Zzz...

C here, then E...

It's such a pain going back and forth between our classroom and the AV room. Can't we just do everything in one place...?

You, no talking in the corridor! Other students are still in class!

(Hm? Saki...?

Is she asleep at her desk...?)

(Saki never falls asleep during class. She's usually too focused on what the teacher's saying for that to happen...)

...

(Saki...)

Alright, let's make the most of today! Let's go, Ichi!

Oh, sorry. The teacher asked me to handle some committee business. Would you mind going ahead without me...?

Yeah, sure!

I'll see you later then!

Hey, Shiho!

Since Ichi's gonna be busy with committee stuff for a while, let's go and...

Before that, Saki, can we talk?

Talk? About what?

Is something wrong?

About coming up with an original song...

Oh, I came up with even more ideas for today!

I'm still not sure if any of it really suits us as a band, but I tried changing the way I write these.

But then it became harder to string notes and chords together, you know? Songwriting's so tough...

Saki...

Thanks for doing all this for us.

But again, you don't have to rush or anything.

Huh?

Oh, did Saki and Shiho decide to wait for me...?

But something doesn't seem right... Did something happen...?

I really appreciate how much effort you've been putting in lately.

However, nobody's telling us to come up with an original song right this second either.

But...

I'm certain that things won't go the way we expect at first...

And trying too hard at this stage might end up being more stressful than you can handle.

So let's try taking it more slowly, okay?

Shiho...

Okay...

Maybe I did get myself a little too worked up like you say.

I guess I convinced myself that we have to start getting our own songs out if we really do want to go pro...

I see. In that case...

But there's a reason that I've been trying so hard lately...

I want to figure out what I'm capable of.

What you're capable of?

Ever since Ichi started doing street performances, she's gotten way better at singing and playing her guitar, right?

Hona got over some of her fears by actually facing them, and now she seems a lot more confident in herself...

But what about me? That's what I asked myself...

You're already doing plenty, Saki. You're the one who's always there to cheer us up and push us in the right direction...

Hehe. Thanks, Shiho.

That makes me happy, but I still want to contribute to our music somehow. I want to be able to do more for us.

So please, let me keep doing this for a little while longer! I promise to be super careful about not overworking myself too!

Saki...

...

Honami? What are you doing standing around here?

Oh! Ichika!

Huh? Hona! Ichi!

Are you done with committee stuff, Ichi?

Yes, but I didn't realize you were still here. I finished doing what my teacher asked me to do, so we can head to practice now.

...

Shiho? Is something wrong?

You seem concerned...

No, it's nothing...

Let's go.

Oh...

Nice work today, everyone.

Yeah, that was good!

I'll see you tomorrow!

Okay, please get home safe.

Bye.

Oh...

...

Shiho!

Honami...?!

Thank goodness. I wasn't sure I'd catch up to you. I was about to ask if you'd like to walk together, but you left so quickly...

Together?

Yes. You have work after this, right? Would it be okay if I joined you until you get there?

Uh, sure...

Our show's just around the corner. In your opinion, Shiho, how are we coming along?

Far from perfect, but good enough to perform in a show. You've all gotten much better too since we started practicing together more...

Thank you. I'm glad...

We all really appreciate the way you've been looking after what each of us is doing.

Really, it's nothing...

That's not true. I mean, do you remember how just the other day you said my rimshots sounded a little weak?

I never would've noticed and been able to address it if you didn't tell me, Shiho.

But all I did was speak my mind.

It just bothered me a little how you're always able to create a good rhythm but seem to hold yourself back sometimes...

I'm more confident now than I used to be, but I guess I still have quite a bit of work to do.

Even then, Shiho, you're the reason I've been able to commit more and improve so much...

So thank you for everything.

Again, really, it's nothing...

No, I'm sure Ichika and Saki will tell you the same thing. You've helped us all so much.

I...

But I've been a little worried about Saki, lately. She's been working so hard...

She's...

She's doing that because of me...

Huh...?

Creating an original song, practicing for our show, and trying to go pro... It's all making her do this...

My dream's forcing Saki to push herself too hard...

...

No, that's not true either...

What?

Saki isn't necessarily doing all this because she wants to become a professional musician.

Huh...?

After that time you said that we wouldn't be able to stay together if we tried to go pro, we had a long discussion concerning that...

About whether or not we'd be able to commit to that goal and to our music...

We each took a long look at ourselves, and we ultimately all decided to walk the same path as you, Shiho...

Saki too.

She decided that we're going to go pro together.

...

So for now, let's just watch over and place our faith in her, okay?

It might look like she's pushing herself a little too hard right now, but I'm sure she also understands exactly how you feel...

Honami...

Okay, I will. Thanks...