As the first customer stepped through the door, the staff of the shop instantly shifted from a relaxed, idle state to one of professional focus.
More customers began streaming in one after another, gradually filling the once-spacious venue with a lively buzz.
At the front desk, Ishikawa Hayabusa methodically checked each guest's ticket while keeping one ear tuned to the cheerful chaos unfolding over at the bar counter.
Customer: "Hi, I'd like a cola."Nijika: "Got it~! Bocchi-chan, cola."Bocchi: "Coming right up."Customer: "I'd like a ginger ale."Bocchi: "Coming right up."Nijika: "Bocchi-chan, that's too curt! You need to sound friendlier to the customers!"Bocchi: "I– I– I'm still not mentally prepared!"
Bocchi really was entertaining, though from his angle, Hayabusa couldn't actually see what was happening behind the counter.
Even so, judging from the amused smiles on the customers' faces as they glanced that way, he could tell that the antics over there were quite a spectacle.
With a warm, professional smile, Hayabusa took the ticket from a young woman whose cheeks were flushed and who couldn't quite meet his gaze. After handing it back, his eyes swept the room—
—and happened to spot Kita, not blocked by the crowd for once, standing diagonally across from him as she guided guests inside and answered their questions about the show.
He glanced back and noticed Ryo leaning lazily against the wall just behind him, arms crossed, dozing off.
This woman... he was starting to worry about her future.
Just then, he heard footsteps approaching and turned back as another female customer came forward.
He hadn't paid much attention last time, but now that he was working here, he suddenly noticed—there seemed to be more female patrons than he'd expected.
"Hello, are you here to see the band's performance?" he asked politely with a friendly smile.
The woman froze under his gaze, blushed furiously, and stammered, "Um... do you happen to have a band?"
Hayabusa blinked, momentarily taken aback by the unexpected question.
Behind him, Ryo stirred from her light doze, her eyelids opening slightly at the words.
At this moment—
Hayabusa, to minimize distractions, had taken off his school blazer and was just wearing the crisp white shirt underneath.
He sat straight-backed at the counter, but despite his good posture, faint wrinkles had formed in the fabric, the thin material outlining his lean, clean frame.
Even Ryo—who knew his true nature all too well—had to admit that when he wasn't acting like his usual twisted self, the boy had an air of unspoiled clarity that was... dangerously attractive.
Realizing this was a rare opportunity, Ryo lightly tapped the leg of Hayabusa's stool with her foot.
Without turning his head, he gave the slightest nod.
In that instant, their thoughts aligned perfectly.
Now's the perfect chance to reel in a fan!
With a grin, Hayabusa replied to the woman,"Yes, actually. I'm in a band called End Band. We're not performing right now, but if you're interested, please keep an eye out for our future shows."
After confirming things once again with the other bands backstage, Hoshino Xingge stepped out of the rehearsal room.
Her gaze first landed on Kita at the edge of the venue. Seeing the girl smiling brightly while answering a guest's question, Xingge nodded in satisfaction and walked a few steps further.
She checked the bar: her adorable little sister was handing a drink to a customer while Bocchi, trembling under the pressure, struggled to make drinks without spilling them.
Everything seemed fine there.
She turned toward the front desk—
—but hadn't even reached it when she heard voices coming from the counter, where no customers were currently lined up.
Ishikawa Hayabusa: "I've got a bad feeling. The manager's probably on her way here. Should we rip these off already?"Xingge: !?
What were those two up to?
Ryo: "No way! This is the perfect opportunity. Early fans are crucial for a band!"Hayabusa: "Says the one who already tore off the slips?"Ryo: "You're the main draw here, Hayabusa."Hayabusa: "You just don't want to get scolded by the manager!"
As they bickered, Xingge finally arrived at the counter.
Expressionless, she stared at Ryo holding a notepad and at Hayabusa—who now had a label stuck to his chest reading End Band.
Ryo looked up at the sound of approaching footsteps, froze when she saw who it was, and muttered, "Ah..."
