Tune In to the Midnight Heart (真夜中ハートチューン)

The teachers keep droning on about studies.

We've only just started middle school!

Your voice was my only solace as I lay in bed late at night.

What high school do you want to go to, Apollo?

NOW STREAMING MIDNIGHT HEART TUNE

Hmm...

Gotta be an all-girls' school. Hopefully one with an ocean view.

TUNE IN TO THE MIDNIGHT HEART

FURIN HIGH SCHOOL

Ahem. As mew're—

As you're all aware, Furin Girls' has merged with Furin Boys' as of this academic year

and become a co-ed school.

I know having boys around will take some getting used to,

but I hope you'll play nice.

Sensei!

What was that "mew" thing all about?

Did you flub your line?

That would render your speech imperfect. I demand a do-over.

And you are... uh...

May I take that to mean I can introduce myself?

S-Sure, okay.

YAMABUKI ARISU

The name's Yamabuki Arisu!

Heir to the Yamabuki Group, and a man who'll carry Japan into the future.

As such, I am destined to be perfect.

My favorite food is peaches.

I ask that you all try to avoid being crushed by my sheer aura and gravitas.

One last thing.

Alas, I regret to inform you that I am only 99% perfect at this time.

To find that missing one percent that will make me whole,

I need some help from the ladies.

I'd like you all to take turns...

and say "I love you" to me.

Damn it, Yamabuki!

You've got the girls looking at all us boys funny!

Quit doing that to every girl you see!

We finally got out of all-boys hell!

Adversity builds character, as they say.

You're welcome.

Say, the Yamabuki Group is loaded, right?

What's up with that "I love you" stuff?

Are you looking for a girlfriend? I'd like to apply for the role.

Huh? Whoa, already?!

F-Fine, bring it!

Lacking a bit of carrying power, I'd say.

Apologies. It's bathroom time.

Since my intestinal flora are as perfect as the rest of me,

I am in the enviable position of having nature call at the same time every day.

Yeah, I dunno about enviable.

What is with that guy?

Uh...

He's been looking for someone since the second year of middle school.

But he doesn't know what she looks like.

Wait, seriously?

And get this...

Doesn't have the same kind of edge.

All he's got to go on...

is her voice.

I GOT A PERM! HERE'S A PIC!

Oh, it's just a text from Mom.

WAITING FOR THE STREAM TO BEGIN...

APOLLO HAS STARTED STREAMING "MIDNIGHT HEART TUNE"

Here we go!

My only joy back in middle school

was a radio show hosted by a girl who went by the name "Apollo."

Welcome to Midnight Heart Tune.

Guess what happened at school today.

She barely had any listeners.

At times, it was just the two of us chatting.

We'd make small talk every night at midnight.

Oh, look at the time. That's all for tonight.

She always ended her show with the same phrase.

This show keeps me going every day.

Come hang out with me again tomorrow.

Thanks as always.

My dear listeners...

I love you.

Isn't that what you wanted to hear?

And you are...?

Break time's almost over.

Didn't you need to go to the bathroom?

I forgot!

Her voice was very similar to Apollo's...

I think!

But I can't be sure. She caught me unawares and at the mercy of nature's call.

Damn it! I need to hear it again!

This is the broadcasting club with your lunchtime announcements.

Here's to another great year together.

First-years, and our new male students, it's nice to meet you.

Whoa, a girl's voice coming through the speakers!

But the sound quality kind of sucks.

Their equipment must be ancient.

Gotta love co-ed, huh, Yamabuki?

Something came up! I must take your leave!

Hey, what about lunch?!

The broadcasting club will be coming to you at lunch and after school,

bringing you news on school events,

club activities, and committee announcements.

First, an announcement from the student council.

With our school now co-ed...

Apollo abruptly stopped streaming by the end of the first year of middle school.

MIDNIGHT HEART TUNE THIS CHANNEL DOESN'T HAVE ANY CONTENT

She also deleted all her archives.

But I knew from our chats that we were the same age and lived in the same prefecture.

She also said...

she'd like to go to an all-girls high school with an ocean view!

I estimated her location based on her activities,

and upon further investigation, only Furin Girls' matched the criteria.

I also caught wind that it'd be turning co-ed soon.

That's why I chose to go to Furin Boys' instead of a prep school.

Sometimes my own brilliance frightens me!

BROADCASTING ROOM

BROADCASTING ROOM (TEMP)

I want to talk to you one more time.

I have something to tell you.

I need one last percent to make me whole.

And that is your...

M-My apologies. There's something I want to ask you.

Hey! Don't waltz in here while we're broadcasting!

Mute the mic.

What? Do we have to start over?

Hey, it's the guy who almost soiled himself in the hallway.

You know him, Rikka-chan?

You okay? You hit your head.

This is why I didn't like the co-ed idea.

I... I'm sorry.

Yeah, she really does sound like Apollo.

The thing is... they all kinda sound like her!

Braids has the same kind of voice.

Black Hair has familiar intonation and pronunciation.

White Hair's whispery way of speaking...

It's just like when she streamed in a hushed voice so her parents wouldn't notice!

And Twintails has the exact same kind of angry tone!

Curses. How has a mere three-year gap left me feeling so unsure?

So,

since you're here...

...does that mean you want to go pro, too?

Whatever do you mean?

Wha?

Why are you here if you don't know?

We all wanna pursue a career with our voices.

The broadcasting club is specifically for people like us now.

Exactly.

I'm aiming to be an anchor.

My dream is to be a VTuber.

I'm looking to be a voice actor.

I want to be a singer, you see.

A career with their voices?

I've heard of you.

Rumor has it you did one crazy self-intro.

What was it?

"Be my lover and bear my child," was it?

Th-That is not what I—

What the hell? You creep!

You even look like a total degenerate.

I bet you filled your cloud storage with dick pics.

False! I'm here to see someone!

Would that be me?

It's been ages since I talked to a boy in person.

Being shy is part of my character and all.

Oh, no, sorry...

I get it.

You're here to see me, right?

As if!

Exactly. I came here to see you.

I swear on the Yamabuki name that I have no ulterior motives.

I simply wanted to see you again and hear your voice.

O-Okay...?

If anyone here is Apollo, raise your hand.

Who?

The chocolate?

It's one of my favorites!

What is he talking about?

Huh? Apollo isn't here?

No, based on their voices, it has to be one of them.

Which means...

Apollo doesn't want to reveal herself?!

MIDNIGHT HEART TUNE THIS CHANNEL DOESN'T HAVE ANY CONTENT

It might have something to do with why she quit streaming.

Shoot! I shouldn't have asked them directly!

Hey, sorry.

We need to get back to our broadcast.

R-Right.

No matter. I'll have plenty of chances to investigate.

And don't come back.

Outsiders aren't allowed here.

Never approach us again, you hear?

You see,

I want to get a voice-related job.

I am a veritable expert in voice work!

That makes me a pro myself!

Thus, I have the right to join this club.

To prove it,

allow me to enlighten you on this club's critical flaw.

It's the equipment.

There was so much noise in your broadcast that it was unbearable.

And you want to be pros? Laughable.

I mean, not wrong.

This school's practically ancient.

Here's my proposal to fix it.