There you are.

…Rina. What do you mean, “there you are”?

Ai asked us all to look for you because you hadn't shown up. You weren't at the Association or in any of your classes. Everyone is worried.

…Why, because I'm still not done with the song? Is that what they're worried about?

Song? Nobody mentioned a song. Ai, Karin, Shioriko, and all of us in the Club were just worried because you'd disappeared.

Wow. You're worried about someone who can't even write music. A Mia Taylor who can't write is a Mia Taylor not worth caring about.

Worthiness doesn't matter here. If someone's missing, we're gonna worry. That's all there is to it.

It matters to me! I'm a member of the Taylor family! I have to live up to that name!

…Hup.

Why are you sitting down next to me?

'Cause I wanna sit.

Quit getting all weird and sympathetic on me.

It's hard to sympathize well if I don't know what happened.

So could you…tell me what happened?

Dammit!

…Everything I'm about to say is just me talking to myself. If you say a single word, I'm not gonna talk anymore.

…

I can't write music anymore. No matter how hard I try, it won't come out the way I want it to.

Up to this point, it came to me as naturally as breathing.

I'd gather the information, feel out what works, then put it all together based on my own musical sense. That method's always given me songs that were bound to go viral.

But that's all gone, now. Ever since I saw Shizuku perform after leaving the Association…everything's fallen apart.

It wasn't even a good song. It was cheap and barely even mastered… My songs are way, way more professional than that.

But when I heard Shizuku singing it, it took on a life of its own…

It's just unthinkable that I, of all people, would be unable to write a song.

If I don't keep making the greatest songs ever, I'll lose the only place I've ever belonged… But I still…

Hey, um…

I told you to keep your mouth shut!

*Whimper* I'm sorry. But I can't stay quiet anymore. Sorry to break my promise.

I get how long you've been struggling for, now. I bet it's really painful.

But you keep saying you don't belong anywhere, or that you're worthless… It's just a song or two. How could that be enough to take all that away?

JUST a song?! How dare you!

S-Sorry.

You don't get it at all. You don't know the pressures of being part of the Taylor family. The world came to love us through music, and they expect music from us!

Music is our prison. I hate it for what it's done.

If you hated it, you wouldn't be able to make such amazing songs.

Sure I could. I'm a genius.

No, I don't think you could. I think you like music, but you've just stopped finding enjoyment in it. If you can learn to enjoy it again, then…

Enjoy it…? There's no way. I'd regret interacting with music on a whim like that for the rest of my life if I tried.

Why's that?

Remember how you asked me why I don't sing?

Y-Yeah.

I used to. I loved singing, so I did it every day. My whole family said I had the voice of an angel.

They would tell me they couldn't wait for the day we could all stand on stage together.

Well, that day came. We were having a Taylor family recital, and I was going to sing in it. I was so excited, until I got to stand on the stage.

I was just so excited about how everyone was waiting for me to sing, I got up to the stage without a care in the world.

…But do you have any idea how quickly excitement can fade?

Thousands of eyes were on me, waiting with bated breath for the Taylor family's new star.

I just casually enjoyed music until then. I didn't know if there was any way for me to live up to those expectations…

If I had just been able to sing with pride, I'm sure they would've accepted me as another star…

But I couldn't. My knees were shaking and all I could hear was the sound of my own ragged breathing. It took all of my strength just to leave the stage without falling.

That's awful…

With that move, I threw my family's name into the mud.

That's why I decided to clear our name through something other than singing. I've tried all sorts of things, and writing music is where I wound up.

This isn't so bad, though. My songs spark emotions in people around the whole world, and I've managed to preserve the prestige of the Taylor name.

Now do you get it? Just because you enjoy music, it doesn't mean you'll succeed.

But if you don't enjoy it, you could still wind up like me. You'll lose yourself and never be able to write songs again…

I've completely lost any worth I ever had… Nobody needs me around anymore.

I… I do!

I'm fascinated by your songs, Mia. And I like hamburgers and video games, too. We've got two things in common, so let's be friends!

Excuse me? I just made myself look like a total idiot in front of you. Go on, get mad. I took all my feelings out on you. And it was just a stupid story. Leave it at that.

Nuh-uh. You were able to be vulnerable in front of me. That means we're closer now.

Seriously, what's your problem? How do you even get that impression?

I think I understand now. You've had so much on your mind. So much to overcome. And you've bottled it all up for so long.

I think it's a bit like your music. There's so many sounds all compiled into one beautiful song.

And some sounds you can't even hear with headphones. You have to use specialized audio devices.

…

But even if you can't hear them, if those sounds went away, it wouldn't be your song anymore.

It's just like that. Without those bottled-up feelings, you wouldn't be the same Mia I've become friends with.

You have to have those normally inaudible sounds AND those feelings you've locked up. Without them, your song isn't complete! And neither are you!

Actually, you know what? This is a lot like our club president's music.

Her songs always have our innermost feelings packed into them. Those feelings that nobody can see or hear are jam-packed in her songs.

Your songs are the same. That's why I like them.

Even if your feelings might be tricky to understand, your songs are still jam-packed with your innermost feelings.

Do you…really think so?

Of course I do! You're just incredible, Mia! And I love your music!

*Whimper* …Waaaah!!!

[Fade in/out.]

*Sniffle*

Here's a tissue.

I need another…

I'm all out, but I'll go get some. Just hold on a bit.

I can walk now… There's no point in me sitting here forever. And I want a whole box of tissues, so I'll go too.

Got it. I'll bring it to you, then. You can just stay here.

…Why?

You feel better by yourself in quiet places, right? I'm the same way.

Right… Well, I guess that's three things we have in common now.

Yeah!