Chapter 8: The Exchange Event and an Unexpected Talent
As the weekend rolled around, the day of the so-called “bonding” karaoke outing arrived.
The sky was clear and bright from morning, a gentle breeze rustling the young cherry leaves. Spring weather at its finest—perfect for a day out.
With plenty of time before the meetup, Kotori’s room echoed with her embarrassment-laden voice.
“No, no, that’s not it. That thing earlier, it’s not what you think…”
“I get it, it’s not like you meant to let it slip, right? It just… came out.”
“Ughhh…”
Kotori, practically radiating mortification, hugged a cushion on her bed, knees tucked up in a triangle. Takumi tried to soothe her.
But when Kotori shot him a sullen glare, clearly unimpressed by the sly grin creeping across his face, Takumi, fully aware of his guilt, shrugged and raised his hands lightly in surrender.
Why was Kotori in such a state? Well, in preparation for today’s karaoke with everyone, they’d gone through one of their “routines.” And for the first time, Kotori had let out a moan.
It was just a small, accidental sound, but a moan was a moan.
Lately, Takumi had been experimenting with ways to make Kotori feel something during their routines, so for him, this was a quiet sense of triumph. A boost to his confidence, even.
That said, he hadn’t meant to embarrass Kotori this much or make her sulk like this—it was beyond what he’d expected.
It wasn’t like he wanted to tease or bully her.
After all, Takumi was her cooperator. If these routines didn’t benefit Kotori, what was the point?
Realizing he might’ve gotten a bit carried away at her expense, Takumi reflected on his actions and asked, a little hesitantly, “Uh, if you didn’t like it, I won’t do anything like today’s routine again…”
Kotori buried her face in the cushion, letting out a low groan for a while.
Then, in a voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz, she whispered, “…’s fine… …it’s okay.”
“Huh?”
“I said it’s fine, like today!”
Not catching her words, Takumi asked again, and Kotori, half-desperate, shoved the cushion at him and shouted.
Then, with a sigh, she stood up, smoothing out her skirt’s hem and muttering, “Ugh, after all that embarrassment, somehow I feel like I can handle going out in casual clothes with everyone…”
“That’s great to hear. By the way, Kotori, that outfit’s got some serious effort put into it, huh?”
Takumi stared at her, genuinely impressed.
Kotori’s look was bold—shoulders and chest slightly exposed, yet elegant and refined in soft, spring-like colors. It was less “hanging out with friends” and more “headed out on a date.” She even looked a touch more mature than usual.
The Kotori, Takumi usually wore plain black sweatshirts, sweats, or jerseys for casual clothes. Compared to those, this was a total transformation.
Kotori spun around, showing off her outfit with a smug “Hmph!” and said, as if lecturing him, “I want Akira-senpai to think I’m a cute kouhai.”
“Oh…”
Kotori’s voice was dreamy, like a girl in love.
Takumi couldn’t help but find her adorable.
“And as a fellow club member, I don’t want Yagi-senpai and the others thinking I’m lame and embarrassing Akira-senpai. Right, Takumi?”
“Guh…”
Kotori’s already sharp eyes narrowed further as she put her hands on her hips, letting out a heavy sigh. She scanned Takumi up and down, then pointed a finger right at his nose.
Today’s Takumi? A generic hoodie and jeans. Barely a step up from loungewear.
Kotori had a point. But going out to hang with people on a weekend? That hadn’t happened since Acchan was around.
Takumi had been so focused on mentally preparing himself to go out that he hadn’t even thought about his clothes until Kotori pointed it out. And now that she had, it was starting to bug him more and more.
Seeing Takumi’s grim expression, Kotori suddenly smiled and softened her tone. “But, y’know, your outfit’s not weird or anything.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Unlike me, it’s… appropriate for hanging out with club friends. It’s fine.”
“Unlike you? So you’re aware of it, huh?”
“Heh, ‘course I am.”
They both burst out laughing, finding each other ridiculous.
Then Takumi, curious about something, asked, “By the way, Kotori, did you get that outfit at, like, Kintaro Mall or something?”
“…Online.”
“…Figured.”
