"Then I guess I won't join after all."
Yui Hirasawa gave an awkward little laugh. She still needed to find a club with good food and fun activities.
Besides, astronomy was way too advanced for her.
Takamatsu Tomo looked a little disappointed, but still smiled. "It's okay..."
"What about you, Bai Qiu-kun?"
The pressure was on Bai Qiu.
Those pale golden eyes stared unblinkingly into Bai Qiu's. He could even make out the patterns in them.
And his own reflection.
Tomo's gaze seemed even more pitiful than before.
Yui, tell me, how did you manage to reject her so decisively and mercilessly?
No, wait! Yui, how could you reject Tomo?
"Actually... I'm pretty interested in astronomy."
"Really? Then, will you join?"
Takamatsu Tomo suddenly leaned closer, clasping her hands in front of her chest.
"Please let me join."
After that, Bai Qiu and Takamatsu Tomo naturally started talking about constellations.
Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Cetus...
And Bai Qiu wasn't completely clueless, either.
He knew a little about Altair and Vega.
Takamatsu Tomo smiled like a blooming flower, looking quite happy.
As expected, Bai Qiu-kun understood her!
Seeing Tomo like this, Bai Qiu suddenly felt that joining the club was worth it.
Takamatsu Tomo's excited, lively voice easily drew the attention of the students around them.
Everyone turned to look.
It was Takamatsu-san, one of the class favorites.
They hadn't expected Takamatsu-san to act like this.
Usually, when they chatted with her, she seemed a little reserved, and it was hard to find something they could really talk about together.
As expected, Bai Qiu-kun was impressive.
Watching the two of them getting along so closely, Yui Hirasawa felt a little uncomfortable.
As expected, a profound topic like constellations was impossible for her to join in on.
Why did she feel this inexplicable pang of sadness?
Could this be what being left out felt like?
Time passed, and school let out.
Bai Qiu and Takamatsu Tomo headed to the fifth floor together.
Naturally, the Astronomy Club was on the top floor of the school building.
The clubroom was equipped with an astronomical telescope, making it convenient to observe the night sky.
The room wasn't too big or too small, but with only Bai Qiu and Takamatsu Tomo there, it felt quite spacious.
Bai Qiu carefully filled out the Club Application Form, then handed it to Takamatsu Tomo.
"Thank you, Bai Qiu-kun. The Astronomy Club is really relaxing. Just leave the Club Activity Report to me."
Takamatsu Tomo's fair cheeks lit up with a visible smile. Then she turned to Bai Qiu with a serious expression.
Bai Qiu smiled and shook his head. Tomo was pretty dependable.
Where else could he find such a relaxed club?
"By the way, can I call you Tomo, like Yui does?"
Bai Qiu suddenly asked.
They were in the same club now, and he'd gotten pretty familiar with Takamatsu Tomo. Surely it was all right to call her Tomo?
Besides, for someone from the Celestial Dynasty, calling her "Takamatsu-san" all the time was a hassle.
Takamatsu Tomo paused, her cheeks turning slightly red as she nodded. "Sure. Then... I'll call you Qiu."
"I'll head downstairs, then. Bye, Tomo."
Bai Qiu smiled and tried the name out once.
"Mm, bye... Qiu."
Though she regretted that he was leaving so soon, Takamatsu Tomo copied Bai Qiu and gave a small wave.
After leaving the Astronomy Club,
Bai Qiu returned to the classroom.
Yui Hirasawa was still waiting there for him.
Bai Qiu had promised to help Yui Hirasawa find a club that suited her.
If he didn't do something soon, club recruitment might end before Dumb Yui found a club.
Back in the classroom, he called Yui Hirasawa over.
The two of them quickly climbed to the fourth floor.
Why hadn't he just asked Yui Hirasawa to come up with him earlier...
Then they wouldn't have had to climb the stairs again.
Never mind. He'd just wanted some time alone with Tomo. What was wrong with that?
