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Ms. Kurenai nods.
"It has. I'm surprised. Nobody usually pays much attention, even with Akitsuki's best efforts. She's really put in so much work to keep the club alive."

"Still worth a look at. If he does need our help, we'll have ditched him for Sakurajima."
"Aki-kun's right, we can't ignore a request from someone. We have to have a look, even if it turns out they don't need us, and we have to try to help, even if it's beyond us. We wouldn't be the Helper's Club if we didn't even give it our best shot, right?"
"Kurenai-sensei, what do you think?"

Ms. Kurenai thinks carefully.
"Akitsuki, Kasuga...perhaps the best thing to do here is to split up. One group handles Miyazono's request, the other handles Sakurajima's."

"I'm down for...a-anything that gets me out of this damn rain."
"It might be worth asking if the people in the mansion will have us for a bit! Since they might check the stable, and well...."
"Whatever keeps my men warm. Yukiko? Tanjiro?"

Both of Tomoe's subordinates simply shrug in response.
"Well, I feel Rin's got a point. The stable doesn't look that far away from the mansion. They might check in on us in there, and fighting an angry rich guy's retainers isn't exactly on my bucket list."

"Honestly, that's nobody's business but ours. They can think what they want. In any case, I doubt people would believe you if you said it. Also, we should focus on the clients."
Akihiko thinks again.
"Well, you said you keep an eye on other performing arts students. You know anything about Miyazono and Sakurajima that might help that you're actually willing to spill? Might help us make a decision as to which we go after first."

"I'm not lying just to keep up appearances. Gets in the way of getting to the truth."
Ms. Kurenai just lifts an eyebrow at Mori, before speaking.
"Well, since you're here, Sawatari, do you have any convincing reason we should take Sakurajima's request over Miyazono's request to help Tadano first? They might both be celebrities, but the Helper's Club is supposed to help everybody equally."

Masaru finds a text message, however, on his phone as he works. He finds it to be from Saya.
Two new requests for Helpers' Club. One about Tadano-kun. Do you know anything about it?

---

As Misa pokes her head in, Ms. Kurenai looks towards her.
"Ah. Someone showing up here wanting to join instead of having a request. Finally. Just put your name down on the clipboard by the entrance," she said, pointing to a clipboard on the table with Saya, Akihiko, and Riku's names on it. "And you'll be an official member."
"Hi, Miyashita! It's nice to see you're joining us for real!"
"Yeah. We're always recruiting. Take a seat. There's some tea in the back, if you want."

"You know what, next time we go out to karaoke? You're in. Everyone can come, in fact. Even Akari, although...I don't know if she likes karaoke all that much..."
"Still, it's nice to get to know new friends!"

Free Time draws to a close.

---

Some time later....
[Now Playing: Ambient Theme 1 ~Rain~]

"You need to play with more spirit."
"Huh? What do you mean more spirit?"
"You know, a certain....je ne sais quoi."
"Here you go with the French again. What does that even mean?"
"It means....je ne sais quoi."

Otoya put down his cello, sighing. The moonlight was beginning to stream through the windows, as the evening approached. The two had been given special dispensation to remain at school at night, with Ms. Kurenai staying around to keep an eye on them. It was only for the duration of the tournament preparation for security reasons; a few other students were also being given the same privilege, such as Futaba and Sawatari, in preparation for the school play. A few Amamiya students were being allowed to come over, as well; Mishima among them.
"...you know, I think we've done all we can tonight. I'm pretty beat. Besides, I promised Rise I'd help her and Riku out tonight."
"Are you sure you're not just making an excuse to avoid practicing? You know, we're running out of time."
"Why would I avoid you?"
"D-Don't use flattery to avoid the question!"

Suddenly, a knock on the door interrupts the two. Otoya looks to Kanna.
"...do you know who that is?"
Kanna shakes her head. Otoya turned his back to her to open the door.

As he does so, the young woman felt her legs begin to give out under her, propping herself up with the piano she'd been practicing on. Kanna hissed as she trembled, waiting as she slid onto the chair in front.
"..."
_{"A little longer....please....I can't let go of this dream of mine. Not yet. I can't let go of Otoya...."}

"Is she okay?"

