Dream Again!

~~~~~!!

Sliiide~

Floooat~

Hmmmm~?

Ms. Manager's running late~

Sorry to keep you waiting!

Eeeeeeeek!

Nice to meetcha!

I'm Arale Nakamachi! I'll be in Class 1-B at Kanda Shiroyama Academy!

As today's event is intended as an opportunity for all creators affiliated with the agency to meet and socialize...

I am truly honored to have received your invitiation... invitation...

I fear I may cause you all no small amount of trouble...

But I-I look forward to wor-wor-wor-working with youuuuuuuuu!!

Glitch?

Nakamachi-san, calm down.

DEEP BREATH~

That's right. Let's take a deep breath.

*Inhale*... *Exhale*...

Why?

Yep, there we go~ Looking good, MewType!

Mew?

What's that?

Oops, sorry. I skipped a step.

Starting today, the four of you are MewType!

What?

Mew...? And what, exactly, is "Type"?

A new type of cryptid~?

Of course not! It's obviously your group name!

G-Group...?

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!?

Arale Nakamachi!

!

Nonoka Miyanaga!

Heeere~

Yuno Sengoku!

...

Miyako Fuji!

Wha!? M-Me too!? Seriously!?

That's right! Put the four of you together, and you've got... MewType!

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!!???

This is gonna be fun~

Nobody told me.

R-Right...! I thought I was only handling the illustration side of things...!

Nope! It's in the contract! I remember explaining it to you in the meeting room. I even underlined it in red and everything!

Oh... right.

Back then, I'd been pulling back-to-back all-nighters... I was barely conscious...

Don't mess with contracts~~~~~~!!

U-Um...

Hm?

U-Um... groups... They j-just bring back so many bad memories...

Just thinking about it is t-t-t-t-too much~~~~

Whoa, what brought that on?

Ah! Don't worry!

It's a "B-A-N-D," not a "group"! So you'll be fine!

Ah, a band~? Well, in that case...

Wait, nooooooooo, that's not the same!

Exactly. It's not the same as a group.

No, that's not what I mean~~~~! A band's still a group of people working together, isn't it?!

I'm with her.

...

I'm kinda over the whole band thing anyway. There are already plenty of bands. They don't need us.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!

Whoa... That's kinda scary.

Geez... You girls really have no idea what you've got. With this lineup? A band's practically guaranteed to blow up.

Everyone except Fuji-san already has a decent following on their own channels. And one of Miyanaga-san's cover videos has racked up over a hundred million views.

A hundred million?!?!

Huh?

Bunnies are so yummy, way up on the hill~♪

Haha! It's Usa Eater-chan~~!

Wait, that was you, Miyanaga-san?

Nono-chan, age five!

Whaaat?!

Wooow~~! It's "Usa Eater-chan", that video everyone's seen! I can't believe I'm meeting a living meme! This is amazing!!

Ehh...?

You upload videos too, don't you, Arale-chan?

...

...?

Um... That cover you uploaded the other day...

Ah...! That one?

Yeah. Nono-chan watched your cover, Arale-chan... You looked like you were having so much fun singing...

I love it~

Y-You loved it?!

Mm-hm! I really did~

W-Whaaaat... M-My... My singing...? Really...? Hehe...

It's not good enough to deserve all that praise... Ehehe. I've been told I have a loud voice in class before, but... For someone to actually say they loved it...? N-No way, no way, no way~~

Um... So... You really loved it?

Yep! Nono-chan absolutely loves your singing, Arale-chan~

Aaaaaaaaaahhh!!!!

Instead of starting a band now... wouldn't it make more sense for everyone to lean into what they're already good at?

We've got branding to think about too!

U-Um...

I... I'm really not ready to jump straight into band activities...

Ah! Don't worry!

...

I've already made sure there's plenty of practice time!

Group practice will follow this schedule! Fit your individual practice in whenever you've got free time!

...

Nono-chan on guitar~

K-Key... board...

We'll keep everyone engaged with uploads on your personal channels while you work on band practice, then it'll be time for your first live!

A live?!?!

I want at least one original song in the set, so we'll work on that alongside rehearsals too!

B-B-B-But I can't show my face...

We'll have Sengoku-san compose, and Nakamachi-san write the lyrics. All right, let's get to work!

I-I-I-I can't do thiiiiiiiiis!!!!

...

A band... A live...

I can't do either of thooooose!!

I can't even stand in front of people, and showing my face is completely out of the questiooooon!!!

I thought all I had to do was sing~~~~~~

Ugh... I start high school tomorrow, and now I've got all this hanging over me...!

*Sigh*...

Wait... Does that mean...?

If I don't sing, I won't have to be in the band?!

Then I wouldn't have to play a live show or show my face either! I might be a genius~~~~!!

Heh heh heh! I'm done singing for a while!

La-la-la, la-la-la-la-la~ La-la-la-la, la-la-la~♪

Hey, hey! Did you know talking can turn into a song?

If my songs could make everyone smile...

You're so loud!

I wish she'd listen to me for once too~

Could you be quiet for a second?

...

Mm...

Will I... ever be able to dream again...?

(The principal wants us to become the kind of people who always have "something we want to do" in our hearts... huh.)

...

(No, no! The principal's speech can wait. Right now, I need to figure out how to walk into class! Is "Hi!" okay? Or should I sound a little more cheerful...)

Oh! Magilulu!

Eep!?!

That's from the new movie!

Wait, they made that into a sticker?!

Uh... Yeah. I... really like Magilulu.

No way! You're one of us!

We love Magilulu too~ It's so cute, right?

Mm-hm...!

(Wow~ Now that's what I call good taste! This exclusive sticker from Yodoshima Big Electronics was all gone the second the doors opened!)

(My whole family fanned out across the Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, and Yurakucho stores, and by some miracle, we scored two! This is one of them!)

Look, look~ My Magilulu water bottle~

Oh! That's so cute...

Arale-chan, do you prefer the old design too, like Bota-chan?

Raki says she likes both versions~

M-Me too! I... I like both...!

(There are other Magilulu fans in my class?! "Magical Physical☆Kururu" fans?! This has to be fate~~~!)

(Maybe I can actually survive offline after all... Thank goodness~)

(That just leaves one problem...)

Like I said last time, we'll start with solo videos. Nakamachi-san, yours is "Cover Video"! Any song in mind?

Then I'll do the Magilulu opening... Mmph!!

(No, no! I said I was done singing!!)

Nice!

Huh?!

Nono-chan's gonna play "Nana-chan Love-Love Song"~!

Who's that?

Nanaka-chan! My little sister~

Right. Next! Fuji-san!

Oh, right. Your other job comes first this month.

Y-Yes...

Sengoku-san has composing work to focus on, right?

For a while.

So it's just the two of us~ That's kinda lonely.

Um... I guess...

Then we'll follow up the solo videos with a collab.

Oh, sounds fun~ We can collab on one of Yuno-chan's songs~

A-Are you serious, Miyanaga-san?!

I've got a work deadline, so I can't take on any more composing.

I-I don't think I can sing either! *Cough*... *Cough*...

Oh, guess not~

How good are you at playing, by the way?

Hmm... If I've never played it before, I'd probably need lots of practice.

Um... Sorry to bring this up so early, but I may not be able to make our next practice... I have a manuscript due...

A manuscript...?!

Fuji-san's got her own manga series.

That's amazing! What's the title?!

I'm still just starting...

Maybe I'll recognize your pen name!

...

This is it...

*Gasp*...

...

...

Yako Fujimi... Yako-sensei.

Y-Yes!

You're the one who used to draw "Magical Physical☆Kururu" fan art...?!

!

~~~~~~~! I-I've been following your art since sixth grade...!

Fuji-san handles the art for MewType's account too.

Whaaat?! N-No way! I need to see it!!

Here. Our shiny new account, hot off the presses.

A-A-A-Amazing~~~~~♡♡♡ It really is your style, Yako-sensei~~~~~♡♡♡

...

We want to keep those updates coming, so band practice is up next!

Eep?!

Switching floors now~

Wheee~!

Ooh~

Wow...

Feels more like a real band now, right? Everyone, go check your instruments.

Okaaay~

Oh, there's a mic too!

(Wait, no! I said I was done singing!)

Sengoku-san has a ton of practice tracks.

...

You do, right?

Just... give me a second.

INSTRUMENTAL~

Is that one of Sengoku-san's songs?

Beats me.