The meetup time and place for the bonding event was noon in front of Rounds.
Arriving too early would mean awkward small talk with whoever else showed up first, but being late would inconvenience everyone.
With that in mind, Takumi and Kotori left the Nabata house aiming to arrive right on time or just a minute early.
To be extra cautious, they took a bus from their neighborhood to avoid running into anyone on the train.
As planned, they reached the spot two minutes before noon. A crowd was already gathered, and at a glance, it looked like almost everyone was there.
Naturally, everyone was in casual clothes. That only made Takumi and Kotori more aware that they were hanging out with friends on a weekend, and their expressions stiffened instinctively.
Then one of the Handicrafts Club members noticed them and called out, “Yo!” waving energetically. The two raised their hands lightly in return and headed over.
But when they saw a certain someone, both Takumi and Kotori let out a simultaneous, “Huh?”
Yagi, grinning mischievously at their reaction.
No glasses today—she was wearing contacts. Her outfit was a refined dress with a cardigan, the epitome of “proper young lady.” Her makeup was on point, a far cry from her usual otaku vibe at school.
Takumi, mouth agape, blinked rapidly, as if questioning whether this was really Yagi.
Clearly pleased with his reaction, Yagi leaned in with a smug, “Well, well? What’s that, Hashio-kun? Finally noticing your big sis’s charm, huh? Take that! And that!”
“Uh, no, I mean…”
Looking at Yagi now, her face was undeniably cute, with a playful charm.
Today’s look gave off a “spirited young lady” vibe. Being elbowed in the ribs by someone so friendly and forward made Takumi’s face flush. His heart was pounding, too. The group around them chuckled warmly.
Yagi pulled back, giggling. “Hashio-kun, you look kinda scary, but you’re such a softie inside, huh? Like a wolf on the outside, but a chihuahua on the inside.”
“Guh…”
She’d hit the nail on the head, and Takumi had no comeback.
Everyone’s gazes were kind, though. And honestly, it didn’t feel bad.
It was proof he was part of the group.
Satisfied with teasing Takumi, Yagi turned her sights on Kotori, letting out a shrill squeal and glomping her. “Kyaa! Nabata-san, your casual clothes are adorable! Did you put in all this effort just to go on a date with me? Huh? Huh? Let’s just get married! I’ll make you happy!”
“Uh, um…”
Kotori, overwhelmed by Yagi’s onslaught, flailed helplessly, looking to Takumi for rescue. He just shrugged.
Everyone else watched with amused smiles, used to Yagi’s antics.
But what Yagi did next was not her usual routine.
After sniffing Kotori, Yagi’s expression turned puzzled, her cheeks flushed, and she murmured in a heated tone, “Nabata-san, you’re kinda… sexy today, huh?”
“!?”
Could it be because of the moan from their routine earlier? Takumi and Kotori both froze, holding their breath.
Now that they thought about it, it wasn’t just the moan—Kotori had been sweatier than usual, too.
As if backing Yagi up, the others chimed in: “Now that you mention it, yeah.” “She’s got this… allure today.” “Even as a girl, I’m kinda drawn in.” “No comment.”
They’d been getting used to it lately, brushing it off, but the reality was clear: having sex as a “routine” to calm their nerves before hanging out with friends was, well, not normal.
If anyone found out, Kotori’s face would go pale as a ghost.
Takumi, though convinced no one could possibly know, felt his cheeks twitch nervously.
Just as they were wondering what to do, a bright voice cut through. “Sooorry! Looks like I’m the last one. Got held up getting ready!”
It was Akira.
She was out of breath, probably from running, scratching her head sheepishly.
The moment Kotori saw her, she shook off Yagi and hid behind Akira. “Akira-senpai!”
“Wah! Geez, Yagi-cchi, you harassing my kouhai again?”
“No, it’s not like that—”
“Ugh, go too far, and I’ll sue, y’know.”
“Guh…”
Yagi, chastised, hung her head in frustration, prompting laughter from the group.
Takumi and Kotori felt their tense bodies relax with Akira’s arrival. The atmosphere lightened considerably. As expected, Akira’s presence made all the difference.
