"Hitori went to sell tickets yesterday?"
Because it wasn't ideal to chat outside, Asakura and the other two members of Kessoku Band simply found a cafe.
At this moment, Asakura's somewhat astonished voice rang out from inside the booth: "She didn't tell me?"
Hearing this, Yamada Ryo closed the menu in her hand, looked at Asakura, and said in a very calm tone.
"Large creamy cheese black pepper wagyu spaghetti."
It seemed the conversation didn't quite connect.
"Bocchi-chan was probably just too shy."
Ijichi Nijika kindly defended her band's guitarist: "You know that kid's social anxiety is already at the level where it could be nominated for intangible cultural heritage."
"That's true, but…"
Asakura rested his chin on his hand, feeling a bit sour: "But I didn't expect her to be so distant with me, her boyfriend. No matter what, it's a bit…"
If he hadn't run into them, it would have been fine. He had stayed with her at the izakaya until past seven last night, and after dragging the drunk Kawaragi Momoka and Hiroi Kikuri home, he drove Hitori home in his old Ford.
Throughout the entire process, there were countless opportunities, but she just didn't say anything except for forced topics like 'the weather is nice,' 'dinner was delicious,' 'the moon is really moon-like.' Asakura was truly speechless…
"Is it possible that Bocchi-chan doesn't even consider you her boyfrie—ugh?!"
Yamada Ryo hadn't finished speaking when Ijichi Nijika, sitting beside her, shoved a spoonful of fried rice into her mouth.
"If you can't speak properly, then don't speak."
The blonde girl said exasperatedly.
"Mmmph mmmph gurgle!"
Yamada Ryo said righteously.
"Swallow what's in your mouth before you speak! Rice is spraying out!"
Ijichi Nijika had rice grains sprayed all over her face.
Yamada Ryo swallowed the fried rice in her mouth with a gulp, then said with utmost seriousness: "This fried rice has no garlic."
"How much do you expect from fried rice in a cafe? Rather, it's already great that you can even order fried rice here!"
Ijichi Nijika said, wiping her face in annoyance.
"Is that so… Hitori didn't treat me like the fried rice in the cafe, huh…"
Asakura mumbled.
"Not good, Asakura's logical system seems to be in disarray because he's too shaken!"
Ijichi Nijika was a bit flustered.
"Good, let him pay the bill now."
Yamada Ryo's eyes sparkled.
"Don't do something like that in the chaos!"
Ijichi Nijika knocked her on the head, physically dispelling her bad thoughts.
After the initial shock, Asakura felt that Gotō Hitori not telling him about selling tickets wasn't such a big deal after all.
After all, from Hitori's usual behavior, it was clear that her way of thinking was different from ordinary people. If he clung too much to common sense, it would probably be difficult to understand her.
"Anyway, the tickets are all the same. If Asakura wants to come to the Live, it's fine to just buy tickets from me. Maybe it can even give Bocchi-chan a surprise."
Ijichi Nijika took out a Starry ticket and said.
"Given Hitori's personality, rather than a surprise, it would be more like a Jumpscare."
Asakura retorted: "By the way, haven't you participated in Live shows several times already? It seemed like you didn't sell tickets before, so why are you suddenly selling them this time?"
"Because our previous performances were only for warming up or filling dead time; they were 'freebies' and hadn't reached the level where we could perform on stage—" Ijichi Nijika said, "But this time, we passed my sister's review and can join the Live as an official band. However, precisely because of this, we need to sell tickets to pay for additional money, like a deposit."
"It seems that pursuing a band career is quite difficult."
Thinking of Kawaragi Momoka, who was incredibly disheartened last night and cried today, and Hiroi Kikuri, who would excessively worry about the future without alcohol to numb herself, Asakura couldn't help but exclaim sincerely.
In fact, if you think about it carefully, you'll realize that these two actually had relatively good experiences among those who dreamed of music.
Kawaragi Momoka had a certain talent, had formed a band, joined a management company, officially debuted, and sold songs, which meant she had already touched the threshold of success in this industry but fell behind at the last step; while Hiroi Kikuri, although she didn't earn a lot, could earn enough to live by performing, without needing to take on extra part-time jobs, which could be considered quite successful.
"The Live is in two days…"
Asakura took the ticket from Nijika's hand. The ticket, printed on coated paper, was surprisingly well-made. Looking at the date marked on it, he said, "Understood. I'll go see it."
"One thousand five hundred yen, please."
Yamada Ryo made a gesture asking for money.
Asakura snatched the spaghetti that the other party had ordered from a passing waiter's tray and, before the girl could react, placed the entire bowl of noodles onto the girl's outstretched hand.
Suddenly, Yamada Ryo grimaced from the heat, but because she was genuinely curious about the taste of the spaghetti (Asakura thought it might also simply be that she had eaten too much grass and wanted some human food), she desperately suppressed her biological instincts and only shook her hands after placing the bowl on the table.
"Okay, I've received it… Should I tell Bocchi-chan about this?"
Ijichi Nijika took the paper money and coins Asakura handed her, then asked Asakura again.
"No need. I think whether it's a surprise or a scare, it's quite necessary for Hitori; it can really train her mental resilience."
Asakura said with a smile.
Ijichi Nijika looked at Asakura with the gaze one gives a naughty child, making the latter involuntarily rub his nose, looking subtly guilty.
A moment later, the blonde girl sighed deeply as if giving up on something: "Forget it. It was Bocchi-chan's fault to begin with. I won't say much more about your business. Rather, this isn't even within my purview, but neither Bocchi-chan nor Asakura are the type to make things easy…"
"Don't say that. Actually, I quite like you, Nijika~"
"Save those sweet words for Bocchi-chan."
"Nijika-mama~"
"Don't call a blossoming young girl 'mama'!"
"What about me? What about me?"
Yamada Ryo leaned in curiously and asked.
"Yamada sleeps under the bridge. The night wind is really cool."
Asakura said cheerfully.
"Hehe…"
"Asakura isn't complimenting you!"
"By the way, are you interested in the school festival?"
He asked again.
"Soubu High School is holding a school festival?"
Ijichi Nijika realized something and asked, "The kind where outsiders can enter?"
"Our Vice President seems to have always been dedicated to doing things like that."