They are really too low!

Hoshino suppressed his strange feelings and quickly added her as a friend. At the same time, he glanced at her friend list and found that she only had a few people on it.

Is this kid not only a quiet person, but also doesn't have many friends?

Hoshino returned the phone, only to find that Toyokawa Shoko had already stood up.

"I'm sorry, I have to go home." Toyokawa Shoko looked apologetic. "Although I had a great time with you yesterday, I can't run away from the reality I have to face."

The break time was over, and she couldn't let Hoshino see her with the same weak expression as yesterday.

No matter what her father said, Toyokawa Shoko would not give up so easily.

However, Hoshino looked at Toyokawa Shoko with a blank expression.

What does that mean? Does he intend to go with Wakaba Mutsu to get the guitar by himself?

Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Silent Girl

The meeting was brief; Toyokawa Shoko probably thought that one meeting was enough for the two of them now.

However, Hoshino suspects that Toyokawa Shoko and Wakaba Mutsu haven't fully reconciled yet.

Of course, he wasn't saying the two were arguing, but rather that he sensed they were still holding grudges about certain things.

Shoko Toyokawa was crying loudly on the street at the time; leaving the band must have been an extremely painful decision for her.

However, Ruoye Mu was also getting soaked in the rain behind her. She watched helplessly as her childhood friend cried while getting wet in the rain. Didn't she feel bad too?

Regardless of the circumstances, the disbandment of the band is a painful experience for the two young girls.

Now that they meet again, Hoshino wonders what Toyokawa Shoko's feelings will be.

However, she would rather go back and face what she called reality than face her childhood sweetheart.

Watching Toyokawa Shoko's departing figure, Hoshino Mi sighed.

"Your childhood sweetheart is a bit stubborn."

If Ye Mu did not respond to him, she stood quietly beside him, slightly raising her head, her beautiful eyes looking at him.

Hoshino turned her head, and the girl's panel appeared before her eyes.

[Target: Wakaba Mutsumi]

[Intimacy: 8]

【state:……】

This was the first time Hoshino had seen his partner's status completely empty. Often, he could tell what his partner was feeling from their status.

However, today is the first time this effect has been lost.

Does that mean she not only has no expression on her face, but also no thoughts in her mind?

Hoshino thought for a moment, then smiled slightly and extended his right hand to Wakaba Mutsu.

"I don't think I introduced myself just now. I'm Hoshino Mi, and I'll be a second-year high school student in Toyonosaki soon. Nice to meet you."

Seeing Hoshino's serious demeanor, Wakaba Mutsu hesitated for only a moment before handing over her small hand.

"Moon Forest, Grade 11, Mutsumi Wakaba".

The moment Wakaba Mutsu touched her hand, Hoshino Mi slightly activated her [sensitivity] to see how she would react.

Hoshino took the girl's small hand in his, and watched as she trembled slightly, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes. She looked at their clasped hands, and finally stared blankly at Hoshino.

This is a very soft and warm little hand, so warm that once you hold it, you don't want to let go.

Hoshino suddenly felt a pang of guilt for doing something wrong. He turned off the [sensitivity] and casually withdrew his right hand, while giving Wakaba Mutsu a smile.

“In that case, we can be considered good friends now.” Hoshino blinked. “I’ll be relying on you from now on, Wakaba-sensei.”

Ruoye Mu stared blankly at his withdrawn hand, feeling a sudden sense of loss for no reason. However, what he said next piqued her curiosity.

Why should we call him teacher?

"Because you're giving me a guitar, I'm taking advantage of you, and I'll also have to trouble you to teach me. I feel embarrassed to call you my junior." Hoshino felt that she was very thin-skinned and said in a low voice, "If you mind, you can pretend I didn't say anything."

If Ye Mu felt a strange emotion, and if she was a teacher, was this boy in front of her her student?

“I…I just wanted to help you,” Wakaba Mutsu said. “You helped me last time too.”