Akira was dressed simply in a sweatshirt and skinny jeans, much like Takumi’s loungewear vibe. Yet, she still looked cute—probably because she was just naturally that good-looking.
(—Huh?)
For some reason, a wave of nostalgia hit Takumi, leaving him blinking in confusion.
While Takumi was thrown off, Kuroda, waiting for the group to settle, spoke up. “Looks like everyone’s here. Let’s head in.”
Kuroda led the way toward Rounds, and the others followed.
For a moment, Takumi felt a pang of anxiety, as if it were presumptuous to join them, but a quick glance and nod with Kotori spurred him to catch up.
Stepping cautiously through the entrance, they saw Kuroda finishing up at the reception desk.
“Ten people, free time. And a drink bar.”
Kuroda took the card with the room number, said, “This way,” and guided everyone with confidence. Was he used to this kind of thing? Takumi squinted at his back, almost dazzled by his composure.
Then, Yagi, walking ahead, muttered in a slightly exasperated tone, “Wow, Kuroda’s really stepping up today, huh?”
Akira tilted her head, looking puzzled. “Huh? He seems the same as always to me.”
Yagi’s eyes widened, and she waved a hand to explain. “No, no, no, Kuroda’s more the type to stay in the background, y’know, like a behind-the-scenes guy. Last year, when we were in the same class, that’s how he was.”
“Ohh, he’s got that super serious side, doesn’t he?” Akira replied.
“So seeing him take charge like this feels kinda… fresh.”
“Hmm?”
As Takumi overheard Yagi and Akira’s conversation, they arrived at the karaoke room.
It was about the size of a living room, decked out with colorful, pop-art walls and sofas. A massive space—maybe one of those party rooms? Even with ten of them, there was plenty of room to spare. Perfect for a big group to cut loose.
Takumi breathed a sigh of relief, grateful he and Kotori had unlocked the “karaoke” achievement beforehand. Diving into a place like this cold would’ve been like jumping into a freezing ocean without warming up. His heart would’ve stopped for sure.
As Takumi cautiously stepped inside and set his stuff down, Kuroda took charge again. “Alright, I’ll order some snacks for us. In the meantime, grab your drinks, and then we’ll toast.”
No one objected, so they headed to the drink bar, Takumi following suit.
Everyone grabbed their preferred drinks and returned to the room. The seating naturally split into guys and girls—or more precisely, the three band guys and the four Handicrafts Club girls. Akira positioned herself between the groups, and Kotori quickly claimed the spot next to her.
Takumi frowned slightly. He should join the guys, but he’d barely spoken to the band members before. Sitting with the girls as the only guy felt awkward, but it was par for the course in the Handicrafts Club. Feeling a bit out of place, he sat next to Kotori.
Soon, the food Kuroda ordered—fried chicken, pizza, and a snack platter—arrived.
It was exactly the kind of smooth, ideal scenario Takumi and Kotori had discussed before.
Takumi quietly marveled, sending Kuroda a mental nod of respect.
Once everyone was settled, Kuroda stood, raised his glass, and cleared his throat. In a slightly nervous voice, he led the toast. “To the success of the Hanabishi Festival!”
““““Cheers!”””” “…Cheers.” “…Yeah.”
Everyone raised their glasses, voices overlapping. Takumi and Kotori joined in a beat late.
They were a tad off, but being in this dreamlike scenario—hanging out with club friends on a weekend, toasting together—filled Takumi with quiet awe. Kotori, next to Akira, looked just as moved.
And just like that, chatter broke out everywhere.
Right in front of them, Yagi was talking to Akira with enthusiasm. “Seriously, I’m so glad Ikoma-san joined the band! Since it’s all guys, the “Furīze” costumes we made were either gonna need someone to cross-dress or get shelved!”
Other club members chimed in, “That was such a lifesaver!” “Worst case, one of us was gonna have to skip playing to wear it on stage!” Laughter followed.
Akira gave a wry smile. “I feel bad I couldn’t help with the costume-making…”
But the girls reassured her, “Having two helpers is a godsend!” “The embroidery’s, like, insanely high-quality now!” Takumi and Kotori blushed, looking down in embarrassment.
