"Ah! Speak of the devil, he's finally here!"
Chihaya Anon was the first to notice him and eagerly waved toward the staircase.
Before anyone else could react, Nagasaki Soyo shot up from her seat. Under Shiina Taki's confused gaze, she rushed over to the white railing on the second floor. Without even confirming who it was, the words she'd been dying to say began spilling out of her—
"Sak—Eh?"
The person climbing the stairs wasn't the one she'd expected.
It was just a tall black-haired boy with a short ponytail tied at the back.
Dressed in a hooded black sweatshirt, he carried a long white instrunt bag over one shoulder. His slender, well-proportioned figure and strikingly handso features gave off a naturally graceful aura. His deep black eyes seed to have a quiet, magnetic pull to them.
The kind of beauty you'd expect from soone with a passive charm stat maxed out—enough to make anyone gasp at first sight.
And yet...
In contrast to his striking looks, he wore a lazy, sleepy expression as he lazily unwrapped a green mochi snack.
The image shattered instantly.
Wait... did Sakiko turn into a guy?!
Nagasaki Soyo was visibly stunned. Her hands hovered awkwardly on the railing, unsure whether to hold on or let go. She didn't know whether to continue the sentence stuck in her throat or swallow it whole.
"Mi↑Mi↓~ You're so late!" Anon puffed up her cheeks, clearly still holding a grudge.
When she saw him casually munching on a snack, she marched over and snatched it from his hand, chomping down with her little fang-tipped smile.
Haru blinked, dumbfounded for a second. He almost reached out to grab it back.
"That mochi cost 200 yen on the shopping street! You just took a bite?!"
"Serves you right~ That's your punishnt for being super late!"
[And for leaving to deal with all the awkwardness alone, too!]
Seeing his expression deflate a little, Anon smirked victoriously as she savored the mochi.
Even if it was just a cheap 200 yen snack, it was surprisingly tasty~
Still, for showing up this late, he owes at least a slice of Black Forest cheesecake, too!
"...Fine, I'll admit I'm late. No excuses."
Though he had his reasons, being late was still being late.
Kazami Haru offered a gentle apology like one would to a pouting child and then casually glanced around the room.
His eyes t Soyo's dazed gaze and for a brief second, their eyes locked in midair.
He simply nodded at her in greeting, then calmly placed his instrunt bag down and took a seat right beside Anon.
"Uh..."
Takamatsu Tomori, not entirely sure why Haru had sat further away from her, quietly scooted her chair closer toward him.
"Wait a sec, don't just plop yourself down next to Tomori like that!"
Shiina Taki's voice was sharp and cold, her violet eyes narrowing dangerously. But before Haru could even reply, Tomori furrowed her brows and gently stepped in front of him.
"Taki-chan... don't talk like that."
"I—"
Taki faltered instantly. But then she shot Haru a glare so fierce he almost flinched.
What the heck, Taki?! Why are you glaring at ?!
He'd deliberately sat a bit farther from Tomori to avoid exactly this kind of reaction. She was the one who scooted closer, how was he the one getting blad here?
Haru glanced toward Yahata Umiri, who'd been silently sipping her coffee and watching him the entire ti.
If things get worse, maybe I'll just go curl up on Umiri's lap.
"Tomori, here's your notebook."
"Ah, thank you..."
Haru handed her a modest-looking notebook, plain on the outside but filled with Tomori's mories and lyrics, including her precious "Spring Sunlight."
After that, he finally gave the rest of the group a proper once-over.
What's going on here?
Running into Soyo head-on was awkward enough, but why did the entire mood shift the mont he arrived?
Do I give off a "mood-killer" aura or sothing?
After a brief pause, Haru decided to speak up:
"Sorry again for being late. Even if I had a reason, it's not an excuse."
Better to bow his head than risk Taki's wrath.
"Since it's my first ti eting most of you, let introduce myself. I'm Kazami Haru, first-year at Haneoka High. I'll be in charge of keyboard and composing, nice to et you."
Soyo's earlier smile had completely disappeared. Her face looked unnaturally stiff, like a display mannequin in a departnt store window, utterly transparent in her discomfort.
Where the hell did this guy co from?
Haneoka High, sa year as Tomori and Anon. But that's it.
Yet this unreliable-looking guy was apparently their keyboardist and even in charge of composing?
He reminded her too much of soone.
Too much... and it made her irrationally irritated.
"Shiina Taki. Drumr."
Trying to stay on track for Tomori's sake, Taki reluctantly set aside her prejudices and decided to evaluate Haru fairly.
His personality rubbed her the wrong way, but even she had to admit:
That face could definitely get him into any band.
And the way he apologized without hesitation... she couldn't fault his attitude.
But character isn't sothing you can asure at a glance.
If he was going to stick around Tomori, Taki had to be cautious.
Who knows how he managed to win her over in the first place?!
Also, she just didn't trust keyboardists who claid to handle composing.
Add that handso face on top? Huge red flag.
Soone like Haru, reckless and full of mystery. If he ever hurt Tomori again, even unintentionally—
Shiina Taki would never forgive it.
She'd be the one to protect Tomori. Always.
Reviews
All reviews (0)