The next day
School SEKAI
1
Character icon
Shiho

Yeah, I've improved a lot...

2
Character icon
Shiho

(Not just my sound either. My fingers are moving much better compared to before, like for the first verse. I'm fretting so smoothly now.)

3
Character icon
Shiho

(I should be more than ready for tomorrow when we finally get to practice as a band.)

4
Character icon
Shiho

As a band...

5
Character icon
Shiho

I've been able to get so much done during these training sessions...

6
Character icon
Shiho

And the others...

7
Character icon
Honami

I'd been using it for quite a long time... But I bought a replacement, so it's okay.

8
Character icon
Ichika

Unfortunately, it's proof that I haven't developed thick enough calluses yet.

9
Character icon
Luka

What if I jumped in by saying Saki made fairly quick work of what was giving her trouble?

10
Character icon
Shiho

They're all doing their absolute best.

11
Character icon
Shiho

Which means tomorrow's practice should...

12
Character icon
Rin

Heya, Shih!

Let's get started with today's practice♪

13
Character icon
Shiho

Huh?

14
Character icon
Rin

Hm? Is something wrong?

15
Character icon
Shiho

No, nothing's wrong...

16
Character icon
Shiho

(I thought I was gonna get KAITO again today, but I guess not...)

17
Character icon
Rin

If you say so, Shih.

18
Character icon
Rin

Anyway!

Let's get straight to practicing!

19
Character icon
Rin

Since you're gonna be practicing as a band, you girls need to get your respective parts down perfect today☆

20
Character icon
Shiho

Right...

I was just thinking the same thing, so...

21
Character icon
Shiho

I want you to tell me, Rin. How are the others doing?

22
Character icon
Rin

Awesome!

I'm sure tomorrow's gonna go great!

23
Character icon
Rin

Because they're all trying really, really, really hard...!

24
Character icon
Rin

I'm gonna be honest...

I didn't fully comprehend at first just how serious you girls were about making your next show a success.

25
Character icon
Rin

When I first heard about these training sessions, I thought, “We're gonna get to spend entire days practicing,” and, “This is gonna be so much fun!”

26
Character icon
Rin

But I realized as time went on that I had the wrong idea. As I practiced with all of you...

27
Character icon
Rin

I realized how serious you all were.

28
Character icon
Rin

Wow, we played so much together!

29
Character icon
Saki

Yeah, we did.

We've been at it for like four hours now.

30
Character icon
Rin

What?! That long?!

We should probably take a break now!

31
Character icon
Saki

Yeah...

32
Character icon
Rin

Oh, Sakki, that reminds me!

Didn't you say you brought over some snacks?!

33
Character icon
Rin

Luka even said that sweets are good for when you're tired, so let's have some together!

34
Character icon
Saki

Yeah, snack time sounds great!

But...

35
Character icon
Saki

Can we practice a little more first...?

I wanna review that thing you just taught me one more time!

36
Character icon
Rin

Huh...?!

You're not gonna take a break, Sakki?

37
Character icon
Saki

At my current playing level, I won't be able to get through to that crowd...

38
Character icon
Saki

So, you can eat without me!

I'll take a break in a little bit!

39
Character icon
Shiho

Saki said that...?

40
Character icon
Rin

Weird, right?!

The Sakki I know is usually snacks first, work later.

41
Character icon
Rin

But it wasn't just her...

Hona and Ichi also...

42
Character icon
Honami

Sorry, I need to stop for a second...

43
Character icon
Rin

Huh? What's wrong?

44
Character icon
Honami

I'm having trouble staying in rhythm for this part... It sounds a bit uneven when I try to step on the pedals for the hi-hat and bass drum at the same time.

45
Character icon
Rin

Yeah, the fourth beat sounded kinda too strong. But I don't think it sounded funny or anything like you said, Hona...

46
Character icon
Honami

Oh, are you sure...?

47
Character icon
Rin

Yup!

Even though it's really hard to stay in rhythm through that part, you did just fine. So, the next time you...

48
Character icon
Honami

I'm sorry, Rin...

I really feel that I need to go over that part again.

49
Character icon
Honami

I want to become a better drummer.

I want to become the musical foundation of our band!

50
Character icon
Rin

Hona...

51
Character icon
Rin

Whoa!

Ichi, you look so cool when playing the guitar!