The praise still felt overwhelming, and they mostly just listened, but it was clear they were making progress in conquering their youth. The sense of accomplishment was real.
As Takumi quietly reveled in his growth, Yagi dropped a bombshell. “So, like, are Nabata-san and Hashio-kun dating?”
““Huh?””
Takumi and Kotori let out identical, dumbfounded noises.
Why? How’d it come to that?
The question was so absurdly out of left field they had no prepared response.
Flustered, their eyes darted around as the other club members piled on with curiosity.
“Ooh, we’re dying to know!”
“I mean, that reaction’s super sus!”
“You guys are always together when you come to the clubroom!”
“Even today, you showed up side by side, right?”
“C’mon, how’d you two meet?”
Panicking and at a loss, Takumi and Kotori looked to Akira for help.
Akira put a finger to her chin, smiling softly and tilting her head with genuine curiosity. “You two were together when you said you wanted to join the volunteer club, so I’ve been wondering what your deal is.”
“I-It’s just that Kotori and I have known each other forever ‘cause our houses are close!”
“Y-Yeah, there weren’t many people from our middle school who went to this high school, so…”
Desperately trying to explain to Akira that it was nothing special, Takumi and Kotori stumbled over their words.
But Akira, seeming satisfied, clapped her hands together. “Got it! So you’re, like, childhood friends, right?”
“Uh, well… we’ve never really talked about it like that,” Takumi said.
“Y-Yeah… Hashio and I only started talking a lot recently,” Kotori added.
Childhood friends. Another unexpected term. They scrambled to correct it.
But Yagi and the others lit up, grinning mischievously. “Ohhh, so that’s how it is!” “So it’s, like, a developing thing, huh?” They just kept smirking.
This was bad.
If they got the wrong idea and started spreading weird rumors, it could derail Kotori’s goal of finding a cool boyfriend and living a sparkling high school life.
Takumi grimaced, his face twisting into his usual “villain” look, but Yagi and the others, used to it by now, didn’t bat an eye and kept chattering. Kotori just flailed helplessly.
Then, Kuroda’s sharp voice cut through. “Hold up, Hashio and Nabata-san aren’t dating, right?”
“Y-Yeah!” Takumi quickly agreed.
“…Mhm!” Kotori nodded rapidly, uncharacteristically fast.
“If they’re not into it and we keep hyping it up, it’s just gonna make things awkward for them, yeah?”
Kuroda’s scolding tone made Yagi blink, then, realizing she’d gone too far, she stuck out her tongue slightly. “Whoops, got carried away. Sorry!” The other members followed suit, mumbling, “Yeah, maybe we overdid it.” “My bad.”
Just then, an upbeat song started playing—someone had put in a track.
One of the guys grabbed the mic and stood up. Kuroda clapped encouragingly, and soon others joined in. The guy scratched his head, looking shy. The room’s vibe shifted noticeably.
(…Wow.)
Not only had Kuroda bailed them out, but he’d also smoothed over the awkwardness. Takumi stared at him with a mix of awe and envy.
After that, the group naturally split into those singing and those chatting.
People swapped between groups, each buzzing with energy.
Takumi and Kotori, of course, stuck to the chatting group.
The topic was, predictably, the Hanabishi Festival. They talked about spotting the Rakugo Research Club practicing skits at school, wondering about the special menu at the shopping street, and so on.
Takumi, not great at conversations, just nodded with “Oh?” or “Huh,” but the topics were interesting enough that listening alone was surprisingly fun.
Being part of a group conversation like this made his heart race with excitement.
Kotori, next to him, was the same—her usual curt “Hmm” or “Oh” responses came with a forward lean, clearly engaged.
Maybe their next goal should be unlocking the “sing at karaoke” achievement. Starting with just the two of them.
As Takumi mulled this over, a refreshing scent tickled his nose. Sweet, tart, and unmistakably girly.
A shiver ran through him.
He knew this scent—it was the same perfume Kotori had recommended to him before.
Caught off guard, memories of that moment flooded back, and his instincts, like Pavlov’s dog, started craving Kotori.
—This is bad.
