A Step Forward Together/Card Story

* Episode
* Special Episode

**Transcript**

 Downtown

Himari
Mmm! Our new song really has turned out great!
**Himari**: Mmm! Our new song really has turned out great!

Himari
I mean, I've always liked it, but I like it even more now that we rewrote it!
**Himari**: I mean, I've always liked it, but I like it even more now that we rewrote it!

Tsugumi
Fufu. You've been in a good mood all day, Himari-chan.
**Tsugumi**: Fufu. You've been in a good mood all day, Himari-chan.

Himari
Of course I have! Our song has turned into something awesome, and it turns out we were feeling the same way all along~!
**Himari**: Of course I have! Our song has turned into something awesome, and it turns out we were feeling the same way all along~!

Moca
Wow~, Hii-chan. As always, you're so easy to please~.
**Moca**: Wow~, Hii-chan. As always, you're so easy to please~.

Himari
Hehe~, none of your teasing will get to me right now!
**Himari**: Hehe~, none of your teasing will get to me right now!

Tomoe
Ahaha, I guess that means you've grown as our leader, huh?
**Tomoe**: Ahaha, I guess that means you've grown as our leader, huh?

Ran
Well, it is true that we're moving forward thanks to you, Himari.
**Ran**: Well, it is true that we're moving forward thanks to you, Himari.

Himari
Hehe, keep that praise coming, guys! Don't be shy!
**Himari**: Hehe, keep that praise coming, guys! Don't be shy!

Moca
As always, you're so easy to please~.
**Moca**: As always, you're so easy to please~.

Himari
Not that one!
**Himari**: Not that one!

Tsugumi
Still, I can see why you're so happy. We're all on the same page, and we're making progress... Being in a band has become even more fun than it was before!
**Tsugumi**: Still, I can see why you're so happy. We're all on the same page, and we're making progress... Being in a band has become even more fun than it was before!

Himari
Yeah! That's exactly it~! Ooo, just thinking about it makes me emotional again...
**Himari**: Yeah! That's exactly it~! Ooo, just thinking about it makes me emotional again...

Tomoe
Yo, I thought you said you weren't gonna cry anymore.
**Tomoe**: Yo, I thought you said you weren't gonna cry anymore.

Himari
I'm not crying~! I'm just tearing up a tiny bit! Don't worry, as your new-and-improved leader, I'm gonna become even cooler!
**Himari**: I'm not crying~! I'm just tearing up a tiny bit! Don't worry, as your new-and-improved leader, I'm gonna become even cooler!

Himari
And I'm not going to stop there either. You better watch out for your future awesome leader♪
**Himari**: And I'm not going to stop there either. You better watch out for your future awesome leader♪

Ran
I wonder where you find all that energy.
**Ran**: I wonder where you find all that energy.

Himari
...Ah! Oh no...!
**Himari**: ...Ah! Oh no...!

Moca
What is it~?
**Moca**: What is it~?

Himari
I've been working so hard that I never noticed just how hungry I am~. It just hit me now. Ehehe...
**Himari**: I've been working so hard that I never noticed just how hungry I am~. It just hit me now. Ehehe...

Tomoe
Seriously...?
**Tomoe**: Seriously...?

Tsugumi
Fufu, we really gave it our all today, after all.
**Tsugumi**: Fufu, we really gave it our all today, after all.

Ran
Wanna go grab a bite? There's a restaurant nearby.
**Ran**: Wanna go grab a bite? There's a restaurant nearby.

Tomoe
Sounds good! I could go for ramen too!
**Tomoe**: Sounds good! I could go for ramen too!

Moca
Count me in~.
**Moca**: Count me in~.

Himari
Ooo... Wait, guys...
**Himari**: Ooo... Wait, guys...

Tsugumi
What is it, Himari-chan? You look like something's on your mind...
**Tsugumi**: What is it, Himari-chan? You look like something's on your mind...

Moca
Aren't you starving~? Don't you want to go~?
**Moca**: Aren't you starving~? Don't you want to go~?

Himari
I do... I really do... But I feel like I should resist the temptation if I'm going to be a cooler leader...
**Himari**: I do... I really do... But I feel like I should resist the temptation if I'm going to be a cooler leader...

Ran
That's your idea of becoming cool?
**Ran**: That's your idea of becoming cool?

Tomoe
I think a leader who eats properly is cooler.
**Tomoe**: I think a leader who eats properly is cooler.

Himari
A-and I've been thinking... I want to finally do a successful diet...
**Himari**: A-and I've been thinking... I want to finally do a successful diet...

Moca
Is that so~? What a pity~. I was just thinking of giving you this for all of your hard work~.
**Moca**: Is that so~? What a pity~. I was just thinking of giving you this for all of your hard work~.

Himari
Oh! What is it?
**Himari**: Oh! What is it?

Moca
Ta-dah. Behold, Yamabuki Bakery's latest masterpiece... A cherry Danish~!
**Moca**: Ta-dah. Behold, Yamabuki Bakery's latest masterpiece... A cherry Danish~!

