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TomoriAh...

SoyoSaki-chan! I'm so glad you came! You're soaking wet! Are you all right?

Taki、Mutsumi...

SoyoYou didn't come to school, and you didn't reply to anyone...

SakikoI came here today because I have something to say.

Tomori、Soyo...

SakikoI am quitting CRYCHIC.

Tomori、SoyoWhat...?

Taki、Mutsumi...

SoyoW-wait... Why don't we sit down for a bit...?

SoyoWhy are you doing this...? Did something happen...?

SoyoIs it something you can't tell us? Or is it because of us? If there's something wrong, we'll fix it, okay?

SakikoIt's my problem and mine alone.

SoyoBut why? Our last live show was fun, wasn't it? You said you wanted to do it again, didn't you?

SakikoI never said that.

SoyoY-You didn't...? But you're the one who started CRYCHIC, Saki-chan. If you quit, then...

Sakiko...

TomoriAre you really quitting?

TakiTomori asked you a question. And isn't this kind of irresponsible of you?

TakiWhy aren't you saying anything?

SoyoTaki-chan, don't...

TakiThen, could she stop causing trouble for us? Even today, we were waiting for Sakiko, so we—

SoyoTaki-chan!

SakikoYou can do it without me, can't you?

TakiWhat?

SakikoIf you want to practice, then just do it. There's no rule that says we all have to be here for it. Don't blame other people.

TomoriBut Saki-chan, if you're not here...

SakikoCould you please not talk like a spoiled child? Tomori, you need to practice more than anyone else. What have you been doing all this time?

TakiTomori was waiting for you!

Taki、Sakiko...! ...

SoyoWait...! Let's talk this out! After all, we've had so much fun getting to where we are... Mutsumi-chan, you think so too, don't you?

Mutsumi...

MutsumiI... I've never thought being in this band was fun, not even once.

SoyoWhat...?

Haneoka Girls' Academy - Courtyard

AnonHmm~~! The interview is over~!

Anon(I think I did pretty well~ My grades are good too, so I'll probably get in no problem.)

AnonThis is where I'm going to start over.

AnonHm?

AnonHey, did you drop something?

TomoriAh...

Anon(What's this girl looking for...? Hm? She's picking up rocks?)

AnonUmm... are you taking those rocks back with you?

Tomori......?

Tomori!?

AnonYou finally noticed me. I've been talking to you...

Tomori...!

Anon...Huh? What was that...?

One Week Later

Haneoka Girls' Academy - Classroom 1-A

AnonNice to meet you! I'm Anon Chihaya! I'll be a member of this class from today!

AnonDue to my family's circumstances, I'm transferring in at a weird time, but I hope we'll get along. I'm looking forward to getting to know you!

TeacherChihaya-san, go ahead and sit in the seat furthest back.

AnonYes.

AnonOh, the rocks...

Tomori...?

AnonAh, ahahaha, nice to meet you.

Anon(Phew, my greeting to the class went smoothly, that should do if I want to fit in here, right?)

Anon(My seat is behind this girl, huh... I think she's the one who was picking up rocks on the day of my transfer interview, right?)

TomoriChihaya-san...

AnonHuh? What's wrong?

TomoriI'm Tomori Takamatsu. Nice to meet you...

AnonY-Yeah... Nice to meet you.

Anon(Oh no, it's the lunch break...! Who should I be friendly with?)

Anon(They're way too high energy... They're... too serious.)

Classmate ATomori-chan, heading to the astronomy club again?

TomoriYeah.

Anon(The trio over there... yeah, they seem easy to talk to.)

AnonUm... do you mind if I eat with you?

Classmate AYeah, of course! Tell us your stories, Chihaya-san.

AnonReally!? Yay~ I was worried I wouldn't find anyone to eat with.

Classmate BIt's hard when everyone's already grouped up, huh? I totally get it.

Classmate CYour family name, Chihaya, it's like a first name. It's cute. What did they call you at your last school?

AnonUm...

Anon...You can call me Anon!

Classmate CThen, Anon-chan it is! You mentioned that you transferred in late because of family stuff. That must be rough.

AnonOh, yeah! It's super rough! I mean, everyone's formed their cliques already, right?

Classmate CHuh? But you know Tomori-chan, right? You talked with her this morning.

AnonOh, no! I just ran into her earlier while she was picking up... rocks?

Classmate BYeah, sometimes she picks things up like that.

Classmate AThat's Haneoka's guileless girl for you!

Classmate CShe's like a cute little animal, isn't she?

Classmate BThe other day in the courtyard—

Anon(Huh...? Are we done talking about me already?)

After School

Tomori...

Anon(What is she looking at...? Well, whatever. Those girls from before are—)

AnonAh! Let's head home together!

AnonHuh?

Classmate AWhat's wrong?

AnonI just noticed that lots of people in this class brought their instruments.

AnonYou also brought yours. Are you in a band?

Classmate AYeah, we only just started though. I think a lot of us in this school probably are in bands.

Classmate CI think the only one in our class who isn't in a band is Tomori-chan.

AnonOh... Everyone really is in a band...

Classmate BWhat about you, Anon-chan? Do you play any instruments?

AnonHuh? Ah... Yeah, a little. I guess I did guitar and vocals...

Classmate AOh! Me too! Me too! If you'd like, Anon-chan, why don't you join our band? We just need one more guitarist to play an Afterglow song!

Anon(Guitar? Joining as a guitarist among the three of them...)

Anon(Which would mean... I'd probably be off to the side...)

AnonThanks! I'll think about it!

Anon*Sigh*... I'm so tired~ My face muscles are dead...

AnonBut I made some friends. For the first day, it's not bad.

AnonUmm... where did I put the guitar...

AnonFound it!

AnonI mean, everyone's in a band, right? I have to be in one, too.

AnonHuh?

The Next Morning

AnonI'm sorry! I'd like to be in your band, but it's been a while since my middle school cultural festival, and I don't really know Afterglow yet, so...

Anon(And if I'm gonna do it, I'd rather do guitar and vocals.)

Classmate AWhat? You don't have to worry about that!

AnonI was happy you invited me, but I'll try finding the members myself.

Classmate COh, that's a shame...

Classmate BIf you're looking for members, you should check out the bulletin board at a live house. A new live house called RiNG just opened, so why not check it out?

AnonReally? RiNG, huh? Thank you for telling me~