After exchanging greetings with Yui and the others, Ayano finally asked.
"Homura, who are these people?"
"We're Homuhomu-senpai's friends!" Yui raised her hand and quickly spoke up, then counted on her fingers. "Though we only got to know each other for one, two, three... seven, wait, was it six or seven days?"
"Seven days!" Ritsu raised her hand and ruffled Yui's hair. "Why are you counting like that? And yet you still can't get it right."
"B-But... We met in the afternoon on the first day, and it's still morning now. Can we really count it as seven days?"
"Umm..." Ritsu was stumped by the question.
"If we go by the time, it's indeed not seven days yet." Mio also chuckled. "Isn't it better to say it's not even six days yet? It'll be exactly six full days by the afternoon."
"So that's five days?" Yui held up one hand.
"No way! It's still seven days!" Ritsu couldn't hold back her frustration and poked Yui's head.
"Ah~! Ricchan, stop it, I'm getting dizzy!"
""Yui is as lively as ever.""
Nanami and Elf sighed together helplessly. While Homura shrugged at Ayano as if saying 'See, I don't even need to explain.'
"Hmm..." Ayano pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Who is Homuhomu-senpai by the way?"
Homura stiffened for a second, still not quite used to this cute nickname!
"It's me..."
"Pfttt~ Hahaha, sorry, sorry, couldn't help it."
With a smile lingering at the corner of her eye, Ayano offered a half-hearted apology.
"Whatever. C'mon, let me introduce you." Homura clapped his hands, and the four immediately stopped fooling around and stood still, waiting for his introduction.
"This is my editor and Mashiro's, Iida Ayano."
"Hello, everyone~"
"By the way, although Ayano is my editor, we're really good friends privately, so don't pay too much attention to the editor part."
The four nodded in agreement, and Homura continued the introduction.
"These four are members of the Light Music Club from Sakuragaoka High School. They are Tainaka Ritsu, on drum and also the club president, Hirasawa Yui on guitar, Akiyama Mio on bass, and Kotobuki Tsumugi on keyboard—oh, she is also my childhood friend."
"I see... So that's how you know students from the all-girl school. There's this connection." Ayano suddenly realized and nodded.
"Yeah, if you came with us that time, you'll get to know everyone."
"Okay, enough of that." Ayano raised her hand to stop Homura from continuing. "Every time you bring this up, it pains me... The hot spring villa and your cooking, hahhh..."
"Haha, it's okay. There will be more opportunities in the future."
"Um? It's here..." Ayano looked into the distance.
"What's here?" Everyone followed Ayano's gaze and saw two cars approaching slowly.
One car seemed to be carrying something covered with a tarp, probably audio equipment. The other one was likely a wardrobe car, given the large box attached to the back—changing clothes shouldn't be a problem.
Ayano went forward to explain the situation, and the drivers of the two cars nodded, then returned to their seats and waited.
Passersby also curiously gathered for a moment, then slowly dispersed as if nothing happened.
"So, these are the accompanying vehicles?" Elf asked.
Ayano nodded. "Yep. I've already sorted it out with the road management department. These two cars are allowed to travel at limited speeds on this street during the day."
"Umu... Since it's a pedestrian street during the day, vehicle access needs negotiations." Saori agreed, and everyone could see that Ayano had thought this through thoroughly.
At this moment, a taxi pulled up not far away. Simultaneously, four people were walking from another direction. Homura took a couple of steps forward and positioned himself prominently.
Indeed, three girls emerged from the car. It was Kaguya and Chika, along with Chika's little sister, Moeha.
"Heyaaa~ Homura-kun! We're here!" Chika waved with a big smile, her expression irresistibly charming.
"Hey there, Minamiya-nii! Long time no see!" Moeha greeted Homura. As Chika's sister, Moeha was three years younger, yet her bombastic appearance was as imposing as Chika's—truly exceptional genetics!
Of course, there was an even more striking appearance of Rizu.
"Hey, Moeha! Although this outing got in the way of your shopping plans, I promise you'll be satisfied!"
"It's fine! I'm also looking forward to this concert."
Nodding, Homura glanced at Kaguya, who was standing quietly to the side.
"Well, well..." Homura grinned at Kaguya. "You've finally escaped your castle, huh?"
Kaguya looked at Chika and then at Homura. She also thought of Ai who was still at home. Various emotions flickered in her eyes, but eventually, she smiled graciously.
"Thank you for everyone's help."
"Haha, I didn't really do much; it was because of Ai—your maid's and Chika's help." Somehow, it just felt odd to call Ai by her name when Chika was around. After all, Ai was hiding herself from Chika.
"But wasn't it your idea, Homura-kun?" Chika also chimed in.
"Regardless, I want to thank everyone who looked out for me... Really thank you..." Kaguya said again.
"..."
"Well then, let's have a blast today!"
After a moment of brief silence, Homura exclaimed while laughing wholeheartedly.
"Minamiya-kun! We're here!"
Fumino and her group also arrived. However, there seemed to be a shadow behind them muttering with a really low voice.
"I don't understand... Why would students come to Akihabara? And that man—no, I need to observe more closely."
The voice was almost imperceptible, and nobody noticed, including Homura.
"You all arrived quite early." Homura laughed.
"C'mon, it's not like that. Hasn't everyone invited by Minamiya-kun already arrived?" Fumino shook her head and smiled.
"By the way, where's Nayu? Didn't she come?" Miyako asked softly while scanning the area, yet Nayuta's figure was nowhere to be seen.
"Now that you mention it, everyone else is here..." Homura also looked puzzled. "But why haven't the people from Another Dimension shown up yet?"
"Complaining as soon as we arrive!"
The voice of Eriri suddenly interjected.
Homura turned to see that everyone from Another Dimension had all arrived!
"Hehe... Senpai! Myaa-san! I'm here!" Nayuta said, leaning over to Miyako.
"Why did you guys end up coming last?" Homura asked.
"What last?" Utaha raised an eyebrow. "Aren't the main characters still missing?"
"..."
"Well, it's because we happened to run into Muramasa-chan. But we weren't on the same train from the start, so we got slightly delayed when we met up." Megumi spoke up.
"I see... I was wondering why you all came together..." Homura suddenly realized that Muramasa was supposed to have set off alone, but coincidentally meeting up like this was indeed quite lucky.
It was already past eight, and the final group should be arriving soon.
Soon, from the direction where Fumino's group had come earlier, nine figures wearing masks and sunglasses appeared, sneaking into Homura's line of sight.
As he watched their appearances, he was stunned!