Link! Like!: Episode 3 ~ Part 5
Kozue has accepted Kaho’s declaration to become the “number one school idol in the world,” and so she assigns her intense training for an upcoming event in Kanazawa.
Translation: Luna_LL | Proofreaders: Eagles & zura | YouTube Subs: Denzi | Site & YouTube Graphics: Epikkyu
Kaho: Are these… the School Idol Club’s…?
Kaho: Oh, thank you for guiding me h–
Kaho: S-she’s gone…!? Was she really the fairy of the warehouse…!?
Kaho: There’s no way… ah.
Kaho: Wait, this is…
Kozue: That’s a picture from when Hasunosora won “Love Live!”. A reflection of the moment our predecessors stood atop the school idol world.
Kaho: Kozue-senpai…
Kozue: Tsuzuri told me that you might be coming here. In any case, well done finding this place on your own.
Kaho: Oh, well, I actually had someone guide me here…
Kozue: That notebook…
Kaho: Huh? Oh, sorry. I found it in the club room and brought it here without even noticing…
Kozue: It’s somewhat embarrassing, but… Oh, well. It is for everyone in the School Idol Club, after all.
Kozue: Whenever I’m confused as to where to go, or when I can’t seem to sort out my thoughts, I look through that notebook. Just holding it feels a little reassuring, in a way.
Kaho: Reassuring…?
Kozue: When I’m at a loss for how to improve, for example. It helps me understand how the school idols that came before us, and that I aspire to be like, also had those same struggles and worked hard to overcome them.
Kaho: …You worry about that too, Kozue-senpai?
Kozue: All the time! That’s why I hold my head high and stay positive, so I can set a good example for my juniors.
Kozue: Since I’ve received so many lessons from previous school idols, I do my best to pass those lessons on to those who will come after me. That way, those future students might even aspire to be like me.
Kaho: …Um… I… I read a little from the notebook. There was so much vulnerability shared, and so much mutual encouragement… It kinda resonated with me.
Kaho: I recklessly went way over what you planned for my training, Senpai. So please, scold me, so I won’t forget this lesson!
Kozue: Hinoshita-san…?
Kaho: I mean, you trusted me… And by going off and doing all that extra practice by myself, I broke that trust! That’s such a terrible thing to do, isn’t it?
Kaho: So please, Senpai. I want to continue being in the same subunit with you! I need you to scold me!
Kozue: …Alright.
Kozue: I understand. Hinoshita-san, what you did was very unwise. If you were to get seriously hurt, it would make me very sad. Never do that again.
Kaho: …Yeah.
Kozue: Now then, I think it’s my turn. I need you to scold me as well.
Kaho: Huh?
Kozue: I forced this performance onto you, which is why you felt you had to be so reckless. I should have been more open to listening to your concerns, and we should have thoroughly discussed them.
Kaho: But that’s not something I can get mad at you for…
Kozue: You’ve made mistakes, but I haven’t been the perfect mentor for you, either. Perhaps we should walk together from here on, hand in hand.
Kaho: Ah…
Kozue: So if it’s okay with you, Hinoshita-san…
Kozue: Even if I might be a clumsy, stubborn, and inflexible senior… I hope we could once again be school idols together.
Kozue: I hope to wear those outfits with you.
Kaho: But I don’t deserve to…
Kozue: Please, Kaho-san.
Kozue: Please join my subunit once more.
Kozue: I want to stand beside you and watch over your hard work.
Kaho: I should be the one asking you!
Kaho: I’ve only just started morning practice, and I have no stamina, and I’m still an inexperienced singer and dancer! But I want to be a school idol with you, Senpai!
Kozue: Ah!
Kaho: Kozue-senpai! I thought that I could blossom alone if I worked really hard. But now that I am a school idol, I want to blossom with you, Kozue-senpai. So, please!
Kaho: Please let us be school idols together!
Kozue: Kaho-san.
Kozue: …Yes, of course. And… Thank you.
Kaho: Senpai…!
Kozue: Let’s blossom beautifully onstage.
Kaho: Yeah!
—
Kaho: Is your ankle okay, Senpai…?
Kozue: I’m not putting too much pressure on it, so it should be fine.
Kaho: Really…?
Kozue: The nurse told me that I need to rest for a few days, but afterwards, I should be able to return to practice.
Kaho: I’m… really glad about that.
Kaho: Oh, by the way, a really pretty girl called me to your room earlier! Is she a classmate of yours?
Kozue: …Yes, she is.
Kozue: But we’ll have to sign up for a new event and readjust our schedules. We’ve practiced so much, after all.
Kaho: There’s no need to worry about that.
Kozue: Oh, really?
Kaho: Yeah. I just want to perform, even if it’s not at a big event. I’d be happy just performing with you, as long as our performance is good and memorable!
Kozue: …Alright. Let’s have a wonderful performance, Kaho-san.
Kaho: Yeah, Kozue-senpai!
—
Sayaka: I can’t believe how many people there are…!
Tsuzuri: Everyone’s been waiting for Kaho’s performance.
Sayaka: Because she practiced so hard every day!
—
Kaho: Hello, everyone!
Kozue: We are one of Hasunosora’s traditional subunits…
Kaho & Kozue: Cerise Bouquet!
Kozue: Thank you all for coming today, everyone. It would be our pleasure if you enjoyed our performance.
Kaho: Though we may still be budding sprouts…
Kaho: I’m sure we will catch your interest and entertain you for a long, long time to come!
Kaho: Until we can fully blossom, please be our rain, wind, and sun!
—
Sayaka: Amazing, Kaho-san! You’re still a new school idol, but you’ve been crowned MVP for the month of April!
Kaho: Ehehe… you’re making me blush…
Sayaka: It’s because your performance was so incredible! Right, Yugiri-senpai!?
Tsuzuri: Oh, yeah… That’s right…
Kozue: Really nice job, Kaho-san! I’m so happy your hard work is being recognized!
Kaho: O-oh, Kozue-senpai! Ehehe! Yeah~!
Kozue: By the way…
Kozue: Why didn’t you come to today’s morning practice?
Kaho: Huh…!?
Kaho: I-I mean, since we put on that amazing performance and made everyone happy, I thought I could reward myself by really sleeping in for today…
Kozue: Oh, I see.
Kaho: Ehehe…
Kozue: But since we’ve put on such a fantastic performance, our next one will have to surpass it, right?
Kaho: W-wait! Just how high are we gonna be aiming here!?
Kozue: After all, wasn’t it you that told everyone that we would continue to entertain everyone who supports us, Kaho-san? I’ll just have to add what I planned for this morning to our after-school training session, then.
Kaho: Huh!? I-isn’t that just overworking me!? You said that taking breaks is very important, didn’t you, Kozue-senpai!? Didn’t you!?
Kozue: True, I would have said this was too much for you last week. However, at this point, I believe your stamina has increased enough that this amount of work should be acceptable. Oh, I suppose I should put more into tomorrow’s training regimen, then…
Kaho: I know I told you to be strict with me, but maybe this is a little much! H-Help, Tsuzuri-senpai! Sayaka-chan! Wait, why are you recording this!?
Sayaka: Hinoshita Kaho-san is continuing to do her best as a school idol today as well. Let’s all continue to support her, everyone.
Kaho: No!!! All I wanted was to have fun!!!