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

She shook her head gently, a hint of helplessness in her eyes, and replied with her gaze, "I don't know either..."

"Hmm..." Hinasaki, who was sleeping next to her, suddenly let out a soft murmur in her sleep, breaking the silence in the room.

The sound was particularly abrupt in the darkness, and Lixi and Taozi froze instantly, as if time itself had stopped.

The two held their breath, their eyes meeting, filled with tension and awkwardness.

Lixi's heart raced as he silently prayed that Hinasaki would not wake up, while Momoko bit her lower lip, not daring to move.

After a while, Lixi and Taozi realized that Xiaoyue had only turned over and had not made any other movements.

"Why are we so nervous?" Shiina Tatsuki finally broke the silence, asking a question in a low voice.

“Oh right…” Momoko Kurosawa paused for a moment after hearing this, realizing the problem, and then nodded belatedly, “We didn’t do anything!”

After realizing the problem, Momo carefully lifted her blanket and cautiously glanced in Hinasaki's direction to make sure she was still fast asleep.

Then, she gently pulled on the blankets and mattresses, moving slowly and carefully, as if afraid of disturbing something, and inching closer to Hinasaki.

Momoko's movements were so light they were almost imperceptible, and the faint rustling sound between the mattress and the tatami mat was especially clear in the quiet night.

She moved forward carefully, glancing up with each movement, afraid of making any noise that might disturb the sleeping Hinasaki.

However, in stark contrast to her caution, Shiina Ritsuki merely raised an eyebrow slightly, her gaze sweeping back and forth between Momoko and Satsuki, before getting up from under the covers without hesitation and carrying her own bedding directly to Hinasaki's side, blocking Momoko's path.

Seeing Riki's actions, Momoko Kurosawa bit her lip, feeling a sense of helplessness.

After all, as Hina Satsuki's official girlfriend, Riki had a perfectly good reason to explain herself even if she woke Hina Satsuki up.

And she... could only approach him stealthily like this.

"Wait, something's not right..." Peach suddenly realized that she didn't need to feel so guilty.

After all, she had a good relationship with Xiaoyue, and had enough reason to get close to her.

Realizing this, a look of determination flashed across Peach's face.

She quickly put aside her concerns, followed Riki's actions, got up directly, moved her own bed to the other side of Hinasaki, and lay down openly.

Three beds were placed close together around Hinasaki, with Riki and Momoko on either side, each occupying their own spot. Hinasaki, oblivious to everything, remained fast asleep in the center.

------------------

Hinasaki Tsuki wasn't actually asleep.

Despite having hiked all day and being utterly exhausted, she couldn't fully relax in the unfamiliar environment, and sleepiness eluded her. She tossed and turned several times, her eyelids growing heavier and heavier, and just as she was about to drift off to sleep, she suddenly heard a faint sound.

It was the sound of something scraping against the floor, faint and cautious. Hinasaki frowned slightly, and before she could fully turn around to check, she heard soft footsteps. Then, she felt the tatami mat beside her sink, and someone quietly lay down next to her.

"Li hope?"

Hinasaki Tsuki quickly recognized the scent on the other person...

Well, actually it's not by smell. After all, everyone just came out of the hot spring and used the hotel's toiletries, so they all basically smelled the same.

To be precise, Xiaoyue secretly opened her eyes a crack and confirmed that Lixi was lying next to her.

Before Hinasaki could fully understand what was happening, she suddenly felt the other side of the bed sink slightly, as if someone had quietly moved closer.

This time, she didn't even need to open her eyes to check; she already knew who it was. After ruling out the possibility of a ghost, the only answer was—Momoko. After all, the only person in this room who could squeeze into her bed so silently was Kurosawa Momoko.

"What exactly happened?"

Hinasaki's drowsy mind instantly cleared up, and she was no longer sleepy, but she was still a little confused about the situation in front of her.

She could understand that Lixi and Taozi had recovered, since everyone's physical condition was different and the recovery time varied.

