After a while, Akiyama Mio couldn't bear to watch anymore. Tainaka Ritsu was all smug and chattering away nonstop.
Can't she be a little serious? How are they supposed to recruit new members like this?
So, Akiyama Mio chopped her hand down onto Ritsu's forehead.
Only then did Tainaka Ritsu quiet down, covering her reddened forehead with a pitiful expression.
"How did Bai Qiu‑kun know that Ritsu is the club president?"
Kotobuki Tsumugi blinked her big eyes and asked Bai Qiu.
Hearing that, the other two also looked over.
Right, come to think of it, no one had actually said Ritsu was the president.
"Of course it's because Ritsu‑san is sitting in the center. And she gives off this strong leader aura."
Bai Qiu said with an exaggerated expression.
"R‑Really? Ahahaha!"
Ritsu got smug again.
Akiyama Mio looked at Bai Qiu with a subtle expression. She had the vague feeling that he was doing this on purpose—praising Ritsu just to make her float off the ground.
To avoid Ritsu falling back into that state again…
Akiyama Mio gathered her courage and asked, "B‑Bai Qiu‑kun, what did you come to find us for?"
He couldn't be here to blame her for what happened last time, right? Thinking that, Mio suddenly felt uneasy.
"Of course I'm here to apply to join the Light Music Club. But not me—this classmate beside me."
Bai Qiu lightly tapped Hirasawa Yui next to him.
Mio's tension loosened, then quickly turned into excitement.
"Join the club?!" ×3
"My name is Hirasawa Yui. You can just call me Yui!"
She hadn't found anything to eat, which was a little disappointing, but meeting so many cute girls wasn't bad either.
After the initial shock, Mio, Mugi, and Ritsu exchanged a glance, their eyes shimmering.
The meaning was obvious—
They absolutely had to keep this clumsy, airheaded girl here.
Then, Tainaka Ritsu suddenly sat up straight, crossed her legs, and snapped her fingers.
"Mugi, tea."
"Okay~"
Kotobuki Tsumugi smiled sweetly and got up to prepare tea and snacks.
In no time, a small, delicate cake and a cup of steaming black tea were placed in front of each person.
Even the tableware looked fancy.
"Please enjoy."
Mugi said with her eyes gently narrowed, clearly delighted to prepare food for everyone.
Hirasawa Yui's eyes sparkled instantly. "Thank you!"
As expected, Xiao Qiu didn't lie—there really was delicious food here!
Unable to resist the temptation, Yui immediately started tasting the afternoon tea.
Bai Qiu also brightened up and took a sip of the black tea.
Delicious.
This was more like it!
This was the proper treatment one should receive after coming to the Light Music Club.
Seeing the two successfully lured by food, the three girls revealed satisfied smiles.
Akiyama Mio: "Yui‑san, what instrument do you play?"
Yui swallowed a bite of cake. "So good! I can play the castanets."
"And call me Yui, okay? Since I'm calling you Mio‑chan too."
Mio's face reddened. So fast?! But she still managed to reply, "Mm… Yui…"
Ritsu looked surprised. "Castanets?"
Yui's heart tightened. Wait—if she couldn't play anything, would she not be allowed into this fun club?
But Ritsu's next words eased her fears.
"No problem at all! Even if you can't play anything, you can still join the Light Music Club!"
The Light Music Club's requirements felt weirdly low, but Mio continued asking,
"Yui, why do you want to join the Light Music Club?"
Yui had finished her cake and looked longingly at the untouched piece on Bai Qiu's plate.
"Because Xiao Qiu said this place has free—"
Halfway through, she realized that probably wasn't a good thing to say out loud.
"Free?"
Mio tilted her head.
"Because… I like relaxing music!"
"Oh, relaxing music? So that's how Yui understands the Light Music Club."
That answer seemed to satisfy Mio.
"Last question. The Light Music Club is currently short one guitarist. Yui, would you like to be that guitarist?"
Ritsu asked directly.
"I'll do my best!"
Yui declared firmly.
Great! The Light Music Club's disbandment crisis was solved!
Ritsu was excited—now she could finally be a proper club president.
Right away, she pulled out a club application form, and Yui signed her name.
"Welcome!" ×3
Applause rang out…
…
Bai Qiu, seeing this, finally felt relieved.
Finishing the last sip of tea, he stood up. "Then I'll leave Yui to you all. I'll be going first."
