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NatsumeHow old are you?

HotaruHuh...? Oh, I'm fourteen.

NatsumeHmph? Well, I'm sixteen.

Hotaru...?

NatsumeAll right, kid. Let's see you keep up!

HotaruY-Yes!

Hotaru!

Hotaru(Whoa... What a complicated phrase...!)

Hotaru(Just keeping the rhythm straight is taking everything I've got...!)

Mahoro...? Wait, this... I feel like I've heard it somewhere before...

HoukaI believe that is a phrase... from the new song Natsume-san was working on with Kanata-san.

HoukaIt was left unfinished partway through.

NagiThen... that’s not really improvising, is it?

Houka、Mahoro、Nagi...

NatsumeCome on, then! Let's see what Kanata's apprentice can do!

Hotaru...!

Hotaru(Take what she just played, arrange it, and answer back...!)

Hotaru(I can sort of tell what notes she's using, but...)

Hotaru(This is nothing like playing with Kanata-san...!)

Hotaru(I have to hang on with everything I've got...!)

Girl AWhy is Hotaru-chan always the one who wins gold?! I'm trying just as hard!!

Hotaru...

Hotaru(Everything I've got...? Really?)

Girl BThen go take an advanced course or something. Piano isn't fun with you here, Hotaru-chan!

Hotaru(If I play with everything I have, and that same rainbow-colored light from back then...)

Hotaru(If something bad that hurts people comes out again...)

Hotaru(I can't let that happen...!)

MahoroAmazing... She's keeping up with Natsume-chan...!

NagiThat girl really is good.

HoukaHowever, merely keeping up will not be enough...

NatsumeAre you messing with me...?!

Hotaru...!

NatsumeNo fills, no arrangement, not one interesting idea!

NatsumeForget it. I'll end this on the next one...!

Hotaru(I need Natsume-san... to accept me...)

Hotaru(But my memories from back then keep getting in the way...)

Hotaru(I keep trying not to let that color out. The one that hurts people.)

Hotaru(My fingers pull away from it on their own.)

Hotaru(Kanata-san told me the same thing before... and I still...!)

KanataAll right, stop. Back to the top.

HotaruWhat?! I played it properly, didn't I?!

KanataYeah, you played it properly. Your rhythm was spot-on, every note was clean and even. That's all!

KanataThere's nooothing interesting about it at all!

HotaruY-you don't have to put it like that!

KanataNo, Hotaru... I don't feel any "soul" in your playing!

HotaruS-soul...?

KanataYes! Soul, as in spirit!

KanataYou can play exactly by the book, but past that, there's nothing there.

KanataThat prim and proper piano of yours isn't gonna make the audience happy, y'know? You've gotta throw everything you've got into it!

HotaruWith everything... I've got...?

KanataYeah, everything you've got. I dunno what you're so scared of, Hotaru... but pretty sure you've got the wrong idea, y'know.

KanataThe audience isn't your enemy. And obviously, neither am I.

KanataThey're on your side, here to have fun with you.

KanataBelieve in your friends and play your heart out!

Hotaru(People on my side... here to have fun with me...)

Hotaru(That's right... Natsume-san can play guitar like this. She's incredible.)

Hotaru(Believe in them... trust Natsume-san, and do it with all my might...!)

Natsume!?

HoukaMy...♡

NagiDid she just... change all of a sudden?

MahoroYeah... Hotaru-chan is starting to fight back.

Hotaru(Something strong enough... for Natsume-san to accept me...!)

Natsume...!

NagiHey... isn't this...

HoukaYes... before we knew it, the lead melody had shifted from guitar to piano.

MahoroIt's the same...

Mahoro(A scene I've watched here over and over, dozens of times.)

Mahoro(Kanata and Natsume-chan making songs by clashing through music.)

Mahoro(Hotaru-chan really is something...)

Mahoro(She walked into a band full of older girls she barely knew...)

Mahoro(And even when she's challenged to prove herself, she digs in and keeps up...)

Mahoro(All for Kanata's treasure...)

Mahoro(You really cared about Kanata that much... I understand...)

HoukaThere we are. That will do♪

Hotaru!!

HoukaNatsume-san. I do believe the outcome is clear, is it not?

Natsume...

Hotaru*Pant*... How... did I do...?

Hotaru(When was the last time I gave it that much...?)

Hotaru(But... I didn't see that rainbow-colored light...?)

Natsume...Hmph. Fine. I get it. You can play decently enough.

Hotaru! Then...!

NatsumeBut listen! That was just the opening round, the opening round! I haven't played guitar in forever, so the real thing's a whole different story!

HotaruHuh...?

NagiUgh. Here we go. This is the annoying part.

NatsumeUgh, enough already! And you guys are just as bad! Dragging me into some weird jam session out of nowhere!

NatsumeGot it?! I haven't lost! Next time, it won't be anything like this!!

HotaruAh?! Wait, please... Natsume-san!

Hotaru(So I really did... hurt Natsume-san...?!)

HoukaThere is no need to chase after her.

HotaruWhat!? But...

HoukaNatsume-san did say "next time," after all.

HotaruHuh...?

HoukaNatsume-san... absolutely cannot stand losing.

NagiIn terms of the result, that's basically a pass.

HotaruUm... is that so?

NagiEither way, she'll be fine.

HotaruB-but...

MahoroAs for me... honestly, I'm still torn.

Hotaru!

MahoroI still don't really know you yet, Hotaru-chan...

MahoroAnd honestly... part of me still feels the way Natsume-chan does. That was Kanata's part.

MahoroBut... I could feel how serious you are, Hotaru-chan. How desperately you want to keep millsage from falling apart.

MahoroI feel the same way... so please, lend us your strength.

HotaruYes...!

HotaruU-um, Nagi-san...

NagiI'm just going along with Mahoro's decision. So... yeah. Guess we're working together?

HotaruTh-thank you so much!

HoukaHehe. With Nagi-san's approval secured as well, that leaves only Natsume-san.

Izawa House - Natsume's Room

NatsumeUgh, seriously!!

NatsumeI didn't lose...

NatsumeI didn't lose, I didn't lose, I didn't lose!

NatsumeWhat is her deal?! What is her deal?!

NatsumeI was the one who spent over a year playing with Kanata!

Natsume(I let that girl's momentum push me back, and for a second, I thought... I might not win...)

Natsume(So I ran away again.)

NatsumeSo lame...

NatsumeI won't accept this...

NatsumeThe only one who gets to stand beside me... is Kanata.

NatsumeHotaru? Firefly? Dragonfly? I don't care what bug she is. I will never accept her!