*IDOL RESEARCH CLUBROOM - OTONOKIZAKA GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL - AKIHABARA - TOKYO*
*P.O.V SWITCH - AKIHIKO SUZUKI*
AKI: "Maki..."
MAKI: "Reading this email now, makes me realize that I'm living the life that Omine wanted."
AKI: "..."
MAKI: "I thought she'd naturally make friends at Nijigasaki, that she'd pursue her dreams of becoming a manga artist. I told myself this, but this email says different... Maybe if I did something I could have-"
AKI: "Don't be so hard on yourself, Maki. There was nothing anyone could do back then...
But what truly matters is right now, and there is something you can do for Omine in her time of need."
MAKI: "Yes, answering the email."
AKI: "Exactly!"
MAKI: "But, am I really suited for answering it?"
AKI: "What's that supposed to mean?"
MAKI: "To be honest...we're kinda similar."
AKI: "You and Omine?"
MAKI: "I mean me and the people who are telling her to give up on her dreams."
AKI: "What?"
MAKI: "I was kind of like that. I think I said some similar things. That dreams are just dreams, and right now I should be focused on what I can do for my future."
AKI: "Maki..."
MAKI: "Even if it's Omine...I would have definitely told her to give up before I joined μ's.
Like I said, I never appreciated the present for what it was.
I respect my parents immensely and naturally wanted to walk down the same career path they did. And I still do.
So I decided that I would drop music and start preparing for my future once I started high school.
I tried to convince myself that even though I loved piano, I already had my fill of it and was satisfied with my choice.
I didn't want to play the piano at home anymore, but at school...I wanted to sit before the piano all the time. I could sing and play whatever I wanted to... I was happy."
AKI: "I see..."
MAKI: "I didn't mind just doing it myself. As long as I could sing and play a little at school before going home, I was satisfied.
...Until the day Honoka came to talk to me."
...
*LAST APRIL*
*MUSIC ROOM - OTONOKIZAKA GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL - AKIHABARA - TOKYO*
MAKI: *Sigh*
"...Hm?"
HONOKA: *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAP*
MAKI: "Eh?!"
HONOKA: "Amazing, amazing, amazing! I was so moved!"
MAKI: "I-I'm not THAT good..."
HONOKA: "You're such a good singer! And you play piano so well! You look cute enough to be an idol, too!"
MAKI: "?!"
HONOKA: "Um... I know this is a bit sudden,
but would you like to try being an idol?"
MAKI: "Huh?
*Sigh* What's wrong with you? I don't even know you!"
HONOKA: "I saw that coming... Hahahaha..."
*Sigh*
...
AKI: "So you weren't interested in school idols from the start?"
MAKI: "That's right. I was never familiar with the genre."
AKI: "I had no idea."
MAKI: "I thought it was flippant and shallow. But..."
KOTORI: "I love the songs you write, Maki."
UMI: "As do I. The songs that you create are filled with so much emotion."
HONOKA: "I can't believe you wrote us such an amazing song even though I practically dragged you into it!"
MAKI: "Huh?!"