I wonder if I'll be able to start over

Mutsumi

...

Soyo

Ah, Mutsumi-chan! I'm sorry. I just wanted to see you for a moment before club activities started.

Mutsumi

Did something happen?

Soyo

Have you heard from Saki-chan?

Mutsumi

No...

Soyo

I see... I thought that since you and she have been friends since you were little, she would have contacted you at least.

Soyo

I went to RiNG yesterday, but... I wasn't able to meet up with Taki-chan~

Soyo

I wonder where Saki-chan is now. Do you think she's doing well?

Mutsumi

...

Soyo

Back then... when Saki-chan said she was quitting the band, I should have really... really listened to her properly.

Mutsumi

...

Soyo

Oh... I'm so sorry, Mutsumi-chan!

Soyo

It isn't your fault, Mutsumi-chan. Don't blame yourself too much, okay?

Mutsumi

...

Soyo

I think I might try going over to Saki-chan's place sometime. Mutsumi-chan, you know her address, don't you? I'd be happy if you could tell me.

Mutsumi

I'll try... contacting her again...

Soyo

I see. Thank you.

Mutsumi

...

Soyo

Don't worry. Things will go back to being the way they were. Just leave it to me.

Anon

Morning~

Anon-chan, morning~

Morning!

Tomori

...

Anon

(Uh oh, Tomori-chan's depressed...)

Anon

(Given yesterday's situation, it's no wonder... It seems like Tomori-chan's band has been through a lot.)

Anon

(I still don't really get the "whole lives" thing... But it leaves a bad taste in my mouth... Okay.)

Anon

Morning~ Tomori-chan.

Tomori

...! Anon-chan...

Anon

Oh, you're looking at penguin bandages again, aren't you? What kind of penguin was that again?

Tomori

What...? This is... a bearded penguin...

Anon

Oh right, the bearded penguin! It was also on one of the bandages you gave me in the club room.

Tomori

You remembered...?

Tomori

Um... I'll give this bearded penguin to you, too.

Anon

I'll take it. Thanks~

Oh right. Did you go to RiNG? There were quite a few recruitment posters up.

Anon

Um, not yet~

It's hard to go inside alone, right? It's always nerve-wracking the first time you go somewhere~

We're rehearsing in the studio today! If you'd like, let's all go together!

Anon

(I'm not really that serious though...)

Anon

(But I can't say that... *Sigh*...)

Anon

Thank you, all of you~! It's a good opportunity, so please take me along~

Anon

(RiNG... I thought I've seen it somewhere...)

Anon

(It's the place I got into a fight yesterday.)

Anon

(They've gone to the studio for practice, so I'll just check the bulletin board notices and go home.)

Anon

Um, bulletin board, bulletin board... Hmm... No one's looking for guitarists or vocalists. I'm going home.

Anon

Ah! The person from Tsukinomori yesterday!

Anon

(Speaking of Tsukinomori, it's the most elite of elite girls' schools...)

Anon

(I've heard only children of politicians and celebrities can get in. Maybe it'd be a good idea to become friends with her...!)

Anon

Hey! Thank you for yesterday!

Soyo

...?

Anon

You asked if I was all right at the entrance here!

Soyo

Oh, you're the girl from that time? Don't mind, it's fine.

Anon

That time, some random girl started picking on me. I didn't know what to do after getting yelled at like that by someone I'd just met...

Soyo

I see. I'm sorry my friend caused you trouble. But I don't think she meant to be mean or anything...

Anon

(What? Oh no...! I never imagined that she and the girl from yesterday would know each other...!)

Anon

Ah... I'm sorry for complaining about a friend of yours...

Soyo

Hehe, it's all right. Getting spoken to in that tone of voice with no warning, it's only natural to be surprised.

Soyo

Well, instead of standing around, why don't we have tea together at that Café?

Welcome~ Should I call Taki-chan out here?

Soyo

Thank you. A little later, if you would.

Anon

Is there anything you recommend?

Soyo

Maybe the black tea? It's so delicious. It's one of my favorites.

Soyo

Hehe, you've been speaking so politely this whole time, but we're probably the same age, aren't we?

Anon

What? Are you a first-year in high school? You're so composed, I thought you must be an upperclasswoman~!

