Heavy drum beats, Tainaka Ritsu's face slightly red.
Akiyama Mio's fingers bring out the familiar rhythm.
Kotobuki Tsumugi swings her hair along with the beat, and on the right, Miyazono Kaori's hair faintly glows gold.
Hirasawa Yui's guitar mixes with the wind instruments and echoes everyone else's.
No words or other talk, just clear strong music that hits everyone's heart, filling the practice room with energy.
The song is full of their passion.
After hearing Hirasawa Yui play, they decide they can't be so lazy, so they have a band practice.
The song ends.
The tape player clicks to a stop.
They finally hold hands left to right, eyes meet, seeing each other's love for music. Natsuhiko joins in, holding hands with the cute girl band. Now they are one united group.
A cute girl's hand is only worth something when someone holds it.
Natsuhiko's left hand holds Akiyama Mio, right hand holds Miyazono Kaori. Akiyama Mio's hand feels cooler, probably her body type.
"Huh, I want to hold hands with Teacher too!"
Hirasawa Yui mutters softly.
Miyazono Kaori pretends not to hear, just looks away.
Akiyama Mio on the other side suddenly realizes she's holding hands with the only guy in the club. She's shocked inside. She felt his knuckles were different from a girl's just now, but... but...
She turns into a steam engine in a flash.
Now she can't let go without feeling shy, stuck in a tough spot.
The others watch and laugh.
Natsuhiko sees Akiyama Mio struggling but too scared to speak, so he lets go first.
She quickly turns her head away.
Yui comes up to hold her master's hand.
But she forgets her own hand is still holding Akiyama Mio's.
Then.
Akiyama Mio feels a small hand pull her body down to the floor.
God move - drag someone down flat.
Everyday done!
...
This move is so slick it tingles the scalp. Natsuhiko's hand is still holding Miyazono Kaori. He blanks for a second, and they both crash down.
Akiyama Mio falls too because of it, legs spread in a clear upside-down V, her long black hair messy behind her.
"Oh ho, blue and white panties."
Natsuhiko didn't expect his student's slip-up to create a classic fan service scene.
He quickly pulls his hand away from Miyazono Kaori.
He remembers Shinomiya Kaguya's lesson: always get into the habit of snapping photos.
Click.
"..."
"..."
The K-On club room suddenly goes dead quiet.
Miyazono Kaori, who let go of Natsuhiko's hand, just stares blankly as he pulls out his phone to snap... to snap...
She suddenly thinks one thing.
Hiko, you don't like blue and white ones, do you!
Kotobuki Tsumugi on the side doesn't care. She's laughing at Yui and Akiyama Mio still holding hands.
The club president is shocked with her mouth wide open.
"Blue, blue and white—!?"
Akiyama Mio slowly turns her head, with some doubt, her slender phoenix eyes full of panic.
"Mom, I'm never getting married!"
Soft girl Akiyama Mio stares at Natsuhiko and his phone, emotions explode.
Ritsu the president quickly covers her best friend's skirt with her hand.
Then she glares at him coldly and says.
"Sir Hiko, this is all your fault. The whole K-On club says you have to apologize with compensation."
Natsuhiko looks at the photo saved on his phone and nods.
...
The punishment is he takes them all to eat barbecue.
Tomori Nao in the dorm browsing news gets a call from Natsuhiko. His earphones fill with girls' chatter.
You can tell just by listening.
Lots of girls around.
"Nao, barbecue place, dumb guy with lots of money, come quick."
She closes her open files, smiles big. Dumb guy with lots of money, is that about me?
"Hi! Coming right now."
Free barbecue, why not.
...
The two-story barbecue place has a simple style, red roof white building, green plants around, warm and romantic feel.
The owner runs it carefully.
"Teacher, you're the best!"
Yui sees all the meats the waiter brings, eyes sparkle, and yells.
"Please don't talk while staring at the meat. It feels insincere." He isn't fooled by Hirasawa Yui's sweet talk.
"Oh wow, barbecue. Haven't had it in ages."
K-On club's special photographer Tomori Nao speaks up.
She's student council president, photographer, and beauty after all.
Nao quickly jokes around with the music girls, totally different from her quiet class self.
"Let's eat now."
"Kaori, pass me the scissors, then all go wash up!"
Smack!
Tainaka Ritsu salutes and they all go!
Sizzle...
Natsuhiko flips the meat on the grill, it makes tempting sounds.
...
"Barbecue's ready!"
Natsuhiko picks the meat onto plates and brings them over.
"So hot!"
Before Natsuhiko even sets the plate down, Tomori Nao and Tainaka Ritsu each grab a piece and shove it in their mouths.
Nao stays calm, but Ritsu jumps and hisses.
That's the difference between vets and newbies.
Nao comes over to help grill too, or Natsuhiko would just be the grill tool.
The girls take turns, enjoying the barbecue fun.
Normally barbecue goes best with drinks. Alone it's fine, but with this crowd Natsuhiko wisely skips it.
"Here, eat this barbecue!"
Tomori Nao smiles her classic healing smile, holds a wrapped piece of meat to Natsuhiko's mouth.
He opens up.
Chews a few times, stops, eyes narrow, glares at Tomori Nao.
This isn't barbecue.
It's full of raw garlic.
Pffft
Everyone at the table bursts out laughing.
"Teacher looks so pitiful..."
They laugh with tears in eyes, snap photos with phones, and sigh.
Everyone teamed up to prank him.
He didn't even notice just now.
"No more grilling. I'm eating now. Switch quick, I want grilled leeks and kidneys!"
"You won't get strong without it. You don't even know who's paying. Hey~ hey~"
Natsuhiko pays them back the same way.
The mood stays lively, everyone has fun eating and playing.
Natsuhiko drank too much juice, heads to the toilet. Just comes out and sees a familiar figure! Fan.
---
Read 50 advanced chapters on my patreon
patreon.com/GustinaKamiya
---