(Instrumental... That means I won't have to sing.)

This one's hard.

Okay. How about you, Fuji-san?

I could probably manage it with enough time...

Hmm...

Oh! This one's Yuno-chan's~!

?

It's a song Yuno-chan wrote!

How'd you know?

Nana-chan asked me to play songs by Yuno-chan's band, so I practiced them a whole bunch. That's how I recognized it.

Yuno-chan's songs make everyone happy, so I play them a lot.

I see...

...

Whoa, what just happened to the vibe?!

Hm?

All right! Calling each other by your last names is way too formal. Why don't you try nicknames?

I'm in~!

Arale-chan can be... Ara... Are... Re... Arere-chan!

M-Miyanaga-san! I'm fine without one!

Then Nono-chan can just be Nono-chan~!

Okay...

Ready, set~!

Huh?! N-Nono... N-No... Nono-nono-nono-nono...

Nngh!

Huh?

...!

Arale-chaaaaaaaaaan!!!

All right, she's not bleeding.

Yeth... (Yes.)

Okay, let's start instrument practice! Nakamachi-san, you can watch and give that tongue a rest.

Mmkay...

(Wow, amazing... Miyako-san's already gotten this far.)

(...)

(I'm glad I don't have to sing, but I'm so bored...)

(Come to think of it, I wonder what band Sengoku-san used to be in.)

(Searching "Yuno Sengoku"...)

(So... they disbanded two years ago. Let's see... Discography...)

(Wow... She's got so many songwriting credits... She did a song for "Nobishimo Chronicles"!)

(That takes me back~! That legendary free indie game! After all the goofy nonsense in the earlier entries, the story went brutally dark. My friends and I beat it in sixth grade, sobbing the whole time...)

Hm? This track... sounds familiar...?

We should do "Night of the Seagulls" too!

?

Because this track became "Peach Tree Storm," the theme from "Hijiyori Chronicles," right? That's the second game in the tragedy trilogy that started with "Nobishimo Chronicles"!

And it's a companion piece to "Night of the Seagulls," the "Nobishimo Chronicles" theme! We have to start with "Night of the Seagulls" or the lore won't line up!

What are you even talking about...?

...

Oh.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!

Uuugh... I was a fail-fail-failure at life today~~~~~

I did it again...! I got all carried away, started blabbing nonstop, and even tried to sing, aaaaaaagh~~~~~!!

Just because school went okay, I got cocky! Then I made things weird for Yuno-no-san-chan-san! I blew it!

Fail-fail-fail-fail...

Ugh... Maybe tomorrow I can keep it to just fail-fail...

Okay, tomorrow... First! No blurting things out! Second! No singing!

Third! Absolutely no talking or singing!

Mhm! Good night!

School's out, and I survived!

(I'm doing okay at school! Maybe I'll really be fine if I keep this up!)

Hm-hm-hmm~♪

Hm?

Ritsu~ Look, look~

...?

...

Hehe♪

Araaale-chan~

...!

It's been a while~ How've you been?

...!

You haven't seen Arale-chan in ages either, right, Clematis?

...

Clematis? You two used to be in the same group. Say something to her.

You... changed your hair.

Yeah~ Your pigtails were so cute, though.

Did you change it because you joined a new group?

Huh?

How did you...?

Heehee, of course I know~ It's the latest news about my darling Arale-chan, after all.

Speaking of which! We formed a new group too♡

We're holding our first-ever in-person event soon! I'd love for you to come too, Arale-chan~

Wait...! But...

But if any of your old fans recognized you there, wouldn't that cause all kinds of trouble...?

...

Hey, Arale-chaaan!

Sorry for the waaait~ Oh, are they friends of yours?

Hello.

Hi there~ Hey.

Are you friends of Arale-chan's?

Yes.

We go to the same school.

Really~

...!

Arale-chan?!

Huh? Wait up!

Arale-chaaan!

...

So she transferred schools...

She got into such a selective middle school... She could've stayed there all the way through university...

Maybe it got too hard for her to stay there... Because of what happened to me.

No! That's all in the past! I've gotta do my best right now!

...!

Hmmmm~♪

The event's officially set, then.

Manager's always mad at me lately~ She says I repost announcements too late and keep misspelling words in English~

That's just you being an idiot, Bell.

Mrrgh... I knooow that!

Just copy and paste proper nouns.

Proper...?

Sorry to keep you waiting. Here's the strawberry cream parfait.

That's mine.

And here's the melon sorbet parfait.

Me!

Anyway, Ritsu's guitar stream the other day hit a thousand concurrent viewers.

Whoa! Wait, all she did was play guitar?

What else would she be doing?

...

If the manager wants bigger numbers, she should just let us do things our way.

Having to get the agency's permission every time we stream is such a paain~

Riiitsu~

Open wide~

Nyagh! So precious~!

Go on, eat it for her.

Ritsu, you've seemed down ever since we ran into Arale-chan. I just wanted to cheer you up...

I might just fall apart without you, Ritsu...

...

Thank goodness...

Yeah... What a relief.

The Magilulu collab Café was seriously the best...!

We're gonna stop by the bookstore~

See you~

Bye-bye~

...

No one's here, right...? I even took a different train line, so I should be safe...

(Maybe I should've chosen the online course after all...)

(But I had to give myself some reason to get out, or I'd have stayed like that forever...)

(No, no! Happy thoughts only! When I get home, I'll put up the stickers I got at the collab Café...)

Whoa! S-Sorr...

Oh...

(Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!???!!!)

Um...

W-Well~~~~~~ what a coincidence!

Sorry I couldn't talk yesterday! It'd been so long since we'd seen each other that I panicked! Your school's around here, right? Mine too!

I've never commuted by train, so rush hour nearly kills me every morning. But abyss logic gets me by: when you're shoved, you're shoving someone too!

And Akihabara has so many stores for everything I'm into! The second I get off the train, it's nothing but fun!

Like the Café I just went to with my friends! Order all eight items and you get every sticker, no random pulls! So fan-friendly! I'm gonna burst!

It's up on the seventh floor, and the food's great even without the collab! You should try it! Hope it's sunny tomorrow too! Bye!

You've gotten so far away...

...

They've got history, huh...?

La!

La!

La!

La!

We're the La-La-La-La Girls!

And today!

What's happening today~?

That fan-favorite segment is back!

And what's it called~?

Guess the Song with Gestures and Vocals~!

Let's do "Lion Dance" for our next cover.

Like I keep saying...

"Robo's House" has to come before "Lion Dance"! Absolutely!

Right? You agree with me, don't you?

Uh... yeah.

...

Elea-chan, you said it was fine last time...

That was yesterday. Today's different~

You know Sanpo-P's songs?

Yeah.

They're not very good, are they?

Ahahahahaha!

Elea-chaaaan, about how I sang this part...

I think... this might be my worst take yet.

Come on! This part obviously needs a growl! How did I miss that?! Retake!

...

That video from the other day? Whoa, it's really taking off!

People are so easy~

But we can't coast on that. We've gotta keep trying new things.

Numbers matter!

*Gasp*!!

Hah... Hah... Hah... It's over...

No... It's all in the past!

My mouth only gets me in trouble! No talking today! No singing! I can do this!!

Yeeeeeeah!

(I used to be in a group back in middle school.)

(We'd upload covers, or videos of us just talking... It was fun.)

(But then, out of nowhere, a strange video was posted... and everything ended.)

(I was terrified. I couldn't leave the house. I couldn't even speak.)

(But I don't want everything to end there.)

(I want to dream again.)

(I want to sing, talk, and share all the things I love with everyone!)

So, Nakamachi-san, you're sitting this one out again today.

(But I can't handle being in a group agaaaaain!!)

Yaaay~!

"Nono-chan, your guitar's gotten so much better!" Thank you~!

"Congrats on forming MewType!" Thank you! "Yuno-chi's song!" That's right~! We finished with one of Yuno-chan's songs~!

"MewType's artwork is so cute!" Right~?! Miyako-chan drew it for us!

"That's Fujimi Yako-sensei." Huh?

"I'm worried Yako-sensei might collapse juggling a weekly series and the band." Nono-chan will make her all better, so she'll be fine!

"The art looked rough?" Hmm...

Hocus-pocus~ Make all the lines nice and straight~!

Nono-chaaaan! Bath time!

Whoa, Nana alert incoming!

Yep, bath time! Thanks for stopping by today~ See you next time! Take care now~!

Let's stop there for now. I'll give you some time to copy down the board.

