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V5 Chapter 34: The World of Ave Mujica
🕑 Added 2025-06-24 12:09:35 +0000 UTCOn what was practically the last holiday before the end of summer break. Ave Mujica, whose training schedule had ramped up ever since Kazami Haru completed the composition, was finally set to hold their debut live today.
And as a member himself, it went without saying that Kazami Haru would come in person to check things out. Only, the moment he arrived at the performing arts theater, he managed to get himself completely lost.
With her light-blue twin tails, Togawa Sakiko was once again dressed in her gothic lace-trimmed gown. Holding her phone in both hands, she looked around with elegant amber eyes.
Only when she spotted Kazami Haru near the staff hallway did her face light up with a radiant smile like a blooming flower, and she quickly jogged over to him.
"Haru! I finally found you. Come on, let's head to the members' prep room!"
"Sorry to make you come all the way out here for me, Sakiko. I didn't expect this place to be such a maze."
The inside of this performing arts theater was like a labyrinth straight out of Rance VI. For a first-timer like Haru, getting lost was inevitable, which is probably why the great Sakiko-sensei came to fetch him herself.
The venue for their debut live: the Yokosuka Performing Arts Theater in Yokohama.
As he followed Togawa Sakiko through the staff corridors, he noticed posters for "Ave Mujica" plastered everywhere, each featuring their signature elegant and slightly bizarre lace-edged mask.
Sakiko, walking ahead with her arms crossed, seemed to notice Haru's wandering gaze. A faint smile crept onto her stunning, doll-like face, and she deliberately slowed her steps to speak softly.
"This'll be Ave Mujica's first official appearance. Looks pretty good, doesn't it?"
Cut the act, Sakiko. You're obviously brimming with pride right now.
Being able to host their debut at a venue like the Yokosuka Performing Arts Theater said everything about how powerful the Mujica warship really was, this thing was pure stats and scale.
Even Kazami Haru couldn't help but be a little impressed as he shrugged and said under his breath, "If this show goes well, Mujica will be trending by tonight, no doubt."
"Of course we will."
Now walking side by side with him, Togawa Sakiko raised her eyes. Those amber irises, as if cut from a gallery piece, stared straight ahead.
Raising her right hand as if she were already standing on stage, she spoke with a calm yet unwavering voice.
"Ave Mujica is the crystallization of your and my emotions. As long as it's our song, there won't be any problems."
The message was clear.
But was the phrasing really necessary?
Kazami Haru shot her a sideways glance. That line was… questionably worded. He briefly wondered if the blue-haired twin-tail beside him had switched places with that absurdly flirty pink-head.
His stare must've been too obvious, because Sakiko's confidence visibly faltered. A shiver ran through her, and she suddenly seemed to realize how her words might've been taken.
A rosy flush spread across her porcelain-like cheeks. As if trying to hide her embarrassment, she gave a couple of awkward coughs and straightened her back, quickly picking up her pace.
She raised her head and spoke with a slightly rushed tone. "Anyway, let's hurry to the prep room. Mutsumi and Uika are probably already getting impatient!"
It was just a song they'd written together, why the heck did she call it their "emotional crystallization" unless…?
…
It only took a few minutes for the two to arrive at Ave Mujica's member prep room. Even as Sakiko opened the door, her face was still slightly red. Along the way, several staff members had stared at her.
Every single one of their eyes was filled with disbelief.
Togawa Sakiko was the primary planner behind Ave Mujica, responsible for its operations and management. Normally so dignified, elegant, and serious, she had never once shown a smile in front of others.
Everyone had assumed her personality was simply cold and stern and yet today, she had smiled, and walked in with a handsome boy her age. That alone was enough to send the staff ladies into a frenzy of gossip.
"Good afternoon, is everyone ready?"
The moment she saw Yuutenji Nyamu, Togawa Sakiko's expression snapped back to calm. She returned to her usual dignified state and stepped into the prep room.
"Afternoon. Pardon the interruption."
Kazami Haru followed just behind her, but the moment he stepped inside, his eyes locked with Wakaba Mutsumi, already dressed in her Mujica uniform.
Today's little blockhead wore a black-and-red gothic dress, with a red puppet-style long skirt underneath and sheer sleeves. At her chest was a green oval gem connected to what looked like a small black cape. The deep red round hat on her head added an extra touch of charm.
Good lord, she was stupidly cute.
If they weren't being watched, Haru would've grabbed her for a kiss or two without a second thought.
"…"
Wakaba Mutsumi seemed to catch the look in Haru's eyes, and the corner of her lips curved in a barely visible smirk.
