Energetic rock music is blasting from a portable speaker as Midori is on a stepladder, slowly and carefully moving her paint roller to clad a wall in vibrant purple. Work on the venue to replace The Bends is coming along nicely, thanks to the efforts of co-operators and volunteers alike. When she rolls her shoulders, feeling the stiffness encroach upon her arm muscles, a familiar voice calls out to her.

Alice: Hey.

Midori: Oh, hey! Look what the cat dragged in. Our future superstar.

Alice: You wish. (wearing a duffle coat, scarf and beanie, and her guitar strapped to her back in its bag, she looks to be winding down from a long walk)

Midori: To what do we owe the honor?

Alice: Thought I’d pass by. I had to drop by campus for some stuff. Nothing major. Fresh air is good for you, I’ve been told.

Midori: So’s a good day’s worth of DIY, I know from experience. Nudge nudge, wink wink.

Alice: Dude, I’m not picking up a paintbrush in these clothes. You should’ve asked me earlier.

Midori: Worry not, fair maiden. I was about to wrap up anyways. Folks are out and Koharu is, ehm — well, it says “occupied” in the text, so… back behind the stove with me, y’know? I’ve got two mouths waiting, and they aren’t gonna feed themselves.

Alice: I could fix you something to eat. Don’t mind taking some of the load off your shoulders, you know that.

Midori: Oh hell no. I’m not eating — what was it? — instant ramen with canned tomato sauce and protein powder ever again.

Alice: That’s Yui’s signature recipe! Take it up with her!

Midori: Pshaw. Way to throw the missus under the bus, huh? Guess you’re off the hook for attempted homicide, but you’re not escaping these criminal negligence charges.

Alice: She was just trying to help out.

Midori: That’s what they all say. Well, whatever, I don’t want your food anyways. As for your money, though…

Alice: (she sighs) Look, I… that’s why I’m here, I guess.

Midori: Took you long enough!

Alice: No, Midori. I… I’m not gonna invest. I can’t. Sorry. I’ll help out as much as you want and I’ll play, obviously, but I just don’t have that kinda money at the moment.

Midori: Oh, don’t worry about that! Just do what I do and pay back your share as you work. It’s fine! That’s how a workers’ cooperative works, you know!

Alice: Except there’s only so many shifts to go around, and—well, won’t you need them? Also, are you sure that’s even legal? See, I don’t know anything about this kinda stuff—

Midori: Come on, man! It just won’t be the same without you! You don’t wanna end up regretting—

Alice: I don’t have the money, Midori.

Midori: Then get Yui to give you some! Heck, borrow it if you wanna be a goodie-two-shoes about it—

Alice: No. I can’t rely on her for the rest of my life.

Midori: Gosh, you’re sure we’re not related? Cause that’s a pigheadedness I’ve never seen in anyone unaffiliated with the noble house of Shirahara.

Alice: Sorry, Midori, but I—

Midori: You know what? One gig.

Alice: One… gig?

Midori: I bet you playing a single gig in this place will get so many butts into seats money will never be a problem again. Opening night. You decide the line-up, convince everyone to perform per nada, and with the profits, you can buy yourself a seat at the table.

Alice: I… Is that even how it works?

Midori: I’ll make it work! I got elected to be the manager, so I can basically do whatever I want.

Alice: What about ticket sales? Aren’t I supposed to pay the venue, instead of the other way around? You know, so the onus to make a profit is on me?

Midori: Pish posh, do you honestly think people don’t wanna pay to have The Bends they know and love back? And what would The Bends be without you?

Alice: I don’t get it—That’s not how anything works. Who’s gonna cover the costs when this doesn’t work out?

Midori: I can guarantee you it won’t be an issue.

Alice: Midori… Just how much money did Yui give you?

Midori: Don’t you worry your pretty little head about that—

Alice: I’m serious! How is this not just another, roundabout way of her vouching for my lot in life! I wanted to do this on my own!

Midori: And she’s honoring that decision. Sure as fuck doesn’t mean I have to.

Alice: Sorry, but… what gives you the right to patronize me like that?

Midori: (she sighs) The fact that this self-effacing martyr act of yours is getting really stale, Alice. You have a dream. So when an opportunity to reach it comes at you on a silver, nay, golden platter, what the hell are you doing letting these kinds of self-sabotaging principles get in your way? Whoever said that you need to do things on your own? That you can’t depend on the people who care about you? Stop denying yourself what you want — what you need — for some… fucking tough guy principles that… I dunno, why would you want to do things on your own?

Alice: (she casts her gaze downward) I’ve been… dependent on others my entire life, it… It just doesn’t seem fair, compared to someone like you.

Midori: You think I don’t depend on others? I depend on you, man. And on Yui, and my siblings, and my teachers and… (she sighs) even my mom and dad and my boss, I guess… and my boyfriend, whenever I have one.

Alice: I just—

Midori: We all do what we can, Alice, and… I dunno, there might be things that you can’t really do. Things that are… like, generally expected of people or considered normal, or whatever, but… there’s things you can do that very few people can do. Curating a kick-ass opening night for this place, for example.

Alice: If you— (her mouth curls into a slight smile) I, eh… I suppose relying on others makes me trust their judgment.

Midori: So… You’ll do it?

Alice: … as long as you can make sure I’ve got a venue to do, eh, it in, yeah. Sure.

Midori: Hell yeah!

Alice: (she sighs, though more out of relief than frustration) … What are you guys gonna call this place anyways?

Midori: What about… “Wonderland”?

Alice: (immediately) Rejected.

Midori: I was kidding!

Alice: You’d better be.

Midori: In all seriousness, though… And this might sound a bit cheesy, but… what about “The Smile”?