Hoshino was stunned for a moment, then he suddenly realized that the girl was not without emotions.

Because Hoshino helped her deliver the umbrella, she agreed to Toyokawa Shoko's request and gave her guitar to Hoshino.

This is how the girl repaid her debt.

The girl just didn't seem to know how to express these feelings, which is why she seemed like a silly little rabbit.

Hoshino suddenly laughed and asked, "Can I continue to call you Wakaba-sensei?"

If Ye Mu remains silent, perhaps he is tacitly approving of this title.

"Looks like I got a good deal. I got a cute teacher in return for an umbrella." Hoshino clicked her tongue, as if pondering a very serious question, "If I don't try my best, will you give up on me, teacher?"

Ruo Ye Mu didn't know how to answer. She wanted to say that it was okay even if she didn't try, and that she would continue to teach her. But the thought of not being able to learn the guitar without trying was too difficult to say.

"Probably not. My teacher is so cute, I have no reason not to work hard." Hoshino pondered. "But if I work too hard and graduate soon, what will I do if I can't see such a cute teacher anymore?"

If Toyokawa Shoko were here, she would definitely complain about Hoshino Mi and wonder if he was shameless.

However, when Ruoye Mu was praised, she was a little shy and flustered, watching Hoshino Mi from the side, unable to even interrupt her.

"So even a lovely teacher has such complicated worries. Strange, teacher, you seem a little blushing. Am I talking too much?"

"Guitar."

Finally, Wakaba Mutsu couldn't hold back any longer and said something very softly but firmly.

Immediately afterwards, she saw Hoshino Mi's lips begin to turn up, revealing a look that said, "You've finally decided to speak." She belatedly realized that Hoshino Mi was just trying to entice her to talk, and immediately lowered her head.

"Should we go to the teacher's house to get the guitar now?" Hoshino asked, looking a little embarrassed after hearing Wakaba Mutsu's "hmm." "It wouldn't be appropriate for me to go with her, would it? Maybe you can bring it to me next time."

“They’re not home,” Wakaba Mutsumi replied.

Hoshino thought for a while and decided that since his parents weren't home, he could go with them.

"That's not what I meant, but never mind." Seeing that Hoshino wasn't too bothered by it, "I'll go back with you."

Wakaba Mutsu nodded and then walked ahead.

Hoshino followed, took out her phone, and told Kasugano Sora that she might be back late.

Kasugano Sora replied quickly, with only a punching emoji.

Hoshino put away his phone. He was quite curious about where Wakaba Mutsu lived. The young lady of Tsukimori probably lived in a big mansion, right?

……

Not long after, Hoshino finally saw a luxurious detached villa that matched his stereotypes.

Since Wakaba Mutsumi said her family wasn't home, Hoshino Mi wasn't reserved at all and curiously followed her into the large villa.

“Your house is so spacious, it looks so luxurious,” Hoshino exclaimed. He began to suspect that Toyokawa Shoko didn’t want to come along because she would miss her old life.

"Hmm." Ruoye Mu didn't want to say anything more, as if everything here had nothing to do with her.

As the girl walked, she suddenly realized she hadn't heard Hoshino's voice, so she turned around in confusion and saw Hoshino standing not far away.

"Is that your private practice room up ahead?" Hoshino saw the look in her eyes and felt he should keep some distance from the young lady. "I'll just wait outside."

Girls are very sensitive about their private space. Whether it's their own room or the practice room, they need permission in advance to go in, otherwise they will be beaten.

Yes, Hoshino has been beaten up by Junda Mana more than once.

Wakaba Mutsu glanced at Hoshino Mi, looking quite surprised, before quickly turning her head away.

"It's okay, you can come in."

Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Basement

After receiving permission, Hoshino followed Wakaba Mutsumi to the practice room.

Hoshino was surprised by what she saw. It was less like a practice room and more like a dark basement, devoid of sunlight and filled with dust.

