For a moment, the atmosphere turned somber because of Takanashi Tou's words.
White Autumn looked at Nagasaki Sousei, expecting her to say something to lighten the mood, but she was also lowering her head, making it impossible to read her expression.
Then, White Autumn looked at Shiina Reki, who was still standing there holding a plate, looking blank.
He had wanted to say, "Reki, sit down!"
But he realized that she was still working a part-time job, so it didn't seem appropriate. He also wasn't familiar enough with her to use her name, so he gave up.
So, to change the subject, White Autumn reminded her,
"Tou, drink your beverage first!"
Only then did Reki react in a hurry,
"Right! Tou, your coffee."
Carefully placing the mocha coffee down for Tou, Reki couldn't help but feel a little annoyed. Why hadn't she thought of that!
A bit unwilling, Reki glanced at White Autumn, who was busy preparing hot Earl Grey tea and Matcha Parfait.
Nagasaki Sousei also came back to her senses at this moment and comforted Tou,
"Tou, Shouko definitely has her reasons…"
After saying this, she didn't look at Takanashi Tou, but instead, looked at White Autumn.
Tou pursed her lips slightly, remembering Shouko's cold expression, and didn't reply.
Shouko?
It couldn't be the Shouko he knew, could it?
White Autumn felt a flicker of doubt. Connecting it to Shiina Reki's words earlier, "She just quit without saying anything," he asked curiously,
"Why did this Shouko want to quit?"
Nagasaki Sousei shook her head. Then, to test if White Autumn knew Shouko, Sousei had no choice but to bring up the past, recalling the events.
After Crychic's successful live performance, Shouko didn't come to the recording studio for a long time. The last time they met, she directly said she was quitting...
"So, something must have happened to Shouko."
Sousei stated firmly.
White Autumn nodded after hearing this, agreeing with Sousei.
He felt that Tou wasn't the problem; the issue lay with Shouko, who had suddenly left.
"Why don't we all talk it out?"
Hearing this, Nagasaki Sousei's eyes lit up.
"Yes, as long as we all sit down and have a good talk, we can solve this!"
"What's there to talk about with that person?"
Reki, holding a plate, reappeared and said coldly.
With two "thumps," Reki set down Sousei's tea and White Autumn's Matcha Parfait.
White Autumn felt like she put a lot of force into it when she got to his order.
He knew that service industry employees were under a lot of pressure these days; there had even been incidents of employees throwing coffee on customers.
He understood.
But, he wasn't the type of customer to be unreasonable!
If she keeps being so fierce, she'll become my Note-farming tool!
The group began to drink their beverages.
Reki, wanting to stay close to Tou, stood to the side with her arms crossed.
White Autumn silently took out his phone and searched for Crychic on a video website.
Since they'd performed live, he figured he could find some information.
At that moment, the shop's glass door opened, and a petite figure walked in, dragging a suitcase.
Shinjitsu Ririko, a regular RiNG employee, smiled and greeted her,
"Rana, are you going to play again?"
"Yeah."
Kaname Rana nodded.
She opened her backpack, put on her guitar, and plugged it into the amp, all in one smooth motion.
Kaname Rana raised her head, ready to strum her guitar.
Suddenly, she stopped.
She swiftly packed her suitcase and walked towards White Autumn.
"Hey, Stray Cat! What are you doing?"
Reki immediately stepped forward, questioning the RiNG's Stray Cat.
She often did strange things.
It wouldn't be good if she scared Tou.
Kaname Rana ignored her and went straight to White Autumn.
"Matcha Parfait."
Her beautiful heterochromatic eyes were fixed on the Matcha Parfait on White Autumn's table.
"Stare—"
"Huh?"
"Eh?"
"Autumn?"
Everyone looked at White Autumn and Kaname Rana in confusion.
White Autumn was also surprised, not expecting to see Kaname Rana here.
He found it strange; he hadn't received a reply since adding her last time.
So, after a brief explanation, White Autumn ordered the two Matcha Parfaits he owed Kaname Rana.
Kaname Rana pulled up a chair and sat next to White Autumn, happily eating her Matcha Parfait.
White Autumn's eyes lit up as well because he had found Crychic's team account.
He also saw the video of Crychic's first live performance.
What surprised him even more was that there was a comment he had left under the video:
"The Vocalist is working too hard!"
White Autumn thought for a moment; he must have left it while surfing the internet.
But he was puzzled now. He'd clearly meant to compliment, yet somehow it seemed to have been misinterpreted as mockery.
To the point where he'd been blocked, or maybe muted?
"The Vocalist is working too hard."
Kaname Rana swallowed her parfait and spoke suddenly, looking at White Autumn's phone.
"Huh?!"
"Eh??"
"Aki..."
Reki's scrutinizing gaze, Sousei's questioning gaze, and Tou's timid gaze all landed on him.
They knew this line all too well.
The first live, the day Shouko stopped coming to the recording studio.
White Autumn swallowed, looking at Tou,
"Tou, I'm complimenting you with this line, do you believe me?"
"So it was you, you jerk!"
Reki immediately got angry. It was this line that made Tou keep blaming herself!
She looked at Tou,
"Tou, I told you this guy wasn't a good person, stay away from him from now on…"
"I believe!"
Takanashi Tou's eyes were firm. "It's what White Autumn said..." Shiina Reki's pupils constricted, her eyes widening.
Wednesday.
After the Band Group Chat ended.
It was still early in the morning.
Yamada Ryou sent a message saying she also had a cold, then sent the location of "Yamada Hospital," and @ White Autumn, saying that if he also caught a cold tomorrow, he could go to her hospital for a discount.
Nijika: Eh...? Ryou too...? Could it be that I infected her? Autumn, you must take care of yourself!
Ichiri felt that Ryou might have caught it from her, and she felt very guilty.
White Autumn sensed something was amiss. The band members were actually getting sick one after another?!
Was it COVID? Or had they been infected by Bocchi-chan, who got sick first?
Judging by the way things were going, it was quite possible that it would be his turn tomorrow.
So, White Autumn made a smart decision.
He decided to exchange attribute points to improve his constitution.
He hadn't upgraded it at all until now.
Because of what happened in RiNG yesterday, he had also earned quite a few Notes.
``` [Note Balance: 5123]
[Physique +3]
[Luck +2]
[Note Balance: 123]
White Autumn smiled with satisfaction, thinking that he wouldn't get sick now.
Thursday, Friday.
In the shocked gazes of White Autumn and Hirasawa Yui, the first exam of the semester arrived.
The two of them had no idea about it and were completely caught off guard.
With the exams over, the week came to an end.
White Autumn felt like he'd forgotten something.
What was it? He pondered for a moment, but couldn't remember.
He really needed a photographic memory to boost his recall.
-------------------
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