News of Lanzhu and the Association has really spread, huh?

I can't believe I didn't notice until now, but people around school really took to her.

That's all the more reason for us to talk all this out with her.

Hey, were you able to go ask the Association's fans for help?

Yeah. They said they'd help us however they can to convince Lanzhu to come back.

Hey… Even if we do find her, do you really think she's gonna listen to us?

You don't think she will?

I was worried about that too. Even if we find her and ask her to stay, I don't think she will.

Lanzhu has to decide for herself that she wants to stay.

That is a good point… But if we make her want to stay, then I don't think she'd be able to resist.

Then how do we do that?

A school idol performance…right?

That's right! When we saw her live show, I could hear her crying out about how badly she wanted to stay here!

I'll write the song in that case. It'll be exactly what Lanzhu wanted.

She was praising Ai and Karin's unit to no end.

It makes me wonder if she wasn't kind of jealous of how you two bring out the best in each other. So I'm gonna write that kind of song.

That's…

That's a great idea! I wonder what it's gonna be like!

Hold it. I know I'm great and all, but it's not going to be easy.

It just has to be the type of song where it isn't clear who's the center. Something like a challenge… Like the singers are competing with each other during the song.

That sounds great. Just hearing about it is getting me excited.

Hey, so… This might be a bit selfish, but I have a request.

I want to perform this song with Lanzhu and Shioriko.

Huh?

When we first started the Association, I didn't get it at all.

I just thought I was being forced to take part in some boring type of suburban culture. It felt like a waste of time. I didn't think of myself as an Association member.

I wish I'd tried harder from the very start.

If I had taken it more seriously, I probably could have taken part in Ai's joint event, or the school auditions.

I feel like I wasted my start here. So I want to start over, for real this time.

I want to become the Association member Lanzhu chose me to be.

Mia…

I'm sure Lanzhu would be really happy if she heard you say that.

We'll leave it to you Mia-chi. You too Shio-ti!

Okay!

Ai, Karin, and everyone else… I'll make sure to pack it full of all of your feelings! You can count on it!

[Fade in/out.]

I guess this'll be the last time I'll eat these pancakes.

Are you really going home?

Yes, really. That's why I figured I should tell you. I won't be able to perform at your events anymore.

That's really too bad.

But don't fret! Nijigasaki has plenty of school idols who can put on amazing performances.

Is this you trying to act like an adult again?

I'm not acting. I am essentially an adult, so I'm going to live like one. The way I should.

There aren't any other options for a special exception like me.

Bye-bye, Kaoruko.

When did you start saying such sad stuff?

You do know the word special isn't a bad one, right?

I mean, the whole reason you're here is that you found something special here, isn't it?