Walk-ON! All Over Again

Chapter 21:

Gone Shootin'

Well! That was all a blur. And after the School Festival concluded, there was nothing but endless talk about the Hokago Tea Time concert, the songs, the energy shared all over the campus, and even the little power nap coming on the heels of bittersweet tears mixed with laughter and relief.

The place known to the locals as Sakuragaoka High School Girls Campus was buzzing with talk about the light music club. They were famous. Even the most tenured of instructors wanted their autographs as news spread of their television appearance at the school festival.

However, the members were, first and foremost, students just like the rest of the body. And the importance of acing those end-of-year examinations could not be any more stressed. Most of all, autumn was beginning to wind down, making way for the bitter cold of winter.

Ui Hirasawa, back in her iconic uniform was busy on her laptop, writing on her personal blog about some recent news going on about town, as well as on her final thoughts on the school festival. Her body was still sore from all the playing and autograph-signing she did, but it wasn't as bad as before.

"And if you were to ask me that question," said Ui, talking as she typed, "I would say to you, 'yeah, we do have a future playing power pop as a band. We're confident we can improve on what we do. But we are students first, and we have a hectic load on our way. All we need is some divine intervention, and a load full of elbow grease. Something." She thought for a little bit before closing out the entry in typical fashion. "Fashionistas send help. Yours, Ui Hirasawa."

Closing down her laptop and placing it in her bag, Ui took out a magazine that talked about the new hairstyles that were all the rage, as well as some wigs that were en vogue. After glancing at it for about a few minutes, she put it away and decided to prim her long locks a little, creating different looks and expressions by the minute. The serious lolita. The sporty confidante. And the classic. She even donned her yellow ribbon for a bit, just for the heck of it.

Here, Ui did a little monologue with herself. "So what I am hearing, dear conscience of mine, is that to customize your hair with these things people call alternative hairstyle, is to have a deeper appreciation of this thing society calls individuality. Look, I bring you the natural look as my first example of the many possibilities before you. Splendid, you say? Very well, moving right along to the next style: bangs parted aside, save for one, thus allowing you to look like either John Lennon or your esteemed instructor. Content with that? On to the next style I will provide you on your road to self-actualization: bangs slicked back to the right, giving a more adult look to your approach of the ways of the world. With your low eyes and indifferent frown, you could pass for one of the affluent of France and people will not notice. It's beauty at a low profile. One of my favorite hairdos. You like it? I can see it in that smile of yours. You know, Ui Hirasawa, you are coming of age, and don't you know it! Somewhere in Germany, a certain pair of parents are satisfied with the progress of their eldest daughter's...academic pursuits. So I've heard. Here is another style: your locks in curls, making you look like Scarlett O'Hara, one of my favorite movie heroines. Content? I knew you were, sunshine. Ah, the sun is coming out over the Tokyo skies; a bit cold, but typical of the morning dew. Oh don't wink at me just yet, sugar bunny, you've got a whole lot to forward to! Here's another style: the hippie, with a peace symbol. To make love and not war is a pitch and precept you prioritize. Yes, yes I know it seems cliché what I am saying...but it's true. We must give peace a chance. Hahah! It's a bit too much for you! C'est trop, c'est trop! Have you ever been to the ocean! You have? Many times, I see. I know this one person from the beach they call the Squid Girl. She is known for her catch phrase Degeso. Is that the new 'Desu'? Or is it a flash in the pan. Ah, you take no preferences, it's cute either way. Yes, yes, I know; you are nodding your head as I say this to you. "

"They're getting longer," she thought after finishing her soliloquy to her own self-conscience. "My bangs. I think I'm getting a bit hotter by the minute. Can't let this get to my head, though." Satisfied with her look, Ui finally donned the clips, positioning them two centimeters apart on the right side of her bangs.

Yui walked in. "Hey onee-chan! What is my superstar sister doing?"

"Oh, what's up Yui. I'm just fixing my hair a bit before we take off for the campus."

"Oooh. Is that so? You know onee-chan, we seem to look like twins, even though you're older than me."

"I know, right?" They got a laugh out of it. "It must be a sister thing."

"That's because you're stealing my hairdo, onee-chan!"

"Oh, but it's because I like it."

"Well, I guess it can't be helped. Do you think I should change my hairdo and tie my hair back?"

"No, no, no, you're fine, you're fine."

"Ehhhhh? You think so? All right, then. Because, you know, I wasn't so sure if I should go ahead and do a ponytail. I like going with what I like best."

"Me too. Shall we go off then, Yui?"

"Yes, let's, onee-chan! By the way, who were you talking to?"

"My own self-conscience. No, actually, it was talking to me."

"An out-of-body experience?"

"Oh shush! Far from it."

As Ui left the house with her sister, she played the seventh track from AC/DC's fifth album.

"Feel the pressure rise

Hear the whistle blow

Found a ticket of her own accord

Yeah to I don't know

Packed her heart in her travelling bag

And never said bye bye

Something missing in the neighborhood

All the cryin' eyes

I stirred my coffee with the same spoon

To her favorite tune

Gone shootin'

My baby's gone shootin'

Wrap herself around

Like a second skin

Backed her favorite nag

But she could never win

I took her number in another town

She took another pill

She was 'runnin' in' on overdrive

A victim of overkill

She never made it past the bedroom door

What was she aiming for?

Gone shootin'

She's gone, gone gone gone

(solo)

Gone shootin'

My baby's gone shootin'

Ow ! Lookout !

(Gone Shootin')

Aaah! my baby's gotta gun

(Gone Shootin)

hey look out, look out, look out, look out!

(Gone shootin)

Ahh She's shootin everyone!

(Gone shootin)

Ah She's sure is loaded

She's gone, she's gone, she's gone, she's gone

Gone shootin

I used to love her so."

The autumn leaves were coming down the hallowed grounds of Sakuragaoka High School Girls' Campus. Another flock of bluebirds soared in a V formation as part of their morning flight to the countryside. It was November, and the push for fame and glory came down to the closing months of the year. At the Boys Campus, the football and boys soccer teams were roughhousing opponents left and right. They would go on to win the prefectural crowns, with the football team going on to win the Christmas Bowl.

As for the students of the Girls Campus, the attention turned to more pressing issues, some that would test the mettle of its student body. Ui, Mio Akiyama, Ritsu Tainaka, Tsumugi Kotobuki and Azusa Nakano can't say they didn't see this one coming, because they did.

"Yui, morning," Azusa Nakano said to her as they both changed into their school shoes.

"Oh, morning, Azunyan. How are you?"

"Fine as always. You know, I had this one weird dream."

"Oh? What was it?"

"Japan won the Asian Cup. For a fourth time."

"Ehhhhh? Whoa, that's amazing!"

"Yeah. I'm not kidding. And the weirdest thing was that the game winning goal was scored by an ethnic Korean in extra time, and the opponent was Australia."

"You've got some of the craziest dreams, Azunyan."

"I can't help it, you know. Remember when I had my episode of dreams in the summer, when I had my tan and all? It's happening again."

"Ahhh. By the way, what happened to your hair, Azunyan? It looks...better."

"I decided to do something different."

