"So we all made it?" Yume grinned. "Everyone?"

"Yume," Laura said.

"Yes?"

"...That's the fourth time you've said that."

"Oh, sorry. But it's so exciting! We all passed!"

"Yume, we still have several more qualifying rounds," Ako reminded. "You can't slack off now."

"That's right," Mahiru agreed. "Making the second round of the qualifying matches is nothing compared to the actual selection."

"It's still exciting, right?" Akari asked. "Even though I barely made it..."

"Hey, but what about Lily-senpai?" Ako asked.

"That's right," Koharu added. "Her body is too weak for running."

"She had her own tryouts," Laura told them. "I'm not sure what she did, but she passed."

"So Lily-senpai's still in the running..." Akari noted.

"All right!" Yume cheered. "That'll make this competition fun! I hope I get to perform with her! Lily-senpai is an amazing idol!"

"Yeah!" Laura grinned.

But why doesn't she get it? she thought frustratedly. We're all pitted against each other, and she says it'll be fun? Why? Because it's too easy for her? She's knows she'll pass? Why?

Mahiru looked over at her. Laura's face was intense with concentration. Mahiru sighed.

This is why it's sad to have friends in the same class, she mentally sighed. Eventually you'll have to go up against each other in a situation you can't afford to lose.

Her mind wandered off to Koharu-chan.

It's the same for me. It's hard to beat your best friend. You don't want to lose, but you don't want them to lose either.

Yume frowned.

I know I said it will be fun, she thought, but it'll be really hard. Lily-senpai almost made it into S4 last year, and Laura has been training for years. Compared to them, I definitely lack experience.

Koharu looked sad.

I wonder how it feels, she pondered, when you know either you're out or your good friend is?

Akari gritted her teeth.

I said my dream was to have friends, she admitted. But if I don't do good I'll be in trouble with Mother. What am I going to do?

Ako looked at everyone's frowning faces. Everyone had the similar thoughts plastered on her mind - the problems the selection was causing.

She let out a deep breath. She had no problems - top of the Bird Theater class, except for Tsubasa, of course; no close friends in her class...

"I'm going outside," Ako told the girls.

"Huh?" Yume said, startled. "Oh, okay. See you!"

"Yeah," Ako smiled.

She walked outside and stretched.

"I bet Kanata's getting ready for Four Star High..." she sighed. "But I want to see him!"

"Thanks," Kanata said, suddenly right next to her.

Ako jumped back, startled. "H-how...W-when...Just... when did you get here? And how are you so quiet?"

"I'm a dancer," he said. "I'm light on my toes."

"Oh... hey, Kanata, what would you do if you felt left out, or, I don't know, really different from the rest of M4?"

"What do you mean?"

"Everyone else is troubled by the S4 selection, when I'm certain I'll pass."

"Just suck it up, I guess."

"What kind of an answer is that?!"

"Just suck it up," Kanata repeated. "Train hard and get your mind off of it."

"I guess..." Ako said sadly. "... By the way, why have we been having our entire conversation standing up in the middle of the path?"

"..." Kanata answered. "...By the way, I need to go for a gig. It's M4's last few days with these members, so time is precious."

"Okay!" Ako smiled. "Bye!" She waved.

She watched his retreating figure. "That's right," she whispered dejectedly. "He's leaving soon... to somewhere far, far away..."