Sparkling

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Background

Background

Manager

First things first! I have an important update about Nakamachi-san.

Arale

I knew it... I'm fired!

Manager

No, you're not.

Arale

I swear I'll never cause any of you trouble again!
Any of you... any of you... any of yooou...!

Manager

Not a great ending, not a terrible one. Just a decent way to put this mess to bed.

Manager

Ritsu Minetsuki will be joining MewType.

Arale

!!?!?!???

Yuno

Huh...

Nonoka

Ooooh~

Miyako

...

Manager

Fuji-san, are you listening?

Miyako

Oh! Yes...

Manager

Judging by that reaction, I guess Nakamachi-san didn't know either.
Minetsuki-san clearly takes confidentiality seriously!

Yuno

So Fairy Bouquet admitted they were in the wrong?

Manager

They did apologize, for what it's worth.

Arale

...

Arale

(Viola's made her move.)

Manager

You know how rumors start flying whenever someone leaves a group, right?
Breach of contract, bad blood, that kind of thing.

Nonoka

I see~

Manager

So their idea of damage control
was to make it look like we poached her.

Manager

I'm ready to deal with the fallout!
So I need all of you to make Minetsuki-san feel welcome.

Nonoka

Okaaay!

Manager

Minetsuki-san plays guitar too, so I'm counting on you, Miyanaga-san.

Nonoka

Leave it to meee!

Arale

(This is only going to fan the flames...)

Background

Background

Miyako

(I-It's finally here...)

Miyako

(My! First! Tankōbon! Release! Day!!!)

Miyako

(My editor said it's off to a good start, but...)

Customer A

This one! It just came out today!
I've been following it since the very first chapter!

Miyako

!!!!!!

Customer B

Huh, the art's cute.

Customer A

The art's great, but the story is soooo good...!
You seriously have to read it!

Miyako

(Ah~ Dear readers, thank youuu!
Knowing you're enjoying it has Miyako too moved for words!!)

Customer A

Actually, I'll lend it to you. Can I bring it to school tomorrow?

Miyako

♡♡♡

Viola

Sensei?

Miyako

!!!????

Miyako

Oh! Y-You're the one from before...!

Viola

Hehe. What a coincidence, seeing you again.

Viola

If this encounter is fate... I hope it lasts.

Miyako

That line...!

Viola

Like fireworks...

Miyako & Viola

I won't let this end in one fleeting moment—
—I won't let this end in one fleeting moment.

Viola

I love that line.

Miyako

You really do know my work...
Even though that was only a one-shot...

Viola

It was from before the series started, so I thought I'd never get to read it again...
But then I found it in the tankōbon.

Miyako

Oh...

Viola

Sensei, you hate people who shine.

Miyako

What...?

Viola

You weren't born with that sparkle.
No matter how hard you try, you'll never make it yours.

Miyako

(That's why they make me so angry...)

Viola

And yet, you can't look away.

Viola

Even when you close your eyes, their light spills in uninvited.

Viola

...

Voice

viola

Voice

Miyako & Viola

—It hurts.
(It hurts.)

Viola

But your stories make me feel like...
it's okay to be that way.

Miyako

(She...)

Miyako

(She sees who I am through my work...)

Miyako

...

Miyako

Oh, I'm sorry...

Viola

Don't wipe them away.

Miyako

What...?

Viola

Because you're sparkling and beautiful.

Miyako

...

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Background

Miyako

This parfait is delicious...

Miyako

I never knew there was such a lovely place this close to school.

Viola

I'm glad you like it.
I come here whenever I'm feeling sad or have something on my mind.

Miyako

You have things you worry about...?

Viola

Is something wrong?

Miyako

It's nothing...
All that sparkle is just a little dazzling.

Viola

Hehe. They are silver sugar pearls.

Viola

They sparkle, just like you, Yako-sensei.

Miyako

Then... that means you hate me, doesn't it?

Viola

Only when I can't have them.
But if they became mine...

Viola

I'd love them.

Miyako

...

Viola

I love things that sparkle.

Viola

Melt me with your light. Shine.

Miyako

Shine...

Viola

Open wide.

Miyako

A-Ahh...

Miyako

How do I... shine?

Viola

I'd love to see you perform live, Yako-sensei♡
I know you'd shine up there.

Miyako

Perform live...

Viola

Some things only make sense once you've tried them...

Viola

So will you?

Background

Background

Manager

This is Ritsu Minetsuki-san.
Her avatar's in the works as we speak!

Ritsu

I'm Ritsu Minetsuki.
I sincerely apologize for all the trouble...

Yuno

I've heard that speech enough times.
Like I said before, you did what you wanted, right?

Yuno

Then that's all that matters.

Ritsu

Thank you...

Arale

Yuno-san-chan, you and Ricchan know each other?

Yuno

Sort of.

Arale

Wait, when?!

Ritsu

Um... When I felt like I couldn't go on anymore,
she gave me some meat...

Arale

Were you hungry, Ricchan?

Yuno

That's a very misleading way to put it.

Ritsu

Thank you...

Arale & Yuno

?

Ritsu

I wanted to thank you properly, but then all of this happened...

Ritsu

I'm indebted to you for helping me, and to everyone here for taking me in.
No matter what happens, I intend to repay all of you.

Ritsu

I'll give this everything I've got! Thank you for having me!

Nonoka

BWOOOOOM!

Arale

Same here~!

Yuno

...

Arale

Was that a conch horn?!

Manager

You all need to brace yourselves, too!

Ritsu

I don't mind what anyone says about me.
But depending on how we announce my joining, MewType could get caught in the backlash...

Arale

Huh...? Ngh...!!

Arale

I...!
I'll do anything if it'll fix this!

Miyako

...

Miyako

What if we held a live show?

Arale

A live show?!

Miyako

I think we should show everyone how brightly we can shine.
Some things only make sense once you've tried them.

Arale

That. Is. IT!

Arale

If everyone sees Ricchan perform with MewType,
they might understand why she belongs with us!

Miyako

You did say before that you wanted us to put on a live show, Ms. Manager.

Manager

I'd love to, but now's not the time.
That'd only add fuel to the fire.

Arale

The only way to change things now is with a live show!
You know that, Ms. Manager!

Arale

You gave me a chance to step outside when I'd shut myself away,
and now my whole world is starting to change...!

Manager

Your situation was different, Nakamachi-san.

Arale

Things are already as bad as they can get!
We might fail, but this could be our chance!

Arale

If we take the leap and give it everything we've got, we can change things. I know we can...!

Miyako

If people see the two of them perform together, it'll show everyone how close they really are.
Even the people saying cruel things based on rumors might finally understand.

Yuno

It's way too soon. I'm against it.

Arale

Yuno-san-chan...!

Manager

What we share, and when, matters more than you realize, Nakamachi-san.

Manager

This isn't only about Minetsuki-san.
It could affect all of your futures.

Manager

For MewType's future,
we need to think carefully about how we announce this.

Arale

...

Manager

Can you give me a little time?

Arale

Huh?!

Manager

I'll figure out the best way
to announce this for all of you.

Arale

...! I'm counting on you!!