Lixi hugged the blanket and snuggled up to sleep next to her, which wasn't strange at all. After all, they often did this before, and the familiar temperature and unfamiliar environment gave her a familiar sense of security.

But... why is Peach suddenly lying next to her? This situation left her completely baffled.

Her thoughts were in turmoil, but what troubled her even more was whether she should tell them that she wasn't actually asleep yet? Waking up so suddenly, and with the atmosphere around her so quiet, she was at a loss for how to react.

Moreover, Hinasaki suddenly realized an even more urgent problem: she needed to use the restroom.

I drank too much water while chatting with Chuhua just now, and now that excess water is starting to show.

She lay on the bed, somewhat awkwardly, motionless, feeling the even breathing of Lixi and Taozi on either side of her. The atmosphere should have been peaceful, but at this moment, her anxiety was slowly rising.

"What should I do?" Hinasaki sighed silently to herself, her anxiety growing stronger.

If she gets up now, she will inevitably face an awkward situation.

But if she continued to lie there, the problem seemed even bigger. She wondered if she could make it to the next day.

But the increasingly intense physical urges made her begin to doubt her willpower. If she really "released the flood," she would be doomed, and she would have to flee Earth overnight to become an academy idol on Mars.

Hinasaki Tsuki closed her eyes, her inner voice screaming in despair, "Please, someone save me!"

Side Story: A Trip to the Mountain - Chapter Nineteen: Sharing a Bed

As if someone had truly heard Hinasaki's inner cry, several footsteps suddenly sounded outside the door, accompanied by a few indistinct words of conversation. They sounded like travelers returning from drinking; their laughter and chatter were exceptionally clear in the quiet night.

Normally, Hinasaki would probably have thought these were just boring noises, but at this moment, she could only silently exclaim, "Help!"

She seized the opportunity, feigning a yawn that was drawn out as if she had just woken up. She slowly sat up in bed, her movements natural and gentle, as if she were simply adjusting her posture.

Li hope and Tao Zi were obviously (seven!) other father Wu Si Liu Ba, Qi Qi Ling Meng was startled by her actions and instantly pulled out of her comfortable state.

The two people, who had been lying quietly on the bed, suddenly became flustered. Their eyes met, and the tension between them was obvious.

Hinasaki glanced at them and asked with a puzzled look, "Why are you here?"

Lixi and Taozi looked at each other, unsure of what to say.

"Um... I need to go to the restroom first." Hinasaki forced a smile to her lips and pretended to be perfectly normal as she got up and walked towards the restroom.

--------------

When Hinasaki returned from the restroom, she didn't rush to ask what had happened; instead, she remained remarkably calm. She quietly boiled a kettle of water, carefully prepared three cups of milk, and then placed the milk cups one by one on the table.

The aroma of milk wafted through the air, creating a peaceful atmosphere. However, this tranquility inadvertently heightened the tension on the other side.

On the other side of the table, Shiina Tatsuki and Kurosawa Momoko knelt obediently on the floor, their faces filled with unease and anxiety. Their gazes darted around, unable to look directly at Hinasaki.

Hinasaki picked up her teacup, took a small sip of milk, and the teacup fell back onto the table with a dull thud, as if an invisible knock had struck the table and also struck the heartstrings of Ritsuki and Momoko.

After that sound, the room became so quiet you could hear someone breathing.

Hinasaki didn't rush to ask questions, deliberately prolonging the silence while secretly chuckling to herself.

This invisible sense of oppression was the "deterrence" technique she learned from Ms. Sakura Sakura.

Finally, Hinasaki Tsuki spoke, her voice calm and drawn-out: "So... what happened?"

Shiina Tatsuki immediately raised her hand, as if she couldn't wait to explain.

Hinasaki nodded, signaling her to speak first: "Okay, Riki-san, you go first."

"After I woke up... I wanted to sleep with you, Tsuki!" Riki's answer was straightforward and direct. As Tsuki's boyfriend, this reason was obviously uncontroversial.

