< Light Up the Fire | Story
An
We won't be able to surpass it for as long as we live...?
An
That's...what do you mean by that?
Taiga
Exactly what I said.
Taiga
You all haven't realized what it is you're trying to surpass yet.
Taiga
And——you can't surpass what you don't understand, right?
An
W-What I don't understand...but I saw it with my own eyes?
Toya
...I apologize. But, I still don't understand what it is you're trying to convey to us, Taiga-san...would you mind going into a little more detail?
Taiga
Yeah, of course. That's why I called you all out here today.
Taiga
I'm sure you felt it for yourselves during your third event——
Taiga
To make a good event, each individual's skill is important...but, what's essential is the sense of unity between your teammates and the audience.
Taiga
Nobody wants to see a live that's just about one person alone.
Taiga
You lot——from what I can see, you have good connections.
Taiga
All of your members have the same feeling. If an event doesn't have that, it'll inevitably fall apart.
Akito
That's...I understand. Without the same feelings, you can't make a hot event.
Taiga
And——RAD WEEKEND isn't an exception to that rule, it's an event like that.
Taiga
It was a gathering of people of the highest skill level, and our teammates and the audience became one——that's how it came into being.
Arata
...We understand that much.
Arata
However...if that's the case, don't we have a chance?
Kotaro
Th...that's true. You're right...
Kotaro
Thanks to Azusawa, I'm starting to get a feel for what it means to "be one with the audience"...
Tatsuya
...Yeah. And we became unified with the thought of "surpassing RAD WEEKEND".
Taiga
Yeah, you're exactly right. And it's because you were able to do that that I sensed potential in you all.
Taiga
But...the reason you won't be able to surpass it is simple.
Taiga
It's overwhelmingly——not enough.
An
...!
Flashback
End flashback
An
That's...! It's true, compared to you and the others, Uncle Taiga, we're not nearly good enough, but I'm sure if we keep building up our strength, someday we'll be able to——!
Taiga
That's not the issue.
Taiga
Skill is something you'll eventually pick up over time. Even if there was an overwhelming gap between our skill levels, the chances would still be above zero.
Taiga
What I'm talking about is "feelings".
An
...What do you mean?
Taiga
That night——it was born from one particular feeling.
Taiga
If it weren't for that, RAD WEEKEND wouldn't have turned out to be the event it was.
Akito
One particular feeling...?
Toya
That...what feeling was that...?
Taiga
...
Taiga
——"We'll make this event the best one possible, one worthy of the end of her life." That's what it was.
Kohane
Eh?
Akito
The end of...her life...?
An
Who's..."her"...?
An
...Ah...
Flashback
An's Father
...Oi, An. Are you still sulking?
An
'Cause...'cause! Nagi-san left without telling me...!
An
If she was going to America, I wanted to see her off...
An's Father
Well, it is her we're talking about.
An's Father
I'm sure she knew she'd get lonely if she saw you, An.
An
...Jeez!
An
When she comes back, I'm definitely gonna get an apology out of her!
An
...? What's the matter?
An's Father
No... It's nothing important.
End flashback
An
...There's no way...
An
But...that's, it's not...huh...?
Taiga
That night——was a certain musician's final event.
Taiga
We sung until we turned to embers for that person. And the audience carved each and every moment into their memories.
Toya
...And, that certain musician was...
Taiga
It was Nagi.
An
...Ah...
Taiga
RAD WEEKEND was an event meant to crown off the life of my younger sister, the life of Kotaki Nagi.
Taiga
...She was diagnosed with an illness, and in the few months she had left to live, we hosted one final event in this town before she left this world.
Taiga
——That was RAD WEEKEND.
An
...
Tatsuya
...Nagi-san...left...this world...?
An
...Cut it out...
An
Uncle Taiga...what're you saying? This is a joke, right...?
Taiga
...
An
Nagi-san is...she went to America, didn't she? Everyone in town says that, too...
An
Nobody said anything about Nagi-san dying——
Taiga
...You should be able to figure it out. An.
Taiga
——The people in this town, they think of you, and Nagi, like their own family.
Taiga
If it was for you two, it'd be the easiest thing in the world to live a lie.
Kohane
...A lie?