Xue
Do you need something?

Xue
yawn

Hikari
Oh, Xue...were you working until this late?

Xue
It dragged on, it was awful...

Xue
So, what did you want to say? Does it have to be now?

Hikari
Um...

Hikari
...No, it's nothing. Nothing at all.

Hikari
You're working hard, Xue, so rest well.

Hikari
I'll talk to you tomorrow...

Xue
You came all the way to my room and it's not even important...

Xue
yaaawn

Xue
I'll eat some cup noodles and sleep. You hurry up and sleep too...

Hikari
(I couldn't convey it again. I'm scared to dig into what she really thinks...)

Hikari
...Ugh. At times like this, I move my body to cool my head! Focus on running! Full speed dash!

Hikari
Phew. The wind feels nice and cool...time for a break.

Passerby
Ah, I know that song! It's the one that plays a lot in food videos! When it comes on you can't swipe away, right? I know!

Passerby
Oh, this one stops my finger too. The one the Gingaza girl collabed on. She can dance that well and she's an actor for real!? Collaborating with Libea is crazy, right?

Hikari
...They're talking about me.

Hikari
I'm happy, but a little embarrassed. Heh heh...

Hikari
I'm glad I was in it.

Hikari
I hope Xue thinks so too...

Hikari
(When it was released, Ramo-san said they all watched it together. I wonder if Xue only watched it that one time.)

Hikari
(Maybe she didn't like the song...no, I don't think so. Xue said she liked Libea's songs too. And-)

Xue
Also, you said to me "you don't understand because you don't like it". But I listened to the CD I borrowed, and I thought it was good.

Xue
I danced with everything I had at the cultural festival too. I came to like the things you like just as much.

Hikari
(-The battle itself was a lie, but I think her feelings of liking it weren't lies. Xue is always earnest and serious...she really came to like it.)

Hikari
Both Xue and I like the freedom of hip-hop. But what is freedom?

Hikari
(In hip-hop, the artist's lived experience is sung. Rebellion, rising up, sometimes social satire too...)

Hikari
(Even though each artist's lyrics are different, what's being sung is all the same.)

Hikari
(The strength to not bend yourself, no matter what anyone says.)

Hikari
(Like Libea. Like other artists. And like everyone at Gingaza...)

Xue
Listen up. Rebelling means having your own will. Have your axis here.

Hikari
...Yeah. If I admire them, I need to become strong too. Even if people say it's unexpected or doesn't fit my image, I don't care.

Hikari
Have an axis in my heart, have the courage to step outside the frame. Do what I like, the way I like it.

Hikari
That's my own freedom...

Hikari
...It's scary, but I have to talk to Xue.

Hikari
I want to be honest with myself. That's my hip-hop.

Hikari
I'm back.

Xue
.........

Hikari
Good, she hasn't gone back to her room yet.

Hikari
Xue~.

Xue
...............

Hikari
Ah, she's fallen asleep...geez, leaving the cup noodle container out isn't good. Xue?

Xue
...Clean it up properly, Onii-san. mumble

Hikari
Xue works hard at her part time job on school days and rehearsal days too. That might be Xue's free way of living.

Hikari
If she sleeps here she'll catch a cold, so I'll carry her to her room.

Hikari
Xue, I'm going to lift you up, okay? Heave-ho—ah!?

Hikari
I dropped her phone...!

Hikari
Sorry, I didn't see you were wearing earphones! It's not broken, right!?

Hikari
(Huh? The MV I was in...loop playback is on. Does that mean she was watching it the whole time while eating...?)

Hikari
Xue, you liked it...

Xue
Guaaah...I fell asleep right after eating...

Xue
Oh, you're back...what are you looking at?

Hikari
Xue, sorry. I dropped your phone. But it's not broken and the screen doesn't seem cracked.

Xue
My phone...? Oh...

Xue
...So what? Is it bad if I have it on heavy rotation? Listening to songs by an artist I like should be free.

Hikari
No, I get it. It's a good song.

Hikari
...Can I borrow one earbud?

Xue
Hey, it's cramped...! You don't have to watch it on my phone. Use your own!

Hikari
It's an MV we made thanks to you, so I want to watch it together.

Hikari
Even if you resist, I'll force you into a bear hug and watch it!

Xue
You're so pushy...I knew going along with Germany's crazy idea would cost me...

Hikari
Hey, Xue. ...Do you remember the diss?

Xue
I remember, but it's already settled.

Xue
Not complaining about it later is an iron rule of deals.

Hikari
Thank goodness...

Xue
What are you worried about, you're so weird...

Xue
Look, the MV is at the good part. Watch that instead of my face.

Hikari
(When we filmed the MV, I still didn't have confidence, but watching it now...yeah. It looks cool, just a little bit.)

Edit

Pub: 10 Dec 2025 21:15 UTC

Edit: 11 Dec 2025 19:02 UTC

Views: 11