< Find A Way Out | Story
Flashback
A Few Years Ago
Middle School Akito
——Everyone, good job today.
Staff
Yeah, Shinonome-kun. We'll be relying on you again.
Middle School Akito
Of course, thank you very much.
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Middle School Akito
——Today's event felt pretty decent, but I'm still nowhere near RAD WEEKEND....
Middle School Akito
(My high notes have gotten more stable recently, and I've started bein' able to get the audience pumped.)
Middle School Akito
(But, I still haven't practiced enough.)
Middle School Akito
(I'd better start jogging so I don't lose stamina in the second half. Other than that...)
Senior Musician A
Ah...hey! It's him!
Senior Musician A
I told you about him before, didn't I? Shinonome Akito.
Middle School Akito
(This guy... He's always on my ass...)
Senior Musician B
Ohhh, the one who's always breathing down your neck about surpassing RAD WEEKEND?
Senior Musician C
Well, I'm sure he's underestimating it. It's not something you can surpass that easily.
Middle School Akito
It doesn't matter what anyone tells me about it. I knew from the start that it wouldn't be easy.
Middle School Akito
It won't take me long to surpass half-assed pricks like you, who get off on kickin' people down without any plans of going higher.
Senior Musician A
Huh...You better not be lying about that.
Middle School Akito
Hah? Course I'm not.
Senior Musician A
If you've got the guts to talk like that, prove yourself. There's an event at Crawl Green this week, you'd better show your face.
Middle School Akito
...Crawl Green? The place where RADder sang for the first time...!?
Senior Musician A
Yeah, I've been gathering a group who're decently skilled. It seems like recently you've been getting better, so I thought I'd do you a favor by inviting you over.
Senior Musician A
You're going to surpass RAD WEEKEND aren't you? This should be a breeze for you. Or are you gonna run away with your tail between your legs?
Middle School Akito
...! I...
Middle School Akito
(I know my own skill level better than anyone.)
Middle School Akito
(I'm not a person who can perform at that venue yet. But...)
Middle School Akito
——Got it. I'll take you up on that offer.
Middle School Akito
(——I don't wanna run anymore.)
Middle School Akito
(I decided I was gonna stake my life on singing——!)
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A Few Days Later
Middle School Akito
♪——————! ————!
Middle School Akito
(No, that's wrong, it's not like that. I need to raise my voice more——!)
Middle School Akito
♪——————!!—— ~ ~ ~!
Middle School Akito
(Shit, my voice wavered... I can't nail the chorus if I can't do this part...!
Middle School Akito
(I don't have any time left until the event next week... I'll be singing at RADder's origin...)
Middle School Akito
(I'll be standing at a place I've always wanted to sing at, so I can't afford to half-ass this!)
Middle School Akito
(I have to do everything I can right now, even if it means practicing every second...!)
Middle School Akito
♪——————!!
A Few Days Later
Middle School Akito
♪———, ———!!
Middle School Akito
*pant*...*pant*...*cough*! Shit, my voice is fading...I can't reach it like this...!
Flashback
Senior Musician A
I don't care if he's a middle schooler or not, RAD WEEKEND is a legend around here.
Senior Musician A
I can't stand it when these brats preach about surpassing it like it's some sort of game.
End flashback
Middle School Akito
(What's with that...)
Middle School Akito
(...Fuck. Each and every one of them, saying whatever shit they want...damn it...!)
???
♪————!! ————!!
Middle School An
...*sigh*. Ah, c'mon! It's not coming out right at all!
Middle School Akito
(That's KEN's daughter...)
Middle School An
♪——! ——! ————!!
Middle School An
...Mn. Yeah, that was better...but I've gotta put more power into this part.
Flashback
End flashback
Middle School Akito
(She's practicing until this late at night...)
Middle School Akito
(——No, it's not just her...there's tons of people out practicing at this time. Every single one of them looks so focused...)
Middle School Akito
——It isn't just me.
Middle School Akito
(Every single one of these guys is putting in effort, and fighting through the pain.)
Middle School Akito
...I've gotta do more.
Day of the Event
Crawl Green
Crawl Green
Senior Musician A
Oh, you really showed up. I thought you'd chicken out for sure.
Middle School Akito
...As if I'd run.
Senior Musician A
Then, you're on at 4PM.
Senior Musician A
Since you came all this way, you might as well listen to the other participants' performances. I'm sure you'll get a better idea of where you're gonna be singing from now on.
— Some time later —
Middle School Akito
——I've still got time before it's my turn.
Middle School Akito
Sitting backstage the whole time is suffocating...maybe I'll go take a look at the stage.
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Audience cheers
Middle School Akito
Whoa, everyone's crazy amped. The tension in the air's so thick——wait...
