"A band..."
Hearing that word, Tomori froze for a moment. Her gaze dropped hesitantly to her hands, which were curled together in front of her, but she didn't say anything.
Anon was about to scold herself. I should've been more careful. She had only just learned that Tomori and Sakiko had apparently fallen out over something related to their old band—bringing this up so directly might've been a mistake.
But then Anon noticed something.
This time, even though Tomori had lowered her head again and withdrawn from the conversation, she didn't seem sad or dejected like before.
She's hesitating… or maybe afraid?
Anon immediately picked up on the subtle shift in Tomori's emotions. And with that, she had an idea.
Tomori definitely wants to be in a band again. But… is she afraid of repeating whatever happened in the past?
Then, what about Kyo?
Kyo had said earlier that she didn't know much about why the band broke up. But for some reason, Anon couldn't quite believe that.
Because in less than half a day of knowing her, Kyo had already left a strong impression.
Even if she really hadn't been there when the band disbanded, as she claimed, she must've sensed something was wrong before it happened. And with how sharp she was, she might've even guessed that someone was going to quit and deliberately showed up late that day—so she wouldn't have to face the worst of it directly.
Anon stole a glance at Kyo, trying to gauge her reaction.
Right now, Kyo was walking close to Tomori, just like Anon had when she was trying to comfort her earlier. Simply standing next to her seemed to unconsciously pull some of Tomori's focus away from her thoughts, interrupting whatever she had been mulling over.
Kyo… thinks Tomori is just feeling down again.
She hadn't noticed what Anon had—that this time, Tomori's reaction wasn't the same as before. It only looked identical, which had led Kyo to misread the situation.
To Anon, it felt like Kyo was coddling Tomori a little too much. Sure, Tomori had been hesitating, but maybe if she had been given more time, she would've been able to say yes to forming a band. Instead, Kyo had unknowingly derailed that process.
Still, now that Tomori's attention was elsewhere, Anon took the chance to ask Kyo directly.
"Kyo, what do you think about starting a band?"
Anon wasn't the only one curious—Tomori instinctively perked up, eager to hear Kyo's answer. If Kyo was open to forming a band again…
"Hmm… I don't really care either way."
But Kyo's response was vague, giving away nothing about how she actually felt.
In truth, Kyo had little personal interest in forming a band, but she wasn't against the idea either. She just didn't want to be in a band with Tomori.
Not because she disliked her.
But because her whole reason for encouraging Tomori to get back into music was so she could find a space where she could shout, release her emotions, and express herself freely. If Kyo were in the band too, Tomori might just end up relying on her again, using that dependence as her emotional outlet.
And that would only bring Kyo back to the same dilemma she had been struggling with all this time.
Yet, despite wanting to push Tomori toward independence, Kyo had just now—without even realizing it—interfered in a way that had prevented Tomori from deciding to form a new band.
She didn't see the contradiction in her own actions.
Clearly, neither Anon nor Tomori were satisfied with Kyo's answer.
Tomori turned her head away again, absentmindedly following the other two as they walked forward, lost in thought.
Anon, still uncertain about what Kyo was thinking, suddenly found herself at a loss for words too.
Fortunately, by then, they had reached the club building. The sounds of various instruments playing drifted from inside—some clubs had left their doors open on purpose, hoping to lure in new members with the inviting music.
"Instrumental Club, Orchestra Club, Lyric Composition Society…"
Despite the upperclassmen enthusiastically introducing their clubs, Kyo and the others just couldn't find one they wanted to join.
Anon propped her chin on one hand, looking thoughtful. "Aren't there any more laid-back clubs? These all feel so serious."
Even though she had started entertaining the idea of forming a band, to Anon, a band was more of a social tool—something that would help her connect with people and maybe even attract some attention.
So if possible, a casual, fun-oriented band would be the perfect fit for her.
"Hey, hey, Kyo, what kind of band was CRYCHIC?"
Anon hadn't given up on digging into Tomori and Kyo's past band experiences. If she could convince the two of them to form a band with her, that'd be the best outcome!
"It was an interesting band."
Kyo thought about it for a moment. Yeah, interesting was probably the best way to describe it. The members were all great talkers, easy on the eyes, and always managed to leave her feeling… unsettled.
But Kyo knew that answer would sound too half-hearted to Anon, so she added, "If you really want to get a sense of it, you could check out a live house called RiNG. A lot of bands there are looking for new members—it's probably a similar vibe."
"A live house, huh…"
A place with professional sound systems and stage setups… It all felt a little too serious for Anon.
So Tomori's band was actually that dedicated?
If she invited Tomori to start a band, would it have to be like CRYCHIC—something that took itself that seriously?
"Anon, are you thinking a live house is too hardcore for a girls' band?"
"Wh—wha?! No, not at all!"
Caught off guard by Kyo reading her mind, Anon let out an ungraceful noise.
How does she do that…? I didn't even show it on my face, did I?
Anon rubbed her cheeks, suddenly questioning herself.
Poor Anon had no idea—Kyo had already been through the trial of reading the perfectly expressionless Wakaba Mutsumi and the deceptive genius idol Musumi Uika. Compared to them, Anon's thoughts were practically written on her forehead.
Of course, the real reason was simply that Anon was just that easy to read—bright, straightforward, and even when scheming, her intentions came across as refreshingly pure.
Heh heh. If someone cracked Kyo open, the flood of underhanded thoughts spilling out might just send Anon running.
"I told you before, right? We're in the Era of Girls' Bands now. Live houses aren't just for professional musicians anymore. In fact, RiNG was practically made for girls' bands to have a place to perform."
Kyo explained enthusiastically, deliberately guiding Anon toward seeing live houses as a perfectly normal stage for girls' bands, easing her doubts.
After all, if Anon decided she wanted to start a band with Tomori, that would be exactly what Kyo wanted.
---
T/N:
Hello again. For the final time.
My name is Enkidu. I was born without a soul, crafted only as a weapon. Yet through bonds—through friendships—I learned what it meant to feel alive. Even though my body records my memories rather than my spirit, the warmth of those moments remains.
Thank you, truly, for staying here with us. You've come at a good time—right now, a 25% discount code is available:
12DAYS
This code will last until December 26. I hope you enjoy it.
For those who wish to support the translator (the one who kindly gave me this voice)—you can find optional support at patreon.com/wisetl. Early access to upcoming chapters will be your small reward.
Also, as always:
Every 100 Powerstones = 1 Bonus Chapter
(100ps = 1 chapter, 200ps = 2 chapters, and so forth.)
Bonus chapters will arrive tomorrow, approximately 12+ hours from now.
And lastly, if you prefer company and conversations, the translator has prepared a Discord community: discord.gg/wisetl.
People gathering, talking, sharing—it's a good thing, isn't it?
This is where I say goodbye.
Even as a weapon shaped by the gods, I found meaning in the company of humans.
If these words reach you, then perhaps we've shared something too, if only briefly.
Be well, Master, and readers alike.
May the world remain gentle to you.
Goodbye.
BYE BYE ENKIDYU I LOVE YOU