Link! Like!: Episode 10 ~ Part 8
After several complications, Rurino has joined the School Idol Club. She dreams of performing with her childhood friend, Fujishima Megumi, but Megumi has vanished from the club.
…Megu-chan…
I didn’t know anything about her this whole time... Yet I still had the nerve to act like she was my best friend...
Is it really too late now…? Was this… all for nothing…?
For the love of… why would she change so suddenly…?
Right?
Kozue-senpai, Tsuzuri-senpai…
Ah, Rurino-san. Megumi just dropped by and told us to get rid of her stuff.
We ended up having to go all the way to the warehouse as a result.
Does that mean… Megu-chan won’t be coming back to the School Idol Club…?
Possibly…
It’s all my fault… All because I pushed her too hard…
…I guess something did happen.
Huh…?
Those shoes…!
Huh?
I never noticed…
Those are the shoes I gave Megu-chan. They’re different sizes, but they’re all the same kind…
They’re so worn out… She must’ve practiced so much in these…
I never knew…
Megumi was the hardest worker I knew.
You know, I asked her once. I wondered why she kept all these shoes.
…And what did she say?
She said…
Every time I look at these shoes, I think to myself, I’ve run really far, haven’t I?
And if there was a girl out there that could catch up to me…
Then I’d have no choice but to make an unbeatable unit with her to captivate the whole world, right?
I-I’ve gotta go!
Huh? Where–
And she’s gone.
…You really have quite the memory.
It was... a lot of fun.
Of course I remember.
Megu-chan! Megu-chan!
Huh? R-Ruri-chan…? W-What is it?
Listen! I finally figured it out! About you! And about me!
H-Huh? About what…?
I didn’t come to like you because you were so cool, or because you could do anything.
I like you because you’re you, Megu-chan! I’ve always thought that way!
W-Wait, you’re gonna bother people… ugh, fine, just get inside!
Oh… those shoes… you have them here, too…
These are just…! I-I only use them to go running sometimes! Like when I go for a breather and stuff!
And I figured I’d keep buying the shoes I’m used to wearing…
…Megu-chan. I’m sorry for not noticing how hard you’ve been working this whole time.
N-No… I shouldn’t have lied to you in the first place.
You always shone the way forward for me. And yet, I only made things harder for you... I’m sorry.
…Ruri-chan.
Thanks for everything. But I’ll be okay now!
Huh…?
This time, I’ll be the one guiding you forward!
I’m way stronger than I was back then! I spent two years in California, a place filled with people I didn’t know, all by myself!
And just like we promised, I got big and came back!
Maybe you don’t think I’m ready yet, but I mean it! I’ll be okay!
I’ve gotten waaay stronger, and I’m gonna prove it to you! I’ll show you a new Ruri!
So let’s do it! Let’s be school idols, together!
What’s done is done! The past is in the past!
From now on, I’ll pull you forward, and you’ll pull me forward too! We’ll be a new MeguRuri!
We can start fresh, right here!
I’ll be waiting, Megu-chan!
Ruri-chan… I… I…
Ruri-chan…
I…
I…!
No matter how many times I stumble and fall, the only thing I can’t do is give up!
Because… Because you’re waiting for me!
Ah…
A-Ahaha… Performing by myself is pretty tough…
But it’s kinda sad that I’m like this after trying to act so cool earlier, y’know…
That’s not true. You were cool, Ruri-chan. Very, very cool.
Ahaha, thanks…
Megu-chan, thanks for coming!
No, no. The one who came for me was you, Ruri-chan.
S-stop it, you’re gonna make me cry up on stage!
Hehehe.
Okay then, Megu-chan! Let’s do this together!
Yeah, Ruri-chan! The two of us will captivate the whole world!
Okay, everyone! Let’s get fired up today! I’m gonna do my usual thing, ‘kay~? ☆
Everyone! HelloMegu!
Crowd: HelloMegu!
And, and! The two of us are a subunit from the Hasunosora School Idol Club!
And our name is…!
One, two…!
Mira-Cra Park!
Gah… I’m exhausted…
You did it, Rurino-chan!
Agh.
Your performance was a great success!
It’s gotta be because of all the energy we sent from offstage!
T-Time-out! My battery’s totally drained right now! If you cling to me like that, I’ll die! I’m dying!
Congratulations on making your comeback, Megumi.
Yeah… And sorry for worrying you two so much, Kozue, Tsuzuri.
And… I’m back.
…I-It’s not as if I was waiting for you or anything…
Your stuff is all still in the clubroom, so it’ll be your responsibility to take it back to the warehouse.
Welcome home, Megu.
…Y-Yeah… Ahaha, all this fanfare is a little embarrassing…
Oh? Looks like Megumi-senpai’s getting embarrassed~.
This side of her is surprisingly cute, huh?
H-Hey! I’m a year above you two, so you should still respect me, you know! Hmph!
Megu-chan! Good job! You really, really worked hard today!
Hm, hm…! Hm…
Yeah… Hey, Ruri-chan?
…Sorry for being so stubborn.
Honestly… I’m really, really happy you came here.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
M-Megu-chan… A-Ah-huh!?
So! Next time, let’s stand on stage, together, from the very beginning!
…Yeah!