48: Dream Again (Epilogue)

"Here's your order! Please enjoy!" I set down the plate of sushi on the table and retired to the kitchen.

"Can you stay and clean up tonight, Derrick?" the manager questioned, holding up his clipboard.

"Y-yeah," I replied, sighing inside. How did it come to this?

It's been almost two years since I graduated college, and here I was working at a sushi restaurant, still searching for a stable job.

I was in the pits. But that's just the way it is. What's worse, I even broke up with my girlfriend, Martha, a couple weeks ago. I mean, back in college, we were really close, but since graduating, she started getting on my case about every little thing. We started fighting, and… well, relationships change.

After my shift was over, I stepped outside into the cool night, the smog clouded stars nowhere in sight. In that back alley, I trudged into my second hand Honda and started the engine.

Onto the freeway, I rolled down the window and put my arm out, feeling the night wind crest across my face.

I wish I could be young again….

Once I arrived home, I collapsed upon my bed.

I still slept in the top bunk, as the bottom was where my brother used to sleep when he was still around. Now, he's living in Japan… must be nice….

At that moment, I remembered that I too had spent a year in Japan. Back then, when I was still a kid in high school.

It seemed so long ago. It's been… almost seven years?

All of a sudden, I got up and pulled open my storage drawer.

There it was, the little Setsuna plushy she had given to me at high school graduation.

Setsuna.

I haven't heard that name in years.

I remember now. This was the plushy we had found together in that crane machine during our Akihabara date.

I was surprised that I remembered. But the memories came rushing back.

There was a time when I enjoyed my life to the fullest, a time that seemed like a dream.

It's been so long.

I opened my closet and found the dusty guitar, the one that Ayumu had given to me at Christmas. I haven't played this since my first year of college…

Deeper in the closet, I found my old school bag. The one that I received from the Nijigasaki Academy International Program. Inside was a journal, the journal that all the girls in the School Idol Club got for me, with their signatures inside the cover. I remember now.

After I had arrived back in America, I wrote an entire story about the things I experienced over there. I wrote about all the delicious things I ate, the fun places we went, and even the times I cried. As I read through it, the emotions just came like a flood, memory upon memory pouring out of the stone hard dam I had built within my heart.

I don't know why I did it, but I guess desperation makes people do crazy things.

I called my brother.

"Hey… Darren…" I said awkwardly. I haven't talked to this guy in ages.

"Yo, Derrick? What's up?" my brother replied. In the background, I could hear the sounds of a baby crying. Is he a dad already?

"Um. I know this is weird, but… I… I can't find a job." What the hell am I saying?

"What, you want me to help you find one? Didn't you graduate already? Can you really not find a job?"

"You know… it's not that easy… I'm trying very hard, man. All the companies just ghost me after I send them my application…" I suddenly found myself a little angry. How did my brother have it so easy? Was it the economy? His work ethic? Was he just lucky? After all, he was married to a famous idol. Of course he was lucky.

"Well, you asked just at the right time. My company's recruiting right now. I'll refer you," Darren replied. "But you better brush up on your Japanese."

"Really? Thanks…" Yeah, I really should practice more Japanese…. I haven't really had many chances to practice… since… well, since I stopped talking with the girls.

A slight melancholic feeling seeped into my heart, but I resolved to shut it out. The past is in the past.

But if I get this job… and I go back to Japan…maybe….

Whatever. Stop dreaming...

I got off work for the first time, tired as could be. Still, it was refreshing being back in Japan.

Working at my brother's company… I don't think it's that fun. I just sat in an office for the whole day….

Is this what it's like to grow up?

Will I even have any friends?

Something inside of me thought that coming back here would spark a new life within me; bring back that passion I once had.

But how would I find it?

I opened up my Line messages and scrolled down to find my conversation with Setsuna, and the last thing we had talked about was a meaningless conversation about how each other was doing.

I can't just message her out of the blue now, can I?

What about Yu-chan?

I bit my lip.

I sent her a message, telling her that I was back in Japan, and that we should meet up if she was free.

There was no reply…maybe she was still working….

I decided to send the same message to Ayumu-chan, from which I got an instant reply.

Ayumu: Derrick-senpai!? You came back!? I thought we'd never meet again! I just got off work, do you want to meet up!?

My heart skipped a beat. She remembers me!? I quickly replied, feeling a smile spread across my face.

