Act 1, Extra Chapter 3: Suspenseful Third Day

Friday, 3:00 PM. The Light Music Club's activity was on hold, its club room under renovation, leaving Hiroki Yamada with a rare moment of solace after conquering his backlog of homework. The struggles of math assignments and late-night study sessions had paid off, but a new tension loomed.

A summons from Kagura Shinozaki, Sakuragawa High’s headmaster, demanded his presence in her office alongside Aoi Mizuno and Hasumi Sakakibara. Hiroki’s stomach churned as he walked the quiet halls, his mind racing with fears that Aoi’s violent rescue of Hasumi from her abusive father had landed them in trouble. Though he wasn't actively involved, he was just a witness.

The weight of his band’s new name, Shiguri, and the rumor of Ren Takahashi’s throat cancer lingered, but this meeting felt like a different kind of storm.

Inside the headmaster’s office, Hiroki, Aoi, and Hasumi sat on a guest couch, the air thick with tense silence. The room was austere, its polished desk and neatly arranged books a stark contrast to the chaos of the LMC.

Kagura Shinozaki, a former JSDF elite operator turned headmaster, sat with a firm posture, arms crossed, her piercing gaze softened by a surprising gentleness. "Good evening, Hasumi Sakakibara, Aoi Mizuno, and Hiroki Yamada," she began, her voice steady yet warm.

Hiroki, his nerves frayed, spoke first. "Pardon, Miss Shinozaki, did we do something wrong?"

Shinozaki’s eyes shifted to Hasumi, who stared at her knees, her face shadowed with a darkened glare. "It’s about Hasumi Sakakibara’s father, Iseki Sakakibara." Shinozaki's tone was grave. "Child abuse, domestic abuse, infidelity, bribery, election rigging, money laundering, collusion, nepotism, and illegal trades."

Hiroki’s breath caught. The extensive list of Iseki's crimes was staggering, leading Hiroki to question Shinozaki's specific attention on Hasumi. "What does that have to do with her, sorry?" he asked, his voice tinged with curiosity and defensiveness.

Shinozaki’s arms tightened, her expression darkening. "It's unfortunate that Hasumi was unaware of her entanglement in her father's criminal activities. She wasn’t an active participant, but her father used illicit funds to bankroll her education, rig her piano competitions, and grant her undue privileges from elementary through middle school." Her words struck like a lightning bolt, causing Hasumi to flinch, her hands tightly clutching her skirt.

Hiroki and Aoi shot to their feet, stunned. "B-But... Hasumi was the victim here." Hiroki protested softly, his voice firm with disbelief. "How could Miss Shinozaki blame her for her father’s sins?"

Shinozaki’s detective-like resolve didn’t waver. "Even passively accepting bribes constitutes a criminal offense under the law. For her own good, we must transfer her to another academy—or, ideally, arrange homeschooling with selected—"

Aoi cut in, her voice rising, stripped of her usual chuunibyou flair. "Our deepest apologies, Miss Shinozaki. But this is out of hand! Wouldn’t it be better if we gave her a sliver of liberation? Don’t miss Shinozaki; see how the shackle of her father’s abuse has crushed her into the depth of the inferno." Hiroki marveled at Aoi’s audacity, her fierce defense of Hasumi unwavering.

But Shinozaki doubled down, her glare icy, and her tone stayed firm. "We cannot risk the reputation of the school by accommodating children associated with criminal activities. Even if Hasumi was a victim, allowing her to remain risks tarnishing the reputation of Sakuragawa, under the management of the Demiurge Institution. It’s no different from harboring a convicted felon."

Her words stunned Hiroki and Aoi into silence, the weight of her logic like a death warrant. He knew that debating a former JSDF operative felt futile, her authority and her immense knowledge unyielding.

Shinozaki softened slightly, concluding, "This is for Hasumi’s sake—to regain her good reputation by starting from scratch."

Aoi’s eyes blazed with defiance, locked on Shinozaki. "That will only isolate her further! Hasumi’s fighting to break free from her shackles, and we’re helping her by any means!"

Shinozaki’s retort was sharp but remained low. "Do you want the LMC branded as a club of lovesick, scandal-ridden teenagers? And you want to further stain it by harboring the daughter of a corrupt man?"

The argument teetered on explosion, Hiroki frozen, caught in a debate that threatened to drag their reputations into the mud. Before anyone could speak, Hasumi’s quiet and defeated voice cut through. "I’ll accept it."

The room fell silent. Hiroki and Aoi turned to Hasumi with a surprised gasp, her head bowed and heavy with the resignation’s pressure. "My existence here just burdens everyone," she murmured, her glare darkening as anxiety consumed her.

Hiroki stepped forward, desperate to console her. "Don’t say that, Hasumi! You’re not—" But Aoi’s hand on his arm stopped him. Hasumi’s self-blame was a wall they couldn’t breach; pushing her further might shatter her.

"I feel like… I don’t belong here," Hasumi whispered, her voice barely audible.

The silence deepened, Hiroki and Aoi spiraling in confusion. Shinozaki’s decision to transfer Hasumi or force homeschooling stood firm, her logic rooted in protecting the school’s image.

They couldn’t blame her—she was bound by duty—but Hasumi’s self-loathing fueled their dread. Her departure could hollow out the LMC, a club built on bonds as much as music. But it felt fragile, its promise of unity threatened by this fracture.