Eheheh. I'll get to go to morning practice with her. I can't wait!

Let me just mark it off on my calendar. Here we go, a little flower on next week Monday!

Ah! Wait, will she get really disappointed if I blow it in practice?

Wh-What should I do?!

[Fade in/out.]

Nico! Nico!!

What's wrong? Where's the fire?

Phew. Glad I could catch you, Nico! Hey, um, there's something I wanted to ask you for.

You're asking me for something? Now that's rare.

I want to do morning practice with you, Nico.

Morning practice? Didn't you decide to increase morning practice time with her from next week?

Yeah, that's why! I want to practice to get ready for next week's morning practice.

Hold on a second, what does that even mean? You want to practice for practice?

Well, since she's coming, I kind of want to look good in practice, you know?

And I figured you'd be really strict about where I'm lacking.

I see. All right, I understand what you're trying to say.

But since she's going to help us for a real long time, I don't think there's much point to this.

Like, even if you try to put on a gilded display for her, that paint's gonna peel off sometime.

*Gulp*

But, well, I can see that you wanna do your best with her. And besides…

And besides?

All you gotta do is practice super hard to make the fake you a reality.

Nico!

[Fade in/out.]

*Pant* *Pant* *Pant*

After the ten laps around the courtyard, fifty crunches! Put your back into it!

G-Got it!

[Fade in/out.]

Phew. *Pant*

Eheheh.

Laughing while doing strength training?

Hanayo, have you been like this…the whole time?

Huh?! W-Well, no, I–

Like, you've been grinning this whole time. You really looking forward to it that much?

I'm sure your feelings'll get across to her, Hanayo.

Aww, Nico, thanks so much! I'll do my best!