Is the Rabbit Dessert Shop?
"Achoo—!"
"Are you catching a cold, Asakura-sama?"
Kawaragi Momoka asked while wiping a plate.
It was clear that she wasn't particularly good at housework-related tasks; her movements were a bit clumsy, but spending an entire day cleaning the shop did show some results. The entire shop indeed looked much cleaner and brighter than when they left in the morning.
"No."
Asakura pinched his nose and said vigilantly, "I think someone might be badmouthing me behind my back."
Ever since he had [Candle], putting aside missing limbs, at least clearly defined things like colds, or rather, illnesses, could almost certainly not remain on him.
"I don't think so. Rather, do you actually believe in such old sayings, Asakura-sama?"
Kawaragi Momoka teased Asakura with interest: "This is quite different from what young people nowadays believe."
"Proverbs passed down may not always be correct, but the passage of time is enough to imbue them with mystery."
Asakura said matter-of-factly, "Sometimes, holding a certain reverence for the unknown is not necessarily a bad habit."
"Asakura-sama talks like an old man."
"Old lady, a cup of tea~"
"The old lady is going to play rock and roll; old man, you're on your own."
"So why don't you show me some reverence! I'm your boss, you know!"
Asakura complained indignantly to the other party.
"If you want me to, Asakura-sama, it's not that I can't treat you like a normal person treats their superior—" Kawaragi Momoka said casually as she pulled her guitar from under the bar.
"No, that's fine—" Asakura waved his hand, "I can't handle overly serious relationships. It's better to be casual… Ah, but once we start operating, you must treat the customers well and not be as casual as you are with me."
"Of course, after all, we're getting paid—" Kawaragi Momoka nodded, as if it were a matter of course.
"You're really realistic, you—" "If there's anything I've learned during my time drifting in Tokyo, it's that being somewhat realistic allows you to go further—" Kawaragi Momoka said, her tone a bit distant.
"Somewhat realistic?"
Asakura was a bit confused: "Why not be completely realistic?"
"If that were the case, I wouldn't have left my previous band—" Kawaragi Momoka strummed a guitar string and replied softly.
"How complicated—" Asakura sighed.
"That's just how bands are—" Kawaragi Momoka also showed an expression of emotion.
It seemed she had also experienced quite a lot.
Asakura couldn't help but think of Kessoku Band again. Although as an outsider, he hadn't really been involved in their affairs, seeing Gotō Hitori and the other two constantly striving through ups and downs to officially get on stage was indeed quite tough.
And this was still under the circumstance that their main profession was students, so they didn't need to worry about basic living problems. If they wanted to continue on this path after graduation, they would probably need to put in even more effort.
For a rock band to operate successfully, talent, luck, and sweat—none of them can be missing.
"How was distributing rabbit dango in the shopping street today?"
No longer thinking about these hair-loss-inducing problems, Asakura asked Kawaragi Momoka again.
"Quite popular, especially among children and women. It will definitely sell well when we officially open for business!"
When talking about this, Kawaragi Momoka's expression brightened slightly: "Only the owner of the mochi shop stubbornly said it wasn't as good as his mochi."
"That's good—" Asakura nodded with satisfaction.
"Speaking of which, how about your side, Asakura-sama?"
Kawaragi Momoka asked in return.
"Hmm, to put it simply…"
Asakura stroked his chin, turned his head to look at Kawaragi Momoka, who was staring at him: "You're going to Soubu High School's Founders' Festival in two days."
"Huh?"
Kawaragi Momoka looked bewildered.
"Can you drive?"
Asakura ignored her and just continued to press.
"I can, I guess?"
"Why is that a question?"
Asakura looked at her suspiciously.
"Well, I do have a driver's license, at least…"
Kawaragi Momoka hugged her guitar and whispered, "Just to ask first, is it an automatic?"
"It's a manual."
"Oh, I see… Ah haha."
Kawaragi Momoka chuckled dryly, a 'miserable' expression on her face.
It seemed she wasn't very good at driving a manual transmission.
However, Asakura wasn't too worried. After all, if a car accident were really about to happen, the flying old car would definitely dodge by itself.
"When the Founders' Festival comes, I'll prepare a batch of desserts in advance, and you can drive them to my class—" Asakura said.
"Oh, I see!"
Kawaragi Momoka immediately showed an enlightened expression. She grinned and leaned closer to Asakura, saying, "You little rascal, you want to show off in front of the pretty female classmates, don't you~"
Asakura glanced at her, then shifted his butt in distaste. "Miss Momoka, I am still your boss, after all. If you continue to speak to me in that tone…"
"Huh, are you going to deduct my salary just for that? Isn't the boss a bit too petty? You were the one who said that our interactions could be casual~"
Kawaragi Momoka protested.
"Of course, I won't deduct your salary. After all, you haven't started formal work yet, so there's no salary to deduct—" Asakura showed a harmless smile: "But starting tomorrow, I will pour turkey noodle seasoning all over the Anmitsu in your staff meals."
"Stop! You're more malicious than putting pineapple on an Italian's pizza!"
Kawaragi Momoka was shocked.
"The drinks will also be replaced with Mapo Tofu juice."
"That's too much of a burden on the stomach! Especially the lower part!"
"When you eat natto, I'll also replace your shichimi powder with regular chili powder!"
Asakura said with a sinister cackle.
"Ah, that doesn't matter."
"It doesn't matter?!"
"Because I don't really eat natto."
"Damn it, you hateful Hokkaido person!"
"There are people in Hokkaido who like to eat natto too, don't make regional attacks, I say!"
After arguing for a while longer, Asakura told Kawaragi Momoka about the precautions for the Founders' Festival day, then stood up.
"Are you leaving?"
Kawaragi Momoka asked.
"Yes, I'm a bit worried that the other drunkard at home might make a mess…"
Asakura nodded.
"Is that so? That's truly a shame."
"What shame?"
"I originally wanted Asakura-sama to listen to my music. After all, didn't you say I could sing and play in the shop later?"
Kawaragi Momoka said.
"Oh, I see—" Asakura put down his backpack upon hearing this and sat back down on the sofa in the booth: "I still have half a cup of coffee left, so let me listen."
In the yet-to-open dessert shop, the song of 'Empty Box' began to play, gradually circling upwards melodiously, and finally dissipating like night dew in the cool night air…