Form a lifelong band

[And so, your trio band was officially formed!]

[You only found out later that Dong Qian and Rin had actually known each other before—though only as acquaintances. It was through your connection that Dong Qian finally had the chance to join your band.]

[With Qianqian’s addition, your band’s skill level rose significantly. Dong Qian was a seasoned pianist from childhood. All three of you were highly skilled. The only issue now was coordination.]

[You and Rin didn’t need words—your connection was seamless. The real challenge was Dong Qian. Though technically excellent, she couldn’t sync with you. She kept playing on her own, out of rhythm.]

[Dong Qian felt deeply guilty. She didn’t want to be a burden, but she just couldn’t keep up. Still, you and Rin reassured her—it was fine. Since you’d accepted her as a member, she’d never be seen as dead weight.]

[Dong Qian was moved, but your kindness only made her feel worse. She hated that she couldn’t match your pace. Why couldn’t she ever fit into your world?]

[You worried for her too. So you went to her house, practicing together to improve your coordination. With your help, Dong Qian quickly caught up.]

[The three of you shared your most beautiful days. You became inseparable friends. Your souls resonated through your instruments, vibrating at the same frequency. You swore to each other: “We’ll play together for life.”]

[You began to notice that Dong Qian had feelings for you that went beyond friendship.]

“Huh? Don’t scare me! What if I end up with the class monitor before even finding the Golden Apple? That’d be game over.”

[But you carefully avoided her advances—because your heart already belonged to someone else.]

[Her name… was Tohyama Rin.]

“Yay~ This time I’m definitely staying on track. I’m such a loyal person~”

[Still, you didn’t want to hurt Dong Qian. You gently declined each time. You cared for her deeply—your time studying together was a cherished memory.]

“Huh?”

[Recently, Rin seemed… off. She often sat alone on the rooftop, lost in the cold wind. Even you, her “other half,” couldn’t understand what she was thinking.]

[This quiet girl, always composed, actually carried a colorful yet lonely world inside.]

[So you decide…]

[a, go understand her problems]
[b, pay more attention to Dong Qian’s condition]
[c, assign Rin more practice, helping her forget her troubles through busyness]

“The second option is definitely out. If I pick that, I’ll probably get captured by Qianqian. So far I’ve made all the right choices—I can’t mess up now.”

“So only options one and three are left. Normally, option three would make sense—keeping her busy does help her forget her sadness. But she’s already troubled. Pushing her harder might break her. So I should understand her first.”

[You selected option a.]

[You decide to first understand Rin’s situation before making any decisions.]

[Your knowledge of Rin is limited. In your memory, she’s always been a cool girl. She occasionally teases you with harmless dirty jokes, but she’s always been alone. You’ve rarely seen her family. No one ever checks on her, no matter how late she comes home.]

[This is suspicious. So you decide to use it as a starting point.]

[After investigating multiple sources—even asking Dong Qian—you learn the following:]

[Rin comes from a single-parent household. Her mother is a rocker who had Rin at a young age. But the woman spends her days playing rock music and riding her motorcycle at high speeds, never caring for Rin, treating her with complete neglect.]

[Rin’s childhood was spent in loneliness. But she inherited her mother’s talent, mastering both bass and guitar effortlessly. Music carried her through middle school, all the way to high school.]

[Meeting you became a ray of light in her life. She never imagined someone like her—a lonely outsider—could find a soulmate. She values your bond deeply. You understand her in a way no one else can. Every moment with you is light and joyful—until Dong Qian joined…]

[You began focusing most of your attention on Dong Qian. You spent less time with her. She doesn’t blame you—she just feels lonely again.]

[Now that you know the “root cause,” you set out to comfort this “troubled girl.” Your cooking skills are excellent (Cooking Lv2). Since Rin is a foodie, she always shamelessly asks to share your homemade lunch. This time is no different.]

[Rin tries to act deep and aloof, but the delicious smell makes her drool uncontrollably. She stubbornly refuses to look at you.]

[But you, being mischievous, pull a chair right beside her and start eating.]

[This time, Rin completely breaks her composure.]

“What are you eating? It smells so good…”

“Homemade tempura. Want a bite?”

“Then I’ll… just try a little…”

[You hand Rin a crispy, golden piece of tempura. She happily devours it.]

[The rift between you is healed… by a single piece of fried tempura.]

“Hah, this is exactly the kind of thing Senpai Rin would do in real life.”

[Your relationship returns to normal. But someone else starts feeling sad—Dong Qian. Because she, too, has special feelings for Rin.]

“Wait… seriously? In a three-person band, two of them are your love interests, and the third is… you? This is getting ridiculous.”

[On a cloudy summer day, she can no longer contain her feelings. She confesses to Rin.]

“Huh?”

[Unfortunately, Rin’s heart has always belonged only to you. There’s no room left for anyone else. Rin gently rejects Dong Qian’s confession.]

[Dong Qian runs off in tears. The rain pours heavily that day. Everyone feels heavy-hearted. No one expected this. Even Rin is stunned.]

[You all know deep down—your trio will never return to that inseparable friendship.]

[Dong Qian leaves the band.]

[Soon after, perhaps out of guilt or something else, Rin also leaves. That day, your band dissolves.]

“Qianqian! Did you come here just to blow up the band?!”

“Damn it… feels like this run is over.”

[Shortly after this, Rin suddenly tells you she’s going abroad to study.]

[For some reason, you see a flicker of reluctance in her eyes. You want to beg her to stay—but you have no reason to. Your band is gone…]

[She leaves, taking all your memories and longing with her. The three of you never fulfill your promise: “We’ll play together for life.”]