Sakuragaoka Shuka Academy, small classroom
Hitori taught Kita and Anon chords. "Pl-play C, Am7, Dm7, G7."
They struggled, strings out of tune.
Anon, fingertips sore, suggested, "Break?"
"Mhm," Hitori and Kita nodded, setting down guitars.
Anon sighed, If only Rikki were this gentle.
Kita and Anon chatted—cosmetics, fashion, food, streamers—while Hitori wiggled aside, relieved.
Kita asked, "Hitori, how long you been playing guitar?"
"Three years," Hitori said, unsure.
"Wow," Anon gaped. "Practice hours daily?"
"Six," Hitori said. "Nothing else to do."
Kita and Anon's mouths twitched, Bocchi's got it rough.
Anon's phone buzzed—Rikki's message in the band chat.
"Practice today too?" Anon sighed, standing. "Gotta go."
"Good luck," Kita waved.
Anon smiled wryly, glancing at her swollen fingertips. Just wanted a normal band. Why this torture?
RiNG, practice room
"You're late," Rikki said to Anon and Tomori.
"Sorry!" Anon apologized. "Cleaning duty."
Rikki nodded, silent.
Anon relaxed, noticing Kairin and Nika's absence. They're late too.
"Where's Hairin and Love Nika?"
Soyo shook her head.
Rikki: "Hairin's busy. Stray cat's unreachable."
Anon nodded, Wish I was busy.
Practice began. Anon, drained from guitar lessons and cleaning, lacked spirit. She wanted a bath and Myamu's videos. Her fingers ached.
She messed up a simple part.
Rikki stopped, irritated, "Daily practice if this continues."
"Every day?" Anon shook her head. "Too much! Cultural festival tasks too."
Rikki, skeptical, checked with Tomori.
Tomori nodded.
Rikki relented. Practice resumed.
Soyo's keyboard error. Restart.
Anon's guitar error. Restart.
More mistakes. They stopped.
Rikki and Tomori's parts held; the song couldn't.
Resting, Anon hesitated, then spoke, "Maybe no live show yet? Our ensemble's mediocre. Tomori's not keen either."
Rikki frowned, angry. "You're saying it's for Tomori, but you just don't want to, right?"
"I think we shouldn't rush!" Anon retorted. "Perfect the song first."
Rikki glared, "You and Soyo aren't practicing seriously."
"I am!" Anon showed her sore fingers. "Drummers wouldn't get it."
Rikki, speechless, took a breath. "If you're practicing, why fear the show? You're running away."
"I'm not…" Anon's voice weakened.
Tomori, anxious, looked between them, then at Soyo for mediation.
Soyo stayed silent, head down.
Tomori, lost, tried, "Rikki, don't…"
"I'm not running away!" Anon shouted, memories of fleeing London flooding back. Rikki's words broke her.
She threw down her guitar, knocked over her backpack, and ran out.
Rikki froze, stunned by Anon's reaction.
"Anon-chan!" Tomori chased after.
RiNG Hall
Hotaru, post-Light Music Club, checked on Anon's band, matcha parfait in hand.
A pink-haired figure crashed into him, nearly toppling the parfait. He steadied it.
"Why so fast?" he asked, annoyed.
Anon, dazed, muttered, "I'm not running…"
She bolted for the entrance.
"Anon, where you going?" Hotaru shouted, bewildered.
Tomori crashed into him next, toppling the parfait.
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