Yui's breathing was hitched as she blushed. "Azunyan. You look good when you have your hair down."

"I forgot to tie it up, was what I intended to say. You know me, I tend to space out at times," she giggled.

"Is that so?" Yui asked, tilting her head to the side.

"Mmm-hmmm."

"You need to space out more often. When you have long hair, you look sexier."

Azusa blushed wildly. "It's...it's not like I'm trying to do this on purpose!"

Yui silenced her for a bit by giving her a deep kiss, her tongue thrust inside her like a lance smashing a brick wall. Her fingers caressed the curves of her petite figure as if it were an untainted dakimakura, the hands swaying lovingly on such feminine flesh. "I mean it, Azunyan."

"So sweet," Azusa thought, her lips stained with the richness of Yui's kiss. "I'm all right, Yui. And your kiss is so sweet."

Yui placed a finger to her lips, winking seductively. "You shouldn't be saying that out loud. I'm only the sister of your lover, you know. A-zu-nyan."

"Right, right."

"Keep it on the down low. Nobody has to know. Oh, and don't forget to change into the school shoes, either."

"Oh yeah," Azusa said with a giggle, changing them after realizing she held the pair in her hand. She was floating in her own state of mind, Azusa was.

"I changed my mind," Yui said after a while as the two of them returned to Class 2-1. "Let me fix you. Azunyan looks better with her hair in twin tails."

"Okay."

Taking a couple of ties, Yui tied Azusa's hair back in her signature bunches. "And that looks better. Now Azunyan looks like Azunyan."

"It doesn't hurt me being me," she said, echoing the sentiments for the classic style while looking at herself in the mirror. Outside, a group of sophomores were doing the lambada in the hall. In the background, Big Star's "September Gurls" was playing.

Yui took a brush and straightened Azusa's long twin tails. She admired the silky sheen of it, the naturalness, and the scent of strawberries and cream that came from the shampoo and body wash she used in the morning. "You smell delicious, Azunyan."

"Please don't eat me," she deadpanned.

"I wouldn't do that to you, honey. I'll just..." A playful flick of the tongue graced Azusa's clean face. "...get a taste, that's all."

As she felt the wet spot, Azusa felt uneasy thinking about Yui's advances. Were they that intentional? Or was she just losing her mind at trying to think they were. Ui treated her like a lover. Yui treated her like a plaything and a friend. There was a difference.

"I wanted to take things a bit easier now that the school festival is in our rear view mirror."

"Ohhh, letting your hair down. Azunyan, it's all right if you have to change the pace a little before it's back to business again for you, onee-chan and the others. I like to say, 'Oh, here's Master Ui with a change of pace.' And they can't turn me loose."

"Huh?"

"You get what I'm saying?"

Azusa had to play along. "Yes, I do."

"But you need to change your hairstyle every now and then. Give everyone a different impression of you. I can see, hey, here's Azunyan with the drill hair!"

"Don't think that's going to happen."

"Awwww." Now it was time for a change of pace. "Hey Azunyan, I had this weird dream last night."

"What was it?"

"There was this giant Nutella monster, which was a big-ass sized jar of Nutella from Osaka, wreaking havoc. And once it got in front of me, it started dancing to Kohmi Hirose's 'Promise.'"

"You mean the 'Get Down' thing right? That is so last decade, Yui."

"Ehhhh, but it's true. It was dancing funny and stuff. Hey Azunyan, do you think I should change my hairstyle?"

"If you want, I'm not stopping you. Why do you ask?"

Yui tied her hair back with a yellow ribbon. In the background, the radio was playing "Go All The Way" by The Raspberries, with a few students joining in song. "Ta-da! A-zu-nyan!"

"What the hell! I'm getting some pretty perverted flashbacks!" Yui embraced Azusa, nibbling at her ears lustily. "Why are you going with Ui-sempai's old hairstyle?"

"I think this also looks good on me," she replied with a giggle, playing with Azusa's hair. "Besides, sweetie, I've always wanted to hug you looking like this."

"But it...it...it feels like I'm being hugged by a clone with a red tie! So perverted!"

"Hey you guys," Nodoka said, walking in. "What are you all up to?"

"Oh, Nodoka-chan!"

"Hold the phone. Ui-sempai, why are you here? Shouldn't you be upstairs with the others? And you're wearing the wrong tie; it's supposed to be blue."

"No, it's me, Nodoka-chan."

"Yui? Oh, the joke's on me, then." She looked down at her legs. "The tights gave it away. Damn, the joke's on me!"

"We were talking about hairstyles and Nutella jars." Azusa's face expressed sheer contempt and unforgivable condemnation.

"That hairstyle...just doesn't fit you, Yui. Though I will say it looks good on you...it just doesn't fit you."

"Thanks."

"You're thanking me for that? I know you've gone off the deep end many times we've been on this Earth, Yui, but this is ridiculous."

Yui undid the ribbon and showed it to the two of them. "Isn't that Ui-sempai's ribbon?" Azusa asked.

"Yeah, and I wanted to try it out," she replied. "I've been wearing this thing all morning. Didn't notice, honey bunny?"

Azusa admitted that she was still drinking in her band's recent success. "I was spacing out again."

Nodoka still continued to wonder. "But why the heck are you wearing it?"

"I suppose I forgot to take them off, and that's why I'm wearing them."

"You can't even do a decent cover-up right," Nodoka deadpanned.

"Ehhhh? How mean of you, Nodoka-chan!"

Yui tied her hair back with the ribbon. "Me and onee-chan were trying out different hairstyles, and I decided to go with this."

"Ahhh, I see what you did there," Azusa said. "By that token, Ui-sempai is wearing your clips. Wait, she's been doing it for a while, hasn't she?"

"She wanted me to try something different for a change."

"Sisters can be so mean," Azusa thought to herself.

"So here's the story, guys," Yui said, going on. "Onee-chan is trying to figure out what style is best for her. So I decided to wear this ribbon and model for her, because she doesn't want to go back to this hairstyle. Later on, they will be taking the individual photos for our yearbook, the Campanile."

"They are?" Azusa asked her.

"They sure are, Azunyan."

"Whoa." Now Azusa was pondering if she should let her hair down in its natural state, keep her signature bunches, or go with a different look. Either one was a winner, but only one route could be chosen.

Back at 3-2, Ui held her hair back in twin braids, bored like a lazy lioness. "Hey Ui," Jun Suzuki asked her. "You all right?"

"I am different from my usual bubbly self. I have entered my own personal slump, dearest Jun," Ui said monotonously. "I do not know what hairdo to choose for the Campanile."

"You mean the yearbook, right?"

"Yes, I mean the yearbook. This sucks. To high heaven."

"Poor you. Where are your clips?"

"I wanted to try one without my clips, so I went for Azunyan's hairdo, bunches."

"Twin tails?" Man, you definitely are in a slump!"

"Jun, how could you rub salt in these virgin wounds of mine, you heartless fiend!"

"Spare me the Shakespeare, sister of rock. That was a so few week ago, and to top it all off, there's no need for you to be dramatic." Ui looked at her with eyes that felt cruel betrayal. "Oh, you."

