Chapter 7

µ's Without Umi

Does Umi have enough time for archery, dance, and µ's?

Part 1

Kotori: OK, the last song is... Eli: OK! This sounds like a good plan for our next mini Live Show. Nozomi: Nicely organized! Umi: Time for me to go make an appearance at archery club. Honoka: OK, have fun! Rin: It must be pretty difficult for Umi to do this and archery club too... Hanayo: Does the archery club hold tournaments or anything? Kotori: I'm pretty sure they do... Nozomi: We're also going to get pretty busy soon... I wonder if she'll be OK? Honoka: Umi will be fine! Nico: It'll be pretty easy for her. Kotori: I hope she doesn't push herself too hard...

Part 2

Nozomi: Honoka! Kotori! Honoka, Kotori: ? Nozomi: Look... Kotori: A magazine? Nozomi: This page... It's a little small though... Honoka: It's Umi! Kotori: We visited the Sonoda family, who have been running a school for traditional Japanese dance for generations. Kotori: Look, her aunts are there too... Hanayo: So beautiful! Rin: Amazing! Honoka: W-wow. Umi even says, "I'm working hard every day, in hopes of taking over the family business someday." Nico: Of course she'd say something like that. It was an interview, after all... Honoka: Umi's practicing traditional Japanese dance too... That must be difficult. Kotori: Yeah... Honoka: Of course, with Umi's family teaching Japanese dance... That must take priority over µ's for her... Kotori: Yeah... If anything happened, then she wouldn't be able to make it to the next Live Show... Maki: Her sense of responsibility is too strong to let that happen. Honoka: Yeah... Nico: You're worrying about this too much... I mean, haven't you known her since you were kids? Nozomi: That's probably why they're so worried... Kotori: I wonder what Umi will do from now on... Umi: Sorry I'm late! Honoka: U-Umi! Umi: What is it, Honoka? Honoka: I-It's nothing! Eli: We don't have much time before our Live Show. Let's get practicing.

Part 3

Honoka: Hey, Kotori! If you're going to ask, then now's the time to do it! Kotori: Huh? Me? I think Honoka should ask... Nico: Argh... I can't watch this any longer. Kotori: Nico? Nico: Hey Umi. Those two over there want to ask you what's up with this article. Honoka & Kotori: H-hey! Umi: Oh, this thing? My mom begged me to do it. Umi: It seems that her friend is the editor. Nico: Really? Is that so. Umi: That's right. And in exchange, they'll run an article about our next live show. Eli: Great job, Umi! Pretty clever. Umi: It cut into valuable practice time, so really, it was the least they could do. Umi: ? Honoka: But why? Why was it only focused on traditional Japanese dance? Umi: Well, it was an interview about traditional dance, so why would it talk about anything else? Kotori: And what the part where you talk about taking over the family business? Umi: I'm not taking it over right now. There's no way I could take it over at this age anyway. Honoka: Bu-but what about µ's? Umi: I'm not sure what you're asking... Kotori: Y-you're staying, right? Umi: ? Of course. Why wouldn't I stay? Kotori: Thank goodness... Umi: Wait.. Did you two see this article and honestly think I was going to quit µ's? Honoka: Eep. Kotori: Ho-Honoka did it! Honoka: But you're also busy with the archery club! Umi: Honoka... Kotori... Honoka & Kotori: Yeah... Umi: As you two know, traditional Japanese dance and martial arts are two things that are very dear to me... Umi: But for me... no, for all of us... µ's is something absolutely irreplaceable. You know that, right? Kotori: Umi... Umi: Hee hee. Umi: And besides... Umi: It's disgraceful for a warrior to give up on something they've started, so I could never quit that easily. Honoka: Umi! Umi: Hey, Honoka! Honoka: Uh... Heh heh... Obviously, I'd be nothing without you, Umi. Kotori: ...That's an odd way to phrase it, Honoka. Umi: ...Oh my. Honoka: The three of us together, always and forever! I hope you'll be with me, together forever... Maki: This is sounding like a wedding... Hanayo: Then it'd be a polygamous one... Rin: Hanayo and Maki, you two should be my brides too! Maki: No, thanks! Hanayo: Ha ha ha... Eli: Well then, that's settled. Nozomi: I bet you feel better now, don't you, Eli? Eli: Yeah... Eli: Even just the thought of a µ's without Umi makes me shiver... Nozomi: Ha ha ha...