Anon

Haa... Haa...

Anon

I said I wasn't running away, and then I ran as fast as I could... I really am just running away, ain't I...

Hey...? It is Chihaya...!

Anon

What...?

It's been such a long time! Since our middle school graduation, right!?

Anon

No way, why...

How was studying in England?

Anon

......!

If you're back in Japan, you should tell us... Are the schools over there on break already?

Anon

...

I was surprised when Chihaya decided to study abroad. Hey, how was the school over there?

Anon

(Wait. Don't ask any more...)

Hey... Wait, why are you wearing Haneoka's uniform...? I thought you studied abroad, didn't you...?

Anon

Ah...

Anon

Um, well...

Chihaya...?

Anon

(Oh no... It's all gone wrong... This is the end for me...)

Tomori

Anon-chan!!

Anon

T-Tomori-chan... Um... I...

Tomori

Come!

Anon

What...!? Wait, Tomori-chan...!? Where are we going...?

Anon

Why aquarium...?

Tomori

This tank has many penguins...

Anon

(Could this be her way of trying to make me feel better?)

Tomori

......

Anon

There's a penguin doing some weird pose. What is it doing?

Tomori

I wonder if it's itchy.

Anon

Pfft, I see... hehehe.

Tomori

...?

Anon

*Sigh*... Ah, Thank you... I feel a little better now.

Anon

Earlier, what Rikki said... She was right.

Tomori

What...?

Anon

That I was running away. I transferred in at a weird time of year, right?

Anon

I said it was due to family's circumstances when introducing myself, but... Actually, it was because I was studying abroad.

Tomori

Studying abroad...?

Anon

But I couldn't keep up at all. So I ran away...

Anon

Those middle school days were fun.

Anon

Every school has one popular kid who stands out, right? At my middle school, that position was mine.

Anon

I don't mean to brag, but I had good grades, and I was the student council president, and my friend group was the most dazzling one in school.

Anon

When we performed as a band at the school culture festival, it was super hype, and underclasswomen looked at us with admiration.

Anon

I felt like maybe I was the one at the center of this school.

Anon

But in reality, I think it was just going too well, and I couldn't see myself clearly.

Anon

Because I was good at English, I left Japan with the momentum like "Let's study abroad!" But it was completely different from what I imagined.

Anon

I thought I could become the popular kid at school in England, like I was in middle school, but...

Anon

Actually, I stumbled right from the self-introduction. I couldn't even say half of what I was thinking...

Anon

Moreover, everyone was highly motivated, had a clear vision for the future, and was studying abroad to achieve it...

Anon

I studied abroad with nothing but vague confidence and momentum, and I was completely out of place there.

Anon

In the end, I wasn't even accepted into any group, let alone become the center of the school. Then I came back to Japan.

Tomori

......

Anon

Those were friends from middle school that I ran into just now. Since I was wearing this uniform, they found out that I failed at studying abroad.

Anon

My whole life has been running away. I thought that I could start over... but this is the end for me.

Tomori

It isn't the end...!

Anon

Huh?

Tomori

Anon-chan, you told me... that I just needed to try hard...!

Tomori

That's why I... but then I couldn't! ...!

Anon

Tomori-chan...?

Anon

Huh? Wait... Where are you going?

Tomori

Here.

Anon

"It's fine to run away," "Feeling lost..."

Tomori

Anon-chan... you're moving ahead. Even if you run into a dead end, you look for the path... You try to move forward...

Tomori

And you pull me forward, too... That's why the band formed. Even if you move forward, it isn't the end...

Tomori

I also... I also... want to move forward, even if I feel lost...

Anon

......

Anon

Feeling lost, huh...?

Anon

In that case, should we move forward together?

Tomori

What...?

Anon

As lost girls, the two of us.

Taki

......

Soyo

I wonder how far they went.

Soyo・Taki

Ah...

Anon・Tomori

......

Tomori

Um...

Tomori

...!

Anon

We...

Anon

Will do the live show!

Anon

How was that!? The performance just now!

