< Kick it up a notch | Story
Street SEKAI
crase cafe
crase cafe
Miku
Right, here's the pancakes you ordered. Whipped cream for An and Kohane, and extra fruit for Akito. For Toya, a grilled cheese sandwich——and, that's everything.
Kohane
Thank you very much, Miku-chan, MEIKO-san!
An
Let's dig in! ——Mm, it's so goooood! I can feel my exhaustion flying away!
MEIKO
What were you all doing today?
Kohane
Today we all went to Crawl Green to have a meeting for our next event.
Luka
Eh? Crawl Green, isn't that the place where Akito-kun——
Akito
Yeah, that's it. It's the place I told you about before.
Akito
It's not a place people can perform at very often, but thanks to An and the others' negotiation going well, we were able to get permission to do an event there.
Luka
Ohhh~ so that's what it was!
Miku
And apparently An's dad and Taiga-san, the person who's teaching Kohane to sing, are gonna come watch their next event.
Luka
E-Ehhh~!? He and An-chan's dad are!?
Len
Not only that, but Kohane's gonna do the opening act solo!
Luka
...S-So much happened while I was away...
Luka
But, why is Kohane-chan doing that?
Kohane
Taiga-san said that if I do a solo at an event we put on ourselves, as I am now, I should be able to figure something out.
Luka
I see... Then, this'll be an important event for everybody, not just Akito-kun!
Kohane
Yeah!
Toya
——With that said, I'm glad Shiraishi invited us today.
Toya
After actually seeing it for myself, I've begun to understand why everyone looks up to that live house so much.
Toya
The equipment is good, and the venue is spacious. And more than that...I could feel that the owner's passion for music is very strong.
An
Yeah, you're right. I had no idea he thought of Dad and the others like that.
Miku
Huh, What kind of stuff did you hear?
An
Uh, let's see, it was stories from Uncle Taiga's past——
— Some time later —
Miku
——I see. He's proud of the event that RADder put on, huh...
An
Yeah. ...But I really am sorry, Kohane. The owner put so much pressure on you...
Kohane
Ehehe. I told you it was fine already, An-chan.
MEIKO
Did something happen?
Kohane
Ah, before we went to Crawl Green, An-chan and I had fun in town.
An
Yeah! Kohane's been working super hard at practice for a while, so I thought it might be a nice change of pace.
MEIKO
Oh, is that so. And, did you two have a nice date?
Kohane
Yes, it was a lot of fun! ——But...
Kohane
Today, after walking around town with An-chan, and listening to Crawl Green owner-san's stories, I was thinking.
Kohane
The people of this town have been watching over both Taiga-san and An-chan since they were really little...
Kohane
I thought that was really nice——
Kohane
Watching Taiga-san interact with everyone in town...the sight of An-chan singing in front of the townspeople. It all looked to bright to me.
Toya
...Bright, huh...
An
Kohane...is that what you were thinking?
Kohane
Yep. I've never had that experience that you and Taiga-san did, of being watched over by someone other than your family.
Toya
...It's true, it's rare sort of thing. Especially the way it is in that town, where everyone can communicate through music.
Kohane
Yeah. I completely agree.
Kohane
Recently, I've been walking around with An-chan, or with Taiga-san for practice.
Kohane
It feels like they're leading me to a place that's so warm and bright.
Kohane
That's why I've been thinking that it'd be nice if, someday, I could find people like that too...
MEIKO
I see... That's a really beautiful thing. I'm sure if it's you, Kohane-chan, you can find it.
Kohane
...Thank you very much, MEIKO-san.
Flashback
Townsperson
I'll never forget the sight of Ken-san and the others standing up there. I used to admire that venue a lot too, but in the end I never got to stand on that stage...
Crawl Green Owner
If you're that determined, I've only got one thing to say to you all. Show me the best event possible.
End flashback
Kohane
...RADder's first event was so important that it changed the entire town... I don't know if we'll be able to surpass that event.
Kohane
But, to surpass RAD WEEKEND——we absolutely have to show the owner, and the townspeople, the best event we can possibly put on.
Kohane
...That's the feeling I get.
MEIKO
Kohane-chan...
Kohane
And so we can do that, I'd like you all to watch my solo practice.
An
...Eh? Right now?
Kohane
Yeah. I still can't do it well...and I wanna get as close as I can.
Kohane
I feel bad, since I'd be forcing you all to do it even though we said we wouldn't practice today, but...
Akito
...It's not a bad thing. This is our event, after all.
Len
We're always happy to spend time with you!
Kohane
...Right! Thank you, everyone!
Kohane
Then, here goes...!
Kohane
♪————!
Toya
...That's a good start.
An
Yeah. Her voice is coming on stronger than it did at practice yesterday.
Kohane
(I'm going to be standing by myself on the stage I saw at the live house today...)
Kohane
(It's a little more spacious than COL, and the lighting is stronger——I'm glad I went to see it today.)
