Okay... R-A-D-d-e-r...
Oh, there's a bunch of videos of them online. But they're mostly of their shows. They really don't have that many music videos...
Anyway, I'll start by watching the one with the most views...
<♪————>
(Even in video form, they're beyond incredible...)
(All of their songs have this way of waking you up because they're so electrifying.)
(This thought crossed my mind when I went to the Summer Festival with Ena...)
(But music really is awesome...)
Oh...
I ended up listening to the same song over and over again. I was hoping to listen to more...
*Sigh*
But I feel kinda tired for some reason...
...?!
When did I clench my hands like that?
So hard that my nails left imprints too...
I guess I was listening to it just that intently...
(I don't think I ever became this focused when I was still playing soccer...)
(I thought I was taking it seriously...)
(But then I realized that there were other people who were actually devoting their lives to it...)
(There was no way that I would've been able to make the same commitment.)
(Maybe I feel the same way about music. I can't honestly say if I'm prepared to make those kinds of sacrifices...)
(But putting on an event like that one has to be the best feeling in the world...)
(If I could sing like them...)
You can think about taking it up seriously later on.
I don't know if I'm willing to devote my life to it...
I don't know... But I wanna give it a try.
♪——! ——!
Argh! Why do I sound so bad...?!
What do I need to do to be able to sing like RADder?! How do I produce that jolt?!
I need to learn more...
(I watched RADder videos a bunch of times yesterday after practice, but I still couldn't find an answer...)
(I have no idea how to get better in a way that lets me sing like them...)
(But I might just learn something if I see them live again...)
I heard that they perform at the live house from that night... COL.
It should be right around... Found it!
(Wait, it's so quiet...
And they have hardly any flyers posted.)
(Are they not doing any events?
But the front door's open... I think there's people inside.)
(I'll try going in...)
Hm? Who are you...?
Oh, sorry...
Should I not have walked in?
No, it's okay.
We did leave the door open.
So, what's up?
So, um...
I was wondering when RADder would be doing their next event...
Ah, I see. Were you here to see RAD WEEKEND?
Yes.
That's cool. Unfortunately...
RADder's probably going on hiatus for a while.
What...?
No...
But they're such amazing singers...!
And they're able to put on mind-blowing events like RAD WEEKEND! Why now...?!
You're right. Without RADder, there wouldn't have been a RAD WEEKEND.
They, along with all the other musicians who participated, put on the best performance ever.
Sadly, no one is probably going to put on a better event anytime soon.
...
Also, this place is closing up shop at the end of the week. So, as much as I hate to say this, no events will be held here anymore.
Oh, I see...
Thank you, and please pardon me...
(RADder's going on hiatus...?
And COL's closing down...?)
♪——————
Hm? That voice...
(I hear people singing... But who?)
(Oh, people are also singing down that way...)
(This is so cool. I couldn't tell earlier since I took a back alley, but it's like they're all competing for everyone's attention...)
(And they all seem to love what they're doing.)
(So free and unbound by anything...
But it's also really tense... I kinda like this atmosphere...)
Hey, you! Wait up!
Huh? Oh, you're from...
Here, take this. I felt bad about having you leave empty-handed after going out of your way to visit, so I brought you a flyer for this event happening in the area.
RADder's a tough act to follow, but you might enjoy seeing some events put on by other musicians.
Oh... Thank you very much.
This place is incredible. It's like everybody's singing and they all really love what they're doing...
Yeah, this is a great place to sing...
Isn't it an amazing place? This town and everyone in it lives and breathes music.
Live and breathe music...
Yup. And things have only gotten more exciting after RAD WEEKEND. Suddenly all these young musicians are aspiring to RADder's level.
Just take a look. The one over there with the big crowd just entered junior high school. In fact, she's probably around the same age as you.
What?
♪————! ————!
(She's an amazing singer and she looks like she's having a lot of fun... She's that good even though she's the same age as me?)
Her name's An. She's actually Ken's... You know KEN from RADder? She's his daughter.
KEN's...?!
She's been telling everyone that she's going to put on an event that surpasses RAD WEEKEND.
What? Surpass RAD WEEKEND...?!
(She's nuts. There's no way she can...)
♪————!!
(Out of all the singers I saw today while walking around here, she might have the most presence...)
Surpass RAD WEEKEND, huh...?
(But I sorta get why...
To be able to sing that well, I bet she's prepared to do anything to make that happen.)
(Right...
Which means I need to be willing to do the same thing.)
(If I somehow managed to put on an event like that... No, I'll never be able to if I don't fully commit myself to it.)
(If I can't stand on the stage I saw that night when my mind was totally blown... unless I give it everything I have...)
(I just have to commit and go for it!)
(I don't care how much time I have to spend. I'm not letting her...)
(No, not just her! I'm gonna surpass everybody in town!)
Excuse me...
Yes?
Would you mind if I sang here?
♪————————!!
Hm? Hey, that kid's singing right next to COL.
His pitch is all messed up, but I'll give him that he's loud.
Interesting...
An, keep singing a while longer!
Huh? Uh, sure...!
What should I do next?
(I'm going third today...
There's still some time, so I think I'll grab a drink of water...)
Huh?!
What the...?! Dude, you got water all over my clothes! I'm on stage next too!
I'm sorry...
You're sorry? You need to be more careful.
(What a pain...)
What's with the attitude? And quit standing in the way of everyone. Seriously, who do you think you are?
Wait, I know this guy.
He's the one that's been singing in all these places around town, saying he's gonna surpass RAD WEEKEND or whatever.
Surpass RAD WEEKEND?
Pretty big talk from someone with zero rep.
I know, right? You'd expect to have heard of someone who goes around making that kind of declaration.
Wait, that was when I...!
No, I will surpass it...!
I don't care how impossible it sounds. I'm gonna do it...!
Again, big talk from a total loser.
Alright, that's enough.
He's still just a junior high schooler.
Junior high schooler or not, RAD WEEKEND is the stuff of legends.
So quit playing around. I hate it when people talk about surpassing it like it's no big deal.
...!
I'm not playing around! I'm serious!
Anyway, his performance today is gonna spell it out for us. That no one here wants to hear him sing.
Hey guys.
Whoa, what's going on here...?!
(Oh, he's been singing around here a lot lately... Did he step on someone's toes...?)
(He really shouldn't go around making enemies like that...)
Tact is what he's missing...
(I see...
Akito went through quite a lot back then.)
Man, talk about a blast from the past.
You were so prickly back then.
Well, you still are even today...
Shut it. Also, that last part wasn't necessary.
Alright, alright. Sorry.
Still, you really didn't get along with any of the older musicians.
That's why my jaw sorta dropped when you started using that kind and polite persona of yours...
I was desperate back then, okay?
I didn't have time to think about building relationships.
Yeah, that's definitely true.
Fortunately, as time went on, you started getting better and better.
Speaking of which, that's about the time you started running and singing at the park, right?
Yeah...
Also...
Oh, I remember someone began spreading this weird rumor about you.
What weird rumor?
Oh, something about you messing up during an event...
Again, it was just a rumor! I didn't actually believe it! But you did sorta disappear for a while after that, so I thought you quit or something...
Right...
(Huh? Akito's voice just went all...)
Hm? What's wrong, Akito?
You have this strange look on your face.
It's just...
That rumor was true.
That event you were just talking about... It happened at Crawl Green.
What?! Seriously...?!
(...!)