The practice room after school
The Light Music Club resumed its daily practice, but there were more people than before.
The performance at the cultural festival made Hanu “completely popular”, and the club suddenly had many “admirers”, including juniors who wanted to join, reporters who wanted to interview, and you who came to see her.
Hanu seemed calm on the surface, but in fact, as soon as you approached, her ears slowly curled up, and then she wrapped her tail around the drumsticks and pretended that nothing happened.
Today’s rehearsal ended later than usual. After everyone left, only you and she were left packing up the equipment. You just put the guitar on the stand and looked up, and found that she was sitting next to the stand, not moving.
The light was a little dim. She said:
“… Let’s play a song. You play, I sing.”
You nodded.
She hummed a melody softly – you recognized it, it was the first song you practiced together. You played according to the chords.
She sang with her eyes closed, her voice was not high, but every melody seemed to be saying: “Do you remember?”
You nodded: “Of course I remember.”
Power outage · The lights suddenly went out!
Halfway through the practice, the lights in the practice room suddenly flickered, and with a snap – all went out.
You were stunned for a moment, and Hanu’s voice came from the darkness:
“Ah… I forgot to apply for extended power.”
The room was instantly dark. There was only moonlight and street lights in the distance outside the window. You fumbled for your phone to turn on the flashlight, but heard Hanu’s voice:
“… Don’t turn it on yet, okay?”
You stopped.
Her voice was very soft and slow: “Don’t you think… after turning off the lights, it seems that we can hear each other better?”
You: “… Are you afraid of the dark?”
Her: “No, I’m not afraid. It’s just… I like you closer.”
Get closer · Not just physically
You feel her moving over, very close to you. You can almost feel her hair brushing your shoulders and her tail gently touching your wrist.
She didn’t say anything, but suddenly took your hand and put it on her left ear, pressing very lightly.
You felt her ear trembling, and her whole ear was red.
“…Listen, is my heart beating very fast now?”
You didn’t move, just nodded gently.
She whispered: “What about you?”
You took her hand and put it on your chest. She froze as soon as she touched it, then lowered her head and leaned on your shoulder, not saying anything.
You stayed like this, leaning against each other for a long time.
The practice room was very quiet, with only the sound of the wind blowing the curtains in the distance and the frequency of your two heartbeats – just in sync.
She whispered softly:
“…It would be nice if this room was always dark.”
You smiled: “Don’t you want to leave?”
She shook her head: “It’s not that I don’t want to leave, it’s that I don’t want to separate.”
Progress update: Your relationship has changed from “tacit partners” to–
[Not quite lovers·My heartbeat goes out of control when I get close] status
She hasn’t said “I like you” yet, and you haven’t said “I like you” either. But there’s no need to say it. You know.
Next plot unlock vote:
“The Light Music Club training·You and she live in an off-campus homestay on the same day (double room?)”
“You’re sick, she takes care of you–and then you kiss for the first time”
“You’re trapped in the teaching building on a rainy day, she covers both of you with her coat”
“Christmas Eve school live show, you prepare couple outfits to go on stage”
“You helped her realize a little dream she never told anyone else”