Kohane
(I can imagine how it would feel if I sang on that stage with all of my might. How far my voice would go, and how it would resonate...maybe it's thanks to my practice with Taiga-san——)
Kohane
There's a surprising amount of distance from the stage to the audience seating, so I need to project my voice more, or it won't reach them.
Kohane
(When the event starts, the atmosphere will still be cold...I have to warm it up by myself.)
Kohane
♪——! ——!!
Toya
...
Kohane
(...! I got a little messy again, I have to put myself back together...!)
Kohane
(If I can't get everybody excited at this point, the audience will feel uneasy till they leave the venue.)
Koahne
(...I don't want our event to fail because of me...)
Kohane
♪————! ————!
— Some time later —
Kohane
...*pant*, *pant*
Len
That was more powerful than usual, and it was really intense! But...it still feels a little stiff at some parts.
Kohane
Ah...yeah, that's what I thought, too.
MEIKO
Yeah... I thought the same as Len.
MEIKO
Kohane-chan, usually your singing resounds a lot more freely, doesn't it? But today, it sounded a little choked.
Toya
You're right. It's not bad by any means, but you're still not at peak performance.
Kohane
...Yeah, you're right... I realized about part way through that it wasn't going great...
Akito
...Oi, don't waste time being down on yourself. We've still got time, so we can keep polishing it.
Luka
...
Luka
Hey, Kohane-chan. If you don't mind, why don't we sing together?
Kohane
...Eh? Right now?
Luka
Yeah! Let's loosen up and sing for a bit!
Luka
Forget about the event and the people in town for a little bit...okay?
Kohane
Forget...
Miku
...That might be a good idea. Let me join, Luka.
Luka
Oh, Miku too!? That sounds great~, let's sing, the three of us!
Kohane
...But, what are the three of us gonna sing?
Luka
Eh? Why don't we sing the song you were singing just now?
Luka
Then, Kohane-chan! Breathe in slowly, deep breaths~
Kohane
Ah, right!
Luka
I'm gonna be singing, so just join in when you're ready. Here we go~
Luka
♪————! ————!
Kohane
(Luka-san really is amazing... She has a rough singing style, but it's still clear, and the atmosphere is set the moment she starts singing.)
Miku
♪————!!
Kohane
(Ah, Miku-chan's also really sharp. But the way it resounds is delicate, and she's matching with Luka-san's singing perfectly!)
Miku & Luka
♪——! ————!!
Kohane
(I have to...join in!)
Kohane
♪————!
Akito
Right off the bat... The two of them are seriously amazing. You'd never guess they're doing this on the spot.
Toya
Yes. Luka-san's natural instinct, and Miku's skill as she keeps up so easily, they're both impressive.
Toya
And they pulled Azusawa in at the perfect spot, without any prior discussion.
Miku & Kohane & Luka
♪————————!! ——————!!
Kohane
(...The two of them are so talented.)
Kohane
(But, it's not just that they're good. They're matching me perfectly, and they're singing with me as if they're turning back to check on me every once in a while.)
Kohane
(It's like they're showing me a path, and saying this is how I can sing. I'm so grateful.)
Kohane
(Maybe I'll sing more like Luka-san, and try to make myself sound a little rougher...)
Kohane
(What is this...it feels like some of the tension I felt before has slipped away. ...Could it be because Miku-chan's helping me out?)
An
——It seems like Miku backed off when I wasn't paying attention. But she still comes to the front in the best possible places...she's tying it all together nicely.
Akito
You're right. And...I didn't realize that you could still lead while supporting from behind.
Miku & Kohane
♪————!
MEIKO
Fufu, looks like Kohane-chan's getting back into it. Leave it to Miku to pull her back into shape.
Luka
♪————!
Kohane
(...Huh. What is this?)
Kohane
(Somehow, it feel like Luka-san and Miku-chan's song is speaking to me.)
Kohane
(They've poured their feelings into their singin so strongly that I can understand it——)
Luka
(Let us hear your song, Kohane-chan!)
Miku
(Kohane. You can go even further, can't you?)
Kohane
(Luka-san, Miku-chan——)
Kohane
(Thank you. I wanna respond to your feelings...!)
Kohane
♪——————!!
Kohane
♪————! ——————!!
An
...Kohane...!
— Some time later —
Kohane
*pant*, *pant*...
An
Kohane! That was amazing! You were singing even more freely than usual!
Akito
Yeah. I'm sure if you sang like you did just now, you'd be just fine for the opening act.
Len
Yeah! I wish I could've sung with you too...!
Kohane
Y-You really think so...
Luka
I'm sure you'll be fine for your solo! It sounded great, so have a little confidence in yourself.
Kohane
Th-Thank you very much. But just now, that was thanks to you and Miku-chan...
Kohane
When I thought that I wanted to respond to your feelings, I started having more fun, and I was able to sing more naturally...
Miku
No, we just conveyed our feelings to you with our singing. The rest of it was your own skill, Kohane.
Miku
We guarantee it. We've watched you up until now, after all.
Kohane
Ah...
Kohane
...Everyone, thank you!