RIN: *Pant* *Pant* "I can keep going!"

AKI: "W-Wait! You're way too fast, Rin." *Pant* *Pant*

She's so fast. I can't catch up to her at all!

RIN: "Wait here! I'm gonna run five more laps."

AKI: "Five more?! That's amazing."

...

AKI: "Great job, Rin! You've been practicing a lot more ever since the Joint Solo Live Show was announced."

RIN: "Yeah! I still haven't decided what I'm gonna do yet. But I wanna give it my all for the people who come to see me."

AKI: "I think a lot of people will come to the show to see you!"

RIN: "I don't want them to see my solo performance and be disappointed. I wanna make sure it's a fun time for everyone."

Rin... She's really motivated for the solo live show!

RIN: "I can't wait for my solo debut. My heart is already thumping out of my chest, nya!
*Giggle* But it's bad that I haven't decided what I'm doing yet, huh? You'll get mad at me again if I say that I'm fine with anything."

AKI: "Mad? I won't get mad! I won't get mad, but... I was just thinking how nice you are."

RIN: "No way! Maki is always scolding me and telling me to think about others more."

AKI: "You told me that you want lots of people to see you, that you don't want to disappoint them, and that you want them to have a fun time.
You care more about what your solo performance can offer to others than what you're going to do during it."

RIN: "Hmm... But, isn't that normal? After all, I wouldn't be a school idol if no one was there to watch me!
Remember how Maki said there's no point in me doing a solo performance if i just do the same thing as Kayo-chin?"

AKI: "Yeah..."

RIN: "That's why I wanna make a solo performance all of my own creation that isn't just copying someone else's.
I'm just not sure what it'll be yet."

A fun solo performance that only Rin can put on... I feel like we're close to discovering what exactly that is.

But we need to hurry up and figure it out!
The show is Saturday!

RIN: "Oh well!"

AKI: "What?!"

RIN: "I'm just gonna throw all my energy into practice until I figure something out! Let's go!"

AKI: "Huh? Even me?"

RIN: "Of course! If you're gonna support me, you'll need to build up some stamina, too!"

AKI: *Groan* "Fine! I'll keep running and build up my stamina for you."

RIN: *Giggle* "I knew you'd say that! Let's hit the road!"

More running...

...

AKI: *PANT* *BREATHE*

I'm so drained of energy! Why did I run 20 laps with Rin?!

Thank God it's a Sunday. I don't think a heavy-breathing male walking through an all-girls school wouldn't attract the best attention.

At least I can take a break in the Idol Study Clubroom...

KOTORI: "Oh, you came! Thank you so much."

AKI "Ko, *PANT* to, *PANT* ri" *PANT*

KOTORI: "Is everything okay?"

AKI: "Sorry...I'm *Pant* a little out of breath. I was just training with Rin. *Pant* What have you been up to?"

*FLOP*

Finally...a seat!

KOTORI: "I was mending the costumes we wore at our last live show. Some of the skirt hems were a bit frayed.
These costumes might not make an appearance at the solo live, but we'll probably still wear them again someday."

AKI: "I guess you have to stay on top of maintenance because you wear them so often. That *Cough* seems tough."

KOTORI: "Not at all! I love taking the time to carefully mend them. I feel more connected to them that way."

AKI: "I see. It sounds like an important time for you."

Kinda reminds me of that time I caught Ruby secretly making adjustments to Aqours' costumes. And then there's You's talent for designing costumes.

Both μ's and Aqours are so lucky to have such gifted seamstresses!

AKI: "Oh? These drawings over here... Are these your designs?"

KOTORI: "Oh! Those...are some outfit designs I was just playing around with. I was trying to come up with a few different ideas."

AKI: "There are so many! Each design is so intricate and lovely. Is one of those going to be your solo costume? Or are they just for μ's' live shows?"

KOTORI: "Oh, neither. This is just a hobby of mine."

AKI: "So you like to design clothes even when you aren't making stage costumes. I didn't know that."

KOTORI: "I enjoyed designing even before I was a school idol. Making your own clothes is really fun!
My dream is to put on my own fashion show one day."

AKI: "A fashion show! I had no idea that was one of your dreams.
Wait a second... The thing you really want to do has been right there in front of you all along!
Kotori! Can't we work these designs into your solo performance somehow?"

KOTORI: "Huh?! But these aren't stage costumes."

AKI: "Let's make your dream come true at the solo live!"

KOTORI: "B-But...it doesn't have much at all to do worh school idols. Do you think it'd be okay?"

AKI: "These clothes might not be stage costumes. But fashion is still an essential part of the lifeblood of being a school idol!
The reason you can make such lovely stage costumes is because you're so stylish."

KOTORI: "Do you really think so? I guess it's true that I wouldn't have been able to make them if I hadn't already been making clothes."

AKI: "Your regular outfits are always really cute, too! I'd love to see you wear lots of different things.
Seeing your designs made me realize that any clothes you make will really shine up on stage."

KOTORI: "Really? If you really think so, then..."

AKI: "If you did put on a fashion show, it'd be an amazing solo performance that only you could pull off.
I think you could wear a school idol costume or sing in your normal clothes. I know that both are really important to you."

KOTORI: "The fashion show I've always dreamed of...on my solo live stage.
Okay! I think you've convinced me to give it a shot.
I love both school idol costumes and regular fashion. I think that as long as fashion is involved somehow, it'll be the perfect solo performance for me.
Finally one of my biggest dreams will come true...and it's all thanks to you!"

AKI: "Come on, you're making me blush here."

KOTORI: "How cute!"

AKI: "Huh?"

KOTORI: "N-Nothing!"