Wow...

I was thirstier than I realized.

It's funny how it's sometimes hard to tell how you actually are... Anyway, where can I toss this...

Akito!

Huh? What are you all doing here...?

You're kidding, right?

We were worried sick about you!

<Sorry, Akito!>

Whoa! Luka?!

<I was actually hiding in your pocket the entire time, but I never really got the opportunity to talk to you.>

<When you decided to battle against those other performers, I rushed to find Toya...>

You did...?

I apologize for making you do that, Luka, all of you. And thank you for going out of your way to find me.

<No, that's okay. I'm just glad to see that you're safe.>

Also, you battled against those guys all by yourself, didn't you? You really made it out in one piece?

Yeah, I did fine.

They were nothing special in the end.

I mean, we're trying to surpass RAD WEEKEND. I'm not gonna lose to the likes of them or let anything stop me from accomplishing that goal.

You're so strong, Shinonome...

By the way, what were they like?

Oh, so...

Wow...

That really happened at Crawl Green?

When Akito and I first teamed up, he kept getting badgered by all these prickly customers...

Now I realize that you've been dealing with their ilk for quite a long time.

To be fair, I wasn't exactly the most pleasant person to deal with at the time. I don't blame them for what happened.

I bit off more than I could chew. Plain and simple.

Anyway, if we do get to sing at Crawl Green, I promise to put on a performance that's going to floor everyone there.

I'll be there with you! After all, we're teammates!

Kohane...

She's right. I'll be right next to you as well. We can rewrite history, together.

Yeah, let's put on a show that totally erases what happened back then.

That'd be nice...

Alright, let's go blow the roof off that place.

Oh, about our next event...

There's something I need to tell all of you...

Hey, Akito!

There you are... Wait, huh?!

What are you guys doing here?!

A few different reasons...

Actually, Mita, sorry for ditching you back there. After making you tag along with me too...

No, don't mind me. I mean, just now, you...

Well, you seem all better now, so that's good.

I am, thanks.

Anyway, about our next event...

Taiga said he'd come and watch.

Is that true, Akito?

Taiga's really coming to see our event?!

Yeah!

That is, if we manage to book Crawl Green...

Uncle Taiga, huh...?

That means Arata and I have some work to do.

I bet Tono's gonna feel even more motivated after he hears this news.

I'm not worried about our motivation.

Me neither! I mean, this is probably the best Christmas present we could've asked for!

Uh, good for us...?

Taiga's coming to see us...

(It'll be the first time he sees us perform after I started learning more about singing from him.)

I need to do my best...

Become just like him, huh...?

I really let my mouth run back there...

Now I'm starting to sound like Ken.

I...

Wait, Akito, I thought you were done training!

No way, dude. I've still got some stuff left to do.

My body's all warmed up, so now I've gotta get my voice ready.

Oh, in that case, I'd like to join you.

Um, me too...

Then, why don't we head over to the cafe? Dad just replaced all the equipment, which made singing that much more fun!

Huh...?

Kohane and I got a chance earlier to test it all out!

Yeah, that's not a bad idea...

I agree. Also, I know it's getting late, but I'd like to join in if possible.

Of course you're welcome!

What about you Kotaro?

Th-Then, I'll go too!

Awesome! Oh, how about we...? Race to see who gets there first!

Yeah!

Okay.

Wait, we're gonna run?!

They sound pretty excited...

...

(We've got a long road ahead of us before we can surpass RAD WEEKEND. But...)

(Someday...

If that person's waiting for me beyond that gigantic hurdle...)

I'm gonna succeed. No matter what it takes...

Akito, you coming?! You're gonna get left behind!

Yeah, wait up...!

Once they get here, they all want to sing, huh?

Sounds like things went more or less smoothly.

(I wasn't sure what would happen when I heard that Akito was going to battle someone... At the same time, I knew that he wouldn't do anything rash.)

Welcome.

Oh, hello...

It's been a while, Ken.

Yes, fancy seeing you here. What can I get for you?

Actually, it's about my place. It's not exactly a big deal, but this one kid's been badgering me about letting him and his friends host an event.

He keeps saying, “Our show will be better than the time RADder debuted. We promise to fill this place up and completely blow the roof off.”

Ah, you must be talking about...

Yes, Arata Tono.

He mentioned that your daughter's team is a part of his group.

I see...

I apologize if they've been causing you any trouble.

No, that's all fine.

If anything, I've been feeling a bit of nostalgia.

When RADder debuted...

When RAD WEEKEND happened...and became the stuff of legends...

And quite a lot of time has passed since what happened with Nagi...

...

A lot of teams have done events at my place, but none have been able to achieve the same sort of oneness that you guys did...

I've become convinced that I'll never get to see an event like that again.

Actually, you may be in for a bit of a surprise...

Haha. No one's going to top you, Taiga and Nagi. Speaking of, An's team... What's their name again? Vivid BAD SQUAD?

I know one of her teammates. He stank up the place a while back during this one event. I was planning on giving him a piece of my mind back then...

But I hear he's gotten a lot better lately.

He has. I can vouch for him.

He's improved quite a lot, and I suspect he's going to keep growing.

He really has become a good singer.

(Nagi, Taiga...)

(We might just get a chance to see our dream come back to life in the near future...)