"I never thought this body would be so healthy…"
Hitori, hunched over, arrived at Starry, making a chilling sound.
She was ready to face her doomsday.
She had never hated this healthy body so much.
It was nothing more than waking up earlier than a chicken and going to bed later than an owl every day.
Persisting in high-intensity practice for over 6 hours.
Under the severe torment of cold water, ice, fans, and staying up late.
Today, her dark circles were just a bit heavier than usual.
She couldn't fake being sick at all!
...
As Hitori's first day of part-time work.
Such a memorable day.
Hotaru, of course, also came.
This was also her first day of part-time work.
Last night, after Nijika said she wanted Hotaru and Hitori to also work at Starry.
Seika readily agreed.
Coincidentally, Starry only had girls.
She was just missing a laborer for heavy work.
And now, Hotaru was here.
She could use public office for private revenge.
However, Nijika then said.
Hotaru only wanted to work part-time occasionally.
Seika, of course, disagreed.
What did she think her place was?
Come when she wanted, leave when she wanted.
No!
But she couldn't resist Nijika's repeated requests.
Seika still agreed.
Today.
There wasn't any heavy work.
So, Seika gave Hotaru a temporary task.
Handing out flyers at the entrance.
By the way, Ryo was in charge of cleaning, and Nijika and Hitori were in charge of making drinks.
Hotaru readily agreed.
She had never done any part-time work.
After all, she made her fortune writing light novels.
But, could handing out a few flyers really stump her?
It was a good chance to let Seika see her ability to attract customers.
Standing in the shade.
Hotaru held a stack of flyers.
Printed on them were the bands performing tonight and their setlists.
Facing the passersby.
Hotaru showed a handsome and polite smile, coupled with her good looks and clean school uniform.
Almost no one refused.
Passersby kindly took the flyers.
However,
As the flyers in her hand dwindled, the smile on Hotaru's face gradually stiffened.
Because the flyers were handed out.
But not a single ticket was sold.
How embarrassing would it be to face Seika later!
But to be honest, this wasn't Hotaru's fault.
Because not many people would spontaneously decide to watch a live performance; a full live show lasts two or three hours.
Leaving midway would also make one feel it was too much of a waste.
Suddenly, Hotaru felt someone poke her on the back.
Could it be Seika coming out to inspect?
Probably not, if it were Seika.
Her voice would arrive before she did.
Hotaru turned around.
"This, I want."
The girl wasn't very tall, so Hotaru lowered her head.
Their eyes met, the girl looking up at her.
A white-haired loli?
Had the fan-favorite character finally arrived?
Hotaru couldn't help but inwardly grumble.
And she even had heterochromatic eyes, one blue and one yellow.
As for whether they were natural or contact lenses, that remained unknown.
Seeing Hotaru unresponsive.
"Hmm…"
Rana poked Hotaru again with her small finger, then spread her palm.
"Excuse me, here you go."
Hotaru handed her a flyer.
It was then that Hotaru noticed a suitcase next to the white-haired girl, about the same size as her.
It looked like an instrument?
The box was so big, Hotaru guessed it also contained other equipment.
But could this girl really drag it?
Hotaru was about to open her mouth to ask, to see if she could trick a customer into Starry.
However, to her astonished gaze.
Rana, with a "whoosh,"
flew the flyer, folded into a paper airplane, to the opposite side of the street.
Hotaru was dumbfounded, "What are you doing?"
Even if you don't like it,
this kind of thing, at least…
shouldn't be done in front of the person handing out flyers, right?
Aren't you embarrassed?
I, the person handing out flyers, am very embarrassed!
If Seika saw it, she might even think Hotaru was slacking off.
Her favorability might even drop.
Rana showed a happy smile.
"Still want."
Hotaru blinked, "Are you serious?!"
She looked back at the entrance to Starry's basement, and Hotaru breathed a sigh of relief.
Under Rana's puzzled gaze.
Hotaru quickly went to pick up the paper airplane.
"Why pick it up?"
Looking at this petite girl.
Hotaru didn't feel angry.
She just educated her,
"Listen up, little loli… little friend, this kind of behavior is not right."
"Why?"
"Third-year."
"Elementary school?"
"Junior high."
Slightly surprised,
but Hotaru smiled.
If you say that, then I have no psychological burden.
"Do you want to go in and see?"
"It's very interesting."
Hotaru pointed to the flyer, then to Starry behind her.
"Interesting?"
Rana looked curiously at the underground passage.
Then her eyes lit up.
The long staircase and the slightly dim environment immediately piqued her interest.
"And you get a free drink!"
Hotaru tempted her.
Actually, the ticket price for Starry was 1500 yen, of which 500 yen was for the drink.
This was higher than the prices at convenience stores or vending machines.
"Do you have matcha parfait?"
Rana looked up, observing Hotaru with her beautiful heterochromatic eyes.
"matcha parfait…"
Hotaru pinched her chin and thought.
Starry had quite a variety of drinks.
