That's correct, Akiyama...

He is my archrival. The one who made me taste the bitterness of defeat last time.

I've had the misfortune of knowing this one for too long. We've been cheering for our respective classes since kindergarten.

Since kindergarten?!

That's right. It's been a back-and-forth tug-of-war since that time, and we're at one victory a piece for high school. Everything's riding on this year's competition.

And I'm going to win...

Hah! After what happened last time?!

I even have the best of the best this year.

He's right!

We weren't expecting Rui to direct your performance... But the red team has me, Tsukasa Tenma, a future star!

Only victory can shine the path to stardom! Let us both fight fair and square on the day of!!

Mind keeping it down...?

Some students have club activities right now.

Ah, right.

Excuse me. I got a bit ahead of myself.

I know that you're going to be ready for whatever's thrown at you. This Sports Festival in particular since it's going to be our last hurrah...

You're surely coming up with a plan that's going to let you bring out your full potential... However, I too have an ally who's promised to walk alongside us!

...!

You see no half-measures from me.

Let us meet on the field of honor!

Heh. Just don't bore us.

All of you, let's go...

We'll meet again!

There they go...

The red cheer squad seems to be in high spirits.

Yeah, but I don't really get why they came all this way to see us...

Also, I didn't realize Akito was on the cheer squad.

I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of performance they put on, but we're not about to lose to them!

Yeah!

Now that we know what the captain's archrival is like, we can practice for our performance like there's no tomorrow!

Yes, let's practice!

Kamishiro, we'll need you to keep working your directing magic!

Yes, I plan on doing just that...

(The red team's given us a reason to band together as a squad.)

(I'll need to do everything I can to make our performance a good one...)

Okay...

That should be enough for today.

Hey, is it just me or did our last run go amazingly well?!

Totally!

That was like the best we've synced so far!

Thanks to your direction, Kamishiro, I'm starting to get the hang of playing Liu Bei. I really appreciate you doing this...

It's much too soon to thank me.

(However, everyone's starting to move the way I imagined after practicing for consecutive days.)

(And we have a few days until the Sports Festival... We should be more than ready by then.)

(But the opening scene where Liu Bei and his troops all enter at once... I feel like there's still room for improvement.)

(We're talking about a general who decided the fate of a kingdom. He needs to stand out more... Ideally, from a high place...)

(But we don't have a platform or scaffolding to help us with that. In that case...)

(I know. If we can use the buildings on campus... But that means we'd all have to move outside from there...)

That's it...!

Kamishiro?

Is something the matter?

Yes, I've come up with a great idea.

From the top of one of the buildings, we could all...

No...

I should probably give this more thought.

Rui...?

You've all exceeded my expectations. Let's keep this up and get ready for another day of practice tomorrow.

Ah, yes...!

It's nice to receive your stamp of approval, Director!

Alright, let's call it a day.

All of you, make sure to stay warm by taking a hot bath and getting a good night's rest! I wouldn't want any of you to catch a cold!

Yeah!

Let's keep up the good work until the day of!

...

Okay...

The prop for our next show's complete.

(Everyone being sent up by this modified launch pad should make for an interesting sight. I can't wait to see how the audience reacts.)

(I haven't had a chance to work on it lately since I've been so busy with the cheer squad's performance.)

The cheer squad...

(That idea that popped into my mind earlier... There's no reason it wouldn't raise the bar for the cheering competition by several notches.)

(It's hardly bad or anything as it stands, but this is going to be necessary if we actually do want to experience the best cheering competition ever.)

(Like the others, I solemnly want to do my best to make sure we put on the best performance possible...)

(I've felt that way since the beginning...

And yet...)

Why can't I say it?

(Even if we do end up winning the actual competition... Even if everyone is overcome with joy...)

(I wouldn't be satisfied... Not one bit...

I'd feel nothing but regret moving forward.)

That reminds me...

Oh, I see.

And you came to speak with KAITO?

Yes. He's given me some nice hints in the past, so my hope is that he'll have some advice for me.

That'd be great!

Unfortunately, KAITO isn't here right now.

We're so sorry, Rui!

That's okay.

I did sort of drop in on short notice.

Hmm... Something you want to say, but can't... That's a tricky one...

But you told us about it, didn't you, Rui...?

Well...

That's because all of you, including Emu and the others, are fellow show performers.

Oh, right!

Wait, huh...?

But your cheer squad friends are pretty much the same thing, aren't they?

Yes, that's true...

Oh, what if...?

Did you figure it out, Luka?

Oh, tell us!

Rui may be under a spell that prevents him from opening up to anyone other than us, Emu and the others.

Huh?

A spell?

Yes.

Which means we need to find a way to break it.

First...

Why don't we start by looking for a sorcerer?

We won't make it in time for the Sports Festival if we do that!

Plus, we don't know where to find a sorcerer!

Yes, true...

If only we could dream one up right here...

I'm sorry. I know KAITO would've been more helpful...

No, it's okay...

Thank you for listening to what I had to say.

(But something about this still bothers me. Why can't I...?)

At the same time, Rui, I'm actually kind of glad.

You're glad...?

Yes. You told us something that you had trouble telling others. Doesn't that make us special in some way?

It's like your way of showing that you trust us.

Trust...

(Oh, I...)

(A part of me was still afraid...

I was subconsciously scared of being shunned by everyone again.)

I thought I'd sort of gotten over that. I suppose this is a case of old habits dying hard...

Thank you, Luka.

I'll try talking with everyone tomorrow.

I'm glad I could help out even a little.

Now I can relax and...

Zzz...♪

Wait! Don't fall asleep there!