Looking Out For You

[Matsubara Kanon's POV]

"Looks like it's taking for them, huh..." Kanon mumbled as she peeked outside, "How's the progre- uwah!?"

Her heart skipped a beat as she saw the massive igloo interior crafted by the three (Misaki, Hagumi, and Kokoro)

The sight was overwhelming, and she couldn't help but release a surprised "fuee" in response to the unexpected marvel.

"Kanon! Let's sit down! I made a couch!" Kokoro's cheerful invitation interrupted Kanon's thoughts, and before she knew it, she found herself seated on a snow couch next to Kokoro.

"H-how is this possible..."

"We're here~" Kyo announced, entering the igloo with a noticeable amount of blood on his head. Kanon's eyes widened in concern.

"E-Eh?! Kyo-kun!? What's wrong!?" she asked, worry evident in her voice.

"Oh? My head? Just a small discipline," Kyo responded casually as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

Kanon's eyes darted between Kyo and the blood on his head, her usual shyness momentarily overshadowed by her concern. "D-discipline? You... you shouldn't hurt yourself like that!"

Kyo grinned, seemingly unfazed. "It's just a little scratch. I may have overreacted a bit."

[Back to Kyo's POV]

"But still... I'm surprised that you four actually made this igloo."

"Right?~ I even made a Michelle statue made of snow just outside the igloo!" Kokoro cheerfully revealed.

"Eh? S-since when did you-..." I paused, sighed, and looked away, mumbling, "Never mind, why did I even have to ask that... You can make the impossible possible."

The eccentricity of Kokoro and her bandmates never ceased to amaze me. As I glanced around the snowy interior of the igloo, a mixture of admiration and amusement settled within me.

"Well, we are Hello, Happy World! After all!" Kokoro proclaimed proudly, striking a pose.

"Now that everyone! Let's sing! Get your instruments ready!!" Kokoro's enthusiastic voice filled the igloo, and the members of Hello, Happy World! prepared for a lively performance.

And so, the group began to sing, their cheerful melodies echoing within the snowy walls. I found myself seated in a corner with Kanon, watching the spectacle unfold.

"Matsubara-san? You're not gonna join them?"

"E-Eh? I-I'm good!"

I tilted my head, studying her response. "I see."

We both sat in silence, observing the spirited performance of the four bandmates. The harmonious tunes created a warm atmosphere within the igloo, contrasting with the snowy landscape outside.

As we continued to enjoy the music, a subtle growl broke the harmony. Kanon's stomach betrayed her, the sound drawing attention. Her face slowly rose, a flush of red appearing as she covered her face.

"Are you hungry?" I asked, trying to hide a smile.

"N-No..."

"Are you sure?"

She stayed silent, giving a nod that confirmed the obvious.

Chuckling, I reached into my bag. "Here, have a snack. It's better than suffering through hunger."

She hesitated for a moment before accepting the snack, expressing her gratitude with a shy smile.

And then... Kokoro and the others' stomachs also growled as they slowly turned to me.

"Kyo-kun, sharing is-" I immediately stopped Kokoro, putting my bag in front of them.

"I know, I know, You can have my snacks in my bag."

Geez, the things I do for the band.

Just as I handed out snacks to each of them, I noticed Kanon staring at me out of the corner of my eye. When I turned to her, she immediately averted her gaze, as if caught in the act.

I tilted my head slightly, curious about her behavior. "What's her deal?" I murmured to myself.

I decided to engage her in conversation. "Matsubara-san, is there something on your mind?"

Her cheeks turned a shade of pink, and she stammered, "N-No! Nothing at all!"

I couldn't help but smile at her shy response. "Alright, if you say so."

But it didn't stop there...

I caught Kanon stealing glances at me every now and then. It seemed like there was something she wanted to express but found it hard to put into words.

The night fell, and Kokoro and the others were peacefully sleeping on the futons made out of snow. Don't ask how, but you could tell it was Kokoro who made them. Surprisingly, they were quite comfortable.

As I lay there with these girls beside me, I couldn't deny the embarrassment bubbling within me. Sharing an igloo with Hello, Happy World! was certainly an experience I never anticipated.

Hours later, I was abruptly woken up in the middle of the night.

I noticed Kanon quietly slipping out of the igloo.

"Huh? Where is she going?" I wondered, sitting up and rubbing the sleep from my eyes. Intrigued, I decided to follow her, careful not to wake the others.

I quietly followed Kanon for a few moments until she stopped and gazed up at the sky. Intrigued, I joined her, looking upward, and to my surprise, a canvas of bright stars twinkled overhead.

"Woah," I couldn't help but express my awe, catching Kanon's attention.

"E-eh?! Nakasone-kun!? What are you doing here?! I thought you're sleeping!?"

"I just woke up..."

"O-Oh... Hahaha~ I see..."

She continued to look up at the night sky, her eyes filled with wonder. "They're beautiful, isn't it?"

"You could say that again..." I smiled, walking closer to her side to share the view.

"When I look at the stars, I feel calm. Like, down here, I feel like nothing. But up there, my gaze locks on it. My mind starts to vent, as if the sky is listening. The stars make me feel so loved, something I've never felt. The cold never bothers me; I just want to sit there and stare."

"Feel like nothing... huh..." I smiled, "That's not true at all."

Kanon turned to me, her blush slowly creeping onto her cheeks as she looked back at the stars.

"I-I don't believe that."

"Ara? You sure like beating yourself up, huh... That's a bad idea, you know? You should watch yourself playing drums sometimes and take a good look at yourself."

"Hehehe~ I guess you already caught on to me being in trouble, huh."

"I'm observant when it comes to people; I always look out for them."

She stayed silent, locking eyes with me, and suddenly grabbed my hands with a determined gaze. "T-Then... Will you also look after me?"

Surprised by her sudden move, I couldn't help but smile and nod. "I'll always look after you as long as you are playing on CirCLE."

The two of us stared at each other and laughed as our hands gently let go.

"Now then... Shall we go now?"

"Yeah!"

As we were about to walk back to the igloo, I let Kanon take the lead. However, she paused and slowly turned to me, a hint of embarrassment on her face. "U-Uhm... Nakasone-kun."

"Yes?"

"Ahahaa~ I forgot where the igloo is."

...So you're bad at directions huh...

I chuckled, "For starters, maybe I should keep an eye out on where you're going."

Kanon's cheeks flushed even more, as I was leading the way back to the igloo.