Raika

Oh, Miku! Where have you been?

Miku

Sorry, I stepped outside for a bit. It was hot in here.

Yomogi

Th-That's good... I thought you went home...!

Chieri

Honestly, skipping the "Praise Chieri Time" without permission? You're a troublesome subordinate!

Shizuku

Cherie was the first to realize that Miku was missing.

Chieri

Hehe, of course! I always keep an eye on my subordinates!

Raika

Cherie, you wanted Miku to praise you too, right~?

Raika-san and everyone. Great job with the live.

Raika

Oh... Suzuki-san. Good work.

Raika

Watching our live changed your mind, right?

Honestly, that live was better than I imagined.

Chieri

Hehe, of course!

But the problem hasn't been solved. That's a separate issue.

Attendance today was terrible. If you keep going like this, nothing is going to change.

Raika

Things will change! Our family, our live—everything will!

Raika

If the family changes, the home will evolve too!

There you go with that idealistic talk again...! I'd like some tangible proof, you know~?

Honestly, kids just don't understand business, and it's a real pain.

Raika

What...!! Then if this place is filled with guests, you will give up on that idea~?

Well, if you can show me you can draw a crowd, I might consider it... But that's impossible, isn't it?

Raika

Don't underestimate us, Suzuki-san~

What...!?

Raika

The way we are now, we could pack this place for next weekend's live, you know~?

Miku

Raika-chan...!

You said it!? Then by all means, please try it! Because that's absolutely impossible!

Raika

In my family, there's no such thing as "absolutely" or "impossible~!"

If the tickets are not sold out, I'm taking this live house for real this time!

Miku

*Sigh*...

Oh...! You are the one I scouted before, aren't you?

Miku

? Yeah...

Raika

Suzuki-san, please stay away from our family~! Just go!

~~! Well then, I'm looking forward to next week!

But... this could be useful...♪

Yomogi

Huh!? W-Wait!? Did we just agree to perform again next week!?

Miku

Yes... Raika-chan decided it again~

Chieri

You decided it without Chieri's permission again~!

Raika

But after today's live, you thought so too, right? That we can do this!

Yomogi・Chieri

That's not what I'm saying...!! That's not what Chieri is saying...!!

Raika

Ugh... Why are you doing this to me~!

Raika

Shizuku~ You want to perform again next week, right~? You're looking forward to it, right?

Shizuku

? If it's decided, I'll do it.

Raika

See~ Don't you think Shizuku is right?

Chieri

Listen to me...!!

Hey, get this cleaned up already~ The live is not over till everything's tidied up~

Okay...

Raika

Everyone~ I brought snacks~!

Raika

To celebrate the success of our best family live ever, I've got chips, chocolate, and... rice crackers too!

Yomogi

Th-That's a great amount of snacks...!

Shizuku

Hmm... there are a lot of unfamiliar snacks here. I wonder how they taste.

Chieri

This is no time for a casual snack party!!

Raika・Yomogi

Huh?

Chieri

The problem with Suzuki-san just got even more complicated!

Miku

Chieri-chan is right~

Miku

If we can't sell out the tickets, this live house might be taken away for real.

Shizuku

That's true. Sorry. I got completely distracted by the unfamiliar snacks.

Miku

(I heard she lost her map because she chased after a cat. Maybe this princess is more instinctive than she looks...)

Shizuku

I believe we were supposed to prove our drawing power... Raika, do you have any plans?

Raika

No!!

...

Raika

Ahaha, it's fine! If family evolves, home will evolve too!

Raika

Around this time next week, we'll be having an even bigger celebration! It's absolutely happening!

Yomogi

You're the one who told Suzuki-san there's no such thing as "absolutely"...!!

Raika

That's one thing, and this is another!

Miku

(That girl's hopeless.)

Miku

Raika-chan... In the first place, isn't this the kind of problem adults should be handling?

Raika

Huh?

Miku

This live house is your grandma's, right?

Miku

Saying "I would go along with whatever you decide," it sounds nice, but it kind of feels like she's just pushing responsibility onto a child.

Raika

Granny is not that kind of person! Because she left "Nest" for me!

Miku

Left for you?

Raika

Yeah. Before Granny and others left on their trip, "Nest" was scheduled to close.

Raika

But I begged Granny, and she managed to leave it for me. She even went around bowing her head to many people.

Raika

"Keep going until you're satisfied, Raika! We are on your side." That's what Granny and others said to me.

Miku

(So that means... we're being involved because of your selfishness...!)

Shizuku

So, Raika's grandmother respected what Raika wanted to do.

Raika

Yes! And Granny said, that's family...

Raika

...

Chieri

What's wrong? You suddenly went quiet.

Raika

It's just... Granny and others said that, but I don't know your feelings.

Miku

...!

Raika

We're going to become a family from here on out, right? Then I need to hear what everyone thinks about it!

Raika

Yomogi, what do you think about today's live? After you tried it, did something change?

Yomogi

Huh!? Me? All of a sudden!?

Raika

Look, you said you and I are complete opposites, right? So I want to know how you feel now, Yomogi.

Yomogi

Ugh... D-Don't stare at me like that... I can't say anything that you would expect, Raika-san...!

Raika

I would expect?

Yomogi

Your eyes look like you hope that I will say, "Performing a live was so much fun! I was so happy! I want to do it here again!"

Raika

Huh!? Look closely! I don't have that look in my eyes!