♡

...!

...

Fuji-san.

Y-Yes!

I know your manuscript's important, but this will definitely be on the test, so make sure you take notes.

Yes. I'm sorry...

Hey, you there! Streaming during class is against school rules!

...

(Oh, an email from my editor...)

("Thank you for submitting your manuscript. The results from last week's reader survey are in, and the series is off to a great start!")

...!

("But balancing your series, school, and band activities must be a lot. If it ever becomes too much, we can switch to an every-other-week schedule, so please let us know.")

Every other week...

...

Before band practice, which do you want first? The good news or the bad news?

Good news!

Okay. Drrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...

Ta-da!

The new avatar is ready!

Maru-kun!

Fuji-san, you drew him in the corner of the members' character design sheets, remember?

Thank you so much...

You've been working so hard to meet your deadlines. Consider it a little thank-you.

Marui!

And now for the bad news.

MewType's social media is getting ugly.

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!!!???

She logged out.

Nakamachi-saaaan!!!

I haven't even said anything yet... My mouth only gets me in trouble... Speak no evil... Speak no evil... Speak no evil...

Miyanaga-san's the one getting dragged.

Huh?

Where there's smoke, there's usually fire, but...

This is more like someone set the fire themselves. It started with a comment from one of Fuji-san's fans, though.

Huh...?

A fan worried about Fuji-san juggling her series and the band. You said something like, "She'll be fine even if she collapses," right?

Hm?

"Nono-chan will make her all better, so she'll be fine!"

That just sounds like concern to me.

It does, but people twisted it into, "Why are you assuming she's going to collapse?"

I see.

...

...

?

Uh...

You okay?

Mm-hm! All is peaceful in Nono-chan's kingdom~

Right...

Online backlash...

Miyako-chan!

?

Don't overthink it! Got it?

...

We'll post some guidelines, but we can't stop every toxic comment in real time. Personally, I think we should hold off on livestreaming for a while.

I see~

All right, let's start practice!

Okaaay~

Welcome to Maru-kun's~! Advice Corner~!

Ba-dum, toot-toot~!

So, what's eating you?

...

A lowly introvert like me has caused trouble for one of the extrovert elite...

Huh?

What was with that whole "hocus-pocus" routine?!

She was obviously just saying whatever she could to brush us nerds off! I can always tell! Not that Miss Sunshine would understand!!!

You're really going off, huh.

I should've read the contract more carefully...

Oh, the band? You got so dazzled by the illustration gig, you forgot to read the fine print.

I'm working myself to the bone on manga, illustration work, and band practice, just to put one more weapon in my arsenal...!

I know I'm nowhere near exceptional enough to make a living from manga alone...

Well... Guess it never hurts to have more weapons.

Exactly!!

To survive this chaos, I'll do whatever it takes! I'm lucky just to get a shot at all... Ngh!

You having an attack?!

...!

Phewwww...

I need healing! More healing!

Awwwwww...

So cuuute... Only cuteness can make me feel bettew...

Who's a cutie-wutie? Nomo-momo, monyo?

Nyo-momo... Nyu-kiki...

*Gasp*!

All right... Send the storyboards by midnight, then finish roughs for five chibi characters by dawn!

I'm gonna survive this worrrrrld! Just you watch!!

Wait, are you okay?

...

Those dark circles under your eyes...

Fuji-san, did you get any sleep? Let's call it for today...

I'm fine. No problem... I can do this... Let's keep... go...ing...

Zzz... Zzz...

Huh? Did she just fall asleep?

Right... I'll go call her parents.

...

(I fell asleep...)

(Dialogue edits and instructions out by noon. Practice through lunch to make up for yesterday. Then handle the character art notes as soon as they land...)

Morning, Miyako-chan~!

Guh...!

Good morning...

You're here early~ Studying before class?

...

?

About what happened on our social media, I'm terribly sorry for all the trouble I cau...

Gah!?

W-Why are you hugging me...?!

Halfsies!

????

One biiig hug, and we each take half!

...

Heh...

Huh~?

(I can't with her...)

Phewww...

...

Nnghhhh~~~~♡♡

(This week's "Chupasachu" was way too good! Fujimi Yako-sensei's manga feeds the soul in a way nothing else can...!)

(Even when everything's awful, this still heals me right up. Absolute god-tier!)

...

Online backlash...

(I wish there were something I could do for Yako-sensei too...)

?

Let's have lunch together~!

...

You're... actually real...

Mm-hm!

M-Miyanaga-san... You go to this school too?!

Yep~

Miyako-chan and Nono-chan are both second-years, but we only met the other day~

Nono-chan's in Class A, and Miyako-chan's in Class B~

...!!

(Class B is right above mine! Just knowing Yako-sensei is up there working hard every day makes me want to work hard at school too~!)

...

Arale-chan.

?

Gaaaaaaaaah!!!???

Whaaaaaat?! A-A headbutt?!?

Huh?

Hmm~ Arale-chan, give me your hand!

My hand...?

U-Um! Y-You're putting my hand r-right on your...!!

Arale-chan... Did Nono-chan's feelings get through to you...?

Huh...?

...

Not really...

?

Not even the bonk or the thump-thump got through?

I... guess not?

Then maybe this morning's hug didn't get through either...

I guess I really do have to use words!

!

But... whenever I talk...

...

Arale-chan, did you already know about Miyako-chan?

! Yes! Yako-sensei is an incredible manga artist!

Her illustrations hooked me first! I got a phone for my birthday in sixth grade, then practically lived on art sites, devouring everything Yako-sensei posted!!

And the characters in Yako-sensei's manga are...!

...

Oh! Um...!

You really love Miyako-chan, don't you~?

Aaaaaah, my whole soul is showingggg~!

Arale-chan!

?

Let's share your "love" with Miyako-chan, Arale-chan!

Hweh?

Miyako-chan's all out of happy, but I think you can make her better, Arale-chan!

Because your "love" has power!

Power...

Mm-hm!

Let's give Miyako-chan a big "mwah~"!

...

A mwaaaaaaaaaah???

Once I'm home, revise the character art, work on the manuscript until dinner, then keyboard practi...

Huh...?

Candy...?

Miyako-chan!

!?

Three-second rule!

Huh...?

Timer starts now!

W-Wait, people are watching...

One, two, three!

Ugh... Why am I the one doing this...?

Keep picking 'em up~! One, two, three!

I'll go get Miyako-chan! You wait right here, Arale-chan!

Operation Candy Trail~! Go!

She told me to wait here, but...

Put my "love" into a "mwah~"...

One, two, three, and up! One, two, three, and up!

!

Miyako-chan! I found it! A house made of candy!

Huh...? Miyanaga-san, what is all this...?

She's gone... What is going on here...?

Y-Yako-sensei!

Nakamachi-san...?

It is a fine day, and I humbly apologize for summoning you here.

Ms. Manager told me...

W-Wait! That sticker in your phone case!

The Yodoshima Big Electronics exclusive sticker! I nearly died lining up after an all-nighter, only for them to run out right before my turn...!

Yako-sensei, that's the legendary Toshima Spa Highland exclusive sticker! Every guest was meant to get one, until anti-scalper measures made it ultra-rare!

...

(I-I want to talk to her...! About Magilulu...!)

Arale-chan! You've got this!

R-Right!

F-Fujimi Yako-sensei!

Y-Yes?!

The first time I saw your work was in sixth grade, when my friend's older sister showed me one of your Magilulu illustrations, Yako-sensei!

It was love at first sight! Then I got a phone for my birthday, practically lived on art sites... and found your piece with the most likes under the Magilulu tag...!

I don't even know how to put it...!

Your linework was unlike anyone else's! Every single line seemed to say, "This is what makes this character cute! This is what I love about them!"

You conveyed all of that through linework alone! It blew me away!! Before I knew it, I was following every piece you posted!

Oh! And your series! I really love the stories you write...

...

...

(I... messed...)

Uuuuuuuuuuuup!!

Arale-chan?!

The stories I write...

...

(I weirded her out! I made things awkward! I knew I should've kept my mouth shut!)

Nnnnngh...!

Whoa! I'm sorry!

...

W-Wait, you're... Ah!

(I forgot I wasn't supposed to use this station!!)

...!

Ah...

(I started using this station after running into her at the other one. But the more I try to avoid her...)

(Back then, I...)

...

Morning, Arale-chan~!

Mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm~

Is your mouth all zipped up?

