Still Far Away

p5
>In that case,
>maybe I'll become an idol too.

>Don't screw with me.

p6
>Be it out of sympathy or for my sake...
>cut it out with that selfish ego of yours.

>I don't want to do this...
>with people who just wanna do it on a whim.

>...
>Sorry.
>I'm going home...

p7
>Ni-...

>Goodbye.

p8
>My left hand...

p9
>>21 days until the Last Live!!
>Ah Ah...

>Ah...
>We've only got three weeks left...
>You've got that right... I can't believe it's almost time.
>Uuh... I still can't eat any ric...

>You've been holding back on eating rice, Hanayo-chan!?
>Y-Yeah...
>Uwah...
>If I eat some now, I'll end up eating 5 litres worth due to the stress of the live...
>5 litres!?
>>Lunch bar

>...
>Yes~...
>I'll do my best too~...

p10
>I see you're working hard, Hanayo-chan...
>But I'm serious too, y'know?
>Aah!
>She's downgraded from yakiniku to Yakiniku-kun Tarou!!

>And here's my rice recommendation, Hanayo-chan...
>>Nostalgic snack - Carrot
>Puffed cereal!!

>Mmm
>At first glance, puffed cereal looks like it would be low in calories...
>Mmm
>If you just look at the 13 gram carrot-shaped bags, 51 calories looks small, but when you think about it in 100g figures,
>it becomes 410 calories, which is the same amount of calories you get from a bowl of ramen. They're pretty much the same.
>Mmm
>What the heck is with that explanation!?

>Hanayo-chan! You gotta have white rice with yakiniku!! Once we've successfully made it through this live...
>let's enjoy the glorious harmony that is juicy Korean-style beef ribs on top of white fluffy rice!!
>Yeeeeeeees!
>Let's begin the endless yakiniku party!!

p11
>...

>Listen, you guys!
>!
>I've told you this several times already...
>In order to avoid a repeat of last year's failure...
>you need to get some proper rest when it's time to rest...
>A change of pace is very important.

p12
>I know that you're desperate,
>but you should avoid unneccessary individual practise...

>...

>Hanayo!
>Y-Yes!?

>Because you cut down on rice,
>you haven't been eating much, have you?

>Kotori.
>You haven't been getting enough sleep.
>If you're struggling with the outfit designs, ask your fellow members for some advice.

>And you, Nozomi...
>you seem awfully quiet...

p13
>Keep the singing practise in moderation.

>...
>Don't think that your bodies only belong to you.

>Idols who can't take care of themselves
>can't possibly win Love Love.

>In order to make our final live our greatest live...
>you all need to be fully prepared.

p14
>Okay!
>Well then... let's start practising, everyone!
>Okay~!

>Let's practise -nya~
>Okay! I'll do my best~!

p15
>Did the club president forget about the fundamental smile?

>What gives? You holding a grudge because of earlier?
>On the contrary.

>...I didn't want to hold everyone back...
>so I've been practising way too much lately.

>I'm kinda bad at singing, after all...

p16
>Think about why u's
>has nine members.
>Everyone is there to make up for whatever qualities you lack.
>Everyone is different in their own way...
>Make sure you remember that.

>...
>I... see.
>I'm the same.

>...I've been forgetting to smile lately,
>so I need to be careful.

p17
>Nicocchi is...

>...
>What is it?

>I really do like it better when you're smiling...
>my friend.
>I love Nicocchi's smile.

>But

>Every time
>Ah, I see...
>I say the word "love"...

>Ah!
>Come to think of it, shouldn't you be heading home now, Nicocchi?
>I feel all sweet.

p18
>Eh...? It's that time already!?
>That's right~
>Your mom's on a business trip, right?

>Your little siblings must be getting hungry.
>Yeah...

>Would you... like to come over?

>Eh...?
>W-Well, I mean...
>I feel like you have more to say, right!? If you have time then... how about it...?

>...


p19
>I'm home~!
>Welcome back~!!

>Huh~?
>We have a guest!

>Good afternoon!

>This is the first time Nicocchi's invited me over.
>So cute~
>You're Nozomi-san from u's, right!?
>Last time, we all just kinda came uninvited.

>It felt like ground I shouldn't be stepping on,
>so I'm really happy that she invited me here today.

p20
>It feels like the distance between us
>has gotten a little shorter.
>I'm home, Papa.

>I really.. don't know anything.

p21
>Onee~chan! What are we having for dinner tonight~!?
>What do you fancy?

>Nicocchi in an apron<3
>>Air wall
>Hey! Why are you taking photos!?

>Are you gonna eat with us too, Onee-chan?
>Eh!? Is that alright?

p22
>Sorry for making you look after my sisters.

>It's fine.
>I'm an only child, so having little sisters made me happy.

>How nice that you get to do this every day!
>I'm so jealous~

>Fufu..
>You got it?

>Or rather,
>I'm sorry for keeping you hear so long...
>It's getting pretty late... Wanna go home?
>Hmm...

p23
>Somehow.. I don't really want to go home...

>What should we do about underwear...?
>I think the convenience store should have some...?

p24
>Good night.

>Hey...
>Nicocchi.
>Hm?
>Can I...
>hold your hand?

>...Huh!?
>Why!?

>...
>...!!
>Fine! I get it! Here!

p25
>Geez!

>Alright.

>...Nicocchi's cooking tonight~
>was really deliccious! It was seriously the best!
>Of course it was!
>I haven't eaten food that somebody else made for me in ages...

