They are really too low!

Hoshino realized she couldn't keep up the act any longer. What should have been a casual conversation between siblings had become a nightmare because of her words, making the scene from last night impossible to forget.

Seeing the girl standing in front of him, wearing the same T-shirt from last night, revealing her delicate shoulders, with a slight bulge below her exquisite white collarbone, and with the slightest movement, her soft and cuddly little bunny seemed to hop around. The gentle warmth unique to a little girl emanated from her watery and jade-like skin, and Hoshino tried very hard to restrain his physical desires.

Hoshino didn't even look at the girl's pretty face, because it would remind him of what happened last night. Her face, which should have been pure and lovely, was trying to swallow the sticky, pudding-like substance, and her moist lips seemed to envelop her entire body.

Seeing Hoshino Mi's reaction, Kasugano Sora knew what he was thinking. She just stood there motionless, her face flushed, because she also remembered what happened last night.

Although she was a little shy, the two of them had already confessed their feelings to each other, so it wouldn't hurt to let her have one more bite, right?

However, Hoshino reached out and tapped her little head.

"Good job. Your reward is breakfast today. After you finish eating, go change your clothes."

"You idiot brother!" Kasugano Sora angrily covered her head, even though she had heard that boys sometimes have strange reactions in the morning and wanted to help alleviate them.

This jerk of a brother is not only ungrateful, but why did he have to hit her on the head?

Hoshino ignored Kasugano Sora's gaze because he had noticed last night that Kasugano Sora's intimacy level had increased slightly.

It's strange. Is it because the two of them did something weird or bad, or because they confessed their feelings to each other and he revealed his true thoughts?

If it's the former, doesn't that mean he can only increase his intimacy level by doing bad things with Kasugano Sora?

Hoshino had a bad feeling. Could it be that Eriri and the others were in the same situation?

……

Hoshino, carrying a guitar, looked up at the store in front of her; it seemed to be a very professional live house.

This wasn't a place he chose; rather, it was Ruoye Mutsu who noticed he couldn't find a suitable place for a long time and took the initiative to bring him here.

"Is this where the band performs?" Hoshino Mi said quietly to Wakaba Mutsumi after seeing the advertisement next to them.

“Individuals or bands are both fine,” Wakaba Mutsu said softly. “I only know this place.”

Hoshino noticed a complex look in her eyes and had to look around again. He felt a strange sense of familiarity, as if it were the place where he first saw Wakaba Mutsumi and Toyokawa Shoko.

So this is where their band disbanded?

That's so strange, why did we bring him here?

No, it was he who volunteered to practice outside, so the responsibility seems to lie with him.

Hoshino started to feel awkward. Was it too late to find another place?

However, Wakaba Mutsu had already gone inside.

Seeing this, Hoshino had no choice but to follow quickly, and soon saw Wakaba Mutsu walking towards the front desk.

"Welcome, two guests." The waiter smiled brightly, then paused slightly when he saw Ruoye Mu's expression.

If Ye Mu didn't speak, her gaze shifted to Hoshino Mi, clearly intending for him to make a decision.

Hoshino first looked at the menu and found that the place was indeed very professional, with not only various practice rooms, but also several performance halls.

Are there any private practice rooms still available?

"There is also a private practice room, but the afternoon slots have already been booked. Now the only available slots are from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m."

"Two hours is fine, please help me with the process."

Just as Hoshino placed his order, Wakaba Mutsu gently tugged at his sleeve, a small gesture that immediately made Hoshino realize what was happening.

"Wait, let me check the schedule." Hoshino flipped through the timetable and saw that it was indeed very popular, with people making reservations almost every day.

The waiter noticed their actions and explained, "It's spring break recently, and there are many customers who want to practice. If you want to come often, it's best to make a reservation in advance."

Hoshino glanced at the prices on the menu. If you were to make a reservation for more than a week, the price was really beyond what an average student could afford. No wonder people in bands have to work part-time.

"Hey kid, want to get a membership card?" The waiter winked. "The membership card gives you a 12% discount. Right now, it only costs 2,000 yen, and you get two free coffee vouchers. You can also upgrade to a premium membership later."

"Sister, I haven't even said anything yet, and you're already so familiar with it!" Hoshino said with a dark face.

"Because that's my job. I suggest this to every new customer." The waiter smiled. "There's a coffee shop right next door. You can go grab a coffee there after you're done practicing."

Hoshino glanced at Wakaba Mutsu, who shook her head knowingly; she didn't have a membership card.

