Asuka, shouldn't you be studying?
Gravity is weighing me down.
What does that mean?
If you're that bored, fold the laundry for me.
Is it in the dryer?
Yeah, nothing would dry at all outside.
It is the rainy season after all.
You didn't put my swimsuit in the dryer, did you?
Don't worry, I didn't.
Kasumi! Make a little noise when you walk!
Welcome home. How was your audition?
A shooting star arcs across the sky I wish upon
It carries happiness and miracles
And signals a new beginning
I changed into my uniform and dashed out of my room
The star I saw last night, twinkle!, tickles my eyelids
(My song!) I hum to myself with a little wink
(Standby!) Is it almost time yet?
(Yes!) Youth and music!
(Believe) A story of friendship!
(Dreams) Innocence and passion!
(Come) Everyone
(True!) Let's get together! Amazing experience!
It starts now!
Let it out! Let it echo! Race toward the future
The place where a promise awaits (It's almost here!)
Grant it! Let it come! The moment you've believed in
Carries happiness and miracles
A thrilling experience!
Onward to tomorrow's stage!
Good morning.
Oh, you're still here, Kasumi?
I Couldn't Sing Anymore
Aren't you going to stop by Ichigaya-senpai's place?
Doctor's office.
What?
She doesn't have a fever, so I'm sure she's fine.
But just in case.
Oh...
Oh, thanks.
You can't talk at all right now?
Just a little.
Kasumi...
It's nothing. See you later.
Chuo Hospital
Kasumi-chan...
She went to the hospital, she'll be fine.
The otolaryngologists'?
I didn't ask specifically.
Do you think she pushed herself too hard?
Maybe.
Kasumi-chan!
You idiot! Don't practice so hard you make yourself sick!
What's the point of it all if you lose your voice?!
Arisa.
I'm sorry.
How'd it go?
They said...
They said there's nothing wrong with me physically.
And that my voice will come back once I let it rest for a while.
Really? Thank goodness.
Take it easy.
Sorry about the audition.
We still have one more chance, right?
We'll keep on doing our best.
Just not to the point of exhaustion.
That part's key.
Can you all make it to practice today?
Huh? There's no way you're going to practice today.
What?
You were just told to rest, weren't you?
But I can still play my guitar, and this is our last chance-
Kasumi-chan.
We'll practice.
You should wait until you get your voice back, Kasumi.
You're restricted from practicing for now!
Agreed.
Oh, you're back.
Let me help you with that.
What is it?
Kasumi! Kasumi just kissed me!
It's dinner time, you two.
Kendo Club Dance Club National National Championships Tournament
Next let's have... Toyama-san.
Kasumi lost her voice.
Really? Are you all right?
Well then... Toyosaki-san.
Seriously?
Okay...
Ririko-san asked me if we were going to the next audition.
When is it?
Next Saturday.
So soon...
That all depends on Kasumi, doesn't it?
...That wasn't how I meant to say that.
If...
Hm?
If I'm not better... You should go without me.
Don't be stupid.
PoPiPa isn't PoPiPa without all five members.
Without you, Kasumi, we wouldn't be Poppin' Party...
We'd be Droppin' Party.
That was terrible.
Kasumi, are you still hungry?
Chocolate chips?
Raisins?
They're black beans.
Oh!
Supposedly they're good for your throat!
They're from Jun and Sana to help you get better.
See you later, Kasumi!
How's my time-
Kasumi! What are you doing here?
Huh?
Kasumi-chan?
Senpai.
What happened to band practice?
They told me to go home and rest.
Then hurry up and go home.
I'm bored.
Jeez...
Being on bed rest is no fun, is it.
It's all right if you watch us.
Aa-chan's been doing swim since elementary school. It's a shame she's quitting.
It's tough to balance your time while studying for entrance exams.
Even for you, Yuri?
I do what I have to do, and I do the things I want to do, too.
Wow...
You didn't freeze from fear, did you.
What?
Your audition the other day.
That can happen if you get too nervous...
But if that wasn't it, it could be stress.
Stress...?
Maybe you're right.
The owner told me I was the weakest member of the band...
I just started playing recently, so I knew that what she said was true. But...
I didn't get it.
Once I knew we only had two more chances to audition,
suddenly my heart started pounding.
Not the usual excited pounding...
The nervous, panicky kind.
Even though I was standing up on stage at Space, I couldn't see the sparkles at all...
That's something you'll have to overcome by yourself.
I wonder if that girl is okay...
Kasumi! You're soaking wet!
What were you doing out there?
You'll catch a cold out here.
It feels kinda weird, you being so quiet.
What were you and Yuri talking about earlier?
Hm?
She was telling me that stress might be the reason I lost my voice.
You? Stressed out?!
I don't know what to do.
If I had to put a word on it, I'd say you're in a slump.
A slump?
When you're in a slump, it's hard to figure out how to snap out of it, right?
It's happened to you too?
It happens a lot when I can't get my lap times down.
How do you overcome it?
Mm...
I forget.
Wha-?!
That's your fault for raising your voice all of a sudden.
You'll get past it when the time is right. It'll be okay.
Will I be okay...?
Something really isn't right with you, Sis.
Normally you'd say, "I'm totally fine!"
