Alright, this track's coming along nicely.
(It's become a lot better...
It sounds much more balanced. I think I've got a good grasp on that now.)
For today, I'll keep working on it for a little while longer and...
Soma, you there...?
...!
(Whoa, that was close!
He didn't see what I was working on, did he...?)
Don't scare me like that, Arata! Couldn't you have called ahead or—
Sorry...
There's something I need to tell you.
You don't look so good...
Did something happen?
...
Sorry...
I...
I'm giving up on trying to surpass RAD WEEKEND...
Huh...?
What are you saying all of a sudden?
Seriously, what happened...?
...
We battled against Taiga...
And he showed me just how hopeless I am. No matter how hard I try, I'll never be able to sing like him...
...
It's not just that...
That event...
RAD WEEKEND...
Nagi fell desperately ill, and it was meant to commemorate her life.
What...?
Her life...?
You're kidding, right...?
I thought she was overseas doing...
I couldn't believe it either at first.
But it's true...
Taiga said so himself.
(That night really was something else...)
(It was so electric that I didn't know what was going on at times. All I knew was that I was seeing something legendary...)
(But that makes a lot of sense...)
(Nagi was at the center of it all.
Everyone wanted to honor her life...)
(Still...)
Arata...
I understand what you're saying.
Surpassing the event that Taiga and everyone put on to commemorate Nagi's life won't be easy.
But let me ask you this...
You're not the kind of person who gives up after hearing something like that. If people say it's impossible, you set out to prove them wrong...
You wanting to give up has to mean...
What else happened...?
What else...?
Yeah.
Nothing. Nothing at all...
...
In any case, I'm done chasing after this dream.
I need to get away from this city for a while.
I need time to think about what I'm going to do with myself.
Arata, wait...!
Oh...
I...see...
That really happened...?
Yeah...
I haven't heard back from him since.
Seriously, the nerve of that guy...
Soma...
So, that's why I asked you all to meet with me today...
You guys know what happened to him, right?
Would you mind telling me...?
But...
So, Arata, let me ask you this. Who are you really singing for?
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.
I wasn't able to respond...
All I had to say was, “Taunt me all you want! I'll keep carrying his dreams!”
(Tono wanted to carry Soma's dreams...)
(But...
Are we in a position to talk to him about that...?)
...
Okay...
So something did happen.
My bad, I take back what I said!
Please forget that I even asked!
Wait, but...
I sort of already knew what I have to do. I need to ask Arata about this myself...
So, I'll stop badgering you guys about him.
We're really sorry...
Don't be.
For today, I'm just glad that I got to see how you guys are doing!
What?
He looked like the life had been drained out of him, so I was worried that you would be feeling the same way.
But I feel a lot better now after seeing your faces. You guys haven't given up, right?
Yes, that's right.
We still plan on surpassing RAD WEEKEND no matter what.
Yeah, you guys really are tough...
No, you give us too much credit.
We were just as shocked...
But we found a reason to not give up...
A reason?
Yes.
It's a bit of a long story...
The next generation...
That's what Nagi wanted...?
Yes. Because she was willing to place her faith in us...
I want us to surpass RAD WEEKEND and see what it's like beyond their dream.
I see...
Thank you for telling me about yourselves and Nagi...
As sad as I am about Arata's decision, maybe this is the way things are meant to be...
He worked himself to the bone for me.
If this is what it takes to set him free...
Oh...
Oh, sorry...
I didn't mean to get all sentimental.
Good luck, you guys...
Thank you...
Um... Thank you very much for telling us about what happened with Tono.
No, it was my pleasure.
Thank you for telling me about Nagi and RAD WEEKEND.
Anyway, it's starting to get dark out.
Get home safe, okay?
We will. Now, if you'll excuse us.
...
They really are a tough bunch...
I didn't give Aoyagi a proper apology...
After he helped me make this...
...
To think he's never gonna sing this song now...