(Okay, I should be able to watch what happens on stage without being seen by anyone else...)

(Honami certainly found a good place for her phone.)

(As for the children... Hehe. They seem to have settled down.)

(I was worried a second ago since they were so restless...)

(But now, they seem to be really looking forward to hearing the story.)

(Those two look very calm.)

(Based on their expressions, I think they're ready.)

(And I'm sure they'll do just fine.)

(Regardless of who comes to see them, good musicians are able to captivate the audience with their music.)

(These two know how to do just that, so I'm sure they'll put on a solid performance. Break a leg, girls.)

Okay, let's get into the story...

Promise to listen quietly for us until the end?

We promise!

We wanna see the doggy again!

“The next stop along the dog's journey was a forested land of many trees.”

“Hmm... This is bad. I won't be able to work if I don't find it.”

“A burly lumberjack has lost his faithful axe.”

“I'll help search for your axe, Mr. Lumberjack.

I should be able to find it using my nose.”

Yeah! Dogs have really good noses, right?!

They do?! That's so cool!

(Honami's voice has this nice bounce to it.)

(I can tell that she's really enjoying reading to them.)

(Not only that...)

(I felt this during their rehearsal, but this Nene girl is such a great actress.)

(She's playing all these different roles, but she's nailed down the voices for each of them.)

(They're working in perfect sync with one another.)

(This is different from the performances I'm used to seeing, the kind that feels like a burst of emotion...)

(But it might be nice to see more slow-paced shows like this from time to time.)

What a wonderful performance...

(It felt like I was traveling alongside that dog as he went on his journey.)

(My heart was filled with so much warmth and kindness...)

(And the children seemed to really enjoy the story, which makes the event a big success.)

Oh, MEIKO.

Where have you been? We couldn't find you at all.

Hehe. I went over to see Honami read.

Oh...

Are you talking about the reading event she said she'd be doing...?

Yes.

It was a little different from her usual performances, but it was still very good nonetheless.

(Whether she's putting on the best performance she can to move others with her music, or trying to get children to enjoy the story she loves so much...)

(Her sense of drive doesn't change.)