SHIZUKU: "Although, there is still something I'm curious about, Senpai."

AKI: "Hm? What is it?"

SHIZUKU: "Why are there fish cut outs being moved onto the stage?"

AKI: "Eh? I had no idea, but... I know exactly who would do something like that for their solo performance!"

SHIZUKU: *Giggle* "You're always so perceptive."

Perceptive or not, I knew who planned to perform a deep sea themed performance.

...

AKI: "Looks like I was correct. I knew that only you were capable of creating a performance like this, Kanan."

KANAN: "Think so? *Chuckle* I couldn't have done it without the rest of Aqours helping me."

AKI: "I'm relieved to hear that the solo live practicing was a breeze for you all. I was kinda worried since I haven't been able to help you that much."

KANAN: "Don't sweat it, you've helped us a lot with the Summer Festival, and you've helped me promote my family's business."

AKI: "Oh, that's right. This performance is going to be your second promotional video for the shop, right?"

KANAN: "Right. The four of us came up with that plan. I thought the fish and the song would add to the deep sea diving feel, y'know?"

AKI: "I think this video is going to be a huge success! And there's no sashimi required!"

KANAN: "Ugh... Please don't remind me."

AKI: "These cutouts are really cute. Like that shark looks pretty cool, like it's smiling and saying 'Shaaaark!' or something."

KANAN: *Laugh* "I'm glad you like them, we worked pretty ha- Oh?"

AKI: "Oh, they're introducing you. Good luck out there!"

KANAN: "One more thing, do you have the cameras ready?"

AKI: "Yes, I consulted the camera crew this morning. They've got cameras set up all over the arena, they're even streaming this event online."

KANAN: "Thanks!"

...

...

It feels like Kanan brought us all under the sea for that song.

But I'm not talking about the dark depths of drowning where you cannot see.

I'm talking about the beauty of the ocean that I saw in Awashima!

AKI: "Kanan, we got the footage! This video is gonna be a hit!"

KANAN: "I'm relieved to hear you say that. But, video aside... What did you think?"

AKI: "Your singing was so beautiful. I was really moved."

KANAN: "Thanks. But we still don't know if the audience outside of this stadium will give us a good response. So it's too soon to call it a success."

AKI: "They'll definitely love it! You put everything you had into that, from your love of diving to your love of being a school id- AHHH!"

*CRASH*

MARI: "KANAN, SHINYYYYY!"

KANAN: "Let me go, I'll sue you. Look, you even barged into Akihiko."

AKI: "Ow......"

MARI: "Oh, mistake! Sorry, Rainbow Student!"

AKI: "Ow... I-It's fine, really."

DIA: "I tried to stop her, but she really couldn't help herself."

AKI: "Don't worry about it. Mari's up next anyway. I'm too happy to be angry right now. Kanan's video is going to be a success!"

KANAN: "No matter what the response is, I couldn't have done it without these two or you for that matter."

DIA: "We certainly put more effort into this one than our first video. We should temper our expectations. But I think we can at least be proud of our work."

MARI: "Dia's right. If we don't believe in our work, then who will? It'll be okay. We just gotta have faith!"

AKI: "It kind of feels a waste for this song to only be used for one performance and video... You should totally release it as a solo song later."

KANAN: "Hmm. I don't know if we need to go that far. Aqours' songs are enough for me."

AKI: "Aww, really? But it's a rare song with lyrics written by you...
Hey, that reminds me. Aqours was just the three of you at first, right? I heard you wrote a lot of lyrics back then, Kanan.
So if you were a lyricist for 2 years... When and why did Chika take over?"

KANAN: "Oh... That happened after Aqours was reborn."

AKI: "Reborn? What do you mean?"

DIA: "As you already know, Aqours was formed by the three of us back when we were first-years. However, we disbanded for a while."

AKI: "D-Disbanded?! Wh-Why?!"

MARI: "Because Kanan got the wrong idea."

KANAN: "What? I fretted over that decision for a long time, you know. Back then, it seemed like the best thing to do!"

MARI: "How can you say that? You just decided in your own without asking us!"

DIA: "Good grief. This is what happens any time this comes up.
In any case, between all of the misunderstandings and assumptions, we went through a lot."

AKI: "Huh... I had no idea."

KANAN: "I thought I would never be a school idol again, but here I am today. I wonder what past me would have to say about that. But once I started, I had no doubts. I decided to join everyone and move forward as a member of the new Aqours."

The new Aqours?

DIA: "We strive to make progress every day, so that the nine if us can one day achieve what the three of us alone could not."

MARI: *Giggle* "You say that now, but you were really opposed to Chika-chi and the others becoming school idols at first, Dia."

DIA: "Th-That was because I was trying to test them! You cannot survive in the school idol world with half-hearted resolve!"

KANAN: "But you did slip the name 'Aqours' into their list of group name options, so you must have had high expectations."

DIA: "Wh-What are you talking about?! I never said anything to them!"

I always felt like Kanan, Mari, and Dia had a different aura than the other Aqours members.

As Aqours, they chased the same dream, gave up, were reborn, and are now chasing after that dream again. To these three, Aqours must be more dear to them than anything else.

Oh...

AKI: "Then if the three original founders of Aqours graduate...what comes next?"

MARI, KANAN, DIA: "..."