Link! Like!: Episode 8 ~ Part 6
Kozue has set conditions for performing as a full group of four at the Nadeshiko Festival: to add a song showing their bonds to the setlist. To ensure a successful performance, the group begins training, but…
Tsuzuri!
…Kozu.
…There's… something I have to tell you…
…What? It's not like I don't have anything to say to you, but… I haven't changed my mind from earlier.
No matter–
I know. You were completely right.
…
Then… What are you going to do? Are you going… to that other school?
…
…I was mistaken.
…
What was most important to me was becoming a praiseworthy school idol, winning Love Live!, and protecting the legacy of the Hasunosora School Idol Club.
That's why I intended to reject the scouting offer… and why I decided to change our choreography.
You said that earlier.
I know. That's why I said I was mistaken.
I was wrong. I know that now.
Kozu. What are you trying to say?
Tsuzuri, I…
…I didn't want to be separated from you.
…Huh?
I've had such an enjoyable experience in this club. We had seniors I looked up to and delightful friends to be with.
Even if we came to lose some of those…
…Of all that I aspired to be when we first met, you're all that's left.
Huh…?
I'm no longer pretending to be strong. I never even realized how I truly felt.
Kozu… But… you're…
This has nothing to do with being scouted. Please forget those excuses I gave earlier…
And listen to how I truly feel.
I just… don't want to leave you all. And back then… I didn't want you to leave me.
That's why I don't want to go anywhere.
…My dream is no longer just my own. It's a dream we want to fulfill together.
So… I want to make that dream come true, right here!
Is that… how you really…?
I'm sorry I haven't said any of this before now. I'm so sorry…
…The words I wanted to say, and the words I should have said all along… Until just now, I never realized what they were.
So… what do you say?
I'm sure that I'm no longer lying to myself… Or at least, I think so.
…Yeah. I finally hear your true feelings.
…I'm happy that you do.
Sorry, Kozu…
You have nothing to apologize for.
No… All I knew was that you were hiding something from me at the qualifiers.
I should have asked. Maybe if I had…
…Maybe.
…I should have told you. Even though my reason was selfish.
Kozue-senpaaaai!
Tsuzuri-senpai!
Oh, my… if it isn't the knot that ties us together.
Ties us…?
I'd rather you didn't cut it off there…
We're over here, you two!
Apologies for the wait. But thanks to you two, everything's okay now!
Wait… you still can't trust my "okay"s, huh… I… how do I say this…?
Ahaha, don't worry, we get it, Kozue-senpai! You're saying that things are all okay between you two now, right?
I'm really happy to see it. I… couldn't find Tsuzuri-senpai, so I was getting really worried.
Sorry. But I feel better now.
Okay.
I'm sorry for worrying you two. I'm very grateful for your help.
Ehehe…
…Of course.
But now I'm sure we can have the best performance ever.
I agree. I feel I can perform that song perfectly now. After all… our feelings are now all as one.
Alright! Looks like everything's coming together perfectly! Kozue-senpai, lead us back into it!
Me? …I think it would be quite awkward if I led you all at this moment…
Just do things as you normally would.
Yeah. I believe in you.
Alright, fine. Then… starting tomorrow, let's do our best to practice for the Nadeshiko Festival!
That way, we can show everyone watching the festival a performance worthy of the School Idol Club– no…
Because I want to have the best performance, together with all of you!