"Sakiko, from today on, I'm yours."
Setting down his pen, Kazami Haru slowly narrowed his pitch-black eyes, a teasing smile tugging at his already handsome face.
He took his time appreciating the girl across from him, the blue-haired one who moments ago had been radiating pride. Now, her flawless face was flushed as if dipped in molten fire.
"Geez… don't joke about things like that."
Togawa Sakiko tried her best to stay composed under his teasing words. But the moment Haru signed that contract, it was no exaggeration to say he had entrusted a piece of himself to her.
So technically, saying he "belonged to her" wasn't completely wrong...
But still, that wording could be seriously misunderstood!
Thank goodness she hadn't gone and said, "Give me the rest of your life", the atmosphere would've gone from weird to absolutely insane!
"Phew…"
Still flustered, Sakiko glanced down at the contract in her hands. After double-checking that everything was correct, she finally let out a breath, as if the small stack of A4 paper had weighed a ton.
He really agreed.
Joy wrapped around her heart like invisible silk threads. The amber in her eyes shimmered faintly with a sense of delight, her lips curving up slightly despite herself. Combined with the soft blush on her cheeks...
It was enough to smack Haru right in the soul like a sledgehammer.
No wonder she'd once captivated all of CRYCHIC single-handedly, this Sakiko, even with only a glimmer of her old "white moonlight" days, still had an unmatched allure.
At least in Haru's eyes, her charm hit like a Rasengan straight to the brain.
He could only hope she didn't go full berserker and spiral that Rasengan through what was left of his logic.
"…"
Mutsumi, who was like a sister to Sakiko, quietly sat beside them.
Her pale gold eyes drifted to Haru's profile. Seeing how all his attention was focused on Sakiko, a faint trace of disappointment crossed her doll-like face.
She inched closer to him, a subtle sign that she didn't want to be ignored.
Buzz…
Just as Sakiko was still staring down at the contract, her phone suddenly began to vibrate. She glanced at the screen, a flicker of surprise lighting up her face. After a moment of hesitation, she looked up at Haru.
Please, no. Don't tell me Sakiko's seen something again...
Don't show up drenched in rain three days later and coldly declare, "I'm disbanding Ave Mujica."
Haru began grumbling in his head as he took a sip of cappuccino.
He used to prefer piping hot coffee to wake himself up. But over time, he'd grown to enjoy the mellow flavor of a cooled-down brew.
"The final band member just got back to me. I'm heading out now to meet her at the agreed place."
Noticing the look in Haru's eyes, Sakiko explained softly as she put her phone away, though her gaze lingered on him longer than necessary.
Probably going to scout "Nyamuchi," that powerful drummer capable of handling Mujica-level scores.
With someone like Sakiko at the helm, this kind of recruitment was almost effortless. Haru sipped his coffee lazily, enjoying the luxury of having a boss who could do all the heavy lifting.
At this point, the only thing he really had to think about was how he'd spend his paycheck this month.
But just then, Sakiko's brows furrowed slightly. She looked hesitant as she spoke up.
"Haru, would you… come with me?"
Haru: …?
…
Cut to moments later, Haru found himself walking into a much more upscale café right after they'd left the last one.
This place screamed class: ornate European design, sunlight streaming in through giant floor-to-ceiling windows, and white roses arranged in elegant bouquets throughout. Even the tables and chairs had that pure-white, round-edged aesthetic.
Soyo-san would've loved a place like this. Haru, on the other hand, nearly fainted just looking at the prices on the menu.
"Sorry to drag you along."
Sakiko's voice carried a hint of guilt, her beautiful face tinged with uncertainty.
Originally, she'd planned to handle all the member scouting herself. But now that Haru had agreed to join Ave Mujica, she couldn't help but rely on him a little more.
Before she even realized it, she'd asked him to come.
"It's fine. I'll have to meet the other members sooner or later."
Haru didn't mind at all. He didn't have anything pressing to do today anyway.
Even if he was only the composer, he was a part of Ave Mujica now.
Given the delicate optics of being the only guy in a pro-level rock girl band, it was better to show up in person, especially if they were meeting "Nyamuchi." Best to make sure she didn't laugh him off the second she heard "there's a guy in the group."
