But today, Mio was late.
"Mio, you idiot Did she go to school early?" Ritsu mumbled, checking her watch. There were still five minutes until the agreed time. The spring breeze blew, dropping a stray sakura petal on her short hair. She brushed it off absentmindedly, eyes scanning the end of the street.
Finally, she saw the familiar figure of Akiyama Mio walking slowly her way. In the morning light, Mio's black hair swayed gently, still glossy. But something was offher head was bowed, her stride heavy, like she was weighed down by something invisible.
"Mio! Over here!"
Ritsu waved energetically, face beaming her usual bright smile.
Mio raised her head. A flicker of emotion passed through her eyes but quickly dulled.
"Oh," she replied softlyso quiet the spring breeze almost blew it away.
"Huh?"
Ritsu's smile froze, her waving hand dropping by her side.
"What's up? Didn't sleep well?"
She stepped closer, searching Mio's face for answers. There were faint dark circles, but more worrying was the cloudiness in her eyes. She'd never seen her friend so distant before.
"Yeah, a bit,"
Mio avoided Ritsu's probing gaze, fingers twisting the hem of her skirt.
Ritsu frowned, worried. Something about her friend's behavior was off, but she didn't press it. Instead, she slung an arm around Mio's shoulders and declared jovially, "Then after school, I'll buy you some strawberry cake for an energy boost! Tsumugi said there's a new sweets shop by the station."
Usually, Mio's eyes would light up at the mention of desserts, but today she only offered a faint nod.
"Thanksbut I'd rather head straight home today."
Ritsu's steps faltered. Her concern deepened. In all the years she'd known Mio, she'd never seen her so listless or aloof. While Mio was shy and introverted, she'd never treated her friends with such distance.
~~~
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Chapter 708: Bond Between K-On! Mio's Supernatural Incident!
On their way to school, Tainaka Ritsu tried everything she could to chat about random stufflast night's comedy show on TV, a morning scene of kittens fighting, even her latest blunder of forgetting to do her math homework.
But no matter what she said, at most she got a perfunctory "Uh-huh" from Akiyama Mio.
Mio's gaze seemed fixed on some distant point in space.
"Mio, look over there!"
Just as Ritsu was fretting about what else to do, they happened to pass a music store. Her eyes lit up; she patted Mio's shoulder and pointed at the store's display window on the sidewalk.
"Mio, it's a brand-new bass! It looks a lot like yours!"
Mio's gaze turned mechanically, glanced at the display, then quickly moved away.
"Yeahit looks similar"
"?????"
Seeing Mio so uninterestedeven in a bassRitsu finally couldn't stand it anymore. She stopped walking and firmly gripped Mio's shoulders.
"Mio, what's wrong with you? You've been acting weird since this morning."
Mio's whole body visibly stiffened. Her eyesonce dark yet gentlenarrowed, her lips trembling as if wanting to say something, but in the end she just shook her head.
"It's nothing really."
"We're going to be late. Let's go."
Without waiting for Ritsu's worried glance, she sped up her pace.
First period class:
Ritsu was barely listening to the teacher, constantly sneaking looks at Akiyama Mio, who sat in front of her. She noticed her friend wasn't taking notes at all but was staring blankly at her desk. Occasionally, she'd lower her head to look at her knees, like there was something there only she could see.
This was a side of Mio Ritsu had never witnessed before.
When the bell rang, Ritsu dashed over to Mio's seat.
"Mio, come to the snack shop with me! I'll buy you some yakisoba pan!"
Mio lifted her head, forcing out a faint smile.
"SorryI'm not really hungry. You go."
"Should I get you something?" Ritsu insisted.
"No need, thanks."
Mio's voice was so soft it was like a feather hitting the floor. Watching Mio slip back into that strange daze, Ritsu's unease grew stronger. This wasn't the Akiyama Mio she knewshy and easily flustered, but never this distant from her friends.
Mid-morning break:
The four members of the Light Music Club gathered in their usual practice room. Sunlight streamed through the windows onto the wooden floor, carrying the pleasant scents of tea and snacks.
"Let's practice the new song today!"
The airheaded-looking but actually sunny Hirasawa Yui announced with vigor, already perched on her usual seat cushion with her guitar. Meanwhile, Tsumugi Kotobukiher elegant, blonde-haired friendwas brewing tea for everyone. Hearing Yui's words, Mugi smiled gently.
"Mio-chan, didn't you say you'd finished writing the bass part yesterday? I've been looking forward to it."
