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After the Live

RaikaOh, Miku! Where have you been?

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

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

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

ShizukuCherie was the first to realize that Miku was missing.

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

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

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

RaikaOh... Suzuki-san. Good work.

RaikaWatching our live changed your mind, right?

SuzukiHonestly, that live was better than I imagined.

ChieriHehe, of course!

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

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

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

RaikaIf the family changes, the home will evolve too!

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

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

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

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

RaikaDon't underestimate us, Suzuki-san~

SuzukiWhat...!?

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

MikuRaika-chan...!

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

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

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

Miku*Sigh*...

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

Miku? Yeah...

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

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

SuzukiBut... this could be useful...♪

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

MikuYes... Raika-chan decided it again~

ChieriYou decided it without Chieri's permission again~!

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

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

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

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

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

RaikaSee~ Don't you think Shizuku is right?

ChieriListen to me...!!

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

EveryoneOkay...

That Night

RaikaEveryone~ I brought snacks~!

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

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

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

ChieriThis is no time for a casual snack party!!

Raika、YomogiHuh?

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

MikuChieri-chan is right~

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

ShizukuThat'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...)

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

RaikaNo!!

Everyone...

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

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

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

RaikaThat's one thing, and this is another!

Miku(That girl's hopeless.)

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

RaikaHuh?

MikuThis live house is your grandma's, right?

MikuSaying "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.

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

MikuLeft for you?

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

RaikaBut 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...!)

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

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

Raika...

ChieriWhat's wrong? You suddenly went quiet.

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

Miku...!

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

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

YomogiHuh!? Me? All of a sudden!?

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

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

RaikaI would expect?

YomogiYour 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!"

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

YomogiGyaaah, you're too close!!

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

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

YomogiUgh... You might be right, but...

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

RaikaYes, I promise.

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

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

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

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

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

RaikaYomogi... That's—

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

Yomogi、RaikaHuh!?

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

RaikaSo that's what it was about!?

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

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

ChieriAww!?

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

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

MikuShizuku-chan, you know that kind of stuff.

ShizukuMy 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...)

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

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

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

YomogiHuh?

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

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

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

YomogiAh...

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

YomogiRaika-san...

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

RaikaHuh? Yeah, maybe you're right!

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

RaikaUnfair!? This is unfair...!?

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

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

Miku(But...)

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

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

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

ChieriWhat...!!

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

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

RaikaOh, if that's your stance...

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

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

ShizukuOkay. I'll think too.

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

RaikaMiku~ Do you have any good ideas?

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

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

Miku...

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

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

RaikaMiku, thanks~~! I love you!!

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

RaikaNo!! I won't let go!

Miku*Sigh*...

The Next Morning

MikuMmm...

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

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

SuzukiOh. Miku-san~! Good morning!

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

SuzukiHey, wait! Could you come out?

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

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

Miku...

MikuSo, what's this about?

SuzukiToday, I came here to give this to you!

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

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

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

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

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

MikuHey~ Suzuki-san, I...

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

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

MikuNo, hey...!

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

MikuHm? "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.)