Well then, let's do it.

Okay! Here we go!

♪——! ——! ——!

...!

(Flying right out the gates...)

(It's like she's telling me to hurry up and join in. How should I do that?)

(I'll start like this...)

(...!

This really is such a good sound!)

♪————!! ♪————!!

(Shiraishi's singing sounds nicer than it did earlier. She's drawing out the notes and echoing into the distance.)

(It doesn't have that heart-rending feeling. She sounds like she's having so much fun...and I think I'm getting that same energy myself.)

(I've gotta match singing like this...)

(Oh... Hinomori's playing just changed a little.)

(It's a really clean sound, just like before. And she has this unique groove. I'm hooked.)

(She really sounds like she's having fun, too. I can hear her getting more and more into it.)

(But she's not having all the fun...!)

♪————!! ————!!

(Shiraishi... So she can sing like this too. Nice.)

(Next, let's...)

“I cannot sing...”

No... That doesn't sound right.

I want to get closer to the Cowardly Canary...

I need to get closer...

*Sigh*

(I'm a little scared of this street, so I came to try and empathize with the Cowardly Canary's fear of the forest...)

(But I don't think this will be enough to get into character...)

(I've gotta find a different way to practice. Once I have a good method, if I just keep at it...)

(But... Will that really...?)

♪————

(Hm? Someone's singing?

Oh, is that...?)

Shiraishi and...Hinomori?

♪————!!

Whoa...

(I didn't know they could perform that well.)

I have to do the same.

If I really want to close the gap, I need to give it all I have. Or else, I'll never get there...

*Sigh*

That was so much fun! We ended up doing a whole bunch of songs!

You threw in these really good phrases at just the right parts, so I got more and more into it!

Hehe, so did I. And you sang really well.

You sing with so much power, Shiraishi. I brought out all the techniques I know just now.

Yeah! You had me electrified with that sound! What was that?!

I copied that playing style from a certain musician a while back, just for the heck of it.

I don't normally use it, so it was a good opportunity to try it out.

Speaking of which, didn't you also change up the rhythm suddenly?

Huh? I guess I just felt like it. It's no surprise since you did something new with the bass every time I mixed it up.

But thanks to all that, we had a real good time!

Um, excuse me...

Huh?

Kusanagi?

Hey, what brings you to this neck of the woods? What a pleasant surprise!

Oh, um... I was out for a walk, and then I heard you two...

Oh, really? We weren't being too loud, were we? We were really getting into it.

No, it's nothing like that. But...

Would it be okay if...I sang with you?

Yes, of course!

Right, Hinomori?

Sure, let's have a session together.

*Gasp*

Th-Thank you...

Alright, let's start.

Okay!

————♪

(They really are amazing...)

(It's like Hinomori's bass is pushing us forward.)

(Also...)

♪————! ♪————~~~!

(If I hesitate in the slightest, my voice gets drowned out by Shiraishi's. I need to project more...)

♪————! ♪————!!

♪————! ♪————!!

Man, I feel so refreshed now!

Me too...

I kinda feel braver than before.

Um... Thank you for letting me join.

Don't mention it, Kusanagi!

I had fun singing with you!

Yeah, you sang really well.

Oh...

Alright, I think it's about time we wrapped up. Thanks for doing this with me, you two!

And Hinomori, thank you for everything else today.

*Nod*

Oh, yeah. Do you two wanna come to our solo show?

Wait, really?!

M-Me as well?

It's okay. I'll get tickets for both of you.

Thank you! That's so nice.

I'm excited now!

Y-Yeah... Thank you, Hinomori.

And, good luck with the show.

Thanks.

We promise to make it one worth looking forward to.

<That was a really good session, wasn't it?>

Oh, Miku. You were listening to us?

<I was, yes. I'm guessing it was a good chance to relax for you, Shiho?>

Yeah... I'm glad we got to perform together. I feel energized in the run-up to the real thing.

Miku, I... I'm glad that I'm a musician.

<Why do you say that?>

It's because I continued with music that I was able to come this far with the others. And I wouldn't have been able to perform like I did today if I hadn't.

<Hehe, I guess so.>

<I think you have the potential to grow even more, Shiho.>

<And the same goes for them.>

Yeah, you're right.

(I'm going to keep delivering the best performances with the others. And...)

(Whether it's during practice, at the solo show or somewhere we haven't even reached yet...)

(I never want to stop playing my bass with them.)