AKI: "So last week, we decided to make a promo video to spread the message about the School Idol Festival slogan. What song are we gonna use for it?"

SETSUNA: "Since we're going out of our way to make a promo video, why don't we write a new song for it too?"

DIA: "Yes, it would be great to have a song that is symbolic of the event itself."

RUBY: "But who will write it?"

MAKI: "Well the songwriter should either be Me, Riko or Akihiko."

AKI: "You're right. Do either of you have any ideas?"

MAKI: "Hmm... Nothing's really coming to me just yet."

RIN: "Maki can't get into the swing of things unless Kayo-chin and I are nearby cheering for her. Isn't that right, Kayo-chin?"

HANAYO: "Should we all meet up in the music room during lunch again?"

SHIZUKU: *Chuckle* "Having everyone around to help write a song sounds like it would be a lot of fun."

MAKI: "They don't exactly ask permission..."

AI: "Aw, you're blushing up to your hair, Maki!"

MAKI: "I'm not blushing!"

ELI: "Come on, guys. We're supposed to be discussing our new song."

NOZOMI: "So, what should we do?"

AKI: "Maki's got nothing, I've got nothing. What do you think, Riko?"

RIKO: "Um, actually... I've had an idea for a new song ever since we came up with our slogan."

YOU: "What?! This is the first I'm hearing of it! Yoy should've said something sooner, Riko!"

RIKO: "Sorry. I just wanted to see if our other songwriters had any ideas first."

AKI: "What do you have in mind?"

RIKO: "Well, um... To put it simply, I want it to be kind of an inspirational song."

AKI: "Inspirational?"

KASUMI: "Oh, tell us more!"

RIKO: "I don't know if I can really put it into words... But, uh..."

AKI: "It's okay, take your time."

RIKO: "Chasing your dreams isn't always just fun and games. Sometimes it hurts so much that you just want to give up. Sometimes, you just want to run away from it all.
I think everyone worries deep down that it's impossible to make their dreams come true.
But as long as you have someone working alongside you, you'll find the strength to keep trying.
So we should all talk about our dreams! Especially when you're at your lowest! It's hard when you're alone, but not when we're all in it together!
I want to write something inspirational like that. A song that cheers people on when they feel like nothing is going right."

AKI: "?!"

My...hardships?
My lowest points?

MAKI: "That's great. Here I thought you weren't saying anything because you had jo ideas either, but I couldn't have been more wrong. I say Riko should write the song. How about you all?"

HONOKA: "I totally agree!"

CHIKA: "Oh, Riko! I had no idea you were thinking so deeply about this! It's perfect! I wanna sing it with everyone in Aqours!"

AYUMU: "I'm sure it'll be amazing. I can't wait to see you all sing it!"

AKI: "..."

HONOKA: "Then it settles it! The song for the promo video will be Aqours' new song! The song has such a beautiful message. I can't wait to hear what it'll sound like!"

RIKO: "That's a lot of pressure, but... I want to do what I can to meet those expectations of everyone."

MARI: "Wow! You sound so confident today, Riko!"

AKI: "..."

ELI: "I'm not trying to rush you or anything. But we do have a schedule to stick to. How long do you think it'll take for you to write the song?"

RIKO: "I have the basics down already, so I don't think it will take much time at all. But I do need everyone's help filling in some of the parts that need more fleshing out."

RINA: "What do you need? I'll help you out in any way I can. Rina-chan Board says, 'Serious!'"

AKI: "..."

RIKO: "Well, I'd like you all to tell me about some of your failures or times you've been really down and how you picked yourself back up afterward."

AKI: "?!"

HONOKA: "Oh, then you can come right to me! I'm not proud of it, but I've handled more screw-ups than I can count!"

UMI: "Why do you sound so happy about that, Honoka...?"

KOTORI: "Haha... Though she's right that we have an awfully big library to draw from."

AKI: "..."

KANAN: "The best thing to do when you're feeling down is to get your body moving! Just clear your mind and start working up a sweat. You'll feel refreshed in body and mind!"

KARIN: *Chuckle* "It'd be nice if that worked for everyone. What works foe me is talking things through with other people."

AKI: "..."

HANAMARU: "I've listened to a bunch of stories about Yoshiko's failures and misfortunes before. Hey Yoshiko, did that make you feel any better, zura?"

YOSHIKO: "Hey! Why are you bringing that up in front of everyone?! And it's Yohane! YO-HA-NE!"

EMMA: *Giggle* "You two sure are close. There was one time I felt hopeless because I couldn't do this thing no matter how hard I tried practicing. So..."

KANATA: "I made you some flaky, fluffy cream puffs, right? Talking things over with a friend while eating nice, sweet treats can cure pretty much any ills you might have."

AKI: "..."

NICO: "Ugh, none of you have any idea how it's done! It has to be more dramatic! Let me tell you the story of Nico Yazawa, the galaxy's number one school idol, and her deep, dark past..."

HONOKA: "Emma! If you're ever feeling down, you can always drop by Homura Bakery and have some of my family's sweets! We'll treat you to a feast!"