It had to be said: even while climbing the stairs, Yui Hirasawa was full of energy, bouncing along.
As they passed the landing, Bai Qiu casually rubbed the ears of the Rabbit Statue there.
Yui Hirasawa saw him and happily rubbed the shell of the Turtle Statue.
First Music Room.
Bai Qiu knocked on the door.
The noisy voices of girls came from inside, along with what sounded like "Wait!" and "Come in!"
Yui Hirasawa was already impatiently pushing at the door.
It wasn't locked, and swung open easily.
The scene before them left Bai Qiu stunned.
"What are you doing?"
Tainaka Ritsu had one foot on a chair and the other on a table, striking a terribly undignified pose as she leaned forward with both arms extended.
You're a cute girl, too!
Nearby, Akiyama Mio had both arms wrapped around Tainaka Ritsu's stomach, her head resting against Ritsu's back.
On the other side stood a girl with long, waist-length, light-brown curls: Kotobuki Tsumugi.
Kotobuki Tsumugi was smiling broadly, trying to open her deep blue eyes wide as she watched Mio and Ritsu embrace.
That made her semicircular eyebrows look especially thick, like pickled radishes.
The two who had barged in brought the room to an abrupt silence.
Three pairs of different eyes turned toward them at once.
Akiyama Mio was the first to react. "Ritsu, get down! You're going to show..."
She couldn't get the rest of the words out.
Akiyama Mio blushed furiously and squeezed her eyes shut.
"Huh? What?"
Tainaka Ritsu looked confused.
Mio, honestly, she always stopped halfway through what she was saying. So what if there was a boy here? What was there to be embarrassed about?
Though that guy did look kind of familiar!
"I can see your panties, haha!"
Yui Hirasawa pointed them out without a hint of embarrassment.
Tainaka Ritsu glanced down and let out a shriek.
The terrifying scream sent Akiyama Mio cowering in the corner of the classroom, her hands over her head.
Kotobuki Tsumugi, Yui Hirasawa, and Bai Qiu quickly covered their ears and waited for the noise to stop.
Four girls and one boy sat around a round table.
Everyone except Yui Hirasawa looked at one another awkwardly.
Yui Hirasawa looked this way and that, searching for the food.
"Good to see you again, Tanaka-san, Akiyama-san, and... this cute classmate."
As if nothing had happened just moments ago,
Bai Qiu politely greeted them, then looked at Kotobuki Tsumugi, who had been staring at his face, with some puzzlement.
Was there a flower on his face?
Or was the young lady annoyed that he'd interrupted the girls cuddling?
Akiyama Mio looked a little embarrassed. "Hello, Bai Qiu-kun."
After Akiyama Mio spoke, Kotobuki Tsumugi smiled gently. "Hello, Bai Qiu-kun. I'm Kotobuki Tsumugi."
Then Kotobuki Tsumugi looked at Bai Qiu with curiosity again.
Boys seemed like interesting subjects to observe, too!
"Hey, wait! My last name is Tainaka, not Tanaka!"
Tainaka Ritsu protested loudly.
"Oh, is that so?"
Bai Qiu looked genuinely surprised.
"Of course! Tainaka Ritsu. My last name's Tainaka, and my first name is Ritsu."
After hearing that, Bai Qiu finally realized his mistake and awkwardly rubbed his chin.
Honestly, he hadn't done it on purpose.
Bai Qiu just thought Tanaka was much easier to say than Tainaka!
Besides, Tanaka seemed like a much more common surname.
For example, there was that slice-of-life anime he'd watched, Tanaka-kun is Always Listless. It was really interesting and had left a deep impression on him.
Bai Qiu recalled that when he'd watched K-On! before, whenever the subtitles showed Tainaka Ritsu's name, his brain seemed to automatically turn it into Tanaka.
Yes, those had to be the reasons he'd gotten her name wrong.
"Sorry. I really didn't do it on purpose."
Before you continue