As expected, class was still in session. Lucas Amaki took out his phone and checked the time. There were still twenty minutes left before the class ended.
He entered the classroom through the back door again and saw Gotoh Hitori listening intently, as if the incident in the previous class had left her on edge. She looked nervous, tense—almost like she was forcing herself to concentrate.
Lucas gave a faint smile and returned to his seat.
He pulled the textbook out of his bag and placed it on the desk.
Then, he gently poked Gotoh Hitori's shoulder with his finger.
She flinched and trembled slightly.
When she turned and saw it was Lucas, her eyes widened.
"L-Lucas, you're back," Hitori whispered.
"Yeah, I'm back. Just had to take care of something."
He smiled calmly. "By the way, where are we right now in the lesson? Can you show me?"
Lucas slid his textbook onto her desk and leaned in slightly.
His body slowly moved closer. Hitori instinctively tried to scoot away but hesitated, clearly anxious.
Lucas pointed at the open book.
"Gotoh-san, could you tell me where the teacher left off?"
Hitori glanced at him nervously, then reached out with a trembling finger and pointed to a spot on the page.
"He… he's on page ten," she said quietly.
"Got it."
Lucas flipped to page ten and realized he had already solved all the exercises on that page.
Just then, the teacher finished explaining a problem and turned around—only to see Lucas leaning close to Gotoh Hitori. His expression darkened.
Even if you're ranked second in the school, the teacher thought, you still have to pay attention in my class.
He picked up a piece of chalk and threw it toward Lucas.
Lucas happened to glance up and noticed it flying toward him. Instinctively, he stood up and used his book to deflect it.
That was close, he thought to himself.
The teacher adjusted his glasses.
"Lucas Amaki, why didn't you inform me before coming back to class?"
Lucas tossed the book back on his desk and chuckled.
"I didn't want to disturb you, sensei. That's why I stayed quiet."
"If you didn't want to disturb me, why were you so close to Gotoh-san?" the teacher asked sternly.
"Oh, that?" Lucas said casually. "I didn't know where we were in the lesson, so I asked Gotoh-san to show me. Just in case you suddenly called on me—I'd like to be able to answer properly."
The teacher narrowed his eyes, then sighed.
"…Forget it. Just sit down."
Lucas sat back in his seat.
"Gotoh-san, sorry. I almost got you in trouble," he whispered.
Hitori shook her head quickly.
"N-no, it's okay…"
"Lucas… you should just stay focused in class. I-I think the teacher's keeping an eye on you now," she said nervously.
"It's fine. Class will be over soon," Lucas replied with a soft smile, glancing at his watch.
Ten minutes later, the bell rang for the lunch break.
Students began pulling their lunch boxes from their bags.
Gotoh Hitori opened her bag and froze—she had forgotten her lunch again.
Lucas opened his own lunch box and noticed Hitori sitting quietly, her head lowered and her expression gloomy.
He figured she must've forgotten it again.
Without a word, Lucas gently placed his lunch box on her desk.
"Here, Gotoh-san. You eat this."
"N-no, Lucas—you didn't even have breakfast this morning. Your body can't handle skipping meals," Hitori said, looking up at him in a panic.
"It's fine. If you don't eat, your body will really suffer."
He gently pushed the lunch box back toward her.
Hitori looked at Lucas, her expression softening. Something in her heart stirred—something she couldn't quite name.
She slowly opened the lunch box. It was filled with almost all of her favorite foods.
Lucas turned away, a little embarrassed.
"Even if we're not a real couple," he muttered, "we still need to understand and support each other."
***
It was late at night.
After taking a shower, Lucas Amaki turned on his phone and saw several unread messages.
He opened LINE and saw that one of them was from Nijika Ijichi, in the group chat they'd created earlier.
Lucas skimmed it briefly and got the general idea.
[Lucas: A performance the day after tomorrow?]
After sending the message, Lucas walked to the kitchen and poured himself a glass of water.
Nijika saw the message and replied immediately.
[Nijika: Yeah, it starts the day after tomorrow. But we still haven't found a lead singer… It'd be great if we could get the one who ran off.]
She sighed quietly behind the screen.
Lucas took a sip of water and picked up his phone again.
[Lucas: In that case… why not just get her back?]
[Nijika: I want to, but she's not from my school district.]
[Lucas: Not from your campus?]
Not from Nijika's campus?
Could she be from his campus?
That… shouldn't be possible. Right?
[Hitori: Nijika… are we really still going to perform without a lead singer?]
[Nijika: Of course we are!]
[Hitori: O-okay… I'll do my best.]
Gotoh Hitori shut her laptop and picked up her guitar. She began practicing quietly, her fingers trembling slightly. It wasn't just about the notes—it was a way to calm herself, a way to forget the stage fright creeping in ahead of the performance.
Lucas glanced at Hitori's message and smiled faintly.
She's growing up.
But a moment later, Lucas fell into deep thought.
Nijika had said the girl wasn't from her school. But Shimokitazawa was nearby, and Lucas's school was the closest one in the area—closer than Nijika's.
There was that girl he saw earlier today. Burgundy hair, lively energy, beautiful voice. She was in his class, but he hadn't paid her much attention. He'd passed her without a second thought.
Could that have been her?
Lucas opened his phone again and searched through his contacts. He found Ryo Yamada, whom he had added before.
[Lucas: Ryo, do you have a photo of your previous lead singer?] (Unread)
He sent the message and waited quietly for a reply.
After a while, the message was marked as "read."
[Ryo: Yeah, I'll send it now.]
(Your friend Ryo has sent you an image.)
Lucas tapped the photo to enlarge it.