The new voice drew Kanna's attention. She looked over to see a young man in an Amamiya uniform. He had an easy charm about him; he wasn't bad on the eyes, and he had the air of the kind of student anyone could get along with. Kanna was just about able to pull herself together.
"Huh?"
"Sorry. I noticed you were having a bit of trouble."
"I'm sorry, who are you?"
"Suigura Kazuya. I'm a transfer student from Amamiya. I was in the area and thought I'd have a little look around and I couldn't help but notice the beautiful music. My, my, you must be Miyazono and Sakurajima, right?"
"Yeah?"
"Yes?"
"Man! It's an honor to meet such genius musicians. You guys are known all over Japan, you know. The Genius Cellist himself...."
"Please don't call me that."
"Sorry. Not often you see celebrities in person, you know? Unless it's our very own Kanade Mishima, of course."
"Glad someone appreciates our skill. But....is there anything we can help you with?"

Kazuya took a glance over at Kanna, scanning back over towards Otoya.
"...no, I think I have what I need. Sorry to disturb you, by the way. I hope I wasn't interrupting something."
"....Eh?"
Kazuya laughed.
"You two will be pretty interesting to see. Ciao!"
He waved, walking away, as Otoya's eyes followed him. He turned back to Kanna.
"....that was weird. Sakurajima, are you okay? He mentioned you were having trouble."
Mori's words briefly rang in Kanna's head.
No. Not yet. Not until after the recital. I can't let go of that dream. Not yet.
She nodded.
"I'm fine, really. Let's get some moon cake before you see Rise and Riku. My treat!"
Otoya snorted.
"Your treat, huh? He must've had a point."
"Hey!"

However, as Kanna giggled, she could still see, in Otoya's eyes, a hint of concern.

As if he suspected something.

---

"Trust me, it's my treat."
"You know, it's my job to treat you, yes, Ri-kun?"

Riku rubbed the back of his head, grinning cheekily as he sat down in front of a ramen bowl, Rise with her own bowl. The two were eating at a ramen place in the Old Quarter, not far from Rise's home. A pile of Student Council work lay to the side, all cleared up. Touma had already done his part and gone home for the night; tomorrow, they'd need to re-check the numbers with Masaru but the work he'd done was enough.

"You're always having people's backs, you know. I decided to give you a little lift myself!"
"You're quite reliable, Ri-kun. I'm surprised you had the work done so quickly."
"Maybe you've rubbed off on me, Rise."

Rise smiled. Riku really was a cute guy.

"....say, Ri-kun."
"Hm?"
"Is there....someone you like?"

Riku's cheeks turned red.

"So direct! W-what makes you ask?!"
"Well...."

She placed the love letter she'd found earlier. At that, Riku blanched.

"I-I can explain! I'm sorry! I-It wasn't meant to be in there! I-I swear, I didn't mean a-anything about what was in it-!"
"I hadn't read it, Ri-kun."
"...huh?"
Riku sighed, relievedly.
"...you scared me, Rise. I thought you'd read it. I...don't know what I would've done if you did."
"I would never read something so private, Ri-kun. Don't worry. But....well, do you like someone?"

For a moment, Rise swore she saw Riku stare right at her, before his eyes flit away.
"Uh...maybe....I'll tell you some other time. It's kinda difficult to explain."
Rise smiled.
"I trust you, Ri-kun."
"....hehe, yeah...."

Unbeknownst to them, however, another student from their school was keeping a close eye on them.
"...."

---

Saya whistled to herself as she finished cleaning up her room. She was practically dancing around in her own room, a Coral Star Light tune playing in the background as she finished fixing her room.
"Gonna clean the room, doo doo do doo~ Gonna make everything real nice, doo do doo doo~"
Humming to herself to the tune of the music, her gaze fell on a picture of herself and Akihiko, stuck on the mirror. It was the two of them, last year, hanging out at the beach near the coast area downtown. That was a good day; one of a few that year for Akihiko.

"Akkun..."
As Saya stared at the picture, smiling at the memory it brought to her face, something changed, for a few brief seconds.

Something appeared in the mirror.

"...."

Saya jumped, as that....thing appeared in the mirror. Lunarian, whatever it had called itself, was here. But it looked....different?

The music was still playing, and whatever it was, had disappeared from the mirror as quickly as it had appeared. Saya stared, wide-eyed, at the mirror, it now reflecting Saya as it should have been.
"What was that?"

As Setsurou moves, he spots two things.

Firstly, fastly approaching storm clouds. And lightning.

Secondly, not far up the road, what looks to be a mansion within a walled-off compound, with a few carriages parked outside at a nearby stable. No horses, oddly.