Umiri

It's time. Let me take a lunch break.

Umiri

CalinrinMate is running out. I need to restock...

Umiri

...

Umiri's Mother

"U-chan! Ugh, why do I only see the ceiling? Where are you? Mommy wants to see your face, U-chan~"

Umiri

What's going on?

Umiri's Mother

"Ah, right, next Saturday is Dad's birthday. I'm picking a gift for him."

Umiri

...

Umiri's Mother

"Hey, why are you drinking this again? You should eat a proper lunch~"

Umiri's Mother

"When you are back, I'll make you your favorite fried noodles with eggs♡"

Umiri

*Sigh*...

Umiri

...

Yeah, feels good! But Umiri, you seem down today. The sound is still great as usual though.

If something's bothering you, it's easier to feel better if you talk about it.

Umiri

I was told I'm not trustworthy.

Who said that? It's okay, Umiri, you're the most trustworthy! You can handle the drummer's improvisation—

And deal with a careless vocalist. Only you, Umiri, can do that.

Got roasted~~♪

Umiri

You two have such a good relationship.

Are you jealous?

Umiri

Nope.

Let the haters hate. So, just stay with us. Okay?

Umiri

...

You don't want to?

Umiri

No, thanks to DISRUPTION, even though Ave Mujica disbanded, I can live without bothering my parents.

Umiri

Good work.

Taki

Ah.

Umiri

Watch bass case for me.

Taki

Eh?

Taki

Huh?

Umiri

This, this and this... and this too...

Umiri

I'll take it all.

Umiri

Huh?

Umiri

A Nyamuchi collab.

Umiri

What a sellout.

Nyamu

Excuse me... about the audition a while back...

You mean the stage play? It seems like they took Mana-chan instead.

Nyamu

Oh... I see...

Nyamu

...

Um... Aren't you going to pick up?

Nyamu

No need.

I see. Ah, there will be another audition. If you stay as proactive as usual, you'll definitely be fine! Opportunities are fleeting. Let's make sure to seize every chance!

Nyamu

Sorry... I need to step away for a moment~

Nyamu

I'm busy right now~

Umiri

"Where are you now?"

Nyamu

Deserted island.

Umiri

"But the call went through."

Nyamu

There's signal even on deserted islands, right?

Umiri

"You must be at the agency."

Nyamu

So scary...

Um, Yūtenji-san. It seems Yahata-san is waiting for you outside.

Nyamu

Ehh...

Umiri

I knew that you'd be at the agency.

Nyamu

Hey, what are you doing?

Umiri

I missed you.

Nyamu

That's definitely a lie.

Nyamu

Ah. Isn't this the Nyamuchi's selection?

Umiri

You were a sellout.

Nyamu

Thank you for your purchase.

Umiri

Am I... not trustworthy?

Nyamu

I definitely won't lend you money. I mean, why did you buy so much?

Umiri

I got dumped by Togawa-san and Wakaba-san. So I went on an impulse shopping spree.

Nyamu

Huh?

Umiri

Well, I'm leaving.

Nyamu

Wait, wait. What do you mean you got dumped? Wait!

Nyamu

Hmm. You invited Muuko, huh?

Umiri

I didn't expect her to agree right away. After all, we were the ones who made Wakaba-san like that.

Nyamu

Umiko, have you changed?

Umiri

Eh?

Nyamu

You never tried to take responsibility before.

Umiri

Ah...

Nyamu

Huh? What's wrong?

Umiri

*Sigh*...

Umiri

So, is that what untrustworthy means?

Nyamu

You always act like you're the one in charge, but leave the responsibilities to Sakiko instead.

Nyamu

Waiter~ I'd like to place an order.

Umiri

I'll have ginger soda, make it extra fizzy.

Umiri

Gulp... gulp...

Nyamu

You'll get hiccups if you drink that too fast.

Umiri

Ugh... Ugh...

Nyamu

Are you okay? Can you handle it?

Umiri

~~~~~! Phew!

Umiri

Haa... Haa... An old wound of mine hurts.

Nyamu

Ah? Just from a mere glass of ginger soda?

Umiri

I can't face it without drinking. I've got a past that still cuts deep.

Nyamu

Is it gonna be long?

Umiri

It was the first band I had formed in my life...

Umiri

It's quite well. With the audition coming up, things have finally settled down.

Ah... yeah, right! Everyone worked really hard in practice.

Umiri

I reserved the studio every day until the audition day, so let's split the cost later.

Huh? I have plans this weekend...

Umiri

Huh!? Isn't this our turning point right now? Can't you prioritize practice?

I see... I'll adjust my schedule.

Umiri

Yes! Let's work together and do our best!

...

Umiri

It was going quite well at first. We were even invited to an audition with talent scouts.

Umiri

We were all united. We thought we might debut. But on the day of the live show that held that dream...

Umiri

They all boycotted...

Umiri

Why!? Why aren't you coming!? It's already way past time...! And there's still no reply...!

Umiri

I'll contact again!

Umiri

...!

Umiri

The group... has gone...

Umiri

I was interfering too much, with good intentions. I never thought that would annoy people.

Nyamu

Ah... so tragic...

Umiri

In case this happens again, I made sure to join several bands to reduce the risk...

Umiri

Ave Mujica was supposed to be one of them.

Umiri

Seeing Togawa-san and Wakaba-san in another band...

Nyamu

Were you jealous? So you wanted to stay in Ave Mujica, huh?

Umiri

Even though it was a band with lots of problems.

Nyamu

You masochist~

Umiri

By the way, Yūtenji-san, would you like to reunite Ave Mujica too?

Nyamu

By the way? Am I a buy-one-get-one-free?

Umiri

I'm serious.

Nyamu

I don't believe it~

Umiri

Are you saying that too?

Nyamu

Well, contact me when you get Muuko in~

Umiri

I have your word. Please pay the bill for me. I don't have much money this month.

Nyamu

Of course you'd be poor buying that much.

Nyamu

...

Umiri

(No one is responding.)

Umiri

(I didn't expect it to go smoothly, but getting no response at all—)

Umiri

!

Umiri

Mortis-san, over here.

Mortis

Hey, aren't we there yet~?

Umiri

It's a fifteen-minute walk from the station.

Mortis

Fifteen minutes have already passed! Don't wanna walk anymore! Piggyback! Carry me! Let me take a car~!

Umiri

Five more minutes, please keep going on your own.

Mortis

Eeeeee~!

Umiri

Mortis-san. Just to confirm, you don't play guitar, right?

Mortis

Yes... but if I don't join Ave Mujica, I'll disappear...

Umiri

Don't worry.

Mortis

Eh?

Umiri

It's fine. Please trust me. Everyone starts by imitating.

Umiri

Let's start by imitating the real ones.

Mortis

Real ones?

Umiri

I'll teach you.

Mortis

...

Umiri

You will become the "real one."

Mortis

...!

Uika

...

Uika

...

No matter how much you try to beautify it, you can never become real.

Because dolls are just dolls...