At 3:30 PM, the academy's dismissal bell rang on schedule—a bright, electronic chime that sent students flooding into the corridors like water released from a dam.
In the last class, the homeroom teacher had specifically emphasized that in order to promote the comprehensive physical and mental development of students, the academy mandatorily required every student to participate in at least one club.
This was also the reason why the academy's dismissal time in Japan was so early.
To Kazama Haru, organizations like clubs sounded like prime locations to encounter bishoujo.
*beautiful women
So, even though he had already joined Takamatsu Tomori's Astronomy Club, he still wanted to find a few more clubs to join.
However, he didn't excitedly rush to visit various clubs on the first day like other students; instead, he went alone to a musical instrument street.
The school gave a deadline of one week; as long as one joined a club within this period, it wouldn't be a violation of school rules.
Furthermore, he wanted to wait until the key figures had chosen their clubs, and then decide his own destination based on their choices.
Right now, there were still many higher-priority things waiting for him to do.
Since he had already promised Takamatsu Tomori to form a band for life, he had to take action.
Coincidentally, he wasn't scheduled for work at the coffee shop today, so he decided to explore this musical instrument street with its rich musical atmosphere.
Gara—!
Pushing open the heavy wooden door of a musical instrument shop, a dazzling array of instruments greeted Kazama Haru's eyes. The scent of wood polish and new guitar strings filled his nostrils—that distinctive aroma of lacquered maple and rosewood that seemed to promise untold melodies.
"Irasshaimase~!" *Welcome
A sweet-smiling sales assistant came forward, her brown hair pulled back in a neat ponytail, a name tag reading "Suzuki" pinned to her navy apron.
The moment she saw Kazama Haru's face, a spark flashed in her eyes. She took a step closer, shortening the distance between them, and her tone became even more enthusiastic—practically melodic.
What an ikemen...! The thought was practically written across her face.
The current situation perfectly explained what a 10-point charm value meant.
"I'll just look around by myself first." Kazama Haru took a step back, smilingly declined her "personal service," and wandered around the shop alone.
Guitars, basses, drum kits... Although the shop wasn't large, it had all the necessary instruments. Afternoon sunlight slanted through the front windows, catching dust motes that drifted lazily between hanging acoustic guitars and illuminating the chrome hardware of a drum kit in the corner.
Kazama Haru actually had no particular obsession with his position in the band.
Neither in his previous life nor in his eighteen years in this life had he ever touched an instrument, and he was completely clueless about music theory.
But this didn't mean that his statement to Takamatsu Tomori, "I know a little bit of everything," was a lie.
With 3000 wish points in hand, he could achieve LV4 (Master) level in any instrument he desired right now.
However, while the band girls only needed to consider what position they wanted to play, Kazama Haru had many more things to consider.
If I rashly choose one of the instruments, would it, due to changes in the timeline, displace someone else's position?
Therefore, in Kazama Haru's vision, he hoped to join the band as a band manager, or perhaps a rotating substitute player.
This way, he could maximize his opportunities to interact with the band girls, and when cracks appeared in the band, he could also act as a "lubricant," promptly attending to everyone's emotions and maintaining the band's stability.
Today was only the first day of school, and their British exchange student Chihaya Anon had not yet made her appearance.
Given this, perhaps he could first join the band as a guitarist and let the band perform a few shows.
After the pink-haired girl appeared, he would then voluntarily "yield his position" and retreat to behind-the-scenes work.
However, one point must be noted.
If he joined the band with LV4 guitar-playing skills, then when Chihaya Anon returned to Japan, with her half-baked guitar skills, it would probably be difficult for her to be easily accepted by the other band members.
If that happened, Kazama Haru would have to personally step in and guide Chihaya Anon on her playing techniques.
Anon was already an excellent child; with a little guidance, she would likely catch up with her companions quickly.
Yosh. Then I'll choose the guitar first.
Quickly finalizing his thoughts, Kazama Haru walked to the guitar section and browsed with great interest.
Uh... it seemed to involve a knowledge blind spot.
As a complete novice with instruments, Kazama Haru didn't know what kind of guitar was suitable for him.
"Sumimasen, Miss Shop Assistant." He decided to fully utilize the excellent habit of "asking when you don't understand."
