Hotaru

Hello. Oh... Is it just you here, Natsume-san?

Natsume

Looks like the others are running late. Every last one of them, when practice time is so precious.

Hotaru

Um... What should we do? Should we wait until everyone gets here?

Natsume

Yeah. I'll just play some guitar until they get here.

Hotaru

Okay, I understand.

Natsume

...

Hotaru

...

Natsume

Hey... Why are you staring at me like that?

Hotaru

Huh...? Oh, I'm sorry.

Hotaru

I do not often get to sit and listen to your guitar properly, so I got completely absorbed in it.

Natsume

Hmm...? Well, you can keep watching as long as you don't get in my way.

Hotaru

! Thank you!

Natsume

...

Natsume

(Well... It doesn't feel bad. Maybe someday I'll put on a live where I sing and play guitar in front of a bigger crowd.)

Natsume

(Hm...? Did something just move by my feet...)

Natsume

...!?

Natsume

(I-It...)

Natsume

(It can't be a mantis!!!)

Natsume

(No, no, no! Bugs? No way! So scary, scary, scary! Just go away already!)

Hotaru

Hm? You stopped playing... Is something wrong?

Natsume

...!

Natsume

(Oh no... Hotaru is right in front of me.)

Natsume

(To Hotaru, Natsume Izawa is the cool senior guitarist... I can't let her see me like this...!)

Natsume

I-It's nothing. That was an intentional rest. Silence is part of the performance too...!

Natsume

(Wait... Why are you coming this way, mantis!? I can't move!)

Natsume

(No, stop, don't come any closer! Ugh, no, no, no—)

Hotaru

Oh, a mantis. Did it wander in by accident?

Natsume

!?

Hotaru

Please stay still... I'll take you outside now.

Hotaru

There you go. Bye-bye.

Natsume

...

Hotaru

Phew. I'm glad I could let it out safely. It would have been awful if someone had accidentally stepped on it.

Hotaru

Oh... Natsume-san, were you being so quiet because of that?

Natsume

Huh...?

Hotaru

So you would not scare the mantis... Right?

Natsume

Hmph...! You noticed, Hotaru!

Hotaru

I knew it...! You're amazing, Natsume-san. I need to learn from how you always care so much about every guest...!

Natsume

...

Natsume

(I wish the others would get here already...)