Transcript

Tae
Hey, I smell some amazing sauce coming from over that way...! "The Original Deep-Fried Skewers." It's the place that invented skewers.

Kasumi
That okonomiyaki place has "the original" on their sign too! Ohh, and so does the doteyaki stew place over there!

Tae
All kinds of great food was born in this city... We're in a truly amazing place right now. I'm so awed.
Kasumi & Tae
Huh?

Rimi
A lot of places like to add "the original" to their name, but it's probably not true for most of them.

Rimi
I kind of understand why they do it though. When I see "the original," it just makes me think their food will be super good.

Saaya
Let me guess, Rimi-rin. You're the type who's a sucker for "home of the" and "birthplace," too, aren't you?

Arisa
Hey~, how long do you guys plan to keep talking about food? We gotta go say hi at the live house, remember?

Saaya
This is so exciting, huh~? The last time we met everyone from there was during the Rocking Star Festival.

Arisa
You just blurted out that we'd do a show in Kansai, and here we are about to do just that. I still can't believe it~.

Rimi
We have to thank them. They're the ones who invited us to be in a music festival here in Osaka, after all.

Saaya
They did help us when we streamed our show, so let's make sure we give them a good performance!

Arisa
It's the first time we've traveled all the out here for a concert, so we need to focus more than usual and...

Rimi
This shopping district has a lot of stores that haven't changed at all in forever. I find the nostalgic feel of the buildings and signs so fascinating.

Kasumi
Hey, hey, that arcade over there has some special photo booth options you can only find in Osaka!

Rimi
Oh, it's from my grandmother... Give me a moment, please. Hey. Mm-hmm, we're already here. We're at a shoppin' district right now...

Arisa
Yeah. Just don't forget that we're staying over as guests, so behave, alright? Oops. Do you think we should've brought gifts of some kind?
Kasumi & Saya & Arisa & Tae
Fufufu...

Saaya
Hm...? Hey, Arisa. I'm checking my phone's map right now, but I'm not seeing the entrance to the station. Is this the place?

Arisa
Let me take a look... Whoa, it's like some kind of maze... I think this is the place though...
Transcript

Tae
Wow, it's like a giant crab monster...! Oh, there's even a Ferris wheel that way! Am I in some kind of giant theme park...?

Arisa
There those two go again getting all distracted over something... I have no idea how they can stay so energetic when all we're doing is walking around.

Saaya
Well, I can't say I blame them. It's hard not to be excited with all these colorful zappy signs around us.

Rimi
This is one of Osaka's busiest areas. A lot of tourists visit, too. That's apparently why the signs are made to grab your attention.

Arisa
Too energetic, if you ask me. Keep it up, and you'll run out of gas before tomorrow's concert, you know?
Street Vendor
You girls sure are a cheerful bunch~! Care to try our soft serve? I'll even throw in a discount now~!

Arisa
H-hey, Kasumi...! Whenever someone tries to sell us something, she just rushes over to check them out...

Saaya
Just walking seems to attract the attention of the vendors here. At this rate, Kasumi might end up buying all the food being sold along this street.

Saaya
Ahaha. I like how vibrant it is here though. It's such a different feel from downtown Hanasakigawa... Maybe I'll try hawking in front of the bakery like the people here.

Tae
Let me try then! Come check us out! We've got sweet deals you won't wanna miss~! Hey there, Moca! Wanna take a look? You know you want to!
Live House Staff
Hey~, guys! Over here~!
Live House Staff
Too long~! Last time was the Rocking Star Festival, right? Thanks for coming all the way here!

Kasumi
And thanks for inviting us to the event! We're really excited to perform for the first time in Kansai!
Live House Staff
Uh-huh! I've got some equipment to drop off, so let me take you there!
Live House Staff
Yup. All of them wanted to help out with our plan to invigorate the Osaka girls band scene. We managed to get lots of Osaka bands who love Osaka to join.
Live House Staff
It's also my first project as the live house manager, so I'm determined to make it succeed. By the way, a lot of people are looking forward to seeing you girls perform.

Saaya
We actually have people all the way here who want to see us. It's pretty amazing if you think about it.
Live House Staff
I'll be counting on you girls! Can't wait to see what kind of show you've got planned!

Saaya
... Hey, before our show, maybe it's a good idea to get to know the city better, don't you think?

Kasumi
I was just thinking that too! I want to be able to get up on stage with the same feelings as the other bands!

Rimi
The one at the corner there makes them really fluffy, and I heard people like the sauce they use...

Rimi
The one across the bridge offers a lot of ingredients to choose from. The portions are apparently really big too.
Arisa & Saya & Kasumi & Tae
...?

