Mahoro

—♪

Nagi

Mahoro. Time's about up.

Mahoro

—♪

Nagi

Mahoro... Mahoro, come on.

Mahoro

Eek?! What? What's up, Nagi-chan?!

Nagi

Time's up... It's late.

Mahoro

Oh... you're right. But just a little bit longer...!

Nagi

No. You've been staying late to practice every day. What are you going to do if you wreck your voice?

Nagi

Come on. I'll grab your bag. We're leaving.

Mahoro

Aww... But I finally got the lyrics sorted out, and now I can focus on singing...

Nagi

That's exactly why you need to take care of yourself.

Nagi

Wait...? This Nikopan keychain... It's the one Shiomi-san found, isn't it?

Mahoro

Yeah. I went to Kanata's house to return it, but her family said we could keep it.

Mahoro

So I figured I'd keep it as a good-luck charm. It feels like Kanata is watching over us.

Nagi

I see...

Mahoro

Sooo... Please! Just a little longer! Just a tiny bit!

Nagi

*Sigh*...

Nagi

Hey, Mahoro. Why are you pushing yourself this hard?

Nagi

With Shiomi-san joining us, your burden could've gotten lighter if you'd let it, right?

Nagi

And we aren't talking about disbanding anymore. That should've been enough for us.

Nagi

So why are you backing yourself into a corner like this?

Mahoro

...

Mahoro

Aww, come on. Backing myself into a corner? That's so dramatic! I just don't want anyone to see me looking lame, that's all!

Nagi

...

Nagi

(There she goes again, hiding it behind a smile.)

Nagi

(That same old habit she's had forever.)

Nagi

(Does she really think an act that obvious is going to fool anyone?)

Mahoro

You're right, Nagi-chan. We don't have to disband anymore. But I don't think we can just stop there and call it enough.

Nagi

(Why... does she always have to go there?)

Nagi

(She wasn't like this back when Kanata was here.)

Nagi

(The band was supposed to be about making memories while we were young.)

Nagi

(That's why we could all smile the way we did.)

Nagi

(I think that's what I liked about it...)

Nagi

We're not trying to go pro, right...?

Mahoro

Y-yeah.

Nagi

Then...

Nagi

(Then why are you so set on moving forward? On reaching higher?)

Nagi

(Are you... trying to change?)

Nagi

(Is it so wrong to stay right here, just like this? To be a band playing music because we love it...)

Nagi

(Without trying to become something else...)

Nagi

(Don't leave me... behind.)

Nagi

...!

Mahoro

Nagi-chan...?

Nagi

(Not that I have the courage to say any of that. All the things I've let pile up inside me...)

Nagi

(Or the courage... to let her see what a coward I am.)

Nagi

Sorry. It's nothing.

Nagi

But just don't push yourself too hard. Promise me.

Mahoro

Yeah... okay! I promise!

Nagi

(And there I go too, smiling it away because that's all I can do.)

Nagi

Hah...

Nagi

(I really can't stand myself.)

Hotaru

Hello... Huh?

Hotaru

(It looks like no one's here yet. Maybe everyone is still at school.)

Hotaru

(What should I do...? Maybe I should practice first.)

Hotaru

(Our first live show is getting close too.)

Hotaru

...

Houka

You should take on vocals too, Hotaru-san.

Hotaru

(millsage's music was built around Kanata-san's vocals and piano.)

Hotaru

(That's why... Mahoro-san is trying so hard to stand in for Kanata-san.)

Hotaru

(But Kanata-san had a special kind of talent.)

Hotaru

(She isn't someone you can become just by trying to be like her.)

Hotaru

(Then...)

Hotaru

Share... the pain...!

Hotaru

(I don't think for a second... that someone like me could ever become Kanata-san.)

Hotaru

(But if Mahoro-san and I do this together...!)

Hotaru

—♪

Nagi

Mahoro... You've got dark circles under your eyes.

Houka

A lack of sleep is the enemy of good skin, you know?

Mahoro

Ahaha, I got a little carried away practicing at home.

Nagi

Wait... the garage is unlocked.

Mahoro

S-sorry. I might have forgotten to lock it yesterday...!

Natsume

Huh? I hear something. Sounds like Hotaru got here first.

Natsume・Houka・Nagi・Mahoro

!?

Hotaru

—♪

Natsume

Whoa...

Nagi

...

Nagi

(There are two kinds of people in this world.)

Nagi

(Mortal and genius.)

Nagi

(Shiomi-san is... the latter.)

Nagi

(No matter how hard mortals struggle, they can never compete with geniuses.)

Nagi

(So mortals should stick to being mortals.)

Mahoro

...!

Nagi

(Mahoro... If you did that, you wouldn't have to get hurt like this, or suffer so much...)

Hotaru

—♪ Phew...

Houka

Splendid, Hotaru-san!

Hotaru

What!? When did you all get here...?! You heard that...?!

Houka

Yes. Your singing voice was absolutely captivating♡

Natsume

If you could sing, you should've said so sooner.

Hotaru

N-no! I was just...!

Houka

If I may, everyone. I have a suggestion...

Houka

What if Hotaru-san took on vocals as well?

Mahoro・Nagi

!?

Natsume

Hotaru too...? You mean dual vocals?

Houka

Yes, that would be the idea♪ What do you all think?

Mahoro

...

Nagi

(I don't want Mahoro... to go through that kind of pain.)

Nagi

(But there's nothing I can do for her.)

Nagi

(I can't save Mahoro...)

Nagi

(Then...!)

Nagi

Sounds good to me.

Mahoro

What...!?

Nagi

After hearing that, it'd be a waste not to have Shiomi-san sing.

Nagi

I know you've been working hard, Mahoro. But apart from that, don't you think we could make our performance even better?

Nagi

Right, Natsume-senpai?

Natsume

Hmm... Well, yeah. If the two of them split the vocal parts, I do think it'd feel more stable.

Natsume

It's worth trying.

Houka

And what do you two think? I do not believe it is a bad idea...

Mahoro

Ah...

Mahoro

Yeah! I think it's a great idea!

Mahoro

I mean, after hearing her sing like that, it'd be a waste not to let her do it!

Mahoro

It'd be a huge help to me too~!

Hotaru

...! R-really?

Mahoro

Yeah... I'm counting on you, Hotaru-chan!

Hotaru

Yes! If you're okay with it, Mahoro-san, I'd love to...!

Natsume

Then it's settled. Let's start practicing right away. We need to decide who sings which parts.

Houka

My, Natsume-san. How enthusiastic of you♪

Natsume

That's not it. We're reworking a song that used to be sung by one person into something for two, so we need to get started early!

Natsume

Though I guess I do want to hear how it changes...

Houka

Yes... I am looking forward to it as well♪

Natsume

Come on, everyone. Hurry up and get set up.

Nagi

Okaaay.

Hotaru

(Let's do our best...!)

Hotaru

(For Mahoro-san, and for millsage's happiness!)

Mahoro

...

Mahoro

So it can be decided... just like that.