Episode 3: Feelings Spelled Out in a Song

After that... Everyone cleaned up the kitchen and hallways that Chika had made a mess of.

With Chika unconscious again, the reason for her strange behavior had not become any clearer...

Nozomi
Kurumi! I've got this side of the cupboard -- you take the other one! Lift it up on the count of three!

Kurumi
Eh, wha...? Ahh`...?

Nozomi
Ahh, sorry for being so sudden! I might have lifted my side up too forcefully -- you must've been scared, huh?

Kurumi
I-I'm okay... Sorry, I just get startled easily...

Kurumi
But more importantly... Are you going to be fine for work, big sister Nozomi...?

Nozomi
Yeah. I got in touch with the agency over communication magic earlier... I told them that one of my friends had gotten attacked by monsters and was in big trouble, and they seemed to be okay with it.

Nozomi
It's not like I was lying, but... I really do feel bad about not being able to stand on stage and bring smiles to all the fans who'd been looking forward to seeing us.

Nozomi
I know Tsumugi has a plan to fill in for both of us, and that she'll do her best to please all the fans, but...

Nozomi
I'm sure that I'll be hearing a big earful about it from her later. She's the type to get upset easily.

Nozomi
Though, well. I think she would've wanted to be here to look after Chika, too, so that's probably what she's most unhappy about.

Nozomi
Sigh, I wonder how things ended up this way.

Kurumi
......

Nozomi
Ahh, sorry for sighing! For an idol, smiles are life, so I can't be all gloomy! All right, Nozomi! Smile, smile!

Kurumi
H-Hee hee... You're really forward-looking... I'm always getting scared over every little thing, so I wish I could be like you, too...

Nozomi
Heh heh, that makes me happy to hear! An idol that young children long to be like...

Kurumi
Big sister Nozomi, you really are an idol, huh... Getting to talk with you normally like this really does feel strange...

Kurumi
I thought that idols were more distant than that...

Nozomi
Not at all -- lately, idols who you can meet yourself have been the trend. Personally, I prefer the older ideal of what an idol should be, so this is all a little unfamiliar to me, but... It's just the era we live in now.

Nozomi
When you're close to the fans, you can see their expressions. If they look down, you can encourage them and cheer them up. You can act appropriately for whatever it is that they're looking for in that moment.

Nozomi
And you can make everyone smile. That might be the most precious part of all, something that you don't quite get even from performing to millions of unseen fans.

Kurumi
Amazing... Big sister Nozomi, you're so bright and brilliant...

Nozomi
Ahaha, now that I've said it, it's a little embarrassing... I don't mean to sound full of myself. Carmina is still only starting out, and we're a fledgling group by any standards.

Nozomi
That's why we can't let ourselves stumble here, no matter what the reason is behind all this. We've got to bring Chika back to normal and head back to the stage, where everyone is waiting.

Kurumi
Then, we'll help too... Right, big brother Yuuki...?

Yuuki
1. "I'll do anything I can."

Nozomi
Ooh, did you say anything? Oho, what should I have you do, then...

Kurumi
Wah, Nozomi is making a scary face...!

Nozomi
... Oh, whoops. Sorry, just act like you didn't see that.

Nozomi
Hee hee, being called 'big sister' gets me embarrassed. I'm an only child, so the thought of having a little sister also makes me happy.

Nozomi
How wonderful a thing family is. And having a nice home to return to, too... WIth how nicely decorated these halls are with Christmas ornaments, I can tell that you're going to have a very happy Christmas.

Nozomi
I'm really sorry that we made a mess of it all.

Kurumi
Oh, it wasn't your fault, big sister Nozomi... And of course, it wasn't Chika's fault either, but it was all because of that Foggy monster, right...?

Nozomi
Well, it's just a theory right now. And it's not a monster, but a spirit.

Kurumi
Is that different from a monster...?

Nozomi
I'm not sure. To me, they look like the same thing, but when I say so, Chika always corrects me...

Nozomi
She says spirits are kinder, more benevolent beings who watch over the world and the people in it.

Nozomi
I'm not familiar with it all myself, so I'd want to hear the opinion of an expert. Did we send someone to go find that old woman who served as Chika's mentor?

Kurumi
Yes... That person turned out to be at a temple that Kokkoro also prays at frequently as a hobby, and the two of them speak to each other often... So Kokkoro left in a hurry to go find her...

Nozomi
Praying as a hobby, huh... Well, just like with the doctor that Suzume went out to find, it looks like there's not much to do now but wait.

Nozomi
But just waiting without doing anything really does bother me.

Ayane
Kyaaa!? Stop it, don't eat Puukichi!

Kurumi
...!? That was Ayane's scream...!

Nozomi
What is it? Ayane was the one looking after Chika... Could Chika have woken up and gone on a rampage again?

Kurumi
L-Let's go take a look first...! I'm worried about Ayane...!