Mm-hm.

I see.

Mm.

Mmph!

Hm? Oh!

Morning, Miyako-chan~!

Mm...

Thank you for what you said yesterday.

!? M-Mmph?! Mmm-mmm-mmmmmm?!

?

There!

Pwah!

I-I wasn't... bothering you?!

Not at all. Nakamachi-san, your thoughts on my work truly touched me.

Here... I'd like you to have this.

This is... the legendary Toshima Spa Highland exclusive sticker!!? You'd really give this to me?!

If anyone should have it, it's you, Arale-san.

Th-Thank you so much!!!

Yaaay~! Operation Make Miyako-chan Better was a huge success~! Talking really did the trick~!

Yeah!

The publisher will issue a statement in response to the comments targeting you, Miyanaga-san.

Thank you~ But don't push yourself too hard, okay~?

Rest assured. Now that I, Miyako Fuji, have chosen to wear two hats, I am prepared to see both through to the end!

Whoa~!

That's so cool~!

Oh, the elevator's here.

Let's hop in~!

...

(Pretty platitudes, the cutesy act, all that bubbly extrovert energy...)

(I just can't handle her!)

How's it coming along?

Which one?

You know, the one we had to bump up because of the client's teaser schedule.

Yeah... The one whose deadline got moved up so much it's almost funny...

I said I was sorry about that. Want me to stop taking new composition jobs for a while?

It's fine. I'll make the deadline.

Knew I could count on you!

I just sent the melody draft. Pass it on and get their sign-off on the direction.

Thanks! You're a lifesaver~!

Then that wraps up the meeting...

Waaaaait!!

Whoa!?

Be honest. What do you think of MewType?

W-What do you mean...?

You never seemed all that into it, Sengoku-san...

Well...

Shouldn't you be more worried about someone else? Like the vocalist.

Nakamachi-san?

Yeah. She never sings.

Right...

Band or whatever, it's still a job, so I'll do it. But if the vocalist won't sing, the rest of us can only do so much.

She's got her reasons.

Reasons?

She used to be in another group under the name "Elea," but something happened there, and she's still dealing with the trauma from it.

Then why put her in a band...?

Because she felt, "I want to change" and "I can't keep going like this." That's why she agreed to sign with the agency.

...

Look out for Nakamachi-san, okay?

I'll... think about it.

Hee-hee~ Hee-hee... I snagged so many~♪

Arale-chan!

Eep!! W-What is it?!

To a super-fun lunch~

You are inviiiiited!!

A red bean bun shop~!

Not just that! I've got tons of clear files too!

A red bean bun and clear file shop!

That's right! There's a convenience store promo right now: buy any two eligible items, and choose any Magilulu clear file you want!

And get <r=・ ・>this</r>! One of the hot snacks is a recreation of the High-Power Meat... Oh!!

?

Um... Nono-chan-san, do you like red bean buns...?

I looove them~~!

Eeeeeeeee!!

I-I got carried away and bought way too much food just for the clear files...

So I was wondering if you could maybe help me eat some...?

Of course, of course! Leave it to Nono-chan!

Yaaaaay!!

...

What about you, Miyako-san?

I'm fine, thank you.

Ooh~

(Guess I'm living on frozen bread till next week...!)

Let's dig in~! Let's eat.

Nom!

*Munch*... *Munch*... So yummy!

♡

Mmm?!

?

Look! Yuno-chan has a new song out!

Whoa, you're right! It's a new project announcement!

She wrote it for someone else...

Have either of you ever met Yuno-chan in person?

No, I haven't.

Me neither...

?

Nono-chan loves Yuno-chan, so I've sent her loooots of messages!

Like what?

A pineapple...

A pigeon... And then~

A swamp!!

And she replies almost instantly every time!

Nono-chan has uncovered the truth.

That's right... the singularity...!!

Singu... singu-what...?

The point at which advanced AI surpasses human intelligence...

Yes...! Clue one... We've only ever seen her on V-Flo...!

Clue two... She's buried in work...! Clue three... Instant replies with zero warmth...!

Which means Yuno-chan is really...

A high-spec songwriting AI built by some super-advanced company!!

W-W-Whaaaat?!!!

Achoo!

Am I coming down with a cold...?

*Staaaaare*...

Hmm, I see~

...

Nono-Holmes-san! She really does look human to me!

You're in the way...

Now, now. Take a look at this.

What's this...?

Select all images with traffic lights.

Huh...?

Select all images with traffic lights.

...

Finally, select all the Mokeeme aliens.

Moke... what?

Her hand froze...

So she really is a robot...

N-No way...

(If Sengoku-san really is an AI... then maybe it won't be long before there's an AI that can draw manga too...!)

(It could analyze trends and churn out whatever sells, never sleep... and even talk, sing, and dance... I-If that happened...!)

Humanity's doomed! We're all gonna be joblessssss!?

Nono-chan-san! Miyako-san's in trouble!

Hmm!

Dark-circle check starts now!

Starts now!

All right, just relax~!

Doctor, this is...!

Hmm... A mild case of dark circles! I'll write you a prescription~!

U-Unemployed... career over...

So... are we about done here? Let's start practice.

Thank you for watching the stream, and for leaving so many comments.

Now, for the next song...

"Please play Roselia's Determination Symphony!"...

Sorry, but the setlist had to be cleared in advance, so I can't change it now.

"Even just the chorus"... I'm afraid I can't do that either...

?

You've already accepted their tip, so you should play it for them.

...!

Ms. Manager isn't watching the stream anyway.

Keeping the fans happy is important ❤️

All right... Just a little, then...

Good girl♪

...

!

Another one...

*Sigh*...

I'll let the AI handle this one, too.

Copy, paste... Done.

All right, back to work...

Huh...? I'm not getting any sound.

Power? Connections? Still nothing after reconnecting... Why now, of all times?!

Gaaaaah... Fine!! I'll swap out every cable!!! The spares should be in the drawer...

Nothing... O-Okay, online stores...

They won't arrive until after the deadline...

Gaaah... That shop might already be open...

No choice... Guess I'm going to Akiba.

...?

Let's go over yesterday's stream, okay?

I'll be waiting for you at school~!

...

!

(Arale-chan...)

(I'll take another route...)

!?

Ow... What just fell on me...

S-Someone...

A person?!

Are you okay?! Can you tell me your name?!

No response... She has a pulse. Is she breathing...?

T-Take the 10,000 yen... Buy food... Get a receipt...

Make the receipt out to... whatever...

Y-Yes!

The receipt is made out to... "Whatever"...

Yes. You said to make it out to "Whatever."

Whatever...

?

Fried chicken, a sausage... You went all meat, huh?

I thought it'd help you get your strength back!

...

Do you like the chicken breast?

Mmm...

*Gulp*... Thanks. You really saved me.

I'm glad.

Don't you need to get to school? That's an Ageha uniform, right?

Oh... Right. I should be going... but...

(Where have I seen her before...?)

You've gotten so far away...

...

Ah... You've got some history.

!

Some kind of relationship trouble...?

...

What do you think of model students?

Huh...? Where'd that come from?

I don't really care... That's their choice.

...!

Though being around one might be kind of a pain.

Right... I thought so.

This is... about a friend of mine.

People actually use that line...?

A friend of mine had a friend.

My friend's friend was in a group with another friend, and then my friend was invited to join them...

Sorry, I have no idea who anyone is. Can you make this easier to follow?

All right... My friend is the bear, and her friend is the fennec.

A fennec...?

It's a kind of fox.

Oh.

The bear was a model student. A boring nobody who always just went along with everyone else.

Even when the fennec was suffering all alone... the bear couldn't do anything.

She was a coward. She chose the coward's way out. And the fennec lost everything...

So their friendship ended too.

Ended...

...

So what? Do whatever you want.

Huh...?

Something being over and not wanting it to end are two different things, right?

If you could just let go that easily, you wouldn't be struggling with it... You don't want it to end, do you?

Anyway, eat that meat and cheer up. See ya.

Thank you... Um...

Miss Bone-In-Meat...!

Eat up...

Nakamachi-san, you're about ready to post a cover song video, right?

Peeeeeeeeeeeeep!!

Quit squeaking!

Nnnnnngh, but, but, buttttt...!

You don't like singing?

No... That's not it.

You don't like being in the group?

Parts of it...

You don't like showing your face?

Yes...

Wanna hear something good?

Something good?

If it's a video... guess what? You don't have to show your face!

