I can't stop shaking, the results of all three contests are about to be revealed.
We can't afford to lose this. I have the chance to recruit A-RISE to the School Idol Festival lineup! I'm not throwing away my shot!
Just like I wouldn't let Ai and Karin throw away their spots on the Main Stage. They stepped up when nobody else would! If they aren't with us, then what's the point in any of the girls performing?
Liella!? They've already impressed me. I'm going to give them their spot on a sub-stage at the Festival. I'm sure they'll be thrilled with the news.
TSUBASA: "Everyone, thank you for watching our Nijigasaki vs All live show!"
ANJU: "However, with every live show there is an ending."
ERENA: "And with every victory there is a defeat. It's time for us to reveal the results of all three contests."
TSUBASA: "First of all, let's find out who won between us A-RISE and the Nijigasaki Sub-Unit A-ZU-NA!"
VOTES
A-RISE - 95%
A-ZU-NA - 5%
TSUBASA: "Wow, A-RISE win!"
F-F-F-Five percent?!
AYUMU: "..."
SHIZUKU: "..."
SETSUNA: "..."
It was inevitable that we would lose to A-RISE. But...not so brutally.
What does this mean for the rest of us?!
ERENA: "Second contest, Liella! VS QU4RTZ."
VOTES
Liella! - 60%
QU4RTZ - 40%
ERENA: "With that result, Liella! are the winners!"
KANON: "W-We won?!"
CHISATO: "Incredible! Kanon we did it!"
W-We weren't the ones with something to prove and yet we lost...again?!
That's two losses in a row. Albeit the second one wasn't as crushing but...
The third contest means the most to us. Ai, Karin, I pray for their victory. I pray for Diver Diva to make the upset and defeat Saint Snow!
We need a miracle...
ANJU: "And finally... Saint Snow VS Diver Diva!"
VOTES:
Saint Snow - 51%
Diver Diva - 49%
ANJU: "That settles it! Your winners and advancing to the School Idol Festival's Main Stage... Sarah and Leah Kazuno! Saint Snow!"
N-No...
AKI: "Ai..."
AI: "..."
AKI: "Karin..."
KARIN: "..."
Everything they've worked for, it's all been for nothing. I... I don't think I can do this without them.
It's not fair.
IT'S NOT FAIR!
Tonight we competed three times and suffered defeat three times.
A complete worst case scenario.
I'm a failure of a producer for blindly believing we could stand proud against them...
This marks the end of the live show, and...our dream.
I fall to my knees in hopelessness.
It's all my fault...
TSUBASA: "A producer like you shouldn't fall to his knees, Akihiko Suzuki."
AKI: "...What does it matter? I'm a failure. I lead my girls into a slaughter. My blind stubbornness has cost us everything."
ERENA: "And why do you think that?"
AKI: "Because we lost..."
ANJU: "The contest? Yes. But you've achieved something that only μ's have done."
AKI: "Huh?"
TSUBASA: "You caught A-RISE off guard. We never anticipated that you would form Sub-Units, and such talented ones at that all in just a week!"
ERENA: "We predicted that the nine of you would perform 'TOKIMEKI RUNNERS' just like in your P.V."
ANJU: "However, you created three sub-units, wrote three songs and choreographed three performances all in one week."
AKI: "So what are you trying to say...?"
TSUBASA: "This contest between us was a test. We wanted to see if you lived up to the hype you're known for. You proved just that and so much more!"
AKI: "So does that mean?"
ERENA: "We would love to perform at the School Idol Festival."
AKI: "R-Really?!"
ANJU: "We were always going to, since you, μ's and Aqours are doing such a good job resurrecting it."
TSUBASA: "It's just a contest was way more fun, y'know?"
ERENA: "Before we graduate and turn professional, we want to make the most of the time we have left as school idols."
ANJU: "Our motive was always to make more people happy than any other group. That is all."
AKI: "A-RISE... Thank you. But I refuse."
TSUBASA: "What? But we're offering you the chance for us to perform. Isn't that what you wanted?"
AKI: "Without Ai and Karin, I refuse to let the School Idol Festival go ahead."