"To be shameless is to be heartless, and vice versa. I didn't want to keep a low profile and change my hairdo, but I had to because Yui borrowed my ribbon longer than I wanted."

"I thought you didn't wear your ribbon anymore."

"I wanted to go back to the old style but my heart was telling me something different. I am directionless, and this is why I am in a slump."

"So people can get into slumps from not knowing where to go," Jun said wistfully. "One route: the black hole of oblivion."

"I really wish Yui was done wearing my ribbon. This is just a drag."

"But you do look good in twin braids. You could pass for a brunette version of our Miologist Youko Sasaki."

"Think so? I never knew that. But here's the scoop: me and Yui were trying out all these different hairdos. I let Yui model with my ribbon. The mirror wasn't good enough, and so I asked her, stand back here, let me see how it looks. I studied the style from all these different angles, wondering about the aesthetical and social impacts of my own style implemented on my younger sister in the lab that was my bedroom."

"And then you got here, decided to tie your hair back in twin braids while your sister is messing about with your ribbon."

"It's pretty weird without my ribbon with me, even though I now don the clips. My ponytail was a frontrunner to be used for the yearbook, but that's not an option anymore. So, I have a question: Jun-chan, do you have something to tie my hair back?"

Jun took out a spare blue tie for the uniform. "I originally was going to use this in case I lost the one I am wearing right now, but I can let you have it if you want."

She handed her the tie. "The blue suit tie of our uniform. This might do."

"Actually, you can try this," Tsumugi said, walking in with a pink scrunchie while holding a similar-colored brush.

"Hey there, Mugi-chan. Ah, so Lady Kotobuki brings forth...the scrunchie. It's like bringing home the bacon, except the bacon is in the form of an inedible scrunchie."

"Way to speak the obvious, Princess Obvious," Jun said in a snarky tone.

"Do you want me to fix up your hair?" she asked Ui.

"Go for it, Milady. I am indebted to your awesomeness, love."

"All right." Tsumugi undid her twin braids, then proceeded to brush Ui's hair as Jun looked on with a sense of jealousy. To be helped cosmetically by someone so affluent was a luxury in this day and age.

"This feels so good," Ui said. She felt like she floating on a cloud. Help, they can't keep Ui Hirasawa off the ground! Mercy!

"Take a look at yourself," Jun said, produced a mirror for Ui to look at.

"I wonder if I should be a hairdresser as a side job," Tsumugi asked Ui.

"Why not? Although, you're wealthy enough to not work as one, but might as well give it a try. Do it part-time. Something like that."

"Cool. I will note that in my shortlist of things to do when I graduate: work as hairdresser in-between classes at Japan Women's University. I can pay for the tuition without going on a loan, too."

Ui smirked. "Of course you can. We would expect you to, anyway."

Of course, the thought of brushing Ui's beautifully-scented hair made Mugi want to brush it more. Eventually, she tied it back. "Your hair's not long enough for a ponytail. Will this be all right with you? I'm just gonna improvise."

"My mistake, I was thinking about Yui-chan. Yours is close enough. And...there." It was all tied back with the scrunchie. Ui felt like her old self again. Or did she?

"Gyaaaah! You decided to expose my forehead like Ricchan, huh? Actually, I now look like a younger version of Grandma Tomi. Granny, if you are listening in the back of your head right now, it's me. I now look like you."

"Whoops," Jun said. "Strike three, Kotobuki, you're out."

"Did I do it wrong?" Tsumugi asked. Yes, you did, Milady. Yes, you did.

Mio checked in. "Hey yo, what are you guys doing?" Mio asked. She blinked. "Ui? Did you take the wrong set of pills this morning?"

"I do tie my hair back, but not the way Mugi-chan did it. I don't expose my forehead like this."

"What the hell?" Ritsu exclaimed, checking in with the gang. "Ui, you punk, you're stealing my forehead-exposing, Lycopene-friendly style! It's treachery of the highest highs! Just show your forehead already, I don't care; it looks awesome!"

"Oh God, it's the inky-dinky peep show all over again," Jun said, shaking her head from side to side. "But your forehead looks good, too."

"No, no it doesn't! I don't want to be flicked on! The pain, the pain!" Ui wailed.

Jun went over and licked Ui's forehead playfully. "Lycopene," she whispered in her ear.

Unsurprisingly, as Ui's shrieks pierced the walls of the room, Ritsu was up in arms. "You fucking bastard, thank you very much for stealing one of my precious catchphrases!"

"Let me try something different," Mugi said, grabbing another scrunchie and tying Tsumugi's hair back in bunches. "This looks cute on you."

"You think so?" Ui asked.

"Oh yeah."

"Holy shit, now I have two of me!" Jun said, surprised. "Were me and Ui separated at birth? Hmmmm...Journalism Club, spin this story to the press."

Ui nodded as she perused herself in the mirror. "You're right, I do look like you."

Yui opened the door, back in her trademark clips. Azusa was trailing along. "Onee-chan! How are things?"

"I sure hope we weren't separated at birth because that would mean I have two sisters instead of one," Ui said to Jun as Ritsu grinned.

Mio walked to the door. "Hey, Yui-chan, what's up?"

"Go ahead and give this ribbon back to her," she replied.

Mio walked over to Ui. "Your ribbon."

"Oh?" Mio motioned to Ui and Azusa at the door. "Ah, thanks, Yui! All right! It is back. My ribbon, my strength, my pride." She undid her bunches, tied her hair back, and applied the clips to the right.

Ritsu stroked her chin. "Oh, combining yours and Yui's?"

"Old meets new. Thanks Yui!"

"Anytime, onee-chan!"

Azusa looked at Ui with a look of concern. Why was she trying to now look like Jun all of a sudden? It seems that the Hirasawa sisters were letting customization get to their heads a bit too much. She sighed and decided to let it go.

The day continued to progress as the autumn leaves began to descend down the pathways of the Girls Campus. Now the campus radio was playing some JPop from a decade ago. They were heavy on the Hikaru Utada and Ayumi Hamasaki. And Namie Amuro, too. True regional mainstays.

The hallways were empty as classes continued to go on, with lectures about various subjects relevant to the education of a free individual. Notes were being taken. Notes were being passed out. And questions were being asked by enthusiastic students that were committed to the final push awaiting them all. The teachers of the school were impressed by the work ethic of a majority of the students at both campuses, and the race to become class valedictorian and salutatorian got heated. A few underclassmen from the track team were running laps as part of their conditioning for the next meet that lay ahead in a few weeks' time. They would be touring Australia as part of a combined group of track and field athletes from the prefecture's senior high schools, and would compete against local high schools from Sydney and Melbourne at Stadium Australia in Sydney.

"This field is like a barren wasteland at times," Azusa said to Nodoka and Yui back at Class 2-1 after all the other students left.

"All the seniors on the sports teams called it a career, except for the American football team, who I think is still playing back at the Boys Campus," Yui replied.

"You think they'll win the Christmas Bowl?"

"I heard from some folks down there that they are very good. They're big, they're strong, and they eat opponents for lunch. The head coach there says that this might be the best American football team the school has ever produced."

