The next day
Miyamasuzaka
1
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Airi

Wait, you talked to Mr. Hiiragi...?!

2
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Haruka

Yeah. I asked him if he knew anything about us not receiving any offers... And, during our conversation, I remembered something really important.

3
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Haruka

That we can't lose sight of our goal of spreading hope to others, no matter what.

4
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Minori

Oh...

5
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Haruka

The fact of the matter is that we're not getting as many offers as before... But all we have to do is get back to that point.

6
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Haruka

And as the producer of MORE MORE JUMP!, I'm going to think of a way for us to do that.

7
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Haruka

So, I want the rest of you to keep thinking about spreading hope to everyone.

8
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Haruka

Regardless of what sort of situation we're in, we can never lose sight of who we are.

9
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Shizuku

Haruka...

10
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Airi

Yeah, Haruka's right.

11
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Airi

It's not good for us to dwell on our problems. Our goal is to spread hope to as many people as we can!

12
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Minori

Yeah! I'm gonna try even harder in today's meeting for that show!

13
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Minori

Especially since it's the first one where we get to appear as regulars!

14
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Shizuku

All we did last time was introduce ourselves to everyone, but we get to hear more about it from the director today, yes?

15
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Haruka

Mr. Nakano was great to work with previously on “The Town Revitalization Team!”, and it's so nice that he's taking our input into account while developing this show.

16
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Haruka

That means we need to do our best and not let him down.

17
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Minori

Yeah!

18
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Shizuku

Oh, speaking of Mr. Nakano...

Didn't he also mention something about his next show?

19
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Minori

Umm... He's gonna be working on another new show next year, right?

20
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Airi

Yeah, and he said how he'd love to have us on board for that as well.

21
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Haruka

I know nothing has been decided yet...

But it might be worth asking him about that when we meet him today.

22
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Haruka

In order to make that opportunity a reality and keep spreading hope to our viewers, we first need to do well during today's meeting!

23
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Minori, Airi & Shizuku

Yeah!

Yes!

A few hours later
TV Station - Meeting Room
24
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Program Staff Member

Alright, why don't we end today's meeting here?

25
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Nakano

Sounds good. I think we've given a thorough rundown of what this show's about...

26
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Nakano

Next time, we'll talk more in detail about the segment you'll be leading.

27
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Haruka

Understood. Thank you for having us.

28
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Minori

Hehe. It's really starting to come together!

29
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Shizuku

I'm so excited!

We really get to run a segment where we help people who write to us about their problems...!

30
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Nakano

Hehe. I'm glad you're feeling so optimistic about it.

31
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Nakano

The truth is, I had MORE MORE JUMP! in mind for this segment ever since I started working on this show.

32
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Airi

Wait, really...?

33
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Nakano

Really. When we shot “The Town Revitalization Team!”, you and the locals had such organic interactions... We got a lot of good footage as a result.

34
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Nakano

My hope is that this segment will give our viewers another taste of that down-to-earth atmosphere.

35
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Nakano

So, I hope you'll once again show us your authentic selves when we begin shooting.

36
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Minori

Of course! You can count on us!

37
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Program Staff Member

Slow down, Mr. Nakano.

We're not scheduled to actually shoot for ages. We still need to hammer out all the details first.

38
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Nakano

Haha. Very true. I'm just so excited...

But...

39
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Nakano

I do genuinely believe that MORE MORE JUMP! will help turn this show into an instant classic. So, once again, I'm very much looking forward to working with all of you.

40
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Haruka

Yes, we're looking forward to working with you again as well!

41
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Program Staff Member

Then, if no one has anything else to add, let's call things here, shall we?

42
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Haruka

Oh, actually... I do have one question.

43
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Haruka

About that other show you mentioned when we last met... Has there been any progress?

44
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Nakano

When we last met?

45
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Haruka

Yes, you mentioned that you'd be working on a new show next year and how you were interested in having us on board...

46
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Nakano

O-Oh, about that...

47
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Nakano

Umm... Unfortunately, a few things happened with that show since we last spoke...

48
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Nakano

And I'm sad to say that due to various reasons, we've gone back to the drawing board regarding who'll be appearing on it.

49
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Haruka

Huh...? Back to the drawing board?

50
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Shizuku

Can you tell us those reasons...?

51
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Nakano

Unfortunately, I'm not able to disclose that information...

52
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Shizuku

Oh... Yes, of course. Pardon me for asking...

53
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Nakano

No, I'm sorry since I indicated that you'd be appearing in it. I feel so awful about what's happened...

54
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Haruka

We understand...

As unfortunate as this is, we know that there's a lot going on behind the scenes. Regardless, we're still looking forward to working with you on another project.

55
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Nakano

So am I.

56
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Nakano

Anyway, let's clear the room.

We shouldn't overstay our welcome.

57
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Haruka

Yes, and thank you again.

58
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Minori, Shizuku & Airi

Thank you!

59
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Haruka

(They've gone back to the drawing board at this stage?)

60
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Haruka

(I know it was still very preliminary, but Mr. Nakano seemed really excited about having us on...)

61
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Haruka

(Something isn't right here.)

62
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Haruka

(While I'm already here at the station, I think I'll try talking to some of the staff I've worked with in the past.)

Several dozen minutes later
TV Station - Corridor
63
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Haruka

I understand.

And thank you for answering my questions. I know this was really sudden.

64
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TV Producer

No, I'm sorry for not being able to help.

Anyway, Ms. Kiritani, I'll see you later.

65
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Haruka

See you. I look forward to working with you again if we get that chance.

66
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Haruka

(I'm still grasping at straws...)

67
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Haruka

(I considered the possibility that we made some faux pas that everyone's too embarrassed to talk about... But, that's not the impression I've been getting.)

68
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Haruka

(But there's no use trying to think about this here. I need to refocus my attention.)

69
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Haruka

(Minori and the others have already gone.

I should head back to the MORE MORE HOUSE and—)

70
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TV Station Staff Member

Oh, Mr. Nakano! Hello!

71
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Nakano

Ah, hello.

72
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Haruka

(Oh, it's Mr. Nakano...

He might've just gotten out of this other meeting. Before I leave, I should say goodbye and...)

73
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TV Station Staff Member's Voice

I heard the news about your new show for next year!

74
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TV Station Staff Member's Voice

ReLight is going to appear on it as regulars, right?!

75
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Haruka

What...?

76
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Haruka

(His new show for next year?

But he just said they'd gone back to the drawing board...)

77
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Haruka

(Also, did I just hear... ReLight...?)

78
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TV Station Staff Member's Voice

I was honestly really surprised since I know you're a huge fan of MORE MORE JUMP!

79
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Nakano's Voice

I told them earlier that we're starting from scratch when it comes to who'll be appearing.

80
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Nakano's Voice

I made a huge mistake.

It's all my fault for jumping ahead and saying that they were basically a lock for it...

81
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Nakano's Voice

I just ended up completely dashing their hopes.

82
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Haruka

(Oh...)

83
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TV Station Staff Member's Voice

No, don't say that.

You know how things change really fast in this industry...

84
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TV Station Staff Member's Voice

Also, there's nothing we can do when Mr. Hiiragi pushes so hard for his group.

85
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Haruka

What...?

86
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Haruka

Mr. Hiiragi...?

Next Chapter: A Rumor