Lü Bu's army clashed with the allied forces of Liu Bei and Cao Cao.
Guan Yu, who was greatly impressed
by the way Zhang Liao fought gallantly as a general in Lü Bu's army,
pleaded that his life be spared.
Then, several years later,
Guan Yu, who had been cornered by Cao Cao's army,
refused to surrender, instead choosing to end his own life.
However, Zhang Liao pleaded with him until he agreed to surrender.
It is said that afterward the two continued to foster their friendship.
Now, back to the present.
Here, too, a certain close friendship has begun to form.
In street performances with Nanami, Eiko does her best to find herself.
I wanna sing with my own voice like Nanamin does.
The two hang out a lot beyond just performing
and have gradually established an emotional bond.
I hope we can keep on laughing together, Nanamin!
Hoping to broaden the ways in which she can express herself just as Nanami has,
Eiko earnestly continues to sing.
Eiko, the way you performed just now was amazing.
Having finally obtained her own voice, Eiko rushed to see Kido.
The close friendship that has blossomed between the two girls will keep going strong.
Or so it seems.
Chance x Chance, Rendezvous!! Chiki chiki ban ban
ya Boy KONGMING!
Pity?! Chiki chiki chan chan
Ah! Chiki chiki ban ban
Love!! Chuki chuki chuki ban ban
High chiki chiki ban ban
Pity?! Chiki chiki chan chan
Ah! Chiki chiki ban ban
Love!! Chuki chuki
Everyone and his brother is fickle and it's so trying
If you get drunk on tequila
With a string of groundless fantasies, flash
Dreams are Pandora
See? You get an urge to open them
Expect good things from everybody, party people
You won't understand unless you climb Mt. Fuji tonight
The showdown is the destiny of the weekend
Chance x Chance, Rendezvous!! Chiki chiki ban ban
Enjoy yourself without being pretentious about anything
Fever tonight
Chance x Chance, Pity?! Chiki chiki ban ban
No matter how often you're irritated, party tonight
Chance x Chance, Ah! Chiki chiki ban ban
A perfect society where the stupider you act, the greater the high
Chance x Chance, Love!! Chiki chiki ban ban
Everybody is a superstar in the making, diva tonight
KARASAWA
Message
Remind Me
Hello.
Kuon, I hear you've been singing on the streets lately.
How do you...
I shouldn't have to tell you this, but stop immediately.
Furthermore, it seems there's a girl who've been singing with.
I don't want you seeing her ever again.
Get back here in time for the meeting.
You got that?
For the Populace
Cause you gave me whispers of love all night
How was it?
Good.
But you still have a long way to go.
Though you've improved,
what lies at your very core...
what it is that you're singing for...
Until you find out, it won't make the grade.
How'd it go?
He said it won't make the grade until I figure out what I'm singing for.
Aww, I've got no idea what to do.
Listen, you're singing with your own voice now, Eiko!
Trust me, not that pudding geezer!
Thanks!
Ah, I know!
How about we go somewhere to unwind?
Unwind, huh?
Oh, that pouch from Kongming...
A ticket for the observation deck at Sky Square.
That alone's a waste, wanna get to the next place
I want my skills to be profound
Ain’t no throwaway round, we circle up and wanna go down
Yay!
Thanks a ton, guys!
I never imagined you'd all turn up for this!
You bet your ass we would!
After all, we've got our hometown hero sayin' he's gonna battle Sekitoba again!
We wanna support you!
We'll hang with you every day if ya want.
Right, Sasatcho?
Yeah!
Besides, this time of day my job's done, and I have nothin' to do for fun.
I see, you've got it rough.
Hey, wait a minute!
My job's done... nothin' to do for fun...
Sasatcho, did you just bust a rhyme?!
I had to since you said I didn't make a single one last time.
A casual challenge, met with unbelievable talent
Ah, you rhymed right back at me!
Sasatcho! It's brazen of you to pick a fight with Kabetaijin!
Ah, forgive me! I can't compete with thee!
I need to go take a wee
Wow, you rhymed three words!
Yeah, but they were pretty lame rhymes.
Aw, come on, man! This's who I am!
What's wrong?
Ah, it's nothing at all!
Nothing at all, no need to bawl
This is me, huh? Nothing at all, no need to bawl
This is me, huh? My YouTube's still small, y'all
Seriously, man?!
Wow, we're so high up!
Now this is exciting!
Oh, a blimp!
Hey, Nanamin, do you think about something when you sing?
Like, what it is you're singing for?
Me?
I guess I don't really think about anything.
