After dropping out of school, I chose to join a girls' band.

At that moment, she desperately wanted to take back what she had just said, but it was too late.

Peach stood there, a hint of disappointment in her expression.

Looking at the slightly forlorn expression on Momoko's face, Shiina Ritsuki suddenly understood something.

Considering the hostility Taozi had shown her, Lixi vaguely had an answer in her heart.

Although she wasn't good at handling these emotional issues, she was, after all, a teenage girl with a sensitive and delicate mind.

Momoko Kurosawa's hostility towards her... could it be because...?

She stole a glance at Hinasaki standing next to her.

Xiaoyue noticed her gaze, turned around and gave her a gentle smile: "What's wrong, Lixi?"

Li Xi paused for a moment, then shook her head, not intending to let Xiao Yue know her suspicions: "It's nothing."

This is a battle between her and Momoko Kurosawa. Now that it has begun, she has to deal with Momoko's attacks herself.

If Xiaoyue were told this, and the "referee" were to become biased towards her, even if she ultimately won, Momo-senpai would probably still be unwilling to accept it.

The battle between her and Momo over Hinasaki must be won by Shiina Tatsuki herself!

Shiina Tatsuki's gaze towards Kurosawa Momoko also carried a fighting spirit.

Meanwhile, Ms. Momoko Kurosawa met Shiina Tatsuki's gaze without backing down.

Ms. Hinasaki felt a little strange observing the subtle, peculiar atmosphere between her girlfriend and her friend.

"Lixi and Taozi... was the atmosphere between them this strange before?"

Miss Hinasaki, who was at the center of the storm, was completely unaware of the approaching storm around her.

Side Story: Hikami Mountain Trip - Chapter Ten: Shiina Tatsuki's Eyes Sharpened

The rain that falls on the mountainside always comes silently.

As dusk settled and dark clouds slowly gathered, the air in the mountains suddenly became humid.

Fine raindrops began to fall from the sky, gently tapping on the leaves and grass, making a rustling sound.

Rainwater slid down the branches and leaves, gathering into glistening droplets that fell into small puddles on the ground, creating tiny ripples.

The distant mountain peaks appeared and disappeared in the rain and mist, hazy like an ink painting.

Occasionally a gentle breeze would blow by, bringing a refreshing coolness, mixed with the fresh scent of earth and trees, wafting towards you.

The stream flowed even faster in the rain, its rhythm, accompanied by the raindrops in the mountains, sounding like nature whispering softly.

Of course, all of this has nothing to do with Mygo and Ave Mujica.

The pattering rain outside gently tapped against the glass windows of the coffee shop, the dripping sound spreading with the dampness in the air, and the whole room was enveloped in the warm aroma of coffee.

The staff at Mygo and Ave Mujica were sitting quietly in the shop, holding steaming hot coffees and gazing out the window at the world blurred by the rain.

"What a pity, I was planning to go hiking in the mountains today." Hinasaki sighed softly, looking out the window at the gray rain curtain, feeling a little regretful.

Su Shi glanced at the weather forecast on her phone and comforted her, "There's nothing we can do. But the good news is that the forecast says it'll clear up soon. Maybe we can go out again once the rain stops."

Sitting to the side, Mitsuka picked up her coffee cup, took a small sip of the steaming coffee, and felt the warm sensation permeate her entire body.

She looked up, her brows furrowing slightly. "But the temperature has indeed dropped quite a bit today. Should we wear more clothes when we go up the mountain later?"

It was still drizzling outside. Aomori Prefecture is located at the northernmost tip of Honshu Island in Japan, so even in summer, the temperature is not as hot as in Tokyo.

Now, after this rain, the air is filled with a cool, damp chill, and the temperature has dropped sharply again.

Everyone unconsciously huddled together a little, the warmth of the coffee cups offering them a moment of comfort.

Hinasaki's thoughts drifted back to the morning. She had been getting dressed with great enthusiasm, ready to go out for her morning exercise.

