Hmmmm…

Are you having trouble writing the songs?

Yeah, kind of. I didn't think that writing songs for each unit was going to be this difficult.

Sorry to push it onto you.

No, it's okay. Thanks to all of you, I'm able to take on new challenges too.

I've been thinking that I haven't accomplished anything ever since I came back from studying abroad.

That's not true! We couldn't have done those guerrilla gigs and online live shows without your hard work!

But that's just an extension of what I'd been doing up until then.

What I mean is, I thought I'd learned a lot from studying abroad, but I haven't been able to use any of it. So I'm happy for this opportunity.

I want to show everyone that I've grown a little, too. I want you guys to wait and see.

But I've hit a bit of a wall, so I think I'll go take a walk to clear my head.

Okay. In that case you should probably go alone. Good luck! I believe in you and will be patient.

Thanks, Ayumu. See you later.

[Fade in/out.]

Oh no, someone left the lights on over there. I'll go turn them off.

Huh? Kaoruko?

Hmm? Oh, it's you. What are you doing here so late?

I'm stuck on a songwriting idea, so I thought I'd soak up some of the breeze tonight. What are you doing here?

Ahaha, same. I was working on event matters, but my ideas weren't coming together so I came here for a change of scenery.

I see.

It made me a bit sleepy, though. Anyway, isn't it tough writing songs for those units? Your usual approach won't work this time.

How did you know that?!

Ahaha! I'm a bit older than you, so I can just tell sometimes.

Oh, hey, would you mind refilling my coffee for me?

[Fade in/out.]

Ahh… Freshly brewed coffee is so good.

So, did you know that everyone was going to want to form units at this training camp, Kaoruko?

What?! I may be older than you, but there's no way I would've known that.

Oh, r-right… Sorry.

But I think I was anticipating some sort of change.

A change?

Yeah. I had no idea what kind of change would happen, though.

I just thought it'd be nice if you guys spent a lot of time together and started to notice shared goals, and then maybe something new would take shape from there.

But I'm surprised at just how big a change it was.

School idols are really awesome, aren't they?

There's no greater happiness than being able to watch them from as close as possible. You think so too, right?

Yeah. It's why I feel like I've gotta do my best too, so I don't get left behind. I want to write the best songs, for everyone's sake as well.

Nothing's too much work for you and me if it's for those girls, am I right? Let's do our best!

For sure. I'm gonna go now. Good luck with your work.

Thanks for the coffee. Don't stay up too late.

[Fade in/out.]

*Sigh* The night breeze feels so nice.

Hm? I hear…music? Uh, this isn't the same as what happened in that ghost story, is it? Geez, what a time to remember that…

Ahh! Wait… Is that Lanzhu?!

Phew… Okay. It's starting to look like what I envisioned.

Hey…

Hello. I didn't expect to see you there.

I didn't know that even you train late into the night sometimes.

There are parts I find unacceptable, so that's the natural thing to do, right?

You're saying that what you did just now wasn't perfect? It looked perfect to me.

Obviously. My performances are always perfect.

But if I'm competing against those other girls, I need to really show them that I'm a cut above the rest.

I need to win by giving the most perfect of perfect performances. That way, they'll become friends who truly understand me.

Would you mind if I watched you practice?

Not at all. I have absolutely nothing to hide, ever.

Make sure to burn the sight of my perfection into your brain!

And then tell everyone at the Club about my appeal. Maybe they'll join the Association if you do.

I didn't mean to get so chatty. I'm gonna get back to practicing! Stay and watch for as long as you want!

…