1
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???

(Again...)

2
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???

(Again, from the beginning.)

3
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???

(Until you get it right.)

4
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???

(Otherwise, you'll be seen as a failure.)

5
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???

(Mom... Dad...

Everyone has such high hopes for me...)

6
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???

(But...)

7
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???

(How long do I have to keep doing this?)

8
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???

(When am I going to satisfy their expectations?)

9
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???

(I...)

10
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???

(I...don't think I ever can...)

11
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???

...

12
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???

Is this really it for you...?

13
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Toya

*Gasp*

14
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Toya

It was a dream...?

15
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Toya

(I feel like that's all I've been seeing lately...)

16
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Toya

(I keep getting thrown back to that time. All these wounds are opening back up...)

17
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Toya

(No, I don't have time to be dealing with those things right now...)

18
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Toya

(I have to keep working...

I have to complete at least one song...)

19
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Toya's Mother's Voice

Toya...?

20
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Toya

Oh, Mom...

21
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Toya

Is something wrong?

22
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Toya's Mother

You're up again early today...

23
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Toya's Mother

I was worried that you haven't been getting enough sleep since you've been staying up so late recently.

24
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Toya

Th-Thank you...

But I'm...

25
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Toya's Mother

I know what you're working on means quite a lot to you, Toya.

26
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Toya's Mother

But it'd be all for naught if it took a heavy toll on your health. Why don't you take a little break...?

27
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Toya

But...

28
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Toya

Yes, you're right...

Then, I'll try going for a walk.

29
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Toya's Mother

You will...?

Please be careful, okay?

30
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Toya

I will.

31
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Toya

(I feel terrible about making her worry so much...)

32
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Toya

(But I don't have a second to spare.

I need to keep working on this song.)

33
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Toya

(So, if I can't work at home, then I should go to...)

Street SEKAI
34
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Toya

Alright...

35
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Toya

(I'll continue working at MEIKO's place.

I may even be able to ask KAITO for help if he's there.)

36
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Toya

*Wince*

37
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Toya

This isn't good...

I feel dizzy and sleep-deprived...

38
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Toya

No, I don't have time to rest...

Not now. Not here...

39
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???

Toya?

40
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Toya

That voice...

41
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Toya

MEIKO...

42
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MEIKO

Why are you squatted down like that?

Are you by chance not feeling well?

43
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Toya

No, this is nothing...

I just need to take a short break and...

*Wince*

44
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MEIKO

No.

I can't just let you wallow in pain.

45
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MEIKO

Sit tight.

I'll go get you a drink from the cafe.

46
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Toya

No, you don't have to...

47
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MEIKO

Toya, do as I say.

48
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Toya

Okay, I'll sit tight...

49
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Toya

Phew...

50
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Toya

Thank you very much.

I feel much better after having some of your tea and snacks.

51
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MEIKO

Thank goodness.

Looks like you were just sleep-deprived.

52
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MEIKO

If you're feeling better, then you should go back and get some real rest. Please stop by after you've had a chance to recover.

53
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Toya

I will.

Again, I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused you.

54
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MEIKO

This was nothing.

55
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MEIKO

But I don't feel great about how you've been pushing yourself so hard...

56
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MEIKO

Is your song giving you that much trouble...?

57
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Toya

Yes...

58
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Toya

Every time I feel like I've got it right, I realize that I'm still nowhere near achieving the energy Ken and his team produced.

59
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Toya

And no matter how much I think about it, I can't figure out why...

60
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MEIKO

...

61
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MEIKO

Then, what if you went back to square one?

62
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Toya

Square one...?

63
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MEIKO

Yes.

Back to the moment when you started working on this song.

64
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MEIKO

Remember how you took down notes about the others' feelings?

65
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Toya

Oh, yes...

I have it right here actually.

66
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MEIKO

Then, why don't you take another look at it?

67
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MEIKO

I believe it's best to go back to where you started when you can't find the answer to a question.

68
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Toya

I see...

69
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Toya

(Lately, all I've been thinking about is why I haven't been able to achieve that same energy. I just kept looking for whatever it was that I was missing.)

70
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Toya

(But going back to the beginning may allow me to see it with a fresh pair of eyes.)

71
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Toya

Thank you.

I'll try doing that.

72
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MEIKO

Also, Toya, would you mind if I had a look at your notes?

73
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Toya

What?

74
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MEIKO

You showed them to KAITO already, right?

I'm actually a little curious myself as to what you wrote...

75
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Toya

Yes, of course.

I'm sure the others would also be okay with it.

76
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MEIKO

So, when you all performed in STAY GOLDEN that second time, Kohane decided to believe in herself because An believed in her.

77
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Toya

Yes, that was what stood out to her the most. And I'd like to weave what she felt that time into my song...

78
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MEIKO

Hehe. I'm looking forward to hearing what that sounds like.

79
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MEIKO

Still, this notebook...

It's really full of everyone's thoughts and feelings.

80
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Toya

Yes. I was under the impression that these notes would help me come up with a good song...

81
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Toya

But things just aren't going that way...

82
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MEIKO

Hey, Toya.

83
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MEIKO

Your notes went into great detail regarding how Kohane, An and Akito feel.

84
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MEIKO

But there were only a few tidbits about you.

85
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Toya

Huh?

Oh, you're right...

86
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Toya

But I already know how I feel, so I don't think I need to spell it all out in words...

87
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MEIKO

Are you sure?

Your feelings are also going to play a major role in your song, no?

88
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MEIKO

So, what if you do for yourself what you did for the others? Try writing down everything that you've felt until now.

89
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Toya

Everything I've felt...?

90
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???

(I...)

91
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???

(I...don't think I ever can...)

92
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Toya

*Wince*

93
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MEIKO

Toya?

94
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Toya

Oh... Sorry.

It's nothing.

95
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MEIKO

Really?

Are you sure you're feeling better...?

96
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Toya

No, I do feel better.

It's just...

97
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Toya

Whenever I think about my feelings, I'm reminded of quite a lot of other things.

98
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MEIKO

Other things?

99
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Toya

Yes...

Things that I'm not entirely proud of...

100
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MEIKO

Then, why don't you try reflecting on those things...?

101
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Toya

What?

102
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MEIKO

You don't seem like you want to talk about whatever this subject matter is.

103
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MEIKO

What if that's what's keeping you from completing your song?

104
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Toya

Yes...

If I'm going to incorporate the others' feelings, then I'll need to take a closer look at my own as well...

105
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Toya

Thank you, MEIKO...

106
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Toya

I'll try doing that today after I get back.

107
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MEIKO

Okay. Good luck, Toya!

108
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MEIKO

But please try to get some rest first.

I wouldn't want you to start feeling dizzy again.

109
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Toya

I will.

And thank you for the concern.

Next Chapter: My Albatross