Chapter 14
(POV: Watanabe Mika)
The hallway of Sakura High’s first floor was pure chaos—but in that vibrant, school-festival kind of way. The walls were alive with colorful posters, big-ass banners hung from the ceiling beams, and students weaved through each other like a goddamn parade. Laughter echoed from both ends of the corridor, the golden afternoon sun washing in from the wide windows to paint everything in honey and heat.
Mika walked slowly through it all, perfectly composed, an island of stillness among the waves of noise. A soft breeze ruffled her long black hair, her skirt fluttering just slightly. Her eyes, pink and glassy, scanned the boards absently—until they landed on something she didn’t expect to feel anything about.
"Music Club Auditions: Find Your Rhythm! Join Us!"
Her brows twitched.
Music club?
Her fingers brushed the edge of the flyer. The smiling cartoon instruments on the poster felt like they were mocking her.
"What a f***ing joke,"* she muttered.
A girl walking past gave her a startled glance at the sudden profanity from the usually quiet and elegant Mika. But Mika didn’t care. Her eyes didn’t move from the flyer.
"Music club is f***ing useless."*
Her voice was low, venomous.