Gift

p4
>She was a first year, just like me... Amazing.

>I'm sure this girl was different the moment she was born.
>I can't be like that.

p5
>Okay, that's it for today!

p6
>Make sure to submit them by next month.
>Okay~

>Ah! Erm!

>Erm...
>...It's Sakurauchi.
>Yeah, Sakurauchi-san! Do you have a moment?
>...Sure.

>Next time, Sakurauchi-san, I want you to draw a little more freely.
>Eh?

>Your drawings are dainty, pretty, accurate, and technically wonderful but
>the theme this time is freedom!

>Let's see, for example, you could give it red highlights
>or this vase, even though it's curved, you could give it a crooked look!

p7
>I just want to get to know everyone's individuality. The basics are important, of course
>But the most important thing is how you want to draw.

>So try having more fun with your drawing.

>...Fun...

>Also, sorry to bother you with this, but could you return this to the music room?
>You can leave the key on my desk when you're done.
>...Okay

p8
>Draw freely, the way I want, she says
>I was drawing my own way anyway

>Besides, she can't even remember my own name.
>I guess I don't have much individuality.


p9
>u's Piano Music 1
>u's Piano Music 2

>u's is that school idol group, isn't it...

>They wrote all these compositions even though they were high school students?

>All music: Nishikino Maki

>Ah

p10
>A CD?

>What are you doing!?
>!

>U-Um, Sensei sent me to return this... From the Art club...
>Aah

>She's alway puts on music when drawing.
>Well then, I'll hold onto the key.
>Right. E-Excuse me.

>Hah
>Ah
>Hah

>I took it with me...

p11
>Sakurachi

>I'm home.
>Welcome back.
>Oh yeah, Riko! What do you want to do about that piano?

>What do I want to do...
>I mean, you never play it anymore, and it'd be a pain to bring it all the way to Shizuoka.

>...Yeah...I guess...


>Throw it away!!
>Riko!!
>Wait!?

p12
>La la~
>Lala Lala
>La La

>Hey, Sensei! The notes are having fun!
>Plink plonk

>La La
>You can't do that, Riko-san.

p13
>Aren't I always telling you that you have to follow the sheet music properly?

>See? This isn't a crescendo, it's a decrescendo!
>This is the arrangement you're going to play, Riko-san.
>You have talent, so you need to play this "precisely and accurately"!

>If you're just having fun, you'll never become a top pianist!

>Precisely,
>accurately,
>without having fun...

p14
>Why did I even bother playing the piano?

>I didn't even have much talent to begin with

>Nishikino-san
>I'm sure this girl was different from the moment she was born.
>So strong.
>I can't be like that.

p15
>Track 1

>Start:Dash...

p16
>I say----...

>Hey, hey,

>hey, START;DASH!!

p17
>It's such a gentle composition
>so why does it make my heart pound so much?

p18
>She's different.

p19
>Hah
>Hah

p20
>This lyrics sheet has nothing but chords written on it, and yet...

p21
>These must be Nishikino-san's feelings.

>Freely

p22
>Anyone can enjoy it
>Everyone can sing it

>Anybody can change

p23
>Music is fun, right?

>Thank you, Nishikino-san.

p24
>Riko? What's gotten into you? You just started playing the piano all of a sudden.

>Ah...sorry. I hadn't realised it was evening. I'm already done.

>Hey, Mom.

p25
>Would it be okay if I took the piano with us?

>Okay, attention, everyone!

>Since our theme is "freedom", until everyone has finished their drawings
>I thought I would take requests from everyone for what background music to play!
>This was Sakurauchi-san's idea!

>So to kick things off, I thought we'd start off with Sakurauchi-san's request

p26
>and draw to u's!
>Eh~ Amazing!

>Good job, Sakurauchi-san!
>Nice one!!

>Sensei, me next!
>No fair! Me too!
>We'll settle this with janken!
>Yeah yeah, after this is done!

>Sensei!

>This drawing is what I want to draw.
>I want to draw this beauty just as it is.

>Is that so? Then that's okay!

p27
>Well then, the first track will be START:DASH!!

>I want to make someone happy like this too
>I'm not sure if I have the power to do that, but...

>As long as I believe I can do it
>I'm sure someday...