I_LOVE_RICE+

V6 Chapter 57: Umiri Is Not an Ordinary Girl

"Three" people going together.

If Misumi Uika were to directly invite Haru alone to the planetarium to stargaze, her intentions would have been far too transparent; just the two of them [one boy and one girl] going somewhere together clearly amounts to a "date."

Such a blatantly suggestive and ambiguous move was obviously out of the question for someone like Uika, who was deeply concerned about how Haru perceived her.

She couldn't rush things.

Though H...

V6 Chapter 56: Want to Stay Together?

Haru didn't make this decision lightly.

The moment he brought Misumi Uika into his apartment, he had already sensed something wasn't right.

The Uika he knew always carried a calm, pure smile, as if she were the elegant moonlight that graced the stage, but even a girl that graceful and serene was constantly burdened with responsibilities far beyond her years, pushing herself to the brink, her nerves strung tight until she would eventually break.

She looked like a perfectly cr...

V6 Chapter 55: Calm Down, First You Need to Calm Down:

The girl standing in front of him clutched the white towel Haru had handed her. But her sun-bright blonde hair had dulled to a muted matte shade, and her downcast face showed nothing but unease and anxiety. Deep in her tired eyes flickered a faint, hidden hope.

Ever since that veiled confession had been rejected, the two of them could no longer interact like ordinary friends.

And even more so after Uika Uika had seriously told him she wouldn't give up despite his rejection. By say...

V6 Chapter 54: I Don’t Like Sour Plum Juice

The elegant woman with purple hair sat across from him, her diamond-like pink eyes half-lidded as the chilled beer in her glass fizzed and foamed gently. Her mature and beautiful face was now tinted with a soft flush from the alcohol.

"Are you dating Sakiko?"

The question drifted over lazily, somewhere between teasing and murmured curiosity, like she was speaking to herself or perhaps just using the excuse of drunkenness to voice a thought she'd been holding in.

Whether Yuut...

V6 Chapter 53: Don’t Tell Me You’re Trying to Flirt With Me Too?

The stylish older woman standing in front of Haru had short, tousled hair dyed a muted, matte violet bob. Her mature figure and trendy outfit gave off a radiant, magnetic charm.

But offsetting that mature allure was the slight curl of her lips and the soft pink gaze hidden beneath oversized sunglasses with subtle signs of mischief and playfulness that gave her a more youthful, teasing feel.

Haru, feeling slightly uneasy, stared at the troublesome woman in front of him. After a mom...

V6 Chapter 52: I Refuse.

Yahata Umiri regularly supported a few familiar bands and LiveHouses, and since today was a Sunday, that list was even shorter.

Having partnered with her many times before, Haru had no trouble narrowing down where she would be. That's exactly how he and Taki were able to intercept her.

Looking at Umiri's composed expression, Haru spoke with a deliberately relaxed tone. "I'll go grab some takoyaki. You two go ahead and sit down."

When in doubt, eat first.

"…"

Um...

V6 Chapter 51: Why Lie?

Morning light trickled in as the sun began to rise.

With the buzzing of message alerts coming from his phone, a slender right hand reached lazily out from beside the bed and silenced the notifications. Haru shut his eyes again.

Only after a sluggish five-minute routine of waking up did he finally sit up, his mind still foggy.

Outside, soft rays filtered through curtains as thin as silk. Dust and lint floated in the air, catching the light in a golden haze. Two bristle oil pa...

V6 Chapter 50: Kita Ikuyo

"Hehe."

Ikuyo-san gently shook her head, eyes narrowing in a dreamy squint as a silly laugh bubbled from her lips. Pressed close to Haru's side, her gaze slowly filled with a lingering tenderness that refused to fade.

The way the boy in front of her had just surrendered and gone along with her wishes made Ikuyo's heart feel like it was steeped in caramel macchiato laced with honey syrup.

So Haru actually cared more about her feelings than she thought?

"Haru, have you e...

V6 Chapter 49: Weren’t We Supposed to Be Here to Sing?

He couldn't shake the feeling that something about this place was off in a strange way.

"Huh? Since when does this place give out free appetizers?"

Sitting across from him, Kita Ikuyo blinked, clearly puzzled. The last time she came here with Bocchi, there was no such thing as a complimentary dish, let alone two at once.

Suddenly, she remembered that after the band's first celebration party, the owner had also brought out some dishes on the house.

So this so-called "se...

V6 Chapter 48: I Have to Confess First.

Saturday, 9:45 AM

To make sure today's date would become a fond memory for both of them, Haru had dressed with particular care.

A plain white sweatshirt paired with loose brown slacks and clean black-and-white sneakers though it was a safe, unremarkable combo, worn by a handsome boy like him, the effect was surprisingly powerful.

"..."

Haru glanced at his phone. There were still fifteen minutes left before the time they had agreed to meet.

