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The Face Others See |  |
Tae
So, here is a picture of Oddie while I was brushing him. Isn't he adorable when he's sleeping peacefully?
Tae
And here is Oddie with his cheeks stuffed with food. He's so cute, I just had to take a picture.
Kasumi
Wow, you're right! He's adorable~!
Saaya
Just looking at him makes you feel good~. I guess that's Oddie for you~.
Arisa
You sure do have a whole lot of faith in Oddie...
Rimi
Fufu. Thanks, O-Tae-chan. I want to see more cute pictures of Oddie before we go on stage. I feel so much more relaxed now.
Tae
Rimi, are you feeling nervous? I thought you'd be fine since you're eating a chocolate cornet.
Arisa
Wait, we're performing real soon. You know you can't bring that on stage, right?
Rimi
It's okay. I'm almost finished... Munch.
Rimi
Mmm, so delicious~! Chocolate cornets are the best, no matter when you eat them~!
Tae
Oh... That content look on your face right now looks like the one Oddie makes.
Rimi
Huh? I... look like Oddie?
Tae
Yup. You look exactly like him when you're happily eating away.
Arisa
I don't know if she looks like Oddie, but Rimi does look like she's in complete bliss when she's eating a chocolate cornet.
Kasumi
I totally understand~! Seeing Rimi-rin eat one totally makes me want one too!
Saaya
That's quite something, especially for you, Kasumi. Fufu.
Kasumi
You think so?
Arisa
Well, in Kasumi's case, all her emotions are written on her face. You can pretty much know what she's thinking just by looking at her.
Rimi
Fufufu. Like when we were first-year students, you could tell right away if she got a bad score on a quiz or something...
Kasumi
Huh?! You've known for that long~?!
Arisa
I'm more surprised you had so little self-awareness...
Saaya
But, surprisingly, most of the time we know ourselves a lot less than we think we do.
Marina
Sorry. I know you guys are going on stage soon, but do you have a minute?
Kasumi
Ah, Marina-san! What's up?
Marina
Well, I'm here because I have a request for all of you.
Rimi
A request...? What is it...?
Marina
The thing is, we've been talking about adding pictures of actual live performances to the CiRCLE website.
Saaya
I see. That would definitely help people understand what the atmosphere is like at CiRCLE.
Rimi
It would be wonderful if more people came to the shows after seeing such pictures.
Marina
Yeah, so, during today's show, we'll be taking a bunch of photos of all the different bands, and if we get a good one, we'll post that up on our site...
Marina
Of course, we'll try our best not to get in the way of your performance, but do you think you could help us out?
Kasumi
Ohh! That sounds like so much fun! I'm totally okay with it. I'm sure everyone else is too, right?!
Arisa
Sure, why not? It's not like it'd affect our performance.
Marina
Thanks. This'll be so helpful~! I'll be sure to capture everyone's effects on camera!
Marina
Alright then, I'll see you all later! I'm looking forward to your performance!
Saaya
Pictures, huh...?
Kasumi
She said they might be posted on their website, right?
Arisa
Indded. But she said they'd only post one...
Kasumi
What if our picture gets picked?! That would just be so awesome!
Rimi
I feel like we'd get chosen as long as you're in it, Kasumi-chan. You have such good expressions when you're performing.
Kasumi
Y-you think so~?
Kasumi
But, but... You're the same way when you're performing, Rimi-rin.
Rimi
I-I am...?
Kasumi
When you're performing on stage, your expressions are always super good!
Rimi
A-are... you sure? I've never been aware of it, so I'm not so sure...
Kasumi
Rimi-rin, you don't have to worry about it so much, okay~? Just play as you usually do, and you'll be fine!
Rimi
Kasumi-chan...
Kasumi
Don't go overthinking things. Let's just have fun during the show!
Rimi
O-okay! You're right! I feel like I can play like I always do.
Kasumi
Ehehe, I'm glad to hear that!
Saaya
Ah, it's almost time to go on stage.
Arisa
We don't have much time left... Looks like... we've done everything we need to.
Tae
Yup, all that's left is to enjoy the show.