Over by the drum kit, Tainaka Ritsu stared at Mio, who was adjusting her bass. She could see that Mio's fingers hesitated on the stringsutterly unlike her usual flawless bass-playing self. Ritsu was about to speak, but Yui had already started strumming her guitar.
Music filled the air. Yui's guitar, as always, was bright and infectious. Ritsu's drumming joined in strong and confident, Mugi's keyboard fluid as flowing water. Yet only Mio's bass was off, full of mistakes. She was either late on the beat or hitting the wrong notes.
"Mio?"
Yui halted her guitar and tilted her head.
"Uh was that supposed to be a deliberate variation?"
Mio's face flushed.
"S-sorryI'll do it again."
The second try was even worse. Mio actually forgot a passage she'd composed herself. An awkward silence settled over the practice room.
"Mio!"
Ritsu put down her drumsticks, an uncharacteristically serious look on her face.
"You've been out of it since this morning. What's up? Didn't we promise no secrets between us?"
Autumn sunlight glimmered through the windows onto the figure of Akiyama Mio, who lowered her head, hiding her face behind her long hair. Her grip on the bass edges had her knuckles turning white.
Both Yui and Mugi noticed the oddity in Mio's behavior. Mugi gently set down her teacup and moved to sit beside her.
"Mio-chan, we're all worried about you. If there's something wrong, you can tell us."
Yui also laid her guitar aside, for once looking earnest.
"Mm! If you're sad, Mio-Mio, then Yui's sad too!"
Mio's shoulders trembled slightly. A tear dropped onto the polished surface of her bass. She raised her head, her once dark irises now shimmering with conflict and fear.
"I I think I might be haunted by something supernatural"
"S-supernatural?!"
Ritsu nearly jumped out of her chair.
"Is it a ghost? A curse? Should we go get a talisman from the shrine?"
"N-not like that"
Mio bit her lip, as if battling some invisible force.
"I can't say I can't fully explain"
Mugi keenly noticed that Mio said "can't say" instead of "don't know." As a friend, she didn't think Mio was lying or joking, so Mugi simply believed her. She gently took Mio's cold hand, speaking as softly as possible: "Something's stopping you from talking, is that it?"
Mio looked at Mugi in surprise. A hint of hope flashed in her eyes but was quickly overshadowed by gloom.
"Mmsorry"
Just then, her eyes suddenly widened, as if seeing something shocking. She focused on a point in midair, lips trembling like she was silently reading. Ritsu followed her gaze but saw only motes of dust dancing in sunlight.
"Mio? What are you looking at?" Ritsu asked worriedly.
Mio didn't reply. Her expression shifted from shock to confusion, finally settling into a strange calm.
"Theythey say I don't have to be afraid" Mio murmured.
"Who says?"
Ritsu looked around, on edge, while Yui clung to Mugi's arm in case of "ghosts."
Mio finally seemed to resolve something. She took a deep breath:
"I can't give detailsbut someone told me it won't hurt me."
"So please, don't worry about me anymore. I'll be fine."
The three friends exchanged puzzled looks. Her explanation was as confusing as saying nothing at all. But seeing some life return to Mio's gaze, Mugi decided not to pry. She gave Ritsu a subtle headshake.
Ritsu, understanding, just sighed.
"All right then."
She picked her drumsticks back up, showing her usual, dazzling grin.
"If Mio says she's okay, let's keep practicing. But"
Suddenly, Ritsu leaned close enough to see the patterns in Mio's irises.
"If you need help, I'm the first person you tell, got it?!"
Touched, Mio gave a small nod.
"Mmthanks."
"Let's get back to practice."
~~~
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Chapter 709: Flame-Haired Scorching-Eyed Hunter!
After finishing their music practice:
Mio turned down her bandmates' invitation to hit up the sweets shop, going alone down a corridor. Waiting for her friends to leave, she let out a sigh of relief, eyes refocusing on the translucent screen only she could see.
Cautiously, she used her mind to type:
Akiyama Mio: "Are you all actually real people?"
The moment her message went through, the chat group exploded with replies.
Yomogawa Ayame: "Of course."
Miko Yotsuya: "So the second newcomer finally speaks."
Mai Sakurajima: "Most of us are in different worlds. But we chat via this group."
Megumi Kato: "Don't be scared. I was shocked at first too."
Yukinoshita Yukino: "At least know we won't harm you."
Mio's heart hammered. She knew none of those names, yet they all sounded so natural, like ordinary friends chatting.
All of a sudden, a message specifically referencing her popped up:
Rei Ao: "@Akiyama Mio, there's no need to fear. The chat group won't harm you. I know this is confusing, but trust methis will only help you, not hurt you."
