In music anime, band girls won't be alone.

"Today's one-hour practice session is over."

"I go first."

After saying that, Yamada Ryo carried the bass guitar and left the classroom, his steps quickening for some reason...

Shirakawa examined the guitar in his hand for a while, then put it in his bag and prepared to leave.

As he passed by the music classroom next door with a piano, Shirakawa glanced inside and noticed that the girl playing the piano looked quite familiar from behind.

Her long blue hair fell naturally, with a strand of hair tied up on each side by a dark green ribbon. Although petite, she had a straight back that seemed to carry some kind of obsession.

Shirakawa took two steps forward and saw what the girl looked like.

It was a beautiful face, but it carried a faint chill.

Looking at the sheet music through his amber-like eyes, one could see no emotion other than seriousness.

"It's a bit of a shame that I only met Toyokawa Shoko in my first year of high school."

After sighing inwardly, Shirakawa Ze carried his guitar and walked into the music classroom through the back door. He sat in a corner and quietly listened to Toyokawa Sho playing the piano.

As he listened, for some reason, Shirakawa felt as if he had heard something, as if Toyokawa Shoko was using the piano to express her nostalgia for the beautiful past...

Caught up in this emotion, Shirakawa's gaze gradually lost focus, and memories of his past life began to flood his mind...

Even after the song ended, Shirakawa Sawa was still lost in his memories.

After Toyokawa Sho finished playing, he closed the piano key cover and got up to leave the music room.

As she turned around, she saw Shirakawa Sawa sitting in the corner of the classroom.

The classroom wasn't very big, so the two weren't far apart, and Toyokawa Shoko clearly saw the look of reminiscence in the other's eyes.

Recalling their past interactions, Toyokawa Shoko was certain that she did not know the boy in front of her.

That confirms that what triggered the other person's memories was not themselves.

"Could it be because of the music I played just now?"

Toyokawa Shoko thought about the feelings of nostalgia she poured into playing the piano.

"It's unlikely that there would be such precise empathy."

Toyokawa Shoko dismissed her idea and quickly left the music classroom.

She didn't want to care too much about a complete stranger, and she didn't have time to care either.

She was going to be late for her part-time job if she didn't leave soon.

Volume 1: Chapter 5 The Lamp Meets Auspiciousness

After being awakened by the alarm clock, Shirakawa Sawa opened his eyes and greeted a new day.

"Hello, host, it is 7:01 AM."

The system notification sound appeared.

"Today's task: [After 7 PM, observe the starry sky using any observation equipment in the Astronomy Department's activity room]."

"Mission Reward: 5 points and 5 yen."

Shirakawa Sawa's spirits lifted.

"A task with no financial cost, and I still get 50,000 yen, this is awesome!"

Because it was very close to the school, only a ten-minute walk away, Shirakawa was quite leisurely after getting up. He ate breakfast without rushing, made his lunchbox, and then went to school.

When I entered the classroom, it was just past 7:45.

After walking a few steps toward his seat, Shirakawa noticed that there was a metal box on Takamatsu Akari's desk. The lid of the box was open, and it was filled with colorful star-shaped candies.

When Takamatsu saw Shirakawa Ze walk into the classroom, her eyes lit up, but then she lowered her head again, and the light in her eyes dimmed a little.

She wanted to share her favorite snacks with Shirakawa, feeling that it was a way to show their friendship.

However, she was worried that the other person wouldn't like the star-shaped candy, and she wasn't very good at expressing herself, so she was very conflicted and didn't know whether she should take the initiative.

When Shirakawa Sawa reached Takamatsu Akari's side, he stopped and looked at the tin box of star-shaped candies in front of her, his gaze gentle.

"Star Candy?"

"Takamatsu-kun, may I take one?"

Takamatsu looked up at Shirakawa Sawa, her eyes lighting up, and nodded vigorously.

"Ok!"

Shirakawa took a piece of candy, sat down in his seat, unwrapped it, and put it in his mouth.

Seeing that Shirakawa had eaten the candy, Takamatsu immediately held up the tin box and handed it to him, indicating that he should take more.

Shirakawa thanked him, then grabbed a handful of star-shaped candies and put them in his pocket.

He knew that at this moment he didn't need to be too polite, and even needed to give her a warm enough response so that she would feel affirmed and needed.