"Yahoo~ Haruko really did come all the way to see our debut live, huh? Well? Isn't your big sister's outfit stunning today?"
Nyamu-sensei immediately leaned in, her delicate face full of teasing delight.
She twirled in place, showing off her pitch-black dress and curvaceous figure, clearly trying to provoke a reaction from Haru and savor every second of it.
But before she could even get a response out of him, she already drew glares from around the room.
Togawa Sakiko, not yet changed into her stage outfit, narrowed her amber eyes at Nyamu's figure. Her slightly furrowed brows said everything.
Wakaba Mutsumi's face remained emotionless, but the way she clutched her guitar tighter told the story well enough.
Even Misumi Uika, who hadn't spoken once since Haru walked in, frowned lightly. Only Yahata Umiri, sitting quietly nearby, watched the scene without the slightest ripple of emotion.
"Mhm, Nyamu-chan, you look great," Haru said with a perfectly professional "Misumi-style" smile. If this had been any other day, he might've been surprised by her appearance, but after seeing little blockhead today, nothing else hit quite as hard.
"Hey! That's way too half-hearted!"
Clearly disappointed by the lack of reaction, Yuutenji Nyamu puffed out her cheeks. She seemed ready to fire off a comeback, but before she could open her mouth, Sakiko cut her off with a frosty expression.
"Amoris, we don't have time for games. Have you completed all your warm-ups?" (1)
"If I burn out on warm-ups now, I'll have no energy left when I get on stage!"
Maybe thinking back on all the intense training she'd done lately, Nyamu puffed her cheeks again and whined.
Unfortunately, the ruthless Sakiko had long discarded mercy. She raised her cold, composed eyes and said plainly:
"If there's even one mistake during the performance, your training regimen doubles."
"Eh?!"
This was revenge! Plain and simple, naked revenge!
Nyamu immediately regretted trying to tease Kazami Haru just to get a reaction out of the others. The normally cold Sakiko was in rare form today and that "doubled training" threat was no joke.
She would really do it!
Haru's composition was already high-level, with intense drum lines. After Sakiko's edits, it had gotten even harder. The two of them clearly hadn't spared a single thought for the poor drummer's survival.
During rehearsals, Nyamu had practically wanted to evolve from Machop straight into Machamp on the spot.
"No way, no way! Doubling the training load would literally kill me!"
"Then don't mess up on stage."
Togawa Sakiko said her piece and strode briskly toward the dressing room, her unwavering attitude leaving Nyamu-sensei no choice but to glance gloomily at Kazami Haru beside her.
"This is just impossible!"
Yuutenji Nyamu sighed, her voice dripping with frustration.
Damn that Togawa Sakiko!
She had been planning to casually leak Haru's flirty behavior with the other girls just to stir things up, but now? She totally deserved to be the loser in love. When that moment came, Nyamu was absolutely going to roast her for it.
Kazami Haru, catching her resentful gaze, simply smiled and calmly redirected his attention to Misumi Uika standing ahead.
Seeing the magnificent Uika again so suddenly...
Yeah, it was a bit awkward and Haru wasn't the only one who felt that way. Uika hadn't seen him in a while either and seemed visibly uncomfortable. Her beautiful violet eyes, delicate as butterfly wings, flicked away in avoidance.
Even though he had been using "work" as an excuse to keep her in distance, the moment of reckoning had arrived, he had to face Uika in person.
After all, he was the one who'd taken her first kiss.
Seeing Uika quiet and withdrawn, Haru felt the tension spike to its limit. If it had just been the two of them, maybe they could've eased into conversation. But Nyamu and Umiri were right there, clearly not planning to miss any drama.
So, after a moment's pause, Haru took the initiative and found a neutral topic.
"You've all worked really hard with the intense training lately. For the live, don't stress. Just perform the way you've been practicing."
"That's not true! Haru-kun and Sakiko have been working way harder, and, um…"
It was like she'd been waiting for him to break the silence. Normally composed and warm, Uika suddenly flailed her hands and spoke hastily. Her soft voice grew smaller as she went on.
"…I'm a little nervous. Sorry."
With just that one sentence, the room fell silent again.
Haru's expression turned slightly complicated.
To him, the great Uika-san was clearly still dwelling on that unexpected kiss. She was always composed, always gentle. She wasn't someone who would act on impulse.
And yet, she had.
Even Haru, who wasn't exactly the most emotionally perceptive, could see it. Uika might have feelings for him that went beyond friendship.
"It's okay. This performance will go fine."
"…Mm."
She nodded quietly at his reassurance, though her demeanor remained stiff. She still didn't know if he resented her for it.
