It's just as I thought, she didn't miss a step. She silenced the critics that called her qualifiers win a fluke.
AYUMU: "Ah-ha, I thought you'd be here."
AKI: "Huh? Ayu? I thought club practice already ended. Did you forget something?"
AYUMU: "Nope, I just thought you might still be here. Hey, are you watching a recording of the event I was in?"
AKI: "Yup. I thought I should study it, so it could inspire me to write our group song."
AYUMU: "You really love school idols more than anything, don't you? It's practically written all over your face."
AKI: "Huh?! I don't know if I'd go that far."
AYUMU: "You can't hide anything from your childhood friend!"
AKI: "Okay, maybe I do. I'm guessing the same goes for you, too?"
AYUMU: "N-Not quite. There's something that I love way more than school idols."
AKI: "Really? I don't know about other things anymore. School idols have taken over my life. All that I do now is study or help them."
AYUMU: "Hey, would you mind if I sat with you and we went over the footage together?"
AKI: "Huh?"
AYUMU: "Two heads are better than one, right?"
AKI: "Thanks, but I think this is something I need to do alone. It's my job to think about how all of you can best shine as school idols."
AYUMU: "Come on, let me help you."
AKI: "You'll get your chance to go through it with me after I've done a thorough analysis first!"
AYUMU: "I see. Sorry. Maybe it was selfish of me to ask."
AKI: "Oh no, it's not! S-Sorry... I'm just being as stubborn as usual. I appreciate you wanting to help."
AYUMU: *Giggle* "I'm glad. Well, let me know if there's something else I can do to help."
AKI: "I will! But at the moment, I just want you to head home early and get some rest.
You just wrapped up a big, successful solo event, remember? You must be exhausted, so your first task is to recover."
AYUMU: "You're probably just as tired yourself. The main reason the event was such a success is because of all your support.
I just want to repay you for all that hard work."
AKI: "You're not gonna leave unless I ask you to help, are you?"
AYUMU: "Nope!"
AKI: *Sigh* "Stubborn as always."
AYUMU: *Giggle* "Like you're one to talk."
AKI: "Okay, okay! Help me out so that we can head home together early!"
AYUMU: "Thanks! What do you want me to help with?"
AKI: "You tell me, you're the one that wanted to help!"
AYUMU: "Come on, Aki. There's gotta be something that I could help you with."
AKI: "Okay, fine. I didn't just hand out seeds at your event, but I also got some fans to fill out surveys. I was thinking of sending them thank-you postcards."
AYUMU: "You need me to help mail them out?"
AKI: "Yup. There's so many that it'd actually be a lot to handle alone. So, if you can pitch in it'd be a huge help."
AYUMU: "That sounds like a pretty big task. You were planning to do it all by yourself?"
AKI: "Yeah, kinda..."
AYUMU: "From now on, if you ever need help, let me know right away. If the shoe was on the other foot and I was working hard all alone, you'd worry about me, right?"
AKI: "Of course I would! I'd worry about all of you if I was overworking you! All right, I solemnly swear I will ask you for help right away from now on!"
AYUMU: "You'd better! Just kidding!"
AKI: "Alrighty, let's get started."
AYUMU: "Still, I need to thank you somehow... How about I make you lunch tomorrow?"
AKI: "Wait, are you sure? Helping me is enough thanks for me."
AYUMU: "Come on, I insist! I'll even make you some of those rolled eggs you love so much!"
AKI: "Gah, how can I resist?! Fine... Thanks Ayu."
AYUMU: *Giggle*
AKI: "Looks like I'm kinda lucky. Kanata made me lunch today and you're making me lunch tomorrow."
AYUMU: "Wait, Kanata did...?"
AKI: "Well, it wasn't like it was made for me or anything. She had one spare since her sister Haruka didn't want one. So, she gave it to me. It was soooo good! Who knew that behind the sleepy image was a five star chef?"
AYUMU: "Yeah...who knew...?"