The pure and cute Gabriel, like a little angel before, would definitely never be suspected, but now Gabriel was a little different. She could lie and trick people.
"If you don't believe me, ask Vignette. What would I gain by lying to you?", Gabriel rolled her eyes. If worst came to worst, she could just run for it again.
But she also knew running was pointless. She had already moved next door to Hachiman's house, and at school she was his desk neighbor. No matter how she ran or hid, it was useless.
She might even fail if she tried using Divine Step again, and at that point it wouldn't just be her dignity dropping and being picked up by Iris, it could very well turn into a chastity problem.
"Uh… back then, Raphiel really did peek at you guys together with us. Gabriel also said that it couldn't just be us suffering, Raphiel had to be punished by Hachiman too..."
Seeing the fire spread to her, Vignette cast Gabriel a resentful look. Not wanting to lie, but also unable to protect herself, she could only sell Raphiel out.
If even an angel like Gabriel wouldn't protect her own teammate, what could a demon like her do?
"I see... then until you drag Raphiel over, every day you'll have to assist us once," Iris thought for a moment, staring at the angel and demon Gabriel and Vignette, and spoke slowly.
"Why do we still have to assist?"
Gabriel was furious. She had already sold out her teammate, and they still wouldn't let her off.
"You've watched so long, seen so many times of assistance, it's about time you tried it yourselves."
Iris smiled faintly, and together with Lala forcefully dragged Gabriel and Vignette toward Hachiman.
"Don't worry, we won't make it too hard for you."
"This is already too hard!!"
"The two of you together only need to assist once. It doesn't matter who does it, or what method you use."
"Then let Vignette assist!"
Hearing that only one person needed to be sacrificed, Gabriel's eyes lit up. She immediately turned to Vignette beside her and desperately egged her on.
"No matter what method, it's fine. Vignette, just use your succubus skills a little, tempt Hachiman, and it'll be over."
"Once we catch Raphiel, you'll be free."
"...I'm a demon, not a succubus!"
Looking at Gabriel, who had instantly defected, Vignette couldn't hold it in anymore.
'Enough is enough!'
She didn't know any succubus skills at all.
Gabriel had even said before that the direct reason Hachiman fell into depravity was because of herself. How come now she was pushing the job of assisting Hachiman onto her?
———
In the distance.
Komachi and Shion sat at the edge of the small forest, watching the ever more intense and increasingly deprav*d "Forest of Elves" deep inside. Both of them were red-faced, staring at each other, not knowing what to say.
Once again, it was this familiar setup, making their brother Hachiman unable to stop drowning in beauty every day.
That elf princess sister Iris was truly harmful beyond measure.
———
[Yumiko! I'm sorry! I'll make it up to you, I'll absolutely get you together with Hikigaya-kun!]
[Who would want to be with that guy?]
[Why are you suddenly apologizing to me?]
[Marin?]
Kitagawa Marin suddenly apologized to Miura Yumiko in the group chat with Ijichi Nijika and Miura Yumiko. This out-of-nowhere apology and compensation left Miura Yumiko dumbfounded.
But after that, no matter how much she tagged her, or called voice or video, Kitagawa Marin stayed silent.
At this time, Ijichi Nijika was still rehearsing, with no one to study Marin's weird behavior together with her. Miura Yumiko could only set aside her doubts for now, change clothes, and head to the livehouse.
She'd ask Marin properly at the venue what exactly she meant.
Could it be that when they went to shoot cosplay, that guy Hikigaya bullied her?
That didn't make sense. That guy's hobbies were just a little p*rverted, but not to the point of f*rcing girls.
———
At the Rurikawa household.
Kitagawa Marin looked at the video call from Miura Yumiko in the group chat, gently stroked her slender pale neck and the mysterious, beautiful black empathy collar, and, filled with shame, muted her phone, not looking at Yumiko's messages again.
Right now she was still at the Rurikawa house eating dinner with Iris and the others, solidifying the new friendship just built, trying to get Minami and the elf princess Lumilia to help out her good friend Miura Yumiko.
Though things hadn't gone that far yet, at this point Marin could already sense what kind of development would happen between Hachiman and these l*wd elves. Now she only wanted to hurry and find a chance to match Yumiko with Hachiman.