"It's so dark here." Hoshino looked around. There were many musical instruments and props, but it felt empty.

"It won't be dark if you turn on the light." Ruoye Mu turned on the light, and the bright light shone down from the ceiling, casting her shadow on the floor.

Hoshino felt a bit stung by the light and turned his gaze away, his fingers unconsciously stroking the sofa next to him. He took back what he had just said.

There wasn't much dust here, just no signs of use. It was so clean that even a few specks of dust would be noticed immediately.

Hoshino's gaze lingered on a stool, where there was a noticeable crack, a sign of long-term use, making it stand out from its surroundings.

"Are you usually the only one here?" Hoshino seemed to see the girl sitting here all alone, practicing her guitar.

"Hmm." Ruoye Mutsu didn't feel anything was wrong; she was already used to it.

Hoshino watched as the girl took out a gray guitar, as if carefully taking out some incredible treasure from her treasure chest, and then shared it with her new friend.

"It's the guitar I used before." Wakaba Mutsu held the guitar and gently strummed a few notes. "It still works."

Hoshino wanted to make a joke, like saying it was for a girl's personal use and was 99% new.

However, the guitar that the girl had been treasuring looked very clean, without a single scratch, as if it had just been bought recently.

"Don't you think it's a waste to give it to me?" Hoshino felt it was too precious.

"This is all I can give you." Wakaba Mutsu looked a little confused. The only thing she owned was her guitar. If she couldn't give it to Hoshino, what else could she give him?

“What I mean is, it would be such a shame if I accidentally broke this guitar,” Hoshino told her quietly.

"It's okay, I have something better." Ruoye Mutsu seemed to understand what he meant and pointed to the guitar next to her.

Hoshino didn't know what brand it was, only that it was pink, the kind of guitar that you could tell at a glance was a girl's guitar.

"Alright, I can't refuse a gift from the teacher." Hoshino Mi reached out and took the guitar from Wakaba Mutsu, still feeling the lingering warmth in her hands.

He forced himself to calm down; it was too much to be able to detect even the slightest body temperature.

"Want me to play?" Wakaba Mutsu looked at Hoshino Mi with some anticipation.

Hoshino, not daring to disappoint the girl's expectations, slowly plucked a string.

Wakaba Mutsu looked at Hoshino Mi as if to say, "Do you only have one turn?"

"What a crisp sound! It seems to be a pretty good guitar." Hoshino pretended to play, but in reality, he didn't know how to play at all, let alone tell the difference between good and bad.

Ruoye Mutsu looks at her like she's an idiot. She rarely expresses her emotions, but that doesn't mean she's an idiot.

"what is this?"

"The head of the zither".

"Where are these?"

"The strings, in order, are EADGBE."

"Play a piece for me."

"will not."

Hoshino readily admitted that he had only previewed the most basic parts and had no practical experience.

Ifa Mutsu wasn't surprised; she was already mentally prepared when she learned that Hoshino Mitsu hadn't even prepared a guitar.

It was beyond my expectations that Hoshino Mina knew what a string was.

“I’ll play for you.” Wakaba Mutsu took the guitar from Hoshino Mi’s hands again, and then habitually sat on her usual stool. “Watch my fingers.”

Hoshino sat beside her, inhaling the girl's delicate fragrance, his eyes fixed on her fingers, which looked fair, tender, and exceptionally slender.

When Momoko Wakaba started playing a melody, Hoshino listened for a while and realized it was "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star".

It was a very simple melody, but in her hands it became very beautiful. The strings trembled slightly, and the infectious notes eagerly flew out. Combined with the girl's serious expression, Hoshino gradually became fascinated.

When Wakaba Mutsu stopped, she turned to look at Hoshino Mi.

"How much did you remember just now?"

Hoshino felt a little awkward. At first, he could remember her finger movements, but later he just stared at the girl.