"DERRICK!" Ayumu came running down the sidewalk, dressed in an office suit and high heels. She almost took me down with her hug, and after wiping our tears away, Ayumu looked up at me with a grin. "It's been so long…"

"Ayumu-chan! You've grown so much…" I remarked, looking her up and down. She was as beautiful as ever, if not even more beautiful. Her hair was slightly wavy, eyelashes long and face blushing.

"Wh-where are you looking?!" Ayumu complained, covering her chest.

"Stop getting wrong ideas!" I retorted, and the next thing we knew, we were bursting into laughter, just like old times.

"I see you haven't changed," Ayumu remarked, putting an arm around me.

"Really? But I haven't laughed like this in years," I replied. "I think it's because I met you again that I could laugh like this."

"Aww… that's sweet… I'm glad you remembered me, senpai. I thought you'd abandoned us."

"I… I guess things just didn't turn out well. After we lost Love LIve the second time…"

"Yeah, I know." Ayumu put her hand on mine. "Setsuna changed after that. In fact, we haven't gotten many chances to talk with her either since then."

"Do you know what happened to her?"

"She's working at her father's company. Going to be in charge soon, too. It's what her parents always wanted her to do."

"So… no more idol stuff?"

"No more." Ayumu looked sad. "Anyway, shall we get some dinner?"

I looked around at the glowing lights as the day faded to night.

"Why did we meet up in Akiba, anyway?" I asked. We were standing outside Akiba station, where I had been many times before.

"Why not? Isn't this your favorite place?" Ayumu asked, but I shook my head.

"I actually… don't deal with this idol and anime stuff that much anymore. After all, I'm all grown up. I've taken up Hollywood movies instead, and my daily activities involve hitting the gym…" I explained.

"Really? Oh…" Ayumu looked dismayed, so I quickly comforted her.

"No, it's fine! I can still enjoy this place!"

"Okay… hey, you really look different now, though," Ayumu remarked, poking my arm, which was slightly muscular. "I guess we can't call you a loser anymore, eh?"

"Rainbow Girls!?" I exclaimed as we stood outside the maid cafe.

"Yes! This is the place you used to go to with Setsuna-chan, right!?" Ayumu asked.

"Yep! Ah, we should've invited her… but yeah, things are a little awkward…" I opened the door. "What about Yu-chan? She didn't reply to my text yet…"

"About that…" Ayumu grinned broadly.

"Irasshaimase!" the maid announced when we entered.

Her voice was strangely familiar, and her hair was tied into twintails.

When she saw who we were, her eyes grew wide.

"Ayumu! D-didn't I tell you not to come during my shift?" she exclaimed. "And-" she found it hard to meet my eyes, and I could see a tear forming in hers. "Is it- is it really you!?"

"Yu-chan!?" I couldn't believe my eyes. The maid in front of me was none other than Yu herself.

Without another word, we embraced each other, causing all the people in the cafe to stare.

"Senpai!" Yu was smiling and crying at the same time. Her familiar scent of watermelon shampoo was so nostalgic…

I held her by her shoulders, looking into those same eyes.

"I missed you," I whispered.

"Senpai…" Yu wiped her eyes. "P-please take a seat…"

"So… why are you working here?" I asked, as Yu served Ayumu and I.

"Why? Well, I just… I don't want to find an office job," she replied. "I don't think I can survive in a place where everyone is cold and serious. I know, I'm being unrealistic. I really should try to get a better job, but… I just... "

Ayumu gave her a hug, rising to her feet.

"It's okay, Yu-chan. It's okay." As Ayumu comforted Yu, I wondered what things had happened during the past few years. There had to be another reason that Yu still chose to work at this maid cafe. She was a really good student too, so there shouldn't be any problems for her…

"Derrick-senpai, do you still believe in dreams?" Yu asked me, once they had released each other. I thought for a moment, taken back by the suddenness of the question.

"Well… I think I stopped dreaming a long time ago."

I honestly didn't know what brought me here tonight. I hadn't been to Akiba in years. Recently, I've been swamped with work for my father's company, and I just lost interest in coming here. After my failure at Love Live, I couldn't look Derrick straight in the face again. Sometimes I wish I had kept contacting him, kept holding on to him. But I just felt that… someone like me didn't deserve him. During that time, I was so optimistic. I had thought that dreams would come true if you worked hard for them. Now I know that this world is cruel, heartless, and that we are not special. We are but specks of sand on this earth.

