*THE NEXT DAY*
*SCHOOL IDOL CLUBROOM - NIJIGASAKI HIGH SCHOOL - ODAIBA - TOKYO*
Um, that should do it for today's preparations... I think...
Yu's absent today, so I'm on my own.
EMMA: "Oooh, I have the worst news ever!"
AKI: "GAH! ...Geez, you startled me! What's the matter, Emma?"
EMMA: "It's terrible! Mai, she..."
AKI: "What?! What happened to Mai?!"
EMMA: "I got this text from her, and she's saying that she's not confident about taking over the photo studio..."
AKI: "Phew, that's a relief. I thought for a second there she had died or had an accident or something."
EMMA: "This is serious!"
AKI: "I know, I know. She was so passionate about it; why the sudden change of heart?"
EMMA: "No idea. That's why I thought that I should go and see her. But I'm a bit worried about going alone, so could you come too?"
AKI: "You really want me to tag along?"
EMMA: "Sure! As I said, I trust you. Plus, Mai speaks highly of you, so let's go together!"
AKI: "Okay, I'll do it for you."
EMMA: "...And Mai."
AKI: "Yeah."
...
*NATSUKAWA PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO - TAITŌ - TOKYO*
MAI: "Huh?! You came all the way here just because of that?!"
AKI: "We came as soon as we could."
MAI: "Gosh, I'm so sorry. I mean. It has nothing to do with either of you, so..."
EMMA: "Don't you say that!"
AKI: "Yeah! You're our lead photographer for the School Idol Festival, so it's not like it's none of our business."
EMMA: "And you seemed to be having so much fun when you took our photos, Mai! What happened to all of that confidence?
I shouldn't be pushing you for answers like this, it's just..."
MAI: "Ahaha! It's OK, don't worry about it. You know, I was prepared for the fact that it was going to take a lot of work to inherit the business. So I steeled myself, knowing I'd have to overcome many hurdles.
If I worked hard, I'd be able to get through anything.
But like I've experienced before, that won't always do the trick..."
AKI: "What do you mean by that?"
MAI: "Obviously, there were complications being a school idol, but quitting only hurt people.
Meanwhile, as a photographer, I found these pictures that made me think that maybe I can't compensate for everything with effort alone.
The pictures stored at this studio go waaay back, you know? I found these while I was organizing them. My parents and grandparents took them over the years.
And I can tell at a glance that they're nothing like the ones I've been taking."
EMMA: "But I love the pictures you take, Mai!"
MAI: *Giggle* "Thanks. Still, you'd understand what I meant if you saw the pictures yourself.
Could you take a look? They're the pride and joy of the Natsukawa Photography Studio!"
EMMA: "Oh, wow..."
AKI: "Incredible. I don't know what to say... Every subject in each photo is unaware that they're being photographed..."
EMMA: "They have an enjoyable air about them."
MAI: "Exactly. Their facial expressions make you think the photo was taken mid-conversation, right? But they're all looking right at the camera."
AKI: "These girls look pretty lively, though the other one could have taken off her mask at least..."
EMMA: "I think that mask makes her look cute."
AKI: "Huh... This one."
This guy looks familiar... Have I seen him before?
Wait, is that him?!
No, that's impossible. These photos look like they're almost 20 years old... There's no way it can be him...
MAI: "Here's another stack."
AKI: "Whoa, over here's a Shichi-Go-San commemorative photo."
EMMA: "It's so cute! Everyone's all smiley."
AKI: "Ayu and I have taken ones like this before. She was all nervous and frozen stiff."
MAI: "Right? Pretty neat, huh? There are even more of these pictures yet.
After turning my focus to photography, I knew it wouldn't be easy. But I thought I could revitalize this photo studio if I kept working hard.
Even so, I don't think I can take pictures as lovely as these, even if I keep trying at the rate I'm going..."
EMMA: "Mai..."
AKI: "Mai. Will you hear us out about the time you passed your song down to Emma?"
EMMA: "Huh?! Wait, that's-"
AKI: "Let's tell her the whole story, Emma."
EMMA: "Well, if you say so..."
AKI: "Emma looked super happy when you passed your song down to her onstage. Remember that, Mai?
But as time went on, she became more and more anxious. Finally, when I asked her about it, she said she felt pressured.
At first, she was just happy, but then she was worried about if it was okay for her to sing the song and whether or not she could convey your and every other predecessor's feelings."
MAI: "Is that true, Emma? I mean, onstage, you're always..."
EMMA: "Yeah. The feelings in that song were too much for me...
But that song brought me to Japan, so I didn't want to give up.
That's why I did a lot of special training. I asked Karin and Ai for training tips while Shizuku and Shioriko taught me how to carry myself."
MAI: "Emma... I've made up my mind. I'm going to train too. I'd shame you if I sat around, moped, and did nothing!
Join me for my own speed training, Emma!"
EMMA: "Yeah, of course!"