"Everyone, quiet down. I have an announcement to make." The teacher of Class 1 at Tokyo High School tapped the podium. "As you all know, the annual School Cultural Festival will be held starting next Monday and ending on Wednesday. Please divide yourselves into groups and report the programs your groups will be performing."
"Yay! Three days of fun!" The students in the class cheered and began whispering to each other. A few girls gathered excitedly and screamed, "The props for the cafe we did last year are still there! Ahhh, we can hear Ready-made live again!"
"Class 3 will definitely be performing on stage for the Cultural Festival! Oh my god, I can't wait. I have to ask them which day it is in advance; I can't miss the opening like last time!!"
"They'll definitely be on the last day!"
"Don't forget how hard it was to get a spot last year. This year they'll definitely choose an open space, so let's rush to the front row, girls!"
"Right, Akita, don't you know the bassist? Go ask her, please, please~"
When did Class 3's classroom get so crowded?! After class, Akita stood at the edge of the crowd, desperately trying to squeeze in. Looking at the students inside, his jaw dropped in shock.
"No way, are they all here for Ready-made?!"
As fans, they all knew that not disturbing favorite band members was a virtue, but the annual Cultural Festival had flushed out all these lurking fans. They were restlessly gathering at the classroom door, and as the crowd grew, even the students of Class 3 were trapped inside.
"Kyoko! Kyoko!" Akita shouted as loudly as he could.
Kyoko, surrounded in the center of the crowd, noticed him. Petite as she was, she struggled to move over, waving her hands apologetically. "Sorry, everyone! I'm not too sure about the specific arrangements yet. You can wait and see!"
"Kyoko-san is so kawaii..." "This is the first time I've seen her so close. Usually, I'm too afraid to talk to her from afar..."
Kyoko seemed exceptionally popular with the boys. Her petite and delicate figure, combined with her sweet and cute face, was indeed that of a traditional Japanese beauty.
"Kyoko, your popularity is just too high." Akita wiped the sweat from his forehead. "I'm almost being crushed to death by these guys!"
Kyoko couldn't help but laugh, revealing two small dimples. "Ready-made's lead singer couldn't take it and ran away. Only Inohara and I are left in the classroom."
"Even though Kuroki Kusanagi is the lead singer, Kyoko, you're the best in my heart." Akita grinned foolishly.
"Flattering me like this, do you want to know which day our live performance is?"
"Hehe~ As long as you know, Kyoko~"
"I'll tell you quietly, it should be the evening of the last day of the Cultural Festival." Kyoko winked and smiled at him. "Remember to come then."
Not only would he come, he wished he could go with his friends right now!
"Thanks, Kyoko! My friends and I will definitely be there early!" Even running in 360-degree circles couldn't suppress his joy!
"When are you going to change your personality of not knowing how to say no?" Inohara glanced helplessly at the crowd; there were enough boys here to drown the two of them.
"I'm not changing it. I have you anyway," Kyoko hooked her arm through hers. "You can protect me every time."
"The looks these guys are giving you could eat you alive," Inohara scolded her crossly. "Learn to refuse. You can't just go along with everyone for everything."
"Alright, alright, I get it! Lecturing me again. Big deal being three years older."
"It is a big deal." Inohara looked around. "Where's Kusanagi? Did those two go to the rooftop again?"
"Probably. Our lead singer has too many female fans. Do you want to go up and find her?"
"Yeah, I need to talk to them about the song list. Kyoko, please fill out the form and give it to the teacher."
To the rooftop again. How is Kusanagi so attractive to girls?
Every year during the Cultural Festival, a large number of girls would chase after her, screaming and giving gifts. At least half the reason their band's popularity was so exaggerated was because of Kusanagi. She was usually restrained, but now even Inohara herself had received many letters. She didn't even need to open them; they were one hundred percent requests to pass them on to Kusanagi.
Inohara threw those letters and love notes away. Before leaving, she didn't forget to clear off Kusanagi's desk as well; she wouldn't look at such things anyway. Kusanagi had always been popular, she knew that better than anyone. Those people liked her cool face, liked her arrogant and handsome voice—wasn't that all those people liked about Kusanagi?
Shallow.
Inohara walked toward the rooftop with her long legs.
The rooftop was locked, and the gate was high and dilapidated, but how could that stop these girls?
Kusanagi was bored, resting her head on her arms, unconcerned about whether the ground was dirty. Above her was the azure sky. Her long, slender white legs were crossed, and she lay flat with her eyes closed, thinking about who knows what. Momozawa was eating an ice cream next to her.
