Welcome back! I've missed you! It feels like I haven't seen you in years!

While I'd like to chide her for exaggerating, I feel the same way myself.

I'm glad to see you're back and in good spirits!

Thanks. It's good to see that everyone's looking happy and healthy too. Here are your souvenirs.

Wow! Thank you!

I'll take good care of it!

Oh! Here's something from us as well! A souvenir!

Oh, that's right! You guys went on a training camp. I think I remember Kasumi mentioning something about it.

Ah, ahaha…

Technically, yes, we did go on a training camp…

Kasumi! Ayumu! You didn't tell her the details, right?!

Huh?!

W-We didn't mention anything!

The training camp was so entertaining! Honoka and the others thought we were real zombies!

Hey! Chika!

Well, I guess anyone would freak out if someone started banging on their window in the middle of the night.

Come on, You!

[Fade in/out.]

*Laugh* That must've been, uh, how do I put it? Quite an ordeal.

And I can't believe Ayumu over here didn't realize they were faking it at all!

I-I mean, that's because everyone's acting was so good!

Um… It was?

Yeah, 'cause both Shizuku and I have real acting chops!

What? I wasn't too bad myself, don't you think?

Honoka! Kotori! Are you genuinely remorseful about your actions?!

Sorryyyyy…

But the training camp itself was a huge success, wasn't it? We practiced and practiced until we were basically passed out on our feet.

All of that was pretty tough, even for me!

But the food we had after practice was delicious, wasn't it?

It was, but I learned my lesson when it comes to Kanan's special training. No more.

Don't say that! We should do it again!

I'm so jealous. I want to go on a training camp to a deserted island next time, too.

If you're going then I'll be right there with you!

Ahahaha!

If we can keep having special training sessions like that, maybe we'll be able to pull off something even more impressive at the next School Idol Festival?

Yes, that's right!

Yeah! Lately, all because of the School Idol Festival, we've been getting more messages from people outside Japan too.

Us too!

I'll bet there'll also be an influx of girls coming here from abroad to become school idols, just like Emma.

Mmm…

Hm? What's the matter, Kasumi? Why the sudden cloudy expression?

So actually…

[Fade in/out.]

What?! That's what's going on over there?!

Yeah, that's right.

We're dealing with a lot lately!

[Fade in/out.]

Phew. Practicing under the sun isn't bad, either. It's bright, so I'm less likely to get drowsy.

Your club's activities are prohibited!

It's the school monitors!

We order you to break this up at once!

Run for it!

[Fade in/out.]

That's the mess we're in!

You have school monitors on patrol?

Yeah. They're secretaries in the student council, but they've taken on that extra role at Lanzhu's request.

That's quite the problem.

And that's not all. The Association is taking full credit for all of our success and achievements from the School Idol Festival!

Nijigasaki, μ's, and Aqours created the festival together with our fans and everyone who volunteered to help, but it's like the Association snatched our triumph away from us!

Oh, but the Association hasn't been saying that explicitly. It's just an assumption that's happening because outsiders looking in think the club and Association are the same.

Even so, that kinda bugs me.

Yeah, I also don't like that our hard work is getting forgotten, but I don't think they're doing this to steal our glory. And if it gets people excited about school idols…

You're way too nice. And to top it all off, you've lost confidence in yourself because of how mean Lanzhu was to you.

What?! She wasn't mean to me.

What do you mean by her losing confidence?

The Prez has been telling us it might be better for us to join the Association and that maybe she's holding us all back. Ridiculous things like that! Argh!

Well, Mia really is incredible. There's no way someone like me could ever compete with her.

Hey, are you guys doing okay with your club activities getting limited?

Have you been able to…practice?

Well…

I've thought of a great idea! All of you Nijigasaki girls should practice with us! I mean, those school monitors or whatever won't come all the way to Otonokizaka, right?

What?!

Can we really?!

Of course! You're more than welcome! It will give us a good source of motivation too.

Thank you! I'll go and tell everyone right away!