Returning home, Wakaba Mutsuki put down her guitar.
Soon after, she received a message from Nagasaki Sose and showed a very confused expression.
"Nagasaki Sose: Mutsuki, I don't mean any harm - I just want to ask you a question."
"Wakaba Mutsuki: What?"
"Nagasaki Sose: Did you go out today?"
"Wakaba Mutsuki: Yes."
"Nagasaki Sose: Was someone with you?"
Wakaba Mutsuki became even more confused, but she wasn't an idiot either. With Nagasaki Sose asking to this extent, even someone with the longest reflex arc would react.
Had someone seen her with Hoshino Miru today?
"Nagasaki Sose: Don't misunderstand - it's really nothing. A friend seemed to see a girl who looked a lot like you today, so I just wanted to ask."
Wakaba Mutsuki thought for a moment. Hoshino Miru had said the key wasn't whether she'd say the wrong thing, but that she needed to have the courage to speak up.
"Wakaba Mutsuki: He's my friend."
"Nagasaki Sose: Friend?"
"Nagasaki Sose: You scared me! I thought Mutsuki had already gotten a boyfriend - so it's a friend."
Wakaba Mutsuki was stunned. Did she and Hoshino Miru really look that much like a couple?
Originally she wouldn't have felt anything special, but now seeing this term, Wakaba Mutsuki remembered the afternoon at the park, thought of Hoshino Miru's face, felt a sensation that made her cheeks heat up - it seemed her heart was pounding again.
She suddenly discovered she had many things she hadn't taught Hoshino Miru yet and began looking forward to the next time they'd meet.
On the other side, Nagasaki Sose held her phone, typed out some text, felt unsatisfied with it, deleted and edited, and finally sent it.
"Nagasaki Sose: Does he also play guitar?"
"Wakaba Mutsuki: Yes, we've been practicing together recently."
"Nagasaki Sose: Are you... practicing at our old place?"
"Wakaba Mutsuki: Yes."
Nagasaki Sose's hands holding the phone began to tremble. She didn't dare continue asking.
Since he wasn't a boyfriend but was a friend who played guitar together, and they'd been practicing together recently, still at their old place.
As expected, besides Toyokawa Sakiko, now even Wakaba Mutsuki had betrayed their band.
Nagasaki Sose didn't want to believe this. She'd clearly been working hard to make Toyokawa Sakiko change her mind, persistently sending messages every day.
As long as they could meet face-to-face, Nagasaki Sose felt she'd very likely be able to convince Toyokawa Sakiko to return to the band.
But why would Wakaba Mutsuki choose to join someone else's band at this time?
Plus she said they'd been practicing together recently - meaning practicing for stage performances?
Could it be that among everyone, she was the only one reminiscing about the past?
Nagasaki Sose stared blankly at her phone screen, letting the screen go black, finally gritting her teeth.
No, she had to see the situation with her own eyes!
...
[Today, you successfully changed Wakaba Mutsuki's mindset, letting her realize she also has the ability to change herself.]
[Wakaba Mutsuki's intimacy toward you has increased. You may choose one from the following options.]
[One: Stamina +1] [Two: Photos of Wakaba Mutsuki from childhood] [Three: Mori Minami's private phone number]
He'd gotten another reward from Wakaba Mutsuki today, but Hoshino Miru wasn't particularly moved. It was always like this at the start - he'd heard the stage when relationships increased fastest was the first month or two.
But who was this Mori Minami?
Hoshino Miru was somewhat confused. Based on his impression of the system, rewards were related to the person herself - there shouldn't be another person's name appearing.
Unless this Mori Minami was a very important existence to Wakaba Mutsuki.
Could she be family?
Hoshino Miru thought about it but didn't particularly dwell on this point. In the end, he still chose to increase [Stamina]. His current physical fitness was only a bit stronger than most people.
For the next few days, Hoshino Miru didn't go to the practice room with Wakaba Mutsuki. Not because Kasugano Sora was jealous - after last time's incident, she wasn't too concerned about Hoshino Miru going out.
On the contrary, Kasugano Sora clung to Hoshino Miru even more. Every time after bathing, she'd come to his side and have him help dry her hair.
Hoshino Miru felt she was doing it on purpose, because each time she'd sit in his lap and occasionally rub against him lightly.
Regarding this sister, Hoshino Miru felt he should discipline her properly soon, or she'd become increasingly bold.
Though thinking this way, this spring break was about to end.
Hoshino Miru didn't invite Wakaba Mutsuki to practice guitar at the shop but met her at the previous coffee shop instead.
"Thank you Mutsuki for being willing to look after me these days. Today's my treat - order whatever you want to eat."