It was… a memorial frame. Inside was a high-resolution photo, surrounded by small offerings.
Lucas blinked, stunned.
This level of emotional damage… he thought. They actually framed her picture and made offerings?
But then he remembered that girl from earlier today. The memory was fuzzy, but when he looked at the photo again—he was sure.
It was the same person.
[Lucas: Thanks.]
[Ryo: No problem.]
Lucas exited the chat and glanced at the time. It was already 11:30 p.m.
Gotoh Hitori had still been messaging just a few minutes ago, so she was probably still awake.
He opened their private chat and typed:
[Lucas: Gotoh-san, remember to bring your lunch tomorrow—or you'll end up eating mine again (Unread)
After sending the message, Lucas put on his headphones and started playing music.
Elsewhere, Hitori quietly powered off her computer. She put her guitar down, climbed out of the closet, and walked over to the window. The moonlight spilled gently through the glass.
Time for bed, she thought.
Back in his room, Lucas noticed that ten minutes had passed—and the message was still unread.
She's probably asleep, he thought.
Guess I'll prepare two breakfasts and two lunches again tomorrow. No need for dinner—school never runs that late in Japan anyway.
A girl should really take better care of herself.
Then again…
She just wants to chase her dream with peace of mind.
So I'll take care of the meals.
***
"President, are we supposed to check each class's systems today?"
Sato Koharu asked as she flipped through her notebook, glancing at Tomoki Nagakuni.
"That's right," he replied calmly. "Wait for the vice president. He'll take you."
Tomoki took a sip of his coffee without looking up.
"Huh? You're not coming with us?"
Kuriyama Kia blinked in confusion. "You're letting Lucas take us instead?"
She didn't realize that Tomoki wasn't planning to go at all—and had volunteered Lucas Amaki to lead the group.
Tomoki's jaw tightened slightly. Just yesterday, Lucas had asked for the full student list, saying he was "looking for someone."
Naturally, Tomoki refused. That sort of information wasn't something he could just hand out.
But Lucas had simply smiled and replied, "Then let me handle the class reviews tomorrow. You don't have to go."
Right then, the office door opened.
"Yo, what's everyone doing here so early?"
Lucas strolled in, a casual smile on his face.
"Ah—Vice President," Koharu greeted him cheerfully.
"Yo, idol~" Kia chimed in.
"Good morning, Koharu-senpai, Kuriyama-senpai, and… Sato-san."
Lucas greeted them all with a polite nod.
"Since the vice president's here, you can get going," Tomoki said, standing up.
"Alright, old thief."
Lucas flashed him a grin.
Tomoki's smile froze. Old thief?
Where the hell did that nickname come from?
"Let's go," Lucas said, waving casually as he walked out of the disciplinary office.
"Well then, President—we're heading out."
The three girls followed Lucas.
"Vice President, what grade are we starting from?"
Kuriyama Kia asked, hopping along beside him.
"Let's begin with Grade 1, Class 1," Lucas replied calmly.
"Okay!"
The girls chirped in unison.
As they walked toward the first-year wing, Kia and the others chatted energetically, while Lucas's mind wandered.
Did Gotoh-san eat the breakfast I left for her?
That thought lingered for a moment.
If Tomoki had just given me the list of first-years, I wouldn't have to waste time like this. Guess I'll just have to check every class one by one.
I swear, I'm going to get back at him later.
"Vice President, we've arrived at the first-year building," Koharu pointed out.
"Alright, Koharu-senpai, you go with Kuriyama-senpai. I'll pair up with Sato-san. We'll split up and check different classes."
Lucas smiled.
"Okay!"
The group split up.
"Let's get started," Lucas said.
Koharu and Kia headed to Class 1. Lucas and Shia Sato went to Class 2.
As they passed Class 1, Lucas casually glanced in through the window—but the burgundy-haired girl wasn't there.
No sign of her.
On to Class 2.
Then Class 3.
Still nothing.
Lucas, being a bit more efficient, circled ahead to Class 5 first.
But as he reached the door, a sudden realization hit him—
Wait… this is my own class!
There's no way the burgundy-haired girl is here!
"Hmm? Amaki-san, are you here for the inspection?"
The teacher looked up.
"Uh… cough. I think this one's fine. I'll go on to the next," Lucas said quickly, retreating.
When he reached Class 7, Lucas suddenly stopped.
There she was.
The burgundy-haired girl.
"Sato-san, this is your class, right?"
Lucas turned to Shia.
"Yep, Vice President."
"What's the name of that girl with burgundy hair?"
"Huh? The girl with burgundy hair? Are you talking about Kita again?"
…Kita?
Lucas blinked.
Didn't Ryo say her name was Yudai earlier?
Whatever. Doesn't matter.
Once they finished inspecting all the classes, Lucas turned to Shia.
"Could you call Kita-san out for a moment?"
Soon after, Kita stood before him.
"Kita-san, do you know Yamada Ryo?"
"I do! Senpai Ryo!"
Kita beamed.
Bingo. That's her, Lucas thought.
"I have a question for you," he said gently. "Why did you run away from being the lead singer?"
Kita's entire body stiffened. Her eyes widened.
How does he know?!
Lucas smiled slightly.
"You don't need to wonder how I know."
"Just answer honestly—and I'll tell you afterwards."
Kita hesitated for a long moment, then sighed.
"…Because I can't play guitar."
Lucas almost laughed.
That's it? Perfect. Gotoh-san can teach her.
"Well then, I'll tell you how I found out," Lucas said.
"I met the band. One of your classmates is already part of it."
"Huh?! Really? Who?"
Kita's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"I'll show you after school."
Lucas smiled again.