Soyo

That's amazing! You can play it now~

Anon

Right~?

Taki

Can you play it to the end?

Anon

I-I'm just getting started!

Tomori

Anon-chan. Let's work hard for the live.

Anon

Yeah, let's work hard...!

Soyo

Then, shall we decide what to play for the live show? I've found a few good songs~

Taki

We can just play "Haruhikage."

Soyo

Hmm~ I think it'll be good for practice, but...

Taki

What do you mean by "for practice"? Do you mean we won't play "Haruhikage" at the live show?

Tomori

Um... Here...

Taki

...! That notebook is...

Soyo

Wow...! Could it be a new song!? You made it for us?

Tomori

Yes. Anon-chan asked me to...

Anon

Oh... right, make things easier by saving time... No, I mean, I asked you to compose a song.

Tomori

I can't compose music, so it's just the lyrics...

Taki

Can I take a look at that notebook?

Anon

I'm curious too! Let me see, let me see~!

Taki

......

Soyo

Hehe, Tomori's new song, It'll be perfect for our first live performance!

Soyo

Hey, Taki-chan, this is something Tomori-chan wrote for us, a new song, just for us.

Taki

All right. I'll write the music.

Soyo・Tomori・Anon

What? What?

Soyo

Taki-chan, you can compose music, too?

Taki

I'm still learning, but since Tomori wrote this for us, I'll do it.

Soyo

And that's why I'm going to be performing at RiNG with Taki-chan and the others.

Mutsumi

......

Soyo

Once that's finished, I'll invite you to join the band, too, Mutsumi-chan.

Mutsumi

......

Soyo

I was thinking of talking with Saki-chan on the way home today. Do you want to go with me, Mutsumi-chan?

Mutsumi

I won't go.

Soyo

Why not? I don't think you have piano lessons today, do you?

Mutsumi

I won't go.

Sakiko

...

Anon

I mean, my hands hurt, you know? But if I put bandages on, they slip when I try to play guitar.

Anon

I had someone teach me some finger agility exercises. Apparently, when you do those... Ah, Soyo-san!

Soyo

Ah...

Anon

So you waited for us!?

Soyo

I had something to do nearby, so... Shall we go to rehearsal together?

Soyo

Anon-chan, nice~ You're getting more stable with each practice session~

Anon

Ehehe, really? At this rate, maybe I'll be able to play it when the new song is finished, right?

Soyo

Hmm, it depends on Taki-chan's song... But Anon-chan, I'm sure you can finish it before the live show~

Tomori

Ah, Taki-chan...

Soyo

Oh. Taki-chan, you changed clothes before coming here?

Taki

I skipped.

Soyo

What?

Taki

I wrote the music.

Tomori・Anon

Huh!

Soyo

Already!? Taki-chan, you're amazing!

Anon

For real?

Taki

I put it on my phone, so listen. Okay?

Tomori

Yeah.

Taki

It's kind of like this, how is it?

Soyo

It's so good~! I think it fits perfectly with the lyrics Tomori-chan wrote~

Anon

It's really a song!

Taki

Tomori, what do you think?

Tomori

Um... it's warm.

Anon

Hm? You mean it's good?

Tomori

Yeah... I'll really work hard!

Taki

...! Okay... I'm glad you liked it.

Taki

Then, I'll send the sheet music. Let's practice—

Taki・Soyo・Tomori・Anon

...?

Rāna

You're here.

Taki

Oh, it's the stray cat! Why are you here...!?

Rāna

I'll do the band.

Taki

There's no part for you.

Rāna

That's fine. I'll do it.

Taki・Soyo・Tomori・Anon

...!

Taki

Seriously...

Soyo

Just by glancing at the sheet music, you can make an arrangement like this...

Anon

Ugh... This girl is really good at playing guitar...

Rāna

I can play it. Let's do band.

Anon

B-But, there's no part for her, right? And Rikki just finished composing...

Taki

No... I'll rewrite it with this added in.

Soyo・Anon

What!?

Taki

Stray cat... Come here every day from tomorrow's rehearsal.

Rāna

...