Appalled at his lack of self-control, Takumi chugged his oolong tea to suppress it.
Then, without a word, he raised his empty glass as if heading to the drink bar, quietly slipping out of his seat to avoid attention.
Outside, Takumi let out a small breath.
But his chest still swirled with raw, messy emotions. He needed to calm down, fast.
Feeling self-loathing, he shuffled toward the drink bar, hunched over, since he’d come this far.
Not watching where he was going, he bumped shoulders with someone.
“Oh.”
A low voice escaped. Looking up, he saw a woman in flashy clothes—the kind of person Takumi, frankly, wanted to avoid.
“Hey—eek!”
She started with an annoyed tone but yelped when she saw Takumi’s face, which was probably looking 50% more villainous than usual.
Unsure how to handle it, Takumi’s expression grew even grimmer, turning into a glare.
Instead of backing off, though, she inexplicably glared back, refusing to move.
Takumi was at a loss when a guy suddenly stepped between them.
“Oi, you! Who do you think you’re messing with, huh!?”
“…”
He had flashy hair and clothes, the kind of guy you’d call a delinquent or yankee. Apparently thinking Takumi was hitting on his girlfriend, he got riled up and grabbed at him.
“Say something, punk!”
“Huh?”
“You mocking me!?”
“Not really.”
“Grrr!”
Takumi’s usual social anxiety kicked in, giving curt responses, which only made the guy think he was being mocked, his face turning redder with rage.
Inside, Takumi was panicking, sweating bullets. Sure, he looked like he could fit in with them, but he was just a socially awkward mess.
He wanted to bolt, but fear froze his legs. Standing there was all he could manage.
What now?
A fight was out of the question. Takumi was, frankly, weak.
But the guy didn’t seem like he’d back down either.
Resigning himself to taking a few punches, Takumi braced—when a bright voice rang out.
“Hey, there you are! Hashio-kun, c’mon, let’s go!”
“Akira-senpai!?”
Akira, appearing out of nowhere, ignored the tense atmosphere and looped her arm through Takumi’s.
Inevitably, they ended up pressed close. Though he knew it was inappropriate, Takumi was startled by the soft, small, distinctly feminine feel of her body. A faint, sweet floral scent wafted from her.
It was different from Kotori’s perfume.
But it was unmistakably a scent that screamed girl.
His heart skipped a beat, yet somehow his mind felt oddly calm, reassured even. The impure urges Kotori had stirred earlier dissipated like mist. And for some reason, he felt a pang of nostalgia.
“C’mon, hurry up!”
“R-Right.”
Flustered, Takumi let Akira drag him along.
But just then, the guy snapped out of his daze and reached for Akira, as if to stop her. “Hey, what’s with this chick all of a sudden?! Hold up—”
Akira grabbed his arm, twisted it up, and unleashed an icy voice. “Huh? You trying to touch me?”
“!?”
The guy let out a filthy yelp from the pain.
Akira gave him a single, dismissive glance, released his arm, and snorted as if bored.
Takumi couldn’t see her face from where he stood.
The woman, trembling with a pale face, clung to the guy’s arm and whispered desperately, “C’mon, let’s just go…”
“Y-Yeah…”
The two hurriedly scurried off.
Once they were out of sight, Akira let out a “Phew.”
The tension in the air eased. Akira released Takumi’s arm, turned to him, and peered at his face with concern. “Hashio-kun, you okay?”
“Y-Yeah, thanks to you, Akira-senpai. Thank you.”
“No prob. Those types are such a pain, right?”
“Weren’t you scared of that guy, Akira-senpai?”
“Scared?”
“I was so freaked out, I froze up.”
“Haha, good thing I came by then, huh?”
“Seriously, you saved me.”
Takumi’s words were heartfelt.
With his appearance, he’d occasionally been hassled by shady types before.
But being saved like this? That was a first.
Akira smiled brightly, as if it were no big deal.
Takumi’s chest warmed. She really was an incredible senpai.
Her warmth and touch still lingered on the arm she’d grabbed.
Yet, no impure thoughts arose. Instead, his heart tightened, aching sweetly.
Something unfamiliar was seeping into him.
