Natsume

...

Natsume

"Most students go to a Café after school. Me? I'm swamped with composing and band practice. Same as always."

Natsume

"No carefree after-school days for me. But that's okay. I knew the sacrifices this path would demand when I chose it."

Natsume

(Good... That came off cool.)

Natsume

(Self-branding matters these days. By letting people see my life and what I stand for, I can...)

Oh, you have practice today? Good luck!

Are you free tomorrow? Maybe we could go to a Café together~?

Nagi

Ah... Sorry. I've got to go.

Natsume

...

By the way, when's your next live? I'm definitely coming!

Oh, me too~! I'll bring you some snacks!

Nagi

Thanks... But... I need to get through here now... Ah—

Natsume

Ugh.

Nagi

Hey, Natsume-senpai. Good work todayyy.

Natsume

...

Nagi

Wait, seriously? Natsume-senpai, don't ignore me.

Natsume

Ah... I thought I heard an annoying little gnat buzzing.

Nagi

Ahaha. Someone's grumpy.

Wait, was that about us? That's so mean!

Right~? Isn't she that weird girl from the roof? Poor Kotohira-senpai, getting stuck in a band with someone like her.

Natsume

Will you two just give it a rest already...?

Nagi

Uh-oh.

Natsume

Twenty seconds.

...?

Natsume

That's how long you two just wasted. I could've done one set of finger exercises in that time.

Natsume

Maybe ordinary people like you wouldn't understand, but time is limited. And it's precious.

Natsume

Don't make me waste it on something so pointless.

Excuse me!?

Natsume

Come on, Nagi. We're losing practice time.

W-Wait, Kotohira-senpai—

Nagi

Sorry. See you around.

Nagi

Natsume-senpai... wait up. You didn't have to go that far.

Natsume

If you've got a problem with it, I'll ignore you next time.

Natsume

And you're no better. Don't let a bunch of girls fawning over you go to your head.

Nagi

I wasn't letting it go to my head... Besides, you're just giving people more to gossip about, Natsume-senpai.

Natsume

Hmph. Let them say whatever they want.

Natsume

It's not like I care whether that lot likes me. All I need is the approval of people who know what they're looking at.

Nagi

Is that how it works?

Natsume

That's how it works. Someone who knows what they're looking at won't suck up or make themselves small. They've got to have a bit of nerve.

Nagi

Ahaha. You're making me blush.

Natsume

What...?! Don't get ahead of yourself. You're just cheeky, that's all.

Nagi

Am I, though? I do respect you, you know.

Natsume

That's exactly what I'm talking about! You don't take me seriously at all, do you?!

Nagi

Ahaha. As if.

Natsume

That's what I'm sayinggg!