Maybe it was this sentimentality that brought me here tonight. Maybe I wanted to taste that passion once again, the passion I had once felt in my distant youth.

"Rainbow Girls," it was called. I entered the cafe, thinking back upon that time I had come here with Derrick, the boy I had once loved.

But when I entered, he was there.

No, my eyes were deceiving me.

No, it was not Derrick sitting at the table before me, and it was not Ayumu and Yu, the closest friends that I had pushed away, in the middle of a conversation.

There was no way.

Derrick, all grown up, a mature look on his face, but at the same time, he was just like he was, during that sun-bleached summer.

"D-Derrick?" I whispered.

It's not him, is it?

But why is my heart beating so fast?

Why was I embarrassed I was wearing my office suit instead of the cute outfits I used to wear?

In slow motion, the twintails girl and the buns girl rose and took my arms, both in equal disbelief that I had appeared.

Maybe we were all dreaming.

"Ayumu… Yu..." I felt the tears, warm and fresh, course down my cheeks.

"Why… how…" Derrick said, an expression of wonder on his face.

"I… I don't know…" I stuttered. "I got off work… then, I was thinking… how nice it would be to relive the past… so I came here. But why am I seeing things!?" In a daze, I stepped forward and put my hand on his. "You're not really there, are you? You're not Derrick!"

"But… I am."

The next thing we knew, we were weeping as we held each other.

Even if this was a dream, I didn't mind. After all, I had been seeing him in my dreams lately. Maybe that's why I decided to come here tonight.

"Derrick, Ayumu, Yu… I know this is all a dream, and that it won't matter, but I want to make something clear to all of you." I cleared my throat. "I just want to say sorry. I know it won't change anything now, but I just want you all to know that I'm sorry for failing all of you as a leader. I had promised that we would win Love Live, but I let you all down. I know this is all in the past. But I just wish I had the chance to… to say… that I'm sorry…" my voice cracked, and I couldn't hold back the tears.

"It's not a dream," Yu said, hugging me.

"Setsuna-chan… you have no idea how much we missed you…" Ayumu joined in.

"I've…missed you too…" I began to wonder. Is this really happening?!

"Setsuna-chan," Derrick said, rising to his feet. "Remember when you said you would wait for me? Remember when you said we would meet again? Well, here I am." He took my hands. "I know many things have happened since we last talked. Many bad things. But none of that matters anymore! Because I'm here now, and I want to start a new beginning! Let's forget about all the pain of the past, okay!?" His face was burning with passion, and I realized that it was really him. And we were really here. And this was not a dream. I felt my heart race. "So please, Setsuna-chan. Let's be friends again!" He held out his hand, and I took it.

After hours of chatting and reliving the past, we left the cafe, out of breath from all the laughing and crying.

"I'll see you two soon!" Ayumu said, waving and disappearing into the night. Yu was still working, so it was just Derrick and I left on the night time street.

"Hey, Setsuna-chan." Derrick looked at me nervously. "Do you wanna go buy some anime merch with me?"

I laughed.

"I thought both of us had outgrown that stuff!" I said.

"Well, after all the memories we talked about… I feel like reliving some of them. Hey, maybe… maybe I never outgrew this stuff. I just forced myself to believe that." Derrick seemed worried that I would laugh again, saying that he was stuck in the past, that he had to grow up.

But instead, I nodded and took his hand.

"Let's go buy some anime merch," I stated, because I felt the exact same way.

After a late night of karaoke, singing the songs we used to, we stumbled back to the station.

"Derrick…" I sighed, as we boarded the train.

"Yeah?"

"It's good to have you back."

"It's amazing how time passes. Remember when we had just started talking?"

"Of course. I wanted to ask you out to watch the fireworks together…"

"Yep. And our awkward dates…"

"Like that one time you came over to my house, and we did some… questionable things…"

"Hahah, I remember that. How could I forget?"

"And the school festival dance, when you came to ask me to dance with you during the last song?"

"I was so scared! You have no idea!"

"But then you confessed at graduation… I was so shocked…"

"Then we spent a lot of time together in Okinawa… but you wouldn't wear the bikini we picked out together…"

"Come on, I did at the end!"

It was so nice to have real friends.