But it wasn’t bad.
In fact, he wanted to cherish this feeling.
As Takumi mulled over this strange emotion, Akira put a hand to her chin and asked, “That guy aside, you doing okay otherwise?”
“Huh?”
“When you left the karaoke room earlier, you looked kinda sick.”
Apparently, Akira hadn’t followed him by chance—she’d noticed something was off with him. Her thoughtfulness made his feelings for her swell even more.
But he couldn’t exactly be honest about it, so he stammered out an excuse. “Uh, the smell—or, like, the vibe… Too many people, y’know…”
“Ohh, got overwhelmed by the crowd, huh? So you came out for some air.”
“Y-Yeah, exactly.”
She’d conveniently misunderstood, so he went along with it.
“Wanna chill here for a bit before heading back?”
“Yes!”
After returning to the room with Akira, the rest of the time passed without incident, filled with fun.
A glance at his phone showed it was nearly six—closing in on the end of their free time slot.
They’d managed to hit their goal for the day.
But then, a girl from the singing group, fresh off her turn, shifted the mood with her words. “Phew, I sang! Hey, Nabata-san, you haven’t sung once, have you?”
Others jumped in, egging her on. “I kinda wanna hear Nabata-san sing!” “Me too!” “I’m curious what she sounds like!”
“I-I’m not good at singing…” Kotori waved her hands weakly, trying to signal she couldn’t.
But they kept pressing her.
It was a bad turn. Even alone with Takumi the other day, she’d hesitated. Singing in front of everyone? She didn’t have the experience points yet. Not enough achievements unlocked.
Kotori’s eyes were already teary, pleading with Takumi for help, but he could only grimace, out of ideas.
Then Akira flashed a bright smile, held out her hand to Kotori, and suggested, “Wanna sing with me? I’m, like, awful, but still!”
“Huh?”
An invitation from Akira changed everything. Her words had this strange power to make you feel like it’d be okay.
Kotori’s eyes widened, and she hesitated for a moment. Then, timidly, she took Akira’s hand and joined the singing group.
After some chatter with them, their turn came up, and the song’s intro started. By chance, it was the “Furīze” opening theme—the one Kotori had wanted to sing before.
Even with Akira, Kotori couldn’t shake her nerves.
Her body was rigid with tension, her face pale.
As Takumi watched anxiously, the lyrics appeared on the screen—
““Here we go~♪”” ““H-Here—!?””
—Akira’s wildly off-key, ear-splitting voice echoed. Her rhythm and pitch were all over the place, her voice absurdly loud for such terrible singing.
Yet she wasn’t embarrassed at all—she owned it. She even threw a peace sign at them, as if she’d nailed it.
Laughter broke out from someone, spreading to the whole group. Takumi, feeling guilty, couldn’t hold back his chuckles either.
After finishing the first verse, Akira winked at Kotori, as if to say, See? It’s fine even if you suck.
Kotori, her nerves seemingly eased by Akira’s performance, smiled softly as the short interlude ended and started singing.
““The story—♪””
“!?” ““““!?””””
A shiver shot down Takumi’s spine.
The others felt it too—laughter stopped dead, and they stared, dumbfounded, but for a different reason than with Akira.
A lovely, majestic, yet crystal-clear voice filled the karaoke room.
The song wove the world of “Furīze”, and everyone could almost see it.
It wasn’t just a pretty voice or skillful singing.
Everyone was captivated by Kotori’s voice, forgetting to breathe.
Lost in her first karaoke performance, Kotori didn’t notice the room’s reaction.
—She didn’t know.
Seeing this side of Kotori he’d never known sent an uneasy stir through Takumi’s chest.
The song ended while everyone was still stunned.
Kotori, finally looking away from the monitor, noticed the attention on her.
“Uh, um… I’m done…”
Embarrassment hit her all at once, and she shrank into herself.
Her words snapped everyone back, and thunderous applause erupted, startling her into jumping.
Confused and fidgeting, Kotori didn’t know how to handle it. Yagi, snorting with excitement, grabbed her hand. “Nabata-san, you’re doing vocals!”
“Huh!?”
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