Several dozen minutes later
Neighborhood
1
Character icon
Kawanishi

Here we are.

This is the place I told you about.

2
Character icon
Minori

Our fourth stop...

3
Character icon
Minori

It's supposed to be special in some way...

But it looks completely normal.

4
Character icon
Airi

Yeah, but it's kinda cute...

The roof and paint job have this retro feel.

5
Character icon
Haruka

It does seem nice. The station's a little far, but this greenery more than makes up for it.

6
Character icon
Shizuku

And it was flat most of the way here.

7
Character icon
Airi

But we can't let our guard down just yet. It might look nice on the outside, but we still don't know what's on the inside...

8
Character icon
Minori

R-Right...!

It could be like the second one where we had a doorknob literally come off when we turned it...!

9
Character icon
Kawanishi

Well, shall we go inside?

10
Character icon
Minori

Huh?!

The front door opens to a flight of stairs?!

11
Character icon
Kawanishi

Yes, the landlady lives on the first floor, so we'll be going up these.

12
Character icon
Minori

Oh, I see...!

13
Character icon
Shizuku

It must be an over-under duplex.

I know someone who lives in a similar house.

14
Character icon
Airi

And the area around the entrance looks pretty tidy. I'm starting to get a good feeling about this one...!

15
Character icon
Minori

Yeah, I'm also really excited!

Let's go inside!

16
Character icon
Haruka

Wait, it's not safe to push like that.

17
Character icon
Minori

Wow...

18
Character icon
Minori

There's so much light...!

It's nice and clean too...

19
Character icon
Kawanishi

This room faces south, so it's nice and warm. The other rooms have large windows as well, so there should be more than enough sunlight to go around.

20
Character icon
Haruka

Yes, I see.

How is it in terms of soundproofing...?

21
Character icon
Airi

It'd also be nice to see how big the other rooms are and how they're all arranged.

22
Character icon
Kawanishi

Then, please feel free to have a look around. Oh, the room that's down the stairs up ahead may work as a practice studio...

23
Character icon
Minori

Really?!

Then, I'm gonna go take a look!

24
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Haruka

Minori, wait...

25
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Airi

Geez, she's way too excited.

26
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Airi

But I'm sure we all have things that we wanna look at, so let's split up and meet back up in a minute.

27
Character icon
Shizuku

Okay.

Practice Studio
28
Character icon
Minori

So this is where we'd practice...

29
Character icon
Minori

(It's a little smaller than the ones in the other houses...)

30
Character icon
Minori

(But something feels different about this place...)

31
Character icon
Minori

The floor's all scratched up...

Does that mean...

32
Character icon
Miku

<The previous tenants also practiced here?>

33
Character icon
Minori

Miku...!

34
Character icon
Miku

<Hehe. I decided to pop in since it seemed like you were the only person here.>

35
Character icon
Miku

<This place seems really nice...

It's well-worn, but also well-maintained.>

36
Character icon
Minori

Yeah...

It has this warmth to it for some reason.

37
Character icon
Minori

I think you're right, Miku.

The previous tenants must've also practiced here.

38
Character icon
Miku

<I had a feeling...

These scratches remind me of the ones on our stages.>

39
Character icon
Minori

Yeah, it's like I can see each step of their dance.

40
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Minori

Oh, I'm starting to notice all these really tiny scratches. They must've practiced here a lot...

41
Character icon
Miku

<Probably.

But I have a feeling it wasn't just the previous tenants...>

42
Character icon
Minori

Huh?

43
Character icon
Miku

<I think all the tenants who ever lived here left their various marks on this house.>

44
Character icon
Miku

<Look closely.

Some scratches look much older than the others.>

45
Character icon
Minori

Oh, you're right...!

46
Character icon
Miku

<They came to live here and left evidence of their hard work.>

47
Character icon
Minori

Their hard work...

48
Character icon
Miku

<In that sense, this place...>

49
Character icon
Miku

<I think it's full of everyone's hopes and dreams.>

50
Character icon
Minori

Yeah... I knew there was a reason why this place felt so different from the others.

51
Character icon
Minori

I really like this feeling, and this room.

52
Character icon
Miku

<Yes...>

53
Character icon
Miku

<It's such a wonderful place.>

Several dozen minutes later
54
Character icon
Kawanishi

Now that you've all had a chance to look around, can I ask you for your thoughts...?

