Chapter 101: Symphony (Part 1)

Soon it was Thursday.

On this day, they asked Seika for leave.

Actually, it didn't matter if they didn't ask for leave, as there were no performances at the store today.

Even if they stayed to work, since there were no performances, there was no need to sell tickets.

The five of them would just gather by the bar, chat, and serve drinks to customers.

Usually at those times, Seika would only target Hayato-kun, making him run around doing chores, never allowing him to be a slacker.

After school, Hayato, Hitori, and Kita were the first ones to arrive at the store. 

After greeting Seika, they borrowed the rehearsal room.

Kita began to frantically cram.

Although their reasons were different, both of them were trembling nervously.

Not long after, Ryo and Nijika also arrived.

Nijika pushed open the door first and asked the three who were practicing inside, “Everyone, have you had dinner?”

“Not yet.”

Since the three of them came straight here from school, Hayato answered for the other two.

“Then let’s go eat something before the performance.”

Besides her usual gentle smile, Nijika’s face also carried a faint blush of excitement.

“Nijika is treating,” Ryo-senpai quickly added while she was distracted.

Nijika was startled and looked back at Ryo.

“Huh?”

At this moment, Hayato enthusiastically chimed in,

“That’s great! Thank you, Leader.”

“Huh!?”

Nijika gasped again and turned back to look at Hayato, then at Kita and Hitori.

These two were still a bit confused about the situation, their expressions puzzled.

Nijika suddenly felt she couldn’t bring herself to say she wasn’t treating everyone, but all her escape routes were blocked.

Finally, she said pitifully, “I understand…”

The Ryo-Hayato duo let out a triumphant laugh.

...

After packing up their instruments and getting ready, they left the store to grab a bite, then returned to get their gear for the performance.

Although she was forced to treat her bandmates, Nijika’s face was still radiant.

Her energetic steps made her ponytail bounce.

Seeing her like that, Hayato smiled and said, “Nijika looks very happy. It seems she’s been wanting to treat us to a meal for a long time.”

Ryo’s eyes lit up upon hearing that.

“That’s not true!”

Nijika loudly and cheerfully denied him, but then immediately remembered there were two little angels in the band, so she quickly turned back and smiled, assuring them that wasn’t what she meant.

After explaining, her mood was still unaffected, and she said happily, “I’m just happy that we’ve finally taken the first step. Although it’s a bit of a shame it’s not at STARRY, I’m still very happy.”

“The beginning is always the hardest part.”

Hayato-kun said it once in Chinese, then, guessing that the others wouldn’t understand, said it again in Japanese.

The four of them all knew Hayato’s academic level and were not at all surprised that he could casually speak Chinese.

Only Nijika and Hitori looked at him with admiration, but Nijika quickly averted her gaze, fearing that he would get carried away again.

Kita-chan felt the uncontrollable excitement of the others and also raised her hand, saying, “Alright! Let’s become the best street band tonight!”

She fully embodied the ‘my skills can be lacking, but my spirit must never fall’ mentality of a social butterfly.

Hitori also appeared ambitious and full of spirit.

She nodded with a determined gaze.

“Mm!”

Remember Hitori now, and then look at her again later.

Let's engrave the current Hitori to memory—and later take another look at her when they begin their performance.

Seeing that the two truly didn’t take the various street performing bigwigs seriously, Nijika was dumbfounded for a moment, then hurriedly stopped them.

“Kita-chan! You can’t just say things like that!”

“Eh~ Then at least let’s aim for first place.”

“There’s no such competition for street performances!”

...

After eating and drinking their fill, Nijika outwardly wore her usual smile, but inwardly, she secretly made a mental note against Hayato and Ryo.

Kita and Hitori hadn’t made her spend extravagantly.

It was only these two who not only made her treat but also completely disregarded her wallet.

One unashamedly ordered expensive items, while the other devoured bowl after bowl as if trying to stuff his stomach full to the brim.

If these two dared to have any problems with their playing tonightー

Nijika revealed ominous, cat-like eyes.

ーThey would have to clean the bathroom for the entire second half of the month!

...

Back at the store, they gathered their respective equipment.

Nijika pulled the two large suitcases containing the drum kit, watching Hayato walk towards her empty-handed.

“What’s wrong, Hayato-kun?”

Nijika was already used to his superhuman abilities.

She probably expected to see him summon a synthesizer again soon.

He just smiled, reached out, and took her suitcase, saying,

“I told you, it’s fine for me to carry it. Didn’t you just pay the bill?”

Nijika heard the first half of his words and was about to refuse, but then she was convinced by his reasoning.

She couldn't help but feel that she had been completely outmaneuvered by him.

Nijika finally smiled and handed the suitcase to Hayato.

Hayato took the suitcase, then casually equipped the amplifier Ryo handed him, and then took Hitori’s and Kita’s portions as well.

