"What's wrong? What's wrong?"
At this crucial moment, Ijichi Nijika noticed the situation here. She had only left for a short while, and Gotou Hitori had already encountered a customer. It seemed the opportunity to change Gotou Hitori's introverted nature was about to arrive!
Gotou Hitori didn't answer. After seeing Ijichi Nijika come to her side, she immediately bowed to Bai Yuze, then directly dove into a cardboard box under the counter.
Suddenly, she found a familiar and reassuring feeling. This surge of security made Gotou Hitori's tone less flustered.
However, while Bocchi-chan was comfortable, Nijika and Bai Yuze were quite awkward...
The two looked at each other, and finally, Nijika broke the silence.
"Ah... haha... what can I get for you?"
"I heard there were band performances here, so I decided to come and see."
"I'm very sorry, due to some unforeseen circumstances... our performances have been temporarily suspended..."
Nijika's expression was full of regret. Bai Yuze pondered for a moment, then calmly asked,
"Excuse me... how much to book the venue?"
Bai Yuze pulled out dozens of ten-thousand-yen bills and placed them on the counter. This action stunned Ijichi Nijika.
"Huh?"
Bai Yuze, familiar with the plot, knew that the biggest difficulty for Kessoku Band currently was their lack of popularity. Therefore, the cost of their performances needed to be repaid through part-time jobs, with any shortfall covered by themselves. This also gave Bai Yuze the idea of booking the venue. Mainly, it was a rare opportunity to see the real people, and not experiencing it would be somewhat regrettable.
"Book us? Let me think about it..."
At some point, Yamada Ryo appeared behind Nijika, and the money on the counter was already in her hands, which she was counting repeatedly, her eyes gradually sparkling.
Seeing Bai Yuze's money about to fall into Ryo's pocket, at this critical moment, Nijika made her move!
"What the hell is 'booking us'? Don't say such misleading things!"
Yamada Ryo's head was hit by Nijika's fist, and the banknotes she was counting were also snatched away by Nijika.
"I'm very sorry, and thank you for your kind offer, but we still want to make a name for ourselves through our own efforts, not just for the band, but for everyone."
Ijichi Nijika immediately rejected Bai Yuze's offer. In her opinion, forming a band was a dream, and forming a band with her companions was the true dream. She didn't want any so-called financial interests mixed into it.
This was not only out of respect for her own dream but also for every member of the band, including Gotou Hitori's growth.
"Of course, if you insist, I will reluctantly agree, but this is no small expense... a bag..."
Bang!
Yamada Ryo, standing behind Nijika and imitating Nijika's voice, got her head smacked by Nijika again...
"Honestly! You've ruined such a serious atmosphere!"
Yamada Ryo also said with a serious face at this moment,
"I was just joking earlier. My thoughts are the same as Nijika's! However, if you really want to book us, please be sure to include me. I'll perform playing bass with my teeth for you!"
Yamada Ryo' changed her tone. She had almost pocketed the banknotes just now. It didn't matter if the cooked duck flew away, because ducks don't fly anyway, but if the money that was almost in her hands was gone, then it would really be gone!
"Uh... bassist? Should I book you to get takeout for me?"
Looking at Yamada Ryo's pathetic appearance, Bai Yuze suddenly remembered a bass joke from his previous life.
"Takeout? If possible, I'll help you get it!"
"Uh... never mind."
Bai Yuze thought the other party hadn't understood the bass joke, which made him feel puzzled. It shouldn't be, could it be because takeout isn't popular in Sakura Country?
"But I might steal and eat takeout on non-holidays~"
"Why?"
"Because there's an old saying in the Dragon Country! 'Whenever there's a festival, the bass is light.' Only on holidays does the bass become lighter; at other times, it's quite heavy. This causes my appetite to increase greatly, and I can't help but steal and eat takeout on non-holidays!"
Yamada Ryo understood Bai Yuze's bass-insulting joke, but for the yen! No shame!
"How about it? Considering it? If you order now, you can still get three wishes granted."
Yamada Ryo's expressionless face actually showed a hint of shyness. It seemed like an unintentional shyness of a young girl, but in reality, she had already laid the groundwork. The first step after getting the money was to forget her roots!
She promised to play bass for the other party, but didn't specify a time. Perhaps tomorrow? The day after tomorrow? Next year? The year after next? Or even next lifetime...
"Is that so? It sounds like a good deal. Then my first wish is for this order to be free, then give me one hundred thousand US dollars, and then cook two dishes for me!"
Bai Yuze and Yamada Ryo's first encounter exhausted all the insulin in Chiba. The confrontation between the two scoundrels left Nijika, who was standing by, utterly bewildered, while Bocchi-chan, hiding under the cardboard box, felt the abundant energy outside!
Finally, with Yamada Ryo's head getting slapped by Nijika again, the farce came to an end.
"A bag... Nijika, you're so violent, no one will want you in the future. Only I can spend my whole life with you."
"Don't say such nonsensical things! And why would you cling to me when I'm old?!"
Yamada Ryo didn't respond, but instead pondered to herself.
"Hmm! Seeing as Nijika and I have been together for so long... the bride price for Nijika's marriage should rightfully be shared with me a little! It's decided! Nijika, your future bride price will include an extra house! And don't let it be too far from your room; I'd be very troubled if I couldn't see you."
"Shut up! There's a customer here! And what do you mean, 'don't let it be too far from my room'! You need to know when to stop!"
Liang Xianbei successfully evolved into her ultimate scoundrel form. At this moment, Scoundrel Ryo was already thinking about where she and Nijika would be buried together. As for Nijika's husband? Irrelevant!
Bai Yuze was stunned by the scene before him. He didn't know what to say, only a "Wow" could express his shock!
"No... it's not what you think. Ryo is just like this, please don't take it to heart."
Nijika was on the verge of tears. Her reputation and bottom line had been constantly broken and reformed since the moment she met Ryo...
And Ryo's integrity was also constantly changing, sometimes formal, sometimes mischievous.
One can only say that calling Yamada Ryo a "human" is too low-level. Hajiryo can no longer be called a "human"! Hajiryo has shed her human form and ascended to become an immortal, hence the name: Liang Xianbei!
"It's alright, it's alright. No chance this time, then next time."
Bai Yuze waved his hand at the other party, and just as he was about to leave, Nijika grabbed his arm.
"Um... if it's convenient, could you leave your contact information? We'll notify you immediately if there are any band activities in the future!"
"Okay."
Bai Yuze smiled at this, left his contact information, and then departed, leaving only Yamada Ryo to grieve alone.
The money was really gone...