Thank you for seeing me again, Kusanagi.

Sure, um... Thank you too, Hoshino.

Now, would you like to start with some warm-ups...?

Okay. Lead the way...

————!　————...

I'm not sure how to say it, but this doesn't feel quite right...

Hmm... You might want to relax a little more.

And it may also help to sing more from your stomach to make sure your throat stays open.

Okay, from my stomach...

————♪　————♪

Yes, that's it.

You sound much better than before.

I see, like this...

Thank you, Kusanagi.

That helped quite a bit.

But it still feels like I'm missing something...

I'm singing with everything I have. I don't understand...

...

Maybe it's just a matter of confidence, Hoshino.

Confidence...?

Yeah.

The first time I heard you sing, you seemed to sort of have doubts about your own abilities.

And even now, it seems like there's a small part of you somewhere that still feels that way.

Doubts about my abilities...

You may be right...

Don't worry. I was the same way, so I know how you feel...

Huh? You were...?

Something I did a long time ago during a play I was in made me completely lose confidence in myself...

No matter how many times I tried to sing after that, it felt like there was something missing the same way you feel right now, Hoshino.

I see...

So how were you able to overcome that?

I...

I remembered why it was so fun to sing, and everything felt much better after that.

Why it was so fun to sing...?

Yes. I'm still not even sure if I've fully returned to being my old self...

But that feeling of something being missing has vanished.

I see...

However, I also don't think it's a good idea to dwell on it too much. That kind of obsession could end up making things worse.

Experiencing that moment when you feel like singing is fun will probably help you the most.

Okay. I understand...

Thanks, Kusanagi.

Now, shall we start from the top?

Yes, please!

Okay, here we go.

One, two, three, four...

————♪　————♪

Phew...

Ichi!

Your voice sounds amazing today!

Huh? Does it...?

Yes, I can even tell through my drumming. I'm not sure how to put it into words, but it felt like we played so well because your voice sounded so light on its feet...

Thank you. It's all thanks to Kusanagi.

Oh, that's right. You've been getting advice from her.

I have, and she's been helping me practice even when it gets pretty late.

That's great!

Your hard work is really paying off too!

Right, Shiho?

Yeah, I agree.

We did sound pretty good just now.

Th-Thank you...!

(All this praise is so encouraging.

I'm glad I asked Kusanagi for her help.)

(But...)

(My singing is nowhere near that level yet...)

(I want to get better and really learn how to perform with everyone else...)

(But...)

(How do I move up from here...?)