I just do it 'cause I like it.
On the streets, anyway.
On the streets?
I had a feeling!
You must be a pro, right?!
You're just too darn good!
Well, you could say I'm a pro.
I don't show my face, though.
I knew it!
You give the impression of being in the biz!
Are you a studio musician?
Oh, or maybe a tour member with someone famous?!
Wow, look at that!
Whoa, it's so close!
Sure enough, I think I better tell you, Eiko.
After all, this might be the last time we meet.
Um, what?
I'm sorry.
I should have told you sooner,
but I just wanted to be myself around you.
Ta-da!
I'm the idol band Azalea's bassist and vocalist:
Nanami Kuon.
Ugh, how lame.
No way...
Ya Boy Kongming!
ya
ya Boy
ya Boy KONG
ya Boy KONGMING!
Nanamin, you're in Azalea?
You've gotta be kidding.
I mean, you're nothing like those girls.
At first, things were different.
Music Room
Wow, your drumming was perfect, Futaba!
Thanks! You were great too, Ichika.
Hey, was I good?
Of course!
Your singing and bass playing is key, Nanami.
Ah, I can't wait for the school festival.
We've never performed for an audience, so I'm a bit nervous.
Well, we all feel that way!
It'll be okay!
Yeah, you're right!
What's wrong?!
That reminds me!
We haven't decided on a name for our band!
You're right!
We got so caught up in practicing we totally forgot!
Well then, let's each come up with a suggestion.
What?! You go first then at least, Nanami.
Okay.
How about: "Band, Band, Band"?!
Rejected.
Why'd you suggest "Band, Band, Band"?
There are three of us, so...
Band! Band! Band!
Hey, can I go next?
We take part of Nanami, Ichika, and Futaba to make:
"Nanaichiba"!
Whaddaya think?!
Oh, not bad!
Right?!
So, Futaba, you got anything?
Yeah, I actually had a name in mind.
What do you think about "Azalea"?
"Azalea"? What's that mean?
It's the name of a flower.
And in the language of flowers, they mean the joy of youth.
I like it!
I started a band with my high school friends, and we played the music we wanted to play.
That's great! Really great!
We had our debut concert on the school festival stage.
Amazing!
You were super cool!
Wow, this is crazy...
That was the best thing ever!
Jeez, I've still got goosebumps!
Yeah, that was so emotional!
For the rest of high school, and even after I graduate, I'm gonna keep making music!
So, won't you two join me?!
Hey, we're still first-years, you know!
We don't know where we'll be that far in the future!
Oh, come on! You saying you don't wanna?!
You better believe we do!
All right, this is just the start for Azalea!
From then on, music was at the center of our high school lives.
Then, after we graduated, the three of us moved to Tokyo together for the sake of our music.
Oh, I see.
But even after moving here, no good opportunities came our way.
Besides, we never drew crowds when we played gigs.
Even so, we were still having fun at that point.
After all, we'd been able to keep playing music we loved.
At that point?
Until he showed up, that is.
Producer
Toshihiko Karasawa
So, what kind of music do you want to perform?
Without a doubt, rock!
Stuff that really moves everyone who hears it!
Yeah! After all, we've always played hard-hitting music!
Plus, in flower language Azalea represents the joy of youth!
So, we wanna express the feeling of excitement we had we when first started the band.
Yeah! Well said, Futaba!
What hogwash.
You don't know jack, after all.
You formed three years ago.
If you can't even halfway fill a 50-person-capacity venue...
just quit already!
A band like that won't sell.
What's it to you anyway?!
I'm not finished yet.
I'm offering you a chance.
A chance?
Sing my songs,
and I'll have you doing a big-time dome tour within two years.
Domes?
Within two years?
If you let this opportunity pass you by, you will never make it big.
What are you talking about?
Go screw yourself!
An unpolished gem does not sparkle.
Think this over carefully.
Who does he think he is calling us over for that?!
Like hell I'd sing his damn songs!
I hate his stupid songs, too!
Still, all the stuff Karasawa produces has been successful.
Listen, our big chance will come someday!
Yeah, right on! Let's keep on doing our thing!
You're right!
Yeah!
We believed in our music.
But...
we didn't know how to find a market for it.
There are still unsold tickets. We've gotta pay and take a loss again.
Ah! I need to pick up more part-time work!
Just living in Tokyo costs a lot.
No way in hell I'm moving back to the countryside!
Part-Time Job Recruitment
BAITORE
Bankbook
ICHIKA
We were barely getting by.
Well, I've gotta head to work now.
Me, too.