Rimi
As I'm sure you've seen, this is an especially busy area where energetic vendors will try to talk to you when you pass by their stores.

Rimi
It always made me uncomfortable, so I avoided this place as much as possible when I lived here~.

Rimi
Thinking about how they had to be wondering why I was so nervous was embarrassing, and the idea that they probably thought I was weird made me blush.

Rimi
Don't worry though. I made sure to thoroughly review a travel guide, so I know a lot of the good stores in the area.

Rimi
Osaka is where I used to live, and since we were coming all the way here, I wanted to make sure all of you would have a good time.

Kasumi
You know what though? As curious as I am about the places that show up in a travel guide~... I think I'd rather go to the places you used to enjoy.
Transcript

Saaya
The batter they use is nice, and it's also grilled just right, don't you think? I've never had okonomiyaki this moist.

Rimi
The last time I came was a few years ago, so I'm glad they're still doing business in the same spot.

Tae
The display case and the stuffed animals on the counter made it a really cute truck for an okonomiyaki place, don't you think?

Saaya
It was also kind of weird that they were offering so many desserts, such as chocolate parfaits and strawberry smoothies.

Rimi
I always thought they had better chocolate parfaits than actual dessert food trucks, so I used to swing by and eat them a lot back in middle school.

Rimi
After one of them remarked that I was always getting their chocolate parfaits, it became hard to buy them for a while.

Rimi
Mm-hmm. Sometimes, it was to have something sweet after school... Other times, it was to read a book I had borrowed from the library.

Saaya
Now that you mention it, there do seem to be quite a few kids who look like they're in middle school. Maybe they're going to the school you went to, Rimi-rin.

Rimi
That might be because there's a music store nearby. See the building with the blue roof over there? That's where it is.

Rimi
Yes. Probably right around when I started playing the bass. I'd go there with my sister to buy new strings.

Saaya
It's a good thing you had Yuri-senpai back then, huh? Having her along probably made the first time far less stressful.

Rimi
I was so scared to enter on my own that I just stood around in front of the door being indecisive...

Rimi
Fufu... Her being the way she is is probably what made it possible for me to become a part of Poppin'Party.

Rimi
I have to say, the five of us sitting together on the same bench that I used to sit on by myself is... well, it's kind of really nice.

Kasumi
I'm also super happy that we all get to be here with you in the city where you used to live~!

Rimi
K-Kasumi-chan, if you keep holding me like that, the okonomiyaki's going to end up on the ground. Fufufu.

Arisa
Yeah, this kinda thing is nice, alright. Staying over at a friend's grandma's place is going to be a first for me too...
Transcript
Rimi’s Grandmother
Well, look at that~! You've grown so darn big, Rimi-chan! Best make sure you don't bump your head on the ceilin'~! Ahaha!
Rimi’s Grandmother
Huh, this? This here's my saxophone!
Kasumi & Arisa & Saya & Tae & Rimi
Saxophone?!
Rimi’s Grandmother
There were some jazz folks at the entertainment hall the other day, and it was really somethin'. That's why I got my own! We need to do a session with Yuri-chan sometime!
Rimi’s Grandmother
Oh, allow me to welcome you girls too~! I've heard about you all from Rimi-chan. Come on in. Hope you're all ready to pig out 'cause the takoyaki's ready!

Saaya
And this picture is... Oh wow, Rimi-rin's wearing a sailor schoolgirl uniform! Looks like a school entrance ceremony~. I never knew your bangs used to be longer.

Rimi
I never found a good time to bring it up... but my sister also performed her first concert ever there.

Rimi
But she wasn't used to concerts at all... so she ended up dropping her pick and getting some chords wrong.

Rimi
None of that stopped her from singing with such confidence and joy though... To me, she looked incredible up there.

Rimi
Imagining myself being the center of attention up there was enough to make my mind go blank and scream that there was no way I was doing it.

Kasumi
Oh yeah... before getting the band together, you did say getting up on stage was scary for you.

Saaya
But just look at you now. Tomorrow, you're going to be performing at the very same place as Yuri-senpai.
Rimi’s Grandmother
Well, well, talkin' about what to do tomorrow, are we? Sounds fun~! Care for some extra company? I'll have you know I'm a pretty mean sax player!
Rimi’s Grandmother
Ahaha! Just messin' with ya~! Gotta say though... you sure have learned how to smile real nice.
Rimi’s Grandmother
Must be all them friends you've made up in Tokyo. Brings a tear to my eye.
Rimi’s Grandmother
Anyway, let me lay out your mattresses! You're gonna need the rest to put on a good show tomorrow~!
Transcript

Rimi
Oh no, it's already this late?! I need to start packing for tomorrow...! Um, travel guide, bullet train ticket, um...!

