EpsilonΦ Band Story - Chapter 3, Episode 2

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Band Story

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Chapter 3: Episode 2

Reiji's Will
Reiji, still unable to make contact with Shu, decides to go negotiate with the president of Duck River himself. Seeing this, Tadaomi ...

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— EpsilonΦ Sharehouse —

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*\*Beep—beep—beep—\**

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Still ... no connection.

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‏‏‎*(Come on, think ... what else can I do right now ...)*

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‏‏‎*(I’ve told the venue that Duck River set up for us that the live’s been canceled ... I didn’t tell them why, but I don’t know how long I can keep the reason a secret.)*

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‏‏‎*(The live was canceled in order to protect Shu—but sooner or later, the President will still find out about Shu’s absence.)*

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‏‏‎*(And when that happens, Shu is definitely going to be ...)*

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‏‏‎What I need to do right now ...

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‏‏‎ You idiot ... what are you worrying for? You already know what you have to do ...!

 Tadaomi:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Reiji-kun ...? Are you going somewhere?

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎I’m going to meet with the president of Duck River.

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‏‏‎If it was still on, tomorrow would be our live. I heard that the President was coming to Tokyo the day before in order to attend.

 Tadaomi:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎What are you planning to do once you meet with Shu-kun’s father?

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎I’ll try to convince him to at least let Shu stay in the band.

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‏‏‎The truth is—depending on the result of this live, Shu-kun was to leave EpsilonΦ and return to Kyoto, as per his father’s request.

 Tadaomi:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎That's horrible ...!

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Yeah. No matter what the President demands, I’m not going to let that happen.

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‏‏‎I don’t know what’ll happen if I speak out against his wishes, but anything’s better than waiting around and doing nothing.

 Tadaomi:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Reiji-kun ...

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎See you later.

 Tadaomi:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎... how about we just disband?

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎... What?

 Tadaomi:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Not forever ... just temporarily ...

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‏‏‎I think we should all take a break and do some thinking.

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Thinking? About what ...? We’ve come so far ... *so far* ...

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‏‏‎Do you know how much I’ve ... how much we’ve had to go through to get to where we are ...!? What could we possibly need to think about now ...!?

 Tadaomi:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎But, Reiji-kun ...

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎It’s not up to us to decide whether we should disband or go on hiatus! Right now, what’s most important is keeping Shu in the band!

 Tadaomi:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎...

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— Duck River —

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Just a few minutes is fine ...! Please, let me talk to the President ...!

 Secretary:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎The President is not here. If you have something to say, I’ll hear you out.

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎I want to talk to the President, not you!

 Secretary:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎... Is Shu-san not with you today?

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎...!!

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‏‏‎I came by myself today ...

 Secretary:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Rather, where is Shu-san right now?

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‏‏‎... You don’t know, do you?

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎...!

 Secretary:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎The solo live is tomorrow. What are you going to do without Shu-san?

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Shu ... will be back ...

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‏‏‎Just as he told you before … Shu built EpsilonΦ from the ground up.

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‏‏‎It’s true that Shu’s a troublemaker, but he’s also the reason why EpsilonΦ’s become so successful.

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‏‏‎I won’t let you guys just do whatever you want ...!

 Secretary:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎... I appreciate your enthusiasm. However, it is necessary for you to keep your promise to the President.

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‏‏‎Please leave.

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Please wait ...!!

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Yer quite the nasty bastard. Can ya please lay off the bullyin’?

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎S..hu ...

 Shu:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎The only one in the world who’s allowed to bully him is me. Ain't that right, Reiji?