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STARRY, meaning 'stars', was the Livehouse Ijichi Nijika was taking the two to.
Although it should have been a coincidence, the person who named this Livehouse had a subtle understanding with Asakura, who had once said he wanted to 'gaze at the stars in summer'.
"Well, although it's called that, it's actually a basement."
Ijichi Nijika smiled as she introduced it to Asakura and Gotou Hitori.
"I didn't expect it to be in a place like an observatory anyway."
Asakura casually replied.
He noticed a hint of pride in the girl's tone when she said this, so she must know the owner of this Livehouse.
By the way, Gotou Hitori currently looked as if she had been kidnapped, trembling as she walked between Asakura and Ijichi Nijika.
Originally, Ijichi Nijika was leading the way, but Gotou Hitori walked slower and slower, almost falling behind. So, the understanding blonde girl stood beside Gotou Hitori to give her courage.
Asakura stroked his chin: "I feel like if Gotou-san were a head shorter, the current scene would look even more harmonious…"
"Is it like parents with their daughter?"
Ijichi Nijika was quite generous and didn't get shy because of this verbal joke. She cooperated with Asakura and said.
"No, it's the arrested Roswell alien."
Asakura said.
"Ar-arrested…"
Gotou Hitori looked like she was about to melt into a slime.
"That's just Asakura-kun's joke, Gotou-san, don't really be scared!"
Ijichi Nijika hastily explained: "You're not an alien…"
"But you can't distinguish aliens just by their appearance, so maybe you'd have to dissect them to confirm whether they're aliens through their physiological structure."
Asakura said seriously.
"Di-dissect?!"
Gotou Hitori's voice sounded a bit shaky.
Asakura: "Confirmed cause of death through dissection: dissection!"
Pink-haired girl: "Eek eek eek…"
"Seriously, Asakura-kun, stop teasing her. If this continues, Gotou-san might really melt and flow into the manhole on the roadside!"
Ijichi Nijika said to Asakura in exasperation: "Gotou-san is a precious guitarist, you know. If she also runs away, maybe you'll have to fill in for the opening act, Gotou-san."
"It's fine, I'm very good at Manzai."
Asakura gave a confident thumbs-up.
"Excuse me, STARRY is a Livehouse, not a Rakugo hall."
Ijichi Nijika said this, then asked with some curiosity: "Oh, by the way, Asakura-kun, have you learned any musical instruments?"
"I've learned three."
Asakura counted on his fingers under the girl's surprised gaze: "Castanets, Clappers, and Suona."
"What are those…"
Ijichi Nijika's ahoge drooped down as if deflated.
Although the girl didn't know what a suona was, combined with the two 'board' instruments before it, it didn't sound like a proper musical instrument.
"So, so amazing, knowing three instruments… I, I only play guitar."
Gotou Hitori mustered up the courage to join the conversation.
"No, no, you're definitely being tricked by him…"
Ijichi Nijika retorted.
"Oh, by the way,"
Asakura said as if remembering something else: "I also know 'Moon Reflected on Second Spring'."
"What's that? A world-famous song?"
Ijichi Nijika blinked her crimson eyes and asked curiously. Her long side ponytail swayed with her slightly tilted head, adding a playful touch to the sunny and cheerful girl.
"It's an Erhu."
Asakura made a motion of playing the Erhu.
"…Shamisen?"
The girl asked, puzzled.
"Something like that."
Actually, the difference was quite significant, but after comparing 'explaining what an Erhu is to a Japanese person' and 'fobbing it off', Asakura decisively chose the latter.
"Indeed, it's an instrument that can't be included in a band… No, maybe adding a Shamisen to a band would be quite rock? I feel like Ryo would really like it…"
Ijichi Nijika began to waver on the definition of rock.
"Although I really want to continue talking about 'Moon Reflected on Second Spring', isn't that what you called STARRY, Ijichi?"
Asakura suddenly spoke, interrupting the girl's dilemma.
"That's right, it's here!"
The blonde girl then came back to her senses. She excitedly ran down the stairs and stood in front of the basement door, making a 'please' gesture to the two: "Welcome to STARRY~"
"I've never been to a Livehouse before. Is it always like this…?"
Asakura followed the girl into the basement. A decor style dominated by dark colors came into view, along with a somewhat gloomy and oppressive atmosphere.
"Actually, there are many different kinds of Livehouses. STARRY is one of the smaller ones. From what I know, some Livehouses are quite luxurious."
Ijichi Nijika first explained to Asakura, then looked at Gotou Hitori with concern: "Gotou-san, how do you feel? Can you adapt?"
It was Gotou Hitori, who had just been listless like a fish out of water, who now showed a look of considerable relief: "I-it feels like coming home!"
"I'm starting to wonder what's going on at Gotou-san's house…"
Asakura looked at the girl, who was enveloped in a sense of relaxation and comfort, and couldn't help but say: "Does Gotou-san live in a cupboard under the stairs?"
"Isn't that abuse?"
The blonde girl said.
"N-no, I have my own room on the second floor,"
Gotou Hitori shook her head desperately: "It's just that I usually prefer to stay in the closet! Narrow, quiet places make me feel safe."
"Are you some kind of blue raccoon dog cat? I'm sorry STARRY is so narrow."
Ijichi Nijika couldn't help but retort.
"N-no four-dimensional pocket…"
"That's not the point, is it?"
The front part of the basement where STARRY was located had a stage. It was clear that various audio equipment, spotlights, and mood lighting were quite complete, giving it the feel of being small but well-equipped.
Just as Asakura was still comparing whether the equipment in this Livehouse or the stage equipment backstage at Soubu High School's auditorium was more luxurious, a blue-haired girl suddenly entered his field of vision.
"Nijika, did you find a guitarist?"
The blue-haired girl asked Ijichi Nijika.
"I found one! It's this Gotou-san!"
Ijichi Nijika happily introduced Gotou Hitori to the other person, who was stiff with nervousness: "They say her guitar skills are amazing!"
"Then who is this… a bonus?"
The blue-haired girl's gaze shifted to Asakura.
For some reason, at that moment, Asakura felt a subtle, electric-like sensation on his body.
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