The boring train rides I had every night, after work… none of that could compare to the train ride I was on tonight. It was almost like… I was a kid again.

Wandering around town, eating good food, singing karaoke, reliving good times…

Could things get any better?

If only every day could be like this.

I didn't want to say goodbye.

So when we reached a certain stop, I took Derrick's hand and pulled him off the train.

"Where are we going? My stop isn't here…" he said.

"I know." Without explaining, I led him forward, onto the dark streets.

"Setsuna…"

"Derrick, there's something I want to say to you. Remember how I wanted to win Love Live? After I lost, we began to drift apart. To be honest, I didn't think there was any way for us to meet again. After all, we had to live our own separate lives, on opposite sides of the world. I didn't want you to be trapped here, with me, a girl who couldn't even keep her word. You deserve someone better."

"I was really depressed when we began to talk less and less," Derrick replied. "But eventually… I guess I moved on. In fact, I even got together with another girl. That didn't work out, though."

We had walked a few blocks, and I could smell the scent of the sea amidst the night air.

"Me too. I guess, when we went our separate ways, we both ran into some trouble. But you're here again, and we've met again…"

"You can thank my brother for that," Derrick replied. "It was only his recommendation that got me a job here…"

"If it was that easy, then why didn't you ask him in the beginning?"

"I had thought of that already, when I started getting rejected from all my jobs. But I was putting it off, because… well, because I didn't know if I could face you again. But one night, I just… I just thought that maybe, maybe- there was still something for me here. Is there?" Derrick looked at me, scared and lost. "Did I make the right decision?"

I didn't know what to say, because I was wondering the same thing myself.

After all this time, did we still have a chance?

"Derrick… do you remember this place?" I said, ignoring his question. We had arrived at our destination, a small bench overlooking the bay, glistening in the moonlight. The stars shone above…

A look of realization overtook him.

"This… this is the place… you brought me to, on that day we met up in Akiba, during- during that time I was thinking of giving up and leaving for America…"

"That's right," I answered, reminiscing upon that time. "And I sang 'Chase!' for you, right?"

"Yeah…."

We leaned onto the railing, our faces in the slightly chilly autumn night.

After a long moment of silence, I turned to the boy, and took his hands in mine.

"To answer your question, Derrick… I don't know. I don't know if it was the right decision for you to come back. I don't know if, after all this time, we still have a chance. But from the moment I saw you at the cafe, I felt something blossom in my heart. What is this feeling? It's as if, after seeing you, I feel… I feel that there's more to life than the monotony of work, the harsh reality of this world. I felt… like I could be young again. When I saw your bright smile, when we talked about all the fun things we did together… I felt… like I could dream again. What do you call this feeling?" My heart was pounding.

Derrick looked straight back at me, his eyes overcome with emotion.

"Hope," he replied, a tear spilling from his eye. "And when I saw you, I felt the exact same way."

I knew this was a shot in the dark. I knew that a lot of time had passed. I knew that many things had happened, things I did not know about. I knew it was sudden. There was no way to guarantee it. After all, he probably didn't have those feelings for me anymore… I couldn't ask for too much, right?

But somehow, I just couldn't let it go. Somehow, I just had to ask him. Because I didn't want to lose him again. Never again.

And because he made me realize that, no, growing up doesn't mean you have to give up doing what you love. We were just giving in to the conformity of this world.

Remember, during our Okinawa trip, when we were so determined, so passionate about our music? That we stood up against those girls who only cared about popularity, about modernity?

Where did that fire go?

Where did that passion go?

I want that passion again.

The passion of youth, the passion of love, the passion of Nijisaki.

That's why, under that starry sky, my long hair blowing in the wind, his forlorn face looking out over the sea, with a million worries reflected within his eyes, I asked him:

"Derrick, will you be my boyfriend?"

Epilogue

"You may kiss the bride."

I felt my lips upon hers, my wife, starting today, my Setsuna.

Her dazzling white dress was the envy of the entire hall, and we made our rounds, talking with friends, with family.

It's been only a year since Setsuna asked to be my girl, and now we were husband and wife.

We didn't know what challenges lay ahead of us, but we were ready.

With overflowing joy, we went over to a large round table, where all the original Nijisaki School Idol club members were sitting.

"Congratulations!" They shouted, applauding.

