Honestly speaking, Hoshino Miru felt today was quite coincidental.
The band's drummer worked here, and now he'd encountered a girl claiming to be the bassist. Missing only the final vocalist, Hoshino Miru would have collected the entire band.
That said, Hoshino Miru had noticed Nagasaki Sose very early on.
After all, there weren't many people in the second-floor coffee shop - only she sat in the corner, wearing sunglasses and a hat, very conspicuous.
He just hadn't expected she was the bassist who'd been eavesdropping nearby all along.
"Hello, my name is Hoshino Miru." Hoshino Miru didn't reveal his thoughts and very politely stated his name.
At the same time, he checked Nagasaki Sose's panel.
[Target: Nagasaki Sose] [Intimacy: 8] [Status: I must revive the band and let everyone regain their smiles.]
Her intimacy was much higher than Shiina Ritsuki's. How strange - he should have just met Nagasaki Sose.
"So you're Hoshino-kun. Mutsuki has mentioned you to me these past days." Nagasaki Sose had long heard Hoshino Miru's self-introduction, but still had to pretend, showing a slightly surprised expression.
Though she also knew Hoshino Miru very likely noticed she'd been eavesdropping nearby.
"Mutsuki mentioned me?" Hoshino Miru was stunned, then the corners of his mouth slowly rose.
Just seeing his appearance, Wakaba Mutsuki vaguely guessed what he was thinking. Next time he'd definitely casually mention this matter. The more embarrassed she got, the more he'd persistently pursue the topic.
Wakaba Mutsuki felt somewhat shy because she could actually imagine that scene.
However, seeing Nagasaki Sose and Shiina Ritsuki nearby, her mood immediately sank again.
Witnessing this scene, Nagasaki Sose concealed the surprise in her eyes very well. At this moment, she was almost like Toyokawa Sakiko - a thought flashed through her mind.
Wakaba Mutsuki could actually show such an expression?
"Mutsuki and I are classmates." Nagasaki Sose explained the situation between them while smiling slightly. "Want to sit down and chat for a bit?"
Hoshino Miru looked at Shiina Ritsuki. The other party turned her gaze away, seemingly disdaining to continue arguing with him.
"Chat about what?" Hoshino Miru put his guitar aside and sat in the nearest seat.
"Mm, what does Hoshino-kun want to chat about?" Nagasaki Sose sat across from Hoshino Miru, then saw Wakaba Mutsuki sit beside him. Her eyes immediately became more playful.
The relationship between the two seemed better and more intimate than she'd imagined. Was it a relationship beyond friends?
Having just happened to encounter the bassist and drummer, maybe he could ask about band matters.
Just as Hoshino Miru was about to speak, he suddenly remembered Wakaba Mutsuki hadn't said a word so far, so he asked instead: "What's the difference between bass and guitar?"
"Eh?" Nagasaki Sose's eyes widened slightly, then she burst into laughter. "I thought you'd ask about band topics. Does Hoshino-kun also want to play bass?"
Hoshino Miru discovered she smiled very gently, her eyes crinkling. Moreover, she wore a white dress - her spotlessly white arms exposed, wearing a silver-white bracelet, looking particularly composed and generous.
Worth mentioning, her figure had developed very well. When her body leaned forward slightly, her full, soft chest would lightly touch the table's edge, pressing a soft wrinkle into her clothes.
"I'm just curious. I heard the most mysterious person in every band is the bassist, and also the most indispensable." Hoshino Miru didn't look much at the girl's large rabbit, just felt it strange - shouldn't she be in school today? How had she changed into casual clothes?
"Hoshino-kun's evaluation of bass is really high. Hearing it makes me a bit happy." Nagasaki Sose smiled somewhat embarrassedly. "However, my bass is just so-so. I practiced it in club activities and can't compare to others."
Hoshino Miru remembered - Toyokawa Sakiko had said the bassist was someone she'd pulled from the school's brass band club.
"If you ask what's different between bass and guitar, I think guitar should be more fun. After all, bassists can't solo - they only have meaning when in a band."
Saying this, Nagasaki Sose propped her elbows on the table, crossed her hands, supported her chin, and looked at Hoshino Miru with a slight smile.
This point was indeed true. Bassists were usually one of the band's rhythm section and couldn't be separated from the band.
However, what she said was the same as saying nothing.
"So Nagasaki-san has played in many bands?" Hoshino Miru asked.
