Welcome, Hanamaru!

Thanks for having me.

Hi, Hanamaru! It's been a while!

Shizuku?

*Giggle* I invited myself along when I heard you were coming around for a sleepover.

Shizuku wants to chat with you too.

Oh gosh, oh gosh! I'm so happy, zuraaa!

You were at Rin's until just now, right?

Yup, zura. My Aqours Challenge is to power myself up.

Do you mind letting me interview you about all of that now?

I'd love to, zura!

Okay! Tell me exactly how you came to the decision for your challenge.

Um… My very first idea was to see how many books I'd be able to read in a week.

I thought it'd be fun to tell people about any interesting books I came across during my challenge.

I love books, so I was thinking of seeing just how much I could tell people about the joy that they bring. That was going to be my challenge.

I love talking to you about books, Hanamaru.

*Giggle* We really do get along well, zura.

That's what I had in mind, but then I felt a looming urgency when I heard about Chika's Aqours Challenge, zura.

Everyone in Aqours is truly amazing, so I felt like I was the only one being left behind…

That's why I wanted to build more stamina, improve my dancing, and become a bolder school idol, zura.

I see… So that's why you went to see Rin today.

Rin holds a special place in my heart.

And I really respect her. I also love her dancing skills, so I thought it'd be great if I could train with her. But…

*Sniffle*

Hanamaru?!

I was completely hopeless, zuraaa! I'm working as hard as I can, but I still struggle to breathe! I'm lacking that extra something…

Having someone like me in their group is holding Aqours back…

That's not true! I think you're holding your own with everyone.

She's right! And you have strengths that nobody else has! I think you should focus on improving those strengths!

My own strengths? Rin said something similar to me too, zura.

She said that what I'm good at is my strongest weapon.

I thought Rin might've said the same. I agree and I'm sure Shizuku's on the same page. Right?

Right.

Sometimes I feel like you're a different person when I see you up on stage, Hanamaru.

Your appeal is always changing from song to song. I can't take my eyes off you when I watch you because you make my heart race.

You have such an incredible ability to convey the emotions in a song!

I think you possess a vast range of emotions. You capture the hearts of the audience with every one of your expressions and movements, bringing us into your world.

There's a unique aura to you. It's one that nobody else can mimic. It's what makes you, you.

Remember when I asked you to write a script for me?

I sure do. You let me write a script and even gave me the chance to act it out. That experience really broadened my horizons, zura.

Both you and I love to show people our perspectives on the world through the art of expression.

I do so by getting into character, but you don't need to do that to express your inner stories.

I think your presence is what adds depth and variety to the scenes Aqours portrays through song.

Just like an ocean. I think that's an amazing quality you have, Hanamaru.

I-I don't really understand what you're getting at, but I can tell that you're both showering me with compliments, zura!

I'm so embarrassed…!

But if you're saying that telling stories is my weapon, then maybe I can contribute to Aqours.

Maybe we can find a way to show all of the many stories Aqours has experienced up to now in our promo video…

I want the whole country to experience Aqours' beautiful stories, zura.

It looks like the clouds have cleared over you, Hanamaru.

Thank you! I want you to take another look at my challenge, zura!