With Katou Megumi's help, Yuuki Asuna also removed her kendo armor and walked out of the classroom.
After taking off the armor, the girl appeared graceful and poised, completely lacking the sharpness she had while holding a sword earlier. Instead, she now carried more of the soft beauty unique to girls.
Sato and Yuuki Asuna exchanged a glance, tacitly choosing not to discuss the topic from before.
Afterward, Sato took out his phone and checked the time.
"It's getting late. Let me treat you all to something to eat."
The group nodded in agreement.
After bringing Yuuki Asuna, Isshiki Iroha, and the others around the various food stalls around the school, Sato said goodbye to them and headed toward the clubroom.
The Light Music Club's performance was in the afternoon, so he needed to make some preparations too.
...
Slide!
Sato opened the door and entered the clubroom. Before he could even take in the situation inside, he saw several girls making shushing gestures at him.
Subconsciously, he lightened his movements, carefully closed the door, and walked over to them.
Only then did he realize they were all gathered around Yukinoshita Yukino.
At this moment, the girl named Yukinoshita Yukino was sound asleep with her head resting on the desk. Her fair and beautiful face lay against her folded arms. The cold feeling she usually gave off was gone, and several strands of black hair draped softly along the side of her face, making the scene feel so peaceful that one couldn't help but sigh at how tranquil it looked.
Faintly, he could even hear the girl's soft breathing.
Clearly, she was sleeping much more deeply than expected.
"She actually fell asleep here?"
Sato looked at Yukinoshita Yukino with some surprise.
"She's been working really hard these past two days, right?"
Mio quietly asked Sato.
None of them were part of the executive committee, so they didn't know exactly what had happened, though they had heard bits and pieces.
Sato thought for a moment, then nodded.
"She really has."
After all, on the first day she had to deal with the burden called Sagami Minami, and on the second day she had come down with a slight cold.
"Mmm! Yukinoshita-san looks so cute when she's sleeping!"
Yui held her face excitedly while looking at Yukinoshita Yukino sleeping, revealing a deeply satisfied smile.
The sleeping girl's brows and eyes looked as beautiful as a painting. For some reason, she suddenly frowned slightly in her sleep before gradually relaxing again, a faint smile appearing on her face.
"Kawaii!!"
Seeing this, the girls couldn't help letting out soft cries of excitement.
The way they looked at Yukinoshita Yukino unconsciously became filled with affection.
Sato himself couldn't help taking a few extra glances too. After all, although the two had only known each other for a short time, this was the first time he had ever seen the girl like this.
Still, compared to the others, his self-control was obviously much better.
"By the way, have you all eaten yet?"
"Yeah!"
The girls snapped back to their senses and nodded one after another.
"Then let's head to the auditorium and rehearse a bit first. That way we won't be too nervous when we go on stage this afternoon."
"Okay!"
The group picked up their guitars, while also helping Ritsu carry some parts of the drum set.
From this alone, one could see just how inconvenient drums were to transport.
After arriving at the auditorium, Sato realized he had overthought things.
Not only had he had this idea, but everyone performing in the afternoon had clearly thought the same thing and seized the opportunity.
A stage play was currently being performed on the main stage, while a huge line of people waiting to rehearse stretched below.
"Oh boy! Our plan's ruined!"
Ritsu sighed while looking at the performance on stage.
"At least bringing the equipment over early is still good. We won't have to rush so much this afternoon."
Mio comforted her.
Sato swept his gaze across the audience seats, then suddenly stopped on a certain figure.
That figure also smiled and waved at him.
After saying something to the members of the Light Music Club, he slowly walked over under their curious gazes.
"What brings you here today, Senpai?"
Sato sat down beside Yukinoshita Haruno and looked at the outstanding heir of the Yukinoshita family with some surprise.
"I heard you had a performance today, so I came over. Well? Aren't you touched, little underclassman?"
Yukinoshita Haruno wore a teasing smile on her face.
"To have the young lady of the Yukinoshita family personally come here, I'm naturally deeply honored."
Sato shrugged.
As the saying goes, everyone likes polite flattery. It wasn't like he didn't know how to say nice-sounding things.
"You don't sound very convinced~"
"As if I'd believe that. You probably came to see Yukinoshita instead."
"Huh? That's not true at all!"
"Yeah right."
Sato rolled his eyes, then calmly looked at Yukinoshita Haruno.
"You went to the clubroom earlier, didn't you?"
"How did you know?"
Yukinoshita Haruno narrowed her eyes slightly. When she had gone to the clubroom, the only person there had been her adorable little imouto sleeping soundly.
Mm, speaking of which, sleeping imouto was unexpectedly adorable!
"Perfume."
"I smelled it in the clubroom. It's exactly the same as the scent on you."
"Nohara-kun, are you a pervert?"
Yukinoshita Haruno suddenly leaned back slightly and hugged her chest protectively while looking at him warily.
Sato couldn't even be bothered responding. He lazily glanced at her.
She seriously felt like an upgraded version of Isshiki Iroha.
"Sato?"
At that moment, a somewhat uncertain voice suddenly came from behind them.
Turning around, Kasumigaoka Utaha's figure entered their sight.
"Yo!"
Sato raised a hand in greeting, then asked curiously:
"What are you doing here?"
Given Kasumigaoka Utaha's personality, she definitely wasn't the type to come here just to watch performances, much less appear at this time of day.
Kasumigaoka Utaha calmly replied:
"I wrote the script for the drama club, so naturally I came to take a look. The important thing is you..."
She paused, glancing at the curiously observing Yukinoshita Haruno beside him before asking in a strange tone:
"What are you doing here? Is this your girlfriend?"
"My My~ this classmate really guessed correctly!"
Yukinoshita Haruno suddenly hugged Sato's arm and looked up at Kasumigaoka Utaha with a smile, blinking as she said:
"I'm Sato's fifth girlfriend. Please take care of me!"
Sato was completely stunned.
He stared dumbfounded at the female college student beside him.
Are you poisonous or something?!