*Excuse me
Hearing Kazama Haru's call, the young female shop assistant—whose gaze had been constantly drifting toward him like a compass needle finding north—immediately perked up and quickly moved closer.
He's talking to me again...! Her cheeks dusted pink.
"Is there anything you need help with?"
"Could you recommend a guitar for a beginner? I want to form a band with my friends."
The shop assistant nodded understandingly; with Kazama Haru's ikemen face, he was indeed very suitable for playing such a popular position and acting as the band's frontman.
With the enthusiastic recommendation of the shop assistant, Kazama Haru finally spent nearly 40,000 yen to buy a natural wood-colored YAMAHA FG800. The body gleamed under the shop lights, its spruce top smooth beneath his fingertips.
With the help of the shop assistant, the simple tuning was completed, and Kazama Haru happily left the shop with his new guitar secured in its gig bag on his back.
"Kazama-kun, ganbatte~! I'll definitely go see your live performance when it happens!"
*Work hard
The shop assistant, who had sneakily peeked at the customer registry, waved goodbye enthusiastically from the doorway.
Well, let's go home. Ajisai should be very happy that I'm coming back so early today.
Thinking of his childhood friend's cute face, Kazama Haru's lips curved into a gentle smile.
However, after only a few steps, the scene ahead stole the smile from his face, causing him to frown slightly.
In front of a game shop, Amaori Renako was leaning against the wall by the entrance, looking utterly distraught. Her pupils were unfocused, staring at nothing, her whole posture radiating defeat like a wilted flower.
Could it be that the event triggered early...?
Recalling the speaking speed and style of the gyarus he saw in class today, not to mention Renako, who had only recently emerged from being a hikikomori, even Kazama Haru himself—who was already used to being the center of attention—found it somewhat difficult to handle.
It seemed this was the perfect moment for him to make his appearance.
Watching Amaori Renako's defeated look, Kazama Haru's feet moved on their own...
Such a terrible start. Never before.
This was Amaori Renako's truest feeling right now.
Today was the first day of her new school life.
With the help of her younger sister Haruna, she had finally managed to shed her disgusting otaku aura and put on a proper youkya outfit.
As she wished, she successfully struck up a conversation with several gyarus who seemed to be the future central figures of the class, and even exchanged contact information, spending several hours at school in a very natural and harmonious way.
Not bad, not bad, a good start! Atashi sugoi~! *I'm amazing!
Just as Amaori Renako was feeling smug, the dismissal bell suddenly rang.
From then on, her nightmare began.
"Hey, want to go sing karaoke?" The leading gyaru tapped her phone with her long, lethal fingernails—each one adorned with tiny rhinestones that caught the light—suggesting proactively.
"Un un, let's go, let's go~! Renako?" The adjacent jirai-kei girl nodded cheerfully, her heavy eyeshadow crinkling with her smile, then tossed the "ball" to Amaori Renako.
Amaori Renako's alarm bells immediately went off; the nerves that had briefly relaxed during class tightened into a single line again.
"Um... I'll go." She drew on her experience of being isolated in middle school, realizing that if she refused their invitation now, their relationship would end there.
After a barely perceptible moment of hesitation, she still bit the bullet and agreed.
In truth... I just want to go home, turn on my PS5, and blow up zombie heads with a gun...
Arriving at the KTV, the gyarus skillfully started using the drink machine, pressing buttons with practiced ease, and before Amaori Renako could react, dozens of popular songs were densely packed on the song selection screen—a cascade of J-pop hits and trending TikTok sounds she'd never heard of.
Yabai... Is this the world of the normies? Kowai yo...! "
*Holy cow, so terrifying!!
Amaori Renako suddenly felt immense pressure.
As an otaku who spent her days with games, with outdoor activities limited to going out with her sister to buy desserts, KTV equipment operation was completely outside her skill set.
So, for the rest of the time, she could only act like an observer, forcing a smile and mechanically clapping when the other girls sang—her palms growing sore, her cheeks aching from the sustained fake grin.
However, this wasn't the most suffocating part.
"Hey, Renako~, why don't you sing a song too?"
It was only when the microphone was thrust toward her face—the foam cover still warm from the previous singer—that Amaori Renako understood what true cruelty was.