After the ninth simulation ended.
As Christmas drew near.
Toru sat by the bar counter of the live house.
He looked at Hiroi Kikuri, who stood before him wearing an expression full of worry.
"Kikuri-nee, what are you stressing over?"
After the last drinking party, Toru had changed how he addressed her, from the more distant "Hiroi nee" to the more intimate "Kikuri nee".
"Toru-kun, do you think it would be better if I invited Ohtsuki-chan's group, or the Kessoku Band?" Hiroi Kikuri took a swig from a bottle of cheap alcohol, a tipsy flush spreading across her cheeks.
"The warm-up guest for the Christmas live? Why not just have both? It won't waste much time."
Toru took two steps forward and snatched the bottle from Hiroi Kikuri's hand.
This woman had promised to quit drinking just a few days ago, yet she had already given up before even two days had passed.
"Wuwu, Toru-kun, give big sister's booze back."
Hiroi Kikuri looked as though she had lost something precious. With watery eyes, she fumbled around like a blind person feeling an elephant, rubbing herself all over Toru.
This scene was quickly witnessed by Ohtsuki Yoyoko, who had just entered the live house.
"Kitahara-kun, why are you stealing Hiroi oneesan's alcohol?"
Toru held the bottle high, dodging Hiroi Kikuri's attempts to grab it, and replied, "She promised she would quit drinking."
Seeing that Yoyoko looked unconvinced, Toru continued—
"Alcohol has a hundred harms and not a single benefit."
"Yoyoko, you lend Kikuri nee a ton of money every month to buy alcohol. Is that really for her own good? …It's because of accomplices like you that bassists keep getting misunderstood."
Yamada Ryo borrowed Bocchi-chan's money every day.
Hiroi Kikuri borrowed Ohtsuki Yoyoko's money every day.
"..."
Yoyoko knew it was bad, of course, but…
When Hiroi Kikuri borrowed money from her, she always looked so pitiful.
Ohtsuki Yoyoko simply could not refuse her idol's request.
"One thing is one thing…"
Ohtsuki Yoyoko argued stubbornly, "You're still wrong for snatching Hiroi oneesan's things like this."
At that moment.
Hiroi Kikuri changed the subject. "Maa maa, don't fight. Help me think it through, okay? About the live on December 24…"
After some discussion.
Ohtsuki Yoyoko crossed her arms. "The Kessoku Band's strength isn't bad. I went to one of their lives before, but as a warm-up act, they might not be qualified."
"I think we're more suitable."
Yoyoko's band was called sideros. As a standout among the new generation of bands, they were far stronger than the Kessoku Band.
"Yoyoko, don't you have plans for Christmas? You can actually make time for a live. I thought you'd have a date."
Toru suddenly asked with a mischievous grin.
Ohtsuki Yoyoko felt that he was doing it on purpose.
A date?
Forget a boyfriend, she barely even had any friends.
In past years, she spent most of Christmas sleeping at home.
"So you don't, huh. That's pretty sad."
Toru shook his head slightly.
"And you? Christmas is almost here, yet you're still helping Hiroi oneesan out. You probably don't have anyone inviting you either, right?"
Ohtsuki Yoyoko refused to accept that.
Hiroi Kikuri felt she was asking for trouble. Foreseeing what would happen next, a smile crept onto her lips.
Toru shook his head. "No, I'm thinking about who to go on a date with."
"Isn't it just the Kessoku Band girls? You make it sound like you're super popular."
Ohtsuki Yoyoko guessed it almost immediately.
The women Toru was close to could be counted on one hand.
"At least that's better than some girl who has no one to date on Christmas."
"Say that again if you dare."
Ohtsuki Yoyoko glared at him, revealing two sharp little fang-like canines, as if she were about to bite someone the next second.
Seeing her sharp fangs, Toru chose not to argue with her.
A good man does not fight with women.
Fangs hurt.
"Eh~ you two really get along well. Since you like flirting with each other so much, why don't you just date already?"
Hiroi Kikuri took a sip of alcohol, watching like a gossiping onlooker shipping a couple, and fanned the flames.
By her estimate, these two love-hate rivals would start dating within three years and get married within five.
They would probably have two kids.
"Who gets along with him…"
Toru nodded. "I like Yoyoko. I like her the most in the world."
"Li-like… you you you, what are you saying…"
Ohtsuki Yoyoko blushed, completely losing the ability to speak properly. "You like me, I… no no, I like, wait, let me think about how to answer you."
"It's fine, no need to answer. I lied."
"Ah?!"
Ohtsuki Yoyoko exploded with anger, baring her teeth as she grabbed Toru's clothes, preparing to bite his neck.
"Go die!"
While fending off Yoyoko's biting attack, Toru turned his head and asked Hiroi Kikuri about the earlier topic—
"Kikuri nee, have you decided how to arrange the Christmas live?"
Hiroi Kikuri nodded. "Yeah."
Since she could not decide for the moment.
She would just let both the Kessoku Band and sideros take the stage.
Only kids make choices.
Adults want everything.
————
At the same time.
Inside the practice room of the live house Prosperity.
Ijichi Nijika received a live invitation from Hiroi Kikuri.
She glanced at her bandmates.
"Everyone, Hiroi-san invited us to participate in a Christmas solo live as the warm-up act."
"Eh eh eh, a Christmas solo live?" Kita Ikuyo exclaimed in shock.
"Yeah, December 24."
As soon as the date was mentioned.
Everyone's expressions changed.
"Christmas Eve?" Kita Ikuyo began to think.
She had already planned it. On Christmas, she would go on a date with Toru, cook the rice and make it done, successfully securing her position.
"A big sister's invitation, w-we can't really refuse it, right?" Gotoh Hitori said, glancing around.
"Yeah, let's accept it."
Yamada Ryo nodded, throwing dozens of sneaky early-move strategies she had just thought of straight out of her mind.
Hiroi Kikuri had helped the Kessoku Band with many things.
"When the performance is over, we can hold the celebration party here and celebrate oneesan's birthday at the same time," said angelic Nijika.
Ijichi Seika's birthday was on December 24.
The day before Christmas.
"Kita-chan, what do you think?" Nijika asked.
Kita Ikuyo raised her hand. "Sounds great. I'm in!"
After that.
Everyone began discussing gifts.
"Oh right, have you all bought birthday presents yet?" Ijichi Nijika had not made up her mind and wanted to ask everyone's opinions.
At the same time, to avoid awkward overlaps.
Yamada Ryo: "No money."
Gotoh Hitori: "Ah…"
Too scared to go out, planning to shop online.
Kita Ikuyo: "I thought about it for a long time and decided on lipstick."
The topic did not last very long.
But everyone present thought of the same possibility.
————
Night.
Toru opened LINE and received four date invitations.
Without exception, the reason was to help pick out Manager Seika's birthday present.
——————