Hinasaki Tsuki nodded, a hint of a smile flashing in her eyes. "Hmm, that makes sense." Then, she turned her head, her gaze slowly shifting to Kurosawa Momoko, her tone still gentle but tinged with inquiry: "Okay, so, Kurosawa Momoko-san? Why?"

Momoko Kurosawa was clearly nervous, her eyes darting around, her throat seemingly dry. She swallowed hard, forcing a smile as she said, "I... I'm a little cold at night, and I think it would be warmer to sleep with you..."

Her excuse sounded somewhat forced, and her tone was a little unnatural, so it was clear that the reason was not very convincing.

However, it can't be said that Hinasaki has any major problems.

Hinasaki raised her eyebrows slightly, nodded gently, and raised her teacup again, concealing the barely perceptible smile on her lips.

She didn't press further, but simply took a sip of milk, as if accepting the explanation.

"Alright, since that's the case, let's go to sleep early." Hinasaki put down the milk and crawled back into bed.

Seeing this, the other two had no choice but to follow them back into their bedding.

----------

Milk is said to help you fall asleep, but Hinasaki felt there was something wrong with that statement.

At least for now, she can't sleep at all.

Lixi and Taozi lay on either side of her, their faint fragrance constantly wafting into her nostrils.

Although they all smelled largely the same shower gel, the subtle differences made them impossible for her to ignore.

Even if she's slow to realize it, Hinasaki has already sensed that Momoko's feelings for her have long surpassed ordinary friendship.

She once thought these behaviors were because Peach longed to perform alongside her on stage, but now, looking back, it seems that everything had already been foreshadowed.

From Taozi coming to her house every few days, to Shengxiang's frequent interactions during rehearsals, and even those slightly strange conversations during the barbecue at her house last time... looking back now, it was indeed quite unusual.

Especially after arriving at Mount Hikami, Momoko's reaction became even more pronounced after learning about her relationship with Ritsuki. The emotional turmoil hidden beneath her calm exterior seemed increasingly impossible to conceal.

"...I don't understand." Hinasaki sighed inwardly, unsure how to deal with Momoko's feelings.

She thought that Momoko Kurosawa was probably just as confused and unsure how to face her.

Regardless, if Momoko's involvement leads to her breaking up with Riki, Hinasaki knows very well that she cannot be with Momoko because of it.

Moreover, Peach herself is not the kind of person who would actively ruin other people's relationships.

However, things were far more complicated than that. Deep down, Hinasaki Tsuki didn't know how to handle it all.

If it were anyone else, she might have refused without hesitation, but when it came to Momoko Kurosawa, she hesitated.

Although she could hardly remember the promises she made when she was a child, since returning to Mount Hikami, the vague memories deep in her heart had been aching, as if she had promised Momoko something.

Perhaps it was these vague memories that made her subconsciously not push the peach away.

Peach's "entanglement" is probably not just about performing on the same stage with her. That forgotten promise may have already been working in her subconscious, making their fates more intertwined.

Hinazuki lay in bed, her thoughts in turmoil, her mind filled with unresolved emotional entanglements, and her mood gradually became irritable. She gently turned over, and what came into view was Momoko Kurosawa's peaceful sleeping face.

Yue paused for a moment, then realized she shouldn't have been staring at the peach, and quickly turned back over.

Her gaze shifted to Shiina Tatsuki on the other side.

Lixi's sleeping face looked exceptionally relaxed, the sharpness in her brows from the daytime gone, and her breathing steady and gentle. Looking at Lixi's peaceful face, Chumi Yue's pent-up frustration eased slightly.

However, just as she was trying to calm down, she suddenly felt a weight on her waist as Peach's hand crossed over her waist and rested on her stomach.

Yue's body tensed instantly. Before she could react, Li Xi snuggled into her arms, his soft body pressed against her chest, curling up like a small animal in the most comfortable spot, his warm breath gently brushing against her neck.

Caught between two attacks, Hinasaki froze on the bed, thinking, "If only I could faint while soaking in a hot spring!"