Look!
I want cat ears and fluffy decorations for our performance!
And I'm saying that's not rock!
Then tell me what you do with rock!
- I'm still thinking about that... - We have to power up by the ball.
- We won't make it at that rate! - I know!
Those two are at it again.
As always.
EPISODE 19
Shall we try something new too?
I think we should keep doing what we're doing and do it right.
Yeah!
Good morning!
Huh?
- Good morning. - Good morning.
Hi.
- Practicing by yourselves? - Yep. With a New Generations song.
With our song?
R-Really? Wish I could've seen that!
Since you're here, why not try singing together?
But...
You don't mind?
- Not at all! - It'll be helpful for us too.
Um... Then Rin. Okay?
Yeah.
Thank you.
Sure.
BRAND NEW EVO! REVO! GENERATION!
Huh. They sound good, don't they?
Y-Yeah...
Director, is something wrong?
No. It's nothing.
- Director Mishiro... - Pardon the interruption,
but I'd like this room for in-house auditions. Could you go to another room?
In-house auditions?
That was Shoko Hoshii-chan and Ryo Matsunaga-chan right?
What in-house auditions?
Director Mishiro's starting something new again?
- Mika-senpai... - Don't call me "senpai."
Um, M-Mika...
Is this that rumor?
Rumor?
A specific idea...
My image of rock...
I have to hurry up and think of that.
Natsuki Kimura-chan?
Yes. Apparently, they're going to make an idol rock band centered around her.
An idol rock band...
Although I heard they haven't decided on the other members yet...
I'm Natsuki Kimura. If you ever want to talk rock, hit me up.
Hi.
Um...
- Darina? - Riina Tada!
Um, is it true you're going to form a rock band?
Oh, that.
Director Mishiro suddenly called me in and told me.
I didn't really get it all, but it sounds fun.
I figured it'd be worth a shot.
Oh...
- Hey, don't you like rock too, Darina? - It's Riina!
- Whatever. Close enough. - It's totally different!
Then let's say "Dari."
In that case, I'll call you by a nickname too!
What nickname?
Na... Na... Natsu...
Natsukichi!
I like it! Okay! We'll go with Natsukichi and Dari!
So what kind of rock do you listen to, Dari?
You're always listening to it, right? On those.
Yeah. Um, recently... UK... for example.
Cool music, huh? What kind of sound do you like?
- Sound? - Hard rock?
Yeah... I guess so...
- What about metal? - Yeah, once in a while...
Once in a while, huh? What else?
P-Progressive, like that?
Huh, prog-rock? That's a wide range there.
What about Japanese? Could you recommend a band?
A-A band?
You go to clubs, right?
Clubs... Oh, clubs...
- Uh, not much lately... - I see...
I-I used to go like, on a daily basis...
It's a demo, but it's a song I just made. Give it a listen.
Thanks...
Rock is great, isn't it?
I just hope my new band members have good sounds.
Yay!
That was awesome!
Thank you for coming.
I wanted to sing more.
Hey, let's go to a concert together next time.
Sure!
Yeah! Okay.
Now stand back to back. Look this way and smile.
Right!
Riina-chan, back to back...
He just said to do it, nya. Stand back to back and smile.
S-Sorry.
So I think each and every concert is important, nya.
Let's try something new at our next concert.
I'll do a daring, sexy dance...
Riina-chan?
- What? - You weren't listening, nya?
S-Sorry! I was thinking about something. Say it again.
Something wrong, nya? You're daydreaming a lot lately.
Really?
Is something on your mind?
If so, talk to me, nya. After all, we're partners.
I want to help, nya.
Miku...
Sorry, lost a little sleep lately... I don't have anything on my mind.
- Really? - Really and truly.
We've gotta get fired up for the ball, right?
What am I doing?
- Riina-chan's behavior? - I really think she's been strange.
Always distracted and sometimes with this brooding expression...
I'm sure something's worrying her, nya! You don't have any idea what?
Not really...
Why not ask her?
I did, but she won't tell me.
She's probably stressed out from working too much.
Stress from work?
Maybe from doing too much work that's not suited to her?
I've been pushing too much of what I want to do on her!
Oh, nothing!
O-Oh...
Excuse me! We're changing the set!
T-Today's weather feels nice, nya!
Yeah, it does.
- But it looks like rain tomorrow, nya. - Really?
We'd better bring umbrellas when we go out.
These sweets look good!
It's really good, nya!
Both of them are acting kind of weird.
I heard something was kinda on her mind, but this sure isn't the usual her.
