It had been a week since Bai Qiu bought the electronic keyboard.
Which also meant he had spent a full week at this school.
During this week, Bai Qiu hadn't actively sought out Goto Ichiri or Kita Ikuyo.
Mainly because there wasn't much opportunity.
Besides, in his memory, the main storyline of the endgame band didn't start so quickly.
Also, it was just the start of the semester; everyone was busy.
However, Bai Qiu noticed he still ran into Kita Ikuyo quite often on campus.
After all, she was a bright, socially active girl, kind to everyone, with excellent popularity.
Her reputation was gradually spreading.
Wherever socially active girls gathered,
her vivid red hair always stood out.
...
That didn't mean Bai Qiu had done nothing in the past week.
On the contrary, it had been quite productive.
First, he organized some basic but useful information.
Kita Ikuyo was in Class 1.
Akiyama Mio, Tainaka Ritsu, and Kotobuki Tsumugi were in Class 2.
He and Yui were in Class 3.
Goto Ichiri was in Class 5, in the farthest corner of the hallway, last row.
He had also learned more about the system.
For example, the system shop could be refreshed, but it required Notes.
The first refresh cost 100 Notes.
Notes weren't easy to come by, and Bai Qiu didn't urgently need anything, so he hadn't refreshed.
Also, a Level 1 skill represented beginner-level proficiency.
Level 2 corresponded to amateur level, Level 3 to professional level, Level 4 to master level, and Level 5… maybe a once-in-a-century prodigy.
Moreover, the system granted top-tier ability for each level.
Most importantly, Bai Qiu discovered that as long as he listened to the pieces uploaded by Goto Ichiri on the "Guitar Hero" account,
he could earn a small number of Notes. Not obtainable by simple AFK.
A video could grant only once.
Some gave only two or three Notes, others seven or eight, very rare ones ten or so.
It seemed related to the video's quality and popularity.
Though small, the quantity was large!
When he first discovered it, Bai Qiu was thrilled, full of energy and excitement.
Guitar Hero… my hero.
Pochi-chan… my perfect Note-farming tool.
So, for the past few days, Bai Qiu worked day and night…
Until this morning, he had finally watched and listened to over a thousand videos Pochi-chan had uploaded over three years.
Pochi-chan, you're really diligent!
I'm already shaped like you…
Heh… heh… hehe…
Bai Qiu now had two panda eyes, a deathly pale face, and a faint black aura drifting behind him.
Even classmates entering the classroom instinctively avoided him.
Bai Qiu felt that if someone handed him an electric guitar now, he could probably put on a little show.
Maybe…
"Ah! Xiao Qiu, your smile is super creepy!"
Hirasawa Yui, just entering and sitting down, clearly didn't have the same reservations as others.
She parted her lips slightly, feigning fear.
"Ah… really…"
Bai Qiu looked at her, puzzled. He still hadn't realized his state was a bit off.
"Mm-hmm!"
Yui nodded seriously, then suddenly smiled mischievously:
"And your eyes are really cute too—panda eyes!"
She made a circle with her thumb and forefinger and framed his eyes.
Even Takamatsu Akari, originally focused on her little stones, was drawn to the scene.
Looking at Bai Qiu's half-closed eyes, Akari thought he looked ready to pass out at any moment.
"Bai Qiu-san… your dark circles are really bad…"
Yui: "Right? Right? Lamp (Akari) thinks so too, doesn't she?"
Bai Qiu shivered at that and shook his head hard to wake himself.
If even Akari noticed, it must be true.
Clearly, he was sleep-deprived, which even slowed his thinking.
He gave a gentle smile; it would be bad if he scared Akari.
"Last night there were too many mosquitoes… couldn't sleep well…" Bai Qiu explained to them.
"Hahaha! Xiao Qiu, you definitely stayed up playing games, right? And you were telling me you wouldn't slack off anymore."
Yui clearly didn't believe him, teasing him.
...
Fortunately, class started shortly after.
Time for Bai Qiu to catch up on sleep.
Watching Bai Qiu fall asleep faster than her, Yui chuckled inwardly, confirming her suspicions.
If it weren't for the noise her phone would make, she'd have taken a picture for evidence.
Then Yui herself also started catching up on sleep.
Takamatsu Akari, seeing the two immediately dozing off in class, blinked for a moment in surprise.
Then she went back to observing the little stones on her desk.