Step by Step! - 5: Cherish The Time Left

A few days later

Stage SEKAI

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

1

KAITO

So, Minori, you and Haruka are ready to switch to the credit-based course?

2

Minori

Yup!

3

Minori

I wasn't really sure at first...
But after giving it a lot of thought, I made a decision that I feel happy with!

4

Luka

Hehe. That's wonderful to hear.

5

Len

When you and I talked, you said schoolwork might be a challenge... Does this mean you know what you're gonna do about that?

6

Minori

Oh, um... Not exactly since I won't know how a lot of things go until I actually give it a try...

7

Minori

But I've just gotta do the best I can!

8

Minori

Also, Airi, Shizuku, I can always ask you two if I have any questions since you've both been in it for so long now.

9

Airi

Hehe. Ask us whenever you like♪

10

Shizuku

Yes, we'll be more than happy to help if we can.

11

Haruka

The four of us will probably be studying together during our time off, which I'm actually sort of looking forward to...

12

Minori

Oh, me too!!!

13

Minori

Wait, then!
We can stream that! What do you think?! We can call it something like “Let's Study with MORE MORE JUMP!”

14

Airi

I'd rather not. It'd be way too hard to focus.

15

MEIKO

Hehe. In any case, it's nice to hear that you're all looking forward to being in the credit-based course.

16

Rin

Yeah!
By the way, when do you plan on making the switch...?

17

Minori

Really soon!
I asked my teacher about it and was told that there are two opportunities per year to switch. Once in spring and once in the fall.

18

Haruka

Which works out really well since we're all about to move up a year.

19

Miku

I see...
Oh, that means you get to be regular students until you begin your second year!

20

Minori

Yeah, but it's still happening pretty soon.
That's why I want to treasure the time I have left.

21

Minori

I don't wanna find myself looking back after making the switch and saying, “No, I should've done that back then!”

22

KAITO

That's understandable...

23

Rin

Okay, you two!
That means you really gotta have fun during the time you have left as regular high schoolers!

24

Minori

Thanks, we will!

The next day

Hanasato Household - Living Room

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

25

Minori

Okay, I'm gonna get going now!!!

26

Minori's Mother

Bye. Have fun at school.

Sound Effect: Play

27

Minori's Brother

Bye...
Hmm... Is it just me, or did she sound more excited than usual?

28

Minori's Mother

She did say something about trying to enjoy the time she has left as a regular high school student.

29

Minori's Brother

Uh, okay...?
I guess that makes sense...?

Miyamasuzaka

30

Minori

Wow, this breeze feels so nice!
And my usual walk to school feels so different when I look at it in a new way!

31

Minori

Oh!
This flower is finally blooming!

32

Minori

(Hehe. I was wondering when it would after seeing it budding just the other day...)

33

Minori

I have a really good feeling about today.

Sound Effect: Play

34

Kohane

Good morning, Minori.
You seem really happy today. Even more than usual.

35

Minori

Oh! Morning, you two!

36

Minori

You gotta see this!
I found this flower the other day, and now it's finally blooming!

37

Shiho

Oh, really?
It's growing out of the asphalt too. It must be pretty hardy.

38

Kohane

It's so pretty!
I hope the crows don't decide to pick it apart or anything.

39

Minori

No, that'd be awful!
And way too soon! It just started blooming today!

40

Minori

But I'm really glad we got to see it today.
There's actually another one budding just up ahead!

41

Minori

Once it blooms, we can see it...

42

Minori

(Oh, right...)

43

Minori

(I get to see these flowers with Shiho and Kohane because we go to school at the same time.)

44

Minori

(But after I go credit-based...)

45

Miya Girls Students

Hey, did you guys see that sweets special yesterday?! The cafe they showed is apparently really close by.

46

Miya Girls Students

I heard an old alumnus is coming to visit our club today! I hope they're not too hard on us this time...

47

Miya Girls Students

No, I totally forgot about that assignment!
Can you show me what you did?! Please, I'll never ask for anything again...!

48

Minori

(Everyone chatting with each other while we all head to school... I won't get to see that as much moving forward...)

49

Minori

(I never really thought of things this way before. It was all just “normal”...)

50

Minori

Right...

51

Shiho

Minori...?

52

Minori

(The little things in life that happen every day. I guess I took it all for granted until now.)

53

Minori

(Then, I've gotta do my best to see everything else I've been taking for granted.)

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

54

Minori

(That way, after I do go credit-based, I'll be able to look back fondly on all the fun stuff I did!)

55

Minori

Minori Hanasato is still a regular high schooler! And she's gonna make the final sprint to reach the next chapter of her life! “Part 2: Full-Time Idol!”

56

Shiho

What are you talking about...?

57

???

<...>

58

Miku

<Minori sounds really excited.>

59

KAITO

<Yes, she does. Still...>

60

KAITO

<I wasn't expecting you to suggest seeing what her school's like, Len.>

61

Luka

<Me neither...
What made you want to do this all of a sudden?>

62

Len

<It wasn't as sudden as you think. I began wondering after Airi told us her story the other day.>

63

Len

<I wasn't able to give her any useful advice then since I didn't really know anything about what it's like to go to school or be a student. It wasn't a good feeling...>

64

Len

<So, I wanna learn more about their school.>

65

Rin

<That makes sense...>

66

Len

<They ended up figuring everything out all on their own before I could do anything...>

67

Len

<But school means a lot to them, so I wanna know what it's like to be a student.>

68

MEIKO

<Right...>

69

MEIKO

<They always enjoy talking about things that happen at school and their friends there, but we've never actually seen that for ourselves...>

70

MEIKO

<Learning about their school life could very well help us give them better advice if anything else comes up in the future.>

71

Miku

<True...>

72

Miku

<Then, let's go see what Minori is like as a student and what her school is like!>

73

Luka

<Hehe. We'll need to make sure she doesn't see us.>

74

KAITO

<I'm not sure how I feel about us sneaking around like this... But I wouldn't want to ruin what precious little time she has left with her friends.>

75

MEIKO

<Me neither. I wouldn't want to say something and make Minori concern herself with us.>

76

Rin

<So, everyone, shush! We gotta keep our voices down!>

77

Len

<You're the one I'm most worried about, Rin...>

Next Chapter: Enjoying High School Life!