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Spiraling Concern |  |
Ako
Tsugu-chin~! Help me~!
Tsugumi
Ako-chan?! Wh-what's wrong?!
Ako
Rin-rin is, uhm...! Her competition is like, uh... Look, we've got a huge problem!
Tsugumi
Huh?! S-slow down! I'll go ask for a break!
Tsugumi
Sorry for the wait, Ako-chan. I had my dad make a café au lait for you, so please help yourself.
Ako
Th-thanks... Sorry for barging in while you're still at work...
Tsugumi
No, think nothing of it. So, what happened? You mentioned something about a competition...
Ako
Yeah. Rin-rin is gonna be taking part in a piano competition soon.
Ako
It's been a long time since she's entered one, so she's really nervous. I'd like to do something for her, if I can...
Ako
But see, I've never been in a big competition like that, so I have no idea what to do...
Tsugumi
So you wanted to ask me?
Ako
Yeah. When I spoke to Sis, she mentioned that you've been playing piano for a long time, so you might have some good advice.
Tsugumi
Advice, huh...? Unfortunately, I've never participated in a large competition, either...
Ako
B-but still! Any ideas, even little ones, would be a big help!
Ako
Rin-rin is trying her hardest to do well, and I want to do whatever I can to help her!
Ako
There must be something, right?! Maybe tips to help her relax! Or ways to ignore the audience?!
Tsugumi
Ako-chan, you're so worked up about this, it feels like you're the one who's going to be in the competition.
Ako
Of course I am! Rin-rin and I are like the milk and coffee in this café au lait! Best buds!
Tsugumi
Fufu, how nice. In that case, I do have one idea that just came back to me. Are you ready for it?
Ako
Yeah, lay it on me!
Tsugumi
Back in the day, I'd often enter piano recitals, but there's one time I recall being especially nervous.
Tsugumi
The sheet music was really tough. So much so that I couldn't get through it without making the same mistake, no matter how many times I tried.
Ako
W-wow, I'd probably freak out, too...!
Tsugumi
Whenever I heard applause for the other performers, I worried about whether or not I could get the audience to clap for me, as well.
Tsugumi
It was finally my turn to go on. I needed to get up on my stage, but my feet simply wouldn't budge...
Ako
J-just thinking about that is giving me shivers...!
Tsugumi
As I stood at the edge of the stage in a total panic, my mother got up and came over to me.
Tsugumi
Her hand squeezed mine, then she looked at me and told me that everything would be alright.
Tsugumi
I know that's a pretty cliché thing to say, but it worked, and I felt my stress somehow being washed away.
Ako
Th-then what happened...?
Tsugumi
In the end, I still couldn't play the piece perfectly, but I did manage to get to the end of the song.
Tsugumi
... Sorry! Now it sounds like a story about failing, instead.
Ako
Nuh-uh, that was a big help! If Rin-rin starts feeling nervous, I'll try doing that myself!
Tsugumi
Fufu, that could work. Just remember that the most important thing, though, is a desire to encourage others.
Ako
... Ah! Encouragement, huh?
Tsugumi
As for the best way of doing that for her, I don't really have any concrete ideas, but...
Tsugumi
As long as you keep her on your mind, I'm sure that she'll be able to sense that you're thinking of her.
Ako
Now I see... I was probably overthinking all this!
Ako
I'll try to come up with my own special Ako way of cheering her on!
Tsugumi
Great. I'm sure you can come up with something if you try.
Tsugumi
After all, you and Rinko-san are like milk and coffee, right?
Ako
We sure are! Alright, I'll give it my best shot!
Ako
The darkness slumbering within me shall rise forth, crushing Rin-rin's worries in an instant! Yeah, that's the kind of idea I'll think up!
Tsugumi
Fufu, good luck with that!
Ako
Of course, you were a major help, too, Tsugu-chin! Thanks a ton!
Transcript
Ako
Hey, it's BanG Dreamer-san! Hello~. Are you out shopping?
Ako
Fufufu~. I've decided to buy a classical-music CD today!
Ako
I heard a cool song a little while back and thought I could maybe find it here~!
Ako
Rin-rin let me listen to it the other day~. It's this awesome track that sounds like a boss-fight theme in a fantasy game!
Ako
My image of classical music has always been calm and gentle stuff, so I was really surprised!
Ako
Ah, speaking of Rin-rin, did you hear?! She entered a piano competition not too long ago!
Ako
Didn't expect that, did you, BanG Dreamer-san? Yeah, me neither!
Ako
She hadn't been in one in forever, but she still got first place!
Ako
She was nervous up until showtime, but once her fingers hit the keys, the performance started with a bang!
Ako
When she was up on stage, it looked like she was having the time of her life.
Ako
Seeing her play so calmly in front of all those people was really cool~!
Ako
She mentioned that she'd been scared to perform in front of crowds until recently, but she still ended up entering. Isn't that impressive?
Ako
I think changing yourself is really, really hard.
Ako
If I was told I had to enjoy peppers starting today, there's no way I could do it.
Ako
But Rin-rin was all "I'm going to change myself," and then she went and did it!
Ako
She worked so hard that it's tough for me to even imagine it.
Ako
And that's why I have a ton of respect for her.
Ako
I need to step up my game like Rin-rin did~! Now, to think of what kind of challenge to go with, right?
Ako
Any ideas, BanG Dreamer-san?
Ako
Huh~?! Eating peppers?! Ngh... I guess it'd be pretty cool to defeat my hate of veggies...
Ako
Rin-rin and Sis would both tell me how proud they are, too...
Ako
... Ohhh~! Nope, can't do it! I need to start smaller!
Ako
Ah~! What's so funny, BanG Dreamer-san?!
Ako
Just you wait and see! Someday, I'll start eating those peppers and become the true hyper-ultra-cool princess of darkness~!!!