"No." Nagasaki Sose still had a smiling expression. "Playing with Mutsuki and the others was my first time in a band. Before Saki-chan invited me, I'd never been a bassist."
Never done it before - meaning she practiced it temporarily?
Though he didn't know the specific level, judging from Toyokawa Sakiko and Wakaba Mutsuki's levels, Nagasaki Sose probably wasn't bad either.
Hoshino Miru felt he'd encountered talent monsters. No wonder Toyokawa Sakiko and Wakaba Mutsuki only showed surprise at his performance at the beginning - later they weren't shocked at all.
"I just heard Hoshino-kun mention band matters. Does Hoshino-kun also know Saki-chan?" Nagasaki Sose asked intentionally or unintentionally.
Hoshino Miru discovered Wakaba Mutsuki beginning to get nervous, probably afraid he'd reveal Toyokawa Sakiko's situation.
"I know her. She's Mutsuki's friend." Hoshino Miru spoke calmly. "But we rarely meet. I haven't seen her for a while recently."
He defined his relationship with Toyokawa Sakiko as a friend of a friend. This way, he could prevent Nagasaki Sose from continuing to inquire.
"I see. I don't think I've heard before that Mutsuki had male friends. I'm a bit surprised inside." Nagasaki Sose used her smile to disguise her mood, unconsciously playing with her fingers. "By the way, is Hoshino-kun in a band?"
Hoshino Miru noticed her small gesture, wondering what she meant.
At this moment, Shiina Ritsuki expressionlessly passed by Hoshino Miru's side. With a thud, the latte he'd just ordered appeared on his table.
Hoshino Miru watched Shiina Ritsuki's departing back, then looked at the latte before him.
Tsk, this person's personality was really obvious.
"Hoshino-kun?" Nagasaki Sose gently called his name.
"Why suddenly ask this?" Hoshino Miru came to his senses and took a sip of coffee. The taste was a bit sweet.
"Just a bit curious. After all, bands often come here to practice normally." Nagasaki Sose chatted as if casually - couldn't tell what her purpose was.
"A band..." Hoshino Miru thought for a moment. "Honestly, I'm really curious about band live performance scenes. Should be very interesting."
Wakaba Mutsuki was drinking her mango juice. Hearing Hoshino Miru say this, she suddenly lifted her pretty face and looked at him in surprise.
"So you mean?" Nagasaki Sose probed slightly to see if he meant what she thought.
"I don't have a band, but if I could have a band, it would help me too." Hoshino Miru paused, realizing his meaning wasn't clear enough. "I plan to watch others' performances next time to see instruments besides guitar."
Just learning guitar wasn't enough. Hoshino Miru needed to understand more instruments, understand their positions in a piece - this would make it convenient for him to continue learning composition knowledge.
However, he didn't need to tell Nagasaki Sose these things.
But his words falling on the two girls' ears had different meanings.
Wakaba Mutsuki had always been thinking about how to increase their time together. Just when she thought she could only silently wait for meetings, Hoshino Miru suddenly mentioned he was interested in bands.
In an instant, Wakaba Mutsuki's heart fluttered.
A bold idea inevitably flashed through her mind - if she and Hoshino Miru formed a band, wouldn't their time together become much more?
Thinking of this, Wakaba Mutsuki secretly looked at Nagasaki Sose.
And Nagasaki Sose's thoughts were even simpler - Hoshino Miru really wanted to abduct her Wakaba Mutsuki!
Wanting to watch a band's live performance - such vague phrasing, who would believe it!
Being interested in bands - didn't that mean Hoshino Miru also wanted to form a band?
Nagasaki Sose felt she'd seen through Hoshino Miru's thoughts. He must be thinking about recruiting members, just that numbers were currently insufficient.
That said, Nagasaki Sose didn't rush to stop Hoshino Miru. Wakaba Mutsuki wasn't the key - what mattered was Toyokawa Sakiko.
If Wakaba Mutsuki joined Hoshino Miru's band, would it stimulate Toyokawa Sakiko? Could it make her return?
Once Toyokawa Sakiko could return, their vocalist would definitely return too, then Shiina Ritsuki would also return. Plus herself as bassist - the former CRYCHIC would revive on the spot.
But Nagasaki Sose knew everything was premised on Toyokawa Sakiko.
Could Wakaba Mutsuki and Hoshino Miru lure Toyokawa Sakiko back?
At this moment, the two girls looked at each other with hidden agendas, then each guiltily looked away.