Omnibus Anime: Person in Music Anime, Relaxing and Happy

This week's remaining items in the System Mall could be exchanged for whichever one he wanted.

But the only useful ones were [Eidetic Memory] and [Absolute Pitch].

[Eidetic Memory] wasn't really needed for now.

Considering the rarity of [Absolute Pitch], even with its current markup, Bai Qiu steeled himself and spent 20,000 Notes to acquire [Absolute Pitch].

And just like that, his Notes dwindled to a mere few hundred.

Now, with Kessoku Band joined and the Light Music Club joined, there probably wouldn't be another big influx of Notes for a while.

But Bai Qiu wasn't panicking.

Alright, Yui, now we're on the same starting line.

3:30 PM, school let out.

Bai Qiu was certain that Takamatsu Tomo was acting strange today.

Though during class, Tomo was still looking at her little stones, Band-aids, or diary as usual, her diary hadn't been flipped open a single page.

Her expression also seemed very downcast, lost in thought.

It was practically written on her face that something was on her mind.

During breaks, when Bai Qiu specifically tried to chat with her about topics she liked, Takamatsu Tomo showed no interest.

She even seemed to be avoiding him a bit.

This left Bai Qiu deeply worried and puzzled, even a little hurt.

Had he accidentally done something to upset Tomo?

Or was it just that time of the month for her?

Bai Qiu hoped it was the latter.

But his gut told him otherwise.

Looking toward Tomo's seat, Bai Qiu planned to wait until the classroom was less crowded before probing for information.

However, all he saw was an empty seat, followed by the retreating figure of Takamatsu Tomo through the back door of the classroom.

Bai Qiu followed, guessing she was heading to the Astronomy Club.

Takamatsu Tomo wandered into the Astronomy Club, clutching her diary, lost and adrift.

Her heart was full of confusion and disappointment.

This morning, when she had tried to greet Qiu and Yui, she had overheard that Bai Qiu had already joined the Light Music Club.

Recalling last night when she left, she had vaguely seen Bai Qiu saying goodbye to a few girls carrying instruments from a distance.

Those girls must have been from the Light Music Club.

Thinking this, Takamatsu Tomo felt a wave of disappointment.

It wasn't that she resented Bai Qiu joining the Light Music Club.

Rather, she felt that, as expected, the Astronomy Club wasn't good at all—it only had someone like her.

Bai Qiu-kun probably didn't like the Astronomy Club anymore.

Sure enough, Qiu had only joined the Astronomy Club because he couldn't bring himself to refuse her.

Takamatsu Tomo unconsciously recalled a rainy night a few months ago.

"I came today to quit CRYCHIC..."

The voice that had once warmed her heart had turned icy and piercing.

In a few days, the Astronomy Club would probably disband just like CRYCHIC had...

"I came today to quit the Astronomy Club..."

"Did something happen? Tomo."

Bai Qiu looked at the Takamatsu Tomo before him with a puzzled expression. She stood alone in front of a chair, unresponsive no matter how he called her.

It was just like when he had encountered Goto Hitori lost in her fantasies last time.

He gently shook Tomo's shoulder.

Takamatsu Tomo snapped back to reality, and the moment she looked up, she was startled.

Because the face and voice that had just appeared in her mind were suddenly right there.

"Qiu... why are you here..."

Takamatsu Tomo lowered her head again, her voice a bit subdued.

"Sorry, I scared you."

"This is the Astronomy Club, and I'm a member. Is it strange for me to be here?"

Bai Qiu asked, puzzled.

"Qiu... are you here to quit the Astronomy Club..."

Tomo voiced the question she dreaded facing.

"When did I ever say I was quitting the Astronomy Club?"

"Because... the Light Music Club..."

Bai Qiu's brow relaxed as he felt he understood the situation.

She probably thought that since he'd joined the Light Music Club, he was abandoning the Astronomy Club.

Come to think of it, he should have told her about this.

So Bai Qiu smiled and said, "Even if I join the Light Music Club, I'm not quitting the Astronomy Club."

"Besides, I want you to teach me how to use the Astronomical Telescope!"

Bai Qiu pointed at the tripod nearby.

"Really?"

Tomo glanced at Bai Qiu, a flicker of hope kindling in her heart.

"Of course it's true."

Bai Qiu smiled warmly.

Tomo suddenly lifted her head, her gaze sharp as a torch.

"Then, Qiu, will you stay with me in the Astronomy Club for a lifetime?"

PS: Characters not yet introduced; will appear during the band formation process...

Chapter 25: A Lifetime Is Too Long, Three Years Then...

"Uh... a lifetime?"

Bai Qiu froze in shock, slowly meeting Tomo's amber pupils.

He blinked a few times, as if confirming he hadn't misheard.

Then he couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.

She must be joking!

So Tomo could joke too!

A club? How could something like that last a lifetime!

Bai Qiu's reaction made everything clear to Tomo.

As expected, it wasn't possible...

Why couldn't everyone stay together forever!

She didn't want to experience the pain of separation!

"Sorry, I said something strange."

Before her words had fully faded, Tomo had already dashed out of the Astronomy Club.

Staring at the door, Bai Qiu called out in shock.

"Wait..."

What the hell?!!

Standing alone in the Astronomy Club, Bai Qiu was bewildered.

Who am I... Where am I... What am I doing...

Was that a confession?

The thought just surfaced in Bai Qiu's mind before he quickly suppressed it.

He figured Tomo's affection level wasn't that high yet; they hadn't known each other long.

The atmosphere just now didn't feel like that either.

Come to think of it, there seemed to be an invisible pressure around him earlier.

But Bai Qiu had been too startled to notice it at the time.

So, if it wasn't a joke, and it wasn't a confession, then what the hell was this "lifetime" about!

Eliminating all impossibilities, only one truth remained.

Bai Qiu kept thinking.

Could it be... that Tomo was serious?

Then she mistakenly thought he was laughing at her?

Bai Qiu swore he absolutely had no intention of mocking her just now.

With years of experience from domestic idol romance dramas, Bai Qiu immediately realized.

There was no time to think about it now.

When you're talking to a girl and she suddenly runs off.

You have to chase after her quickly.

Otherwise, some irreparable accident might happen.

Of course, it's also possible that by the time you catch up, you'll just happen to witness that accident happening.

And then it's still irreparable.

No time to lock the door, accompanied by a "bang."

Bai Qiu swiftly and casually pulled the classroom door shut.

The corridor was already empty of Takamatsu Tomo's figure; Bai Qiu chased toward the direction of the stairs.

Sure enough, as he neared the stairs, he seemed to hear the sound of hurried footsteps running down.

Bai Qiu was both startled and delighted—truly worthy of Absolute Pitch.

Then, Bai Qiu also quickly ran down the stairs, and through the gaps between the stair railings, he indeed saw Takamatsu Tomo's figure running downward.

"Ah! Little Qiu."

A surprised voice came through.

She was just about to gather with the girls from the Light Music Club.

Could it be that Little Qiu had changed his mind?