"If Hoshino-kun wants to see a live performance, you can actually watch them here too."
As she spoke, Nagasaki Soyo showed a reminiscent expression.
"I remember there are often bands performing here, like Poppin'Party and Morfonica. Most tickets should be around 1500 to 3000 yen."
Hoshino Miru was somewhat surprised. He didn't expect her to seem so knowledgeable about these things.
However, what Hoshino Miru didn't know was that Nagasaki Soyo's school itself had many students who played in bands.
Among the bands Nagasaki Soyo just used as examples, several members were seniors from her school.
"Thank you." Hoshino Miru planned to look at the performance advertisements later. These types of shows generally had scheduled times.
"You're welcome. You're Mutsumi's friend, which means you're also my friend." Nagasaki Soyo smiled, then carefully examined Hoshino Miru's school uniform. "By the way, is Hoshino-kun a student at Toyosaki?"
She was somewhat uncertain because Tsukimori and Toyosaki weren't schools very close to each other. After observing for quite a while, she asked tentatively.
"Yes, I'm a second-year this year." Hoshino Miru answered.
Nagasaki Soyo was somewhat surprised and even more confused about how Hoshino Miru could have become friends with Wakaba Mutsumi.
Logically speaking, Wakaba Mutsumi wasn't the type to wander around everywhere either. Could it be because of family reasons?
"No wonder you seem so composed. It seems I should call you senpai." Just as Nagasaki Soyo finished speaking, she saw Hoshino Miru show a very strange expression. "Eh, did I say something wrong?"
"No, it's just that being suddenly called 'senpai' by a beautiful girl—I'm a bit unaccustomed to it." Hoshino Miru took a sip of coffee to steady himself. All he could say was that she truly deserved to be friends from the same band—her tactics were identical to Toyokawa Shoko's.
Nagasaki Soyo paused for a moment. He was being a bit too direct, wasn't he?
"Ahaha, I think Hoshino-senpai is very good-looking. You must be quite popular at school, right?"
"Not as impressive as you imagine, and my school doesn't have underclassmen as pretty as you."
"Eh, is this the latest complimenting technique?"
"I'm being honest."
Hoshino Miru knew what she was thinking. She wanted to figure out his relationship with Wakaba Mutsumi, especially wanting to find out the opportunity or intermediary that allowed him and Wakaba Mutsumi to meet.
Nagasaki Soyo was Wakaba Mutsumi's classmate and had also been a bandmate in the same group, indicating she understood Wakaba Mutsumi's personality and social circle.
For Hoshino Miru to suddenly appear was really too strange.
Therefore, Hoshino Miru steered their conversation increasingly off-track until even he didn't know what nonsense he was spouting.
Nagasaki Soyo clearly couldn't hold on much longer. Her smile became forced.
"Why don't we exchange contact information?" Finally, Nagasaki Soyo took out her phone.
Hoshino Miru had no reason to refuse her, so he added her as a friend.
"Great, I'm so happy to meet Hoshino-senpai today." Nagasaki Soyo held her phone as if placing it over her heart. "I always thought no one played with Mutsumi. Having Hoshino-senpai keep Mutsumi company finally puts me at ease."
"Actually, I'm even more pleasantly surprised. After seeing you, I finally understand what Mutsumi felt like when she used to play in a band." Hoshino Miru suddenly smiled.
"Eh?" Nagasaki Soyo tilted her head. "I don't quite understand what Hoshino-senpai means?"
"Literally." Hoshino Miru put away his phone, finding it particularly amusing in his heart.
A hot-tempered drummer, a little green tea bassist, a maverick keyboardist, and a taciturn guitarist.
Although he didn't know what the lead vocalist's situation was, Hoshino Miru felt their band was an exceptionally rare type.
Even without Toyokawa Shoko's departure, this band probably wouldn't have lasted long, right?
Although saying this was somewhat unfair to Wakaba Mutsumi and Toyokawa Shoko.
Seeing him like this, Nagasaki Soyo smiled somewhat unnaturally, but inwardly she was bewildered and uncertain. What exactly did he mean just now?
Immediately after, Nagasaki Soyo began feeling irritated. She hated this kind of opponent.
...
By the time Hoshino Miru walked out of RiNG's entrance, the shadows of dusk had already spread across the entire street.
"Don't you want to stay and chat with them a bit longer?" Hoshino Miru turned to look at Wakaba Mutsumi beside him. She had rarely encountered former bandmates, yet from start to finish she hadn't said a word.
"We have no topics to discuss." Wakaba Mutsumi first shook her head, then hesitated slightly before asking softly, "Earlier... were you angry?"
"Angry?" Hoshino Miru paused, then smiled. "I'm not angry, just don't understand."
Wakaba Mutsumi showed a confused expression. She looked very cute, making Hoshino Miru unable to resist reaching out to pat her head, completely forgetting this was a very rude action.
"My Mutsumi-sensei is clearly very cute and plays guitar especially beautifully. If I had such a friend, I would cherish them for life." Hoshino Miru said, "Yet someone couldn't even give a simple greeting, so I'm a bit annoyed. But don't worry, I won't fight with your friends."
Hoshino Miru was well aware of this—to their band, he was just an outsider.
Even if they fought, it would be meaningless. The real key was still their own issues.
After saying this, Hoshino Miru didn't hear Wakaba Mutsumi's voice. He instinctively glanced over and found her pretty face had long since turned completely red, her small hands gripping her skirt.
Hoshino Miru came to his senses and belatedly withdrew his hand. Although he wanted to pretend nothing had happened, Wakaba Mutsumi glanced at him, then slowly looked away, making him feel a bit awkward too.
"Next time, want to go watch a performance together?" Hoshino Miru shifted the topic.
"Yes." Wakaba Mutsumi slightly turned her gaze back to him. Their eyes met briefly, then immediately separated.
"Should we each head home now?" Hoshino Miru tentatively probed with a question.
Wakaba Mutsumi softly hummed in acknowledgment, making Hoshino Miru breathe a sigh of relief. But just as he was about to leave, the girl suddenly reached out and grabbed the hem of his shirt.
"Do you have something to say to me?" Hoshino Miru turned his head slightly to look at her face.
Wakaba Mutsumi lowered her head, her thumb and index finger lightly pinching the hem of Hoshino Miru's shirt. A few strands of hair fell down, perfectly concealing her expression.
"The band... was fun." Wakaba Mutsumi said softly, as if defending herself from what Shiina Ritsuki had said. "Being together with everyone was fun, but I couldn't play well, so it wasn't fun."
Hoshino Miru paused, then heard her continue.
"Playing guitar together with Miru is more fun." Wakaba Mutsumi seemed embarrassed, her voice gradually getting softer. "If possible, I hope Miru will also be happy. I can keep teaching forever..."
These words seemed to have exhausted all the girl's courage. She couldn't continue, not even lifting her head. Only the tip of her ear showing through her hair was slowly turning red.
After waiting quite a while without hearing Hoshino Miru's voice, Wakaba Mutsumi quietly raised her gaze and found Hoshino Miru fiddling with his phone, then looking at Wakaba Mutsumi with a completely serious expression.
"I don't think I heard clearly just now. Can Mutsumi call my name again?"
...
[Target: Wakaba Mutsumi]
[Intimacy: 30]
[Status: After finally gathering the courage...]
[Through these past days together, Wakaba Mutsumi has begun trying to open her heart to you.]
[Wakaba Mutsumi's intimacy toward you has increased. You can choose any one of the following options.]
[...]
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