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Guide to the Underworld |  |
Tomoe
... So because of that, she wasn't able to get Asuka and Rokka to understand what she was saying.
Himari
Sounds like something that would happen to Ako-chan. I can imagine all the hand gestures and body movements while she tries to explain.
Ran
To be honest, I didn't get it either. Only thing that was obvious to me was how hard Ako was trying.
Moca
I thought it was pretty good. I could picture exactly what she was getting at~.
Tsugumi
The way Ako-chan feels about Roselia is so genuine. You can tell how much she loves the group right away when you see her perform.
Tsugumi
I'm sure she did everything in her power to convey the appeal of Roselia... Doing something like that isn't easy though, huh?
Himari
What's not easy? Getting people to understand how great your band is?
Tsugumi
Yeah! You know how there are flyers that tell you about a band? When you're making that kind of thing, it's easy to worry about what you should write on them.
Tomoe
I know what's good about our band! We've got a sound that hits you like a truck, and the performances are fiery!
Tomoe
And, uh... It's like you can feel that "shp, krsh" in your heart! And once it's all done, you just wanna yell, "Yeah!!" Something like that.
Ran
... Yeah, you and Ako are definitely sisters.
Tomoe
Ngh... I, uh...
Moca
Ahaha, that same thought was going through my head.
Tomoe
You're one to talk, Moca! Can you explain what makes our band so great?
Moca
Hmmm~, let's see~. Afterglow is just... so deep, you know~?
Tsugumi
It's deep... How so?
Moca
All of it is deep. The sound~, the lyrics~. There are parts of Afterglow that represent the very essence of deep too.
Ran
You're only using one word...
Moca
But don't you think your lyrics are deep, Ran~?
Ran
Well... No. I can't be the one to say that they are.
Moca
Oh~, you're such a modest girl~.
Ran
Would you shut up?! We're talking about the band, not my lyrics!
Himari
You know, your vocabulary doesn't seem that much different from Tomoe's and Ako-chan's...
Moca
Awww~, I was sure that was an A-plus-worthy contribution~.
Moca
Okay, then what do the rest of you think about the band~?
Tomoe
Yeah! Let's hear what you guys have to say!
Moca
Here we go~. Hii-chan, the floor is yours~.
Himari
Huh?! I have to go first?! O-okay... Let's see...
Himari
Afterglow is... fun! And we're good friends! Also... we keep cool because we are cool!
Ran
That didn't seem much different from what Tomoe and Moca said.
Himari
What?! I'm pretty sure I did better than they did!
Tomoe
... Nah, sounded about the same, even to me.
Himari
Ohhh... Tsugu~! You take it from here!!
Tsugumi
Huh?! W-well... Okay...
Tsugumi
We're a band made of childhood friends, which makes us close. No matter what happens, we're able to talk to each other...
Tsugumi
And I think that's what allows us to put on such harmonious performances! ... I think?
Himari
Yeah! That's what I was trying to say~.
Ran
Himari, no cheating.
Tsugumi
Hmmm, but that also means we're not communicating what the band is about unless other people actually come to listen to our performance... I wish there was an easier way to show what makes Afterglow great...
Tsugumi
But that's difficult, and that's why deciding what to write on a flyer is a challenge...
Himari
So putting the idea of cool into words really is hard... How would you do it, Ran?
Ran
... I don't think there's any reason to strain yourself trying. We're a band. If we have something important to tell people, we can just do it through our music.
Tomoe
Ooo, that's sound about right.
Moca
But that's not a solution, you know~.
Ran
Ngh... Th-that's what a band is though!
Tsugumi
Yeah, it's always obvious from your lyrics and melodies that you feel that way, Ran-chan.
Himari
But if we're to put what's so good about Afterglow into words... Hmmm, why is it so hard?
Moca
Can't we just say it's deep?
Tomoe
I mean, that's not a terrible description... But I think there needs to be a little more than that.
Ran
Don't you think the answer will become clearer as we continue playing as a band?
Ran
I think we'll come across the right words someday, and afterward, no other words will do.
Moca
Ohhh~, yeah~.
Ran
Moca, I'm trying to be serious. What are you doing?
Moca
It's something new from Yamabuki Bakery. I shall now have this soft, fluffy, creamy bun~.
Ran
Sigh... Okay then.
Moca
Wow, how delightful! It has a crispy outside, but it's like biting into a velvety cloud once you reach the inside!
Moca
And it's filled perfectly with custard... This harmony between cream and bun is nothing short of miraculous~.
Himari
What...? That jump in vocabulary level... It's nothing like how she was talking about the band!
Tomoe
Why can't she talk like that about things besides bread...?
Transcript
Marina
Look who it is. Having a little lunch break too, Moca-chan?
Moca
Ahhh, two hard workers appear. Hello~.
Marina
You're by yourself today?
Moca
Yeah, I figured having some me time to relax, watch some videos and enjoy a meal could be nice now and then.
Marina
Videos, huh? There's an endless amount of good content out there. What are you watching now?
Moca
I found this band-performance video~.
Marina
Oh, aren't you studious?! What do you got? Can we see~?
Marina
It... looks like this band is going for a very dark vibe. That's very different from Afterglow. You like to listen to stuff like this, Moca-chan?
Moca
Not really, but I thought this matched the idea of cool that Ako-chin is always talking about.
Marina
Ako-chan? So you're watching bands perform for her?
Moca
She's been making an effort to communicate her idea of cool to others lately.
Moca
She planned out a performance too, and she presented it to a bunch of us.
Moca
Unfortunately, no one seemed to understand what she was getting at.
Marina
Yeah~... Ako-chan does seem like she might have a hard time with something like that...
Moca
Oh, but I was totally on the same page as her~. I think it's because she and I talked a bunch before that.
Moca
I may not usually follow what she's trying to say, but that time, the images just popped right up and I could see them clearly.
Moca
That was the first time that ever happened. It was a strange but refreshing experience... And while Ako-chin explained, all I could think was how cool she was.
Marina
So that's why you're watching videos of bands that she likes.
Moca
I thought I might have a better chance of understanding what she's trying to convey if I watch this type of thing.
Moca
She has a clear image of her own world, and I think that's something to admire. I want to support her, at the very least.
Moca
She may not have been able to communicate very well last time, but I know Ako-chin. I'm sure she can do it.
Moca
Basically, I'm hoping I can help her out.
Marina
You're so sweet, Moca-chan.
Moca
Ehehe, you can say that again~♪ Seriously, though, I think Ako-chin is pretty amazing.
Marina
You know, I think she'd be glad to hear you say those words.
Moca
Nah, that's Tomo-chin's job.
Moca
I think just supporting the people I think are cool is just right for me~.
Marina
Fufu, is that right?
Moca
Sure is~. If nothing else, I'll do everything I can to be there for Ako-chin~.
Moca
And you two can help me help her~♪