The day of the show
Backstage
1
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Saki

Oh, they're starting to let everyone in!

2
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Honami

Yes, they are...

Six, seven... I see maybe ten people?

3
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Ichika

So not too many. I was expecting to see much more for a second there.

4
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Shiho

To be fair, the show isn't starting for a while.

5
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Shiho

The bigger names go on stage starting about halfway through, so it's a good bet that more will show up then.

6
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Honami

I see...

So we shouldn't expect to see too big a crowd when it's our turn.

7
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Shiho

Yeah, I'd say so too.

8
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Ichika

Okay, that's good to hear...

But I am starting to get a little nervous.

9
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Saki

Yeah, my heart's really starting to pound!

10
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Shiho

Just try to relax. We played in front of way more people during the STANDOUT show, right?

11
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Ichika

But that was when we were absolutely desperate...

12
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Ichika

We even have an original song to worry about this time. Do you think it'll go over well with them...?

13
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Saki

Y-Yeah, Ichi, it has to...!

14
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Honami

Yes, I agree.

15
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Honami

We all worked so hard on it and practiced so much. I'm sure that they'll see that.

16
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Ichika

Honami...

17
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Shiho

She says that while her hands shake.

18
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Honami

Oh...

19
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Shiho

Again, just try to relax.

20
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Shiho

It's our very first show, so no one's going to be judging us or expecting us to do something we can't.

21
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Ichika

R-Right...

22
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Shiho

But that also gives us much more freedom. We can show them what we've got while playing just the way we like.

23
Character icon
Shiho

And considering how much we practiced, I'm sure we'll be able to do just that. It may be a small crowd, but we can still try to reach each of them.

24
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Honami

Shiho...

25
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Saki

Yeah, I promise to do my best!

26
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Saki

So don't worry!

If push comes to shove, I'll take over and really get them going!

27
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Shiho

That's Saki Tenma for you.

28
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Saki

Hehe♪

29
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Saki

Oh, I know!

Here, huddle up!

30
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Honami

Huddle?

31
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Saki

Yeah! Let's all put our hands together and get ourselves psyched up for this!

32
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Shiho

Sure, why not?

A lot of other bands do it too, so...

33
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Ichika

Okay, then...

Let's give it a try.

34
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Saki

Yay♪

Alright, everyone make a peace sign!

35
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Shiho

A peace sign?

36
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Saki

Yeah! Like this and...

37
Character icon
Saki

See? It turns into a star!

Like our band name♪

38
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Honami

Hehe. Oh, Saki.

39
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Saki

Hehe♪

Okay, Ichi!

Lead the way♪

40
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Ichika

M-Me...?

41
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Ichika

Uh, okay...

42
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Ichika

Everyone, let's do our best.

Let's show this crowd what we're about and tell them exactly how we feel!

43
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Ichika

Are you ready?!

44
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Everybody

Yeah!

45
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Audience

Hey, that last band was pretty good.

46
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Audience

Who's next...? Leo/need?

Never heard of them.

47
Character icon
Audience

Wait, I actually might have. Didn't they open for STANDOUT that one time?

48
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Audience

Whoa, say what?

That means they're pretty good, right...?

49
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Ichika

Hello, we're Leo/need!

We're so honored to be playing here for you all today!

50
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Ichika

We'd like to start with a cover of a Miku song that we as a band really love.

51
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Ichika

We hope you enjoy it!

52
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Audience

Hey, I know this song!

53
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Audience

Sick bass line!

54
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Audience

Yeah, they played this when they opened for STANDOUT! They've improved a lot since then too!

55
Character icon
Ichika

(Thank goodness. They seem to like it so far...)

56
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Shiho

(Just gotta keep this up through our first two songs. Warm them up by playing something they all know...)

57
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Saki

(Yeah, let's really get them going!)

58
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Manager

Hinomori looks like she's having fun.

I've never seen her smile like this while on stage before.

59
Character icon
???

Excuse me. Do you still have any same-day tickets available?

60
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Manager

Yes, there's still plenty.

Which band are you here to see? Huh?

61
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Iori

Leo/need, of course.

62
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Ichika

Phew...

63
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Ichika

Thank you!

These Miku songs are what brought us together as a band, so I'm glad you liked them!

64
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Ichika

But we'd like to end with an original song.

65
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Audience

An original song?

So something they made?

66
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Audience

Aww, I kinda wanted to hear another Miku song...

67
Character icon
Ichika

Oh...

68
Character icon
Ichika

...

69
Character icon
Ichika

To tell you the truth, it took us quite a long time to reach the point of being able to perform on stage like this...

70
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Ichika

There were times when we doubted ourselves and thought about giving up, but we're here today because we have each other. Because we're Leo/need.

71
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Ichika

We're still just getting started as a band, but this song represents all the hard work we put into getting to this stage.

72
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Ichika

Please, we hope you enjoy it!

73
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Saki

(Here we go. Our song...!)

74
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Audience

Not a very catchy intro...

But that girl on the bass is off the hook.

75
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Audience

The lyrics are kinda dull too. Been there, done that, you know...?

76
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Ichika

(Oh no, we're starting to lose them...)

77
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Shiho

(But this is to be expected.

Most of these people are here to see much more famous bands.)

78
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Shiho

(Unlike the Miku songs we just played, this is something no one's ever heard of by a no-name band. It's only natural that they lose interest.)

79
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Shiho

(But...)

80
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Honami

(We put everything into this song.

We can't give up. Not now!)

81
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Saki

(Shiho even said that this song is Leo/need! This is us!)

82
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Saki

(We can do it! I know we can!)

83
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Ichika

(We have to reach them. We have to give this song everything we have!)

84
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Audience

Hey, this isn't bad...

85
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Audience

They're a bit spotty, but they're really giving it 100%.

86
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Manager

Yeah, this is nice. Hinomori's band's doing pretty well for themselves.

87
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Iori

It's hard to believe that this is their very first show.

88
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Ichika

♪————...

89
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Ichika

...!

90
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Ichika

Our first song...

91
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Ichika

Thank you for hearing our very first song! Thank you all very much!

Next Chapter: Opening Doors