"Mutsumi, where are you?"
"I…"
Before Wakaba Mutsumi could answer, the slightly stern female voice on the other end interrupted her again.
"Your piano lesson ended a long time ago, didn't it? Hurry home. I haven't told your father."
The caller was Mori Minami, Mutsumi's mother, a famous actress.
Nagasaki Soyo quietly whispered to Bai Qiu that it was Mutsumi's mother.
Bai Qiu nodded.
He had overheard the conversation as well and had already guessed it was Little Mutsumi's mother.
At least for now, it didn't seem like she was excessively strict with Mutsumi.
She hadn't blamed her for not being home yet.
Compared to the father who enforced strict family rules, she seemed much easier to reason with.
Mutsumi opened her mouth, ready to answer with a simple, "Yes."
But then she saw Bai Qiu subtly shaking his head.
She hesitated.
"Mutsumi, are you listening to me?"
"Mm…"
"I... don't want to go home."
"...What did you say?"
Mori Minami paused, wondering if she had misheard.
Mutsumi lowered her head and remained silent.
Bai Qiu whispered,
"Can I borrow your phone for a moment?"
He held out his hand.
Mutsumi froze briefly.
Soyo looked at him in surprise.
What's he trying to do?
The voice on the phone continued asking questions in confusion.
Bai Qiu took the phone from Mutsumi.
"Hello, Aunt Mori. I'm sorry for interrupting your conversation. My name is Bai Qiu. I'm Mutsumi's friend."
Mori Minami was stunned for two seconds before responding.
"Mutsumi's... friend?"
Her voice was filled with surprise.
A teenage boy's voice was coming from Mutsumi's phone.
That alone caught her completely off guard.
However, as a renowned actress, Mori Minami quickly regained her composure and immediately became wary.
"Are you one of the friends from the band she used to be in?"
she asked.
She knew Mutsumi's social circle very well.
A classmate?
Impossible.
Tsukinomori was an all-girls school.
The only people outside school she could think of were the members of Toyokawa Sakiko's former band.
"Unfortunately, no."
"But... I do know Sakiko and Soyo from Mutsumi's former band. Through a series of coincidences, I also got to know Little Mutsumi."
Bai Qiu explained.
He had almost called her Little Mutsumi-head out of habit.
"Oh, right. We're at Soyo's house right now."
"I see."
Mori Minami relaxed slightly.
So he knew the Toyokawa family's daughter, and they were currently at one of Mutsumi's former bandmate's house.
"What exactly did you want to talk to me about?"
"I doubt you took the phone just to say hello."
Her tone became noticeably gentler than it had been with Mutsumi.
After all, she was a public figure and naturally maintained a graceful demeanor in front of outsiders.
"There is something I'd like to discuss with you."
"It's about Mutsumi."
"What is it?"
"Mutsumi only ended up staying out because of the heavy rain. It's still pouring outside."
Bai Qiu casually made up an excuse.
"Rain?"
Mori Minami knew it was merely an excuse, but she was still surprised.
She had clearly heard Mutsumi say that she didn't want to go home.
She certainly didn't believe the rain was the real reason.
This was only the second time Mutsumi had openly shown signs of rebellion.
The first had been when she was told to quit the band.
Her curiosity toward Bai Qiu grew slightly.
Judging from his reactions, Bai Qiu suddenly realized something.
Mutsumi's parents probably aren't even home right now.
"Aunt Mori... you're not at home, are you?"
"No."
She was indeed away, filming with a production crew in another city.
Bai Qiu walked over to the window and pointed the phone's speaker toward the storm outside so the sound of the rain could be heard clearly.
"Listen."
"…Mm, I hear it."
"What I'm trying to say is... the rain outside is extremely heavy, and it's even thundering."
"Wouldn't it be unsafe for Mutsumi to go home alone right now?"
"You have a point."
"In that case... could I trouble you to escort Mutsumi home?"
Bai Qiu blinked.
That wasn't the response I expected.
"Of course I'd be happy to take Mutsumi home."
"But with weather like this, we probably won't even be able to get a taxi."
"And even if we do, she'll almost certainly get soaked."
"You know how it is, Aunt Mori. Rain like this can easily make someone sick."
"Then I'll have my driver pick her up."
"I actually think... it might be nice if Mutsumi stayed over at a friend's house just this once."
"What do you think?"
Stay overnight?
A young man was actually suggesting that her daughter spend the night away from home.
Mori Minami quietly took a deep breath.
Fortunately, Bai Qiu quickly added,
"Of course, I mean staying at Soyo's house."
"I definitely won't be staying there."
he assured her.
"Oh?"
"Then where will you be going, Bai Qiu?"
"I actually live next door."
"..."
Mori Minami fell silent for several seconds.
This young man really isn't afraid to tell me anything.
"So, Aunt Mori?"
"What do you think?"
Bai Qiu asked again.
If he truly had improper intentions, he certainly wouldn't have told her he lived right next door.
"Your suggestion isn't bad."
"I'll think about it."
"Let me speak with Soyo first."
she replied.