Hayabusa also heard the footsteps in the otherwise noisy basement, and with his practiced work smile, turned around—
"Ah..."
—and froze too.
"You two..."
Xingge lowered her head, fists clenched as she struggled to keep her temper in check.
Moments later—
Kita sneaked a glance to the side.
Next to her stood Hayabusa, upright and proper, his snowy white shirt and clean-cut features adding a refreshing touch to the dim livehouse.
Only... he was wearing a placard around his neck.
TOILETS →
The sign instantly shattered his clear, elegant image.
Several customers, initially warming up to him thanks to his friendly aura, noticed the sign, blinked in confusion, and immediately swerved to avoid him as though he carried some sort of curse.
But the pervert himself remained completely unfazed, still wearing that polished, professional smile.
Kita had witnessed everything that had just happened. Though she admired Hayabusa's fearless dedication to promoting the band, her body instinctively shuffled a few steps away from him, keeping a polite distance as though they were strangers.
She glanced toward the bar again—Nijika caught her gaze, smiled awkwardly, then quickly looked away with a helpless, almost apologetic expression, clearly at her wits' end with both her sister and Hayabusa.
As for Bocchi—she had already hidden under the counter and remained blissfully unaware of any of it.
When the influx of customers finally began to slow, Kita glanced at Hayabusa standing nearby and felt like the timing was finally right.
She couldn't hold it back anymore—she wanted to tell him about what had happened in class.
But alongside the urge came a wave of inexplicable dread and hesitation. The feeling was all too familiar—like the old version of herself who used to run from the band was clawing its way back.
After a moment of internal struggle, she sneaked a cautious glance at Hayabusa and took a small, tentative step closer.
Before she could say a word, he spoke first.
"Kita, did you get yourself into trouble again?"
She flinched in surprise and immediately darted her eyes around nervously—then quickly composed herself when she realized Ryo and Nijika could see her from where they were standing.
She didn't want her senpai to know about this, and besides, the courage she'd just mustered had fled at Hayabusa's words.
Just as she was about to dodge the topic—
Hayabusa turned his body slightly, his gaze drifting toward the stage.
"The band's coming on."
Kita turned too, confused—because the stage was still empty.
While she stood there puzzled, Hayabusa said,"Go ahead and tell me—if you want my help."
As if on cue, the venue's lights suddenly dimmed.
The audience erupted in cheers as the side door of the stage opened, and several young men emerged to do their final sound checks in the semi-darkness.
Kita didn't know whether Hayabusa had guessed how nervous she got whenever she had to talk to senior classmates like Ichiji-senpai and Ryo-senpai, and had said that deliberately to put her at ease—
—but it felt like he was in control of everything.
In the dim light, she looked at his profile. This easygoing, bright, mischievous boy standing beside her somehow made her feel safe.
She inched a little closer.
After hesitating, she said,"I'm sorry, Hayabusa-kun... When school ended earlier, my classmates asked if we were dating... and I said yes..."
Hayabusa didn't comment on the situation, just asked,"You didn't do it on purpose, right?"
Kita hesitated, eyes shifting to the stage where the vocalist was adjusting the mic stand.
"No," she said softly, awkwardly.
"Then it's fine. We made a promise, didn't we? I'll help you. That's a pervert's guarantee."
Even in the dark, noisy venue, Hayabusa's voice carried clearly to her—lighthearted and teasing, almost cute.
Kita looked at the boy who kept saying the word "pervert," her expression conflicted—then the corners of her lips curved up just a little.
The lights on stage flared to life.
"HELLO, EVERYONE! WE ARE ALISAN GROOVE BAND!" the vocalist shouted into the mic.
For some reason, Kita suddenly felt the urge to say something—to practice speaking out loud in this noisy, half-hidden environment.
"Hayabusa-kun..."
She turned toward him—
—only to see the placard hanging from his neck.
Sensing her gaze, Hayabusa looked away from the stage to meet her eyes.
She looked into his gaze—then back down at the sign that read TOILETS →
Her words caught in her throat.
Quietly, she took two steps back.