"You two really can't keep your hands off of each other, eh?" Kasumi remarked. She was already married, but still retained her characteristic sense of humor.

"Who would've thought, after all these years…" Shizuku was lovely and mature, her sweet eyes still shining with youth.

"I flew all the way over here for this wedding, so we better get really lit after this," Emma warned, savvy and fashionable, a successful idol in her home country.

All the girls… all my friends….

It was such an emotional moment for me, I couldn't put it in words.

Ayumu and Yu rose and gave the two of us big hugs, congratulating us.

"I'm so proud," Yu said, wiping her eyes.

"Me too," Ayumu joined in.

"You two are so lucky…"

"Don't worry, Yu," I said, assuring her and patting her on the head. "You two will find your soulmates. I believe it."

Yu laughed.

"I guess, even until the very end, I'll always be the girl who lost, eh?"

Just then, Setsuna's family came over.

"Congratulations! My new son in law!" Setsuna's dad said cheerily. "I remember you. You really came back for her, eh? A man of his word. I like that."

"You're so much happier than before," Setsuna's mom said, hugging her daughter. "Derrick must really be something different."

"N-no, you're exaggerating…" I said, chuckling.

"Ayyyyyy! Derrick!" we turned to see my own family, led by Darren and Sakurauchi-sama.

My parents were happy for once, and Darren was gruff and buff, a beard on his face. Sakurauchi-sama was still a sight to behold, despite her being in her thirties, holding the hand of a small toddler boy.

"Congrats, Derrick!" my brother said, patting me on the back.

"Yeah. I know it's weird for us to say nice things to each other, but… thanks. It was only because of you, I could have come back to Japan." It was so embarrassing being nice to him.

"Awwwwwww!" The other girls cooned, and I scratched my neck in embarrassment.

"Hi! Setsuna-chan!" Sakurauchi-sama bowed to Setsuna, who was suddenly nervous, in the presence of such a famous idol.

"S-Sakurauchi-sama!" Setsuna stuttered. "It's an honor to meet you!" The other girls all did the same, whether or not they still had any interest in idols- it all came rushing back. "You're still an idol, right!?"

Sakurauchi laughed, brushing back her long, silky hair.

"Call me Riko," she said gracefully. "And yes, I'm still an idol! But I'm planning to retire very soon. I'm going to become a trainer, and create the next generation of idols! I've already accepted a lot of applicants! But, now that I've met you, I remember- you really rocked the boat at Love Live, many years ago. I remember you! You should have won! But sadly, you didn't… There's only one more spot in my new group. What do you think? I think my new sister-in-law deserves a place in my new idol group. After all, it's bound to be popular! World famous! We have hundreds of sponsors already lining up!" Riko took Setsuna's hand. "Would you like to join?"

My heart almost stopped.

"S-Setsuna… this- this is what you've always dreamed of!" I shouted. "This is it!"

Setsuna was shocked into silence.

"R-really?" she said quietly. "Can I… really?"

"Yes, you can!" Riko replied. The two women stood there, and the rest of us watched, hardly believing that her dream was finally becoming true.

"I'm sorry, but I'll have to decline," Setsuna stated, tears falling from her cheek.

"W-what!? Why!?" I shouted, outraged. "This is the dream you worked for for so long!"

Setsuna smiled.

"I know. But there's someone who needs this dream more than me."

She turned around and pulled Yu in front of her.

Chills crawled up my spine.

"Riko-sama, please, take Yu-chan in my place. She deserves this dream."

"W-what!?" Yu protested. "Why?" Her eyes glistened over. "N-no! I'm not even anywhere as good at singing as you, and- and I gave up on this dream a long time ago!"

"What are you talking about?!" Setsuna said, grinning. "We all know why you still work at that maid cafe. You've been trying to audition for idol groups. And don't think I haven't seen your 'secret' second Youtube channel, Twintails456. You're really bad at hiding your dreams, aren't you?"

Yu looked at her, trying to speak, but only gasps and tears came out.

"But… but… this is your dream! You deserve it!" Yu exclaimed.

"My dream is to make people smile. If I can make you smile, Yu-chan, that's worth more than the smiles of a million," Setsuna responded. "Besides, I think an idol who's single would be more popular, no?" She winked, and Yu began to cry.

"Riko-sama, is this fine?" Yu asked.

Riko was equally touched by the situation, even though she didn't know the details. She could feel it. We all could.

