Sorry...
I didn't realize just how serious you all were.
Even though you played as hard as you could today, I wasn't willing to listen...
So...
I'm gonna play like I mean it.
So, let's make our next performance one to remember...
Shiho...
Try to keep up with me, okay?
Okay!
...
Keeping up with Shiho isn't going to be easy, is it...?
But this is just the first day.
For now, let's keep watching over them.
...
Are you that worried about them Rin...?
Y-Yeah...
There's that, but also...
It's so hard to be kind and thoughtful to someone in just the right way...
Haha. Yes, it is.
Huh...?
H-Hang on... Am I the only one who feels this way?
No, I'm sorry.
I didn't mean that in a condescending way.
Yes, we both felt that we all seem to think the same way.
The same way...?
Remember that story from the other day about what happened to the girls after they reformed Leo/need...?
Yeah, it's like they were scattered to the wind. They didn't even talk to each other much at school.
Seeing how they are now, I can't imagine that at all...
Hehe. Me neither.
Even after that, on more than one occasion, they've sort of butted heads after trying to reach out to one another.
Their becoming so distant from each other was also because they believed that's what was best for them, right?
Yes.
But their thoughts and feelings are what pushed them to reform their band, right?
Also, what did you mean by more than one occasion?
Oh, Rin, have we not told you about what happened at the choir recital?
Choir recital?
Yes. That happened just around the time I arrived here.
I see, so you were fretting about something that happened in class.
Yes.
Ichika was really trying to think things through with me. Saki saw that I was feeling down and wanted to cheer me up.
Shiho said some harsh things too, but...
There are many different ways of expressing kindness.
You can empathize with someone who's troubled about something, make them smile or be somewhat direct.
As long as it was done with that person's best interests at heart, no matter what form it takes, it's a form of kindness.
It's also important to consider how the other person will take it too, of course.
Different ways of expressing kindness...
That really happened...?
Honami became so worried that time.
Not only that, Shiho was beating herself up about saying some really harsh things to Honami again.
...
Those two express kindness in such different ways. You could even say they're polar opposites in that regard...
Yes... Honami likes to wrap you in her kindness, while Shiho's kindness involved being blunt and telling you the cold, hard truth at times...
Right. I can't say if that was the main reason, but they did also manage to clear their ticket quota.
Wait, didn't that happen when Len and I were having a huge fight...?
Yes, that's right.
The girls care about each other very much, but they experienced a period when they weren't all together...
As a result, despite their intentions, having strong feelings for one another can lead to disagreements...
To be fair, the road to true friendship is paved with fights and arguments.
Len told me not to push myself too hard for the same reason...
Yes, that's right.
Fights and arguments are natural outcomes of wanting the best for one another.
I see...
Hmm...
Kindness is such a deep subject...
Hehe.
Haha.