Then the three of them turned their attention to the last black-haired girl.
As everyone looked at her, Mio Akiyama lowered her head and said shyly, "I'm the bassist, Mio Akiyama. It's a pleasure to meet you all."
The three girls finally looked at Luo Yu.
A guitarist... Honestly, Luo Yu did not want to take that position. After all, that spot belonged to Yui. Without Yui, the Light Music Club would not be the Light Music Club Luo Yu remembered. He felt he should come up with an excuse to turn down the guitarist position.
But after thinking it over carefully, Luo Yu realized there was no problem with being the guitarist for now. After all, he could do anything. Once Yui joined the Light Music Club, he could simply switch to another position.
Having made up his mind, Luo Yu said, "Then please take care of me, President, Kotobuki-san, Akiyama-san."
Since the Light Music Club was newly established and had no instruments yet, the club activity ended that day with tea and conversation.
Luo Yu checked the time and found that it was already past five in the afternoon.
"Then I'll be heading out first."
After saying goodbye to the girls, Luo Yu picked up his schoolbag and headed for the door.
"Goodbye, Luo Yu."
"See you tomorrow, Luo Yu."
"See you tomorrow!"
The girls' farewells came from behind him.
He went down the stairs, and when he reached the entrance of the club building, Luo Yu spotted two familiar figures standing there.
"Kazuma, Kazuto. What are you two doing standing at the entrance?" That was right—the two standing there were Satou Kazuma and Kirigaya Kazuto.
"We were waiting for you, of course. Come on, let's go home together," Satou Kazuma replied.
The three of them then headed out of the school together.
They chatted as they walked.
"Kazuto, Kazuma, you both joined the Kendo Club, right?"
"Of course. Who do you think I am? I, Kazuma, got in without breaking a sweat."
"Enough bragging. I wonder who barely made it in by scraping past the passing line," Kirigaya Kazuto said, taking a jab at him. "By the way, Luo Yu. Didn't you go to the Light Music Club? How was it?"
"The Light Music Club? It's full of cute girls," Luo Yu said to Satou Kazuma with a grin.
"Really?" Satou Kazuma asked.
"Of course it is. Everyone in the Light Music Club besides me is a girl. When has Brother Luo Yu ever lied to you?"
"Damn it! Why do I have to get beaten up after joining the Kendo Club, surrounded by nothing but burly men, while you get to be with girls?" Satou Kazuma said with a grief-stricken expression.
"Divine Retribution!" Satou Kazuma even put on the face of a vicious demon.
Luo Yu immediately took off running, turning back to taunt him. "How pathetic. Don't tell me you guys haven't even spoken to a girl before? No way, no way?"
"You brat, stop running if you've got guts! Kazuto, get him!"
"I've talked to my little sister before, at least."
"Kazuto, you traitor!" Satou Kazuma shifted his target to Kirigaya Kazuto.
Under the evening glow, three youthful figures chased and roughhoused with one another.
Hiratsuka Shizuka's Sudden Arrival
Class was always boring, especially when the teacher was covering material Luo Yu had already mastered. Whenever that happened, he would either chat with Prometheus, write novels in his notebook to transfer onto his computer later, or sometimes draw a few landscape paintings to grind up his drawing experience.
Naturally, this inattentive behavior caught the attention of the teachers in every subject. But whenever they called on Luo Yu to answer a question, he always gave the correct answer. After it happened enough times, the teachers realized that he had indeed mastered the material. Gradually, they stopped bothering him. After all, good students always received certain privileges.
And so, class time passed as Luo Yu idled away.
He arrived at the Light Music Club, entered the room, and found a seat.
Tsumugi Kotobuki came over and poured him some black tea.
"Thanks, Tsumu-tsumu. I make you do this every time," Luo Yu said to Tsumugi Kotobuki.
"It's no trouble, Luo Yu. I like making tea for everyone," Tsumugi Kotobuki replied with a gentle smile.
"Ritsu and Akiyama-san aren't here yet?"
"Other than me, Luo Yu, you're the first one here."
That was right. After spending this time together, Luo Yu could now call the girls by their first names, except for Mio Akiyama.
"Good afternoon, Luo Yu, Tsumu-tsumu," Ritsu Tainaka's voice came from the doorway.
"Good afternoon," Mio Akiyama said as she followed behind.
"Good afternoon, Ritsu, Akiyama-san," Luo Yu greeted the two girls.
After exchanging greetings, everyone sat together and began chatting. This young lady, Tsumugi Kotobuki, served the three of them like a maid, constantly refilling their tea and bringing them snacks.
"Say, Luo Yu, it's been so long. You already call me and Tsumu-tsumu by our first names. When are you going to start calling Mio by hers?" Ritsu Tainaka said during their conversation.
"I don't mind. It mainly depends on Akiyama-san," Luo Yu replied.
Ritsu Tainaka looked at Mio Akiyama. "Mio, you too. Don't be so shy. Look, Tsumu-tsumu and I already call Luo Yu by his name, and he calls us by ours. You're the only one left in the whole Light Music Club."
"Ritsu!" Mio Akiyama cried out shyly.
"Come on, don't be shy. Now, say Luo Yu's name out loud," Ritsu Tainaka continued to encourage Mio Akiyama.
Mio Akiyama took a deep breath, then looked at Luo Yu tentatively. "L-L-Luo Yu?"
Luo Yu smiled and replied, "Please take care of me, Mio."