Rimi
She seemed to be having such a good time that I just kind of found myself wondering what it would be like to study at an overseas school.

Rimi
R-right... Let's hurry. We might catch something if we let ourselves get too cold after our bath.

Rimi
I'm not the type to go study abroad. Besides, even if I somehow did end up planning to go, I'd just get cold feet anyway...
Transcript

Rimi
(... I still can't shake off this feeling... Our concert is coming up though... I need to stop dwelling on it...)

Arisa
Huh, I only expected people who were here for the music festival, but it looks like there are regular parkgoers as well.

Saaya
Probably because only part of the park seems to have been reserved for the event. There are also stages that are open to the public.

Tae
Hey, that person over there. They're the one that sold us soft serve yesterday. Wow, they sure seem to be having fun dancing to the song!

Saaya
Over there too. There are some little kids staring at the stage. I wonder if they're interested in the performance. Just look at the way their eyes are sparkling.

Arisa
You know, it feels kind of crazy to see music getting to be a part of the cityscape like this.

Kasumi
The power of music. Instead of going inward, it's like it's spreading outward more and more...!

Kasumi
I feel like music is something that can connect even more people and become an even bigger circle than I'd imagined...! Mmm~, I'm getting so excited now!
???
... Hm? Hey, are you guys Poppin'Party?
Band A
Wow, you actually recognize us! That's so cool! There's somethin' we've wanted to say to you all if we ever managed to meet.
Band A
That Rocking Star Festival stream was a real killer!
Band A
It gave us shivers to know that there were high schoolers in Tokyo who had spirit like us! Anyway, I'm sure we ran into each other for a reason, so good luck to us both!
Band B
Ah, Poppin'Party! You mind givin' us some time?
Band C
We got to see your stream in one of the live houses around here~! Seein' high schoolers like us doin' what you guys did was real encouragin'~!
Band B
You're Arisa-chan, the keyboardist, right? I like your sound a whole lot~! Hey, you think we can exchange contact info or somethin'?
Band B
Great! Hope you enjoy performin' in Osaka! People here love havin' a good time, so you've got nothin' to worry about, alright?
Band C
Oh yeah! Seein' that stream of yours is what got us streamin' our shows! Here's a link. Come check us out! Anyway, we gotta go rehearse! Later!

Kasumi
If we hadn't, we might never have gotten to know the bands from around here that we just met.

Kasumi
It makes me so glad that we streamed~. Just look at me. I'm kind of starting to get all emotional.

Rimi
I-I only ever said that because it came to me while I was talking to my sister that the only way to find out was to try...

Rimi
(The old me who could only ever look up and watch as my sister performed on stage probably never would've been able to say that...)

Arisa
The idea of emceeing in unfamiliar territory without any prep work kinda freaks me out, to be honest...

Kasumi
We're only here now because of that show we streamed and all the people we got to connect with...
Saya & Arisa
Huh?

Rimi
Joining Poppin'Party has given me so much. It's let me connect with all kinds of people... and meeting them has let me change in so many ways.

Saaya
Gotta pay attention to the answer that lies up ahead when you're unsure and thinking "but." Right, Rimi-rin?

Tae
Yeah. If you write off things as impossible before you even start, you'll never be able to start anything.
Live House Staff
Poppin'Party~! You girls mind getting ready for rehearsals~?
Transcript

Rimi
As for why I'm the person I am now... I say it's because of my encounter with band and Poppin'Party.

Rimi
Because I believe that doing that... is what will let me become an even bigger person than I am now...

Rimi
(The bigger the obstacle I overcome, the prettier the view on the other side, and the more new me's I get to encounter.)

Rimi
(The fact that it feels so impossible... no, the fact that it is impossible, is what makes me want to see what lies ahead.)

Saaya
It felt like it just dived straight into my heart... I don't think it's ever been like that before.

Kasumi
The audience clearly loved the show too! So did the live house manager! They were just gushing!

Arisa
You're already thinking about our next visit...? I'm surprised you haven't had your fill of this place after three rounds of taking pictures in the photo booth.

Saaya
Funny. I could've sworn you were the one who enjoyed it the most, Arisa. What was it...? "We should take more pictures since we can only take these ones in Osaka."

Arisa
I-I wasn't enjoying it...! I was just going along because the arcade staff went to the trouble of telling us...!

Kasumi
I dunno, but it has to be something super big, something that'll fill us and everyone else with sparkling, heart-pounding feelings!

Kasumi
A feeling that there are more fun things waiting for us... Wait, no, more fun things we can do!
Poppin'Party
Popipa! Pipopa! Popipapa! Pipopa~!
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