After school, Sato arrived at the clubroom.
Clatter!
The clubroom door was an old sliding door, so opening it produced quite a loud noise.
"Sato, you finally came! Hurry up and come help us check things over!"
Ritsu waved at him from afar.
At that moment, the members of the Light Music Club were gathered in the performance area. While walking upstairs earlier, he had vaguely heard some sounds. They were probably practicing "Wings Flying Side by Side."
Sato nodded toward them. After entering the clubroom, he subconsciously swept his gaze around the entire room.
Suddenly, his eyes locked onto a certain figure, and his eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
Oh?
He actually came today?
And upon noticing Sato's gaze, that figure hurriedly turned his head away.
Without changing expression, Sato walked to his seat, set down his bag, then slowly walked behind that figure.
"Hikigaya-kun."
"Eek!"
That calm voice immediately made Hikigaya Hachiman shudder, and half his heart turned cold.
Crap!
Why did this guy suddenly come looking for me? Don't tell me the matter's been exposed?!
"Oh, what is it?"
He did his best to maintain his composure as he calmly turned to look at Sato. Right now, he looked a little like the female version of Yukinoshita Yukino, which only made Sato more certain that this guy had something to hide.
At the moment, Yuigahama Yui was helping out in the performance area.
Not far from Hikigaya Hachiman sat Yukinoshita Yukino. Seeing the strange behavior between the two, she paused while turning a page in her book and cast them a puzzled look.
What were those two doing?
Sato placed one hand on Hikigaya Hachiman's shoulder, then softly whispered into his ear:
"I say, Hachiman, have you heard any rumors around school lately?"
His voice was gentle, but it carried a spine-chilling feeling.
Holy crap!
He really knows?!
Cold sweat instantly broke out all over Hikigaya Hachiman. He suddenly felt like he was doomed!
But this clearly wasn't scientific!
He roared inwardly.
He still remembered how Sato's widely spread "playboy" reputation had taken more than half a year before finally reaching Sato's own ears.
So why had his own little siscon rumor gotten him caught this quickly?
And why had he pinpointed him so accurately?!
Watching the unusually calm Hikigaya Hachiman, Sato had already become almost completely certain that this guy was the one who spread the rumor.
Seriously, what the hell.
Between the two of us, which one is actually the siscon? Don't you have any self-awareness at all?!
Sato complained inwardly.
Exactly whose life goal was becoming a househusband? Exactly who was the one who once said that if not for the boundary of blood relations, then...
Forget it, forget it. Hikigaya Hachiman's siscon tendencies were really beyond saving.
Come to think of it, he really did feel a little worried for Komachi, having an older brother like this.
As for why he had identified Hikigaya Hachiman so quickly...
That was even more obvious.
Since the rumor had spread from the second years, then among all the little sisters he had seen there, besides Hikigaya Komachi, whose little sister had he ever met?
Yukinoshita Yukino was technically a younger sister too, but surely she wasn't the one spreading it, right?
Him being obsessed with her?
At that thought, Sato involuntarily glanced toward Yukinoshita Yukino.
The girl looked at him with clear eyes, slightly furrowed brows, and a puzzled expression.
What?
Sato shook his head.
Meanwhile, Hikigaya Hachiman forced himself to stay calm and innocently asked:
"What rumor? I haven't heard any rumors lately!"
"Oh? Haven't heard any?"
Sato gave Hikigaya Hachiman a long, meaningful look. Only after staring until his scalp tingled did he finally reveal a bright smile.
"If you haven't heard anything, then forget it. But if I find the guy responsible... hehe."
Hiss!
That was a threat, right?!
That definitely was a threat, right?!
Hikigaya Hachiman immediately sucked in a cold breath. Watching Sato leave after letting out two cold chuckles, he swallowed hard.
...
"What were you two talking about over there?"
After walking over to the performance area, Ritsu asked curiously.
"Nothing much."
Sato waved his hand, then looked at the members of the Light Music Club.
"How's the practice going?"
"We're still kind of rusty. We haven't even memorized the tune yet," Mio answered while hugging her bass. She looked somewhat tired.
A new song couldn't be perfected overnight. It required constant practice and training. After all, they weren't master-level musicians who could immediately play any song after seeing it once.
"Then play it once for me."
"Is that okay? We're still not very good at it yet!"
"It's fine. Just take it slowly."
"Oh right!"
Ritsu suddenly interrupted from the side.
"Who should sing this song?"
"There's a vocal version besides the instrumental version, right?"
Sato thought for a moment after hearing that.
"Let Mio do it."
"Huh? Me?"
Mio pointed at herself in surprise, then quickly waved her hands with a blush on her face.
"N-no way! This is music for a game! How could I possibly do it?!"
"It has to be you."
Sato patted Mio's shoulder and smiled.
"This role belongs to you alone. Your voice is the only one here that really fits the style."
What "Wings Flying Side by Side" needed was a voice that was clear and bright while still retaining softness.
Whether it was the rich girl or Yui, their voices were both rather soft and fluffy. Ritsu could work too, but she lacked a certain softness.
"Hehe! If that's the case, then we'll leave it to Mio!"
Ritsu laughed as she patted Mio's other shoulder.
"But..."
Mio pursed her lips. Being the lead vocalist or something was just way too embarrassing.
"Oh right, the pay for singing is counted separately, so you might earn a little extra. Maybe enough to buy two more new outfits."
Sato's voice was calm, but full of temptation.
Girls, after all, probably liked buying new clothes the most.
Sure enough, Mio's eyes lit up after hearing that. What girl didn't like pretty clothes?
After hesitating for a while, she half-reluctantly agreed.
But...
Looking at Mio's expression, Sato suddenly felt a bit strange.
If Mio found out that the song she was singing was meant for an eroge galgame, what kind of reaction would she have?
She'd probably...
Die of embarrassment, right?