55
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Haruka

Based on our expressions, I'm guessing we're all thinking the same thing...

56
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Airi

Yeah, each room had just the things we've been looking for.

57
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Minori

*Nod*

58
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Minori

We'd love to rent this place if possible!

59
Character icon
Kawanishi

I'm glad you all like it so much...

60
Character icon
Kawanishi

However, as I mentioned earlier, this place comes with some strings attached.

61
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Haruka

Yes, we've been meaning to ask you about that.

62
Character icon
Shizuku

Nothing seemed particularly odd or unusual about this place. It's a quiet neighborhood, and I didn't notice any cemeteries nearby...

63
Character icon
Kawanishi

Yes, what I said has nothing to do with the property itself. What's special about this place is...

64
Character icon
Kawanishi

The application process.

65
Character icon
Minori

Th-The application process...?!

66
Character icon
Shizuku

But I was under the impression that we'd have to send in applications for any properties that we wished to rent...

67
Character icon
Haruka

Yeah, our parents have all agreed to be our guarantors, so I didn't think we'd run into trouble here...

68
Character icon
Haruka

Does that mean receiving approval for this property isn't easy?

69
Character icon
Airi

I mean, on top of being high schoolers, we're still just getting on our feet as idols. We can't really deny the possibility of being turned away...

70
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Kawanishi

Actually, the things you just mentioned won't necessarily factor into whether or not you get approved.

71
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Minori

What?!

72
Character icon
Haruka

Can you elaborate a little further?

73
Character icon
Kawanishi

The application process for this property isn't what you'd call normal. That's what makes it special.

74
Character icon
Kawanishi

Prospective tenants are approved based on...

75
Character icon
Kawanishi

Whether or not they can make their dreams come true.

76
Character icon
Minori

Our dreams...?

77
Character icon
Kawanishi

After looking at those other properties, I'm sure you noticed that this one is incredibly affordable for what it has to offer.

78
Character icon
Kawanishi

However, that's only because the landlady wishes to help those chasing their dreams.

79
Character icon
Shizuku

She does...?

80
Character icon
Haruka

I was wondering why this place was so reasonably priced. It seemed a little too good to be true.

81
Character icon
Minori

W-Wait a second!

If the landlady wants tenants who are chasing a dream, then doesn't that make us the perfect applicants?!

82
Character icon
Minori

Our goal is to spread hope to as many people as we can and we dream of doing a show at the Dome!

83
Character icon
Kawanishi

Right. Based on what your line of work involves, you should be able to clear the first few hurdles...

84
Character icon
Kawanishi

But the landlady doesn't want people who “want” to make their dreams come true. She wants people who “can” make their dreams come true.

85
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Airi

People who can make their dreams come true...

86
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Haruka

What does that mean?

Does she want a guarantee that we'll be able to make our dreams come true...?

87
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Shizuku

But how is the landlady going to judge that...? No one can see into the future...

88
Character icon
Kawanishi

Actually, I don't have a good understanding myself. It's a bit of a black box.

89
Character icon
Kawanishi

Several tenants have applied through my agency in the past, but none have ever been approved...

90
Character icon
Minori

I-It's that hard to get approved?!

91
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Airi

This is starting to feel like an audition...

92
Character icon
Kawanishi

Yes, that's why I refrained from bringing this property up at first. I was afraid of dashing your hopes...

93
Character icon
Kawanishi

However, if you're all in favor of “auditioning” despite everything I just told you, then I'll send in an application right away.

94
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Airi

This really isn't gonna be easy, huh?

95
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Haruka

Yeah.

96
Character icon
Haruka

But I think we should give it a go...

97
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Shizuku

After all, it's a lovely house with everything we need...

98
Character icon
Minori

Yeah, also...

99
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Miku

<I think it's full of everyone's hopes and dreams.>

100
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Minori

I want this to be our home base as idols moving forward...

101
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Shizuku

Minori...

102
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Haruka

Me too...

103
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Haruka

So...

Would you mind sending in an application for us?

104
Character icon
Kawanishi

Understood...

Please give me a minute while I let the landlady know that you're interested.

105
Character icon
Minori

Thank you!

Next Chapter: An Unexpected Call