Sunday afternoon.
It was close to 3:00 PM.
At RiNG Live House.
Bai Qiu arrived first.
He glanced toward the front desk.
The black-haired girl named Shiina Taki, who was fiercely protective of Takamatsu Tomori, didn't seem to be around.
Bai Qiu felt a little disappointed.
He had wanted to see how she'd react upon seeing him here with Tomori again.
What kind of expression would she make?
Soon after, Chihaya Anon and Takamatsu Tomori arrived one after another.
Anon had chosen to meet here because she'd previously come to RiNG to put up recruitment posters.
A staff member had even introduced her to a drummer who currently wasn't in any band, but she'd been coldly rejected back then.
Beaming with energy, Anon flashed her little tiger teeth as she greeted Bai Qiu and Tomori.
Bai Qiu simply nodded calmly.
Unable to help herself, Anon complained to Tomori beside her.
"Tomorin, look at him. He's so cold."
Ignoring the latter half of her sentence, Bai Qiu asked in confusion,
"Tomorin? Since when?"
Tomori let out a cute little laugh.
She knew Anon was only teasing Bai Qiu.
"Don't you think it's an adorable nickname?" Anon giggled. "How about I give you one too?"
Bai Qiu immediately waved his hand in refusal.
A moment later, Rana Kaname arrived as well.
Bai Qiu had successfully lured her here on time with the promise of a matcha parfait.
"Rana, you're here. I was just—"
Before the staff member, Mashiro Ririko, could finish speaking, Rana once again walked straight toward Bai Qiu.
Ririko froze.
Something felt off.
This was the second time.
In the past, whenever Rana came to the shop, she'd always play the guitar first before eating a matcha parfait.
But now...
Ririko eyed Bai Qiu suspiciously.
He seemed to be Taki's friend.
But...
Had he somehow stolen Rana away?
Now that she thought about it, Rana had indeed been coming to RiNG much less often lately.
As the granddaughter of her former boss, she couldn't just ignore her.
Without realizing it, Ririko began paying close attention to their table.
Anon greeted Rana with a bright smile.
So this was the guitar prodigy Bai Qiu had mentioned?
She looked like nothing more than a little girl.
Looks like the lead guitarist is secured.
"Matcha parfait."
The first thing Rana did upon arriving was collect Bai Qiu's debt.
"Relax. I'll get it right away."
Bai Qiu had her sit down before getting up to order.
After taking her seat, Rana stared directly at Tomori.
It was as though Tomori possessed some invisible force that naturally drew her in.
Opening her mouth, Rana asked,
"A band?"
Caught off guard by the intense gaze, Tomori instinctively clenched her fists before replying,
"Mm... a band... for a lifetime."
Rana's eyes sparkled, and a smile curled onto her lips.
"Interesting girl."
Having just returned with the matcha parfait, Bai Qiu happened to overhear their conversation.
The corner of his mouth twitched.
Still, it looked like Rana had decided to join.
Tomori still had a long road ahead of her.
Bai Qiu looked at Rana.
"Don't casually call someone 'woman.' It's not very polite."
"What should I say then?"
Rana looked at him innocently.
She genuinely didn't know.
"Girl."
"Oh."
Bai Qiu nodded in satisfaction.
Three o'clock.
Right on time, Yahata Umiri arrived.
Bai Qiu waved toward her.
"Umiri, over here."
She nodded and walked over.
After looking around the table, her gaze finally landed on Tomori, and surprise flickered across her face.
"Sorry. I'm late."
Bai Qiu shook his head.
"Perfect timing."
Umiri nodded.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Yahata Umiri. I play bass, and I'm currently active in around thirty bands."
Anon and Tomori stared at her in shock.
Meanwhile, Rana quietly enjoyed her matcha parfait.
Everyone took their seats, introduced themselves, and began chatting.
...
At the entrance of RiNG, Shiina Taki arrived to start her shift.
The moment she stepped inside, she spotted Tomori.
Her eyes lit up with delight.
She hurried over in quick strides.
She hadn't expected to run into Tomori before her shift even started.
Did Tomori come here to see her?
Soon, Taki reached the table.
Her eyes contained only Tomori.
"Tomori!"
"Y-You're here."
