Episode 8

Episode 8 is the eighth episode of the ARP Backstage Pass (Artists Republic Performers) anime series by Akari Uchida. It aired March 16, 2020.

Summary
Rebel Cross suffers loss after loss to Shinji and vie for the winning spot. With Reiji's wit and Daiya's enthusiasm, they formulate their next big performance to be a winner. Without realizing it, Leon blurts out that Rebel Cross will be dropped if they do not beat Shinji some time soon. By soon, he meant they only have one more chance.

Reality stings Daiya and Reiji. They came from nothing and know what it is like to grind for success just as much or more than their fellow ARP members. They came this far and refuse to lose it all.

Daiya struggles with his sense of self on stage when he constantly compares himself to Shinji. He fails himself by trying to integrate Shinji's charm into his raw and rugged stage persona. It brings him down and it does not clash well.

Daiya practices music with the old members of Cross Bones to return to his roots and regain his sense of self. The drummer of his older band told him he has been hitting his notes too cleanly and lost the roughness he used to have. He won the battle against Shinji next time he was up.