And so...
Hello.
This Nanami Kuon from Azalea.
I'm very sorry for being so rude earlier!
Please, make us successful!
Now, that's better.
I, too, once misunderstood the way of things.
I thought I could make a living doing what I liked.
However, one's compensation is tied to pleasing others.
I had failed to understand that basic concept.
Don't you worry.
Rest assured I'll turn you girls into stars.
Yes, sir! Please and thank you!
What's with this outfit?
This is the new costume for Azalea.
Starting today, it's what you'll be wearing.
I could never! There's no way!
Right, Nanami?!
Nanami?
They are sure to be a hit.
You must follow all my instructions on your dress, songs, and choreography.
If you want to make it big...
wear them!
For real?
These are part of your costumes as well.
As of today, you girls will be reborn as the new Azalea.
Nanami, what are we gonna do?!
This will make us popular, right?
Yes, of that I am sure.
What we wear won't change who we are.
For now, just suck it up and wear it.
Seriously?
If you say so, Nanami...
Just as Karasawa had promised, we got more fans in no time.
Once again, we're Azalea!
Hold it right there!
What are you saying?!
In short, from your next gig on, you can just pretend to sing and play.
Use that energy to concentrate on your performances.
That's what the audience wants to see.
B-but...
We've always been a real band...
From then on, we continued to do whatever Karasawa told us to.
And as a result...
...our fanbase exploded.
We sold loads of CDs and merch,
and we became able to make a living on music alone.
That said...
Did you see the payment we got this month?
Yep!
I had a dishwasher shipped to my parents' place!
Hey, so about that last gig...
Now that you mention it, I bought a new microwave myself!
Oh, seriously?!
Nice! Maybe I should buy some new appliances, too.
Oh? You're already heading home, Nanami?
Yeah, I'm gonna go out and sing to unwind.
I see...
That change in clothing had, in fact, changed me.
But it was when I sang with you, Eiko, that I knew for sure...
I no longer want to sing Karasawa's songs.
But Azalea is no longer just about us three.
We have a whole team and lots of money behind us.
I don't wanna betray our staff who promote us or our fans who come see us.
I'm sorry for keeping it from you.
I've got something I need to tell you too, Nanamin.
That 100,000 Likes Project where a ticket to Summer Sonia is on the line...
I'm in the running, too.
I see...
Well, you are a great singer, after all.
Nanamin, you had so much weighing on you all along.
I totally failed to notice.
All that time it was you giving me courage.
In that case...
All right!
I'm gonna sing!
Huh? Here?
I'm going to sing!
Okay...
Besides just Nanamin...
I wonder if all the people in this city have their own worries?
I've sure had my share of troubles.
But music saved me.
So, maybe my singing can save somebody else out there!
Perhaps I can even save Nanamin from her current situation!
Everything seemed to be alright
Cause you gave me whispers of love all night
But I'm alone tonight
And I don't know how to stop heaving sighs
I just wanna get you out of my mind
You don't know how much I love you
But you don't wanna be with me any more
I'm still alive today
You are so far away
Even though you have broken my heart, baby
I'm still alive today
And miss you all day
I just thought I could not live without you
Now I don't know what to do with myself
Maybe I'm stronger than I think and I'm still in...
Reach her!
Reach...
Nanamin's heart!
Nanamin...
Now I see, so this is...
I'm still alive today
the populace!
And miss you all day
To sing for someone's sake...
I just thought I could not live without you
Isn't that right, Kongming?!
I'm still alive today
You are so far away
Even though you have broken my heart, baby
Eiko, to think you can sing like this...
I'm still alive today
And miss you all day
I just thought I could not live without you
Now I don't know what to do with myself
Maybe I'm stronger than I think and I'm still in love
Wonderful!
I'm also being helped out by a lot of different people.
So, I have no right to be high and mighty.
But there is one thing I can say with confidence!
I love the Nanamin who sings on the streets!
Eiko...
KARASAWA
Karasawa!
Sorry...
I've gotta go.
Nanamin!
Thank you for that song.
But the next time we meet, it might be as rivals.
Let's both do our best.
Nanamin!
Goodbye.
Nanamin! Let's sing together again sometime!
Nanamin...
Kongming?!
Don't startle me like that!
You should've told me you were here!
Please excuse me.
I was so deeply touched that I unwittingly revealed myself.
Just then, I observed closely as you sang, Eiko.
It seems you've found the answer you were searching for.
Uh, well...
I don't know if it's the right one, though.
The populace, right?!
Well done!
Now then, let us venture to new heights.