Afraid of startling her, Taki deliberately softened her voice.
Tomori looked up in surprise.
Seeing Taki, she smiled gently and replied in her soft voice,
"Mm... Taki."
Just as Taki was about to say something else, she caught sight of Bai Qiu sitting beside Tomori.
"You're here too?"
Then she noticed Umiri beside him.
"Umiri... you're here as well?"
Confusion spread across Taki's face.
She quickly looked toward the other two.
The stray cat and the pink-haired girl.
She wasn't familiar with them, but she had seen them before.
A huge question instantly formed in her mind.
What were all these people doing here with Tomori?
Anon blinked, pointing at herself.
What about me?
She had assumed Taki would greet her next.
Instead...
She was completely ignored.
"What are you all doing here?"
Taki asked directly, focusing mainly on Tomori, Bai Qiu, and Umiri.
"We're talking about the band."
Umiri answered.
"The band?"
Taki still looked confused.
"We're forming a band together!"
This time, it was Anon's voice.
"What? Forming a band?!"
Taki looked utterly shocked.
She stepped closer to Tomori.
"Tomori... you're joining a band too?"
"Mm..."
Tomori nodded lightly before turning toward Anon and Bai Qiu with a warm smile.
"I'm forming one... with Anon... and Qiu."
Anon grinned proudly and nodded.
Being looked at like that felt wonderful.
Starting a band with the class mascot really had been the right decision.
Bai Qiu, however, felt that technically speaking, he wasn't actually a member.
Taki stared at Bai Qiu and Anon with wide eyes, her emotions in turmoil.
They'd already formed a band?!
That pink-haired girl had invited her once before.
So...
She had missed an opportunity to be in a band with Tomori?
I'm such an idiot...
"Tomori!"
"I... want to be in a band with you too."
A faint blush appeared on Taki's cheeks.
She looked nervous yet hopeful as she gazed at Tomori.
"Is there still an opening?"
"Huh?"
Anon let out a puzzled sound.
Didn't you reject me before?
"We're still missing a drummer."
Tomori nodded happily before looking toward Anon and Bai Qiu.
Bai Qiu was slightly surprised.
After glancing at Anon, he immediately understood what she was thinking.
So...
The drummer problem had been solved as well?
Things were going more smoothly than expected.
"If you're interested, Shiina-san, why don't you sit down and talk with us first?"
Taki gave Bai Qiu a surprised look before nodding.
"Okay."
She took a seat.
Bai Qiu turned toward Rana.
She had nearly finished her matcha parfait.
"So, Rana, what do you think? Want to join this band?"
With the spoon still between her lips, Rana asked,
"Will there be live shows?"
Bai Qiu smiled.
"Definitely."
"Then I'll join the band."
Bai Qiu nodded before looking toward Umiri.
"Umiri, what have you decided?"
"I'd like to join as a support bassist for now. If there's practice, could you let me know a little earlier in advance?"
she asked.
Everyone agreed.
"You two seem pretty close."
Taki looked at Umiri before turning to Bai Qiu.
She genuinely couldn't understand it.
How did this guy seem to know everyone around her?
And they all appeared to be quite familiar with him.
"We're alright. Why?"
Umiri looked at Taki.
"Nothing."
Taki turned her head away.
"Are you jealous?"
Umiri casually stroked her chin and asked.
"Huh?" ×2
Bai Qiu and Taki exclaimed simultaneously.
The two looked at each other before turning back toward Umiri in disbelief.
Bai Qiu's pupils contracted.
Umiri... what are you saying?
Was this really the cool, mercenary-like Umiri he knew?
That statement was way too shocking.
Taki was much more straightforward.
"What are you talking about?"
"You two..."
Umiri didn't answer directly.
Her gaze lingered on them for a moment before she said,
"...have pretty good chemistry."
Bai Qiu could only shrug helplessly.
Taki crossed her arms.
"No way!" ×2
They answered in perfect unison.
After exchanging another glance, both immediately turned their heads away.
They silently decided not to speak for the time being.
Anon blinked.
"You really are in sync."
Tomori softly nodded.
"Mm."
"Um... everyone... what are you all doing here?"
At that moment, an extremely unexpected voice broke the silence.