"How would I know who you saw? What's that got to do with me?"
Sato kept a straight face. Whether or not Eriri found out... That was none of his concern… Yeah, right!
If Eriri did find out, it might not ruin their collaboration outright, but she'd definitely be upset.
"Who was that girl with you?"
Iroha Isshiki narrowed her pretty eyes, staring at Sato without blinking.
"Huh? I was home all weekend."
Sato blinked in mock confusion, feigning ignorance to the bitter end.
"Liar! That was definitely you!"
Iroha's expression screamed certainty, her gaze practically shouting, There's no way I got this wrong!
"You must've been mistaken."
Sato laughed it off. Deny, deny, deny... what could she do?
"Hmph!"
Seeing that Sato wouldn't budge, Iroha couldn't push it further. After all, all she'd seen that day were two backs, not exactly conclusive evidence.
Still… now she was absolutely sure it was him. But with Sato refusing to admit it, there was nothing she could do.
Damn it!
Iroha's eyes burned with gossip-fueled determination.
One day, I will find out!
…
After another dull day of school, Sato leisurely made his way to the Light Music Club after class.
"Huh? Mio, you already brought the instruments?"
Inside the club room, he noticed the bass, drum set, and keyboard neatly arranged in the corner.
"Where's your guitar, Sato?"
Tainaka Ritsu, already enjoying her tea, looked up and asked upon seeing him empty-handed.
"It's still in Akita. I'll pick one up when I go with Hirasawa-san to buy hers this weekend."
"Wow, someone's loaded…"
Ritsu sighed, blowing on her steaming cup.
"Ugh…"
Hirasawa Yui slumped dramatically over the table, letting out a pitiful whimper. Why does everyone seem so rich?
"Did you talk to your parents, Hirasawa-san?"
Sato sat down at his usual spot, glancing at Yui as she lay face-down.
"Yeah, Dad said he's willing to lend me fifty thousand yen!"
"That's pretty good. If it ends up not being enough, I can help you out a little…"
"Noooo, that's okay!"
"Fifty thousand already covers ten months of allowance. If I borrow any more, I won't have any pocket money for the rest of high school! Waaah…"
No allowance for all of high school… That was pretty rough.
Sato nodded sympathetically but didn't press further.
Still… instrument prices could always surprise them. They might be in for a shock soon enough.
The Light Music Club's tea time continued. This kind of slow, peaceful life… really made people lazy.
"Ohayou!"
BANG! The clubroom door suddenly slammed open, accompanied by a loud, cheerful voice.
Everyone jumped in surprise. Yui nearly dropped her teacup.
"H-Hiratsuka-sensei?!"
They all stared in shock as Shizuka Hiratsuka strode in like she owned the place.
"Hiratsuka-sensei, as a teacher, shouldn't you be setting an example by following the rules?"
From the corner, Yukinoshita Yukino's cold voice cut through the air like a winter gale, carrying frost and displeasure.
The loud entrance had clearly startled her too. Her usually calm and beautiful face now bore a hint of irritation.
"Haha! Sorry, sorry!"
The teacher in question laughed awkwardly, trying to smooth over the moment. Though undeniably beautiful, her brash demeanor kind of ruined the image.
No wonder her character card listed her as a "Martial Arts Master." She was basically a female Tyrannosaurus.
Sato sipped his tea in silence.
Then his gaze shifted to behind Hiratsuka. This time, she wasn't alone. Standing just behind her was someone vaguely familiar.
Who was that?
He furrowed his brows in thought… then realization struck. His eyes darted toward Yukinoshita.
At that moment, Yukinoshita, now composed, also noticed the boy following Hiratsuka. Her expression changed, just for an instant. Enough for Sato to catch it.
So she recognized him too.
It made sense. After all, the two of them had been the protagonists of that infamous car accident. That dead-fish eyes might not remember clearly, but Yukinoshita definitely did.
Interesting…
Sato straightened up.
Ritsu, watching the dead-eyed newcomer behind Hiratsuka, shrank back a little and whispered, "Is he here to join the Light Music Club too? He doesn't look like he's into music…"
"Mm-hmm!"
Yui nodded vigorously, whispering back, "His eyes look like they're rotting…"
Sato's attention shifted.
The boy with Hiratsuka did, indeed, have a memorable look. Those lifeless, fish-like eyes, void of sparkle, almost decomposed.
Yet deep in those eyes… there was a strange sharpness. As if saying, You're all trash.
Tch…
Even if he didn't actually mean it, those weird eye of his gave off that vibe.
Hikigaya Hachiman surveyed the room with his deadpan gaze.
His keen senses had already picked up on the dynamics in the room: two distinct cliques.
One was a cheerful group of one guy with four girls, clearly close-knit. The other… was that icy school beauty, Yukinoshita Yukino.
Hachiman's expression shifted.
"Sorry to intrude, members of the Light Music Club."
Hiratsuka gave a quick apology, then gestured for Hachiman to follow her toward Yukinoshita.
So this is the Light Music Club, huh?
Hachiman mused.
But when he saw where Hiratsuka was leading him, his stomach dropped.
No way…
Was she seriously introducing him to Yukinoshita Yukino?!
Between her and the bubbly Light Music Club, he'd definitely pick the latter. But this ice queen, still clearly annoyed by Hiratsuka's behavior, did not look like someone easy to get along with.
Wait a sec...
That smug-looking guy with the tea, what's with that "this'll be fun to watch" expression?!
Sato watched calmly, silently raising his teacup.