"What on earth is going on?"
Still wearing her work uniform, Taki looked completely lost. Just a moment ago, she had been wondering what Haru was secretly talking to Tomori about. Who could have guessed that the guy would suddenly drag her out and, with the most serious face, start arranging a Live right on the spot?
Granted, booking a Live was part of her job as staff. But she was also a member of Mygo, and as a bandmate, of course she had to figure out what was happening.
Haru glanced at the little penguin beside him, lips pressed tightly together, and sighed lightly before answering. "Didn't I just say? If we're booking a venue, then of course it's for a Live."
"I know it's for a Live, but before that… nobody told me anything about this!"
Taki put a hand on her hip and rolled her eyes at her hopeless boyfriend. In the end, though, she sighed and quickly started working on the computer. In just a few seconds, she had the system pulled up.
"There happens to be a cancellation a few days from now. There's a slot open that afternoon around five. After that, with the year-end season, we'd have to wait a while. So… are you planning to go up that day?"
Haru thought for a moment, then turned to Tomori.
"Tomori, what do you think?"
Tomori clenched her small fist, hesitating. Both Haru and Taki were looking right at her, and the pressure of having to answer made her lower her head instinctively. But a second later, she felt Haru's warm hand in hers.
"If possible, I… want to hold the Live soon."
"You heard her, Taki~?"
Haru's teasing look made Taki press a hand to her forehead. She was silent for a few seconds, then sighed deeply as if surrendering, eyes closing as she nodded.
"Since Tomori insists…"
The little penguin lifted her head happily, exchanging a look with the boy beside her. But before she could even savor the moment, Taki's hand tapped the desk.
"But we've only practiced half of Haru's new song. If we go up now, we can't play it. Are we using an older song then? And Haru, are you planning to perform? If you're on stage, we'll have to rewrite the scores to add keyboard…"
The serious, meticulous Taki fired off her questions like a machine gun. To her, if you were going to stand on stage, you needed proper preparation. Only then could you truly call it responsibility to the band.
Haru just waved his hand and answered calmly.
"No, I won't be going up this time."
"Because this Live isn't for Mygo. It's for CRYCHIC, for Tomori to 'say goodbye.' So as a non-member, I obviously won't be performing."
Taki froze.
"…Huh?"
Her arms stiffened, her violet eyes shifting from blankness, to confusion, to utter disbelief. She had truly not expected such an answer. Her face was full of emotions she couldn't control.
"…Haru, are you kidding me?"
Her lashes trembled, her eyes narrowing with a sharpness that felt like frost sweeping across his skin. It was plain to see: Taki was angry.
"Taki!"
Tomori's amber eyes shimmered with mist, her fragile voice carrying desperate determination. The sudden outburst made Taki pause, her raised brow softening. The words she had been about to spit out caught in her throat. Instead, she crossed her arms tighter and looked forward.
"Explain this properly. What is going on?"
At Haru's signal, Tomori carefully explained everything. Only after hearing it all did Taki sigh with resignation, hands on her hips. Her blade-like gaze softened as she moved back to the computer. Her satin-black hair fell over her shoulders under the glow of the monitor as her right hand, usually gripping drumsticks, rested lightly on the mouse.
"This… actually bothers me too."
Her voice was stiff as she spoke, eyes fixed on the screen.
"Taki?" Tomori asked softly.
Taki tugged at her ear with a blush rising on her cheeks. She finished inputting the booking and raised her eyes, trying not to meet theirs.
"To be honest… even though Sakiko apologized, I still feel bitter. After all, we all put our hearts and effort into that band. And then it just ended, without explanation."
No doubt, a certain young lady felt the same.
"Taki!"
Moved, Tomori grabbed Taki's pale hand, startling her. Taki froze, darting panicked glances at Haru, begging him to intervene. He only watched with an amused smile. Only when Taki's face turned scarlet and her violet eyes sharpened did he step forward, coughing softly.
"In any case, we'll have to tell the others. We can't hold a Live with just two people."
"Tomori, you'll have to tell Sakiko yourself."
He handed her his phone. Tomori clutched her chest, then raised her amber eyes with new resolve. She nodded firmly, took the phone, and ran to the recording room to make the call. Taki, left behind, shot Haru a glare and pinched his waist.
