Planetarium

The pressure was on Akiyama Mio.

"You can call me Little Qiu, just like I do!"

Yui Hirasawa said cheerfully.

"If you don't say it out loud, you can't practice."

Captain Ritsu continued.

"Practice..."

"Practice..."

"I-I... I know!"

"It's just a name!"

Unable to stand Ritsu teasing her any longer, Akiyama Mio shouted.

But when she looked at Bai Qiu, she lost the courage to speak loudly again.

"B-Bai... Bai Qiu... k-kun..."

Akiyama Mio didn't even know what she'd said in her daze.

Tainaka Ritsu had actually wanted her to drop the surname.

But under Akiyama Mio's mortified glare, Tainaka Ritsu faltered. Forget it. Let's call it a day.

After taking a moment to recover, Akiyama Mio quickly took out her bass and held it in front of her face, hiding her embarrassment.

"Wow, Elizabeth!"

Yui Hirasawa suddenly shouted at her bass.

"Huh? N-no, it's not Elizabeth!"

At that moment, Bai Qiu took out his electronic keyboard too.

Come to think of it, this was the first time the girls had seen Bai Qiu's instrument.

Ritsu said, "So Aki-kun plays keyboard too!"

Kotobuki Tsumugi also looked at Bai Qiu curiously.

Yui Hirasawa, meanwhile, stroked her chin and began to think seriously.

A blue body, with white keys.

Yui Hirasawa's eyes lit up.

"Blue and White Bowl!"

What are you talking about? Everyone looked at Yui Hirasawa in confusion.

Akiyama Mio even shuddered and shrank back.

Bai Qiu couldn't help wondering, Isn't this happening a little early?

"Blue and White Bowl, huh?"

"Let's call Little Qiu's keyboard Blue and White Bowl!"

"What do you think?"

Yui Hirasawa explained excitedly, delighted with the lovely name she'd come up with.

"Ahahahahaha...!!"

Tainaka Ritsu froze for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"I object!"

Bai Qiu, who knew what Blue and White Bowl meant, immediately protested.

He wasn't asking for some ridiculously cool, distinctive name.

But surely it couldn't be... Blue and White Bowl!

Akiyama Mio, meanwhile, felt a chill beneath her skirt. She hugged her bass tightly, as if it could offer her a little comfort.

She tried to look composed, as though she had no idea what was going on.

Tainaka Ritsu, who knew her best, quickly noticed something was off.

Captain Ritsu gave it some thought, her eyes darting about. Before long, the corners of her mouth curled up again.

She was up to something again.

Then Captain Ritsu suddenly dashed over and whispered in Akiyama Mio's ear,

"Mio, you wouldn't happen to be wearing..."

"Mm... Mmm..."

Akiyama Mio hurriedly covered Tainaka Ritsu's mouth.

Her face, which had only just begun to regain its fair color, turned red again.

Tainaka Ritsu struggled hard.

"Let... mm... let me finish... Mio..."

But Akiyama Mio couldn't possibly let her, and only clamped her hand down tighter.

Tainaka Ritsu fought back with all her might, broke free, and ran off, ready to shout again.

Akiyama Mio chased after her, clutching her bass, and the two ran around the classroom.

Meanwhile, Bai Qiu and Yui Hirasawa were arguing over what to call his instrument.

"Yui, you can't just name other people's instruments."

"But you're not other people!"

Bai Qiu froze and rubbed his nose sheepishly, but soon came to his senses. Even so, it can't be called Blue and White Bowl!

"...That still doesn't make it okay."

"You don't like Blue and White Bowl?"

"No. It doesn't sound good!"

"But Little Ritsu is laughing so happily!"

Yui Hirasawa pointed at Captain Ritsu, who was still being chased and giggling.

"That's because..."

Bai Qiu knew the reason, but couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence.

Otherwise, Akiyama Mio would never live it down.

Watching everyone bicker and make a racket, the innocent Kotobuki Tsumugi was confused.

She had no idea what Blue and White Bowl actually meant, so she watched everyone curiously.

"What's Blue and White Bowl?"

The classroom was too noisy, and no one heard her.

Kotobuki Tsumugi puffed out her cheeks and called out adorably,

"Hey, hey, please tell me!"

Kotobuki Tsumugi first asked Yui, who had come up with the name.

"Blue and White Bowl is just Blue and White Bowl!"

Yui Hirasawa answered, looking utterly clueless.

"Aki-kun..."

Kotobuki Tsumugi turned to Bai Qiu, who was facing Yui, and looked at him expectantly.

Bai Qiu felt a little awkward. "Well... I can't really say..."

Tainaka Ritsu ran along, panting.

"Um... I..."

"I... wait a bit... and then... tell you!"

Akiyama Mio sped up as she chased her.

In her panic, she accidentally smacked Tainaka Ritsu on the head with her bass.

Tainaka Ritsu passed out, and only then did Akiyama Mio breathe a sigh of relief.

"Mio..."

Kotobuki Tsumugi then turned to Mio.

Akiyama Mio cried out in alarm.

Then she covered her ears, crouched on the ground, and shook her head desperately.

"I don't know... I don't know... I don't know... I don't know anything..."

She'd asked everyone, but still hadn't gotten an answer.

Kotobuki Ojou-sama looked back at Bai Qiu and Yui Hirasawa, stepped forward, took them by the arms, and pleaded,

"I'm so curious! Please tell me!"

To avoid tainting the young lady's pure heart, Bai Qiu chose to keep his mouth shut. No matter how cute she was, he wouldn't tell her.

Planetarium

Kessoku Band Group Chat.

Ijichi Nijika sent a message saying she was sick and reminded Bai Qiu and Yamada Ryo to take care of their health.

Also, Kessoku Band's practice might need to be postponed for a few more days.

After Bai Qiu saw the message, he replied with concern: Nijika, get some good rest at home. If you need help with anything, just ask me.

He earned himself a few more points with Nijika.

Yamada Ryo asked Nijika if she wanted to go to her family's hospital.

Goto Hitori secretly wondered whether Nijika had caught her illness.

To cheer up the downcast Takamatsu Tomo, Bai Qiu invited her to come here.

Yui Hirasawa had planned to come along too, but when they discovered she couldn't even read sheet music, Akiyama Mio had no choice but to teach her herself.

Takamatsu Tomo had been planning to go to the planetarium anyway. When she was feeling down, she usually went to the planetarium or the aquarium.

She had originally planned to invite Bai Qiu too. It would make a perfect Astronomy Club activity, and she could write the club report herself, of course.

But the sensitive Tomo was especially worried that Bai Qiu might not have time. He seemed quite busy, so she had been hesitating.

Luckily, Bai Qiu spoke up first.

They hit it off right away.

Bai Qiu was buying tickets now.

Takamatsu Tomo waited obediently beside him, like a little animal.

She had an annual pass and could enter whenever she wanted during the year, without buying another ticket.

A rare, faint smile appeared on Takamatsu Tomo's face. This was the first time anyone had been willing to accompany her to the planetarium.

"Let's go, Tomo."

After buying the tickets, Bai Qiu smiled at her.

"Mm, okay..."

Takamatsu Tomo nodded timidly, then pressed close to Bai Qiu like a little penguin.

They entered the planetarium.