After breaking up, my ex asked me to win her back

Shimokitazawa.

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This is Tokyo's "City of Music," where the number of live houses significantly surpasses those in other districts, and many famous music groups have emerged from here.

It has even served as the main stage for that phenomenal band anime, "Solitary Rock."

Kagura Hikaru and Ai Cheng Karen were very familiar with this area.

As band members and hired guitar players, they had performed here quite often.

Karen's bandmates also frequented this area to buy guitar strings and picks, and sometimes she would join them, so she was not unfamiliar with this place either.

On the way, they started chatting about what had happened during their spring outing.

"So, you really got lost with President Hina in the mountains for four hours?"

"Yes."

"Wow, that must have been tough."

"It was okay," Kagura asked, "How did you find out about this? Did someone tell you?"

"There's no need for someone to tell me, the school forum was abuzz with it. Posts like 'Student Council President Goes Missing During Spring Outing' and 'President Kiryu's Four-Hour Extreme Self-Rescue' were everywhere. There were also students live-posting updates during the outing, and on that day alone the replies broke ten thousand."

"Oh....."

It was only then that Kagura realized so many people had been concerned about them without their knowledge that day.

But it seemed like everyone's focus was on Hina; nobody mentioned him.

That made sense, the difference in popularity was too great.

"I breathed a sigh of relief when I found out you guys had made it out safely," Karen said with a lingering fear, "Maybe it was due to the blessing from the shrine, but it's really great that you both returned safely."

"Shrine?"

"Yeah, when I found out you two were missing, I was rehearsing outside with Zhen Chun and the others, so I dragged them all to the shrine to pray."

"Right!" Karen remembered something and took out a red 'safety in coming and going' omamori from her bag, handing it to him, "Here, this is an amulet I bought at the shrine that day."

"?"

"Don't be shy, it was bought specifically for you, take it!"

Karen smiled genuinely, "The one for President Hina I'll give to her when school reopens."

"...Thank you, I'll treasure it."

"Hehe~"

Kagura placed the omamori in the inner pocket of his jacket, closest to his chest.

Was this the warmth of friendship? It felt nice.

Before long, they could see the guitar shop.

"What's your budget?" Kagura asked.

He was referring to the money Karen had for buying a guitar.

A decent electric guitar usually started at sixty thousand yen, and you couldn't guarantee quality below that.

Luckily, Karen told him her budget was seventy thousand, which was slightly higher than the minimum.

That made things easier.

Together, they entered a guitar shop.

Guitars of various brands, colors, and shapes hung on the wall, dazzling to behold.

If you were fooled by the way they were displayed, like wholesale toys, into thinking they were all cheap, you'd be sorely mistaken.

Upon a closer look at the price tags, one could see each guitar was priced over one hundred thousand yen, with a few even breaking two hundred thousand yen scattered around.

This nearly stunned Karen dizzy.

"Kagura, isn't this place a bit too expensive..."

"It's okay, there are cheaper ones inside."

A few steps further and the price of the guitars became significantly cheaper, affordable for students, with a wide variety as well.

Karen was dazzled by the choices: "This one looks nice, this one's good too, oh and this color matches clothes well..."

"Rather than the color, isn't the sound more important?" Kagura's hands were in his pockets, "What does your band require from the guitar's tone? Cooler or warmer?"

"Cool? Warm?" Karen replied confusedly, "What are you talking about, temperature?"

"...You really are in a band, right?"

"Eh?"

"Never mind." Seeing her bewildered face, Kagura was too embarrassed to continue teasing her, "I'll pick out a few for you, and you can buy the one you like."

After some deliberation, they selected a single coil Squier Tele in metallic red, priced slightly above sixty thousand yen, with strings, a gig bag, picks included, and a one-year warranty.

The remaining money was just enough to add a small guitar amp to their purchase.

Kagura also bought her a copy of "Hell Guitar" as a beginner's tutorial book.

