No longer a dreaming girl

p4
>Well then.
>Starting today, the graphics team
>will be resuming development under a new AD.

>Is Yagami-san gonna be okay...?
>She's not gonna quit too, is she...?

>I won't quit.
>As long as I'm serious about things, I won't quit.
>...

p5
>Before she realised it, those words
>had become like a chain to Kou-chan...

p6
>...Yagami.
>This is different from the draft, isn't it?
>...?

>Ah.
>Well, I thought it might be better like this...
>No, I mean.
>It's good... but you need to discuss these things with me first.
>Okay?

>This isn't like you, Yagami... Just fix this part.
>Here.
>Right...
>Sorry.

>It's been half a month since the new girls quit.

p7
>Kou-chan had stepped down as AD and returned to the team as a player.

>As a player, Kou-chan
>was the strongest.

>But this time, Kou-chan was spinning her wheels.

>Good work today~

p8
>Kou-chan... Let's go home together.
>...

>On the plus side, ever since that incident,
>That's no good. It's the start of the week. Come on.
>Kay...
>her schedule's been more reasonable.

>On the other hand,
>the air around the team has been tense since then.

p9
>...Hey, Rin.
>What is it, Kou-chan?

>Where... did I go wrong?

>You okay, Kou-chan?
>Mm...
>Should I make dinner?
>Mm...
>With this,

p10
>I'm able to help Kou-chan when she's feeling down,
>but she's most likely still thinking about the game.

>I get the feeling "are you okay"
>Kou-chan
>Hah~
>aren't the words Kou-chan really needs.

p11
>Good morning...

>Ah.
>Good morning, Hazuki-san.
>Oh.
>Touyama-kun.
>Why the long face?
>...

>...It's about Kou-chan.

>Yagami's probably trying to stay determined.

p12
>...Will she become a leader again?
>Is that it?
>There is that... but that's not all.
>Eh?

>...In the end,
>it's because her pride that serves as a foundation is frail.

>...
>Sometimes it feels like Hazuki-san
>knows Kou-chan better than I do.

>And not just because she's my superior.
>It's like she can see something deep inside of Kou-chan...

p13
>Kou-chan too... even if it's a little at a time,
>is becoming as dedicated to her work as she was before.

>Yagami, you got a moment?
>Sure, Hazuki-san.
>Everyone stopped treating Kou-chan
>like they had to be careful around her.

>...
>Kou-chan's late...

p14
>Good work today~

>What're you gonna do, Kou-chan?
>Hmm... I'm gonna stay her a little longe-...
>Ng

>Hey!
>Kou-chan, are you okay!?
>Does your head hurt!?

>Geez... You shouldn't push yourself.
>Here. Hold onto me.
>...

>I have to... push myself.
>Eh...?

p15
>"Kou-chan, you moron!"
>are the words I swallowed as I took her home with me.

>I never saw that expression before.
>It made me uneasy.

>...Sorry, Rin.
>...

>I got scared...
>Eh?

p16
>H-
>Hazuki-san was also asking
>if I've...
>suddenly gotten scared.
>...

>Yagami... You're overdoing it, aren't you?
>Not really...
>I was surprised, but I'm not gonna quit or...
>Not that.

>I'm asking... if you've suddenly gotten scared.

p17
>Both you... and the people around you
>have been so stubborn, after all.

>"It's better to not show off that kind of weakness so directly..."

>If I don't work HARDER
>Hey.
>I'LL BECOME SOMEONE ELSE...
>That's what it felt like.
>That's not...!

>But
>when I see those I've hurt,

>I start to hate myself...
>Kou-chan!
>for thinking like that...
>KOU-CHAN!!

p18
>...

>Kou-chan...
>Yeah...
>I see..

>Haha... Sorry, Rin... I feel better after getting that out of my system.

>I'll be able to do my best again... Thank
>yo-
>...!
>From the very beginning, Hazuki-san was...

p19
>Kou-chan was... the strongest.
>Mmph
>>kiss
>I love you
>Kou-chan
>All of Kou-chan's self-confidence
>was built on that foundation.

>But that in itself was most likely Kou-chan's greatest weakness.
>Ah...
>Rin...

p20
>...In the end,
>it's because her pride that serves as a foundation is frail.

>...Ah.
>Ah.
>Rin, right there...
>I love you, Kou-chan.
>Rin.
>I'm...
>...the worst.
>Ah
>Kou-cha-

p21
>I couldn't accept the shock
>that it was Hazuki-san that lit a fire in Kou-chan.

>Good morning.
>Good morning~

>Oh.
>Morning, Touyama-kun.
>What's up?
>...

>It's about Kou-chan!

p22
>...Well,
>I did certainly give Yagami some advice...

>...But if it weren't for your support, Touyama-kun,
>I'm sure Yagami would've just ended up doing the same thing again.

>All I did
>was say what I was able to come up with...

>Yagami needs you by her side, Touyama-kun...

>...Hazuki-san.
>You're...
>Hm?

p23
>I'm simply Yagami's superior...
>and her friend.
>The rest is just your imagination.
>Okay?

>It felt like Hazuki-san was going to say "I lose this time."

p24
>...Now then.
>We'd better tidy up this desk.
>There's too much junk scattered all over the place.
>Yeah...
>How embarrassing.

>Woah~ That really is a lot of junk.

>...Kou-chan.
>Wanna eat at my place again tonight?

>...Ugh.
>Why are you being so formal all of a sudden?
>Ufufu.
>I can't help it...

p25
>This time, it's because

>I want to be with you, not just console you.
>Well,
>I've got confidence too.
>The heck does that mean...?
>Help out a little.