Although Mitakihara University has reopened its doors as well, ushering a new semester with a low-key attempt at returning to form, the campus is still a long way from running the way it used to. As Alice leaves the Department of Contemporary Arts and crosses the main courtyard, she notices construction workers cleaning graffiti off the building’s walls and setting up scaffolding to replace the broken glass on the upper floors, which left the department’s main auditorium out of use until further notice. Unfortunately, this means that most classes are still mostly being taught remotely, but the occasional seminar would break up the monotony, making her excited about the prospect of getting to hone her skills under the tutelage of a pro.

Passing by a group of sophomores roasting chestnuts over a fire pit next to the abstract sculpture at the centre of the courtyard — Mitakihara University prides itself on its “iconoclasm and lack of care for tradition for tradition’s sake”, according to the brochure — Alice passes by the entrance to the underground passageway leading to the Department of Humanities as she hears a voice calling out to her.

???: Miss Rinju! A moment, please?

Alice recognizes the voice as belonging to Mr. Sakagawa, who teaches Music Production and Engineering. Far from her favorite subject, but she respects Sakagawa greatly, as he has over a decade of experience in the field and worked as an engineer on some of her favourite records. With his crew-cut, slight stubble and rolled-up sleeves, he doesn’t particularly look like a college instructor either, which is always a plus in Alice’s book.

Alice: … Can I help you, sir?

Sakawaga: Sorry to bother you, but err — If I remember correctly, you share a dorm room with Miss Yui Arashi, right?

Alice: Yes. I do. And before you ask, yes, she… She does still live at Itokai, even if her attendance has been…

Sakagawa: Scarce? Yes, that is what I meant to bring up with you. I don’t mean to pry of course, but I had hoped whatever was keeping Miss Arashi away from class would have been resolved by now, after everything. Is she alright?

Alice: … (she looks away, fixing the strap of her guitar bag as it is about to slide off her shoulder) It’s… complicated.

Sakagawa: I understand, but… Well, I know it’s a bother, but… Do you know if she’s planning on coming back to class anytime soon? I mean, obviously she can go through the theory on her own time — I’m not forcing anyone to attend class, that’s not how college works — but… the seminars are mandatory, and I’ve heard from her bass instructor Mrs. Sakai that she hasn’t been showing up to those, either.

Alice: Hmm… (she avoids her gaze, somewhat guiltily)

Sakagawa: It’s just that… None of my business, of course, but if she intends to drop out, tell her she should do so now. If she waits until the end of the year, we’ll have to fail her, and that’ll look bad on her record, right?

Alice: Right. (she bows slightly) Thank you for your concern, sir. It’s just… Yui has been going through a lot lately and… I think she has an idea of what the future will look like for her, and she’s… putting a lot of effort into it, but she likes to bet on multiple horses, I guess. Honestly, it might be… my fault that she hasn’t dropped out yet.

Sakawaga: Somehow I find that hard to believe.

Alice: She… Well, she followed me here. For my dream. But… I think she has other plans, and… I can’t blame her.

Sakagawa: Then maybe you’re the right person to talk to her. This is just… off the record. I was just going through some paperwork and I noticed I hadn’t seen that punk girl in a while. Stood out, since you don’t see a lot of those at a university. Not even this one.

Alice: (she chuckles)

Sakagawa: Well, anyways, do with that what you will. I just felt I had to check in on you two real quick. Get home safely, okay?

Alice: Will do, sir. (she nods as the man takes his leave, headed towards the main faculty building. However, as soon as she turns, someone crashes into her with a loud thud. Groaning, she takes a few steps back, only to notice a familiar face sitting on the ground in front of her, rubbing her forehead amidst a sea of scattered papers)

Alice: Midori? Are you okay?

Midori: Oof! Yeah! (she gets back up, showing off her lack of injuries by doing some quick gymnastics exercises) Nothing wrong! Us Shirahara girls are made of galvanized steel, you know. (she grins) … Oh! Where’s the missus?

Alice: She’s got bigger fish to fry at the moment.

Midori: Aww… That sucks. You’re not all alone, are you?

Alice: (she smiles) Don’t worry about me. Seminars are one-on-one anyways.

Midori: Ooh, what’s our future rockstar got cooking this time?

Alice: (she laughs nervously) Not a whole lot, seeing as the only venue in town worth playing got burned down… Have you heard anything from the owner?

Midori: (she sighs) Unfortunately, I have. Old man’s said he’s calling it quits. Wants to retire, and says getting the Bends back up and running isn’t worth the investment. Plus, we… pretty much lost all of our gear in the fire.

Alice: Oh, that’s… I’m sorry, Midori. I… I know how much that place meant to you.

Midori: More than my other workplace, that’s for sure. But of course, it’s the cool job that got blown up… But! But but but but— That’s why I was looking for you!

Alice: … I’m, eh… I can’t give you a job, if that’s what you’re looking for.

Midori: No no no—okay… (she takes a deep breath) Remember Tada? That fucking guy from the Bends who used to boss me around?

Alice: (she raises an eyebrow) I thought you guys were dating.

Midori: (she scoffs) Excusez-moi, Miss Rinju? Never have, and never will. Anyways, he texted me the other day, and apparently he knows a guy who knows a guy whose uncle owns an old jazz club a few blocks away from where the Bends used to be. Place got shut down some time ago because one of his investors mysteriously vanished — apparently the place had been operating at a loss for years — but the thing is, it’s still there. Abandoned, but still more or less intact.

Alice: … and?

Midori: Well now, this uncle decided to skip town entirely, what with the… everything, so he’s putting the place up for sale. And since real estate is dirt cheap in this cursed hellhole at the moment, and the interim mayor is using some of that relief money from Tokyo to fund local entrepreneurial efforts…

Alice: … You’re going to buy it and turn it into a new live house?

Midori: We’re going to buy it and turn it into a new live house?

Alice: What makes you think I have the kind of money to buy real estate?

Midori: Well, no, I don’t mean we as in you and I, I mean we, as in I and a bunch of other people. We’re turning this into a cooperative, with everyone who pays up owning an equal share, and getting an equal cut of the profits!

Alice: Can you… Is that a thing?

Midori: Of course it is! Factory workers do it when the corpos screw up, so they don’t lose their jobs. Last year, some of the seniors in Art History saved their favourite bar from bankruptcy like this!

Alice: Well… That sounds pretty cool! I-I think that’s an amazing idea! I’d love to—Well, you will book us if you do end up making this a thing, right?

Midori: Ugh, even better! You gotta be in on this, Alice!

Alice: You… You do know this plan is completely ridiculous, right?

Midori: You called it cool like five seconds ago!

Alice: Well, I.. I dunno— I mean, I’m not against it or anything, but… I mostly just want a place to hang out and perform. I’m not interested in the money.

Midori: Well no, but you’re pretty good at, like, running things. Koharu told me you do a lot of the admin at Yui’s place.

Alice: I suppose… but I’ll need time to think about it, I… I shouldn’t stretch myself too thin, and… Yui needs me.

Midori: Well, offer’s on the table! (she squats down to pick up some of her papers, with Alice soon joining in to help her — as the two get up again, Midori catches a glimpse of the large clock on the main faculty building’s tower) Oh shoot, that time already? I-I gotta jet! (as soon as she has gathered all of her things, she darts off, waving at Alice in the process)

Alice: (she waves back) Be careful, okay?

Midori: No worries! Made of steel, remember?

Alice: (she lowers her hand as Midori turns the corner) … Why do I get the feeling we’re gonna get scammed?