"Oh, Kisaragi. This is Sena. A friend of mine from middle school," Igarashi introduced. "Sena, Kisaragi."

Sena bobbed his head. So drudged and weary, he surely wasn't the talkative type.

"Sena's great at the synthesizer, so I asked him to help out," Igarashi elaborated. "Also, I finished the lyrics. All that's left is to practice."

I brightened straightaway. "You did?" I dashed to his side, snatching the sheets into my fingers. I recognized most of the notes from the music lessons I attended alongside Rin-Rin growing up, then put it together with the lyrics. Stars filled my eyes. "This is amazing, Igarashi!"

Leaning back on his palm, he waved me on. "Just amazing?"

"Godly! Your talent is beyond this world. It's untouchable!"

"Don't be shy. Keep the praise comin'."

I tapered my lips. "You cockiness could use some adjustments, though."

He haughtily chuckled.

Sena dragged his eyes between us. He cocked his head to the side. "I never expected Toru would get a girlfriend. Let alone one way taller than him."

My heart plummeted to my gut.

Our heads whipped left in sync.

"Girlfriend?" Igarashi gagged.

"You're tripping," I spat. "In what world would I ever date a microorganism?"

"And in what world would I date a dinosaur?"

We glowered at each other, hard.

The fact that somebody would get that idea in the first place was gross. I mean, me and Igarashi? How?

"Did someone mention Toru's girlfriend?" The classroom door slammed open. In entered a beaming Koshiba, but the sheer impact the door made against the wall as well as the malice behind her trademark expression was dangerous. She stomped up to Sena, and gripping his collar, tilted her head. "You're not talking about that grass-eating, crap-spouting, apatosaurus are you?"

This girl. . . !

"Keiko," Igarashi said before she could squeeze the life out of Sena. Up on his feet, straw dangling from his mouth, he jerked his chin up. "Who're they?"

Two boys stood at the threshold of the room, both of whom were quivering in their shoes. Their clothes were also a dishevelled mess, musical instrument cases dangling—proof that they sped here without proper preparation.

Koshiba, ever the saint in front of Igarashi, giggled and skipped over to them. "They're from the Light Music Club. Since I can't play an instrument, I knew you were still in need of members. That's why I asked them to help out and they were very understanding about it."

I could tell straightaway that no asking or agreeing had taken place. They were threatened.

Igarashi grinned anyway. "Let's get to work, then. We only have a few hours 'til the performance. And no matter how disadvantaged we are, we definitely gotta destroy Upperclassman Hanai. Ain't that right, Kisaragi?"

All eyes swivelled in my direction. I smirked.

"More like whoop her butt 'til it's black and blue, but hey, "destroy" works too."

We practiced like our lives depended on it. Replayed the song, sang, and strummed instruments until we were coughing up blood. . .

Okay, blood was an exaggeration. But I was convinced someone at least hacked up a lung. (It was me. I was one who lost a lung).

The few hours we had to rehearse passed in the blink of an eye. Next thing I knew, we'd changed into our gym uniforms, and as soon as the sun began descending in the sky, the Music Festival commenced.

The committee responsible for setting up decorations truly outdid themselves. The gymnasium was sparkling. The outfits performers wore were eye-catching as well. Even some of the crowd had dressed appropriately to match the overall mood.

I spotted a suited man idling by the back doors, conversing with the principal as well as other instructors. It didn't take a genius to piece together he was the one in charge of awarding Upperclassman Hanai today.

Needless to say, by the time we hobbled backstage where the other performers stalled the time, we were given side-eyes. Some whispered about our outfits and how little we cared about the event. Others mentioned how were the ones who stole Upperclassman Hanai's song and shamelessly threatened to win that award as well.

We were not liked at all.

It didn't help when the girl herself entered close to the end of the festival. Her dress was stunning, a royal blue befitting of her beauty. It furled at her heels, akin to the way her mat black hair rolled like rivulets over her shoulders. Seeming to accentuate their leader, her posse carried equal indomitable appeal. Overjoyed whispers and glazed heart-eyes consumed all she passed. And when she came to a halt before us, I was sure I'd stopped breathing entirely.

"Iga," she purred. She didn't address the rest of us. "You truly did show up. You admired my skills and that's why you became a dear friend of mine. As someone who thinks dearly of you too, stop this. There's no need to be at each other's throats when it's clear who'll stand on top."

I balled my fists. It's clear?

"You're right, Upperclassman Hanai," Igarashi said without missing a beat. His nonchalance fortified. "I did admire your skills. I still do even now. But that's exactly why I can't back down. I have to outperform you."

She heaved a breath. Scanning the rest of us over with half-lidded eyes, her attention finally flickered to me.

"She granted you the courage, huh?" she mumbled. "Shiina Kisaragi, is it? I've heard rumours."

My shoulders locked up. She had?

"I admit, I'm horribly disappointed you're not a genuine beanstalk—"

"Hey!"

"—Regardless, are you sure you have the leisure of letting your music be heard in front of this crowd?"

Her smirk broadened. A premonition clenched my stomach.

"What do you. . ."

She spoke her next words quietly enough for only us and her posse to hear. "Tsumugi Tsukahara and Kiharu Shino'oka. They were ever so adorable, spying on our rehearsals. I was left no other choice but to teach them a little lesson in your stead."

My mouth twitched. "Spying?"

"Apparently they heard the rumours and wanted to confirm its legitimacy. Well, not that it matters anymore."

Igarashi snarled. "What did you do?"

"I wonder," she tittered. Twirling on her heels, she vacated the area. "I'd hurry to the rooftop if I were you. Oh, but be sure to hurry back in time for your show. It's right after mine, correct? And we wouldn't want you to have to forfeit before you could have the chance at winning."

Cackling, she vacated the area. Rage rolled off my shoulders, down to my extremities.

"She's blackmailing us?" Koshiba growled, squeezing Sena's arm to the point where he flopped to his knees, grappling for freedom. "That's it! I'm slaughtering her! Let's see her try to win with her head severed from her body—"

Igarashi locked her arms between his before she could dare take off. She thrashed rather heavily in his grip, but Igarashi hadn't the slightest intention of letting go.

"Calm down, Keiko! You nearly broke Sena's arm."

"Don't tell me to calm down! I want blood!" she shrieked, magenta eyes reflecting her malice. "Fresh Motoko Hanai meat!"

Everyone in the room lost colour in their complexions—including spectators. Sena remained writhing pathetically on the ground, the Light Music Club members crouched at his side.

I furled my fingers into tight fists. "I'll hurry back."

Igarashi, who'd shuffled a safe distance from the huffing and puffing girl, furrowed his brows. "You're going to buy what she said? She had to be lying."

"What if she wasn't?"

He didn't have an answer.

I'd already spun on my feet. "It'll only be a quick peek. I'll make it back in time for our performance."

"And if you don't and we forfeit?" He was persistent. "This all would've been for nothing. Tsukahara and Shino'oka aren't kids. They can handle themselves. Besides, would Upperclassman Hanai really do anything illegal?"

I performed an incredulous double-take.

"Okay." He pulled a face. "Bad question. But—"

"I can do it, Igarashi. I'll make it back and we'll take that win." My eyes held his. "You trust me, right?"

Jabbing his palms into his pockets, he expelled a dramatic breath. "Unfortunately."

I cheekily smiled at his sarcasm. Then, sparing the others swift nods, and after Koshiba grabbed me to list off a wide range of tortures to perpetrate against her subordinates, I was off.