Soyo... Stop Squeezing...

Wouldn't that make Bai Qiu even more miserable and lonely than she was?

Thinking about it that way, a wave of sympathy rose in Nagasaki Sosei's heart.

Bai Qiu-kun must be so lonely.

She could understand that feeling.

Even so, Nagasaki Sosei couldn't help speaking in a sweet voice.

"Please don't say things that are so easy to misunderstand, Bai Qiu-kun."

"Sorry."

Bai Qiu set down his chopsticks, put his hands together, and imitated Nijika's apologetic gesture.

"It's all because Nagasaki-san's cooking is so delicious."

Bai Qiu took out his phone, intending to see if anyone had said anything in Kessoku Band's group chat.

"Honestly, even if you say that..."

Nagasaki Sosei's tone softened again.

Suddenly, the square Band-aid beside the bowl and chopsticks caught her eye.

Nagasaki Sosei's gaze sharpened.

"Does Bai Qiu-kun really like Band-aids?"

Nagasaki Sosei looked at Bai Qiu's fingers. They were long and smooth, with no signs of injury.

Carrying cartoon Band-aids around didn't seem like something a boy would do.

She recalled how, when she'd fallen last time, Bai Qiu had immediately pulled out a Band-aid decorated with a penguin.

And now he had so many Band-aids with pictures of sea creatures.

Nagasaki Sosei couldn't help feeling puzzled and curious.

These were just the sort of things Tomo would do.

"They're all right. A friend gave them to me."

Bai Qiu explained with a light laugh, not thinking much of it.

Tomo had given him all these Band-aids.

Though he didn't seem to have much use for them himself.

After all, he was a keyboardist. Unlike guitarists and bassists, keyboardists didn't tend to injure their fingers during practice.

A pianist's hands were precious, after all.

"I see..."

A glimmer flashed in Nagasaki Sosei's eyes.

At that moment, a certain guess occurred to her.

It couldn't really be that much of a coincidence, could it?

Little Tomo didn't seem like the kind of girl who could easily make friends with boys.

And yet, Nagasaki Sosei desperately hoped her guess was right!

So Nagasaki Sosei tilted her head slightly, as if trying to remember something.

"Come to think of it, I know someone who likes collecting Band-aids too!"

Nagasaki Sosei said with a cheerful smile.

"Does this friend of Bai Qiu-kun's also like smooth little stones and pill bugs?"

Bai Qiu perked up, too.

There was another girl like Tomo? Maybe Tomo could become friends with her.

Bai Qiu knew that, even if Tomo seemed lost in her own world on the surface,

deep down, she really wanted to share the things she was interested in with others.

It was just that there weren't many girls who were interested in Tomo's hobbies.

"Yes. And she even puts those things on her desk to look at during class."

Bai Qiu looked at Nagasaki Sosei.

"My friend does that too."

Nagasaki Sosei felt her heart begin to beat faster.

The answer was right in front of her.

Bai Qiu's eyes also lit up a little, and he looked intrigued.

He had a guess of his own now.

After all, Japan was so small. Tokyo was practically just a village.

He looked expectantly into her eyes.

"Could this friend's name happen to be Tomo?" They said in unison.

Bai Qiu and Nagasaki Sosei spoke at the same time.

Sose... stop piling food on my plate...

Nagasaki Sosei discreetly let out a breath, calming her stirred emotions.

So Little Tomo had gone to Sakuragaoka Academy.

Ever since Sako left, Takamatsu Tomo hadn't come back to the practice room and had even started avoiding her.

The messages she sent Takamatsu Tomo would show as read.

But Takamatsu Tomo hardly ever replied, only apologizing over and over.

There was no chance of getting her to meet up and talk, either.

"What a coincidence, Bai Qiu."

Nagasaki Sosei lightly clapped her hands, her tone lifting as she smiled with joy and sweetness.

An ordinary person might have been utterly enchanted by that smile, but Bai Qiu was the one facing her.

"Yeah, it is."

Bai Qiu nodded fairly calmly. He wasn't all that surprised.

Tokyo really was tiny.

It was a pity Tomo had lost a kindred spirit.

From then on, the two of them had a friend in common.

So, inevitably, their conversation turned to Takamatsu Tomo for a while.

As Nagasaki Sosei subtly probed him, she also learned that Bai Qiu and Takamatsu Tomo were in the same class and even sat together.

They'd joined the same club, the Astronomy Club.

It seemed Bai Qiu and Takamatsu Tomo were closer than she'd imagined.

"Um..."

"That's enough..."

"Nagasaki-san..."

"I can't fit any more..."

Bai Qiu raised a hand, trying to stop Nagasaki Sosei from continuing to serve him food.

At some point, Nagasaki Sosei had started piling food onto his plate nonstop.

Now it was heaped with vegetables.

"Just call me Sosei." Nagasaki Sosei gave Bai Qiu a faint smile.

"Then, Sosei-student..."

Nagasaki Sosei repeated herself. Her smile was gentle, but her words carried a distinctly firm note.

"Got it." Bai Qiu looked a little helpless.

"Then, Sose..."

"Stop piling food on my plate."

"My bowl's already full. You should eat more, too."

Bai Qiu pointed at his bowl, hinting at the problem.

Nagasaki Sosei's smile remained sweet.

Though he started tasting the delicious food, Bai Qiu felt a little uneasy.

What was up with Nagasaki Sosei?

Wasn't she being a little too sweet and gentle?!

Bai Qiu calmed himself and thought it over carefully. Had he done anything to make Nagasaki Sosei like him a lot more?!

And Nagasaki-san, what was with your voice...

Why did it keep sounding so fake and cutesy?

No, no!

He shouldn't make such presumptuous assumptions about other people.

As soon as a malicious thought about Nagasaki Sosei crossed Bai Qiu's mind, he harshly criticized himself.

Nagasaki Sosei had warmly invited him over for a meal, served him food, and filled his bowl with soup.

It was bad enough not to appreciate her kindness, but now he was using his own dark thoughts to make assumptions about her.

That was terribly rude.

When would he ever become as innocent as the girls around him?

What was wrong with having a sweet voice?

That was just how Sosei-student sounded!

Naturally, Nagasaki Sosei had no idea what Bai Qiu was thinking.

Her ten pale fingers intertwined, resting beneath her smooth, fair chin.

Nagasaki Sosei smiled gently, gazing at Bai Qiu as warmly as a spring breeze.

Bai Qiu looked up, meeting Sosei's heated gaze.

Being watched like this while he ate made him a little uncomfortable.

Noticing this, Nagasaki Sosei asked with a warm smile,

"What's wrong?"

"Is there anything else you want to eat? I'd be happy to get it for you!"

Bai Qiu: "..."

Bai Qiu nodded and began to adjust his way of thinking.

In the end, Bai Qiu decided it was because Nagasaki Sosei had realized they shared a friend, Takamatsu Tomo.

That must be why she was being so especially warm toward him!

Don't worry, Sosei-student.

I'll look after Tomo at school for you.

Bai Qiu picked up his bowl.

Since he couldn't refuse, he might as well accept it graciously.