They're acting kind of awkward.
Yeah, they're not even fighting!
They seem happier when they're squabbling with each other.
Normally, we'd be hearing, "We're splitting up, nya!" right now.
True.
Maybe they really will split up.
R-Rika-chan! Don't say they're gonna split up!
Shimamu, she was kidding.
O-Of course...
Huh. Debuting with a regular fall concert?
Several units will be making their debut then. You're one of them.
As long as I can have a good time on stage...
If I can perform at a concert, I'll be happy.
With people who are like, on fire.
Okay. But there's no sense talking about it. Let's have a session.
- Good idea. - Yeah.
All right! Let's get a studio and...
That isn't necessary.
We'll prepare your music, your outfits, everything.
All you have to do is grasp the concept and perform to plan.
In other words, we don't get to choose?
We can't even decide the direction of the band?
I intend to assemble a first-rate staff to handle the music and visuals.
I guarantee you'll be successful.
Good night!
Maekawa-san.
Do you have a minute?
On your way home?
Natsukichi...
Hey, hang out with me if you've got time.
I see.
You don't know the cause of Tada-san's brooding.
Right...
Shall we set aside a time for the three of us to talk about it?
No. If it's really important, I'm sure Riina-chan will tell me.
I have faith in her.
I want you to have faith in us too, nya!
Understood.
- It's beautiful! - Right?
I sometimes come when I want to take my mind off things.
Take your mind off things? Something bad happen?
No. No big thing...
- Playing guitar, Dari? - Yeah. I play a lot lately.
- I try what's on my CDs, but it's hard. - You won't suddenly be good at it.
I'm definitely improving!
One day, I'll have a cool, rockin' show like your concert the other night.
Cool, huh?
Rock has to be cool, doesn't it?
Yeah, of course!
For some reason, talking to you puts me at ease.
You should join my band.
Impossible? You're already in a unit, right?
Asterisk, is it?
Y-Yeah...
Dari?
- Riina-chan and Natsuki-chan? - Yeah. I saw them earlier.
Da. mototsikl...
Bike? She was riding on the back...
All right!
- Let's have a wild concert today, nya! - Y-Yeah.
Tada-san...
Is something wrong?
Producer...
Um... Nothing. Never mind.
I want you to have faith in us too, nya!
How is everybody?
Let's rock this house together, nya!
Here we go! "Over"!
CONGRATULATIONS
CLOSED FOR THE DAY
I'm so sorry!
I ruined the concert, nya! I'm sorry, Riina-chan!
Oh, come on. It's okay. It wasn't a big deal.
It's not. I wanted to have a good concert, but thanks to my mistake...
It's fine. They enjoyed it. You're overreacting...
No, I'm not!
Miku-chan...
I understand...
You're serious about rock.
You want to perform more real rock.
Then instead of me...
But... because of that, because of that, I have to work even harder!
So you're not uncertain...
So you're glad to be in this unit. I have to do my best to make it awesome!
You idiot!
Don't assume you know how I feel!
I chose to form a unit with you, Miku-chan.
But Asterisk isn't just rock...
The truth is you'd rather be in N-Natsuki-chan's new unit!
What do I always say? If you think it's rock, then it is!
Asterisk is rock to me!
We're a unit, so we both have to do our best.
The fact you're worried about it shows my failure as a partner.
Sorry.
Tada-san...
Producer...
Kimura-san wanted me to give this to you two.
Natsukichi? She came...
And she had a message.
Hi. You came.
Yeah...
I often performed here with bandmates before making my debut.
I wanted to play so badly when I got up here that I could've played for hours.
Not that we were any good, but it was fun.
I wanted to sing with you on this stage, Dari.
Listen, Natsukichi. In the end, I...
If you think it's rock, then it is.
Right?
You heard that?
Your feelings resonated with me.
Thanks to that, I think I can get over it.
So this is our breakup performance. Dari and Natsukichi. One and done.
There they are!
They're really gonna perform!
Everyone?
Hey, everybody! Thank you for coming!
Let's blow the roof off!
We're a one-night-only limited unit, Sudden Rock! Thank you!
S-Sudden?
Riina-chan!
Go for it, nya!
- Pulling out of the band? - Yeah.
What caused this?
Singing at someone else's command isn't rock to me.
I can't understand how you could throw away this chance.
I'm sure you know, but don't count on another one.
You grab chances yourself, don't you?
Besides, I was invited to join what kind of sounds like an interesting project.
ROCK & CAT + BUNNYEARS
EPISODE 20