Chapter 161: Tsundere
Upon arriving at Shinjuku FOLT, they found that there were already fans waiting, and even a dozen people were queuing at the entrance of the venue.
It was still rehearsal time, and the official performances was still a few hours away.
The fact that the music festival had been going on for two days and still attracted such a crowd surprised Ishikawa Hayato.
He also felt that his appearance, carrying an instrument and wearing a Band T-shirt, was attracting a lot of attention.
He didn't mind, but Hitori's discomfort made him lead the group to quicken their pace.
Inside the venue, there weren't as many people as outside, and the intense feeling of being watched also diminished.
Only the busy staff everywhere made them feel the lingering excitement of the past two days.
Hitori, who had shrunk from being stared at, gradually began to return to normal.
“Ijichi-chan, Kita-chan.”
Soon after entering the venue, someone greeted the two diplomats of the band.
They responded with smiles.
Kita, in a good mood, radiated a light with her smile that purified many of the surrounding band members that were filled with gloom.
Ishikawa Hayato quietly stood with Hitori and Ryo to avoid unnecessary trouble.
At this moment, Hiroi Kikuri, who had been watching all kinds of energetic, young people for two days and couldn't stand the youthful vibe, was squatting in a corner drinking alone.
She noticed the commotion and quickly spotted Hitori, who was gradually recovering her human form.
Tears streamed from her eyes as she rushed towards Hitori.
“Hitori-chan~~! Boo hoo, you’re the only one like me here.”
The moment Hitori showed a look of horror, Ishikawa Hayato had already stepped in front of her, extending his arm to press down on the drunkard's head, keeping her at a distance from Hitori.
He declared, “Bocchi could never be like you!”
Hiroi Kikuri looked at Ishikawa Hayato, who was protecting Hitori, with tear-filled eyes.
She didn't know what she was thinking, but she cried even harder, opening two cans of alcohol at once and starting to drink.
She was vaguely muttering, “Why… back then… didn’t I… meet a guy like this…”
Hitori probably understood her drunken words.
She glanced at Ishikawa Hayato, who was lecturing Hiroi Kikuri.
...
Finally, after confirming the rehearsal time with the organizers, the group, in order to escape the drunkard, and with the subtle arrangement of Ishikawa Hayato and Hiroi Kikuri, headed towards the waiting room.
Ishikawa Hayato pushed open the door first and entered, with the four girls following behind him.
Inside, as expected, were the members of SIDEROS.
The three members, excluding Ohtsuki Yoyoko, were chatting happily on one side of the seats.
Ohtsuki Yoyoko, the guitarist and lead vocalist, sat on the other side, hunched over, her eyes narrowed intensely, staring straight ahead with a terrifying expression.
That sight made the four girls behind Ishikawa Hayato pause in their steps.
They all thought in horror, “Is she hungry and trying to eat someone?”
“Ah, Kessoku Band.”
Hasegawa Akubi, who always wore her black mask, immediately noticed the five of them.
Next to her, Uchida Yuyu, dressed in gothic attire, held a doll and showed a chilling smile.
“Hee hee, I knew it. Only a few dare to invade this uncrossable boundary. Welcome to our domain, Kessoku Band.”
Honjo Fuko, the most normal one who looked like a high school girl, said cheerfully, “Welcome, everyone from Kessoku Band.”
Ishikawa Hayato looked back at the four girls, nodded to confirm that his girls were more normal.
And unlike SIDEROS, where each person wore their own clothes, they were all wearing the same T-shirts, so neat and cute.
He also confirmed with them if they really wanted to enter this spooky place.
Not to mention Hitori, who was already leaning against the wall, covered in cold sweat like an assassin, Nijika and Kita lightly nodded, greeting them nonchalantly and walking in.
They also seemed quite curious about this band that constantly changed its lineup but remained outstanding.
Ryo stared intently at the chairs inside, following the two girls in.
Ishikawa Hayato didn't even need to guess what she was thinking from her expression.
After the three had entered, Ishikawa Hayato rubbed his hair helplessly and looked at Hitori, who was leaning against the wall.
He stealthily walked over to Hitori, patted her shoulder, and then pointed to the side, asking her with a gesture if she wanted to sneak away.
Hitori's eyes widened in surprise, and she quickly showed a joyful expression. But just as she was about to nod, a deep voice came from the waiting room.
“Ishikawa Hayato, Gotoh Hitori, why aren't you coming in yet?”
Hearing that deep, almost murderous voice, Hitori stiffened. After a brief hesitation, she shook her head with tears in her eyes.
Ishikawa Hayato ignored her shake of the head, took her hand, and was about to walk to the side when his peripheral vision caught her hesitant gaze.
He let out a soft sigh, smiled, and gently stroked the pink-haired girl's head, then walked into the lounge.
Inside the room, Ohtsuki Yoyoko's aura remained terrifyingly oppressive.
Only Ryo, who didn't want to squeeze in with the others, was dozing off in the seat furthest away from her, even though they were in the same row.