But they all seemed to be sodas, energy drinks, juices, beer, and the like.
As for matcha parfait, it was hard to say.
However, she was trying to attract customers.
"There should be, you'll know if you go in and see, it won't disappoint you."
Hotaru said.
Anyway, I'm just handing out flyers.
As for whether there's matcha parfait inside, that's the manager's concern.
"Oh!"
Rana, dragging her suitcase, was about to pass Hotaru.
"Wait, you haven't bought a ticket yet."
Hotaru took out a ticket and handed it to Rana.
Rana took the ticket,
"Thank you."
Hotaru blocked her again,
"You haven't paid yet."
Rana looked up at Hotaru with a puzzled expression,
"Money?"
She remembered that entering RiNG didn't require money.
Only when eating matcha parfait did she need to pay.
Hotaru extended her palm and smiled: "Yes, 1500 yen."
Rana rummaged in her pocket for a while, found the money, and then held it out in her small hands to Hotaru.
Does this mean she wants me to take it myself?
Hotaru was slightly stunned, looking at these yen notes crumpled into small paper balls.
After taking out 1500 yen.
Hotaru happily waved, finally making her first sale.
"Go in quickly."
Rana walked to the stairs.
"Can't go down."
She looked back at Hotaru.
"My apologies, I was careless."
Hotaru helped Rana carry the suitcase downstairs, and also returned the paper airplane to her.
Returning to the shade outside, Hotaru was in a cheerful mood.
She hoped the few remaining flyers could attract one or two more customers.
...
Inside the store.
Hitori encountered her biggest challenge of the day.
Nijika had gone to the restroom.
So now, Hitori was alone at the drink counter.
"I-I-I-I'm so sorry, it seems there's no matcha… pa-pa-parfait here."
Facing the white-haired girl who was a head shorter than her.
Hitori looked down at her, but her body was trembling.
"There is."
Rana's small mouth opened.
"No… there isn't."
"There is."
"No…"
"Yes, the person outside said there is."
Rana took a step forward, leaned her hands on the counter, and stared intently at the rows of drink machines behind it.
Meanwhile, Hitori felt like she was about to be devoured at any moment, and she cowered under the counter, hugging her head, muttering.
"Don't eat me, don't eat me…"
"Interesting woman."
Rana then focused her gaze on Hitori.
Nijika, coming out of the restroom, happened to see this scene.
She ran over quickly.
Seeing it was a little girl, Nijika was a bit surprised.
However, there were no age restrictions to enter Starry.
But beer was definitely not allowed.
"Excuse me, what can I get for you?"
"matcha parfait."
Nijika was slightly stunned, "Eh? You want matcha parfait?"
"Mm."
Rana looked at the drink machine, already impatient.
"I'm sorry, we don't have matcha parfait here."
Nijika said apologetically.
Rana froze, then visibly became disappointed.
"Lying person."
Rana mumbled.
But Nijika didn't hear clearly, so she asked again,
"Is juice okay?"
"Alright."
Rana replied weakly.
Seeing this, Nijika remembered there were still snacks left from the Ending Band meeting yesterday.
"Oh, right, can I give you some snacks too?"
Rana perked up, "Mm!"
"Nijika, I'm starving too."
Ryo suddenly appeared, leaning on her broom, and said.
"I know, I know, you'll get some too."
Nijika decided to get some food for everyone.
Not long after, Hotaru finished handing out flyers.
Perhaps her luck turned after the first sale; she later successfully sold two more tickets.
Under Seika's surprised gaze, Hotaru walked over with a smile on her face.
She then saw Ryo and the others already gathered around the drink counter.
Waiting in the back for the performance to begin.
"I'm back, everyone."
"Hotaru, you worked hard."
Nijika said with a smile, handing her a drink.
Rana spotted Hotaru.
"Lying person!"
"Eh?"
"Ah?"
"Oh?"
Nijika, Hitori, and Ryo all looked at Hotaru with varied expressions.
Hotaru's expression changed, "Why are you here too?"
Rana stared at Hotaru with a puffed-up face.
This person in front of her told her there was matcha parfait here.
That's why she came in.
She spent 1500 yen.
Rana didn't have much concept of money, but she knew.
This price could buy two matcha parfaits at RiNG!
In the end, it was Nijika who asked first,
"Rana, are you Hotaru's friend?"
Rana?
Had she made a friend so quickly?
As expected of Nijika.
Hotaru replied guiltily, "Ahem, she's a customer I recruited."
Nijika probably understood what happened and said with a slightly serious tone,
"Hotaru, you shouldn't lie."
Otherwise, she'd end up like Ryo.
Nijika added in her mind.
"Achoo!"
Ryo sneezed at the opportune moment.
Hitori suddenly felt her nose and throat itching too.
I can't believe this person was brought in by Hotaru!
But what could she say?
The result was that Hotaru apologized to Rana.
Hotaru said she would treat her to all the matcha parfait she could eat next time.
Rana, upon hearing this, happily accepted.