Shadow

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Hotaru

(The demo Natsume-san sent me last night.)

Hotaru

(It's a melody that stays with you. Really lovely.)

Hotaru

(If I arrange it... and can make it even better.)

Hotaru

(Both Comet Rising and the disbandment... I can bring
everyone closer to their wishes, right!)

Hotaru

(...But.)

Hotaru

What's going on...? Just this phrase here
won't fit well...

Hotaru

I shouldn't be doing anything strange...
Hmm... Ah!

Hotaru

That's it, I figured it out!
I put in a development I like!

Hotaru

(Oh, it was just me being careless!)

Hotaru

(That feeling is just my selfishness.
millsage's music doesn't need it.)

Hotaru

(It's simple, right!)

Hotaru

...Okay. I'll rethink it from scratch.
I'll make it the best piano part, one that surprises everyone who hears it!

Hotaru

And then, surely...

Hotaru's Mother

Hotaru~? Piano's fine,
but it's about time you came to eat breakfast~

Hotaru

Ah... Is it that late already!? Coming~!

Hotaru

(I have band practice after school today, too...
It's going to be busy!)

Hotaru

...!

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Hotaru

Hehe, nice weather.

Hotaru

I wonder if everyone else is awake yet?

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Mahoro

*Yawn*...

Nagi

...Huh, still sleepy?
Even though you were asleep until I came to pick you up?

Mahoro

Ah, no, this isn't about not getting enough sleep... Hm?

Mahoro

It's from Natsume-chan.

Natsume-chan

I wrote a new song.

Natsume-chan

I'll let you hear it at practice today.

Mahoro

A new song...! It's finally here~!

Nagi

Ah... This is for Comet Rising, right?

Mahoro

Yeah! The one we'll use for the first round's audio screening!

Nagi

First round... Um, to win the whole thing,
what has to happen again?

Mahoro

Come on, I explained it once already!

Nagi

Aha, sorry.

Mahoro

Can't help it... Then this time, make sure you remember, okay?

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Mahoro

First, to participate, we need to enter.
Right now is the application period.

Mahoro

Once that period ends, it's the first round.
They'll judge the recording of our original song that we submitted with our entry.

Nagi

That's the song Natsume-senpai is writing, right?

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Mahoro

Exactly! Then the second round is a studio screening.
It seems we'll perform in front of the judges.

Nagi

So scary...

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Mahoro

Right? I bet we'll be so nervous...
After that is the third round. An actual live performance screening at a live house.

Mahoro

And the bands that win the audience vote there
get to stand on the finals stage... at Suzuya Music Hall, I think.

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Nagi

It's a long road.

Mahoro

You think so? Once it starts, I'm sure it'll fly by!

Mahoro

Let's do our best so we have no regrets.

Nagi

...Yeah.

Nagi

(Ah.)

Nagi

(It's really starting.)

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Hotaru & Nagi & Mahoro & Houka

...

Natsume

...It's like this.
It's still a demo, so I'll polish it from here.

Mahoro

...Yeah, it's good! It's really good!

Houka

Hehe. We only just talked about writing a new song...
and it's already finished.

Natsume

Hmph! We're submitting it for the audio screening.
If I don't put in the effort now, when will I?

Mahoro

As expected of Natsume-chan!
I'll work hard on the lyrics too~!

Nagi

...

Hotaru

Um...!

Mahoro

? What's wrong, Hotaru-chan?

Hotaru

Actually, I received this demo last night a little early...
So I came up with a piano arrangement.

Hotaru

If you'd like, I want you to hear that too.

Mahoro

Huh, last night... Hotaru-chan, did you not sleep!?

Hotaru

No...! I just woke up a little early.

Mahoro

Th-That's a relief... I thought we were pushing you too hard.

Natsume

More importantly, the arrangement. Let us hear it already.

Hotaru

Ah, yes!

Hotaru

...I'm thinking of going in this direction.
What do you think?

Mahoro

Amazing... Yeah, you're amazing, Hotaru-chan!

Natsume

*Sigh*... I never thought you could change it this much in one night.

Hotaru

Huh...

Mahoro

I-I'm pretty sure it's okay!
If it were bad, she'd be angrier... right?

Natsume

...Tentatively accepted.

Hotaru

! Thank you!
What about you, Houka-san and Nagi-san?

Houka

...I think it's very good♡

Houka

But... as Mahoro-san said,
are you sure you're not pushing yourself too hard?

Hotaru

Yes, I'm fine!
There were times in the past when I'd realize I'd been playing all day.

Houka

...I see. Then maybe it was just my imagination.

Hotaru

?

Nagi

...

Nagi

(All day, huh.)

Nagi

(I guess geniuses really are different creatures or something.)

Natsume

...So, what about you, Nagi?
Not just the arrangement, but the new song itself.

Nagi

Huh? Ah... I think it's good, but...

Natsume

? What is it?

Nagi

Um... Isn't this one kind of hard?

Natsume

Of course. We have to make it stick in the judges' ears.
If it's the same as always, there's no point.

Natsume

Honestly, I don't want to rely on cheap tricks like that, though.

Nagi

...Can this be made easier or something?

Natsume

Of course not.

Nagi

Seriously...?

Mahoro

There, there. We still have plenty of time in the entry period,
so let's work hard together, okay?

Nagi

...Aha.

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Mahoro

Even if it hurts, I can't step down.

Mahoro

I don't want to use having nothing as an excuse to end it...!

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Nagi

(I don't get it.)

Nagi

(Because no matter how hard you try...)

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Nagi

(Someday it'll all be wasted anyway.)