"You're leaving already? Not staying for another cup?" Mugi looked a bit disappointed.
"Xiao Qiu, aren't you joining too?" Yui asked with confusion.
"Me? I brought you here, didn't I?"
Bai Qiu paused mid‑step.
"Then join with me!" Yui said, whining a little.
Bai Qiu shook his head. "I'll pass."
"But you joined Akari's Astronomy Club!"
"Well, yeah, I already have a club."
Bai Qiu was even more confused.
"Then why won't you join with me? You're being unfair."
Saying that, Yui grabbed Bai Qiu's untouched cake and started devouring it.
Bai Qiu froze. Wait—this feels wrong.
Meanwhile, Ritsu's eyes lit up.
I never said I'd let you leave!
She pulled Mio and Mugi aside and whispered:
"I heard club funding is tied to member count. If we can get Bai Qiu‑kun to stay too, we'll get more money! So…"
Mugi wasn't interested in money, but her eyes sparkled anyway.
Mio blushed. "But… Bai Qiu‑kun is a boy…"
"Mio! Don't you want a new tuner? With funds, we can buy anything!"
Ritsu tempted her.
After a token struggle, Mio caved.
"U‑Um… leave it to me!"
Ritsu nodded in satisfaction.
…
"Aki‑kun, don't go!"
Before Bai Qiu even moved, Ritsu slid across the floor in a dramatic tackle and clung to his leg.
Seeing Ritsu completely throw away her image, Mio instinctively wanted to stop her.
But remembering what Ritsu said earlier—
For funding… for the tuner…
Mio bit her lip and held back.
Bai Qiu was startled.
"What are you doing?"
He tugged his leg, but it didn't budge at all.
Drummers sure are strong…
"If you don't join, the Light Music Club will get disbanded!"
Feeling him struggle, Ritsu tightened her grip.
"Disband?!"
"Hold on, let go of me first."
Bai Qiu said helplessly.
"If we don't get five members, we can't apply to be an official club. You wouldn't want the club Yui just joined to get dissolved, right?"
Ritsu said with a serious face, even playing the emotional angle.
Yui, having finished the stolen cake, got excited—she hadn't known about such a rule. Great!
Huh? Really?
Bai Qiu distinctly remembered that four members were the minimum needed.
"Isn't four enough?"
Ritsu froze. "Ah… ah, that was last year's rule! You know the school expanded enrollment this year, so now it's five. Trust me!"
The more she talked, the more confident she became. Classic Ritsu.
Bai Qiu listened. It… kind of made sense?
Though something felt off.
So did he really have to join? Or go find someone else?
Otherwise, the club would disband—or get downgraded like Akari's Astronomy Club.
Being downgraded didn't actually sound that bad…
They could just call it the Light Music Association.
No no no, he'd get yelled at.
Bai Qiu looked to Mio and Mugi.
Yui didn't count—there's no way she knew the rules.
"Is that true? You really need five?"
Mugi's face flushed bright red. "Y‑Yes!"
And after saying it, she looked… thrilled.
Her first time lying—apparently it felt surprisingly exciting.
Mio lowered her head, cheeks burning, voice barely audible. "Y‑Yeah… I think so…"
Oh god. How could Ritsu lie so confidently?!
Mio's head was spinning.
At this moment, Ritsu already looked as if victory was in her grasp.
Think so?
It was painfully obvious these two weren't good at lying. Bai Qiu could practically feel Ritsu scamming him, so he called it:
"You two are lying!"
Ah—caught.
"Amazing!"
Mugi looked even more excited.
"S‑Sorry, we shouldn't have lied to you."
Mio broke instantly, unable to endure moral pressure.
"Wait—Mio, Mugi—!"
Tch. She didn't expect him to be this hard to manipulate.
Since soft tactics failed, Ritsu dropped the act entirely.
"You… you saw my pantsu… If you don't join, I'll…"
Ritsu gritted her teeth, her voice trembling, eyes filling with tears.
Mugi chimed in with a fake angry glare at Bai Qiu.
"Stop!"
"And don't wipe your tears and snot on me…"
Bai Qiu raised both hands, sweating nervously. Even though he knew she was acting—
She was way too convincing!
Ritsu… you're wasted on the Light Music Club.Maybe the Drama Club would suit you better.
"You'll what?" Bai Qiu asked.
"Please… if you join the Light Music Club… I'll do anything!"