I know it's earlier than usual, but I wonder if the others are already gathered on the rooftop...

Hm...?

(Oh, it's Shiho and Kohane... And Minori, too. Right, they're all in the same class.)

Bye bye, Minori!

Let's check out that new cafe sometime soon!

Yeah! That includes you, Shiho!

Okay, relax.

I'm not about to break my promise.

Anyway, see you later.

Yup! Bye bye, Shiho, Kohane!

(Hehe. They're so close...)

(Huh? What happened...?

She looks really concerned now...)

Minori!

A-Airi...?!

You're heading up to the rooftop for practice, right? Let's go together!

O-Okay...!

By the way, was something the matter?

You looked lost in thought there.

Oh, um...

There's this thing that's been on my mind lately.

Something that's been on your mind?

Yeah... Actually, Airi, would you mind if we talked about it for a second?

Oh, go ahead. Lay it on me.

Thanks!

So, the thing is...

Going credit-based...

Yeah...

I see...

(I mean, it makes sense for Minori to consider making that switch. She's serious about making it big as an idol.)

(And there's no question that we'll be able to do more as MORE MORE JUMP! if she makes that switch. But at the same time...)

Haruka said that I should give it more careful thought since going credit-based also means switching to a really different lifestyle...

Like not being able to see my friends as much...

Yeah...

I agree with what Haruka told you.

So, Minori, how do you feel after hearing what she said...?

I, um...

I agree with Haruka that the credit-based course has lots of advantages since it gives people like us a chance to work more.

But at the same time, I don't think I've been able to see things from the other perspective she gave...

What do you mean?

I mean, I don't have prior experience working as an idol like the rest of you, right?

I've always had friends and classmates around me, and they'd give me their support whenever I told them that I wanted to become an idol.

After we formed MORE MORE JUMP! and started putting on events in real life, including our solo show, I had a little less time to talk to or see my classmates... But...

They've been there by my side this entire time.

But if I switch to the credit-based course, what Haruka said might actually happen. A gap might start forming between me and my friends...

...

I don't think my mind has been able to fully comprehend how painful that might be...

Which is why I need to give this decision more thought.

I see...

(Minori's been thinking seriously about what she might lose if she were to go through with this...)

(And I believe that step is absolutely necessary.)

(Not only is your lifestyle gonna get turned on its head...)

So, Airi, did that happen to you...?

Did you and your classmates become more and more distant because you were credit-based...?

Me...?

Yeah, it happened to me too...

I see. I had a feeling...

(I agree with Haruka on this one...)

(In simple terms, switching to the credit-based course will allow us to do more as MORE MORE JUMP! But you'll sorely regret it if you leap before you look...)

(Because...)

(Minori has Shiho, Kohane and a ton of other close friends.)

(If possible, I don't want her to experience what I did back then...)

...

(But Minori's been seriously thinking about what she and we can do as MORE MORE JUMP!)

(This decision is ultimately up to her...)

Thanks for talking with me about this, Airi! I'm gonna keep giving it some more thought.

Oh, um... Sure.

Feel free to ask again if you have any questions.

Okay!