"Damn, that's saying something, Yui," Nodoka whispered. "Jun-sempai told me that all the members on the Jazz Club have called it quits. They're grooming me to take over as student council president as we speak."

"Boy, the times, they are a-changing," Azusa said softly, watching the runners continue to condition themselves. "Wait a minute here. That means..."

"Huh? Something wrong, Azusa?"

"I'll meet you guys later. I'm gonna take my leave," she said, heading upstairs.

The four seniors on the light music club could not be retiring just yet, right? Even though the rule was the rule, they still had so much to do as a club. At least, that's how Azusa saw it. There was no way that the club would break apart in autumn. At least let this incarnation cross the finish line in March before there is change on the way in April, with her calling the shots!

Azusa had all these thoughts on her mind as she made the trek upstairs. First a walk, and now a frantic rush to the door. She needed to know: were the light music club's seniors—the friends she trusted the most—going to leave her to struggle in the cold like this? On top of that, the pictures for the Campanile were slated to be shot, and Azusa didn't want to miss the boat.

She opened the door wide, trying to catch her breath. Azusa was relieved that there was somebody inside. Somebody times four. Ui was giving Ritsu some cake, while Mugi was serving another batch of team for Mio and the incumbent club advisor, Miss Sawako Yamanaka. "You all right?" Mio asked her. "You don't have to run; we're not going to practice for a while."

"Are you okay, Azusa?" Ritsu asked.

"She seems a bit winded," Ui said to her.

Tsumugi agreed. "Oh my."

Azusa thought they had called it quits. She was stunned. "Why are you guys here?" she asked with a hiss.

"Hey," Ui said, now back to her usual clips without the ribbon. "You wanted to come here for some of Mugi-chan's sweet stuff, am I right, love?"

She turned away. "I am not you, okay?"

"Oh come on, sweetie. I know you want it."

"I know what up, guys," Ritsu said to the four of them. "Azusa. Honey. You thought that we called it quits and would not show our faces here at our stomping grounds we like to call the music room, eh?"

Bingo. Azusa took a big gulp as Ritsu hit the arrow on the bulls-eye. "Winner! 500 yen to Ms. Tainaka, here!" said Ui, handing her a 500-yen coin.

Ritsu flipped the coin in the air, then clutched it as it went on its downward motion. "Cool beans, sistah!"

Immediately, Ritsu and Ui hugged Azusa, fondling her petite stature like a pillow: licking her face, running their fingers through her twin tails, nibbling at her ears and neck, and Ritsu even let her hands go underneath Azusa's skirt as Ui massaged her bust.

"Oh my Azunyan, you didn't want be lonely?" Ui moaned, her chest heaving. "You think we will let a poor helpless kitty like you get stranded in the rain? Don't you want to be taken home, pampered like the princess you are? I know you do. Don't hide it, you adorable thing, you. There is nothing left to hide, A-zu-nyan."

"Ui is right," Ritsu said, licking her lips. "These hands were meant to touch every part of your womanly goodness, to savor your charms and the sweet things about you, again and again, again and again, again and again! Oh Azusa, don't you know that if I keep fondling the best parts of you I'm going to come!"

Tsumugi grabbed a tissue to clog her bleeding nostrils. Mio rolled her eyes in disgust. Azusa finally had it and freed herself of the two of them, who clasped each other's hand.

"Goodness gracious!" Ritsu cried.

"Great balls of fire!" Ui gasped.

"Will you two idiots knock it off?" Mio shouted in the back. "And what's with the Jerry Lee Lewis reference?"

"Ahhahahahah, oh my," Tsumugi said, drinking her tea. "I remember that song. My dad listens to it all the time at work."

Azusa was up in arms. "Why are the two of you hitting on me like this? I love both of you, more so for Ui, but come on, this isn't the time for a threesome! We have work to do! And on top of all that, why are you all still here?"

"Because this place gives us a piece of mind that you should be familiar with right about now," Ui said.

"And it's air-conditioned," Ritsu added.

"And don't forget the sweets," Sawako said. "You have the right to be here. Not just as a club member, but as a student."

"Amen!" Ritsu and Ui said blissfully.

"Holy cow, Miss Sawako is here." Azusa still could not believe that the school would allow seniors to finish their time with their clubs until they graduated. As she saw it, they were breaking school policy and getting away with it. If this were to be the case, then a new rule has to be made which would allow outgoing seniors to be with their club until graduation. For Azusa, it just wasn't right for any club to be an exception to the status quo. Even the light music club.

"Your tea and cake is ready, Lady Nakano," Mugi said, producing a plate with the trademark strawberry cake slice and a cup of Earl Grey poured into Azusa's pink kitty cup.

"Lady Nakano?" Azusa said, confused as she finally took her seat. "What the...? I thought it was Azusa-chan."

"Just wanted to try it out, that's all."

"Oh. Spare me the formalities...Mugi-sempai."

Ton-chan swam in his tank, swaying soundly over the conversation. "You know, we were joking about the idea of not retiring after the school festival," Mio said as Ui connected her iPod to the dock, playing some random power pop songs. "This room has transformed into our study headquarters for the upcoming admissions exams. Hence, Miss Sawako being here as our personal tutor."

Azusa gave a sigh of relief. "So they aren't above the law, but time is running short," she thought.

"Is this a problem?" Tsumugi asked her.

"Not really. Whatever you have to do is whatever you have to do. And now I know why Miss Sawako is here. She's not just here for the snacks."

"Nope, more to it," she said, finishing her cake and getting a warm sip.

"And besides, I like having people around."

"So, with that being said," Ritsu cooed as Ui nodded off, "aren't you so damn friggin' glad we didn't leave you alone, Azusa?"

"I am. But are you guys able to study and not get distracted by the other stuff going on?"

"Of course I can, you jackass!"

A pouting Ui echoed the same sentiments. "How rude of you! You know we can get the work done, no problem. It's just Ritsu here that need a kick up the backside."

"Shush! I will hear no more of your faggotry!"

"No, you can't," Azusa said. "Especially you, Ritsu-sempai. I can see the cries for help gracing your face. You're right, Sempai. There's nothing left to hide after all."

"By the way, Ricchan," said Miss Sawako, "you need to tell me you've decided on what you want to do after you're done with school here. You haven't submitted your career plan form yet."

"Uh oh, our little drummer girl here better get to work, yo," said Ui, elbowing Ritsu for emphasis.

Naturally, Ritsu took objection to the news. "Hey, we attended the summer study sessions, so that has to be enough."

"You gotta cut her some slack," Ui said, working on her slice. "She wants to head into college, just like the rest of us."

"Which colleges? And which departments."

More elbowing. And a hesitant laugh. "Ritsumeikan, right, Ricchan?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah...hahah, it has my name on it. And, uh, music! Creative arts! Yeah, that's it, hahah, I'm gonna be a music major and take drumming to a whole new level, right Ui?"

"You said it, not me."

"Well, why didn't you write it on the sheet?" Sawako asked Ritsu.

"Uh...hah...I forgot?"

"You know, Miss Sawako," Ui said, still working on her slice, "I want to be just like you!"

