*Huff* *Puff* *Huff* *Puff*

*Pant* *Pant* *Pant* *Pant*

Hanamaru, are you okay?

Yup! I can keep going, zura!

All right, that's the spirit! One last sprint! Go!

Zuraaa!

[Fade in/out.]

*Pant* *Pant* *Pant* *Pant* I can't push myself any further, zura!

You did a great job, Hanamaru. Here's some water for you.

Thanks… Ahhh! I'm revitalized, zura!

Anyway, it's not often you ask to train with me. What brought this on?

Well…

Hanamaru.

K-Kanan, you're real close…

No keeping secrets. You can trust me.

*Chuckle* Yeah, we are. I'll be straight up with you, zura.

I just figured that I can't lose out to Ruby.

To Ruby?

Yeah. When I joined Aqours, Ruby said she wanted to be a school idol together with me.

Now she just keeps getting better and better at singing and dancing.

So I figured that I needed to give it my all as well. I won't be able to live up to Ruby's intentions and enthusiasm unless I do, zura.

I see. So that's why.

She's your ally and also a great rival. You motivate and encourage each other to keep aiming higher.

That's fantastic. Hearing things like that gets me all fired up!

I think that being able to train with you will help me build some confidence, so I'm gonna rely on you during our training sessions.

If that's what you need me for, then I'm happy to help. Let me know if there's anything I can do for you!