A few days later
Rehearsal Studio
1
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Shiho

(The part that's been giving me trouble lately is coming up next. I need to play each note like I mean it...)

2
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Shiho

(Yeah, there we go...! That might be the best I've done. All that's left is to play in a way that does the feelings put into this song justice and sprint to the finish...)

3
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Shiho

*Sigh*

4
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Shiho

(It's been a while since I last went all out like that.)

5
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Shiho

(I guess, since I've been so busy getting ready for our shows and keeping an eye on how the others are doing during practice that I haven't had much time to practice like this.)

6
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Shiho

I better make full use of times like this... What the...?

7
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Shiho

What are you all doing standing outside the door? You should've just come in already.

8
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Honami

B-But it looked like you were trying to focus just now, Shiho...

9
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Ichika

We were really awestruck...

We were going to say something, but ended up watching you instead.

10
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Saki

Yeah, you were on a totally different level! The way you played just now was so cool that we sorta got drawn into your world!

11
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Shiho

You're saying this now?

You watch me play all the time.

12
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Saki

But you always try to play at our level, right? We got to see the real you just now...

13
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Shiho

Okay, okay. I get what you're saying, so let's start practicing already. We don't have a second to waste.

14
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Saki

Shiho, don't brush us off like that!

15
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Shiho

Now, we've all had a few days to practice on our own, so let's try doing a quick run together today.

16
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Ichika

Okay.

I should be fine since I managed to get through the practice schedule you gave me.

17
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Saki

Oh, me too! I also practiced the parts that I found difficult over and over again.

18
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Shiho

Really...?

Then, I'll be expecting some good results.

19
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Honami

I'm a little nervous since it's going to be our first time playing this song together... But I'm also excited.

20
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Honami

So, here we go...

21
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Shiho

(They all sound totally different...)

22
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Shiho

(They must've practiced a ton until today. They're also playing much cleaner compared to our last show, but...)

23
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Shiho

(Saki's trying so hard to stay in time that it's affecting the way Ichika plays her guitar.)

24
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Shiho

(And Ichika's doing her best to stay in rhythm with Honami...)

25
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Shiho

Honami, you're going a bit too fast with the bass drum.

26
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Honami

*Gasp*

I-I'm so sorry.

27
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Shiho

Why don't we try again from the top?

Saki, Ichika, I think you two are being too careful of what others are doing.

28
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Shiho

It's not necessarily a bad thing, but worrying too much will mean that you won't be able to play at your best. So, just keep that in mind.

29
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Ichika

Okay...!

30
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Saki

I-I'll be careful!

31
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Shiho

Alright, once more from the top.

Honami, count us in.

32
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Ichika

We can't seem to get it right...

Even after so many attempts...

33
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Shiho

Yeah...

I think it's a combination of still needing to master it individually and lacking the technical skills for some of the finer parts.

34
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Shiho

It's clear that you all practiced a lot, but you sound a bit lost when we play together since you don't have it completely down yet.

35
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Saki

R-Right...

I felt ready when I was practicing on my own, but I kept doubting myself while we were playing just now...

36
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Honami

Me too. I get so worried every time I miss a beat that I end up rushing ahead...

37
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Ichika

Does this mean that we need to practice more by ourselves instead of trying to play it together...?

38
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Shiho

But you all practiced a ton already, right? I feel that we should think of something else instead of repeating the same thing.

39
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Saki

Yeah.

And we don't have much time. So, what should we do...?

40
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Shiho

(Maybe the practice schedules were a little too much for them.)

41
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Shiho

(Still, what else can we do?

I can conceivably try teaching them one by one, but I don't know much about other instruments besides bass. We'd be wasting too much time...)

42
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Shiho

(If only there was someone knowledgeable about various instruments we could ask...)

43
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Shiho

Oh...

44
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Ichika

Shiho?

45
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Shiho

I think I've got an idea...

46
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Shiho

So, Miku...

We'd like you and the others to do some intense training with us.

47
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Miku

Intense training?

48
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Shiho

Yeah.

All of you can play just about any kind of instrument, right?

49
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Shiho

I have a feeling that our individual parts still need some work, so if you could all teach us one-on-one...

50
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Rin

Wait, we get to be your teachers?!

51
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Luka

Oh, I like this idea.

Teaching you girls one-on-one should lead to some nice improvements.

52
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MEIKO

But how intense do you want this training to be? It's not going to be as simple as coming over to SEKAI, practicing and going home afterwards, right?

53
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Shiho

Exactly.

We don't have much time left until our next show...

54
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Shiho

So, I want to do as much as possible. During the week, I want us to come straight here after school, and stay over on weekends.

55
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Len

S-Seriously?!

That sounds like a training camp!

56
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Rin

But having a sleepover sounds really fun☆

57
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KAITO

Rin, they're not doing this for fun...

58
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Rin

I... I know that!

59
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Shiho

I know I'm asking a lot but...

Would you help us out...?

60
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Saki

I-I'd like to ask the same!

We need all of you guys' help if we're gonna put on the best show ever...!

61
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Miku

I don't mind.

Especially if it means helping you girls out.

62
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Ichika

Miku...

63
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MEIKO

I agree.

Teaching should also be a beneficial experience for us, so I'm in.

64
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Len

Yeah, this sounds like a great opportunity! It feels more like a joint practice than a training session.

65
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Rin

Yeah, totally!

I can't wait to practice together♪

66
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Saki

...!

Thank goodness...!

67
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Shiho

Thank you all very much.

68
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Honami

Still, we're so blessed...

We essentially each get to have our own personal tutors.

69
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Saki

Yeah!

I'm gonna make the most of this opportunity by learning as much as I possibly can from you guys!

70
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Ichika

Me too.

Let's do everything we can so that we'll be ready for our next show!

71
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Miku

Hehe. That means we'll have to do our best to make that goal a reality.

72
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Shiho

Thanks, we really appreciate it.

73
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Shiho

I was thinking that we could start tomorrow. Would you and the others be okay with that, Miku...?

74
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KAITO

In that case, we may want to discuss how we're actually going to teach them...

75
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Luka

I agree.

Let's do that right after we're finished here.

76
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Shiho

In the meantime, we'll keep practicing like normal while also preparing for you guys' tutelage.

77
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Ichika, Saki & Honami

Okay!

78
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Rin

(We get to spend entire days practicing, and even have sleepovers...)

79
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Rin

(This is gonna be so much fun♪

I can't wait for tomorrow!)