Afterglow/Band Story/Chapter 17

Real Voice
*Ran composes a new song for Girl Jam. What will the band think after hearing it...?*

 A Few Days Later
 Mitake Residence - Living Room
**Ran**......**Ran**Let my true voice be heard...**Ran**It's finished...!**Ran**Hello? Oh, Moca? Great timing. I just finished writing a new song.**Ran**... You wanna hear it now? No way. You'll just have to wait until tomorrow.**Ran**Yeah... Okay, got it. See you tomorrow.**Ran**(... I just want everyone to hear this song. Including my father.)**Ran**(I want them to understand my true feelings... and I'll do everything I can to make it happen.)

 The Next Day
 Studio
**Himari**All right, ready for another day of rehearsals!**Tsugumi**Which song should we start with today?**Ran**I wrote a new song, actually...**Tomoe**Wow. Wanna share it with us?**Ran**... Okay. Listen.**Ran**What do you think...?**All**......**Ran**No good...?**Tsugumi**O-of course not...! It was... it was amazing...!**Moca**It's not very "you", huh Ran.**Tomoe**She's right. The lyrics aren't your usual style at all. They're so... I dunno, honest...**Ran**I-is that bad...?**Moca**I'm not saying it's bad~. I'm saying you must be all grown up, to write a song like this, Ran~. I like it~.**Ran**I want to perform this song at Girl Jam. I know we don't have much time, but... what do you think?**Tsugumi**Wow...! I think that's a great idea! Let's do it!**Tomoe**We do only have one week left, though... We still have to arrange it and practice it, too... It'll be close.**Himari**We'll need to rethink the set list, too...**Tsugumi**Oh... It's too difficult then, huh...**Ran**... It won't be easy. I know. But... I think it will be worth it. I think this is the song to show my... no, to show our true feelings!**Himari**Ran...**Ran**I've always run away from my problems... from my father... from all of you, too.**Ran**But that fight we had the other day... It was the first time I stood and faced up to them. I mean, it was just something petty, but still...**Ran**It was scary, not running away like usual... but it made me understand just how important you all are, facing up to me as well.**Ran**And I know it's selfish of me, but... I want those important people to perform this important song with me and really show my dad we're serious.**Tomoe**We're all just as important to one another. None of us think you're being selfish, Ran.**Moca**Not this time, anyway~. I dunno why you'd start caring now, you've always been this way~.**Himari**M-Moca! Shh, will you~?!**Ran**......**Himari**Ah... J-just ignore her~!**Tsugumi**A-anyway...! We should start practicing this new song for the show! Right, Ran?**Moca**If Ran feels that way, then I do too~. I'll show you the deepest, most emotional Moca there is~.**Tsugumi**Yeah! Let's do it! The five of us, together!**Tomoe**That's the spirit! Let's go!**Himari**Mmm~~!! I can feel a fire burning inside me! This is gonna be one busy week, guys~~!!**Moca**Just don't get too Tsugurific again, okay Tsugu~?**Tsugumi**Wh-what?! Tsugurific...?**Ran**You be more Tsugurific, Moca.**Moca**All right~. More Tsugurific it is, then~.**Himari**... What? What are they talking about?**Tomoe**Who knows? They're just the same as always, I guess.**Ran**I've got some thoughts about the arrangement. Come on.**Tomoe**Okay. Let's hear the first couple of phrases again, then.**Ran**Okay.**Himari**(Just one week until the show... and we're all back together again. I've got a feeling nothing can stop us now!)