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Look Up at the Starry Sky |  |
Kasumi
Ahh~, yep. Being in this basement really helps me relax~. It feels like I've returned home.
Arisa
Kasumi, I've been meaning to tell you this... You're a bit too relaxed here. This isn't your house, you know...
Kasumi
What? Why would you say that?! Sometimes I end up spending more time here than I do in my own room. Not that I mean to.
Saaya
Now that you mention it, I think that might be true for all of us. Plus, that last performance we did here was great, and the audience loved it... It really is like this place is our home.
Arisa
You too, Saaya? Seriously, what are you guys even saying?
Rimi
I actually didn't think we'd get to do a show here again.
Rimi
It's all thanks to O-Tae-chan. Thank you for that.
Tae
If you ever wanna have another show here, feel free to let me know.
Arisa
You mean me?! There's no way you don't mean me!
Saaya
Fufu, we really have to thank you too, Arisa. The performance went a bit longer than we were expecting... Was your grandma mad?
Arisa
Not at all... In fact, she watches the recording of it every single day...
Kasumi
Really~? That's nice to hear. Sounds like she gets a lot of enjoyment out of it.
Kasumi
Alrighty, guys! Let's make today's rehearsal a good one! Our next concert awaits!
Arisa
Uhh, Kasumi... Since when did we have a 'next concert' planned?
Kasumi
What are you talking about~? You remember what your teacher said the other day, don't you?! About doing one at the school?
Arisa
Yeah, it's not like I forgot. I'm pretty sure that was just a matter of politely socializing. A show of proper etiquette, no?
Kasumi
Hm? Etiquette? Socializ-... What was it again? I'm confused~.
Saaya
It's fine, Kasumi. I'm pretty sure those words have no place in your everyday life. Besides, I don't think it was about proper social etiquette either.
Arisa
Hmm, I suppose. Sensei's not really the type to say that sort of thing just to be nice...
Arisa
We had a chance to speak after everything was said and done. Apparently, Sensei wasn't planning on making me quit the band, even if I didn't get 480 points on my tests.
Rimi
Oh, really...?
Arisa
Actually, I got an apology instead... "It seems I put a lot of pressure on you and forced you into an unfortunate situation. I'm sorry." Looks like the fact that I was eating my bentos alone didn't go unnoticed..
Tae
Ah, I saw that too. You would sit by the window and watch the courtyard while you ate.
Kasumi
Wait, you did?! So you did want to eat with us!
Arisa
Sh-shut up! I just happened to be sitting there at the same time! That's all...!
Kasumi
Arisa! We're gonna keep eating our bentos together for a long, long time! It's a promise, okay?!
Arisa
Let go of my hand!
Saaya
Fufu. You better be ready, Arisa. When Kasumi says a long time, she really means it. I mean, she doesn't know anything about social etiquette, after all.
Arisa
... Huh? Wait, hold on. So what does a 'long time' mean? Forever?
Kasumi
Forever!
Arisa
Are you dumb?!
Tae
Maybe I'll ask you for hamburg steaks for a "long time."
Arisa
Don't expect to get any!
Rimi
I-it's okay, O-Tae-chan. I'll give you mine.
Kasumi
Ahahaha, this is great. We're back to having fun together.
Saaya
Yeah. I was worried about what might happen to us for a while.
Kasumi
So after everything that happened, I spent some more time thinking about what sparkling and heart-pounding really means.
Arisa
Didn't we already talk about this? You told us what you think it means yourself.
Kasumi
That's true, but I get the sense that what it felt like before we started the band and what it feels like to me now is a bit different.
Rimi
Could you explain? I'm interested to hear this.
Kasumi
I'm not sure I can put it into words very well, but... I think the sparkling and heart-pounding I felt before was the feeling that something was about to begin.
Rimi
The feeling that something... was about to begin?
Kasumi
"This looks like a blast," "I bet this is gonna be a lot of fun." I think those were the kinds of thoughts that would make me feel the sparkling and heart-pounding... You get what I'm saying?
Tae
No worries, we follow.
Kasumi
But now, it's not just about me. Arisa, Rimi-rin, O-Tae, Saaya... If you're all not sparkling and heart-pounding, than I can't be either.
Kasumi
So I think the thing that makes me feel sparkling and heart-pounding is if everyone else is feeling it... And that's what I came up with!
Arisa
Huh?! That's the conclusion?!
Kasumi
I'm sorry~. That's the only way I know how to put it~. Don't tell me you guys didn't understand any of that...
Arisa
No, I can put what you're saying together... It's simple, no? Basically, it was about your sparkling and heart-pounding before, and now it's about our sparkling and heart-pounding, right?
