2:00 PM, Cultural Festival stage
Backstage, Hotaru and Yui prepped. Hotaru secured cables—no tripping.
"Done," he clapped, sitting beside Tsumugi.
Shoulders brushed, scents mingled. Tsumugi shy, cheeks burning. Boy smell… strange.
Below stage, Anon met Soyo, Mutsumi. Soyo sought Xiangzi, missed Astronomy lunch. Hotaru withheld class info. Soyo's eyes deepened.
Rikki saw Mutsumi, gaze sharpened, then turned away.
Rikki distracted, composing for Tomori post-Sakiko encounter. Soyo scanned for blue figure.
"Soyo-san, looking for something?" Anon asked.
"Nothing."
Host: "Next—Light Music Club!"
Curtain opened. Audience excited at Hotaru-Tsumugi duo.
Seika dumbfounded. Bai Qiu? Where's Nijika, End Band?
Kikuri, sobering: "Little brother lucky!"
Anon fists clenched. Good!
Tomori thoughtful. Qiu perform with us?
Soyo narrowed eyes. Too close. Not even me, hand-in-hand apprentice! Pickled radish girl!
Mutsumi: "Duet needs skill, understanding."
Rikki calm. Thought his band.
Yui nervous, excited. "Hello! Band is…"
Silence.
"No name! Light Music Club, ehehe!"
"What to say?" Yui asked, mic'd.
Audience smiled.
Ritsu forehead-slap: "Idiot!"
Hotaru: "Self-introduction!"
Yui face-bumped mic. Bang!
Laughter louder.
"Ouch!" Yui rubbed. "Guitarist Hirazawa Yui!" Cool riff.
"First song, 'Fuwa Fuwa Time'."
Hotaru: "Introduce us!"
"Sorry!"
Ritsu cymbals: "One, two, three, four!"
Every time I see your face…
Buffed performance, perfect coordination, keyboard duet eye-catching.
Second: 'Don't say lazy'.
Please don't say "You are lazy"…
Junior high visitors, including twintailed Azusa, drawn front. Empty space—Kikuri's doing.
Kikuri: "Good live, little sister?"
Azusa sniffed alcohol, uneasy, stepped back.
"Don't! Hurt!" Kikuri teared.
Seika: "Not bad."
Azusa embarrassed. "Songs strange, not outstanding, but want to listen. Apply here!"
Please don't say… future bright… rest occasionally.
Performance ended.
Mio tripped flat. Hotaru strode, caught her.
Relief.
"Thank…" Mio steamed in arms.
Ritsu helped down.
Host: "Close! Applause!"
Curtain closed.
Tsumugi: "Keyboard stays."
Hotaru nodded.
Host: "Next—Bai Qiu-san, Gotō-san, Kita's End Band!"
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