Sorry I'm laaate!

Good morning, Ai.

G'morning! Hey, hey. Is everyone here?

We've been here since ages ago. You're late, Ai. The Odaiba event is coming up soon, so please get it together.

Sorry, sorry. While I'm apologizing, I have one more thing to apologize for.

What is it? Did you pull a prank or something?

This isn't Kasumi we're talking about. Ai wouldn't do something like that.

I suppose that's true.

Hey! That's pretty rude, you know!

K-Kasumi, calm down.

So what is it, Ai?

Please let me skip today's practice! I'm sorry!

Did something happen?

Actually, I was asked by the Basketball Club to help out with their intra-squad game.

They've been steadily winning games in the championships, and the next one is the final.

And since winning would mean going to the nationals, they asked me to help them with the final touches.

That's great! That'd be their derisive… Uh, divisive…

Decisive battle?

Yeah, that's it! I can't believe they made it that far.

Then you should be a source of strength for them. We got a lot of help with our promo video, after all!

Right? Well, I'm off to go help them!

Basketball, huh? Why don't we take this opportunity to go watch?

I want to see her participating too.

I want to go too!

Well then why don't we all go watch? Let's cheer for Ai!

No, you should cheer for the Basketball Club.

[Fade in/out.]

Thanks for waiting!

Hello!

Everyone said they wanted to come and watch, so I brought them along. I hope that's okay.

Of course. The more spectators we have, the more motivated my players will be.

I'm sorry to have to ask to borrow Ai so close to your scheduled live show.

It's fiiine. You're our friends too!

Well, shall we get to work?

We'll get started as soon as you finish warming up. Ai, you'll be the point guard for Team B.

This might not need saying, but please don't hold back.

Of course. I always intended on giving my all. Otherwise it won't do much good as practice, will it?

Let's start this off with a bang!

[Fade in/out.]

Here, Ai. Have a sports drink.

*Huff* Thanks!

I've never seen Ai so worn out…

Ai, you were so cool giving it all you've got! The way you faced off against the Basketball Club with your brilliant dribbling and passing… It made me so excited!

It's no wonder they wanted Ai to help them with the finishing touches.

Still, it was unfortunate that Team B lost.

Yeah. They were so close!

No, no. Our opponents were all starters. Winning against them isn't so easy.

Our Basketball Club is really something, huh?

Yeah. But even though the current regular players are always told they're very capable, they've never made it to the nationals.

They can make it to the regional finals, but they always end up losing at the last second. Even though they're definitely good enough to make it to nationals…

That's why everyone calls them the uncrowned generation.

So this time they're really determined to win. I want them to win so badly!

Well, why don't we all go to cheer them on?

I like that idea! I want to go!

When are the finals?

Um, let's see…

Huh?! They're on the same day as our event…

W-Wait. Maybe they'll be on at different times… Uhhh… If we hurry after the event, we might be able to catch the end!

Then there's no problem! Let's just rush over there when the event's over!

Yeah! And let's perform it with our best!

That's that, so let's get to our school idol practiiice!

Ai, the amount of stamina you have is ridiculous…