"Ah! Speak of the devil, he's finally here!"
Chihaya Anon was the first to notice him and eagerly waved toward the staircase.
Before anyone else could react, Nagasaki Soyo shot up from her seat. Under Shiina Taki's confused gaze, she rushed over to the white railing on the second floor. Without even confirming who it was, the words she'd been dying to say began spilling out of her—
The person climbing the stairs wasn't the one she'd expected.
It was just a tall black-haired boy with a short ponytail tied at the back.
Dressed in a hooded black sweatshirt, he carried a long white instrument bag over one shoulder. His slender, well-proportioned figure and strikingly handsome features gave off a naturally graceful aura. His deep black eyes seemed to have a quiet, magnetic pull to them.
The kind of beauty you'd expect from someone with a passive charm stat maxed out—enough to make anyone gasp at first sight.
In contrast to his striking looks, he wore a lazy, sleepy expression as he lazily unwrapped a green mochi snack.
The image shattered instantly.
Wait... did Sakiko turn into a guy?!
Nagasaki Soyo was visibly stunned. Her hands hovered awkwardly on the railing, unsure whether to hold on or let go. She didn't know whether to continue the sentence stuck in her throat or swallow it whole.
"Mi↑Mi↓~ You're so late!" Anon puffed up her cheeks, clearly still holding a grudge.
When she saw him casually munching on a snack, she marched over and snatched it from his hand, chomping down with her little fang-tipped smile.
Haru blinked, dumbfounded for a second. He almost reached out to grab it back.
"That mochi cost me 200 yen on the shopping street! You just took a bite?!"
"Serves you right~ That's your punishment for being super late!"
[And for leaving me to deal with all the awkwardness alone, too!]
Seeing his expression deflate a little, Anon smirked victoriously as she savored the mochi.
Even if it was just a cheap 200 yen snack, it was surprisingly tasty~
Still, for showing up this late, he owes me at least a slice of Black Forest cheesecake, too!
"...Fine, I'll admit I'm late. No excuses."
Though he had his reasons, being late was still being late.
Kazami Haru offered a gentle apology like one would to a pouting child and then casually glanced around the room.
His eyes met Soyo's dazed gaze and for a brief second, their eyes locked in midair.
He simply nodded at her in greeting, then calmly placed his instrument bag down and took a seat right beside Anon.
Takamatsu Tomori, not entirely sure why Haru had sat further away from her, quietly scooted her chair closer toward him.
"Wait a sec, don't just plop yourself down next to Tomori like that!"
Shiina Taki's voice was sharp and cold, her violet eyes narrowing dangerously. But before Haru could even reply, Tomori furrowed her brows and gently stepped in front of him.
"Taki-chan... don't talk like that."
Taki faltered instantly. But then she shot Haru a glare so fierce he almost flinched.
What the heck, Taki?! Why are you glaring at me?!
He'd deliberately sat a bit farther from Tomori to avoid exactly this kind of reaction. She was the one who scooted closer, how was he the one getting blamed here?
Haru glanced toward Yahata Umiri, who'd been silently sipping her coffee and watching him the entire time.
If things get worse, maybe I'll just go curl up on Umiri's lap.
"Tomori, here's your notebook."
Haru handed her a modest-looking notebook, plain on the outside but filled with Tomori's memories and lyrics, including her precious "Spring Sunlight."
After that, he finally gave the rest of the group a proper once-over.
What's going on here?
Running into Soyo head-on was awkward enough, but why did the entire mood shift the moment he arrived?
Do I give off a "mood-killer" aura or something?
After a brief pause, Haru decided to speak up:
"Sorry again for being late. Even if I had a reason, it's not an excuse."
Better to bow his head than risk Taki's wrath.
"Since it's my first time meeting most of you, let me introduce myself. I'm Kazami Haru, first-year at Haneoka High. I'll be in charge of keyboard and composing, nice to meet you."
Soyo's earlier smile had completely disappeared. Her face looked unnaturally stiff, like a display mannequin in a department store window, utterly transparent in her discomfort.
Where the hell did this guy come from?
Haneoka High, same year as Tomori and Anon. But that's it.
Yet this unreliable-looking guy was apparently their keyboardist and even in charge of composing?
He reminded her too much of someone.
Too much... and it made her irrationally irritated.
"Shiina Taki. Drummer."
Trying to stay on track for Tomori's sake, Taki reluctantly set aside her prejudices and decided to evaluate Haru fairly.
His personality rubbed her the wrong way, but even she had to admit:
That face could definitely get him into any band.
And the way he apologized without hesitation... she couldn't fault his attitude.
But character isn't something you can measure at a glance.
If he was going to stick around Tomori, Taki had to be cautious.
Who knows how he managed to win her over in the first place?!
Also, she just didn't trust keyboardists who claimed to handle composing.
Add that handsome face on top? Huge red flag.
Someone like Haru, reckless and full of mystery. If he ever hurt Tomori again, even unintentionally—
Shiina Taki would never forgive it.
She'd be the one to protect Tomori. Always.