Thus, the super invincible transport robot, Ishikawa Hayato, made his appearance.

“Are you really okay?” Nijika looked worriedly at Hayato, whose load had increased further.

“Let’s go.”

Hayato indicated it was a piece of cake and took the first step.

The five of them walked down the street with their instruments.

Although Shimokitazawa was teeming with bands, there weren’t many beautiful girl groups, and there was only one super invincible transport robot.

They attracted a lot of attention, but aside from Hitori quietly moving closer to Hayato, the others’ expressions were normal.

Kita had been looking at Hitori, but her gaze couldn’t help but drift back to Hayato Ishikawa. 

Recalling a scene she’d witnessed a long time ago, she sighed and said, “Time flies quickly.”

Hitori, who was not far from her, heard her.

She looked slightly puzzled and asked in a low voice, “Kita-chan?”

Kita then remembered that Hitori knew nothing about what happened back then.

Although it has become somewhat of an embarrassing memory, she had been teased about it by Hayato so many times that she felt it was no big deal anymore.

She said bluntly, “The reason I joined the band was because I saw Ryo-senpai and Ijiichi-senpai’s street performance.”

“I never thought I’d actually join a band, and now I can perform with everyone.”

As she spoke, her gaze subtly glanced at Hayato, then she said to Hitori with a bright smile, “Gotou-san, thank you very much.”

Hitori was still unaccustomed to receiving thanks from others.

She waved her hands flusteredly and said, “No, that’s all Kita-chan’s hard work.”

Nijika turned her head and saw the harmonious appearance of the group.

She was very happy, and to make Hitori feel less awkward, she also said, “That’s right, everyone has been working very hard recently and has made great progress.”

“Both of them did very well.”

Ryo also spoke in a senior tone, but halfway through her sentence, her voice became hesitant.

As Hayato looked at Ryo, he heard a drunken voice follow Ryo’s words, saying, “Eh~~ Mm, where is everyone from Kessoku Band going, huh~?”

The five of them looked in the direction of the voice and saw a woman with rose-red hair, wearing a jacket, and holding cheap convenience store alcohol, staggering out of a convenience store on the side.

Because her first appearance left such a profound impression on everyone, everyone immediately remembered her identity.

Hiroi Kikuri.

Except for Ryo and Hayato, the other three collectively took half a step back in disgust.

Only a slightly happy Ryo ignored Nijika’s desperate pleas not to speak and said, “We’re going to do a street performance now.”

When Hiroi Kikuri heard Ryo speak, she was still smiling as she sipped her drink through a straw. After Ryo finished speaking, She suddenly raised her hand and swayed as if she couldn’t stand steady.

“Then I’ll go too. I’ll cheer you on~”

“We're fine.”

Nijika knew this person’s character well and said bluntly.

She had enough people to manage now and couldn’t possibly pay attention to a drunkard as well.

Bringing a crazy drunkard to a street performance would drive the audience away!

Hiroi Kikuri was stunned after hearing that, and her expression quickly turned aggrieved.

She said, half-coaxing, half-acting drunk,

“Eh, don’t be like that, don’t be like that.”

At the same time, she leaned over with a strong smell of alcohol, hugged Nijika’s shoulder, and pleaded.

Nijika couldn't break free and smelled another whiff of alcohol.

She pinched her nose, her eyes lifeless as if dead.

She looked unfortunate, being hugged by an aunt nearly twice her age, reeking of alcohol, and being begged in a childish way.

At this moment, Hayato, who finally couldn’t stand it anymore, walked over, directly crossing the safe social distance and standing less than two fists away from Hiroi Kikuri.

Maintaining his equipped gear, he said to Hiroi Kikuri with a friendly expression, “Sister, you can come, but please let go of our Leader.”

Instantly.

Hiroi Kikuri felt a threat to her life.

She shivered, and her blurry, drunken eyes opened wide.

She turned to look at Hayato’s tall figure and the pile of heavy equipment he was carrying, blinked, and immediately cowered.

She then confirmed with Nijika, and after Nijika confirmed that he could be trusted, she weakly said to Hayato,

“I know, I know, don’t look at me like that!”

Hayato warned further, “Also, finish this drink. You can’t drink any more alcohol once the street performance starts.”

“Eh, that’s not…”

“Hm?”

“I understand…”

Hiroi Kikuri was on the verge of tears.

Watching Ishikawa Hayato cruelly dominate her with his imposing aura, manipulating Hiroi Kikuri like a ragdoll, Nijika heard Ryo murmur in admiration.

“Impressive—to make Hiroi of SICK HACK back down.”

Indeed, to make this alcoholic not drink, Hayato is truly impressive.

It was also the first time Nijika had seen Ishikawa Hayato with his full aura unleashed.

As for Hitori and Kita, they had already seen Ishikawa Hayato’s tyrannical side and were no longer surprised.