Sakuragaoka Cultural Festival
Hotaru left Light Music Club, returned to classroom for haunted house ticket duty—easier than ghost.
"Aki-kun!" Nijika and Ryo appeared.
"Worked hard," Nijika smiled.
Ryo: "Food, quick."
"No food, haunted house," Hotaru chuckled.
Ryo sighed, "No energy for performance."
"Nijika, don't let Ryo starve."
"She ate plenty, I paid," Nijika narrowed eyes.
Ryo shifted away.
"Where's Hitori?" Nijika asked.
"End hallway, changing to maid outfit, hasn't returned," Hotaru said.
Shy, hiding.
"Dark, damp, slug spot," Hotaru analyzed.
"Eh! Bocchi like that?" Nijika surprised.
Hotaru nodded.
Nijika troubled. Hotaru: "I'll help. Wait."
Found idle Anon, bragging Tomori's song to traffic light trio.
"Anon, cover shift?"
"Okay!" Anon agreed.
"Thanks."
"Eh?" Anon froze as Hotaru left with Nijika, Ryo.
Wrong?
Met Kita, found Bocchi, visited stalls, maid café.
Hotaru, pleasant, returned. "Anon, thanks. Take over."
"Hmph!" Anon turned away.
"What?"
"Shift over," Anon angry.
"That fast?" Hotaru blinked.
"Look around? My treat," pointing snacks.
"You said it." Anon smiled reluctantly. Too easy?
"Call Tomori."
Anon: "..."
Hanasakigawa
Rikki sought Tomori, lost.
Saw fried noodle stall, aroma tempting. Two servings, Tomori hungry?
"Hello, two fried noodles."
Sakiko looked up, handed ticket.
"Toyokawa... Sakiko?" Rikki stunned.
Mask hid twitch, pupils constricted. Avoid Soyo, not Rikki!
Rikki sure. Left band, blamed Tomori!
Fists soft—Sakiko in work clothes, not Tsukinomori lady.
Stalemate.
"Why here?" Rikki cold.
No answer.
"Tsk! Pretending?"
"Wrong person."
"Don't disturb work."
"Heh!"
Rikki got noodles, stayed aside.
Classmate relieved Sakiko.
Rikki blocked. "Wait! Explain."
"Move."
Bustle hid tension.
Hotaru, takoyaki in hand, spotted, bad feeling.
Anon, Tomori followed.
Five met—band formed.
Tension noted. Hotaru: "Astronomy Club, talk."
Rikki eyed Sakiko, who nodded—no public argument.
Rikki agreed.
Astronomy Club
Crowded.
Anon: Xiangzi, Qiu familiar.
Rikki arms crossed, gaze piercing. "Answer now."
"Studying here. Nothing else," Sakiko said.
"You!" Rikki displeased.
"Leaving reason? Treat band? Blame Tomori? She…"
Sakiko pale, lip-bitten.
"Shiina, heavy dark circles," Hotaru interrupted.
Rikki stopped.
All stared—purple eyes, tear mole shadowed.
Rikki crumbled.
"Rikki, heavy dark circles," Tomori said.
Anon smiled, "Cultural Festival excitement?"
"Don't call Rikki," Rikki irritated.
Hotaru: "Cultural Festival, no band talk. Lunch together!" Gestured food.
"Why listen?" Rikki unrelenting.
Hotaru: "Shiina doesn't want Tomori lunch!"
"You!" Rikki anxious to Tomori.
"Not like that."
"Rikki, eat together," Tomori said—no arguments.
"Okay, with Tomori."
Hotaru to Sakiko, unrefusable: "Xiangzi too."
Tomori looked.
Sakiko bitter nod, recalling last lunch, strange expression.
"Tomori, fried noodles?" Rikki offered.
Anon: "Quick change!"
Hotaru: That's Rikki.
Tsukinomori
Soyo, Mutsumi late—hard leave.
"Ryoue Mutsuki, Xiangzi's class?"
Mutsumi calm, shook head. Why tell? Qiu invited.
Soyo thought refusal. "Xiangzi busy, help her."
Mutsumi: "Didn't tell."
"Okay," Soyo hugged gently.
To teaching building.
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