The next morning, in the classroom.
At the back row.
"小秋, do you want to go check out guitars after school?"
Hirasawa Yui faced Bai Qiu, her tone cheerful as she extended the invitation.
Of course, it wasn't just the two of them.
Yui still didn't have an instrument.
So, the members of the Light Music Club decided that after school, they'd take Yui to the music store first to see if she could find a guitar she liked.
Bai Qiu thought for a moment, imagining the five of them—four girls and one boy—going out together.
It sounded… nice.
So, maybe he shouldn't go after all?
It was just looking at guitars. No need to join the group and make a fuss.
Besides, he had been to the music store a few days ago, and he wasn't all that interested in going again.
He shook his head. "Maybe… you guys go without me."
"Come with us! You're a club member too, Xiao Qiu—we're a community of shared destiny!"
Bai Qiu blinked. "A community of shared destiny?"
Things were moving too fast.
Yui happily explained, "Ritsu said it—it sounds cool, right?"
Ritsu… just her?
She could actually come up with something so deep and meaningful.
Bai Qiu doubted it in his heart.
But he still nodded to confirm. "I have some other things to do."
"Alright then."
Yui let out a light sigh, a bit disappointed.
"If you don't have enough money, I could lend you some," Bai Qiu added. He remembered the guitar Yui had her eye on was quite expensive.
But with K-On's skilled haggling techniques, she probably got it for a good price.
Still, if he lent her money to buy it, maybe he could earn a few music notes too.
"Oh, that's great!"
Yui perked up immediately, relieved. She had been worried she didn't have enough.
After all, she spent whatever she had!
Then Bai Qiu explained the concept of a "ghost club member" to Yui, since she clearly hadn't listened yesterday, being too busy eating.
"Ding-a-ling-ling."
The bell rang, class started.
Bai Qiu looked up.
Somehow, Takamatsu Akari was already at her seat.
She was staring in Bai Qiu's direction, oblivious even to the bell.
Bai Qiu reminded her gently.
"Tou, what's wrong?"
"Class started."
"Ah… never mind."
Takamatsu Akari, startled like a little penguin, quickly turned back and avoided looking at Bai Qiu, her eyes on the little stones on the desk instead.
Bai Qiu thought her behavior a bit odd, but didn't think too much of it.
After all, the three of them in the back row hardly paid attention to class anyway.
They were busy with their own things.
Though pretending to watch the blackboard, Bai Qiu was actually studying his system.
Originally, he had a number of music notes, and after joining the Light Music Club yesterday with Yui, he had received a 5,000-note bonus.
Now, he had just over 20,000 notes.
From the system store this week, there were still a few items left; he could exchange for whichever he wanted.
But the most useful ones were only [Photographic Memory] and [Perfect Pitch].
[Photographic Memory] wasn't needed for now.
Considering the rarity of [Perfect Pitch], even though it was still overpriced,
Bai Qiu steeled himself and spent the notes to get [Perfect Pitch].
After that, he had only a few hundred notes left.
Now, with the band joined, and the Light Music Club joined,
there probably wouldn't be another big influx of notes for some time.
But Bai Qiu wasn't worried.
Alright, Yui, now we're on the same starting line.
…
3:30 PM, school was out.
After school.
Bai Qiu noticed that Akari was acting strangely today.
Although during class she, as usual, kept her eyes on her little stones, bandages, or notebook,
her diary hadn't been opened at all.
Her expression looked so down, one could almost read her thoughts written on her face.
During breaks, when Bai Qiu tried to talk to her about things she liked, Akari seemed uninterested.
She even seemed to be avoiding him a little.
Bai Qiu felt worried and confused, even a bit disappointed.
Had he inadvertently done something to upset her,
or was it… that time of the month for her?
He hoped it was the latter.
But his intuition told him otherwise.
Looking at Akari's seat, Bai Qiu planned to wait until the classroom emptied a bit before trying to find out more.
But all he saw was an empty seat, then Akari's figure disappearing through the back door.
Bai Qiu followed her, guessing she was heading to the Astronomy Club.
…
Takamatsu Akari clutched her diary, wandering into the Astronomy Club, feeling lost and disheartened.
This morning, she had wanted to greet both Qiu and Yui.
But she overheard that Bai Qiu had already joined the Light Music Club.
She recalled leaving last night, and from afar, she thought she saw Bai Qiu saying goodbye to a few girls carrying instruments.
Those girls must be from the Light Music Club.
Thinking of this, Akari felt a pang of disappointment.
It wasn't that she resented Bai Qiu joining the Light Music Club.
But she realized the Astronomy Club was probably not appealing at all, with only someone like her in it.
Bai Qiu probably didn't care for the Astronomy Club anymore.
Sure enough, Qiu joined the Astronomy Club just to avoid refusing her.
Akari unconsciously remembered a rainy night from a few months ago.
"I'm here today to quit CRYCHIC…"
The voice that once warmed her heart now felt cold and piercing.
In a few days, the Astronomy Club might disband just like CRYCHIC once did…
"I'm here today to quit the Astronomy Club…"
…
"Akari."
"Is something wrong, Akari?"
Bai Qiu looked at her curiously. She was standing in front of a chair, alone.
No matter what he called, she didn't respond.
She looked like Goto Ichiri when she had fallen into one of those daydream moments before.
He gently shook her shoulder.
Akari snapped back to reality, and her head jerked up in surprise.
The face and voice that had appeared in her mind moments ago were now right in front of her.
"Qiu… why are you here…"
She lowered her head again, her voice quiet and heavy.
"Sorry, I scared you."
"This is the Astronomy Club… I'm a member. Is it strange for me to be here?"
Bai Qiu asked curiously.
"Qiu… are you here to quit the Astronomy Club…"
Akari asked the question she didn't want to face.
"Huh?"
Bai Qiu blinked. "When did I ever say I was quitting the Astronomy Club?"
"Because… the Light Music Club…"
Bai Qiu relaxed. Now he understood the situation.
Akari must have thought that since he joined the Light Music Club, he would leave the Astronomy Club.
Ah, he should have told her sooner.
He smiled. "Even if I join the Light Music Club, I won't quit the Astronomy Club."
"Besides, I want you to teach me how to use the telescope!"
He pointed at the tripod nearby.
"Really?"
Akari glanced at Bai Qiu, a spark of hope lighting up inside her.
"Of course it's true."
Bai Qiu smiled brightly.
Akari suddenly looked up, eyes blazing.
"Then, Qiu… will you stay with me in the Astronomy Club forever?"
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