Tomoe
M-Moca's giving bread to someone...?!
**Tomoe**: M-Moca's giving bread to someone...?!

Ran
And one that just came out, too...!
**Ran**: And one that just came out, too...!

Himari
I-it looks so yummy~...!
**Himari**: I-it looks so yummy~...!

Moca
It's scrumptious even when it's cold~. But I guess you won't need it since you're going on a diet~.
**Moca**: It's scrumptious even when it's cold~. But I guess you won't need it since you're going on a diet~.

Himari
N-no, I don't! I-I'm going to become a cool leader! I must... resist...!
**Himari**: N-no, I don't! I-I'm going to become a cool leader! I must... resist...!

Tomoe
... Ah!
**Tomoe**: ... Ah!

Himari
Wh-what is it this time?!
**Himari**: Wh-what is it this time?!

Tomoe
Speaking of latest items, I just remembered that ramen place is coming out with something new today.
**Tomoe**: Speaking of latest items, I just remembered that ramen place is coming out with something new today.

Himari
Did you really have to bring that up now~?!
**Himari**: Did you really have to bring that up now~?!

Tomoe
Come on, I can't control when I remember stuff. Why don't we all go? That includes you, Himari!
**Tomoe**: Come on, I can't control when I remember stuff. Why don't we all go? That includes you, Himari!

Moca
Here~, Hii-chan, Hii-chan~. I've got a nice, sweet baked good right here, just for you~.
**Moca**: Here~, Hii-chan, Hii-chan~. I've got a nice, sweet baked good right here, just for you~.

Himari
Ts-Tsugu~! They're being mean to me~!
**Himari**: Ts-Tsugu~! They're being mean to me~!

Tsugumi
Fufu. Be nice, Moca-chan, Tomoe-chan.
**Tsugumi**: Fufu. Be nice, Moca-chan, Tomoe-chan.

Himari
Yeah, you tell 'em, Tsugu~!
**Himari**: Yeah, you tell 'em, Tsugu~!

Moca
Hii-chan... If you want to be a cool leader, you need to stop running to Tsugu~.
**Moca**: Hii-chan... If you want to be a cool leader, you need to stop running to Tsugu~.

Himari
Awww! But that's not fair~!
**Himari**: Awww! But that's not fair~!

Ran
... It's not like you can become cool overnight. Just work on it slowly.
**Ran**: ... It's not like you can become cool overnight. Just work on it slowly.

Ran
Kinda like Afterglow itself is doing, you know?
**Ran**: Kinda like Afterglow itself is doing, you know?

Himari
... You're right...! Plus, I feel like you guys have said the same thing to me before...
**Himari**: ... You're right...! Plus, I feel like you guys have said the same thing to me before...

Himari
Thanks, Ran!
**Himari**: Thanks, Ran!

Moca
Ooo~, Ran coming to the rescue? How rare.
**Moca**: Ooo~, Ran coming to the rescue? How rare.

Ran
I wasn't trying to... I'm just hungry. Where are we going anyway?
**Ran**: I wasn't trying to... I'm just hungry. Where are we going anyway?

Tomoe
Ramen, of course! We're gonna review their newest menu item!
**Tomoe**: Ramen, of course! We're gonna review their newest menu item!

Himari
Yeah! All this talk has got me curious! I'll just try to stay away from the toppings!
**Himari**: Yeah! All this talk has got me curious! I'll just try to stay away from the toppings!

Moca
And so, Hii-chan's diet ends in failure once again...
**Moca**: And so, Hii-chan's diet ends in failure once again...

Himari
I-it has not! I'm going to make it work this time~!
**Himari**: I-it has not! I'm going to make it work this time~!

**Transcript**

 CiRCLE Café

Himari
Let's see, I messed up that phrase during the interlude... Sigh. That part always gives me a bit of trouble...
**Himari**: Let's see, I messed up that phrase during the interlude... Sigh. That part always gives me a bit of trouble...

Marina
Hey there, Himari-chan.
**Marina**: Hey there, Himari-chan.

Himari
Marina-san! BanG Dreamer-san! Hello~.
**Himari**: Marina-san! BanG Dreamer-san! Hello~.

Marina
Something seems to be on your mind... Is something wrong?
**Marina**: Something seems to be on your mind... Is something wrong?

Himari
Oh, it's nothing like that! There's a part of this song that I'm struggling with... Tomoe and I are going to be entering the studio later to do some serious practicing!
**Himari**: Oh, it's nothing like that! There's a part of this song that I'm struggling with... Tomoe and I are going to be entering the studio later to do some serious practicing!

Himari
I was just think about what we're practicing, so that's probably why I was making such a stoic face...
**Himari**: I was just think about what we're practicing, so that's probably why I was making such a stoic face...

Marina
Fufu, I see. Is it a difficult song?
**Marina**: Fufu, I see. Is it a difficult song?

Himari
Hmm... I wouldn't say it's difficult, it's just new... The song's a bit different from our normal ones.
**Himari**: Hmm... I wouldn't say it's difficult, it's just new... The song's a bit different from our normal ones.