"Even though you've already filled out the inventory and sent it to me..." Sawako inched in closer and whispered as an aside. "...you think you can take the workload I'm going through right now?"

"I can, if I can get the credential."

"It's flattering of you to say that, though, by the way. Just wanted to pass that along."

"I not only want to teach and coordinate class events, but I want to eat sweets, drink tea, and enjoy fun conversations with my soon-to-be-old-club at a garnished wage."

"I hope you were being facetious when you were saying 'garnished!'"

"I was."

"Ah-hah. Moving right along," Sawako said, turning to the bassist of the team, "Mio-chan, you need to submit the required paperwork at about this point in the year. The universities you're applying to need it, so get that done."

"Roger that, Miss Sawako," she replied with a salute.

"That's the application, recommendations and the transcripts, right?" Ui asked her.

"Bingo," Tsumugi replied.

"Robble, robble, robble. Been there, done that. And so, I defer to the floor."

"Your academic performance is very superior," Sawako said, sipping her tea, "and because of this, you should not have any problems passing any university's screening of recommendations. The same can be said of Ui-chan and Mugi-chan."

Azusa was elated. "Impressive, you guys!"

"We try, we try," Ui said. "Being on the ball will pay off, after all."

Mio took the compliments with a grain of sugar. "Thanks a lot, but we have a ways to go in the process."

"Mugi-sempai," asked Azusa, "are you planning to test for Japan Women's University?"

"That's correct," she said, "and my early prognostications suggest that this should not be a problem."

"Wow. You're on the ball."

"And it will pay off, after all," said Ui, to which Mio laughed.

"I think I should try testing for JWU," Ritsu said out of jealousy.

"That's on my shortlist," Ui said, "but I also got Keio, Waseda, Toudai, Kwansei Gakuin, Doshisa and Ritsumeikan on there. That would be so friggin' hilarious: we all end up admitted to that school in Bunkyo Ward. Hello commuter life!"

"Well, you guys need to keep your options open," said Miss Sawako, pointing it out to them. "You don't get fixated on one school because your friend is going to it. You guys all need a college education. But for goodness sakes, don't try to force yourselves into all this and apply for the same school in the hopes that you all get accepted. It's a rough process, and in a perfect work, everyone would be accepted at their first-choice university. That's not how it works."

"Got it, Miss Sawako," Ritsu and Ui chorused disappointingly.

The teacher rose from her chair. "That being said, Mio-chan, hand in the paperwork by tomorrow, and you should be good."

"Yes, Miss Sawako."

"Take care, ladies." And she was off.

"All right, while Ritsu is struggling to get her dream career in focus," Ui said while the coast was clear, "I have for your perusal a magazine of different hairdos and wigs."

"Uh, why are you reading that?" Azusa asked.

"Personal preference. And this also needs a decision, too."

"Why all of a sudden though?" she wondered as Ui presented a menu of styles to choose from. It was an overwhelming array of hairdos, too.

"See, I need to decide what hairstyle to have for the yearbook photo, the photo for the Campanile. I really want to look sharp in this one, because it will be with me for the rest of my life."

Azusa blinked. "Wait a second; you're not going to study for the exams?"

"Azunyan. You don't understand the situation, love. The admissions exam is next year. The yearbook photo shoot is the day after tomorrow. Now you tell me which should have higher priority. I bet you the latter will win out every fucking time."

Mio was stunned. "Next year? Next year? Dear God, have you gone mad?"

"I know I have to get help from Mio, but even I have to question that logic," Ritsu concurred.

"Look, Ui-sempai, even though we all know how you do things, you'd better brush up on your study or you're gonna fail this thing."

"As if I don't know that already," Ui replied with indifference, shrugging her shoulders. "And a little word of advice: don't use the word 'fail' around students preparing for admissions exams; that's not nice."

Ritsu froze in fear and laid her head face-down on the table. "Oh God, did you have to say that? As well as "split" and "separate." Nice going, you wanker!"

"What? What did I do?" Azusa asked them.

"Those are for weddings," Tsumugi said to Azusa.

Mio scowled. "I thought that's divorces."

"Manzai skit, impromptu edition...mission accomplished!" Ritsu exclaimed, throwing her hands with an "Ayyyy-oh, baby let's go!"

Ui and Tsumugi followed suit. "Wahey!"

"Here we go," Azusa said to Mio with a look of disgust.

"Hey Mio-chan," Ui asked her, "you found a style you like from this menu of tantalizing options, baby?" She peered over. "Whoa. You, of all people, want your yearbook picture with THAT hairdo? You serious? Haaaaaardcore!"

Highlighted orange spikes with green tips to go with silver hoop earrings, purple lipstick and green eyeliner. So mysterious, so sexy, and so...Death Devil-like. "Absolutely not," she deadpanned, turning the pages. "Faith, here's one that fits my fancy."

"Let's take a look." They all took a look. "And she feels the vibration." Dreadlocks with raspberry highlights and a flower for good measure. Ui had to break into song. "I wanna love ya, and treat ya right, I wanna love ya, every day and every night..."

"Oh, can you cut it out with the Bob Marley act?" Azusa growled. "Good God!"

"That was a joke, by the way," Mio said, blushing.

"This style might look good for me," Ui said. "I'll part my bangs to the left, and after they get a perm, I'm gonna look like Aki Toyosaki. Hah! For reals, yo! This is dynamite! And I love the pink lipstick on this one."

"So, you want to look that different, huh?" Azusa asked her.

"It's not that much of a difference, but it does look like I am a student from JWU."

Ritsu also didn't think this was a good idea. "Are you sure you don't like what you have now?"

"Girl, you're amazing just the way you are," Mugi sang

Ui waved it off. "Spare me the Bruno Mars, Milady."

"Tomorrow, do you guys want me to bring my camera so we can take practice shots?" Ritsu asked.

"All you, Ricchan!" And so the plan was set. Priority had switched to the yearbook. But Mio needed to get those papers sent in tomorrow; therefore, forgetting about this important item of business was something to be avoided for sure.

Evening came to the city, and Ui was back in the living room looking at her elementary school yearbook. As always, Yui was brought in to help. "The moment I wake up, before I put on my makeup, I say a little prayer for you," Ui sang. "And when I was in grade school, I was beaming then like I am now. Old habits do die hard."

"Onee-chan, did you want me to go play that Dionne Warwick song on your iPod?" Yui asked.

"Please."

Setting the iPod on the deck, Yui played Dionne Warwick's rendition of "I Say A Little Prayer."

Ui continued with her anecdotes. "And this was the same thing in my junior high edition, though it wasn't as pronounced. Both times I had the ribbon."

"Obviously, onee-chan. You seemed a bit more sad when you were in junior high."

"Well, I was a bit more melancholy back then. Not anymore. I think when I joined the club, my whole outlook changed. It must something in the cake, something in the tea. Something."

"I was grinning too much while I was in grade school. I mean, this was my first yearbook picture, and I'm like, man! I can't contain my emotions."

"Ahhhh."

"I think when I was in grade school...that was the first time ever that I tied my hair back with a yellow ribbon. You know the thrift store up the road, and how this guy is selling all these curios and stuff?"

