Looking at the 'Bugle' on top of her head, and that side ponytail...
There was no mistake, it was definitely her! According to the original work, she was roughly twelve years younger than her sister, so right now she was in the form of a five-year-old toddler!
Tsushima Kagami squatted down and looked at Ijichi Nijika. "Is your older sister named Ijichi Seika?"
"Y-Yes... You know my sister? Can you take me to find her, Big Brother?"
Yukinoshita Shizuku looked at Tsushima Kagami with confusion. "You really know her sister?"
"Have you forgotten? She's that blonde girl with the ponytail we were looking for at that bar in Shimokitazawa, the one Komoe-sensei took us to last time."
Hearing this, Yukinoshita Shizuku finally recalled the memory and nodded. "But where do we look for her? Shouldn't we just take her home or contact a nearby police box?"
"Wait a moment, let me ask a bit more." Tsushima Kagami turned back to Ijichi Nijika. "Did Little Nijika come out all by herself?"
"Yes, Mama is still at work."
"Then why did you run out alone?"
"Because... because Big Sister is a big dummy! She promised to play with me today, but she ran off to play in her band again!" As she spoke, Ijichi Nijika looked like she was about to cry again, her voice tinged with indignation.
"Do you know where your sister is?"
"Mmh... At home, Sister took a phone call and said she was going to some 'LOFT' in Shinjuku. After she left, I secretly followed her out. And then I got separated from her here. Waaaah..."
After Ijichi Nijika finished speaking, Tsushima Kagami and Yukinoshita Shizuku picked up the flyer in their hands and examined it again. Then, they looked at each other.
"Little Nijika, let's go then. Big Brother will take you to find your sister."
"Yay! Thank you, Big Brother, Big Sister." Ijichi Nijika finally broke into a happy smile.
With that, Ijichi Nijika took the hands of both Tsushima Kagami and Yukinoshita Shizuku. Holding her hands, the two followed the address on the flyer, searching for the location.
*
Shinjuku LOFT. The entire performance venue was divided into two sections: the Bar Area and the Hall Area.
Right in front of the liquor counter in the Bar Area, Tsukuyomi Komoe downed a large draft beer in one go. She let out a strange sound of satisfaction, lit a cigarette, and closed her eyes to enjoy the band performance on stage.
"Is it jazz style today? It's really nice, don't you think? Douraku-sensei, and Landlady Hayase."
Beside Tsukuyomi Komoe, Douraku Utage and Hayase Kinue also picked up the draft beers on their table and drank.
"Honestly, Tsukuyomi-sensei, I only came because you said there would be a mixer with handsome guys today. So, where are the handsome guys?" Douraku Utage scolded Tsukuyomi Komoe while drinking her beer.
"Ahaha, I don't know why they all ran away as soon as they saw us."
Sitting on the other side, Hayase Kinue smiled. "Ma~ ma~ It's nice for everyone to come out and gather together once in a while, isn't it?"
"I've been so tormented by a problem student in my class recently that I just want to sleep at home," Douraku Utage complained again.
"Who isn't? Our class has several headache-inducing students too," Tsukuyomi Komoe sighed as she spoke.
"Come on now, we're already here. Drinking and listening to music is a form of relaxation too. Maybe we'll run into a handsome guy later, you know? Don't sigh anymore, cheers~" Hayase Kinue picked up her beer again and clinked glasses with Tsukuyomi Komoe and Douraku Utage.
"Eh? Komoe-sensei?"
Hearing someone call out to Tsukuyomi Komoe, all three turned their heads in unison. Tsushima Kagami was standing there holding Ijichi Nijika, with Yukinoshita Shizuku following beside him.
"My, it's the two Yukinoshita students. Hello, Moe-sensei."
Tsushima Kagami then looked at the other 'toddlers' nearby. "And these two are?"
At that moment, Yukinoshita Shizuku bowed to the red-haired woman beside them. "Hello, Douraku-sensei."
"Ara, this is Douraku Utage-sensei from school."
"Hello, Sensei."
"And this is the teachers' good friend and also our landlady, Miss Hayase."
"Hello, Hayase-san."
Watching Tsushima Kagami greet everyone one by one, Tsukuyomi Komoe was pulled aside by Douraku Utage and Hayase Kinue for a whispered conference.
"Tsukuyomi-sensei, is this handsome guy a student from your class?"
"Ara, that's Yukinoshita Shizuku's younger brother, Yukinoshita Kagami."
"A younger brother is good..."
"Aiya, Moe-chan, does he have a girlfriend? Quickly, ask him if he can accept an older woman!" Hayase Kinue chimed in eagerly.
"How can you be like this? Yukinoshita-kun is off-limits!" Tsukuyomi Komoe made an 'X' shape with her arms to sign 'No good'.
