Section 3: Gotta Buff the Heart

All right, we have some time before the next round, so I think we should spend it on a training camp.

Sounds good to me. Sometimes, where you rehearse is just as important as what you rehearse.

I've already made arrangements at a beautiful hot springs inn by the ocean.

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Yes, there is. And even better, it's always summertime at the beach. This Singularity really is full of wonders.

Idols and beaches go together like tuna and catnip. So OF COURSE there's an ocean here.

Summer... That's peak shaved ice and ice-cream bar season. Excellent. Let's get going ALAP (as light speedily as possible.)

Summer!

Beach!

Flames!

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That building is burning! It looks ready to come down any moment now!

Are you sure this is the right place, Crane!?

Th-that's strange. I'm sure I followed the directions on the website...

Hey there, brave warriors scaling the idol ladder! Welcome to Oda Nobunaga's Honnokaku, aka the Nobbu Resort!

Whenever you're in the mood for a little relaxing destruction, we're just a phone call away at 1-800-ODA-NOBBU!

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It sure is! Nothing but the rockingest welcome for our special guests!

Great. Of course this inn belongs to a (brainless) Berserker...

What was that? Did you just call me "brainless"?

A little Nobbu Fire can't be helped, since Nobbu's heart is always aflame.

See? The kitty-cat Cat gets it! You've got the makings of a rock 'n' roll star yourself!

Anyway, don't worry, I didn't actually burn the place down. That'd obviously kill everyone inside it, including me. It's just a fancy light show.

It's peeerfecty safe. Trust me! Now come on! I'll show you to your room!

Hmm, a classic Japanese room, huh. And a pretty nice one, too.

I guess this place might not be as bad as I thought.

The owner said she'll open up the banquet hall for us to use for our rehearsals.

It's got a big tatami room with a proper stage and a karaoke machine with all the bells and whistles. It sounds like a lovely old-school setup.

I see there are handmade welcome sweet buns on the table, too. What a wonderful custom. I think I'll have mine right away.

We can save the sweet buns for later! Come on! We're going to the beach while the sun's still out!

Now this is a beach! Really gets the heart pounding! It's hot! It's sandy! It's totally peak summer season!

And since summer nights are synonymous with tests of courage, summer daytime is the perfect time to enjoy the sea!

This really does feel like the height of summer. I never thought I'd get to visit the beach on this mission.

Hm? Where's your swimsuit, Alter?

I'm an indoor girl down to my genes, so I don't have any summer or beach clothes.

Besides, I thought we were going to spend this training camp mostly, well, training.

Huh, you're a harder worker than you seem. That's not a bad thing, though.

Still, showing off how much fun you're having is part of being an idol too, you know?

It is?

Yup. So if you want to be the best of the best, you need to dazzle the fans by showing them you're having the time of your life.

Once again, Medb is absolutely right. I couldn't agree more.

...I see. Okay, I understand. Then I'll do my best to have fun in accordance with that idol philosophy.

If I have to dazzle fans by showing them I'm having the time of my life...this is how I'm going to do it!

Whoa! Ex just set up a beach umbrella at lightning speed, and is now relaxing with a bowl of shaved ice with azuki beans!

Now I'll just take a selfie and cross-post it to all my social media accounts... There. How's that?

...Eh, good enough!

As long as you're enjoying your vacation, then you've got what it takes to be an idol!

Here, Senpai, Miss Crane. I bought us some nice cold drinks!

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Thank you, Mash. ...I'm glad to see everyone enjoying themselves.

Aaa, idols are even cuter when they're on vacation! I just want to hug them all! But no, this isn't the time for that.

Medb is holding an impromptu photo shoot with several tourists. Cat disappeared somewhere while she was digging a hole in the sand.

And Ex

Okay, I've got one of every kind of seaside sweet they sell here. And now I'll review them all.

Thanks for all the subs, everyone.

Ex is making a bundle from her live stream.

She's already getting sponsorship offers from multiple Japanese sweets companies. It's like she was born for this.

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R-right, good point. I... Would we even report QP income...?

Why pay taxes if you can get out of it?

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Mash, Master, why don't you come join my stream? I could use more reaction shots.

O-oh. I'm not sure what kind of reactions you need, but, okay...

Live streaming is pretty fun. I'm glad I got to try it.

That's great. Maybe next time, you can try singing with me.

N-no, that's okay. I really don't think I'm cut out for that!

Are you sure? I think you'd be pretty good at it. But all right, I won't push you. Right now, let's just focus on enjoying our summer.