"Kusanagi, we definitely have to perform a new song at the Cultural Festival."
"I wrote one, but it doesn't feel right." Kusanagi sat with her legs crossed. Her tone was lazy, as if being unable to write a new song was a perfectly normal thing.
"It's over. Our core lead singer can't write a song. Looks like we're not far from disbanding." Momozawa rolled her eyes at her. "You don't think the fans will let you off if you haven't released a new song in six months and don't have anything new for the Cultural Festival, do you?"
"Alright, alright, I know... I just don't have any inspiration."
"What's wrong with you lately? You're always spacing out. You don't even hear me when I call you."
They were best friends. When did Kusanagi's state begin? It seemed like since the hottest part of midsummer, she had been frequently dazed and lost in thought.
Kusanagi lowered her black eyelashes and didn't argue. "Momozawa, come here for a second."
"Huh? What are you doing?" Momozawa looked confused, but she still walked over and habitually took Kusanagi's arm.
"Can you hold my hand for a moment?"
"What?" Momozawa was shocked. The person in front of her definitely wasn't Kusanagi!
Usually, Kusanagi would dodge even an arm-link with a look of disgust and quickly pull away if there was any physical contact. Momozawa had even cried about it for a while. Why would she suddenly make such an absurd request as holding hands now?!
Kusanagi turned her head uncomfortably and awkwardly explained her request. "Don't overthink it. I just have something I can't figure out. Are you going to hold it or not?"
Dubiously, Momozawa took Kusanagi's hand, and their hands joined. Momozawa's hand was fleshy, very small and slender as it gripped the back of Kusanagi's hand, but Kusanagi felt nothing. Kusanagi seemed to be confirming something, her eyes fixed on their hands, but soon her body subconsciously transmitted symptoms of discomfort. Within seconds, she quickly let go of Momozawa's hand.
"..." Momozawa, whose hand had been violently shaken off, looked dazed. Was there a mistake? She was the one who wanted to hold hands, and she was the one who shook it off in disgust. What had Momozawa done wrong?!
Seeing Momozawa's look of disbelief, Kusanagi, feeling guilty, cleared her throat. "Fine, I'll treat you to dessert later. Even the most expensive one is okay."
"You think a dessert can just brush me off! You've broken this girl's heart!" Momozawa got angry. Could her hand just be held and dropped whenever Kusanagi felt like it?!
Kusanagi massaged her forehead in frustration. She had originally wanted to try letting Momozawa hug her, but now she didn't even need to think about it. She would definitely kick Momozawa ten meters away without mercy. She really felt nothing, and even subconsciously rejected it, feeling uncomfortable all over.
Her resistance only failed against that person.
"At least a week's worth!" Momozawa pinched her shoulder hard.
"Fine, fine, no problem." Kusanagi dodged again, which made Momozawa even angrier.
"You're not allowed to dodge! Tell me, why did you suddenly want to hold hands!"
"Stop it! Ahhh, don't come over here!"
"What are you two doing..." Inohara stood at the rooftop entrance with a dark expression. The two of them were chasing each other, one in front and one behind. No matter how you looked at it, the scene was bizarre.
"Why did you come up?"
"Meet at the practice room after class. We need to discuss the Cultural Festival songs early—whether to sing new ones or keep the old ones. Kusanagi, remember to bring your guitar; we need it for the live sound check." Inohara looked at Kusanagi, her tone softening unconsciously. "How long has it been since you've been to the practice room? You need to prepare well before the Cultural Festival."
"I'm not going today. I have plans with Miss Nozawa tonight."
"You're not going? Inohara, then I'll go with you. Let's ignore her and let her go have fun with the beauty." Momozawa took Inohara's arm. "Let's go."
Kusanagi had refused tonight's band rehearsal. Not going? Inohara wanted to say something more, but when she heard Kusanagi say she wasn't going, the light in her eyes suddenly dimmed.
Miss Nozawa again. Ever since this international student came to Kusanagi's house, she had rarely spent time with Inohara. Every time it was "Miss Nozawa made something delicious" or "That woman is home alone." Why hadn't she noticed Kusanagi loved going home so much before?
Her parents had temporarily left Tokyo. Clearly, their time together should have increased, but instead, the time spent with Inohara was getting less and less, all taken by this international student.
It was truly disgusting. Kusanagi didn't even eat barbecue; her stomach was fragile, and she easily felt nauseous and in pain after eating a little. She should especially avoid charcoal-grilled food. Did that international student have any common sense? She didn't know Kusanagi's physical condition at all.
Where exactly did things go wrong? Inohara's hand tightened, pinching a blue mark into her fingertip.
