Hi, Nene☆

Huh?!

Hehehe☆ Let's have another great practice session, okay♪

Yeah, let's.

(She seems more comfortable with making eye contact now!)

By the way, Nene♪

Have you been practicing with your new friend?

Oh... Well...

I haven't seen Hoshino since then, actually...

Whaaat?! Why not?!

Didn't you become friends?!

We did...

But I forgot to get her number...

No, that's terrible!

So you have no way to meet her again?

Don't worry, it's okay.

She goes to the same school as Emu.

Thank goodness!

Then maybe you can ask Emu for her number!

Ah, she actually offered to do that for me already too...

But I'm the one that's trying to make a connection, so I feel like this is something I should do myself.

That's great!

(Seems like Nene really wants to get to know Ichika better. Maybe there's something I can do to help with that♪)

...

Oh, look! It's Rui☆Ruuiii, come talk with us♪

Why hello there... Apologies for interrupting your conversation.

I wanted to let you know that something urgent came up and neither Tsukasa nor I can make it to tomorrow's rehearsal.

Oh, okay. Don't worry about it.

Nene, this is your chance☆

Huh? What do you mean?

You're free to go to Emu's school tomorrow♪

What?! T-T-Tomorrow?!

I mean, I was planning to do that some day but...

Not this soon...

If you're feeling nervous, Nene...

Then I can go with you!

Whaaat?!

<So we just keep going this way and we'll find your friend, right?>

Y-Yeah...

Emu said she'll be waiting by the main gate.

<I'm so excited! I'll keep a low profile,

but you have my moral support!>

Th-Thanks... Oh...

<Did you see something?>

It felt like the girls in Miyamasuzaka uniforms were all staring at me...

Sigh... I stick out like a sore thumb in my Kamiyama uniform...

<Hey, don't worry about them♪

You're just here to see a friend!

Stay cool, Nene!>

R-Right... Oh...

<Yay! There she is♪>

Yeah. Um... I'm putting my phone away for now, okay?

<Okay. I'll be sending you encouraging vibes from your pocket♪>

Thanks. Okay, I'm going over to say hi.

Uh... Hi, Hoshino...!

Oh, Kusanagi!

I, um...

Thank you for coming all this way. It should've been me making the trip since I'm the one that asked you for singing advice...

No, it's okay... I wanted to see what your school was like anyway.

(They both seem tense.

Come on, don't be shy!)

Oh, Otori already told me.

You wanted my number...?

I should've remembered to give it to you, but I was so nervous about talking to you that it slipped my mind.

I'm really glad you came to see me.

I really want to be friends.

...!

Yeah, me too.

<Yay☆

Awesome job, Nene!>

Huh? Did you hear something just now?

N-N-No idea... What it could be?

L-Let's exchange numbers!

<You did it, Nene♪

You can call Ichika whenever you like now!>

Yeah...

Thank you for your support, Rin.

I don't know how long it would've taken me to do this if it wasn't for you.

<Hehe!

You're welcome, Nene♪>

<And I was really happy that I could be there for you too!>

<Oh, can we talk some more while you walk home?>

<I want to get to know more about you and become good friends with you too!>

Yeah. Me too.