Since neither side seemed to have any intention of disbanding for the time being, Ijichi Seika also wisely said no more realistic words, muttering that her good intentions had been taken for granted, and then left.
"She'll probably find a restroom and cry by herself."
The cool-looking sound engineer said, "After all, she was shouted at by her favorite sister, and her suggestions were taken as provocation. She must be quite hurt."
"Miss Sound Engineer, are you very concerned about Miss Seika?"
Asakura asked curiously, "Then why don't you go comfort her?"
"Of course, it's because the manager, who is clearly very fragile after crying but still tries to act strong as if nothing happened, is super cute."
A dangerous glint flashed in the sound engineer's eyes, "That look of hers, when poked at a sore spot, she'll sniffle and bluster loudly, it's just too adorable~"
Asakura: "..."
It seems Ijichi Seika's daily life isn't very easy either.
"So, Asakura-kun, why are you and Bocchi-chan at STARRY today...?"
Ijichi Nijika, who hadn't clearly heard the sound engineer's dangerous remarks, was talking to Gotō Hitori.
"I, I got a new guitar..."
Gotō Hitori hugged her guitar bag protectively, "So I wanted to play it. C-can I borrow a practice room?"
"Of course, no problem!"
Nijika said, patting her chest.
Perhaps the reliable Miss Nijika made this gesture too often, which is why the rise and fall of her chest is the smallest among the three members of Kessoku Band—of course, even so, it still far surpasses the Service Club president.
"Um..."
Gotō Hitori asked somewhat uneasily, as if remembering something, "Did someone really come to STARRY asking about me?"
"Of course, they did, especially a lot the past two days."
Nijika nodded, her golden side ponytail swaying, making one's heart itch, "But it's better today, and I didn't mention anything about Bocchi-chan at all~"
"A-after all, it's Nijika... you must have used very flashy normie-speak to repel those people... unlike me, who can only stammer and pretend to be a foreigner..."
Gotō Hitori said, looking at her enviously.
At the same time, the girl's heart couldn't help but fall into self-doubt: Nijika is so much more excellent than herself, and plays the drums well—though the rhythm is always off—but she's a very beautiful girl, and a normie, even smelling nice, completely the most perfect JK form she could imagine. Why did Asakura-kun choose to confess to her, who has no strengths, instead of to Nijika-senpai?
Could it simply be because she was a witch?
That's right, after all, besides that, she seemed to have absolutely no point that could compare to Nijika-senpai—"Ow?!"
Asakura chopped the girl's head with a hand, interrupting her thoughts.
After all, from the gradually abstracting expression on her face, Asakura could roughly guess what she was thinking, and it was clearly nothing good. To prevent the girl's magic from deteriorating (though she had almost no magic left in her body), Asakura still forcibly pulled her out of that self-pity she occasionally fell into.
"No, I don't have that kind of ability."
Ijichi Nijika shook her head in the girl's expectant gaze, "I just spent about fifteen minutes describing my Kessoku Band and our musicians' happy lives, as well as our future development and prospects to the other party—usually, they choose to hang up around the five-minute mark, and a few more persistent ones can resist until the tenth minute. Often, when they find out that the last member of our Kessoku Band is named Bocchi, those who desperately stayed until the end also collapse... Oh, how sad... No one can listen to all the lines I prepared..."
"Is that what you're sad about...?"
Asakura retorted.
And Gotō Hitori, for some reason, began to feel sorry for those miserable scouts.
"I was also asked about Bocchi."
Suddenly, Yamada Ryo's distinctive voice came from Asakura's right.
The last employee at the bar had also chosen to abandon her post, and she lightly came before everyone.
"It's over... Bocchi-chan's information is going to spread completely..."
Ijichi Nijika slapped her forehead, her face full of helplessness.
"Tsk, I should have stopped her earlier."
Ijichi Seika looked regretful.
"No more... my peaceful life..."
Gotō Hitori's eyes were vacant, and she seemed to be entering a strange meditative state.
"Why do you all think I sold Bocchi's information?"
Yamada Ryo, however, was completely oblivious to her reputation and still spoke earnestly, "I kept it a secret very well... Although people often start asking if I have any thoughts of becoming an idol while asking about other things..."
"Do you?"
Asakura asked.
"Of course not."
Yamada Ryo replied, "Practicing dancing is too troublesome, and I feel like I wouldn't have time to play bass if I became an idol."
"But Ryo actually kept it a secret... I thought you'd definitely sell Hitori's information for a small sum of money directly."
Asakura praised, "It seems the bond between your band members is even stronger than I imagined…"
Yamada Ryo: "…"
The girl didn't speak, only smiled, making Asakura feel an uncontrollable itch down his spine.
"You didn't say it was because of your bond with Hitori, did you?"
He couldn't help but confirm.
"It's nothing."
Yamada Ryo grinned, revealing a truly wicked smile, and said without reservation, "Because I feel like this Bocchi will become more famous, and then I'll have a long-term meal ticket."
"Don't do that!"
Ijichi Nijika delivered a righteous judgment to her head, but it didn't cause enough damage against Yamada Ryo's iron skull.
"Just kidding…"
Yamada Ryo shook her head and mumbled.
"Anyway, since Hitori wants to play the guitar well, it's a rare opportunity. Let's all go to the practice room together and continue practicing our ensemble."
Ijichi Nijika suggested.
"What do you think, Hitori?"
Asakura asked. He somewhat suspected that Yamada Ryo knew about his relationship with Hitori, as she was currently staring at the hickey on his neck with a knowing smile.
Gotō Hitori: "No, no problem… Please whip me well!"
So, the group went to the practice room together, leaving Ijichi Seika speechless. After all, the bar area would truly become a no-man's land…
After that, they had a fierce ensemble practice.
By the time Gotō Hitori remembered the gift she had prepared for Asakura but hadn't given, it was already after Asakura had sent her home.