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What Lies Ahead |  |
Maya
Today's shoot was a bit stressful because of all the staff we had to work with for the first time, wasn't it? At least everything worked out though.
Maya
Not to mention, it's been some time since it was just the two of us at a shoot...
Eve
...
Maya
... Eve-san, are you okay?
Eve
F-forgive me! I could not stop worrying about Aya-san... and I made work difficult for you as a result...
Maya
No, no, you didn't!
Maya
I know the director said at the start that your smile was a little stiff, but you were able to switch gears after that.
Eve
I-I was? I'm relieved you feel that way...
Maya
Yes, so you have nothing to worry about!
Eve
But you were still able to work normally despite also being worried about Aya-san...
Maya
Hmm... That might be because I'm not actually worried.
Eve
What?!
Maya
Oh! N-no! I'm not saying I don't care about her or anything like that...!
Maya
I was just as badly upset as you when Nao-san said she was removing Aya-san as our vocalist...
Maya
And with each passing day, the more I thought about it, the bigger my worry and sense of powerlessness became...
Eve
Those are the exact same feelings I am having...
Maya
Understandably. In fact, I myself couldn't stop thinking about Aya-san until yesterday.
Eve
Until yesterday...? Does that mean something happened?!
Maya
Not quite. Before going to bed last night, I thought about it carefully.
Maya
I tried imagining what sort of band Pastel✽Palettes would be without Aya-san's singing.
Eve
I-I see...
Maya
And what happened was...
Eve
Yes...?
Maya
Absolutely nothing came to mind~.
Eve
What...?
Maya
No matter how many times I thought about it, I couldn't imagine a Pastel✽Palettes without her as our vocalist.
Eve
...!
Maya
Every possible future I imagined ended up with Aya-san passing Nao-san's test and keeping her role...
Maya
Huhehe, it didn't make any sense to me either.
Maya
But then it hit me. The reason why I couldn't imagine a different outcome was because Aya-san has never shown herself doing anything else.
Maya
All the trials she's ever had to face, she's managed to overcome...
Maya
Getting back up over and over again. Never giving up. She's continued to be our vocalist.
That's why I think... no, I know things will be okay this time as well.
{{{2}}}
Eve
Maya-san...!
Eve
Right now, Aya-san must be exhausted and full of uncertainty. She's lost and struggling and looks to be in so much pain.
Maya
But I can see this light deep down in her eyes. It's the same burning something that appears whenever she's determined not to give up.
Maya
When she has that look in her eye... it means she'll find a way in the end...! I'm sure of it...!
Eve
How could I have forgotten...! Aya-san will surely persevere!
Eve
I, too, cannot imagine an Aya-san who fails to pass...
Eve
The only Aya-san I can see is an Aya-san shedding tears of joy after overcoming this trial...!
Maya
Fufu, right?
Eve
Thank you very much, Maya-san! I now know that the bushido way is to have faith!
Maya
Ohh, Eve-san! Your usual smile is back!
Maya
What we have to do now then is provide what support we can so that this all becomes a reality.
Eve
Provide support...
Eve
Then we must train! I must go to the rehearsal studio now to hone my skills!
Maya
I was just thinking of doing the same myself!
Eve
Then let us strike while the iron is hot! We have work to do!
Maya
Wow! That's a lot of enthusiasm, Eve-san, but I happen to have plenty as well~!
Transcript
Marina
Hey, isn't that Maya-chan over there reading a magazine? Hey~, Maya-chan!
Maya
Ah, Marina-san, BanG Dreamer-san. Hello.
Marina
That's the music magazine you write a column for, isn't it? I didn't know the new issue was out! I better grab a copy for CiRCLE.
Maya
Much appreciated! For this month's issue, I actually wrote about my feelings and goals surrounding getting to be in the TIS, but...
Marina
... Hm? Something wrong?
Maya
Oh, no. It's just that the feelings I had when I wrote this column have ended up changing somewhat...
Marina
Right... I watched the TIS too... A lot did happen, huh?
Maya
Yes... When I found out we were going to be in the TIS, I was so full of excitement...
Maya
Now, though, that's all been overshadowed by anxiety and worry...
Marina
I see... Does it maybe have to do with Aya-chan coming close to being swapped out as the vocalist?
Maya
Yes... A person far better at being an idol than I am got criticized like that and told she still wasn't doing good enough...
Maya
It made me think about where that left someone like me...
Maya
Oh...! I-I'm so sorry for all the gloomy talk...
Marina
It's fine. Wouldn't want you to have to keep all of that bottled up and end up suffering more.
Marina
You're welcome to come talk to us anytime, okay? In fact, we insist that you do.
Maya
Thank you very much! When it comes to all the people who are in my life, I really am so lucky.
Maya
That's why I also want to become someone who can offer advice and support when others feel anxious.
Maya
To do that, though, I need to become even more confident in myself as an idol...
Maya
Just like Aya-san did this time, I'm going to do my best to overcome my limitations as an idol, and I'll keep doing it as many times as I have to!
Marina
I'm sure you'll be able to, Maya-chan. Looking forward to seeing your progress.
Maya
Thank you. I think talking about it has helped me start to get a sense of what I need to do!
Maya
I'll probably still end up worrying and feeling uncertain at some point during the TIS though... Do you think it's okay for me to come and talk about it?
Marina
Anytime!
Maya
Okay! Thank you very much! Anyway, I have a job to do today, so I'm going to go and focus on it! Take care!