EpsilonΦ Band Story - Chapter 3, Episode 1

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Band Story

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Chapter 3: Episode 1

Shu's Disappearance
While the band is in the middle of preparing for the solo live, Shu suddenly disappears. When Reiji proposes to cancel the event, a chilly atmosphere settles upon the members.

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— EpsilonΦ Sharehouse —

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Haruka, Kanata ... we need to talk.

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎What is it ... if you want to sync our parts, do it without me. I’ll play fine on the day of the live ...

 Kanata:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎*I’ve* been perfectly cooperative this whole time—did you call us ‘cause Shu-kun’s in a bad mood again?

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎...

 Kanata:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎...? Karasuma-senpai?

 Tadaomi:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Um ... Shu-kun is ...

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎I’ll tell them. This is all my fault—because I didn’t stop him.

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎... What happened?

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎... disappeared?

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Yeah. He said he was going out for a bit, but that was all. I haven’t been able to contact him since ...

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎... He didn’t say where he was going?

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎... He didn’t.

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‏‏‎... This timing is most unfortunate. Without Shu, we have no choice but to cancel the solo live.

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎ ... What about the LRFes?

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Of course we’re still participating. Even if our solo live is canceled, our goal is still to win the LRFes. That hasn’t changed.

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎We’ll participate—without Shu?

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎...

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎He suddenly disappears, we don’t know where he went, and we haven’t been able to reach him ... so our performance has to be cancelled ... right?

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‏‏‎How in the world can we play in the LRFes under such circumstances?

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎... Shu will come back soon.

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎... And I’m asking you ... when that is ...

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Without any way to contact him, I can’t say for sure when. But—

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎What the hell ... then there’s no use even talking about it ...

 Tadaomi:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Haruka-kun ...

 Kanata:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎...

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎We didn’t attend the Starting Live. The solo live’s been cancelled. Shu’s disappeared. And now we’re not even sure if we’re still participating in the LRFes ...?

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‏‏‎Haha ... what the hell is this ...? Why did we even come to Tokyo?

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‏‏‎What’s the point of being in a band like this ...

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎It’s true that we have a lot of problems at the moment.

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‏‏‎However, we are the most talented band participating in the LRFes. Isn’t that right?

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Hey, you’ve never been in a band before EpsilonΦ, have you?

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎... What does that have to do with anything?

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎You don’t know what you’re talking about. You ... and me ... need to be more than just skilled at our instruments ...

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‏‏‎In order to win the LRFes, a band needs more than just sheer ability ... as we are right now, do you think we even have a chance?

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‏‏‎We’re a mess ... do you really think we’ll be able to play properly like this?

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎That’s ...!

 Haruka:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎We should just withdraw from the LRFes ... before we embarrass ourselves any further.

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Haruka ...!!

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*\*Haruka exits\**

 Kanata:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Karasuma-senpai, are we done talking? Can I go too?

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Kanata ...!

 Kanata:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Well, there’s nothing we can do if we’re missing our vocalist. Let me know when Shu-kun comes back.

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*\*Kanata exits\**

 Tadaomi:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎Reiji-kun ... what do we do ...

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‏‏‎At this rate, we’re going to fall apart ...

 Reiji:‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎‏‏‎ ‎

‏‏‎...

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‏‏‎... Shu ... will return.