52
Character icon
Rin

And your singing voice is so pretty...

I couldn't help but try to sing along!

53
Character icon
Ichika

Thanks.

54
Character icon
Ichika

But this still isn't enough...

The way I'm playing right now... It's nowhere near where I want to be.

55
Character icon
Rin

What? But...

56
Character icon
Ichika

I remember thinking before how beautiful your singing voice was, Rin, and how you sang high notes with so much power...

57
Character icon
Ichika

It's like your voice could break through the ceiling. Can you teach me how to do that? This song we're working on now has some high parts and I want to get it right.

58
Character icon
Ichika

Because if I don't, I probably won't feel too confident when I'm on stage. Plus...

59
Character icon
Rin

That's how serious they all are...

60
Character icon
Rin

Which is why I want to do as much as I possibly can to help you girls!

61
Character icon
Shiho

Rin...

62
Character icon
Rin

All of you managed to survive the tough tutelage of Ms. Rin, even after she put on her serious face, so I guarantee that you've gotten better!

63
Character icon
Rin

And that's why I know things are gonna go great!

64
Character icon
Shiho

I see...

65
Character icon
Rin

So, Shih, it's time for you to show off your amazing bass powers!

66
Character icon
Rin

Lemme see just how far you've come since we started doing these training sessions♪

67
Character icon
Shiho

Okay...

Get ready.

68
Character icon
Shiho

(I have to be just as motivated as the others.)

69
Character icon
Shiho

(With all my might...

I have to show just how much I've improved.)

70
Character icon
Shiho

(Our sound needs to resonate with that crowd... It has to show everyone what our music's really about...)

71
Character icon
Shiho

(More than ever...!)

72
Character icon
Rin

(...?!

This sound...!)

73
Character icon
Rin

(Wh-Whoa...

So this is what happens when Shih gets serious...)

74
Character icon
Rin

(But...)

75
Character icon
Shiho

Whew...

That's it.

76
Character icon
Shiho

What did you think?

77
Character icon
Rin

Oh...

78
Character icon
Rin

U-Um...

79
Character icon
Shiho

...?

Rin?

80
Character icon
Shiho

What's wrong?

Is there something that bothered you?

81
Character icon
Rin

Oh, um...

Nothing bothered me, but... How do I put it into words...?

82
Character icon
Shiho

You don't have to go easy on me.

Just tell me what you felt.

83
Character icon
Rin

Sh-Shih, the way you played was so awesome! Like, I couldn't believe what I heard just now!

84
Character icon
Rin

But... It was so awesome that...

85
Character icon
Shiho

Huh...?

86
Character icon
Rin

S-So...

I really don't know how to describe it... This might just be my imagination...

87
Character icon
Rin

B-But, Shih...

88
Character icon
KAITO

Sorry I'm late.

89
Character icon
Shiho

Huh...?

90
Character icon
Rin

KAITO?!

What are you doing here?

91
Character icon
KAITO

What am I doing here...?

I thought I was assigned to Shiho today.

92
Character icon
Rin

What?!

93
Character icon
Shiho

Ah, I knew it...

I was also under the impression that you'd be teaching me today, KAITO, and believed otherwise when Rin came instead.

94
Character icon
Rin

Oh no! You're right! I made a huge mistake!

95
Character icon
Rin

Hona's gonna get mad at me for being late! Sorry, you two, gotta go!

96
Character icon
Shiho

Oh...

97
Character icon
Shiho

(I didn't get a chance to ask...)

98
Character icon
KAITO

Was there something you wanted to ask Rin...?

99
Character icon
Shiho

Um...

100
Character icon
Shiho

(I can't get the way she reacted out of my head...)

101
Character icon
Shiho

It's okay...

We don't have much time, so we should focus on practicing for now.

102
Character icon
KAITO

Then, let's get started...

Is what I'd like to say...

103
Character icon
KAITO

But I honestly don't have anything left to teach you, Shiho, so I think you should just have fun and enjoy playing your bass.

104
Character icon
KAITO

Regardless of what happens...

105
Character icon
Shiho

Okay...

My goal is to play with everything I have tomorrow.

106
Character icon
KAITO

Alright, shall we begin our final session...?

107
Character icon
Shiho

Yes, please.

Next Chapter: The Promised Day