Starting today, we're getting back into our preparations for the school auditions!

I made a practice schedule. Tell me what you think.

Okay, thanks.

What?! Isn't this…a bit too tough?

I talked it over with Dia and Umi as I was making it.

That explains why.

This is bad! Really, really bad!

Ai?!

Karin and Mia too… Why are you all so flustered?

It's the School Idol Association! Lanzhu says we're splitting up!

Huh?! What do you mean?!

We have no clue. She sent us a message out of nowhere telling us we were splitting up.

The clubroom's not open either!

And she's not answering her phone or reading her messages.

So we couldn't ask her what's wrong.

All this after she dragged me here from NYC. And I'm still…

Oh, forget it. Point is, I'm not taking a simple, “Okay, splitting up now.”

Does anyone here know anything?

Have you seen her anywhere?

I'm sorry, we're in different years so I don't know anything.

Me neither.

She didn't come see Shioriko's live show either.

I wonder what's the matter. There's no way that she hates school idols now, right?

That can't be it.

Yeah. You can't put on the kinds of performances that she does if you're half-hearted about it. Lanzhu always took things seriously.

She's as serious as everyone else is.

Then there has to be some reason.

You're right. If we don't ask her directly, we won't get anywhere. We could be at this forever. Does anyone have any idea of what this could be about?

We don't know anything about Lanzhu Zhong, so there's no way…

That's true. We really don't know anything about her.

All I know about her is how different her style is from ours.

I don't know anything about her, and I always kept my distance because I wasn't fond of the Association.

The same goes for me. The Association is our rival, after all.

…But the training camp was pretty fun.

Yeah, I didn't think she was so bad at the training camp. It helped me realize just how hard she works during practice.

And besides, if Karin and Ai think that highly of her, then she can't be all that bad.

I know it's a bit late to say this, but maybe it was wrong of me to act that way. I was being stubborn. I'm sorry that I didn't listen to her.

Emma…

That's why I want to know. What kind of person is Lanzhu?

[Fade in/out.]

Mama, I want to go home to Hong Kong.

Go home? But what about the Association? Aren't you the one in charge?

[Fade in/out.]

Mama, those girls were amazing! They were school idols, Mama, school idols!

What's gotten into you, Lanzhu?

I just told you! School idols! You were the one who gave them the okay, right? So you should know that the School Idol Festival was a huge success, right?!

Of course I know that.

So you're interested in them, too? I believe that those girls are running a club. It's a bit less formal than the others.

Less formal? How so?

Well, their focus is on their mutual interest and doing activities together rather than competing.

Why aren't they an association? That's such a waste. Those girls are amazing. Their legitimacy should be recognized!

I know! I'll come to this school and I'll set up an association that's perfect for them!

I'll invite the best staff from around the world to support them. And then I'm going to become a school idol with them!

*Squeal* What a good idea!

I know we could challenge each other and be really good friends! That's cool with you, right Mama? I'm going to start the School Idol Association!

Then you should put in an application, just as you would for any other club. If it works out, you have my permission. Nijigasaki is all about freedom, after all.

Thank you, Mama!

[Fade in/out.]

I don't want to do it anymore. Those girls are amazing, even without me. And just like I thought, there's no place for me there.

Did you talk to all your school idol friends about this?

Of course I did! I was always telling them I wanted to be friends and do school idol things with them, but I couldn't get through to them. I just don't know why.

No matter what I say, I can never get through to people.

In the end, even Shioriko left me. She told me to leave her alone because she couldn't do things the way I could.

I'm not surprised. It's because I'm exceptional.

So I want to perform one last time to show everyone how exceptional I am, and then I want to go home.