(Start slow and gradually go faster...)

(Decelerate slowly once you get to the fastest part and...)

Phew...

I'm starting to feel it in my arms.

Now, I just need to play along to our demo recording and...

...

What aspirations do you hold for your music...?

(I was hoping that practicing would help take my mind off that question, but I keep going back to it...)

(Still, I do need to find an answer.

What am I hoping to achieve with our music?)

(I understand very well what Ichika and Saki want to do.)

(I do agree with them in terms of hoping to cheer others up and bring people together through our music.)

(But can I truly say those are my own feelings...?)

(What is most important to me...?

What do I hope to accomplish through music...?)

(Where do I even start...?)

<Honami.>

Huh...?

Wait, MEIKO...?!

What brings you here?

<I was wondering how you were doing is all.>

<You said you'd be taking time to think by yourself, remember? I wanted to know how you were doing.>

Oh, I see...

Thank you for showing so much concern.

<Sorry for the sudden intrusion.>

No, that's okay.

I was just practicing on my own.

<Okay, that's good to hear. Still...>

<From what I saw just now, you seemed to be having trouble focusing on what you were doing...>

Oh...

Was it that obvious?

<Is that question really nagging at you?>

Yes... I've been giving it some thought, but I'm really struggling to find an answer...

I decided to do some practicing on my own in the hopes that taking a hard look at my instrument would lead me to a clue.

Unfortunately, I didn't get anywhere since my mind kept jumping between thinking and practicing.

<I see...>

<I understand how you feel, since being told to relax or not be so anxious usually ends up having the opposite effect.>

Yes, true...

<Then, why not try looking at it this way?>

<It's something very important, so try thinking about it at your own pace.>

Huh...?

<You always think about what's best for those around you. But there's also what's best for you. A pace that suits you, Honami...>

A pace that suits me...?

<Yes, your path of least resistance. The one that doesn't make you stress.>

<It's like the drums. You can't achieve a good sound by hitting the living daylights out of them, right?>

<I know you want to find the right answer as soon as possible. But first, you need to take some deep breaths!>

<And wait for inspiration to strike!>

<How does that sound? Wouldn't it be easier to take it slow?>

Yes, you may be right...

I'll take a nice, long bath, relax for a bit and come back to it when I feel ready...

<Yes, I think that would be best.

Warm yourself up with a long, relaxing soak.>

Yes, thank you!

I'll go do that now.