Wait, you're right!!

Are we finally gonna hear Arale-chan sing~?

So... I'm really gonna sing?

Well, you are the vocalist.

I can't wait to hear you sing, Arale-chan!

Whaaat?!

B-But I haven't sung much lately, and I'm a liiittle out of practice, so, hehe... I can't promise I'll be as good as you're hoping...

You really wanna hear me sing...?

I can't waaait!!

♡♡♡

A-And you too, Miyako-san...?

Huh? Oh, yes. I... am looking forward to it.

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!

Th-Then... maybe just this once? I mean, giving it a try might be kinda sorta totally doable~? Ehehe...

That was way too easy...

Okaaay! I have a brilliant idea!

What is it?

Nono-chan will play guitar for Arale-chan's cover video~!

R-Really?! You'd do that?!

Of cooourse♪

That might actually work... What song?

A Yuno-chan song! Nono-chan's an OG fan! Since the band days!

...

I love every single one, so I wanna play them all! Can I?

I mean, I do like the songs, but...

The songs?

Humans, though... I don't really get them...

...

I knew it... An AI...!

I'm gonna lose my job?!?!

M-Miyako-saaaaaan!!

For the record, I'm not an AI...

Everyone's certainly lively! For now, just pick a song, okay?

Okay!

I can sing...

I really can sing...

Hehe... Ehehe... Hehehehehe...

I can sing without showing my face! Which means...

IN-VIN-CI-BLE~~~~~!!

So what? Do whatever you want.

Huh...?

Something being over and not wanting it to end are two different things, right?

(I don't want it to be over.)

(That's why...)

Wait up! I'm coming~!

!

Sorry! A teacher held me up.

Arale-cha...

No fair, Ritsu~ Going behind my back like this.

...!

Wh-Why...?

Huh? You're not happy to see me, Ritsu? That hurts my feelings~

No, no~ You've got Fairy Bouquet, remember, Ritsu?

You're done with Arale-chan!

It's not over...!

Scaaary~

Here I am, begging you not to leave me... and you're still running off to Arale-chan, Ritsu...

Then I guess I have no choice.

They say humans are the only animals that use fire.

...?

Civilization advanced because humans weren't afraid of fire.

Maybe that's why the internet finds someone new to burn every single day.

...!

Funny, isn't it~? All it takes is one little spark. Then you just sit back and watch.

Pop quiz~! What happens when the spark burns out?

Threeee, twooo...

Oooone...

Time's up~!

The answer is... Everything around it burns~

...!

Friends, family~ What was it again? That new group she formed... Oh, right!

MewType, or whatever it was called~

...!

Arale-chan behaved herself back then, so I thought that would be enough~

What was it you said? "It's not over"...? Kyaha! Maybe you're right! Arale-chan isn't finished yet♪

Please... stop...

Hmm~ What should I do~?

I'll never... have anything to do with Arale-chan again...!

Good girl...♡

You really are a "model student," Ritsu.

Nono-chan's...

and Arale's...

Collab Song Announcement Tiiime~!

And now this is happening.

So it would seem.

All right, Arale-chan! Take it away!

The song for our momentous first collab will be...

The very first "Magilulu" opening theme, "Magilulu Nice Bulk"!

Ooh~!

Or the Season 2 ending theme, "Tears of the Shanikamars"!

Ooh...?

Or the movie's theme song, "Good-Bye, Biceps"! Those are my top three, and I just can't choose...

Mm-hm, mm-hm.

So you haven't actually decided.

Hmm~ You love all three, right, Arale-chan?

Y-Yes! Especially "Good-Bye, Biceps"! The exact moment it kicks in during the movie is...

Then let's go with that one♪

O-Oh...

Right!

It's settled~! And for the thumbnail art... *Glance*...

...

No, no, no, no! I could never ask Yako-sensei! That'd be presumptuous beyond all presumptuousness~~~~!!

If I can make the time...

No, no! You have your manga to work on! Once I've saved up, I'll go through the agency and commission you properly! Someday! I promise!! For sure!!!

That's... a lot.

Oh, perfect. Everyone's here! All right, let's get straight to practice!

Okaaay!

(Huh...? What is this feeling...?)

(Nono-chan-san is so kind...)

(And my beloved Yako-sensei is here too...)

(And Yuno-san-chan is a super-capable AI...)

(Right now, I really... want to sing!)

Wow! You're really starting to come together as a band!

Ahem!

Been practicing a lot?

Not that much...

Huh.

...

*Staaaaare*

W-What is it...?

Miyako-chan's dark-circle bear today is~ a polar bear! Slightly healthier!

Well, keep at it. Just don't work yourself till you drop.

And guess what else? Nono-chan noticed something!

?

Arale-chan, weren't you humming "Hmm-hmm-hmmm~♪" earlier?

Whaaat?!

Oh, that was you, Arale-san?

No, no, no! No way that was me!

You were singing. Just humming, but still.

Hwah?!

Think you can practice with us next time, Arale-chan?

Oh...

That might be... a hard yes?

Yaaay~!

Ngh... Nakamachi-san...

Can't wait!

Okay! Wait, Maru-kun just talked?!

Yeah. Nice to meet ya...

Huh?!

Maru-kuuuun!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!

Ehehehehehehe! Miyako-san, Maru-kun is talking with us!

I need my personal space~! Let go! Let go~!

He's alive!

I'm alive over here~!

That's amazing! How does this even work~?!

Um...

Let go!

Nono-chan wants a turn holding you too!

Gaaah! Stoooooop!!

...

Ehehehe... Hehehe...

It's heeere~!

Mic, mic!

Nono-chan-san's guitar track, check! Headphones, check!

My closet recording booth, back in action after all this time, check!

*Inhale*...

♪

...

Even when the fennec was suffering all alone... the bear couldn't do anything.

She was a coward. She chose the coward's way out. And the fennec lost everything...

I should probably give Nakamachi-san a heads-up, just in case...

...

Nah... Meddling isn't my style.

Unsend... There.

...

Whoa...

This is seriously complicated.

Mmm... Dreams are power!

Yaaawn~

Now then... Let's see how yesterday's video is doing...

...

Nnnnnnnnnnnngh...!

Huh...?

"I used to watch Magilulu all the time as a kid!" "Arale-chan's ripped!" "She's in peak form!"...

Eeeeeeeeeeeee♡♡

Ehehe... Hehehehe! Even the air tastes amaaazing!

The sky is so bluuuuue!

This is... the beeeeeest!!

Viola Quiiiz~! How many trains will Ritsu watch go by~?

Huh...?

W-Where is that coming from...?!

!

The answer is...

The answer is...

"A model student would never do that."♡

Ritsuu~?

...!

Geez, you're totally spacing out~

Sorry...

Look, Arale-chan posted a video.

Huh...?

The account's called "Arale Nakamachi from MewType."

Is Arale Nakamachi her real name?

Yeah. Putting your real name online is dangerous. You never know what might happen~

There are some real creeps out there.

What?! That's so scary!

Ritsu, let's listen to it. Okay?

...

(This song...)

What's this? Magilulu?

This takes me back~

What's with this song choice?

Arale-chan sounds like she's having so much fun~ I wonder if things are going well with her new group.

...

One of her new bandmates plays guitar, too.

Wait, Nonoka is...

Usa Eater-chan.

She's the one who went viral with over a hundred million views! That's wiiild~!

You were always Arale-chan's guitarist, Ritsu...

But I guess she doesn't need you anymore, huh?

I... have something I need to do at home, so I'll be leaving now.

Bye-bye~!

See ya~

Ritsu's been so entertaining lately~ Kyaha!

Arale-chan is as dazzling as ever...

So what? Do whatever you want.

I can't... Not after what I did to Arale-chan back then...

Ahem~ Magical Physical Kururu... or Magilulu for short. This will be on the test~

Hahahaha! Arale-chan, you sound just like the teacher!

That's hilarious!

Hehe...

(I met Arale-chan back in elementary school...)

Ta-da!

A notebook...?

Look! I wrote down our conversations, and they turned into lyrics! Major discovery! I'm a genius!

You're right... Arale-chan, that's amazing!

(Arale-chan was always so bright, and being with her was so much fun...)

And then everyone's biceps in Yumeoi Town lit up all at once!

Hahaha! That's so weird~ Hehe.

Right?! Oh, I know! Ricchan, let's sing together!

Come on, sing with me!

Yeah! What should we sing?

