"Huh?"
"Uh… a lifetime?"
Bai Qiu froze, slowly looking into Takamatsu Akari's amber-colored eyes.
He blinked, as if trying to confirm whether he'd heard it wrong.
Then Bai Qiu couldn't help but let out a small, nervous laugh.
It must be a joke!
Even Akari can joke around?
A club? How could something like that last a lifetime!
Bai Qiu's reaction made Takamatsu Akari understand everything.
As expected… it wouldn't work…
Why couldn't everyone just stay together forever?
He didn't want to feel the pain of separation!
"Sorry… I said something weird."
Before the words fully left her lips, Takamatsu Akari dashed out of the astronomy clubroom.
"Akari?!"
Bai Qiu stared at the door in shock.
"Wait…"
What's happening?!
Inside the clubroom, Bai Qiu stood frozen, confused.
Who am I… where am I… what am I doing…
No, no!
Could that have been… a confession?
The thought flashed through Bai Qiu's mind, but he quickly pushed it down.
He thought Akari's feelings for him weren't that strong yet—they hadn't known each other that long.
Besides, the atmosphere just now didn't feel like that.
Come to think of it, there was a subtle pressure in the air surrounding them.
But Bai Qiu had been too shocked to notice it.
So, if it wasn't a joke, and it wasn't a confession, then what the heck did "a lifetime" mean?!
Eliminate all impossibilities… only one truth remains.
Bai Qiu continued thinking.
Could it be… Akari was serious?
And maybe she thought he was laughing at her?
Bai Qiu swore he hadn't meant to laugh at all.
With years of experience in domestic idol romance dramas, Bai Qiu immediately realized:
Chase her!
There's no time to overthink.
When a girl suddenly runs out while you're talking…
You must run after her immediately.
Otherwise… some irreversible accident could happen.
Of course, there's also a chance that when you catch up, you'll witness the accident…
And still not be able to prevent it.
Not having time to lock the door, with a "bang,"
Bai Qiu quickly shut the classroom door behind him.
The hallway was already empty of Akari's figure. Bai Qiu dashed toward the stairs.
Sure enough, near the staircase, he could hear rapid footsteps running down the hallway.
Bai Qiu's heart leapt—true absolute pitch.
This effort is worth it.
He rushed down the stairs. Through the gap in the stair railing, he spotted Akari running down below.
"Ah! Xiao Qiu."
A surprised voice rang out.
It was Hirasawa Yui.
She was heading to meet the girls from the Light Music Club.
Could it be that Xiao Qiu had changed his mind?
He secretly came up to wait for her? Really.
Yui's lips curved in amusement.
Even Xiao Qiu has become a bit tsundere.
A sudden gust of wind blew past Yui, lifting her bangs.
"Ah, it's Yui! I'm in a hurry now, bye!"
"Huh?"
Yui looked behind her—the hallway was empty.
…
"E…earthquake?"
Goto Ichiri looked up, muttering in confusion.
She peeked out to see what was happening.
But then, two rapid footsteps sounded above the staircase.
Goto Ichiri was terrified.
She quickly shrank back, trembling in sync with the stairs.
Covering her head, she prayed silently: Don't see me… don't see me…
Why was she hiding there?
Hadn't she already formed a band? She should be happily practicing with her bandmates!
Sure enough, the events of the past few days… must have been her delusion.
Thinking that, Goto Ichiri fainted.
…
In a flash, Takamatsu Akari dashed out of the school building first, Bai Qiu right behind.
"Akari, wait for me!"
"Let me explain!"
Bai Qiu closed the distance between them.
Akari's small frame didn't make her very fast.
Hearing the voice behind her, she glanced back.
Bai Qiu had caught up.
A flicker of struggle crossed her eyes; she didn't dare face him.
To avoid being caught, she tried to accelerate.
But running from the fifth floor already drained much of her energy.
Her breaths came ragged, but she kept running desperately.
Distracted by looking back, Akari didn't notice the small stone she loved so much on the ground.
It tripped her.
She stumbled, about to fall.
Bai Qiu saw it, but there was no time to reach out and catch her.
All he could do was watch anxiously.
Akari closed her eyes in fear, but instinctively used her arms to cushion the fall.
Bang.
She slid onto the floor.
Bai Qiu caught up, helping her to her feet."Akari, are you okay?"
Her gaze shifted, unwilling to speak.
Bai Qiu followed her eyes and saw her pink knee with a small trickle of blood.
"Band-aid… band-aid."
He patted his pockets—nothing.
The band-aid Akari had given him wasn't with him; it was at home.
Feeling slightly awkward, Bai Qiu asked,"Akari… do you have a band-aid?"
Hesitantly, Akari pulled one from her pocket.
Bai Qiu's eyes lit up as he gratefully took it.
Yet, Akari still looked a little disappointed.
As Bai Qiu peeled the cute band-aid, he explained:"Akari, I didn't mean to laugh at you just now."
"Mm…"
She responded softly.
He continued,"I just thought… we couldn't stay in the astronomy club for a lifetime."
Why not?
Akari's gaze darkened. Though she didn't speak, she lowered her head further and shrank back slightly.
It seemed like she didn't want Bai Qiu to help stick the band-aid.
Bai Qiu noticed, but instead found her a little adorable.
He paused, looked up at her, and smiled:"But think about it.""When we graduate, won't we automatically leave the astronomy club?"
Akari lifted her head, a bit dazed.
That made sense?
Just like when seniors graduate, the club ends up empty.
Seeing her attention captured, Bai Qiu pressed on:"After graduation, we won't be able to stay at school in the astronomy club.""We can't just barge in and take someone else's activity room.""And other people like stars too.""Oh, and if you go to college, there will be astronomy clubs there too, maybe even with better equipment."
"Really…?"
Akari thought carefully and realized Bai Qiu made sense. Her mood lightened.
Ah, it wasn't that he disliked the astronomy club—it was the reality of graduation.
"Mm-hmm! When have I ever lied to you?"
Bai Qiu nodded with certainty."So… a lifetime might be too much.""But for the three years at school, I don't plan to leave the astronomy club.""What do you think, Akari?"
Bai Qiu blinked at her.
A spark returned to Akari's eyes. She replied earnestly:"Then… astronomy club, three years."