*THE NEXT DAY*

What a crazy weekend that was, with the camp AND Aqours agreeing to join the solo live show if it can be made official.

I still need to give the girls the weekend report. But first, I'd like to discuss the solo live with Eli.

I've decided to take the morning off today on club business, though I'm still required to attend my evening classes.

Oh? Is that Rin running over there?

Holy! She's so fast!

Focus Suzuki. First and foremost, I need to discuss the solo show with Eli. If we're going to create a live show like this, we need to start planning it as soon as possible.

...

AKI: "Morning everyone! Oh? It's just you, Nico?"

NICO: "..."

AKI: "Nico?"

NICO: "Hey, what brings you here?"

AKI: "I need to discuss something with Eli, it's important. Have you seen her?"

NICO: "She said she's pretty busy today, you probably could catch her during our lunch break."

AKI: "Really? Thanks."

NICO: "So, you've been working pretty hard recently, right?"

AKI: "Of course, as the Chairman of the School Idol Festival Planning Committee, it's my job to be passionate in what I do."

NICO: "I can see your passion, but there's something I just don't understand about you."

AKI: "Hm? What is it?"

NICO: "Why do you want to help us, but not be a school idol yourself?"

AKI: "What do you mean by that?"

NICO: "I mean, you like school idols, right? You should just be a school idol yourself!"

AKI: "What?!"

NICO: "If you become a school idol, you can bathe in the shining spotlight and cheering voices. You can make it all your own! There's even been an increase in demand for male school idols. So why don't you become one?"

Nico became a school idol because she likes them. Though, that wouldn't be so easily applied with me.

AKI: "Nico, I...I want to be the closest supporter to school idols. I like them, so I want to help. That might not be how you think, though."

NICO: "But Nijigasaki earned a spot on the main stage! You can totally perform too!"

AKI: "No, Nico... Because I know that the spotlight and cheers will never be for me. But my shining path lies in supporting everyone and helping them shine as bright as possible!"

NICO: "I see... So you've given this some serious thought. A promise is a promise, though. You'll have to show me your passion to the very end!"

AKI: "So...does that mean you trust me?"

NICO: "Sure, why not?"

AKI: "That's great! Thank you so much, Nico!"

NICO: "Geez, don't overreact so much. Anyway, I've got some business to take care of. You should probably wait in here for Eli."

AKI: "Sure!"

...

It's still not time for lunch yet? *Sigh* Maybe a little longer?

HANAYO: "Akihiko? Hey!"

AKI: "Hanayo!"

RIN: "Oh? Is Aki here, nya?"

AKI: "Rin too? Hey, I saw you running on the track earlier. You've really improved on your pacing since your contest with Ai, great job!"

RIN: "Huh? You were watching me run? You could have said something!"

AKI: "You were so fast, I lost all words."

HANAYO: "Rin really is an all-star at sports!"

RIN: "Especially track and field! I sometimes run at meets to help out the track and field team."

AKI: "Really? That's so cool!"

RIN: *Laugh* "I only run so fast because Kayo-chin is always cheering me on."

HANAYO: "I always bring her a boxed lunch and cheer."

AKI: "A homemade lunch from Hanayo? I bet that provides a lot of energy!"

RIN: "Oh, I just remembered! I'm going to a meet with the track and field team this Saturday. Kayo-chin, are you coming?"

HANAYO: "S-Sorry, Rin. I told you at the live show, remember? I can't make it, I have plans to go out all day with my mom on Saturday."

RIN: "What?! Ohhhh, if you don't come and cheer for me, I can't do my best!"

HANAYO: "I want to go cheer for you, but... But! Somebody help me!"

AKI: "Rin, Hanayo, snap out of it!"

RIN, HANAYO: "?!"

AKI: "If you need someone to be there, then I will take Hanayo's place!"

RIN: "You'll come and root for me?! I bet I can do my best if you cheer enough on Kayo-chin's behalf!"