Umm... "Good-Bye, Biceps"!

(Arale-chan had always shone so brightly... She was my light.)

Huh...? Ricchan, you're going to a private middle school?

Yeah...

Oh... I see...

Nothing's gonna change! Even if we're apart, we'll always be friends!

Arale-chan... Yeah!

After I started at a private middle school, I poured everything into keeping up with my new life, and Arale-chan and I slowly drifted apart.

But then, a coincidence that felt like a miracle brought Arale-chan and me back together.

"Elea's Magilulu Cover"... The moment I finished watching it, I reached out to Arale-chan.

"Arale-chan... are you Elea?"

Just hearing her sing was enough to know. Arale-chan's voice was still overflowing with everything she loved.

The name was different, but it was still the voice I loved.

Thanks for calling. You haven't changed a bit, Arale-chan.

"I got a little taller! What about you, Ricchan?"

Me...?

I want to change.

Hi, everyone! I'm Utami, leader of the "La-La-La-La Girls," and...

I'm A-ko. I write our songs~

I'm Viola, everyone's little sis~

I-I-I-I love singing! I'm Elea!

And last but not least...

H-Hello...

That's how I joined the online cover group Arale-chan was part of.

Wait... you all sing covers online...?

I forgot to expl-expl-explain!

I don't really... sing...

Oh, I see... What should we do?

Hmm...

...

What about an instrument? You did say you wanted one in the group, right, Utami-san?

I know, I know, I know, I know, I know! Guitar!!

Ricchan, you can play a little guitar, right?! You play guitar, and I'll sing!

...!

I-I'm still learning guitar... and I'm...

R-I-T-S-U...

"Stir"? "Suit"?

How about "Clematis"?

In the language of flowers, it means "beauty of the mind"... Isn't that perfect for a model student like you, Ritsu?

That's so cooool!

I'll be Clematis!

I'm glad you like it♡

I'm Clematis. Nice to meet you!

Oww...

Ri...!

Clematis, are you okay?

Aaaah! The camera's gonna fall!!

Things went better than I ever expected. Every video we posted pulled in more and more views,

and our subscriber count kept climbing.

I've got some exciting news for everyone today!

We've officially signed with an agency!

Yaaay!!

That's amazing... I can't believe we actually got signed.

I can't believe it~

Right~? And if we're going to bring in new fans, don't you think we should rethink the group's direction?

I think we're fine the way we are.

Really? I'm not so sure~

Um... you're the "La-La-La-La Girls," right?!

Hm?

No way~! It really is you! You're all so cute~!!

I watch all your videos! Could we get a picture with you?!

Huh...?

P-P-Picture...!

A picture? Of course...

Sorry, but we're on our way somewhere right now.

What...?

Aw~ that's too bad~!

We can't wait for your next video~! Keep it up!

You two are still in middle school... so no interacting with fans when we're out in public, okay?

Okaaay!

Understood.

...

Today, I have an announcement to make.

I, Utami, have decided to leave the "La-La-La-La Girls."

To everyone who has supported us all this time, thank you so much.

No...

W-W-Why...?

I know~ right? I wonder what made her leave so suddenly.

"Viola-chan... will be our new leader."

So that's that~ From now on, we're gonna be pumping out videos nonstop.

Let's check the framing one more time!

Is this height okay for this camera?

Th-That's a lot of cameras...

Are they going to be filming us the whole time?

Yep~ This is exactly the kind of thing fans want to see♡

Ritsu's the model student, A-ko's the tsundere, Arale-chan's the lovable airhead, and I'm everyone's little sis...

So make sure you're always giving the fans what they want♡

It's No. 1 on the daily chart...?

The video from the other day?

Whoa, that's amazing! It's blowing up!

Yeah... Just like Viola said it would...

Right?!

...!

...

Arale-chaaaan, how many times have I told you this kind of thing is a problem?

Huh? Oh, that video from the other day!

Elea-chan, do you ever work out?

Nope! But Magilulu has this line: "Healthy magic lives in a healthy body!"

I know, I'm way too easy to sell merch to, haha! And now they're releasing a light-up Magical Shaker...

Elea-chaaaan?

And rumor has it the Shanikamars Kani-Kama is coming back the very same day... Viola-chan, could you pick up either one for me...

*Sigh*... Arale-chan, all your rambling keeps wrecking my whole persona.

Oh, okay. Hey, I bought you some crab sticks, Viola-chan! I'll bring them tomorrow. I got some for everyone!

Oh, but can I keep the bonus Magilulu card...? I only need one Baru-kun's "Nice Bulk" card to complete the set, but I just can't pull it...!

Oh... So you're just not getting it~

Then I guess you can stay just the way you are, Arale-chan♡

See you, Ricchan~!

Yeah. See you tomorrow.

(Arale-chan is as dazzling as ever...)

And then there's me...

I want to change... I want to leave this boring version of me behind...

Ritsuu~?

Viola...!

You were thinking something you shouldn't, weren't you?

...

Um... For our next cover, I was hoping Arale-chan and I could do a song from the "Magilulu" movie.

I've never tried anything like that before...

You still don't get it, do you?

Huh...?

I'm saying that would ruin your whole persona, Ritsu. You've been comparing yourself to Arale-chan, haven't you~?

But...!

You're fine just the way you are, Ritsu.

Take away the model-student image, and you're jealous, gloomy, and barely say a word...

What would even be left of you?

...?!

I can see why you'd want to be like her, though~

Arale-chan's entertaining without even putting on an act, and her lyrics are amazing too. Just look at the views Elea's songs get.

Numbers like these could be just the spark we need...

Kyaha!

...!

Elea-chaaaan, about how I sang this part...

...

I listened! I think it sounds amazing! Mine, though...

It's just not good enough, is it?

*Sigh*...

I think... this might be my worst take yet.

Come on! This part obviously needs a growl! How did I miss that?!

Retake!

...

Let's do "Lion Dance" for our next cover.

Good! There are tons of "dance covers" of it going up right now!! Wait!

"Robo's House" has to come before "Lion Dance"! Absolutely!

"Robo's House" is where the whole Lion series began! If we post it first, it'll be way easier for everyone to get the lore behind "Lion Dance"!

That's why I'm telling you we should do "Robo's House" first! Okay?!

Right? You agree with me, don't you?

Yeah, actually. That might be the better choice.

Hmm... I don't know~ A-ko, Clematis, you're both fine with doing it my way, right?

...

...!

Uh... yeah. I'm with Viola on this...

...

Great!

Oh! Then let's record "Robo's House" afterward! This way, we'll be following Sanpo-P's original upload order too~!

...

Should I... talk to Arale-chan about it...?

?

Have you seen this? <u>http://www.MeChube.com/watch???vvv=wU9PCIytBBrTk_tvQ... </u>

...?

Let's do "Lion Dance" for our next cover.

I'm telling you, "Robo's House" has to come before "Lion Dance"! Absolutely!

Uh... yeah.

What... is this?!

Arale-chan!

...

Who would post something this awful...?

The agency's checking with our video editor now. Some of it came from footage we'd never posted...

The video's being flooded with nasty comments, and the agency's getting tons of messages too... Apparently, they can't keep up.

...!

Morning~

! Arale-chan...!

What's up? Did we have some kind of event today?

Look at this...

"Robo's House has to come before Lion Dance! Absolutely!"

What's this?

"Right? You agree with me, don't you?"

"Uh... yeah."

"..."

Huh? What's going on...?

But this video is a lie! If we put out a warning telling everyone not to trust videos like this...

Everyone's just confused...

We're terribly sorry!

!

We're still looking into it... Yes, we'll call you back once we know more. Yes. Goodbye...

How's the statement coming?

We'll have it out today!

Should we send them home for now?

Yes... Let's contact their parents...

...!

No caller ID...

!

Don't answer it...

O-Okay.

...

*Sniff*...

Ah...

I'm sorry...

You're the one who's really suffering, Arale-chan... but I'm so scared...

Viola-chan...

Ri...

Ritsu!

What are we going to do...?! We've worked so hard for this...!

If Arale-chan stays in the group... me, A-ko, Ritsu...

we'll all go up in flames...!

...

...

I'm sorry...!

Arale-chan...!

Ritsu.

You're not going to take a bad girl's side, are you, Ritsu...? Not when you're a model student...

I left Arale-chan...

behind.

I was scared...

Scared that if I ran after Arale-chan, I wouldn't even be a model student anymore...