"Yeah."

"Well, there was this one yellow lace ribbon that caught my attention. I asked him, 'Hey mister, can I wear this for my yearbook picture?' He said, 'No one else is buying it, you can have it for free.' I had been wearing that ribbon until my sophomore year, when I went with your hairclips. I bought a new one, but I don't know if I should wear it one more time or not."

"You remember a lot of things, onee-chan."

"And you know the weird thing about all this? It seems as if it all happened yesterday. Everything in my life happened yesterday. I've got a pretty damn good memory of what the hell went on since the early 90's, when you and I were born."

"You do?"

"Yeah. I even remember the last time you wet the bed when we were little brats."

"Ehhhh? You're mean, onee-chan!"

Ui laughed. "I'm just teasing you. But I still remember..."

A fearful whimper could be heard from Yui's lips. "It's so embarrassing!"

"Therefore," Ui said, getting up quickly and striking a pose, "I have decided to make it a priority to strive for perfection this time around."

Yui bought into it, pumping her fists. "Whoa. That's the spirit! You can do it, onee-chan!"

"You bet I will!"

So the next day, the four seniors cast lots on who would do the preliminary photo shoot first, with Azusa proctoring. "First one up: Ritsu-sempai," she announced back at the music room, where Ton-chan continued to sway inside his tank.

"Here we go, ladies and gentleturtle," she said, rolling her sleeves before Tsumugi brushed her hair straight. "Your hair looks wonderful when the band it off, Ricchan," Mugi said with a bubbly touch. "It's so exquisite and has the scent of caramel."

"Let's not go there, Mugi."

"But really, when you have the hairband off, you look sexier."

Ritsu blushed. "Are you just trying to...embarrass me or something?"

"Flattering you, honey buns."

"Awwww, how nice."

Tsumugi giggled. "I can't stop touching it; it looks so awesome."

"All right, all right."

"Let's put this thing on, then." Mugi applied Ritsu's iconic hairband.

"Cool."

Tsumugi studied the aesthetics for a few seconds. "Did you want me to move it a bit higher?"

"Not really; this is my traditional position."

"Let's move it." She did. "Too high for you?"

"It's a bit too high," Mio said, repositioning the location. "Let's move it down...here." Just a centimeter and a half down.

"Looks good," Ui said.

"Roger that," Mugi added.

"Let's take a shot," Azusa said, whipping out her pink camera. "Ritsu-sempai, ready?"

"Do it." A snap.

"Take a look." She went over. "How's that?" It definitely looked tomboyish in appearance. Ritsu looked like a student that was well-disciplined, thoughtful and focused, and those were attributes that she clearly lacked during the time she was here.

"Not bad."

"Let's take one more," said Azusa as Ritsu got back in her seat. "Ready?"

"Go for it." A snap. This was less tomboyish and more effeminate. Now Ritsu looked a well-off office lady.

"That looks good," Ui said as the others took a glance.

Tsumugi nodded. "Mmm-hmmm."

Mio gave her two cents on the result. "You know, guys, Ritsu has never been concerned about how she looks in these types of pictures, but she is able to pull it off subconsciously."

"Mio-sempai, based on the lots casted," Azusa said, "you're next, right?"

"I am? Oh. Okay." She took her seat.

"Ready?"

"Yeah." A snap. It didn't look right. Mio looked unwilling to do this.

"Yuck, what is this?" Ritsu asked. "Try it again, Azusa.*"

"Ready, Mio-sempai?" Azusa asked her.

"Mmm-hmmm." A snap. Same result.

"Again. Ready?"

'Yeah." A snap. The same result.

Ui groaned in disbelief. "Boy, she does not look like she wants to do this at all."

"This is all she can do, really," Ritsu conceded. "I mean, Mio is always nervous as heck when it comes to the yearbook. It's plain pathetic when you think about it. I mean, treat the camera as if you are making eye-contact with somebody. It's not hard."

"Tomorrow, when it's your turn, you just need to relax and follow Ritsu-sempai's advice," Azusa added.

"Y...Yeah, I will," Mio stuttered.

Mugi gave some clichéd words of encouragement as a form of damage control. "Believe in yourself; you can do it!"

"Based on the lots cast, you're next, Mugi-sempai," Azusa said to her.

"All right." Tsumugi took her seat.

She positioned the camera. "You ready?"

"Yes, ma'am!" She was making different faces for the camera before puffing her cheeks. A snap. The sumo-wrestler look.

Ritsu was not amused. "Mugi. Have you gone absolutely mental? Why this?"

"I always appear to be gentle," she explained, "so I wanted to look serious this time."

"Serious? Serious? Seriously, you look like a sumo wrestler involved in a match-fixing scandal! It's all over the news, you know."

"You actually look better just the way you are, with all due respect to Bruno Mars," Ui replied.

"You think so?" Tsumugi wondered.

"Just try it," Mio said with a twinkle in her eye.

"All right, gentle look for me, then."

"One more time," Azusa groaned. "Ready?"

"Yes, ma'am!" A snap.

Ui inferred. "The look of a business executive is one that can only be pulled off either by those who come from affluent families, or by those who aim to rise from the ranks and be their own boss. Miss Tsumugi Kotobuki is an example of sporting the look I just mentioned. Any questions?"

"That looks awesome," Ritsu said.

"Impressive," Mio added.

Azusa joined in. "And that leaves one senior remaining: you, Ui-sempai."

"That's me. Let's do it." Yui took her seat and tied her hair back with her yellow ribbon. "I don't know whether or not I should keep the clips." For the time being, she had them on.

"I think you should remove them, so that you don't get confused with Yui."

Ui took them off, leaving her ribbon. "Done." She straightened her tie one last time.

Azusa positioned the camera. "You ready?"

"All yours." A snap. It was a look of reflection mixed with optimism. A look that represented a new beginning after a journey that met its inevitable conclusion. A look that had no regrets for the past and a look that hopes for better things to come. Ui was set to be a university student, but there were so many things that had to be done first. And this yearbook photo was one of them.

Azusa has to laugh. "Something wrong, Azunyan?" Ui asked, concerned as she peered over.

"No, it's just...it looks too beautiful! If this were a flashlight, I would never get lost again! One more time?"

"Go ahead." A snap.

"And that looks good. One more time." A snap.

"This looks too normal," Ritsu said as the others gathered around.

"You look like a really serious student," Mio said to Ui.

"Because I am?"

Ritsu shrugged. "As if we don't know that already."

"Guys," Mugi asked the congregation, "was that supposed to be a joke?"

"No, it's a fact. To a certain degree."

Ui studied her photo with a passion as she took the ribbon off and placed the clips back on. "You think my bangs are a bit too long, you guys?"

"They are good," Azusa said to her.

But she shook her head. "I don't know. I mean...it's a little bit too long."

"You sure?" Mio wondered.

Ui knew what to do next, with a nod. "Time to give this a trim!" The others looked at her with bewildered looks as she brought out her scissors.

Tsumugi took objection to this. "Ui-chan!"

So did Azusa. "Hold on a minute! Why would you do that?"

Ritsu didn't think this was a smart idea either. "You have to go to the barbershop just up the road from the school to get your hair fixed."

