School ends, and it is time to face the Light Music Club. But before that, I think it's better if I send Akihito a mail first.

Is it okay for me to come now?

His reply is yes. So without further ado, I walk towards the old audio visual room and when I arrive at the door, I knock. Faintly I hear the permission to open from inside. Instantly a blast of music enters my ears. In the corner of the room, I see Akihito plays his drum.

"Sorry but Nagai is like that when he plays," the one who greets me is Kawada. I hand her the clothes that I borrow yesterday.

"Here."

"Thank you." She then put it into the locker. Huh? So it's really a spare uniform. I don't even want to know why she has it or why she left it in this room.

I wait for two minutes, more or less, for Akihito to stop hitting the drum. I never know the usually bashful and dense Akihito to be so passionate in the musical department. I guess people just have that side of them.

"I come to apologize. I'm sorry, yesterday's behavior is wrong. It's just… I had a tiring day yesterday, and I guess I just snapped. Still, to snap at you all like that is still wrong. So once again, I'm sorry." I finish my apology with a bow.

"Well, it's not exactly your fault… we were also overreacting when you asked us to play a song," Kawada speaks with a smile on her face.

"What she said."

"What she said."

"What she said."

The other three defers to her.

"Really? You resort to parroting me?" with the hand on her hips, she glares at the male members. "Anyway, as a sort of apology from us, we'd like to play a song for you. Is that acceptable?"

I nod, "As long as the song is the one you play at last year's festival. What's the title again? 'Apocalypse'?"

Small smile forms on Kawada's face.

"Okay. But please excuse us. Our vocalist is absent at the moment. So I'll play the vocal on the keyboard."

Well, I know this would happen. I nod anyway.

Starting by Akihito's drum, followed by the thrum of guitar from Sakuragi. Hmm, it's as I remember. Mitsushima then began pulling the string on his bass, the deep sound blasts my ears. Until finally, the melody comes from the keyboard Kawada plays.

I bask in the sound that fills the room. The room is of course soundproofed. The audio visual room is soundproofed lest people outside can hear what's inside. And since the room is soundproofed, the soundwave that hit the wall is reflected back. It makes me a little dizzy and also makes the song a little unrecognizable.

And then the best part of the song comes. Ever since the song began, my feet start to stomp the ground and my head also moves. This is my usual reaction when I'm hearing a good and catchy song. Seriously, the chorus is the catchiest part of the song.

Without even realizing it, I close my eyes and start to hum.

And then the music stops.

First, the bass. The bass is like the heart of a song. The rhythmic beat makes the song alive. When it stops, the music feels jarring to me. And then the guitar stops. It makes it even jarring to me. If bass is the heart, then guitar and its thrums are like the feet. It brings the song to the best parts. Then the keyboard also stops. The melody which Kawada plays also stops. To me, the keyboard is like the arm of a song. It can guide people to enjoy the song. Since the melody stops, of course, I also stop humming. Only the drum remains.

"Oi, Nagai," Sakuragi bonks Nagai in the head, stopping his play in the process.

I can feel everyone's eyes on me. It makes me a little uncomfortable actually. "Is there something wrong?"

Kawada and Mitsushima look at each other, before Kawada nods and gives me a sheet of paper. I accept it and read it.

"Is this the lyrics of 'Apocalypse'?"

"That's right. Can you sing with us?"

"I can. But why?"

"I can tell you enjoy our music, you even hummed just now. Am I right in saying that you don't know the full lyric?"

I nod, "Yeah, but I like the chorus part. Ever since I heard it the first time it always stuck in my head."

"Can you sing that with us?"

I look towards the sheet of paper. The lyrics of 'Apocalypse' is written here. I try to match the tune with the lyric, and I think I get it after several tries.

Despite being titled 'Apocalypse', the song is about a girl who remembered her past boyfriend and missed him. A misleading title, with apocalypse only mentioned in the last verse. I guess they were trying to make people interested in their song since it was original and there was no guarantee that people will like it.

"Let's start, then."

I open my mouth and sing.

Five minutes later, we finished the song.

"Man, that was awesome. Never knew you can sing, Hanazono-san," Akihito speaks from his seat behind the drum. Sweat glistens on his forehead. Playing drum is tiring, and the drum in this song is intense so no surprise there.

I do can sing, but I never consider my voice as good. When I was little, I like to practice my singing because when Riku was a baby, he doesn't like my lullaby. I took it personally and trained myself to be able to sing Riku to sleep. I succeeded, but Riku can sleep on his own by the time I enter middle school so I kinda stop practiced my singing voice since I have no other motivation.

