Nijika was bursting with questions, but kept quiet until Aoki turned around.
Ryo walked to her bass bag, fished out some bills, and held them out. "The money I borrowed for the bass. Thank you."
Aoki hadn't expected such quick repayment. He blinked, then took the cash. "No need to thank me."
Before he could say more, Ryo pulled out her phone, tapped, and held up a QR screen. "Let's add each other on LINE, suki-san."
Her eyes were steady. Her face was as unreadable as ever, but there was a glint of curiosity in her voice. "We promised last time—next live, I'll message you."
Aoki hesitated a beat.
Ryo added, deadpan, "Liars have to swallow a thousand needles."
"…," he ignored the threat and thought: he had said "next time for sure," and watching a show wouldn't cost much time—and truthfully, he wanted to see Kessoku live properly.
"Okay," he said, and they exchanged info. She saved him as "Odd suki-san."
Nijika's confusion only deepened. Why was Ryo casually using "suki-san"? Why was Aoki unfazed?
After Aoki waved and left, Nijika rounded on Ryo. "When did you find out he's 'suki-san'?"
Ryo tilted her head. "Find out… he's suki-san?"
"So—Aoki-senpai's YouTube. The guy who posted the original 'Lemon'… When did you learn that? It felt like you've known forever."
A pause. Then Ryo blinked and said, genuinely surprised, "Oh—so suki-san has a YouTube account."
"…," Nijika froze.
She tried again, weakly. "S-so… you didn't know?"
Ryo shook her head.
"Then… why do you call him 'suki-san'?"
"Because I made it up," Ryo said, completely serious. "Suke sounds like suki, right? It popped into my head. He must like it—he even used it on his YouTube."
Nijika stared, on the brink of tears. I've outed him… for nothing…
…
Back home, Aoki changed out of his uniform.
It was early. He moved the little table back to the middle of the room, took out his books, and worked through his assignments.
His 1R was cheap and conveniently located, but cramped to the point of claustrophobia. There wasn't even space for a proper bed.
Someday, with money, he'd move.
He finished homework, bought a half-price bento from the nearby convenience store, ate, then self-studied math.
By ten, he'd washed up, bagged the trash, and laid out his bedding. With the lone bulb switched off, he stretched out and checked his phone.
Twenty minutes earlier, Ryo had messaged.
Odd Bassist: suki-san, is this you?
Odd Bassist: (image)
Odd Bassist: I listened. It's you.
He hadn't hidden his voice or uniform in the video. Being recognized was inevitable—but he hadn't expected it to be this quick.
He typed a simple reply: It's me.
Most people would follow with praise for the song.
Ryo was not most people.
She sent a creepy laughing geisha sticker, then:
Odd Bassist: Pretty good nickname, right? But since you used it on social media without my permission, I'm charging a 5,000-yen nickname royalty. Pay me next time we meet.
Ryo on LINE was somehow even weirder than in person. But it also… fit.
He chuckled and replied: It's late. I'm going to sleep. Hope you dream of a bass and 5,000 yen.
Her answer came at once:
Odd Bassist: Night.
Odd Bassist: Also—'Lemon' is great.
-------
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