18:00 in the evening, in front of the planetarium.
"Is that Saki-chan's call?"
Tomori looked at Rikuo's ever-changing expression and guessed the person on the other end of the phone.
'Rikuo-kun, it's strange, but in front of others, he doesn't seem to change so... unpredictably?'
Today's Band practice didn't go smoothly. Raana played for a while, said "I'm satisfied," and then suddenly left. Taki thought, since Tomori was going to the planetarium, she dismissed them early, although Taki herself was still practicing.
Chihaya Anon suddenly appeared from behind, hooking her arm around Rikuo's neck, almost making him drop his phone.
"With two beautiful girls like us accompanying you, are you still taking calls from other girls? Riku is such a playboy!"
Anon heard yesterday that Tomori and Rikuo were going to the planetarium to watch the stars, so she pestered them to come along.
"Anon, why do you insist on coming along? You're not even in the Astronomy Club, are you?"
Rikuo pulled Anon's arm away.
"Tomorin suddenly inviting you must mean something! Besides, didn't you say! You might run into Uika?"
"I just said it casually. Tomori didn't invite you because she probably thinks you can't even tell the difference between the Big Dipper and the McDonald's logo."
"...In Riku's impression, what kind of character am I exactly?! Anon is a top student who's been first in her grade for years!"
Anon held her head high, puffing out her chest with an air of confidence.
"Actually... Anon-chan held the telescope the wrong way last time..."
Tomori said softly, lowering her head.
"That was an accident! An accident! It was my first time using it!"
...
Planetarium screening room.
Three minutes until the screening begins.
"By the way, I was distracted by Anon just now and didn't even notice what was being shown today?"
Rikuo reclined his seat, lying down. Anon and Tomori sat on either side of him.
"Hmm, Rikuo-kun. Today, it's a special screening of the Summer Triangle."
Tomori recalled and replied to Rikuo.
"Summer Triangle? I have a game friend with that nickname, but I remember the Summer Triangle as a melodramatic love triangle story."
"No, it's not."
Tomori pulled out her notebook, pointing to the hand-drawn constellation map.
"It's formed by Vega in Lyra, Altair in Aquila, and Deneb in Cygnus!"
Rikuo leaned over to look.
"Oh~ Isn't that the Cowherd and Weaver Girl from China?"
Tomori's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Huh? China also has such a legend?"
Rikuo grinned.
"Not only do they, but the Chinese version is even more abstract than the Japanese one."
"?"
Anon, hearing them talk without her, reached out and waved her hand in front of Rikuo.
"I know the story of the Cowherd and Weaver Girl too! Don't leave me out!"
"Stars, but it's about to start, lie down first."
"Alright, but don't treat me like air again!"
Anon pouted, lowered her seat, and lay down.
At this moment, a girl with medium-length golden hair walked past, wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses. It was clearly an outfit meant to hide her identity.
'Holy crap, Hatsune is here!'
The lights dimmed, and the screening officially began. The dome transformed into a brilliant summer night sky.
"Look, that's Vega!"
Tomori whispered, pointing to the brightest star in Lyra.
"In Japanese legend, she is the daughter of the sky god, who fell in love with a human cowman..."
"Teacher! I have a question!"
Anon suddenly raised her hand.
"The Cowherd and Weaver Girl meet once a year. Who raises their children then? There are no daycare centers in heaven, are there?"
All audience members: "..."
Rikuo: "Maybe they were left with magpies, after all, bird mothers are better at taking care of others. Besides, since Anomalies exist, it's normal to have Ubume."
Tomori thought seriously for a moment before replying.
"But magpies only build the bridge on the Tanabata Festival..."
Anon replied in shock.
"So for the remaining 364 days, the children are left-behind children?!"
Rikuo thought for a moment and told the Chinese version.
"Actually, the Japanese version is fine. The Chinese version is more intense. The Weaver Girl came down to bathe, the Cowherd stole her clothes, and threatened her that he wouldn't return them if she didn't marry him."
"..."
Rikuo interjected, and Tomori and Anon both fell silent.
Anon: "...This, this counts as a crime, right?"
"So this story tells us—don't take off your clothes casually in the wild..."
"..."
The surrounding audience cast condemning glances.
Anon turned her head, pretending not to know Rikuo, while Tomori covered Rikuo's mouth, not letting him continue.
Misumi Uika, sitting next to Anon, also cast a curious glance.
'This way of speaking, it's very much like Sudbina (Rikuo's LoL nickname). Also, the girl next to him seems to be Saki-chan's former lead vocalist?'
...
Observatory terrace.
Anon and Rikuo were fiercely debating whether the Cowherd's actions constituted sexual harassment. Tomori didn't disturb them, silently following behind, but from her smiling expression, it was clear she was very happy.
"You two are having a lively discussion."
Rikuo turned around and saw a blonde girl leaning against the railing, holding a "Galaxy Latte," a planetarium-exclusive drink, with star-shaped marshmallows stuck to the rim of the cup.
"Misumi Uika?"
Anon's eyes widened in surprise, instantly switching to business mode.
"Uika! Are you also here to watch the stars? What a coincidence~"
"Yes, I heard there's a meteor shower tonight."
Uika replied with a smile.
"Meteor shower? The weather forecast didn't mention rain?"
"..."
Hearing Rikuo's words, the two fell silent for a moment.
"This way of speaking, you're Sudbina, right?"
Uika was certain that such humans were rare in the world, although Rikuo might not truly count as human...
"Holy crap! Busted!"
"Sudbina, I'm the Summer Triangle!"
Rikuo thought for a moment.
"So you're the Summer Triangle? The ADC?"
"What does Summer Triangle mean? Wasn't what we just saw the Summer Triangle? Wait, Riku, do you know Uika? Why didn't you tell me sooner! I'm Uika's fan!"
Anon listened to their conversation, completely bewildered.
"It's like this, the day I invited you to play LoL. I originally called the Summer Triangle, which is Uika. At that time, I didn't know the other person was Uika."
"Is that so? What a coincidence?"
"Indeed, Japan is really small."
Listening to Rikuo and Anon, Uika pondered her judgment.
'Watching stars with Saki-chan's former band member. Now it seems, the friend Saki-chan mentioned who wouldn't listen to advice, since she was referring to him as male, must be Sudbina, right? Saki-chan doesn't seem to be in contact with any other males, does she?'
Uika watched Anon and Rikuo's abstract conversation, further solidifying her thoughts.
'His personality... indeed doesn't seem like someone who would listen to advice, or perhaps they simply can't understand each other?'
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