SHIRO: "The Ayumu Uehara Fan Club meeting is officially started!"
AYUMU: "..."
YU: "..."
SHIRO: "Huh? Why do you two look so sad? I'm sorry that the others couldn't be here today, but they all said they were meeting someone."
AYUMU: "...Aki."
SHIRO: "Huh?"
AYUMU: "They were meeting Aki, weren't they?"
SHIRO: "Akihiko? But why would they want to meet with him?"
AYUMU: "Remember the volunteer info session?"
SHIRO: "Yeah, it was very informative. I'd say it was a great success!"
YU: "I thought so too but..."
AYUMU: "You couldn't be farther from the truth. It was a colossal failure."
YU: "Huh?"
SHIRO: "A failure?"
AYUMU: "We were supposed to gather at least 1000 volunteers. 1500 were scheduled to show up, but, well... You saw the numbers."
SHIRO: "But I thought it was impressive how many people showed up."
YU: "1000 volunteers..."
AYUMU: "The volunteer recruitment failure, I think it broke Aki. He's contacting all of the people who didn't show up and even meeting up with them if he can."
YU: "So that's why he looked so tired and rundown."
AYUMU: "What...?"
YU: "I saw him in the hallway the other day, but he didn't acknowledge me or look at me. That was until I asked him what was wrong... He just stared at me with this cold look of anger on his face."
AYUMU: "I'm really sorry to hear that, Yu..."
YU: "It's okay, he's my cousin and I understand that he's not in a good place right now.
But if he's sacrificing his health for this, then something is severely wrong."
SHIRO: "I know this is rich coming from someone who's spent many nights working on keeping idol fan sites moderated, but this isn't healthy. He can't do this to himself..."
YU: "Ayumu is there anything you can do? You're the one closest to him right? You can talk to him and set him straight, right?"
AYUMU: "I've tried but he just won't listen."
SHIRO: "He won't listen to you?"
AYUMU: "No, but I'm going to make him listen. Shioriko's arranged some time for Aki and I to talk."
YU: "If anyone can do it, it's you Ayumu. Please, save my cousin."
SHIRO: "Yeah, I bet you could totally change his mind!"
AYUMU: "I don't know... I can't help but feel like I should have seen this coming."
YU: "Huh? What do you mean?"
AYUMU: "As a club we haven't been very successful. The Club Introductions Live Show was just a small win in a long line of losses."
YU: "It wasn't a small win, it was huge! You completely stole my heart that day!"
SHIRO: "Yeah, and that performance you did a while back is the reason why our school is going to the main stage!"
AYUMU: "I know, but... We lost in a battle against µ's, we all finished in the bottom nine in the Joint Solo Live Show, I finished last in that... We lost all three of our battles at UTX, and now the volunteer info session was a bust.
I can't help but feel like if I tried a little harder, it wouldn't have come to this. I feel responsible for Aki's-"
SHIRO: "Don't say that!"
AYUMU: "Huh?"
SHIRO: "Every performance I've seen you do, you've always given 100%!"
YU: "Yeah, we love nothing more than seeing you shine on stage!"
SHIRO: "When I hear you sing, I feel like I could accomplish anything. Don't let Akihiko bring you down, Ayumu, we want to see you smile."
AYUMU: "Guys... Thank you! Knowing you're cheering me on, I can bring Aki back to his senses."
SHIRO, YU: "Yeah!"
EMPLOYEE: "Order number 98 is ready for collection."
YU: "Oh, that's us! Let me, I'll go get it."
SHIRO: "Sure, thanks Yu."
AYUMU: "..."
SHIRO: "I can't stand to see you like this. Tomorrow, I'm going to talk to him."
AYUMU: "Are you sure?"
SHIRO: "I'm worried about him too, and if I can convince him even a little before he meets you, then it will all be worth it."
AYUMU: "You'd really do that for me?"
SHIRO: "Of course, I would do anything for you, Ayumu."
AYUMU: "Shiro..."
SHIRO: "Now, let me see that smile again and let's all have a good time."