As Karen slung the guitar bag over her shoulder after paying, she expressed her feelings:

"So heavy...!"

"Get used to it, your model is already quite light."

"There are heavier ones?!"

"Heh, come on, try mine."

"Wait, Kagura, two guitars won't do... Ah!"

Stepping out of the guitar shop, Karen Ai Cheng awkwardly adjusted the guitar bag's strap and mustered the courage to ask the person beside her, "Kagura, could you teach me how to play the guitar when you're free?"

"Doesn't your band already have a guitarist?"

"That's true... but, you're better!"

That was hard to argue with.

After thinking it over, Kagura Hikaru realized that during spring break there was no school, and he didn't have to go to his live part-time job if he didn't want to, so he indeed had plenty of free time.

"Alright, I can do that."

"Really? That's great!"

Karen Ai Cheng lightly jumped, her skirt cheerfully swaying, "Then let's set your house as our practice spot!"

"Okay."

She had mentioned it casually and didn't expect Kagura Hikaru to actually agree, causing Karen's spirits to soar.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

The thought of being able to see her crush at home made her legs feel light, and she had the urge to roll on the ground.

But the next second, she understood what a blunt and straightforward guy was.

"Teaching one person is the same as teaching two, so let's just call your guitarist over too," Kagura Hikaru said seriously, nodding, "I think your band's level can still improve a bit."

"..."

Damn it, I chose my crush, and I have to see this through even if it breaks my teeth!

Karen verbally agreed, her heart weeping, as she tearfully contacted the guitar player teammate.

The next morning.

Kagura Hikaru, carrying his guitar bag, arrived at the Ai Cheng Family's doorstep.

As mentioned before, the Ai Cheng Family's house was actually quite close to his own, just a few streets away, a mere fifteen-minute walk.

But it was only yesterday that he got the exact address of the Ai Cheng family.

The Ai Cheng household was clearly an average family home, a typical two-story residence with a small garage, and the family name 'Ai Cheng' written on the doorplate.

The exterior was very clean, giving off a cozy and warm feel.

It was evident that it got cleaned regularly.

After ringing the doorbell, the door was opened by a woman wearing a purple knit sweater, a mature figure with long hair.

"May I ask who you are looking for?"

"Hello, I am Student Ai Cheng's friend, we made plans for today."

"Oh~ please come in, come in."

The woman smiled warmly, took his shoes, and led Kagura Hikaru to the second floor, in front of Karen Ai Cheng's room.

"Karen, your friend is here."

Instantly, there were thudding footsteps from inside the room.

Karen Ai Cheng opened the door.

She was wearing a light pink sweater and seemed to have applied some natural makeup, and her little bare feet in socks kept curling her toes.

She awkwardly ran her fingers through her hair, looked down with blushing cheeks, and said, "Come in, Kagura."

The purple-clad woman behind Kagura Hikaru squinted her eyes and chuckled to herself, the laugh lines around her eyes becoming prominent. Karen noticed and shot her a silent glare before quickly pulling Kagura Hikaru into the room.

The room was tidy and spotless; even the trash bin seemed to be free from rubbish.

And, as expected of a girl's bedroom, there was a very fragrant scent.

Kagura Hikaru placed down his guitar bag and sat cross-legged on the wooden floor, "When shall we start?"

"We'll start when Nana gets here; she should be arriving soon," said Karen, also kneeling across from him.

There was silence in the room for a moment.

What should be said at a time like this...

Both of them thought at the same time.

Knock knock knock.

At that moment, there was a knock on the door, and the purple-clad woman came in saying, "I've brought some drinks for you."

She put two glasses of orange juice on the desk. Kagura and the others thought she would leave, but instead, she turned around, sat down comfortably, and started chatting with Kagura Hikaru, "What's your name, student? How old are you? Do you have a girlfriend? Would you like to stay for lunch?"

"Mom!" Karen Ai Cheng's eyes widened.