Okay, here's your Viennese coffee refill.
Thank you!
Mmm... This smells delicious!
You really do make the best coffee in the world, MEIKO!
I know what you're doing.
No amount of praise is getting you any ice cream today.
What?!
H-Haha. I was just giving you my honest opinion...
Hey.
Ah, Akito! Welcome!
Oh, are you by yourself today?
We figured that you'd all come over together since we heard that you'd be participating in an event today.
Yeah, about that...
I came to practice on my own after we split in the evening.
Really?! You're going to practice?! Right after an event?! Your work ethic really is admirable, Akito.
Between the walls in SEKAI coming down and the tree in the plaza growing bigger, quite a lot has been happening recently...
These changes must be happening because of the passion you and the others possess! I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens next!
Passion...
Akito?
Oh, don't mind me...
Did something happen...?
...
Nothing major happened. It's just...
Why don't you tell me what's on your mind?!
No, again...
You don't have to tell me if you're not comfortable, but it might feel good to get things off your chest. I mean, we've been through this before, haven't we?
So, why don't you tell me all about what's bothering you?
Alright...
Then, if you don't mind listening for a second...
Of course!
I see...
You're not feeling as driven as before...
My brain knows that I need to keep doing what I can to reach our next goal.
But it's like my heart isn't keeping up with it...
Akito...
I don't think there's any reason for you to be feeling so anxious.
Huh?
You've been doing absolutely everything you can to make a very big dream come true, right?
Your heart may be telling you that it needs some time to recharge right now.
Yeah, that also crossed my mind...
Also, from where I'm standing, it seems only natural that you're not chasing this new dream with the same amount of fervor as before.
Wait, why's that?
Because his dream of surpassing RAD WEEKEND was born out of actually witnessing that event. Seeing it is what inspired him, no?
But he and the others are now trying to “stand on top of the world”, and I'm not sure they quite know what that means yet.
This dream was born under far different circumstances. So, it seems only natural not to go after it in the same way as before.
...
(I get what MEIKO's saying...)
(But... That doesn't really explain why I haven't been able to perform at my best lately...)
Hmm... Let's say MEIKO's right...
If seeing RAD WEEKEND is what lit that fire inside of you all those years ago, then you may just need something to help rekindle that flame, Akito.
Something to rekindle the flame inside of me...?
(But what are the odds of me seeing another event or anything like that again...)
It may actually be hiding right under your nose.
Huh?
To be fair, I can't really say what that is yet...
But you understand how big the world is, yes, Akito?
You began dreaming of surpassing RAD WEEKEND after just happening to come across it.
So, you might find something else that rekindles the flame inside of you.
The world is a big place. It's full of things that we don't know about and opportunities we can't imagine.
So, as long as you strive towards your goal of standing on top of the world, I'm sure you'll come across that special something eventually.
...
(The world is a big place, huh...?)
You might have a point there...
Which is rare of you, KAITO.
What?! Rare?! You must be joking!
I'm always trying to give the best advice I can to all of you...
He's saying that because of how you act on a daily basis.
No, MEIKO, not you too!
(I'll come across it eventually, huh...?)
(Obviously, believing that isn't going to get me out of my current situation. But...)
(It does beat feeling anxious and running around in circles.)
(In any case, I just gotta keep moving forward.)
(Like I've been doing until now.)