That Time My Anime Life Got Cursed by Outer Gods-Chapter 88 - 87: Boy’s Should Take Care of Themselves

The exquisite gear from earlier had vanished, leaving only a thin cut across the palm of his hand.

"Did it scratch me? What a shame."

He hadn't even seen the gear clearly, but he brushed it off—just another trivial detail not worth dwelling on.

When Mitaka Jin returned to Sakurasou, a deep fatigue weighed on him.

He chalked it up to physical exhaustion—too much "protein output" today and a restless mind. He didn't think much of it.

"Jin, you look awful. Are you feeling okay?"

Misaki had come out for a glass of water and was surprised to see Mitaka back—he usually didn't come home this early. But what startled her more was how pale he looked.

"I'm fine. Just tired," he replied. "You should get to bed if you're not doing anything else."

With that, he headed straight to his room, leaving Misaki in the living room, a worried look lingering on her face.

---

The next day after school, Shiro Sakamaki arrived at the Light Music Club's activity room right on time.

The school day had just ended, and most of the girls hadn't shown up yet. Only Kotobuki Tsumugi was inside.

"Kotobuki-san, Tainaka-san and the others aren't here yet?"

Tsumugi perked up at the sound of his voice and responded warmly, "Not yet. Ritsu and the rest are still in class. It usually takes them about ten minutes to get here."

Then she smiled gently and added, "Would you like to try the cake I brought?"

Only then did Shiro notice the sweet aroma lingering in the air—rich but not overpowering, the mark of a well-made dessert.

"Since you're offering so kindly, I won't say no," he smiled. "Mind if I have a cup of tea too?"

"Ara, is black tea alright?"

"That's perfect."

As the tea brewed, its floral fragrance began to fill the room.

Tsumugi walked to the corner and brought out a square black bag. Judging by its shape, Shiro figured it held an instrument—likely the saxophone she mentioned wanting to help deliver.

"I picked this up at the shop yesterday. Want to give it a try, Sakamaki-kun?"

She unzipped the bag, revealing a sleek saxophone nestled inside.

He didn't recognize the brand, but its craftsmanship was impeccable.

"Gladly."

He set down his teacup, assembled the mouthpiece, and tested the sound. The airtightness was perfect, and the tone was rich. He gave a subtle nod of approval.

After a moment of thought, he decided on a piece.

---

It was a song he had loved in his previous life—Mohe Dance Hall. He'd adapted it slightly when learning saxophone, turning it into something uniquely his.

There was no accompaniment—just solo saxophone—but its evocative sound quickly filled the room with a tender, melancholic air.

Though he hadn't played in a long time, his strong breath control and sharp mental focus allowed him to deliver the performance with striking precision.

What started as a simple test soon pulled him into the emotional core of the piece. As memories and feelings surfaced, they quietly slipped into the music.

Tsumugi watched in awe, as if an old ballroom had unfolded before her eyes. In that fleeting illusion, a couple danced—once young, now old—carrying the weight of a lifetime within a single song.

When the final note faded, Shiro snapped back to reality. Tsumugi's eyes were already brimming with tears.

"You're... incredible at playing, Sakamaki-kun."

Before he could respond, the door burst open. Ritsu Tainaka and the others poured in, shattering the delicate mood.

Startled, Tsumugi quickly wiped her tears with a handkerchief, cheeks flushed. Still, the admiration in her eyes when she looked at Shiro hadn't faded.

Yui Hirasawa chimed in, "Yeah! That was really beautiful. Even without any accompaniment, it was so soothing."

Tsumugi nodded repeatedly, still a bit emotional. Growing up in a musical family and exposed to world-class performances, she'd heard her share of masterpieces. Yet very few had ever moved her this deeply.

Suddenly, Akiyama Mio smacked Ritsu on the head.

"Ouch! What was that for, Mio?!"

"You totally ruined the atmosphere."

"I couldn't help it! That performance was too good—I got excited!"

She scratched the back of her head sheepishly, wearing the signature goofy grin she shared with Yui.

"Hurry up and sit down, everyone!" Tsumugi declared cheerfully, switching to hostess mode. "I brought delicious cakes and fresh tea!"

As she prepared the snacks, Yui and Ritsu's eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Mio sighed deeply and walked to the side to quietly tune her bass.

Shiro gently wiped down the saxophone and placed it back into the case, leaning it against the corner.

Glancing at Mio tuning in solitude while the others eagerly devoured cake, he couldn't help but think:

Sometimes, having overly carefree teammates is its own kind of struggle.

"Akiyama-san, why don't you go grab some cake too? Tuning can wait."

--------------------------------------

Support me at patreon.com/Arthorain and read upto 100 Advanced Chapters!