A Night Apart

Sose asked. At a glance, she could tell it was an electronic keyboard—and even the same model Xiao Xiang had used back then.

But she had to get the answers gradually.

That way, she wouldn't arouse suspicion.

Bai Qiu, on the other hand, believed in getting straight to the point.

"Yeah, I'm the keyboardist in a band."

"I see. Does your band ever play live shows? Where do you usually practice?"

Bai Qiu's eyes lit up.

As expected, Nagasaki Sosei knew quite a bit about bands.

"Not yet. We're active in Shimokitazawa."

"If you're interested, I'll definitely invite you when we have a live show."

Bai Qiu said with a smile, feeling the pressure around him ease considerably.

"Okay. Be sure to save me a ticket when the time comes."

Nagasaki Sosei's lips curled into a smile, and she prepared to ask her next question.

They had reached their floor. The elevator doors opened automatically.

Bai Qiu's eyes lit up. Saved!

He hurried out first, and immediately felt himself relax.

Damn elevator!

Nagasaki Sosei cursed inwardly, thoroughly displeased.

Why did it have to go up so fast?

Right when she'd gotten to the important part!

She still hadn't asked which live house they played at.

She should've rented a place on the top floor.

No, if she'd rented on the top floor, Bai Qiu-kun would've gotten off on this floor too.

Damn it, now that they'd left that enclosed space,

she couldn't smell Xiao Xiang anymore!

Nagasaki Sosei couldn't help taking one last sniff.

Huh?! Why?! She couldn't smell her anymore!

Nagasaki Sosei's eyes dimmed.

"Um... Sose, aren't you coming out?"

Bai Qiu looked at Nagasaki Sosei in confusion. And why did her face keep going red and then dark?

"Sorry, I spaced out."

Nagasaki Sosei hurried out.

"Bai Qiu-kun, have you eaten? Would you like to come over to my place for dinner?"

Nagasaki Sosei invited him, figuring it was a good chance to learn a little more.

Bai Qiu hesitated, then lifted the bag in his hand.

"I'll pass. I bought doughnuts, and they won't keep well."

"There's food at home, so I won't impose."

He did miss the home-cooked meals at Sose's place, but she'd seemed a little strange today, and her gaze had felt a bit too intense.

Thinking back on everything that had happened today, Bai Qiu didn't feel like going through any more trouble.

So he decided he'd just go home!

"I see..."

Nagasaki Sosei looked a little disappointed.

Damn doughnuts.

"Then you can't refuse next time."

Nagasaki Sosei changed tack, taking a step back to move forward.

Chapter 39: A Night Apart

Nagasaki Sosei returned home.

The gentle smile on her face gradually faded.

Her expression settled into calm, even turning a little serious.

Absentmindedly fiddling with her index finger, Nagasaki Sosei began to sort through what she'd learned that day.

Actually, she shouldn't have been getting home so late.

But for the past few days, she'd been coming back late.

Nagasaki Sosei was something of a homebody.

She'd become even more of one after Crychic disbanded.

The reason she'd been coming home late these past few days

was that after school, she'd been investigating news about Saki at other girls' schools in Tokyo.

Some schools posted their new student lists on their official websites, which Nagasaki Sosei could check directly.

But others didn't.

So for the past few days, Nagasaki Sosei had visited those schools and approached one or two female students at the gates.

Thanks to her excellent social skills and a little something offered in return,

she'd easily gotten those students to help her obtain the new student lists.

But so far, she still hadn't found out which school Xiao Xiang attended.

She hadn't expected that meeting Bai Qiu tonight would bring her an unexpected bit of good news.

Bai Qiu-kun had met Xiao Xiang and even knew her. Xiao Xiang might have shown up in Shimokitazawa.

She could use him as a starting point to look for Xiao Xiang.

But that didn't mean she was giving up on her plan to search every girls' school in Tokyo.

There weren't many left anyway.

Ah, she missed Xiao Xiang's scent so much...

Bai Qiu returned home.

He set down the doughnuts.

A few doughnuts alone definitely wouldn't fill him up.

So he picked up the kettle to boil some water, planning to make a bowl of premium instant noodles.

While he waited, he, too, sorted through what he'd gained that day.

First, just as he'd expected,

bringing up music with Nagasaki Sosei had earned him 200 Notes.

When he'd worked at Starry, he'd sold Yoruna a ticket and watched a live show with everyone.

And on the way, he'd "rescued" Toyokawa Shoko.

Those had earned him Notes too.

Toyokawa Shoko had given him the most.

All told, he had over 2,000 Notes now.

He'd see what he could exchange them for next week.

Finally, tomorrow was the weekend, at long last.

He could finally get some proper rest.

Oh, right. He also needed to find some time to update his light novel.

Thinking of that, Bai Qiu gave a slightly helpless smile.

Bai Qiu glanced at his phone. It was a message from the Light Music Club group chat.

But the water had boiled. He'd check it in a bit.

At Toyokawa Shoko's home,

Shoko sat on a wooden chair, her eyes shining brightly.

She hadn't been this happy in a long time.

A lot had happened that day. She'd thought it would be an unlucky one.

But it turned out not to be.

Shoko held her phone in both hands.

Bai Qiu had been added to her Line contacts.

Oh, right! She'd completely forgotten to ask which class he was in.

The thought left Shoko a little frustrated.

Should she ask him on Line?

No, it wouldn't be right to bother him over something so trivial out of the blue.

Toyokawa Shoko's lips curled into a smile.

Then she opened her phone's photo album. Inside was the class assignment list she'd taken a picture of at the start of the school year.

Good thing she hadn't deleted it.

Shoko searched carefully.

Class 3... There it was!

A smile appeared on Toyokawa Shoko's face, but soon her brows furrowed slightly.

She hadn't expected to be in the same class as Akari.

At the thought, Shoko instinctively touched the Band-aid still stuck to her arm.

Some distance away from the upscale apartment building where Bai Qiu lived, there was a trendy apartment complex.

It was a residential building that talent agencies provided specifically for their signed artists.

It housed a large number of entertainers, idols, influencers, streamers, and others.

Ordinary people couldn't get in or rent an apartment there.

Miyako Shoka had returned there.

She left the doughnuts in the apartment next door. Its occupant was her partner in Sumimi.

Sumida Mana, also known as Mana.

Back in her own apartment, Shoka quickly took off her mask, sunglasses, and hat.

Then she hurried into her room.

At first glance, someone might have thought the room belonged to a shut-in.

There were far more light novels in the room than there had been in Yamada Ryo's tent that day.

Every book was neatly arranged, carefully maintained, and completely dust-free.

Strangely, there were so many light novels.