I would?
Yeah!
I hope your voice gets better soon.
Aa-chan! Aa-chan!
Morning!
Really?
You're all better?
Sorry I made you all worry!
Yeah, seriously!
Glad you're okay.
Are we starting practice back up again today?
We can still make it in time for the audition.
Is PoPiPa going to perform somewhere?
We're auditioning at Space.
Space?
An audition?
Will you be on TV?!
No, no.
It's to decide whether or not we'll be allowed to perform at the venue.
Really? How awesome!
When are you playing, Kasumi?
Oh... Uh...
We're not sure yet.
I see.
Good luck, you guys!
Ugh, I can't stand the rain.
I wish I had another umbrella for my guitar.
Who would hold it up?
What about a raincoat?
Oh my gosh, that would be so cute!
Would it be, though?
Don't you want to see what it'd look like?
Kasumi?
Should we go ahead and skip for today?
What?
You look a little pale.
I do?
I'm totally fine!
While you were gone, Arisa surprised us and really took the lead.
I had no choice!
Tae's too spaced out and Rimi gets too nervous.
You don't say anything at all.
That's because I'm the type who would rather follow than lead.
Me too.
Liar!
We all practiced a ton!
Ugh, let's get started already.
Should we try starting from the beginning for now?
...Kasumi?
Are you really feeling okay?
Yep! I'm ready to go.
Here we go then!
One, two, three, four!
No ma...tter...
I'm sorry.
I wasn't ready yet.
Kasumi.
You guys go on and practice.
If I can't do something after 100 tries, I'll go for number 101.
If I still can't do it, then 1,000!
I want to keep practicing until I can really enjoy playing on stage.
Now I really want to make it happen.
Well, I guess I can just say I got tricked into doing it.
Kasumi!
You are so not okay yet!
I was fine when I was at home.
I could sing just fine...
Maybe it's just no use...
I'm the weakest member, I can't sing...
I need so much more practice, but...
Kasumi-chan.
This is our last chance.
There won't be any more.
If we don't pass this time, we'll never be able to stand on that stage...
But...
What should we do? At this rate we're going to...!
Don't cry...
For your information,
we've all known from the beginning that you were the weakest musician.
But we never let that stop us from moving forward, did we?
Why are you letting it bother you so much now?
Did somebody say something to you?
The owner...
That old bat?
I was the one who asked her, though.
She said I couldn't see the difference between us and the others.
That may be true.
If one person makes a decision without
listening to additional opinions, then we all rush headlong into it...
the ones who get caught up in the mix are the ones who end up hurt.
But it wasn't all bad.
You were pretty annoying, but...
You dragging me into this made me want to work hard at something again.
When you first said we were going to audition at Space, Kasumi, it really shocked me.
After all, you'd only just learned how to play a single-tone "Twinkle, Twinkle."
But then you told me, "I don't know what I'm doing, but I'll do my best!"
You had no idea?
You dazzled me.
I admired the way you spoke with absolute certainty.
I didn't think I was ready to get up on stage before...
But you made me want to go for it along with you.
You really dazzled me too.
That day you walked out on stage with nothing but yourself.
You were amazing...
That's why I was able to step forward.
I wanted to sparkle and shine just like you, Kasumi-chan.
When you've got your eye on something, you really do shine.
I don't know if that's the sparkle you've been searching for...
But I really envied you.
I was stuck at a standstill for so long.
But then you pulled me up out of it!
When you asked me, Arisa, Rimi-rin, and O-Tae to form a band.
That's...
because I just wanted to play in a band with you guys!
Isn't that enough?
Quit thinking about dumb things like failing or how terrible you play.
What the owner meant by us not being able to see
was that we don't know our own abilities, right?
If we don't know where we stand, how are we
supposed to know which way to go from here?
Then we should be able to move on now, right?
What do you want to do, Kasumi?
I want to perform live at Space with all of you.
You haven't changed a bit.
It's the five of us that make PoPiPa the band it is.
Yeah! Let's all do our best!
I'll follow you.
Uh... I do have one small suggestion.
Me too.
You go on ahead.
No, you go.
Let's split the singing parts up between us!
What?!
I was thinking the same.
You mean besides the hook and the chorus?
Yeah. I'll sing this part.
I'll be after that.
Um... Maybe here.
Let's start with Rimi then.
Okay.
One, two, three, go.
I sang it!
I met you in the middle of a dream!
(Since then) I've felt a thrill building up in my chest
Like it's gonna burst
This song of ours that no one knows
(One of these days) I want to spread it around the world
If I had kept on wishing?
(You) asked me (and so)
I'll take my unyielding determination and
Pack it in tight (All of it) Gather it up (Believing!)
Make this moment come alive!
Final Countdown! (10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5)
5 more seconds! (4, 3, 2, 1 — Ready Go!)
Sparkles, dreams, aspirations
And thrills are
(What make) the world go 'round!
Yesterday becomes today, then tomorrow, then the future
On and on infinitely
(Let's gather up) all the courage of the world!
Join hands, help each other out
(Always) be amazing, Girls! Girls!
Let's make our dreams come true (With you) In the place we love
Next time
Next time: "I Sparkled?!"
Next time I Sparkled?!