Even if she had made the decision to step away, the last thing she wanted was for Kazami Haru to hate her.
…
Wakaba Mutsumi's pale gold eyes watched Uika in silence. Seeing the uneasy smile on her face, she lowered her gaze, lost in thought.
From nearby, Yahata Umiri (eyes seemingly closed in rest) suddenly opened her brilliant green ones. They locked on Haru's face with a gaze that pierced right through illusions.
Nobody said a word, but each held their own quiet thoughts.
Thankfully, the awkwardness didn't last. Ever lively and mischievous, Nyamu quickly sparked a new conversation and before long, Togawa Sakiko emerged from the dressing room, now dressed for the stage.
Clad in a dark red gothic dress, she gently lifted the hem with one hand. Her silky blue twin tails swayed lightly in the air. The elegant and regal young woman was like a rare alpine flower, just one smile from her could pull you straight into her gravity.
And yet, that same noble and elegant Sakiko was now subtly angling her body to observe Haru's reaction.
Once she confirmed his eyes were indeed drawn to her, her anxious expression eased into a delicate, satisfied smile.
Nyamu couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. How had Sakiko gone from frosty to soft and glowing just by changing clothes?
"Phew. Looks like everything's fine."
Emotionally and physically at her peak, Togawa Sakiko exhaled slowly.
She clapped her hands to gather the group's attention. Her elegant, captivating gaze swept across the room before settling softly on Haru.
"Since everyone's ready, let's head to the stage."
"Even if Ave Mujica debuted faster than any other band, we are no less capable than any professional. This debut live will be a success, no matter what."
That's right. No matter what, they had to succeed.
This was Togawa Sakiko's bet on her future. She was going to prove her worth, take back what had once been hers.
And more than anything, she wanted to stand proudly beside him, able to speak the word "love" without fear.
They would win.
Both the band that affirmed her identity and the place at Kazami Haru's side.
…
Ave Mujica's performance? A complete and utter triumph.
The song, composed by Haru and Sakiko, was so high in quality it was almost unreal, perhaps even better than the "Snowwind" track they had once written together in simulation, and Mujica's own talent was more than enough to make the most of it. There was never any doubt.
"Not even thirty minutes after the show and we're already trending number one on Twitter. The MV's passed ten thousand views too… Uika, look, look! Aren't we kind of insane?!"
Back in the prep room, Yuutenji Nyamu grinned while clutching her phone. Her arms still ached from drumming like crazy, but she couldn't have cared less.
That kind of viewership, off a debut, was almost ridiculous.
At this rate, they'd be punching Afterglow and kicking Roselia down within half a year!
"Totally~ The agency staff even praised everyone."
Even Misumi Uika couldn't help but smile a little, but her violet eyes soon drifted, instinctively, toward Kazami Haru.
She saw him speaking softly with Wakaba Mutsumi, and her expression shifted subtly.
The little blockhead was sitting calmly beside Haru, holding her pink guitar and listening to his compliments. From the way she kept scooting closer and closer, it was obvious... If not for the others around, she probably would've already climbed right into his lap to nuzzle her head against him.
"You did great too, Umiri. This performance was a hit."
Having just finished praising Mutsumi, Haru noticed Yahata Umiri now sitting beside him. He immediately handed her the panda-brand chocolate milk pudding he'd prepared earlier.
A flicker of surprise crossed Umiri's eyes, she hadn't even taken off her stage mask yet, but she accepted the dessert without hesitation.
"Thanks. But it only went so well because of your song."
That was simply the truth.
Having worked with Haru before, Umiri knew the guy was good but she hadn't expected him to be this good at composing.
Writing a high-quality song like that in such a short time after the band's formation, it was the kind of thing you only read about in fanfics.
"The performance went well because everyone's so talented. Honestly, I didn't do that much."
All right, that's enough. Keep going like this and Haru might start wondering if Umiri was secretly in love with him.
Umiri was about to reply when a sudden clap drew everyone's attention. Now changed, Togawa Sakiko stood at the front and addressed the room in a calm tone.
"From here on, leave the venue in pairs as planned. Don't forget, we're a masked band."
"Eh?! No afterparty?!"
Nyamu's whine echoed through the room. Misumi Uika, clenching her fists, turned to glance at Kazami Haru. Then her eyes moved to Wakaba Mutsumi beside him.
She hesitated for less than two seconds.
Then she stepped forward.
"Mutsumi… would you like to head back together?"
---
(1) Yuutenji Nyamu, the drummer for Ave Mujica going by the stage name Amoris.