"Ah! Ow ow ow..."
"Serves you right! Who told you to act on your own like this…"
Flustered by his cry, Taki quickly released him, though she still huffed and looked away, pretending she didn't care. In truth, she hadn't used much strength. Haru exaggerated the pain just to savor her guilty expression.
"Sorry. I just wanted to give things a push."
He apologized sincerely. With her soft heart, Taki could only flush and snort, trying to act aloof.
Mygo has our own s1mple. (1)
No way you get center stage later.
"Fine. But what now?"
"The stray cat probably won't care, but we'll have to tell that pink-haired one. If she hears we went off and did a Live without her, she'll sulk for sure."
"I guess we'd better—"
Taki's words were cut off by a sweet yet irritated voice from behind.
"Huh? Who are you calling sulky?!"
The pink-haired girl appeared, cheeks puffed, wrapped in a white scarf. Her long cherry-blossom hair framed her blue dress, a guitar case on her back. She looked like spring itself, bringing a fragrant breeze into the room.
"I heard everything! Rikki, you think I'm that petty?"
Chihaya Anon placed her hands on her hips, scolding, then turned to Haru with a dazzling smile, bright enough to banish gloom. The sudden shift in expression was almost comical.
"Haru~ Look, look! Isn't my dress pretty today?"
She twirled, her skirt flaring like a wave of blue, her slender waist outlined perfectly. The outfit was clearly styled with care, Haru could almost see Kita Ikuyo's touch behind it.
An illusion? When did this happen?
"It's pretty, yes, but Anon, aren't you cold wearing a skirt in this weather?"
He pinched her chilled cheek. She only wagged her finger proudly, her sugary tone rising.
"For girls, appearance matters more than heat or cold! Besides, I'm not dumb. I don't plan to actually freeze."
With a grin, she leapt into his arms, slipping into the warmth of his coat. Her slim frame pressed close, no barrier between them.
"Hehe~ Now I'm not cold!"
"You…"
Taki's expression stiffened. Watching Anon openly cling to Haru, utterly shameless, a strange envy flickered in her chest. Of course, Anon caught the change at once.
Still nestled in Haru's arms, she raised a brow, eyes flashing slyly.
"Hmm? I can feel jealousy radar acting up. Haru, did you say something to upset her?"
Really, girl…
Haru could feel Taki's piercing glare drilling into him, icy even in the heated room. I'm the one who'll get scolded for this later…
"Anyway, Anon, about the sulking..."
"Huh? What sulking?"
She blinked in confusion, then widened her crystal-gray eyes.
"Oh, you mean the CRYCHIC farewell Live? Tomori already called me! She kept repeating she wants to play in a band with me forever, so I rushed over here. How could I be that childish? Everyone still has feelings about the past, right?"
"She wants to sing her true heart. As her best friend, of course I'll support her!"
Her pink hair swayed as she waved her fist, and even Taki looked a little embarrassed, retreating into silence.
"…True enough."
Haru's lips curved into a knowing smile. When he saw Anon lost in it, he continued slowly.
"Since we're doing a Live, we might as well gather everyone."
"I'll call Mutsumi, Umiri, and Uika. Anon, could you let Ikuyo and Soyo know?"
"No problem~"
While Haru and Anon cheerfully discussed inviting people, Taki froze. Her brows knitted, her whole face stiffening.
"Wait...this isn't the time to be talking about that!"
Her urgent voice pulled them back.
"Even if we call Sakiko and the others, there's no way we'll be ready in time! There are only a few days left before the booking. We don't even have a song everyone can play. And I haven't played on stage with Sakiko in a year. There's no way we'll have enough coordination!"
Anon tilted her head, still hugging Haru's waist, eyes wide as if looking at an idiot. Haru raised his brow, answering matter-of-factly.
"As for coordination, you have a foundation. A few days should be enough. And as for a song you all know…"
Before he could finish, Anon cut him off with a bright voice.
"A song we all know? Isn't there already one?"
"Huh?"
Taki froze, then realization struck.
Wait… there really is.
---
1: Oleksandr Kostyliev, better known by his alias s1mple, is a professional Counter-Strike: Global Offensive player from Ukraine. He currently plays for Natus Vincere and is considered to be one of the best players in Global Offensive history.