THE_END_IS_ALSO_THE BEGINNING
(Vol. 1 Track 6)

[sfx: cicadas buzzing]

Mitsuru: Oh, there they are.

Hibari: Hey! Over here!

[sfx: Tsugumi running up]

Tsugumi: Hey! Sorry to keep you waiting!

Toki: Apologies, Shibasaki-san, Hayama-san.

Mitsuru: All good. We weren’t waiting long.

Hibari: True, although just from standing here I'm already drenched in sweat. Talking out here in the heat seems like a bad idea, it might be nice to find somewhere cooler so we can talk more comfortably.

Mitsuru: If you're looking for a break from the heat, the best bet would be… the family restaurant? 

Tsugumi: Nice! Let’s hit the drink bar, yeah?

Hibari: Sounds great! Actually, before that, I have a favour to ask of you two.

Tsugumi: A favour?

Toki: What is it?

Hibari: Please, just call me Hibari! Toki-kun, Tsugu-chan.

Mitsuru: Ah, same here. I’d like that too. Just Mitsuru is fine.

Toki: But… You’re our seniors. 

Tsugumi: We have an agreement!

Toki: Tsugu, you can’t just…! 

Tsugumi: If they're the ones asking us to do it then there’s no problem!

Mitsuru: Mm. Hibari and I don’t really care about that kind of thing.

Hibari: There’s only a year between us, anyways, it’s only a small gap, really! 

Toki: Uh… Very well, then.

Hibari: You’re so serious, Toki-kun!

Toki: So… How’s he doing? Your vocalist, I mean.

Hibari: If you’re asking if he’s still unwell, he’s already back to full health. He was probably just sleep deprived, and feeling the nerves about performing. It was really hot out then, wasn’t it?

Toki: Yeah, I guess… 

Hibari: And if you’re asking if we're still on good terms... Well, I’m sure you can imagine. Heh, they’re both so hostile towards us now, I'm fairly confident we won't be seeing them again.

Tsugumi: Eh? Why’s that?

Toki: (low voice) It’s our fault, obviously.

Hibari: I mean, if you learned that while you were getting carried away on a stretcher, your bandmates replaced you with some other vocalist and guitarist, then put on the best show of the festival… Well, you’d feel the same, right?

Toki: We’re… Really sorry about that. 

Mitsuru: You have nothing to apologise for.

Tsugumi: Yeah! We were awesome. No wonder the crowd loved us! 

Toki: Don't go boasting like that! 

Hibari: I feel the same as you, Tsugu-chan!

Mitsuru: Me too.

Tsugumi: You guys get it!

Toki: (sigh) Am I really the only one worrying about all this?

Mitsuru: There's really no need to stress over it. They told us they weren’t serious about the band before we even went up on stage.

Hibari: They didn’t want to perform, and you guys joined us after they’d already chosen to leave.

Mitsuru: Being able to play for real, without a care in the world, was a lot of fun. And that’s all thanks to you.

Toki: All the old farts on the committee, though… They were really mad. 

Tsugumi: No matter how you look at it, we were totally the best band there. If they’d let us join the competition properly, we definitely would'a won!

Hibari: Enough about us, what about you two? Were your bandmates really fine with you teaming up with another band? 

Tsugumi: Oh, they were absolutely not fine with it. Pretty sure they hate us.

Mitsuru: Eh? That so…?

Hibari: Ah, that’s to be expected, I suppose.

Tsugumi: Well, they started telling us it was our fault they missed out on their big win or whatever, they were really upset. All I said was that they didn’t have what it takes.

Mitsuru: Uhm, but… Weren't you guys in the running for the final?

Tsugumi: (sigh) Me and Toki are the only real geniuses, though. 

Hibari: I didn’t tell you before, but I was impressed! I remember thinking that whenever those two lost the rhythm, you did a good job of covering it up! Though, to be fair, now you don’t even have enough members be a real band... Two bad players is probably better than none at all!

Toki: That’s… A hell of a way to put it.

Hibari: You really think there’d be any point in me sugar-coating it at this point? 

Toki: You’re probably right. It’s not like I didn’t expect it to turn out like this. Not only the technical things but… everything else as well. We didn’t work well together at all.

Tsugumi: And then, it’s so weird they started going on about winning! They always told us they were just in the band for fun, that they weren’t planning to get serious with it. Where did that come from? 

Mitsuru: That’s pretty identical to what happened to us.

Hibari: Exactly the same! And on top of that, being able to fill in for each others’ less-than-stellar members so perfectly, it almost seems too good to be true!

Mitsuru: It felt amazing, didn't it? That performance. As soon as the intro started it felt like an entirely different song.

Toki: I messed around with the original melody a bunch, didn’t I? I feel kinda bad for whoever made it.

Tsugumi: It was pretty amazing, seeing you take a hammer to the original!

Toki: Hold it, if anything it was you who changed it the most!

Mitsuru: I also feel like I got pretty reckless. I improvised some bits – I don’t think I’ll ever be able to recreate them.