She wasn't about to accept only Bai Qiu's version of events.
"Of course."
Bai Qiu handed the phone to Nagasaki Soyo.
Soyo wasn't sure whether her fever had muddled her thoughts or whether she was simply too shocked by the conversation between Bai Qiu and Mutsumi's mother.
It wasn't until Bai Qiu nudged her twice that she finally snapped back to reality.
"H-Hello, Auntie."
"I'm Soyo."
"I'm Mutsumi's classmate."
"Mutsumi came over today to visit me."
Taking the phone, Soyo deliberately softened her voice, trying to use her usual gentle, refined tone.
After all, this was Mutsumi's mother.
And a celebrity at that.
Unlike Bai Qiu, Soyo didn't have the confidence to casually negotiate with her.
Unfortunately, because she had a cold, her normally sweet voice carried a noticeable rasp.
It sounded... rather strange.
Mori Minami chuckled softly.
After all, Soyo was Mutsumi's classmate from Tsukinomori—a young lady from a wealthy family.
"Hello, Soyo."
"So you're one of Mutsumi's old bandmates."
"I've actually wanted an opportunity to greet all of you for quite some time."
Old bandmates.
The corner of Soyo's mouth twitched.
She had heard that phrase several times tonight already.
Why did everyone assume CRYCHIC had already disbanded?
Even so, she gently replied,
"No, Auntie."
"We should have been the ones to greet you first."
"Mm."
"Thank you for taking care of Mutsumi."
"She has never stayed out this late before, so I was rather worried."
"Mm... I'm sorry for troubling you."
"So... about letting her stay the night—"
"Please hand the phone back to Mutsumi."
"I need to tell her a few things."
"Ah... alright."
Before Soyo could even finish asking, Mori Minami had already made her request.
Bai Qiu, listening nearby, couldn't help shaking his head.
The moment the other party adopted a slightly stronger attitude, Soyo immediately backed down.
The phone returned to Mutsumi.
"Mother..."
"Mutsumi."
"I understand the situation now."
"You may stay at Soyo's house tonight."
"I'll explain everything to your father."
"But tomorrow, you need to come home early."
Mutsumi's eyes widened in disbelief.
"...Okay."
"Oh, and please pass along a message to Bai Qiu."
"Tell him he's welcome to visit the Wakaba household whenever he has time."
"And Soyo is welcome as well."
The call ended.
"Mom... agreed."
Mutsumi said softly.
Bai Qiu and Soyo both smiled with relief.
Mutsumi, however, looked somewhat dazed.
Yet the way she tightly gripped her phone revealed that her heart was far less calm than her expression suggested.
Looking at Bai Qiu, a strange feeling quietly arose within her.
It was different from what she felt toward Soyo.
Different from what she felt toward Sakiko.
She gently placed a hand over her chest.
Her heartbeat seemed faster than usual.
Even faster than when she played the heavy metal music she loved.
She couldn't understand this feeling.
It was unfamiliar.
But there was one thing she knew.
She felt... safe.
She didn't have to go home tonight?
She could stay at Soyo's house?
Spending the night at a friend's home...
It was a first for her.
Even now, Mutsumi found it hard to believe.
Her eyes shimmered as she stared quietly at Bai Qiu.
Bai Qiu had accomplished something...
Something that even Sakiko had never been able to do.
Soyo found Mutsumi's behavior rather odd.
Smiling gently, she asked,
"Mutsumi-chan, what's wrong?"
Mutsumi lightly shook her head.
"You can stay at my house tonight."
Mutsumi nodded happily.
Soyo nodded back, relieved.
Looks like I was overthinking things.
"Mom said... she wants Aki to come visit our house."
"Huh??"
Both Bai Qiu and Soyo cried out in surprise.
Mutsumi looked at Bai Qiu, quietly waiting for his answer.
"If I get the chance, I'd be honored to."
Bai Qiu coughed awkwardly.
The rest of dinner was wonderfully pleasant.
The three of them finished an entire pot of vegetable macaroni, leaving nothing behind.
Afterward, Soyo took her cold medicine.
Bai Qiu assumed she'd become sleepy after taking it, so he was already preparing to say goodbye.
Instead, Soyo insisted she wasn't tired at all and asked Bai Qiu and Mutsumi to stay and watch a movie with her.
In the Kitchen
Bai Qiu stood at the sink washing the dishes.
Beside him, Mutsumi carefully dried each one with a towel.
Her movements were gentle and unhurried, wiping away every last drop of water.
The polished dishes gleamed brightly enough to reflect Mutsumi's usually expressionless face...
Along with the faint smile curving her lips.
Meanwhile, Soyo sat on the sofa, browsing through movies.
She glanced back at the two of them working side by side.
For some reason, her chest suddenly felt a little tight.
She simply blamed it on being sick.
Taking a deep breath, Soyo focused on choosing a film.
After quickly making her selection, she finally couldn't resist turning around and asking in her slightly hoarse voice,
"Are you two finished yet?"
"…Or should we just use the dishwasher?"
-------------------
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