Kasumi
Before we go on, we gotta do our usual huddle! Here we go...
All
Popipa! Pipopa! Popipapa! Pipopa~!!
Transcript
Kasumi
Hey, hey! Wasn't our performance amazing today?! I felt like the audience was so supportive and gave us so much strength!
Arisa
Don't you say that after every performance?
Arisa
And, also, how in the world do you always have so much energy...? It feels like you're more now than you were before the show...
Kasumi
Well, it's because it was so heart-pounding that I just can't stop my engine!
Arisa
Are you a car?!
Tae
By the way, it seems like the staff that were taking photos took a bunch of us from different angles.
Saaya
The show was so much fun. I'm curious to see how the pictures turned out~.
Rimi
Oh, that's right! Once the show started, I was so absorbed in playing that I completely forgot...
Saaya
Fufu, I knew it. You were in the zone, Rimi-rin.
Marina
Everyone~. Great job with the performance~.
Marina
Thanks so much for letting us take photos~. Because of you guys, we were able to take some really good ones.
Marina
Would you like to take a look at them together?
Kasumi
Woohoo~! We'd love to! Everyone come over here!
Kasumi
Wow~, all the photos look so good~!
Tae
That's because the show was so much fun. It's like our excitement was captured in these pictures.
Saaya
Oh, Kasumi and Arisa have such smug expressions in this one! Arisa~, you were rocking out~.
Arisa
Shut up!
Rimi
But look here! There's a cute picture of you two! See, look how fantastic your smiles are!
Kasumi
Wow! I remember this moment! We totally locked eyes, didn't we, Arisa?
Arisa
There's no way I can remember every little thing about a brief moment like that!
Marina
Ah. Anyway, this is the photo I was thinking of using for CiRCLE's website... What do you think?
Rimi
... Huh? This... one? Y-you're kidding, right?!
Marina
The staff member who took this photo said you had such a great expression when you were playing "Photograph," Rimi-chan.
Marina
So, they ended up taking a close-up of you, and it turned out great. They were really pleased.
Kasumi
Yup! No doubt about it! Rimi-rin, you look so cool in this picture!
Rimi
Me... Cool...?
Rimi
... Thanks, Kasumi-chan. I felt like I could concentrate on playing the bass more than usual today.
Rimi
I'm sure it's because of all the encouragement you gave me before we went on stage.
Kasumi
I dunno about that. You're always like this when you perform.
Rimi
Always...?
Tae
I agree with Kasumi. This is how you always look when you play the bass.
Saaya
Yeah, absolutely. It's coming from us, so you've got to believe it.
Arisa
Yeah. After all... we've obviously the ones who watch you the most when you perform.
Rimi
Everyone...
Rimi
(... I get it now. I've always... No, it's more like... I've become this way.)
Rimi
(I've wanted to be able to play on stage with the same kind of smile that Kasumi-chan and everyone else has...)
Rimi
(... And without even noticing, I was eventually able to do so.)
Rimi
But...
Kasumi
Hmm? What's wrong, Rimi-rin?
Rimi
I have to say, the only reason I can look like this while playing is because of all of you.
Rimi
If it weren't for all of you... I know I wouldn't have become like this on my own.
Rimi
So, allow me to say... Thank you, everyone!
Arisa
Rimi...
Kasumi
R-Rimi-rin~!!
Kasumi
But I'm not going to let Rimi-rin be the only one to give heart-pounding performances. I'll work harder and have even more fun while doing it~!
Rimi
Okay! I want to enjoy our shows together more!
Marina
Fufu, you girls sure are close~.
Rimi
Oh, that's right...! Marina-san, do you have a moment?
Marina
Hmm? What is it?
Rimi
Is it possible to get a copy of the picture that you'll be posting on the website?
Rimi
You see, it's a precious picture that made me realize something very important...
Marina
Of course! I'll send the photo to your phone later!
Rimi
Really?! Thank you so much!
Kasumi
Rimi-rin, you really like that photo, huh~?
Rimi
Yes. I like to keep things that are important close to me...
Rimi
I've acquired... yet another thing that's irreplaceable to meāŖ