Act 1, Chapter 26.5: Living In The One

Friday, 4:15 PM. The Sakuragawa Light Music Club room had emptied, the echoes of Suede’s Death Homesick and the roaring cheers fading into the corridors of the new building.

Hiroki Yamada, Aoi Mizuno, and Junichi Enoshima lingered outside, the weight of their triumphant showcase tempered by Hiroki’s growing unease. Reina Kuroda’s comment about their band name—Suede, already taken by a famous Britpop band—gnawed at him, a splinter in his pride.

Junichi froze, his eyebrow arching in surprise. “What do you mean, change the name?”

Hiroki’s tone was grave. “Suede’s kinda unfitting for our style. It’s taken by that Britpop band. While our sound mostly aligns with the likeness of Muse and Deftones. We need something that hits harder but keeps the beauty of it.”

Junichi nodded slowly, his brows furrowed in deep contemplation as he processed the suggestion. Aoi, her fire from the performance still simmering, chimed in with a nod. “Yeah… I agree with the Dark Lord. We need a new identity, something to shake the audience’s hearts.”

“What do you suggest?” Junichi furrowed his eyebrow, pointing at Hiroki.

Before Hiroki could respond, Takane's bubbly voice cut through. “Hiroki, we’re hitting the mall for bites! Wanna come with us?”

Hiroki forced a conflicted smile, torn between the inviting offer and the weight of his looming responsibilities. "Sorry, I gotta finish homework first.”

“It’s alright! Just this once, ok?” Sara teased, her tomboy gyaru flair sharp to further invite him.

“Mr. Villeneuve will kill me if I don’t immediately submit my math homework!” Hiroki snapped, Scott Ardennes Villeneuve’s stern warnings about his lackluster math performance blackening his sanity.

Hasumi’s hesitant voice broke the banter, and she stood in front of them suddenly. “Um… guys… This might be strange, but… can I stay at your house for a day?” Her eyes darted nervously to Toriteba’s girls, her trauma from her father’s abuse still raw.

The group blinked in unison, their expressions a mix of surprise and admiration for Hasumi's bold request. But before one could respond, Aoi, without hesitation, patted Hasumi’s back. “You can stay at my place for a few days.”

Hasumi’s eyes widened. “Eh? Are you sure? You don’t mind at all?”

Aoi cut her off, her tone firm and unwavering in determination. “Mr. Feng Tsui told me to take care of you for a time being.”

“B-but…” Hasumi stammered, worried about imposing.

Aoi took off her eyepatch, her chuunibyou priestess persona flaring. She extended a hand dramatically. “Hasumi Sakakibara, your soul has been scarred for decades by Lucifer’s disciple. Prolonging your suffering in that accursed kingdom will shatter you into damnation. I, the priestess, shall guide you to revelation and redemption, healing your scarred soul and awakening the light within your faith.”

The group stared, awestruck by Aoi’s theatrical audacity. Hiroki whispered, his uncertainty evident in his tone, “Are you sure you can handle her, Aoi?”

The group suddenly smiled. “It’s your call, Sakakibara-san,” Mei Hashimoto said, surprising Hiroki with her support of Aoi’s audacity.

Hasumi’s eyes welled up, not with pain but gratitude. She lunged, hugging Aoi tightly, her chest nearly smothering her. “Thank you! Thank you! I’m sorry if I was burdening you…”

Aoi smiled softly, returning the hug. “It’s alright. The Priestess protects all scarred souls seeking redemption.”

Hiroki sighed, a mix of resignation and concern in his voice, before conceding, “Fine, Aoi, take care of Hasumi, okay?” He pointed at her, and Aoi nodded.

He turned to Hasumi. “And Hasumi, just let it go, okay?”

“I will,” Hasumi replied, her smile grateful but fragile.

Hiroki’s words felt hollow to himself. Telling Hasumi to let go while Reina’s critique and his math homework loomed was hypocritical. His mind churned, anxiety railing like a runaway freight.

“Hey, Hiroki! Are you coming or not?” Sara called from a distance, already with Junichi, Takane, Mei, and Yuna.

Hiroki hesitated, craving a break from his spiraling thoughts. “Fine, I’m coming!” he conceded, joining the group headed to the mall, leaving Aoi and Hasumi to walk toward Aoi’s apartment.

As they walked, Toriteba’s girls and Junichi chatted and laughed, their voices a lively hum. Hiroki stayed silent, Villeneuve’s warnings and Reina’s words looping in his head. He realized he had to allowing the flow of life to guide him towards a new beginning.