Monday, day 2 of helping μ's out with their solo preparations.

This will also be the last time I get to help them before the show this Saturday.

Huh, I've helped μ's and the Nijigasaki girls out. Yet I've recieved no word from Aqours.

I'll have to assume that they've handled everything themselves.

However, a good update to say is that Nozomi's now putting effort into her solo live performance! I'm so happy about that!

NOZOMI: "I'm sorry I put off preparing for the joint solo live show this whole time."

AKI: "You sure did! I was starting to think you didn't want to perform at all because of that."

NOZOMI: "Really? I guess it's only natural to think that way..."

AKI: "Or maybe you really don't want to perform solo to begin with?"

NOZOMI: "Huh?! That's totally not it at all!"

AKI: "I-It's not, right? Thank goodness."

NOZOMI: "I gotta tell you exactly how I feel, huh?"

AKI: "How you feel?"

NOZOMI: *Chuckle* "It's kinda embarrassing to say it out loud, so do you mind reading this?"

AKI: "Is this your notebook?"

NOZOMI: "Go ahead read it."

AKI: "Okay. 'I want to make the most of my great dance skills and the spiritual powers I so love' Hmm... 'I also want to talk about fortune-telling so I can involve the people in my audience, too'. Is this what I think it is?!"

This notebook is incredible. It's filled with all the things Nozomi wants to do at the live show!

AKI: "So you weren't putting off your preparations for your solo performance this whole time!"

NOZOMI: "I figured I was better at helping out everyone in μ's, so I wanted to prioritize that first.
But there was someone who said they wanted to see my performance, so I had to give that some attention.
*Chuckle* I'm talking about you, if you didn't catch on. Thanks!"

AKI: "Nozomi... So you really were thinking about your solo performance this whole time, then."

NOZOMI: "Of course I was! It's incredible to be able to perform your own solo, so it was on my mind the whole time.
And maybe I also was thinking I want you to watch me, too."

AKI: "Now I feel like we'll be able to create an amazing solo performance with your notes!"

NOZOMI: "Yup! I wanna give my power to the people who come to watch me."

AKI: "I'm glad I got to hear how you feel before the live show rolled around!"

NOZOMI: "And I'm glad I could get all this off my chest. I feel like my eyes have opened up now."

AKI: *Laugh* "Rise and shine, Nozomi."

NOZOMI: *Chuckle* "It's a beautiful day. Good morning!"

KOTORI: "Laa laa! Good morning!"

AKI: *Chuckle* "You're in a good mood, Kotori."

KOTORI: *Giggle* "It's because I came up with a bunch of ideas after we decided to go ahead with the fashion show."

NOZOMI: "Fashion show? Oops, I don't want to hear any spoilers here. I'll get a start on solo practice."

AKI: "No problem, Nozomi."

KOTORI: "Good luck! Ooh! I've figured out the clothing designs and I've already gone out to buy the fabric. Also, look at this!"

AKI: "Wow! That's adorable! So you've already finished making the outfits then?"

KOTORI: "Yup! I worked all night! I'm thinking about wearing both the clothes I've designed and my stage costume for my solo performance.
I want everyone to see both my regular clothes and my stage costume since I put a lot of thought into making both of them."

AKI: "I think that's a great idea!"

KOTORI: "Oh, but I've also adapted my regular clothes for a stage performance, so they're not totally normal!"

AKI: "A-Adapted?!"

KOTORI: "Because I need to have quick costume changes for my performance, you know?
This looks laced-up, but there is actually a zipper behind it. This one here has snap fasteners so I can show off my costume underneath by popping these off. And, and..."

AKI: "So all these little tweaks go into stage costumes, huh? Wow, I wouldn't expect any less from you!"

KOTORI: *Giggle* "I'm gonna use up all the experience I've gathered!"

AKI: "You said these are your regular clothes, but they're pretty glamorous clothes with a school-idol-esque feel to them."

KOTORI: "Thanks! I was going for a slightly more glamorous date-night look so it wouldn't look out of place on stage."

AKI: "A d-date-night look?!"

I wonder who Kotori would go on a date with dressed like this?

KOTORI: "But since I don't have anyone to go on a date with, I thought back to when you and I hung out while I made this!"

AKI: "What?! I feel so...honored? Is that the right thing to say?"

KOTORI: "Oh, sorry. Was that something I shouldn't have done?"

AKI: "No way! I love going places and hanging out with you, so that makes me really happy!"

KOTORI: *Giggle* "Let's go out somewhere again sometime.
Do you think the people who come to warch me will enjoy themselves if I perform in these costumes?"

AKI: "Totally! And I bet they'll be shocked to find out that you designed and made them yourself!"

KOTORI: "Really? I'm looking forward to it! I want you see the happy faces of my audience, so I'm gonna do my best!"

AKI: "Right! ...Wait."

KOTORI: "Huh? Is something wrong?"

AKI: "There may be a slight complication."

KOTORI: "There is?"

AKI: "You remember that you're only performing one song, right?"

KOTORI: "Oh. I see the problem."

AKI: "How are you going to perform costume changes if you're performing one song?"

KOTORI: "I'm sorry... I didn't think this through."

AKI: "I'd say to put the clothes on mannequins around the stage. But then the appeal of your own fashion show is lost if you're not wearing the clothes."

KOTORI: "Oh no... What do we do? I knew it was too good to be true."

AKI: "Say... I've got an idea. It's crazy, but it might just work."

KOTORI: "Really? Tell me, please!"

AKI: "I'm in no way a believer of magic, but illusions I find interesting."

KOTORI: "Huh?"

AKI: "Ever seen a magic show, Kotori?"

KOTORI: "Sure, one of the maids at the café likes to perform sometimes."

AKI: "Great! Well, you've made adjustments to the clothes for fast costume changes. But how fast can you change costume?"

KOTORI: "I can change pretty fast, each change takes a few seconds."

AKI: "Then how about you change costumes on stage?"

KOTORI: "..."

Oh no...that did not sound right! WHY DID I SAY IT LIKE THAT?!

AKI: "Sorry! Let me rephrase that with context. There's a magic trick that involves a magician's assistant going into a box. The magician then opens the door and the assistant is wearing a different outfit. Then the door closes and reopens and they're wearing another outfit."

KOTORI: "But I don't know how to perform magic!"

AKI: "No, magic is fake. This is an illusion. You would sing, then during an instrumental prelude you would enter the room on the stage and-"

KOTORI: "..."

AKI: "D-Don't worry! I promise that the room will be completely secluded with no possible way to see from the outside."

KOTORI: "So I'd go into this boxed-room and change costumes quickly?"

AKI: "Exactly. And since you've adjusted your costumes to allow quick changes, you can do that easily.
You also showed me how the costumes are made to look normal, like the laced one for instance. It will create an illusion to the audience that you're magically changing costume.
Not only will the audience love the costumes, but they'll think you and your clothes are magical! Could you imagine that?"

KOTORI: "I love it! The thought of my clothes being magical is amazing! I'll get practicing on costume changes right away.
Also, I'll ask my co-worker when I see her if she knows where I can find a boxed-room like that."

AKI: "Great!"

I'm glad that she loves my idea.