"It's true. You have a cool voice, Hanazono." Sakuragi places his guitar down and approaches me. Hmm, it is true. If I have to compare my voice using anime stereotypes, then my voice stopped being cute in middle school. I can still sing in high pitch, but my normal voice is a little deeper than most girls my age. Not to mention I rarely speak in a soft manner which kinds of reinforces the cool voice I have.

I truly am suited to be the cool big sis type. Hyoudou is blessed to have me.

"Please join our club?"

Eh? What? Everyone's head including me snaps and we look at the one who said it with wide eyes.

"Kenzaki-kun. What did you just say?" from the look of it, Kawada hides a furious face. I know because sometimes when I look in the mirror, I also have the same face. The forced smile, the little twitch on the eyebrows, and the sharp gaze, it all presents in Kawada's face.

Mitsushima doesn't say anything, but the look on his face conveys something to Kawada because Kawada's glare becomes sharper. And then Mitsushima also glares at her. Huh? Are they having a silent conversation? I never know something like this exists in real life. I thought it was only in medias and entertainments.

"Give it up, Mary-san and Kenzaki are having a conversation."

"Pardon?" I speak when I realize Akihito is talking to me.

"You are observing them, right? Trying to understand what they are conversing about? I suggest you give it up because the two are always doing this all the time. The two are childhood friends, you see, it also doesn't help that both are the President and Vice-President of this club. Most likely, they are weighing the pros and cons of you joining us."

Childhood friends, eh? I know it takes a special bond to let your friend borrow your spare uniform without much explanation. A little glance shows me that Kawada sighs and Mitsushima has a triumphant look. So whatever conversation they are having, Mitsushima wins, then?

"Hanazono-san, would you join the Light Music Club?" Kawada asks me. "Your voice is good, a little rough, but good. I suspect you like to sing? Anyway, we would be delighted if you can join us."

There. They said it. They said their offer. The question is, do I want to join them? From what I see, the four of them are good friends, having a stranger like me will change the dynamic no matter how small. Not to mention there's still the problem of Akatsuki Runa who is not here now. I don't know why and they don't want to tell me. I can accept that, to be honest. I more or less know of her absence.

Glancing at the four of them, I can still see the hesitation on Kawada's face. Despite being the one who offers me, she is still the one least likely to accept me I think. Mitsushima's face is hopeful that I can't stand to look at him. Akihito is the most neutral, maybe because he knows me before. And Sakuragi's face tells me he doesn't care in the slightest.

So then… how should I answer them? I still have Riku to consider. He's alone in the house, and if band practice makes me come home late, I can't stand not seeing Riku and be there for him. But since yesterday, Riku is trying to be more independent, it shouldn't bother me as much that I will not be home if I join, right? And it's not like I won't see Riku at all. I still will be seeing him in the night.

In the night.

So what is the difference between me and my parents if I come home late, then?

This is a tough decision.

"Can you give me time to consider it? I'm not in the state to do a decision like this right now."

An expression akin to relief comes to Kawada's face.

"That is fine. But please, for Kenzaki-kun, don't take too long," she smiles at me. Yeah. That smile is totally fake. I can see the hesitation and relief on her face before. But nonetheless, I smile back because what's the harm in doing basic courtesy? I don't know how my smile looks like though, with the jumbled mess that is my emotion right now.

"Oh yeah," Akihito suddenly interjects, looking at his watch. "What about our session today, Hanazono-san? Do you still want to do it?"

"Session?" Mitsushima and Sakuragi shouts.

"Huh?"

"Nagai-kun, didn't you say that you have a girlfriend already? And now you're cheating on her with Hanazono-san?" Kawada looks at Akihito with an accusing look. She then shakes her head. "I can't believe you, Nagai-kun."

I truly want to facepalm. Leave it to Nagai to make his friends misunderstand him.

"We have tutoring session with each other. It's not what you think. Nagai needs my help with English, and I need his help in Math."

There, precise and to the point. No room for misunderstanding.

"Speaking of which," I continue. "Akihito-san, Kawada-san here is half-French, am I right? Her English must be good. Why do you need my help anyway?"

Without answering me, Akihito turns to Kawada.

"Mary-san, can you tutor me in English?"

"No way, Nagai-kun."

Akihito then turns back to me and points at Kawada. "Hear that?"

I only stare at him with a deadpan look. I mean, he asks that suddenly, not to mention after I said we tutor each other. Of course, Kawada will say no. The smile on her face also kinda makes me believe my theory more.

"Fine. We can still do it, Akihito-san. Do you want to do it here or in the usual place?"

"Usual place is fine. I'm craving for some hot black coffee."

Speaking of his favorite drinks, it's been a while since I drink mine. Maybe Akihito's choice of place is good.

"If there's nothing else, we can go now, Akihito-san."

And thus, Akihito and I left the school together.

I know I will regret it someday.

A/N: I'm alive! It's alive! I don't know how long I will live this time, but I'm alive!