"Sakiko, who's the last member?"
"She goes by 'Nyamu.' She's a popular beauty and makeup influencer online, great at interviewing celebrities to drive traffic… Lately, she's been posting drum practice videos. But honestly, her skills don't look like a beginner's."
Walking beside Haru with her shoulder bag slung casually, Sakiko explained in her usual calm tone. Just a few words, and she'd already nailed down Nyamu 's background and strategy with uncanny precision.
At this hour, the café was mostly empty. As soon as Haru stepped inside, he spotted a refined figure seated by the window.
Short, lavender-tinted hair reminiscent of blooming lavender, and a pair of sunglasses paired with a sunhat, she stood out like a rare gem.
Even in a classy crowd, she was unmistakably unique.
"I'm terribly sorry to have kept you waiting. I'm Togawa Sakiko, the one who contacted you earlier."
Sakiko immediately shifted into professional mode, approaching the table calmly and greeting the person seated there.
Nyamu-san, who had been focused on her phone, looked up in surprise. She lowered her sunglasses slightly, revealing a pair of sparkling pink-diamond eyes.
"Oh my, I didn't hear anything about there being a boy."
Yuutenji Nyamu stared at Kazami Haru with a glimmer of curiosity. It was their first meeting, but she was already stunned by his looks. This black-haired, black-eyed boy was more striking than many idols or models she had met.
And... there was something familiar about him...
"He's Kazami Haru, the band's composer. He's just accompanying me today."
"Composer, huh?"
Nyamu's gaze on Haru shifted slightly. She looked him over again.
At first, she had only thought he looked familiar. But upon hearing his name, it clicked—she'd seen him in an MV online once. One of the band photos had shown this very boy.
That unique combination of black hair and black eyes, with such a handsome face—it was hard to forget after a single glance.
"Why a composer, though? I feel like you're more suited to being an idol or something."
Just that face alone would blow most influencers out of the water.
"Because it's a pain."
Haru replied offhandedly while scanning the menu.
As expected, the prices in this place were criminally high. Sakiko had already ordered an 850-yen Earl Grey without hesitation. That kind of money could feed someone with supermarket bento for two days!
"So cold—!"
Nyamu pouted, feigning dissatisfaction. But her eyes lingered on Haru with a deeper, knowing look.
It was her first time encountering a guy like him. She was a top-tier influencer, and yet—
Why the hell was he so into that dumb menu?
Haru, of course, didn't care what she was thinking. He just kept quietly weighing his drink options.
Just as Nyamu was about to speak again, Sakiko cut in, her tone calm but firm.
"Nyamu-san , I've watched many of your videos."
"As a creator, you're not only beautiful but also have incredible influence. But as a dual-dominant in both social media and drums, you shouldn't let your drumming skills go to waste. Please, join my band and make full use of your talent."
"This way, you won't have to rely solely on your online content for exposure."
The sudden turn caught Nyamu off guard.
From the start, she had noticed Sakiko seemed to subtly divert her attention away from Haru. Realizing this, Nyamu began to suspect something.
Her glossed lips curled into a sly grin as she narrowed her eyes.
"My name is Yuutenji Nyamu."
"So, what's in it for me if I join your band?"
Clearly expecting this kind of question from a girl so obsessed with metrics, Sakiko responded with a slight smile and pulled out her phone. She displayed the full Ave Mujica lineup.
Within seconds, Haru could sense Nyamu 's breathing pick up.
Honestly, anyone who saw this lineup would be stunned. It was like Goku driving a jet into Vegeta.
Yuutenji Nyamu herself had considerable musical talent. And in less than ten seconds, she realized the sheer potential buried in this group.
Bringing this crew together? Sakiko had essentially stacked data monsters on top of each other. It didn't take a genius to predict the success of this band.
Though Sakiko's proud little smirk annoyed her a bit…
Only a fool would pass on this opportunity.
"I'm in."
The moment Nyamu recognized the opportunity, she accepted without hesitation.
She took off her sunglasses and smiled at the two sitting across from her. Sakiko remained elegant and composed, her posture saying this was all just part of the plan.
Another influencer scouted with ease, because she's Tokyo's customer service queen.