We're announcing our first single at the next event.

Wait, does that mean we're making our debut?!

It's finally happening!

We've settled on "Suzunare" for the venue.

...!

Arale-chan's school is nearby, too. Maaaybe she'll just happen to drop by~

Kyaha!

...

(Nothing's changed since that day.)

(I've been stuck in place all this time, clinging to the model-student role... I'm scum too, for still staying with Viola and the others.)

(Even so, if she'll even let me... I want to apologize to Arale-chan...)

(And then... maybe we could be together again...)

Ricchan...

...!

...

...! Why...

Why do you look like you're about to cry, Ricchan?

But...

I'm sorry!

That day, I couldn't run after you. I couldn't help you...

Even though I knew... I knew all of it...

I don't understand what you're saying, Ricchan... any of it...

But I...!

I can't do this anymore!!

Oh...

I'm sorry... I can't. I'm too scared...

Yeah... Of course you are.

...

! I'm late...!

I messaged you. You're never late.

I'm so sorry I'm late!

Hm?

A bunch of stuff came up, and I kinda lost track of time dealing with it all~

Huh? Arale-chan, what's wrong?

My throat's just a little off today. Hehe...

I see. I've got some throat lozenges I swear by. I'll tell you about them later.

Oh... Thank you.

All right, now that everyone's here, let's get our regular meeting started.

Okaaay!

As I said earlier, Fuji-san has to get back to work after this, so let's cover the online live show first.

Yaaay!

Nakamachi-san... I thought you didn't want to do a live show.

Huh?

I think it's time we started nailing down the details.

Nono-chan's gonna practice her heart out!

That's the spirit! Fuji-san, how are your deadlines looking?

I'll... manage.

Good. Let's go over your schedule together later, just to be safe.

Okay.

...

I'll handle the music, but who's writing the lyrics?

Nakamachi-san, think you can write the lyrics?

No go, huh? That's a shame. I really like your lyrics, Nakamachi-san.

Well, I'll see if one of our in-house creators can take this one.

I'm sorry, but I need to take a break from practice for a while!

Huh?!

She's clearly not okay...

Does anyone know what's going on?

Mm-mm...

I haven't heard anything...

Hmm...

(Did all that baggage finally catch up with her?)

(That video... I hope this has nothing to do with it.)

Oh! Arale-chan!

What's up?

That friend of yours we met the other day... She's in a group too, huh?

Oh... Really?

It popped up in my recommendations.

Here, this one!

It says they're having an event this weekend.

Looks like it's at Suzunare. Are you going, Arale-chan?

Th-This weekend? There's a Magilulu marathon on, so~

Oh, right! Did you see the new character for this summer's movie?!

I did!

I can't wait for it to come out~

I've gotta rewatch the whole series first!

Good point!

Ahaha... Well, see you~

Bye-bye~

Arale-chaaaaaaaaaan!

Gah!

Found youuuuu!

Nono-chan-san...?!

Nono-chan came to chat with you, Arale-chan!

...!

You're here because I asked to take a break from practice, right?! I knew you'd be worried. I'm sorry!

It's nothing serious! I just feel bad showing up only to sit there while everyone else practices.

...

And I've let my homework pile up! School comes first for a student, right?!

So I thought I'd get caught up on all that first... Hehe...

Arale-chan!

Y-Yes?!

A cuddle or a kiss! Pick one!

...

A kiss...

Cattle? Like cows?

U-Um... I have a train to catch! Excuse me!

Wait!

Aww...

(Oh no, oh no, oh no!)

(That was Nono-chan-san's first aid... She knows something's wrong.)

...!

(It hurts... I thought maybe time would heal it, but...)

(No... It hasn't. I thought being with everyone had made it hurt a little less...)

(What happened back then... and what happened yesterday...)

(I don't know anymore...)

That photo shoot for the CD bonus was fun, wasn't it♡

I've never seen you in a maid outfit before, Ritsu. You're usually the cool, princely Clematis.

Think yours will be the rare photo card this time?

...

Maybe you can't hear me? Boooring.

Oh! If you won't talk to me, Ritsu, maybe I'll go have a little chat with your precious Arale-chan...

...!

Hehe. That's the face I wanted to see.

Let's keep this up for tomorrow's event too, okay♡

Okay...

It's our very first event, after all. I want lots and lots of people to come.

Okay.

Make sure you give the event a proper plug on tonight's stream, Ritsu. I sent you a Fairy Bouquet-themed setlist.

I understand.

Good girl, good girl.

You're so well-behaved. Nothing like Arale-chan♡

Thank you very much for watching today's stream.

Tomorrow at 1:00 p.m., Fairy Bouquet will hold a release event for our 1st Visual Book at Suzunare's first-floor event space.

Admission is free, so we'd love for you to join us. We hope to see you there. Thank you, and take care.

...?

...!

(Arale-chan...)

...

Ritsuuu...

You're playing one of Arale-chan's songs♡

Hm?

"Clematis forgot to end her stream." "She's playing an Elea song"...

Elea...?

Okay... "Complicated" doesn't even begin to cover this...

Hmm-hmm♪

I'm sorry to call so late.

Yes. Clematis's stream was part of a promotion to draw a crowd for tomorrow's event.

Yes, we made it look like she'd forgotten to end the stream. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner...

Yes. Of course. Good night.

...

Arale-chan...!

...?

What...? Why...?

!

*Pant*... *Pant*... *Pant*...

Did she hear all of it...?

But if any of your old fans recognized you there, wouldn't that cause all kinds of trouble...?

Nothing's gonna change! Even if we're apart, we'll always be friends!

MewType, or whatever it was called~

"Viola-chan... will be our new leader."

Who would post something this awful...?

Ricchan, you can play a little guitar, right?! You play guitar, and I'll sing!

I might just fall apart without you, Ritsu...

Magilulu for short. This will be on the test~

Good girl♡

Please...

Please... anyone but Arale-chan...!

Why...?

I wish I hadn't watched it...

Arale-chan...!

(I get it now.)

(I know what you were trying to tell me. You looked just like I did back then...)

...!

Help me.

(There's nothing I can do.)

(I know that firsthand.)

(I know all too well what it feels like to need someone to save you. But...)

(I don't know how to help...)

...

! Fairy Bouquet 1st Visual Book Meet-and-Greet...?

Wait, so I'm at Suzunare?!

Hello~! We're Fairy Bouquet!

Wooooo!

Thank you all so much for coming to Fairy Bouquet's very first event! I'm Viola, the leader!

Right side, check! Left side, check! Fairy Bouquet's Bell here! Nice to meetcha!

I'm Popo. Hope you all have fun today.

I'm Clematis. Thank you all for coming today.

I can't believe so many of you came... I'm starting to feel a little nervous.

(Ricchan...)

Right?! So many flesh-and-blood humans!

What does that even mean?

Hahaha!

...

(I can't do anything to help, but...)

Today we've got our "Anything Goes" Q&A, where we'll answer your questions, plus the meet-and-greet and more!

We've got plenty in store for you today, but first, a major announcement!

Thanks to all your support... we're releasing our very first single!

Wooooo!

!

?!

...

Elea-chaaaan! Thanks so much for coming!

What...?!

Huh? Who's that?

Elea?!

It's been sooo long! I never thought you'd actually come. I'm so happy...

Oh! Since you're here, come on up!

!?

There's something I've regretted for a long time.

Over here.

Hurry uuuup!

Elea-chan and... Oh, right. You're Arale-chan now.

Viola!

Clematis... I know how you really feel. You want to make up with Arale-chan too, don't you?

Watching your stream yesterday confirmed it. So...

I want you and Arale-chan to make up, Clematis!

...!

Come on, sing yesterday's song together and make up right here!

What an honor to witness such a historic moment~

The two of them... They used to be friends, but they had a big falling-out!

Viola, what are you doing...?

I'll go grab the guitar. Wait right here!

Ooh, a surprise performance!

Guess this is what makes an event special.

Arale-chan...

Ah...

Ahh...

What?

Huh?

Huh?

No...

Arale-chan... why...

Arale-chan...!

Haa... Haa...

*Sigh*...

What am I doing?!

I just dragged Ricchan away from their event!!

Poaching?! Kidnapping?! Theft?!

I'm a thieee<br><align="right">eeef?!

What do I do?! They might sue me! How did this even happen?! I really messed up!

...

I'm scared... I don't know what to do. Why... Why does everything always end up like this...?

