In a cozy breakfast café just off campus, Alice pockets her phone as Yui returns from the bathroom to see a large plate of toast, bacon and eggs awaiting her.

Alice: Excellent timing, ma’am!

Yui: Daaaamn, babe, this looks incredible! You uh… you’re good to have some too, right?

Alice: You’re talking as if I made it. I’m gonna have to stick to the healthy stuff, I’m afraid. (she shrugs) … not that I really mind.

Yui: You sure? You know I’m good for solidarity. I can be selfish any other time I want.

Alice: (she scoffs) It’s bacon and eggs, not wagyu beef. You need your protein, gym rat.

Yui: Bold of you to assume I don’t eat a ton of protein during the week. …Wait, shit, that bluff doesn’t work, you’re there enough to see me eat lunch… (She finally sits at the table, wasting no time on the bacon and eggs)

Alice: So, you’re all set? 

Yui: Hm? Oh. (She makes sure she doesn’t have anything in her mouth before replying properly) Yeah, all set. I can do a lot of stuff independently, and if I can prove I studied enough to catch up, I’ll get enough credit to not flunk. ‘Sides that, I gotta show up more often. I’mma take that to mean “every class” and take it as a break from the gym. It was kinda nice this morning, to be honest with you.

Alice: Glad to hear it. Never a dull moment, huh?

Yui: Comparatively? These are dull moments. But honestly, it’s such a nice change of pace.

Alice: Well, eh, I’ve got news, then. Unless Midori’s already told you about this stuff.

Yui: Probably. Midori hasn’t stopped telling me stuff since The Smile opened. But hit me, babe.

Alice: They’re doing a Battle of the Bands. Different bands representing different cities from neighboring prefectures.

Yui: So you signed us up, right?

Alice: No. We were nominated.

Yui: Midori?

Alice: It was her idea, and you know what she’s like. Guess we’ve got about a month to get our act together… uh, literally.

Yui: …We got that Kiyoshi dude on drums, but it feels like somethin’ ain’t there. Something’s missing. I did run by Bake-Bake, Natsuko still can’t steal herself away. It’s a shame, no one can replace Babycakes, but… there’s a void.

Alice: Three people can’t do the sound I’m looking for. And honestly… we’re constraining ourselves by sticking to just guitars and drums.

Yui: So we really do need a fourth… but I got nothin’. I spent so much time this year at the gym that I don’t know a ton of people our age.

Alice: Guess another round of auditions won’t hurt, but… I dunno, I don’t wanna be the kind of band where you have like, “original” members and members who had to earn their spot. I, uh… I mean, Kiyoshi’s an amazing drummer, but he’s surprisingly… deferential.

Yui: …Given who he used to run with, I kinda get it.

Alice: I dunno if Shiori would’ve respected him as much as she did if he hadn’t had a spine.

Yui: Well, there’s gotta be more to it, right? I could talk to him, once I get the nerve to face up to more of Shiori’s life, anyway. 

Alice: Guy doesn’t seem to be in any mood to open up, if his interactions with Midori are any indication.

Yui: Just gotta hope whoever our fourth is isn’t a nutcase, then. I can only handle one at a time, so until he opens up… 

Alice: I mean, that’s why I think we should be friends with this person, right? Good friends. I wanna be on the same wavelength with our band, that’s the only way to… transcend — for lack of a better term — what this band has been up until this point.

???: Then why’d you dismiss my offer, emerald? I’d be offended if I didn’t know better.

Alice nearly jolts out of her chair when a tall, slender young man slides into the chair next to her. He is wearing a colorful floral shirt, loosely tucked into skinny fit jeans, and his hair is impossibly pale. Grabbing the menu on the table between its two original occupants, he quickly glances at the front, then the back, before raising his hand to call over the waitress.

Yui: Who in the fuck—

Naomi: What’re you having? 

Alice: … Naomi?

Naomi: Oof, I’m flattered, emerald, but… we barely know each other. And definitely not in front of your girlfriend. Or… (he points at Yui’s plate) were you guys gonna share that?

Alice: That’s not what I—Wait.

Naomi: Hmm? (he snaps his fingers) Oh right. (he holds out his hand, reaching across the table) Hi there. Naomi Mitsunaga. Alice here saved my bacon after your last gig.

Yui: (She gives his hand an immediate, firm shake, only a little more firmly than necessary) Yui Arashi. Alice’s other half, owner of the New Eden gym downtown. …You look kinda familiar. I know you from somewhere?

Naomi: From lying unconscious on the floor, I guess?

Yui: …Right, that makes sense. …You have to know how dangerous it is to just drink something without inspecting it, dude. Especially at a bar. 

Naomi: As if you’ve never ordered something you didn’t recognize, huh?

Yui: So you’re a lightweight, then? I never did find the bastard that spiked the drink, though… oughta count themselves lucky. (She takes a drink from her orange juice)

Naomi: Says the one sipping orange juice—Oh! (he is excited to see the waitress arrive to take his order) Lessee… One breakfast burrito, one steak and eggs, one stack of pancakes, bacon and maple… Oh, and the avocado toast. Make that two. (he turns to Alice and Yui) … You two need anything?

Yui: (She simply nudges her head to her own plate, still full of food) 

Naomi: (he laughs as the disgruntled waitress leaves) You guys really don’t wanna be in my debt, huh?

Alice: You never said it was going to be your treat.

Naomi: Well, I had to throw in something to sweeten the deal, eh?

Yui: I own a business at 20 years old, money ain’t a problem. Better question is, what’re you doing here?

Naomi: Attending university and having breakfast?

Yui: I’m gonna go out on a limb and say you’re just here to thank Alice for saving your life again. Thing is, it feels like you got somethin’ else to say. …I could be misreading, of course. I just have a sixth sense about these things.

Naomi: I mean, I just overheard you guys talking about wanting to make new friends and I wanted to remind Alice here that there’s a standing offer, y’know?

Yui: (She raises an eyebrow, but otherwise doesn’t say anything)

Alice: What, you mean this contract thing?

Yui: Excuse me?!

Naomi: Did I phrase it like that?

Alice: I mean, it’s… I don’t think friendship works that way.

Yui: (Composing herself) …Yeah, no, typically that’s not how it goes. You like… hang out and shit. Not… whatever the fuck.

Naomi: Well, we are hanging out, so…

Yui: (She hesitates, but her expression is completely unreadable. Eventually, she just sighs) …Fuck it, pull up a chair, I guess. Just, lemme have my coffee date with Alice later, ‘kay? I’m at my quota for interlopers for the day with this.

Naomi: I love interloping!

Yui: Haaah…