Otherwise, she herself would already be lying on Hachiman's bed, while Yumiko was still stuck being tsundere, still pulling back and forth, with no progress at all.
Because of Marin's performance today, she gained everyone's approval. Everyone's attitude toward her was kind.
Most of the newcomers today were just dabblers, coming to experience the atmosphere a little. Few, like Marin, were forced by shyness into full cos-state, wholeheartedly playing the beloved-master's-slave Kuroe Shizuku, so much so that the shallow trial went a bit too deep.
Though there were magical things like the Elf Spring to quickly restore stamina and spirit, repair the body, so even intense play wouldn't harm the body.
But once she calmed down afterward, Marin's shyness exploded as she recalled it, thinking that she really had treated Hachiman like her master, and she couldn't bear to meet his eyes at all.
The newcomers Melaise, Leticia, Leona, and Sylpha were also a little shy, but since they had prepared mentally long ago, plus the elves' different way of thinking compared to humans, they were much better off than Marin.
The others took it as nothing unusual, each passing along experience to the newcomers.
Shy or calm, either way, today's cosplay activity ended successfully. Shooting was complete, and the editing no longer required Hachiman's personal touch.
Iris, Lala, Kaede, and the others were eating at the Rurikawa house, strengthening sisterly bonds, comforting Vignette and Gabriel who had been dragged into the water but were still struggling to climb ashore.
Meanwhile, Hachiman went first to Livehouse STARRY, to check Nijika and Gotou's rehearsal.
———
[Livehouse STARRY, Recording Studio]
"Hachiman, what did you do to Marin? Or rather, what did Marin do to you? Why did she suddenly apologize to Yumiko in the group chat?"
During break time, Ijichi Nijika paused her rehearsal, looking at her phone at the half-hour-old conversation between her two best friends, and then raised her eyes with a subtle expression at Hachiman, who had just arrived and sat down holding Gotou Hitori in his arms.
Though Marin hadn't said anything, in her eyes she had already said everything.
She and Marin had always been working hard to set up Hachiman and Yumiko. Now Marin seemed to feel guilty toward Yumiko. Which meant... Hachiman had betrayed Yumiko and cheated with Marin?
Hmm, not quite. Hachiman and Yumiko had never even made their relationship official. If it was betrayal, then it would be Hachiman betraying the elf princess Iris and the others. But those girls seemed to be actively helping Hachiman find more girls.
No matter what, the real reason Marin felt guilty toward Yumiko was definitely connected to Hachiman.
"I can't really say what exactly happened. Better to wait until Marin tells you herself. But she was very satisfied with today's cosplay shoot, and promised to properly repay me, said she'd find a chance to bring you and Yumiko together to reward me and fulfill me," Hachiman smiled, shaking his head, leaning close to Nijika's ear to whisper softly.
Even though his relationship with Marin and Nijika was close, some things had to be said by themselves.
He could only reveal some harmless little tidbits.
"....", Nijika listened to Hachiman's words, which sounded suspiciously familiar, holding her phone in silence for a long time.
Well then, Marin wasn't just guilty toward Yumiko, she had sold her out too.
But then again, Nijika herself didn't have much right to complain.
To get Hachiman to properly help her with the performance, she had made similar promises.
Though her goal was to match Yumiko and Hachiman, and she could keep her conscience clear, there was no doubt she had set Marin up. Now being set up by Marin in return was only fair.
Still, if she set up Marin, and Marin set up her, that made two times in total.
Didn't this mean only she and Marin got hurt, while no matter what, Hachiman got to enjoy their rewards?
"These things can wait. How's the band practice going? Do you have confidence for the performance?", Looking at the little angel Nijika puffing her cheeks and glaring at him, Hachiman reached out and pinched her small cheek, steering the conversation away.
"Uh... to be honest, not too good...", Nijika rolled her eyes at this two-timer Hachiman, then looked troubled toward his lap, where a pink-haired creature with head tucked down, bangs covering her eyes, clutching her guitar and trembling, sat curled up.
Although Hachiman's diversion was clumsy, the question he raised was deadly serious. More pressing even than matchmaking Yumiko and Hachiman.
The performance was coming up soon, with so many people coming to see them, yet her, Ryou, and Bocchi's practice was still a mess.