Knowin...

V6 Chapter 47: Now There's No Backing Out!

"What's wrong?"

The sudden sound of the girl's voice made Haru raise an eyebrow. Nijika, walking beside him, seemed about to say something.

But just as she was about to ask that question, a flicker of embarrassment crossed her delicate face. The words had already reached her throat, but they caught there, unable to come out. She lowered her head and let out a few awkward laughs.

In the end, she still couldn't bring herself to say what was in her heart.

She wan...

V6 Chapter 46: Memories in a Dream

The next day, 4:00 p.m.

The bond woven by notes and emotion wrapped itself around the heart. Music's roaring surge and the lively voice of a girl filled the streets of Shimokitazawa. As the final booming chord of the guitar faded, the graceful melody reached its perfect conclusion.

The girls, their foreheads lightly dusted with sweat, beamed with joy. It felt as though even the heaviest gloom had been instantly scattered.

Leaning against a stone pillar, Haru watched the grou...

V6 Chapter 45: Haru Doesn’t Like Me at All

"..."

With her brows furrowed, Nijika stared seriously at Summer's Bloom. The mixture of confusion and melancholy on her face piqued the curiosity of the blonde woman beside her.

From her appearance alone, she was just a cute high school girl who clearly didn't know the first thing about fine art. So why was she making that kind of expression?

The girl's face made the woman raise an eyebrow. Her voice was calm as she asked, "You seem to see something different in th...

V6 Chapter 44: Taki-san Wasn’t Lying

The streetlights on both sides slowly lit up, casting a soft, warm yellow glow over the asphalt road.

Tonight's sky seemed different from just lifting your head, you could see the silvery moonlight stretching across the heavens. Even the air carried that uniquely crisp scent of autumn.

Footsteps echoed clearly in the quiet of the autumn night. The black-haired girl ahead walked without a word, leading Haru forward. Their silhouettes passed through the stillness of the street until...

V6 Chapter 43: But We’re Still High Schoolers!

"Eh?"

Nijika blinked slowly. Her brain couldn't quite process what she'd just heard. Ryo's words were all perfectly ordinary ones she recognized. But put together like that, they made no sense at all.

The bizarre thought process and the absurd scene in front of her combined into one massive shockwave.

Go to a hotel?

"Wait, wait, wait!! Ryo, what are you even saying?!"

"Why would you take Haru to… to that kind of place?! What exactly are you pl...

V6 Chapter 42: Let Me Go!

"If not, then we have no reason to stay in contact anymore."

Ryo, clutching tightly at Haru's collar, spoke in a voice cold as ice.

Her breathtakingly beautiful face was suddenly tinged with a chill. Her flawless, pale arms, soft as lotus roots, gently encircled Haru's neck. To an outsider, they might've looked like lovers about to kiss, locked in an intimate embrace.

But to Haru, this moment was anything but romantic.

"...You want me to go with you now?"

Pressed...

V6 Chapter 41: Come With Me, and Everything Will Be Fine

No matter how high the notes soar or how powerful the rhythm shakes your soul, every performance must eventually end.

As the final guitar riff of STARRY's last band faded into the air, the impactful event officially drew to a close. The once-bustling hall returned to its original silence as the amplifiers powered down.

Shortly after MyGO's performance, the girls gradually departed the LiveHouse.

Days of intense training and the emotionally charged events of the day had left ...

V6 Chapter 40: Just Like That Day?

The performance was nearing its end.

Three intense original songs back-to-back had pushed their stamina to its limit. As the drummer, Taki had stayed completely focused, gripping her sticks with all her strength from start to finish. Deep in the zone, she hadn't even registered the crowd's reactions. Her pounding heart felt synchronized with the beats she hammered out.

With a final slam of her right stick, the last note echoed into silence. The lingering melody dissolved into the ...

V6 Chapter 39: Looking to the Future

"MyGO, time to get on stage!"

Peeking her head in from behind with her signature antenna hair bouncing, Nijika called out cheerfully. But the moment she spotted Haru, she turned bright red and quickly ducked away, leaving the one being "avoided" with a rather complicated look on his face.

Her appearance instantly lit up the eyes of Anon, who had been bickering with Taki. With her usual bubbly energy, Anon dashed over and grabbed Nijika's hand, shaking it excitedly.

"Nijika-s...

V6 Chapter 38: If It's Nijika...

"Have you ever thought about the future?"

The blonde girl, hands clasped behind her back, suddenly blurted out the question, as if compelled by some invisible force.

Right after speaking, the girl who always smiled as warmly as the sun froze for a moment. As Nijika realized what she'd just said, a faint regret started to well up from deep inside, flooding her thoughts.

What was she doing? How could she ask that?

Snapping back to herself, Nijika quickly stepped closer t...

V6 Chapter 37: Have You Thought About the Future?

