Although she had been working with the other two members of Kessoku Band recently, Hitori's guitar level was much better than the initial state where she couldn't coordinate with them at all and just played by herself.
But even so, in the live performance just now, the girl still didn't fully display her total strength as Guitar Hero.
Of course, this might also be related to her needing to hum along with the melody; after all, when recording Guitar Hero videos, she could focus entirely on playing the guitar to her heart's content.
Asakura had also heard Kawaragi Momoka play the guitar, which could also be considered professional level.
However, there are differences even among professional levels; Hitori's peak level had even faintly touched the edge of a master, while Kawaragi Momoka's professional level was that of an ordinary music professional.
Considering the age gap between the two, it's feared that Hitori's achievements in guitar in the future will be far higher than Kawaragi Momoka's.
But unlike Hitori, his own shop manager's guitar level is very stable, almost never changing due to fluctuations in her own state and emotions.
From this point of view, perhaps Kawaragi Momoka better fits the title of "professional".
"Alright, stop scaring her."
Asakura said to his shop manager: "If you keep looking at Hitori so fiercely, she's going to turn into a pink Tsuchinoko."
"Isn't that quite rare? Can it be sold for a good price?"
Kawaragi Momoka made an inverted "OK" gesture and said seriously.
However, a hidden smile could be seen in her eyes.
"Ababababa, please don't sell me..."
Hitori trembled, grabbing a corner of Asakura's clothes with one hand, speaking pitifully.
That delicate and pitifully cute appearance made Asakura clutch his chest, having an illusion that his heart had been hit.
Oh no, he originally wanted to speak up for her so she wouldn't be so afraid, but now, on the contrary, he really wanted to take advantage of this child—what should he do?
Fortunately, as a magician, Asakura was strong in spirit and willpower, and he quickly suppressed the sadistic impulse in his heart.
"Don't worry, current laws do not allow the buying and selling of human beings." He comforted the girl.
"If they could be bought and sold, would you sell me?!"
"Don't worry."
"Ugh." Hitori looked at Asakura tremblingly.
The latter returned a gentle smile.
He said: "About thirty percent of that was a joke."
"S-So the remaining seventy percent is serious?!"
The poor girl was shocked and turned into a pink slime once again, sprawled on the tatami muttering: "I really want to go back to the dream just now... why did you wake me up..."
Asakura rubbed the girl's head.
The gentle and skilled (?) comfort made Hitori perk up a little.
"Even though the one hundred friends who like you are gone, you still have me..." Asakura said. "In that case, isn't there at least one person who likes you very much?"
"...Takuma-kun is very cunning in places like this."
The pink-haired girl said in an extremely small voice.
"No such thing, I am upright and honorable at all times." Asakura said with a face full of righteousness.
"I feel like Asakura-kun is very suited for Rock 'n' Roll."
Nijika, who had come to Asakura's side at some unknown time, suddenly said.
"Are you referring to me having talent for the guitar or bass?" Asakura paused for a moment.
"No, Nijika means that Asakura-san might be unexpectedly good at playing with girls' hearts." Yamada Ryo also leaned over.
"I've never thought about such things." Asakura shrugged and said.
"That's exactly why it's scary." Nijika sighed: "Compared to those naturally smooth talkers and those who deliberately strike up conversations, you are more dangerous and even harder to guard against."
"My face isn't that white."
"Is the point you're refuting really that?!" Hitori, who was still sprawled on the tatami and enjoying Asakura's unintentional head-rubbing service, showed such an expression.
"The point isn't that, right." Kita Ikuyo and Bocchi-chan (the lady version), who leaned over together with Yamada Ryo, complained with great rapport.
"It's so hot, don't huddle together when the room is this big! I feel like even the air conditioning isn't working!"
Indeed, before anyone realized it, everyone in the private room had mysteriously gathered around Asakura.
Probably only the sound engineer lady, who had been smiling without speaking, continued to maintain a certain distance, watching all this from a calmer observer's perspective.
"See, doesn't this prove my words?" Yamada Ryo said with a smug face.
"This also indirectly proves Asakura-san's popularity." Kita Ikuyo also comforted from the side with a smile.
"If Asakura-kun also joined the band, would Kessoku Band gain many more female fans?" Nijika muttered to herself.
"Are you serious?" Asakura squinted at her.
"How could that be possible." Nijika burst into laughter, cute as a Cyber-widow whose VA is a French man around twenty years old, possessing a first-love feeling that is super effective against males of all ages: "It's just a joke. If someone really comes for the bodies of our band members, I'll use my drumsticks to hit them like 'ka-pfft'!"
"Before complaining about that strange onomatopoeia, haven't you noticed that such a person has already appeared..."
Asakura's gaze drifted toward that red-haired girl on the other side.
At this moment, Employee No. 2 was surrounding Yamada Ryo, showing great attentiveness; no matter how you looked at it, it didn't seem like normal fan activity.
After a moment of silence, Nijika somewhat guiltily shifted her gaze away: "Th-There's no such person..."
Asakura saw her reaction, couldn't help but blink, and then realized something.
"Could it be that you plan to..."
"Ah, wait, don't say it now!"
Nijika hurriedly covered Asakura's mouth: "It's not time yet."
The next moment, she let out a small cry of surprise and withdrew her hand like she'd been electrocuted, the blush on her face becoming even more obvious.
"...Taste of french fries." Asakura smacked his lips and said.
"You guy, what do you think a girl's pure heart is?!" Nijika pouted and said in a small voice.
"The seasoning powder on the french fries."
Asakura turned a blind eye to Ichiji Seika, who was casting a death stare at him from across the table, and answered seriously.
"...I'm starting to believe Ryo's evaluation of you now, Asakura-kun."
Looking at Asakura, who could still nonchalantly rub Hitori's little head while saying such things to her, Nijika held her forehead helplessly.