Hello, everyone! We are...
...Diamond Dust.
Our very first single will be released...
DIAMOND DUST
Time's being wasted. It's not free here.
We need a female bassist.
We still have to find her.
But I think we're doing pretty well, with three.
Well, what?
Who was that, the girl who was talking?
I don't know. Their new singer, I guess.
Her face tells me nothing.
You're curious?
Too much.
No, it's nothing.
RAISE YOUR VOICE
Hi.
If it isn't Momo! It's been years!
Come on, it's only been two years.
Anyway, the neighborhood hasn't changed.
Oh, please, it's getting worse and worse. We're almost going out of business.
It all depends on you, Momo.
Is this Momoka?
No way, too cute!
Leave me alone.
No, it must be just a feeling.
Nina.
Um, yes?
We can take a look, if you like.
Thank you for letting us in.
It's still much smaller than the stage where we played.
Yeah, it's narrow.
It's the norm, in most venues.
But this place has been around for long,
with many people used to listening to it.
And they won't give us any gifts.
The boss would like us to go on a live show.
Are you in?
Live...
If you don't feel like it, you don't have to force yourself.
- We'll rehearse as much as we need to... - I'll do it.
I didn't tell you.
We're not afraid of anything anymore. It wasn't the same before.
Well, we're talking about a 20-minute set.
So it won't be so much of a burden.
Why don't we try it?
And here are your tickets.
Also, no more rumors about the former Diamond Dust.
They are my teammates now.
Here.
No turning back.
What?
THE NEXT DAY
I didn't think we had to deal with sales ourselves.
Did you sell any?
Of course not!
I only have two left.
No way!
Try your luck at your school.
It won't reach your family's ears.
What's wrong?
Well, I'm doing a live show...
Would you like to come?
You have a band?
Yeah, sure.
I am more into heavy metal.
Exactly, it will broaden your horizons.
And you gave... it for free?
We have to build a loyal audience.
Acquiring customers matters more than making a profit.
The important thing is to attract a large crowd, right?
You're dreaming.
You know, people don't like to waste their money,
but if it's free they wouldn't care.
After all, we will have to pay for all the lost revenue.
- Don't tell me you didn't know. - Explain more?
We pay for these tickets at
the venue out of our own pockets.
Medium size, thank you for waiting.
It's a system that tends to disappear,
but the live house takes money from the band that will be on the show.
It's called a participation fee or a ticket fee.
So even if no one shows up, the live house will still make money.
But that's not fair!
The world is unfair!
Grains of rice.
Hmm?
Hey.
Excuse me for bothering you.
What is it?
I had no idea... Momoka could've told us she was paying for it.
We're still kids, put yourself in her shoes.
Why?
Well, we're younger than her and don't have a real job.
Oh, you're with Momo-chan.
Good evening!
What's that?
Where did it go?
I hope he doesn't give us more tickets.
Surely not.
Found it!
Here it is for you.
What is it?
Diamond Dust, who made a major debut,
stopped by to thank me for taking care of them in the past.
They said, if I don't mind...
And you're giving them to us?
Let's say I'm not following them as much anymore.
Since they broke through, if you want.
Why did Momoka drop Diamond Dust?
You haven't heard of it?
No.
Well, I don't have the details,
but rumor has it that they were asked
to play more popular music.
And Momo was the only one to oppose it.
If you don't mind, could you give it to Momo?
Do you think we should do it?
I can see the trouble coming from here.
But me, personally... I'm curious.
Then, let's go together.
You're not the only one who's intrigued.
Subaru...
LATER
Is it really you who gave me those tickets?
Exactly.
Do you have more in stock? I have three friends who would like to come.
That'll be 7,500 yens in total.
What, it's... not free?
No one is forcing your hand.
You should take it easy.
Should I have said something else?
Something like: "We had free tickets to give away,
"but this week, we really need money.
"However, because of what happened the other day...
"I'll do them for 2,500 yens instead of 3,000."
- Dirty liar. - Or hard worker.
Numbers 500 to 550, enter.
What's wrong?
They did a full house.
Motionless at an intersection that doesn't appear on any map
On what can I rely to manage to guide myself?
It's your fault.
Impossible.
No...
Everything is so white, everything is so slow
All the answers are empty of substance
You have no right to sing it.
What's gotten into you?
Calm down! The concert has barely started for 5 minutes.
- Subaru. - Yes?
I'm about to unleash the worst atrocities possible.
Wait a bit.
I need to let off steam, it has to come out.
...die, scum!
I think I understood at the end.
No! What is it? What is it? What is it?
- I don't understand anything. - Me neither.
And it had to be Diamond Dust.
The thing I care about as much as my own life. My treasure.
So what is it?
Their new singer, there.
I know this girl.
We were friends, and one day, we fell out.
I can't stand her anymore.
Girls Band Cry.
Hi, everyone! We are...
...Diamond Dust!
- Don't go breaking it. - I don't want to do that to myself.
Madame went to their concert, got all
worked up by herself, and now she's whining.
You know what you are?
A pain in the butt.
You can't know what it feels like.
And frankly, all the better for it.
What a coincidence! Or rather, a nightmare!
Why is she singing in... this band?
Besides, she's got nothing between her ears!
She went to a bunch of auditions and stood out from other candidates.
- No way! - That's enough.
That's your problem, not ours.
Maybe, but I've listened to and re-listened to
Diamond Dust more than anyone else in this audience!
That's what makes you annoying.
That band isn't just yours, you know.
Then, you are okay with it?
Absolutely.
The band is doing even better without me.
Is that all that matters to you?
Gotta live, you know.
Answer me!
