I Just Want A Single Ending!

After walking alongside Chihaya Anon for a while, Kamigawa Saku eventually parted ways with her.

Once alone, he pulled out his phone and sent a message to Yamada Ryo.

Kamigawa: "Can you teach me bass? 10,000 yen per hour."

Ryo read it almost instantly and replied.

Ryo: "OK."

Kamigawa: "And keep it a secret from the others."

Ryo: "No problem."

Putting his phone away, Kamigawa allowed himself a small, satisfied smile.

Yes, he'd lied to Chihaya Anon.

He fully intended to learn bass—but not necessarily for the band. It was more of a backup plan.

If they struggled to find a bassist, he could reveal that he'd been secretly learning and take the role himself. That would definitely boost his standing with Anon and make her see him as a reliable friend.

If they did find a bassist, then he'd keep quiet about his lessons and just stick to managing the band's social media.

Learning bass would give him more time with Ryo, so whether it turned out to be useful or not, it was a win-win.

With his plan set, Kamigawa wandered toward the nearest bookstore. Even though he was itching to test out his new teleportation ability, he needed to buy some books about stars and astronomy first.

After all, he already knew that Takamatsu Tomori loved stargazing. What better way to start a friendship than by showing interest in her favorite topic?

…

The next morning, Kamigawa yawned as he walked to school.

He'd spent the previous night testing out his teleportation ability and discovered a few things. Whether he teleported the full 100 meters or just a single meter, it consumed the same amount of stamina. He could also teleport with objects, but carrying anything increased the energy cost based on the item's size.

Honestly, there wasn't much excitement in using the power, and he'd only teleported about a hundred times before he'd had enough.

Still, teleporting wasn't the only reason he felt tired. After testing his new skill, he'd stayed up late reading all those books on stars he'd picked up, going from knowing nothing to having a decent understanding in just one night.

He wasn't an expert, but it was enough to hold a conversation.

He'd also found a nearby planetarium online. If he had free time that afternoon, he planned to check it out.

---

"Sorry, I won't be able to help with recruiting this afternoon. I promised my mom I'd go shopping with her," Anon said as soon as Kamigawa entered the classroom.

"No problem."

It worked out perfectly since he'd already planned to visit the planetarium.

---

Later that afternoon, Kamigawa hurried to the planetarium, checked his map, and bought a ticket before heading inside.

He reclined his chair and waited for the show to start.

During class, he'd snuck in a few naps to make up for last night's lack of sleep.

Guess I arrived a little early.

He glanced at the ticket, realizing he had some time before the show began.

Might as well use it to brush up on his knowledge of stars, he thought, pulling out his phone.

Minutes ticked by, and soon more people filed in, taking their seats. Just as he was checking something on his phone, a familiar figure settled into the seat next to him.

When she reclined her chair, he finally saw her face clearly.

"Takamatsu?"

"K-Kamigawa?"

Takamatsu Tomori looked at him, just as surprised as he was.

"It's me," Kamigawa replied, quickly tucking his phone away.

"You really do love stars, don't you?" she murmured, almost to herself.

[Yes, I love stars.]

[Actually, I don't like stars.]

"…"

Kamigawa stared at the two options, unsure of how to answer.

Caught between feeling like he'd been found out and wondering if he should admit the truth, he hesitated.

It felt like he was getting called out for cheating on a test, only this time the other person didn't even realize it.

In the end, he went with honesty.

"Actually, I…lied to you yesterday, Takamatsu. I don't really like stars."

[Agility +3]

"You don't like stars? Then…why are you here?" Tomori's voice was filled with confusion.

"Because…" Kamigawa started to explain, but the intercom cut him off.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the show is about to begin. Please silence your phones and refrain from talking…"

"Can I explain after the show?" he asked, resigned.

She nodded, answering softly, "Alright."

With that, they both fell silent and lay back, watching the stars come to life on the ceiling above.

At first, Kamigawa's mind raced, thinking about how he'd explain himself. But as he stared at the vast expanse of stars overhead, listening to the gentle music and soothing narration, he felt himself getting swept away by the experience.

Even if these stars weren't real, their beauty was mesmerizing.

It felt as if no time had passed at all when the narration finally concluded, bringing him back to reality.

"We hope you enjoyed today's show. Please watch your step as you exit…"

Kamigawa shook his head slightly, snapping out of his daze, and turned to Takamatsu, who was also rising from her seat.

"Let's talk as we walk out."

Seeing the conflicted look on her face, he sighed.

"Alright."

Tomori agreed, following him as they made their way outside.

"Here's the thing. Yesterday, I only said I liked stars as a polite response. Honestly, it was just a lie to make you think we had a shared interest, so it'd be easier to invite you to join the band."

Kamigawa was direct, not holding anything back.

"For that, I'm sorry."

"A lie…"

Tomori looked down, clenching her fists.

It was as she'd suspected.

After a long pause, she finally spoke. "Then why come here today? Didn't you just say you don't like stars?"

"Because…" Kamigawa's expression softened. "I wanted to be friends with you."

"W-What?" Tomori's head shot up, her eyes wide.

"You…want to be friends with me?"

"Yeah."