We'll Do Anything

For the club budget. For a tuner.

Akiyama Mio bit her lip and held back.

Bai Qiu was startled by Ritsu's move.

"What are you doing?"

Bai Qiu tugged at his leg, trying to pull it free, but found that he could barely budge it.

You drummers are strong.

"If you don't join, our Light Music Club will be disbanded!"

Tainaka Ritsu felt him struggle and tightened her grip.

"Disbanded?!"

"Wait, let go of me first."

Bai Qiu said helplessly.

"Yeah. We can't apply to become a club unless we have five members. You don't want the club Yui just joined to disband, do you?"

Tainaka Ritsu said earnestly, playing the emotional card.

Yui Hirasawa excitedly finished her cake. She hadn't expected there to be a rule like that. This was great!

Huh? Is that right?

Bai Qiu remembered that four people were enough to meet the minimum requirement for starting a club.

"Isn't four people enough?"

Tainaka Ritsu's expression stiffened. "Ah... Ah, that was last year's rule! You know how the school expanded enrollment this year, so now it's five. Trust me."

The more Tainaka Ritsu said, the more confident she became. That's my girl!

Bai Qiu thought it did sound pretty reasonable.

But somehow, something felt off.

Did that mean he really had to join the Light Music Club? Or should they go find someone else?

Otherwise, the Light Music Club would be disbanded, or downgraded to an interest club like Akari's Astronomy Club.

But would being downgraded to an interest club even matter?

They could call themselves the Light Music Society from then on.

No, no. They'd get scolded.

Bai Qiu looked at Akiyama Mio and Kotobuki Tsumugi.

He discounted Yui Hirasawa; there was no way she knew anything about club rules.

"Is that right? We need five people?"

Kotobuki Tsumugi flushed red as she answered, "Yes!"

After saying that, Kotobuki Tsumugi seemed a little excited.

Lying for the first time felt pretty nice!

Akiyama Mio lowered her head, her face red with embarrassment. She pressed her lips together and whispered, "Mm... I think so."

Good grief, how did Ritsu manage to lie so convincingly?

Akiyama Mio's thoughts were in turmoil.

At that moment, Tainaka Ritsu looked utterly confident that she had won.

The two of them were obviously terrible liars. Bai Qiu felt that Ritsu was trying to fool him, but he had no proof, so he bluffed:

"You two are lying!"

Ah, he found out.

"You're amazing!"

Kotobuki Tsumugi looked even more excited.

"I'm sorry. We shouldn't have lied to you."

Unable to bear the weight of her guilty conscience, Akiyama Mio confessed at once.

"Wait, Mio, Kotsumugi..."

Damn, I didn't expect this guy to be so hard to deal with.

Since being nice hadn't worked, Tainaka Ritsu decided to drop the act.

"You saw my panties... If you don't join, I'll..."

Tainaka Ritsu gritted her teeth, her voice choked with tears and her eyes brimming.

Kotobuki Tsumugi chimed in, pretending to glare angrily at Bai Qiu.

"Don't wipe your tears and snot on me..."

Bai Qiu broke into a sweat and quickly raised his hand to stop her. He knew she was putting on an act.

But she was acting way too convincingly!

Captain Ritsu, it was such a waste for you to stay in the Light Music Club.

Maybe you'd be better suited to the drama club.

"What will you do?"

"Please, if you join the Light Music Club, I'll do anything!"

We'll Do Anything

It looked like it might be fun.

Yui Hirasawa and Kotobuki Tsumugi exchanged a glance, both of them thinking the same thing.

"We'll do anything, too!"

"W-wait, what's with everyone?"

Akiyama Mio was at a loss.

Even if it was for the club budget, they shouldn't have to throw away all their dignity!

This was way too much!

"Don't just say something so serious!"

Bai Qiu shook his head and said helplessly. Akiyama Mio nodded in agreement.

Tainaka Ritsu suddenly jumped to her feet.

"With so many cute girls here, don't you want to do something?"

At the same time, Tainaka Ritsu folded her arms over her chest and spoke with great self-satisfaction.

Bai Qiu could only give her an exasperated look.

"Mio, you're up!"

Tainaka Ritsu suddenly shouted.

Akiyama Mio looked confused, but before she could say anything,

she felt a tremendous shove.

Then she stumbled and fell forward, crashing into Bai Qiu's chest.

The sudden impact forced Bai Qiu to take two steps back.

"Aki-kun, Mio might not look it, but she's got plenty to offer!"

Tainaka Ritsu casually waved a hand as she explained.

A refreshing fragrance drifted through the air.

Bai Qiu didn't argue. She seemed to be telling the truth.

After helping Akiyama Mio back to her feet, Bai Qiu asked,

"Are you okay, Akiyama?"

"Ah... Ah!"

Only then did Akiyama Mio realize what had happened.

Belatedly, she let out a scream.

Everyone covered their ears.

Luckily, the Light Music Club room was well soundproofed. Otherwise, the club would have been reported sooner or later.

A boy's scent... Akiyama Mio quickly pulled away.

Then her consciousness began to blur, her eyes turning into spirals as her mouth moved on its own.

"S-sorry. I'm fine."

Bai Qiu shook his head. "...It's okay."

He knew it was all Tainaka Ritsu's fault.

Akiyama Mio staggered into the corner of the room, as if her body no longer belonged to her.

Her head felt heavy and dizzy, and steam seemed to be coming out of it...

She was even more embarrassed than she had ever been before.

"Ahahahaha!"

Tainaka Ritsu laughed like a villain.

Only after hearing her unrestrained laughter did Akiyama Mio gradually come back to her senses.

What kind of childhood friend shoved her childhood friend into a man's arms?!

Akiyama Mio clenched her fists angrily.

Sure enough, Tainaka Ritsu was about to get the worst beating of her life.

After a while, everyone returned to their seats.

Fresh scones and hot tea had been set out on the table.

Yui Hirasawa started another round of enjoyment.

"Ow, that hurts..."

"Mio-chan, you're so mean. You hit me so hard."

Tainaka Ritsu's eyes brimmed with tears, her face twisted in pain.

Kotobuki Tsumugi gently blew on the bump on top of her head.

She wanted Mio to hit her, too!

Akiyama Mio glanced at her and replied without mercy, "Hmph. You're the one who went too far."

"Hehe..."

Knowing she was in the wrong, Tainaka Ritsu had nothing to say, so she turned her attention back to Bai Qiu.

Bai Qiu asked at the right moment, "So, why do you want me to join the Light Music Club?"

"Actually, it's for the club budget. The more people we have, the more money we get. You know how it is..."

Tainaka Ritsu answered sheepishly. After that little scene, her lie had already been exposed.

Now she was going with honesty.

"So, Aki-kun, will you join?"

"You don't have to do anything. You can just be like the air."

So that was why. Bai Qiu understood, and he was a little tempted, too.