Ishikawa Hayato looked at the other side.
The five girls had filled that row of sofas.
If he insisted on sitting there, he would have to lie on the girls' laps.
Of course, he would be very willing, but he didn't want to be lectured by his own girls in front of outsiders.
He decided against it.
He had no choice but to pull Hitori towards Ohtsuki Yoyoko's side.
He sat next to Ohtsuki Yoyoko, maintaining some distance, and Hitori sat on his other side.
As soon as they sat down, the five people sitting in front of him glanced over here, then quickly resumed their conversation as if nothing had happened.
“Speaking of which, do you really have no other performance experience? You all don't seem nervous.”
Hasegawa Akubi curiously observed them.
Right after they confirmed which schools they attended, they realized they were all part of bands from the same generation—everyone here was a high school student, and while their skill levels weren’t exactly the same, they weren’t that far apart either.
Therefore, they naturally became familiar with each other.
Of course, everyone's social skills played a factor.
“We did perform twice at a livehouse in Shimokitazawa.”
Nijika's expression was quite awkward, as both of those performances weren't very good.
“But not many people watched.”
“Only twice, it's normal for not many people to watch. When we first started, we only had fans brought by Yoyoko-senpai.”
Honjo Fuko comforted her.
Kita blinked in surprise and asked softly, “Wouldn't that add a lot of pressure?”
Uchida Yuyu sighed lengthily, hugging her doll.
“It was really exhausting at first. That was the worst period of Yuyu's life.”
On the other side, Ohtsuki Yoyoko, seeing the lively conversation, unconsciously glanced at the three silent people next to her.
That gaze made Hitori shrink back in fear again.
She watched Ishikawa Hayato gently comforting Hitori, her expression relaxing slightly, no longer as tense as when Ishikawa Hayato had first sat down next to her.
When Hitori was so happy from Ishikawa Hayato's comfort that she was at a loss, Ohtsuki Yoyoko spoke with an arrogant tone.
“Don't think that just because you're in the same venue and performing at roughly the same time as us, you're on the same level. Even if you use all your strength, the gap between us is like heaven and earth.”
Suddenly, everyone in the waiting room looked at her.
There were the confused gazes of the Kessoku Band members, wondering “Is this a provocation?”, and the helpless looks of the other three SIDEROS members, thinking “Senpai is at it again.”
Being watched by so many people at once, Ohtsuki Yoyoko also felt that she might have said too much.
She flinched slightly.
It's not that big of a gap... but there's still quite a difference... But she only said that in her mind, so she spoke again.
“If… if you show a little more spirit, maybe it will be somewhat interesting.”
The Kessoku Band members exchanged puzzled glances, and Nijika and Kita even confirmed it with the SIDEROS members next to them.
Ishikawa Hayato rubbed his chin.
He had even heard Ohtsuki Yoyoko's inner thoughts just now—tsundere characters were truly the easiest to understand, but he didn't want to tease her lest he wants to up trouble at home.
He simply, with the thought of not losing face even if they lost, casually replied, “You can only say such things now.”
“What?”
Ohtsuki Yoyoko's expression grew even gloomier.
On the other side, Hasegawa Akubi whispered to Nijika and Kita, “Ohtsuki-senpai is just not good at social interactions.”
“I see.”
They showed expressions of sudden understanding.
...
While they were chatting happily, the waiting room door suddenly opened.
A staff member glanced at the situation inside the room and said to Ishikawa Hayato and the others, “Kessoku Band, it's time for your rehearsal.”
As soon as the voice rang out, Nijika realized they had played too long. Her face changed, and she stood up abruptly, calling out to the four of them, “Oh no! I completely forgot! Everyone, hurry!”
She was clearly speaking to the three opposite her. After saying that, she rushed outside.
Ishikawa Hayato also quickly woke Ryo, pulled Hitori, and followed.
Kita and Ishikawa Hayato exchanged glances.
They didn't crowd the doorway together but stayed at the back, waving to the four still in the waiting room.
“Well then, everyone from SIDEROS, see you in a bit.”
After Hayato finished speaking, he closed the door and skipped out.
Watching the door close, Hasegawa Akubi was momentarily stunned, then an inexplicable thought rose in her mind.
She spoke blankly, “Ah, I understand know why they aren't nervous.”
“What?” Honjo Fuko tilted her head in confusion.
Hasegawa Akubi turned to her.
Her mask prevented anyone from seeing her mouth movements when she spoke.
“That's completely the look of having a man to lean on.”
But Ohtsuki Yoyoko asked in confusion, “Aren't the only ones dating in that band Ishikawa Hayato and Gotoh Hitori?”
As soon as she said that, the waiting room suddenly fell silent.
As the moment of silence passed, Hasegawa Akubi said, her forehead beaded with cold sweat.
“We’re up for rehearsal next, let’s go watch…”
“Mm…”
For some reason, their replies were filled with a strange solemnity.
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