"Tsukuyomi Komoe, why are you so selfish!"
"I'll go ask Shizuku-san myself when I get back to school!"
Tsukuyomi Komoe stubbed out her cigarette and looked back at Tsushima Kagami and Yukinoshita Shizuku. "Ahaha, Yukinoshita-kun, how did you two end up here? And who is this child?"
"Yes, we have a child."
"What?!"
"A child?"
"Siblings?"
"Oh my god!"
Tsushima Kagami and Ijichi Nijika exchanged a glance, then both smiled at the three petrified 'toddlers'.
"We are helping Little Sister Nijika find her older sister," Yukinoshita Shizuku explained, stepping forward after giving Tsushima Kagami an eye-roll.
"Eh? Now that you mention it, I do feel like I've seen this little sister somewhere before." Tsukuyomi Komoe hopped off her seat and circled around Tsushima Kagami's feet.
"Ah! Are you Ijichi-san's little sister?"
At this point, Ijichi Nijika, who was being held, pointed at Tsukuyomi Komoe. "Tiny."
"Don't say tiny!" Tsukuyomi Komoe jumped up and punched Tsushima Kagami on the knee.
"Sensei, I didn't say it," Tsushima Kagami said with feigned innocence.
Ignoring Tsushima Kagami, Tsukuyomi Komoe climbed back onto her seat and looked at him. "Are you sure Ijichi-san is here too?"
Tsushima Kagami and Yukinoshita Shizuku exchanged a look. "Little Nijika said she might be here."
They scanned the area again but didn't see anyone.
"Could she be in the Hall Area next door?" Douraku Utage pointed to the side. "There's another performance venue there, mostly for rock music performances."
"Ah, thank you, Utage-sensei. We'll go over and take a look. Sorry to disturb you and Hayase-san."
"Ara, I actually wanted to go check out next door too. Yukinoshita-kun, I'll accompany you." Hayase Kinue hopped down from her chair.
"T-Then... I'll go too." Douraku Utage hurriedly followed.
"Ah! I'm the homeroom teacher of the Yukinoshita students!" Tsukuyomi Komoe, who had just taken a few steps, ran back to slap the money for the drinks onto the table.
*
When the group arrived at the Hall Area, they were greeted by a powerful guitar solo. Seeing that the person on stage wasn't Ijichi Seika, they began to search the floor.
Just then, Ijichi Nijika saw Ijichi Seika walking out of a nearby staff room. "Big Sis! It's Big Sis!" She walked over immediately.
Ijichi Seika seemed to faintly hear her sister's voice. She looked around, spotted Ijichi Nijika, and was immediately embraced by the running child.
"Nijika? Why are you here?" She then noticed Yukinoshita Kagami and the others approaching. "Yukinoshita? Tsukuyomi-sensei? Why are you all here?"
"Nijika secretly followed you out and then got separated from you nearby. We just happened to run into her and brought her here to find you." Tsushima Kagami recounted the events once more.
"Really... why are you so disobedient? What if Mom came back and saw you weren't home? You really know how to cause trouble for people!"
Being scolded like that, Ijichi Nijika burst into tears again with a 'waaaah'. "Big Sister is a big dummy! You promised to keep me company today! I hate Big Sister who plays in a band the most!"
Seeing the crying Nijika, Ijichi Seika thought about it and realized she had indeed broken her promise first. Her heart couldn't help but soften. "Alright, alright, it was my fault. Sit in the staff room for a bit, and we'll go home together after I finish performing. Didn't you always want to see me perform?"
"I don't want to watch! I hate bands and stuff!"
Ijichi Seika finally turned around helplessly and bowed to Yukinoshita and the others. "Sorry to trouble you. I'll take it from here."
"Well, since everything is fine, we'll head back first." Seeing that Little Nijika had been safely delivered, Tsushima Kagami intended to go home.
At this moment, Tsukuyomi Komoe spoke up. "You guys go back. There are three adults here, so we'll wait and go back with them later."
"Then we'll leave it to you, Sensei. Goodbye, Little Nijika." Tsushima Kagami and Yukinoshita Shizuku waved goodbye to Ijichi Nijika.
"Goodbye, Big Brother, Big Sister."
Amidst Ijichi Nijika's reluctant and lonely expression, the two left the venue.
____
New Story: Starting from Their Seventeen Years Old
🔥We're handing out that '30% bonus' that makes your wallet smile. 😄
✅ Get immediate access to 40 early chapters for all stories.
✅ Enjoy exclusive material and special announcements!
Help us unlock these community rewards:
🎯 100 Powerstones = +1 Bonus Chapter for everyone
🚀 140 MEMBERS = +5 extra chapters across ALL STORIES!
👻 P - Walnutchan