Standing from Hoshino Miru's perspective, Eriri was actually quite a responsible older sister.
Since elementary school, she'd always maintained a sisterly attitude toward Kasugano Sora - playing games together, going to the bathroom together, bathing together, dressing up together, even trying to get Kasugano Sora to wear the same clothes as herself.
It was fine at first, but later when Kasugano Sora learned Eriri wanted to be the older sister, she immediately became unhappy.
Hoshino Miru didn't know how they ended up like this - bickering every day, each finding the other annoying.
Perhaps good friends all operated in this mutual teasing mode.
However, Hoshino Miru wouldn't meddle with the two of them. Having Eriri temporarily look after Kasugano Sora wasn't bad either.
Hoshino Miru first went home, got his guitar, sent a message to Wakaba Mutsuki, then leisurely went out.
He wasn't very rushed because it was only about a half-hour journey.
When Hoshino Miru arrived at RiNG, he discovered Wakaba Mutsuki had arrived early and was standing at the entrance waiting for him.
"You came so early. Why didn't you go inside to wait for me?" Hoshino Miru felt somewhat embarrassed. He'd thought he'd be faster than Wakaba Mutsuki.
Wakaba Mutsuki looked at his face. Though they'd only not seen each other for a few days, there didn't seem to be any changes. Why was she so looking forward to seeing him?
Hearing his voice, drums pounded in her chest - also like the impromptu performance she'd played not long ago, that kind of wild rock that seemed about to break the strings, an impulse to impatiently do something.
Wakaba Mutsuki looked at Hoshino Miru's palm, thinking of scenes of them holding hands, thinking of the feeling of walking side by side at that time. In the end, she did nothing, just stood in place, slightly turning her gaze away.
"She's inside." Wakaba Mutsuki seemed to be diverting her attention. No, she was diverting her attention. She didn't dare hold his hand.
Hoshino Miru was somewhat confused. Following her line of sight, it seemed to be the second-floor coffee shop.
"Is she your friend?" Seeing Wakaba Mutsuki nod, Hoshino Miru smiled unconcernedly. "It's fine. At worst, we'll say hello."
Hoshino Miru walked in. Wakaba Mutsuki hurriedly followed.
"Welcome to our store, you two!"
Today's attendant was still the previous older sister named Maji Ririko. Seeing Hoshino Miru and Wakaba Mutsuki, she showed that strange smile only seen on strange aunties.
Because he hadn't come for a while, Hoshino Miru needed to re-book this month's times.
"Long time no see, onee-san."
"So you also know what 'long time no see' means. I almost thought you went to a competitor's shop with your little girlfriend."
"I wouldn't. I've already been tricked by onee-san's 20% off coffee coupon."
"Your mouth must have fooled many onee-sans."
"Fooled some, but never fooled you."
Hoshino Miru didn't take Maji Ririko's teasing to heart. After booking times on the menu, he placed an order and paid.
He turned around but found Wakaba Mutsuki standing in place with a red face, at a loss.
"What's wrong?" Hoshino Miru felt strange. His gaze looked around the surroundings.
Wakaba Mutsuki was too embarrassed to say it out loud, because Hoshino Miru actually hadn't refuted Maji Ririko.
So in others' eyes, she and Hoshino Miru were a young couple?
Wakaba Mutsuki felt shy for herself. She hadn't thought about denying it just now, while also feeling conflicted. Hoshino Miru also hadn't denied it - did that mean he was tacitly accepting this statement?
But she hadn't thought it through yet. This kind of relationship was beyond her scope.
At this moment, Hoshino Miru suddenly said: "Is she your friend?"
Wakaba Mutsuki was slightly stunned. She discovered Hoshino Miru was looking at the second-floor coffee shop. Her gaze couldn't help following over.
She saw a familiar girl appear up there, wearing attendant clothes, probably cleaning tables. She happened to see the two below, made eye contact for a moment, then turned her gaze away as if nothing happened.
Wakaba Mutsuki lowered her head. She didn't know how to face a once-familiar teammate.
"Ritsuki-chan is a child who just came recently. Want me to help you say hello?" Maji Ririko suddenly interjected. Her eyes sparkled as if she could prepare to watch the drama at any time.
Facing Maji Ririko's goodwill, Hoshino Miru looked at Wakaba Mutsuki's expression, then said: "No rush to say hello. Let's go practice first."
Thus, Maji Ririko showed disappointment.
...
Soon after, Nagasaki Sose appeared at RiNG's entrance.
She now wore a hat and sunglasses, her whole person dressed like a passerby, working hard to make herself look completely inconspicuous.
The reason for doing this was because Nagasaki Sose discovered today's Wakaba Mutsuki had actually brought her guitar to school.
Very obviously, once school ended, Wakaba Mutsuki would immediately come here.
Nagasaki Sose of course wouldn't miss this opportunity. However, she didn't immediately follow but deliberately went home first to change clothes.
She didn't want Wakaba Mutsuki to think she was stalking. She'd observe the situation first - what if it really was Wakaba Mutsuki's friend?
Thus, Nagasaki Sose pretended to walk into the shop. Even not seeing Wakaba Mutsuki's figure, she didn't panic but walked to the second-floor coffee shop, planning to wait like a hunter by a tree stump.
"What's with this getup?"
As soon as Nagasaki Sose came over, a certain former teammate, now an attendant, had already seen through her disguise, her expression particularly speechless.
"Ahaha, recently wanted to try a different style." Nagasaki Sose was somewhat embarrassed. Her disguise had been seen through so quickly.
The attendant before her was called Shiina Ritsuki, one of their band members who held the drummer position.
Seeing Shiina Ritsuki here, Nagasaki Sose was initially somewhat surprised, though this was already something from several days ago. At that time, she'd been trying to stake out Wakaba Mutsuki here and happened to discover Shiina Ritsuki working here.
"You're stalking Mutsuki, right?" Shiina Ritsuki immediately exposed her lie.
Nagasaki Sose originally wanted to deny it, but she detected the meaning within and quickly showed a smile: "Eh, so Ritsuki saw Mutsuki today?"
"I saw her. She just went to an individual practice room with a boy." Shiina Ritsuki carelessly wiped her cup. "However, she also saw me here."
Nagasaki Sose's eyes lit up, then continued questioning: "Just one boy? Did anyone else follow them in after?"
"Why do you care about this?" Shiina Ritsuki was unconcerned. "Even if she's joining someone else's band, what can we do now?"
Nagasaki Sose's expression stiffened, but she knew she couldn't get angry.
"Ritsuki, I believe that someday our band will be as close as before and return to the stage again." Nagasaki Sose showed a brilliant smile. "At that time, Tomori and Saki-chan will also return to our side."
Hearing her mention the name Tomori, Shiina Ritsuki's hand that had been wiping the cup paused slightly.