KARIN: "Boss?!"
AI: "Prez?!"
AKI: "Call it being a sore loser all you want, but I won't stop until ALL NINE OF THEM are on the Main Stage!"
LEAH: "No, no, no! You made your bed now sleep in it! We had a deal! You're not backing out of it now!"
SARAH: "Leah, allow me. Akihiko Suzuki, idols of Nijigasaki. That was an amazing contest, I don't think we've seen competition like that since Aqours. You've earned the respect of Saint Snow and we can't wait to see you all perform on the Main Stage. We look forward to headlining the second sub-stage."
AKI: "Thank you, but I already told you. Without Ai and Karin we're not interested.
Wait... What did you say?!"
LEAH: "S-Sis?!"
SARAH: "You heard me. We're not interested in the main stage place we won. Any group who has earned the respect of A-RISE should be up there."
AI: "N-No way..."
KARIN: "You're letting us keep our spots?"
SARAH: "Of course, you earned them fair and square after all. And look at the results. No school idol duo has ever come that close to beating us."
LEAH: "Sis... I won't let you do this."
SARAH: "Leah?"
LEAH: "I need to prove myself to you! It's my fault we lost Love Live!
I need this... I need to make this up to you!"
SARAH: "So that's why. I had a hunch that you felt that way Leah, but Saint Snow to me, it was never about winning Love Live!"
LEAH: "It wasn't...?"
SARAH: "Love Live! was the end goal, but it wasn't my ultimatum. The reason why I wanted to form Saint Snow... It was you, Leah. It was always you."
LEAH: "Me? But I cost us everything, I'm a failure..."
SARAH: "Don't say that! Look at the path we've walked, how far we've come, the fun we've had! And we did all of that together. We would regret it for the rest of our lives if we let one bad performance define our legacy!"
LEAH: "?!"
SARAH: "The School Idol Festival, not many groups have the opportunity to headline a sub-stage. I want nothing more than to do that with you. Our final performance together in front of a crowd of thousands, let's make the name Saint Snow live forever!"
LEAH: "Sis... *Sniff* I LOVE YOU!"
The two of them embraced in a hug.
There's such a sisterly bond between them, much like Dia has with Ruby.
I'm not an expert in these matters since I have no siblings, but if I did... I would want our bond to be as strong as their sisterly love is.
AKI: "A-RISE, Saint Snow. Thank you for the wonderful contest, welcome aboard.
But that's not all... Liella!"
KANON: "Que?"
AKI: "Kanon Shibuya, *COUGH* correct?"
KANON: "S-Si! I mean...yes!"
AKI: "You wanted to impress me, well, you did more than that. You beat us tonight. So I want to offer you a spot on the sub-stages, what do you say?"
KANON: "I-I can't believe it, the School Idol Festival! This is a dream come true!"
AKI: "I'm not finished."
CHISATO: "Huh? What more can you say? We've earned our spot."
AKI: "Not just any spot!"
KEKE: "I think I get what you're saying, and it's fired me up!"
REN: "I don't follow, what could you offer us?"
AKI: "The School Idol Festival will host three sub-stages.
The first will be headlined by A-RISE.
The *COUGH* second will be headlined by Saint Snow.
The third? You're headlining it, Liella!"
KANON: "Y-You're just kidding, right?"
AKI: "You girls are talented, why would I kid around about that? I'm totally serious!"
KANON: "Señor Suzuki... Gracías!"
AKI: *Laugh* "¡De nada!"
TSUBASA: "We look forward to seeing what you, μ's and Aqours create together."
SARAH: "And when you send out the call, we'll be ready!"
KANON: "Our dreams are in your hands, Señor Suzuki."
AKI: "I won't let you down!"
The dreams of everyone now rest in my hands, tomorrow is a new day. Today we lost, but tomorrow we'll be back stronger!
And we have three sub-stage headliners too! Now all we need are volunteers and a venue.
It's like everything's coming together, just as planned! Like the world is spinning around!
Wait...
AKI: *COUGH* *COUGH*
*THUD*
AYUMU: "Aki...? *GASP* AKI!"
And just like that, the world faded to black...