Participating Musician
♪——, ——!! ————!!
Audience
I've been seeing this guy pretty often. Doesn't he usually take the headline spot at other venues?
Audience
But at this venue, he's about "average". It would've been nice if it were something with more impact.
Middle School Akito
(...That's gotta be a joke. Even though he can sing this well!?)
Middle School Akito
(...So this is Crawl Green. The place RADder chose to make their debut——)
Participating Musician
♪————! ——! ——!!
Audience cheers
Middle School Akito
Everyone here's on another level...
Middle School Akito
——It's my turn in 15 minutes.
Middle School Akito
(In 15 minutes...)
Middle School Akito
(...Shit. I don't have time to be scared. What've I been practicin' all this time for!?)
Middle School Akito
(I knew from the start that I'm not worthy of bein' here.)
Middle School Akito
(Still though, the only thing I can do is throw everything I've got into this performance. I have to give it my best shot...)
Staff
Next is...oh, are you "Shinonome Akito"?
Middle School Akito
Ah...yes.
Staff
You really are just a middle schooler. To be that young and taking part in an event here is impressive.
Staff
I just got the notice, but you came to fill in for the kid that dropped out last second, right?
Middle School Akito
(Fill in...that's how they're playing it.)
Staff
Use this mic. I look forward to your performance.
Middle School Akito
...Yes, thank you very much.
Middle School Akito
(My fingers are trembling, I can't hold it right. But...I have to do it. I don't have a choice...!)
Middle School Akito
(This is the place I've always wanted to stand! I've been praticing for this day...! I'm gonna get the audience hyped!)
Audience
...I've never seen that kid before. I'm looking forward to seeing what he's got.
Audience
Wait, isn't that kid, like, a middle schooler? To be at this venue at this young an age, he must have some insane skill.
Audience
You think we might have another crazy musician debut at this venue like RADder?
Owner
...Hm, who is that?
Middle School Akito
...Ngh.
Middle School Akito
(...Damn, my voice is trembling. Can I really sing properly like this...)
Middle School Akito
(It'll be fine. I just have to let out everything I've practiced so far onto this stage.)
Middle School Akito
(Everything I've practiced in this town up until now——!)
Flashback
Elementary School Akito
(That's awesome...there's so much cheering that my vision's blurring...! That musician's song alone did all that——)
Elementary School Akito
...Awesome...
Elementary School Akito
(This song is——it's rising over me like a tsunami.)
Elementary School Akito
(A world like this exists——)
End flashback
Middle School Akito
(So that I don't bring shame to the place I admire...so that I don't regret it! All I can do is give it my all!)
Middle School Akito
——Let's go!
Middle School Akito
♪——————!!
Owner
...
Audience
...It's kinda not as impressive as I thought it'd be.
Middle School Akito
(...The atmosphere of the venue is tanking. I've gotta get it back somehow...!)
Middle School Akito
♪——————!! ——!! ——!!
Audience
I'm getting kinda bored.
Audience
I got my hopes up... It's just some brat. Who gave this guy the okay?
Middle School Akito
(...I'm not gonna run. I've gotta get through to the end.)
— Some time later —
Middle School Akito
...Thank you, very much...
Weak applause, audience chatters
Audience
Ah, it's finally over. Can you call the guys back in who stepped out?
Audience
It's finally their turn!
Walking footsteps
Senior Musician A
Sorry we kept you guys waiting! Wait, you guys seem bummed out. Well, I guess it's no surprise after a performance like that.
Senior Musician A
We'll kick that kid's ass and get the show back on track, so get ready to raise your voices! We're going all out from song one!
Senior Musicians
♪——————!!
Audience cheers
Middle School Akito
...
Middle School Akito
(The moment those guys started singing——even though it was so cold out there, the whole atmosphere changed...)
Middle School Akito
...That's amazing.
Middle School Akito
...I—what am I doing.
Middle School Akito
...Kh!
Middle School Akito
(How much more do I...)
Middle School Akito
(How much more do I have to practice to be able to sing like that...?)
Audience cheers
Walking footsteps
Middle School Akito
...
Middle School Akito
(A ton of people are out singing today, too. And every single one of them is better than me...)
Middle School Akito
(Why can't I sing more like them?)
Middle School Akito
(Even though I said I would take it seriously, and that I would put my life on the line, and I practiced all that time...I couldn't do anything. No, even worse...)
Middle School Akito
(I didn't wanna smear mud all over the place I admire...)
Middle School Akito
...Kh!
Middle School Akito
Shit. Goddammit!
Walking footsteps
Middle School Akito
(...? What, someone's——)
???
What's wrong, boy?