After a brief exchange, during which Soyo Nagasaki intentionally probed for information here and there, everyone learned that Umiri Hachimann was Shiina Taki's classmate, and that Soyo, Taki, and Tomori had once been members of the same band.
Soyo also learned the reason why everyone had gathered here in the first place.
It turned out that they had all come together because of Hakushu.
Her gaze lingered幽幽 on Hakushu.
She really wanted to ask him why he hadn't come looking for her.
There was such a huge bassist right in front of his eyes, yet he hadn't noticed her?
Instead, he had gone out of his way to find someone else.
However, now was not the right time.
Fortunately—
She had successfully joined this band as well.
Only then did Soyo finally relax.
Her expression gradually softened as she silently began fiddling with her fingernails again.
However, there are still three unnecessary people in this band.
I will drive all of them out.
Thinking this, a trace of determination appeared in her azure eyes.
[Form a band consisting of Tomori Takamatsu, Chihaya Anon, Shiina Taki, Soyo Nagasaki, Rāna Kaname, and Umiri Hachimann. Notes +3,600.]
Hakushu also received his reward of Notes.
Ignoring your gaze, Soyo… You can't blame me for this.
He had already prepared an excuse.
You were the one who never came to watch our lives, so I naturally invited Umiri instead.
I just didn't expect that, in the end, both Shiina Taki and Soyo Nagasaki would join too.
I wonder what Mutsumi and Sakiko will think when they find out.
How about you two remaining members form a band together again?
Shiina Taki looked at Tomori.
She would be able to hear Tomori's singing again.
This time, she would definitely protect Tomori properly.
Umiri Hachimann remained calm and expressionless as she glanced at Taki.
Now that she and Taki were in the same band again, a faint trace of anticipation could be seen in Umiri's normally tranquil eyes.
Tomori's eyes sparkled as she looked at everyone.
Her little face was slightly flushed, and a healing smile appeared on her lips.
This new band not only had Taki and Soyo, but also new companions.
Everything was thanks to Aki.
This time, she had to work even harder!
Tomori clenched her fist and held it against her chest.
Chihaya Anon rolled her eyes around before happily grinning.
"I made a group chat. I'll invite everyone to join!"
Anon added everyone as friends and invited them all into the group chat.
"Then, let's discuss the band's name—"
Just as Anon was excitedly preparing to discuss the band's name with everyone, Ririko Mashinori came over and reminded them:
"Sorry to interrupt, everyone."
"Taki, it's almost time for your shift."
Ririko looked at Taki, then at Rāna.
Looks like they're getting along quite well.
Little Rāna has finally found a band she likes too.
The worry in Ririko's heart disappeared.
"Okay, I'll go right away."
Taki stood up, then looked at Tomori apologetically.
"Sorry, Tomori. I can't walk you home."
Tomori shook her head.
"It's okay. Thank you, Taki. I'm going to the planetarium later anyway."
Taki nodded.
Since they couldn't practice today either, everyone prepared to leave.
They arrived at the entrance and began saying their goodbyes.
Hakushu walked over to Soyo, preparing to leave together with her.
Anon looked at the two of them standing together.
Out of everyone here, I only know you and Tomori!
Tomori already left because she's going to the planetarium.
How can you not leave with me?
Besides, she had a lot of questions she wanted to ask Hakushu.
Just as Hakushu was about to leave, Anon suddenly stepped forward and grabbed his arm.
"Wait!"
"What is it?"
Hakushu turned around in confusion.
Soyo also stopped and looked at Anon with a smile.
Anon scratched her cheek awkwardly.
"Well, there's something I want to ask you!"
Hakushu nodded.
There were indeed some things he wanted to talk to Anon about as well.
He then looked at Soyo.
"Soyo, you go ahead first."
"It's okay. I'll wait over here."
Soyo answered immediately.
She also had a whole stomach full of questions she wanted to ask Hakushu.
"It might take a while, though!"
Anon twirled a loose strand of hair around her finger and smiled apologetically at Soyo.
"Maybe you should go home first, Soyo."
Soyo secretly gritted her teeth.
Damn pink-haired girl.
But in order to maintain her image, Soyo nodded and gently reminded him:
"Then, Hakushu-kun, remember not to come home too late."
Anon froze for a moment.
Why does that sound so weird?
The way she said it makes it sound like the two of you live together.
However, she didn't think much of it.
Instead, she gratefully looked at Soyo.
"Bye-bye, Soyo-san!"
"See you."
Soyo smiled and waved goodbye.
The moment she turned around, however, the smile vanished from her face.
