What?! You've been doing street performances, Ichi?!

Yes, Miku suggested that I needed to play in front of other people to get better.

I see...

Oh, is that what Miku was talking about? Secret training equaled street performances?

Yes, that's right.

I knew it!

No wonder it felt like you were singing and playing so much better than before!

I agree. It felt so good to drum along to that. Your voice carried so much more power and made us come together as one...

She's right.

But it wasn't just Ichika. All of you have been working very hard.

Exactly. You've gotten much better too, Honami, Saki.

We have...?

Teehee. We have Shiho to thank for that♪

But I still think you need more work.

Shihooo...!

Hehe...

...

(Everyone has definitely gotten a lot better. Ichika especially, and has that look in her eye when she sings now.)

(But...)

(That STANDOUT show was so good. They looked like a band that was about to go pro and make it big.)

(If only we could play like they did...)

Hey, isn't it about time we tried doing our own show?

Huh...?

I mean, we've been practicing so hard. Don't you want other people to come see us perform?

I'd like that too.

A show with all of us in it.

...

It sounds fun, but I'm also a little scared...

I've played in front of an audience during recitals with the brass band, but it'll be our first time playing as a band so...

I understand, Honami. I felt the same way until just recently...

Then it all changed after I started doing street performances. It was so much fun having other people hear my music...

You'll feel nervous at first too, but I feel that you'll want to keep playing more and more after you give it a try.

Okay...

Right. If you say so, Ichika, I'll give it a try...

Hehe. Ichika's changed quite a bit.

All thanks to Miku's secret training, right?

Oh, I didn't do anything.

Ichika did that all on her own.

Alright, then it's settled! We're doing a show! But where is the next question...?

I would say the School Festival, but that's still a long way off so...

(A show...)

(I'm happy that we've finally reached this point...)

(But is it okay for us to perform on stage just for fun like this...?)

Anyone have any good ideas...?

Oh, right...

Shiho, you work at a live house.

...!

Would it be possible for us to play there? Maybe you could ask...?

Sorry.

Huh?

Can we table that idea for now?

Shiho...?

Oh...

I'm sorry, Shiho.

I know that we're still not playing at the level you'd like.

But I believe that as long as we keep practicing, we'll become even better in time for our show.

So...!

That's not the issue.

I get that you've been working really hard and have actually gotten a lot better, Ichika...

Everyone has, and we're playing better as a unit now.

Then...

There's something I need to deal with first...

Sorry, but I'm gonna need some time to myself.

Shiho...

I have to get to work too. Bye...

Wait, Shiho...!

...

What's going on with Shiho...?

Maybe I'm still not ready...?

No, it's not just you. I still haven't reached where she wants me to be yet either.

I feel like something else is bothering her.

...

It's hard to say what's on Shiho's mind. It might be best for us to just wait and give her some time. We should still have time to talk to her after that, right?

O-Okay...

Hey, we might not know when we'll be doing our show right now...

But how about we keep practicing so that we'll be ready to play whenever?

If we keep getting better, I'm sure she'll say yes to performing in a show with us too♪

Saki...

Hehe. Looks like someone's ready to go.

Of course!

Putting on a show with everyone is gonna be so much fun♪

But what should we do to get stage ready?

Street performances together might be a little tough...

Yeah. Moving a drum kit around would be pretty rough and it'll probably be hard to find a good spot...

Right...

Practicing may not be the only key to getting better, you know?

Huh?

What do you mean?

Seeing someone else perform can also give you a better idea of what you need to do.

She's right. Shows are all about having the audience see you perform, so you have to think about what you want them to see.

You can check out how other bands sound and do just that by seeing their shows.

I see. Come to think of it, we haven't really done that. We've just been practicing like there's no tomorrow.

Then how about we go see a show today?

Oh, how about we go to that live house Shiho works at then?

Okay. The fact that she has work today probably means someone is playing today too...

Sounds like a plan. Let's go!