"Then, welcome to the—"
"Hey hey~ Haru-kun, are you gonna perform on stage with us too?"
Before Sakiko could finish, Nyamu interrupted, grinning with those bright pink eyes.
Crack.
It was like a porcelain cup shattered somewhere in the distance.
Sakiko's hand holding the white teacup turned stiff, her fingers whitening from the pressure. Her amber eyes, usually calm and graceful, instantly turned sharp.
Nyamu noticed the shift with laser accuracy, and her teasing smile deepened.
That earlier annoyance at being 'handled' melted away a little, replaced with a curious sense of satisfaction.
Heh~ She was right, wasn't she?
Sakiko Togawa… is way too easy to read.
"Ave Mujica is a girl band. Haru is just handling our compositions."
Before Haru could speak, Sakiko cut in coldly.
"Eh! What a waste!"
Nyamu covered her mouth, faking shock.
"Aw~ In that case, Haru-kun, why don't we add each other on Line? I'm really curious about your composing. Maybe we can hang out again sometime, just the two of us over some tea? I mean, we're 'bandmates' now, after all."
Curious my ass.
Haru rolled his eyes so hard they almost flipped inside out.
He knew he was attractive, but no way someone like Nyamu would act this forward on a first meeting, unless it was to get under Sakiko's skin.
Which, judging by everything, was exactly what she was doing.
What a pain of a woman.
He had a feeling he already knew how this would end...
Nyamu gets kicked out of Ave Mujica for stepping into the practice room with her left foot first.
"Let's call it a day—"
"We've got other work to handle now. I'll follow up with the rest of the band info on Line."
Sakiko stood with a cold tone and gave Haru's sleeve a gentle tug, signaling it was time to go. Her expression, brows furrowed into an angry 八, was enough to clue him in to just how irritated she was.
Haru slowly lifted his dark eyes and met Nyamu's gaze with a complicated expression.
Yeah… he was going to be rewriting a lot of sheet music soon.
"Yuutenji-san, we'll be taking our leave."
"Byebye~ Let's do tea again sometime, yeah?"
Yeah no, that sounds like a health hazard.
Too bad Nyamu didn't notice Haru's deadpan stare. She was too busy humming to herself, opening Twitter, and saving a photo of the black-haired boy from the official Kessoku Band account.
Didn't expect Sakiko to have such a weak defense. This might be fun to push next time~
…
It wasn't until they'd completely left the high-end café that Sakiko's frustration began to ease.
Sure, Yuutenji Nyamu was the best drummer option right now but at this moment, Sakiko couldn't help but regret inviting her.
She'd have to keep a close eye on that fame-chasing mess of a girl.
"Sakiko, are you alright?"
A familiar voice reached her ears. The moment she turned, the cold look on her face softened noticeably.
Seriously, what was she getting so childish about?
"I'm fine."
"Haru, thanks for coming with me today."
She fluttered her lashes gently, offering him a serene, springlike smile. Her pale blue ponytail danced in the breeze.
As she fussed with her bangs, trying to tame them, she murmured:
"Speaking of which… I still owe you a meal, don't I?"
"But after that chaos at the ramen shop last time, I'm kinda embarrassed to go back."
True. Haru always felt the staff staring daggers at him when they went there.
Bringing Sakiko back to usual ramen spot might be a bit much. Especially if she figured out he secretly paid that time. But finding an affordable spot for the budget-conscious Sakiko was tricky.
If it came down to it—
"How about just coming to my place instead?"
"Eh?"
Sakiko's whole body jolted, she clearly hadn't expected that.
"My cooking's better than any restaurant. But since you're the guest, you'll be buying the ingredients."
He had just gotten a batch of premium cucumbers from Mutsumi and planned to invite her over. If he brought Sakiko too, Mutsumi wouldn't mind, and Sakiko wouldn't feel awkward around her.
Sakiko took a deep breath.
Her flawless face turned a soft shade of peach. Her heartbeat picked up slightly, a giddy warmth flooding her chest. With her brain struggling to keep up, she gave a small, shy nod.
No matter what, Haru was now officially part of her band.
Even if she was way behind Takamatsu Tomori...
So what?
Togawa Sakiko would never give up.
She would take back her victory, step by step.
- - -
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