Hakushu and Anon headed in another direction.
Then Anon complained:
"So Rikki and Soyo were Tomori's old bandmates."
"Rikki?"
Hakushu looked at her strangely.
"That's Taki."
Anon smiled as she explained.
"It sounds like a monkey's cry, hehe."
Hakushu rolled his eyes.
"Just don't say that in front of her. Otherwise, I'm afraid she'll beat you up."
"It's fine. We're all in the same band now."
Anon casually waved her hand.
Hakushu: "…"
"I didn't expect both of them to show up today either."
Hakushu said.
Anon chuckled lightly, unable to suppress her curiosity.
"Why did their old band break up?"
Hakushu shook his head.
"I don't know either."
"If you knew both of them, why didn't you recommend them to me from the beginning?"
Anon began imagining the possibilities.
"Our band would have been formed ages ago!"
Hakushu answered:
"Wouldn't that have put you in a pretty awkward position? I was worried you wouldn't be comfortable with it."
Anon froze slightly.
The words escaped her mouth before she could think.
"I didn't expect you to be so…"
"So what?"
"So considerate of me!"
Anon turned her head away.
Her face was slightly red, and her voice became softer.
Hakushu looked at Anon strangely.
"Don't get the wrong idea!"
"It wasn't entirely for your sake. I was also thinking about Tomori."
"My original thought was that, since her old band made her unhappy, it would be better for her to completely cut ties with the past."
"I just didn't expect things to develop like this."
Hakushu sighed.
Anon pouted.
He really doesn't know how to make someone feel good.
"Don't forget, we still have to help Tomori understand that staying together for a lifetime isn't possible."
"I remember."
At that moment, Anon seemed to notice something.
She suddenly became flustered and began speaking incoherently.
"Th-that!"
"I suddenly remembered! Mom asked me to buy some things, and I forgot! I have to go first!"
"Are you really in such a hurry?"
Before Hakushu could even receive an answer, all he saw was Anon's pink-haired back as she quickly ran away.
Hakushu was left standing there in a daze.
She dragged me over here, only to run away herself.
Why does she look like she's fleeing after doing something guilty?
Directly ahead of Hakushu, two female students wearing JK uniforms were walking toward him.
"Hey, did you see that? That girl just now looked like Chihaya-senpai."
"Chihaya-senpai? You must have seen wrong. Didn't Chihaya go to study in England? It's not vacation yet."
"I'm not sure either… But she really looked like her. The same hair, and even her back looked the same."
"That handsome guy is still there. Let's go ask him."
"Okay! And he looks exactly like my type too!"
Her best friend rolled her eyes.
"Wait for me."
The two female students quickly walked over to Hakushu and stopped in front of him, blocking his path.
Their eyes practically sparkled as they stared at him.
Hakushu looked at them in confusion.
"Sorry to bother you."
One of the girls smiled and asked somewhat shyly:
"Excuse me, do you know the pink-haired girl who was here just now?"
Hakushu slowly nodded.
"Yeah. Why?"
"She looked like our student council president from middle school," the other girl explained.
"We wanted to come over and say hello, but we don't know why she suddenly ran away."
"The student council president later went to study abroad in England," the other girl added.
Student council president.
Studying abroad in England.
Not wanting people to know.
Running away.
Hakushu seemed to understand why Anon had suddenly fled.
"Then you two must have mistaken her for someone else. That girl is in the same band as me. She has severe social anxiety. There's no way she could have been a student council president."
Hakushu smiled.
Anon, you really need to thank me for this.
"As for why she suddenly left, it's because something urgent came up."
After hearing this, the two JK girls nodded, looking apologetic.
"Sorry, we must have made a mistake."
"I told you she wasn't Chihaya-senpai."
Hakushu didn't mind.
"I'm going to leave first."
He walked around the two girls and prepared to find somewhere to have dinner.
"Wait! Excuse me, could we exchange contact information?"
One of the girls suddenly asked, her pretty face slightly flushed as she pulled out her phone.
The other girl also looked at Hakushu expectantly.
Hakushu smiled and shook his head.
"If we happen to meet again next time, how about we exchange contacts then?"
With that, Hakushu walked away without looking back.
Because he thought he had just spotted a familiar little Mutsumi head.
And wasn't Mutsumi much more interesting than these two girls?
We got rejected.
The two girls looked slightly disappointed.
They sighed as they watched Hakushu's departing figure.
Then they looked at each other.
In that case, we'll just come here a few more times in the future and create some 'chance encounters'!
Soon, the two girls also left happily, giggling together.
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