Since Wakaba Mutsuki had let Hoshino Miru call her by name last time, he naturally wouldn't be polite - now when meeting, he'd call her Mutsuki.
Wakaba Mutsuki held the menu, quietly hiding her pretty face behind it. Though she was the one who let him call her by name, Hoshino Miru did so too readily.
Should she also call Hoshino Miru by his name?
The girl moved her lips but couldn't call it out. Instead, she became even more embarrassed. She didn't know why she was so shy and could only pretend to look at the menu while occasionally stealing glances at Hoshino Miru.
Seeing what Hoshino Miru ordered, she also ordered the same things.
"Nothing you like?" Hoshino Miru was somewhat curious.
"These are enough." Wakaba Mutsuki discovered she seemed unable to meet his eyes directly and hurriedly changed the topic. "How's... guitar practice going?"
"I feel the fundamentals are pretty much practiced." Hoshino Miru said. "Though I'm very grateful to Mutsuki, we're not talking about guitar today."
Wakaba Mutsuki obediently nodded. Actually, if not talking about guitar, she didn't know what to chat with Hoshino Miru about.
"School's starting soon. I probably won't have much time to go to the shop anymore." Hoshino Miru saw the girl pause and, thinking she felt he was giving up, couldn't help adding: "Of course, I'll still practice at home normally."
Before he said it out loud, Wakaba Mutsuki completely hadn't realized this point. After he finished speaking, the girl's heart squeezed slightly. She suddenly remembered - she and Hoshino Miru had only spent a bit over a week together.
Moreover, the two didn't meet every day. Hoshino Miru sometimes practiced at home.
If Hoshino Miru hadn't spoken up, Wakaba Mutsuki had already forgotten - this was just one spring break.
Wakaba Mutsuki inexplicably felt distressed. In two more days, school would start.
She and Hoshino Miru weren't students at the same school. With spring break ending, they'd each return to their own lives. Hoshino Miru might have to participate in club activities and would have friends - naturally, the time available for guitar practice would become less and less.
This was very normal. Hoshino Miru had also said guitar wasn't his necessity, just a temporary interest.
Moreover, he wasn't a band guitarist - there was no need to practice guitar every day.
Wakaba Mutsuki clutched her skirt hem at a loss. She'd just planned to teach everything she knew to Hoshino Miru - it hadn't even started yet.
She didn't notice Hoshino Miru was also frozen, motionless.
[Target: Wakaba Mutsuki] [Intimacy: 20→25] [Status: Don't...]
Hoshino Miru was startled. Not only was intimacy surging, but this time he could also see the girl's status.
How strange. He'd done nothing just now, hadn't even used [Sensitivity].
"Do you want to say something to me?" Hoshino Miru tested with a sentence.
Wakaba Mutsuki lowered her head. She couldn't stop Hoshino Miru. Even if he gave up guitar, she had no standing to object.
Watching the girl's reaction, Hoshino Miru immediately understood.
"If Mutsuki thinks she won't be able to see me after school starts, that's completely wrong." Hoshino Miru kept a straight face. "My passion for guitar really can't compare to Mutsuki's, but don't underestimate my interest in beautiful girls."
Wakaba Mutsuki initially didn't understand his meaning, then realized later - the beautiful girl he mentioned was herself.
"I... I only have guitar..." Wakaba Mutsuki appeared somewhat constrained. The only thing she possessed was guitar - if Hoshino Miru gave up guitar, she didn't know how to interact with him.
"What does it matter? We're friends." Hoshino Miru said matter-of-factly. "Even without guitar, I'd still be friends with Mutsuki."
"Even without... guitar?" Wakaba Mutsuki looked dazed, because she felt Hoshino Miru had befriended her precisely for her guitar.
"Even without is fine, though I think having guitar is better." Hoshino Miru touched his chin. "It might be my imagination, but when Mutsuki plays guitar, her whole being sparkles."
Finding him looking over, Wakaba Mutsuki raised the menu, blocking his line of sight, because she was too shy.
[Intimacy 25→27]
Hoshino Miru was stunned. He hadn't done anything - why was intimacy rising so fast today?
However, Hoshino Miru didn't notice the figure outside the window.
Toyokawa Sakiko discovered the two were already at the coffee shop and was about to smile, wanting to go over and say hello.
Then Toyokawa Sakiko saw Wakaba Mutsuki using the menu to hide her pretty face, not letting Hoshino Miru see her current expression - secretly, gently lifting the corners of her mouth with some shyness, but anyone could see she was very happy right now.
Toyokawa Sakiko stood outside. It seemed even she had never seen Wakaba Mutsuki show such an expression before.