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The blonde girl spread her arms like a hero making an entrance, blocking Asakura and the pink-haired girl.
Seeing this, Asakura stopped and said: "You've misunderstood, I'm not a good person…"
The girl with the golden side ponytail stared at Asakura, her ahoge swaying like a maglev antenna, her eyes growing more wary.
And the pink-haired girl, who was already close to her limit, hid behind the other like a chick protected by its hen mother, panting while looking at Asakura with timid eyes.
"Slip of the tongue, slip of the tongue, I'm not a bad person."
Asakura coughed and corrected: "It's just that this child happens to resemble someone I know, so I just struck up a conversation…"
"Guys who like to pick up girls all say that."
The blonde girl said sternly.
"I have proof. You help me hold this."
Asakura, without explanation, shoved the miscellaneous items in his arms into the hands of the blonde girl, who had her arms spread, causing her to gasp in surprise while instinctively holding onto the pile of items.
"Huh? W-wait a minute…"
The girl who would perform such an act of chivalry was clearly kind-hearted. Asakura's pile of items contained many fragile bottles and cans, which made her unable to decide to drop everything on the ground for a moment.
And Asakura had already taken the opportunity to pull out his phone and show a photo to the blonde girl.
It was a photo he took with Kagamihara Nadeshiko while camping on Mount Kumotori.
The blonde girl looked at the pink-haired girl chatting and laughing with Asakura on the phone screen, then looked back at the pink-haired background character behind her, and felt that the two indeed looked quite similar.
Both had long, straight pink hair, and their eyes were blue. Although their figures couldn't be clearly seen because their clothes were quite covering, they probably didn't differ much. Looking at it this way, it didn't seem strange to mistake them.
"How about it?"
Asakura asked proudly.
"Even so, you shouldn't chase a girl around. That's wrong."
The blonde girl said seriously.
Her earnest lecturing manner had no deterrent power whatsoever; instead, it had a kind of contrast moe, similar to a 'Loli Mama,' although the blonde girl had already passed her expiration date as a Loli.
"I haven't had a chance to explain yet, and there are very complex reasons involved…"
Asakura said.
"What reasons?"
Asakura recalled the history of Soubu High School, then said in a solemn and serious tone: "That would have to start from the first year of Showa—"
"A hundred years ago?! That's too long!"
"If you don't mind," Asakura looked around: "Shall we go to the cold drink shop next door and talk slowly?"
"No need, here are these things back to you,"
The girl forcefully shoved the miscellaneous items in her arms back into Asakura's hands: "Please explain it briefly."
"One day in the first year of Showa…"
Asakura's eyes gazed into the distance, as if telling a story.
"Are you really going to start from there?"
The blonde girl retorted.
"Soubu High School was founded on this day, and every principal throughout its history has designated this day as the 'Founders' Festival' and held commemorative ceremonies to honor Soubu High School's founders."
"Isn't that just a regular school anniversary?"
The girl first mumbled, then blinked her eyes and said, "Soubu High School… is that the school with a really high deviation value? Are you a student there?"
Asakura didn't answer, but continued to speak in the tone of a sage introducing game settings to a hero.
"However, after a hundred years, no matter how splendid a scene, it will gradually become mottled and lose its original color under the erosion of time, becoming bleak and pale. In order to restore the former glory of this century-old spectacle, the Vice (whispering) Student Council President of Soubu High School decided to take on the heavy responsibility of the Founders' Festival and hold the strongest school celebration that can rival the school festival! However, while this grand event attracted many lights, in the shadows beneath that dazzling brilliance, crises naturally lurked…"
"Oh…"
The blonde girl let out an exclamation that implied she didn't understand but was impressed.
Asakura took a deep breath and said loudly.
"To Be Continued…"
"Don't cut off the chapter at such a crucial point!"
The blonde girl said with an embarrassed expression.
"Just kidding."
Asakura shrugged, trying to keep the bottles and jars in his arms balanced: "For various reasons, I need to find someone to perform on stage for the Founders' Festival. When I passed by just now, I happened to see this… uh, student carrying a guitar, and I heard her say her skill level seems pretty good, so I wanted to invite her to perform a guitar solo on stage at Soubu High School that day…"
Asakura then explained: "Although the effect will definitely be slightly worse compared to a band, the Founders' Festival stage itself is prepared for students. Rather than inviting a professional band, even if they are from another school, it's fine. It's definitely better to let students perform on stage."
"Wait, you mean, this kid not only plays guitar, but plays it well, and she isn't in a band with anyone?"
It was as if the blonde girl had been triggered by some keywords. After a moment of pause, she turned her head with a surprised smile and said to the pink-haired girl: "Um… my name is Ijichi Nijika! Actually, the guitarist in my band ran away before the live performance started, so we're looking for someone who can play guitar to help out!"
"Awawawa…"
The pink-haired girl looked extremely flustered. Apparently, her brain couldn't process why the 'mother hen' who had just been protecting her suddenly changed her attitude to be like the 'eagle' trying to snatch her away.
She seemed to want to instinctively run away as before, but because her hand was held by Ijichi Nijika, she couldn't even escape. She could only obediently face everything.
"What's your name?"
Perhaps sensing something from the girl's attitude, Ijichi Nijika didn't rush to conscript the other party, but gently asked first.
"Hitori… Gotou Hitori."
The pink-haired girl stammered out her name.
"Gotou-san, please help us!"
Ijichi Nijika said seriously.
"…O-okay."
Overwhelmed by her aura, Gotou Hitori could only nod and quietly agree.
"Um… my name is Asakura Takuma."
Asakura said, unwilling to be left out: "I was here first…"
"Ah haha, Asakura-kun, if you don't mind, you can come with us."
Ijichi Nijika was in a great mood after finding a substitute guitarist, and she was no longer as wary when speaking to Asakura.
"Go where? To your school?"
Asakura asked, puzzled.
"Of course not,"
the girl said cheerfully, "Of course it's the Livehouse where we're going to perform!"
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