Soyo

See? You're still speaking politely!

Anon

Ahaha... Um, may I ask your name? I'm Anon!

Soyo

Anon-chan, is it? I'm Soyo.

Anon

Soyo-san!

??? (Rāna)

...

Rāna-chan. Are you here for the open mic?

Rāna

Yeah.

Just a sec, okay?

Soyo

Have you decided what you want from the menu?

Anon

Hey! Excuse me!

Coming! Taki-chan! Could you cover the floor, please?

Taki

Got it.

Soyo

We'd like to order, please.

Anon

Ah...!

Anon

(It's the person who harassed me yesterday! Ugh... Someone I never wanted to see again has appeared...)

Soyo

I'll have the usual. What about you, Anon-chan?

Anon

What's your usual?

Soyo

Earl Grey, hot.

Anon

Oh, how lovely~ I'll have the same!

Taki

Tch.

Anon

You just clicked your tongue at me!!

Soyo

Taki-chan, that isn't polite.

Taki

Two Earl Grey, hot.

Soyo

So, Anon-chan, are you looking for band members?

Soyo

You were looking at the bulletin board. So I thought you might want to join a band~

Anon

Ah... yeah, that's right, but I didn't see anyone looking for the part I want to do...

Soyo

What about social media then? If you search, there are posts recruiting all sorts of positions.

Anon

Huh, social media... I didn't know that. Soyo-san, you know so much!

Soyo

That's because I was in a band before.

Anon

What? I'm sort of surprised that someone from Tsukinomori would be in a band...

Soyo

Is it really so unusual? Back in middle school, a friend invited me to join~

Anon

You're so lucky~! Everyone at my school is already in a band~ I can't really find any bands looking for my part...

Soyo

Anon-chan, which part do you play?

Anon

I'm vocalist and guitarist!

Anon

!!

Rāna

...

Anon

Wow.

You're already done?

Rāna

I'm satisfied.

Soyo

She was amazing, wasn't she?

Anon

Worst case scenario, I wouldn't mind letting someone else play guitar... But I really want to be on vocals—

Taki

Earl Grey, hot.

Taki

...

Anon

Such a bad attitude...

Soyo

Why are you two fighting?

Anon

No idea. I was talking with my friend and she showed up out of nowhere. She asked me what I wanted, if I was really her friend...

Anon

"If I really asked Tomori to be in a band," and then she suddenly snapped... I really don't get it...

Soyo

...!

Soyo

Tomori...? Do you mean Tomori Takamatsu-chan ?

Anon

What? Um, yes... We're in the same class and... Um, do you know her?

Soyo

She's my friend.

Soyo

I see. So, she's at Haneoka...

Soyo

You said you invited Tomori, right? Are you going to be in a band together?

Anon

Umm... she turned me down...

Anon

Oh, right, Soyo-san. Which part did you play in the band?

Soyo

I played bass. Did Tomori-chan say anything?

Anon

...?

Soyo

I see.

Anon

Uh, umm, how well do you play bass?

Soyo

I'm average. I play it in my after school club~

Anon

Oh, in that case! I have a suggestion for you...!

Anon

(She seems experienced with bands, and knowledgeable and reliable...)

Anon

(Moreover, her musical skill seems to be about the same as mine! And in terms of band roles, mine gets more attention...!)

Anon

Soyo-san... Will you play with me?

Soyo

Of course~

Anon

What? For real!?

Soyo

Oh, but I might like to start as just a support player~

Anon

Oh, that's totally fine! In that case, may I have your contact info?

Soyo

Yeah, of course~

Anon

(Yay~~~~!! I love you, Soyo-san!!)

Soyo

I see. So, Tomori-chan turned it down. Well, she is a sensitive girl~

Anon

...?

Anon

That's a relief... I might be able to build a band.

Anon

I wonder if I'll be able to start over this way.

Anon

...

Soyo

Tomori...? Do you mean Tomori Takamatsu-chan ?

Anon

I wonder where Tomori-chan and Soyo-san became friends...?

Tomori

Thank you for inviting me to join your band... But... I'm sorry.

Anon

She's sensitive, huh...? I might have been a little too pushy about it.

Soyo

...

Soyo

Maybe later.

Soyo

...