Has anyone been able to contact Lanzhu?

No, not yet. She's still not answering her phone or messages.

I see. I waited in front of the school gates, but I never saw her.

So what, even her hiding is perfect? Gimme a break.

Can you think of any restaurants she goes to regularly, Mia?

Hmm… When she first started the Association, there was this one diner she went to a few times.

She really liked the pancakes there.

Thanks. I'll go check it out.

Girls…

What's wrong, Shioriko?! You look really pale!

It's Lanzhu.

The school got a notice that she's going back to Hong Kong.

What?! She's leaving Nijigasaki?!

That seems to be the case.

We can't let that happen!

A-Ai?

You all felt it at Lanzhu's live show, right?

She just wanted to be a school idol with us. She just wanted to be our friend.

Yeah.

I thought we'd already become friends.

But it looks like my feelings didn't get through to her.

I thought so too. I thought we were friends.

I liked and respected her just like I do all of you.

[Fade in/out.]

When Karin and I went to check out the Association, we told her we just wanted to be temporary members.

The way she came to the School Idol Club to invite us left a bad taste in our mouths.

But we were really charmed by how serious she was about it all.

So we went to the Association and said a bunch of non-committal stuff.

But even then, she seemed so happy.

She told us she would welcome us with open arms.

Not to mention, Ai and I were really motivated by her, so we tried our best with all the hard training.

Spending time together like that really softened our attitudes towards her.

[Fade in/out.]

I really thought that we'd become good friends with her.

I don't want her to leave without us ever telling her that we were friends!

Same here.

It was Lanzhu's fault that I ended up here. But it was also thanks to her that I found out about school idols.

Because of that, I was able to unload a heavy weight that I'd always carried on my shoulders.

In the end, the whole reason I'm doing what I am now is due to her inviting me here.

I still haven't thanked her for that.

Well in that case, there's only one thing to do.

We all have to go and talk to Lanzhu. We have to find her no matter what.

Do you know when she's supposed to go back to Hong Kong, Shioriko?

The notice didn't have that sort of…

No, actually, I'll go ask. I'm sure the chairwoman knows!

Wait! Shioko! I'll go too!

Me too!

[Fade in/out.]

My apologies for keeping you waiting.

So do you know when she's leaving?

We did find that out. But it sounds like the news is already spreading about that live show the other day being her last one.

Looks like word spread fast that Lanzhu's live show was the last one before she disbands the School Idol Association and goes back to Hong Kong.

Fans of the Association are really upset about it. They wanna know why Lanzhu is going back.

I'm sorry I couldn't do anything… If only I had understood her a little better, then maybe…

Don't be like that. The same goes for me too.

I was really mad that she banned us from doing live shows, but I should have listened to what she had to say.

Yeah… Lanzhu came to talk to us so many times. We really should have discussed it with her.

But our attitude towards you all wasn't that great either. And you all lost your clubroom, too.

Let's worry about that later. For now, we need to think about finding Lanzhu and talking to her.

I agree.

I know! Maybe the School Idol Association fans can help us stop Lanzhu. I'm going to go ask them!