"Okay, please get me a membership card." Hoshino selected a few time slots. "Also, please book a time slot for me this month. Thank you, sister."

"No problem, I've got your back." The waiter patted her chest; compared to a young girl's figure, she was clearly more mature.

"By the way, she's so cute, do you have any more discounts?" Hoshino pushed the bewildered Wakaba Mutsu to the front desk, trying to bargain with the waiter.

"Although she is indeed very cute, it's not acceptable." The waiter stroked her chin. "This is a legitimate store."

"Doesn't your older sister want to hear her say thank you?" Hoshino began to tempt people again. "Look, what a cute and adorable child. I'm even looking forward to seeing her call me 'older sister'."

"I am a little tempted, but I prefer your type. You're quite handsome and have a great personality." The waiter smiled. "You can mention my name when you go to the coffee shop and get a 20% discount."

"Shouldn't it be free?" Hoshino asked in surprise.

"Free meal my foot! Being handsome won't put food on the table," the waiter said dismissively.

Standing to the side watching their conversation, Wakaba Mutsu watched as this boy seemed to get along well with everyone.

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Dislike

Hoshino arrived at her personal practice room. The environment here was much brighter than Wakaba Mutsu's basement, but the equipment wasn't necessarily better than what she had at home.

Wakaba Mutsu sat quietly on the stool, and Hoshino Mi sat opposite her without any hesitation.

"Yesterday's practice?" Wakaba Mutsu looked at Hoshino Mi's right hand.

Hoshino tried playing a piece, but the lingering pain from last night prevented him from performing very well.

However, Ruoye Mu didn't expect him to perform perfectly. By observing his gestures and listening to the melody for a while, he could basically tell whether he had practiced hard last night.

"Impressive." Wakaba Mutsu could tell that being able to practice to this level in just one night meant that Akihiro Nomi had good talent and was also working hard.

"Thank you for the praise, teacher. I will continue to work hard." Hoshino was satisfied.

Even though he had been told not to keep calling him "teacher" before, Ruoye Mu was still a little bothered.

"What are we going to practice today?" Hoshino asked.

Ruoye Mutsu picked up her guitar and began teaching him more complex pieces that would give him a comprehensive understanding of guitar techniques. The girl seemed to be better at playing the guitar than talking.

Only when Hoshino Mi falls behind or when Hoshino Mi speaks up will Wakaba Mutsuku speak to point out her mistakes.

Hoshino originally wanted to chat with her, but as she played, she became so engrossed in the game that by the time she came to her senses, the practice room notification had been ringing for a while, and she only had 15 minutes left to continue playing.

"Time flies, it takes so long to learn a single piece of music." Hoshino sighed, recalling how it used to be when he did math problems.

"You can buy a finger cot." Wakaba Mutsu noticed Hoshino Mi's fingers early on. Many newcomers go through an adjustment period until calluses form.

"I originally wanted to buy it, but I heard it might affect the feel of the hand." Hoshino decided to bear with it. "This little pain is nothing serious, it will pass sooner or later."

If Ye Mu didn't persist in persuading him, it was just a suggestion anyway.

Seeing Hoshino Mi strumming the strings again, the girl thought for a moment and asked, "Do you really like the guitar?"

"I don't like it," Hoshino replied bluntly.

Ruo Yemu was stunned. She couldn't understand why someone would learn guitar if they didn't like it.

“I don’t have any special feeling for the guitar. If you ask me to learn bass or piano, the effect will be the same.” Hoshino thought for a moment. “For me, this is just a skill I just acquired, and I want to see how it works.”

In addition to music theory, Hoshino also has skills in cooking, writing, and drawing.

"Writing" earned him a considerable income, allowing him to live an independent life ahead of schedule. "Cooking" ensured the quality of his meals. Only "painting" had no room to flourish for the time being.

In Hoshino's eyes, these skills are treasures in life.

Learning more skills can't hurt.

Ruo Ye Mu lowered her gaze and said softly, "Practicing guitar takes a long time."

“I know, but I just need to master this skill.” Hoshino smiled. “Once I learn it, I might be able to compose a few famous songs in the future.”

Wakaba Mutsu was somewhat surprised; she hadn't thought about composing music before, as it sounded like something Toyokawa Shoko would do.

"Why does the teacher want to learn guitar?" Hoshino asked curiously.

"I like it." Wakaba Mutsu hugged her guitar; it was her only guitar.

"It seems I can't compare to my teacher," Hoshino muttered, pretending to be talking to herself. "Do I have to learn to like something to reach your level?"

