After school.
Light Music Club.
End Band didn't need to practice recently, so Hotaru went to the Light Music Club instead.
Of course, the girls of the Light Music Club welcomed him warmly.
But… the club didn't seem to have any intention of practicing either.
The cozy environment, with Tsumugi-san serving cups of hot black tea and elegant-looking matcha cakes, made everyone naturally settle into a leisurely mood.
"Ahh! This is so comfortable!"
Ritsu leaned back in her chair, hands clasped behind her head, enjoying the cool air conditioning.
Because of the school merger, classrooms had been renovated and equipped with AC.
So even by next summer, the scene from the original story — everyone overheating and changing into swimsuits right in the classroom — probably wouldn't happen.
"Part-time jobs are really exhausting."
"Mhm mhm!"
Everyone except Tsumugi nodded in agreement.
"I really admire people who work part-time every day."
Hotaru-kun sighed. Honestly, staying home and writing light novels was much better!
"Speaking of which, haven't we gotten our club funds yet, Ritsu?"
Mio-chan turned to Ritsu, puzzled. She'd heard other clubs had already received theirs.
Logically, the Light Music Club should have too.
The delay in funds was one of the reasons they'd started working part-time.
"Ah, well! Maybe it's because our budget's bigger, so it's taking longer to process."
Ritsu waved her hand, pretending to be casual but looking a little smug.
After all, since she'd recruited Hotaru, that meant extra budget for another member.
"But I heard the Wind Instrument Club already got theirs."
Mio placed a finger to her chin thoughtfully. That club had more members, after all.
"Eh? Really?"
Ritsu looked a bit startled.
"So let's go check, Ritsu."
Mio reminded her, so she wouldn't try to slack off again.
"Alright, alright, I got it."
Hotaru had just learned about the missing funds.
"Wait, don't tell me you forgot something?"
Everyone turned to Hotaru, confused.
Ritsu: "Forgot what?"
"Like the club establishment form, or the budget application form?"
Hotaru wasn't sure if there even was a budget form, but he did remember — in the original story, Ritsu had forgotten to submit the club's application.
If the club wasn't even officially established, then of course there'd be no funds!
"Ah! This… this…"
Ritsu suddenly dropped her hands and started sweating.
"H-how could that be!"
Hotaru and Mio exchanged glances.
They already understood.
Meanwhile, Yui-chan and Tsumugi-san were still clueless.
Mio suddenly stood and walked to the spare desk in the room.
"Wait, Mio, what are you doing?!"
Ritsu lunged, hugging Mio's legs.
"I'm going to check the drawer."
"Idiot Ritsu, let go of me!"
Mio struggled, embarrassed with everyone watching.
"No! There's nothing to see!"
Ritsu clung even tighter.
She absolutely couldn't let them find it! She'd quietly submit it later and pretend nothing happened.
Tsumugi's eyes sparkled. Girls clinging to girls was wonderful!
"M-Mio-chan, let me help!" Hotaru, who was closest, reached for the desk.
"No… no!!"
Ritsu let go of Mio and lunged at Hotaru—
but Mio grabbed her this time, holding her back.
"Give up struggling!" Hotaru declared dramatically.
"Ritsu."
Hotaru pulled several A4 sheets from the drawer.
Among them, one was even torn in half.
It was over. Absolutely over.
Ritsu froze, dropping her arms in despair.
Back at the tea table, the forms were spread out.
The Light Music Club's establishment application. Each member's individual forms.
And… Mio's Literature Club application form — ripped in half.
Ritsu's old "good deed" to keep her from joining another club.
Everyone stared at the papers, then turned their eyes to Ritsu.
"Ah hahahaha! I didn't expect I really forgot… ah hahahaha…"
Ritsu scratched the back of her head awkwardly.
"You're so unreliable, idiot Ritsu!" Mio scolded.
"Make sure to submit them after school today!"
"I know, I know, leave it to me!"
Ritsu thumped her chest confidently — which only made Mio and Hotaru worry more.
Hotaru glanced at the forms, and his mouth twitched. Sure enough…
"Wait, we're still missing an advisor."
He pointed at a blank space.
"Eh??"
"We need a teacher too?"
Ritsu blinked. Weren't clubs just for fun?
Everyone's eyes turned on her again.
"I was wrong! Wuwu X﹏X!"
Ritsu cried out.
After discussion — mainly guided by Hotaru — they decided to ask their music teacher, the sweet and gentle Sawako-sensei, to be their advisor.
Originally, Ritsu wanted Shizuka-sensei. Her logic: with Shizuka there, no one would dare bully them.
Luckily, Hotaru reasoned that no one would bully the Light Music Club anyway.
So that idea was shot down.
Seeing everyone had almost finished their tea and cake, Mio hesitated, then awkwardly spoke:
"Everyone, practice…"
"Oh, Mio, practice can wait."
Ritsu flopped lazily again.
"It's rare that Hotaru-kun is here. Isn't it nicer to just relax and chat?"
She winked at him.
Mio's helpless gaze turned to Hotaru.
"…How about we practice a bit?"
Hotaru finally suggested. He wanted to hear them play — even though Yui didn't actually know guitar yet.