"Yes. I'd love to have you, Yu-chan," Riko replied. "In fact, I remember you from back then. You played the keyboard for the bonus round, right? Ayumu-chan was singing, and Derrick was on the guitar!"

"You remember that!?" Ayumu said in shock.

"Of course! I was watching it with my husband!" She patted Darren on the back, who smiled.

"Yeah, I gotta watch my little bro follow in my footsteps," Darren commented.

"And I saw your solo performance in Okinawa," Riko continued. "It was so touching…"

"You were there!?" All of us said in shock.

"Yup! All of Aqours went to watch in secret! Darren included! How did you think you won that competition against that other school? We contacted all our friends, family, and fans and told them to vote for you guys." Riko smiled, and we were all dumbfounded. "And I remember thinking, 'Yu's voice is so beautiful. If only she wasn't afraid to let it out. To let it shine.'"

"Yu…" we were all so touched, we gave Yu the biggest hug ever.

Yu just couldn't speak at all, and just kept on crying, and crying, and crying.

It's time that something went her way.

"B-but, Setsuna, are you really fine with… giving this up?" Yu asked.

"Yeah… can't we beg Riko to open up just one more spot in the group? Setsuna-chan… after all, this dream has shaped your entire life," I said.

Setsuna took both of us in her arms.

"No, it's not that dream that shaped my life. It was that dream that led me to you. To Derrick, Yu, Ayumu, and all the others. And all of you were the ones who shaped my life. The ones who changed my life."

She took a deep breath, and kissed me on the lips. "...and… meeting you again was a dream of itself that came true. What more could I ask for?"

At that moment, I realized what it truly meant to grow up.

Growing up isn't when you decide to become cool. It isn't when you start viewing the world with a jaded eye. It isn't when you give up on the dreams that you longed for.

Growing up is when you realize that the people who mattered were those who stood up for you, stood beside you, as you chased that dream. As you stumbled, as you cried, as you lost hope. But it's the family beside us that kept us going.

And having a warm, loving family is the greatest dream one could ever have.

And so, we laughed the night away.

To think that Yu would finally find her place.

Finally.

"Hey, where did Ayumu go?" Yu asked suddenly, after a long conversation, of which Riko and my brother were a part of. "We have to get ready for our… special performance!"

"What performance?" I asked, confused.

Setsuna smiled.

"Wait and see. Oh, she's over there!" We turned to see Ayumu, laughing as she chatted away with a boy I had not seen before. "Haha! Why is she talking with my cousin?" Setsuna shook her head. "Well, it looks like they're really into each other…"

We burst into laughter.

"I guess all our dreams are coming true!"

Setsuna and I sat at the front table as the applause resounded. We held hands as the girls filed onto the stage, dressed in their idol outfits.

"They still have them? How?" I exclaimed.

"I guess none of us ever really gave it up," Setsuna smiled.

"Wow… Yu's on stage too!"

"Yep. Now that she's going to be a world-famous idol, I don't think we have to worry about her. She'll have boys lining up at her door!"

"Yeah! Hahahah!"

"Hello, everyone!" Ayumu cleared her throat as she talked into the mic. "We're the Original Nijisaki School Idol Club… and we're very, very grateful our very own Derrick and Setsuna have become one today. In celebration, we'd like to sing a song. An old song, a song that's not cool at all. But it was the song we sang together, back then. And it's the song we'll sing again, now and forever."

"Go, Ayumu-chan! You got this!" I screamed.

"Yeah! Nijisaki forever!" Setsuna chimed.

"Oh, but I'm not the center tonight," Ayumu laughed, handing off the mic. To none other than Yu.

Yu stepped forward, nervous and confident.

She was beautiful, dressed in that white idol uniform, a red sash across her chest, completing the colors of the rainbow.

I realized that the red sash belonged to Setsuna. Wasn't Setsuna's idol color red? Why was Yu wearing it?

I turned to Setsuna, who smiled at me with tears in her eyes.

"GO, YU-CHAN! MAKE YOUR DREAM COME TRUE!" She screamed.

Yu looked straight at her, at me, and brushed her twintails over her shoulders, her green ribbons shining, her eyes sparkling, her cheeks flushed. She grinned her classic grin, took a deep breath, and began to sing:

*IKOU! ASU E! NIJI NO MELODIES!*

The End