However, as soon as she stepped outside, a biting cold wind mixed with dampness hit her in the face, and she couldn't help but shiver and quickly shrank back inside.

After some internal struggle, she finally chose to crawl back into her warm bed and give up her plan to go out.

"Miss Momoko? What's wrong? Didn't you sleep well last night?" Hachiman Kairin noticed that Kurosawa Momoko was rubbing her eyes and yawning, and asked with concern.

Momoko Kurosawa leaned back lazily in her chair, her eyes filled with drowsiness, and her tone sounded somewhat weak: "Hmm... It's been a long time since I've been home, and I'm suddenly not used to it."

Hailing nodded, a knowing smile on her face.

But Yutenji Nyanmu clearly didn't want to miss this opportunity, excitedly coming closer with a mischievous glint in her eyes: "So Momo, you're a light sleeper! How about coming to the hotel tonight and sleeping with me? The deluxe suite I booked has a super soft bed, it's like lying on a cloud!"

Peach couldn't help but smile and shake her head. Although she was still sleepy, her tone was reluctant: "Let's forget about it... Maybe I'll feel better tonight. It's just a little strange to go home and sleep."

As she spoke, she couldn't help but yawn again, her eyes wet and making her look even more tired. She glanced at Mygo with a somewhat resentful look.

Shiina Tatsuki immediately began to think about what she had done last night, but she couldn't recall what she had done even after thinking for a long time.

Yesterday, because they had to catch a flight, she and Xiaoyue were both quite exhausted when they got home. After washing up, they barely spoke a few words before collapsing onto the bed and falling asleep.

They slept soundly, without even a dream, let alone anything special that happened last night.

However, the culprit behind all this—Chihaya Aine—is now completely unaware that she is pulling Motoyo into exchanging coffee tastings.

"Suze! Let's exchange coffees!" Chihaya Aine practically held the coffee cup in front of Nagasaki Suze's nose.

Nagasaki Motoyo frowned slightly, glanced coldly at the coffee in Aine's hand, and impatiently touched her neck, where traces of last night still remained.

"Didn't you already try the same things I ordered today? Why do we need to exchange them?"

"Eh~ But I just want to try Su Shishi's coffee." Chihaya Aine was clearly not so easily persuaded by Nagasaki Su Shishi. Instead, she shook Su Shishi's arm even more enthusiastically and "pleaded" in a soft, sweet voice, "Please! Su Shishi!"

Nagasaki Motoyo's face was filled with helplessness after Aine's actions. She sighed slightly, but the corners of her mouth turned up as she said insincerely, "This is only for this one time."

"Yay! Su Shishi, Love!" Ai Yin instantly became as happy as a child, handing her coffee to Su Shishi and then unceremoniously taking the coffee from Su Shishi's table.

Su Shi took Aine's coffee cup, hesitated slightly, and slowly took a sip. The moment it entered her mouth, her brows furrowed sharply, as if she were somewhat unaccustomed to it.

The sweetness of the coffee almost instantly took over her taste buds, and the intense sweetness of the sugar made her wrinkle her nose.

On the other side, Ai-yin also picked up Su-shi's coffee without hesitation and took a sip.

But at that very moment, her expression suddenly became subtle.

The bitter coffee spread in her mouth, and the almost entirely black coffee, with no sweetness, gave her an instant, intense sensation.

Her brows furrowed almost immediately.

"Wow... Ai Yin, how much sugar did you put in it?" Su Shi couldn't help but complain, shaking the cup slightly, her tone clearly showing disdain.

"I was just about to say that, Su Shishi! Your coffee is way too bitter!" Ai Yin almost spat out her coffee, quickly covering her mouth with her hand, her eyes filled with shock. "Is this really drinkable? Did you not put any sugar in it?"

Su Shi said calmly, "Of course, I always drink pure coffee. This is the original taste of coffee. Your stuff with so much sugar has nothing to do with coffee anymore."