Mio agreed. "That's what she said. You can just ask the guys there to trim only your bangs."

"The last time I went to the barbershop," Ui recollected, "they trimmed my bangs waaaayyy too short. No pun intended, but that's not gonna cut it. I mean, the length is just right after a week, but that it going to be way too late for tomorrow's shoot."

"Well at least ask Mugi to trim it for you," Ritsu said.

"I haven't forgiven her for exposing my forehead."

Tsumugi looked at Ritsu in shock. She was being put on the spot. "But...how can I handle such an important task as that?"

"Ease up, Mugi," Ui said, brimming with confidence as she brought the scissors forward. "I also do this every few weeks, just like how the boys shave their faces and we shave our legs. Watch."

Azusa looked with the curiosity of a cat, while Ritsu and Mugi viewed the proceedings with horrified looks on their faces. "God dammit, I can't watch this," Mio said, trembling.

With skillful precision, Ui trimmed her center bangs to the length she wanted them. Left, right, left, right, and left again. A snip here, another snip there. Ui was her own personal barber. Afterwards, she slicked them down back to their natural position. "That looks better. How's that, you guys?"

"That was it?" Ritsu asked with an embarrassed chuckle. "Just a few hairs? I thought it was worse."

Tsumugi had nothing but rave reviews. "That's great, I like it."

"Might as well go for that style, then." Mio and Azusa were beaming.

Ui continued to wonder as she looked in the mirror. "Hmmmm. Maybe they are still a bit too long."

Mio and Ritsu were shocked. "Huh?"

So were Mugi and Azusa. "Wait a..." Of all the people blindsided by the news, Azusa got hardest-hit.

The four of them watched as Ui continued to trim her center bangs one more time with tenacious apprehension. She was old hat at these types of things, Ui was, and she gave it one more snip, and she was done

"She did it." Ritsu said.

Azusa had no idea either. "Wow."

"No kidding," Mio said.

Tsumugi couldn't believe it. "Ui?"

"I told you I could get this done," Ui said to them. "Azusa."

"Yeah?" she asked.

"Go play the 'Linus and Lucy' track on my iPod."

"O...Okay, Ui-sempai."

Vince Geraldo's piano prowess dominated the room as Ui looked at herself in the mirror. "You ever heard of Patricia Reinhardt from the Peanuts series?"

"You mean Peppermint Patty, right?" Ritsu replied.

"Well, guess what: I now look like her, but with a ponytail."

"That a very...liberal interpretation of her," Mio deduced.

"How many centimeters did you trim off?" Tsumugi asked Ui.

"Oh, just a half of a half of a half."

"God, that is a small amount," Azusa said.

Mio agreed. "Really small."

"Oh Azunyan," Ui cooed, slowly taking off her jacket to expose her shoulder suggestively. "You're so dreamy." Azusa fainted at the spectacle. Ui was such a tease.

Mio was rubbing her eyes. "Wait, what are you..." She fainted as Ui blew a kiss.

"Did you want me to brush your hair to the side?" Tsumugi asked her, whipping out her brush.

"Go ahead and do it." A few strokes did the job.

"Mugi, the time has come for some tea," Ritsu said to her.

"All right, coming right up. And today's cake of the day is the Mont Blanc."

"Fantastic."

Ui's ears perked. "The Mont Blanc? Are you serious? That's some crazy stuff! That's our Mugi-chan, always on it."

A golden treasure it was, with layers of chestnuts topped with whipped cream and butterscotch. "I agree with Ricchan, this is some fantastic stuff," Ui said.

"I did it again," Tsumugi said, high-fiving Mio, Azusa and Ritsu.

"Yes, you did," quoth the drummer as they all looked at Ui against the light of the afternoon. "Here you go." She gave her butterscotch piece to Ui to placate her further.

"Are you sure?"

"But of course, Ui. You don't need to be down over anything like this because you know we got your back."

Ui was moved. "Ohhhh Ricchan, baby, I love you so much!" Tsumugi and Mio placed their pieces of butterscotch on Ui's. "Whoa!" The gratitude they had for her was immense.

"Jeez, you guys spoil her too much," said Azusa. "Oh well, if I must, I must." She finally placed her piece on Ui's mont blanc.

"Gahaah, this is too awesome! Thanks, you guys." The others were grinning from ear to ear. They liked seeing Ui that way. They really did. And they wouldn't want it any other way. The butterscotch pieces formed a little circular cross on top of Ui's mont blanc.

Outside campus, Mio and Ritsu watched Ui, Azusa and Tsumugi take their leave for the night. "Take care, and see you all tomorrow," Ui said to the two of them.

"We'll be on our way," said Azusa.

"Cheers," Mugi chimed.

"All right, then," said Ritsu.

"See you," said Mio. And Ui, Mugi and Azusa were off.

"Oh, that reminds me. Hey Mio," she said to her, "weren't you supposed to turn in the recommendation application today?"

"Yeah."

"Did you forget?"

"Well, you need to turn yours in as well. Your career plan form, that is."

They both went on their way. "I know, I know."

"I'm submitting mine's tomorrow," Mio said as the birds sung in the distance against the pastel afternoon skies.

Yearbook day came soon enough to the campus. All the students were getting prim and proper at the last second for their mugs to be placed on the Campanile.

"You seem more than ready, onee-chan," Yui said to Ui as they changed their shoes inside the changing room.

She covered a handkerchief over her hair. "I hope so. The way my bangs were trimmed, it should look just about right."

Yui spotted Azusa. "Morning, Azunyan."

"Hey there. Morning."

"Good morning, my sweet kitty," Ui said to her.

"Why do you have a handkerchief over your head?"

She couldn't look at them in the eye. "I've come to realize, dear sister and kitten, that I shouldn't have trimmed those bangs."

"Ohhhhh?" Azusa had to know.

Back at Class 3-2, Ritsu wondered about the regrets Ui had about the trim. "You already did it to yourself, so you should have no regrets, really."

"It's too late to do anything now," Mio added.

"Guess so," Ui said to the two of them, looking down at her desk while waving them off. "Don't mind me, then. Give me two weeks and I'll be fine in a hurry, I promise you."

"Hey Ui-chan, if you act like you are right now, I won't be giving you any more cake for the rest of the year," Tsumugi warned.

"If you say so." Ui put the handkerchief away, placing it in her pocket. She donned her ribbon to go with her clips.

Ritsu rolled her eyes. "Oh brother."

The bust of the founder had a brown cowboy vest and a bucket hat to boot as the shoot began. The freshmen were shot first, followed by the sophomores and then the seniors, and all the classes were shot in numerical order. It was Class 3-2's turn, and a photographer from out of town was hired by the school to do the yearbook photos.

One snap. Another snap. Another snap. He took their wonderful faces with dead-on accuracy.

"You're up next, Mio-chan," Ui said to Mio as Tsumugi brushed her hair one final time for encouragement. She proceeded to wipe some dust off her shoulders.

Soon afterwards, Mugi was done. "And you're set."

"Miss Akiyama," Sawako said from the other side of the classroom. "You're up."