"Momozawa, Kyoko said she's waiting for you in the practice room. You go down first."
Momozawa gave an "oh." Seeing Inohara's poor expression, she tactfully left her and Kusanagi alone. She knew that Inohara cared most about Kusanagi—even to an ambiguous degree. She had asked Kusanagi what was going on, but Kusanagi had replied it was nothing and told her not to overthink it, so she hadn't delved further.
Kusanagi casually put her hands in her pockets. "What is it that you can't say in front of Momo? Why did you send her away?"
"What's been going on with you lately?" Inohara's face was cold as she stared intently at Kusanagi's profile. "You disappear as soon as school is over, and you don't care about the band's affairs."
"It's nothing. I just feel like there's someone waiting for me at home, and the food is pretty good." Kusanagi kicked a pebble on the ground aimlessly. "I promised to teach that person Japanese."
"There are international students all over Japan. Why haven't I seen anyone else who needs a high school girl to teach them Japanese? Wouldn't it be better to hire a professional teacher? Why must she trouble you?" Displeasure flared in Inohara's brownish-brown eyes. "It was the same with the camping last time. I know you were happy, but Miss Nozawa is Chinese after all; she's just here to study. Aren't you getting too close to her?"
Kusanagi's expression shifted slightly, and she replied dissatisfied, "Miss Nozawa is studying medicine and came to my house specifically to take care of me. She'll definitely stay in Japan in the future. You don't need to worry."
Inohara felt as cold as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over her. What did she mean, she didn't need to worry? Clearly, being friends was enough. If she had restrained herself that day and hadn't said that sentence, would things between her and Kusanagi not be like this?
Kusanagi had never mentioned a person so frequently before. When she mentioned that person, she couldn't even hide the joy on her face. She had never been like this.
Last time she said she didn't hate it. A very bad premonition sprouted in her heart, and Inohara's face suddenly turned pale.
Realizing her words were a bit much, Kusanagi touched the bridge of her straight nose and softened her tone. "I'll go to the practice room tomorrow. Don't worry too much, okay?"
"You've changed." Inohara lowered her head, her expression hidden.
"I've changed?" Kusanagi said. "Maybe. But I don't hate myself like this."
A flash of pain crossed Inohara's eyes. "Is it because of Miss Nozawa?" No one could break a person's principles so easily unless those principles were insignificant before that person.
Kusanagi subconsciously avoided her gaze, her hand brushing the black hair behind her ear. This small movement further reflected her lack of composure. "What do you mean by that?"
She couldn't hide her flustered state, and Inohara took it all in. That suspicion gradually loomed in her heart, and she desperately wanted to prove whether it was true or false. It must be false, right? Her problem was thinking too much. How could this be possible? It was absolutely impossible.
"What is your relationship with Miss Nozawa?"
Kusanagi's eyes blinked incessantly. "A relationship of living together. What else could I have with her? That person is seven years older than me; she could be my aunt."
"How many years older am I than you?" Inohara didn't expose her and suddenly threw out a question.
"..." Kusanagi choked. "Uh, two years?"
"We've known each other for four years. Every year when my birthday is mentioned, you always tease me about it because I'm the oldest in the band." Inohara smiled faintly. "I'm four years older than you. Born in the tenth year of Heisei, Kusanagi."
Kusanagi had never felt Inohara's smile be so cold. A trace of embarrassment appeared on her cool face. Inohara continued to look at her with arms crossed, her expression dark and intense.
What a rotten day this was. She had just offended Momozawa and now she had offended Inohara...
Kusanagi stepped forward playfully and rubbed against Inohara's stiff body, pleading helplessly, "Inohara, I really do remember. Don't be mad at me."
"..."
"Don't be angry anymore. I was wrong."
Soothed by her soft words, Inohara couldn't help but look at her dark, glossy head. She really wanted to touch it, really wanted to hold her in her arms, but she couldn't. She didn't intend to let Kusanagi brush her off like this.
"I'm not mad at you. Didn't you want to go home early? I agree." Inohara suddenly reverted to her former self. She habitually began tidying Kusanagi's school uniform and patting the dust off her skirt.
"Ah, okay." Although Kusanagi was confused as to why Inohara's attitude had done a 180-degree turn, she still stood up and walked downstairs.
"Since you're going home, let's practice at your house tomorrow. We won't go to the practice room."
"My house?" Kusanagi rubbed her nose. "It's fine, I guess, but why suddenly..."
"Then it's settled." Inohara smiled brilliantly. "By the way, Miss Nozawa is at home, right?"