(Let's see... The CD Shiho recommended should be...)

(Oh, here it is!

Thank goodness I found it.)

(She said it should help me because their drummer's very good. I'll try listening to it while I practice, starting today.)

Huh...?

(These are our CDs...!

And they're on display in a prime location...!)

Hehe. I'll tell the others about this later...

Hey, did you listen to that song?

Yeah, it was so good!

Got any others that you recommend?

Yeah, wanna check out my playlist later?

Cool!

Thanks!

...!

(Those voices. They sounded like...)

But I haven't been listening to much music lately because I'm spending so much time studying...

(It is them...!)

...

(Oh...

I couldn't help but hide from them...)

Oh!

Hey, have you two heard of this band? They're called Leo/need! I just discovered them recently and they're pretty good!

...!

Yeah, I've heard of them!

Also, isn't Honami in this band?

What?! She is?!

She's in a band...?

And she's gone pro?

(They're talking about Leo/need.)

(What do I do...?)

(I'm afraid that they're going to say some really mean things about me again...)

I'm curious as to what this song's like. I might give it a listen.

Still, it's hard to believe that Honami's in a band. I didn't think she was the type.

...

I mean, does that matter? She's clearly doing her best.

Also, I've already had a chance to listen to this song. I thought it was pretty good.

Huh...?

Yeah, true.

It is a good song.

Do you know who else is in Leo/need besides Honami?

Pretty sure they're all Honami's childhood friends. Like Hoshino and...

...

(I...)

(I... In that moment...)

...!

Huff... Huff...

(This is bad...

My mind keeps jumping back to that moment.)

(I know I can't keep going on like this...)

You seem more motivated than usual today.

MEIKO...!

I'm sorry for not noticing you sooner...

That's okay.

More importantly...

Did something happen to you?

Huh? H-How did you know...?

The way you were drumming sounded a little different.

The way I was drumming...?

Yes.

It seemed like you were trying very hard to sound energized, but you thrashed around quite a bit...

That's...

I'll be happy to listen.

I am a senior you look up to, after all.

Hehe...

Thank you very much.

The thing is...

I was at the CD shop earlier and just happened to see my old classmates from junior high school.

From junior high school?

Wasn't that when...?

Yes...

I don't have too many fond memories from back then...

And I ended up hiding from them.

You hid?

Yes, behind some shelves...

Then, they saw our CDs and I overheard them talking about us...

I became so worried that they would say some more awful things about me.

But that wasn't what happened at all...

Go on...

Then, I...

I felt so weak.

Weak...?

I ran and hid because I didn't want to hear them talking about me behind my back again...

Even though it was partially my fault that we ended up arguing with each other.

I immediately jumped to the conclusion that they were going to say mean things about me. Even when I found out that wasn't the case, I wasn't able to go over and talk to them...

...

Now that we're professional musicians, I know that we'll be faced with various challenges moving forward.

We may need to be even more courageous than when we stood up to Mr. Shindo.

As the leader of this band, it's my duty to learn how to pull us in the right direction.

Which is why I want to become stronger...

I see...

I understand why you felt that you were weak in that moment, Honami...

But I believe that you've become such a strong girl.

Huh...?

When we first met, Honami, you had so much on your mind and were very indecisive, remember?

Oh...

Yes, I remember.

I know it's hard for you to get a good sense of this...

But you've gradually been getting stronger. You're much more decisive now, and have the courage to speak your mind.

So, I think you should just keep doing your best and not get too anxious.

MEIKO...

Thank you very much.

I feel a little bit better now.

Hehe. I'm glad I could help a little.

Oh, that's right...

This seems like a nice place to stop and get a change of scenery. Would you like to join me?

Huh? A change of scenery?

Yes!

A rather interesting place just appeared in SEKAI...