< The Vivid Old Tale | Story
Chapter 5: Non-Intersecting Roads
すれ違いのストリート (? (edit))
すれ違いのストリート (? (edit))
Character appearances:
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1 Week Later
Vivid Street
Vivid Street
Young An
Ehhh–! You're not gonna watch me practice!? You always watch me on weekends!
An's Father
...Sorry. There's been a bit of trouble.
Young An
Trouble...is someone coming to you for advice again?
An's Father
VIOLET...that live house on the corner, the manager collapsed.
Young An
Eh, the manager there...!? Are they okay!?
An's Father
They got them to the hospital quickly, so they're doing just fine. But, there's an event tomorrow, and it's gonna be hard to manage the place without them, so they asked me to help.
Young An
...Okay...
Young An
(But...if it's something like that, they could just ask someone else. It doesn't have to be Dad and the others...)
An's Father
Like I told you before, you can just practice on the street. Everyone'll watch you.
Young An
Ah...
Young An
(Maybe, it's cause Dad and the others...)
An's Father
...An? You okay?
Young An
...Hey, Dad.
Young An
Whenever anyone in town asks you for help, you go right away, and tell me I can sing on the street...
Young An
Is it because, it's a pain to watch me practice all the time...?
An's Father
...I'm sorry. I shouldn't have made you feel like that.
An's Father
But, An. I - and Nagi and Taiga, too - always wanna be at your side. There's no way it could be a pain.
Young An
...
An's Father
And, I'm not just suggestign you sing on the street for no reason.
An's Father
I'm telling you to sing here because I know it'll help you someday.
Young An
It'll help me...?
An's Father
Yeah. Nagi, Taiga, and I were able to get this far because of this town.
An's Father
—In all sorts of ways. Someday, I know you'll understand it too, An.
Young An
...?
An's Father
Ah...sorry. It's about time I get to that meeting.
Young An
Ah...
An's Father
–I'll watch your midday practice next Sunday, guaranteed.
An's Father
I've got something scheduled in the morning, but after that, I'm free. Nagi and Taiga said their schedules are open too.
Young An
...Really?
An's Father
Yeah, promise. Well—I better get going.
Young An
...Yeah. Have a safe trip.
Young An
(...He left.)
Young An
(Mom's at work too, so I'm all alone today...)
Young An
(...But, Dad and the others say they sang here, and that's how they got better...)
Young An
...I'm gonna practice...
— Some time later —
Young An
♪————!!
Young An
♪–––– ~ ~...
Live House Manager
Oh! You're practicing bright and early aga...hm? You seem kinda down, what's the matter?
Young An
Eh? Oh...no, it's nothing!
Young An
(...Maybe I don't sound very energetic. That means I've gotta try even harder...)
Young An
♪–––– ~ ~...
Sexy Big Sister
Oh my, An-chan! You're sounding great as usual!
Young An
Big sister...
Young An
...I don't sound good at all. I can't hit the high notes...
Sexy Big Sister
Ehhh? That's not true at all! You wouldn't lose, even to an adult!
Young An
...That's not true.
Record Store Employee with Curly Hair
...An-chan, you don't seem very energetic today, are you okay? Is your throat not feeling well?
Live House Manager
Could it be...that your dad is busy, and he can't watch you practice?
Young An
...Yeah...
Record Store Employee with Curly Hair
I see...
Sexy Big Sister
It'll be okay, An-chan. I'm sure whenever he finds time, he can–no, he'll definitely come watch you practice.
Young An
...Okay.
Young An
(...That's true. Next Sunday, Dad and the others will be here...)
Young An
(I'm gonna practice my best until then...!)
Sunday
Young An
I'm going now!
Young An
(It's finally Sunday...! As soon as it's noon, I can practice with Dad and the others!)
Young An
Only two more hours until noon...! I'm gonna give my all at warming up until then—!
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Kamiyama Street
Taiga
Ahhh...that was such a long talk.
An's Father
We were finally able to sign with an overseas label. It took time, but we're finally taking the next step.
Nagi
Thanks for helping out with negotiations, Ken. Let's try to do a lot of stuff that we couldn't in Japan.
An's Father
Yeah. —I wanna show all sorts of worlds to An, moving forward.
Nagi
Oh, now that I think about it, it's almost time! Let's go see An!
Nagi
This week we were busy, so we didn't get to watch her at all. I've gotta put my all into teaching her today!
An's Father
Yeah. An's been preparing since this morning, so I'm sure she's sick of waiting by now—
Live House Manager
Oooi, Ken! Guys!
An's Father
...Wait, Manager-san? And if I'm remembering right, you're the newbie—
Newbie Live House Staff
Yeah! Um, I'm truly, truly very sorry, but...
Live House Manager
The main guest that was supposed to appear at today's event had something come up, and they can't make it. Do you think you could lend us a hand...!?
Nagi
Eh? Your main guest?
An's Father
If I'm remembering right...WIRED was supposed to come.
Taiga
WIRED...that's that popular American team. You guys really got someone from the big leagues.
Newbie Live House Staff
Yeah... The owner of our place is a fan, and they requested an appearance.
Live House Manager
Yeah. We've been preparing for a while, and we've been booking a lot of musicians who agreed to participate cause they'd be there. But—
Live House Manager
It seems they were held up because of something at customs. At this rate, we have no idea when they'll show up...
Live House Manager
If we don't have a main guest, we'll have no choice but to cancel... But a bunch of people have come a day in advance to see them...
Newbie Live House Staff
But, if a team at the same level as WIRED shows up as our main guest—
Taiga
I get it now. You wanna invite us, is what you're saying.
Nagi
If you asked me if there were any other musicians as good as WIRED around here, I wouldn't be able to say...
An's Father
...
Nagi
...Ken.
An's Father
Something like this, it could affect the reputation of the live house.
An's Father
It would result in disappointed fans who've traveled here a day in advance.
An's Father
—Let's go, Nagi. Taiga.
An's Father
If they have to live up to WIRED, only the three of us can handle it.
Nagi
...
Taiga
...Yeah. Your judgement's not wrong.
Nagi
...
Live House Manager
I'm truly very sorry...! I know this is sudden, but please come with us.
An's Father
Alright, But first, let me contact An.
Phone dialing
An's Father
...She won't pick up. She's been out since this morning, so...
Live House Manager
An-chan...
Newbie Live House Staff
In that case, I'll go look for An-chan! You and the manager can head to the live house ahead of me!
An's Father
—Ah, thanks.
An's Father
If you find An, tell her this. ...I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promise. I promise for next time, I'll be with her the whole day.
An's Father
She should be where she usually sings, on Vivid Street.
Newbie Live House Staff
Got it!! Leave it to me!
An's Father
...Right. Let's head to the venue.
Taiga
...Yeah.
Nagi
...I'm sorry, An...
Young An
Mm... Dad and the others are taking so long.
Young An
(If I remember right, they said they were having their meeting outside Vivid Street. Maybe I'll go look!)
Newbie Live House Staff
Um, An-chan's supposed to be on this street...but I can't see her, what should I do...?
Newbie Live House Staff
I'm sure she should be on this street somewhere...! I've gotta find her quick...!
Young An
Hm, they're not here. Were they not having their meeting here?
Young An
But, everybody always goes by this place to come to where I practice...
Young An
(Yeah! I know, I'll wait for them here today! Because they always come by here to see me.)
Young An
I hope they come soon~