...

(Even if it's just a little bit...)

(I want to help relieve them of the pain of being torn away from one another...)

Okay...

(It's all on paper now... But...)

(Something feels off... Why is that...?)

(It's like...

These words don't do them justice...)

Alright, I'll try starting over...

...

That was really nice.

You were all in perfect sync and sounded great together.

I agree! Nicely done!

Thank you.

Also, Miku, thanks for taking Ichika's place.

You're welcome.

By the way...

This isn't right either...

Ichika still seems to be struggling with the lyrics for your new song...

She has to spend time writing those lyrics instead of practicing too. Isn't your next show really soon...?

Yeah, it is...

But things just aren't going that smoothly.

According to her...

“These words don't do what they're going through justice.”

Hmm... Then, what's the right answer?

Isn't there any way we can help her...?

“These words won't properly shine a light on them not being able to see each other anymore.”

I see...

This problem may actually be easier to solve than we think.

What...?!

Really?!

If so, Luka, you're a genius!

Whoa!

Not so loud!

So, Luka, what do you suggest we do?

Hehe.

We'll need to talk to Ichika regarding that.

No...

This seems wrong too...

Hello, Ichika...

How are things going?

Oh, um... Thanks for asking.

But what about practice?

We're taking a break right now.

More importantly, you seem to be struggling with these lyrics...

Sorry, I know I am...

But I can't seem to find the right words no matter how many times I try rewriting them.

I was even reminded of how it's hard to listen to what others are saying when you're really down and out...

Down and out...

Um, Ichika...

Mind if I ask you a question?

What kept you afloat when you felt like everything was sinking?

What kept me afloat...?

Yes.

Try looking back.

Remember what it was like not being able to have real conversations with Saki, Honami and Shiho...

When she had trouble talking to us...?

Back then...

I found myself usually listening to Miku songs...

Hehe. I remember you saying that.

Wait!

What if one of those songs can give you a nice hint?!

But there were so many...

The lyrics were starkly different depending on the genre too. I wouldn't know which to use as a reference...

In that case, what did you tend to think about while listening to those songs...?

What did I think about?

Well...

I envied how free Miku seemed... Also...

If a song sounded cutesy, I'd imagine Saki liking it...

Honami likes delicate and sparkly sounds, so she was really happy playing the wind chimes in the brass band...

Or how it'd be cool to hear Shiho play a song that prominently features a bass and how we'd have to practice so hard to play a song like that together...

I'm pretty sure that's what usually went through my mind...

Hehe.

I knew it. I had a feeling you thought about everyone else.

Yeah... I guess so...

Alright, Saki, how about you?

Huh?

Me?

I... I thought about everyone else too...

Thinking about them made me sad since I couldn't see them, but all my fun memories with them just made me want to get better so I could see everyone again as soon as possible...

Fun memories with us...?

Oh...!!

Did you think of something just now, Ichi?!

Yes! I think so...!

What did you think of?!

How did that help just now?!

Um... It's what you said, Saki...

In particular, the part about “fun memories”...

Fun memories?

Yeah. We were able to make such fun and happy memories because we were fortunate enough to meet each other...

That never went away...

And Miku songs always reminded me of that fact.

Not being able to talk to everyone wasn't easy, but all of our happy memories kept me believing that we'd be back together again someday...

Ichika...

Happy memories, huh...?

Yeah. Our fun memories made what came after just that much harder... But they kept me from giving up...

...

I... I couldn't do anything even when I remembered all the fun we used to have...

The fear of not being able to regain what we once had was so overwhelming... Almost like I wasn't valuing these memories as much as I should have...

Honami...

I actually believe otherwise...

In your case, Honami, these happy memories were a key part of wanting to get the band back together, right?

MEIKO...

I see...

We all felt the same way.

(It's never easy being away from those you really care about.)

(But all the memories you made together can help keep you looking forward...)

(And lead you to a brighter future...

Like what happened with us.)

I think I know what to do now...

Sorry, everyone! I need to head back to my room and start writing...!

Wait, Ichika...!

She ran off...

But she has to use her phone to get back...

Oh, I think she realized that once she got to the corridor...

Hehe. Ichika never changes, huh...?

Ichika's always been like this...?

Yeah! In elementary school, she'd come charging into our classroom and say...

Let's try playing this Miku song together!

And she'd start blasting it after asking.

Talk about a blast from the past.

I didn't know that...

She's been listening to my music for that long...?

She's putting everything she has into this song, so we should make sure we're ready to start working on it once she's done...

Yeah!

Let's start coming up with ideas right now!

Okay!