The single word "Mio" instantly made Mio Akiyama blush.
"Stop, stop! Are you two acting in some romance drama?" Ritsu Tainaka cut in.
That only made Mio Akiyama's face turn even redder. She immediately flopped onto the table and buried her head in her arms, hiding her expression.
"Ritsu, stop teasing Mio. Look how embarrassed she is."
"You sure say Mio's name pretty smoothly, Luo Yu."
"Would anyone like more tea?" Tsumugi Kotobuki, who had been watching the show from the side, leaned in at that moment.
"I love you, Tsumu-tsumu. If you weren't here, how would I get through club activities every day?" Ritsu Tainaka said as she ate a snack.
Luo Yu took a sip of tea. "Speaking of club activities, Ritsu, let me ask again. This is definitely, absolutely, without question the Light Music Club, right? Where are our instruments?"
"Uh... We've been drinking tea and chatting so much lately that I nearly forgot," Ritsu Tainaka said guiltily. "Don't just blame me. You guys didn't bring any instruments either."
"That's because, as the president, you never told us when club activities were supposed to start," Mio Akiyama said, having recovered by then.
"Huh? Was that how it was?"
Ritsu Tainaka put on an innocent expression.
"Anyway, starting tomorrow, everyone should bring their instruments. As for today, let's keep drinking tea."
With that said, Ritsu Tainaka went back to eating snacks.
"Honestly, Ritsu, you're far too lazy," Mio Akiyama scolded her.
Meanwhile, Tsumugi Kotobuki happily continued serving them from the side.
This laid-back scene was what the Light Music Club was supposed to be, Luo Yu thought with a sigh.
Knock knock!
A burst of knocking shattered the Light Music Club's relaxed atmosphere. The entire room instantly fell silent, and the four of them exchanged glances.
"That sound... could it be a new member?"
Ritsu Tainaka said excitedly.
"Not necessarily," Luo Yu replied.
"Whatever it is, go open the door first." As she spoke, Ritsu Tainaka pushed Luo Yu toward the entrance.
"Why me?"
"You're the only boy here. If you don't go, who will? Go on, be bold, Luo Yu!" Ritsu Tainaka said with a smile, giving Luo Yu a thumbs-up.
She had a point. He was the only boy here. Thinking that, Luo Yu went to open the door. It would be rude to keep someone waiting too long.
When he opened it, a figure in a white lab coat came into view.
"Is something the matter, Teacher Hiratsuka?" Luo Yu asked in surprise.
The visitor was Hiratsuka Shizuka. Behind her stood a cool, aloof figure.
She was an exceptionally beautiful girl with delicate features. Her expressionless face gave off a cold Aura. The only pity was that, at such a young age, she already had an airfield of her own.
"It's Luo Yu. You're a member of this club?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka was also surprised to see Luo Yu. Then she noticed the girls inside, peeking over in their direction.
"You're doing pretty well for yourself, kid," Hiratsuka Shizuka teased Luo Yu with a strange look in her eyes.
"Alright, Teacher Hiratsuka, stop teasing me. Come in first," Luo Yu said, letting the two of them enter the room.
"Excuse us, everyone."
Hiratsuka Shizuka strolled into the Light Music Club's room.
"Good afternoon, Teacher," the girls greeted Hiratsuka Shizuka somewhat stiffly.
"Oh? Black tea and snacks. Is this the Afternoon Tea Club?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka asked as she looked at the tea and snacks on the table. Then she picked up a snack and tossed it into her mouth in one fluid motion, without the slightest flaw.
"Not bad at all."
Sure enough, this really was the Tea-Drinking Club. Even the teacher thought so.
Luo Yu looked at the stiff girls and said, "This is my homeroom teacher, Hiratsuka Shizuka."
Then he asked Hiratsuka Shizuka, "Teacher Hiratsuka, is there something you need from our Light Music Club?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka waved her hand. "No need to be so nervous. Let's sit down and talk."
Everyone then sat down awkwardly. Tsumugi Kotobuki thoughtfully brought over a chair for the girl who had come with Hiratsuka Shizuka.
The girl politely thanked her as well.
After everyone was seated, they all turned their eyes toward Hiratsuka Shizuka, waiting for her to speak.
"Actually, it's nothing major. I just have a small request."
The Service Club
"Just a small request."
Hearing Hiratsuka Shizuka say that, Ritsu Tainaka could not imagine what request their club could possibly fulfill for a teacher.
So she said to Hiratsuka Shizuka, "Please tell us, Teacher."
"Let me put it this way. The girl beside me is Yukino-san from the second year. She once founded a club, but she has always been its only member. Recently, too many new clubs have been established, and there are no longer enough Club Rooms. So the Student Council gave her Club Room to another club."
"Then I happened to notice that your club has relatively few members. So I was wondering whether you could share a Club Room."
"Share a Club Room!"
Ritsu Tainaka cried out, her expression sour.
Luo Yu frowned and asked Hiratsuka Shizuka, "Teacher Hiratsuka, you said Yukino-senpai's club has always had only one member. Why hasn't it been disbanded? How does it even have a Club Room?"
"Didn't we have unused Club Rooms last year? And then there was a little special privilege from yours truly," Hiratsuka Shizuka said awkwardly.
Still, having two clubs share one Club Room would always be uncomfortable. After all, their activities were different, and that could easily lead to trouble.
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