"Then let's go!"
Sugaya Nowa announced, raising an arm and smiling at her friends.
Murakami Kouki, standing next to Shiki, looked up and secretly glanced at Sugaya Nowa, seeing her eyes full of smiles.
It was like his heart had been struck by an angel.
It was as if Cupid had shot an arrow at him in that moment, making him forget his thoughts and want to gently cover his chest to find the arrow's owner.
He had never found a smile so alluring before, and after he had expressed his feelings, there was a sense of release and ease.
He no longer had to keep his face stiff, hiding any potentially flustered expressions.
It felt as if the cherry blossoms, which had bloomed in April, were blooming once again in his heart.
As if they were blooming solely for him.
Murakami showed a smile he had never had before, looking at his friends beside him.
Sugaya Nowa, on the other hand, turned around and led the way, walking in front of the others.
"Happy! Happy!"
"Karaoke! Karaoke!"
Meaningless words slowly came out of her mouth, not needing any response, as if just for the sake of rhyming.
Wakana followed behind Marin with his head down; he still couldn't help but feel embarrassed in such a scene.
Upon arriving at their usual karaoke room, the girls quickly occupied the left side, and Sugaya Nowa rushed onto the singing stage.
Marin, Daia, and Rion sat on the left sofa, while Shiki, Murakami Kouki, and Morita sat on the right sofa.
For a moment, with three people on each side, it even looked a bit symmetrical.
Wakana, standing at the door, felt a bit awkward.
Where should I sit?
It felt like there wasn't much room left on the boys' side.
But if he sat with the girls, he would definitely be talked about.
At this moment, Marin looked up and saw Wakana standing at the door, spacing out.
"Gojo-kun, why aren't you sitting down yet?"
"I, I..."
Wakana was so conflicted he couldn't speak.
"Can't you just find a place to sit?"
Morita leaned his arms on the sofa, and although he said this, there was clearly not much space left around him.
"I..."
"I see there's still a spot next to Kitagawa-san, why don't you sit there?"
Shiki said, pushing up his glasses.
"Eh! Is that really okay?"
"Gojo-kun, come sit here!"
Marin called out excitedly.
Daia, next to her, said indifferently, "It's fine to sit next to girls."
"You don't always have to worry about things."
Daia's words always went straight to the point.
Although they weren't meant to be comforting, they helped Wakana calm down.
He took a deep breath.
After all, Akira-kun had given him a task, and he had to complete it well.
Even if it was, even if it was for, for Murakami-kun!
Even for Murakami-san, he had to communicate well with Kitagawa-san this time!
Wakana sat down next to Kitagawa-san, as if going to his death. Although not too close, he could still smell Kitagawa-san's perfume.
Wakana twitched his nose, his cheeks a little red.
"Eh, Gojo-kun."
Marin leaned forward slightly, and Wakana felt like he was about to see something forbidden again, sensing something was about to stir.
He quickly sat up straight, looked straight ahead, and said expressionlessly, "I'm fine!"
"Oh?"
Marin was a bit downcast; Gojo-kun's reaction was a bit different from usual.
It felt like he was always afraid of something.
Could it be that he was afraid I would show him certain parts?
She couldn't help but want to cover her face with her manicured hands, but remembering there were many people in the room, she just let out a puff of air and quickly surveyed herself.
Her clothes were neat, her nails weren't broken.
Even her colored contacts were the prettiest ones.
It couldn't be that Gojo-kun liked her nape, could it?
His gaze just now should have been able to see her nape.
Marin's mind wandered, and for a moment, she too fell into a stiff state, just like Gojo.
"I'm going to start singing!"
Sugaya Nowa announced, then opened the karaoke machine to select a song.
The audience below also ended their conversations and looked at Sugaya Nowa on stage.
Murakami Kouki gazed tenderly at the girl on stage, feeling his love overflowing.
He used to be able to control it, though.
Now, why suddenly couldn't he?
Murakami Kouki's smile was a bit uncontrollable; Shiki next to him looked over, lightly patted his shoulder, and shook his head.
Morita was watching Sugaya Nowa sing on stage with a serious expression.
Marin and Wakana, on the other hand, were each lost in their own thoughts.
"How are things going?"
Akira's message came through.
Shiki opened his phone, saw the message, and replied, "Everything is proceeding as planned."
"Remember to create opportunities for Murakami to perform next."
"I understand."
Shiki put down his phone and looked at Murakami Kouki beside him. If he didn't remind him, Murakami might just watch others perform here.
He probably wouldn't actively go up and sing.
Shiki sighed.
After Sugaya Nowa finished her song, she looked at Marin and Wakana, who were starting to look at each other in the audience, and a sense of curiosity naturally arose.
Then she saw Murakami Kouki sitting on the sofa opposite, looking at her with a strange gaze.
She didn't think much of it, and she wasn't in a hurry to ask Marin about Gojo anymore.
She put down the microphone and walked off the stage.
"Murakami, why don't you sing a song?"
Shiki suggested.
"That's right! Murakami, since it's your first time, we haven't heard your singing voice yet."
Morita cheered him on, waving his arms to encourage Murakami.
Kashiwagi patted Murakami's shoulder again, cheering him on. Wakana, to his diagonal right, also looked over, though his gaze seemed a bit helpless.
He felt like if no one livened up the atmosphere, Kitagawa-san would start teasing him.
Wakana silently complained in his heart.
He couldn't quite handle it.
Murakami Kouki, with a gentle smile on his face, looked at Sugaya Nowa, who had walked off the stage, and seeing her curious expression, he stood up and slowly walked over.
"Then today, I'll sing a song I often listen to."
Murakami Kouki hesitated on stage, feeling that he shouldn't sing that particular song.
But he was always with his sister, and he couldn't help but learn it from listening to it so much.
He felt like switching roles suited him well too.