Himari
I mean, it still feels like our usual songs, but, um... there's more to it!
**Himari**: I mean, it still feels like our usual songs, but, um... there's more to it!

Marina
Oh~, something different, huh? I'm a bit curious now.
**Marina**: Oh~, something different, huh? I'm a bit curious now.

Himari
Hehe, you can look forward to hearing it during our show! It's going to be Afterglow's first step down our new path!
**Himari**: Hehe, you can look forward to hearing it during our show! It's going to be Afterglow's first step down our new path!

Marina
Oh, someone's confident~.
**Marina**: Oh, someone's confident~.

Himari
Of course I am. A lot happened for me to get to this point though~!
**Himari**: Of course I am. A lot happened for me to get to this point though~!

Himari
You know how Roselia did a show at Future World Fes? Their performance was completely different from ours.
**Himari**: You know how Roselia did a show at Future World Fes? Their performance was completely different from ours.

Himari
It was such an incredible show... And I couldn't help but compare Afterglow to Roselia.
**Himari**: It was such an incredible show... And I couldn't help but compare Afterglow to Roselia.

Marina
I see... Yeah, there aren't any easy answers to that problem.
**Marina**: I see... Yeah, there aren't any easy answers to that problem.

Himari
Yeah, it was super frustrating... I felt like I was betraying Afterglow for even thinking that way...
**Himari**: Yeah, it was super frustrating... I felt like I was betraying Afterglow for even thinking that way...

Himari
I mean, it was kinda like I was admitting we weren't as good as Roselia.
**Himari**: I mean, it was kinda like I was admitting we weren't as good as Roselia.

Himari
That's why I couldn't... and didn't want to say anything. I tried to act the same as always.
**Himari**: That's why I couldn't... and didn't want to say anything. I tried to act the same as always.

Marina
Gotcha... I can see why you did that. You didn't want to hurt everyone.
**Marina**: Gotcha... I can see why you did that. You didn't want to hurt everyone.

Himari
Yeah... But it didn't change the fact that I lied. I thought I had failed as their leader... But that's when I heard about Tsugu from Kasumi and Rimi.
**Himari**: Yeah... But it didn't change the fact that I lied. I thought I had failed as their leader... But that's when I heard about Tsugu from Kasumi and Rimi.

Himari
They told me how hard Tsugu has been practicing and how it was all for Afterglow.
**Himari**: They told me how hard Tsugu has been practicing and how it was all for Afterglow.

Himari
That's when I found out that Tsugu wanted us to be able to do an amazing show like Roselia's.
**Himari**: That's when I found out that Tsugu wanted us to be able to do an amazing show like Roselia's.

Himari
And when I heard that... I was so relieved. I was finally able to see that I felt the same way, and that's why I was frustrated.
**Himari**: And when I heard that... I was so relieved. I was finally able to see that I felt the same way, and that's why I was frustrated.

Marina
So does that mean you also want to give a mind-blowing performance?
**Marina**: So does that mean you also want to give a mind-blowing performance?

Himari
Yes! Exactly! And once I figured that out, I was able to use that feeling to motivate myself to improve!
**Himari**: Yes! Exactly! And once I figured that out, I was able to use that feeling to motivate myself to improve!

Himari
Anyway, I decided to share my thoughts with the others... And it turned out I wasn't the only one who had been worried! We all wanted to give a better show than we have been!
**Himari**: Anyway, I decided to share my thoughts with the others... And it turned out I wasn't the only one who had been worried! We all wanted to give a better show than we have been!

Himari
Oh~, it got me so excited! Even after everything that happened, we're still Afterglow, you know?
**Himari**: Oh~, it got me so excited! Even after everything that happened, we're still Afterglow, you know?

Marina
Fufu, I can tell how happy you were just by looking at you, Himari-chan.
**Marina**: Fufu, I can tell how happy you were just by looking at you, Himari-chan.

Himari
Huh? Is it that obvious...? W-well, it's true that I was thrilled!
**Himari**: Huh? Is it that obvious...? W-well, it's true that I was thrilled!

Himari
That's why I told everyone that we should try to give the best performance ever!
**Himari**: That's why I told everyone that we should try to give the best performance ever!

Himari
The song I mentioned earlier is the one we wrote when all of that happened... It's an expression of our desire to become cooler!
**Himari**: The song I mentioned earlier is the one we wrote when all of that happened... It's an expression of our desire to become cooler!

Marina
I see. So that's why this song is a little different than the others. I'm even more excited to hear it now.
**Marina**: I see. So that's why this song is a little different than the others. I'm even more excited to hear it now.

Himari
Ehehe~, I'm glad you're looking forward to it! ... Ah, looks like Tomoe's here. I have to go now. Bye!
**Himari**: Ehehe~, I'm glad you're looking forward to it! ... Ah, looks like Tomoe's here. I have to go now. Bye!

Himari
Thank you for listening!
**Himari**: Thank you for listening!