(Akiri POV)
Akiri: Oh, sorry
I then took off my glasses and ruffled my hair. They instantly had a shocked expression as they both recognized me at the same time.
Mio + Ritsu: A-Akiri?!
Akiri: Yes! I a-
My sentence was cut short by Ritsu happily wrapping me in a hug while jumping in joy.
Ritsu: Your here! You're really here!
I just smiled and returned the hug.
Akiri: Yeah, I'm back
Ritsu then let go of me and I noticed Mio looking at me, covering her mouth with her hands with tears in her eyes. I just smiled at her.
Akiri: (thoughts) They really haven't changed a bit did they?
Akiri: Come on Mio, don't be shy
Mio then quickly embraces me tightly, not wanting to let go.
Mio: I've missed you. I've missed you so much!
Akiri: Missed you too, Mio
After a while longer, we broke the hug. I pulled out a pack of tissue from my pocket and handed it to Mio.
Mio: Thank you
She then wipes the tears off her face.
Ritsu: What are you doing here?
Akiri: Just taking a look around the store
Ritsu: No, I mean, what are you doing back here?
Akiri: Oh, my sister got a new job nearby, so we moved back
Mio: Y-you're really gonna be staying here?
Akiri: Yup!
Mio: That's great!
Ritsu: Welcome back Akiri
Akiri: Thank you. By the way, what are you guys doing here?
Mio: Oh, we were looking to buy a guitar
Akiri: What?! You play guitar?
Mio: N-no! Not me. It's for Yui there
She points to the short brown haired girl who then smiled sweetly.
Yui: Hello!
Akiri: Nice to meet you Yui
Ritsu: We're in the Light Music Club
Akiri: Really? Wait, does that mean you all play?
Ritsu: Yup! Me on drums, Mio on bass, Yui on the guitar and Mugi on the keyboard
Akiri: That's awesome. What are the chances that we all are interested in music.
Mio: Huh? What do you mean?
Akiri: Oh, I forgot to mention. I play the guitar
Mio + Ritsu: Really?!
Akiri: Yup! Started playing not long after I moved away
Ritsu: That's awesome!
Mio: You've got to play something for us later
Akiri: Sure. But first, aren't you guys looking for guitars?
Ritsu: Oh yeah, almost forgot about that again
We look towards the countless guitars on display.
Akiri: So Yui, see anything you like?
Yui: Um... is there any basis for comparison?
Akiri: Huh?
Mio: Of course! You have to consider the timbre.
I then whispered to Ritsu.
Akiri: *quietly* Is she a beginner or something?
Ritsu: *quietly* She never even touched a guitar before...
Mio: Other factors like weight and the shape of the neck should also be considered. So girls should use ones with a skinnier nec-
Yui: Ah, this guitar's cute!
She quickly went in front of a Gibson Les Paul Standard.
Akiri: (thoughts) She's not listening...
Ritsu: This one's going to be around 250,000 yen
Yui: Oh, it is!
Akiri: Not surprising, I've seen some go for more than that
She then had a disappointed look on her face.
Yui: I can't buy this one after all...
Mugi: You want this guitar?
Yui: Yeah
Ritsu: The cheap ones are over there
Yui: Hmm... It'd be cool if I got this one
Mio: This reminds me... I also thought and thought about the bass I have right now...
Akiri: Same with me and my old Epiphone. Brings back memories
Ritsu: Me too, with that old drum set I haggled and haggled...
Mio: The store employee was crying
Ritsu: I really wanted that drum set!
Akiri: Well, what Ritsu wants, Ritsu gets
Ritsu: Hey!
Mugi: Um... haggle?
Ritsu: One must struggle and tenaciously haggle for what she wants!
Mugi: That's amazing. I kinda long for that...
Akiri: Huh?
Mio: What... what's there to long for?!
Ritsu: Ah! alright! Let's all get part time jobs, okay?
Mugi: Part time jobs?
Ritsu: Yeah, so Yui can buy her instrument
Yui: Eh? That's bad!
Ritsu: This is another activity of the Light Music Club!
Mugi: I want to do it!
Akiri: I'm not in your club but, I suppose I can give you guys a hand
Ritsu: Alright! Let's all do it!
I then notice Mio looking worried.
Akiri: (thoughts) She might not like that idea as much as everyone else
Akiri: Well. I let you guys decide what kind of job we'll be doing, I need to buy some strings and head home
Ritsu: Okay, bye Akiri!
Mio: Goodbye
Akiri: Oh! Let's exchange numbers
Ritsu: Great idea!
Mio: O-okay...
The five of us pulled out our phones and they gave me their phone numbers.
Akiri: Okay, all done. See you guys later
I smiled towards them and walked to the counter.
(Mio POV)
Mio: (thoughts) I-I have his phone number...
I looked towards him as he walked away from us.
Mio: (thoughts) He really has grown. He looks more handsome now...
I thought as I feel my cheeks heat up.
(Akiri POV)
As I walked up to the counter, the worker that was standing there greeted me with a polite smile.
Worker: Hello, how may I help you?
Akiri: I would like to buy one of those
I point to the many pack of strings hanging on display behind him.
Worker: Sure, which one?
Akiri: The Ernie Balls please, 10 gauge
He then grabbed the pack of strings off the display and put it on the counter.
Worker: That would be 700 yen
I took out my wallet and pulled out the exact amount of money and handed them to the worker. He took he money and put it into the cash register. He then put the pack of strings and put it into a plastic bag.
Worker: Thank you, please come again
I just smiled and nodded. I took the bought item and walked out the store. I then made my way back home.
(Timeskip)
(Third person POV)
Once Akiri made his way home he saw that his sister was sitting on the couch while watching TV. He then decides to tell his sister the good news. He went on front of his sister and began to speak.
Akiri: Hey sis! Guess what
Akari: Hmm?
Akiri: I found them! My childhood friends. I had just ran into them at the music store
Akari: Oh. I was wondering when you guys would run into each other
Akiri: Huh? Wait, you already knew?
Akari: Yup! Turns out, I am teaching in their class
Akiri: Really?! Then why didn't you tell me? I was just getting worried that we won't even see each other again
Akari: Sorry. Thought I might surprise you later
She then notices the plastic bag her brother was holding.
Akari: Whatcha got there?
Akiri: Just some new strings for my guitar.
He then sat right next to her and continued talking.
Akiri: And speaking of guitars, they told me that they are in the light music club
Akari: Oh, really? I didn't know about that
Akiri: Didn't you used to be in the same club?
Akari: Yeah. Also, one of my friends from the same club is also working as a teaching at that school
Akiri: Really? What a coincidence
Akari: I know right? Who would of thought we would both work as a teacher at the same school
They then continued talking about each others day until they were called for dinner by their mother.
After dinner, Akiri started to head upstairs to his room, but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. He turned around to see that i was his father's hand and Akari standing right beside him.
Akiri: Dad? Sis? What is it?
Dad: Come with us
He then followed his father and sister to a closed door.
Dad: Open it
Akiri: Umm, okay...
He grabbed the door handle and twisted it. The door then opens to reveal a set of stairs leading down to a dark room.
Akiri: This is a surprise. You never told me we had a basement
Akari: The real surprise is further downstairs
He then carefully walked down the dark stairs and when he reaches the bottom, the room suddenly lit up revealing something that surprises him. His eyes quickly widened in shock.
Akiri: No way!
Akari + Dad: Surprise!