Right.

Ahh... I could listen to the waves lapping at the shore all day.

Since the dawn of time, water has always been in a state of flow. It's easy to think it will keep doing so forever.

But times change. Before you know it, summer is gone, like a dream hanging by the barest of threads...

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Huh!? It's evening now, Senpai! And who was that speaking just a moment ago?

It's not stopping at evening. Look. You can actually see the sun setting...

It's night now!? How can that be!?

Hey, what's going on? Why'd it get so dark all of a sudden?

Hmm. I must've been buried in the sand longer than I thought. Does this mean it's time for Nocturnal Cat?

I guess time really does fly when you're having fun. Goodbye, summer. I'll miss you.

Everything that begins must eventually end. It's the way of the world.

The way of the world... I hate to admit it, but you may be right. Things come and go in the blink of an eye...

I guess this means summer is over, Senpai...

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MasP is right. These sudden feelings of fleetingness are

Hehehe...

Aha! There!

Aah!

That voice. Isn't that

Yes. It's me.

What did you think, AxXxS? Everything felt pretty sad and impermanent, right? That means we won this one!

Everything is fleeting... That's the theme of our idol group, Dreams Gone Girls.

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Hello, Chaldea Productions. Congratulations on winning your first round of the Grail Concert.

Eee! It's...it's...it's Dreams Gone Girls!

Nitocris, with her gentle dignity concealed behind ageless wisdom. Her gaze lies fixed on the endless eternal kingdom!

Hassan of the Serenity, with her solemnly sweet breath! I like to think of the flickering candlelight of her forlorn passion as the very essence of romance itself!

Together on stage, they bring the gift of sorrowful partings, and the wistfulness that remains after you're gone...

Aaa, it's all so fleeting... (Sniff, sob...) I can't believe it's all over already!

It isn't, Miss Crane. You're jumping to conclusions before we've even got started.

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I-I can't say I was expecting THAT vivid a reaction... But I guess it just goes to show how good we are.

Ahem! Nice to meet you all, AxXxS. We'll be reducing you to so much dust in the second round.

Well, well. So you came all the way here just to count your victory chickens before they hatch, huh? Sounds like someone needs to bring you back down to earth, Pharaoh.

I'm just here to get a look at the faces of my rivals before I defeat them, Queen.

Yikes! You can actually hear the sparks flying between them, Senpai!

Well, since you're already here, why don't you join us for a game? I'll send you home with a painful loss to remember us by.

The smell of the night air is...different now. It's the scent of an unforgettable summer adventure!

It looks like we're about to sing it out, whether we want to or not. Let's give it everything we've got, Master!

Their summer charm is stronger than I thought, Medb.

Yeah, it is. We could easily get swept up in it if we're not careful. But, I've not yet begun to fight!

Hmm. I can tell you're not telling a joke to lighten the mood. And I sure don't want to fizzle out like the last sad summer sparkler.

That's right. This is over. It's all already over. Everything fades in the blink of anHuh!?

Oooooo... Woooooo...

Aaah! Ghooosts!

The clash between Dreams Gone Girls' gloomy atmosphere and AxXxS's high energy must've literally woken the dead!

Deeefinitely didn't see summer ghosts coming.

...Hmm? Then again, I guess this does qualify as a summer night test of courage. Ugh, stupid monkey paws.

I'm scaaared!

OooOoo...

Aw catnap! One's going after a kid!

Oh no you don't, you pathetic specter!

Boowaaah!

...Hmph.

Th-thanks, lady...

Don't you mean, "Thanks, O beautiful queen"?

O-okay! Thanks, beautiful queen!

Better!

Whoa. I'm impressed, partner.

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Right! We need to eliminate them as soon as possible!

This is partly our fault, so we'll help exorcise them, too. Get your requiem ready, Serenity!

Okay!

(Sigh...) I guess we overdid it. Doubly so since this wasn't even an official performance. I'll have to do better next time.

You're so modest, Pharaoh Nitocris.

You know, she was the one who really wanted to say hi to all of you.

Wha...!? I-I mean... I'm sorry. I didn't come here to provoke you, but I guess that's what I ended up doing...

Eh, at least we have a good handle on your dance moves now. All in all, this was pretty invigorating.

And thanks to you, nobody was hurt, either. You all did great.

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Agreed. See you at the Grail Concert, then.

...

Is something wrong?

No, it's nothing. Now come on! We still have to enjoy the rest of our training camp!