"Since Mio just called you Azusa, would it be okay if I called you that too?"
"Yes, that's fine, Senpai."
"Great."
Sato smiled and nodded.
"Then, on behalf of the Light Music Club, I'd like to officially welcome you, Azusa."
"Welcome!"
Mio added with a smile.
"Th... thank you!"
Nakano Azusa nodded and replied in a quiet voice.
To be honest, she was still a little dazed. She had only planned to come and take a look, yet somehow she had ended up joining the Light Music Club. Even she found it a little bewildering.
"Now that we've finally got some fresh blood in the club, I hope a few more cute juniors join tomorrow."
Sato said with a sigh.
Ritsu immediately protested,
"Huh? Why can't they be handsome juniors instead?"
"Suit yourself."
"Anyway, everyone get ready when you go home today. After tomorrow's welcome performance, we'll be heading to the recording studio."
"Especially you, Mio."
Sato suddenly turned to Mio and reminded her seriously,
"You still have to record your vocals, so make sure to practice when you get home."
"Okay!"
Mio nodded nervously.
Seeing that, Sato smiled reassuringly.
"You don't have to be so nervous. It'll just be us and the recording engineer. As far as pressure goes, it won't even compare to tomorrow's welcome performance."
"But... what if I make mistakes?"
Mio looked up at him, her dark eyes filled with anxiety and worry. She looked at him as though she were a drowning person clinging to a lifeline.
So that's what she's worried about.
Seeing how tense she was, Sato couldn't help smiling.
"Mistakes are inevitable. Even top singers, or award-winning vocalists, rarely finish recording a song in a single take. Just treat it normally."
"Okay."
Mio let out a small sigh of relief.
Blinking her bright eyes, Nakano Azusa waited until they had finished talking before carefully asking,
"Senpai, what are you talking about?"
"Hehe!"
Yui suddenly hugged Azusa from behind, startling her with the unexpected attack.
When she realized it was Yui, she relaxed, though she still complained,
"Senpai!"
Could you not scare people like that?
"It's a secret! But if Azu-nyan wants to know, come with us this weekend. We can count it as a club activity too!"
Hearing Yui's suggestion, Sato's eyes lit up.
"Yui's right. If you're free this weekend, come with us, Azusa."
Azusa hesitated for a moment before nodding.
Then she turned back to Yui and complained,
"Please don't scare me like that, Senpai."
"Huh? Did I really scare you just now, Azu-nyan?"
Yui scratched her head sheepishly.
"Anyone would be startled if someone suddenly hugged them from behind like that. And... why are you calling me that?"
"Well... when you were peeking around just now, you looked just like a little kitten. Besides, you're already as cute as a kitten, and you're so soft to hug!"
"E... even if you say that, I'm not a kitten!"
"But you look pretty happy about it."
"Huh...? D... do I?!"
...
The weekend arrived.
Standing outside Hanamachi Station, Sato took out his phone to check the time. Soon, his eyes lit up, and he waved toward the station exit.
The girls who had come out together immediately walked over.
Ritsu looked around with her hands on her hips.
"Azu-nyan isn't here yet?"
"She said she's already nearby. But when did you start calling her that too?"
Sato asked curiously.
Ritsu looked at him, hands still on her hips.
"What? Don't you think it's a cute nickname?"
"Exactly!"
Yui nodded enthusiastically beside her.
"I think it suits Azu-nyan perfectly!"
Sato sighed.
"But shouldn't you at least consider whether the person herself likes it?"
"Well... yesterday she actually seemed pretty happy about it."
Ritsu gave him a strange look.
Hearing that, Sato's expression became equally subtle.
Come to think of it, Nakano Azusa really was a bit of a tsundere.
Just then, Mio looked in a certain direction.
"There she is."
Everyone turned and soon spotted a petite figure running toward them.
"S... sorry! I'm late!"
After reaching them, Azusa panted as she apologized to everyone, looking flustered.
"It's okay. It's not time yet. We just arrived a little early."
Mio comforted her.
Yui circled around Azusa, looking her up and down before exclaiming,
"Azu-nyan looks so cute today!"
"Really?"
Azusa blushed, feeling a little embarrassed.
Sato took a look at what she was wearing.
She had on a white sleeveless hoodie, a black baseball cap, a red skirt, and white thigh-high socks covering her slender, fair legs.
She really does look adorable today.
He thought to himself.
Then he suddenly sensed something off about the atmosphere. Looking up, he found everyone staring at him.
"What?"
He asked calmly.
Ritsu said with complete seriousness,
"I mean, going after a junior isn't necessarily wrong, but isn't the second day a little too soon?"
"What exactly did I do?"
"The way you were looking at her just now was totally pervy!"
"That was a look of appreciation!"
"I don't believe you!"
"Believe it or not."
After finishing his verbal sparring with Ritsu, Sato turned to the blushing Azusa and said,
"Ignore her. She's got a screw loose."
"Uh?"
Azusa looked at him, completely at a loss.
How was she supposed to respond to that? If she agreed, wouldn't that mean she was saying Ritsu had a screw loose too?
"Alright, let's get going."
Mio rubbed her forehead and said wearily.
"We're already short on time today. Why is everyone acting so relaxed?"
I'm under a lot of pressure here, okay?
She complained silently to herself.