Hibari: Of course I have to keep my sanity intact for the sake of the music, but when you’re all flying off on your own, it’s like a losing battle!

Tsugumi: But you were the one going crazy with the beat! 

Toki: Quit acting like you were the one taking it seriously… 

Mitsuru: You looked like you were having a lot of fun playing, Hibari. It’s the first time I’ve seen you look so happy. 

Hibari: I’ll admit, I was having a blast. But then, if that’s the case, aren’t we all at fault? 

Toki: Ah… All of us, huh?

Mitsuru: Like we’re all in the same boat?

Tsugumi: Who even cares about that! What really matters is that the four make a real good team! And on that note, let’s start a band! 

Tobikura: That was five years ago. This was how Impish Crow took their very first steps. And on that day, when I heard their performance at the festival, I decided to take my own steps forward too, down a new path… But that’s a story for another day, so I’d best just leave it there. Now, sorry for the wait! From this point forward, a new Inkuro and new music awaits!

[sfx: phone line trilling]

Tobikura: Hello, Iwahara-san? Ah, I’m sorry for calling so suddenly. Is now a good time? Yes, the live is starting soon. It’s all thanks to you that I was finally able to get to this point. Also, for organising everything on the day of the Rubire concert… Truly, thank you so much. It’s because of that performance that this day has come. And… Apologies, but someday Inkuro will surpass Rubire! You may be my senpai, but when it comes to this, I’ll never back down!

[sfx: door opening]

Tsugumi: Exactly, so isn’t it fine already?

Toki: It is absolutely not fine!

Tobikura: Ah, (laughs) well then, I’ll see you at the office. Please excuse me!

[sfx: Tobikura hanging up]

Tsugumi: You’re in such a bad mood, aren’t you? Oh, Tobi-chan!

Tobikura: Good work, you two! Tsugumi-kun, Toki-kun.

Toki: Tobikura-san…!

[sfx: footsteps]

Hibari: Oh? Tobi-chan! Mitsuru! Time to get up, we’re on! Tobi-chan’s here too!

Mitsuru: Uuu… Oh, you’re right! He came! 

Tobikura: I am Inkuro’s Number One Fan, after all! There’s no way I could miss today’s…! Ah… I mean, your last indie performance! More importantly, what’s wrong, Toki-kun? You were shouting about something earlier.

Toki: Uhm, that’s just – I was…

Tsugumi: You gotta hear this, Tobi-chan! He’s feeling all embarrassed about the song and is throwing a tantrum saying he doesn’t want to perform it! 

Toki: Because I never thought that anyone else would hear it!

Tobikura: But it’s such a wonderful song! I like it a lot! It also feels like a very fitting song for a day like today.

Tsugumi: Right?! I told him, we have no choice but to play that song!

Mitsuru: Yeah. I think it’s nice too. 

Hibari: It’s a unanimous agreement, then. So make up your mind, Toki-kun! 

Toki: The song is one thing… But it’s the lyrics…

Tsugumi: (silly voice) If you wanna stop me from singin’ em I dare you to try!

Toki: Goddamnit…! I never should have given you back that score sheet…!

Tobikura: (laughing) There’s nothing to worry about, Toki-kun! Inkuro’s music is the best! I’m sure of it.

Staff: Oi, Inkuro! Time to get up there!

Tsugumi: Alright, let’s do this!

[sfx: crowd cheering, screaming, shouting member’s names, Tsugumi speaking over mic]

Tsugumi: Yeah, thanks, you guys! Though, we have an announcement to make, before we get started with the show.

Fan: What is it?! Tell us!

Tsugumi: We’re… going pro!

[sfx: audience chatting excitedly, cheering]

Tsugumi: Now that we’ve found an opponent really worth fighting against, we’ve decided to go pro! And on that note, a few words, first, from Toki! 

Toki: This is pretty sudden, so I’m sure some of you are surprised. But we want to perform as Inkuro, only even bigger, so we can spread our wings and fly free. That’s what I want. Thank you, for your continued support! 

[sfx: cheering]

Tsugumi: Next up, Mitsuru!

Mitsuru: My intuition is never wrong. That’s the reason I’m here today. So, I’m going to trust in my instincts again today. I’m really excited right now! Everyone, let’s all feel that excitement together!

[sfx: cheering]

Tsugumi: Hibari!

Hibari: Thank you for always cheering us on! And thank you for supporting us for this new chapter too. Keep your eyes wide open, listen carefully, and follow us. We’ll show you just how terrifying crows can be.

[sfx: cheering]

Toki: Finally, our vocalist Tsugumi! 

Tsugumi: You all better prepare yourself! We’ll take you somewhere you’ve never seen! Alright then, let’s get started already! You guys, are you all ready to fly with us?!

[sfx: cheering]

Tsugumi: This first song’s the first one we all performed together, five years ago. Really, it’s a brand-new version, ripped apart and written anew! On top of that, this’ll be our debut song! … Now, here we go! Impish Crow, RISE!