Arisa
Yeah! Exactly! That was amazing, Arisa! Yeah, now it's about us instead of just me!
Saaya
I see. Classic Arisa. It feels like you always understand Kasumi, down to a T.
Arisa
Absolutely not! Besides, I'm pretty sure anyone could kinda understand what she meant to say!
Tae
I had no idea what she was talking about.
Arisa
What?! You said you were following like halfway through!
Rimi
You never cease to amaze me, Arisa-chan~. I bet you're always quick to figure things out.
Arisa
No betting anything about me based on this!
Kasumi
Thank you, Arisa! I can really depend on you! We're gonna continue being friends for a long, long~, long time, okay?!
Arisa
A 'long time,' huh? In other words...
Arisa
... Sigh~, fine. I guess I don't have much of a choice...
Transcript
Kasumi
Sigh...
Marina
Oh? Kasumi-chan?
Kasumi
Ah, Marina-san! BanG Dreamer-san! Hey!
Marina
Hello. Kasumi-chan, is something wrong? Looked like something was on your mind...
Kasumi
Ehehe, I guess so, but... really, I was looking at the stars. They're so sparkly and beautiful.
Kasumi
... I haven't felt much like looking at them lately, so it's been a while!
Marina
Did something happen, Kasumi-chan?
Kasumi
... Marina-san, BanG Dreamer-san, do you guys have a second?
Marina
Us? Yeah, we have some time.
Kasumi
Awesome. There's something I wanted to tell you about!
Kasumi
It's about Poppin'Party.
Marina
Something about Poppin'Party? Now that you mention it, you all were handing out flyers the other day, right? How was the show?
Kasumi
It was absolutely amazing! It was all like whoaaa~, and the hearts were pounding through the roof~!
Kasumi
But... the thing I wanted to talk about is what happened before that.
Marina
Before the show?
Kasumi
Yeah. The truth is that we weren't getting along very well, and we all started doing our own thing... It was almost like Poppin'Party broke up.
Kasumi
Rimi-rin wasn't feeling well, and Arisa was going through something but she wouldn't tell us what it was... Everything we were all dealing with got mixed together, and we started clashing with each other.
Kasumi
Even O-Tae got up and left in the middle of a rehearsal, saying that we weren't gonna get anything done. I was getting super nervous at that point.
Kasumi
I... knew we couldn't continue like that, but I had no idea what I was supposed to do. That's when... I sorta broke down in front of Saaya.
Marina
Wait, you? Broke down?
Kasumi
Haha, hahaha... That's right. But Saaya said I have to stay strong or we're in trouble... Almost like she was scolding me.
Marina
Fufu, yeah. That sounds like something she would do.
Kasumi
Doesn't it? But then something happened that was really unlike her.
Kasumi
Ah, but make sure you guys don't tell Saaya that I said this!
Marina
Fufu, I know. That shouldn't be a problem for you either, right?
Kasumi
Ehehe, thank you. So, Saaya... actually showed a bit of a weak side too.
Kasumi
She said she didn't know what to do and she was really afraid. She thought we might lose this place that we're comfortable being in after working so hard to find it.
Kasumi
I was so shocked! I mean, this is Saaya we're talking about!
Kasumi
To think that the strong and reliable Saaya could actually feel... scared...
Marina
Kasumi-chan...
Kasumi
Then... Then the two of us held hands. You know, 'cause the last time we all did that, we were able to communicate our feelings to one another.
Kasumi
And we wanted to make these jumbled up feelings clear to each other, the same way we did before.
Marina
So you hold hands and send your feelings to each other, huh...? Well? Did it work?
Kasumi
Yep!
Kasumi
I think it would have taken a lot more time for Poppin'Party to get back to the way it was if we didn't do that.
Kasumi
And I got to hear how Saaya was really feeling and see a side of her I've never seen before... It was definitely a rough time for us, but I'm happy, actually.
Kasumi
I felt like I had to do even more than ever so that I could help Saaya and the others... No, not that I had to, but that I wanted to!
Marina
Nice. That's great. You guys have our support too, just so you know.
Kasumi
Thanks. And thank you for listening, Marina-san! Same to you of course, BanG Dreamer-san!
Kasumi
Mmm~!! Now that I no longer have all that weight on my shoulders, I just wanna grab Random Star and get to rockin'~!
Kasumi
Marina-san, BanG Dreamer-san, are there any concerts coming up that Poppin'Party could take part in?
Marina
Ufufu, it's like you've been completely revived to your old self. No problem, I'll double check and let you know.
Kasumi
Thank you so much!
Kasumi
Alrighty! Time for more sparkling and heart-pounding~!