To be blunt... it was a complete disaster.
Yesterday, with Hachiman present, Bocchi had barely managed to go along with them, keeping the rhythm from getting too messy.
But today, with Hachiman absent, Bocchi completely didn't dare meet their eyes. Just lowering her head to play guitar, their practice slipped right back to its old state, with hours of rehearsal yielding zero results.
Curled up in Hachiman's arms, Gotou Hitori keenly sensed Nijika's gaze. But she didn't dare lift her head at all, only muttering in her heart over and over: 'You can't see me. I'm sorry. It's all because I'm useless...'
In truth, Bocchi herself was also despairing.
Even though they had cooperated decently yesterday, this morning she had woken up early, excited to practice hard and surprise Hachiman.
Who could have thought, the moment she left Hachiman, she'd revert back to her original form.
Without Hachiman by her side, she was still that hopeless loner unable to communicate with anyone.
"How about I go up on stage hugging Bocchi too? With me at her side, Bocchi can look at you and talk normally."
Hachiman looked down at Bocchi in his arms, seeing that she was already lost in self-blame and too ashamed to raise her head, and sighed helplessly, stroking her hair while speaking to Nijika.
He had thought that after letting Nijika and Bocchi interact yesterday, and after he himself had given Bocchi some support, today's practice wouldn't be such a problem. Who knew he had still underestimated Bocchi's social phobia. Right now, aside from family, Bocchi only wasn't socially anxious with him.
If he had known, he would have let Bocchi and Nijika hang out together today. That might actually have helped build their friendship.
"Unfortunately, judging by yesterday's pace, with our level, pulling off a decent performance is still very tough. Since today we didn't make any progress at all."
Seeing Bocchi, who should have felt reassured at Hachiman's side, still lowering her head and looking even more dejected, Nijika hurriedly spoke to comfort her.
"Of course, this isn't Bocchi's fault. It's us for not planning better. We only asked you to help when the performance is already near."
"Bocchi, you're the strongest among us. It's only because you're not used to ensemble play. Once you get used to it, I'll be the weakest in the band."
"Don't worry. Yumiko and the others are just ordinary high school girls, they probably can't tell the difference between good and bad music. But Hachiman, you bringing so many people to cheer us on... we kind of let everyone down."
"..."
Curled up in Hachiman's arms, Gotou Hitori peeked at Nijika, who had just dropped this dangerous comment.
Was that a mass insult?
Thankfully she hadn't said it outside, or they'd definitely get flamed online.
"So the real problem is still unfamiliarity with each other, making ensemble play lack synergy?"
Hachiman stroked the gradually calming Bocchi, while looking at the slightly discouraged Nijika, and muttered.
"Uh... yeah. Because we don't have a lead vocalist, the audience's attention will be more on our ensemble."
Nijika thought Hachiman's question was a little strange, but after a moment's hesitation, still nodded.
If they had a decent singer up front, the audience's attention would be drawn away, and even if their playing had flaws, it wouldn't matter much.
But now, with their vocalist having run away, a pure instrumental performance would only magnify their lack of coordination.
"I have a way to make you get familiar with each other and raise your ensemble level."
"A way to get familiar? That can improve us quickly?"
"Yes. Bocchi needs me by her side for security. But when she's playing guitar, she has to immerse herself completely, meaning she can't see me. In other words, as long as Bocchi feels I'm still by her side, it's enough."
As Hachiman spoke, he took out a silver empathy bracelet and put it on Gotou Hitori. Then he handed the other silver bracelet, along with the black empathy collar, to Nijika.
"Actually, as long as you and Bocchi share sensations, if I sit in your seat holding you, Bocchi will also feel she's being held by me. That way I can command you and Bocchi at the same time."
"There's no other method that can increase your synergy more than this, right?"
"...Hold me, remotely command Bocchi, and make her coordinate with me?"
Nijika stared at the silver empathy bracelet and black collar in her hand, falling into silence.
Back in class, she and Marin had received the same wrist guard as Yumiko, but she had never activated it, not wanting to experience that weird thing.
But she had to admit, thanks to this magical tool, Hachiman's method really might work.
With Hachiman at her side, their greatest communication problem in ensemble was already solved.
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