AKI: "It's too bad Hanayo can't go, but I'll do my best!"

RIN: "Woo! I feel so much better!"

Cheering for Rin at her match... I have to cheer even more than Hanayo would!

AKI: "Then after the meet, we could all go to out to eat for our weekly meeting. WAIT... Can you make the meeting, Hanayo?"

HANAYO: "If it's at night, I probably could."

AKI: "That's a good time for me. I'll have to let everyone know that our meeting will be a little later than usual."

If Rin and Hanayo are here, then does that mean...?

AKI: "Is this your lunch break?"

HANAYO: "Y-Yes!"

AKI: "Then I have no time to waste, I gotta find Eli, thanks girls!"

...

HANAYO: "Don't worry Rin, it's just like you said. No matter how far apart we are, I'll always be cheering for you."

RIN: "Kayo-chin..."

KOTORI: "Oh, Rin, Hanayo? Hi!"

HANAYO: "Kotori! Are you joining us for lunch?"

KOTORI: "Sure, having lunch together is fun."

RIN: "You actually just missed Aki, he was just here, nya."

KOTORI: "Akihiko was here? Ohhh, I missed him!"

RIN: "It's okay, he was here for business anyway, nya."

KOTORI: *Giggle* "I had a lot of fun this weekend in Numazu. But when isn't spending time with Akihiko fun? I enjoyed going to the museum with him."

RIN: "You went to a clothing exhibit with him, right? Glad you enjoyed it!
But you're not supposed to talk much in places like that, right? Is it that much fun to visit with a friend?"

KOTORI: "Well, you can tell how they feel from their expressions. And it was exciting to see that he felt the same way as me!"

RIN: "That sounds interesting! We should go to a place like that Kayo-chin! ......Kayo-chin?"

HANAYO: *Nom* *Nom* *Munch*

RIN: "I can tell from Kayo-chin's expressions that she's in love with that rice!"

KOTORI: *Giggle* "After we'd finished in the exhibition, we went to a café and enjoyed a chat. If it sounds interesting, then how about joining us, Rin?"

RIN: "Hmm. Well, I don't really know what to look at in a museum, you know?
Come to think of it, Aki probably knows a lot about clothes, too, right? I bet it'd help you out a lot if you made costumes together!"

KOTORI: "I don't think he sews, but he's given me a lot of good ideas instead!"

RIN: "He did? That's pretty awesome!"

KOTORI: "It just felt so great when he said he wanted to help me, you know?
Like, he's the reason we went to the museum. He said there was an exhibit on the history of clothes, that it might help with my slump."

RIN: "You were pretty stuck, too, Kotori. I was really worried!"

KOTORI: "Costume design is my burden, so I wanted to solve it by myself.
But that just led to me worrying everyone. I'm sorry."

RIN: "Hey, no worries! You solved the problem and I bet you're gonna make some cute costumes. So I'd say that's a big success!"

KOTORI: *Giggle* "I'll do my best! Oh, you know, the other day he woke up bright and early to go help Kanan out in Awashima. He stayed behind in Numazu longer than any of us, he's really always helping people."

RIN: "Hey, is it just me, or are you a little different lately?"

KOTORI: "Huh? Me?"

RIN: "Yeah, you! Before all you'd ever talk about was Honoka and Umi. But ever since Aki came to meet us, you've talked about him a whole bunch!"

KOTORI: "I have? I guess it's because we're spending more time together. With the museum visit, the camp in Numazu and all of our other meetings."

RIN: "Yeah, that's why I'm happy you've got a new close friend!"

KOTORI: *Giggle* "Well, can I go on about Honoka and Umi, too?"

RIN: "Of course! And I'll talk a bunch about what me, Nico and Kayo-chin did this weekend, too!"

KOTORI: "Sure! ...Close friends, huh? I wonder if that's where we're at?
I do want us to keep on working hard together, too!"