After finishing up the dishes in the kitchen with practiced ease, Haru exhaled and let his thoughts drift as layers of sound began to roll in from the practice room. He smiled and shook his head, his mind gradually settling as his mood calmed.

He hadn't forgotten the heartfelt words the little penguin had shared last night on the sofa.

Since CRYCHIC's disbandment, everyone except Togawa Sakiko seemed to have moved on. Though there was still a lingering awkwardness between Soyo-san...

V6 Chapter 36: Human Nature Is Always a Compromise

It wasn't until all the girls from the "night raid" had finally left his room that Haru, whose nerves had been taut for half the night, was able to let out a strained sigh of relief. Just in case anyone was planning a "round two," he locked the door from the inside this time.

Granted, the lock wouldn't do much to stop Soyo-san, but at least it would hold off the others.

Unless Soyo decided to switch sides and actively lead the pink-haired general into the village.

After trip...

V6 Chapter 35: Humbled Girl GO

Bang bang bang!

A heavy, urgent knocking echoed through the room. At the same time, the doorknob outside could be heard rattling violently.

If Haru hadn't had the foresight to lock the door in advance, whoever was on the other side would've burst in without hesitation. That level of aggression clearly didn't belong to some sleepy little stray cat.

That left only one likely candidate outside the door: his good buddy, Shiina Taki.

"Kazami?! Haru...

V6 Chapter 34: And Another One

Oh no!

Even someone as thick-skinned as Nagasaki Soyo was instantly thrown into a panic.

She'd been so nervous when she came in that she forgot to lock the door, and now she was practically entangled with Haru in an extremely compromising position. If someone walked in, it'd be obvious at a glance.

At the exact moment her mind went blank, Haru, who had quickly recovered from his shock, scooped her up without a word and carried her toward the wardrobe.

There was no time...

V6 Chapter 33: Soyo, a Woman of Wolfish Ambition!

By the time all the girls had finished their baths, it was already ten o'clock at night.

Though today's practice hadn't gone well, it was far too late to keep training.

"Everyone has to get up early tomorrow. That'll be our last rehearsal before the show!"

With arms crossed and brows furrowed, Shiina Taki stood with an air of solemn command. In contrast, Chihaya Anon looked thoroughly disappointed.

She even pulled out a handful of board games and playing cards from her...

V6 Chapter 32: Was His Imagination Just Too Vivid?

Drip~

A crystal-clear droplet fell from the tip of his black hair, sending gentle ripples across the water's surface.

A long, relaxed exhale sounded nearby. Kazami Haru, his black eyes nearly closed, lifted his head to look at the unfamiliar ceiling of the bathroom. His body, completely submerged in hot water, felt so weightless it was as if he couldn't summon the strength to move at all.

To be fair, Soyo-san's bathtub was enormous.

"Whew…"

The...

V6 Chapter 31: “Do You Have to Undress to Use the Bathroom?”

One hour earlier~

In the crisp days of autumn, the students of Tsukinomori Girls' Academy had already switched out their pure white summer uniforms for elegant dark-blue blazers with white collars. Youthful vibrance bloomed throughout this garden of girls.

As the instructor exited through the main classroom doors, Nagasaki Soyo had barely able to contain the flutter in her chest as she rose from her seat with a beaming smile. Her softly curled brown hair ...

V6 Chapter 30: What About You?

"…You're really blunt, Umiri. And here I thought you liked Haru too."

As if they were just chatting about something trivial, the golden-haired girl spoke lightly, her tone casual.

Uika still wore that breezy smile as she stood with her hands behind her back, gazing quietly at the wide blue sky. Her shimmering gold ponytail swayed with the autumn wind.

The moment she turned to look back, her eyes those dazzling violet gems seemed to draw the soul right out of you.

"�...

V6 Chapter 29: Was That a Rejection?

"Please wait!"

Still holding her chopsticks, Kita suddenly called out.

Her voice made Togawa Sakiko, who had been about to walk away, pause with a slight frown. The blue-haired "octopus girl" looked puzzled for a brief moment, but responded coolly as ever.

"Do you need something?"

"You're Togawa-san, right? First year at Haneoka like us?"

Kita Ikuyo wore a bright, beaming smile as she looked directly at the prickly blue-haired girl. Sakiko, clearly caught off gua...

V6 Chapter 28: Taki-san, Save Me!

"As a member of Mygo!!!!!!, of course you're going to live with us too, right?"

That gentle voice of Soyo lingered around Haru's ears. Realizing something all of a sudden, he turned to look at Nagasaki Soyo's beautiful face with a peculiar expression.

But instead of avoiding his gaze, Soyo met his eyes directly, a faint glint of something unreadable flickering across her gaze.

Unfortunately for him, she had never planned to draw a line from the start.

Kazami Haru, who ...