Evening.
After dinner, Homura stopped Sagiri, who was about to go back to her room.
"Sagiri, are you okay for tomorrow?" Homura was a bit concerned, knowing that the performance venue would likely have a lot of people.
"No problem!" Sagiri nodded. "I've made significant progress too y'know. Besides, everyone will be there, so Nii-san doesn't need to worry too much about me. I'm alright."
"Okay then. Did you talk to Megumin though? Is she going to come?"
"I mentioned it to her yesterday. She said she has something in the morning, so she's not sure if she'll go. If she decides to, she'll come to find us."
Homura nodded. 'Meeting up should be easy as long as Sagiri informs her. They are on good terms now, aren't they?'
'Even though it was Megumin who got bullied unilaterally...'
As he thought like that, Homura chuckled and shook his head.
"Well, then let's get some sleep early today, so you won't have trouble waking up in the morning."
"Huh?!" Elf exclaimed. "Sleep? Now?"
Homura had a puzzled expression. "I meant to sleep early today. I didn't say you should sleep right now."
"Okay then... This lady has never slept this early before. The time after 10 PM is when I'm most awake."
"Just make sure you can wake up in the morning." Homura shrugged.
"Don't worry." Elf turned her head and saw the excited Mashiro. "But Mashiro might be so thrilled that she can't sleep."
"Well, after all, Mashiro has been looking forward to Muse's concert for a long time..." Nanami smiled at Mashiro. "But... being too excited to sleep... really makes her seem like a child."
Mashiro immediately pouted and puffed her cheeks at Nanami, and Elf giggled and leaned over, tapping Mashiro's cheek with a finger.
*Squish~*
Yep, Mashiro's puffed cheeks made that kind of sound.
Mashiro stared at Elf, and on the other side, Nanami also joined in.
*Squish~ Squish~*
"..." Mashiro was speechless.
"I want to try too." Mashiro raised both hands, with one finger up on each hand.
The laughing and happy Elf and Nanami exchanged a glance, then simultaneously puffed up their cheeks.
Mashiro decisively joined in!
The sound of squishing continued, and the three of them played so joyfully that their faces got sore before they stopped.
Homura chuckled as he watched the three of them rubbing their faces, then took Haru out for a walk.
"I'll be back in a bit!"
""Got it!""
===
"By the way, little one, there should be quite a lot of people where we're going tomorrow. So, stick with us then." Homura looked at Haru, who was walking beside him. "If I'm busy, you can stay with Megumi or Nanami."
"Don't worry, I'm quite flexible. Even on the ground, it's no problem." Haru nodded.
"Yeah, your flexibility is indeed very high now. But it's not a bad thing if everyone wants to hold you. They really like the feeling of holding you."
Speaking of this, an image suddenly popped into Haru's mind of herself being held by Rizu. She nodded involuntarily.
"Yeah, it's quite comfortable."
There was always a sense that this human and cat's thought processes weren't quite aligned, but weirdly, the conversation still flowed.
Homura checked the weather forecast for Akihabara again.
'Yep, it's sunny. Next, maybe I should ask how they're doing. They can't still be doing training camp in the school, can they?'
And so, he took out his phone and made a call.
"Umi, where are you now?"
"Homura-kun? I'm at Maki's place, and everyone is here too. Why did you suddenly call me?"
"Everyone's there?"
Homura realized that if they weren't at school, it meant their training was already finished. But since everyone was at Maki's place, they were probably planning to leave together tomorrow. After all, her house was more than capable of accommodating them.
"Perfect timing then. I called to check on everyone's condition and if anyone's feeling unwell or trying to act strong."
"I see... No one's trying to act strong..." Umi replied, glancing at the others who were listening with interest. "But everyone's a bit nervous and excited, and it's making it hard to sleep."
"Is that so..." Homura frowned, thinking of a solution. "How about we all chat together? I'll find a place and we can do a video call. Maybe talking will help ease your nerves."
"Ah, that sounds great! Just chatting with Homura-kun can help us relax, but... finding a place?" Umi's voice was filled with confusion. "You're not at home?"
"Yeah, I'm out for a walk."
"No wonder... The sound of your voice didn't seem like you were indoors. Let me tell Maki, I'll borrow a tablet."
"Alright, then I'll hang up for now and find a spot."
"Okay."
Looking around the surroundings, Homura decided to head to Kusumoto Park. It seemed like a good place.
Soon, he arrived again at the spot where he first met Rizu, except this time, it was just him and his cat.
"Little one, let's sit here for a while."
Homura started adjusting the video, and Haru leaped onto the wooden table, watching him curiously.
First, he examined through a social app whose account was logged in. Then, he sent a video invite to Maki's account.
Honoka: "Ah, it's connected!"
Nico: "Don't squeeze me!"
Kotori: "Homura-kun's side is so dark!"
Maki: "Is it necessary to be this crowded?"
The video showed these four or five people jostling around. Because of using her account, Maki was in the middle, but she was getting pushed around by the others.
Homura chuckled, propped up his phone, and set it on the table.
Hanayo: "Ahh, Haru-chan is there too."
Rin: "Nyan nyan nyan~? Haru-chan is there too, nyaa? Rin wants to see! Give Rin some space!"
Nico: "Wait! Wait! Isn't this getting even more crowded?!"
"Where are you guys? Can't you find a less crowded spot?" Homura couldn't help but say.
"Eh? Oh, we're in Maki-chan's room!" Honoka replied, her head leaning against Nico while she managed to answer Homura's question.
Behind these girls, Umi, Nozomi, and Eli watched their antics. Umi had a speechless expression, Nozomi maintained a gentle smile, and Eli seemed composed. But Homura could sense the corners of Eli's mouth twitching.
"How about moving to the living room?" Homura suggested. "Set the tablet on the table in front of the couch, and you guys can arrange yourselves in two rows. The smaller ones can sit in the front row with cushions, and the rest can take the sofas in the back row."
"Great idea!" Honoka's eyes lit up, and she grabbed the tablet and ran off.
"Honoka-chan, wait up!"
Homura covered his face. It seemed like everyone had gotten a bit too spirited!
"Huh? Homura-kun, why are you covering your face?" Honoka asked curiously.
She had already set up the tablet, and the others were coming over one by one.
"It's nothing." Homura shook his head.
As he said that, the calmest ones, Eli and Nozomi, appeared on the screen, unrushed and composed as before.