4

"Do you have any bedding?"

As they stepped into the apartment, the entryway was pitch black. While Nina fumbled around for the light switch, Chihiro casually asked from behind her.

"Ah… I think so?"

"Think so?"

"Yeah, I told the agency to prepare it in advance… Oh, but I don't know if there are two blankets."

Rental apartments in Japan generally fell into two categories—long-term leases, which were usually unfurnished or came with only basic furniture, and short-term rentals, which were fully equipped for tourists.

Judging from Nina's place, it seemed to be somewhere in between.

When they reached the bedroom, there was indeed a bed and a wardrobe… but that was about it.

"You don't have… a ceiling light? Or air conditioning?"

"Hehe…"

Watching the red-brown-haired girl scratch her head with an embarrassed smile, Chihiro could only sigh.

Still, for a teenager moving to a new city alone, having a place to stay at all was impressive.

At least she's got that much. Better off than me, a total stranger in Tokyo with nowhere to go.

Well, not nowhere.

Chihiro still had a grandmother in Tokyo—a former renowned musician. And her younger cousin, Raana, who was probably in her third year of middle school by now.

The thought of her little cousin made Chihiro's lips curl into a faint smile.

If she hadn't stormed off to England after an argument with her grandmother, stubbornly refusing to return for over two years, then maybe…

Maybe instead of wandering around with Anon or Nina, she'd have Raana by her side—the little cousin who used to nap curled up on her stomach.

"Um… Chihiro-nee, you can take the bed. There's an extra blanket in the closet. I'll just sleep on the floor."

"You're really letting a complete stranger stay with you, huh?"

"What's the big deal? It's already 10 PM—where else would you go?"

Realizing she had somehow achieved her original goal, Chihiro decided not to push it further.

Instead, she grabbed the larger blanket from Nina's hands and spread it out on the floor.

"No way am I letting you sleep down there. I'll borrow this place for tonight, but I'll contact my family tomorrow."

"But—"

"Got anything to drink? I'm thirsty."

"I have water in my backpack."

Nina clapped her hands as if remembering something and hurried back to the living room, rummaging through her bag as she walked.

But when she returned to the bedroom, she froze.

Chihiro was sitting on the floor, cradling a guitar in her arms, gently wiping the dust off with a tissue.

That guitar looks ancient…

That was Nina's first thought.

And then, out of curiosity, she glanced at the open suitcase beside Chihiro.

A single glance nearly made her jaw drop.

Various colored wigs, disposable gloves, a notepad, a makeup case with an unassuming pen beside it… and multiple stacks of business cards bound together with rubber bands.

Wait, are those actually business cards?

The text was all in English, so Nina couldn't read them properly.

Apart from that, there were only a few changes of clothes.

But who knew what might be hidden underneath them?

I can't just go digging through someone's suitcase…

Still, Nina couldn't help thinking—if Chihiro had a few hidden earpieces or gun parts in there, she wouldn't even be surprised at this point.

Because just earlier, this girl had picked a lock with a wire.

But everyone had their secrets.

As much as Nina wanted to ask, she knew she wasn't close enough to Chihiro to pry.

So instead, she quietly knelt down and handed over the water bottle.

"Chihiro-nee… you play guitar?"

"Ah… yeah." Chihiro smiled. "Not that great, though. Just a little better than my cousin."

"Your cousin?"

"She should be in her third year of middle school now."

"Oh…"

Then she's probably just okay at it.

But as Nina gazed at that worn-out guitar, she couldn't help but space out.

Somehow, the melody she had been listening to on the train earlier started playing in her mind again.

Music really does have power…

Maybe it was because she had nothing else to talk about.

Or maybe because she wanted to confirm something for herself.

Before she could stop herself, she blurted out:

"Chihiro-nee!"

"Hmm?"

Chihiro raised an eyebrow, smiling at her.

"Why do I feel like you keep jumping at everything?"

"I—I just wanted to ask…"

Nina hesitated, then gathered her courage.

"Did you argue with your family… because of music?"

"..."

"Ah, sorry! I shouldn't have asked—"

"It's fine." Chihiro waved a hand dismissively, her voice soft. "You ran away from home after a fight too, didn't you, Nina?"

"…It's not really running away."

After all, her family had paid for this apartment. They still sent her money.

It wasn't real independence.

Compared to Chihiro, who had cut all ties and relied on herself, Nina felt like she didn't measure up at all.

"See? Now we're even."

"Eh?"

"You asked me a hard-to-answer question, and I asked you one too. That makes us even."

Chihiro set her guitar down, gently tucking it back into its case.

Then, to Nina's shock, she effortlessly packed the guitar into her already full suitcase—like some kind of master of spatial manipulation.

Before Nina could even process it, Chihiro stood up and gave her a pat on the shoulder.

"By the way, your phone rang just now. Probably your family calling."

"Huh?"

"I'll go check out the rest of the apartment while you handle that."

And just like that, she shut the door behind her, leaving Nina alone in the room.

"…Sigh, my unnecessary sympathy is really slowing me down."

Chihiro strolled into the living room, flopping down onto a chair and propping her chin on her hand.

With her free hand, she pulled out her phone and started researching Tsukinomori Academy.

There was no way she was staying here long-term.

Not because she had any lingering guilt about scamming Nina.

She just couldn't stand the idea of living in such a crappy apartment.

A beauty of her caliber deserved, at the very least, a five-star hotel.

But first, she needed a way to sneak into Tsukinomori Academy.

It was a prestigious school, catering mainly to children of celebrities and politicians.

Meaning security would be tight.

She couldn't just waltz in as a student—she'd definitely get caught.

And even if she did pull it off, what would she gain?

Maybe… I should just pose as a teacher instead?

Teachers at Tsukinomori Academy got free meals in the cafeteria, unlike students who had to pay.

Way better deal.

…Plus, she could crash Anon's class and make that ridiculous pink-haired girl recite poetry in a proper London accent.

Now that would be satisfying.

But first, she needed more information.

With that thought, Chihiro tapped into Tsukinomori Academy's official website and began her deep dive.