When Su Shi said that, Ai Yin immediately widened her eyes in protest: "That's not true! Coffee is supposed to be sweet to taste good, otherwise who can stand something so bitter!"

"I already sensed it when you were drinking tea at my house before. You really have a child's taste; even your coffee is sickeningly sweet."

"Ha~ Su Shishi, you're the one who's wrong! Adding some sugar would make it taste better! Black tea is one thing, but why do you have to drink such bitter coffee!"

Momoko Kurosawa silently watched the interaction between Chihaya Aine and Nagasaki Motoyo, and couldn't help but add softly, "Last night, their room was next to mine."

Upon hearing this, Hachiman Kairin and Misumi Hatsuka, who had been somewhat confused, instantly had expressions of sudden realization. They looked at each other, their faces showing a "we all understand" kind of understanding.

"Thanks a lot."

Side Story: A Trip to the Mountain: Chapter Eleven - Respect and Love for Su

Last night, in Aine and Suze's room, a gentle breeze blew through the slightly ajar window, causing the curtains to flutter.

Chihaya Aine was sitting on the bed in a slightly restrained posture, with her legs bent, knees pressed on the mattress, and toes tucked in, making her look like a little duck squatting.

Her hands nervously twisted the hem of her skirt, her eyes flickered as if she were hesitating about something, and her cheeks flushed slightly.

“Well, Su Shishi… I…” Her voice was soft and sweet, with a hint of shyness, but she hesitated before she could finish speaking.

Nagasaki Motoyo, who was standing by the door, had her finger on the light switch on the wall, about to press it to go to sleep. After hearing Aine's words, she turned around and looked at Aine with a hint of doubt in her eyes.

She raised an eyebrow slightly, her tone tinged with helplessness: "What's wrong? If you don't tell me, I'm going to turn off the lights and go to sleep."

Su Shi's voice was indifferent, as if she didn't care about Ai Yin's coyness.

She has always been an early riser, and she dislikes dawdling in the evenings.

Only the two of them remained in the room, and the quiet night made Ai's heartbeat seem exceptionally loud.

Chihaya Aine looked down at her fidgeting fingers, a blush spreading from her face to her ears.

Finally, she bit her lip, and with a hint of hesitation and shyness, slowly said, "Su Shishi... that dress you mentioned before... I... bought it..."

Her voice was so soft it was almost a whisper, filled with a deep shyness.

Fortunately, it was late at night and everything around was quiet, which allowed Nagasaki Motoyo to hear the whisper as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

Su Shi stood by the door, her hand still on the light switch, her movement of turning off the light halted.

Hearing Ai Yin's words, she paused slightly, a hint of surprise and astonishment in her eyes.

A brief silence fell over the room, as if time itself had stopped for a few seconds.

"..." Su Shi was silent for a moment, then slowly raised her eyes and looked at Ai Yin's flushed face, as if she was thinking about something.

Finally, she uttered a single word softly, her voice tinged with hesitation and surprise: "Huh?"

"Ah! What?!" Chihaya Aine's cheeks flushed even more, as if all her shyness had turned into a little bit of anger.

She grabbed the pillow next to her and slammed it onto the bed, as if she were imagining Nagasaki Motoyo, muttering, "It's the dress you were talking about!"

Nagasaki Motoyo stood by the door, falling silent for a moment. She had never expected that Aine would actually listen to her joke and buy that...that dress she had casually mentioned.

Recalling her casual suggestion, a subtle emotion welled up inside her—she hadn't expected Aine to take it so seriously.

But what surprised Su Shi even more was that, according to their "agreement," she had to keep her promise and put on the yukata that Aine had chosen for her.

"You really are... serious." Su Shi sighed softly, her tone carrying a complex emotion.

Chihaya Aine blushed even more deeply upon hearing Suze's words.

She lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes, her eyes flickering as if she were gathering her courage.

After a moment, she finally mustered her courage and asked in a shy voice, "Then... do you want to take a look at that dress tonight?"

Her voice was as soft as a whisper, filled with shyness and anticipation.