If Ye Mu wanted to say that she had been practicing for a long time, it would take at least several years to reach her level.

However, the words that came out of his mouth turned into three words.

"Will not."

Hoshino was somewhat taken aback, wondering if she had misheard.

Seeing his look, Ruoye Mu quickly realized that she had said the wrong thing again. She pursed her lips, hesitated, and finally lowered her gaze.

Hoshino immediately realized that this young teacher really didn't know how to have a conversation.

"It's really impossible. Even if you like guitar as much as the teacher, it would probably take several years, right?" Hoshino smiled slightly. "Have you been learning guitar since you were a child?"

"Mm." Ruoye Mu nodded gently, a little afraid that she would say the wrong thing again.

"Can I hear it?" Hoshino blinked. "I don't think I've ever seen the teacher at full power before."

Although Wakaba Mutsu practiced with him for a while, the beginner's introductory piece did not fully demonstrate Wakaba Mutsu's skill level. Instead, it was more like a master with advanced gear accompanying a newbie in fighting monsters, defeating everyone with a single strike.

After a moment's hesitation, encouraged by Hoshino Mi, Ruoye Muku began to play spontaneously. Her style was completely different from before. Unlike her slow and deliberate playing when she was with Hoshino Mi, the girl's slender white fingers were like a swarm of dancing wasps, capable of shattering Hoshino Mi's previous impression of her in an instant.

At first, Hoshino could still focus on her little hands, but later he gradually lost track and couldn't help but look at the girl's pretty face. Despite the particularly chaotic rhythm, the girl's expression did not change at all, as calm as water, as if she was just playing the simplest "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star".

Hoshino was truly surprised that a girl who was usually quiet and expressionless could play such a wild melody.

After a short while, Ruo Yemu stopped typing, and she showed no signs of fatigue.

"The teacher is amazing! Even his improvisation is incredible!" Hoshino clapped enthusiastically. "To hear such a melody, I could die happy!"

It would have been better if he hadn't clapped; his actions made Ruoye Mu feel like an elder was watching a child perform a talent show during the Lunar New Year.

Ruoye Mu puffed out her cheeks slightly, not really wanting to talk to this person.

"Teacher, will I be able to learn up to one-third of the level in the future?"

"You can try."

"I was so touched. I never knew my teacher thought so highly of me."

"..."

Despite saying he was moved, Ruoye Mu didn't see the slightest hint of emotion in him.

"However, I never expected the teacher to play so intensely." Hoshino stroked her chin. "Does every emotionless girl have a wild side inside?"

"What is 'three no'?" Ruoye Mu asked, puzzled.

“A girl as cute as you is a total loser.” Hoshino said seriously.

“I… am not cute.” Wakaba Mutsu couldn’t help but retort. This person kept saying she was cute, which was really strange.

"It's cute when someone argues so seriously." Hoshino's rebuttal was flawless.

If Ye Mu felt at a loss, it wasn't that no one had ever praised her for being cute, but only Hoshino Mi could praise someone so easily, as if she could be praised for being cute no matter what.

Hoshino found her reaction quite amusing; such a naive girl was someone she wanted to tease a little.

"It seems like time's almost up. Shall we go out for a coffee?"

If Momo didn't refuse Hoshino's invitation, she followed Hoshino out of the practice room and went to the coffee shop the waiter had mentioned earlier.

The coffee shop is actually on the second floor. Hoshino discovered that there is also a musical instrument shop and a recording studio here, which is a one-stop service.

Hoshino ordered a coffee, while Wakaba Mutsu ordered a mango juice. The two sat in a corner, and the atmosphere became somewhat awkward.

If Ye Mu doesn't initiate conversation and just keeps drinking her mango juice, then Hoshino Mi is the one who has to break the silence.

"I think I saw you and Toyokawa here back then." Hoshino glanced at the street outside the window, seemingly casually, but he was actually very curious about their situation, especially since this was the scene of the crime.

Following his gaze, Ruoye Mu looked at the zebra crossing and a hint of sadness and desolation flashed in her eyes.

"Toyokawa-san talked to me about you guys. After she left, did your band really disband?" Hoshino noticed her sadness and softened his voice.

“The band… hasn’t disbanded.” Wakaba Mutsumi said, head down. “It’s just that no one wants to come anymore.”

In other words, after Toyokawa Shoko left, their small group called the band lost its core member, and everyone suddenly lost contact.

Hoshino thought about it and agreed. From Toyokawa Shoko's words, it was clear that they were a band that Toyokawa Shoko had personally formed, and her departure was a devastating blow to this small group.