The news caught her by surprise. "Yes, ma'am!"

"It's not anything scary, believe me," Ui said to her.

"Right!"

"Okay, sweetie," said Ritsu, her fist in the air, "go get 'em!"

Ui saw her off. "Enjoy."

"Ease up, all right?" Mugi asked Mio as she walked to her seat in front of the photographer. "Relax, relax, and believe in yourself!" The others were laughing. This was doing more harm than good, to be honest.

"Who love you baby? We all do! Ain't that right, ladies!"

"Yeah!" said the others in the line with a laugh.

"Damn, now I'm even more embarrassed thanks to the others," Mio said with a deep blush.

Ritsu looked on sympathetically. "Take a deep breath." She did.

"Ready, Miss Akiyama?" asked the photographer.

"Yes, go right ahead." A snap. Not bad. It would make for a nice driver's license identification.

Tsumugi was up next. As she took her seat, she went with her natural look that reflected her upbringing.

"Ready, Miss Kotobuki?" he asked her.

"Yes." A snap. A perfect profile picture. If there was ever an ideal candidate for a housewife, Mugi was the one.

Now it was Ritsu's turn. "Ready, Miss Tainaka?" asked the photographer.

"All yours." A snap. It was a determined look, one that didn't need the restraints of the daily grind, and was fueled by a free-spirited will.

"Looks like I'm next," Ui said to the others, putting on her lipstick and parting her bangs so that they went as far down as he eyebrows.

"Here we go," Ritsu said to the others in the line. She dusted off friends shoulders while Mugi straightened her tie.

"How do I look?" Ui said to them.

"All systems go," they said with a nod.

"Let's do this." She took her seat.

"Ready, Miss Hirasawa?" the photographer asked?

"Yes, sir!" And a snap. That took care of the seniors on the club, with the rest of Class 3-2 yet to be shot.

Ui returned with the others. "I'm back, you guys."

"Welcome back, welcome back," Mugi replied, a relieved soul.

"Ah, Miss Akiyama," Sawako said to her, "later today, come to the faculty office. I need to speak with you."

"Uh, yeah," she replied.

They all turned to her. Ui looked at the others. "Uh oh."

"So," Miss Sawako said in her news bulletin to Mio, "you forgot about the recommendation application I needed you to fill out."

"I'm sorry," she said.

"No worries. I get this all the time; you're not the only one. Now, here's what's going to happen now that this has been brought to my attention..."

Mugi, Ritsu and Ui peered over behind the door in "a master is out" mode to see just what exactly was going on with their bassist ladyfriend.

"Thanks you very much for letting me know," Mio said with a bow, concluding her conversation with the teacher.

"We'll see you later," Miss Sawako said, seeing her off.

Mio rejoined the others. "How was it?" Ritsu asked.

Ui meant to find out as well amidst the chatter in the office. "Mio-chan, what did she tell you?"

The look in her face was that of sheer melancholy.

Ritsu also inquired. "Did you turn down the admission by recommendation or something?"

"What?" Ui exclaimed, turning to her.

Mugi was also stunned. "Why would she do that?"

The melancholy turned to contempt. "How the hell did you know?"

Ritsu was dead-on. "I've known you for a very long time, Mio. I know what you plan to do. There are times in which I am a few steps ahead of you, and I have to be quite disappointed that you chose to do this. Atypical of my dearest one to forget the application, for your information."

"Anyway, why did you turn it down?" Ui asked her. "You chose to miss the boat on your own terms. Un-fucking-believable."

"I know," Mio said softly to the others. "But there is a reason why."

"What's that?"

"I prefer to study with you guys for the exams. I already know Ui has submitted her recommendation, but she wants to help us out as a tutor. I think if we do it this way...God willing...we will all be admitted to the same university. I don't care if it's Keio, Waseda, Toudai, or even JWU. I want us to all be together at the same university come next April. This way, we can continue playing while living our lives as university students."

"That sounds like a plan, even though I already got a reference from Miss Sawako for those schools. And if that happens, Azunyan knows what university she has to get a recommendation for if she wants to be with us again."

Mugi and Ritsu were surprised.

"The same university?" Ritsu asked Mugi and Ui.

"Are you serious?" the keyboardist wondered. "That is dedication right there. HTT will never quit. HTT will never die."

For the five of them, the glow of the afternoon sun gave way to a myriad of possibilities...and some growling stomachs against the Tokyo skies. "I am so friggin hungry," Ritsu said to the others. "Medic."

"Same here," Ui added.

"Guys, you already had some sweets at our meeting," Mio said to both of them.

"Short-term memory; guilty as charged."

"Take care,' Ritsu said to Ui, Mugi and Azusa.

"See you," Ui said.

Mugi waves at them. "Adios, amigas."

"Be safe," said Azusa.

Mio heard her kouhai loud and clear. "You got it." The early evening came to the city soon enough.

Morning broke once more over the Girls Campus and as she downed the rest of the coffee, Miss Sawako was at the office, checking the latest batch of homework assignments.

"Miss Sawako?" It was Mio.

"Yes?" She was with Ritsu—who had her career plan completed—and Ui. "What are the three of you guys doing here together?"

"They came here to submit their career plan forms," Ui said as Mio and Ritsu submitted their forms. "I was brought in to escort them."

Sawako took the forms. They look complete, and were well-written.

"How are they?" Ui inquired.

"Well, I am going to utter two words: Forms Accepted. Miss Tainaka, I am changing your grade regarding this assignment from a 2 to a 5. well done. And good work as well, Miss Akiyama."

Mio and Ritsu were relieved. "Well done, that teacher," Ui said with a thumbs-up.

"Hell yeah!" Mio and Ritsu exclaimed, the latter with a punch of the air.

Tsumugi looked on, captivated and blushing. All forms were in. She pranced all around, jumping in celebration, squealing joyfully. "Oh happy day! Praise God that this is done! Hallelujah!"

"I wish you well in whatever you do," Sawako remarked.

"If you all get admitted to Japan Women's University together, every one of us in 3-2 should throw a special party in your honor. And I think Miss Nakano knows where to go. I hope you guys get it done, but remember, it's not gonna be an easy journey. But I believe you are more than capable of handling it."

"Yes, ma'am!" they all chorused.

"At ease. You are the class of the class, and I stand by you. Take care."

"We did it," Ui said as the four of them reunited.

"This career plan thing is history, finally," Ritsu said. "And she said that if we all get admitted to the JWU, we're gonna have a special potluck on the way. Wonder where we're going to hold that one."

"Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves," Mio said to both of them. "We still have to prepare for the examinations, and we have to go all out. There's no turning back; it's all downhill from here."

"You got it."

"I think we'll celebrate this accomplishment with some tea," Ui said to the crew. "How about that."

"I concur with Miss Hirasawa on the proposal," Ritsu deduced, flipping a 500-yen coin in the air before clutching it on its downward direction.

Mio rolled her eyes. "Hey, we still have a few more hours to go before that happens; it's still morning!"

"It's all about the Tea Time, because we are what we drink!"

But while all the other universities still were under consideration, for the seniors of the light music club...it was JWU or bust.

END CHAPTER 21