddy, right, An?
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Taiga
Hey, my ugly mug isn't making her cry.
She might just have what it takes to become a star.
She might just have what it takes to become a star.
Nagi
Will you stop...?
Still, I agree with Taiga. You should spend as much time as you can with An.
Still, I agree with Taiga. You should spend as much time as you can with An.
Nagi
I mean, you don't want this cutie getting tired of you, right? Keep in mind that she won't care how handsome or dashing her daddy is.
Ten years later
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Junior High School An
Hey, I'm not a kid anymore, so don't tease me like that! Anyway, bye!
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Ken
Our US tour is this close to becoming a reality. Our sponsors sound pretty optimistic about it, so I'm looking forward to hearing some good news soon.
Ken
Taiga, have you already booked some flights for us? The executives of Burner Records apparently want us to meet them in person.
Taiga
I don't know... She said it was just a cold, but maybe we should take another trip to the hospital.
Ken
We have a few CDs releasing soon, so it'll be nice to discuss the plan for our tour next year in more detail.
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Hospital
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Ken
We had to. I mean, what are you doing at the hospital? What happened? Is it anemia again?
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Taiga
No, wait. You're kidding, right?
I thought they always told the patient's family these things first.
I thought they always told the patient's family these things first.
Nagi
I asked them to tell me the results first because I know you're both incredibly busy right now...
Nagi
I'm sorry. We'd finally made it... The deal with Burner Records, the US tour...and now this happens.
Nagi
Haha... I know...
I'm the one who's sick, but even my mind still can't seem to come to grips with it.
I'm the one who's sick, but even my mind still can't seem to come to grips with it.
Nagi
When I called Mom and everyone earlier, she yelled at me for giving her such terrible news after not calling in forever. She was so distraught that I had to be the one to stay calm and get her to settle down.
Nagi
I mean, I'll be gone in less than six months, so I don't really have a say anymore...
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Next Chapter: Using What Time You Have