Always poking your nose in other people's business.
I'm telling you, talking here is a waste of money.
Subaru.
It's useless.
We can't practice under these conditions.
Better to settle this once and for all.
IZAKAYA
- And so? - One minute.
You don't have to do anything unnecessary.
I mean, why are you at the bar in that school uniform?
Well, it's not like I'm trying to drink alcohol.
Here, why don't you ever let go of your uniform?
It saves me from choosing clothes.
And they let a lot of things slide for high school girls.
Liar.
Anyway, I'm not the subject. Go ahead.
Why do you defend them?
Now you're getting ideas.
Or not. Your attitude says otherwise.
The current Diamond Dust has nothing to do with the one you created.
And so?
And so, it's strange that you defend them.
It's not.
I left the group. It's their choice.
I'm not in a position to complain.
That's not the point.
I'm talking about whether you like it or not.
I don't give a damn.
I don't like it or hate it.
But that was your band.
The one you put your soul into.
You don't know anything about it at all.
You're right, I must have gotten confused.
Anyway, Diamond Dust, that band, it didn't
represent much in your eyes.
You exhaust me.
It's the singer who bothers you, isn't it?
Not at all!
I wanted your opinion on this new Diamond Dust!
Sorry, never mind.
Lower your tone.
Listen,
everyone grows and changes, and bands are no exception.
It's an inevitable process.
Then why did you quit?
You quit because you couldn't accept that change, right?
Because it would never be the Diamond Dust you knew, right?
Because you thought you were right, right?
Because you didn't like what they're doing with the band, right?
Why are you silent?
This song meant nothing, then?
That's what you wanted to do, right?
Come on, say they've changed!
That they no longer embody Diamond Dust!
That they are...
Shut up.
No.
I loved Momoka's Diamond Dust more than anything.
Everything is so white, everything is so slow
All the answers are empty of...
I loved your Diamond Dust more than anything.
This song completely turned my life upside down.
You can't abandon it like that!
It's important to you, but you're there, giving them reason...
You can't lie to yourself!
You know what Diamond Dust was aiming for back then?
What was it?
To make a career together until we're all wrinkled.
To never let go of the group.
In short, it wasn't a matter of music or sensitivity.
That's why I'm the only one to blame.
"Grin and bear it.
"A day will come when we can finally do what we love."
They did everything to dissuade me from leaving.
But it didn't work. I abandoned them.
And here it is. An Oolong tea.
Thank you very much.
Nina.
Everyone, I apologize for the commotion!
Despite everything...
I still remain a fan of you.
Because I love your music.
Diamond Dust is the group that helped me keep going.
And you were its heart.
Poor fool.
You're crying on yourself.
I'm a fool.
If I wasn't, I wouldn't be doing this at a place like this.
Let's drink up!
Subaru, seriously...
What? Wait...
Sorry, the face you were making didn't come back to me.
Hey, Momoka, didn't you have a strong taste in sake?
Well, she had a little too much today.
She reeks of alcohol.
Wait, you're dragging her!
- Take her legs. - OK!
Like this?
It's a bit strange...
Momoka? We're going to put you down, two minutes.
(Sorry.)
Excuse me.
It touched her, deep down.
No.
This isn't right.
It's up to you to choose our stage outfits, Nina.
You can't just go easy when seeing one of your
enemies become the singer of your favorite group.
You have to make something of it.
What do you mean?
You can let free rein to your anger, joy, and sadness,
and that's the good thing about the band.
What?
The poster for the next live.
"With Momoka, an ex from Diamond Dust"!?
They have some nerve!
But it's also an opportunity to bring back
all those who went to see Diamond Dust live.
Try to think about the effect you want to produce.
Not a bad idea.
Our outfits, huh...
That said, we don't really have money to spend.
It's been three years already.
Yeah, we were saying that we had to
make an impact at the next competition.
Ah, Momo!
Hi.
Sorry about that!
I told them not, but the staff wrote that without permission.
A blessing in disguise, because we had a full house.
What, huh?
What about our outfits then?
I thought it would do the job.
Here.
Did you choose them?
If you don't like them, say so.
Even though you don't have much choice.
We're going to get naked.
I see.
I like that.
Is that you, Momoka?
Yeah.
Sorry, but girl's music is not my thing.
I have a stage to set on fire.
We're not a girl band, okay?
Don't worry, we know how to set the mood.
If you say so.
Well said.
Momo!
Momoka!
Momoka! We love you!
You want to start like that?
We could try to make an impression, right?
We struggle, we exhaust ourselves...
we hurt ourselves, but also others.
Not wrong.
You know, that song... it pierced my heart.
It changed me forever.
Even if I die, I won't lose.
And it is up to us to become the force!
Shout what you feel.
Do not limit yourself to what is in your heart.
Release your frustrations, your shames, your anger and your sadness,
that past that you hate,
and all these regrets that haunt you again and again...
Get rid of them!
Let's go!
LIAR
COWARD
I'm giving it my all!
DROPOUT
What we found at this bustling crossroads
Hollow words that end up being crushed
A shooting star could take everything away
And yet, nothing seems to change
We lie to ourselves to not dirty our hands
Our dreams falling to shreds in the distance
We pretend to hear nothing
Watch the storm pass
The city is caught in a whirlpool of truth
Where should we let ourselves be carried?
If we can smile at the arrival
Let our hands be tied
That's reality.
But we will only understand it once our dreams are abandoned.
Our wishes are never heard
In a distorted world
What can we do?
What can we perfect?
Will you finally be discovered?
Before everything collapses
Let's shape in the shadows
The vision that drives us
Next: "The Anthem of the Outcasts".