What do I do...?! Ricchan, I... I never meant for this...

Huh...?

Oh! Ricchan, you can still go back...

No...!

Thank you... for getting me out of there.

...

Hey, Arale-chan... You used "boku" just now...

Huh?! Boku... I mean, watashi... boku...

Did I say "boku"?

Yeah. When you call yourself "watashi," it feels like you're someone else...

Because! I thought I had to change, so I made myself say "watashi"!

I'm sorry...

Huh?

I kept telling myself you were happy now... and tried not to think about it too much...

...

Honestly... I'm still scared. Scared of having anything to do with V-Viola...

And sometimes... I'm still scared of people looking at me...

But that's exactly why I wanted to help you, Ricchan...!

But I didn't know how, and I never meant for any of this to happen... I don't even know what we should do next...

Then let's figure it out together!

Ricchan...

Yeah...!

I get things wrong all the time... and I'm getting this wrong too...

So do I!

Huh...?

But even if this is a mistake... I don't care anymore.

Somehow... if I'm making a mistake with you, Ricchan, it doesn't feel quite so scary.

I'm a mess of mistakes... but I'm still me.

So I'm gonna do what I want to do!

I'm really sorry...

*Sigh*... I need you to reflect on this. Deeply. Really, really deeply...

I'm talking ocean-floor deep...!

Yes...

I mean, pulling another group's member out in the middle of their own event... I've never even heard of anything like it...

I'm sorry...

That said!

...?

If they hadn't forced you onstage when you weren't even involved in their event, none of this would've happened.

So that's what we'll use to fight back!

...

Arale-chan.

Huh? Oh...

Are you okay?

Yeah... I got scolded...

...

I thought... my life was over back then...

But here I am. And today, I thought this time... it really was over...

But it wasn't.

Huh?

Ms. Manager said she'd fight back and told me to go back to doing what I always do as soon as I can...

That means I can keep doing this, right?

...

I'm done looking back.

You pulled me out of there, Arale-chan. I'm not turning back now.

Ricchan...

We'll be okay... I'm sure of it.

Hehe...

I am so, so, so, SO sorry!!

Whoa.

It's fine... You just did what you wanted, right?

Urk!

Wait, that's not what I meant...

(Did I seriously push her in the wrong direction?)

Oh... You won't be streaming for a while, so that should take some pressure off, right?

Uuurk!

Wait, I'm not...

N-No! You all have every right to be mad at me!

No, we're not...

I am sooooooooo sorry!!

It's okay~ Let's get to band practice!!

I know saying sorry isn't enough! So if there's anything I can do to make it up to you, I'll do absolutely anything...!

Careful. Keep flailing like that and...

Huh?

Whoa! Are you okay?

Eeeeeek! I'm so sorry!

Miyako-chan, you've got dark circles~

I'm... in the final stretch of the artwork for the preorder bonuses...

What's a preorder bonus?

Oh! Yako-sensei's new manga volume comes out next week, so...

Ooooh~

Bookstores have six stickers in all, with three designs at random. And one anime shop has an ultra-cute mini clear file!

I was asked to draw two of the designs.

! We are so blessed~

And that's not all! A bookstore in Akiba will display the legendary illustration that won the very first Magilulu fan art contest!

Indoor voice.

Ugh, my head...

Pain, pain, go away~

I'm fine, thank you.

Oh...

?

Y-You can't even tell how sorry I am, can you...?

This happened before, too... Whenever I think something's amazing, I get carried away and don't come across as...

Yow?!

We get it. You don't have to keep proving how sorry you are.

Yuno-san-chan...

Your lively self is the best!

I agree.

You guys...

Thaaank yooouuuuu!

! Very much!!

...

Mmmmmm... *Sigh*...

...!

Miyako-san... Yuno-san-chan... Nono-chan-san...

My phone, my phone...!

Okay...

...

Ngh...

...!

(This hurts... I don't want to see this...)

(But...)

(If I'm going to move forward, I need to know exactly what's going on.)

(Otherwise, I won't see it coming if Viola tries something.)

*Inhale*... *Exhale*...

Poor Viola.

Wait, Elea's still in high school?

Wasn't there a video compiling all the awful stuff she did?

I've followed Clematis since her La-La-La-La Girls days, but I'm done. After this, I can't support her anymore.

!

Ricchan...

...

Those tears are fake. She's doing exactly what she did to me.

(I couldn't see it back then, but now I know Viola did the same thing to Utami-san.)

(I won't just take it lying down anymore. I will never go back to who I was then.)

I...

This time, I'm going to fight baaaaaack!!!

Did you manage to get some proper rest today?

Thank you! I'm doing okay!

(Ms. Manager is so nice...!)

(But I can't keep leaning on everyone's kindness...)

"I dragged one of their members away and ruined the whole event." That's still true... How do I make that right?

Arale-san?

! Miyako-san!

Wow~ what a coincidence!

Wooooow!

It's the original fan art piece~! This is amazing! So amazing! Wooooow!

They put together this special display ahead of the new volume's release... and I wanted to see it for myself...

That's incredible! You drew this in elementary school...?!

The lady next door ran an art class, and she'd let me use all the paints and supplies I wanted.

Whoa... So that's how...

It took a lot of trial and error, but I was so happy when I won the award.

...

(She must've worked harder than I can even imagine to become a manga artist...)

(She puts out a new chapter every week even with band practice. She works so hard for her fans, and yet...)

I don't want her to hear all this ugly noise. How do I make it go away...? A firestorm... Put it out... But how...?

...

(Your entire inner monologue is coming out at full volume?!)

(Am I even supposed to be hearing this?! This sounds extremely private!)

(I-I-I don't really understand, but I'm sensing powerful waves of compassion and serious distress...)

Yako-sensei, I really love the stories you wri...

Hmm...

Ah...

...

*Sigh*...

(The tragic reality that I can't think of a single helpful thing to say when Arale-san needs it most!)

(I can write endless lines of dialogue, but when it actually matters...)

*Sigh*...

Excuse me!

?

...!

(Who is she?!)

(I don't know anyone this gorgeous! Wait, me?! Does she actually need something from me?!)

...

(Eeeeeeeeeeeeeek!)

(Get a grip, Miyako!)

(Ghk!)

U-Um...?

I knew it! You're Fujimi Yako-sensei, aren't you?

...!

(Miyako...?)

(H-Hey, Miyako! Miyakooooooo!!!)

I've been wanting to meet you...

Oh, I'm sorry. I happened to overhear you talking in the bookstore earlier.

And I'd seen a photo of you online before...

Um, this illustration...

The very first piece I ever posted...

I fell in love with it at first sight.

I wanted to know what kind of person had drawn it, so I looked you up and found this article.

You recognized me from a photo this tiny...?

Hehe.

Ghk...!

I'm sorry for taking up so much of your time.

I'm so glad I got to talk to you.

I-I'm honored...

(She probably charms everyone like this and just breezes through life without a care...)

Hehe.

(Ngh...!!!!!)

(Miyakooooooooo<voffset=-1.2em><pos=5.8em>ooooo!!!!!!)</voffset>

Thank you very much...

First things first! I have an important update about Nakamachi-san.

I knew it... I'm fired!

No, you're not.

I swear I'll never cause any of you trouble again! Any of you... any of you... any of yooou...!

Not a great ending, not a terrible one. Just a decent way to put this mess to bed.

Ritsu Minetsuki will be joining MewType.

!!?!?!???

Huh...

Ooooh~

...

Fuji-san, are you listening?

Oh! Yes...

Judging by that reaction, I guess Nakamachi-san didn't know either. Minetsuki-san clearly takes confidentiality seriously!

So Fairy Bouquet admitted they were in the wrong?

They did apologize, for what it's worth.

...

(Viola's made her move.)

You know how rumors start flying whenever someone leaves a group, right? Breach of contract, bad blood, that kind of thing.

I see~

So their idea of damage control was to make it look like we poached her.

I'm ready to deal with the fallout! So I need all of you to make Minetsuki-san feel welcome.

Okaaay!

Minetsuki-san plays guitar too, so I'm counting on you, Miyanaga-san.

Leave it to meee!

(This is only going to fan the flames...)

(I-It's finally here...)

(My! First! Tankōbon! Release! Day!!!)

(My editor said it's off to a good start, but...)

This one! It just came out today! I've been following it since the very first chapter!

!!!!!!

Huh, the art's cute.

The art's great, but the story is soooo good...! You seriously have to read it!