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The Garage

HotaruHello. Oh... Is it just you here, Natsume-san?

NatsumeLooks like the others are running late. Every last one of them, when practice time is so precious.

HotaruUm... What should we do? Should we wait until everyone gets here?

NatsumeYeah. I'll just play some guitar until they get here.

HotaruOkay, I understand.

Natsume...

Hotaru...

NatsumeHey... Why are you staring at me like that?

HotaruHuh...? Oh, I'm sorry.

HotaruI do not often get to sit and listen to your guitar properly, so I got completely absorbed in it.

NatsumeHmm...? Well, you can keep watching as long as you don't get in my way.

Hotaru! Thank you!

Natsume...

Natsume(Well... It doesn't feel bad. Maybe someday I'll put on a live where I sing and play guitar in front of a bigger crowd.)

Natsume(Hm...? Did something just move by my feet...)

Natsume...!?

Natsume(I-It...)

Natsume(It can't be a mantis!!!)

Natsume(No, no, no! Bugs? No way! So scary, scary, scary! Just go away already!)

HotaruHm? You stopped playing... Is something wrong?

Natsume...!

Natsume(Oh no... Hotaru is right in front of me.)

Natsume(To Hotaru, Natsume Izawa is the cool senior guitarist... I can't let her see me like this...!)

NatsumeI-It's nothing. That was an intentional rest. Silence is part of the performance too...!

Natsume(Wait... Why are you coming this way, mantis!? I can't move!)

Natsume(No, stop, don't come any closer! Ugh, no, no, no—)

HotaruOh, a mantis. Did it wander in by accident?

Natsume!?

HotaruPlease stay still... I'll take you outside now.

HotaruThere you go. Bye-bye.

Natsume...

HotaruPhew. I'm glad I could let it out safely. It would have been awful if someone had accidentally stepped on it.

HotaruOh... Natsume-san, were you being so quiet because of that?

NatsumeHuh...?

HotaruSo you would not scare the mantis... Right?

NatsumeHmph...! You noticed, Hotaru!

HotaruI knew it...! You're amazing, Natsume-san. I need to learn from how you always care so much about every guest...!

Natsume...

Natsume(I wish the others would get here already...)