Yomogi

Gyaaah, you're too close!!

Chieri

Come on, Yomogi! At least speak your own mind with confidence!

Chieri

You won't know what Raika thinks until you say it!

Yomogi

Ugh... You might be right, but...

Yomogi

P-Please don't laugh at me...

Raika

Yes, I promise.

Yomogi

Today's live... It... It was scary the whole time!!

Yomogi

For someone like me, making that much noise, even just standing in the wing... was really, really scary... But!

Yomogi

It was you all, standing in the spotlight confidently and playing strongly! That was what scared me!!

Yomogi

I could never do something like that...! I kept wondering why I'm so different from everyone else...

Yomogi

The distance between the wing and the stage, it felt like it was as far as Japan to Brazil...

Raika

Yomogi... That's—

Chieri

Yomogi, you wanted to be like Chieri, don't you!!

Yomogi・Raika

Huh!?

Chieri

Chieri is always playing those huge instruments confidently! That's what you admired, isn't it!

Raika

So that's what it was about!?

Yomogi

No, no, not at all~~!! I was saying that I was scared of it...!

Shizuku

Yomogi's feelings... might be close to something like "awe"...?

Chieri

Aww!?

Shizuku

When you deeply respect someone, it can also bring fear. Listening to your conversation, that word just came to mind.

Raika

A-Amazing~~!! Shizuku, you're so knowledgeable!

Miku

Shizuku-chan, you know that kind of stuff.

Shizuku

My mother told me that a musician needs a broad education, so she gave me a lot of books.

Miku

(So this girl went all-in on music and education...)

Yomogi

I respect, so I'm scared... Is that so...

Yomogi

If that's true, then I was just faced with the fact that I'm useless and weak, unlike all of you...

Raika

I see... But to me, it actually sounded like Yomogi is moving forward.

Yomogi

Huh?

Raika

Yomogi, you never used to look around during a live, remember? You said playing your own instrument was all you could manage.

Raika

But today, you were able to watch everyone! And you were able to think about everyone and yourself!

Raika

I think that's proof that you're moving forward, Yomogi!

Yomogi

Ah...

Raika

Maybe at the next live, the distance between the wings and the stage will shrink to about the distance between Japan and America!

Yomogi

Raika-san...

Yomogi

Ah!! Are you trying to get me to perform again!?

Raika

Huh? Yeah, maybe you're right!

Yomogi

It's unfair how you unconsciously try to get people to do things for you~~!

Raika

Unfair!? This is unfair...!?

Raika

Umm... To know someone's feelings is so hard...!

Miku

(I guess so. People don't change that easily.)

Miku

(But...)

Raika

Using my brain makes me want something sweet... Alright, let's open the snacks!

Chieri

Hey, we're not done talking yet! Chieri hasn't approved another live!

Raika

Oh, Cherie, you don't want to perform again~? Even though you'd get to play drums in front of a packed crowd~?

Chieri

What...!!

Raika

Then, I guess I'll just take the cheers meant for you, Cherie~

Chieri

I won't let you!! The one getting the biggest cheers is Chieri!

Raika

Oh, if that's your stance...

Chieri

Yes, it's a showdown!! Let's start the Chieri Union meeting now!

Chieri

This showdown means nothing if the floor's empty. Let's think of a way to pack it full!

Shizuku

Okay. I'll think too.

Yomogi

Somehow we've ended up doing another live after all...! And with everyone acting like this, I can't exactly say no~...

Raika

Miku~ Do you have any good ideas?

Miku

Raika-chan... I said I would only join today's live, didn't I?

Raika

Oh, come on, Miku~ You actually want to do a little more, don't you~?

Miku

...

Raika

I also want to play guitar with you more, Miku~ So, please!

Miku

Okay... I'll do it until next week.

Raika

Miku, thanks~~! I love you!!

Miku

Whoa!? Hey, leave me alone...!

Raika

No!! I won't let go!

Miku

*Sigh*...

Miku

Mmm...

Miku

(A quiet, pleasant morning... Some people are already walking their dogs at this hour...)

Miku

Hm...? The person in a suit in front of the dorm... Could it be...

Oh. Miku-san~! Good morning!

Miku

(She's waving from down there... No, I'll just pretend I didn't see that.)

Hey, wait! Could you come out?

Miku

If you stay here, Raika-chan will get mad at you again~

Oh no, it won't take long at all! This is something I'm only sharing with you, Miku-san.

Miku

...

Miku

So, what's this about?

Today, I came here to give this to you!

Miku

This is... a business card, and materials for an idol project?

Miku

You have asked me before, but I'm not interested in idols...

It's okay! A lot of people get interested once they start it.

You've got talent! I'm sure you'll be popular in no time. You could even become the center someday!

And if I'm the one who found a gem like you, my reputation will skyrocket too... hehehe.

Miku

Hey~ Suzuki-san, I...

Oh, you don't have to answer right now! Please take your time and think it over!

If you feel even a little bit interested, feel free to call the number on my card anytime! See you!

Miku

No, hey...!

Miku

Sigh... Does she really think she's doing a good job like that...?

Miku

Hm? "A studio exclusively for idols, with fully equipped dormitories"...

Miku

(If I take this offer, I can leave the dorm. And of course, I won't have to go back home either.)

Miku

(Anyway, another round of stressful days starts from today. If that's the case...)

Miku

...

Miku

(No, not now.)

Miku

(And I said I would go along with them until next week.)