Yume and Laura chatted as they got their lunch.

"You got a free pass?" Laura asked, sitting down at her usual spot, the same table as Ako, Koharu, and Mahiru.

"Yeah..." Yume sighed, sitting next to her.

"Is that bad? You're sighing."

"I wanted to sing with Lily-senpai some more... and a free pass doesn't feel like I worked for it."

Laura gritted her teeth. Doesn't she want to pass?

"Well, you would have made it anyway, Yume-chan" Koharu said nervously, looking at Laura's frustrated face.

"That's right," Ako smiled. "You're good enough."

"Still..." Yume said, looking at the ceiling with a forlorn expression. "It feels like I cheated."

Laura slammed her hands on the table.

"We're all working hard!" she yelled. "We all would have been happy for a free pass! But you got one, and you don't like it! In fact, you don't even want it! What's wrong with you?!"

"I just want to win fair and square, is that a problem?!" Yume replied, irritably, taking a bite of her lunch.

"Look at me when you're talking!" Laura yelled, grabbing her shoulders and twisting her around. "Or am I that unimportant?!"

"Look, I'm hungry, 'kay?!" Yume yelled while chewing.

"At least swallow before you talk!"

"Am I not supposed to eat during the lunch break?!"

"Food is more important than your best friend?!"

"Who said you were my best friend?! Koharu-chan is!"

Mahiru closed her eyes, trying to ignore the shouting.

"Be quiet!" she finally shouted after several more rounds of yelling. "We're in a cafeteria!"

Yume and Laura stopped arguing and looked at her.

"Yume, Laura," Mahiru said. "You both made it to the finals. If you have any problems, settle it in the match this afternoon, all right? Don't just pointlessly argue!"

"Fine!" Laura said, glaring at Yume. "I'll win, and prove that I'm better!"

"Oh yeah?" Yume said, glaring back. "I'm the one who's going to -"

"Quiet down!" Mahiru shouted again. "Settle it in the match!"

Yume and Laura glared daggers at each other.

"Are they going to be okay?" Koharu asked worriedly.

"... I hope so," Ako answered uncertainly.

xxxxx

"Finally, the match you've been waiting for!" Anna-sensei announced, strumming her electric guitar. "Flower Song class's final round! This round will determine the new S4 member! It's naturally talented Nijno Yume versus skilled and experienced Sakuraba Laura! Who will win?"

Me! Yume and Laura both thought.

"Nijino Yume, ready to go!" Yume yelled. "To win this and beat Laura!"

"Sakuraba Laura, it's my time to shine!" Laura yelled. "Over Yume and into S4!"

I'm going to win!