*THAT EVENING*
*ROOFTOP - URANOHOSHI GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL - UCHIURA - SHIZUOKA PREFECTURE*
CHIKA: "...*Sigh* We did it! WE DID IT!"
*CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAP*
CHIKA: "Huh?"
*CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAP*
AKI: "Congratulations."
CHIKA: "Eh?! Aki?! What are you doing here?!"
AKI: "I felt like I had to congratulate you in person. You told me you would be up here alone tonight."
CHIKA: "Yeah, I'm just taking it all in. Letting the world know that we made it."
AKI: "By made it, I'm guessing you mean a successful promo video?"
CHIKA: "Uh-huh! Looking at the text you sent, you're really impressed, aren't you?"
AKI: "You're Aqours, of course I'm impressed."
CHIKA: "Heehee. I think we might actually have a chance at reaching the top."
AKI: "..."
CHIKA: "I love μ's with all my heart, they're the ones who set me on this path.
They're the reason why I'm a school idol.
But as much as I love them, I cannot remain a fangirl forever. Even if I support them, I want to make history."
AKI: "Make history?"
CHIKA: "Yeah, I want Aqours to be the first ever group to defeat μ's. We don't want to remain in second place forever.
I know Honoka wants me to step up to the challenge, and I won't let her down.
Aqours will be number one someday! Don't you think so?"
AKI: "..."
CHIKA: "Don't you think so?"
AKI: "...I'm sorry, Chika."
CHIKA: "Eh?"
AKI: "It hurts. I've thought about it but... Listen, as much as I love Aqours...
I..."
CHIKA: "..."
AKI: "I don't think our dreams can co-exist."
CHIKA: "..."
AKI: "Because, to me, Aqours won't be the ones to defeat μ's. We at Nijigasaki will."
CHIKA: "I see..."
AKI: "I'm sorry. But it's thanks to the strength that Aqours and μ's gave me, that I cannot give up on my dream.
It would be an insult to you, μ's, and the Nijigasaki girls if I did."
CHIKA: "Aki..."
AKI: "I walked into their Clubroom and I told μ's directly that I will not lose to them.
Nijigasaki will be on top and nothing will change my mind about that.
Even if... Even if we have to go through you to do it. We won't hold back."
CHIKA: *Chuckle*
AKI: "Huh? Y-You're laughing? I just declared war on you and you're laughing?!"
CHIKA: *Chuckle* "Sorry, it's just that... I wouldn't have it any other way."
AKI: "Huh?"
CHIKA: "As wonderful as the world of school idols is, it's also a mountain. Only one can stand on top, and everyone pushes themselves to get there.
Saint Snow told me that. They're the dose of reality I needed to see that it's not all fun and games. There will be hardships, there will be trials, there will be sadness...
But if you're not aiming to become number one, then you're not taking being a school idol seriously."
AKI: "Yeah... That sounds like something Sarah and Leah would say."
CHIKA: "As school idols we're always fighting one another to reach the top. But we still respect each other."
AKI: "Exactly. The respect that I have for μ's and Aqours will never change.
It's because I respect you so dearly that I'm telling you this to your face.
The respect to stand in front of you and tell you directly, 'I will not lose to you!'"
CHIKA: "We're still friends, though. It's not like we're in a bitter feud."
AKI: "Yeah, it's just friendly competition, after all. We're all sticking to the rules to elevate school idols into something higher and it will all culminate at the School Idol Festival."
CHIKA: "I mean... We're not just friends, we're something more special than that."
AKI: "Eh? Eh?!"
CHIKA: "We're rivals! I'm telling you, the leader of Nijigasaki that I, the leader of Aqours am officially your rival!"
*BONK*
CHIKA: "Ow!"
AKI: *Chuckle* "You dork."
CHIKA: "Eh?"
AKI: "Taking on the fastest rising stars in school idol history? Taking on the current holders of the Love Live! trophy?
That's some serious nerve right there to challenge us.
But I guess it's the same for us challenging you and μ's.
Nijigasaki will not lose!"
CHIKA: "And neither will Aqours!"
Then it's on. Not only are we friends but we are also rivals.
Rivals in our efforts to surpass μ's as the number one school idol group.
One of us will succeed.
The other will fail.
But in defeat, neither of us will have any regrets.