Still, the words slipped out.
"Thank you, Hotaru-kun!"
Mio's face lit up happily.
For once, she thought Ritsu's decision to bring him in was reliable!
Ritsu froze. Betrayed!
The girls stood to get their instruments.
"Wait!"
Ritsu suddenly smirked mischievously.
"What now, idiot Ritsu?!"
"Mio, didn't you just call him Hotaru-kun?"
Mio tilted her head, confused — then a bad premonition struck.
"And Hotaru-kun, you've been calling her Mio-san, haven't you?"
"I'm talking about you two!"
"Always going '-san' back and forth."
"So polite, like an old married couple!"
"We're all friends here. Wouldn't it be better to just use first names?"
Ritsu shouted playfully.
"Right, Yui, Tsumugi?"
"Mhm mhm!"
"I support it!"
Both agreed enthusiastically.
"Old married couple?!"
Those words nearly made Mio faint.
"Ritsu, RitsuRitsuRitsu! Wh-what are you saying?!"
Her face burned red as she stole a glance at Hotaru.
"If Mio's too shy, Hotaru-kun can go first. Just call her Mio, like us."
Ritsu nudged him.
"A-ah…"
Hotaru coughed, turning to Mio.
Mio looked dazed, steam practically rising from her head.
"Hurry up!"
"Mhm mhm!" ×2
"…Mio."
Hotaru said softly.
Mio's cheeks went scarlet to her ears.
"Oooh!"
Ritsu clapped her hands. "Your turn, Mio-chan~"
The pressure was on.
"Yui-chan calls him Hotaru-kun, but you can use something else!"
"If you don't say it, we can't practice."
"Practice…"
"Practice…"
"I-I-I… I get it!"
"It's just a name!"
Finally, Mio shouted, then stammered again when her eyes met Hotaru's.
"Hotaru… -kun…"
She mumbled faintly.
Ritsu wanted her to drop the honorific completely, but under Mio's fiery glare, she backed down. Fine, next time.
Flustered, Mio quickly picked up her bass, hiding her face.
"Wow, Elizabeth!" Yui-chan suddenly shouted.
"Eh? No, it's not Elizabeth!" Mio yelped.
Meanwhile, Hotaru pulled out his own instrument — a keyboard.
It was the first time the girls had seen it.
"So Hotaru-kun is a keyboardist too!" Ritsu said.
Tsumugi leaned in curiously.
Yui-chan stroked her chin. The keyboard was blue with white keys.
Blue and white…
Her eyes suddenly lit up.
"Blue and White Bowl!"
"???"
Everyone stared.
Mio shivered, hugging her bass tighter.
Hotaru nearly choked. Wasn't this happening too early?!
"Blue and white bowl, you know!" Yui said proudly. "Hotaru-kun's instrument should be called Blue and White Bowl!"
"Hahahahaha!!" Ritsu burst into laughter.
"I object!" Hotaru immediately protested.
No way could his keyboard be called that.
Mio, meanwhile, shuddered, clinging to her bass for dear life.
Ritsu, noticing her reaction, smirked mischievously again.
She leaned close and whispered, "Mio… today, you wouldn't happen to be wearing—"
"Mmm!!"
Mio instantly clamped her hands over Ritsu's mouth, her face blazing red.
Ritsu struggled, trying to speak.
"Mmf—let me finish, Mio—!"
But Mio wouldn't allow it, pressing down harder.
Ritsu wriggled free, ran off, and was about to shout again—
"No way!!"
Mio chased after her, bass in hand.
The two circled the classroom while Hotaru argued with Yui.
"Yui, you can't just name someone else's instrument."
"But you're not 'someone else'!"
Hotaru froze, scratching his nose awkwardly.
"…Still, no. It's not happening."
"You don't like Blue and White Bowl?"
"No, I don't! It doesn't sound good!"
"But Ritsu's laughing so hard!"
"She's laughing because—"
Hotaru stopped himself. If he explained, Mio would die of embarrassment.
Tsumugi, meanwhile, tilted her head in confusion.
"What is a Blue and White Bowl?"
No one heard her over the noise.
She puffed her cheeks and tugged at their sleeves.
"I'm curious, please tell me!"
Yui blinked. "A blue and white bowl is a blue and white bowl!"
Then Tsumugi turned to Hotaru.
Hotaru scratched his cheek awkwardly. "This… I can't really say…"
"Ritsu…"
But Ritsu was too busy running from Mio.
"I'll tell you later!" she gasped.
Mio, panicking, accidentally whacked Ritsu's head with her bass.
Ritsu collapsed. Finally, Mio sighed in relief.
"Mio…"
Tsumugi gazed at her expectantly.
"Ahh!!"
Mio screamed, covering her ears and crouching down.
"I don't know, I don't know, I don't know!!"
Everyone had been asked, but no one gave Tsumugi an answer.
She pouted, tugging on Hotaru's arm again.
"I'm so curious, please tell me!"
But Hotaru just smiled weakly. No matter how adorable she acted, he couldn't let Tsumugi's pure heart be corrupted.
So he stayed silent.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/DaoistRoeoNQ
If you guys wanna check it out.