There you are! Were you watching me?

Of course! That was an awesome live show. I got goosebumps!

Glad to hear that! Thank you so much! I'm surprised myself at how much of a response I felt!

Did you see everyone's faces when my song started to play? They all looked stunned.

Yeah. It's only natural for everyone to be surprised since it has such a different feel from your last song.

But I could tell that they got swept into your world straight away!

Right! I could feel the fire in everyone gradually growing stronger, and their cheers made my skin tingle and set my heart alight!

It's because the character profile you came up with was perfect. It wasn't you, but a completely different school idol on stage.

I was actually a little worried about how it would all end up, but I'm glad I took the risk.

Yup, yup. Watching everyone become captivated by your world really moved me. It made me as happy as if it were me on stage.

*Chuckle* We did create the character together, so you should be happy about your own creation, too!

*Laugh* You're right. But I saw another school idol out there as well.

Huh? What do you mean?

Together with the girl born from your notebook was also a Shizuku who looked like she was having a lot of fun.

Really…?

Actually, there's something I need to apologize to you about.

Huh?

You kept saying that you love to act, yet I said it would be better for you to show your true self. My advice was misplaced, so…

Not at all. I'm only here today because of those words. I was only able to rethink things about myself and acting thanks to what you said.

I'm absolutely grateful to you. I would never think otherwise, so please don't apologize to me.

If you apologize to me right now, it'll make it difficult for me to take you up on your goodwill from now on.

Nope, not at all. It'd make me happier if you relied on me even more.

I-It kind of makes me feel embarrassed to be told in such a straightforward manner.

Your unique strength was clearly on show at today's event.

My unique strength?

You have as many means of expression as you have characters to play. Your possibilities are endless, you know? There's only one of you, but it feels like there are multiple people. That's amazing.

*Giggle* I actually have a pretty good idea of the next character I want to portray, and there are so many more characters I want to live with and develop!

It'd be great if I could one day become my ideal school idol with those characters.

[Fade in/out.]

There's still a long way to go, but I want to keep taking on different challenges. I'm sure I'll continue to seek a lot of advice, so I'm counting on you!

Of course! Let's do our very best together, Shizuku!

Right! Having you with me is so reassuring!