Seeing Shirakawa's actions, Takamatsu Akari's eyes revealed a hint of joy, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly as she turned around, holding the iron box.

After a while, Takamatsu turned his head slightly and spoke softly.

"If Shirakawa-kun runs out of candy, he can always take some from me..."

Shirakawa Sawa responded.

"no problem!"

Gao Songdeng looked down at the star-shaped candies in the box and felt her mood brighten up a bit.

Thinking of the task the system had just issued, Shirakawa gently poked Takamatsu's lamp.

I'm so tired, so alone

"Takamatsu-kun, would you like to go to the astronomy club's activity room tonight to look at the stars?"

Takamatsu paused for a moment, turned to look at him, and then nodded slightly.

Unlike public music classrooms, the club's own activity room has very flexible usage hours; you can leave before 10 p.m.

Shirakawa Sawa continued.

"I have to practice guitar after school this afternoon, so let's meet at the activity room at 7 pm?"

"It's perfect timing, Takamatsu-kun can have a meal first and then come over."

When Takamatsu heard the words "practice guitar," a thought crossed his mind, but he quickly calmed down.

She nodded in agreement.

After making the appointment, Shirakawa Ze stopped talking and took out basic music theory from his bag to study. Since he had decided to develop in the direction of music, he definitely had to lay a solid foundation in theoretical knowledge.

Just before class started, Goto Ichiri appeared at the back door of the classroom. Although she looked a little better than yesterday morning, she wasn't much better and still looked listless.

Like a shell dragging a soul, Goto Ichiri slowly walked to her seat and sat down, then slumped onto the table. Her appearance was so dignified that even someone who hadn't eaten for seven days seemed to have more energy than her.

But when it's time to leave school, her imposing presence makes it seem like if she were placed in front of the Taihang and Wangwu Mountains back then, Yu Gong wouldn't stand a chance.

"It seems that Goto Ichiri still needs some time to adjust..."

After a moment of reflection, Shirakawa Ze pulled himself out of his thoughts and focused his attention on the basic music theory in front of him.

During the lunch break, the students took out their packed lunches and started eating.

Takamatsu turned her head slightly, and after glancing at the bento box that Shirakawa Sawa had taken out, she silently got up and left the classroom.

My father works during the day and leaves early in the morning, while my mother works at night and hasn't returned by the time she leaves in the morning.

She herself is not good at cooking.

This meant that she had to eat lunch at the school cafeteria or convenience store every day.

Under normal circumstances, it wouldn't matter.

But now that he has made friends, Gao Songdeng also wants to be able to sit down and eat lunch with his friends every day, just like the other students in his class.

However, Shirakawa Sawa brought his own lunch.

There are ways to eat together, either have the other person bring food and accompany you to the cafeteria, or have them wait for you to bring back a packed meal before eating together.

However, Takamatsu Akari couldn't do that. She didn't want to cause trouble for the other person because of her own reasons, nor did she want to force her friend.

As Gao Songdeng pondered this, he walked towards the school's convenience store.

She was a little thirsty after eating too much sugar in the morning, so she wanted to buy a bottle of water first.

Suddenly, a familiar figure walked out of the convenience store.

"Xiang, Xiangzi..."

Takamatsu Akari's eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at Toyokawa Shoko, who had just walked out of the convenience store, and the 100-yen sandwich in her hand.

Upon seeing Takamatsu Akira, Toyokawa Shoko immediately put her hands behind her back, using her body to cover the sandwich in her hand. Then, with a blank expression, she stared straight ahead and walked quickly toward the teaching building.

Seeing Toyokawa Shoko's reaction, Takamatsu Akari felt even more guilty and remorseful. She subconsciously looked away and lowered her head.

"But……"

Takamatsu Akari didn't want to let Toyokawa Shoko walk right past him without saying a word.

"At the very least, you should apologize properly in person..."

Takamatsu Akari raised her head and looked at Toyokawa Shoko's back.

At this moment, the latter had already placed the hand holding the sandwich in front of him.

Gao Songdeng lifted her foot to chase after him, but accidentally tripped on the steps and stumbled. When she looked up again, the other person had already disappeared.

"Why……"

Takamatsu Tama shed tears, unsure of what to do.

……

Toyokawa Shoko ran all the way to the top floor of the teaching building, opened the door to an open-air storage room, and went inside.