"It's here."
Following Takamatsu Tomori, Kazama Haruka stepped into a club room.
The space wasn't large — just over twenty square meters — but it felt full. Bookshelves were stacked high with various astronomy texts, simple drawings of planets and constellations covered the walls, and several posters featuring a girls' band added a splash of color.
"This is… a club room?"
Noticing his confusion, Tomori nodded. "Yes. This is the Astronomy Club. The former president and I were close, so before she graduated, she entrusted this place to me and gave me the key."
She added, a little shyly, "I actually came an hour early today to move all my things in."
"I see." Haruka nodded thoughtfully.
In the original story, this was the club Tomori inherited from Hikawa Hina, the former student council president. According to the plot, Tomori would end up becoming both president and the only member.
Haruka walked over to the worn sofa against the wall and sat down.
Tomori took a notebook off the shelf and offered it to him. Inside were notes on celestial observations — reflections, sketches, and dates. Judging by the handwriting, many entries belonged to the previous president.
"Takamatsu-san, do you like astronomy?"
"Yes… I'm very interested in it," she replied softly. Then, as if remembering something, her voice suddenly brightened. She stepped closer and leaned in with an unexpected energy.
"Do you want to join? Right now… I'm the only member. The club won't be disbanded as long as I submit activity reports, but if you joined, I'd really be happy."
So this was the charm of a mysterious girl.
Seeing the faint spark of hope in her pink eyes, Haruka couldn't bring himself to turn her down. "If it makes you happy, I'm willing to join."
"Really? That's wonderful! Thank you, Kazama-san."
A blush blossomed across Tomori's pale, pretty face.
Her joy was infectious. Haruka stood and wandered toward the long-barrel telescope set up in the room. He'd never touched such high-end equipment before, and though he knew observing galaxies required specific times and conditions, the instrument piqued his curiosity.
Watching him fumble around with the telescope, Tomori couldn't help covering her mouth with a small smile.
"Kazama-san… you can't press your eye right against it. It'll hurt."
She stepped behind him, her right hand reaching past his shoulder to adjust the finderscope. Her warm breath brushed his ear, and a few strands of her soft hair grazed his cheek, making him instinctively hold his breath.
"In a small room like this, it won't show much," she explained. "And of course, you should never point it at the sun. But if you simply want to use it like a regular telescope, this is how…"
She adjusted the angle gently, demonstrating. Her voice softened as she watched him.
"If we do club activities together later… I know a wonderful observation spot."
"I'm looking forward to stargazing with you, Takamatsu-san," Haruka replied, finally exhaling. Her sudden closeness had startled him more than he expected.
"Oh! And I also have another hobby."
Tomori excitedly opened a drawer and pulled out a pile of penguin-patterned Band-aids.
Haruka barely resisted the urge to make a baby-babble sound. "Gugu gaga."
Instead, he picked one up casually. "This one… a Chinstrap Penguin, right?"
He had studied beforehand for this very reason, so he could easily recognize the little penguin.
Tomori's eyes sparkled. She eagerly held up more. "I have lots of series! This one is an Adélie Penguin, and this one is a Southern Rockhopper Penguin—they're a subspecies of crested penguins…"
As she grew more and more excited, clearly intending to show him the entire collection, Haruka quickly raised a hand, smiling.
"Takamatsu-san, I get it. Penguins are very cute, and I like them too. But I don't need that many Band-aids."
Realizing her own enthusiasm had run wild, Tomori lowered her voice in embarrassment. "Mm… they really are cute. That's why I can't help collecting all the different kinds."
The sudden drop in her tone made Haruka feel a twinge of guilt. Wanting to shift the atmosphere, he looked around the room and noticed the colorful notebook on the table.
A key item.
"I used to use notebooks like this in elementary school. Nostalgic…" He flipped it open casually.
Inside was a passage that looked like lyrics.
Harukage.
That was the title.
"These look like song lyrics," Haruka said. Glancing at the band posters, he asked, "Takamatsu-san, are you in a band?"
"Band…" Tomori repeated quietly. Her earlier liveliness dimmed. "I'm… not in a band anymore."
"Really?" Haruka gently probed, because he needed to trigger the bond mission given by the system. "Then… would you like to play music with me?"
He offered lightly, "I can handle most instruments decently. Which position do you prefer, Takamatsu-san?"
Unexpectedly, Tomori turned her face away and refused flatly. "I won't participate."
Haruka wasn't surprised.
"Because… even if I join a band… it will just fail again."
Her fists tightened slightly at her sides. Haruka fell silent.
So, her timeline hadn't changed.
The trauma from her last band still lingered deeply. After the group dissolved in the rain, Toyokawa Saki had said, "Akari, you need the most practice. What have you been doing until now?"
Tomori had misunderstood it as a criticism of her terrible singing — and believed she was the reason Saki left. That misunderstanding became a deep wound. Since then, the very word band felt unstable, painful.
To help her rekindle her shattered wish, Haruka knew he had to give her a stronger sense of security.
"Then… if I say I can promise the band will never disband — would you reconsider joining?"
Tomori looked up. "Never disband…? You mean… forever?"
A gravitational pull stronger than before weighed in the air, but Haruka didn't budge.
"Yes. Forever."
"As long as the members can still play, the band won't end. A band where everyone sings happily together. If it's like that — would Akari be willing to join?"
"Akari…"
Hearing her first name suddenly spoken, Tomori froze, her face blooming into a bright blush.
"Ah—sorry!" Haruka panicked. "I got emotional and blurted it out. I didn't mean to be rude."
He mentally scolded himself. Using her given name at such a crucial moment was too careless. What if she disliked it?
But Tomori murmured softly, "If… you don't mind… you can call me that."
Haruka blinked. So… it worked? Accidentally using her first name actually helped?
After a brief pause, Tomori added, "If it's truly a band like that… then I want to join."
Haruka's eyes brightened. As long as she was willing, he wouldn't question the reason.
"Really? Akari — that's great!" He extended his hand. "This is my first time forming a band. Please guide me."
Since she permitted it, he planned to keep calling her Akari from now on.
"Mmm… please guide me," Tomori replied, placing her hand in his. The warmth of his palm seemed to melt the tension in her chest.
Time felt as though it paused.
Then the class bell rang, shattering the delicate atmosphere.
"Ah—no good, class is starting!"
The two hurried out of the club room.
"W-wait… Kazama-san… don't run so fast…"
After only a short distance, Tomori bent over, panting, hands on her knees.
Haruka scratched his head awkwardly. His own stamina was terrible — a miserable five points — but somehow Akari was even worse.
"Sorry."
He didn't want to be late, but he also couldn't leave her behind.
So he held out his hand decisively.
"Akari, take my hand. It'll be easier like this."
"Eh… okay."
After a brief hesitation, she grasped his hand tightly.
It was broad. Reassuring.
If he's not lying… maybe this band really could…
A chime echoed in Haruka's mind.
[Bond established with Takamatsu Tomori. Band opportunity unlocked. Reward: 3000 Wish Points]