I guess that means we're leaving the promo video stuff for another day, then?

*Sigh* I'm still not happy with how it's coming together.

It's fiiine. We still have time! Instead of rushing to settle on something, we should focus on finding something we all like together!

I've still got tons of ideas! None of the ones from today stuck, but I'll put more together tonight.

You're amazing, Lanzhu. You've already given us so many suggestions in the whole time we've been brainstorming.

Emma… Okay, I will admit that the number of ideas is impressive, but Lanzhu has absolutely no concept of what's physically possible for us.

What's that supposed to mean?! It'll be fine if you leave it all to me! It's perfectly feasible to build a stage in the desert, you know!

We can't do that, Lanzhu. It has to be something that everyone in the club can work together to make.

We can't just rely on you alone all the time.

Ayumu… Yeah, you're right. I'm sorry.

Lanzhu… She's been tamed.

*Giggle* I'm always surprised whenever Ayumu's firm side comes out. She's like an older sister.

Hey, do you have time to watch over our practice session today?

Sorry, I have to go to Otonokizaka today too.

μ's got way more emails than expected for their advice column, so we're still working through them.

They got that many?! *Sigh* I guess I knew this already, but μ's sure is popular, huh…

Let's keep working hard so we can be just like them.

Yeah. We can't drag our feet if we want to get our very own fansite campaign. Rina-chan Board says, “Serious!”

Oh, about that… I think they might be coming to talk to us about a campaign soon. I'm not sure what it will be exactly, but…

Really?! Woooooo! I guess that means we're just as popular as μ's!

*Sigh* I wish I could be like you, Little Puppy. Not a care in the world…

[Fade in/out.]

Hellooo!

Oh, you're here early.

Hm? Is it just you here, Maki?

Yes. It seems that everyone else has something else on today.

I see… Hey, what are you hiding there?

I-I'm not hiding anything.

Let me guess… Are those your replies to the emails from everyone?

Y-Yeah, maybe.

I'll take care of them for you if you're already done.

No. They're not good enough yet.

Are you still writing your reply to the email that you were worried about? You know, from the girl that said she wanted to be a manga artist.

…Yeah.

Can I ask why you were so concerned about that one in particular?

I'm a bit curious since you didn't seem the type who'd answer that kind of email…

What's that supposed to mean? You're confusing sometimes.

S-Sorry! Me and my big mouth.

*Sigh*

We're…kind of similar.

What do you mean?

I mean the people who are telling her to give up on her dreams.

I was kind of like that.

I think I said some similar things. That dreams are just dreams, and right now I should be focused on what I can do for my future.

Maki…

I would have definitely said that before joining μ's.

I never appreciated the present for what it was.

Really?! I can't see you doing that…

My family owns a hospital. I respect my parents immensely and naturally wanted to walk down the same career path they did. And I still do.

So I decided that I would drop music and start preparing for my future once I started high school.

I tried to convince myself that even though I loved piano, I already had my fill of it and was satisfied with my choice.

[Fade in/out.]

I didn't want to play the piano at home anymore, but at school…I wanted to sit before the piano all the time.

I could sing and play whatever I wanted to… I was happy.

I see…

I didn't mind just doing it by myself. As long as I could sing and play a little at school before going home, I was satisfied.

Until the day Honoka came to talk to me.