>I now have a favorite flavor.

>...I'll feed you again sometime.
>Yay~

p26
>...Come to think of it,
>Goodbye.
>I had a scary dream.

>A dream where you were seperated from me.

>Pft
>Eh...!?
>Ahahahahahaha...!
>How clichéd is that...!?
>How mean! Why are you laughing!?

>What even are you?
>So you wanted to hold my hand cos you were lonely?

>Th-That's cos...
>That'll definitely never happen.

p27
>After all,
>I like you.

>Really...?

>...

>Eh?

p28
>E-E-E-E-Erm! I didn't mean it that way!?
>There's no deep meaning behind it or anything!
>It's the regular kinda like, okay!?

>...Fufu.
>I'm glad~<3

>That Nicocchi of all people who say something like that to me.
>That's a few words too many!

>That's a load off my mind.
>I'll be able to sleep peacefully tonight...

>...

p29
>There are still things

>that I don't know
>about Nicocchi.

>There is quite a lot
>of things.

>Even if it's just a little

>I'm really glad
>that she showed me.

p31
>I love everything
>that you show me.

>I'm sure that for the longest time, I've...

p32
>>Fight on!!
>>20 days until the Last Live

>>Fight on!!
>15 days until the Last Live

>>10 days until the Last Live

p33
>>That miracle is here right now~

>Looks great!
>Isn't it perfect!?

>Very good... I think it looks great.
>We've gotten much better.

>At this rate
>we might actually win this -nya~!

>Too naive.
>No good.
>Not at all.

p34
>But bear with it, Nico! If you're strict now, it'll only turn down their voltage!

>Even at the best of times, I've been kinda harsh lately...
>I need to wait for the right timing a little longer...

>Be more... efficient...

>Whaddayathink, Nico-chan?
>Eh...!?
>You've got a serious look on your face...

>Did you forget how to smile, Nicocchi?
>What are you saying!?

>My failing
>Looks great! It's awesome!
>is that I push too much and speak too harshly.

>That would only worsen the mood like last time...
>Thank goodness~!

p35
>Okay!

>For the third years' sake, we're definitely gonna win this!!

>That's it...
>That's how is should...
>That's no good.

>It doesn't look fun at all.

p36
>It's like, you're wondering what everyone's thinking about while they dance.

>Their eyes aren't smiling.
>Nozomi...?

>If you're too focused on winning or doing it for us third years...
>then those are the only qualities you're going to see...

>There's no shine coming from inside.

p37
>No way... I was just...
>We've overcome a lot up until today...
>Things have been going pretty smoothly recently...

>and we've grown too accustomed to it.

>It feels like we're singing while forgetting the fundamentals.

>I'm no exception...

>...That's enough, Nozomi...

>...

p38
>Our performances are meant to move the hearts of those who watch them...
>Achieving that is the result of acting naturally from the start and looking at each other.

>What's important is the feeling of "wanting to bring joy to everyone".
>That's what you should be aiming for from the very start...
>Winning is still gonna be difficult.

>They're pretty bummed out.

p39
>Those girls are really sensitive to that stuff right now.

>...What gives~? This isn't like you, Nicocchi.
>You're the one not acting like herself...

>...You had that look like you had something you wanted to say, Nicocchi...

>...
>I just figured... that it wasn't the right time to say it.

p40
>Then when were you gonna say it?
>I think it would've been okay no matter when you said it. I'm sure everyone...
>I wanted to be more careful!

>...I don't want it to be like back then,
>where I ruined things because I pushed my ideals onto others...

>It sounds like you don't trust everyone.

>Huh?

>Look, it's almost time for the live, right!?
>Even in the best of circumstances, this is where their unease is at its peak....
>Even so, I don't think it's right that you're the only one who's worried, Nicocchi.

p41
>This isn't a problem... that you have to bear the burden of by yourself, Nicocchi.
>...

>It's precisely because it's the last time that you need to be more hands on than ever.

>I'm the president, though.

>I don't need to do something unneccessary.
>You do.
>I said it's fine! It's my decision so... just shut up already!
>I won't.

>I told you to shut up! You're the one being selfish here.
>I'm...

>not as serious or focused as everyone says I am...

p42
>I know I acted all tough, but... lecturing everyone like that is the one thing I can't do...
>I pretended that I was thinking about everyone... when really it was only you that was on my mind, Nicocchi.
>"Wanting to make Nicocchi's dream come true" was more important than anything else.

>I've always been watching you, Nicocchi.
>The times where you've suffered, your weaknesses... everything...

>More than anything, I wanted to get a closer look
>at you desperately chasing after your dream.

>That's why I was also
>desperate.

p43
>...

>I've been wondering this for a while.

>Why do you always go so far
>to help someone like me...?

p46
>Because I love you.

>I love you, Nicocchi.

p47
>...Why?

p48
>Why are you saying that now?

>Right now there's all the members... Our Last Live...
>What to do with u's going ahead...
>You know I've got all that on my mind, right...?

p49
>...Sorry.
>I don't have the time to be thinking about that stuff right now.

>Wait...!

>I'm the same.

>Nozomi, you're...
>way too selfish today.
>In that dream...

p50
>Was I holding Nicocchi's hand

>for her sake?
>No.

>I don't want her to leave me.
>It's for my own sake.

p51
>Let me go.

p52
>Ah~ Geez...