Seeing the group owner mention her directly, Mio's heart pounded even faster.
Rei Ao: "Let me introduce myself: I'm Rei Ao, the group owner, and I also know about you."
Rei Ao: "Akiyama Mio, bassist of Sakuragaoka High School Light Music Club. Your best friends are Tainaka Ritsu, Hirasawa Yui, and Kotobuki Tsumugi. Need me to say more to prove it?"
Shana: "You always know about everyone here. So what about me?"
Rei Ao: "You're the Flame-Haired Huntress fighting Tomogara, aided by the Crimson Lord Alastor, correct?"
Shana: "Even Alastor? Fine. I acknowledge you."
(When did this thing pop out?)
"!!!"
Mio gasped. Not only did he know her name, but also her school, her friends!
She looked around anxiously to ensure no one was nearby, then continued typing.
Akiyama Mio: "What is this exactly? Why pick me?"
Rei Ao: "Consider it a platform linking different worlds. There's no special reason for choosing you. It's simply fate. You can use it to talk, learn about other worlds. Many members have benefitted greatly. Most importantly, group members can make trades with me via the chat group, to make certain wishes or goals come true."
Akiyama Mio: "Eh? Likelike a wish-granting grandpa?"
Frieren: "Ehhh, if we consider human lifespans, Rei Ao's nowhere near an old grandpa."
Bibi Dong: "Probably just a figure of speech."
Akiyama Mio: "Ah sorry, I didn't mean it that way!"
Rei Ao: "Haha, I get what you mean. It's close enough."
Shana: "Make wishes? Could I exterminate Tomogara?"
Rei Ao: "Sure. In fact, I could help you wipe out all Tomogara at once."
Shana: "No! They must be destroyed by my own hand. I'm the Flame-Haired Scorching-Eyed Hunter, a mighty Flame Hazethat's my mission!"
She sounded agitated. She had nothing else, no memoriesonly a mission proving her existence.
Shiba Miyuki: "Seems this newcomer has reason to be fixated on her mission."
Rei Ao: "I respect that, Shana. Follow your path."
"Are you quite fond of that girl named Shana?"
A voice askedMikoto, who had barely the energy to speak. Shokuhou and a shy Kanzaki both turned to face her. In the state of the room now, describing it from a human perspective as "total chaos" might be an understatement. Anyone walking in randomly might suffer a mental breakdown. Yet the three of them seemed oddly accustomed.
After all, Rei Ao was filling everything quite thoroughly.
Rei Ao laughed softly, summoning an image of a small red-haired girl who'd often yelled "Urusai! Urusai! Urusai!"
"Yeah, I do admire her."
Mikoto tugged on something belonging to him.
"When you say 'admire,' you'd better not mean that kind of admiration, right?"
""
Rei Ao's brow rose.
"Mikoto, you're able to do things now you'd never have dared beforewithout batting an eye?"
"Hehe, I guess she's always been a closet pervert. All her seriousness was fake," Shokuhou teased.
"I am not!"
Realizing her out-of-line grasping was beyond shameful, Mikoto let go hurriedly. Furious embarrassment flared, so she snapped back at Shokuhou. The two, though exhausted, still had the energy to bicker. Rei Ao could only shake his head.
Then, with a more appreciative look, he focused on Kanzaki.
""
Kanzaki tried pulling the covers up higher.
"P-please, don't look at me like that."
"The Saint's embarrassed? Interesting."
Rei Ao smirked, suddenly saying to her: "Kanzaki, did you feel the joy of being human, of being a woman, today?"
"Wh-why are you asking that?"
Kanzaki stumbled, unsure how to respond.
"No reason. I was just wondering if I've attracted you in every sense. Maybe I'm sounding too full of myself." Rei Ao stroked his chin, suddenly toning down his playful look.
"All right, put simply: I want to claim you. Claim youthis delicious Saint, the person named Kanzaki Kaori."
""
She fell silent. In truth, his words didn't surprise her. From their very first encounter to now, she'd observed his casual approach to emotions and to man-woman relations. He exuded a sense of possession for herher first-time body.
"So, can I even escape your grasp?"
She asked, expressionless.
"Probably not," Rei Ao brazenly chuckled, pulling her into his arms.
"Since you ask, I'll just assume you've surrendered to my mighty force."
Kanzaki's cheeks reddened at his sudden closeness.
"You're not giving me any chance to resist."
"Who says I'm not?" Rei Ao leaned to her ear, whispering.
"Next time I'll let you try being in controlat that time, feel free to resist me."
~~~
(Author's Note at Chapter 711 Forwarded by Bleam)
