Hey, we've been coming to see the theater club's play every day, but are you sure about this?

Huh? Don't like plays, Kasumi?

Well, it's not that.

For Shizuko, wouldn't it be better to like, go right to her classroom during break times, or something?

Uwah… *Sniff*

Ahh! D-Don't cry! I'm sorry, I was too harsh!

Shizuku Osaka's acting is amazing.

No matter how many times I watch it, this scene always makes me cry. She just sucks you onto the stage.

O-Oh… You scared me there, I thought I'd made you cry!

Sorry, sorry.

Shizuko wanted to do theater from the start. She even said she wanted to put her school idol activities to use in her plays.

So that's why she's this good at acting.

That's not really what I'm getting at. I mean to say that being a school idol isn't the only thing she's after!

But she'd said she'd bet her high school life on being an idol. *Sniff*

Ahh, Kasumi, don't cry!

I-I'm not crying, you're…

Sorry for the wait, you two. I got Shizuku to come over.

[Fade in/out.]

U-Um, pleased to meet you. My name is Shizuku Osaka.

Sorry to drag you over here, I know you're tired.

No, that's fine. Kasumi, it really…has been a while, hasn't it? I'm sorry.

Shizuku, your acting was amazing! I cry no matter how many times I see you up there!

Thank you very much. I'm…really moved that you've come to see us so many times.

Shizuko, why'd you stop coming to the club?

K-Kasumi, that's a little…!

No, it's all right.

It's really something I should have told her about.

Well… I've always loved theater, but I wanted to be a school idol just as much.

So I transferred to this school, since I knew this was the time in my life where I could focus on being an idol.

I knew that Nijigasaki High School was strongly promoting their idols, and figured I could really put some work in these 3 years.

Then, why? Kasumi told me a bit about it, but were the differences in direction really that painful?

It wasn't that. I thought it was really interesting how we all wanted to do different things.

I wanted to put my idol experience to use in acting, and it was fun to see the differences in what everyone sought and how they expressed themselves.

But Setsuna definitely stood out. I thought that if I followed her, I would get closer to my school idol ideal.

But something went wrong?

Setsuna definitely led us down the right path, but I could never express what I wanted to do well.

That got me frustrated with myself…and I wanted to become expressive enough that Setsuna could pick up on my feelings, so I started training here.

Th-Then say that! You know how worried I was?!

I had my plate really full. I'm sorry.

So you mean you were a guest performer in theater club so you could be a better school idol?

That's right.

I knew you'd still have your school idol passion!

I transferred so I could be a school idol. That passion isn't going away that easily.

Then come back! The club's in danger!

Wait, what?!

The student council president said it'll be disbanded if something doesn't change.

Oh, no… It's because I went off on my own, isn't it? I'm really sorry!

You'll come back?

If you'll let me! I've managed to pick up just a little confidence, and I want everyone to see me perform.

Thanks, we'd love to have you back! Isn't that right, Kasumi?

Aw, that's great, Kasumi.

I-It's great and all, but I'm still a little mad!

But, well, you're the same year as me, and I'd really miss you, so…

Kasumi! Thank you so much!

[Fade in/out.]

My, what a coincidence.

President?!

I'd come to check up on the theater club and happened to run into you.

Is recruitment going well?

It sure is! Powered-up Shizuko's agreed to return to the club!

Kasumi…

If we keep this up, we're going to get ten members in a flash, just you wait!

*Giggle* Well, I'm looking forward to that. Take care.

[Fade in/out.]

…You know, she really isn't my favorite person. Hmph.

Well, let her go. We've got to focus on recruiting those members! Let's get to it!

Yeah!