NICO: "Hey, I was talking! Don't interrupt my tragic backstory!"

HONOKA: "Oh wait, are you okay with Japanese sweets?"

EMMA: "More than okay! I love them!"

NICO: "Hello? I said I was talking! Hey, why's our Chairman staring out into space like that?"

AKI: "FAILURE, was it?"

NICO: "Huh?! You scared me!"

RIKO: "That's right, a song about being at your lowest and overcoming it."

AKI: "Boy... Do I have a story to tell you all."

...

AYUMU: "What?!"

AKI: "That's right. Whenever I feel at my highest, or my...lowest. I keep getting these weird visions.
The first time it happened was when I was inspired by your joint show in Akihabara. It felt like I was in another world.
The second time was at the Numazu Summer Festival, during Aqours' performance. At first I pinned it on possible heat exposure, but I was wrong.
Third time was meeting μ's, I was so elated to meet you all I guess my mind got carried away."

MAKI: "All of those times were your highest, right? Then, does that mean-"

AKI: "Yes, our competition. When I hit my lowest and couldn't play I felt like I was encased in a block of ice, frozen solid.
The second low point was..."

RINA: "It's okay, Aki-Senpai. Rina-chan Board says, 'Here for you'."

AKI: "Yeah... But what's weird is when I hit my lowest, it's not just visions... But I hear things, too."

ELI: "Auditory and visual hallucinations..."

AKI: "Possibly. But it's okay, for some reason I haven't experienced any for a while now. Maybe they've stopped?
I have no problem in sharing what I experienced, Riko."

RIKO: "It's okay, you don't have to. I don't want you to force yourself to do something you're uncomfortable with."

AKI: "No, it's fine. I want to use these negatives to bring forth positivity in people."

RIKO: "Okay, if you're comfortable with sharing..."

AKI: "When I hit my lowest in the contest, I was hit with a barrage of doubt, that what I was doing was meaningless, that I was nothing..."

AYUMU: "Aki..."

AKI: "Whether it was imagining failure, or imagining what my dad would say to me. He'd just call school idols pointless, that there's no future for me and he'll control everything I do."

MARI: "..."

MAKI: "..."

SETSUNA: "..."

AKI: "However, through the good and the bad episodes I had, TWO things were consistently said.
Number one, I was told to 'Break The Ice'."

RIKO: "Break the ice?"

AKI: "I don't know what it means, but it was like some voice deep inside me was telling me to."

MAKI: "You said you felt frozen solid during our contest, right?"

AKI: "Yeah."

MAKI: "What if this voice within you was telling you to break through, to push forward?"

AKI: "?!"

I never thought of it that way...

AKI: "I'd like to believe that. But it happened before I snapped and beat down Ryu."

MAKI: "Oh..."

AKI: "I don't know what it means. And I don't think that it could ever be used to make a song. Come on, even I don't understand what it means."

RIKO: "I see..."

AKI: "The second thing might be easier to understand. Or not... But when I felt completely frozen, I saw this shadow figure come to me. I couldn't make out who it was but when I was down they told me 'Wake Up Challenger'."

RIKO: "?!"

AKI: "I'd like to believe that it was referring to me waking up when I had to challenge Maki. I was a challenger who needed to wake up from my despair and rise up."

MAKI: "That's what you went through...? I had no idea."

AKI: "I'm okay now."

ELI: "Are you sure you're okay? It might be best to see a doctor."

AKI: "I'm fine. If this figure was my inner voice, then clearly I was telling myself to keep moving forward, to wake up and rise up."

RIKO: "That's it..."

AKI: "Huh?"

RIKO: "Akihiko, if it's okay... Can I use that phrase in the song?"

AKI: "What? 'Wake Up Challenger'? Sure, that's why I'm telling you this, after all."

RIKO: "I'll only do it if it's okay with you."

AKI: "Of course it's okay! I want to turn this into a positive message.
But, enough about me, everyone else contribute something."

...

RIKO: "Thanks, guys. I think I have enough material to fill in the blanks now."

NICO: "Argh... I got so carried away I laid my whole life bare for everyone in the world to see..."

I had no idea that Nico lost her father at such a young age... I'm always complaining about mine, but I've got to realize that there are so many people out there that don't have one.

NICO: "I said way too much..."

KASUMI: "Me too... I'm so embarrassed."

NOZOMI: "Goodness me, I had no idea your past held such riveting stories, Eli-chi!

ELI: "I'm begging you... Please just forget what I said!"

RIKO: "I've got a pretty good idea of what I wanna do, so I should be able to have it done by our next regular meeting at this rate."

RIN: "Wow! I can't wait!"

DIA: "Given the time, I believe this would be a good place to finish up."

I should probably go home and get some rest for tomorrow.

I've got a practice to oversee, as well as the volunteering thing with Emma.

Oh, but tonight could be a great opportunity for me to contact Haruka. Then before practice tomorrow, I can meet Kanata on the roof.